I Inherited Billions

Chapter 47

Dean Franklin Stone stepped onto the lectern amidst the students’ chattering.

He swept his gaze across everyone and said grim-faced.

“A terrible thing has happened in our class today. I, and many other upper management from the school, would like to express our anger at what has transpired. After having a discussion about this, we have decided to cancel the student status of all those who were involved as a punishment.”

The class erupted in exclamation after Franklin said this.

Chris was filled with panic. “Freddie, what are you gonna do? You’re really about to get expelled…”

“Stop panicking. The dean didn’t say it was me. What if it was Howard and the others?”

“How would that be possible?” Chris looked at me with disbelief, thinking I must be scared silly.

I did not explain any further as I looked calmly at the lectern.

Franklin was knocking on the blackboard from the lectern at that moment. “Please be quiet, everyone. Now, allow me to read out the decision this school had made in regards to the punishment…”

The entire class went silent at this. Everyone held their breaths.

“Howard Lincoln and Nadia Williams from Year 2 Senior (3) of the Finance Faculty, you have colluded to frame and destroy the reputation of your classmate, an act that has seriously broken the rules of this school. We will now punish you by canceling your student status. In addition, Howard Lincoln’s buddy, William Zeller, who assisted in this scheme, will be given a demerit that will leave a mark on his track record. I hope everyone can take this as a warning to never do anything like these students have.”

“What? Are Howard and Nadia getting expelled?”

“How did this happen? Has there been a mistake?”

Everyone in the classroom was baffled.

Howard and Nadia were in shock over this.

It was obvious they had not expected things to end this way.

“Mr. Stone, are you mistaken? The one who stole something was Freddie Lang. He was caught red-handed with evidence. Why are the both of us being expelled instead?” Howard was angry and felt humiliated.

“That’s right. This had nothing to do with us from the very start.” Nadia also looked upset.

“Don’t you know very well what you’ve done?” Franklin sneered as he looked at the both of them.

“Mr. Stone, there must be some sort of misunderstanding here.”

“Mr. Stone, you can’t expel us so rashly.” Both of them furiously attempted to defend themselves.

“Still stubborn, aren’t you?” Franklin's face got darker when he saw how they refused to admit their mistakes. “Fine, since you’re not admitting to this, let me tell everyone the truth about what you’ve done.”

“Howard Lincoln, along with his accomplice, William Zeller, stuffed the stolen item into your classmate, Freddie Lang’s, schoolbag. Next, you got Nadia Williams to call Freddie Lang over to the crime scene for a chat. This was to create evidence of Freddie Lang being present at the scene… All three of you framed Freddie Lang together.”

The entire class fell silent after the dean was done talking.

Howard and the others looked terribly pale.

However, Howard was not about to give up. “Mr. Stone, did Freddie tell you all this? You can’t listen to only his side of the story. We’re innocent.”

“That’s right. I did call Freddie over for a chat, but it was for something personal between us. I really didn’t frame him,” Nadia said anxiously.

“Personal? What personal matter was it?” Franklin smiled coldly.

“I… I can’t tell you.” Nadia turned red.

“You can’t tell me, or you don’t dare to tell me?” Franklin asked.

“Well… It’s… It’s something personal between me and Freddie. Freddie and I shared a hotel room a few days ago, and he was not very proper with what happened between us. I’ve been feeling uncomfortable down there for a while, and I wanted to talk to him alone to discuss it. Our entire class can bear witness to this.”

Nadia had to be crazy.

How dare she publicly say something like that in order to get suspicion thrown off her?

“That’s right. Freddie did bring Nadia to a hotel that day. He even sent a personal cash gift to her through our class group chat.”

“This story is so big even those in other classes know about it.” Our classmates immediately tried to corroborate Nadia’s innocence.

It was clear.

Everyone believed Nadia.

“Well…”

Franklin had no idea what to say right then.

After all, he was not a part of this.

He turned to look at me, requesting my help.

I smiled and stood up. “Nadia, it has already come to this, yet you’re still refusing to admit it? You called me over at the basketball court to chat, but you made no mention of us in the hotel room. All you said was that you would have your revenge and that I would regret everything. What happened later was your revenge on me!”

