I Inherited Trillions, Now What?

Caroline stood frozen, her gaze locked on the girl now staring directly back at her. Gretha's grin stretched across her face like a blade, sharp and deliberate. Caroline felt an unexplainable weight settle over her, as though Gretha's presence alone could sap the strength from her limbs. What is she doing here? The thought echoed in her mind, unrelenting.

Gretha took a step forward, then another, her movements slow and deliberate, her grin never faltering. It wasn't just a smile—it was a statement, a challenge. Caroline's jaw clenched tighter with every step, her glare hardening as tension rippled between them.

"Maybe we should just leave," Daphne whispered beside her, her voice tinged with unease, but the thought had no chance to linger.

"Hi there," Gretha's voice cut through the air, dripping with mockery and condescension.

Caroline stayed silent, her breathing slow but steady, her hands curling into fists by her sides. Before she could think of a reply, the same deep, dispassionate voice from earlier sounded behind her.

"Cousin, I didn't know you were coming back," Paul said as he stepped up beside her, his uniform pristine, his expression as indifferent as ever.

Gretha turned slightly, just enough to glance at him. Her grin didn't waver, though her eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "Well, I didn't plan on it," she said breezily, her voice lilting with faux cheer. "But you know how fate works—it's full of surprises."

Her attention shifted back to Caroline, her focus razor-sharp now. Gretha tilted her head, her grin deepening into something far more sinister. "What's wrong? Aren't you thrilled to see me again?"

Caroline felt her fury bubbling beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. Her lips parted, her voice steady but cold. "I thought you didn't want to stay in this gilded cage," she shot back, her words laced with venom.

Gretha exhaled loudly, shaking her head as if scolding a child. Then, with an exaggerated wave of her hand, she spoke, her tone saccharine and theatrical. "Well, after spending so much time outside, doing the real work—you know, protesting, inspiring change, making a difference—I had an epiphany."

She took another step forward, closing the space between them. Her grin faded for a moment, replaced by a look of calculated intensity. "I realized that the greatest way to change the world isn't from the outside. No, no, no. The real power lies in here," she gestured broadly at the school around them, her grin slowly creeping back. "From the inside."

There was a beat of silence before she added, her voice lowering, her grin now sharp as a knife. "After all, someone has to do it, Caroline. Because we both know daddy's little puppet isn't capable of anything real."

The insult struck like a whip. Caroline's hands curled into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as her breath hitched.

Gretha's smile only widened, triumphant, as she took a step closer. "Someone has to be the real change," she said, her voice carrying a self-righteous lilt that sent Caroline's temper teetering on the edge.

Caroline's fury rose to the surface, her face tightening, but just as she opened her mouth to retaliate, a booming voice rang out from behind them, cutting through the tension like a knife.

"Gretha! Is that really you?"

All heads turned toward the source of the voice. Noah, the ever-energetic, black African boy, was waving his hands excitedly, his wide grin lighting up his face. "Gretha!" he called out, his excitement practically vibrating off him.

Gretha's grin stretched even wider as she spotted him. She let out a squeal, "Noah!"

Noah wasted no time closing the distance between them. His uniform was, as always, a rebel's masterpiece: blazer untucked, shirt half-buttoned, and sport shoes in place of the standard polished oxfords. When he reached her, he scooped her up in a bear hug, spinning her in the air with unrestrained enthusiasm.

"Wow, you're really here!" he shouted, his laugh infectious.

"Let me down, Noah!" Gretha said between laughs, though she didn't seem to mind the attention.

He finally set her down, his hands still on her shoulders, his grin never faltering. He didn't care about the curious eyes watching them; all that mattered was her. "What are you doing here? Last I heard, you were in Congo running some eco-friendly protest or something," he said, his tone both teasing and genuinely curious.

Gretha laughed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "You know I can't leave you unsupervised. Someone's got to save you from yourself."

Noah let out a loud laugh, shaking his head. "It's so good to see you again. Since you left, this school has turned into such a drag."

"Oh, I bet it has," Gretha said, her tone dripping with mock sympathy as the two fell into an easy rhythm of banter, seemingly oblivious to the rest of the crowd.

As they continued chatting like old friends catching up, completely ignoring the eyes glued to them, a sharp coughing sound broke through the air. The interruption was deliberate, commanding. All heads turned toward the source.

Standing slightly off to the side was Li, his expression as unreadable as ever, his posture straight and commanding. His crisp uniform was immaculate, every button in place. His voice, when he spoke, carried the weight of authority.

"Everyone, we have World Affairs class soon. Please make your way to the classroom," he said, leaving no room for arguments.

Gretha turned toward him, her grin softening into something more mischievous. "Still the same as always, Li. It's nice to see you again."

