Badass in Disguise Chapter 94

I stared at Emily, watching the blood drain from her face as every eye in the room fixed on her. The silence was deafening, heavy with anticipation. Without breaking eye contact, I walked slowly to the table where Emily's draft book lay open.

With deliberate movements, I picked up a pen and crossed out "Emily Morgan" written at the top of the draft paper. Everyone watched as I wrote my own name—"Jade Morgan"—in its place.

"What are you doing?" Principal Thornton's voice held a note of confusion as he stepped forward.

I ignored him, my eyes still locked on Emily, who looked like she might faint at any moment. Her breathing had become rapid and shallow, the psychological walls she'd built crumbling before everyone's eyes.

"I'm simply reclaiming what's mine," I replied, finally turning to Philip. "These aren't Emily's solutions. They're mine."

Without waiting for a response, I walked to the whiteboard at the front of the lab. I picked up a marker and began writing, my hand moving with practiced precision. The marker squeaked against the smooth surface as complex equations filled the board.

"This is the solution to the forum problem posted months before," I explained, my voice cool and steady.

My handwriting, while similar to what Emily had been carefully imitating, revealed the difference between genuine and forgery. Where her copied version was careful and calculated, mine flowed naturally—sharper, more angular, with confident strokes that revealed years of analytical thinking. The difference was subtle but unmistakable to anyone paying attention. I filled one board, then moved to the next, never hesitating, never pausing to think, my pen moving with a natural authority Emily could never truly replicate.

Edward Sheldon stepped forward, his eyes widening as he recognized the equations. "This is... this is the proof I've been asking you for months," he said, turning to Emily.

"Did you think about that when you were stealing my work, Emily? When you were copying my handwriting?" I glanced over my shoulder, my expression cold. "When you were mimicking my style, did you ever consider how to mimic what's in my head?"

Emily's face contorted as she struggled to form words, but nothing came out. The graduate students began whispering among themselves, their expressions shifting from admiration to suspicion.

"You did this? All of it?" A professor turned to me, his expression a mixture of respect and disbelief.

I nodded once, wiping marker dust from my fingers. "The work your department has been praising Emily for—it's all mine. She's been stealing my solutions for months."

Edward's face darkened as he turned to Emily. I could see him controlling his temper, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Is this true?"

Emily finally found her voice, though it came out high and strained. "Why are you doing this now?" she demanded, tears streaming down her face. "You helped me! You gave me those papers just now! Why help me if you were planning to expose me?"

I smiled, a cold, sharp expression that held no warmth. "You know what they say about pride before a fall? The higher you climb on stolen achievements, the harder you crash when the truth comes out."

Emily staggered backward until she hit a lab table, then slid to the floor, her legs no longer able to support her.

Principal Thornton stepped forward, his expression grave. "Miss Emily Morgan, if what your sister is saying is true, you've committed serious academic fraud. This is grounds for immediate disciplinary action, possibly expulsion."

"It can't be true," one of the graduate students argued, though his voice lacked conviction. "She's solved problems that—"

"That I solved," I interrupted. "And she copied. Ask her to explain even the most basic principles behind the solutions. Go ahead."

Emily's silence was damning. The room erupted in angry murmurs as realization dawned on everyone present.

"You lied to all of us?" A female graduate student stepped forward, her expression furious. "We've been working our asses off while you've been taking credit for someone else's genius?"

"I can't believe this," another added. "We voted to give you lab access! Special privileges!"

Edward remained silent, though his expression had hardened into something dangerous. When he finally spoke, his voice was controlled but ice-cold. "How dare you?"

Emily didn't answer, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

"The scholarship," Philip said quietly. "The early admission. All of it was based on fraudulent work."

He turned to me. "Miss Jade Morgan, what would you like us to do about this situation?"

I met his gaze steadily. "Whatever your academic code of conduct dictates for fraud of this magnitude. I want a full investigation and campus-wide disclosure of the findings."

Emily finally looked up, her mascara streaking down her cheeks. "Please, Jade," she begged, crawling forward on her knees. "Please don't do this. They'll expel me. They'll revoke my acceptance. Please... I'm your sister."

"Sister?" I laughed, the sound devoid of humor. "You weren't my sister when you were stealing my work. You weren't my sister when you were parading around campus pretending to be a genius."

"I'm sorry!" she wailed, grabbing at the hem of my jeans. "I'll do anything. Please help me!"

I stepped back, out of her reach. "Like you helped me when I was bullied in high school?"

"Why are you doing this to me?" Emily screamed, her face contorted with desperation. "Why do you have to destroy everything I've worked for?"

"Worked for?" I repeated, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You didn't work for this scholarship. You didn't work for your acceptance here. You took my solutions, stole my ideas, and cheated your way into Princeton."

I leaned down, my face inches from hers. "And you know what? I don't actually care what happens to you. But if Linda has touched one hair on Max's head because of this, I'll make sure you never set foot in Cloud City again."

I straightened up and turned to Philip. "I'm going back to Cloud City. My brother needs me."

Without another glance at Emily, I walked out of the lab, pulling out my phone as I went. I dialed Ethan's number.

"Mr. Haxton," he answered on the second ring.

"I need to borrow a car," I said without preamble. "I'm heading back to Cloud City. Family emergency."

There was a brief pause. "Where are you now?"

"Princeton. South entrance in twenty minutes."

"I'll have something waiting for you."

I hung up and made my way across campus, ignoring the curious looks from students enjoying the afternoon sun. When I reached the south gate, a sleek black Maybach was idling by the curb, Connor Haxton at the wheel.

He stepped out when he saw me approach. "Miss Morgan," he greeted me with a slight nod. "Mr. Haxton asked me to drive you."

Before I could respond, the rear door opened and Ethan himself stepped out, his tailored suit immaculate as always.

"You came yourself," I observed, unable to hide my surprise.

"Family emergency," he replied, his eyes studying my face. "Sounded important."

"It's just Cloud City," I said. "Not exactly a crisis that requires your personal attention."

"I disagree." He opened the passenger door for me. "Shall we?"

I hesitated. "I'm not going for a joyride, Mr. Haxton. This is serious."

"I'm aware." His expression remained unreadable. "That's why I'm coming with you."