Chapter 45: The Trap at the Doorstep

Here is the refined, grammatically correct, and polished version of your narrative:

Julian gasped internally. Three days and three nights locked to her bed?! I couldn’t survive a single night, let alone three!

"Victoria, don’t worry," Julian assured her rapidly, his voice dripping with absolute sincerity. "I won’t let any other woman get within five feet of me!"

In the past, the original host had only ever pursued Natasha—a one-sided, humiliating endeavor. Natasha herself probably wished he would vanish from the face of the earth. As long as Julian gave her a wide berth, there would be no reason for any contact whatsoever.

"I’m leaving now," Julian said, slipping a mask over his face 😷. He just wanted to complete the system mission, secure first place in the academy, and avoid any of the mess the original host had created with Natasha or anyone else.

He straightened his white casual shirt before opening the heavy door of the extended Rolls-Royce. Seeing the door swing open, he remembered that Victoria disliked being seen in public settings by crowds. Acting instinctively, he stepped out swiftly and positioned his body to block the interior view from the outside world before closing the door firmly behind him.

The moment Julian stepped into the sunlight, a collective gasp echoed across the courtyard.

"Oh my gosh!" several female students shrieked softly.

"He’s ridiculously handsome! Even with a mask on, he looks way better than any of the campus heartthrobs!"

"He’s tall, incredibly rich, and gorgeous—who is he?!"

Standing near the edge of the crowd, Rosy grabbed Natasha’s arm, shaking her in excitement. "Natasha, look! It’s the exact same guy we saw at the luxury venue!"

Natasha’s heart did a sudden, violent flip. It really was him.

Rosy smirked knowingly. "Natasha, you’re the undisputed campus beauty. Honestly, you’re the only girl at Capital University who even remotely matches a guy of his caliber."

Natasha bit her lip, a faint blush creeping up her neck. Deep down, she agreed. If she could catch his interest, she would never have to worry about her status or financial future again.

Meanwhile, Julian looked at the surrounding crowd and frowned. Why is everyone standing around staring at me?

> [SYSTEM PROMPT]

> Alert: Host’s upgraded aura and refined appearance naturally attract romantic complications. Be warned—unwanted romantic encounters will trigger heavy possessive reactions from Victoria Sterling.

>

Julian: "..."

Julian’s face went pale. These aren’t romantic opportunities; these are lethal traps!

If he had known his refined look would draw this much attention, he would have worn a hoodie with his face mask. He took a deep breath, preparing to slice through the crowd toward the academic building.

Rosy leaned close to Natasha, whispering with a grin, "Watch this—I’ll give you a little nudge to break the ice."

Before Natasha could react, Rosy gave her a firm shove right as Julian was walking past.

"Ah—!" Natasha stumbled forward, losing her balance and falling directly toward Julian’s chest.

The female onlookers gasped in suspense. Was the campus beauty about to pull off a classic romantic trope?

Inside the Rolls-Royce, Driver Wang watched the scene through the side mirror, her heart plunging into her stomach. Oh no, oh no! If Master Vance catches her, President Sterling will drag him straight back to the manor and chain him to the bed!

Beside her, Victoria’s dark eyes narrowed into frigid, lethal slits, a terrifying aura radiating from her.

Julian’s instincts flared violently. Someone is trying to set me up! If Victoria sees a woman landing in my arms, I’m a dead man!

Without a second thought, Julian executed a sharp, lightning-fast sidestep to the right.

THUD!

Natasha hit the concrete pavement hard, her hands and knees scraping painfully against the ground. Tears of shock and embarrassment instantly welled up in her eyes.

"Pfft—hahaha!" Several female students couldn’t contain their laughter.

"Did you see that?! She tried to fake a fall to get his attention, and he just sidestepped her!"

"That’s hilarious! A guy who doesn’t fall for Natasha’s pathetic tricks—he’s officially my hero."

Julian looked down at the girl on the ground, his brows furrowed tightly. When she lifted her face, he froze for a split second.

Natasha?!

He mentally wiped his brow. Thank goodness his reflexes were quick! If he had caught her, Victoria would have incinerated him on the spot.

