The taste of power was intoxicating, and Stan was drunk on it. He had never dared to be so bold. Gone were the days when Selena’s iron grip on their finances left him feeling like a pauper in his own home. Everything had changed. He was a millionaire, and if he wanted to spend the night with two women, who could stop him? It was simply a matter of throwing money around, and he had plenty to spare.

The two women giggled, their voices sweet and playful as they nudged him. “Oh, you’re such a tease!” they chided, nestling closer.

Stan couldn't believe his luck. This was easier than he'd imagined. His excitement soared. Money really did make the world go round. After years of playing the nice guy, he'd finally hit the jackpot. Earlier, he'd worried about his risky plan backfiring, but with two gorgeous women in his arms, those concerns melted away.

The trio hopped into a cab and headed to a nearby hotel. Stan had never felt so alive.

The next morning, sunlight stabbed through the curtains as Stan stirred. He reached out, expecting warm bodies, but found only cold sheets. His eyes snapped open to an empty room. They had vanished.

A twinge of confusion flickered, but memories of the wild night sent a thrill down his spine. He hummed a jaunty tune, lighting a cigarette with a self-satisfied smirk. Halfway through, a thought struck him. He jumped up, rifled through his briefcase, and found it empty. The contract was gone. Checking his bank account, he was horrified to find the million dollars vanished.

The color drained from Stan’s face. His legs gave way, and he crumpled to the floor. The forgotten cigarette tumbled from his fingers, burning a hole in the plush carpet. One thought consumed him: "It was over. Everything was over!"

Across town, Tiffany’s first night in the dorm was filled with vivid dreams. She dreamt she held a whip, coiled like a serpent, ready to strike. Sandra and Kenneth cowered, their faces masks of terror. With each lash, Tiffany felt a surge of dark satisfaction, years of pent-up frustration released. A wild laugh bubbled from her chest, filling the dreamscape with manic energy. This was power. This was control.

Then Richard appeared, gripping her hand fiercely. "Who gave you the right to touch my people?" he growled, reaching for her throat.

Tiffany jolted awake, her heart pounding. The dream served as a stark reminder—Richard was Kenneth’s uncle. They were family, bound by blood and loyalty. She was an outsider.

Sitting up, Tiffany took deep breaths, trying to calm herself. If she went after Kenneth, Richard could easily become a definitive enemy.

"It's just a dream," she muttered, running a hand through her tangled hair. "The future's not set in stone." Besides, she and Richard weren't close. She had been pursuing him. If things went south, he owed her nothing.

Tiffany splashed cold water on her face. As morning approached, she steeled herself and left her room. Fate, it seemed, had a twisted sense of humor. Kenneth emerged from his room next door.

Their eyes met for a split second before Tiffany looked away, brushing past him silently. She felt his gaze as she descended the stairs.

Kenneth frowned. This wasn't the Tiffany he remembered. The old Tiffany would have bounced around him, her eyes sparkling, calling him "Kenny" in her playful way. But now? She was a stranger.

"Where did you go last night?" he blurted out. He'd seen her sneaking out and returning in the early hours.

Tiffany didn't turn around. "None of your business," she shot back, her tone icy.

"You—" Kenneth started, but Sandra interrupted.

"Kenny! Breakfast time!" Sandra called, holding up a bag of baked goods. "I got your favorite blueberry muffins. Waited in line forever for these!"

Tiffany was gone. Whatever Kenneth wanted to say died on his lips, leaving a bitter taste.

Sandra, noticing Kenneth’s sour mood, asked, "Kenny, what's wrong? You look upset…"

After a moment, Kenneth asked, "Sandra, does your sister often go out late at night?"

Sandra froze. This was the first time Kenneth had asked about Tiffany. It wasn't a good sign.

She looked down, adopting a look of frustrated concern. "Yeah," she sighed, her voice tinged with carefully crafted disappointment. "She goes out late all the time. I’ve tried to talk her out of it, but she won’t listen. She’s always hanging out with these sketchy guys, drinking and partying. I’m worried she’ll get herself into trouble…"

The Harpers were known for their traditional values. Kenneth's face darkened.

"Kenny, why are you suddenly asking about this?" Sandra probed.

"It's nothing," he muttered, his brow furrowed. "Just curious."

Seeing the disgust on Kenneth’s face, Sandra hid a triumphant smile. She'd always be one step ahead. As long as she was around, Tiffany would never get the upper hand.

The next few days passed quietly. On Friday, it was time to go home for the weekend. As Tiffany climbed into the family car, she felt the weight of the week lifting.

Home greeted her with the warm aroma of her mother’s cooking. Thalia had outdone herself; the dining table groaned under the weight of a feast.

"There's my girl," Thalia said, scanning Tiffany with concern. "Everything okay at school, honey? No one giving you trouble? Are you eating enough?"

Tiffany smiled. "I'm fine, Mom. Really. You don't need to worry so much."

"That's good," Thalia replied, smoothing Tiffany’s hair. "Your studies are important, but don’t run yourself into the ground, okay? Take care of yourself."

Tiffany settled onto the couch. Eric, her younger brother, leaned in. "Sis, I've got a tournament next week. Will you come watch?"

"Of course," Tiffany agreed. Then, curious, she asked, "What kind of tournament?"

Eric darted his eyes around before answering, his voice thrumming with excitement. "A hacking tournament!"

Tiffany's eyebrows shot up. "A what?" she hissed, nearly jumping off the couch.

Eric pressed her down. "Shh! It's top secret. Mom and Dad can't know!"

Tiffany nodded, her mind whirling. My little brother, a hacker? When did that happen? she thought.

Eric dropped another bombshell. "Oh, and remember when Kenneth's computer got hacked? That was me…"