Chapter 2
I thought the worst thing my mother could do was destroy my scholarship.
I was wrong.
Because when I finally read the name on the university transcript, I realized she had been planning something much bigger.
The document identified the withdrawal caller as someone claiming to be me.
But the scholarship reassignment request named another student.
Sabrina Ellis.
My cousin.
My mother's sister's daughter.
The girl who had spent the last four years reminding me that I would never be as important as her.
I stared at the paper.
"Sabrina?"
My father took it from my trembling hands.
His face darkened.
"Claire, explain this."
My mother immediately shook her head.
"I don't know anything about Sabrina's name being there."
Attorney Nia raised an eyebrow.
"Mrs. Carter, you mentioned Sabrina's application during your conversation with our admissions coordinator."
My mother looked trapped.
"That proves nothing!"
Dr. Bennett interrupted.
"To be clear, scholarships cannot simply be transferred between students. But the caller repeatedly demanded that Maya's award be redirected to Sabrina."
I felt sick.
My mother had not only tried to stop me from attending college.
She had attempted to give my achievement to someone else.
Someone she had always treated like the daughter she wished she had.
"Why?" I whispered.
Mom looked away.
"Don't start being dramatic."
"Why would you do that to me?"
She finally faced me.
"Because Sabrina deserves an opportunity too!"
My father slammed his hand against the table.
"That scholarship belongs to Maya!"
Guests stepped back.
My mother flinched.
Then her eyes filled with angry tears.
"You've always favored Maya!"
Dad stared at her.
"She's our daughter."
"And Sabrina is family!"
"So is Maya!"
My mother looked directly at me.
There was no apology in her expression.
Only resentment.
"Sabrina worked hard too. But nobody ever notices her because everyone is busy praising you."
My heart broke a little more.
I had spent my entire childhood trying to make Mom proud.
Straight A's.
Student government.
Volunteer programs.
Academic competitions.
Whenever I accomplished something, she found a reason it wasn't enough.
When I won a science award, she asked why I hadn't won two.
When I became class president, she reminded me that Sabrina was more popular.
When Westbridge offered me a full scholarship, Mom said I was selfish for planning to leave home.
Now I knew why.
She never wanted me to succeed unless she controlled what success looked like.
Attorney Nia placed another paper in front of Dad.
"Mr. Carter, our office investigated because several details on the call didn't match Maya's student record."
"What details?"
"The caller provided an old address and incorrectly answered a verification question."
My mother pressed her lips together.
Nia continued.
"We contacted Maya directly through her secure university account. She confirmed she never requested withdrawal."
I remembered that email.
I'd received it yesterday.
I thought it was a routine admissions message.
I'd replied immediately.
No, I am still attending.
I hadn't known someone was trying to erase my place.
Dr. Bennett turned toward me.
"Maya, I want you to understand something. Your admission was earned. Your scholarship is protected."
I nodded through tears.
"Thank you."
He smiled.
"And we hope to see you on campus this fall."
For one brief moment, happiness returned.
Then my mother's phone rang.
Her sister's name appeared on the screen.
Aunt Denise.
Mom silenced it immediately.
Dad noticed.
"Answer it."
"Marcus, not now."
"Answer the phone, Claire."
She shook her head.
Aunt Denise called again.
And again.
Finally, Dad held out his hand.
Mom clutched the phone against her chest.
"You have no right!"
"Then explain why your sister is calling you five times during this conversation."
My mother looked at the watching guests.
"You're humiliating me!"
Dad's voice became quiet.
"No, Claire. You've done that yourself."
She stormed toward the house.
But Nia spoke before she reached the patio doors.
"Mrs. Carter, please don't delete any messages concerning the withdrawal request."
Mom froze.
"Are you threatening me?"
"I'm advising you to preserve potentially relevant evidence."
My mother disappeared inside.
The party was over.
Guests quietly gathered their belongings.
Some hugged me.
Others whispered.
I barely noticed.
Dad took me upstairs to my bedroom.
He helped me collect the torn graduation gown.
The collar was badly stretched.
One seam had split.
I sat on my bed and held it in my lap.
"I waited my whole life for today."
Dad sat beside me.
"I know."
"She ruined it."
He shook his head.
"No, baby. She tried."
I looked at him.
"What happens now?"
He hesitated.
And that hesitation frightened me.
"Your mother and I have been having problems for a long time."
I swallowed.
"What kind of problems?"
"Problems I should have dealt with sooner."
Before I could ask another question, his phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
Then stood abruptly.
"What is it?" I asked.
Dad didn't answer immediately.
He opened a message.
His expression changed.
"Who sent that?"
He turned the phone toward me.
It was a photograph.
Taken in our kitchen three days earlier.
My mother sat at the breakfast counter with Aunt Denise and Sabrina.
Spread across the counter were university documents.
My university documents.
But the photograph wasn't the worst part.
Underneath it was a message from an unknown number.
"Your wife promised Sabrina more than Maya's scholarship. Check the education account before it's empty."
Dad stared at the words.
Then looked at me.
"Maya, stay here."
"Why?"
He grabbed his car keys.
"Because I think your mother has been moving money."
My heart started racing.
"What money?"
He stopped at the doorway.
May you like
Then said five words I would never forget.
"The money your grandmother left you."
