Chapter 71

NOAH Keith followed just behind me as I headed toward the private room on the second floor, where William had organized a high school reunion for another class. The moment I stepped into the room, I drew attention. Conversations paused for a split second before resuming, louder than before, and several people immediately turned to greet me. Though we were from the same grade level, I had no clear memory of any of them. We had been in different classes back then, and our paths rarely crossed. I responded to their greetings with brief nods—polite, but distant. I wasn’t surprised they recognized me even if I didn’t recognize them. I had been the top student—not only in my class, but across the entire year. My family background was no secret either. Back then, many people tried to get close to me, hoping for connections that could benefit their families in the future. “Noah, you made it!” William said when he spotted me. “Come, sit here.” Then he glanced past me and grinned. “Keith—you’re