Semua Bab My Roommate Stole My Face: Bab 1 - Bab 10

Elena Carlson went dead silent for three seconds."Ms. Arnault, don't you have anything better to do at college?"I cleared my throat. "Just check!"She sighed. "Fine. I'll look into it. Give me three days."Satisfied, I hung up and congratulated myself on some top-tier risk management.As for Peggy stealing my photos for online dating?If she wasn't worried, why should I be?Just then, Peggy walked in.She grabbed her phone, instantly on edge. "Aria, you didn't go through my phone, did you?"I waved her off. "Why would I? Got some big secret on there?"She relaxed and gave me a smug look."Fine, I'll tell you. My boyfriend is the Arnault heir."You know Arnault Corp in Rivera, right? And don't even think about going after him."He only loves me. He's way out of your league."I smiled.I'd already wondered if something was off with her boyfriend.Now I was pretty sure he was just some bargain-bin romance scammer.I copied one of his favorite lines. "Right, right. He'd

Saturday night, Peggy skipped her usual call.Instead, she pulled two wrinkled fifties from her wallet and slapped them on my desk."Take it. Go to the water park tomorrow. A hundred bucks should cover the whole day."No one had ever thrown money at me before, so I just stared at it.Then she got bossy."My boyfriend's coming tomorrow. Don't even think about hanging around campus trying to steal him."And don't come back before nine, or I'm posting those pictures!"So she was paying me a hundred bucks to disappear for the day and keep my face from blowing up her whole lie.'Looks like the real show starts tomorrow.'Sunday morning, Peggy got up early and spent two whole hours getting ready.Rented designer clothes, cheap perfume, and enough foundation to frost a cake.As I headed out, she glared at me through the mirror. "Nine o'clock. Don't come back early!""Got it."I snapped a pic outside the water park and sent it to her.Then I went straight back to campus.Their d

The door slammed into the wall so hard the pen holder on Dr. Bennett's desk rattled.Elena stood there in a black suit and three-inch heels.Ten bodyguards in black suits and shades lined up behind her.Her eyes swept the room.Then she saw the red marks on my wrist.Her face went ice-cold."Let go."Peggy flinched and loosened her grip, but didn't fully release me.She looked Elena up and down. "Who are you? And who even let you in here?"Elena ignored her and came straight to me.She crouched and gently turned my wrist over.Three red nail marks stood out against my skin. It wasn't serious, but my wrist was already swelling.She frowned. "Ms. Arnault, are you hurt anywhere else?""No."Peggy froze for a second, then burst out laughing."Oh my God! I remember you now!"Aria, isn't she the woman sharing your sugar daddy?"Wow. Nice act. How'd you get her to play along?"Dr. Bennett and Lauren exchanged a look, but with Elena and ten bodyguards standing there, neither

Same café.Carl was sitting in the same corner we'd used that morning.Two lemonades sat on the table, straws already in.I dropped into the seat and downed half my glass. My heart finally started slowing down."Show's over?""Show's over." I set down my drink. "Why are you still here?""Waiting to go over everything with you."He slid a manila envelope across the table."We've got everything on Zayn. Take a look, then decide how you want to end this."I opened the envelope.The first page had an ID photo.Buzz cut. Thinner than the "Zayn" I'd seen today. Dark circles under his eyes, an unlit cigarette between his lips, and a hard stare."Professional romance scammer. Real name Bobby Todd. Wanted for fraud."Two prior convictions—wire fraud and running an illegal investment scheme."Carl kept going."He uses six fake identities at once, mostly targeting female college students."Peggy's been his main target for three months, but she's definitely not the only one."He's

Wednesday afternoon, the university finally released its disciplinary decision.The auditorium was packed. People were even standing in the aisles.Dr. Bennett read the statement from the stage, his voice echoing through the mic."Design student Peggy Slade used another student's photos on social media."She fabricated chat logs and transfer screenshots to falsely accuse a fellow student."She also hid her true financial situation to receive need-based financial aid."She misused a large amount of money while taking out online loans. These actions are serious violations of university policy."Peggy Slade is expelled effective immediately. Her enrollment is revoked, and all financial aid and merit scholarships she received must be repaid."The auditorium went dead silent.Hundreds of people sat there without a sound.I checked my phone.Elena had dropped a screenshot in the group chat.Peggy's resale account had been suspended after users reported her for selling luxury good