Chapter 3: The Person Who Knew The Truth
The next morning, I sat at the kitchen table pretending everything was normal.
That was the strange thing about betrayal.
The world didn’t stop.
The sun still came through the windows.
The coffee machine still made noise.
My siblings still asked what they wanted for breakfast.
But my entire life had changed overnight.
Karen walked in carrying laundry.
“You’re still upset?””
I looked up.
“Still?””
She sighed.
“Ava, I don’t have time for this attitude.””
I almost laughed.
Attitude.
That was the word she used whenever I finally had feelings she couldn’t control.
“I got an email from the university,” I said.
Her hands stopped moving.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
“You did?””
“Yes.””
Karen looked nervous.
“They probably just confirmed your rejection.””
I stared at her.
“You knew about that email before I opened it.””
Her face changed.
“I’m your mother.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She dropped the laundry basket onto the couch.
“You need to stop attacking me.””
“I’m asking why you made a decision that belonged to me.””
Karen shook her head.
“You don’t understand sacrifice.””
I looked at the woman standing in front of me.
The woman who always told me everything she did was for the family.
“I understand sacrifice,” I said quietly.
“I sacrificed my childhood.””
Her eyes widened.
“What?””
“I missed parties. I missed trips. I stayed home with the kids while you went out.””
“That was different.””
“How?””
“Because I needed help.””
I nodded slowly.
“Exactly.””
She looked away.
That was when my phone rang.
I looked down.
The caller ID made my heart jump.
It was Dr. Anderson.
The university scholarship director.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
“Ava Mitchell?””
“Yes.””
“This is Dr. Anderson from Westbridge University.””
I stepped away from the kitchen.
“I’m sorry about the scholarship situation,” she continued.
“But there’s something important you need to know.””
My mother stood frozen across the room.
“What is it?””
Dr. Anderson lowered her voice.
“When we reviewed the withdrawal request, we noticed several inconsistencies.””
My heartbeat increased.
“What kind of inconsistencies?””
“The person who accessed your account had your password.””
I looked at Karen.
She looked back at me.
“But more importantly,” Dr. Anderson continued, “your scholarship was not actually canceled permanently.””
I stopped breathing.
“What?””
“There is a review process. However, we need confirmation from you.””
I gripped the phone tighter.
“Confirmation of what?””
A pause.
Then she said:
“Ava, before we continue, I need to ask you something.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“Were you pressured by someone close to you to give up this opportunity?””
I looked across the room.
My mother was watching me.
Waiting.
And suddenly, I realized something.
Karen wasn’t just afraid that I would leave.
She was afraid someone else would find out what she had done.
I turned away from her.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Dr. Anderson was silent for a moment.
Then she said:
“Good. Because you’re not the first student we’ve seen this happen to.””
My heart raced.
“What do you mean?””
The answer that followed changed everything I thought I knew about my mother.
“There’s another record connected to your family name.””
I froze.
“Another record?””
“Yes.””
I heard papers moving on her end.
Then Dr. Anderson said a name.
May you like
A name I had never heard before.
And a name that would reveal my mother’s biggest secret.
