All Chapters of The War Hero's Daughter: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Emily Wertheimer, I'm sorry to inform you that you have not passed the security clearance."The voice on the other end of the line was cold and emotionless."What's the reason?" I barely managed to squeeze the words out."Your immediate family member has a major international criminal record. According to relevant regulations, this does not meet the standards for national defense majors.""Which immediate family member?""Your father. For specific details, we suggest you check with your local DOJ. We can only give you the final result here.""Wait—"Click. The line went dead.I frantically opened my phone, but before I could even figure out who to call, a message popped up in our class group chat.Tyler Brooks: [@All Huge news, guys—you know our class's top student? Her security clearance got denied. She's finished.]Tyler Brooks: [The spawn of a murderer actually dared to apply to the National Defense Academy? What a ballsy move!]The group chat exploded instantly.[Tyler

Chapter 2

"Sorry, but this file's information has already been verified and confirmed by a higher-level authority. It cannot be changed."Dad stood at the archive counter, struggling to keep his composure."Verified what? My adopted daughter's biological father is a war hero! Did you even bother checking the original records?"The clerk barely glanced at him, flipping through a couple of papers without looking up."Sir, this is what the system shows. I only have query access. You can file an appeal with the Department of Education.""Then tell me—when was this record entered? And by who?""I don't have the clearance for that."Dad slammed his fist on the counter, startling the people waiting in line behind him.The clerk finally looked up, pushing up his glasses with clear annoyance."Sir, I'll call the police if you keep this up."I rushed over and pulled Dad back."Dad, let's go to the Department of Education."Dad looked at me with red-rimmed eyes. This sixty-something-year-old ma

Chapter 3

"Emily Wertheimer, this is a formal notification. Due to your failed security clearance and the flag on your file, all your applications have been voided."The call came from the Admissions Office the next morning."Can I still apply to other schools?"There was a pause on the other end."To be honest, your file is currently locked. The security clearance flag follows your record wherever it goes—which means… even if you apply through regular admission, you'll most likely be rejected."Dad propped himself up and grabbed the phone. "Then what's she supposed to do? She can't even retake her tests and reapply?""That depends on each institution's review standards. We can't make any guarantees.""You're ruining her future!""Sir, we're just following procedure. If you have concerns, please go through the proper appeal channels."Click… click… click…The line went dead again.The hospital room fell silent for a long time.Dad pounded the bed railing with his fists, over and over

Chapter 4

"Emily, are you insane?"Lily stared at me in disbelief as I knelt in front of the school gate."I'm leaving the livestream to you." I handed her my phone."But—""Lily." I took a deep breath. "My dad's in the hospital with two broken legs. My mom's been threatened multiple times because of me. Every single school has shut its doors on me. I have nothing left but myself."Lily took the phone.It was two in the afternoon. The sun was blazing.I knelt at the school gate, with five large red words laid out in front of me: "GIVE ME BACK MY HONOR."At first, only a few dozen people were watching. The comments were sparse.[Who's this?][The one who ranked 32nd in the state? Didn't she fail her security clearance?][Wait, is this for real? Even if she does this, it's not gonna help, right?]An hour later, viewership climbed to three thousand.[That's Emily Wertheimer! The one from that trending post!][Holy crap, what's she trying to do?]A security guard came over to talk to

Chapter 5

"What did you say my father really is?"I pushed myself up from the ground, my knees barely holding me after two sleepless days and nights.All the cameras were on me. The livestream viewer count was closing in on ten million."I'm not targeting anyone personally. But national security comes first. The descendant of a criminal—""Are you done?" I cut her off.Miriam's smile froze."This is an Orphan Adoption Certificate issued by the Department of Social Services in 2007. Adopted individual: Emily Wertheimer, formerly Emily Carter. Adoptive parents: James Wertheimer and Susan Marshall."Then I pulled out the small booklet and opened it to the first page."This is a Certificate of Martyr's Family Status. Martyr's name: Allan Carter, former Deputy Captain of the Third Squadron, Southwest Border Narcotics Task Force. Died in the line of duty on March 17, 2006, during a cross-border drug interdiction mission."I raised both documents above my head."My biological father's name is

