Chapter 3

Vivian knelt beside Edward's hospital bed, gently holding his thin, frail hand.

He could no longer speak. All he could manage were a few strained, raspy sounds.

"Graduate school… recommendation… Vivian…"

Vivian forced a smile. "Grandpa, there was a mistake on the original list. My name is on it! Look!"

Right in front of him, she logged into the university's official website and pulled up the graduate school admissions announcement.

There, clear as day, was her name—Vivian Hartley.

She then took out a bright red admission letter embossed with gold lettering and unfolded it for him to see.

"Grandpa, look! The university rushed to prepare this official admission letter for me so I could bring it here and show you right away!"

Lying in his hospital bed, Edward wept openly, his eyes filled with relief and joy.

His grip around Vivian's hand slowly loosened, and his gaze gradually began to fade.

Still kneeling beside his bed, Vivian quietly shed tears as the rest of her family gathered around them. Together, they stayed by his side, accompanying him through the final moments of his life.

Suddenly, the hospital room door burst open.

A police officer, Ben Stark, stepped inside, his expression unreadable. He held up an arrest warrant.

"Are you Vivian Hartley? We've received a report accusing you of forging an official university admission document. You'll need to come with us and answer some questions."

Edward's peaceful smile froze.

"F-Forged…?"

His cloudy eyes shifted between the officer, Vivian, and the bright red admission letter in her hand.

"Vivian… forged… fake…"

The heart monitor suddenly began shrieking.

Tears streamed down Vivian's face. She dropped to her knees at Ben's feet, pleading with her eyes and desperately trying to signal for him to stop talking.

But right in front of Edward, Ben snapped a pair of handcuffs around her wrists.

His voice was cold and merciless as he ordered, "Take her away.

"Vivian Hartley, under the law, forging official documents and hacking into the university's website are serious offenses. You'll face prison time."

On the hospital bed, Edward broke into violent coughing fits. His eyes flew open, and he reached out a trembling hand toward Vivian as the officers led her away.

The heart monitor suddenly blared a piercing, continuous alarm that filled the entire room, and the screen showed nothing but a single, unbroken line.

Vivian watched helplessly as her grandfather's hand fell limply back onto the bed.

In his final moments, the look in his eyes was filled with anguish and disbelief, as though he were silently asking her why.

Out in the hallway, Vivian spotted Chloe and Ethan waiting for her.

Ethan's eyes were red.

"My condolences," he said.

Chloe, however, leaned closer and lowered her voice so only Vivian could hear.

"You're the one who literally caused your grandfather's death.

"You know, I wasn't originally planning to call the police. But your childhood sweetheart, Ethan, said that forging official documents was something that would eventually have to be dealt with anyway. He suggested that if we reported you ourselves, you might receive a lighter sentence.

"He said we were doing it for your own good."

Chloe smiled faintly. "Vivian, make sure you behave yourself in prison. By the time you get out, maybe you'll still be able to make it to my wedding with Ethan."

…

Vivian sat on a cold metal chair at the police station as Ben spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Forgery of official university documents and tampering with the school's website can be treated as serious offenses or relatively minor violations, depending on the circumstances.

"Your university has been informed about your grandfather's situation and has decided not to press charges. That leaves only the forgery charge. Chloe Anderson, whose identity you allegedly used to secure the spot, has yet to withdraw her complaint."

He paused before offering a suggestion.

"We've spoken to people in your social circle. You two are friends, aren't you? If she's willing to sign a letter of forgiveness, you can be released from custody today."

Vivian called Ethan immediately afterward.

His voice carried a hint of uncertainty when he answered.

"Hello? Vivian? Where are you?"

"I'm at the police station." Vivian's voice was hoarse. "Grandpa's funeral is the day after tomorrow. The officer said that if Chloe signs a letter of forgiveness and we reach a settlement through mediation, I can be released tomorrow."

She paused before continuing, her voice turning pleading.

"Could you talk to her for me? If I miss Grandpa's funeral, I'll never forgive myself."

Ethan agreed without hesitation, his tone calm and reassuring.

"Don't worry, Vivian. I'll do whatever it takes to convince her. Just wait for my call.

He then tried to reassure her. "Chloe isn't an unreasonable person. She only reported you because she wanted what was best for you. Otherwise, if someone else had discovered what you'd done later, you might not even have been given the chance to receive a reduced sentence."

Vivian's voice was flat as she asked, "Was Chloe the one who insisted on reporting me?"

Ethan let out a sigh.

"Yes. I spent ages trying to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen. Still, don't worry. I'll make sure she signs the letter of forgiveness."

…

Early the next morning, Chloe arrived at the detention center.

The moment she laid eyes on Vivian, who looked completely drained after spending the entire night awake, she burst out laughing.

"Four years of pretending to be poor and helpless in front of Ethan finally paid off. I knew he might seem calm and calculating, but deep down, he's ridiculously softhearted."

With a teasing smile, she continued, "Want to hear something funny? My family isn't nearly as poor as everyone thinks. My grandparents are actually quite wealthy, with more than enough money to support me comfortably for the rest of my life. Besides, I never intended to go to graduate school in the first place. I have absolutely no interest in that recommendation spot.

"I set my sights on Ethan during freshman year. For four whole years, I played the helpless girl and fed him one sob story after another, all to make him fall for me. He's such an entitled, arrogant rich boy that it never once occurred to him that the girl he thought depended on his charity just to get through college had been lying to him from the very beginning."

She then made her offer. "Here's the deal. Sign this document, and I'll give you the letter of forgiveness."