Chapter 1

"Everything I said is true!" Coco Wilson held up a stack of medical records. The words 'Severe Depression' were printed in bold on the top page.

The crowd raised their phones and pointed them at Coco, and the vetting officer stepped back with a frown. "What's all this, Miss Luther?"

My heart sank as I looked at Coco. We did know each other, but everything she claimed had nothing to do with me. "Please put down the medical records, Coco."

"Are you scared now?" Coco's tears fell. "You bullied me for four years. Of course you'd want me to shut my mouth."

"I've never bullied you before."

Coco turned suddenly to look at the vetting officer and asked shrilly, "Did you hear that? She refuses to admit what she did!"

An influencer held up his gimbal and pointed the camera at my face. "Miss Luther, according to Coco Wilson, you stole her portfolio during university. How do you explain that?"

"She made up the story."

"Made up the story? She just showed us her medical records!" The influencer sniggered. "Do you think common folk can't sue you just because you come from a wealthy family?"

Everyone laughed.

Coco wiped away her tears and said in a pitiful voice, "She stole my portfolio when we were in university and used it to submit her application to all the Top 500 companies. I've tolerated it for four years, and I can't take it anymore!"

"You need to show evidence for your accusations," I told her.

"Evidence? My medical records are the evidence!" Coco slapped the records at my chest.

The vetting officer picked up a call, and the expression on his face changed. He hung up and looked at me. "Miss Luther, Walden Industries just informed me that your appointment is on hold for now."

"Why?"

"Your situation is currently trending online. The company needs to reevaluate your qualifications."

I took out my phone to check, and I read the trending headlines: [Sandra Luther, the bully who stole someone's portfolio.]

That was also when my father called me. "Sandra, my office just suspended me and told me to cooperate with any pending investigations."

He sounded calm, but I could hear my mother crying beside him.

"Dad, I'm fine."

"I know whatever they're saying isn't true."

I hung up and looked up to see the cameras still recording.

Coco stood in the crowd, surrounded by well-known news broadcasters, crying pitifully. Someone passed her some tissues as others shouted for her to be brave, promising to get her justice.

I took a step forward, wanting to say something, but an influencer in glasses stopped me right away. "What else do you have to say, Miss Luther? Didn't you see the medical records Coco Wilson showed everyone?"

"Coco, you know very well what the truth about university is."

"What truth? The truth is that you should know what you did!" Coco's voice suddenly rose.

"The truth of what I did? What did I do?" I looked right into her eyes.

Coco avoided my eyes, and she quickly started crying again. "Look at her, everyone. She's still trying to threaten me!"

The influencer turned the camera at me and said scathingly, "Your father may be wealthy, Miss Luther, but netizens are able to see through your lies!"

I could see the comments section scrolling up quickly. They were filled with disgust for me, and called for my job offer to be rescinded and for my father to be investigated.

The vetting officer put his file away and nodded at me. "Please wait for our update, Miss Luther."

He left after that, but the crowd continued pointing their cameras at me. Coco's interview could be heard from behind the crowd. "I believe Walden Industries will give me justice, and I trust the netizens will be able to tell right from wrong."

I turned to enter the building, but someone blocked my way.

"Hey, you can't leave! You haven't apologized."

"Why should I apologize when I did nothing wrong?"

"Do you think you're above everyone else just because your father is rich?"

Someone pushed me on the shoulder, and I stumbled. I turned to glance at the person, but I said nothing and continued walking into the building, listening to the verbal abuse and Coco's crying behind me.

When the elevator doors closed, I texted the vetting department.

Sandra: [I would like to apply for a public hearing. I'd like the whole process livestreamed, and I want her to present all the evidence she has.]