All Chapters of Copying a Blank, Framed Anyway: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Matthew Wallace, the Dean of Students, stood at the front of the classroom behind the lectern like a judge on the bench. "Bridget Johanson, I've already reached your parents. They're on their way."Students crowded around him, forming a tight circle, eager for spectacle."This is cheating on the district-wide joint exam. The circumstances are extremely serious." He leaned forward, his voice sharp. "If your parents don't arrive, we will begin the withdrawal process immediately. And once that mark goes on your record, you can forget about ever turning your life around."I stood at the center of the room, my expression blank.In my previous life, this was the moment they branded me a plagiarist. Everything I had built collapsed. My future went into freefall.Now the so-called victim, Alyssa Johanson, the real Johanson daughter, stood beside me.Her eyes were rimmed red, her lashes damp. She wore a fragile look that invited protection, as if a raised voice might shatter her."Mr. Wa

Chapter 2

My adoptive parents, Albert Johanson and Anita Lane, stood in the doorway, frost clinging to their faces.Two bodyguards loomed behind them, broad enough to block the hallway lights. Their shadows swallowed the entrance.The moment Alyssa saw them, her tears broke loose. She wrenched herself free from the crowd and threw herself into Anita's arms."Dad, Mom. You're finally here…" She buried her face in Anita's chest and sobbed. "Please don't blame Bree. It's my fault. I caused her to be punished…"Anita looked stricken. She held Alyssa tight and stroked her back, whispering soft reassurances.Then she raised her head and looked at me. Disgust filled her eyes. "Bridget, you're beyond saving. When Aly first came back, how many times did I tell you? Give in to your younger sister. Be sensible. Our family fed and clothed you for 18 years. We treated you like our own daughter."Her voice sharpened. "And this is what we raised? An ungrateful snake with a rotten heart? Aly said you bull

Chapter 3

The room fell silent for a full second. Then laughter burst out.The dean doubled over the podium, laughing until his eyes watered. "Bridget, if you're going to lie, at least draft it first."A Cranston University recommendation? With your usual scores barely scraping the low hundreds? Did you just wake up from a dream?"Alyssa looked at me with strained patience, as if indulging someone unstable. "Bree, I know you want to prove yourself. But a lie like that? It's too easy to expose."She let out a soft sigh. "There are only a handful of recommendation spots for Cranston University in the entire state. How could one possibly go to you? You can't even recite the basic formulas."Albert's face darkened. His hand trembled as he pointed at me."To cover your mistake, you invent something this absurd?" His voice rose with each word. "How did the Johanson family raise someone this shameless? Bridget, get on your knees."The words cracked through the classroom."Get on your knees and

Chapter 4

Matthew's eyes flickered. "The original papers have already been sealed and sent to the Department of Education as evidence!"He and Alyssa had clearly planned this from the start. There was no original paper he could produce.He added quickly, "As for the system, that's for teachers. A cheating student like you has no right to access it. Who knows what you might try to alter?"He did not spare me another glance. He turned to Albert and spoke with urgency. "Mr. Johanson, this student has severely damaged our school's reputation. She shows no remorse and even talks back to her parents and teachers. I recommend immediate expulsion. We should issue a school-wide notice and enforce it at once.""Expel her," Albert said coldly. "Immediately. Keeping a disaster like this only brings shame. She has already humiliated the Johanson family enough."He spun toward the doorway and shouted, "Security! Where is campus security? Throw her out. From now on, she is not allowed to set foot in this

Chapter 5

A dead, suffocating silence fell. A full minute passed before someone in the crowd failed to hold it in.Laughter erupted and spread like wildfire."Holy shit. That's the legendary perfect paper? A turtle?""I'm dying. 'Never seen someone turn in a blank paper?' That's savage.""Wait. If Bridget turned in a blank sheet, where did Mr. Wallace's so-called perfect paper come from?""That's terrifying. Did the school fake evidence to frame a student?"The mood shifted in an instant. The same students who had pointed at me now stared at Matthew and Alyssa with open suspicion.Sweat poured down Matthew's forehead. He lunged for the computer tower and yanked at the power cord."This is a virus!" he shouted, his voice cracking. "A hacker attack!"He tore the plug from the socket. "Bridget! You hacked the school system. That's a crime! I'm calling the police!"The screens went black, but his panic did more damage than any image on display.I folded my arms and watched him."Mr. Wall

