All Chapters of RISE OF THE STUDENT BILLIONAIRE : Chapter 31
- Chapter 40
43 chapters
Chapter 31
Chapter 31The ride back to the villa was longer than usual. Lucas sat in the backseat, staring out at the window looking at the city lights but his mind was in the earlier incident, Charlotte behaviour at the café. The manner in which she'd barely looked at him. The chill of her voice. The look that she had given to him.He'd known her in his bad times, when he'd been one of those part-time student types barely scraping together enough to buy texts and ramen noodles. She'd never cared about money in her life, had never done anything differently because he wore hand-me-downs or had a phone that was three generations old. So why now? Why the coldness at the one time he really needed her assistance?The question bothered him as the car rolled past the villa gates. Lucas nodded to the driver mechanically and entered the house, still lost in thought. He headed for the stairs, meaning to return to his room and attempt to work it all out—Charlotte's attitude, Dominic's suspicion, the overhe
Last Updated : 2025-10-20
Chapter 32
Chapter 32Estelle paced the floor in her own office, telephone held against the side of her head, looking out the window at the grounds below the villa."He suspects," she breathed gently, her voice so low despite being alone. "The way he regarded me this day—now he does not believe me."The laughter on the other end made her grit her teeth."I know the risk," Estelle continued, her voice strained and furious. "But we can't back out now. We're too far into it." She listened, nodded even though the other person was beyond earshot. "Yes. Keep procedure. We must be more forceful before he discovers too much."A second silence. Estelle's dropped hand crept back to her temple, a momentary slip from her groomed mask."I'll defend Lucas' side. You defend your side." She put the receiver down and sat for a while looking at the phone.Estelle hung up the phone and took a deep breath. She had to regain control, get Lucas to a point where he would trust her. That fathers' mandate had been a mis
Last Updated : 2025-10-21
Chapter 33
Chapter 33The afternoon economics lecture had only begun when Lucas sensed his phone vibrating in his pocket. He brushed it aside at first—Professor Chen was halfway through discussing macroeconomic policy that would be on the final exam, and Lucas had already been too many classes too late in recent times. He must focus, must cling to at least this one semblance of normalcy as the rest of his life disintegrated.But the phone buzzed once more. And again. Three times in quick succession, the kind of insistent buzz that meant something was important, something that couldn't wait.Lucas pulled it out quietly, cradling it low on the desk. The screen showed a new message, and the subject line hit him like a punch to the gut:URGENT: Academic Integrity Violation - Report to Dean's Office ImmediatelyHis breath clogged in his throat. Words blurred and came into focus simultaneously as he opened the email trembling with his hands. Every sentence was a further nail hammered into his coffin:
Last Updated : 2025-10-21
Chapter 34
Chapter 34Lucas was still thinking for a credible reason concerning the charges of plagiarism when Dr. Wells picked up another folder. How she did it—hesitantly, as if in respect—warned him this was going to be worse."There's also the matter of your macroeconomics test," she said, opening the folder to reveal what looked like statistical graphs and charts. "The one administered three weeks ago."Lucas's stomach dropped. "What about it?"The fellow wearing glasses who nobody had so much as introduced—leaned in, pushing to organize the charts on the table. "We conducted a standard statistical review of all exam responses this semester. Standard procedure to determine potential integrity violations.""Standard procedure," Lucas mumbled, as they laid out graph after graph, each highlighted with noted-out highlighted sections and margin comments."Your analysis," Dr. Wells continued, "showed irregularities in keeping with prior exposure to test questions."The words made Lucas dumbfounde
Last Updated : 2025-10-21
Chapter 35
Chapter 35Lucas heart raced at a faster pace as he unlocked his phone. Whatever had happened, it was big. It was awful. And it involved him somehow.The first thing he opened was Dominic's text message, 3:47 AM: Don't check social media. Seriously. Call me when you wake up.Which, of course, meant that Lucas opened social media immediately.The university's Reddit page was the first to come up, and the top post was titled: "CONFIRMED: Economics Department 'Perfect Student' Suspended for Academic Fraud - Full Evidence Thread."His hands started to shake as he went through the post. Someone—naturally anonymous—had compiled all the evidence. Excerpts from what looked like internal university reports on the statistical analysis of his exam. Even photos of him strolling around campus yesterday, hoodie up, just the sort of person likely to have something to hide.The replies were cruel.Finally. Entitled brats who believe they can buy their way to A grades repulse me.I attended school wi
