The Beggar They Mocked Owns the City

Chapter 1

In Solbury City, a young man wearing a pale blue shirt and tattered jeans walked on the campus of Solbury College. He constantly stared at the ground in search of something.

This young man did not look too bad, but his clothes had not met the washing machine in a long time. The dark stains on one of his sleeves was apparent. When students passed by and saw him, they would avoid him like the plague, disgust written all over their faces.

However, Callum Bowman was used to those looks. His expression was calm as he walked toward a mineral water bottle on the roadside.

Beep!

The ringtone of an old school Nokia phone suddenly sounded, so Callum hastily took out his phone and answered the call.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Mr. Callum Bowman?” A middle-aged man’s deep, firm voice was heard. He talked like he was neither in a hurry nor too lax.

Callum was a little stunned and took a while to answer. “Yes, this is Callum speaking.”

“Mr. Bowman, I’ll keep this short. There is an inheritance with your name under it, so do you have time to come over today?” the middle-aged man said in a courteous voice.

“Hah, inheritance? For me?”

Callum could not help but laugh at the man’s words. He then continued in a helpless tone. “Let me give you a piece of advice. Do a background check on the person you intend to scam, okay? Everyone in my family is dead, so I’m just an orphan. Where would this inheritance come from?”

“Mr. Bowman, I—”

Callum did not wait to hear the explanation before hanging up. He shook his head lightly. “Scammers these days really don’t know how to do their job. There’s barely any cash on me, and they still want to scam me? Saying something like inheriting property… My parents are dead.”

Just then, Callum’s phone rang once again. However, he rejected the call without a second thought. He strode toward the mineral water bottle nearby. He feared that if he idled any longer, the janitor would take it instead.

Crack!

Just when Callum was about to bend down and pick up the bottle, a red high heel stepped on it.

Callum paused instinctively, and then his gaze went up the slender leg that was in high heels until he locked eyes with the tall, pretty woman with a sexy figure.

The woman wore light makeup, and every part of her features screamed “exquisite”. Her choice of outfit was suggestive in that her tight, black T-shirt perfectly accentuated her chest. Her waist and limbs were slim, and the denim miniskirt seemed to be made for her wide hips. But the heavens were truly unfair, for even her slender long legs were goddess-like. Paired with the shiny red heels, this woman was the definition of sensual.

“Carol? Why are you here?” Callum recognized her, and he was unable to hide the surprise in his eyes. The girl who appeared in front of him was none other than his girlfriend, Carol Mitchell.

“Callum, why are you picking up trash again? Do you really want to be a loser who collects garbage all your life?” There was a cold expression on her pretty face; she did not even care what Callum looked like to passersby as she frowned and reprimanded him.

“I—” Callum wanted to explain, but…

“You what? Never mind, I don’t care if you want to keep picking up garbage. Let’s break up right now. I don’t want you to be the only flaw in my perfect life!” Carol shouted at Callum, disgust clear on her face.

Break up? Hearing Carol’s words, Callum was stunned. The shock was reflected in his widened eyes.

Callum stared at her and asked in a low voice, “Carol, you’re joking, right?”

“Joking? Do you think I would joke with the likes of you?” she sneered.

“We’re getting along just fine, so why are we breaking up?”

At that moment, Callum finally realized Carol was not joking at all.

“Why else? Because you have no money! You’re a poor guy who only knows how to collect garbage!”

Carol looked down at Callum, her indifferent gaze quickly scrutinizing him. “Callum Bowman, you didn’t really think I would stay with you forever, did you? Look in the mirror if you have one! Think, are you even worthy of me? You can never give me what I want!”

Callum was at a loss for words. He stared at Carol, all the hope gone from his eyes. In truth, he had guessed the reason early on, but he still refused to believe his girlfriend of three years would truly leave him because of money.

“Callum Bowman, I now officially announce that from now on, we are strangers to each other. Please, don’t talk to me ever again!” With that, Carol turned around and left.

Immediately, Callum lunged forward in hopes of holding her back, but a young man dashed out behind Carol. Before Callum understood the situation, he felt like a wrecking ball landed on his intestines.

“Ethan?” Callum staggered backward, looking at the young man beside Carol with a puzzled expression.

Carol took Ethan’s arm like she had been doing it all her life, and she spoke in a sweet voice. “Callum, let me do the introductions. This man right here is my new boyfriend, Ethan York! He’s more handsome than you are, richer too. Not to mention he’s funny. You are not even close to being in the same league!”

