Chapter 4

As I wrestled with the impossible, my doorbell rang. I thought it was the breakfast delivery. Instead, it was Genevieve, Lissy, and Ryder—Ryder in a pristine white suit, trailing behind them like a smug prince.

Eve didn’t wait for an invitation. She shoved past me and started inspecting the apartment, her gaze sharp.

“If you hadn’t moved out, Ryder wouldn’t have worried about your safety. And we never would’ve found out you live in a place like this,” she scoffed. “Where’d you get the money for this penthouse? What shady business are you involved in?”

Lissy picked up an antique vase from the shelf, her lip curling. “A Ming dynasty piece? Really? Hunter, we’ve known you for years, and I never realized you had this kind of wealth.”

Her eyes darted to my phone, which still displayed Ryder’s TikTok video.

Her expression darkened with disdain. “You’re incorrigible.”

Eve grabbed my phone and smashed it onto the floor. “I’ve warned you, Hunter. No one is allowed to hurt Ryder on my watch!”

Behind them, Ryder gasped dramatically. “Oh, wow. Look at this,” he stammered, pointing at my open laptop. “Hunter’s so dedicated—he’s even replicating my trading simulations.”

Eve and Lissy followed his gaze and immediately rounded on me.

“Are you trying to frame him?” Eve demanded. “You’re forging evidence now? Have you no shame?”

I stayed silent. Explaining myself was pointless—they’d already made up their minds.

Since Ryder’s appearance in our lives, I’d become the villain in their narrative. To them, he was the perfect victim, and I was the monster.

Eve’s jaw tightened. “Fine. Stay silent. Let me show you what consequences look like.”

She opened TikTok and recorded a video, her camera pointed directly at me. “This is Genevieve Lockwood of Lockwood Industries. I’m officially accusing Hunter Sterling, the current leader of the American Stock Tycoon Championship, of stealing Ryder Hartwell’s trading strategies.”

She hit upload without a second thought.

Lissy followed suit, reposting it with the caption: “I can confirm the allegations.”

The posts went viral in minutes.

The comments flooded in:

“So he’s not a stock god, but a thief?”

“Hunter Sterling, get out of the championship!”

“OMG, is this a love triangle? Two powerful women defending Ryder? I’m here for it!”

Ryder feigned sorrow, his lips twitching in a barely concealed smirk. “Hunter, just apologize, and I’ll forgive you. Eve and Lissy will even delete their posts.”

Eve stomped her foot. “Ryder, you’re too kind for your own good!”

Lissy sighed, patting his shoulder. “You’re only encouraging him to keep crossing the line.”

The trio continued their theatrical performance, but I’d had enough.

“Do I need to call the police,” I asked coldly, “or will you leave on your own?”

Ryder’s face fell. “Hunter, you can kick me out, but Eve and Lissy? We’ve been friends since childhood. How can you treat them like this?”

Eve shot me a murderous glare. “You’ll regret this.”

Lissy’s tone was heavy with fake disappointment. “If this is the path you choose, don’t blame us for what happens next.”

They stormed out, colliding with the delivery driver on their way. My breakfast spilled across the floor. The delivery guy stammered an apology, but I waved it off. I’d lost my appetite anyway.

I sank onto the couch, replaying Ryder’s smug exit in my mind. His smirk lingered—taunting, confident.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Bolting upright, I ran to my study and reopened my trading software. If the 2008 Financial Crisis was imminent, I needed to act fast. This was my chance to outmaneuver him.

For three sleepless days, I prepared.

Finally, I liquidated all my holdings and officially withdrew from the championship.

Then I opened Ryder’s TikTok account.

Sure enough, an hour earlier, he’d posted a video titled: “Stock Market Collapse Incoming—Sell Everything!”

Genevieve and Lissy had already reposted it with glowing endorsements.

I smiled faintly.

The trap was set.