Caleb's words, suggesting she tell about that night, hit Jessica hard, making her wish she hadn't provoked him earlier. She regretted mocking him harshly, because now, she stood in the limelight, surrounded by whispers and stifled laughter in the classroom, she found herself stuck in the mess she unwittingly created. The familiar surroundings suddenly felt strange, and Jessica couldn't shake the feeling that her own words had landed her in this tough spot. Had Caleb chosen to stay silent, Carl and the others wouldn't have become so agitated and confronted him.But now, Caleb was looking at her asking her to tell everyone that she had met up with him that night, taken off her clothes and wanted to sleep with him in front of all the whole classroom.A lump formed in Jessica's throat. She realized that if she admitted the truth now, would turn her into the laughing stock of the entire college, leaving her with little hope for ever lookinganyonein the eye.As Jessica felt the weight o
I can't believe she slapped Carl. He was just trying to help, and now everything's chaotic.""This is like a soap opera. I thought Carl was the good guy, but Jessica's reaction is making everything so confusing.""I'm genuinely surprised. Carl was defending her, and she slapped him? What's happening in this class?""Jessica's actions just added more drama to an already chaotic situation. Now everyone's even more bewildered."Carl's gaze remained fixed on her, a sense of betrayal settling in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't shake off.Caleb watched with amusement as Carl stood in disbelief, a smirk playing on Caleb's lips. The irony of the situation wasn't lost on him—Carl, who had been defending Jessica from the beginning, now found himself at the receiving end of a slap instead of receiving any praise. Caleb couldn't help but think that maybe Carl deserved it for being such a suck-up.Everyone anticipated that Carl would turn against Jessica after the slap. He stared at her w
The fact that he had used the money on seemingly frivolous endeavors, such as treating everyone to an expensive restaurant and rescuing two women who had never given him the time of day, left them questioning his decision-making. They pondered why, if Caleb had initially intended to invest the money, he hadn't followed through with that plan.Tommy, Jake, and Jane found themselves puzzled by Caleb's financial decisions. They wondered if Caleb's lifelong experience of financial struggle had influenced his newfound approach to wealth. Perhaps, they speculated, his lack of familiarity with substantial sums led him to spend it in a seemingly extravagant manner.Despite their confusion about Caleb's choices—especially using a significant portion of the money on people who hadn't treated him kindly—they acknowledged the reasonableness of his explanation. Jane couldn't help but express her frustration, "Caleb, why spend your winnings on unnecessary things like treating a large group at a r
Soon, the remaining students gradually rose from their seats, preparing to depart. The drama had reached its conclusion, leaving no reason to linger.In the quiet aftermath, only Kenneth, Carl, and Tracy remained. Their attention converged on a single figure—Jessica."What's happening between you, Jessica, and Caleb? Is he thrash you with something? Or does he know some secret of yours, and you're afraid he might expose it?" Tracy inquired, puzzled by Jessica's uncharacteristic behavior. It was a far cry from the feisty Jessica she had known for years.Jessica locked eyes with Tracy. The room was pregnant with suspense as Kenneth and Carl waited for her response, hanging on to every moment of the impending revelation. A heavy silence lingered.Jessica, with a heavy heart, shook her head and broke the silence."Caleb isn't holding anything over me, and he's not aware of any secrets I might have. The truth is, I owe him $50,000," she admitted, her shoulders sagging, as she cast a help
Caleb sat in the passenger seat of Frank's car during the afternoon, carefully examining the documents spread out before him. Sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow on the pages and creating an atmosphere of focused diligence. Frank, behind the wheel, observed Caleb's reactions, aware of the daylight illuminating the details of their secretive discussion.Calebs face contorted into a frown as he lifted his gaze to meet Frank's, his brow furrowing in confusion. The William from the previous night at Emily's seems conspicuously absent from all official documents."Have you thoroughly covered every individual named William at Castle College?" He sets down the documents, questioning with a stern demeanor."I assure you, my data on fourth-year students named William is comprehensive and accurate, complete with pictures," Frank responds confidently.Caleb murmured in frustration, "If that's the case, why isn't the William I'm searching for here in these documents?" He
As he reached for the doorknob of his apartment, poised to insert the key, his phone chimed with an incoming call.RINGRINGRINGAnticipating an update from Frank, Caleb retrieved his mobile from his pants pocket and briskly swiped the answer button, disregarding the caller ID."Frank, what's the latest?" he inquired, only to be greeted by a distinctly alluring voice on the other end – a voice he instantly recognized as Miss Roberts, the showroom manager who had condescended to him.The sultry tone, echoing through the phone, brought back vivid memories of the manager at the showroom – her disdainful glances and dismissive attitudes still vivid in Caleb's mind. With the realization of who was on the other end of the line sinking in, Caleb braced himself for the unexpected conversation. What could she possibly want?Undoubtedly, Miss Roberts possessed an alluring charm. Despite her mature appearance and being older than Caleb by quite a few years, she had maintained a flawless figure
"Are you the Emily from the live life broadcasting room?" questioned the unknown man in a gentle tone, Emily attempting to free her arm from Harry's grasp."Yes, that's me!" she retorted with a glare. "Now, let go of my arm."Under Mr. Chan's commanding gaze, Harry complied and released her. Emily glared fiercely between the two men, while Mr. Chan let out a heavy sigh.Emily massaged her wrist, her gaze fixed on the stranger."Look...." Mr Chan began to say."No! You look! I've made up my mind. I'll do whatever you want – I'll sign the contract with Mr. Chan's company or anything else. Just promise to stay away from me and my friends," she reluctantly uttered. Realizing her vulnerability against these individuals, she had no option but to comply with their demands.Mr. Chan, recalling Frank Cole's threat, manages a small, nervous smile at Emily."Emily, there seems to be a misunderstanding here," he stammers. "I'm Mr. Chan. We've been in touch through the broadcasting room."Emily st
Emily observed the woman with confusion as she approached Caleb. Her eyes traveled up and down, trying to make sense of the situation. The puzzling sight of a well-dressed woman, stepping out of a Mercedes Benz, walking excitedly towards Caleb and addressing him as "Mr. King," left Emily baffled.Emily wondered about the connection between Caleb and the approaching woman. As she observed the scene, she couldn't fathom how Caleb knew someone like her. Her gaze shifted to Caleb, who appeared more nervous than happy to see the woman, deepening her confusion.Emily scrutinized the woman from head to toe, taking note of her expensive attire and accessories. The woman's clothes seemed to cost more than Caleb's monthly rent, and Emily couldn't help but wonder how a guy like Caleb, who struggled financially, could be acquainted with someone so affluent.Caleb swiftly called out, "I'm coming!" with a nod and a small smile, walking toward the approaching woman,trying to keep her away from Emi
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