Chapter 28: A near miss

Mike had always been cautious in the past. If someone caught him at a hotel with Jessica Lee, it would have been disastrous. Right or wrong didn't matter—society tends to side with women in these situations, and the blame would have fallen squarely on Mike's shoulders.

Being called into a meeting with the school board or even expelled had been his worst nightmares.

But now, things were different. Money gave Mike a shield, a kind of invincibility he had never felt before.

"Alright, let's call the cops," Mike said casually, pulling out his phone and dialing.

Jessica and Tyler Wayne froze, their smug expressions disappearing in an instant. Their plan had been to extort some quick cash from Mike and let him go. They could always come back for more money later if they needed to.

But now, things were going terribly wrong. Not only was Mike unafraid, but he was escalating the situation by involving the authorities. Even worse, Tyler's backup plan—a group of men waiting outside—was now useless and risky.

Before they could think of a way to stop him, the police arrived.

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On the way to the station, Tyler leaned over to Jessica. "Don't worry, babe. My dad might be locked up, but my uncle still runs this place. Mike's an idiot if he thinks the police will help him. When this is over, we'll take him for way more money than we originally planned."

Jessica's lips curled into a weak smile. "I trust you, babe. We'll get through this together."

Arriving at the station, Tyler immediately felt at home. As soon as they stepped out of the car, a middle-aged man hurried over to them.

"Uncle," Tyler greeted with a confident smirk. Mike was as good as finished.

"What happened?" Tyler's uncle asked, his tone sharp.

He had been under immense pressure since Tyler's father was arrested. Despite his connections and influence, every effort to secure his brother's release had failed. The higher-ups had made it clear: Tyler's father was untouchable.

The situation was dire, but protecting Tyler was his next priority. When Tyler called about Jessica being assaulted at a hotel, his anger boiled over. He was ready to make an example of Mike.

"Kid," the man barked, glaring at Mike. "I don't know what kind of scum you are, but we'll deal with you properly. A college student pulling a stunt like this? Pathetic."

Mike raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You've got it backward. Your nephew and his girlfriend tried to set me up. Unfortunately for them," Mike said, glancing at Jessica, "this particular setup failed. I have standards."

Jessica's face turned red with fury. How had this spineless boy from her past become so bold?

"Keep talking," Tyler's uncle snapped. "You'll see how long that attitude lasts behind bars. Lock him up for seven days. We'll figure out the rest later."

As Mike was led to a holding cell, Tyler leaned in close to his uncle. "Uncle, seven days is too light. Can't we put him in with some guys who… you know… have specific preferences?"

His uncle chuckled. "Relax, kid. I know exactly how to handle this."

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Inside the cell, Mike sat on the edge of a metal bench, his phone confiscated.

For the first time in a while, he felt a flicker of unease. Without his phone, he couldn't contact Ethan Howard, the one person who could sort this out.

Half an hour later, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the hall. Several large men with intimidating stares were being escorted toward his cell.

Mike's gut twisted. This wasn't about money anymore. These men looked like trouble—the kind you couldn't bribe.

But just as the tension peaked, an officer appeared outside Mike's cell.

"You've been bailed out," the officer said gruffly.

Mike exhaled in relief. He immediately assumed Ethan had pulled some strings. "Thanks," he said with a grateful smile as he followed the officer to the station lobby.

But when he walked out, it wasn't Ethan waiting for him.

It was Sophia Rivers.

"Sophia?" Mike blinked in disbelief.

Sophia's expression was unreadable. She didn't say a word as she handed over her wallet to finalize the bail payment. Without looking at Mike, she turned and walked out of the station.

"Wait," Mike called after her, hurrying to catch up. "Did you bail me out?"

Sophia didn't respond, her pace steady as she walked down the street.

"Sophia," Mike persisted. "Why are you here?"

Finally, she stopped and turned to face him. Her eyes, usually warm and full of light, were now cold and distant.

"Mike, what's wrong with you?" she demanded, her voice trembling with frustration.

Mike frowned. "What do you mean? What did I do?"

Sophia's voice grew sharper. "I get that Jessica hurt you, but does that give you the right to stoop so low? Everyone's talking about what happened at the hotel. The school is buzzing with rumors that you tried to assault her."

Mike's jaw tightened. "That's not what happened. Jessica came on to me! She tried to set me up!"

Sophia crossed her arms, unconvinced. "And I'm supposed to believe that? The media is already digging into this story. Don't go back to campus, Mike. It's a mess."

She reached into her bag, pulling out a bank card. "Take this. It's from the Rivers family. If you want, I can ask my sister to help you transfer to another school. You're smart, Mike. Focus on your studies and move on."

Mike stared at the card but didn't take it. "Wait. Did you pay Tyler to let me go?"

Sophia hesitated before shaking her head. "No. I asked him to let you go as a favor."

Mike narrowed his eyes. "Tyler doesn't do favors. How much did you pay him?"

Sophia's silence was answer enough.

Mike sighed, pulling out his phone. "Wait here."

"What are you doing?" Sophia asked, alarmed.

Mike ignored her, dialing Tyler's number. When Tyler answered, his voice was dripping with mockery.

"Mike? Out already? Did Sophia have to beg for you?"

Mike's tone was ice-cold. "Tyler, if you're that desperate for money, let me help you out. Consider this a donation toward your funeral expenses."

Sophia's eyes widened as Mike ended the call. "Mike, are you insane? Tyler's not someone you can afford to provoke!"

Mike's expression hardened. "Don't worry, Sophia. I'll handle it."

Sophia's chest rose and fell as she tried to control her anger. "Handle it? You don't even realize how much trouble you're in. If it weren't for me, you'd still be in jail!"

Mike softened slightly, realizing she was genuinely upset. "Is this the only reason you came to see me?"

Sophia hesitated before replying, "No. I also wanted to tell you… I'm going to start dating someone."