I Exposed My Stepsister’s Stolen Elite University Life Chapter 03

I Exposed My Stepsister’s Stolen Elite University Life Chapter 03

By the following day, the public backlash had spiralled completely out of control.

My stepmother, Diane Whitaker, gave an interview to another television network and sobbed uncontrollably on camera.

“I let my late husband down,” she cried. “I failed to raise his daughter right.”

As she wiped away her tears, she began listing my supposed crimes.

“She’s always been petty and bitter whenever anyone else succeeded. When the HSC results came out, she didn’t get into the university she wanted, so she took it out on Madison.”

“She said she didn’t want university anymore and wanted us to put all our support behind Madison instead. Her mother and I begged her to reconsider, but she tore up her offer and said she never wanted to set foot on a university campus again.”

“We had no choice but to focus on Madison. We were one family. What difference did it make which girl got the chance to go to university?”

“Now she sees that Madison has become successful and built a career as a solicitor, so she’s jealous. She came back to extort us.”

“She said that unless we gave her five million dollars, she would expose everything and destroy our reputations.”

Diane delivered an award-worthy performance, crying so convincingly that anyone watching would have felt sorry for her.

The interviewer handed her a tissue with a sympathetic expression. “Try not to get too upset. People can see the truth for themselves.”

After the interview aired, the abuse directed at me reached its peak.

Online, I became the vicious older sister consumed by jealousy and a shameless blackmailer.

[So she gave up the place herself, and now she’s turning around and attacking them? Absolutely shameless.]

[Five million dollars? Why doesn’t she just rob a bank? That’s a bold demand for a delivery rider.]

[Someone like her belongs in prison. She’s a menace to society!]

As I read the comments, it felt as though an icy hand had closed around my heart, squeezing until I could barely breathe.

It was terrifyingly easy to turn the victim into the villain.

Just then, a call came in from an unfamiliar number.

I hesitated before answering.

“Nora.”

Madison’s voice was cold and completely devoid of emotion, nothing like the fragile, tearful woman she played on television.

“You watched my mother’s interview, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

“How did it feel?” She gave a quiet laugh filled with malice. “Did you enjoy having the whole country turn against you?”

I said nothing and simply listened.

“Nora, I’m giving you one final chance.”

Her tone hardened, carrying an unmistakable threat.

“My team has already prepared a settlement agreement. Tomorrow, we’re setting up a livestream with the country’s best-known online family mediator.”

“You’ll admit in front of the entire country that you refused to enrol out of spite all those years ago. You’ll say that your life didn’t turn out the way you wanted, so you lost your head and caused this entire scandal.”

“Then I’ll ‘graciously’ forgive you, ‘compensate’ you with half a million dollars, and arrange an administrative job for you at a friend’s company.”

“Half a million dollars and a respectable job. You’ll never have to worry about supporting yourself again.”

“This is your only way out.”

Her voice dropped, becoming even more menacing.

“Either take the money, keep your mouth shut, and play the remorseful sister.”

“Or wait until your reputation is completely destroyed and you can’t even find work delivering food.”

“I’ll make sure no one in this city hires you. You could beg on the street and no one would give you a cent.”

The call ended.

The room fell completely silent.

I looked at the wall outside my window, buried beneath hateful graffiti, and suddenly laughed.

Beg on the street?

Madison, you had no idea what those ten years had taught me.

I picked up my phone and dialled a number I had not called in years.

“Hello, is this Mr. Grant? It’s Nora Whitaker, from your Year 12 class ten years ago.”