Chapter 2

Rowena looked like she'd found her savior and threw herself into his arms, sobbing.

"Dad! This bitch hit me! And she even used a recording to blackmail me!"

Ronald patted his daughter on the shoulder without so much as a glance at me.

He pulled the documents out of his bag and slapped them down on the sink counter.

"Sonia Fox, senior, Class One."

"Repeated theft of confidential school documents. A serious offense."

"By decision of the school board, you are expelled, effective immediately."

Ronald lit a cigar and blew out a smoke ring.

"A watchdog's mutt daring to bite the hand of its master?"

"Killing you is easier than crushing an ant."

Seeing this, Rufus immediately stepped forward.

"Sonia, the school board is already going easy on you."

"Hurry up and sign this statement of voluntary withdrawal and forfeiture of your recommendation slot. Don't be shameless when you're being shown mercy."

I didn't take the paper. Instead, I stared at Ronald.

"Stealing school secrets?"

"Ronald, do you really think everyone in the world is a fool?"

"That black USB drive in the archives room—you know better than anyone what's on it."

At the words "black USB drive," Ronald's face darkened in an instant.

I looked straight at him and didn't give an inch.

"Three million in scholarship funds for needy students, embezzled outright."

"Toxic building materials used against regulations to renovate the science building—two incoming freshmen diagnosed with leukemia, both dead."

"To cover up the truth, you paid off the families and faked their medical records."

"Is that what you call a school secret?"

Hearing all this, Rowena and Rufus turned to Ronald, shock on their faces.

Ronald crushed the cigar out hard in the sink.

He took a step closer.

"Sonia, today I'm being merciful and leaving you a way out."

"Hand over the drive and sign the withdrawal statement."

"I'll wire five hundred thousand to your account, and your family of three gets out of Capital City right now and never comes back."

"Otherwise, I promise your whole family won't live to see tomorrow's sun."

Suddenly my father's face flashed through my mind—that face always wearing its ingratiating smile.

The man everyone called "old turtle" had always taught me.

"Girl, if someone forces you to hand over your last card, never give it up."

"With no card left, you die even faster."

I met Ronald's gaze.

And spoke two words, clear and precise.

"Keep dreaming."

Ronald let out a sneer.

"Tough bones."

"Then let's see which is harder—your bones, or my methods."

He suddenly threw out his hand.

"Somebody, hold her down and make her sign!"

Four burly bodyguards lunged at me.