hall, packed with over a hundred students. I was sitting in my usual seat near the front, reviewing m

ill and panicked, cut through

' s gone! My mot

ing frantic. Ethan was right beside

re she passed away. It' s the only thing I have left of her." Her voice broke, and she sta

When did you last see it?" he asked, his

he only person who came near my desk was..." She trailed

ar. Every head in the r

immediately chimed in. "I saw her! Sarah Miller was walking past

ut it was enough. The a

ssion thunderous. He stopped in front

," he said, his voic

than," I said calml

e from the start. You cancelled the engagement to make a sc

t of a hundred pairs of eyes on me, judging me. Whispers e

, don't. Maybe she just misplaced it. I don't want to cau

k her bag," he demanded

ut a small gasp. "Look!" she cried, p

the lecture hall lights, was

sprung. The room fell silent, the verdict

a triumphant sneer. "I k

then, a cold calm washed over me. This was their plan

nce between us was significant, but f

. Then at Chloe.

n I sla

't a frantic, emotional slap. It was a sharp, del

at me, stunned into silence,

stand here and publicly accuse me of theft based on the word of

room. "I didn't touch her

properly. Let's call campus security. Let's have them dust for fingerprints. And most importantly, le

knew the cameras were there. A

ance faltered. He knew I was right. A formal i

o regain control. "You've been embarrassed enough. Just

me an out, a way to sav

A cold, hum

ehension. You think you' re the one who gets to end thing

t the printed confirmation from the

es with you and your family. You didn't dump me. I lef

han the slap. His face we

ened. It was Professor Albright, followed

Dean Thomas asked, his voice booming. "I

nap shut on them instead. The truth was com

nonsense man who valued academic integrity above all else, t

large monitor. It clearly showed me walking to my seat without ever going near Chloe's desk. Then, a few minutes lat

ent. The evidenc

what came over me. I was just so stressed... and I felt threatened by

ght. She immediately began spreading a new story around campus-that I had bullied her into it,

ad been vindicated

mester. Ethan received a formal warning for his part in

t look back. I had a midterm to prepare for

n of the Albright program, the last hurdle. Ethan was there, waiting for me by the

than I thought

I replied, walking p

at. But my focus was clear. He could play