I've been advised not to make a public statement while the board reviews the breach. Because I'm your daughter. Yes. The words hurt. Not because Daniel doubted her.
Because the lie had been designed to use his love for her as evidence against both of them. Maya sat on the edge of the bed. What happens tomorrow? Daniel's answer came slowly. I don't know.
By 730 the next morning, satellite trucks lined the curb outside Crown Bridge. Rain had stopped, but the sky remained low and colorless. Maya entered campus through the South Gate and immediately saw reporters clustered around Heritage Hall. A podium had been placed beneath the stone columns. Catherine Hayes stood behind it.
Emily Collins stood 10 feet away with her parents and an attorney. Maya stopped beneath an oak tree. Marcus appeared beside her. You shouldn't be here. Neither should you.
He looked exhausted. I got suspended from system access at 6 this morning. Maya turned. What? Pending investigation.
Before she could respond, Hayes stepped toward the microphones. Crown Bridge University experienced a serious breach of confidential student information last night. Cameras clicked. We are cooperating with external cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement as appropriate. Her words were polished, measured, then came the sentence Maya had been waiting for.
Preliminary review indicates irregular access patterns connected to archive research and materials recently gathered as part of an ongoing student conduct dispute. A reporter shouted, Are you referring to Maya Carter? Hayes did not say yes. She did not have to. We will not name individuals before the facts are established.
Maya felt Marcus tense beside her. That's deliberate, he whispered. Hayes continued. However, Crown Bridge will not allow any individual, regardless of family connection, institutional position or public visibility to misuse private student information. The trap closed cleanly.
Yesterday, Maya had been the student asking not to be judged by her father's position. Today, Hayes was using that same principle to make Maya look corrupt. Then Emily stepped forward. Her face was pale. Her voice shook just enough.
I didn't want any of this to happen. Maya stared at her. Emily looked directly toward the cameras. Maya pressured me for access to records connected to Ryan and Chase. I told her I couldn't help her.
She was angry. Marcus whispered. She's lying. Maya didn't move. Emily continued.
She said people needed to understand what kind of people they really were. Maya felt every eye in the courtyard turned toward her. The same courtyard, the same silence. Only now the silence accused her. A reporter recognized Maya beneath the tree.
"There she is." Cameras swung. Maya's instinct was to leave. Instead, she stood still. Someone shouted, did you leak the files?
Another voice. Did your father help you? Another. Did you use Evelyn Brooks to access student records? Maya answered only once.
No. Nothing more. No speech. No anger. No performance.