Rise Of The Imprisoned Student

CH-8

The manager staggered forward.

His face was pale. His cheeks were still burning red.

“Miss… please…” he said, his voice trembling. “I made a mistake. I didn’t know… I didn’t know who he was.”

He pointed weakly at Alex. “If I had known, I would have never—”

Isabella didn’t even look at him. “Enough.” Her voice was cold and final.

The manager froze. “But Miss, I—”

“I said enough.” She turned slightly, her eyes finally landing on him. “You’ve said more than enough already.”

Her gaze was sharp. “You judged a guest by his clothes.”

She paused. “And then you blamed him for your own mistake.”

The manager opened his mouth but nothing came out.

The crowd watched in silence.

The same man who had been arrogant moments ago now looked like a beaten dog.

“Please… don’t fire me…” he tried again, his voice lower now.

Isabella didn’t respond.

Instead, she turned to Alex.

“Sir,” she said calmly, “please follow me.”

Alex glanced at the manager once.

Then away.

Indifference.

Like the man no longer existed.

He nodded once. “Alright.”

Isabella walked ahead and Alex followed.

The crowd parted again, creating a path.

No one dared speak.

Only whispers remained.

“That man… he didn’t even look at him…”

“Like he’s nothing…”

The manager stood there, frozen, watching Alex walk away.

Like something precious slipping through his fingers too late.

—

The office was quiet, elegant, soft lighting, and clean space.

Isabella walked in and closed the door behind them.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she turned.

“I’m sorry,” she said again.

Her tone was softer now, sincere. “What happened out there… was unacceptable.”

Alex leaned slightly against the desk.

His expression was calm.

“You’ve said that already,” he replied with a smile.

She gave a small, awkward smile. “Yes… I suppose I have.”

She took a step closer.

“My name is Isabella Moretti,” she said. “I own this place.”

Alex nodded slightly. “Alex.”

She smiled faintly and studied him.

Carefully.

“You’re very calm,” she said. “Most people would have made a scene. Both at the bank and here.”

Alex shrugged. “Dogs bark when they see something unfamiliar,” he said calmly. “Doesn’t mean you need to bark back.”

Isabella blinked and then laughed softly. “That’s one way to put it.”

There was a few minutes of silence before she spoke again. “How did you get that kind of money?”

Her tone wasn’t rude, just curious.

Alex looked at her and a faint wry smile appeared. “It’s a long story.”

She nodded slowly. “I figured.”

She reached into her pocket and brought out a sleek card.

“My card,” she said, handing it to him.

“If you ever need anything… or need my help.”

Alex took it and looked at it briefly.

Then slipped it into his pocket. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Isabella nodded with a smile on her face.

Isabella and Alex kept talking for a few more minutes before Alex decided to leave.

“I need to go now, I have somewhere to be.”

“Where?” Isabella asked.

“School.”

That surprised her. “You’re a student?”

Alex nodded. “Yeah,” he said calmly.

Isabella tilted her head. “With that kind of money… and you're a student? You still go to school?”

Alex gave a faint smile. “Some things shouldn’t change too quickly.”

She watched him for a moment, then nodded. “Fair enough.”

Alex straightened. “I should go.”

Isabella stepped aside. “Of course.”

They shook hands before Alex walked to the door, opened it and walked out.

—

The street was quiet as Alex walked through the street with a bag in his hand.

New clothes. Clean and expensive.

But he hadn’t changed yet.

He still wore the old hoodie and the worn jeans.

The same look that had gotten him insulted all day.

He glanced at himself briefly then looked away.

“No rush,” he muttered.

His steps remained steady but his thoughts weren’t.

Lily, Daniel, the laughter, the betrayal.

His jaw tightened slightly at the memories, then relaxed and kept walking.

He walked until the university gate came into view.

He then started walking toward the dormitory.

His old dorm.

The place he used to stay before everything changed.

Then—

He stopped.

Not far ahead.

Two figures stood near the entrance.

It was Lily and Daniel.

They were laughing, talking, close and comfortable.

Like nothing had ever happened.

Alex’s eyes darkened slightly.

His steps stopped completely and his mood shifted.

His hand tightened slightly.

From afar, he watched them.

Lily smiled brightly and Daniel said something that made her laugh again.

Carefree.

Like the past three years he had spent in prison for her meant nothing.

Alex’s lips curved into a faint, cold smile.

“…Happy,” he muttered. Then his eyes hardened. “They look very happy.”

His fingers curled slightly.

A quiet voice in his mind spoke. “I’ll make sure she regrets everything.”

Alex didn’t move. He just stood there, watching and listening.

“…he’s back,” Lily said. Her tone wasn’t happy anymore.

It was annoyed.

Daniel scoffed. “So what? He’s just an ex-convict.”

Lily crossed her arms. “You saw what he did earlier. He’s already trying to talk.”

Daniel smirked.

“Talk?” he said dismissively. “No serious person would believe someone like him.”

“Not yet,” Lily said then she added coldly, “But if he keeps talking… people might start to listen.”

Daniel’s expression darkened slightly. “So what do you want to do?”

Lily leaned closer. “We put him in his place.”

Daniel raised a brow. “How?”

She smiled slightly. “Simple,” She said. “Humiliate him.”

Daniel chuckled. “Again?”

Lily shrugged. “Once wasn’t enough, clearly.”

Daniel nodded slowly. “You’re right.”

Then he smirked. “We just need to remind everyone who he is.”

“A criminal,” Lily said coldly.

“A joke.” Daniel added as they both laughed.

Alex stood there silently listening to everything.

His face showed nothing.

But his eyes were cold.

Very cold.

“I see,” he muttered under his breath.

Lily adjusted her hair. “Let’s go,” she said. “We’ll deal with him later.”

Daniel nodded and they turned and walked away.

Not even noticing Alex.

Not even realizing he had heard everything.

Alex watched them leave.

Then slowly turned toward the dorm.

The dormitory looked the same. Everything looked exactly how it was three years ago.

Alex walked inside then stopped.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Something was wrong.

The hallway looked messy.

And his things were scattered on the floor outside.

Like trash.

Alex stepped forward slowly, his gaze moved over the items.

Clothes, books and a few personal things.

Everything he had left behind, thrown out carelessly.

His brows furrowed. “…What is this?”

He looked around.

Then turned and walked toward the office at the far end of the hallway.

Inside, a middle-aged man sat behind a desk.

He was the dorm supervisor.

Alex stepped in. “Excuse me.”

The man looked up. “Yes?”

Alex spoke calmly. “My belongings.” He gestured outside. “Why are they thrown out?”

The man frowned slightly. “Oh… those were yours?”

Alex nodded.

The man leaned back. “A girl came earlier.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly. “A girl?”

“Yes,” the man said. “She came with the dean.”

Alex’s expression didn’t change. “Okay?”

The man shrugged. “They said you’re a criminal. They said you shouldn’t be allowed in the dorm and so the dean ordered your things to be thrown out immediately.”

Alex stood still.

“Who? Who would say something like that” he asked.

The man replied casually. “ Her name was Lily Anderson.”

There was a brief pause. “And a boy… from a rich family followed them too. His name was Daniel Foster.”

Silence filled the room.

Alex’s hand slowly clenched.

His jaw tightened slightly.

His eyes turned cold.

Very cold as his fingers curled into a fist.

Tighter.

And tighter.