Xavier walked into the suite slowly. His steps were calm, steady, and full of quiet confidence. It was not forced anymore. Acting rich and powerful now felt natural to him, like breathing.
The room was large and expensive. Everything inside looked perfect—the soft lighting, the clean glass walls, and the quiet hum of advanced technology.
Julian was sitting near the window. A glowing digital screen floated in front of him. It showed a complicated design, full of numbers and moving lines.
Julian looked up when Xavier entered.
This time, he did not look angry. He did not even look confused.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
"I saw the market reports," Julian said, slowly closing the floating screen with a small wave of his hand. "Lee Electronics is finished. It dropped to zero."
He paused for a moment, watching Xavier carefully.
"I don't know how you knew that would happen, Valerius. My father is already asking questions. He wants to know who made twenty million dollars in just three hours from short selling."
Xavier gave a quiet, dry laugh. It sounded relaxed, but there was something cold behind it.
"Twenty million?" Xavier said as he walked past Julian, heading toward the master bedroom. "Julian, I already told you. My family does not play with small money."
He stopped for a moment but did not fully turn around.
"The four million you used—that was your money," Xavier continued. "My family's position was..."
He paused on purpose.
Then he looked at Julian.
The look in his eyes said everything.
The number was too big to even say.
Too big for Julian to imagine.
[ SYSTEM ALERT ][ TARGET: JULIAN THORNE IS 85% CONVINCED OF YOUR WEALTH ][ NOTE: HE IS NOW SEEKING YOUR ADVICE ]
"Xavier," Julian said again.
This time, he used his real name, not "Valerius."
But his tone had changed. It was more serious now. More careful.
"Since you are clearly connected to something bigger than the Thorne family…" Julian continued, choosing his words slowly, "what should I do with the rest of my money?"
Xavier stopped walking.
His hand rested on the door of his bedroom.
Then he turned around slowly.
He smiled.
But it was not a warm smile.
It was cold. Sharp.
Like a predator looking at prey.
"If you want my advice, Julian," Xavier said, "you should start by fixing your study room."
Julian blinked, confused.
"The way your furniture is arranged… it feels unbalanced," Xavier continued calmly. "You should make it more symmetrical."
He paused, then added softly:
"I'm planning to buy some Greek coins for my own study. They have a kind of perfect balance. Something I think you would understand."
Julian froze.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He focused on the word "symmetry," trying to understand what Xavier meant.
But he missed the hidden meaning behind the words.
Xavier opened his bedroom door.
"Wait," Julian said quickly. "You're buying Greek coins? Where are you even going to display them?"
Xavier stopped halfway inside the room.
He did not turn fully.
"The Sforza Museum," he said simply.
There was a short silence.
"I bought the whole building," Xavier added. "And everything inside it. About five minutes ago."
Then he spoke one last time, his voice calm but sharp:
"I think ancient coins are much more reliable than the kind of data your father deals with."
Xavier stepped inside and closed the door before Julian could answer.
[ SYSTEM ALERT ][ SOCIAL IMPACT: PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE DOMINANCE CONFIRMED ][ PRESTIGE GAINED: +12,000 ][ MILESTONE: CONTROL OVER UNSTABLE HEIR ACHIEVED ]
Inside the room, Xavier leaned back against the door.
His body suddenly felt weak.
His hands were shaking.
His heart was beating fast.
He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
He had just done something big.
He had just trapped Julian Thorne—the smartest and most powerful student in the Academy.
Now, if Julian wanted to see the coin collection he loved so much…
He would have to ask Xavier first.
Xavier slowly opened his eyes.
He did not have much money left anymore.
But that did not matter.
Because now—
He had something better.
He had control.
And Julian Thorne was already in his hands.