Riches in Disguise

Chapter 8

Joshua spotted the gift box on my lap and reached for it without hesitation. Before I could stop him, he tore it open but froze in shock.

Inside the box was a Cartier skeleton watch, its crown embedded with a striking blue gemstone, worth around 30 thousand dollars. It was impossible to pass this off as a fake. It had to be the real deal.

Lina's eyes sparkled as she gasped, "That's gorgeous!"

Most of our classmates came from modest backgrounds and were equally stunned.

For them, a monthly allowance of over five hundred dollars was already considered generous, with some surviving on just a few hundred. Seeing something this expensive was understandably a rare occurrence.

I snatched the watch back and slipped it onto my wrist. Since they were so eager to look, I'll let them see it more clearly.

Sure enough, as soon as I put the watch on, Joshua and his friends looked at me like they wanted to eat me alive.

Joshua's eyes, especially, turned red with jealousy-he was on the verge of losing it.

"William, you've got some nerve, flaunting gifts from your sugar mommy. Have you no shame at all?" Joshua sneered.

"Sugar mommy?" I blinked, caught off guard. What kind of rumor was Joshua cooking up now?

Joshua let out a laugh. "Don't even try to deny it. We all saw you cozying up to that rich lady. If that's not you being kept, then what is it? And don't try to tell me she's your sister since I know you're an only child!"

The students around us immediately began shooting me disapproving glances.

start your business. You've been living off some rich woman. I can't believe I even saw you differently." Zack even gestured crudely at me.

comment drew raucous

on time every night. Yet,

to think it was just pathetic how you followed Joshua around. Now I see you deserve it, being his lapdog. With your character, that's all you'll ever

struck his nerve. He rushed up to me and wanted

all. I grabbed his arm, twisted it behind him, swept his legs

he saw Zack fall. Instead of offering to help

not convinced and lunged at me again. But he was no match, and I easily tripped him once more, and

"Joshua! William is out of control! Let's take him down together and

He gave me a cold stare and said, "Tell you what, William. Hand over those gifts, and we won't spread any rumors about you being kept by a rich

the money they'd split from selling the watch and the unopened gift. But I knew the truth-Joshua would never share the loot. He was too

pity. "Joshua, there was a time you could've

threw that chance away. It's

"Stop talking nonsense! Are you giving it to me or not? If not, I'll ensure

want," I replied. I didn't care

our bet. You lost the competition, which means you owe me a kneel and an exit from this school. So, what's it going to be?"

and immediately put on a smug expression. "A bet?

my brow. "Are you

it before. But you can't just say it without any proof. Since you say I had a bet with you, please show me some proof, William. Do you have any recordings or witnesses? If you can prove it, I'll honor

a man of his word. After all, he had paid me back for the shoes we'd fought over. But today, he shattered whatever respect I