
Chapter one
“Hey Lucas, come buy me a pack of cigarettes. I heard you will do anything for money!” A young man with curly hair barged into a dorm as he spoke. His name was Alexander Kim, one of the richest students in the university, known for his extravagant lifestyle and showing off. He was also very popular with the ladies. He stared condensingly at Lucas, who was minding his business and seemed to be lost in a train of thought. “And also, you’ll go to the courting grounds and hand this over to a friend of mine. He is out there waiting. Don’t waste his time, okay?” Alexander said again as he threw off a pack of condoms and a few bucks at Lucas' face , surprising not just him, but his roommates too. “Hmp! Don’t waste much time. My friend is waiting.” He added, and with that, he walked out of the room. A pack of condoms and what’s more, to be delivered to the courting grounds? Everyone knew what that place was and the kind of act that took place there. Already, after connecting the dots, one could easily guess what was going to happen there. And thus, this made the whole thing even more humiliating. “What’s going on here? Why is everyone bullying Lucas?” Unable to take this, someone asked one of Lucas roommates after seeing such a scene. None of them could stop this or try to talk on Lucas's defense in front of Alex, as they knew how deadly and ruthless he was. “Hmp, what’s your business? He asked for it. Can’t you see he will do anything for money? Just look at how pathetic he looks. Disgusting!” A guy named Drake said mockingly, as he had never had a good impression of Lucas. Everyone looked and Lucas, who was the center of attention, flushed. Just then, Lucas's Roommate gathered around him to try to advise him, as they didn’t like all this even a single bit. “Lucas, if you need money, you can ask us. Why must you lower yourself? We are all friends, we are going to stand up for you at all costs.” The dorm leader said. “Yeah. It’s just a few bucks, why won’t we give it to you?” “You don’t have to let people like Alexander order you around. He’s so smug, like he controls the entire school just because his family is rich. Damn it!” “Lucas, stop all this, okay? There’s more to you than being an errand boy.” “It's fine guys. You don’t have to worry about me.” Lucas smiled. He leaned to the floor and picked up the dollar notes. He counted it and realized he would be left with a few bucks. This made excitement surged in his heart as it could buy him black licorice for a few days. That way, he wouldn’t have to stay on an empty stomach or starve till he became dizzy. Though he could have depended on his roommates who had been very nice to him, the more they helped, the less he wanted their help. Otherwise, no matter how strong their friendship was, there would eventually be a gap between them. He didn’t want to be a burden to anyone. Moreover, he only got into this university out of sheer luck as he came from a poor family, and he barely had enough to feed himself. This was the only way he could use to sort himself out. Lucas smiled as he walked off into the distance, but all his roommates could do was shake their heads in pity. If only there were another way? They all wished. On the other hand, Lucas arrived at the counting grounds. The place had trees hovering around while the moonlight cascaded upon it, creating a spotlight for couples. There was a calm sensation as he walked through, but it didn’t last long as suddenly, he heard someone moaning. “Ahh, Jude. You are just so good. I should have met you earlier. Where have you been?” A feminine voice that sounded so familiar to Lucas resounded, making him pause in his tracks. His eyes widened while his heart trembled. That was Freya larkspur, his girlfriend. She was here with someone? Unable to hold himself back, he rushed into the middle and right there, he saw a lady sitting on a guy's lap. Of course, the girl was his girlfriend, Freya while the guy was James Patel, a scion of a rich family who owned a tiling company. He was popular among the girls too and was known to be a playboy. Above everyone, she settled for him. And this condom he was holding was meant for them? Indeed, Alexander was a jerk. He suddenly wanted to send him for an errand which had never happened before just because he wanted him to see such a scene? Anger boiled inside Lucas but just then, his sudden intrusion attracted their attention already. “Lucas? What are you doing here?” Freya asked shocked, but there was still pleasure was still her eyes. The condom dropped and both she and James saw this. “I asked Alexander to send someone to bring it to me, and he sent you? That’s interesting.” James said with a smile, and kept on fiddling with her body like it was some toy. “Is this what you settled for? Freya?” Lucas raged, he was so angry that he felt like coughing blood. “And so? Come on, he is richer and more handsome