Chapter 29: Where Is the Money?

Mike Carter froze when he heard Sophia Rivers mention dating. His heart skipped a beat, and despite his best efforts to appear indifferent, he couldn't help but ask, "Who is it?"

"I don't know yet," Sophia shrugged, her tone light and casual, though there was an undertone of tension in her voice.

Mike had always known that Sophia was surrounded by admirers at River Valley College. Yet, she had never shown any interest in dating anyone before. Why now?

A part of him wondered if it had something to do with him. But the thought seemed far-fetched. Their acquaintance was brief, and after the River family's incident, Sophia's family viewed Mike as nothing more than a fraud. In her eyes, he was likely just another broke college student. There was no way her decision to start dating was because of him.

Not knowing what else to say, Mike forced a smile. "That's nice. Didn't one of our professors say that academics are important, but a college romance is what makes life unforgettable?"

Sophia almost rolled her eyes. She pursed her lips, holding back a sharp retort, and turned on her heel to leave.

As she walked away, Mike stood there awkwardly, still holding the bank card Sophia had forced into his hand earlier. Passersby couldn't help but cast curious glances.

"Wow, how does a loser like that have such a gorgeous girlfriend?"

"She's mad at him. He's just standing there doing nothing? What an idiot."

"This guy's destined to stay single."

Mike sighed and glanced at the card. If only Sophia really did like me, he thought wistfully.

Meanwhile, Tyler Wayne and Jessica Lee were reveling in their recent windfall. After extorting Sophia for ten thousand dollars, they had already booked a private room at a karaoke bar to celebrate.

"Damn, Sophia Rivers has serious cash!" Tyler exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as he stared at his bank balance. "You think Sophia likes Mike Carter? Is that why she's helping him out?"

Tyler had been one of the wealthiest heirs at school, but even he had never dared to pursue someone like Sophia. She was out of his league in every way.

"Are you kidding me?" Jessica scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. As a woman, she couldn't stand the idea of her ex-boyfriend upgrading to someone like Sophia. "Sophia's eyes aren't blind. There's no way she'd fall for a broke loser like Mike."

Jessica's words carried a sharp edge. It wasn't just that she disliked Mike—she hated the idea of him being associated with someone who surpassed her in every way.

"You're probably right," Tyler said with a smug grin, leaning back in his chair.

After leaving the police station, Mike decided to visit the small barbecue stand near campus where Amelia Song worked. However, when he arrived, she was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Amelia?" Mike asked the stand's owner.

The shopkeeper exchanged an awkward glance with his wife. Finally, the wife spoke up, "Amelia's a good kid. She's smart and hardworking, but she didn't want to cause trouble for us, so she quit."

"She quit?" Mike frowned. Amelia's condition made it hard for her to find work. Where could she have gone?

The wife sighed and handed Mike an envelope. "You're her friend, right? There's three thousand dollars in here. It's her last paycheck. We tried to give it to her, but she refused to take it. Can you make sure she gets it?"

Mike nodded, taking the envelope. He could see the couple had nothing but good intentions for Amelia.

Back on campus, Mike noticed a strange buzz in the air. Whispers followed him wherever he went, and people shot him odd looks. It wasn't long before he realized the rumors about him and Jessica had spread.

Tyler and Jessica's smear campaign was effective. The story painted Mike as a predatory ex-boyfriend, twisting the truth to make him look like a villain. Most students believed it. After all, to them, Mike was just a broke nobody—an easy target for ridicule.

Mike ignored the gossip. He had no interest in explaining himself to people who had already made up their minds. Jessica's opinions no longer mattered to him.

Later that evening, Mike finally found Amelia. She had purchased a second-hand tricycle and a small gas stove. She was struggling to push her cart, loaded with fresh ingredients, down the street. When she saw Mike, her face lit up with joy. She handed him a freshly washed strawberry.

Mike popped it into his mouth and grinned. "Delicious."

Amelia smiled shyly, her expression radiant under the warm glow of the setting sun.

Together, they set up her new barbecue stand. However, business was slow. By 10 p.m., not a single customer had approached. It wasn't until Kenneth Brooks, Mike's dormmate, happened to walk by that they finally made their first sale.

Kenneth devoured the food, but when it came time to pay, Mike waved him off. "Don't worry about it. You've helped me so much before."

Kenneth smiled awkwardly and left without paying. Amelia, however, noticed the signs of hunger on his face. She could tell he hadn't eaten properly in days.

That night, Mike took five dollars out of his pocket and placed it on the counter. "The first day's earnings can't be zero. It's bad luck."

Amelia giggled and prepared a skewer for him. Despite the slow night, her spirits remained high.

Over the next week, business slowly picked up. By the weekend, the stand earned over $500 in one night. Amelia beamed with pride as she counted the cash.

However, something felt off to Mike. When he checked the cash box, he realized it only contained that night's earnings. All the previous days' money was gone.

When Amelia returned from packing up, she saw Mike holding the cash box. She quickly gestured to explain. Using her hands, she indicated that she had used the money for something urgent but promised to pay him back.

Mike chuckled, shaking his head. "I trust you, Amelia. Don't worry about it."

Relieved, Amelia smiled and made a heart gesture with her fingers before continuing to clean up.

That night, Mike decided not to press Amelia further. But he couldn't shake his curiosity. What had she needed the money for?

The next morning, Mike stopped by Ethan Howard's place. Ethan greeted him with excitement and led him to the garage.

"Master Mike, that old GMC of yours is embarrassing. I've prepared something more suitable for you," Ethan said with a grin.

The garage door opened, revealing a sleek, red GTR. The car gleamed under the light, exuding power and elegance.

Mike's eyes widened in amazement. "This... this is amazing."

Ethan handed him the keys. "It's yours now. Go ahead, take it for a spin."