The reward for my choice crashed into my mind.
A future vision.
The timestamp burned clear:
September 25, 2005 — 4:47:03 PM.
Chloe was in her dorm, in military training uniform, messing around with her roommate.
Lila burst in, grabbed her roughly, and started screaming at her.
Another girl on her bed sat up, grinning, and started filming.
Then the vision cut off.
I frowned.
What the hell was this for?
Then it hit me.
This wasn't the past.
This was ten days from now — during military training.
The vision locked itself in my head, accessible anytime. But I couldn't see the point yet.
Mediate a fight? Please. I wasn't that bored.
Veyra City was a global metropolis.
Havenshire University was world-famous. On move-in day, the streets were packed with cars — but not many worth a hundred grand, driven by a student.
Everyone was staring.
At the gate, a young security guard glared at my BMW X5 and muttered to his partner.
"Guy like that's no good. Student? Driving this? Once orientation is over, I'm keeping him out."
I pulled up, smiled friendly, and tossed a pack of premium cigarettes into the booth.
"Name's Kael Voss. I'll be here for the next four years. Hope we get along."
The guard's attitude flipped in a second.
"Sure thing! Drive in anytime. I'll leave the gate open for you."
I waved and drove inside.
In my last life, my dad drilled into me a thousand times:
Be smooth. Be ruthless.
I'd ignored him. Look where that got me.
This time? I was going to be the most dangerous player in the game.
I held my Motorola out to Chloe.
"Put your number in."
She stared at the latest model, eyes jealous but trying to hide it.
She handed it back.
"I don't have a phone. Just give me yours. I'll call from the dorm landline."
I glanced at her.
In 2005, only 6% of freshmen had phones. By senior year, 82%.
My family owned a tech company. I knew the numbers cold.
I recited my number. She memorized it.
She tried to get out. I didn't let her.
I kept driving until we reached the girls' dorm.
Girls crowded the windows, checking out everyone who came in.
They gossiped about who was pretty, who was rich.
When my black BMW X5 rolled up, every head snapped toward it.
"Wow, that car's huge! Must be expensive!"
"That's a BMW! Super luxury brand!"
"Idiot, it's an X5. Over a hundred thousand dollars."
The car stopped.
Everyone waited to see which rich girl stepped out.
Chloe climbed out, red-faced.
A wave of silent jealousy hit her.
Pretty AND rich? The girls in the dorm hated her already.
She tensed under all the eyes and tried to run inside.
Then I got out too.
A soft gasp exploded from the windows.
They thought it was some rich girl's parents.
Instead, they saw a young, handsome guy.
I did it on purpose.
I held up my hand, miming a phone call.
"Call me."
Chloe's face burned bright red.
Before she could escape, I blew her a kiss.
The dorm girls lost their minds.
They were convinced — we were definitely dating.
Why does she get the handsome rich guy?
Chloe ran into her dorm and was immediately swarmed by four roommates.
Lila wasn't back yet.
"Chloe! Is he your boyfriend? What's his name?!"
"How long have you been together? Is he a student here?"
"He's so good-looking! Where did you meet him?"
She panicked and waved her hands.
"We're NOT dating! We just met today! I only just found out his name is Kael!"
No one believed her.
They thought she was just hiding him.
Then —
Ring!
The dorm phone exploded.
One roommate picked up.
"Hello?"
A clear, deep voice came through.
"This is Kael. I'm looking for Chloe."
Her eyes blew wide.
"Are you the guy who dropped Chloe off?!"
"Yeah."
She yelled so loud the whole dorm heard.
"CHLOE! YOUR BOYFRIEND'S ON THE PHONE!"
Of course I knew their dorm number.
I'd been Lila's little puppy for years. I knew everything.
This call was just to lock in the image.
Chloe froze, terrified.
"Y‑you —"
I laughed softly.
"Relax. I just wanted to ask — meet me at the campus lake tonight. You still owe me one more kiss."
Chloe clamped her mouth shut, trembling.
"I'll take that as a yes. I'll find you."
I hung up.
She slowly put the phone down.
When she turned around, four faces were inches from hers.
"Oooooooh! Date night!!"
"It's not like that!" she squeaked.
No one listened.
Did I actually like Chloe?
Not even a little.
But she was going to be Jax Cole's woman.
And that made her the perfect toy.
This was war.
And I was just getting started.