Chapter 334: It Wasn’t Leo Bell Who Replied

Chapter 334: Chapter 334: It Wasn’t Leo Bell Who Replied

The very next day, Leo Bell made his decision. He called the butler, and they arranged to meet today.

Leo Bell got permission to leave campus, but his good friend Elara Sterling noticed something was wrong. After pestering him, she finally learned what he was planning.

Elara Sterling’s sister was paranoid, always believing that many things in the outside world were out to get her. She rarely left the house.

If she could, she would have even locked her own sister inside the house.

But that wasn’t possible. Elara Sterling was still a high school student and had to attend class. So, whenever she had the chance, Elara’s sister would whisper in her ear, cataloging every possible danger.

Elara had heard plenty of warnings about situations just like Leo’s, so she naturally guessed his intentions. That’s what led to their earlier conversation.

"If you’re short on money, you can just tell us. We can ask our parents to lend you some, and you can pay us back once you start working."

"What you’re doing is too dangerous. What if he’s after your organs?" Elara Sterling hadn’t given up, trying to stop her friend by painting the worst-case scenario.

"I know that’s a possibility, but Elara, this tycoon does a lot of charity work. He has a great reputation."

"I want to give it a try. If it works out, my mom’s future medical bills will be covered." Leo Bell fell silent for a moment before finally speaking his mind.

Leo Bell squeezed Elara Sterling’s hand and discreetly pressed the sticky note into her palm. "I’ll be in touch. Don’t worry."

Then, without a backward glance, he walked toward the butler.

Before getting into the car, the butler glanced toward Elara Sterling but ultimately said nothing.

The car quickly pulled away from the curb, leaving Elara Sterling standing alone at the gate, staring after them.

Elara Sterling’s heart pounded with anxiety. She decided that if she didn’t hear from Leo Bell by the end of the school day, she would call the police.

Even with that plan in mind, Elara Sterling still told her homeroom teacher about the situation.

After hearing the whole story, the homeroom teacher patted her student’s head. "Mr. Bell doesn’t want to accept your financial help," she said, "because he’s afraid it would ruin your friendship later on."

"I’ll keep this in mind," the teacher continued. "If there’s still no word from him by the time school is out, I’ll take you to the police station myself."

Reassured, Elara Sterling finally relaxed a little and headed back to the classroom.

The homeroom teacher watched Elara Sterling go, sighing helplessly.

Elara Sterling meant well, but students at that age have a fragile sense of pride.

They always feel that borrowing money from a classmate would make them seem inferior.

To maintain a friendship of equals, Leo Bell would never borrow money from them.

Elara Sterling was on edge all day. The moment school let out, she rushed to the homeroom teacher and frantically grabbed her phone.

As soon as she unlocked it, she saw a photo and a message from Leo Bell.

Leo Bell: I’m home. Don’t worry.

The message was followed by a yellow emoji covering its mouth to hide a laugh.

The photo was a selfie of Leo Bell, seemingly at home.

Elara Sterling stared at the message, a strange feeling creeping over her. ’Leo Bell would never use an emoji like that!’

’Did something happen to him? Or is someone else using his phone?’

All sorts of possibilities raced through Elara Sterling’s mind. She instinctively tried to voice call him.

A moment later, the call was rejected.

Leo Bell: I’m in the bathroom right now, it’s not a good time. I’ll call you back when I’m out.

Another awkward yellow emoji followed the message.

The moment she read that, Elara Sterling shot up from her chair, her voice frantic. "Teacher, these messages aren’t from Leo Bell! He hates using these kinds of emojis, and he’d never, ever take his phone to the bathroom."

Their high school was full of top students. Even though Leo Bell was brilliant, he had to work incredibly hard to maintain his high ranking.

To squeeze out more time for studying, Leo Bell would even take a small notebook with him to the bathroom to keep studying.

He’d done that ever since starting high school, without exception.

So, to Elara Sterling, the claim that it wasn’t a good time because he was in the bathroom was the biggest giveaway.

The homeroom teacher obviously knew this as well; she had even advised Leo Bell to relax a little more.

"Teacher, let’s go to the police," Elara Sterling pleaded, her voice filled with worry as she tugged on her teacher’s sleeve. "I have a terrible feeling something’s happened to Leo."

The homeroom teacher gathered her things and stood up, her tone grave. "We’re going. Right now!"

The two of them rushed to the police station, filed a report, and explained the day’s events.

"I see. So you believe this student, Leo Bell, may have had an accident, is that correct?"

"What if he was just busy and asked someone nearby to reply for him?" the officer at the front desk asked as he took down their statement.

Before the teacher could answer, Elara Sterling shook her head frantically. "No way. Leo Bell treasures his phone. It has pictures of his father and brother, who died in an accident."

"Even we have to ask for his permission to use it. He would never let someone else send messages for him!"

Hearing this, the officer nodded in understanding. "I see. Please go home for now and wait for news."

Elara Sterling looked distraught. She was terrified something would happen to Leo Bell while they were waiting.

Just then, Zoe Sawyer and her team came out of an office, laughing and joking, on their way to get a bigwig to treat them to dinner.

"What’s happening over there?" Sean Hughes asked curiously, noticing the anxious-looking pair of Elara Sterling and her teacher at the reporting desk.

Evan Keller glanced over, his brow furrowing. "Is something wrong? Let’s go ask."

The others agreed. As they approached, they heard Elara Sterling’s frantic voice. "Can’t you please send someone to check on him right away? I’m so afraid something’s happened."

"The only family Leo Bell has left is his mother, and she’s in the hospital. If something happens to him, Mrs. Bell won’t be able to survive it."

"What’s going on?" Evan Keller interjected at the opportune moment.

The equally anxious teacher heard his voice and turned around.

"Captain Keller," the officer at the desk began, "these two came to file a report. They said their student might be in trouble and want us to send someone to check on the situation immediately."

"I was just compiling the report to submit it," the officer at the desk explained after seeing Evan Keller, repeating the story.

’It’s not that I’m unwilling!’

’There’s a procedure for this stuff. I have to file the report, and someone has to take the case before we can dispatch anyone to investigate!’

Evan Keller nodded. Seeing the anxious teacher and student, he turned to his team behind him. "What do you say? A little overtime?"

Zoe Sawyer and the others nodded nonchalantly. "Making sure the student is safe is the top priority. Barbecue can wait."

Relieved by their response, Evan Keller turned back to the desk officer.

"Give me the file."