His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.

Chapter 764 Honour

"Krystal from Computer Science."

Krystal walked onto the stage, her white dress swishing, her dark curls bouncing with each step. She smiled, wide and confident, her teeth white against her red lips. She accepted her certificate with a gracious nod, holding it up for the cameras.

"Mira from Computer Science."

No one came.

The host paused, looking around the stage, squinting into the wings. "Mira?"

Silence.

Bella’s heart clenched. Where was Mira? She had promised. She had said she would be here.

"Karl from Computer Science."

Karl walked onto the stage, his face tight, his jaw clenched so hard Bella could see the muscles jumping beneath his skin. He walked stiffly, his shoulders rigid. He accepted his certificate without smiling, without looking at Krystal, without acknowledging the applause. He stood at the far end of the group, as far from Krystal as possible.

The host continued reading names. Other students walked up, accepted their certificates, and posed for photos. Krystal stood among them, glowing and triumphant, her smile never wavering.

The host turned to the group. "We would like to ask our placement students a few questions. First, what advice do you have for other first year students?"

A few students shrugged. One mumbled something about studying hard and staying focused. Another stared at the floor, too shy to speak, her cheeks burning red.

Then Krystal stepped forward, positioning herself in the center of the group, in the spotlight.

"I think the most important thing," she said, her voice clear and confident, amplified across the auditorium, "is to never give up. No matter how hard things get, no matter how many obstacles you face, you have to keep pushing forward. Success does not come to those who wait. It comes to those who fight for it."

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"You have to believe in yourself, even when no one else does. You have to work harder than everyone else. You have to be willing to sacrifice, to struggle, to fail, and then get back up and try again. That is what separates the winners from the losers. That is what separates the people who make it from the people who do not."

The audience applauded. A few professors nodded approvingly, their faces warm with pride.

Krystal smiled, basking in the attention, her eyes scanning the crowd, drinking in the admiration.

Karl stood beside her, his hands in his pockets, his eyes fixed on the floor. His jaw was so tight Bella could see the muscles jumping beneath his skin, a tic of barely contained fury.

He was holding back his anger. She could feel it from here, radiating off him like heat from a fire.

Bella’s hands curled into fists in her lap. Her knuckles went white.

She watched Krystal accept the applause, accept the praise, accept the recognition that she did not deserve. She watched Karl struggle to keep his composure, his face a mask of forced neutrality. She watched the audience celebrate a liar, a cheat and a fraud.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

The real show was just beginning.

***

After the placement students walked off the stage, the lights shifted again. The bright, focused beams that had highlighted the awardees softened into a warm, golden glow that spread across the entire auditorium. The host returned to the podium, her voice warm and gentle now, the enthusiasm dialed back to something more sincere.

"And now," she said, "we move to a very special part of our evening. The charity segment."

She paused, letting the words settle over the audience.

"Tonight, we honor those who have given back to our community. Those who have used their success to lift others up. Those who remind us that generosity is the greatest achievement of all."

Bella watched with a hint of interest. A small smirk appeared on her face. She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest.

"First," the host announced, "we recognize Professor Elena Vasquez, who has donated over ten thousand dollars to our scholarship fund for underprivileged students."

A woman in a navy blazer walked onto the stage, her gray hair pulled back in a sleek, simple bun, not a strand out of place. Her smile was warm and genuine, crinkling the corners of her eyes. She walked with a quiet dignity, neither hurrying nor lingering. She accepted a small plaque, shook hands with the dean, nodded to the audience, and returned to her seat in the front row.

The audience clapped with polite applause.

Bella clapped politely too, her palms meeting without enthusiasm.

"Second," the host continued, her voice lifting slightly, "we recognize Mr. Leonardo Moretti, whose generous donation has transformed our technology wing and provided new computers for every student in the computer science department."

Leo stood from his seat in the front row. His dark suit was immaculate, not a wrinkle in sight. His gray eyes were sharp, cutting through the dim light like blades. His expression was unreadable, neither pleased nor displeased, simply present. He walked to the stage with long, unhurried strides, his presence commanding the attention of the entire auditorium without him saying a single word.

He accepted the plaque, shook hands with the dean without smiling, and returned to his seat without a word of acknowledgment.

The audience clapped, though many were unsure whether they should. After all, this name was familiar in the underworld, whispered in circles that had nothing to do with charity or education. They clapped anyway. What else could they do?

Bella watched him, her heart swelling with pride.

"Third," the host said, "we recognize Mr. Samuel Davies, whose generous donation has funded the new computer labs and provided cutting edge equipment for our science departments."

Samuel stood from his seat beside Leo. His blonde hair caught the light, almost glowing. His striking blue eyes swept across the audience as he walked to the stage, taking in every face and every reaction. He was smiling, pleasant and effortless.

He accepted his plaque, shook hands with the dean, and turned to the microphone. His voice was smooth, warm and engaging.

"Thank you," he said. "Education is the foundation of everything. Innovation, progress, and hope all start here, in rooms like this, with students like these. I am honored to play a small part in supporting that mission."

The audience applauded. He returned to his seat, his smile never leaving his face, his blue eyes scanning the crowd one more time before he sat down.

Bella watched him. There was something about his face, something familiar. She could not place it.

She frowned and pushed the thought away.

"Fourth," the host said, "we recognize a student from the finance department. Third year. Please welcome James Hall."