“I’d like us to switch her application to financial aid instead. We really do need help, but not through dishonest means.”
My fists clenched tightly under the desk.
In front of him, she had turned me into a vain cheater.
“Emily, tell the professor—wasn’t Mom right?”
Her eyes carried a silent threat.
“I… I plagiarized… I want to apply for financial aid.”
Professor Anderson sighed, his eyes filled with both pity and complexity.
“All right, I’ll help you with the paperwork.”
Around us, students lingered to watch the spectacle. My face burned with shame.
As soon as we stepped out of the office, Laura Parker immediately wiped away her tears and pulled out her phone.
“David, you won’t believe what happened today… Emily tried to plagiarize just to get a scholarship. I had to drag her to the professor’s office to apologize. I’ve never been so humiliated as a mother…”
On the other end, Uncle David’s voice was full of sympathy. Soon after, another transfer arrived.
Then it was Aunt Margaret’s turn. “Emily is being reckless—I’ll discipline her… Yes, yes, children must be strictly managed…”
One call after another, and with each call, more “comfort money” came pouring in.