A grand banquet—of course, Zac wouldn’t miss it. A large gathering like this was the perfect opportunity for him to clear his name. He had expected backlash from what happened at the last event, but he never imagined it would be this extreme. In an inconspicuous corner, Tia stood motionless. She wore a flowing white gown that trailed along the ground. Though she wore an elegant dress, no one paid her any attention. Her gaze was cold as she watched Zac, now completely rejected by the crowd. A flicker of satisfaction flashed in her eyes. Her lips curled slightly. You had it coming, Zac. Look at you now. Zac was getting exactly what he deserved. She knew that in the hospital, John had done everything to shield him. Tia had waited for weeks, lurking around the hospital, just to find the perfect opening. The moment John went for a medical exam, she paid off a few nurses—just enough to make sure Zac heard about tonight’s event. And most importantly, they left out one crucial detail. Zac had no idea that this banquet was for Arthur. All he knew was that South High was hosting a massive celebration and that every student was invited. He didn’t stop to question why—why, so soon after graduation, the school was hosting another huge event. But Tia knew him too well. She was certain that if Zac found out about a major gathering, he would show up. So when he started scheming his way out of the hospital, Tia made sure he got the help he needed—just enough to get him here. And now? Watching him sit in that wheelchair, completely despised and humiliated, gave her a satisfaction unlike anything she had ever felt before.Zac frantically scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face. Tia. Where was Tia? She hadn’t visited him even once since he was hospitalized. Zac refused to believe that she would miss an event like this. She had to be here. He searched the crowd again, but Tia was nowhere in sight. Instead, his eyes landed on someone else—Xavier. Finally! Zac’s face lit up, and he immediately called out, “Xavier!” The moment Xavier heard his name, panic shot through him. He ducked into the crowd, trying to disappear. Not again! Last time at the banquet, when he spoke up for Zac, he barely escaped a beating from his father. When the SAT scores were released, he went out of his way to praise Arthur in the group chat—finally earning back his father’s approval. He had worked too hard to fix things. There was no way he was screwing that up now. Zac was a total outcast. Getting involved with him meant trouble. Nobody in their right mind would want to be seen with him. Zac saw Xavier retreating and panicked. Zac, now both anxious and furious, called out again. “Xavier! I’m right here! Hurry up and come over!” His tone was sharp and commanding—just like always. Zac had spent years ordering Xavier around. It never occurred to him that things had changed. Xavier wanted to disappear. Of course, I knew exactly where Zac was—everyone did! I wasn’t blind! But did he really have to shout my name? Did he really have to call me out in front of everyone? Could he just shut up for once? With that one loud call, every single gaze shifted to Xavier.A chill ran down his spine. The stares—sharp and unrelenting—felt like a thousand needles piercing straight into him. In that moment, regret flooded him. Why? Why had I ever been foolish enough to side with Zac? He wanted to slap himself across the face. But it was too late. The damage had already been done. He had played a role in bullying Arthur. That was a fact. Everyone at South High knew the truth. And now? No one wanted to be anywhere near him. The moment Zac called out to him, people stepped back—three feet, at least—putting distance between them. They wanted nothing to do with him. Xavier was completely isolated. His eyes darted around in desperation, searching for help. But the people who used to follow him—the same ones who had once looked up to him and Zac—were now hiding in the crowd, heads down, desperately trying to disappear. Ever since Arthur’s true identity had been exposed, they had been living in constant fear. Arthur remembered every single one of their names. Their families had tried to do business with Cloudia Corporation, only to be met with Stanley’s ruthless rejection. And it didn’t stop there. Cloudia Corporation had deliberately suppressed their businesses, causing financial losses so severe that some of their families were on the verge of bankruptcy. Everything they had lost—their status, their wealth, their once-comfortable lives—was all because of what they had done to Arthur. At home, they had become the scapegoats. Their families blamed them for everything. Their reckless actions against Arthur had cost them their once-comfortable lives, dragging them from privilege to near poverty. That was why they had come tonight—not just to celebrate, but to find a way to make things right. They would do anything if it meant earning Arthur’s forgiveness. They just couldn’t endure this suffering any longer. But then, Zac showed up. Even in his condition—crippled, broken, unable to even walk on his own—he still came. And not only did he come, he was dragging them down with him. Again. As Xavier stood frozen in horror, Zac’s eyes scanned the crowd, looking for another familiar face. He spotted Richie. And just like that, his next target was locked in.