THE SHAREHOLDER

Daisy took Lydia back home, and both drove in silence. Lydia was deep in thought, consumed by joy and excitement. She had seen her grandson, and without a doubt, he was Rita's son.

"Your Majesty, should I inform Princess Tracy about Jack?" Daisy asked.

"Let me handle that myself. It's a family matter," Lydia replied firmly. "Besides, I have to meet and understand him before any other member of the hidden family knows about him. It's hard to trust anyone in this family."

"Yes, My Queen."

"I expect the meeting arrangement to be made within the next three days, Daisy. Be fast and silent about it. I know people are still watching, waiting to see if Rita will return. Keep him safe."

"Yes, My Queen. You'll hear from me soon."

Lydia nodded in satisfaction as they entered her apartment. It looked desolate—no one was around, and its simplicity belied the status of a queen. Daisy walked in, gently closed the door, and quickly surveyed the area for safety.

To the ordinary eye, the apartment appeared unassuming. But Daisy had hidden guards stationed nearby, blending in with passersby. The apartment itself was more than it seemed—a passageway to the hidden castle of the Mason Family, known only to Lydia and Daisy.

Daisy led Lydia down a long, silent corridor to an elevator. The elevator descended a hundred feet underground into a tunnel that connected to a teleportation portal.

"Since we're at the portal, you should go back," Lydia insisted.

"My Queen, are you sure?" Daisy asked, concerned.

Lydia smiled, placing a hand on Daisy's shoulder. "I'm sure. I wish you were my daughter. You remind me so much of Rita when it comes to ensuring safety. But…" She paused, then said gently, "I'll be fine. Go back to him. I want him safe."

Daisy hesitated, then knelt on one knee. "As you wish, My Queen."

She watched as Lydia placed an object on the portal. In an instant, Lydia disappeared.

As Daisy exited the apartment, Lydia's words echoed in her heart: "I wish you were my daughter."

Outside, Daisy immediately noticed a man fiddling with the gate. He looked startled when she appeared.

"Oh, finally, someone's home! This is my third time here," he said, walking toward her.

Daisy instantly sensed his inner strength but didn't react. She had encountered countless fighters before and knew his skill level posed no threat to her.

"Interesting," she said calmly. "Why have you been lurking around? You say this is your third time—it must be important."

"Yes, it is!" he replied quickly, extending his hand. "I'm Rollins, a gardener. I'm looking for work."

Daisy ignored the handshake and glanced around at the well-trimmed flowers and perfectly maintained lawn. "And?"

"I just thought I might get lucky and find work here," he said, forcing a smile. It was obvious either Rollins was blind to the fact that the well-trimmed lawn and flowers existed or he was just silly 

Daisy's patience wore thin. She stared him down and said one word: "Leave."

Rollins swallowed hard, realizing he'd been caught. He fumbled for an excuse. "May I leave my contact details? A card or number? Just in case you need my services?"

Daisy didn't reply. Her cold, piercing gaze was enough. Rollins quickly turned and hurried away.

But as he reached the gate, Daisy's voice rang in his ears—though she stood far from him.

"Tell her that if she sends you here again, I will remove her bloodline from the Mason lineage."

Rollins froze, unsure if he had heard correctly. He turned back, hesitating. "Did you… say something?"

"Yes," Daisy replied coolly, her expression sinister. "Pass the message to Clara."

Rollins didn't dare respond. He walked briskly to his parked car, glancing over his shoulder to ensure he wasn't being followed. As he drove away, he made a call.

"How did it go?" Clara asked on the other end.

"Badly," Rollins admitted. "I was caught. I used the excuse we agreed on, but the woman said this: 'Tell her the next time she sends you here, I will remove her bloodline from the Mason lineage.'"

Clara was stunned. "She said that?"

"Yes. And for the record, I'm done. I feel like I'm being watched, though I can't see anyone around me. Whoever she is, she's dangerous. My advice? Back off. That woman's aura screams cold-blooded killer."

