Chapter 3

Wesley knelt beside the hospital bed, holding his grandmother's frail hand.

Evelyn North could no longer speak. A few hoarse syllables rasped out of her throat.

"Recommendation... grad school... Wes..."

Wesley forced a smile.

"Grandma, the list was a mistake. The school messed up. I'm on it—look!"

Right in front of her, he logged into the university website and opened the recommendation announcement.

The name Wesley North was right there on the list.

Then he took out a heavy cream-colored acceptance letter stamped with the university's gold seal and unfolded it for her to see.

"Look, Grandma. The university rushed this letter for me so I could bring it to show you!"

Tears streamed down Evelyn's face. Her eyes were full of relief.

Her grip on Wesley's hand slowly loosened, and her gaze began to drift.

Kneeling by the bed with his family beside him, Wesley wept silently and stayed with his grandmother through the last moments of her life.

The door to the room was shoved open.

A police officer stood there, expressionless, holding up a warrant for everyone to see.

"Wesley North? Someone has reported you for forging university admission documents. You'll need to come with us for questioning."

The peaceful smile on Evelyn's face froze.

"Forged...?"

Her clouded eyes went to the officer, to Wesley, then to the letter in her hand.

"Wes... forged... fake..."

The heart monitor began to shriek.

Tears poured down Wesley's face. He knelt at the officer's feet, eyes pleading, desperately signaling him not to say another word.

But the officer cuffed him right there in front of his grandmother, cold and merciless.

"Take him."

"Wesley North, forging documents and hacking the university website—you're not just looking at jail time. You'll be barred from graduate admission for good."

On the bed, Evelyn broke into a violent coughing fit. Her eyes went wide, and she reached toward Wesley as he was led away.

The monitor's alarm pierced the room. Only a flat line remained on the screen.

Wesley watched his grandmother's hand fall limply to the bed.

The last look she'd given him was full of anguish and accusation.

In the hallway, Wesley saw Derek and Natalie waiting.

Natalie's eyes were red. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

Derek spoke in a voice only Wesley could hear.

"You drove your grandmother to her death, you know that?

"Want to know something? I didn't even want to call the police. It was your precious Natalie who said forging official documents would come out sooner or later, and that reporting it early might get you a lighter sentence.

"She said we were helping you.

"Do your time and behave yourself in there, Wesley. Who knows? Maybe you'll be out in time for my wedding to Natalie."

Wesley sat on a metal chair at the police station.

The officer's tone was all business. "Forging university documents, tampering with the university website—this could go either way. It all depends on how it's handled.

"The university heard about your grandmother and said they won't pursue it.

"That leaves the forged documents. The person whose spot you claimed, Derek Sloan, still hasn't dropped his complaint.

"We've talked to people who know you. You two are friends, right? If he's willing to sign a statement withdrawing it, you can walk out of here today."

Wesley called Natalie.

Her voice was careful, probing. "Hello? Wes? Where are you?"

"The police station," Wesley said hoarsely. "Grandma's funeral is the day after tomorrow. The officer said if Derek signs a withdrawal and we settle this, I can be out tomorrow."

He paused.

"Can you talk to him for me? If I miss Grandma's funeral, I'll never forgive myself."

Natalie agreed at once, sounding perfectly calm.

"Don't worry, Wes. I'll talk him into it. Just wait to hear from me.

"Derek isn't unreasonable. He only reported you for your own good—so nobody else would dig it up later, when you'd have no chance at leniency."

Wesley's tone was flat. "So it was Derek's idea to call the police?"

Natalie sighed. "Yes. I tried to talk him out of it for ages, but he wouldn't listen. Don't worry, though. I'll get that withdrawal taken care of for you."

Early the next morning, Derek showed up at the holding cells.

He looked at Wesley—sleepless, unshaven—and laughed out loud.

"Four years of playing the sob story for Natalie actually paid off. I knew it. She acts so cool and calculating, but she's a total pushover underneath.

"Want to know something? My family was never as broke as you all thought. My grandparents are loaded. We'll never have to worry about money.

"And I never planned to do a master's. I'm not even using that recommendation.

"I've had my eye on Natalie since freshman year. Four years of acting pitiful, four years of sob stories, just to get her. She's a spoiled princess with an ego the size of a house. She'd never imagine that the guy who only made it through college on her charity has been lying to her since day one.

"Let's make a deal. Sign this, and I'll withdraw the complaint."