Check Your Privilege

"The game of chess is not just any old board game but it is also the game of life. You can be represented as the king, all the others are the people around you. Check mate means game over in the game but check mate in real life means your life has come to an end..." BORING! Chess is the worst board game on earth, if you're gonna play chess, I'll consider you as one of those who exist and don't live. Chess is the game plan. I play in the tournament my father forces me to participate in using the plan I'll be using during my next heist. If I win, I use it, if I lose, I change it. Chess is a boring old board game which is the key to my fortune. I am the Black Falcon, this is my life on the board and against the law...

There had been a shortage of faculty at the start of the freshman year, so I had temporarily stepped in to take on the role of a student advisor. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I had deliberately dressed down in the plainest shirt I could find and put on a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses. However, a troublemaking student brought a group of people and blocked me on the field just as the opening ceremony ended. "Hey, old hag, you're done being a faculty member in Salt-U. How dare you dress like that on purpose to mess with my eyes! Strip and get on your knees, and I might let you off this once!" I narrowed my eyes, irritation rising. Then, I reminded him of the student code of conduct. He immediately blew up. "Cut the act! Who do you think you're fooling? My dad's the Director of Academic Administration! He's the one in charge of your evaluations!" The field suddenly fell silent, and all the freshmen began sneaking glances in our direction. I unhurriedly took off my glasses and let out a low chuckle as I looked down at the meeting notes in my hand. His father was a director, he thought that was enough of a reason for him to behave so imperiously. In that case, I supposed that the first item on the board meeting agenda that day would be the dismissal of the Director of Academic Administration.

A dangerous game, full of pitfalls. A dispute of power, money and desire. On one side of the board, the deputy Alpha Lauren Jauregui, and on the other, the wife of a magnate, Karla Camila Cabello. In this game, only one will fall. Who will have the best strategy? Who will better know how to play? Who will checkmate? Place your bets, the game will begin.

North’s life was already on the edge of collapse when Lucien Crowe’s world found him. A final year law student crushed under his family’s debt, North sees the offer for what it is: a transaction. Becoming a billionaire’s kept secret feels like a silver lining, and he takes it without hesitation, unconcerned with consequences. Lucien Crowe built his empire on control. People bend. Systems obey. What fascinates him most are those who still believe in the law, especially before they learn how easily it can be broken. North was supposed to be temporary. Another indulgence. Instead, his indifference cracks Lucien’s perfect exterior, awakening obsession, jealousy, and a possessiveness he no longer knows how to contain. For North, everything has a price. Affection is leverage. He never intended to fall in love, especially not with a man who represents everything he despises. But when rules are broken and lines blur, North becomes the villain for refusing to give his heart in return. North’s revenge demands sacrifice, and love proves far more expensive than money. As power tightens its grip, North must decide whether he can truly love a man who embodies the system he hates, or if playing with Lucien’s heart will destroy them both first.

Since it's already the end of the year, I'm slacking off at my job. That's when I come across a forum post on the Internet. "My husband has gone on a business trip on his own. This is the photo he sent me when he updated me on his situation. Everyone, can you please take a look at the photo and tell me if there are any problems with it?" The Internet users are quick to go into their Sherlock Holmes mode. Still, they aren't able to spot any problems with the photo. But a comment is quick to catch my attention. "Am I the only one who thinks that this post is a clickbait? Could it be that a disloyal jerk who's cheating on his wife wants to proclaim his devotion toward her but is scared that he might get caught? Maybe that's why this photo is uploaded here instead so that everyone can help him find out what's wrong with this photo!" As soon as the comment is posted, the original poster deletes the post instantly. This makes me frown. At the same time, my husband, Gavin Prescott, sends me a photo on WhatsApp. "Honey, here's my daily update! Your darling husband is still devoted to you as always!" As I stare at the photo, which is exactly the same one that was posted on the Internet, I feel my heart sinking. This is definitely not a coincidence!

In the empty villa, Celia Quinn sat motionless on the sofa. It wasn't until much later that the villa's front door swung open, and Lucas Shaw stepped inside. His gaze paused briefly on her, then his expression turned cold. "Yvonne is running a fever today. Why did you keep calling me?"