Without waiting for Clara's response, Rollins ended the call. He had already decided to leave the city.

Daisy sent an encrypted message to a subordinate who had been watching Rollins's movement for the past two weeks. ; Follow him, and do what's needed, he already knows this place. The subordinate quickly texted back 'Okay!

Daisy, meanwhile, drove back to her parked bike, exchanged the car for her Harley, and headed to the university. Rita had owned ninety percent of the university's shares, making Jack the de facto owner now. Daisy needed to notify the university administration about the change of ownership.

As she parked her bike, she caught sight of Victoria. She waved, but Victoria returned a cold stare.

"Hey, Vic! Wait up!" Daisy called, quickly securing her helmet and jogging toward her.

Victoria ignored her, walking faster.

Daisy caught up, blocking Victoria's path. "What's up with you? I've been calling your name. Are you okay?"

Victoria's face twisted with anger. "I should be asking you, Selena," she snapped, emphasizing the name with disdain.

Daisy frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Victoria said, pointing a finger at Daisy. "Stop acting clueless. You know I like Jack, so stop pretending you're not interested in him! Stop trying to push him to move out of the house just so you can have him all to yourself!"

Daisy's mouth fell open in shock. "Move out? What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb," Victoria hissed. "I hate seeing you around Jack. I hate any girl being near him. And if I had my way, you'd be the first person I'd get rid of!"

Daisy took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Victoria, does Jack even know how you feel about him? Let me give you some advice, his league is way above you. You're only going to get hurt."

Victoria's face turned red. "And you're in his league? Is that what you're saying? That I'm not good enough for him?"

"I didn't say that ''... how could she tell Victoria her real identity

"Save it!" Victoria cut her off. "I don't care what you think or say. Just know I'll fight anyone, including you, to be by Jack's side. Jack is mine!"

With that, Victoria stormed off, leaving Daisy standing there, stunned. She watched as Victoria got into her car and drove away, the words "Jack is mine!" echoing in her ears.

Meanwhile, Jack sat in class, lost in thought about what had happened at the restaurant with Fabian and Lucy. He replayed Fabian's taunting words in his mind: "Jack, you're doing all this because Lucy dumped you to be with me." Jack wondered if there was any truth to it, was he seeking payback? Or had he genuinely moved on?

The answer felt surprisingly simple. After handling Fabian and Lucy, he realized he felt lighter. He knew now he had no feelings left for Lucy. His only reason for helping her get a job was a sense of friendship from their past, nothing more.

The echoing sound of heels snapped Jack out of his thoughts. The hall filled with the scent of a floral perfume. Miss Kathy, known for her striking looks and sharp demeanor, was entering the lecture hall. The students fell silent as she strode to the podium. The boys admired her, and the girls, feeling her commanding presence, looked on with mixed feelings of envy and respect.

Miss Kathy scanned the room, and then announced, "Submit your last assignment. We're not having any lectures today—I'm here to mark and give scores. Anyone absent won't be graded. Call your friends who aren't here and tell them to get back to class immediately." She paused, glancing around. "Quietly," she added.

A few students quickly took out their phones, quietly messaging or calling their friends.

Jack scanned the room, making sure his friends were present. He noticed Daisy wasn't there. Stepping outside, he dialed her number, and after a few rings, she picked up.

"Get to class right now," Jack said. "Where are you?"

"Your Majesty, I'm on campus but at the administrative block," Daisy replied.

"Doing what?" Jack pressed, surprised by her casual tone.

"Sorting things out," she answered vaguely. "It may take some time."

Jack sighed. "Take time? Does it need my attention?"

"No, I've got it handled. You don't need to worry about it, Your Majesty."

Jack shook his head, unwilling to let it go. "Well, Miss Kathy just asked us to submit our assignments for grading instead of having a lecture. She's giving scores based on it, and if you're not here, you're going to lose sixty marks."

"Can it wait a bit? I'll be there soon."

