CHAPTER 76: CAMPUS DRAMA

"Peak human potential... and still not enough? Then what are these men? What have I stepped into?"

Alex was driving back home, but his mind was still reeling with Lilith’s revelation... there were people out there stronger than him.

He hadn’t gotten an answer about who they really were, but one thing was certain: he couldn’t afford to be lazy anymore. He needed to push harder, complete his tasks aggressively.

A sharper urgency stirred in him, a hunger to climb higher. If finishing his revenge mission could grant him power, then maybe it was the key to closing that terrifying gap.

Lost in those thoughts, he barely noticed the streets passing by until he turned into his neighborhood.

He had just eased the car to a stop in front of his house when the sharp vibration of his phone cut through the silence. Glancing at the display, he saw the name.

Tisha.

A small smile tugged at his lips despite everything. He killed the engine, set the phone in his hand, and then tapped the screen to answer.

"Alex?" Her voice carried that familiar mix of warmth and tension, like she’d been holding back for hours.

"I’m here," he said softly.

"Where the hell have you been?" Her frustration was laced with worry. "You didn’t show up at college today. Do you know what’s happened?"

"Why? What happened?" The question carried more curiosity than tension.

"William and Brad showed up this morning... faces swollen, clothes torn, one of them on crutches. The other could barely walk without help. Everyone saw it. And where did they go first? Straight to Pierce’s office."

Her voice carried a mix of disbelief and rising anger, like she still couldn’t process how fast the story had spread or how easily people had bought into it.

"They made sure everyone saw them before they limped in there," she added, sharper now. "Like they were staging a performance."

"They were beaten up? By who?" The words came out calm, but a subtle edge of surprise and curiosity laced his tone.

"That’s the thing," Tisha said bitterly. "They’re saying it was you. You, Mike and Danny. That after what happened in the match yesterday, you hunted them down and jumped them."

A sharp breath escaped Alex, disbelief lacing his tone. "Really? And people bought that?"

"Oh, they didn’t just buy it," she snapped.

"They sobbed their way through it. Said they’d ’made mistakes’ in the game, but instead of letting it go, you and your group supposedly tracked them down this morning. Cornered them on their way to class. Beat them until they could hardly stand."

He let out a sharp breath through his nose. "Convenient story. What about Director Pierce... what did he say?"

Her voice trembled between frustration and disbelief.

"He ate it up like gospel. He even issued an official notice this afternoon... says You, Mike and Danny need to present yourselves tomorrow and explain, or you’re expelled."

She added quickly, almost in exasperation, "The rest of your team... who were actually here on campus when it happened... were cleared. But everyone’s talking about you."

Alex’s grip tightened on the wheel. Marcus was already spinning the story, pushing hard for immediate action.

And Pierce... predictably... handed him the stage. This wasn’t a coincidence.

It was planned. Marcus’s fingerprints were all over it.

His jaw flexed as he muttered, "This Pierce bastard tried to expel me last time too, didn’t he?"

Tisha let out a bitter laugh. "You remember right. He’s been waiting for another excuse... and Marcus just gift-wrapped him one."

"And because you weren’t here today," Tisha went on bitterly, "everyone thinks you’re guilty... like you’re hiding to avoid the fallout. Marcus is strutting around like some crusader, and William and Brad are being paraded as martyrs fresh from battle."

Alex let the silence stretch for a beat, then asked, "And you? Do you believe it?"

The question landed heavy. For a moment, all he heard was the faint hitch in her breathing.

"...No," she said at last, softer. "I had to ask, but no. I know you. If you wanted payback, you wouldn’t do it like that."

His chest loosened, just a fraction.

"Good," he said quietly. "Because I didn’t. I wasn’t even on campus today."

"Then where were you?" she pressed.

"I’m in the hospital since this morning," Alex said.

"What? Did something happen to you?" Her voice rose, a note of panic creeping in.

"No... not me," he replied quickly. "Danny’s sister, Nina. She’s serious... some kidney complications. We’ve spent the whole day dealing with it."

Her panic eased slightly, though concern still lingered in her tone.