Chapter 6

Principal Richard Meyer shot Matthew a cold look, then turned to the officials behind him. "Director Latham, since someone has accused the school administration of fabricating an exam paper, I'll ask you to verify it on site."He gestured toward the computer. "Our surveillance and grading systems are physically isolated. No one could alter both unless they breached the Department of Education's firewall and the school's internal network within a single minute. This is the original data."Director George Latham adjusted his glasses and nodded."Our technicians have already checked," he said evenly. "There are no signs of intrusion in the backend."He raised the tablet in his hand. "Which means…"My answer sheet, the blank one with the turtle drawing, filled the screen."This is Bridget's actual exam paper."The last shred of pretense fell away.Alyssa's face drained of color. She swayed and clutched Anita's arm to keep from collapsing."That's impossible," Anita murmured. "Aly

Chapter 7

A ripple of shock swept through the crowd."Professor Chilton? From Cranston University's Mathematics Faculty? The academician, Theodore Chilton?""That legendary figure only appears on the national news. What is he doing here?"Albert reacted at once as recognition dawned on him. He pasted on a deferential smile, hauled Alyssa up from the floor, and hurried forward. "Professor Chilton. What an honor. I'm Albert Johanson, chairman of the Johanson Group."He nudged Alyssa slightly ahead of him. "This is my daughter, Alyssa. She ranked first in this state exam."He let out a strained laugh. "There was a small misunderstanding just now, but her intelligence is beyond question. Aly, greet Professor Chilton."Alyssa ignored the red handprint on her cheek. She wiped away her tears and curtsied obediently. "Professor Chilton, hello. I'm Alyssa. I've always admired you—"Theodore walked past them without a glance and stopped in front of me. Under the stunned gaze of everyone present, th

Chapter 8

Theodore's words landed like hammer blows.Albert looked as if the blood had drained from his face. Shock flickered first, then regret, and then something uglier—calculation.I did not need to hear his thoughts to know what he was weighing. If I stayed and carried Theodore's favor with me, even government offices would extend the Johanson Group a little extra courtesy."Bridget…" He stepped forward and reached for my hand. "Dad was just angry. I spoke without thinking. You know I've always cared about you."He forced a chuckle. "It was all a misunderstanding. That foolish girl misled us. Don't take it to heart."He gestured vaguely toward Alyssa, as if she had become disposable. "Tell Professor Chilton you're our daughter. How could you live in a school apartment? We have a villa at home…"I stepped back, and his fingers closed on empty air."Mr. Johanson, your memory seems short," I said evenly. "Half an hour ago, you told me to leave the Johanson family. You said you didn't ha

Chapter 9

After the interview aired, the Johanson Group's stock price fell by half. I did not follow the news, yet reports still reached me.Albert flew into a rage at home. He blamed the company's collapse on his wife and daughter. He struck Alyssa more than once, accusing her of driving me away out of jealousy and bringing ruin upon them.The "lucky star" they once held up as their pride became a curse whispered about behind closed doors.I felt nothing.One reaped what they sowed. That was all.…I saw Alyssa again outside the Cranston University laboratory building.I had just finished running a batch of data and was heading to the cafeteria when a figure burst from the landscaping bushes. Her hair hung in tangles, dirt stained her clothes, and her eyes were wild.She clutched a fruit knife so tightly that her knuckles blanched. "Bridget! Go to hell! If you die, Mom and Dad will love me again! The Johanson family can be saved!"Students nearby gasped.I did not slow or look up.Wh

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