Chapter 72: The Gathering of Titans

The morning sun bathed the penthouse in golden light as Chris scrolled through the latest headlines.

As expected, the world was already buzzing.

"The Party of the Century – Blackwood Opens Its Doors to the Elite, Entry Fee Set at $5 Million!"

"A Ticket to Power – Only the Wealthiest Can Attend Blackwood's Exclusive Event!"

But no one mentioned his name.

To the public, the man behind this event was Ethan—the ruthless and powerful Chairman of Blackwood. No one suspected the real mastermind was just a university student who walked among them unnoticed.

Ethan stepped into the room, a smirk on his face. "In six hours, we already have over forty confirmations. By tonight, people will be fighting just for a spot."

Chris leaned back, expression unreadable. "Good."

Ethan placed a thick folder on the desk. "Here's the list of attendees. The usual faces—CEOs, royalty, tech billionaires. But a few names stood out."

Chris flipped through the pages. His sharp eyes landed on specific names—men with connections to his enemies.

"These," he murmured, tapping the pages. "They've been linked to Zayne before his escape."

Ethan's smirk faded slightly. "That means Zayne might be trying to reach out for help."

Chris closed the folder. "Let them in."

Ethan raised a brow. "Are you sure?"

Chris's lips curled into a cold smirk. "If they want to walk into Blackwood's den, let them. They won't leave unscathed."

---

Meanwhile – On Campus

Skylar sat at an outdoor café on campus, her fingers drumming against the table as she scrolled through her phone.

The Blackwood party was everywhere.

She wasn't shocked by the event itself—Ethan had always been powerful, and Blackwood was practically untouchable—but something about the timing felt off.

Why now?

And why such an outrageous entry fee?

She sighed, setting her phone down. Her father had been acting strange ever since the news broke. He hadn't said much, but the look in his eyes…

It was the same look he had when their family started losing everything.

Worry.

Fear.

Skylar knew better than to ask him directly, but something told her this event wasn't just about money or power.

It was about control.

And she had a sinking feeling that her life was about to change again.