was a legend in the architecture department. She had been a close colleague and friend of my fa

ith worry as she stared at her computer screen

o call the police. Are you alright

drama," I said, the understatement of the

ion turning serious. "But you almost were. I jus

cold. "What

the pressures of New York and that you wanted to offer your spot to your stepsister, Scarlett Hayes. He even ha

complete. They were moving

from me. Liam proposed to me this morning on the condition that I give my spot t

suspicious. Your father would be spinning in his grave. That boy, Liam... I never trusted

pression shifting from anger to disbelief. "Yes, Dean Tho

Dean of Students. Liam and Scarlett are in his off

or what?" I ask

rim. "They claim you stole the core concepts of your final

ck, one I hadn't faced in my past life. It was a direct assa

ett can barely draw a str

ingers. "Sketches and notes that she claims predate your project. Li

her eyes with a handkerchief, looking fragile and wronged. Liam had his arm around her, glaring at me as if I were a common

e a very serious accusation here. Plagiarism is grounds f

ice shaking. "They are lying. S

that, Chloe? We live in the same house. You saw

, creative girl, but she is timid. Chloe has always been... aggressive.

tt was pouring her heart into this project. When Chloe presented her

ted, their performance flawless. I was the hysteri

y, turning to the Dean. "I have all my initia

ntered smoothly. "It's your word against hers. And frankly, given your unstable be

e. Professor Chen tried to defend me, but Richard, a prominent lawyer and university donor, ski

nvestigation is completed, your internship is on hold,

ey had stalled me, tainted my name. As I left the office, defeated and nu

numbness gave way to a cold, hard resolve. They thought they could break me. They had no idea how st