Chapter 4

Meanwhile, the sponsorship group chat was flooded with complaints, with some people occasionally asking others to lend them money.

"You're a monster, Hugo Goodwin! You're clearly pushing us to the brink of death!"

"I'm still 14,000 dollars short after selling my used laptop. Is anyone willing to lend me some money?"

"Why isn't the university standing up for us? We should organize a protest!"

I was sitting in the office while reading the messages in the group chat, feeling completely unmoved.

Richard looked extremely pale, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. "We have a problem, Mr. Goodwin. Mr. Smith—our overseas partner—just sent an email.

"He stated that since the scandal here has blown up and that the financial media overseas have started reporting on it, he believes our company carries a significant reputational risk. He has decided to terminate the 200-million-dollar project unilaterally."

I slammed my pen onto the desk and shot up from my chair. That was a core project three years in the making, crucial to the company's future.

Richard swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "I've also received a notice from the board, Mr. Goodwin. Mr. Zimmerman stated that unless you resolve this incident and recover losses within seven days, the board will initiate removal proceedings and strip you of your inheritance rights."

In that instant, a prolonged silence settled over the office.

I spoke up after a long while. "Get in touch with the Kingsford University administration, Richard. I'll be attending the centennial celebration in person as a board member. If Ella is dead set on causing a spectacle there, then let's make sure there are plenty of reporters to see it."

…

It was the media open day for Kingsford University's centennial celebration two days later. Richard pushed open the double doors to the auditorium for me, prompting the noisy crowd inside to fall silent as hundreds of people fixed their attention on me.

Ella was in a prominent place below the stage with Harry, Maisie, and more than a dozen other students who had pretended to be financially disadvantaged. They were all holding picket signs with prominent red lettering on them. "Hugo Goodwin Ruined Me—Boycott Him Now!"

Camera flashes went off everywhere, with every camera pointed straight at the commotion.

Ella pointed at me and yelled, "You finally showed up, Hugo! You're clearly using the double repayment clause to force poor students like us into a corner! You'd better explain yourself in front of the press today!"

Harry and Maisie backed her up, shouting, "That's right! We won't let money and power intimidate us!"

I adjusted my suit cuffs and calmly walked up to the stage. "You want an explanation, huh?"

I spoke in a voice loud enough to drown out the uproar in the auditorium. "Hand out the documents, Richard."

With a wave of his hand, Richard ordered the legal team behind him to step right up. They threw thick stacks of documents down in front of Ella and her group.

Ella took the document and frowned. "What's this?"

I looked at her coldly and replied, "You're accused of falsifying documents to claim financial aid and defrauding my foundation of 300,000 dollars, Ella Lowe. You also fabricated allegations and spread defamatory claims online, causing my company to lose a major overseas project."

Ella became visibly paler with every word I said.

"My legal team has formally filed criminal charges with the financial crimes unit and the court. You are looking at real prison time and massive joint civil liability."

Harry and Maisie were terrified, their legs nearly giving out as the picket signs fell to the floor. "We had nothing to do with this, Mr. Goodwin! Ella made us do it!"

Harry fell to his knees and repeatedly slammed his forehead against the floor. "We'll pay everything back! We'll even pay double! Please don't file a lawsuit against us, Mr. Goodwin!"

Ella panicked for a moment before suddenly bursting out laughing. She ripped up the legal notice in her hand, took out her phone, and started a live stream. "Did you guys see what just happened? That's how awful these capitalists really are!"

She turned the camera toward me, sobbing as she yelled, "He's trying to use falsified accounts to send me to prison! He has already bought off the university! He's trying to ruin me in front of the whole internet! Please help other female students and me at Kingsford University!"

Ella's live stream quickly surpassed five million viewers. There were a lot of online users condemning me in the comment section for using my influence to bully others.

Thus, between the press on-site and the millions watching Ella's live stream, a wave of public backlash crashed down on me.

Ella held up her phone with a smug smile. "What good does your money do you now, Hugo? You've got millions of people watching your every move right now! Go ahead and make a move against me!"

I looked right into Ella's camera while facing the wave of online backlash. "If you want a public trial on the internet, then I'll make sure you get exactly what you asked for, Ella."