Copying a Blank, Framed Anyway

My adoptive parents, Albert Johanson and Anita Lane, stood in the doorway, frost clinging to their faces.Two bodyguards loomed behind them, broad enough to block the hallway lights. Their shadows swallowed the entrance.The moment Alyssa saw them, her tears broke loose. She wrenched herself free from the crowd and threw herself into Anita's arms."Dad, Mom. You're finally here…" She buried her face in Anita's chest and sobbed. "Please don't blame Bree. It's my fault. I caused her to be punished…"Anita looked stricken. She held Alyssa tight and stroked her back, whispering soft reassurances.Then she raised her head and looked at me. Disgust filled her eyes. "Bridget, you're beyond saving. When Aly first came back, how many times did I tell you? Give in to your younger sister. Be sensible. Our family fed and clothed you for 18 years. We treated you like our own daughter."Her voice sharpened. "And this is what we raised? An ungrateful snake with a rotten heart? Aly said you bull

Matthew's eyes flickered. "The original papers have already been sealed and sent to the Department of Education as evidence!"He and Alyssa had clearly planned this from the start. There was no original paper he could produce.He added quickly, "As for the system, that's for teachers. A cheating student like you has no right to access it. Who knows what you might try to alter?"He did not spare me another glance. He turned to Albert and spoke with urgency. "Mr. Johanson, this student has severely damaged our school's reputation. She shows no remorse and even talks back to her parents and teachers. I recommend immediate expulsion. We should issue a school-wide notice and enforce it at once.""Expel her," Albert said coldly. "Immediately. Keeping a disaster like this only brings shame. She has already humiliated the Johanson family enough."He spun toward the doorway and shouted, "Security! Where is campus security? Throw her out. From now on, she is not allowed to set foot in this

Principal Richard Meyer shot Matthew a cold look, then turned to the officials behind him. "Director Latham, since someone has accused the school administration of fabricating an exam paper, I'll ask you to verify it on site."He gestured toward the computer. "Our surveillance and grading systems are physically isolated. No one could alter both unless they breached the Department of Education's firewall and the school's internal network within a single minute. This is the original data."Director George Latham adjusted his glasses and nodded."Our technicians have already checked," he said evenly. "There are no signs of intrusion in the backend."He raised the tablet in his hand. "Which means…"My answer sheet, the blank one with the turtle drawing, filled the screen."This is Bridget's actual exam paper."The last shred of pretense fell away.Alyssa's face drained of color. She swayed and clutched Anita's arm to keep from collapsing."That's impossible," Anita murmured. "Aly

Theodore's words landed like hammer blows.Albert looked as if the blood had drained from his face. Shock flickered first, then regret, and then something uglier—calculation.I did not need to hear his thoughts to know what he was weighing. If I stayed and carried Theodore's favor with me, even government offices would extend the Johanson Group a little extra courtesy."Bridget…" He stepped forward and reached for my hand. "Dad was just angry. I spoke without thinking. You know I've always cared about you."He forced a chuckle. "It was all a misunderstanding. That foolish girl misled us. Don't take it to heart."He gestured vaguely toward Alyssa, as if she had become disposable. "Tell Professor Chilton you're our daughter. How could you live in a school apartment? We have a villa at home…"I stepped back, and his fingers closed on empty air."Mr. Johanson, your memory seems short," I said evenly. "Half an hour ago, you told me to leave the Johanson family. You said you didn't ha