Chapter 7: The Person Who Knew Too Much
I couldn't move.
For several seconds, I just stared at the woman standing outside my front door.
Mrs. Collins.
My high school guidance counselor.
The person who had helped me fill out my college applications.
The person who had stayed after school to review my essays.
The person who had hugged me when I received my acceptance letter.
The person who told me, "Maya, you earned this.""
Now she stood beside Vanessa.
And Vanessa looked like she finally knew she wasn't alone.
My father stepped forward.
"What are you doing here?""
Mrs. Collins looked down.
"I came to explain.""
My hands curled into fists.
"Explain what?""
She looked at me.
And the sadness in her eyes almost made me angrier.
Because sadness wasn't enough.
Not after everything.
"Why did you help her?""
The question came out before I could stop it.
Mrs. Collins flinched.
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
"Maya—"
"No.""
My voice surprised everyone.
I looked directly at Vanessa.
"Not another lie.""
Her face tightened.
Mrs. Collins sighed.
"I never wanted it to go this far.""
My father laughed once.
A bitter sound.
"That is what people say when they know exactly how far they went.""
Mrs. Collins looked at him.
"I made a mistake.""
"A mistake?"" my father repeated.
"You helped someone steal my daughter's future.""
She looked away.
"I didn't know she would cancel the scholarship.""
The room went quiet.
I stared at her.
"What did you think she was going to do?""
Mrs. Collins didn't answer.
That was the answer.
My father opened the door wider.
"Come inside.""
I looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because I want the truth.""
Vanessa walked in first.
Like she still belonged there.
Like she hadn't spent years making me feel like I was a stranger.
We sat around the dining table.
The same table where I used to do homework.
The same table where my father and I celebrated my acceptance letter.
Now it felt like an interrogation room.
My father placed the documents in front of Mrs. Collins.
"Start talking.""
She took a deep breath.
"It began when Vanessa asked me for help understanding Maya's scholarship application.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"When?""
"Before the scholarship was announced.""
My stomach dropped.
Before?
That meant she had been planning something long before I knew.
Mrs. Collins continued.
"Vanessa told me she was worried Maya was putting too much pressure on herself.""
I almost laughed.
"Worried?""
Mrs. Collins looked ashamed.
"She said Maya was struggling emotionally and wasn't ready to leave home.""
My father looked at Vanessa.
"Did you say that?""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"I was concerned.""
"No," I said.
Everyone looked at me.
"You were controlling.""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"You always think the worst of me.""
I looked at her.
"Because you keep proving it.""
Mrs. Collins lowered her voice.
"I believed her.""
That hurt.
More than I expected.
Because Mrs. Collins knew me.
She knew how hard I worked.
She knew I had spent weekends volunteering, nights studying, and mornings waking up early for school.
How could she believe that?
"Why?"" I asked.
She looked at me.
"Because she showed me messages.""
"What messages?""
Mrs. Collins hesitated.
Then she reached into her bag.
She pulled out her phone.
"These.""
She placed it on the table.
I looked at the screen.
It was a conversation.
Between someone pretending to be me and Mrs. Collins.
The messages made my heart stop.
*I'm not sure I want college anymore.*
*My dad is forcing me to go.*
*I don't think I'm ready.*
I shook my head.
"I never sent these.""
"I know that now.""
My father looked at Vanessa.
"How did you get these?""
Vanessa said nothing.
The silence was enough.
Mrs. Collins continued.
"Vanessa asked me to speak with the university because she believed Maya wanted to withdraw.""
My hands trembled.
"So you contacted them.""
Mrs. Collins nodded.
"Yes.""
"And told them what?""
Her eyes filled with regret.
"That Maya wanted to give up her scholarship.""
I stood.
"You destroyed my chance because she told you a lie?""
Mrs. Collins looked devastated.
"I thought I was helping you.""
"No.""
My voice broke.
"You were helping someone hurt me.""
She looked down.
The worst part was that she didn't look evil.
She looked guilty.
And somehow that made everything more painful.
Because Vanessa had manipulated someone I trusted.
My father turned toward Vanessa.
"But the phone calls.""
Vanessa looked away.
Mrs. Collins spoke quietly.
"I didn't make those.""
Everyone turned.
"What?""
Mrs. Collins swallowed.
"I only contacted the university once.""
My father leaned forward.
"Then who made the calls?""
Nobody answered.
Then Vanessa spoke.
"Someone who wanted to help me.""
The room froze.
My father stared.
"Someone?""
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
"I didn't ask them to do everything.""
"Who?""
She didn't answer.
My father slammed his hand on the table.
"Who?""
Vanessa finally whispered:
"My brother.""
I felt confused.
"Your brother?""
Vanessa nodded.
"He knew computers. He helped me access information.""
My father stared at her.
"You involved your family?""
"He was only trying to fix things.""
"Fix things?""
My father stood.
"You stole from my daughter.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
For the first time, she looked truly angry.
"You don't understand what I sacrificed.""
I looked at her.
"What did you sacrifice?""
She laughed bitterly.
"Everything.""
Nobody spoke.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"When I married your father, I thought I was finally going to have a family.""
Her eyes moved to me.
"But I was never the family.""
The room went silent.
"I was always the replacement.""
My father shook his head.
"Don't blame Maya for your insecurity.""
Vanessa looked at him.
"You chose her over me.""
"No.""
He pointed at me.
"I chose my daughter.""
And then Vanessa smiled.
Not a happy smile.
A defeated one.
"Then maybe you should know something else.""
My father frowned.
"What?""
She looked at me.
"Your mother didn't leave you as much as you think.""
My heart stopped.
"What does that mean?""
Vanessa walked toward the door.
"I think it's time Maya knows what really happened before Evelyn died.""
I stepped forward.
"What are you talking about?""
Vanessa looked back.
"Ask your father why your mother changed her will three days before she died.""
May you like
The door closed behind her.
And for the first time that day, I wondered if Vanessa's biggest secret had nothing to do with my scholarship.