Jack ended the call, feeling frustrated. Seeing no other option, he walked up to Miss Kathy, who was glaring at him before he even got close. But he ignored her look and pressed on.

"Miss Kathy, may I ask how much time students have to get here?" Jack asked. "Would it be up to an hour?"

She glared at him more intensely. "Jack, I understand you're poor, but is your brain poor too?" she snapped. "Why would you leave the classroom to make a phone call without taking permission from me? Look around." She gestured at the other students, who were quietly texting. "They're messaging, but you had to walk out of class to call—without my permission."

Jack realized he'd made a mistake. "I'm sorry, Miss Kathy. I didn't realize texting was the only option. I apologize for stepping out without asking."

Miss Kathy raised her eyebrow, unimpressed. "Apology or not, Jack, I'm deducting ten marks from your assignment for leaving without permission."

Jack's eyes widened. "Is that necessary, Miss Kathy? I've apologized, and it was a misunderstanding about the method of communication. It feels a bit harsh…"

"In my class, I decide what's necessary," she replied icily. "Drop your assignment on my desk before I increase the deduction."

Jack clenched his jaw, sensing something was off. Miss Kathy had always been known for her tough stance with male students, but this seemed targeted. Still, he wanted answers.

"Miss Kathy, you told us to reach out to our friends, but you didn't say if it should be by texting or calling," he said, trying to remain calm. "Why should a small miscommunication cost me marks?"

The other students in the hall shifted uncomfortably. Miss Kathy had a reputation for being especially hard on male students, with rumors circulating about her harsh views on not promoting same-sex marriages. Still, Jack's defiance made them nervous.

"Give me your assignment, Jack," she snapped.

Jack turned, retrieved his assignment, and handed it to her. Miss Kathy took it, quickly skimmed it, then scrawled "60 marks" on the top. Underneath, she wrote "minus 30" with a firm hand, deducting half of his score.

Francis Mason, seated close to Miss Kathy, grinned smugly, clearly enjoying Jack's predicament. Around the hall, whispers floated between students.

"Is she really that mean?"

"Jack shouldn't have left the class."

"Maybe it's because she dislikes men in general…"

"Poor Jack. It's like his intelligence is always judged by his bank account."

Another student nearby whispered, "Is Jack really poor? Don't you remember what happened at The Grand Hotel?"

Silence. Miss Kathy hit her palms on the table hard, her voice ringing through the hall. "Whoever speaks again gets a zero!"

The class froze instantly. Whispering stopped as fear rippled across the students.

Jack, however, didn't seem fazed. He glanced up at Miss Kathy, his voice calm but laced with defiance. "Miss Kathy, why are you bullying me? Have I done something to offend you?"

Her eyes narrowed as she leaned forward. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you? Didn't I just say no one should speak?" She picked up his assignment, angrily scribbling on it. "Minus 60," she declared, slamming the paper onto her desk.

Rueben and Sam exchanged glances, wanting to speak up but too scared to risk losing their marks as well. Jack sighed, pulling out his phone, and sent a quick message to Daisy explaining what had happened.

Miss Kathy caught a glimpse of him texting and glared at him again but chose to ignore it, returning to grading the other students' assignments. She knew she had all the power in the lecture hall, or so she thought.

Daisy was leaving the Chancellor's office when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the message and her expression darkened. Jack had been singled out and humiliated again, this time by Miss Kathy.

The Chancellor noticed her sudden change in demeanor. "Miss Selena, is everything alright?" he asked, his tone concerned.

"Well," Daisy replied with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes, "I think our introduction between you and Jack will be happening sooner than planned—courtesy of your cousin, Miss Kathy."

The Chancellor paled. "Kathy?" His voice trembled. He knew his cousin's reputation and her tendency to overstep boundaries. He had covered for her more times than he could count, but now she'd crossed a line. Not Jack! The future owner of the university!

"What has she done now?" he asked hesitantly.

"She's overstepped," Daisy replied bluntly. "Call her here now, and I'll get Jack to come as well. This can't be ignored."