Li's gaze didn't waver. "Gretha," he said curtly, "I was informed of your return. However, you are still required to attend class. First, you should change into the proper uniform. Your current attire is not acceptable."

Gretha rolled her eyes dramatically but smirked. "Yeah, yeah, I'll get right on that."

Before she could say more, another voice piped up—Daphne's. She had been standing quietly to the side, watching everything unfold, but now her curiosity got the better of her. "Wait—you knew she was coming?"

Li turned his head toward Daphne, his expression unchanged. "Yes. The headmaster informed me. As the class prefect, it is my responsibility to ensure that new arrivals integrate smoothly into their schedules. Her resumption is no excuse to skip class," he explained with his usual matter-of-fact tone.

Hearing all this, Caroline, who had been silently fuming the entire time, finally snapped. "Let's go," she said sharply, her voice tight with irritation.

Daphne nodded, sensing her friend's anger, and the two of them turned and began walking briskly toward the main building just a few meters away.

Gretha watched them go, her grin lingering as she turned back to Noah, who was still grinning himself. "Well," she said, her voice light, "seems like not everyone's happy to see me."

Noah, who had been watching the scene unfold with amusement as though it were some entertaining spectacle, grinned broadly. "Oh, I really did miss you, Gretha," he said, his tone light and teasing. "Looks like school's finally going to be fun again."

Gretha laughed as she made her way toward the dorms, Noah trailing closely behind her. He declared he wanted to catch up, completely ignoring Li's disapproving glare.

"You should be heading to class, Noah," Li said sternly, his voice carrying a tone that demanded obedience.

Noah simply shrugged, waving him off casually as if Li's words were nothing more than background noise. "Relax, Prefect. I'll get there eventually," he called over his shoulder, much to Li's frustration.

As the scene cleared, the bustling activity of bodyguards and staff carrying luggage continued around them. Yet, amidst the chaos, one person remained rooted in place. Paul stood there, his sharp eyes fixed on the blonde girl walking confidently ahead. His face betrayed no emotion, but his thoughts were anything but calm.

Everything just got more complicated, he thought with a sigh, running a hand through his dark hair. Turning away from the now-empty spot, he began making his way to the classroom.

Inside the classroom, Dr. Evelyn Thatcher stood in the center of the spacious and luxurious room. Her warm, welcoming smile radiated as she addressed the students.

"Good morning, everyone," she began, her voice light and cheerful. "It's wonderful to see you all today."

Caroline sat upright in her usual spot toward the side of the classroom, her face pulled into its signature frown. Beside her, Daphne, ever the optimist, smiled brightly. Their contrasting moods struck an odd balance—their unlikely friendship still a mystery to most who observed them.

Across the room, Ekaterina sat with perfect posture, her aloof demeanor on full display. Yet her eyes had a distant quality to them, wandering without focus. This girl is daydreaming again, Dr. Thatcher thought with mild amusement.

Her gaze then shifted to Li, seated front and center, his expression eager and focused. She smiled approvingly. Always the model student, she thought.

Next, her attention fell on Paul, the brooding Italian boy. As usual, he sat in silence, his dark eyes hinting at deeper thoughts. Then there was Noah, sprawled lazily across his desk, clearly uninterested in whatever was about to be taught. Dr. Thatcher rolled her eyes at his antics but didn't bother scolding him just yet.

Finally, her eyes settled on a girl with striking purple hair seated at a newly installed desk. A warm smile crept across Dr. Thatcher's face.

"Miss Rothschild, it's good to have you back," she said, her voice carrying a tone of genuine welcome.

Gretha, leaning back in her chair with an easy grin, replied without missing a beat, "I wish I could say the same, Dr. Evelyn."

The teacher raised an eyebrow, her smile unwavering. "Still the same witty girl, I see."

"Always," Gretha said, her grin widening.

Dr. Thatcher straightened her posture, her hands clasped together, and took her place at the front of the classroom. "Now then," she began, her voice commanding the room's attention. "Let's get started."

She said, unaware of the chaos that was about to unfold around her.

More images of your favorite characters are coming soon! If you'd like to see them sooner, don't forget to vote for the characters that already have images. Thank you all for your support!

If you want to go the extra mile, sending power stones, gifts, and golden tickets really helps a lot. I appreciate every single one of you—thank you so much!

I'll do my best to post another chapter today. I'm eager to wrap up this arc because what happens next is something I just can't wait for you all to experience. The new volume is coming soon, and trust me, that's when things really heat up!

Stay tuned, and remember to keep an open mind—there won't be a simple "good" or "bad" person in this story.

Love you all so much! Seeing your continued support means the world to me. 💕