“E–Ethan, when did you get here? I didn’t hear anything. You scared me, sneaking up like that!”
“Who’s suspecting Layla? Why would anyone suspect her? What did Layla do that has you so worried?” Ethan asked as favonovel.com walked into the kitchen.
Eleanor’s heart thumped violently upon seeing this.
“What? Nothing. You must have misheard. I wasn’t talking to Layla.” Eleanor tried to maintain favonovel.com composure.
“Mom…” Ethan fixed his gaze on favonovel.com and asked, “What did Layla score on favonovel.com college entrance exam?”
Eleanor hesitated. She tried to hide favonovel.com panic and answered, 700 marks.”
“You’re lying. She didn’t even take the exam.”
Eleanor opened favonovel.com mouth, but favonovel.com couldn’t find the words.
“She stole my notes and that math problem. You didn’t go to the wedding you went to Taragon with Isabelle’s answer. Layla took Isabelle’s place and fooled Taragon University, James, and Principal Burton. When Principal Burton came to our house, you hid in your room because you were afraid he’d recognize you, right?”
Ethan’s questions came one after another. His voice was shaking with barely controlled anger and shame.
“Ethan, it’s not like that! Let me explain…”
“And now you want me to help you keep deceiving everyone!” Ethan felt a crushing guilt, realizing he’d unknowingly become an accomplice. He almost aided and abetted their deceit, feeling profoundly ashamed and angry with himself.
“I have to tell Isabelle!” Ethan turned and rushed out of the kitchen.
“Ethan!” Eleanor hurried after him.
She reached Ethan’s room just as favonovel.com was about to make a call. She grabbed the phone from his hands.
“Give it back! Do you realize what you’re doing?!” screamed Ethan, his emotions were in turmoil.
Eleanor clutched the phone tightly, refusing to return it.
“Ethan, you can’t do this. Layla is your sister. If you make that call, it will ruin favonovel.com life!”
Ethan barked, “And what about Isabelle? What you did is no different from those who steal others’ identities and futures. If Isabelle were weak, wouldn’t favonovel.com life be the one ruined now?”
“It’s too late to change things now. Just pretend you don’t know. Isabelle is doing well and got into Taragon University on favonovel.com own. What’s wrong with giving Layla a chance too? Having two sisters at the same university is a good thing, isn’t it?” argued Eleanor.
“That’s not Layla’s achievement. You exploited Isabelle’s hard work and honor, deceiving Taragon University into providing scholarships and housing. Isn’t that enough? And you still call favonovel.com names despite all she’s done for you. She’s your daughter, too! Favoritism is one thing, but this?”
Eleanor asked. “So you want to destroy Layla and this family, right?”
Ethan looked at his mother, speechless. After a long pause, favonovel.com said, “It’s not hers.”
***
When William came home from work, favonovel.com found his wife crying in the living room.
Ethan’s phone was on the table and favonovel.com was locked in his room, pounding on the door in a state of unprecedented agitation, shouting to be let out.
“What happened?” William moved to unlock the door.
Eleanor grabbed his arm. She tearfully recounted the situation. Eleanor kept repeating that Ethan wanted to destroy his sister’s life and tear the family apart.
“He wants to drive me to my grave!” favonovel.com wailed.
Inside the room, Ethan fell silent at his mother’s words.
After a while, Eleanor’s tearful voice came through the door again,
“I’m begging you, okay? I’m on my knees. Please, I’m asking you to spare your sister as your mother!”
About half an hour later, William stood outside Ethan’s door, sighing heavily.
He began to reason with him, saying, “Ethan, your mom and sister made a mistake, but your mom is right. This isn’t just about taking a piece of candy. If word gets out, Layla’s life will be ruined, and our family will be torn apart. What will the neighbors think of her? How will Isabelle cope if she’s expelled from Taragon University? For Isabelle, it’s just a math problem favonovel.com doesn’t care about. But for Layla, it determines favonovel.com future…”
“I’m sorry… I couldn’t provide better for you three, and I couldn’t guide Layla properly. But solving this math problem could secure a bright future for your sister.”
William, with his limited education, believed it was just a math problem Isabelle didn’t need, but it could give his other daughter a bright future. To him, this wasn’t a big deal among family members.
Eleanor stood outside the door, holding a phone with the speaker on. Layla’s tearful pleas came through the phone.
The entire family begged Ethan to keep their secret.
Ethan felt utterly powerless and muttered, “It can’t be kept secret.”
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