Last Updated : 2025-10-21
Chapter 36
Chapter 36Lucas did not sleep on that first night. Or the second. By the third day, his eyes were weary and his hands trembled from too much coffee and too little food, but he could not stop. Each hour that went by that he did not work gave his enemies time to complete their tale, to render his capability inadequateHe started with the research paper—the plagiarism that had made such a fuss. Lucas documented every draft he'd ever saved, starting with the first outline he'd completed in January. His system of organizing files, usually a lifesaver, now looked like heaven. Each draft bore a date, each revised one tagged.January 15th: First outline, subject proposal, initial list of sources.January 29th: First rough draft, 2,847 words.February 12th: Second draft with greater analysis, 4,203 words.February 28th: Third draft following advisor comments, 5,891 words.Week by week, week by week, it charted the evolution of his thought, the sharpening of his argument, the steady but remors
Last Updated : 2025-10-21
Chapter 37
Chapter 37Lucas had violated his campus ban to come, but he hadn't been able to get through another day trapped inside the villa with too many thoughts. The café was a reserved area as all students entered in order to drink the morning coffee.Lucas was flipping idly through Dominic's most recent results on the journal paper when someone plopped down in the chair across from him. He looked up, ready to tell the person to leave him alone, and was taken aback to see Maya Chen."Maya," Lucas said, confused. "Uh, hi?""I need to show you something," she whispered, greeting him, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced nervously about the coffee house, as if seeking onlookers. "Before I chicken out.She rummaged through her phone with shaking fingers, opening it and scrolling up a photo. Then she slid the phone across the table over to Lucas, her finger hovering on the screen."This was on your macroeconomics exam," she informed him. "The one they're accusing you of cheating on."Lu
Last Updated : 2025-10-21
Chapter 38
Chapter 38Two weeks later……The third-floor conference room of the administrative building was more like a courtroom than an academic hearing. The walls were clad in dark wood paneling, and a massive mahogany table dominated the room. One side of the room was taken up by the Academic Integrity Committee—Dean Morrison flanked by Dr. Wells and two other professors Lucas had met but never formally met. Lucas sat alone on the opposite side, his folders full of evidence stacked in front of him, his laptop already out and up.It was Tuesday morning, fourteen days since hell had begun, and the room was cool, with sun outside in spring. Or at least Lucas was cool, his hands trembling slightly as he set out his equipment. He'd worn his best suit—the navy one he'd worn to the Elite Summit, so far back now—a last-ditch effort at appearing confident and authoritative he didn't actually feel.Charlotte and Dominic were sitting down as his only support team. Estelle had offered to go but Lucas had
Last Updated : 2025-10-22
Chapter 39
Chapter 39Lucas was lost in thoughts concerning the recent happenings as a smirk was on his lips as he knew that it was overOr he thought soThen he received the email.He was in the café, focused on an international finance paper, when his laptop chimed for an incoming email. The sender was the Office of Academic Affairs, and the subject line made his stomach plummet: URGENT: Formal Summons - Disciplinary Board HearingLucas's fists tightened on the keyboard. No. Not again. This was not happening again.He opened the email with trembling fingers.Dear Mr. Johnson,You are hereby formally summoned to appear before the University Disciplinary Board on Thursday, May 16th at 10:00 AM in the Administrative Building, Conference Room 301.CHARGES: Academic dishonesty through falsified research results submitted in relation to your Economics 401 project entitled "Comparative Analysis of Microfinance Effectiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa."Lucas read the message three times, clenching his ch
Last Updated : 2025-10-24
Chapter 40
Chapter 40The rumor had started the same day Lucas received the disciplinary notice, spreading like wildfire through parched grass. He arrived at his economics class the following morning to find that the damage was done.Lucas walked into the lecture hall and promptly felt the shift in atmosphere. Flattering gossip that was just seconds before ceased as students became conscious of him. Eyes which had already offered blunt acknowledgment now fled haphazardly, refusing to look him in the eye. The usual chatter of students trying to find a seat and exchanging hellos continued but around Lucas was a bubble of empty space as he made his way to his usual seat.The three chairs immediately around him were also inexplicably vacant, despite the room filling to capacity and students filling less-than-ideal seats rather than sitting next to him. Lucas reassured himself it was an oversight, that he was dreaming. But when Jennifer Martinez—who'd sat next to him all semester, who'd taken his not
Last Updated : 2025-10-24