Chapter 3: The Secret Inside the Laptop
I barely slept that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Zoria standing there with that tray in her hands.
My daughter.
My little girl.
The same child who used to run into my office wearing a superhero cape and announce she had “important meetings.””
The same girl who cried when she got her first B because she thought I would be disappointed.
And somehow, she had grown into a young woman who believed she had to sacrifice her dreams to keep peace.
The next morning, I found Valerie in the kitchen.
She was making coffee.
Like nothing had happened.
Like she hadn’t destroyed the most important moment of our daughter’s life.
“We need to talk,” I said.
She didn't turn around.
“I figured.””
“Did you change Zoria’s records?””
Silence.
Then she slowly faced me.
“You believe that?””
“I asked a question.””
Valerie placed the coffee mug down.
“You’re letting that dean manipulate you.””
“Answer me.””
Her eyes hardened.
“You always choose her.””
That sentence told me everything.
Not because it was true.
Because it was her defense.
Not denial.
Not confusion.
A complaint.
“You were supposed to protect her,” I said.
“I was protecting this family.””
“No. You were protecting Brielle from feeling bad.””
Valerie looked away.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She crossed her arms.
“Brielle has struggled her entire life.””
“So has Zoria.””
“She’s always been gifted,” Valerie snapped.
“Everything came easy to her.””
I stared at her.
“You think success is a reason to hurt someone?””
“No.””
“Then what is it?””
Valerie didn't answer.
Before I could continue, someone knocked.
It was Dr. Hayes.
Beside her was a university security officer.
Valerie immediately stiffened.
“Why are they here?””
Dr. Hayes held up a small envelope.
“We need to discuss the evidence we discovered.””
We sat in the living room.
Zoria sat beside me.
For once, she wasn’t afraid.
Dr. Hayes placed documents on the table.
“The university computer system shows someone accessed Zoria’s application file.””
The security officer pointed to the records.
“The access came from a personal device.””
I looked.
Then my heart stopped.
The device name.
Valerie’s laptop.
“That proves nothing,” Valerie said.
The officer nodded.
“Correct. Which is why we investigated further.””
He opened another file.
“The device also contained saved copies of altered documents.””
Zoria covered her mouth.
I looked at Valerie.
“Why?””
Her face turned pale.
“I didn’t mean for it to go this far.””
Those words were worse than a confession.
“You did it?””
She stood.
“I was trying to help.””
I laughed once.
A painful, empty sound.
“You were trying to help?””
“Yes!””
Her voice rose.
“Do you know what happens to Brielle when she feels like she failed?””
I stared at her.
“She cries.””
“And?””
“She shuts down.””
“And?””
“She loses confidence.””
I shook my head.
“So you decided Zoria had to lose instead.””
Valerie’s eyes filled with anger.
“She would get another chance.””
My voice became quiet.
“She only gets one first graduation.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Zoria stood.
“Mom.””
Valerie looked at her.
“I need to ask you something.””
“What?””
“Did you ever believe in me?””
The question destroyed the room.
Because Valerie had no answer.
Zoria nodded slowly.
“That’s what I thought.””
She walked away.
I followed her.
Outside, she sat on the porch.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
She wiped her face.
“Why are you apologizing?””
“Because I should have seen it.””
She looked at me.
“Dad, I hid it too.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
She looked at the grass.
“I kept telling myself it was temporary.””
Then she whispered:
“I thought if I became smaller, everyone else would be happier.””
My heart broke.
“You never had to become smaller.””
That afternoon, the university contacted us again.
This time, it was worse.
They found another piece of evidence.
A message sent from Valerie’s phone.
A message to Zoria.
A message telling her to decline the scholarship.
But the shocking part wasn’t that Valerie sent it.
It was the person who replied.
Because the reply came from someone who should have had nothing to do with the scholarship.
Someone whose name made Zoria turn completely white.
“Dad…”
She stared at the screen.
“It wasn’t just Mom.””
I looked at the message.
May you like
And saw the name.
Brielle.
