Midtown High.
Gwen greeted him with a radiant smile, not blaming him for his night out. She knew he was a billionaire now, and billionaires had busy schedules.
"Vincent, thank you for the dress. I love it," Gwen beamed.
"I want you to be the focus of the Prom," Vincent whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist. "We should practice dancing tonight."
"Deal," Gwen agreed. "Let's practice at your apartment. Mom won't mind."
Back in the classroom, the atmosphere was somber.
"Did you hear?" Hannah, his deskmate, whispered.
"Hear what?"
"Peter Parker got accepted to London University. But his Uncle Ben didn't want him to go. They argued, Peter ran away... and Ben went looking for him."
Hannah looked sad. "Ben was shot by a mugger. Peter has already left the country."
"Poor Peter," Vincent sighed, feigning sympathy.
Internally, he frowned. Even though he changed the timeline, fate corrected itself. Ben Parker still died. But instead of becoming Spider-Man in New York, Peter fled to London—or rather, to wherever Hydra was hiding him.
London University? That's definitely a Hydra front.
Harry Osborn walked in. It was his first day back in weeks.
The girls swooned. Harry was still the rich, handsome bad boy, even if he lost his CEO title. Mary Jane Watson immediately sat next to him, chatting happily.
Harry ignored everyone, scanning the room for Peter.
"He's gone, Harry," Vincent thought. "Your best friend abandoned you for Hydra."
During break, Harry cornered Vincent in the hallway.
"Why?" Harry growled, his eyes full of hate and confusion.
"You shouldn't ask me," Vincent looked down at him.
Harry blocked his path. "I just want an answer."
"Oscorp is a tool for making money in my hands. In yours? It's a grave," Vincent said coldly. "If I'm right, Peter and Connors are working together. I spared Peter's life for your sake. Consider it a gift."
"Why should I believe you?" Harry asked, desperate.
Vincent patted Harry's shoulder.
"Peter has been studying genetics under Connors. He's probably fusing his DNA right now. You? You're injecting a flawed serum that amplifies your insecurity. If you want revenge, stop crying and start studying. Fix your serum. Or you'll never beat them."
Vincent squeezed Harry's hand, applying enough pressure to crack bone.
"And Harry? Don't look at me with hate again. Next time, I won't be so merciful."
Harry flinched and looked down. "I'm sorry, Vincent."
Stacy Household. Dinner.
The atmosphere was tense. George Stacy was stressed about the "Ice Demon" incident and the Oscorp upheaval.
Vincent ate gracefully, complimenting Tracy's cooking.
Gwen nudged his foot under the table.
"Mr. Stacy, Mrs. Stacy," Vincent spoke up. "This weekend is Prom. I'd like to practice dancing with Gwen at my apartment tonight."
George looked up. "Prom? Right. Time flies."
"Vincent," George asked. "Have you decided on a college? I can write a recommendation."
"Actually," Vincent wiped his mouth. "I've decided to pause my studies. I need to focus on my new company."
The table went silent.
"New company?" Tracy asked, surprised.
"Running a business is hard work," Vincent said casually. "I made a lot of money from Stark Industries stock. I didn't know what to do with it, so my friend Mr. Smith at Commonwealth Bank helped me buy some shares in Oscorp."
George dropped his fork.
"Oscorp?" George narrowed his eyes. "You're a shareholder?"
"Yes," Vincent nodded. "Mr. Norman Osborn was a visionary. I admire him. It's a good investment."
"How much... of a shareholder?"
"Enough to influence the board," Vincent smiled modestly. "My plan is to pivot Oscorp into renewable energy. Like Stark Industries. We want to power New York with clean energy."
George and Tracy were stunned. Their neighbor, the polite Chinese boy, was a tycoon.
"That's... incredible," Tracy gasped.
"Just luck," Vincent laughed.
George remained suspicious. The timing was too coincidental. The Ice Demon attacks, the Oscorp shakeup, and now Vincent buys in?
Vincent's Apartment.
Vincent and Gwen practiced dancing.
One thing led to another, and the "dancing" moved to the bedroom.
SHIELD Medical Facility.
"Is that him?" Natasha asked, looking at the man in the ice block.
"Yes. Steve Rogers," Nick Fury smiled. "The Captain."
"It's a miracle," Natasha admitted. "Peggy Carter spent decades looking for him."
"We need to handle his awakening carefully," Fury said. "He's a man out of time."
He turned to Natasha. "What about Vincent?"
"He won't join SHIELD," Natasha reported. "He gave Ross a choice: Law-abiding Citizen Vincent, or The Ice Demon who sinks carrier fleets."
Fury rubbed his temples. "He actually said that?"
"Yes. And he meant it."
"Keep watching him, Natasha," Fury ordered. "If we can't recruit him, we need to ensure he doesn't become our enemy. Especially now that the Captain is back."
Natasha nodded, but her mind wandered back to the "deal" she made with Vincent.
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