Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: He Totally Loves You

Clarissa’s voice cut through the hall like a knife.

The dean froze, mouth half open like he wasn’t sure he’d heard right.

Clarissa stepped forward, all sweet smiles as she held up a manila folder. “Everyone knows Jasmine has a learning disability,” she said, her tone light but cutting. “She used to struggle just to submit handwritten essays. And now? She’s somehow topping every department?”

Gasps rippled through the audience.

“She went from barely scraping by to perfect scores. Doesn’t that strike anyone else as strange?” She handed the folder to the dean. “There’s something in there I think you’ll find enlightening.”

My stomach dropped. I could barely feel my legs.

The dean took the folder slowly, his brows pulling together as he flipped through the first few pages. His expression grew more tense with each one.

“I’m not making this up,” Clarissa continued. “Check the timestamps. Ask IT. Her grades were average until last semester, then suddenly, she’s a genius. And funny enough, her current transcript doesn’t match the original. It’s been cleaned up. Convenient, considering her mentor, who also wrote her scholarship recommendation, has full admin access.”

“That’s a lie,” I said, my voice coming out small and shaky. “I worked for every single point.”

Clarissa tilted her head. “Did you? Because this says otherwise.” She gestured to the document in the dean’s hands. “There’s even a message thread with someone leaking exam questions. Her name’s right there.”

“That’s fake!” I gasped. “I never wrote that!”

Whispers rippled instantly.

“Do you think it’s real?”

“Maybe she really did cheat.”

“I always thought she was too quiet to be that smart.”

I scanned the room. Faces I saw every day now looked at me like I was a stranger. Phones were out. Some were already recording. Others whispered behind their hands, casting glances like I was contagious.

“That’s enough,” I said, trying to stay steady. “You’re just bitter because you didn’t win.”

Clarissa didn’t flinch. “Then maybe you can explain why your ID showed up in the system breach last semester. IT flagged your name accessing restricted files.”

That had Elliot written all over it. Only he would go this far.

I turned toward Gareth.

He stood to the side, one hand to his ear, still on the phone. His other hand was clenched, jaw set. But he wasn’t looking at me.

My heart cracked.

Did he believe her too?

Had Elliot poisoned his thoughts just like he poisoned everything else?

The dean cleared his throat and stepped forward, still scanning the folder. “Miss Hale... these are serious accusations. This evidence...”

He looked up at me. I didn’t like the look on his face, cautious and calculating.

“If you have more to submit, Miss Hale...”

“I do.” Clarissa smiled, like she’d been waiting for that moment. She handed over another batch of papers—chat logs, transcript comparisons, and a supposed anonymous complaint. At her stack of evidence, the crowd of my peers grew more restless.

“Typical sob story. Play the victim, win the prize.”

“She doesn’t deserve the award if it’s all fake.”

“No!” I said louder, trying to drown out their accusations. I felt the sting behind my eyes, but I blinked it back. I wouldn’t cry. Not in front of them. “None of that is true. It’s fake. I didn’t cheat!”

Clarissa’s smirk widened. “Then you won’t mind if they double-check.”

The dean rubbed his temple and sighed. “We’ll pause the ceremony for now. Jasmine, please come with me to my office.”

Just like that, everything unraveled. The applause from earlier felt like it belonged to another girl. I handed the mic back, hands trembling, and stepped off the stage.

~

I waited in the dean’s office, my gut churning with unease as the clock ticked on mercilessly. Was I about to be expelled? Sweat formed on my palms; how was I going to get the money to get my father out if I got kicked out? I highly doubted Gareth would want me anywhere near Michelle once I’m convicted.

Would they return the money I paid for school fees? Was I doomed to be Elliot’s dirty secret?

The dean seemed just as frantic as I am. He paced behind his desk, staring at the documents as though the information would change upon second reading.

Then, his phone rang.

He snatched it up immediately. “Yes? Hello?”

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