She Stole My Future, Then Called Herself Justice Chapter 03

She Stole My Future, Then Called Herself Justice Chapter 03

The next day, the online backlash went completely out of control.

Vanessa gave an interview to a TV station, crying so hard she could barely speak.

“Michael, I failed you. I didn’t do my duty as a mother.”

She wiped her tears while pushing all the blame onto me.

“Claire has always been jealous of Olivia. Back during the admissions exam, she didn’t get into the school she wanted, so she took it out on Olivia.”

“She said she didn’t want to study anymore and wanted to give the chance to her sister. She even tore up the acceptance letter herself.”

“We couldn’t talk her out of it, so we let Olivia go. We’re family. What difference does it make who goes?”

“Now that Olivia is a successful attorney, Claire wants to blackmail us.”

“She said if we didn’t give her a seven-figure payout, she’d destroy our whole family’s reputation.”

Vanessa acted her heart out on camera, making every word sound believable.

The host handed her tissues, full of sympathy.

“Mrs. Reed, please don’t be too upset. I’m sure people will see the truth.”

After the interview aired, the hate toward me hit its peak.

I became the jealous, crazy older sister.

The one trying to extort her own family.

“She gave it up herself and now she’s trying to flip the script? Zero morals.”

“Seven-figure payout? Why not ask for a whole vault? A delivery driver with that kind of appetite.”

“People like her should be locked up so they stop hurting others.”

I read the comments and felt my chest tighten until I could barely breathe.

Twisting black and white was so easy.

Right then, an unknown number called.

I hesitated but answered.

“Claire.”

It was Olivia’s voice.

Ice cold.

Nothing like the victim act she put on TV.

“You saw my mom’s interview?”

“I did.”

“How did it feel?”

She let out a soft laugh.

“How does it feel to have the whole internet turn on you? Hurts, doesn’t it?”

I stayed silent and listened.

“Claire, I’ll give you one last chance.”

Her voice hardened.

“My team has already drafted the settlement agreement. Tomorrow, we’ll do a livestream with the biggest celebrity mediator online.”

“You will admit in front of the whole country that you threw a tantrum and refused to go to college back then. Now that your life sucks, you’re bitter and made all this up.”

“Then I’ll forgive you. On camera, of course.”

“Privately, I’ll give you a settlement payout and have a friend get you an office clerk job.”

“That’s already a decent way out for someone like you.”

“Don’t pretend you don’t understand, Claire. This is your exit ramp.”

She lowered her voice, colder than before.

“Take the money, shut your mouth, and play the sister who realized she was wrong.”

“Or keep making noise. Then you’ll find out no one in Northbridge will hire you.”

“You won’t even be able to deliver anymore. You’ll be begging on the street and no one will look twice.”

The call ended.

The room was deathly quiet.

I looked at the wall outside my window, ruined by red paint, and suddenly laughed.

Begging?

Olivia, did you really think these ten years only taught me how to deliver food?

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

“Hello, is this Mr. Whitman? This is Claire Bennett. I was in your senior class ten years ago.”