"you're the one who called someone an outsider aren't you one ," Michael said calmly, his gaze locking onto Madison.
Madison bit her lip, color rushing to her face. She hadn't meant it like that—not out loud, at least.
"Don't take it the wrong way," Vera jumped in quickly, forcing a smile. "Aren't we all friends here?"
"No," Michael replied without hesitation. "You only know Prim. No one else here knows you."
The smile on Vera's face stiffened.
"Madisonno one knows her Oliver is… manageable," Michael continued lightly, almost lazily, "since she's dating Frank. As for you, Vera—Prim is the only reason you're in this group. Ah, right. And Aria. She's the one who introduced you, isn't she?"
Vera stomped her foot, humiliated.
"Please don't fight because of me," Winter said softly, her voice gentle.
"Who's fighting?" Daniel cut in, his tone flat as his eyes settled on her. "He's just stating facts. Upper class, noble, elite— which one do they fall on
The room went quiet.
" in front of Real elites , old money and Aristocrats," Daniel continued. " They are all paupers pretending to belong."
Michael shot him a sharp look. Why would he say that? What if he scared her off? What if she started avoiding him because of something as stupid as family background?
Before the tension could thicken further, Prim clapped his hands once.
"Okay," he said lightly. "Let's eat."
The moment passed—but it didn't disappear.
They gathered around a long table: Vera, Michael, Oliver, the darker-skinned boy, Madison, Frank, Solomon, Winter, Daniel, and Prim. Plates clinked, chairs scraped, but the atmosphere stayed tight.
"So," Madison asked casually, breaking the silence, "which team is Ava joining?"
"She'll probably team up with Milo," Vera answered.
Then she straightened, eyes brightening as if remembering something important.
"Oh, right—Prim," she said, smiling sweetly. "I'm hosting a school party to welcome new and exchange students. It's at the Blue Ivy Underground Club."
Prim looked up, mildly curious. Daniel paused mid-bite.
"Who gave you the invitation?" Daniel asked, his voice soft but attentive.
"It's a new spot in the city," Vera said quickly. "Invitations were sent to elite students only. You didn't get one?"
Daniel shook his head. "No. Maybe I'm not good enough for their club."
Vera laughed lightly, then turned to Prim. "What about you? You definitely got one, right?"
Prim shook his head as well. "Seems I'm the same as Daniel. No invitation."
"Oh," Vera blinked. "That's… strange."
"So what kind of club is it?" Prim asked, tilting his head.
Vera brightened immediately. "It's half casino, half bar, half restaurant, half hotel, half sports center. There's even a race club."
She smiled wider, eyes sparkling.
"Why don't I send your number to them?" she offered quickly. "Maybe they made a mistake."
This is my chance, she thought. " I got an invitation why they didn't if I help them they won't look down on me just because their family have a legacy of more than hundred years"
She didn't notice the faint, unreadable look that crossed Prim's face—or the way Daniel silently observed everything.
"But I got an invitation too," Michael said as Prim and Daniel looked at him at the same time.
"What? Why are you staring at me like that? I did get an invitation, including Ava, Mila, and Daisy," Michael added, shrugging.
"And you didn't bother to tell anyone?" Daniel said, knocking his head.
"Ouch. So you want me to tell you everything, both of you?" Michael replied, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, I thought you guys already knew."
Vera quickly intervened, holding out a blue card. "Then use my card for the time being," she said to Prim.
"Tsk, you're doing too much, Vera. Chill. The boy doesn't like you, and anyway, that card is for the low level—you can't enter other places with it," Michael said.
He opened his bag and took out six cards: three black, three gold. "I'll give one black-and-gold card to Prim and one to Daniel. The rest are mine," he explained.
"This gold card was given by James… for the, you know, thing," Michael said, glancing at Prim. "And the black card? That's for me, Ava, Daisy, and Milo—for the VVIP experience."
Vera clenched the blue card tightly in her hand. "How did you get the card? Did they make a mistake? The blue card is what they gave us," she said, forcing a smile.
"Hmm, the blue card is what they gave everyone," Michael said calmly. "You just have to decide if you want to upgrade. The black card with golden stripes costs 15 million dollars. The regular black card is 10 million. The violet card is 5 million, and the lowest tier costs 500 thousand. Don't want one? You'll pay 5 thousand dollars per hour in there, plus the maintenance fee every two months. Don't forget that."
"For the black card with golden stripes, the maintenance is 2 million per month. Ava paid two years' worth for the six of us—72 million dollars. That's why she bought it for the three of us and covered the maintenance," Michael added, calm as ever.
"Damn… then how much for the gold card?" Frank said, mouth wide open.
"30 million dollars," Michael replied, as everyone stared at Prim and Daniel.
Oliver muttered to herself, "212 million Yuan… I'm only allowed 300 thousand dollars for my allowance. And I thought I was enjoying life."
