"Sophia....don't you think my suggestion is a good one?" Amanda asked with a smirk.Sophia furrowed her eyebrows at her question, stealing a glance at Caleb, eager to gauge his reaction.Caleb had initially intended to tease Sophia about the conditions, but now the situation was becoming more complicated.He sighed, realizing that she had already made it clear they would only be husband and wife on paper. It wouldn't be an easy task to resist attraction when living under the same roof. Moreover, what if she eventually cheated on him? That thought lingered in Caleb's mind.That in itself would be a humiliation for himFacing potential betrayal from Sophia brought back memories of Tracy cheating on him when she was his girlfriend.The prospect of Sophia doing the same loomed over him, adding to the complexities of the situation. Yet, accepting the $3000 a month as a payoff seemed equally humiliating, as it would label him as a man dependent on a woman for living expenses."Listen, deli
Amanda huffed, glaring at Caleb as she pushed the napkin with the account number into her purse. Her initial plan had backfired, and frustration boiled within her. She had hoped he would show a bit of dignity, refuse the money, act in his usual humble manner, and leave – thus putting an end to the arrangement of marriage with Sophia and any link to her. The fear of people discovering their indirect connection irked her.Additionally, the substantial impact of a monthly expense of 8000 dollars on her savings was a cause for concern.As she reflected on it, the idea of offering money seemed rather foolish. Why didn't she think things through before speaking? Amanda needed to figure out a way to make Caleb reject the monetary proposal and abandon the wedding idea altogether.Attempting a different tactic, Amanda exclaimed, "How can you be so shameless! Is it appropriate, for a man to live off a woman's money?" Her frustration grew as Caleb shrugged, unfazed.As she uttered those words,
Caleb turned back around, studying the manager with a contemplative expression. The manager began to sweat again, fearing he had changed his mind and was going to be fired."Sir, I'm..." he stuttered, pulling out his handkerchief to wipe away the nervous sweat."Have you told anyone about my identity?" asked Caleb cautiously."No, sir. I haven't. Mr. Nat specifically instructed me that your identity must remain a secret. I'm the only one who knows, sir. And I assure you that your secret is safe with me.""Good," Caleb nodded with a small smirk."By the way, I wanted to know if the two people who insulted me in the restroom and called me a thief are members of this restaurant.""The man with your ex-girlfriend, sir," the manager said, then suddenly realized what he had said. "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't..."Caleb held up his hand to stop him from speaking further."Are they members of the restaurant?"The manager thought for a while and shook his head."No, sir, they are not. I've never s
Stephen couldn't help but glare angrily at Kenneth and Tracy, until suddenly something the manager said clicked in his mind."Wait a minute. Did you just say that my membership has been cancelled?""That's right, as of now you are no longer a member here!" The manager responded icily, his gaze shifting to Kenneth, who wore a nervously apprehensive expression before quickly averting his eyes.Upon hearing this, Stephen was livid. It was very hard to get a membership at this restaurant. His father had invested millions of dollars for both himself and Stephen, enduring extensive background checks, to secure their coveted gold-level membership card. Yet, unexpectedly, it was abruptly canceled.Membership here held an esteemed status, reserved for the elite. Only the crème de la crème possessed such privileges. If Kenneth's father discovered that a friend he had invited to his birthday party had stirred up trouble, leading to the cancellation of their prestigious membership, the conseque
Meanwhile...After Caleb departed from The Royal Palm Restaurant, he remained oblivious to the unfolding events. He had no inclination to find out; he trusted Mr. Holland to handle the situation adeptly.Standing outside a tall building, Caleb couldn't help but smile at the thought of Sophia. Marrying a woman of such unparalleled beauty was beyond his wildest expectations. However, the irony was evident to him. Despite her outward charm, she held reservations towards him. The restroom incident and Amanda's false accusations of inappropriate touches during his fall likely lingered in her mind, unfairly casting him as a pervert in her eyes."I wish our initial encounter hadn't left her with the wrong impression," he sighed, but a faint smile tugged at his lips."Anyway i still consider myself fortunate; I never expected my fiancée to be so breathtaking. I just wish there hadn't been a misunderstanding," Caleb sighed softly.Deep down, he harbored the hope that, with time, Sophia would
And what proof do you have that I can't afford to buy a house?" he challenged.The attractive manager regarded him as he posed the question, unable to resist rolling her eyes. She looked him up and down with a sneer, and some employees chuckled, finding his question amusing."Are you seriously asking this absurd question?" remarked the sneering manager.Caleb nodded, maintaining a serious expression. "Yes, I am asking, and I want an answer!""Alright, I'll entertain your questions just for amusement. Do you have any idea about the cost of these houses?" she asked with a smirk.Caleb looked at the woman and slowly shook his head "No, I don't have any idea.""You questioned how I knew you couldn't afford any of the houses. Allow me to enlighten you. The most affordable house for sale here is priced at over 2 million dollars," she stated, staring Caleb with a small smirk."2 million dollars," she repeated, emphasizing the figure with two raised fingers. "Now, can you honestly say you
