The Night He Forged My Signature, I Confirmed My Exchange Spot Chapter 06

The Night He Forged My Signature, I Confirmed My Exchange Spot Chapter 06

The page flashed: [Appeal Submitted Successfully.]

Nathan’s pen stopped mid-stroke, leaving a small smudge on the paper.

The person at the door was the exchange program director, tablet in hand. Her gaze moved from

Nathan’s face to mine.

“Bethany Krause, your online appeal has been received. The system shows, the withdrawal request wasn’t submitted from your device. We’ll need to verify that in person.”

Nathan’s voice went cold. “Ms. Cartwright, this is a private family matter.”

The director frowned. “Forging a student’s signature is not a private family matter.”

No one spoke.

I handed over the photocopy of the withdrawal form. “That signature isn’t mine. You can check the submission device.”

Nathan stared at me, voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Bethany. You know what this will trigger.”

“Yes.”

The single word seemed to hit him like a slap. “You have to make this into a public spectacle?”

I looked at the deferral form on the table. “I didn’t write that signature. You did.”

Megan stood up, crying. “Ms. Cartwright, Nathan was only trying to help me. He didn’t mean any

harm. Bethany’s grades are excellent-delaying one year wouldn’t matter at all.”

The director glanced at her. “Whether it matters is for Bethany to decide.”

Mrs. Holloway finally spoke. “Bethany, after all these years with Nathan, are you really going to damage your relationship over a program?”

I took the old hoodie out of my bag.

It was folded neatly, and the faded marker on the cuff still showed his name.

Nathan’s expression shifted.

I placed the hoodie in front of him. “Sophomore year, you told me you’d take me wherever you

went.”

His throat moved. “Bethany.”

“Not anymore.”

I picked up the pen and signed the exchange confirmation form.

The director checked it and nodded. “Eligibility restored. Bethany, pre-departure orientation starts

in two weeks.”

My mom stood abruptly. “You’re really leaving?”

I met her eyes. “Mom, the future I worked for isn’t something I’m going to give away as a favor.”

She opened her mouth, but no words came.

Nathan grabbed my wrist-harder than before. “Bethany. Calm down.”

I looked down at his hand. “Let go.”

He didn’t. For the first time, I saw real panic in his eyes. “It’s just one year. I’ll come back. Have I ever broken a promise to you?”

I said, quietly, “You promised we’d go to Broadwin together. Then you planned to leave with her.”

His fingers went stiff.

“You promised to celebrate results night with me. Instead, you helped her with her forms.”

Megan sobbed louder. “Bethany, stop blaming him like this. He’s been torn apart too.”

I turned to her. “Megan. He wasn’t torn. He was always on your side.”

Nathan’s face went pale.

He finally seemed to understand.

But I was done explaining.

I pushed the hoodie toward him. “Here. This is yours.”

He stared at the faded name on the cuff. “You said this was the one thing you’d never get rid of.”

“I didn’t get rid of it.”

He looked up.

I finished. “I just don’t want it anymore.”