Carter turned around and his face went pale. " I can see you have gotten some balls talking behind me. You are lucky that I didn't bash your head in. How dare you touch my ass?" Selena said anger
The students all looked at Carter expecting some reaction but they were surprised to see him kept mute. Sophia walked in to notice the tense atmosphere. " What is going on, Carter?" She asked staring at the strange lady standing in front of Carter
" She didn't know?" One of the students said, trying to lower her voice. " Wasn't she with him at the club?" Another asked
"What are they talking about and who is she?" Sophia stared into Carter's face. "She is no one. Just someone that needs to be put in her place." Carter replied with a smirk
" Everyone! Back to your class!" One of the teachers shouted and the crowd dispersed. Each trying to find his or her own classroom. Ethan on the other hand was getting worried. He stared at the orb each time expecting to see an encrypted message right in front of him but none was forthcoming.
He bumped into Selena and the orb fell off his hands rolling straight towards Carter's feet. "Are you blind as well? Don't you look up to see where you are going?" Sophia yelled at him
But Ethan wasn't bothered, he ran after the orb and was surprised to see it with Carter. " Give that back." Ethan shouted with anger burning in his eyes.
Carter let out a weak smile staring at the orb right in his hands. " What does this mean to you?
Carter held up the orb, inspecting it with an amused smirk, his fingers tracing its polished surface. Ethan's heart pounded as he watched Carter toy with it, his anger and panic flaring as Carter raised the orb high, taunting him.
"This... this little trinket? What's so special about it?" Carter laughed, glancing around to make sure he had an audience. "Maybe it's your good luck charm, Ethan? Or maybe... it's just as pathetic as you are."
Ethan clenched his fists, a rush of heat prickling up his neck. "You don't know what you're talking about. Just give it back."
Carter raised an eyebrow, taking a step closer. "Oh, but I think I do know. You think you can come into this school, flaunting your so-called 'wealth,' pretending to be something you're not?" He snorted. "Everyone knows you're just trying to make Sophia jealous, but news flash—you'll never measure up."
Before Ethan could respond, Carter tossed the orb up in the air, catching it casually, the light catching its smooth surface. Ethan's gaze followed it, dread settling deep in his gut. He couldn't risk losing the Echo System—not now, when he'd barely scratched the surface of its power.
As if sensing Ethan's desperation, Carter's smirk widened. "Oh, you want it? You can have it... if you beg."
Ethan's jaw tightened, every fiber of his pride screaming in resistance. He held Carter's gaze, refusing to give him the satisfaction. But the thought of losing the orb—of losing everything he'd gained—was gnawing at him. Finally, just as Ethan took a step forward, his face a mask of seething restraint, a teacher's voice boomed through the courtyard.
"Enough, Carter!" The teacher's stern voice silenced the scene, and Carter reluctantly handed the orb back to Ethan, shooting him a venomous look. "Another scene like this, and you'll be suspended," the teacher warned, glaring at Carter before dismissing the students.
Ethan barely heard the teacher's parting words as he clutched the orb, relief flooding him. As he walked away, he whispered to the Echo System, his voice barely audible. "Give me a task. I need a new mission—anything to make Carter pay."
Everyone looked at them and wondered how two best friends that mostly share everything and do everything would suddenly become enemies.
Carter looked at Ethan and gave him a weird smile. Ethan looked at his face and back at Sophia who went to sit down beside him. He hissed and wondered why Sophia would want to be his friend still when she obviously dated him and is now dating his best friend."
The orb hummed softly in his hand, its surface flickering before a new message appeared:
"Your next mission: Humiliate Carter in front of the entire school. Make him lose everything he values. REWARD; £300,000,000."
Ethan froze as he looked at the orb he was holding. The money was becoming more substantial by the day that he was beginning to doubt if he was going to get the money even if he managed to humiliate Carter. The encrypted message disappeared right before his eyes. Ethan looked at Carter and back at Sophia. They needed to be taught a lesson and he also needed to sponsor the coming charity event and the money was more than enough to donate into the school charity bank. All he needed was to make Carter pay for what he did.
His eyes glanced back at Selena and a thought came right into his mind. All he needed was to make Sophia see right through his mask. Ethan knew the kind of ladies Carter liked and Sophia didn't fit into the category. While would date Sophia when Selena was really the type of lady he liked?
Ethan decided to trace Carter to find out what he really was hiding. Immediately the bell rang, all the students carried their backpacks and were soon on their way home. Ethan immediately got out of school and decided to head towards Carter's home.
He knew Carter's parents didn't know they were no longer friends.
Walking into the sprawling estate, Ethan was greeted by the old maid. She smiled," How are you doing today,Ethan?"
Ethan nodded," I am fine,Mrs Whitmore."
" Your friend isn't back from school. Don't you both attend the same school?" She asked with a smile on her face
" We do. I will just wait for him in his room." Ethan replied walking up the stairway.
Ethan stood still as his eyes glanced through Carter's room. He needed something that he was going to use to humilated Carter and also get back at Sophia. But there was nothing he could use. He glanced at his study room and saw his picture with him. They both had taken it when they were both in kindergarten.
Ethan heard the gate open and he glanced through the window. His heart thud. He knew Carter would definitely find his coming suspicious.
Both were no longer friends and he had no reason to come to see him. Ethan ran out of the room and down the stairs. "Are you alright?" Mrs Whitmore asked,seeing the look on his face.
" Can you do me a favor?" Ethan asked with a shaky breath. " What is it?" Mrs Whitmore asked as Carter was just some few seconds away from the mansion