Callum glared at Ethan. Even though the latter lacked exceptionally good looks, he was still one of the extremely rich students. Carol must have chosen Ethan over him because of the wealth Ethan possessed.

“Callum, from now on, Carol is my girlfriend. If I see you pestering her, you might as well consider buying a wheelchair, understand?” Ethan took a step forward, his tone arrogant.

Poor Callum could only grit his teeth. He knew very well Ethan was not only rich but also acquaintances with a number of gangsters. Dang it! I can’t be messing with him! This is not worth the trouble!

“Darling, just ignore him. Let’s go.” Carol leaned onto Ethan’s chest and cajoled.

“Aw, look at my girl, so eager to get to the action!” Ethan smiled faintly. He took out a few banknotes from his pocket and waved them at Callum, grinning. “Callum, I do recall that you’ll do anything as long as you’re paid to do it, right? Here, have some cash and run along to the pharmacy to get some morning-after pills. I might have a use for those with Carol later.”

Hearing Ethan’s words, Carol could not hide the embarrassment flitting across her eyes, but she said nothing. Callum, on the other hand, simply glared at the money in Ethan’s hands, eyes red with anger.

For the three years of his relationship with Carol, they never held hands, much less went to a love hotel! However, Carol could not have been together with Ethan for more than a few days at most, but they were already going to do the deed!

Ethan even wanted Callum to get contraceptives for them. It was obvious they refused to see Callum as a respectable human. They were already surrounded by curious onlookers, and everyone looked at Callum like he was a clown. The disdain was evident in their eyes.

After all, the events that just transpired were the most tragic thing to happen to someone.

However, no one knew the most tragic thing was not the fact that Ethan asked Callum to get birth control pills. The truly tragic thing was when Callum stared at the cash in Ethan’s hand, he actually wavered!

Truth be told, if Callum really got his hands on this money, his rent this month would be the least of his worries.

“So? Yes or no? I can just ask someone else if you don’t want to!” Ethan was all smiles as he asked Callum.

Callum hesitated for a few seconds, then turned to look at Carol. He had a cold look in his eyes as he said, “Carol, I hope you will never regret the choice you made today!”

“Regret? Regret what? Regret breaking up with a garbage-collecting, broke guy like you?” Carol sneered.

Callum took a deep breath, then turned and ran away without even thinking, disappearing from sight.

…

After leaving the campus, Callum returned to the room he rented. He had a job at a bar during the night, so the earliest he could get off work was 2 A.M. It was past curfew at the dorms by then, so he had no choice but to live somewhere else. Even though the room was only the size of a bathroom, Callum thought it would do nicely.

Once back in his room, Callum thought of all the memories he shared with Carol, and the promises made between them now looked downright foolish. As a matter of fact, when they first met, Carol was a kind, innocent girl. Everyone looked down on Callum, but only Carol remained by his side through thick and thin.

After spending two years at Solbury College, Carol got to know more people, and they gradually changed her way of thinking. Callum knew early on she would break up with him sooner or later, but he never thought she would do it with such cruelty.

When Callum was a young child, his family was pretty well-off. The Bowmans were quite influential in the area, and Callum’s parents worked as executives in the family business. Even though they were not super rich compared to Ethan’s family, Callum’s family was considered wealthy.

However, when Callum was fifteen, his parents passed away due to an accident. Callum was a disgrace to the Bowmans, so in the end, he had no choice but to leave the family and try to get by on his own.

Callum had done every grueling job under the sun for the sake of his tuition fees and basic necessities. He picked up bottles here and there in the day, and at night, he worked as a waiter at the bar near his college. Callum’s classmates were also unforgiving in their mockery, but he never cared. As long as Carol was with him, he was happy. Now, even she had left him.

Callum lay on the bed, eyes staring at the ceiling. He did not know what he should live for anymore.

Ding!

Just then, he heard a message notification.

Callum was surprised for a while, then he took out his phone and gave it a quick glance. When he wrapped his head around the contents displayed on the screen, astonishment was apparent on his face.

<5,000,000.00 has been transferred into your account from an account number ending with 6174. New balance: 5,000,025.00.>

Instantly, Callum sat up, gawking at his own phone.

He looked at the message on his phone and said in a puzzled tone, “Five million… This must be a joke!”

Knock, knock!

Before Callum understood what exactly happened, there were rapid knocks on his door.