than you. He can buy me bags, cosmetics, a phone, and clothes. What have you ever offered me? Nothing. You can’t even feed yourself.” She said mockingly as she stared at him. Deciding to stir things up, James added. “Bring that condom to me.” Then he looked at Freya. “Babe, why don’t we do it in his front and let him watch. Let’s show him what he can never get.” “Bastard!” Lucas curled his fingers into a fist, feeling like going over there to beat the living daylight out of him. But then he knew that with James' status and family background if he tried such a thing, not only would he be expelled from the school, they could make his life more miserable. “Come on wussy. You can’t afford this girl, so what’s the fuss about?” James teased, flashing his teeth in a wide grin. “Come on, errand boy. Bring the condom here. I might spare you a few bucks later on.” Freya joined in as she was enjoying how pained Lucas was. “Curse you both!” Lucas clutched his fist tightly, unable to withstand all this. His eyes became red-rimmed as he turned around and rushed back to his dorm. His Roommate asked what happened, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell them. All he could do was bury his face in a pillow and cry his heart out, till he fell asleep. … Hours passed and the loud buzzing of his phone woke him up. He yawned, rubbed his eyes, and picked it up to cancel or whatever it was but to his surprise, the message he saw on the screen, not only make his eyes widened, but his heart trembled too. “Beep! Notification from Blue City Bank. You have received the sum of twenty million dollars into your account.” Subsequently, a call came in, startling him.Latest Chapter
Chapter 43
Chapter 43Lucas should have realized that exonerating himself in court would not silence the rumors. The university had brushed off the accusations, had issued their press release of "regrettable errors" and "issues of security," but the court of public opinion played by other rules. Rules that were unrelated to facts or official dismissal and all about the kind of psychology that plays havoc during mobs.He discovered how much different those regulations were three days later, when Dominic sent him a link with the message: You need to see this. It's bad.Lucas opened the link on his laptop and his stomach lurched. It was an Instagram account @JohnsonTruthExposed, opened two days prior but already with over three thousand followers. The bio read:Exposing the REAL Lucas Johnson - Elite Fraud, Academic Cheat, Fake Humble Rich Boy.The posts were vicious.The most recent featured a photo of Lucas from the Elite Summit—him sitting in his designer attire.This is a privilege. As you're s
Chapter 42
Chapter 42The disciplinary hearing was scheduled for 10 AM in the very conference room where Lucas had presented his case three weeks earlier for the plagiarism charge. Walking into the wood-paneled room was not the same this time. Lucas was no longer alone this time, was not pacing with papers he had collected on his own. Estelle stood beside him, carrying a slim leather portfolio, erect with a quiet confidence that was almost majestic.The members of the board were already seated—Dean Morrison had recused himself because of the intricacies of the previous case, and Vice Dean Patricia Sullivan was sitting in his stead. Dr. Wells was present again too, and three other staff members that Lucas was familiar with but had never had direct dealings with. They all looked up when Lucas and Estelle entered, and Lucas saw something dart across their faces when they saw Estelle with him.Acknowledgment. And a warning that was unfortunately familiar."Ms. Johnson," Vice Dean Sullivan said, her
Chapter 41
Chapter 41Lucas sat at the library table looking at the defence plan for the morning hearing when he heard the front door creak open. Heels clicking on the marble floor ran through the villa with unmistakable authority."Lucas?" Estelle's voice sounded from the entrance hall. "We have to talk. Now.""How did you get here?" Lucas asked in a cold tobe "And how did you hear about the hearing?"Estelle put down her briefcase on the ground. "I have informants at the university. One of them told me of the new allegations hours after being made." She looked at Lucas"You don't have to be prepared to defend yourself," Estelle said firmly "I'm in charge of this. I swear."The words should have been soothing. They gave Lucas the cold shudders instead. There was something about where Estelle was standing—neither aggressive, precisely, nor reassuring. She was too still, too upright, as if she had been waiting."What do you do?" Lucas faltered. "The hearing tomorrow morning. I'm accused of falsif
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
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
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
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