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

I stood in the grand hall, the dim lighting casting long shadows across the polished floor. The weight of responsibility pressed against my shoulders as I reviewed the latest reports. The empire was stable—on the surface—but Chris had been away longer than expected. And in his absence, Christiana had begun making moves that even I had to acknowledge.

The Dictator was playing the game well.

A knock on the door disrupted my thoughts. One of my men stepped in, saluting before speaking.

"Sir, the Prime Minister is requesting an urgent audience."

I exhaled, already expecting this. Skylar had kept the Prime Minister in place despite Chris' wishes, and that had started an undercurrent of tension. Christiana's rise to power only complicated things further.

The doors swung open, and the Prime Minister entered, his expression carefully neutral.

"Ethan," he started, "I assume you've been monitoring the latest developments?"

"I monitor everything," I replied coolly.

He gave a small nod, but his eyes flickered with something—unease, perhaps. "Then you know that Christiana's reach is expanding faster than anticipated. She's already overturned three of my policies and reassigned half the advisory board."

I leaned back in my chair, steepling my fingers.

I raised a brow. "Correction—authority Chris gave her. And you should tread carefully, Prime Minister. If you want to keep your position, I'd suggest you adapt."

His jaw tightened, but he nodded. He wasn't foolish enough to challenge Christiana openly—not yet, at least.

London's night air was crisp, the stadium lights illuminating the sea of blue jerseys. I sat in the private box, sipping my drink as Chelsea took control of the match.

Football had always been my escape. Even as a ruler, even in the chaos of my return, this was one thing that still felt normal.

But my peace didn't last long. My phone buzzed. Ethan.

"Christiana is moving faster than expected. The Prime Minister is starting to feel the pressure."

"Chris, this isn't a joke. She's shifting power aggressively. If she keeps going at this pace, she might not just be a government force—she'll be a ruler in everything but name."

I leaned back, watching the game as I spoke.

"Let her play her game, Ethan. But remind her—no one sits on my throne but me."

I walked into the main assembly hall, my heels clicking against the marble. The ministers were already gathered, their eyes filled with a mixture of respect and apprehension.

"Let's begin," I said, taking my seat at the head of the table.

The meeting progressed, but I could feel the tension rising. The Prime Minister was resisting my influence, but that was expected. He still believed he had real power.

I glanced at Ethan's empty chair. He wasn't present, but I knew he was watching. He always was.

At the end of the session, I stood.

"Moving forward, all major policies will pass through me before execution," I declared.

The Prime Minister stiffened. "That's not how the system works—"

Silence fell. No one dared to challenge me further.

And soon, they would all see just how far The Dictator could go.

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Chapter 477: The Weight of Power