Frank murmured softly, "I thought I had it good…"
Vera blushed in shame as the blue card felt like dirt in her hand. "Ahhh… right. I didn't know. Otherwise, I would have upgraded it too," she said, forcing a fake smile.
"If you know you can't afford it, don't stress yourself," Prim said gently to her. Vera felt like the ground should swallow her whole. My allowance is just 2 million dollars… even the violet card costs 5 million… and the cheapest is 500 thousand. Where would I put my face?
"Michael, follow me to go choose our mobile car house for the team," Winter said, smiling at him.
"Sure, why not," Michael said, standing quickly and leaving with Winter.
As the teachers instructed everyone to prepare for the trip down the mountain—to visit the hot springs and enjoy the scenery—the students began gathering their things, chatter slowly filling the air.
"So," Daniel said casually as they walked, "what do you think the Blue Ivy Club is really after? No—scratch that. What do you think the Blaze family is plotting?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Prim replied. "They want a race rematch with James. Steal customers. That's all."
Daniel shook his head. "That's too shallow. Their business isn't exactly… clean. Gambling, betting people's lives, illegal auctions, weapon trading, underground fight clubs, casinos, illegal racing—everything except human trafficking. So why suddenly invite rich heirs? Not everyone likes that kind of world."
"When have you ever put all your eggs in one basket?" Prim countered calmly. "The illegal operations might not even be in the same location. Who knows?"
He paused, then glanced ahead.
"Oh, right. What's going on with Michael and that girl—Winter?" Prim asked openly.
Ahead of them, Michael was walking beside Winter, talking animatedly while she laughed softly.
Daniel clicked his tongue and poked the inside of his cheek. "He likes her. As for her… who knows."
He shrugged.
At the Hot Spring Area
Steam curled into the air, blending with the scent of minerals and pine.
Asher quietly excused himself and stepped away from the group, moving toward a shaded path where his phone buzzed.
"I heard you joined the city competition," a man's voice said on the other end.
"Funny," Asher replied lazily, leaning against a tree. "Moments like this make me wonder why there's even signal here."
"We had a deal," the man said sharply. "You were not supposed to draw attention to yourself. You said you didn't want fame. If it's money you want, I'll increase your allowance. Drop out of the competition."
Asher laughed softly. "What? Afraid someone will remember me? The so-called first child of your late ex-wife—the one everyone believes is dead?"
He tilted his head, eyes cold.
"Are you scared your perfect new family will find out the truth?"
"Asher—" the man began, then stopped himself.
"What?" Asher interrupted. "You can't even say my surname? Pathetic. I go to the same school as your precious child. At least they inherited your genes."
Silence.
"Are you trying to cut all ties with me?" the man finally asked, his voice icy.
"Did we ever have ties?" Asher scoffed. "Or does hearing me call you father inflate your ego?"
"Very well," the man said coldly. "Let's see how confident you are without my support."
"You mean you'll stop sending money?" Asher replied calmly. "Who knows what I might do then."
He ended the call and turned around.
"Is eavesdropping on private conversations fun?"
Mia stood there, arms crossed, a mocking smile on her lips.
"So you're a child born out of wedlock," she sneered. "Disgusting."
She lifted her phone slightly. "I recorded everything. Imagine what people would think if this got out."
She waited—expecting panic, begging.
"Are you done talking?" Asher asked flatly.
Mia's smile widened. "Push Ava down the mountain, and maybe I'll help you."
Asher burst out laughing.
He walked past her without a second glance.
Behind him, Mia screamed, threatening to post the video.
"Damn it… damn it!" she cursed, her heart pounding. What if he tells Ava?
She glared at the ground, then froze.
A slow, twisted smile crept onto her face as a dark idea formed.
"Then I'll just get rid of both of them…"
After what felt like an eternity, the school camping trip finally came to an end. The buses rolled back into the school compound, engines hissing as doors opened, and relief spread through the students like fresh air after a storm.
"Hey, Ava."
Milo jogged over, slinging his bag onto one shoulder. "We're hosting a pool party at my place tonight. You in?"
Ava barely slowed. "Can't. Family dinner at my grandpa Carter's house."
She caught Prim's sleeve and pulled him along toward the waiting Carter car.
"Seriously," Prim muttered as he dropped into the seat. "Why do they still host these gatherings? Who even enjoys that chaos?"
"It's for late Grandma Carter maid ," Ava said, scrolling through her phone, tone casual but not careless. "Grandpa will be there. Dad and Mom too. Uncle Henry and his wife Amelia—with their son Luke. Uncle Jacob and Aunt Isabella will come with Diego, Elena, and Grace. Aunt Madeline and Uncle Peter Cruz too… Sebastian and Lucia."
She paused, thumb hovering over the screen.
"It's at the old mansion," she added quietly. "The one Grandma used to live in—before her right-hand maid died. Grandpa shut it down after that. Said he didn't want her reminded… didn't want her sad."