"Oh God, Alex... how bad is it?"

"Bad enough," he admitted. "But I can’t afford distractions right now. Pierce and Marcus can posture all they want... I’ll deal with them tomorrow."

There was a brief pause. Then Tisha’s voice came back, firm and unflinching. "Then you focus on Nina tonight. Leave the rest to me."

"Marcus? Pierce? Let them try... I’ll crush them if they dare spread nonsense about you. Doesn’t matter if they think they’re untouchable... I don’t care. Nobody pulls this stunt on you and gets away with it."

Alex’s lips twitched into a faint smile despite himself. "You sound awfully fired up... Like you’re eager for another reward."

"Maybe I am," she replied, her tone sharp but warm underneath. "And trust me... I will be waiting."

The line clicked dead before he could answer. Alex lowered the phone slowly, his reflection faint in the darkened window. Frustration burned hot in his chest... Pierce again. What the hell did this bastard have against him?

And Marcus... his jaw clenched as the thought sharpened. Marcus was going to pay. He’d make sure the smug bastard learned a lesson he would never forget.

***

The Morrison house was quiet when Alex stepped inside. Too quiet. He closed the door softly behind him, the faint weight of the day still pressing on his shoulders.

"Mom?" he called, voice carrying through the stillness.

No answer. Only the creak of the house settling into its silence.

He figured she’d be upstairs packing a few things for herself, preparing to spend the night at the hospital with Nina.

Alex started up the staircase, rubbing a hand over his face. His mind kept circling back to the phone call... Marcus, Pierce, Tisha’s voice caught between frustration and loyalty. The day had felt like a storm that wouldn’t end.

Halfway down the hall, a sharp click interrupted his thoughts. The bathroom door swung open, spilling a cloud of steam into the air.

Linda stepped out, towel wrapped hastily around her. She moved quickly, head turned as if already thinking about the next task. Then her bare foot caught on a small pile of clothes at the threshold.

"Ah...!"

The slip was sudden. She lurched forward, losing balance. Alex reacted on instinct, catching her before she hit the floor.

For the briefest, charged instant, the towel loosened, sliding free.

Linda froze. Alex’s eyes went wide... but before his brain could even register what he’d seen, he wrenched his gaze away, heat flooding his face.

"I...I’m sorry...!" The words tumbled out of him, frantic, his grip steady only long enough to keep her from falling.

He released her as though burned, retreating a half-step. "I didn’t mean..."

She was already moving, clutching the towel back to her chest, cheeks burning as red as his. "I...no, I should’ve... god... sorry!" Her words broke into hurried whispers as she rushed back into the bathroom, the door shutting quickly behind her.

The hall fell silent again, except for Alex’s heartbeat pounding in his ears.

He stood there, still flushed, his hand tingling with the memory of the brief contact. He dragged his palm over his face, groaning under his breath.

What the hell was that?

The embarrassment clawed at him, but beneath it was something quieter, more complicated: the reminder that this was family, not some careless encounter. Respect came first... always.

He pressed a hand against the wall, grounding himself, and spoke toward the closed door, voice low but steady. "I should’ve called out louder... I didn’t mean to startle you."

"I’m sorry, I’ll give you space.’". He swallowed.

For a moment, silence. Then her muffled voice came through, soft but firm:

"It’s not your fault, Alex. I should’ve been more careful."

The quiet hum of running water followed, leaving him standing there with the weight of the moment still pressing on his chest.

Alex lingered for a beat, then exhaled and forced himself to move down the hall. Each step felt heavier than it should.

Even here, in the supposed safety of home, life found new ways to catch him off guard.

The world outside threatened with schemes and lies. Inside, trust was fragile... one misstep could crack it.

Standing alone in the dim hallway, Alex straightened, the weight of resolve settling on him like armor. Safe spaces had their own shocks, but they were worth fighting for.

That was when the familiar velvet murmur slid into his ears, smooth as poison.

"She’s beautiful, isn’t she?" Lilith purred.

Alex froze, jaw tightening, shame and anger sparking all at once.

"Shut up," he hissed under his breath.