The academic center erupted into chaos!
No one could believe it: Sophia Rivers, the school's goddess, ignored protocol and sang exclusively for Mike Carter.
Her words, "Mike, did you like it?" shattered the hearts of everyone present.
Their minds filled with jealousy, envy, and fury. To them, it was the ultimate betrayal.
The event organizers were just as stunned. Sophia had gone entirely off-script. But Sophia didn't care. She believed Mike was right—this was her last chance to do something bold before graduation.
Mike, however, was overwhelmed. He knew the song held meaning for Sophia because he had once asked her, "Can you fold paper stars?" What he didn't know was that Sophia had stayed up all night trying to learn, cutting her delicate fingers in the process.
After finishing her song, Sophia stepped down from the stage. The audience fell into a stunned silence.
The stillness lingered until Sophia reached Mike. Gently taking his hand, she said, "I knew you'd come. Shall we leave?"
Mike gasped, his heart racing. It was the first time he'd held a girl's hand, and it felt incredibly real.
"Where to?" he stammered.
"Take me home?" Sophia smiled playfully, her expression enchanting.
Mike nodded, too stunned to refuse. Together, they left the academic center.
Outside, the whispers began.
This was unbelievable! The Mike Carter everyone dismissed as a nobody was now walking hand-in-hand with Sophia Rivers.
Once they reached a quieter area, Sophia handed Mike her car keys. "You drive," she said with a grin.
After dropping Sophia off at her home, Mike headed to meet Ethan Howard. Something about Ethan seemed off that evening.
"You okay?" Mike asked.
Ethan snapped out of his thoughts, forcing a smile. "Nothing, really," he replied, handing over a stack of papers. "Here's the latest investment proposal."
Mike skimmed the documents until one caught his eye. "Ethan, I've looked through everything. Let's go with this project, "The Billionaire's Arrival."*
The project's premise was intriguing: Ten randomly selected individuals would receive a significant sum of money to live like billionaires for a week, spending it all before the show ended.
Ethan frowned. "It's a high-risk, high-cost production," he said, unconvinced.
Mike grinned. "True, but if it's executed well, the advertising revenue and public impact will be massive. Besides, to cut costs, loan them my two cars for the show."
Ethan reluctantly nodded, though his unease remained evident.
"You're not yourself today," Mike observed.
"It's just a cold clouding my judgment. Don't worry, I'll be fine," Ethan reassured him.
-----------------------------------------------
That evening, Sophia returned home to find a text from Leila Stewart:
"Sophia, you're insane! Do you know how much chaos you caused by singing the wrong song? Especially poor Chris Miller; he's probably hiding in shame."
Sophia texted back, "You don't hate Mike anymore?"
Leila replied with a sheepish emoji. "Of course I still hate him, but I've realized I was wrong about him stealing from my store. To make it up to him, I gave him my ticket to see you perform."
"Well, I guess we're even now. But please, for the love of everything, stay away from that broke jerk," Leila added.
The next morning, Sophia texted Mike: "My mom wants to meet you tonight."
Mike stared at the message, stunned. He barely had time to process before Sophia called him to the mall to pick out some clothes. She even bought him an outfit worth over $10,000.
As they left the mall, a woman approached Mike with a microphone. After a brief interview, she departed.
Curious, Sophia asked, "Who was that?"
Mike chuckled. "Just someone from a TV production team."
What he didn't mention was that it was a crew member from "The Billionaire's Arrival." They had offered Mike a chance to participate, promising a $300,000 reward if he succeeded in convincingly portraying a wealthy persona.
Sophia received a call from her mom and hurried off, but not before standing on tiptoes to kiss Mike's cheek. "Don't be late tonight," she whispered before darting away like a playful rabbit.
Mike stood frozen, the kiss leaving him in a daze. For the first time, he felt what true romance was like.
By evening, Mike arrived at the Rivers' mansion, already familiar with its layout. But inside, Sophia was upset.
"Mom, why did you invite him? I told you I was bringing my boyfriend!" she exclaimed upon seeing Chris Miller seated at the dining table.
"And what's wrong with that?" her mother retorted. "The Millers have always been close to our family. Besides, you two were practically promised to each other as kids. Chris didn't even hold last night's mishap against you. It's a good opportunity to apologize."
"Mom! I don't need your approval for my boyfriend!"
Ignoring her protests, Chris interjected, "Sophia, I was wrong to plan the duet without consulting you. I just wanted to express my feelings. Please don't be mad."
He presented a bouquet of roses, but Sophia turned away. "I'm not mad. Just go home, Chris."
Chris's smile faltered as he noticed the dining table set for more guests. "Are you expecting someone else?"
"Yes," Sophia said firmly. "My boyfriend."
Chris's composure cracked. Years of silent admiration for Sophia shattered in an instant.
"Sophia, you can't be serious. Do you know who Mike Carter really is?" Chris shouted, standing abruptly. "He's a fraud, a leech who borrows money and never pays it back. He's a disgrace to this school!"
Sophia's mother frowned. "Sophia, is this true?"
Before she could respond, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway interrupted them.
Mike entered, holding a gift. "Sophia, sorry I'm late. I stopped to pick something up."
Chris smirked. "Oh, this will be fun. Let's see how long you last."