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

Ethan leaned against the massive desk, arms crossed as he studied Chris. "You've set the stage perfectly. Skylar's family will attend, believing they're mingling with the elite. Meanwhile, you'll be right in front of them… invisible."

Chris smirked. "That's the beauty of it, Ethan. People only acknowledge what they're conditioned to see. If they believe I'm beneath them, they won't look twice."

Ethan let out a low chuckle. "And what happens when the mask comes off?"

Chris's gaze darkened slightly. "They'll learn the hard way."

Ethan exhaled, shaking his head. "You're ruthless."

Chris leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the polished wood. "I'm strategic."

Instead, he picked up the guest list, his eyes sweeping over the names. Skylar's father, mother, and a few extended relatives. He had made sure their invitation was sent personally—delivered in a way that left no room for rejection.

Ethan straightened. "With the kind of people coming, security will need to be airtight. No mistakes."

Chris nodded. "Increase the internal teams. No weapons allowed inside, not even for bodyguards. Every guest walks in defenseless."

Ethan smirked. "So they'll be at Blackwood's mercy."

Chris's lips curled slightly. "Exactly."

Meanwhile – The Lancaster Estate

Skylar sat at the dining table, staring at the elegant invitation in her father's hand.

Her mother was already beaming. "This could change everything for us," she whispered, fingers tightening around the embossed gold lettering. "Ethan doesn't invite just anyone."

Skylar, however, wasn't as easily convinced. "Why now?" she murmured. "Why is Blackwood suddenly hosting an event this grand?"

Her father sighed, setting the invitation down. "Because they can."

Skylar frowned. "So we're just going to walk into a room filled with billionaires and pretend we belong there?"

Her father gave her a sharp look. "We do belong there."

Skylar clenched her jaw. Their family's wealth wasn't what it once was, and they all knew it. But she didn't push further.

"Fine," she muttered. "I just hope it's worth it."

She didn't know that, for Chris, it was worth more than they could ever imagine.

Chapter 74: The Unseen Mastermind