Chapter 12: Blackmailing Layla

"Layla," Jayden called out, a smug grin spreading across his face. "You can come out now."

From behind a marble pillar, a girl stepped into the ambient sunlight.

She was petite with short, bright pink hair framing her face, striking blue eyes behind stylish designer glasses, and a figure featuring exceptionally large, tight bosoms straining against her customized uniform blazer.

"Show our resident beggar the proof," Jayden instructed, crossing his arms with satisfied arrogance.

Layla tapped her high-end phone and held the screen inches from Morales face. Played on the high-definition display was clear footage of Chloe Sterling sneaking into Morales dorm room the previous evening.

Seconds into the video, loud, unmistakable, and highly explicit moans echoed softly from the phone’s speaker.

Morales’ expression went completely blank.

’System, what the fuck?!’ Morales roared furiously inside his head. ’You didn’t warn me about any dorm rules, and you didn’t even soundproof the fucking room?!’

"Ding! Rule monitoring is the Host’s responsibility," the System replied with deadpan efficiency.

"You did not inquire about room modifications or institutional bylaws. Soundproofing upgrades are available for purchase in the System Shop for $50,000."

Morales gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached. He glared down at Jayden, his knuckles turning white inside his pockets.

"Maybe if I knock a few of your teeth out right here," Morales said, his voice dropping into a dangerous, icy tone, "you’ll reconsider deleting that damn video."

Jayden didn’t even flinch. He let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Take one step forward, broke boy, and Layla clicks ’Send’ to the entire school network.

You’ll be expelled by sunset and so will Chloe. Imagine the absolute disgrace when the entire world finds out the precious virgin heiress of the Sterling family was getting fucked in a dorm by a scholarship peasant."

Jayden leaned in closer, his eyes glinting with pure malice.

"So why don’t you reconsider getting the fuck out of my sight?" Jayden sneered. "Don’t bother trying to steal her phone, either. Multiple encrypted copies are already backed up on my private server. Walk away, trash."

Morales cursed Jayden a thousand times in his mind, his body tense with suppressed rage. But he knew when he was backed into a corner.

Exposing Chloe to public shame and getting expelled before establishing his foothold wasn’t an option.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away into the shadows of the corridor.

Morales sat on a quiet stone bench near the central courtyard fountain, his mind racing. Fighting Jayden head-on through physical violence would play right into the trap.

If he wanted to destroy the threat, he had to target the weak link in Jayden’s chain. Layla.

Footsteps approached, and Morales looked up to see Chloe walking briskly toward him.

"Morales!" she called out softly, looking around nervously before sitting beside him. "I’ve been looking everywhere for you!"

Morales looked at her and got straight to the point. "Chloe, do you know the girl who is always glued to Jayden’s side? Short, pink hair, glasses? I think Layla."

Chloe nodded instantly, a look of distaste flashing across her face. "Who doesn’t know Layla? She acts so bossy and arrogant just because her family manages Jayden’s sub-companies. She treats everyone like dirt."

"Can you get her to meet me here alone tonight?" Morales asked.

Chloe blinked in surprise. "Why? What happened?"

Morales briefly explained what happened between him, Jayden and Layla had taken outside his dorm room.

As the words settled, Chloe’s emerald eyes widened in sheer horror. She covered her mouth, tears instantly brimming in her eyes. "Oh my god... Morales, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know there was a rule against staying in the men’s dorms! It’s all my fault."

"Stop," Morales interrupted firmly, gripping her shoulders. "It’s not your fault. I’m handling it."

Before Chloe could say anything more, a booming, automated voice echoed from the grand speakers stationed across the campus walls.

"ATTENTION ALL FRESHMEN! THE INTERIM TOP 500 CAPITAL RANKINGS WILL BE REVEALED TOMORROW AT 08:00 AM! THE FIRST EXAM OFFICIALLY CONCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DAY AT MIDNIGHT!"

An instant spark of inspiration flashed in Morales mind. A wicked, brilliant idea began to take form.

"Chloe," Morales said, his voice dropping into a smooth, calculating whisper. "Contact Layla. Tell her that if she wants a guaranteed spot in the Top 10 rankings tomorrow, she needs to meet me by this fountain tonight."

Chloe looked at him, confused but trusting him completely. "Okay. Let’s exchange numbers so I can keep you updated."

They swapped phone numbers on their devices. Chloe sent Layla a message, pitched the bait precisely as Morales instructed, and then hurried off to avoid drawing attention.

Morales spent the remainder of the afternoon systematically gathering intel on Layla and Jayden using his newly acquired phone and System network queries.

By evening, he knew every detail of their private dynamic.

At 9:00 PM, after taking a cold shower and changing into a fresh dark shirt, Morales’ phone buzzed.

[Chloe: She took the bait. She’s waiting at the fountain right now.]

Morales smirked, sliding his phone into his pocket, and made his way to the secluded courtyard fountain.

Standing beneath the dim moonlight by the splashing water was Layla. She adjusted her designer glasses, her pink hair catching the pale light, her heavy chest heaving slightly under her customized blazer as she crossed her arms impatiently.

When she heard footsteps, she turned around. Recognizing Morales, a look of absolute scorn and disgust instantly contorted her face.

"You?" Layla scoffed, rolling her eyes behind her glasses. "You’re the bastard who claims he can put me in the Top 10? What a fucking joke! A broke scholarship peasant who doesn’t even have two million $AC to buy a rulebook thinks he can manipulate the rankings?"

Morales stopped a few feet away, leaning casually against the marble edge of the fountain.

"Do you want to be in the Top 10 or not?" Morales asked calmly, his blue eyes locking onto her. "All you have to do is delete that video of Chloe and me, and destroy all remaining copies."

Layla let out a high-pitched, mocking laugh. "Are you insane?! Why the hell would I ever do that for a piece of trash like you?!"

Morales tilted his head, a slow, predatory smirk spreading across his face.

"Because," Morales whispered softly, stepping closer, "if you don’t... I’ll release the videos of you and Jayden having raw sex in his dorm room to the entire academy network, I have the real video."

Layla’s mocking laughter instantly cut off. Her eyes widened in absolute, paralyzing shock behind her glasses, and the color completely drained from her face.