“That’s an unfounded accusation, Freddie!” Nadia said furiously. She turned to the dean and said, “Mr. Stone, you can’t believe the lies he’s telling. This person enjoys masking the truth!”

“Enough! Everyone, be quiet!!!” Franklin seemed to figure out how to handle this as he slammed the table. “Do you think our school is blind? We have everything on tape. You can all see it for yourselves.”

“That’s impossible. There’s no security camera on the basketball court!” Howard blurted loudly.

This shout of his was as good as admitting that he was the one who set the trap.

“Hoho, so you’re finally admitting to it?” Franklin looked at Howard in delight.

“I… I didn’t.” Howard realized that he had let his tongue slip. He turned deathly pale.

“That’s enough. There’s no need for further explanation. The truth has been revealed. Both of you should get your things and get out of this school now! If you don’t, I’ll get security to escort you out!” Franklin said with a cold, hard look on his face.

“Mr. Stone, you can’t expel us!” Howard got anxious and stood up immediately. “My father is the general manager of Lincoln’s Lumber Enterprise, and my uncle is Charles Lincoln.”

“Oh, Charles Lincoln, is it? He’s been fired from the school because of what you did. What else is there for you to say?”

“What? He’s been fired?” Howard was shocked.

He was like a deflated balloon after he realized he had lost his upper hand. He looked absolutely dejected.

“Mr. Stone, actually, we…” Nadia stood up in a last attempt at explaining things.

However, Franklin ignored them and stuck a notice of the announcement on the blackboard. After that, he immediately left the classroom.

…

Howard and Nadia sat quietly in their seats, looking forlorn, after Franklin left. The entire class was engulfed in a heavy silence.

Quite a number of people sneaked looks at me.

I knew they must be trying to figure out what just happened.

The person who was supposed to be expelled was me, but things had ended with Howard and Nadia being expelled instead. The whole thing reeked of a conspiracy.

“Freddie, what exactly is going on?” Chris could not hold it in any longer and asked me about it.

“It’s simple. We have a righteous and wise dean who wouldn’t malign a good person and allow someone bad to get away with anything. It’s rare to have a good dean like him!”

Since Franklin had given me enough help, I decided to heap praises on him.

“He was actually willing to hear you out?”

“Hey, I just told you our dean was a good person!”

“Alright then.” Chris still felt weird about it but clearly decided to stop thinking about it.

After all, there were so many strange things happening to me.

It finally sank in for Howard that there was no changing the situation a few minutes after Franklin left.

There were mixed expressions on his face, and he hesitated for quite a while before deciding to approach me.

“Freddie, I was wrong about this whole thing. I shouldn’t have framed you. Please forgive me! Don’t let the dean expel us!” Howard lowered his head and said with difficulty.

However, the more he acted this way, the more unhappy I was.

We were classmates, after all, and we were all equal. Why did he need to rack up the courage to apologize to me? Was it a very humiliating thing?

If he was sincere with the apology and had not been forced into giving it, I might have forgiven him.

The more he acted this way, the more I found it hard to forgive him.

“Why should I? Why should I forgive you?” My chin lifted slightly, and I looked down on him with disdain.

“Freddie, I’ve already apologized to you. Please forgive me.”

“That’s right. Talk to the dean and convince him to cancel the punishment he’s giving us. We’re classmates, after all.” Nadia tried to convince me as well when she realized her predicament.

“Ho, classmates?”

My gaze swept across them both. “Both of you set up a trap to frame me, and when the school was preparing to expel me, why didn’t it cross your minds that I was your classmate too?”

“Freddie, we know we’re in the wrong. Just give us a chance. We can’t bear to leave everyone.” Howard tried to play the emotional card when he saw he could not convince me.

I laughed when I saw him this way.

I walked toward the lectern as everyone looked at me. I sat where the teacher usually sat when teaching a class and crossed my legs. “Fine. Since you’re sincere with your apology, I’ll give you a chance. Come over here and kowtow three times to me. If you get me in a good mood, I might consider forgiving you.”