LOGINAt the university awards ceremony, the campus belle, Vanessa Byer, puts the bank transfers I've received from the four Sterling brothers on full display, totaling eight million dollars in just one year. The entire auditorium erupts. She hangs a sign reading "Campus Gold Digger of the Year" around my neck, then has her friends scatter fake money across the floor and throw a dog leash at me. "You love money so much, don't you? Get on your knees and crawl like a dog. Whatever you manage to pick up, I'll have the Sterlings pay you that much." I don't budge. Vanessa clips the leash to the collar around my neck and kicks me in the back of the knee. "Who are you trying to fool with that innocent act? I bet you spend plenty of time on your knees when you're earning money in the Sterling brothers' beds." She grinds her heel into my hand and waves her phone in my face with a smug smile. "I've already sent Mr. Sterling a list of every dollar you've taken. Once he gets here, we'll see if a leech like you can even walk out of this place on your own two feet." I stare at the total on the big screen and rub my forehead. Hold on. Those four brats have only given me eight million dollars between them all year. If Gary Sterling finds out, I have a feeling they'll be the ones getting an earful.
View MoreA month later, I was back at the Top Ten Students Award ceremony. It was the same auditorium, with the same big screen.Except this time, there were no screenshots of bank transfers, no fake money, and no one waiting to put a dog collar around my neck and force me to kneel.The university president handed me my certificate himself and said, "Emily Dawson, on behalf of the university, I'd like to apologize for everything we put you through."The audience broke into applause. I looked down at the certificate, unable to ignore the irony.A month ago, these same people had been cheering Vanessa on. They'd believed the screenshots, the accusations, and whoever shouted the loudest.Only when the four Sterling brothers called me their great-aunt did anyone bother listening to my side of the story.After the ceremony, the university announced new rules for student organizations.The student council would no longer be allowed to confiscate or search students' personal belongings, and any
The auditorium was packed on the day of the university's public hearing.Vanessa walked in wearing a face mask, with her mother holding her arm. The bandage around her wrist was twice as thick as it had been the day before.Anyone who didn't know better would've thought she'd just had her arm amputated instead of posting something online.Anna spoke first, demanding that the committee investigate why the four Sterling brothers had been sending me money. "Vanessa may have gone about things the wrong way, but that doesn't change the fact that Emily Dawson has been accepting huge sums of money from them."Being their great-aunt doesn't mean she shouldn't have to explain where that money came from."The committee turned to me.I didn't say a word. Instead, I had someone bring up the first document on the big screen. It was a list of my personal assets.My father had left me the downtown apartment, the sports car was registered in my name, and the black card was linked to my own acco
That evening, the university announced it was launching a formal investigation. They suspended Vanessa from her student council position and ordered Carter to submit a written explanation.I thought she would finally leave me alone for a few days. But the next morning, an audio recording appeared on the university's gossip page. And the voice in it was mine."Eight million dollars isn't nearly enough. Those four Sterling boys should be on their knees thanking me. Anyone who crosses me won't last long at this university."The post also included a photo of me sitting beside the table where my belongings had been displayed. The four Sterling brothers stood behind me.In the photo, they really did look like four helpless guys being pushed around by a powerful relative.Within half an hour, the post had gone viral across campus. The same people who'd defended me yesterday were already changing their minds."So she really does treat the Sterling brothers like walking ATMs.""Just be
Anna's smile faded. "There's no need to be so aggressive, young lady. Vanessa may have gone too far, but she was only trying to protect the Sterling brothers."Blake leaned against the wall, his voice cold. "Did we ask her to?"Anna ignored him and slid the check toward me. "One million dollars should more than cover the cost of repairing your pendant, your medical bills, and compensation for emotional distress. Take the money, and tell the police we've reached a settlement."I picked up the check and gave it a quick look.Vanessa was already looking smug again. She probably figured that after being called a gold digger, I would jump at the chance to pocket another million dollars.I folded the check in half and handed it back to Anna. "That's not enough."She frowned. "Then how much do you want?""I want Vanessa to recover every livestream recording she deleted, return everything she took from me, and publicly admit that she filmed me without my permission and searched my dorm






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