Classicprincecj

At university, Chris is just another student—quiet, reserved, and seemingly ordinary. But behind the scenes, he’s the heir to a hidden fortune, a secret he guards fiercely.

Then there’s Skylar—a girl born into wealth, now watching her privileged world crumble as her family faces financial ruin. When she crosses paths with Chris, an unexpected connection sparks between them.

Skylar falls for him, believing he’s just a regular guy. But when her family pressures her to seek a richer suitor, Chris finds himself at a crossroads—should he reveal his true identity to fight for their love, or let her go to protect his secret?

In a world where love and wealth collide, can their relationship survive the truth?

Masked Affluence

Chris leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled as he watched Ethan pace across the room. The weight of what had just happened wasn't lost on him—but it wasn't regret he felt. It was control. Absolute, undeniable control.

And yet, he needed feedback. Not from yes-men. Not from advisors who only told him what they thought he wanted to hear.

Ethan smirked, stopping in front of the desk. "You want feedback? Fine. Let's break it down."

He lifted a finger. "One, Wren Lancaster is dead. Clean job. No loose ends. No trails leading back to us. That's a win."

"Two." He raised another finger. "Every single one of his assets, businesses, and partnerships? Ours. Overnight, Blackwood just expanded its empire without lifting a finger in the public eye. Another win."

"Three." Ethan's smirk faded slightly. "Your identity remains intact. No one—not a single soul—knows Blackwood's true power is in your hands. To the world, it was just a bad investment for Wren, and he disappeared into irrelevance. The illusion holds."

Chris nodded slowly. This was exactly how he wanted it.

Ethan leaned against the desk, his tone shifting. "Now for the real question." He met Chris's gaze. "Where does Skylar fit into this?"

Chris's expression didn't change. "She stays out of it."

Ethan sighed. "That's what I thought." He tapped a knuckle against the desk. "Look, boss. You pulled off the perfect silent takeover. But let's be real—this all happened because of her."

Ethan shook his head. "I get it. You don't want her involved. You want her protected. But let's not pretend that everything you just did—the power moves, the destruction, the silence—it was all because some nobody thought he could get close to Skylar."

Ethan chuckled. "And you'd do it again. In a heartbeat."

Silence stretched between them. Chris knew Ethan was right. If anyone else dared to get close to Skylar—**to touch what was his—**he wouldn't hesitate to burn them down, too.

Ethan exhaled, standing straight. "That's your biggest weakness, you know. And your greatest strength."

Chris didn't flinch. He had always known the truth:

Skylar was the only thing in this world that made him reckless.

And that made her the most dangerous piece on the board.

Chapter 49: The Aftermath