Chapter 6

"This is the State Police Department. Am I speaking with Emily Wertheimer?"The call came at ten o'clock the next morning. I was in the hospital room feeding Dad porridge. When he heard "State Police," he nearly dropped the bowl."Yes. This is Emily.""We've received a case referral from the State Department of Education regarding irregularities in your file. We'll need your cooperation to provide some materials. Would you be available to give a statement today?""Yes.""Good. We'll send someone to pick you up at the hospital. Also, please bring the originals of your Certificate of Martyr's Family Status and your Orphan Adoption Certificate."After hanging up, I scrolled through my phone. My name was all over the trending page.#Top 32 Statewide Female Student Is Orphan of Fallen Narcotics Officer# — 400 million views.#Who Tampered With a Martyr's Daughter's File?# — 200 million views.#Tyler Brooks' Mother Publicly Exposed at School Gate# — 180 million views.The comments s

Chapter 7

"Emily, I have a friend who works at a bank. She says Tyler's dad, Robert Brooks, made several large transfers recently."I was lying in bed at home. My whole body ached. My legs were bandaged and stiff, making it hard to move around."That's not enough, though. She's just a local employee—her access is limited.""It's enough. Gather all the info, but don't post anything yet.""Why? The police have already opened a case, right? Why not just hand it over to them?"I rolled over and stared at the ceiling."Because Robert is probably scrambling right now. If his money can buy off people at the local precinct and the Department of Education, it can buy off people higher up too. The best thing we can do right now is not show our hand.""Then what? Just wait?""I'm waiting for him to make his second mistake."…Robert didn't keep me waiting long.That same night, a coordinated wave of posts appeared on social media.A dozen or so accounts, all from unknown sources, posted nearly

Chapter 8

"Robert Brooks—cross-border telecommunications fraud, bribery, forgery of official government documents…"These are the charges against you. Do you have anything to say?"This was the announcement made three days later at a joint press conference by the State Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Police Department.I wasn't there. I watched the livestream from the hospital room, together with my adoptive parents.The press spokesperson had a stern expression as he read through the investigation findings one by one."According to the investigation, on June 23, 2024, Robert Brooks used an intermediary, Kirk Woods, to access the system through a retired employee's credentials. He then fabricated a false criminal record in Emily Wertheimer's file. The purpose was to ensure she failed her security clearance, allowing his son, Tyler Brooks, to be admitted to the National Defense Academy as the next candidate on the early admission list."Dad's hand was gripping the bed she

Chapter 9

[After careful review, it has been decided that candidate Tyler Brooks, for his involvement in file tampering and obstructing fair admissions practices, shall have his scores revoked and shall be permanently banned from taking any future national standardized examinations.]This disciplinary ruling was posted on the State Department of Education's official website alongside the press release."Permanently banned from exams." Lily's voice was slightly trembling. "Emily, his future is over."I picked out nine white chrysanthemums and had the florist wrap them in plain paper. After paying, I walked out with the flowers in my arms."What about that Stanley Langston from the Admissions Office?""Fired and referred for criminal prosecution. Same with Tony Maisen from the Department of Education. And Sunny Kent from the State Admissions Office? He's been taken into custody."For a single spot on the waitlist, Robert had bribed seven key people—from the local records office all the way u

Chapter 10

[Allan Carter, Deputy Captain. On March 17, 2006, he gave his life in the cross-border narcotics interdiction mission codenamed 'Broken Blade.' He was twenty-eight years old.]The cemetery caretaker—an old veteran—led me to the third row, the seventh headstone. His weathered fingers brushed the dust off the stone surface."Right here. You're his daughter?""Yes."He crouched down and pulled out the weeds growing in front of the grave."I knew your father. He wasn't tall, but he was fast—topped the physical fitness exams every single year. The day he left for the mission, he told me he was going to treat the whole team to chicken wings when he got back."He stood up and brushed the dirt off his hands."He never came back."I placed the white chrysanthemums in front of the headstone and knelt down, staring at the black-and-white photo embedded in the stone.The man in the photo was young, wearing his uniform. Handsome.I looked at it for a long time. This was the closest I'd ev

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