Friday morning dawned bright and breezy, but the usual calm across Hillwood University’s grounds was missing.
Instead, a buzzing anticipation swept through the campus like wildfire.
Near the central courtyard, the Notice Wall — a sleek glass board reserved for prestigious announcements — was jam-packed.
Students crowded around, standing on tiptoes, craning their necks to get a better look.
Today was important.
Today, the announcement revealing who passed the Hillwood Investment Club trials would be posted.
Three of the student participants jostled their way to the front, faces tight with nerves.
In seconds, their expressions shifted from hopeful to crushed. They turned away from the board, heads bowed, their dreams slipping from their fingers.
Gasps echoed across the gathered crowd. Murmurs filled the air.
Everyone knew now:
Selene Parker had won the second trial.
Some students clapped politely, while others grumbled under their breath, clearly displeased. But just when the noise began to die down, someone shouted from the back:
> "Hold up! There’s a twist!"
Students surged forward again.
"What twist?" Ethan, one of the failed competitors, demanded.
"Look!" A girl pointed at the bottom of the announcement, reading aloud:
> IMPORTANT:
The listed name (Selene Parker) will still undergo a final evaluation.
If her net worth and investment value meet Hillwood Investment Club standards, she will be officially declared a member.
If not, a new set of open applications will be conducted.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Shock.
Excitement.
And for some — hope.
Those who had been eliminated straightened their backs. If Selene failed the final evaluation, maybe they could get another shot.
Selene herself wasn’t present at the moment. She had decided to avoid the crowds, already guessing there would be a scene.
Instead, she arrived at Hillwood about fifteen minutes later, parking her new black GT-X in the elite student lot.
At the far side of the parking area, Lucas Harper, Kairo Hyun, Lana Harper, and Irene Miller stood leaning against their colorful sports cars.
Each of them watched as the sleek black GT-X pulled into a space nearby.
Kairo whistled low. "Sebastian bought a new car?"
Lucas shook his head, puzzled. "No idea. He's been off the radar lately."
As the driver’s door opened, they watched curiously.
It wasn’t Sebastian.
It was Selene Parker.
She stepped out of the car with her usual calm confidence, grabbing her bag and locking the vehicle without a second glance.
Kairo grinned. "Man, looks like someone's gonna be treating us to a trip this summer."
The others laughed. It was impossible not to remember the bet they made in the boardroom — especially now, seeing Selene’s smooth arrival in such a high-end car.
"Sebastian’s gonna lose big," Lucas said with a smirk.
Still chuckling, the four of them followed the flow of students toward the main building.
Selene, meanwhile, was heading straight for the Notice Wall.
She wasn’t expecting any surprises, only confirmation that she had officially passed.
But as she approached, whispers surrounded her like a thick cloud.
"Did you see the twist?"
"Yeah, she's not a member yet!"
"If her net worth's too low, they’ll open applications again."
Selene frowned slightly and pushed through the crowd.
She read the announcement quickly.
Her eyes narrowed.
A final trial — based on investment value.
She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everyone's stares on her back.
So this was how it was going to be.
It didn’t shake her.
If anything, it only made her more determined.
Selene knew her background wasn’t common knowledge. She wasn't from a family with a centuries-old business empire like the others at Hillwood. But her background in Central City is more than better than Sebastian Ford— In terms of not using her family name Selene knew her personal investment value under her name not using her real last name will be comparable to Sebastian Ford. 
"Let them underestimate me," she muttered under her breath.
She turned away from the board, ignoring the stares, the whispers, and the small smirks from those hoping she would fail.
Back at the parking area, Lucas and the others were laughing as they caught up with Sebastian Ford, who had just arrived.
Sebastian, tall and serious as ever, leaned against his gray McLaren, his arms crossed.
"You owe us a trip, Seb," Kairo teased, punching his shoulder lightly.
Sebastian scowled. "It’s not over yet."
"Come on, admit it," Lana said with a playful grin. "She drives a GT-X. That’s not cheap, you know."
"New money, maybe it's not hers at all," Sebastian muttered.
Lucas clapped his hands together dramatically. "Whether she’s old money, new money, or middle money — we’re getting that trip!"
More laughter broke out among them.
Sebastian didn’t join in.
Instead, he watched Selene across the courtyard, eyes narrowing.
There was something about her that made him uneasy.
Not because she was arrogant — she wasn’t.
Not because she was incompetent — she certainly wasn’t.
No, it was the fact that she was an unknown.
In Hillwood, everyone knew everyone. Family names were legacy. Wealth was mapped out like territory.
And Selene Parker...
She was a mystery.
But if she truly passed the final evaluation, there would be no stopping her from entering the Hillwood Investment Club.
And Sebastian Ford didn’t like unpredictability.
Not one bit.
Meanwhile, Selene was already mentally preparing.
Final evaluation or not, she had no intention of losing.
This was her chance — and she was ready.