Chapter 160
Penelope tore through the city streets, making it to Orenth University in under forty minutes.
The security guard at the gate only saw a red supercar pull up before a woman in a golden-brown dress and matching blazer stepped out. With long, wavy hair and sunglasses, she radiated an aura of sharp, sophisticated beauty.
Once he learned she was the parent of a student who’d gotten into trouble, the guard led her to the school administrative office.
“His dad’s a cripple who collects trash to send him to school, and he has to work odd jobs every day just to afford a decent meal. They’re dirt poor! How dare he claim this laptop is his p>
“It’s a brand-new MacBook Pro p>
Penelope heard a boy shouting at her brother, Timothy Anderson, the moment she reached the office door. Two other boys stood beside the accuser, chiming in with their agreement.
“Who the fuck are you calling a cripple?” Timothy had clearly been holding back for a while, but hearing his father insulted was the last straw. He balled his fist and lunged at the boy.
“Timothy, stop!” A young female advisor immediately intervened. “This is the dean’s office! Haven’t you had enough? Do you want a formal reprimand on your record p>
“He insulted my dad first!” Timothy seethed through clenched teeth.
“I’m just stating the facts. We’re from the same hometown. The teachers can investigate if they don’t believe me,” the other boy said with a contemptuous
sneer.
The advisor sighed. “Timothy, just give the laptop back to Colin Winters and apologize. We can let this go p>
“It’s not his laptop, and I didn’t steal it. Why should I apologize?” Timothy shot back, his voice thick with anger.
“Ha! You all heard him. He still won’t admit it,” Colin said, stepping toward Timothy. He snatched the laptop from his hands. As Timothy moved to grab it back, Colin added, “My sister bought this for me. Don’t tell me you have a sister, too p>
Timothy fell silent.
“My brother-in-law’s family is loaded, and my sister is a manager at a huge corporation. What’s your sister p>
Again, silence.
Colin scoffed. “I bet you don’t even
have a hundred bucks in your e pocket. You’re delusional if you think this laptop is yours. Has being poor driven you crazy p>
Timothy clenched his fists, ready to take back the laptop, but the advisor stepped between them.
“Timothy, if you claim the laptop is yours, can you prove it p>
“He’s the one who took it from me! He should be the one to prove it’s his p>
“Colin has already provided proof, and your two roommates have corroborated his story p>
As soon as she said this, the other two boys spoke up.
“We found it hidden at the bottom of his locker. If it was his, why would he hide it p>
“Colin always leaves his laptop on his desk to play games. We’ve all seen it. It’s the exact same model p>
The advisor turned back to Timothy. “You heard them. What else do you have to say p>
Bet
“I have nothing to say, but that laptop is mine. It just happens to be the same model as his,” Timothy insisted enunciating every words
“Oh, really? Then can you tell us who bought it for you? Don’t say it was your junk-collecting dad p>
“I bought it for him. Is that a problem? Penelope said, stepping past the security guard and into the office. As all eyes turned to her, she walked over to Timothy’s side.
“Turns out he really does have a sister,” she said coolly, “and I’m the real deal p>
After a quick glance at Timothy, who stubbornly looked away, she fixed her gaze on the boy across from them.
Colin? Rebecca’s brother?