“Hey, scholarship boy.”Ethan didn’t have to turn to know who it was.Caleb Moore. The trust fund kid. Ethan kept walking.“I’m talking to you,” Caleb said, stepping in front of him. “Have you sent the answers of those assignments to the group? Or were you too busy working night shifts?”A few students snickered.Ethan tightened his grip on his backpack. “It’s done. I sent it to the group chat.”“Oh.” Caleb leaned closer. “Good. At least you’re useful for something.”He let out a mocking laugh and Ethan forced a small smile, the kind that never reached his eyes. “Excuse me.”He walked past them, his heart pounding. He hated how his body reacted. The silent anger he never allowed himself to release.He reached the lecture hall and sat into his usual seat at the back.A soft familiar perfume hit his nostrils before he saw her.Laura.She dropped into the seat beside him, her hair falling perfectly over her shoulders, her glossy lips glistened temptingly.“You didn’t reply to my message

When Ethan opened his eyes, he immediately realized the ceiling was not the same as the one in his hostel.The lights were brighter, and the air smelled differently.Standing before him was a doctor checking his pulse with a stethoscope. Beside him stood a man in his mid-fifties, looking tense, and three hefty men who appeared to be his bodyguards. They stood with folded arms, their gazes locked on Ethan.“Ah… my head!” Ethan groaned, holding it tightly. “Where am I?”He tried to sit up, but his whole body hurt, forcing him back onto the bed.“Don’t try to get up yet,” the doctor said gently, leaning closer to check his pupils with a penlight. “You’ll be fine.”He turned to the man beside him.“He’s still weak. He sustained minor injuries but lost a lot of blood. He’ll need a blood transfusion immediately.”“Doctor, please check mine,” the man said quickly, his brows ridged with anxiety. “If it’s a match, I’ll donate.”“Oh… my ribs!” Ethan cried out, attempting to touch his side, his

Daniel picked up his phone from the table and dialed a number.“Hello. This is Daniel Wilson speaking. Revoke Ethan Carter’s expulsion immediately. He is to remain enrolled with full privileges. Effective now.”There was silence on the other end.“Yes. I expect confirmation within minutes.”He ended the call calmly and placed the phone back on the table.Few minutes later, Ethan’s phone buzzed.He picked it up casually and froze.The email reads “Expulsion Notice Revoked. We sincerely apologize for the administrative error. Your expulsion has been canceled. You are hereby reinstated with full academic privileges effective immediately.Ethan blinked. His lips parted slightly.His hands trembled just a little.He read it again and again.His eyes slowly lifted to Daniel.“You… did this?”Daniel’s expression softened.“Yes. And I am sorry I was not there to protect you from everything you suffered all these years,” he said quietly. “But I am here now. And I will make things right. You do

“Better say the truth now,” Ryan said coldly, folding his arms across his chest. “Because nobody is going to bail you when you get locked up.”Laura stood beside him with a smug smile.“But he should have thought about that before stealing something that expensive.”Ethan said nothing. He simply sat there calmly, his fingers lightly resting on the table.The manager had already taken out her phone.She dialed the number printed on the receipt.Everyone at the table fell silent. The call connected.“Yes, this is the jewelry house,” a calm voice answered from the other end.The manager cleared her throat.“Hello, I’m calling to verify a purchase receipt for a gold necklace.”She slowly read out the receipt number.“Please hold for a moment.” A pause followed.Ryan leaned back confidently. “Here comes the truth.” Laura chuckled quietly.But a few seconds later, the voice returned. “Ma’am… where exactly are you calling from?”The manager frowned slightly. “Why?”The voice replied careful

The moment the elevator doors closed behind Ethan and Mr Jones, the atmosphere outside the hotel slowly returned to normal.But the tension remained.Ryan stood frozen where he was.Laura’s fingers were still clutching his arm, though her grip had loosened. Her eyes were fixed on the elevator doors like she was still trying to process what had just happened.Celeb was the first to break the silence.“Did… did that just happen?” he muttered.Ryan let out a short laugh. A forced one.“Relax,” he said quickly. “It’s obviously some stupid mistake.”Laura turned slowly to look at him.“Mistake?”Ryan nodded confidently.“Of course it is. That idiot is just acting. Maybe he paid the manager to help him embarrass us.”Celeb scratched the back of his neck.“But Ryan… Mr Jones slapped the security man because of him.”Ryan’s jaw tightened. “Actors can slap too.”The security man suddenly rushed forward, panic written all over his face.“Sir… please… please help me talk to him,” he begged Ryan.