Chapter 7: The Person Nobody Suspected
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I expected anger.
I expected shock.
I expected Zoria to break down.
But instead, she looked confused.
“Not Mom?””
Dr. Hayes shook her head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
The dean slid a document across the table.
The name was hidden beneath a black marker.
“We are still verifying everything.””
I looked at the paper.
“Why hide the name?””
“Because the evidence is incomplete.””
I understood.
A university couldn’t accuse someone without proof.
But as a father?
I wanted answers immediately.
Outside the office, Zoria walked beside me silently.
Finally, she stopped.
“Dad.””
“What?””
“What if it was someone else?””
I looked at her.
“What do you mean?””
“What if Mom wasn’t the only person who wanted me to fail?””
The question bothered me.
Because I knew exactly what she meant.
Brielle.
That evening, Brielle came to our house.
She looked different.
No makeup.
No expensive outfit.
No confidence.
Just guilt.
“I need to talk to Zoria.””
I stood between them.
“Why?””
“Because she deserves the truth.””
Zoria stepped forward.
“Say it.””
Brielle looked down.
“I lied.””
The room became silent.
“About what?””
Brielle swallowed.
“The scholarship.””
Zoria stared at her.
“What about it?””
“I knew Mom was going to make you reject it.””
“You said you didn’t think she would.””
“I lied.””
Brielle’s voice cracked.
“I knew.””
Zoria looked hurt.
Not angry.
That was worse.
“You watched me lose everything.””
Brielle cried.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
“That I would always be second.””
Zoria laughed softly.
“Second?””
She shook her head.
“You had everything.””
Brielle wiped her face.
“I had Mom choosing me because she thought I couldn’t survive without her.””
That stopped everyone.
Because there was truth in it.
Valerie had not helped Brielle become stronger.
She had made her dependent.
“I hated you because you were free,” Brielle whispered.
Zoria stared.
“What?””
“You didn’t need anyone’s approval.””
The words surprised me.
Because they revealed something important.
Brielle wasn’t just jealous.
She was trapped too.
But being hurt did not excuse hurting someone else.
“What did you do?”” I asked.
Brielle looked at me.
“I found out Mom changed the scholarship cancellation.””
My jaw tightened.
“But?””
“But before that…”
She hesitated.
“I helped her.””
Zoria closed her eyes.
“How?””
Brielle took a deep breath.
“I gave her your password.””
The silence was unbearable.
“Why?””
“I thought she would only scare you into refusing.””
Brielle looked at Zoria.
“I never thought she would actually ruin your records.””
Zoria stepped back.
“You didn’t think?””
Her voice shook.
“Brielle, you didn’t think because it wasn’t your future.””
Brielle cried.
“I know.””
“No.””
Zoria shook her head.
“You don’t.””
She pointed toward the stairs.
“I spent months thinking I wasn’t good enough.””
That night, Brielle left.
And for the first time, I understood something.
The betrayal wasn’t one moment.
It was a chain.
One person made a choice.
Another person enabled it.
Another person stayed silent.
And my daughter carried all of it.
The next day, the university finally revealed the missing piece.
Dr. Hayes called me.
“We identified the person who altered the application.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
There was a long pause.
Then:
“Michael…”
Her voice changed.
“We need you to prepare yourself.””
“Why?””
“Because the person responsible…”
May you like
She lowered her voice.
“…is someone Zoria trusted completely.””