Sophia returned to what she couldn't quite call home and headed straight to her brother Charlie's room. Pushing the door open, she found him engrossed in a book on his bed."Hey, Charlie...""Soph..." He beamed and swiftly got off the bed, rushing towards her for a tight embrace."You were gone for so long; I thought you had left me..." His eyes teared up.Sophia hugged him once more."I promised I'd never leave you, and I never break a promise to you, okay?" She reassured him, cupping his face in her hands with a warm smile.Charlie smiled back and nodded."Where did you go? I was looking for you." Charlie inquired, settling back against the headboard, holding a closed book in his lap."I had somewhere I needed to go, sorry it just took longer than I expected..."Charlie simply nodded, his gaze fixed on the book in his hands."Charlie...""Ummm...."Sophia observed her brother, sensing an underlying issue. She took a seat on the bed, her fingers lightly brushing the soft fabric of th
BACK AT THE SHOWROOM Miss Roberts, obedient to Mr. Williams' command, led the way to an office where various villa models were on display. The models were intricately crafted, each showcasing unique architectural features and design elements. Caleb followed behind, taking in the details.Shortly after, Mr. Williams joined them, offering a warm smile to Caleb."These are our exquisite villa models. Take your time exploring, and I'll leave you in the capable hands of Miss Roberts," he said, knowing the likelihood of Caleb making a purchase was slim. With that, Mr. Williams departed, leaving Caleb and Miss Roberts amidst the finely presented architectural representations.Angela quietly entered the office, standing near the door with a visible air of nervousness. Her eyes betrayed a sense of helplessness, aware that Miss Roberts was seething with anger. The blame for bringing Caleb into the building rested on Angela's shoulders, and she couldn't shake the anticipation of facing the c
As Caleb began to walk out of the classroom, Professor Hanks reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks. Her eyes were filled with a mix of concern and disbelief."Caleb," she said softly but firmly, "I need you to tell me the truth. Did you steal that money?"Caleb looked down at her hand gripping his and then met her gaze. He could see the earnest plea in her eyes, the hope that he wasn't guilty. He took a deep breath, his expression calm and resolute."No, Professor Hanks," he replied quietly. "I didn't steal the money."Professor Hanks studied his face for a long moment, searching for any hint of deceit. Finally, she released his hand with a sigh, a flicker of hope still lingering in her eyes."Alright, Caleb," she said firmly, her grip still strong on his hand. "But don't stay silent like you did here. You need to defend yourself clearly when you see the headmaster. Speak the truth and avoid any unnecessary remarks. I'll do everything in my power to support you,
Jane’s eyes were fixed on Caleb, desperately waiting for him to say something, to shout, to scream his innocence. But he remained calm and collected, his gaze never wavering from Carl. Carl, noticing Caleb's unwavering calm, smirked and turned to Mr. Henderson. "Here's the proof, sir. Now it's up to you how you deal with this thief." Mr. Henderson glanced at Professor Hanks, who was staring at Caleb in shock, unable to reconcile the calm student with the accusations against him. Mr. Henderson nodded and said, "I can't believe after all this time we've actually caught the thief red-handed. Caleb, come with me to the staffroom. We will discuss further what we should do with you with the rest of the staff." Hearing Mr. Henderson's words, some students nodded in agreement, murmuring among themselves that Caleb should be punished. The accusation seemed to fit with the recent rumors and suspicions. However, those who were close to Caleb, especially Jake, Tommy, and Jane, were filled
The students stared at Caleb with disgust, their eyes shifting between him and the pouch on his desk. Whispers and pointed fingers only deepened the collective disdain. Many had always harbored suspicions about Caleb, simply because he was poor. Yet, in the last few months, something had changed. Caleb had started spending money freely, treating classmates to dinners in expensive restaurants, flaunting an attitude of newfound confidence. The sudden shift was startling. Now, with Jane's pouch found among his belongings, the students were convinced their suspicions were confirmed. To them, Caleb's recent spending spree must have been funded by stolen money from the college. The atmosphere was thick with judgment, the air filled with murmurs and pointed looks. No one seemed to remember the Caleb who once struggled quietly. Instead, they saw only the image of a thief, their minds made up by the damning evidence before them. "I can't believe it!" another student exclaimed, shock evident
