Marcus stepped slightly in front of her, but Maya touched his arm. Don't. "Why?" They want chaos. She looked toward Emily.
Emily was watching her carefully. Waiting. Maya refused to give her anything. At 9.12, Maya received an official email. Temporary academic suspension pending data security review.
At 9.18, Marcus received his termination notice from audiovisual services. Not suspension. Termination. At 9.26, Evelyn called. Her voice was steady, but Maya could hear the pain.
They revoked my archive access. Evelyn, don't apologize. This happened because of me. No. Evelyn's voice sharpened.
It happened because somebody was afraid of what we found. At 9.43, Daniel was placed on administrative leave pending review of family-related governance concerns. Maya read the announcement twice, then a third time. The man who ran the school no longer had access to his own office. By noon, the signs near the fountain were gone.
Somebody had removed them. The courtyard looked clean again. Almost peaceful. Maya walked toward Heritage Hall, carrying a folder containing copies of the evidence she was now forbidden to submit through ordinary channels. The front doors were locked to her student ID.
She stood there for a moment, barred from the building where her father worked, barred from classes, publicly accused. Marcus had lost his job. Evelyn had lost the archive. Daniel had lost his authority. For the first time since the confrontation, Maya wondered whether staying had been a mistake.
Then a voice came from behind her. Rough morning? Ryan? Maya turned. He stood several feet away with Chase.
Neither was smiling broadly. They didn't need to. Ryan glanced at the locked doors. Guess President's daughter doesn't open everything. Maya said nothing.
Ryan stepped closer. My father told me something yesterday. Still nothing. Presidents come and go, eh? He looked toward Whitmore Hall.
Families like mine stay. Maya's hands tightened around the folder. Ryan noticed. "Careful." His voice dropped.
Wouldn't want anyone saying you're unstable. Chase laughed under his breath. Maya held Ryan's gaze. You seem very calm for someone whose private records were supposedly stolen. Ryan shrugged.
Nothing in mind matters. "Why?" He smiled. Because I know what matters in everybody else's. Maya went still.
Ryan continued, enjoying himself now. You think Maria Santos wants people talking about that disciplinary complaint she made after the housing incident? Maya's pulse jumped. Ryan kept talking. Especially the part about her emergency loan request after she left.
Maya's mind sharpened. She had seen Maria's archived file. She had seen the public leak list. That detail was not in it. Not the emergency loan request.
Not that specific reference. Ryan watched her face. Then his smile faded slightly. He realized too late that she had stopped reacting emotionally. She was listening.
Maya asked one quiet question. How do you know about that? Ryan's expression changed. Chase looked at him. For half a second, no one moved.