Rosy quickly rushed over, helping Natasha up while trying to cover her own embarrassment. "Sir, I am so sorry! My friend just slipped—"

"Save it," Julian cut her off coldly, stepping back to create distance. "She fell on her own and didn’t touch me, so she doesn’t owe me an apology. But don’t use those cheesy fake-fall routines around me."

Natasha’s face burned with intense humiliation. How could he speak to her like that in front of everyone?

Yet, despite the shame, a strange realization washed over her. Most guys at the university practically begged for a chance to talk to her, but this man held absolute, unshakeable boundaries with women.

A man like him... once he chooses a woman, he’ll be loyal to her forever, Natasha thought stubbornly, her desire to win him over only growing stronger.

"Sir, you’ve misjudged me," Natasha said softly, putting on a delicate, wronged expression. "It was an accident."

Julian let out a dry, cold laugh. He suddenly wondered how hilarious Natasha’s face would look when she eventually realized that the "unattainable prince" she was trying to seduce was the exact same Julian Vance she used to treat like dirt.

Without giving her another glance, Julian turned and walked briskly into the building.

Watching Julian’s retreating back, Natasha clenched her fists tightly.

"Natasha," Rosy murmured softly, "he seems really hard to get."

"It doesn’t matter," Natasha replied under her breath, a flash of determination in her eyes. "No man has ever resisted me for long."

Standing on the upper steps of the main entrance, Leo Vance watched the entire scene unfold with a dark, bitter expression.

In the past, he was the center of attention at Capital University—the wealthy, refined heir of the Vance family whom everyone tried to flatter. But now, this masked man had completely stolen the spotlight, driving up in an ultra-luxury vehicle that surpassed anything the Vance family owned.

Just wait, Leo thought viciously, his fingers digging into his palm. You think you can rely on a sugar mommy forever? I’ll make sure you lose everything!

Down below, inside the Rolls-Royce, Driver Wang finally let out a long, trembling breath of relief. Master Vance had dodged the trap cleanly and hadn’t given Natasha a single shred of warmth.

However, looking back at Victoria through the rearview mirror, Driver Wang noticed that President Sterling’s dark gaze was still fixed silently on the academic entrance long after Julian had disappeared inside. Though Julian had handled the situation perfectly, it was glaringly obvious that Natasha had taken a keen interest in him.

Victoria’s lips thinned into a chilling, elegant line.

"Driver Wang," Victoria commanded quietly, her voice smooth yet carrying an undeniable, terrifying weight.

"Yes, Miss Sterling?"

"Accelerate the buyout of Capital University’s board. By tomorrow morning, I want every camera, every schedule, and every corridor under my personal control."

"Understood, Miss Sterling."

The heavy black leather of the limousine’s rear seat barely creaked as Victoria settled back. Her crystal goblet of vintage champagne remained perfectly steady despite the vehicle weaving effortlessly through the neon-drenched midnight traffic of the city. She lifted the glass to her lips, taking a slow, deliberate sip while her dark eyes remained fixed on the rain-slicked window.

To the rest of the world, Capital University was an untouchable bastion of higher education—a hundred-year-old institution governed by elite academics and stubborn trustees. To Victoria, it was merely the next piece on a chessboard she had already dominated. Money was never the obstacle; it was simply a tool to enforce absolute alignment with her will.

By sunrise, the university’s board members would find their shell companies compromised, their private debts quietly bought out by Sterling Enterprises, and their voting power rendered utterly meaningless. They would hand over the keys to the security grid, the administrative databases, and every square inch of the campus without a single public press release ever hinting at the bloodless coup. Every digital eye on that campus would soon answer directly to her encrypted tablet, ensuring that no secret could hide, no movement could go unnoticed, and no target could escape her grasp.

She didn’t care for the prestige of academia, nor did she harbor any respect for the legacy those elderly scholars so desperately sought to protect. She cared only for Julian.

Driver Wang adjusted the rearview mirror, his face a passive mask of professional obedience as he pressed his foot deeper onto the accelerator, hurtling them forward into the dark city night toward a total takeover.