Chapter 5: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
I stared at the document.
My name.
My information.
My education fund.
But the signature at the bottom looked unfamiliar.
It wasn't mine.
It couldn't be mine.
"I didn't sign that," I whispered.
Ms. Bennett nodded.
"We know.""
My father picked up the paper.
His hands shook as he examined it.
"How is this possible?""
"The transfer was submitted digitally," Ms. Bennett explained.
"Someone used Maya's personal information to authorize the change.""
I looked at Vanessa's empty chair.
The answer felt obvious.
But something bothered me.
"Why would she move the money into my name?""
Nobody answered.
Because that was the question.
If Vanessa wanted to steal from me, why create a record connecting herself to my account?
Unless she wanted something else.
Ms. Bennett gathered the documents.
"We need to verify every transaction before making conclusions.""
My father looked at her.
"Can she still go to school?""
Ms. Bennett looked at me.
"We're working on restoring the scholarship.""
That sentence gave me hope.
But hope felt dangerous.
I had already lost something once.
I didn't want to believe again only to have it taken away.
After Ms. Bennett left, my father and I sat in the kitchen.
The same kitchen where he used to help me with homework.
The same place where he promised me everything would be okay after my mother died.
Except now, nothing felt okay.
"Why didn't you tell me about the trust?"" I asked.
He looked down.
"Because I thought I was protecting you.""
"From what?""
He sighed.
"From knowing how much your mother worried about your future.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
He looked toward the window.
"Before she died, Evelyn knew she might not be there to see you grow up.""
My eyes burned.
"She knew?""
"She wasn't afraid of dying.""
His voice softened.
"She was afraid you would feel alone.""
I looked away.
My father continued.
"She created the education fund because she wanted you to have choices.""
A tear slipped down my cheek.
"And Vanessa knew about it.""
"Yes.""
"How?""
He hesitated.
"Because I trusted her.""
That was the sentence that hurt.
Not because he trusted someone.
Because that person used it against us.
The next morning, I woke up to dozens of messages.
Everyone from the graduation party had heard rumors.
Some people asked if I was okay.
Others asked if the scholarship drama was true.
One message caught my attention.
It was from my old guidance counselor.
*Maya, call me immediately. I found something in your scholarship file.*
I called.
She answered on the first ring.
"Maya?""
"What's happening?""
There was a pause.
"I found a note attached to your original scholarship application.""
"What kind of note?""
"A recommendation.""
"From who?""
She lowered her voice.
"Someone who shouldn't have had access.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"Can you send it to me?""
"I already did.""
A notification appeared.
Attachment received.
I opened the file.
It was a scanned letter.
The handwriting was familiar.
Too familiar.
At the bottom was a signature.
Vanessa.
My hands went cold.
The letter wasn't a recommendation.
It was a warning.
*Maya Carter has shown concerning behavior and may not be prepared for independent study.*
I read it again.
And again.
She had contacted my university.
She hadn't just canceled my scholarship.
She had tried to convince them I didn't deserve one.
I called my father.
He answered immediately.
"Maya?""
"I found something.""
A few minutes later, he was standing beside me.
When he read the letter, his face changed.
"What is this?""
"She sent it.""
"No.""
"Look at the signature.""
He stared.
"This could be forged.""
I shook my head.
"Why are you still defending her?""
The question hurt both of us.
Because I wasn't asking about Vanessa anymore.
I was asking about him.
My father looked away.
"I don't know.""
That answer was honest.
And somehow worse.
Later that afternoon, Ms. Bennett returned.
This time, she brought another person.
A university investigator.
He placed a folder on the table.
"We found the original source of the scholarship interference.""
I sat up.
"Who?""
He looked at me.
"It wasn't only Vanessa.""
My father frowned.
"What does that mean?""
The investigator opened the folder.
"Someone helped her access private records.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who?""
He turned the page.
"There was an internal login used to retrieve Maya's student information.""
My father stared.
"An employee?""
The investigator nodded.
"Someone at the university.""
I felt confused.
"Why would someone there help her?""
The investigator looked uncomfortable.
"Because they believed they were correcting a mistake.""
"What mistake?""
He pulled out a document.
"This person was told Maya had gotten the scholarship through dishonest means.""
I froze.
"Who told them that?""
The investigator looked at the paper.
Then slowly answered:
"The same person who sent the warning letter.""
I already knew.
But I needed to hear it.
"Vanessa.""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
Then he added:
"But there's one thing we still don't understand.""
"What?""
He pointed to the scholarship file.
"Vanessa couldn't have known the private details needed for the withdrawal call.""
My father looked confused.
"She had access to documents.""
"No.""
The investigator shook his head.
"The student ID used in the call was created after Vanessa lost access to the paperwork.""
I felt a chill.
"Then how did she know it?""
Nobody answered.
Until Ms. Bennett opened the folder one last time.
Inside was a printed email.
An email sent from my own account.
My eyes widened.
"That's impossible.""
My father leaned closer.
The message had been sent three months earlier.
The same day my scholarship disappeared.
And the recipient was someone neither of us expected.
My father's face turned pale.
May you like
Because the email wasn't sent to Vanessa.
It was sent to him.
