Chapter 4

The moment Mom pocketed the $50,000 engagement deposit from Martin, she started acting like she'd won the lottery.

She got her hair done, bought herself a bright red dress, and told anyone who would listen, "My daughter's marrying into one of the richest families in town."

Uncle Derek wasn't any quieter. He bragged everywhere he went that he was about to become head of security.

Meanwhile, I played the part of the obedient daughter. Every day, I sweetly texted Logan.

"Logan, what'd you have for lunch today?"

"Your tattoo looks so cool."

His replies came almost instantly.

"Thinking about you. When are you gonna come out so I can steal a kiss?"

A voice message popped up right after. I played half of it before stopping.

In a low voice, he said he'd dreamed about me all night, and if he told me what happened in the dream, I'd be too embarrassed to hear it.

My stomach turned as I stared at the screen. Every message was riddled with typos, and every sentence ended with a grinning emoji.

But I knew exactly what he liked.

I pressed screenshot, saving every message in an encrypted folder labeled: Evidence 3.

Then I added one more text.

"You're the sweetest, Logan. Talk tomorrow!"

The moment I hit send, I tossed my phone onto the foot of the bed as if it were contaminated. Just typing those words made me want to throw up.

Logan, on the other hand, loved every second of it. His messages became increasingly explicit.

I saved screenshots of every single one.

Three days later, I told Mom I wanted to stop by the Parkers' house and help clean.

"I want to make a good impression on my future in-laws."

She was so thrilled and even drove me there herself.

Mrs. Margaret Parker happened to be out of town visiting relatives. I spent two hours mopping floors, wiping down furniture, and washing dishes.

Just before I left, while Martin and Logan were smoking on the rooftop deck, I slipped a digital voice recorder beneath the living room couch.

Three days later, I returned with an excuse to retrieve it. That night, hidden beneath my blankets with my headphones on, I listened to every second of the recording.

Mom's voice came first.

"At the engagement party, get a few drinks into her. Then have Logan lock her in one of the bedrooms. The next morning, I'll bring the relatives in to catch them together."

Martin chuckled. "And then?"

My mother: "Once her reputation's ruined, she'll have no choice but to marry him. After the marriage license is signed, transfer the $50,000 straight into Derek's account."

Martin: "Deal. Oh, and about that financial aid, when the time comes, go talk to Old Bill in the admissions office..."

When I took off my headphones, my hands were shaking, not from fear but from excitement.

I turned on my computer and compressed the audio recording, surveillance footage, forum screenshots, and chat logs into a single file.

Then I drafted an email and sent it to the state's organized crime tip line. A second email went to the State Department of Education's Office of Inspector General.

After hitting send, I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling. I smiled for a very long time.

There was one thing my mother would never know.

The day after my SAT scores were released, I'd already passed the Honors Admissions Program interview at Northwood State University, the state's flagship university.

I'd signed the enrollment agreement, and my student record had already been transferred.

My place was secure.

Whatever was entered into the regular application portal would never be processed. The applications she'd worked so hard to change had been nothing more than an empty shell.

I'd left them there as bait on purpose.

The combined college send-off and engagement party was scheduled for Saturday.

Mom booked eighteen tables at the nicest venue in town, the Grand Oak.

On Saturday morning, she called me while wearing her new red dress.

"You ungrateful brat! Everyone's already here, and you're still dragging your feet! Get over here right now! If you embarrass me today, I'll break your legs!"

Standing in front of the mirror, I straightened my collar. In my hand was the flash drive containing every piece of evidence.

"I'm on my way, Mom."

I ended the call and looked at my reflection.

'Mom, you only have a few more minutes before everything falls apart.'