"Maybe there really is some misunderstanding? After all, that's Mr. Hugo and Mr. Mateo." "What has Arthur done to deserve this?" Due to Hugo and Mateo's endorsement, the crowd's murmurs were explosive. Finley stood to the side, his fists creaking so tightly that even his fingernails digging into his flesh went unnoticed. Arthur! Why does he deserve their endorsement and their care? Am I not good enough? Am I not better than Arthur? I've funded scholarships for underprivileged students, donated money for school infrastructure, and served diligently as the student council president. What has Arthur done? Nothing! Where have I fallen short compared to Arthur? His eyes flashed with madness. Yet, as someone raised in a wealthy family, he managed to control his emotions even now. Finley took a deep breath, striving to keep his facial expression neutral. He approached Hugo and Mateo with a look of heartfelt pain. He bowed deeply to Hugo and Mateo, "Mr. Hugo, Mr. Mateo, I'm truly sorry to have disappointed you." As everyone was puzzling over his words, Finley suddenly shifted the topic, "However, this ring is extremely important to me. I must get it back. My grandmother is old, and I cannot let her down." His eyes hardened with resolve. "I have to retrieve this ring, or else, I might as well give it to Arthur. I don’t lack the money, and I’d rather not make a big scene by calling the police and making everyone uncomfortable." Hearing Finley’s words, Hugo and Mateo's expressions darkened. Finley had such deep cunning! In just a few sentences, while seemingly apologizing, he implied that they were using their positions to shield Arthur! Sure enough, the crowd below began to sense something was off. "Could it be that Mr. Hugo and Mr. Mateo are covering for Arthur?" "They are Mr. Hugo and Mr. Mateo; how could Arthur be worth their defense?" "But the evidence seems clear, why would Hugo and Mr. Mateo vouch for Arthur otherwise?""Could Arthur have used some underhanded tactics? I've heard rumors before." "They say Arthur became Mr. Hugo’s student through shady means, and now it really seems possible!" "But that’s Mr. Hugo; what could Arthur possibly offer to make Hugo willing to listen to him?" Mateo was so angry his face turned pale. He had always liked Finley, a forward-moving young man who was kind, helpful, and even donated to the school. He kept the student council in impeccable order. Where would you find such a student? Though sometimes Finley’s words irked Mateo, his many virtues were still tolerable. But today, Mateo's view of Finley changed completely! He never expected him to be this kind of person! Such depth of calculation was truly frightening. In just a few sentences, Finley had not only cemented the accusation of theft on Arthur but had also, in the blink of an eye, spun it to implicate them in a cover-up! The worst part was, his words left no room for rebuttal—utterly watertight! Looking at the students below, who were manipulated into applauding, they were utterly trapped! Hugo’s face turned stern. He was always straightforward, and he didn’t care what the crowd was saying. Hugo directly asked, “Are you suggesting that I am covering for Arthur?” Hearing this, Finley was taken aback! He hadn’t expected Hugo to confront the accusation so bluntly! Hugo continued, “Since I’ve stepped forward to vouch for Arthur, I fully believe he would not commit theft. But you’re so certain he stole your ring, it’s hard not to wonder what your real motives are. Also, why wear such an expensive ring to a welcome party? Could it be that you intended to lose the ring and cause a big fuss over finding it?”