Chapter 188: They Framed Me
After getting up and washing, Henry made another bowl of noodles with two poached eggs. Just as he finished eating, Ivy called.
"Uncle... I mean, hey, you," Ivy stammered, "They called Bella again, telling her to come out now!"
Henry realized Ivy's friend was named Bella.
"Where are you now?"
"We just left the cafeteria."
"Wait for me at the school gate. I'll be right there!"
When Henry arrived at the school gate, he saw Ivy and Bella waiting inside. Ivy waved, "Over here, over here!"
Ivy wore the same white hoodie and black pants as yesterday, but her white sneakers were replaced with black low-heeled shoes. The simple change made her look more mature and taller, her posture more upright. Henry thought she'd look even more elegant in higher heels.
He didn't know Ivy had felt short in front of him yesterday and had changed shoes to appear taller. Psychological effects are significant. Ivy usually bounced around in sneakers, looking cute and lively, but in heels, she stood tall and mature, without losing her youthful beauty.
Henry was surprised by Bella. Last night, it was too dark to notice her properly, and he generally didn't stare at unfamiliar girls. Today, she wore a ponytail like Ivy but was dressed in a tight black leather jacket and pants, accentuating her figure. She also wore boots, making her look taller than last night, probably because she had worn sneakers then.
Both girls were slender, with "chopstick legs," but Bella was curvier, making her look more mature.
When Henry reached them, Bella, looking scared, greeted him, "Hello, Brother Henry." Ivy must have told her his name, as she only knew his surname.
Henry nodded and asked, "Can you tell me what's going on?"
Bella glanced at Ivy, who explained. Bella came from a small town in another federation. Her parents, struggling with their business, worked odd jobs, so the family wasn't well-off. After Bella got into college, her parents could only afford her tuition and living expenses, unable to provide any extra financial support.
At school, seeing her classmates, especially her roommates, with better financial situations, Bella felt deeply inferior. Though her classmates treated her well, she felt they secretly looked down on her, making her desperate to change her situation, at least her appearance.
She heard some senior girls worked as hostesses in nightclubs and considered it, but found out only seniors did that, using their internships as cover. Younger students didn't. She also read news about wealthy men keeping students as mistresses and thought about it but couldn't find the opportunity.
Finally, a senior told her she could borrow money from a game room near the school, with low interest rates. She went there, borrowed money, and bought clothes and cosmetics. She started ordering takeout like her roommates, instead of eating in the cafeteria.
Having been in Harbor Springs for less than a year, she didn't borrow much, only 5,000 yuan, thinking she could repay it with a summer job. But working as a waitress didn't pay well, and she didn't understand how they calculated interest and penalties. After a few months, they demanded 40,000 yuan!
Bella was terrified. Desperate, she told Ivy, who gathered some male classmates to accompany Bella to confront the lenders. They were beaten up. If Henry hadn't arrived, who knows what would have happened.
Ivy concluded, "I asked others, and they said interest shouldn't be that high. Yesterday those thugs said if Bella couldn't pay, she'd have to sleep with them and work in their nightclubs. They targeted Bella because she's pretty!"
Henry looked at Bella, thinking she resembled Victoria. Seeing her vanity and poor family background, he thought she might end up as a hostess anyway. How could such a pretty, pure girl not respect herself?
Henry asked Ivy, "Where are we meeting them?"
"In that alley across from yesterday's place. I heard their boss is coming today!"
Seeing Bella trembling, Henry said, "Let's go. I'll go with you."
Ivy asked, "Should I call some male classmates?"
Henry replied, "Do you think they'll be useful?"
"I didn't think so, that's why I didn't call them," Ivy said, making a face.
Henry smiled and walked outside. Bella, still scared, clung to Ivy's arm. Seeing about twenty thugs at the alley entrance, Bella felt like she might wet herself and quickly moved closer to Henry, clutching his hand. Henry felt her sweaty palm.
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