From Campus Pauper To Billionaire King

Chapter 7

“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 carefully. “Because that necklace was purchased this morning under the Wilson Family Private Account.”

The manager’s eyes slowly widened.

The voice continued.

“You said the name on the receipt is Ethan Wilson, right?”

The manager looked down again.

“Yes.”

“Then there’s no cause for alarm. The purchase is accurate.”

The manager slowly lowered the phone.

Laura looked between Ethan and the manager, clearly unable to process what she had just heard.

The manager straightened herself immediately and turned toward Ethan.

“Mr. Ethan,” she said politely.

“I’m very sorry for the embarrassment.”

She bowed her head slightly.

“The purchase has been confirmed. You did indeed made the purchase.”

The shock around the table deepened.

James nearly choked on his drink.

Michael stared at Ethan as if he had suddenly become a stranger.

But Zara was excited about it.

Before anyone could even speak, the lounge doors suddenly opened.

Two police officers walked in. Everyone turned toward them.Ryan’s eyes lit up immediately.

“Good,” he muttered.

But the manager stepped forward before he could say anything.

“Officers,” she said firmly, pointing toward Ryan and his group of friends.

“Please take these nuisances out of my establishment now.”

Ryan blinked in disbelief. “Excuse me?”

He looked at the officers.

“You have the wrong person.”

Then he turned angrily to the manager.

“Do you even know who I am?”

“I obviously don't care to know you bully. Take your shitty self out of here and don't come back. Including your friends too!”

“You will regret this!”

But the officers were already stepping toward them.

“Sir, you’ll have to leave.”

Ryan tried to resist. “This is ridiculous!”

But the officers didn’t listen.

Ryan and his friends were pushed toward the exit.

Some of them stumbled.One of them almost fell completely.

Laura lost her balance and fell to the floor.

Ryan quickly helped her up as they both dusted themselves angrily.

Before stepping out, Ryan turned back toward Ethan.

His eyes burned with humiliation.

“I will leave,” he said coldly.

“But just know this…” He pointed directly at Ethan. “This is not over.”

Then the officers pushed them outside.

The lounge slowly returned to silence.

Everyone’s attention shifted back to Ethan.

All eyes were on him now. But this time around, it was different. Ethan remained calm and his phone suddenly buzzed on the table.

He glanced at the screen.It was a call from his father. He picked it up.

“How is the party going son?”

“It's going well.” He said with a smile.

“I want you to go to The Grand Crown Hotel.” Ethan blinked. That was one of the most expensive hotels in town. Where only people that matter go.

“Why?” he asked.

“It’s yours now.”

Ethan leaned slightly back in his chair.

“Really?” A small smile slowly appeared on his face.

“Yes,” David replied.

“I’ve already informed the manager, Mr. Jones, that you are coming.”

“When you get there, ask for him.”

Ethan nodded slowly. “Okay. I will be on my way.”

The call ended. Ethan lowered his phone.

He suddenly noticed something.

Almost all the guests that came for the party were staring at him.

Ethan chuckled softly. “Come on guys,” he said casually, lifting his glass of wine.

“This is a birthday party, not a funeral.”

He raised his glass. “Cheers to more life.”

Zara laughed nervously. “Cheers.”

Everyone slowly lifted their glasses and clicked it together.

Ethan leaned slightly toward James and Michael.

“Guys,” he whispered. “I’ll see you later.”

Michael blinked. “Where are you going?”

“I have somewhere to be.”

James frowned. “Bro… since when do you talk like this?”

Ethan just smiled. His phone buzzed again. This time it was a message.

He looked at the screen.

“Don’t waste more time. Go now.”

Ethan stared at the message for a moment. Then he slowly slipped the phone back into his pocket. His life was no longer his alone. He stood up from the chair.

Zara looked at him.“You’re leaving already?”

“Yes,” Ethan replied gently. “But thank you for the party.”

Zara smiled. “And thank you for the necklace.”

Ethan nodded slightly. Then he turned and walked toward the exit.

As he stepped outside the lounge, he paused for a moment. He contemplated whether to call Lukas or simply board a cab.

After a few seconds, he shook his head lightly. He decided to take a cab.

Even though he had just tasted luxury, he still remembered the days when taking a cab itself felt like luxury to him

A yellow taxi soon pulled up in front of him.

Ethan opened the back door and stepped inside.

The seat was a little worn, the faint smell of fuel lingering in the air, but he didn’t mind.

Leaning back against the seat, his eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead while his mind replayed the good news his father had just given him.

The poor errand boy of yesterday now owned one of the most luxurious hotels in town. It almost didn’t feel real.

He slowly ran a hand through his hair, a faint smile forming on his lips.

His life had changed completely. He couldn’t wait to get there.