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

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:

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

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

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