"Well, Carl, after an hour, you'll regret what you're doing right now, and you will pay for what you have done." Carl narrowed his eyes at Caleb momentarily and chuckled, muttering under his breath, "Is that a threat?" Caleb didn’t bother to respond, his silence conveying more than words could. Carl shrugged off Caleb's words, confident that they were meaningless. What could a loser like Caleb do anyway? Carl's smirk grew as he unzipped the bag. He knew that as soon as the money was found, there would be no escape for Caleb. The whole class fell silent, the only sound being the slow, deliberate zip opening Caleb's bag. Kenneth leaned forward on his desk, casting a quick glance at Tracy, who had a small smirk playing on her lips. They knew that any moment now, their plan would come to fruition. On the other hand, Tommy and Jake watched nervously, their anxiety palpable. But the most anxious of all was Jane, the class monitor. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was
"I..." Caleb began, weighing his words carefully. Caleb paused for a moment, his mind racing as he processed the situation. He instinctively slid his hands into his pockets, a subtle gesture to calm his nerves. His gaze shifted towards Carl once more, observing the smug confidence etched on his face. It was becoming clear to Caleb that Carl wasn't acting on mere suspicion but had orchestrated this accusation deliberately. The reason for Carl's unwavering confidence in Caleb's guilt pointed to a calculated plan. As Caleb pondered Carl's motives, his eyes flickered briefly to his desk where his bag lay discarded underneath. He couldn't shake the sinking feeling that the money, the very evidence Carl was banking on finding, might have already been planted there. A surge of frustration and anger welled up within him, but he maintained his composure outwardly, preparing to address Professor Hanks and the rest of the class with clarity and conviction. He had been set up. As his
Professor Hanks's hand slammed down on the table with a resounding thud, instantly quelling the rising chatter that had filled the room. "Silence!" Her authoritative command cut through the noise like a knife, demanding the attention of every student present. Once the room had settled into a tense silence, she fixed her unwavering gaze on Caleb, her expression a blend of concern and determination. "Caleb," she began, her voice firm yet tinged with curiosity, "do you have anything to say?" Her eyes bore into his, silently urging him to speak up and address the accusations that had been thrown his way. Caleb paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before standing up. "What Carl said just now-his analysis of what could have happened-is very reasonable," he began, his voice calm and measured. "However, there is one small thing he seems to have forgotten to mention." Professor Hanks furrowed her eyebrows, clearly intrigued. "And what might that be?" she prompted, her gaze s
Mr. Henderson straightened his tie with an air of authority, smoothing back a few nonexistent strands of hair as he smiled at Professor Hanks. "Just before you arrived, we may have made some progress regarding the thief," Mr. Henderson announced, his voice projecting across the room. He briefly glanced over at Caleb, who met his gaze with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Professor Hanks furrowed her eyebrows, her expression shifting to one of focused curiosity. Stepping closer to Mr. Henderson, she asked in a firm tone, "What progress have you made?" Mr. Henderson's smile widened slightly, relishing the attention from Professor Hanks. Leaning in slightly, he lowered his voice as if sharing a confidential matter. "Before you got here, Carl accused Caleb of being the thief." Professor Hanks's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She scanned the room until her gaze landed on Caleb, who met her look with a disbelief apprehension. Carl stood smugly with his arms folded across his ches
Mr. Henderson's expression shifted from annoyance to cautious interest. He fixed Carl with a penetrating stare. "You know who it is, Carl? Thrn enlighten us" he demanded, his voice low and serious, cutting through the chatter in the classroom. Carl took a deep breath, steeling himself before speaking again. "It's..." He hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully. The suspense in the room was palpable, each second feeling like an eternity as everyone waited for him to continue. As tension hung thick in the air of the classroom, Carl stood up abruptly, his face wearing a confident smirk. His words cut through the silence like a knife. "The thief is amongst us," Carl declared, his voice echoing off the walls, "and he is sitting in this room right now!" A collective gasp rippled through the classroom as students exchanged shocked glances. Whispers erupted like a sudden storm, as everyone began to scrutinize their classmates with newfound suspicion. Mr. Henderson, hi
The professor's glare bore into Jane with unmasked frustration. "Do you have any brains ! Thats what happebscwhen you dont listen!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the classroom walls. "I explicitly warned all students on the notice board to be vigilant with their belongings, knowing there's a thief among us. Yet you, young lady, have managed to have the entire class's fees stolen. And you dare call yourself a class monitor!"His words stung like a whip cracking through the air, each syllable laced with disappointment and accusation. The classroom seemed to shrink under the weight of his condemnation, leaving Jane visibly shaken under the harsh spotlight of Professor Henderson's scrutiny.Jane stood frozen under the professor's harsh gaze, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to find her voice amidst the palpable tension in the room."I... I'm sorry, Mr. Henderson," she stammered, her words coming out in a rush. "I... I didn't mean to... I thought... I thought it would be s