Chapter 6: The Sponsor Who Knew My Name
Dad placed the phone on the kitchen counter and turned on the speaker.
Vanessa and Mia had gone downstairs to collect their suitcases, but neither had left the house yet. I could hear them arguing near the front door.
The university representative continued speaking.
"My name is Michael Turner. I coordinate scholarship compliance at Westbridge. Before we discuss the account, I need to explain that the scholarship was funded through a private educational trust.""
I gripped the edge of the counter.
"Why would the sponsor contact the university about me?""
"That's what we're trying to establish. The sponsor's representative called our office two days before your withdrawal request was submitted. They asked whether you had accepted the award.""
"But I hadn't even seen the letter," I said.
"According to our records, you had not accessed the acceptance notification at that point.""
Dad's face darkened.
"Did the representative ask for the scholarship to be canceled?""
"No, sir. They asked us to verify the award's status. When our system showed the withdrawal, the representative requested that we flag the account for possible fraud.""
I stared at the phone.
Someone had noticed.
Someone had seen a problem before we knew there was one.
"Who was the representative?"" Dad asked.
Michael paused.
"I'm afraid I can't disclose the person's identity without completing our verification procedure. However, I can tell you that the trust has agreed to support an expedited review.""
"Can you reinstate the scholarship?"" I asked.
"If the withdrawal is determined to be unauthorized, yes, the award can be restored, subject to the trust's confirmation. We would also need to verify that you still intend to enroll.""
"I do," I said immediately.
The words came out stronger than I expected.
"I absolutely do.""
Dad smiled faintly.
Michael continued.
"Good. I'll send you a secure link to confirm your intent and provide a written statement. Please don't delete any emails, messages, or documents connected to the withdrawal.""
"We won't," Dad replied.
"One more thing," Michael added.
"The scholarship trust has requested a meeting with you and your father. They believe there may be information relevant to your application that you haven't been told.""
I frowned.
"What information?""
"I don't have permission to discuss that over the phone. But the trust's representative is available to meet tomorrow afternoon.""
Dad glanced at me.
"Where?""
"At the university's Atlanta outreach office. I'll send you the address and appointment details.""
After the call ended, neither of us spoke for several seconds.
The refrigerator hummed.
A car passed outside.
Then Dad reached over and squeezed my hand.
"Your scholarship sponsor is fighting to get your award restored.""
I looked down at my acceptance letter.
"Why would anyone do that for me?""
"Maybe they believe in you.""
"Who are they?""
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
His phone buzzed with the promised email.
He opened it, checked the appointment details, and forwarded the message to me.
Then he looked toward the staircase.
"I need to speak with Vanessa before she leaves.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"Because I want to know whether she has any idea who contacted the university.""
I shook my head.
"She'll just lie.""
"Maybe. But I need to ask.""
Dad went upstairs.
I stayed in the kitchen, reading the email again.
The trust's name was unfamiliar: The Eleanor Foundation.
The appointment was scheduled for two o'clock the next afternoon.
I searched my memory for the name Eleanor, but nothing came to mind.
Then I heard a sharp voice from upstairs.
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO ACCUSE ME OF THAT!""
Vanessa.
Dad answered, too quietly for me to make out the words.
I walked toward the staircase.
"I didn't know anything about a sponsor!"" Vanessa shouted.
"I swear to you!""
Dad said something else.
Then she responded with a sentence that made me stop.
"I only wanted her to stay until Mia graduated! I didn't know anyone was watching!""
My hand tightened around the banister.
Watching?
Before I could move closer, Mia appeared at the bottom of the stairs with a suitcase.
She had heard it too.
Her eyes met mine.
"Did you hear that?"" I asked.
She nodded.
"What does she mean, someone was watching?""
Mia shook her head.
"I don't know.""
But she looked frightened again.
Not the frightened look she'd worn when Dad discovered the scholarship documents.
This was different.
She seemed afraid of what might happen if Vanessa revealed too much.
I lowered my voice.
"Mia, is there anything else you haven't told us?""
She looked toward the upstairs hallway.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, "Mom made me promise not to tell Dad about the money.""
"What money?""
"The money she said she was saving for my future.""
I stared at her.
"What does that have to do with my scholarship?""
"I don't know. But every time you talked about college, Mom got angry. She said if you left, everything she'd planned would fall apart.""
"What had she planned?""
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
"She never told me exactly.""
I wanted to demand more answers, but Dad's footsteps interrupted us.
He came downstairs carrying a thick folder.
Vanessa followed him, her face blotchy from crying.
She stopped when she saw us talking.
"What have you told her?"" Vanessa demanded.
Mia recoiled.
"Nothing!""
Vanessa pointed at her.
"You keep your mouth shut. Do you understand?""
Dad stepped between them.
"Don't speak to her that way.""
"She's my daughter!""
"And she's not your accomplice.""
Vanessa's face went white.
Nobody moved.
Dad looked at her carefully.
"What money were you saving for Mia?""
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"That's none of your business.""
"It became my business when you used my daughter's identity to withdraw her scholarship.""
"I never touched her identity!""
Dad lifted the folder.
"The university has your name attached to the withdrawal.""
"I told you I was trying to protect the family!""
"From what?""
Vanessa looked at me.
For the first time, she didn't appear angry.
She appeared cornered.
Then she said, "You want the truth? Fine. Aaliyah's scholarship wasn't supposed to go to her in the first place.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"What?""
Vanessa looked at Dad.
"That money was meant for Mia.""
Dad stared at her.
"What are you talking about?""
"The Eleanor Foundation was supposed to help Mia attend college. I was told there would be enough money for her education, but then Aaliyah applied to Westbridge, and suddenly everyone started talking about her.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible. I applied for a merit scholarship.""
Vanessa's lips tightened.
"You don't understand how these things work.""
"Then explain it.""
She looked away.
Dad stepped closer.
"Vanessa, did you know about the Eleanor Foundation before Aaliyah applied?""
She didn't answer.
He repeated the question.
"Did you?""
Finally, Vanessa nodded.
"I knew the foundation existed.""
"And you knew Aaliyah was being considered for its scholarship?""
"No. Not until the letter arrived.""
"Then why would you say the money was meant for Mia?""
Vanessa's eyes darted toward the front door.
"Because someone promised me Mia would receive it.""
"Who?""
She swallowed.
"I was told the sponsor would make sure Mia had a place at Westbridge.""
I stared at her.
"Who told you that?""
Vanessa's face crumpled.
For a moment, she looked like she might finally tell us everything.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen and immediately rejected the call.
It rang again.
Dad held out his hand.
"Let me see who's calling.""
"No.""
"Vanessa.""
She clutched the phone to her chest.
The screen lit up once more.
This time, I saw the name.
*ELEANOR FOUNDATION — PRIVATE OFFICE.*
Vanessa looked at me, then at Dad.
And she whispered the words that made the entire room fall silent.
"They weren't supposed to contact you until after the wedding.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"What wedding?""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
But before she could answer, Mia dropped her suitcase.
"Mom," she whispered, "you promised me nobody would ever find out who my real father was.""
I stared at her.
May you like
Dad turned slowly toward his wife.
And the phone kept ringing.
