They Fined Me for Arriving Early のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 9

My first instinct was to refuse and walk out. Then I saw two large security guards standing near the private-room entrance, and I had no idea what would happen if I simply tried to leave. The word police scared me more than I wanted to admit.After hesitating, I reached into the deepest pocket of my backpack and took out my bank card. My scholarship money was sitting in that account, and I had been saving it to buy Grandma a hearing aid.For four years she had been hauling cans and scrap metal to the recycling yard back home to help pay for my education, and her hearing had gotten so bad that every conversation turned into shouting. For the last year I had saved every dollar I could, so that before graduation I could take her to the best hearing clinic in the city and buy her a proper device.After paying the restaurant, I kept the receipt. Anger burned in my chest all night.The next morning, eyes swollen from lack of sleep, I went to Ms. Grant's office. She was sorting through a

I crouched on the dorm balcony and watched students cheering on the field below, and the tears finally came.I was only $850 short of the hearing aid. If the graduation dinner hadn't happened, I would've had enough. Grandma's birthday was next week, and I had promised her the best gift I could give.I could see her face, every line of it. For four years she had collected scrap so I could stay in school, saving every dollar. Whenever I worried about her hearing, she just laughed it off."Mia, it doesn't matter if Grandma can't hear so well. As long as you build a good life, I'm happy."With nowhere else to turn, I finally called a number I had refused to use for years."This is Mia."My throat tightened. "I need to borrow $850. I'll pay you back after I graduate."The money arrived without a single question. I wiped my face and went straight to the hearing-aid store to pay the balance.On Grandma's birthday, I brought her into the city. She had barely traveled outside her town i

I patted Grandma's trembling hand.I had never imagined Tessa and Zoe could be this vicious. They knew how hard my family struggled, and they took my scholarship money anyway. Now they were spreading rumors about me sleeping with someone, in front of university administrators.I'd had enough."The hearing aid was paid for with scholarship money I saved over the years and money I earned tutoring."Then I looked at Tessa."You say some man is paying for me? Show actual evidence."And after that, we can talk about what you did."I reached into my pocket and pulled out the receipt Tessa had torn up and thrown away. I had gone back later, picked the pieces out of the trash, and taped them together. I held it out to the three of them."Two nights ago, our class had a graduation dinner, and Tessa deliberately changed the time without telling me."Then she arranged it with the restaurant so I'd be forced to cover the remaining $800 with my scholarship money."Tessa's eyes flickered.

The flattering smile froze on Ms. Grant's face.Tessa and Zoe stared at me, then at Richard, then back at me. They couldn't connect the two of us. Richard Jensen was wealthy enough to be one of the university's biggest donors — how could his daughter be the girl who wouldn't pay extra for meat at lunch, with a grandmother out collecting scrap?Associate Dean Bennett and Dr. Weiss looked even worse.Richard turned toward them, his gaze sharpening."Dean Bennett."Did you hear what my daughter just said?"The associate dean flinched and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Yes. Yes, Mr. Jensen.""She said her classmates set her up and took $800 of her scholarship money."Richard pointed at the taped receipt."The evidence is right there."I want every dollar returned to her immediately."Then his voice cooled further."As for how your department manages students, and how scholarships, class funds, discipline, and staff evaluations are handled —"if a student can be publicly sl