After the previous banquet, both students and parents in the group chat had learned that Arthur was the chairman of Cloudia Corporation. Now that he had ranked first in the nation on the SAT, the flood of praise and flattery was nonstop. Many had missed their chance to get on Arthur’s good side at the banquet, and now they were scrambling to make up for it—some practically tripping over themselves just to leave a good impression. Leading the charge was none other than Zac’s former sidekick, Xavier. "As expected of our Mr. Gray! He’s a genius among geniuses! Not only is he a business legend, but he’s also the top SAT scorer in the nation!" With Xavier setting the example, the rest of Zac’s former lackeys quickly jumped in. "Xavier is absolutely right! We were so foolish before. Mr. Gray is like a divine being—how could mere mortals like us have ever doubted him?" After Arthur’s identity as the chairman of Cloudia Corporation had been exposed, Xavier and his little gang had gone home only to be severely punished by their families. To make matters worse, Arthur had publicly declared that anyone who had bullied him in the past would never be given a chance to work with Cloudia Corporation. Now that they had an opportunity to shower him with praise, they were throwing everything they had into it. If they could even get the smallest business connection with Cloudia Corporation, their family enterprises would have the chance to expand and thrive like never before. Once Xavier and his crew started, the entire group chat erupted like a broken dam. Compliments poured in nonstop. "Being in the same class as Mr. Gray—that’s a once-in-a-lifetime blessing!" "I can brag for years that the top SAT scorer was my classmate!" "I always knew Mr. Gray was different. He was born to be extraordinary!" "Right? In just two years, Mr. Gray transformed Cloudia Corporation into one of the most powerful companies in Lioran. It’s no exaggeration to call him a legend!" "Oh my god! That means we studied alongside a true genius for three years! My ancestors must have been smiling down on me!""And let’s not forget Mrs. Gray! Ashley ranked third in the nation—that’s beyond impressive!" "Mr. Gray and Ms. Gibson are the perfect couple! They were meant for each other!" "There’s no one else as worthy of Mr. Gray as Ms. Gibson! They are destined to be the happiest couple in the world!" "Under Mr. Gray’s leadership, Cloudia Corporation will be the strongest company in the nation!" "No—Mr. Gray is going to make Cloudia Corporation the most powerful company in the world!" "Mr. Gray will undoubtedly become the richest man on the planet!" Arthur’s gaze remained cold as he read the over-the-top flattery. Eight years of bullying… and now they think a few flattering words can erase all of it? Not a chance. Zac clenched his jaw so hard it felt like his teeth might break as he watched the screen fill with endless praise for Arthur. But what infuriated him the most was seeing the same people who once flattered him now shamelessly sucking up to Arthur. They were nothing but opportunistic cowards. He wanted to storm over and rip them apart. Meanwhile, in the hospital bed beside him, John’s expression was much more conflicted. His eyes moved over the flurry of compliments and the bold announcement of Arthur’s national first-place ranking. And before he even realized it, a flicker of pride surfaced in his gaze. That was his son. Arthur wasn’t just the chairman of Cloudia Corporation—he was also the top SAT scorer in the entire country. This was a level of prestige that no one in the Gray family had ever achieved before. If that old man saw what his grandson had accomplished, would he still look down on me? For a moment, John wanted to tell him. He wanted to share the news, to see if it would finally change the way he was treated.But confined to his hospital bed, there was nothing he could do. With a bitter sigh, he let the thought fade away. Outside the hospital room. At the far end of the empty hallway, Raelynn and the three Gray sisters gathered together, their faces lit up with excitement. "Arthur… he actually ranked first in the entire country!" "The Gray family has never had an achievement like this before!" "First place nationwide! Even when I was at my best, I never even made the top three in our province!" "Arthur has changed so much in the past two years. Ever since he left the Gray family, it’s like he became a completely different person—almost like he flipped a switch and everything started going his way." The moment Susie finished speaking, an uneasy silence settled between them. When Arthur had lived with the Gray family, he had been dismissed as weak, timid, and worthless. But the moment he left… he transformed into a rising star, shining so brightly it was impossible to ignore. The realization was a bitter pill to swallow. After a long silence, Julie finally spoke. "So it was us… we were the ones who held Arthur back all this time." "I regret it so much. How could I have been so stupid? I actually bullied Arthur because of Zac—that fake, manipulative snake!" Rosie clenched her fists, filled with self-loathing. The memories of how she had treated Arthur—the cruel words, the heartless actions—made her sick to her stomach.