CHAPTER III

The Billionaire's Hidden Granddaughter

Episode 3 – The Rumors

The hallway buzzed with whispers as students watched Nomie kneel to gather the papers scattered from her locker.

"Stay away from Cedrick."

The words were written over and over in bold black ink.

Some students laughed.

Others took out their phones and secretly recorded the scene.

Nomie quietly collected every sheet without saying a word.

She took a deep breath.

"Lord, give me the strength to respond with kindness instead of anger."

Just then, Cedrick arrived.

"Nomie?"

He frowned as he noticed the papers in her hands.

"What happened?"

Nomie forced a small smile.

"It's nothing."

Cedrick picked up one of the papers and his expression darkened.

"This isn't funny."

He looked around the hallway.

"Who did this?"

No one answered.

The students immediately looked away.

Before Cedrick could ask more questions, Fatima appeared.

"What's going on?"

Cedrick handed her one of the papers.

Fatima acted surprised.

"Who would do something like this?"

Nomie glanced at Fatima for a brief moment.

She couldn't tell whether the surprise on Fatima's face was genuine or not.

"I'll be fine," Nomie said softly.

"Let's just go to class."

---

Inside the classroom, Professor Reyes announced another activity.

"Each group will prepare a business proposal to be presented next week."

"The group with the highest score will automatically qualify for the National Student Innovation Competition."

The room erupted in excitement.

Cedrick smiled.

"This is our chance."

Nomie nodded.

"We can do it if we work together."

Fatima smiled as well, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

She noticed Cedrick speaking to Nomie more often than before.

Every time he praised Nomie's ideas, it felt like a thorn piercing her heart.

---

After class, Cedrick invited his group to stay in the library again.

For hours, they worked together.

Whenever the discussion became difficult, Nomie always found a solution.

Cedrick couldn't hide his admiration.

"You're amazing."

Nomie immediately shook her head.

"No."

"I've just studied a lot."

Cedrick smiled.

"You're humble too."

Fatima silently clenched her fists beneath the table.

---

That evening...

An anonymous social media page suddenly posted a photo of Nomie.

It was the picture taken on her first day when she fell on the stairs.

The caption read:

"The campus nerd thinks she can steal someone else's boyfriend."

Within minutes...

The post spread across the university.

Comments poured in.

"She's so embarrassing."

"Fatima is way prettier."

"Know your place."

"Attention seeker."

Nomie had no idea the post even existed.

---

The next morning...

As she entered the campus, students began whispering.

"Look..."

"She's the girl from the post."

Nomie felt confused.

Why was everyone staring at her?

Then her phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number appeared.

"Check social media."

Her hands trembled as she opened the post.

Thousands of reactions.

Hundreds of cruel comments.

She quietly turned off her phone.

For a moment...

She closed her eyes.

The pain was real.

But instead of crying in front of everyone, she silently whispered,

"Father, forgive them. They don't know the truth."

---

Meanwhile...

Cedrick was sitting in the cafeteria when one of his friends showed him the viral post.

His face immediately changed.

"Who uploaded this?"

"No one knows," his friend replied.

"But everyone's talking about it."

Without hesitation, Cedrick reported the page and commented publicly:

"Stop judging people you don't even know. Bullying is never acceptable."

Within minutes...

Students began reacting to his comment.

Some supported him.

Others accused him of defending Nomie because he secretly liked her.

---

Fatima saw Cedrick's comment.

Her heart sank.

She walked outside the cafeteria, tears filling her eyes.

"Why is he defending her?"

"Does she already matter that much?"

One of her closest friends approached.

"Fatima..."

"You need to do something."

"If you stay quiet..."

"You might lose Cedrick."

Fatima remained silent.

Deep inside...

Jealousy was slowly replacing the kindness she once had.

---

That afternoon...

Inside the Dawson Estate...

Don Emilio received another security report.

"Our cyber team traced the account that uploaded the photo."

"Did you find the owner?"

"Unfortunately, Sir..."

"The account was fake."

"But someone inside the university is clearly targeting Miss Dawson."

Don Emilio slowly removed his glasses.

His voice became firm.

"Increase security."

"And find out who is behind this."

"No one hurts my granddaughter without consequences."

---

As the sun began to set, Nomie walked alone toward the campus gate.

She didn't notice that a man wearing a black hoodie was quietly following her from a distance.

When she reached the pedestrian crossing, the traffic light turned green.

She stepped onto the road.

Suddenly...

A speeding motorcycle ignored the red light and raced straight toward her.

"LOOK OUT!"

Someone grabbed Nomie's arm at the last second, pulling her away just before the motorcycle sped past.

Her books scattered across the pavement.

Her heart pounded wildly.

She slowly looked up...

It was Cedrick.

Breathing heavily, he asked,

"Are you alright?"

Before Nomie could answer, both of them noticed something strange.

The motorcycle never slowed down.

It didn't even look back.

As if...

It had never intended to stop.

Far across the street, the hooded man watched the scene before quietly disappearing into the crowd.

End of Episode 3

Cliffhanger: Was the speeding motorcycle just an accident... or was someone trying to frighten—or even harm—Nomie? And who is the mysterious hooded man who keeps watching her from the shadows?