Chapter 3

In the conference room, the college leadership pushed the disciplinary document in front of me.

"Admit your mistake, and the university might consider letting you stay as a student. If you refuse to cooperate, it becomes a whole different story."

I glanced at it.

Revocation of recommendation status, a major demerit, and a public apology.

Compared to my past life, it truly seemed like an extraordinary act of mercy.

Back then, I insisted on calling the police and demanding a full investigation, so the university branded me as difficult. In the end, they not only expelled me but also sent the notice of my disciplinary action to all their partner companies.

When I went job hunting, an interviewer recognized me.

He laughed right in front of a room full of people. "You had the nerve to tamper with official archives. We would never risk hiring someone like you."

I stood outside the office building, the resume in my hands soaked and ruined by the rain.

Ethan found me with an umbrella and took off his jacket to drape it over my shoulders. "It's okay. I'll take care of you."

I hugged him and cried, believing I had finally found the only person who hadn't given up on me.

But thinking back now, those perfectly timed appearances were far too convenient.

"Demi?"

The dean, Caleb Jensen, tapped the table. "Sign it."

I pushed the paper back. "I didn't do it."

Jessica sat across from me, her eyes swollen from crying. "Professors, can we please check one more time? Demi's grades have always been better than mine. She had no reason to alter my score at all."

The department head, Alfie Woods, said coldly, "Her overall rating was only 0.3 points higher than yours. Once the volunteer service points are recalculated, you're very likely to overtake her."

Jessica shook her head frantically. "Then I'll withdraw!"

"This isn't just about a single slot." Alfie looked at me with disgust in his tone. "This is a character issue."

The conference room door swung open.

My parents had rushed over.

Dad had run all the way up the stairs and was so out of breath he could barely speak. "My daughter… My daughter would never cheat."

Mom held my hands tightly. "Demi, look at me. You really didn't go in there, right?"

"I didn't," I said.

Her eyes turned red instantly. "Alright. I believe you."

Alfie impatiently replayed the video. "Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson, the surveillance, the access log, and the facial recognition all match. We will hold a disciplinary hearing tomorrow. If you make a public apology, we won't expel her."

Dad's face turned pale and rigid. "She didn't do anything wrong. Why should she apologize?"

"Then our only option is to hand this over to the police."

Mom swayed slightly, nearly losing her balance.

In my past life, the moment she heard those words, she immediately gave in. She'd thought that as long as she bowed her head, she could save me.

But after the disciplinary hearing ended, some students uploaded the video of them bowing in apology online.

The comment section was filled with nothing but ridicule.

"A whole family of dramatic actors."

"Parents who raised a daughter like her can't be any better."

Dad had read through those comments over and over until he collapsed right in front of his computer.

I held onto Mom and spoke coldly. "We can have the disciplinary hearing. But I want the complete surveillance footage played publicly."

Alfie frowned. "The video online is already clear enough."

"How does 15 seconds count as complete surveillance footage?" I looked around at everyone. "Since you're going to punish me in front of all the faculty and students, let everyone see how I went in, how I changed the scores, and how I left."

Alfie was about to refuse, but Caleb spoke up. "We can do that. Professor Harper will also be present tomorrow. Let the evidence be shown publicly so no one can say the school treated her unfairly."

As I walked out of the conference room, Ethan was waiting for me at the door. He held two bottles of water, handing one to my parents first before pressing the warm one into my palm. "Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson, don't worry. I believe in Demi."

Mom looked at him like she was grabbing onto a lifeline. "Ethan, you know people around campus. Could you please help speak up for Demi?"

Ethan reassured her gently. "I'll stay by her side."

He pulled me to the far end of the hallway. "Demi, don't go head-to-head with the school tomorrow."

"You think I did it too?" I asked.

"No, of course I believe you."

He paused, his tone softening. "But the evidence is stacked against you. Admit fault first so you can keep your status as a student, and I'll stay with you to dig into it slowly."

In my past life, he had urged me the exact same way, telling me to back down, endure it, and not let things spiral out of control.

I thought he was trying to protect me. So I gave up on calling the police and missed the golden window to retrieve the original raw data.

I looked into his eyes. "If the complete video is shown publicly, what do you think will be caught on tape?"

Ethan's expression didn't change a bit. "What else could there be?"

"Me, of course." I let out a soft smile. "After all, every piece of evidence says so."

Ethan smiled along. Yet the hand holding the water bottle tightened without him even realizing it.