Chapter 140: Full Disclosure

After linking the game account to his ID, fingerprint, and DNA, the verification process completed without a hitch. Marcus immediately converted one hundred million in-game gold into ten million dollars. He didn’t hesitate. He logged onto Dragonfly Corp’s site and ordered three Ultra Pods, scheduling delivery for the following day.

He watched his bank balance surge by ten million, only for three million to disappear almost instantly. This, he supposed, was how the truly wealthy lived. For people at the top, sums like that were barely worth noticing. But Marcus knew better than to fool himself. His assets were still limited, and losing three million meant a full third of what he had. To him, the money was far from loose change. If he wanted security, real security, he would have to keep pushing forward.

He might qualify as rich by ordinary standards, but he was nowhere near the realm of the true elite, let alone billionaires. The road ahead was still long.

Later that night, Amber had already fallen asleep. Lily lay tucked against Marcus, her back resting against his chest, her slim body fitting neatly into his arms. He wrapped himself around her, one hand resting lightly on her stomach while the other traced the curve of her hip. She leaned back into him, pressing closer as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Lily,” Marcus murmured softly, brushing a kiss against her cheek, “a friend asked me out today. It was Anya.”

He hadn’t even considered keeping it from her. Lily trusted him completely and never pried, and he suspected she already knew he’d gone out, but honesty mattered to him. If he was going to share a life with her, there would be no hidden corners.

“Anya?” Lily shifted, turning in his arms to look at him, her eyes widening. “Anya Lynn? The most mysterious girl at Crestwood?”

Her surprise was understandable. When Anya returned to campus, she had caused an uproar. Back in college, Marcus had been the only guy on campus who could even hold a conversation with her. Everyone had assumed they’d end up together, but in a twist that baffled the whole school, he’d started dating Serena instead.

The prevailing theory had been simple. Anya was out of his league and had rejected him. After all, Serena was just as beautiful and accomplished, so the only explanation that made sense to outsiders was that Marcus had been turned down.

The truth was far less dramatic and far more private. His time with Anya had been brief, and the confession letter he had given her was something only the two of them knew about. They remained friends afterward, but not close enough for the full story to spread. Even Lily and Serena were unaware of what had really passed between them.

“The whole campus went crazy when she came back,” Lily said, her face just inches from his. “She’s caused such a stir. If people found out she asked you out, they’d be green with envy.”

Marcus’s gaze drifted downward, catching the soft rise of her chest beneath her nightgown, and desire stirred.

“You’re right,” he said with a low laugh. “The guys at Crestwood would lose their minds. But if they knew one of the so-called Campus Queens, the one with the angelic smile and dangerous charm, was in my arms right now and letting me do whatever I want, they’d probably riot.”

He leaned in and kissed her deeply, his hand tightening slightly at her hip as he pulled her closer.

“Stop,” Lily murmured, her face flushing even as she melted into him. She didn’t resist, offering herself up to him with quiet trust.

When the kiss finally broke, Marcus let his lips trail along her jaw and down her neck. Lily inhaled softly, her fingers slipping into his hair, holding him there.

“Marcus,” she whispered, her voice hesitant, “why did Anya ask you out? Does she still have feelings for you?”

He paused, giving her shoulder a light, teasing bite. Instead of losing herself in the moment, she was thinking about the past. He nuzzled her skin, enjoying the warmth beneath his cheek.

“Don’t let your imagination run wild,” he said softly. “There’s nothing going on. Just focus on me. And honestly, I think you deserve a little punishment for being distracted.”

A quiet sound escaped her as his touch made her shiver. Her hands moved across his back, but she wasn’t ready to let it go just yet.

“I’m serious,” Lily said. “Anya is incredibly proud. You’re probably the only guy she’s ever let get close to her, let alone go on a date with. It’s not that simple.”

“Wow, is my sweet Lily actually jealous?” Marcus teased, looking up with a grin. “I’m honored. Here, a kiss as your reward.”

He kissed her again, then chuckled, feeling a little sheepish.

“Alright. I’ll be honest. Anya was my first love. But back then, she rejected me.”

“Your first love?” Lily echoed. “She rejected you?”

She wasn’t angry, just surprised. As long as she had him and his love, she was content. The time she had spent without him had been colorless and empty.

“Yeah,” Marcus admitted, feeling a little awkward. “We met freshman year. I fell hard. I wrote her a letter and gave it to her myself. She never replied.”

Lily stared at him as if he’d said something impossible, shifting closer to study his face.

“She turned you down?”

“Yeah. After that, we talked less. Then I got together with Serena, and eventually everything ended up where it is now. But Anya and I are still friends.”

He met her gaze steadily. He couldn’t bring himself to lie.

“See? Nothing to worry about. Now stop overthinking.”

He kissed her again, letting his hands wander, grounding himself in the familiar comfort of her body.

Lily sighed softly, her body responding instinctively, though her thoughts refused to quiet completely.

Anya rejecting Marcus didn’t make sense to her. It was hard to imagine anyone turning him down. Proud or brilliant or distant, Anya wasn’t so different from Lily herself. Lily had fallen for Marcus effortlessly, drawn in until he filled her entire world. How could Anya have said no?

Everything Lily had now belonged to Marcus, and she believed it was fate, something written beyond choice. Serena, another Campus Queen, had felt the same pull. It couldn’t be coincidence.

There had to be more to the story. Marcus had a way of drawing people in without trying, the kind of presence that lingered. Lily never expected him to belong to her alone, not unless every other woman was somehow less beautiful, which wasn’t true. Anya, Serena, Talia, none of them were lacking in anything.

Her thoughts drifted to Talia. Marcus had met her junior year through the student union, and they were close in a way that went beyond ordinary friendship. On the surface, it looked innocent, but Lily knew better. It rarely ever was.

After all, she and Marcus had started out as “just friends” too.

“Hey,” Marcus said, amused, sensing her drifting again. “What are you still thinking about? You’re making me work too hard here.”

He gave her hip a playful swat. Even through the silk of her pajamas, the sound was sharp, and the heat in his veins flared.

Lily looked up at him and smiled, soft and sincere. She was his. She had his love. Whatever doubts lingered, they couldn’t outweigh that.

And really, what could be better than this?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep