RISE OF THE STUDENT BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Lucas walked into the main building of Blueville Commercial Street with his head held high. For the first time in years, he didn’t feel like an outsider.

The guards who used to glare at him now nodded respectfully as he passed. The receptionists, who once mocked him, kept their eyes low, their tones polite when they greeted him.

He had been summoned to Orion's office to sign a few documents. Nothing serious, just routine business matters. Still, Lucas felt proud. It felt good to be trusted, even in small things.

He was still adjusting to this new life, still getting used to being called Young Master Lucas. But today, he told himself, he would do well. He would not embarrass his sister or Orion.

As he walked down the hall toward the manager’s floor, a small smile tugged at his lips. So this is what it feels like, he thought. To finally be seen. To finally be respected.

He didn’t know that by the end of this day, everything would shatter.

When Lucas stepped into Orion’s office, the atmosphere was different. The room was too quiet, too heavy. Orion was sitting stiffly behind his desk, his jaw tight. Two unfamiliar men in suits stood in the corner, their faces sharp, their eyes cold. Beside them was a woman in a black dress, holding a file in her hands.

Lucas paused at the door. “Mr. Orion, you called for me?”

Orion’s expression flickered, but he didn’t answer right away. Instead, one of the suited men stepped forward. His tone was clipped and formal.

“You are Lucas, correct?”

Lucas frowned slightly. “Yes. That’s me. And you are?”

The man pulled out a badge. “City Financial Investigation Bureau. My name is Officer Hale. This is Officer Grant, and this is Auditor Mayfield.” He nodded toward the woman.

Lucas blinked, confused. “Investigation Bureau? I don’t… I don’t understand.”

The woman opened the file in her hands. “We’re here regarding an urgent matter of corporate fraud and embezzlement. Funds have been siphoned from accounts tied to Blueville Commercial Street, and all evidence points to you, Lucas.”

The words hit him like a hammer. His heart dropped. “What?”

The woman placed the file on Orion’s desk and spread out several papers. “Here are the documents. Transfers, authorizations, digital trails. The sums are not small. We’re talking millions.”

Lucas stared at the papers, his chest tightening. He stepped closer, his eyes scanning the documents. His name, his supposed signature, transaction details he had never seen before.

“I didn’t do this,” he said immediately, shaking his head. “This isn’t me. I’ve never even handled accounts. I just came here to sign routine documents. This…this has to be a mistake.”

Officer Grant crossed his arms. “The evidence is solid. Multiple transfers under your name. Authorizations traced back to your login ID. The system shows it was you.”

Lucas’s hands trembled as he pointed at the papers. “This is fabricated! Someone forged this. Look at me, do I look like someone who can even move millions overnight? I only just…” He cut himself off, his voice breaking.

The officers stared at him coldly, unconvinced.

Orion finally rose from his chair, his face grim. “Enough. I know this young man. He would never…”

“Mr. Johnson,” Officer Hale interrupted, his tone stern. “We respect your standing, but the evidence doesn’t lie. You may vouch for him personally, but the accounts show otherwise.”

Lucas felt the ground slip beneath him. Just a week ago, he had been nobody, mocked and stepped on. Then, in one night, everything changed, Orion bowed to him, the city respected him, the world treated him like someone who mattered.

And now, in the blink of an eye, he was being painted as a thief.

“I didn’t do this,” Lucas said again, his voice desperate now. “Please, listen to me. Someone’s framing me!”

Outside the office, whispers began to stir. The receptionists had gathered by the hallway, pretending to work while sneaking glances toward the door. Word spread fast.

“Did you hear? Investigators are here for Lucas.”

“They’re saying he stole money from the accounts.”

“Impossible… wasn’t he just recognized as the second boss?”

“Looks like he showed his true colors.”

The same people who had bowed to him a week ago now looked at him like a criminal. Their eyes were sharp, their whispers poisonous.

Back inside, the woman slid another document across the desk. “Mr. Lucas, here is proof of your authorizations. Signatures match, IDs match. Unless you can provide evidence otherwise, you are the prime suspect.”

Lucas’s head spun. His palms were clammy. He pressed his fists against the desk. “I swear on my life, I didn’t touch a cent. If you think I have money, check my account right now! I’ve barely even used the bank card Estelle gave me.”

Almost as if mocking him, Officer Grant smirked. “Funny you should say that. Try using it now.”

Lucas froze. Slowly, he pulled out his wallet and handed over the card. His hands were shaking. The officer took out a small device, swiped the card, and waited.

Beep.

Declined.

Lucas’s heart stopped.

The officer swiped again, this time louder, almost to humiliate him.

Beep. Declined.

Lucas snatched the card back, staring at it in horror. “No… no, this isn’t right. There should be money in there. Estelle made sure…”

Orion finally spoke, his voice heavy. “Young Master… your assets have been frozen pending the investigation. It’s procedure. Until this clears up, you cannot access any funds.”

The words crashed over Lucas like a tidal wave. His chest ached, his breathing came in short bursts.

From the hallway, Jen peeked in with wide eyes, her hand covering her mouth. A week ago she had been groveling before him. Now her lips twisted into a smirk.

“So much for the second boss,” she whispered to a colleague. “Look at him now.”

Ethan, who had heard the news, leaned casually against the far wall, his blond hair glinting under the lights. He watched Lucas with cold satisfaction. “I told you,” he muttered under his breath. “Trash will always be trash.”

Back in the office, Lucas tried to steady his voice, but it cracked anyway. “Why… why is this happening to me? I finally stood tall for once. Just once. And now you’re crushing me again.” His eyes burned, but he refused to let tears fall.

Officer Hale closed the file with finality. “We will continue our investigation. For now, Mr. Lucas, you are under watch. Don’t attempt to leave the city. If you do, it will only confirm your guilt.”

Lucas clenched his fists. “I am not guilty! Someone is doing this to destroy me. Don’t you see? This is a setup!”

But his words bounced off their cold stares.

The officials packed up their papers, leaving the office heavy with silence. Orion didn’t move. He just stared at Lucas with a mixture of pity and frustration.

“Young Master,” Orion said slowly. “You must stay calm. This… this is an attack. I don’t know who is behind it, but they want to ruin you.”

Lucas sat heavily in the chair opposite him, his chest hollow. “Why me? Why so soon? I only just started living…”

His voice trailed off, thick with despair.

The door opened.

Everyone turned.

Estelle walked in, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. Her face was calm, but her eyes burned with fire.

“Don’t worry, Lucas,” she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. She walked to her brother’s side and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll handle this.”

Lucas looked up at her, his vision blurred, his heart torn between relief and shame.

The officers hesitated, exchanging glances. Even they seemed unsettled by her presence.

Estelle smiled coldly at them. “Investigation or not, remember who you’re dealing with. I won’t allow my brother to be slandered.”

Lucas gripped the arm of the chair, his thoughts spinning. He didn’t know how she would fix this. He didn’t know who was behind it all.

But in that moment, as he stared at her calm face, one thing was certain:

His peace was gone.

The war had just begun.