Chapter 1
The streets of New York buzzed with life as Monday morning unfolded. Cars honked impatiently, pedestrians hurried along sidewalks with coffee cups in hand, and towering buildings reflected the early sunlight. Amid the chaos, a sleek black 2023 Bentley glided smoothly through traffic.
Inside the car sat Samantha Valentine, staring out the window toward the distant horizon. Her fingers were tightly intertwined on her lap, knuckles pale from tension. Her heart raced—not from fear, but from anticipation.
This was it.
Her first real taste of freedom.
The man behind the wheel glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Adejo—her driver, bodyguard, and closest friend—noticed the nervous energy radiating from her.
"Are you still nervous, Miss Samantha?" he asked gently.
She turned to face him, a small, uncertain smile forming on her lips.
"Yes… I am," she admitted. "It's my first time seeing the outside world on my own. It's so beautiful—more than I ever imagined." Her voice softened. "Sometimes it still feels like a dream. Being free from my overprotective, controlling parents."
Adejo chuckled softly and nodded. "Yeah, I get it. It's a lot to take in at first. But trust me—you'll get used to this feeling." He flashed her a reassuring smile.
The car slowed to a stop.
"Oh," Adejo said, pointing ahead. "Looks like we've finally arrived."
Samantha leaned forward, her eyes widening as she read the massive sign at the entrance.
WELCOME TO NEW GENERATION UNIVERSITY
"Wow…" she whispered. "It's huge—and so beautiful." Students walked in groups across the campus, laughing, talking, and carrying backpacks. "There are so many people here. I doubt I'll be able to find Chloe in all this crowd."
"You'll find her," Adejo replied. "But first things first—we need to get you registered. You can call her afterward."
"I'm already trying," Samantha said, checking her phone. "But her number isn't going through. That's strange."
Adejo smirked. "Maybe she forgot to charge her phone again."
They stopped in front of the Faculty Office, a tall glass building that looked just as impressive as the rest of the campus.
"We're here," Adejo said, parking the car. "Do you want me to come in with you?"
Samantha shook her head and smiled. "No, it's fine. I can handle this."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she replied confidently. "Stay here and wait for me. I'll call you if I need you."
"You got it, boss," he said with a playful salute. "Go kick some ass."
She laughed, feeling a little lighter, and stepped out of the car.
Inside the office, Samantha was greeted by a poised woman in her late forties.
"You must be Samantha Valentine," the woman said warmly. "I'm Mrs. Blake, Dean of the Robotics and Engineering Faculty. Your father has told me a lot about you."
Samantha swallowed nervously.
"So you're the genius prodigy he's always bragging about," Mrs. Blake continued with a smile. "I can't wait to see what you have in store for us."
Samantha smiled shyly. "I'll… I'll try my best, Mrs. Blake."
Mrs. Blake took a moment to study her, then gasped softly. "My goodness… you're even more stunning in person. Your skin, your eyes—those lips. Beautiful and talented. That's rare, you know." She leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Be careful here. Men can be relentless. Some don't take 'no' for an answer."
Samantha's cheeks flushed. "I'll keep that in mind, Mrs. Blake."
Mrs. Blake smiled and handed her a key card. "This is your dorm key. Your room was specially prepared for you, based on your father's instructions."
Samantha froze. "Wait… what?" Her eyes widened. "I get my own room?"
"Yes," Mrs. Blake replied confidently.
"But why?" Samantha asked, her tone sharp. "Why can't I stay in a normal room like every other student?"
Mrs. Blake hesitated. "Well… you are the heiress to the Valentine Family Empire. You're worth over five hundred million dollars. We can't have you mingling with regular students—it would be inappropriate for someone of your standing."
Samantha inhaled deeply, struggling to control the anger boiling inside her.
"Did I ask for special treatment?" she snapped.
Mrs. Blake shrank back. "I—I'm sorry, Miss Samantha. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just following your parents' instructions."
Samantha exhaled slowly. "No… I shouldn't have snapped at you. I'm sorry for losing my temper."
She stood up, thanked Mrs. Blake politely, and left the office. Outside, she immediately called her parents, expressing how unhappy she was with their arrangements. After a long conversation, her mother finally agreed that Chloe could share the room with her.
That helped—just a little.
When Samantha returned to the car, Adejo could sense her mood instantly. He opened the door without a word and drove toward the dormitory in silence.
Eventually, he spoke. "You've been quiet since you left the office. Is everything okay?"
Samantha met his gaze. "I'm fine," she said softly. "Just… pissed off. My parents are still trying to control my life. But I won't let it happen this time."
Adejo sighed. "They just want what's best for you."
She scoffed and turned to the window. "What's best for me? Do they ever ask what I want? They just decide everything for me."
"Yeah," Adejo admitted. "It's unfair. But they believe they're protecting you."
"Well," she muttered, "that's stupid."
They arrived at the dormitory, and Adejo helped her unpack her belongings into the luxurious private room she would now share with Chloe.
Suddenly, Samantha's phone rang.
She answered immediately. "Chloe?"
"Sam!" Chloe's voice sounded stressed—and angry. "I need you to come get me. Now."
Samantha and Adejo rushed to her location.
When they arrived, they found Chloe standing beside a broken-down car, her clothes stained, her hair messy, and engine oil smeared across her face.
"Oh my God!" Samantha exclaimed. "Chloe, what happened to you?!"
Chloe looked relieved to see her. "I'm sorry for calling so suddenly," she said. "My car broke down, and I tried fixing it myself."
Samantha frowned. "What exactly happened to the car?"
Chloe clenched her fists. "Don't even ask me right now, Sam. I'm too angry." She growled. "I swear… I'm going to kill him."