Chapter 42

"Follow me," Hades said coldly to Selena, his voice razor-sharp.

The moment their teacher disappeared around the corner, he stood and walked out of the classroom, not even glancing back to check if Selena or anyone else followed him.

He made his way to the farthest room in the hallway, the chemistry lab, currently unoccupied.

Hades didn't know how to control the anger clawing inside him. The moment he saw that video, the one supposedly showing Evadne in a compromising position, his blood boiled.

But then he saw how Evadne reacted to it.

He knew. That wasn't her.

And he also knew exactly who orchestrated it.

The door swung open. Selena stepped inside, and she wasn't alone. The rest of their so-called "friends" followed behind her like sheep. Even Cieryl, who was told by the teacher to keep the class together, had tagged along.

"Babe? Is something wrong?" Cieryl asked sweetly, her voice saccharine as honey.

If Hades hadn't heard what he did two nights ago, hadn't overheard her venom wrapped in a fake smile, he might have believed her. He might have fallen for her lies again.

But not this time.

Only now did he notice the glint in her eyes, the kind that shimmered with calculated malice, as if she expected him to crumble before her again.

He ignored her completely.

This wasn't the time to confront Cieryl.

He'd play her game for now.

Instead, his eyes locked on Selena.

"Take down the video," Hades said flatly.

Selena raised a brow. "Video? I don't know what you're talking about, Hades," she replied with mock innocence, but she didn't even bother hiding the cruelty behind her eyes.

A slow smirk curled on Hades's lips. The kind of smirk that made everyone else in the room go quiet.

Without breaking eye contact, he took out his phone and called Tyla. Then, he turned on the speaker.

"Hades," came the woman's voice over the line.

"Tyla, if we terminate Selena Punzalan's contract today, how much do we lose? Are there any penalties?" Hades asked, his tone calm, too calm.

"None," Tyla replied instantly. "Selena's yearly exclusive contract expired three months ago. We haven't renewed it yet. She still did brand shoots because you personally approved them. According to your mother, any entertainment business decisions are to follow your lead, contract or not. So, no breach of contract. No penalties. And no loss on our part. We can replace her anytime."

"Okay," Hades said smoothly. "So just in case she stops receiving projects from us, how much does she lose?"

"Well, if we were planning to give her the same volume of work she got the past two years, given that she already received half of this year's, then she stands to lose around fifteen million for the remaining months," Tyla answered without hesitation. "May I ask why you're asking this?"

"Well," Hades said, his eyes never leaving Selena's, "Evadne's implemented a lot of activities as the new SBO president. Since Selena's also an SBO officer, I'm worried that her modeling commitments might conflict with her school duties. Just making sure we don't have any trouble down the road."

Tyla exhaled lightly. "Honestly? We only prioritized Selena because you instructed us to. If we follow protocol by the book, she wouldn't be getting projects anymore. We've got a full lineup of models already."

"Is that so?" Hades asked with feigned curiosity, lips curling slightly. "Well then, that's all I needed you for."

"Hades," Tyla's voice stopped him just before he ended the call.

"I know she's your friend, that's why you've been giving her special treatment. But if you really want to prove to your father that you're capable of leading the Falcon Empire, it's time to start being objective. I've had to silence a lot of negative feedback about Selena, co-models, photographers, directors, even the crew. Her prima donna behavior is becoming unbearable. Yes, she's good at what she does, but we have plenty of models who are better. I hope you don't take this personally."

"I understand, Tyla," Hades replied coolly. "For now, freeze all her scheduled shoots. Don't assign her to any new projects unless I say otherwise. And find someone else, someone better, to represent the brands I gave her. I'll give additional instructions if necessary."

"Alright. Call me if you need anything else." With that, Tyla ended the call.

Selena stood frozen, pale despite her blood-red lipstick. Her fingers clutched the hem of her blouse like it might stop her from falling apart.

"Hades…" she stammered, unsure what to say.

"You heard that, didn't you?" Hades said, his voice now coated in a mocking gentleness. "The Falcon Empire doesn't lose a damn thing by letting you go. But you? You'll lose a lot. With the way you and your family live, I hope you've got savings, because you're going to need it once your so-called career crashes."

He stepped toward her, looming over her like a shadow.

"Take that video down," he said quietly, "and make sure Evadne's name is cleared, before lunchtime. Or I'll make sure that no Falcon-affiliated agency ever hires you again."

His fingers reached up and took hold of the gold necklace hanging around Selena's neck, a necklace he had given her. A gift for being an exclusive model of Falcon. A token of their supposed friendship.

With his other hand, he tilted her chin up with two fingers.

"You haven't seen what I can do with the Falcon name, Selena," Hades whispered. "Sure, my father may have disowned me, but I still own five percent of the entire Falcon Empire. That still makes me ten times richer than all of you combined."

He let that sink in. And looked at all his 'friends'.

"I may not be the future CEO anymore, but that doesn't mean I won't hold power. Because I will. And whether you believe it or not, I still have a say in whether or not the Falcon Empire continues working with families like yours. Now tell me, what do you think will happen if Falcon cuts ties with all of you?"

A tense silence fell over the room.

"Hades, bro…" a voice interrupted from the side.

It was Thatcher. He placed a hand on Hades's shoulder, trying to act like the voice of reason. The same Thatcher who, unknown to Hades, had been sleeping with Cieryl behind his back. The same Thatcher who smiled to his face while stabbing him from behind.

