Chapter 2

As I looked below the stage, I calmly said, "I'll be resigning from my position as vice president of the student council from today on. My assistant will coordinate with Cassidy for the subsequent handover process."

Chaos erupted below the stage.

Cassidy's expression immediately darkened. Her eyes were full of disbelief.

I didn't stop there and continued, "Also, Hobson Group will be suspending its exclusive sponsorship of the school's fencing team from today on. The school will have to make its own arrangements for the team's special training, equipment, and personal trainers."

Everyone in the hall completely lost it the moment the words left my lips.

Millie shot to her feet. She was the captain of the fencing team and prioritized it more than her own life. Hobson Group's sponsorship that was worth millions of dollars was the very reason why the team could dominate the National Fencing League.

"Have you lost your mind, Jasper?" she roared from below the stage with a steely expression.

I smiled lightly as I looked at her. "You're misunderstanding the situation. I'm simply suspending Hobson Group's unnecessary expenditures."

I placed the microphone down after I was done speaking. Stepping onto the red carpet, I calmly strolled out of the hall under the teachers' and students' shocked gazes.

The comments paused for a few seconds before flying across my screen at breakneck speed.

[Hold on… Why didn't Jasper react according to the ?]

[Shouldn't he be furiously interrogating Cassidy, Millie and Sierra? Why did he withdraw the funding?]

[Tch. He must be playing hard to get. He probably thinks that he can force Cassidy, Millie and Sierra to bend to his will with his money. How naive.]

A frosty smile stretched across my lips as I looked at the comments.

Playing hard to get? Cassidy, Millie, and Sierra thought too highly of themselves.

I had figured out the situation based on the comments and had also figured out my next move.

Micah had transferred in six months ago. His family was poor, so he had to rely on his scholarship and part-time job to get by. He was wearing an old uniform and had a cold and aloof attitude when he first arrived, which led to a few rich heirs picking on him.

Millie chased the bullies away on his behalf, while Cassidy convinced the school to drop his punishment, and Sierra cleared the competition for him. The three heiresses had been revolving around him for six months.

Meanwhile, I was the wicked male supporting character who was about to be discarded by them. I didn't have any strong feelings about what was going on. After all, I hadn't just sat around and twiddled my thumbs for the past year.

The Hobson family didn't need a successor who was obsessed with love.

Although Grandpa didn't criticize me when I had to take a year off, I knew that people in Hobson Group had already begun to doubt my capabilities. I needed to secure a project that was impressive enough to shut the mouths of those old foxes on the board of directors.

A particular plot of land in Southdale was my chosen target.

…

That afternoon, I sat in the VIP reading room on the top floor of the library, flipping through the Southdale project's core information. Hobson Group had donated the money to build the library. Normally, only I, Cassidy, Millie, and Sierra had the authority to use this floor.

The door swung open as Millie led Micah into the room.

Micah was carrying a heavy stack of revision materials in his arms. He paused when he noticed me, immediately straightening his back.

"I'll head downstairs since Jasper is here," he said in a cold and hard tone, turning around to leave.

Millie grabbed his arm. Her eyes burned with anger as she glared at me. She stormed over to me and slammed her palms on the table.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Jasper?" she snapped. "Micah was using this spot the entire time when you were away. You're intentionally targeting him by hogging it right after coming back, aren't you?"

I looked up from the laptop screen and swept my gaze across her furious face. I then looked at Micah, who was standing behind her.

Micah had a dark look on his face. His eyes were full of disdain and resistance toward those with special privileges.

The comments scrolled past my vision again.

[That spot always belonged to Micah. I can't believe that Jasper wants to fight him over a seat. It's so pathetic.]

[Millie is so cool! She stood up against her childhood friend to protect Micah.]

[The supporting male character must be beside himself with anger. His special spot has been taken by someone else.]

Beside myself with anger?

I couldn't help but feel amused as I stared at Millie. I was the one who hired a doctor who had to travel overnight to treat her when she got injured during a competition. I tutored her tirelessly when she was nearly disqualified because she had failed her exams.

And yet, at that moment, she had slammed her hands on the table that I was sitting at because of a seat.