My Roommate Framed Me for Crashing Car—It’s Owner Was My Brother Chapter 08
I looked down at Madison groveling at my feet and
felt absolutely nothing.
Whatever bond we’d built over two years as
roommates had died the moment she gambled
with my life.
My smile faded as I bent toward her.
I lowered my voice so only she could hear me.
“Do you really think I’m doing all this today just because of that stupid bike?”
Madison went rigid and stared up at me, terrified.
straightened and held out my hand to Grant.
Without a word, Grant handed me a thick manila
envelope.
I opened it and pulled out dozens of pages of
account statements, payment records, and transaction logs.
flung the stack into Madison and Ethan’s faces.
Pages scattered around them like snow, each one
packed with bank headers and highlighted
transactions.
I raised my voice and exposed the secret they had
fought hardest to hide.
“Madison Blake. Ethan Carter. You two have made
quite a profit off your positions in student
government.”
“For the past six months, you’ve falsified financial–hardship applications, worked together
to divert university emergency grants, and stolen
aid meant for low–income students.”
With every word, more color drained from their
faces.
“Some of the students whose living money you
stole survived on peanut–butter sandwiches and
the cheapest meals they could find. Some nearly
had to drop out because they couldn’t cover
tuition.”
“Meanwhile, you used the money they needed to
survive to buy designer bags, stay in luxury hotels, and play generous big shots in front of everyone.”
“It’s time we settled that account too.”
Madison and Ethan seemed to crumple where
they stood, as if their bones had turned to water.
They both knew wrecking a stolen luxury bike
could still amount to civil liability. It might
bankrupt them, but it wouldn’t put them behind
bars.
But diverting financial aid meant serious fraud and
embezzlement charges.
That could put them in prison for years.
The words had barely left my mouth when sirens
wailed from the far end of the mountain road.
Red and blue lights strobed against the trees as
they drew closer.
I’d already called the police. Several cruisers from the Cedar Ridge Financial Crimes Unit swept in
and blocked off the road.
Officers got out and flashed their badges.
“Madison Blake and Ethan Carter? A formal
complaint has been filed alleging embezzlement
and felony fraud. You’re coming with us.”
Cold handcuffs clicked shut around their wrists.
That metallic click sounded like the door
slamming on the lives they’d known.
As Ethan was pushed into the cruiser, reality finally seemed to hit him. Whatever composure he had
left fell apart.
He twisted around and screamed at me through
the open door.
“Grace! I just made one stupid mistake!”
“You loved me, didn’t you?”
“Your family has connections everywhere. Please, just help me! We can start over, okay?”
I watched him unravel without a hint of sympathy.
Then, in front of everyone, I slowly raised my right
hand and gave him the clearest answer I could:
my middle finger.