Chapter 102: That woman in the photo....

Look at you now—you’re about to lose your ten-million-doller cash bonus right in front of everyone. And what happens when that wealthy woman eventually gets tired of playing with you and dumps you like garbage? On top of that, you’ve already foolishly severed all ties with a powerful, prestigious family like the Vance family."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... I can already vividly foresee your ultimate end. Tragic... truly, deeply tragic."

Ben Wanli originally intended to continue expanding on his vicious mockery.

Suddenly, a terrifying, bone-chilling wave of arctic cold washed over his entire body.

It wasn’t merely physical coldness—it was soaked through with an overwhelming, suffocating aura of pure, murderous intent!

Ben felt an unmistakable sensation that a pair of cold, merciless eyes was locked directly onto his spine.

Panicked, he jerked his head around to scan the surrounding rows.

He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

It must just be my imagination acting up, Ben Wanli thought, taking a shaky breath to steady his nerves. He figured he was just overthinking things. After all, this was a civilized society governed strictly by the rule of law; who on earth would ever dare to threaten or kill someone in broad daylight on a university campus?

Moreover, the only person he was currently offending and bullying was Julian Vance—a defenseless student whom no one would protect.

Yet, every single time Ben Wanli opened his mouth to resume speaking, that paralyzing, spine-chilling cold swept over him again for no apparent reason. Deep down, a primal survival instinct flared up, making him abruptly too terrified to continue mocking Julian directly.

Instead, he pivoted back to the principal, demanding aggressively, "Principal Smith,.... give me a straight, definitive answer:- is Julian Vance going to receive President Sterling’s grand prize reward or not?!"

Every eye in the massive amphitheater snapped back toward Julian and the authorities.

"I... I..."

Principal Smith stood frozen at the podium, frantically darting his eyes sideways toward Victoria Sterling. He wiped a fresh torrent of cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

President Sterling... please, I’m begging you, say something and end this madness!

Down in the audience, Leo Vance curled his lips into an inward, triumphant sneer. He remained entirely convinced that this mysterious wealthy woman was merely amusing herself with Julian as a passing plaything and would never risk her own high-society reputation by publicly stepping forward to defend a kept gigolo.

"Don’t you all want to know precisely who the woman in this leaked photograph is?"

Victoria Sterling suddenly broke the heavy silence, her voice carrying an effortless, commanding cadence across the hall.

The surrounding students immediately pivoted their attention toward the doorway.

Does she actually know the identity of the woman in the photo?

Victoria took a slow, measured step forward into the light, her gaze sweeping across the crowd before landing clearly on the speaker.

"That woman in the photo..."

Victoria paused deliberately, her crimson lips curving into a sharp, regal smile. "...is me."

BAM—!

Holy mother of god...!

The woman captured in the leaked photograph was actually this breathtaking, untouchable goddess standing right here in the room?!

Every single student in the amphitheater stared directly at Victoria Sterling in absolute, paralyzed shock.

"Julian Vance is actually being kept by this drop-dead gorgeous woman?! Holy fucking shit!"

"She is outrageously beautiful... unimaginably gorgeous! And on top of that, she casually provides Julian with a multi-million-dollar custom hypercar.

Honestly? No wonder Julian is willing to be her kept man—if a woman that stunning offered to keep me, I’d drop to my knees and volunteer in a heartbeat!"

A wave of intense, unadulterated envy swept through the male student body.

Not a single person in the room showed any genuine contempt or disgust. If the sugar mommy had been some elderly, unattractive woman of questionable background, they would have happily joined in mocking Julian.

But this? This was a woman blessed with world-class beauty, an immaculate figure, astronomical wealth, and youthful elegance!

What kind of unfathomable, god-tier luck did Julian Vance possess to be personally kept by a transcendent beauty like this?!

Standing a few rows away, Ethan Mercer stared fixedly at Victoria Sterling, his pupils dilated in utter horror and denial.

"Impossible... that’s completely impossible!" Ethan muttered under his breath, shaking his head violently as he clutched his temples. "How on earth could Victoria Sterling ever fall for another man?!"

Wasn’t Victoria supposed to be hopelessly obsessed with him?!

From the exact moment he had first met Victoria in his previous life right up until their tragic, bloody deaths together in that horrific car accident, no other man had ever managed to cross the threshold of Victoria Sterling’s life.

How was it possible that in this timeline—barely a short month after starting the semester—Victoria had already entangled herself so deeply with Julian Vance?!

No... wait.

A horrifying realization hit him: the ultra-luxury hypercar Julian had been driving to campus every single day... that vehicle had obviously been purchased for him by Victoria Sterling!

Damn it all to hell!

In her past life, Victoria had never once gifted him a luxury car even half that nice!

A sudden, violent wave of dark, irrational jealousy surged through Ethan Mercer’s chest, choking his breath.

"Victoria... how could you? How could you possibly give your heart to another man?!" Ethan Mercer whispered fiercely to himself, his fingers digging into his desk.

He had always anticipated that years down the line, Victoria might eventually marry someone out of sheer social obligation or family pressure... but that was supposed to happen five, six, or even ten years into the future! Not right now!

Sitting right next to him, Ethan Mercer’s close friend frowned deeply, casting a weird, disgusted look sideways.

Why on earth is Ethan acting so utterly unhinged and psychotic all day long? He’s muttering to himself like a complete lunatic.

Finding the proximity deeply unsettling, the friend quietly slid his chair an extra foot away, wearing a mask of disgust.

Meanwhile, Leo felt his entire world fracture the second Victoria spoke those words.