Caleb stared at his best friend, taken aback by the abrupt request. How could he tell Tommy about his engagement without making him and Jake feel betrayed?"Well...um... since we've just met, I don't mind being friends with Caleb," Carrie said with a small smile.Tommy grinned widely. His plan was working.Tommy then looked at Caleb, nudging him slightly."Well, don't just sit there, do something! You've got a great girl interested in being your friend, and who knows where this friendship may lead...don't ket this opportunity slip away buddy" he said in a low voice, raising his eyebrows up and down, hinting at him."Tommy....I..." Caleb began, but Tommy didn't let him finish his sentence."Caleb, hurry up and add her to the WeFriends app. Then you can chat with her more often, get to know each other better, and maybe in the future, there could be more than friendship," he whispered with excitement.Caleb just stared at him, and then at Carrie. She had over heard Tommy saying to add h
As the revelation unfolded, Cassie's disbelief turned into a mixture of confusion and disappointment. She couldn't understand how Caleb, who had offered to buy the drinks in the bar, could in reality, be living a life of a poor delivery boy.Meanwhile, Suzie, who had been listening to the whole conversation, sighed in relief that she hadn't approached Caleb earlier. The revelation about Caleb's poor financial status left her feeling grateful that she hadn't approached him earlier when she heard he was buying the drinks. Reflecting on the situation, she realized that she could have have been the one in the embarrassing situation, Cassie was in now.Amidst the shock and reactions, Caleb observed Cassie's response closely, realizing that the truth about his identity had left her far from happy.Cassie blinked in disbelief, her mind struggling to process Tracy's revelation. She couldn't fathom that the man she had been flirting, chatting, and laughing with for the last half-hour was a me
"I don't understand why you pretend to be rich. Is it to lure girls out of your league into bed with you? Is it because the girls of your league are just not good enough, eh? If you are a delivery boy, at least be proud of the fact instead of pretending to be someone you're not. Since you don't have money, why pretend to be rich? To make a fool of us rich girls. You disgust me..." Cassie's scornful words echoed in the bar, leaving a palpable tension in the air.Cassie's cutting words stung Caleb, a bitter reminder that sometimes appearances mattered more than genuine connections. Silently absorbing the hurt, he chose not to engage further. With a nonchalant gaze, he studied her, realizing that perhaps this encounter had spared him from repeating the mistakes of the past, particularly the misguided feelings he had harbored for Tracy. Caleb observed as Cassie regarded him with open disdain. He realized that his initial plan to disclose his background through the WeFriends app was now
Just as he said the word "fiancée," Tommy, who had taken a large gulp of his wine, spat it out, hitting Jake's clothes across the table."Watch it, Tommy..." Jake started, but he stopped speaking as soon as Caleb's words registered."Wait a minute....did he just say fiancée...?" Jake asked with wide eyes, looking at Caleb in disbelief.Caleb nodded, and for a moment, the weight of his situation lifted as he saw the shock and confusion on his friends' faces.Tommy was the first to come out of his shock."Fiancée! You're pulling our legs, right? So that we don't try and set you up with another girl," he chuckled, thinking Caleb was joking with them."Yeah, you almost had us there..." Jake added, also chuckling. The disbelief in their eyes was gradually replaced by amusement.Caleb didn't laugh. He just looked between his friends and sighed."Guys, I'm not kidding. I have a fiancée..."The smiles on Jake and Tommy's faces slowly disappeared as they looked at Caleb's serious expression.T
Caleb, Tommy, and Jake paid the bill and left the bar. Caleb, wanting desperately to go home and check up on Emily, got up to leave, and as he did, his mobile phone rang. Furrowing his eyebrows, he looked at the caller ID, and his eyes widened in shock."Sophia," he whispered.After their initial encounter at the Royal Palm Restaurant, he hadn't received any communication from her. Mr. Nat had provided him with Sophia's number to facilitate further interaction between them. Presumably, he must have shared his number with her as well.However, Sophia never took the initiative to reach out.Caleb stared at the caller ID displaying "Sophia" on his mobile for a few moments. His eyes shifted to the corner of the phone screen to check the time; it was quite late. A sense of concern crept over him as to why she was calling at this hour.Tommy noticed Caleb staring at his ringing phone, and as he leaned over, he caught sight of the name "Sophia" on the screen. A mischievous smile spread acro
He opened the package and began to count the money very slowly, pretending to be very serious. "You...you..." Amanda was temporarily at a loss of words. She glanced at Sophia who also had a tiny smile as she watched Caleb count the money. "No wonder everyone at College laughs at you. And no wonder your ex girlfriend Tracy broke up with you. You Don't have an onze of dignity in you. Your a freak who's ready to live on a woman's money... How can there be a man like you in this world....you..." Amanda ranted "A man like me ?" A strange look crossed his face as he looked at her "That's right! A man like you. A beggar, a loser!" She said with a snarl."Hehe..." she laughed at her own words.Even Sophia felt a little sorry for Caleb.Amanda was a very self-centered person."I'm not a loser, and I'm definitely not a beggar!" Caleb replied in a cold tone."But we'll see who behaves like a beggar!" Caleb said glaring at Amanda.Then, without hesitation, he picked up the money he had placed
Before Caleb could open the camera app on his phone to capture the stranger's image, Emily turned around to reach for her glass of wine on the table beside the couch. Her eyes caught Caleb looking down at his mobile through the gap of the semi-opened door."Caleb, you're back," she exclaimed, her surprise evident in her voice.Despite their heated argument the night before, she extended a remarkably warm greeting towards him."Yes, I ah just got back..." Caleb replied, his eyes flickering over to the stranger who stood up when he noticed Caleb.The stranger looked slightly stunned, at the intrusion, but managed to give a small smile. "This must be the friend you were talking about?""Yes, this is Caleb. He is a good friend as well as my neighbor," Emily replied with a soft tone. She strolled over to Caleb and whispered close to his ears, "This is King, you know, the guy I was telling you about. We just had dinner together, and he walked me back to my apartment. And he'svery sweet"
The realization hit hard; there seemed to be no way for him to reclaim control of his account, adding a layer of defeat to his already turbulent emotions.After a few futile attempts, he abandoned the idea of reclaiming the account on his own. Settling into a chair, a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him, both mentally and physically drained.Caleb had no choice but to wait for the imposter King to leave. He planned to gather information from Emily about the stranger. Armed with whatever details he could obtain, he intended to hand them over to Mr. Nat for a thorough investigation.The steady ticking of the clock echoed through the room, time inching forward at a sluggish pace. Caleb perched on the bed, eyes fixed on the clock's hands, gradually succumbing to drowsiness.Abruptly, a loud bang shattered the stillness outside his door, followed by a piercing scream."Ah!"The voice belonged to Emily.Upon hearing Emily's distressing scream, Caleb shot up from his seat, whispering h
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