"Maybe your head's just hot from the weather," Thatcher chuckled awkwardly. "You should chill, man."

Hades turned slowly to look at the hand on his shoulder, like it was some contaminant, and said nothing.

But something in his eyes must have made Thatcher feel it. He immediately pulled his hand away, almost like he'd been burned.

Hades turned back to Selena, his smile dark and dangerous.

"Hot-headed or not…" he said, voice silky with threat, "I hope you understood exactly what I said, Selena."

Selena nodded quickly, trembling.

"I–I'll take it down right away," she stammered. "And I'll clear her name. I promise."

"Before lunch," Hades reminded with a chilling softness. "After that, it won't matter."

"Yes. Before lunch," Selena whispered, nearly in tears now.

"Good girl," Hades said softly, his tone coaxing but cold.

Then he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving his so-called friends speechless in his wake.

"Babe, wait!" Cieryl called out, chasing after Hades down the empty corridor.

But he didn't stop.

"Babe! Hades!" she called again, breath hitching in panic.

When he still didn't look back, she rushed forward and grabbed his wrist, forcing him to stop.

"I was calling you. Didn't you hear me?" she asked, her voice trembling, dangerously close to tears. Her eyes searched his face in fear, fear that he knew something he wasn't supposed to.

"Babe, what's going on?" she whispered, trying to keep her tone soft, concerned. "You know you can always tell me, right? I know Selena was out of line with that prank, but… did you really have to go that far? I thought you wanted Evadne to fall. I only let Selena post that video because I thought that's what you wanted. If her reputation got ruined, even if she's still top one at VMC, you'd have a reason to take back the SBO President title."

Hades just stared at her.

He didn't say a word.

And for the first time, Cieryl felt cold all over.

He was looking at her like she was a stranger.

Like someone he had just seen clearly for the first time.

"Babe?" Her voice cracked. She forced a smile, tried to play innocent, sweet, supportive. Exactly the girl he always thought she was.

Yes, she had been disappointed when she found out Jupiter had disowned him. But then she learned Hades still owned five percent of Falcon Empire.

That changed everything.

She still had a future, if she could stay close.

Hades let out a sigh and smiled gently. "I'm sorry, babe," he said, his voice suddenly soft. "But what Selena did… it cornered me. It made things difficult."

He stepped closer.

"We talked again, me, Mom, and Dad, yesterday," he confessed. "And… Dad gave me one last chance to prove myself. He's still asking me to stay in my apartment for now, so we don't suffocate each other. And… he's no longer requiring me to marry Evadne."

Cieryl's eyes lit up, but Hades continued, stopping any illusions cold.

"But his will is already written and he will not change it," he said. "Sixty percent of the Falcon Empire goes to Evadne. And the remaining shares? They go to whoever she marries. Whoever. Do you really think I'd let just anyone get that? After everything I've been through?"

He gave her a look so calm it was terrifying.

"No. I won't let that happen."

Cieryl's breath caught in her throat.

"Evadne and I already have a deal," Hades said. "We're going to follow our families' plan. Get married. But… we're free to do what we want, as long as we're discreet. That was the agreement. And part of that agreement is that I keep my people in line. Selena is one of my people. Or… was."

His smile didn't reach his eyes.

"What she did could have cost me everything. If I didn't clean it up immediately, I'd lose the only chance my father gave me to redeem myself. And I won't let anyone take that from me again."

He cupped Cieryl's face, his forehead resting gently against hers. "I had to make a hard decision," he whispered. "I'm cutting off anyone who isn't useful to me. Anyone who's dead weight."

His eyes bore into hers.

"Tell me you understand."

Cieryl forced a sweet, innocent smile. "Of course I understand," she said, her voice gentle.

But her hands were cold. Icy.

Hades kissed her forehead, his arms wrapping around her in a warm embrace.

"I knew you would," he murmured. "That's why I love you. So, so much."

Cieryl exhaled quietly against his chest.

For a moment, she had thought he knew her secret.

But no, it was just about Jupiter. Just pressure. Just ambition. Nothing personal.

And so, she smiled into his shirt, hugging him tighter.

Because if she wanted to keep Hades in the palm of her hand, then she had to keep pretending.

Pretend to be loving.

Pretend to be loyal.

Pretend to be his perfect girlfriend, until he gave her everything she wanted.

And while Cieryl smiled into his chest, still pretending, still believing she had Hades wrapped around her finger, Hades held her gently, arms firm around her waist.

But his eyes told a different story.

Burning. Cold. Unforgiving.

Hatred simmered beneath the softness of his touch, hatred for the woman in his arms, for the so-called friends who had laughed behind his back, for every person who ever thought they could use him as a pawn.

They thought he was weak when Jupiter stripped him of his place.

They thought he was desperate.

They thought wrong.

Because in that moment, as he held Cieryl close, Hades Falcon made a promise to himself.

If they only stayed beside him because of his last name… then he would show them exactly what that name could do, at their expense.

He wouldn't scream. He wouldn't curse. That wasn't his way.

He would smile.

He would hug.

And when they least expected it, he would burn their worlds to the ground.

They wanted the Falcon name?

Then they will choke on it.

They will remember the day they underestimated Hades Falcon.

And regret it for the rest of their lives.