The morning after the gala, Moonlight Valley was a different world.
Whispers had wings. Rumors galloped. And lies were dressed in Prada.
Ochieng woke up in his private suite at Halcyon Royale, the memory of Maya's lips lingering like an addictive curse. But what haunted him more was the encrypted name on the slides: Bernard Kiyoko.
His father.
The man whose coffin he watched get lowered into the earth twelve years ago.
Now, his name was hidden behind a tech empire.
He needed answers.
---
At the East Gate campus entrance, Tesslyn, 24, commanding and cold-eyed, strutted in like a queen returning from exile. Her new company, VANITYCORE, had already gained headlines as the next-gen digital luxury brand. But what the public didn't know was this:
She hadn't started it alone.
Her silent partner was none other than Gloria Njeri, 45, a ruthless business strategist who once dated Bernard Kiyoko and had a vendetta against every heir connected to him.
Including Ochieng.
Especially Ochieng.
---
At the Faculty of Arts building, the drama department was in flames. Roman Kingston's public kiss with Nikki was now the thumbnail of every tabloid in the city. But Nikki wasn't flinching. She was done hiding.
"You're mine," she told Roman. "And if anyone stands in our way, they'll regret it."
She hadn't yet told him she was married.
Yes—married.
To Dr. Seth Olunga.
A secret ceremony. A desperate mistake. And a ticking time bomb.
---
Meanwhile, in the shadows of Moonlight Tower, Alyssa Kavutha, 21, newly transferred from an elite South African university, arrived in a custom Aston Martin. With caramel-toned skin, a figure that left chaos in corridors, and a diamond nose stud, Alyssa wasn't here for class.
She was here for revenge.
Ochieng had broken her sister's heart years ago—and disappeared without a trace. Now she was back, pretending not to know him, while plotting to destroy everything he loved.
She joined the media club. Shared a dorm with Nikki. Flirted with Roman. Befriended Maya.
Perfect infiltration.
Perfect poison.
---
In a corner booth at Lavish & Late Café, Ochieng met with Jeff, Linet, and Wendy—the once-loyal trio now suspected of betrayal. He said nothing at first. Just watched them.
Then he slid a file across the table.
"You're either with me now… or against me forever."
Inside the file? Photos. Passwords. Bank transfers. Secrets.
Their secrets.
Ochieng wasn't just smart anymore. He was evolving.
He was dangerous.
---
That night, campus hosted the Annual Moonlight Prom. Champagne flowed. Gowns shimmered. Hearts shattered.
Bianca came with her new fiancé, billionaire real estate heir Darren Amani.
Maya danced with Roman just to provoke Nikki.
Caroline showed up in a red dress that made the dean faint.
And Ochieng?
He came alone.
But he didn't leave alone.
As he exited into the cold night, hand in hand with Alyssa—unaware of who she really was—the wind whispered one thing:
> "The past always comes back…
And this time, it wants blood."