Chapter 3
I stared at my aunt.
"Declined?"
Renee nodded slowly.
My heartbeat grew louder.
"That isn't possible."
She looked at Dad.
"I found the paperwork yesterday when Vanessa asked me to help organize the guest room."
My father frowned.
"What paperwork?"
"A printed confirmation from the university."
I stopped breathing.
My scholarship covered tuition.
Books.
And a housing grant that would allow me to live on campus.
Without that housing grant, I couldn't afford the residence hall.
I'd have to stay home.
With Vanessa.
My stomach twisted.
"Show me."
Renee opened her handbag.
She pulled out a folded sheet.
The university logo appeared at the top.
Below it were my name and student identification number.
Then the words:
HOUSING AWARD DECLINED.
I stared at the page.
My hands began shaking.
The request had been submitted five days earlier.
I remembered that day.
Vanessa told me I wasn't allowed to use the family computer because she needed to work.
She also borrowed my phone.
She said she wanted to confirm an appointment.
I had given it to her.
Without thinking.
"Dad," I whispered.
He looked at the document.
His face went cold.
"Did you submit this?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
I pulled away slightly.
He immediately corrected himself.
"I'm sorry. I believe you."
That mattered.
More than he probably understood.
For years, those words had been missing from our home.
I believe you.
Dad looked at Renee.
"Do we have the full email?"
She nodded.
"Vanessa printed it from the account."
My stomach tightened.
A memory surfaced.
Last month, I'd received a strange notification asking me to reset my student portal password.
I dismissed it because I was studying for final exams.
Now I wondered whether someone had been trying to access my account.
Dad took a slow breath.
"We're contacting the university today."
He stepped aside and made a call.
While he spoke, Tasha led me toward the guest bathroom.
She helped me rinse the punch from my braids.
The cold water ran pink.
Then clear.
I stared into the mirror.
My eyes were swollen.
My stole was ruined.
The lace trim of my gown had turned red.
Tasha watched me.
"You're still beautiful."
I laughed bitterly.
"I look like somebody dumped fruit juice on me."
"Because somebody did."
She took my hand.
"And everybody saw who."
I looked down.
For years, I had believed the embarrassment was mine to carry.
Now, for the first time, people were holding Vanessa responsible.
Tasha helped me change into a spare sundress.
Then we returned outside.
The guests were still there.
Some had gone home.
But most had stayed.
Mrs. Patterson brought me a fresh graduation stole she'd borrowed from the school display table.
It wasn't exactly the same.
But when she placed it around my shoulders, I started crying again.
"You earned this, Maya."
I hugged her.
"Thank you."
She smiled.
"Now go enjoy your party."
I tried.
But my mind stayed on the university paperwork.
Dad returned ten minutes later.
His expression was serious.
"The admissions office couldn't fully resolve it today."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
"They've opened a review. We have to speak with the scholarship administrator on Monday."
I looked away.
Monday felt impossibly far away.
"What if it's too late?"
Dad took my hand.
"We're going to find out exactly what happened."
I nodded.
But I could barely breathe.
He continued.
"We've preserved the letter and the relevant messages. We'll give the university what it needs."
I looked at him.
"Will they believe us?"
His face softened.
"We'll tell them the truth."
Aunt Renee stepped closer.
"There's more."
Dad looked exhausted.
"What now?"
She glanced toward the house.
"Vanessa has been telling people Maya doesn't want to attend college."
I froze.
"What?"
Renee nodded.
"She told your cousin Jasmine that Maya was scared of leaving home."
I stared at her.
"I never said that."
"I know."
Renee looked furious.
"She also said you were failing classes."
I felt sick.
I'd graduated with a 3.9 GPA.
I had been accepted into one of the best fashion merchandising programs in Georgia.
I had worked for everything.
And Vanessa had apparently been telling people I was lazy and incapable.
Dad closed his eyes.
Then whispered, "How long?"
Renee hesitated.
"Months."
My stomach tightened.
I remembered Christmas dinner.
Vanessa laughing when Aunt Renee asked about my college plans.
She said I needed to be realistic.
She said not everyone was meant for higher education.
I thought she was making another cruel joke.
Now I understood she had been laying the groundwork for something.
Dad walked toward the house.
I grabbed his arm.
"Dad, don't."
He stopped.
I looked up at him.
"Please don't go inside angry."
His expression softened.
"I'm not going to hurt anyone."
I nodded.
He continued.
"I'm making sure Vanessa doesn't have access to your school documents or accounts."
That sounded like my father again.
Practical.
Protective.
Focused.
But I still felt frightened.
We contacted the proper services to secure my student account, changed my passwords, and arranged for the university to note my concern.
Dad also spoke with a family attorney about the situation at home.
He explained that he wanted to protect me without creating more chaos.
I appreciated that.
But by evening, the celebration felt completely different.
The music had stopped.
The balloons were slowly losing air.
The red stain on the patio had been cleaned.
And Dad was sitting alone near the buffet table, holding my old stole.
I walked toward him.
"Dad?"
He looked up.
His eyes were wet.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart."
I sat beside him.
He shook his head.
"I keep thinking about the things you told me."
I swallowed.
"Like what?"
He looked down.
"When you said Vanessa made you feel stupid."
My throat tightened.
"When you said she read your messages."
I nodded.
"When you said she didn't want you going away to school."
I looked away.
Dad covered his face.
"I should have listened."
For several minutes, we sat quietly.
Then I whispered something I'd never dared say before.
"Dad, sometimes I thought you loved her more than me."
His face changed.
He looked devastated.
"Maya..."
I started crying.
"I know that's probably terrible."
He took my hand.
"No."
His voice broke.
"It's terrible that you felt that way."
I leaned against him.
He wrapped his arm around me.
And for the first time in years, I believed we might be able to tell each other the truth.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared from Vanessa.
I saw only the first sentence.
If you're going to destroy our marriage, I'm telling everyone what Maya did last year.
My stomach dropped.
May you like
Because I knew exactly what she was talking about.
And I had spent an entire year praying that secret would never come back.
