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 let the silence stretch, watching the rulers shift under my gaze. They understood that from this moment forward, the Blackwood Union was no longer just an alliance—it was law. And I was its absolute enforcer.

"Now, let me make this clear. There are lines you will not cross."

I stepped forward, my voice sharp and commanding.

"You are rulers in title, but your power exists because of the Union. Any attempt to defy the Empire, to challenge the throne, or to undermine its rule will be considered treason. Treason is met with only one consequence—eradication."

Some rulers stiffened. Good. They needed to understand.

"The Blackwood Union is your only allegiance. You will withdraw from every world governing body, every treaty, every external pact that is not sanctioned by the Union. The United Nations, the World Bank, the International Criminal Court—they no longer exist for you."

A few leaders exchanged glances, realizing the weight of what I was saying.

"All member nations will adopt the Blackwood Standard, a new currency backed by the Empire. No exceptions. Trade, military funding, and resource allocation will be dictated by the Union's financial structure."

They had already seen the Empire's wealth, and they knew resisting this was not an option.

"Each of your armies is now an extension of the Blackwood Imperial Command. There will be no separate defense treaties, no independent military actions. If a conflict arises, it will be handled under our strategy, under our directive."

I let my words settle before delivering the final blow.

"Fifth—Failure has consequences."

"Any attempt to break these rules will result in immediate dissolution of your rule. Your land, your resources, your title—everything will be reassigned under my command. There will be no negotiations, no second chances."

Silence. Then, slow nods of understanding.

The world they knew was gone. This was the new order.

Chris turned to me, his voice calm but firm.

"Now, Ethan—give me an immediate headcount. I want to know exactly how many nations we have secured."

I tapped into my device, scanning the updated figures.

"As of this moment, we have 141 nations under the Blackwood Union, with 32 more in the process of alignment. The remaining democratic holdouts are down to 15."

"Make sure those 15 know they are on borrowed time."

He turned back to the room, his next command carrying the weight of finality.

"As of today, all Union members will officially withdraw from every world governing body. You are no longer subjects to any external authority. The world answers to the Blackwood Union now."

There was no argument. No protest. They had already surrendered to the inevitable.

Then, Chris delivered the final incentive.

"And to solidify your loyalty—each ruling nation will receive an automatic deposit of $20 billion from the Empire's reserves."

A murmur rippled through the room. Power and wealth. It was more than they could have hoped for.

Chris smirked. "This is your welcome into the new world order. Serve well, and you will prosper. Fail… and you already know the price."

With that, the Blackwood Union was unbreakable.

Chapter 521: The Lines of Power