The Chancellor nodded, quickly grabbing his phone. The call connected after two rings. "Kathy, I need you in my office immediately. Don't delay." He ended the call without waiting for her reply.

Miss Kathy, still smug about her power play in the lecture hall, frowned at her phone. Why would Uncle call me now? she wondered. It couldn't possibly be about Jack. That boy's a nobody.

With exaggerated confidence, she stood and addressed the class. "I'll be right back," she said, leaving the assignments unfinished as she walked out.

Jack received a text from Daisy:

"Your Majesty, please come to the Chancellor's office."

Confused but sensing something serious, Jack left the lecture hall, unaware that Kathy had been summoned there as well.

Miss Kathy walked into the Chancellor's office with her usual air of arrogance. She was surprised to see a strikingly beautiful young woman seated with the Chancellor. The sight momentarily captivated her, but she quickly composed herself, masking her interest.

"Chancellor," she said coolly. "I'm here."

Before she could sit, the door opened, and Jack walked in. Seeing him, Kathy's instincts flared, and she snapped, "How dare you walk in here without knocking? Get out!"

The Chancellor stiffened, his face growing pale as he turned to Kathy. "Will you shut up, Kathy?" he barked, his voice trembling with suppressed anger. "Show some respect to those who feed you and pay your salary!"

Kathy froze, her mouth slightly open in shock. "Salary?" she echoed, confused. "What does my salary have to do with this? Uncle, I... "

"Keep your mouth shut!" he cut her off sharply, glaring at her.

Turning to Jack, the Chancellor's tone softened. "Young Master Jack, please have a seat."

Jack raised an eyebrow, surprised by the title. He glanced at Daisy, who gave him a small wink. Jack sat down, his expression calm but watchful.

Kathy, on the other hand, was completely bewildered. "Young Master Jack?" she repeated, her voice rising. "Uncle, you've been deceived! This boy is an orphan, poor, and without status! He's no 'Young Master.'"

The Chancellor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Kathy, let me educate you. Jack is the owner of 90 percent of this university's shares. His mother was the largest shareholder before her passing, and now everything belongs to him. He has the power to remove me as Chancellor if he wishes, and you? You are nothing compared to him."

Kathy stumbled back a step, her face pale. Her mind raced as she recalled all the times she'd insulted and humiliated Jack in class.

The Chancellor turned to Jack. "Young Master Jack, I deeply apologize for Kathy's behavior. I assure you, disciplinary action will be taken."

Jack waved his hand dismissively. "We'll get to that. First, I have some questions for Miss Kathy."

Kathy sat down, her hands trembling.

Jack leaned forward, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Why were you bullying me in the lecture hall?"

"It, it wasn't intentional," Kathy stammered, avoiding his eyes.

Jack's tone remained icy. "Unacceptable. There has to be a reason. Tell me the truth, or I'll make sure you're fired before you leave this office."

Kathy hesitated, how could she allow herself to be humiliated like this, get fired? she wouldn't risk it at all. She then broke under the pressure. "I, I was jealous," she admitted reluctantly.

"Jealous?" Jack repeated, leaning back in his chair. "Of what?"

Kathy's voice trembled. "You… you always attract the attention of the beautiful girls I admire, like Victoria, now Selena. They all look at you, not me. It's, it's not fair."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "So, you tried to ruin my academic performance because of your personal insecurities? How pathetic."

Kathy looked down, unable to respond.

The Chancellor interjected, his voice firm. "Kathy, you will write a formal apology to Jack, and I will personally see to it that your behavior is noted on your record. This is your final warning. One more incident, and you're gone."

Jack stood, his posture relaxed but his expression commanding. "Consider yourself lucky, Miss Kathy. I could have done much worse, remember all that happened in this office stays here. Nobody should be aware of my identity as the greatest shareholder of the school.."

As he walked out, Daisy followed him, giving Kathy one last pointed look. Kathy slumped in her chair, overwhelmed by the weight of her mistakes.