The aftermath of the masquerade scandal swept through Ridgefall University like a wildfire. By morning, social media was ablaze—#OchiengExposed, #UniversityPredator, and even more venomous tags trended across platforms. Students were divided. Some defended him blindly, others joined the growing mob that called for his expulsion. But in the shadows, the real game was only beginning.
Ochieng didn't run. He walked into the lion's den—the university boardroom—head held high, in a crisp charcoal suit tailored to perfection. His signature calm smile didn't reach his eyes this time. Seated before him were the board members, parents, teachers, and shareholders—some of whom had already been bought out by Lucius Mwamba.
Dean Otieno slammed a fist on the table. "Mr. Ochieng, do you deny the allegations?"
Ochieng placed a small silver drive on the table. "Play this."
The room darkened, and a new video appeared—Clara and Lucius kissing, drunk, plotting the exact scandal days before the masquerade. Their voices were clear, their intent undeniable. Gasps erupted in the room.
Ochieng turned to the Dean. "I may be many things, but I'm not a liar."
The tide shifted instantly.
But it wasn't over.
---
Elsewhere, in the heart of Ridgefall's uptown, a new character entered the scene—Zayne Callister, 27, a self-made tech billionaire from Singapore, half-Kenyan through his mother. He had angular features, ocean-blue eyes, and a devilish smirk. He had recently acquired the largest stake in NeuraVerse, the company that powered Ridgefall's academic A.I. system.
He wasn't here to invest.
He was here to hunt.
And his prey? Ochieng.
---
Back on campus, whispers spread of a new transfer student—Zahra el-Malik, 24, daughter of a wealthy Saudi magnate, heiress to a chain of luxury resorts. She was beauty sculpted by temptation itself—voluptuous, caramel skin, thick black curls, and a voice soft like silk yet sharp as broken glass. Her flaw? She enjoyed seducing men just to watch them fall.
Within her first week, she had already set her sights on Ochieng.
"I like broken things," she whispered to Seraphina during a book club meeting. "They shatter easier."
Seraphina, growing secretly attached to Ochieng, narrowed her eyes. "He's not yours to break."
"Is he yours to keep?"
---
Meanwhile, the Ridgefall campus buzzed with new energy. Prom preparations began, with students forming alliances, unions forming with powerful sponsors, fashion labels battling for spotlight, and wealthy families donating in exchange for influence.
A Prom King's crown wasn't just about popularity anymore—it was about power.
And Ochieng? He wasn't even planning to attend.
Until he found a letter in his locker:
> Come to prom. Midnight. Under the cherry blossoms. Or everything you know about your mother burns with me.
—X
---
That evening, Ochieng sat quietly under the stars on his balcony, glass of whiskey in hand, looking out over the glittering city.
Behind him, Seraphina entered silently in an oversized shirt, barefoot, her curls tied in a loose bun. "You're not sleeping again."
"I've slept enough for a man who doesn't dream."
She walked to him, placed a hand on his chest. "You still have me."
He looked at her—then slowly turned away. "For how long?"
---
Elsewhere, Lucius sat at a secret roundtable with Zayne and Zahra.
"Plan A failed," he said. "Time for Plan B."
Zayne smirked. "Let's rip apart his past."
Zahra lit a cigarette, her voice like velvet. "And his heart."
The war for Ochieng's empire had only just begun.