At dinner, my parents demanded I apologize to their golden son or lose my education. I said, "Alright." By dawn, I was packed. My brother’s face drained white: "Please tell me you didn’t send it." Dad froze. "Send what?"

"You run the illegal gambling ring," I whispered in absolute shock.

Dean Harrington laughed and adjusted his expensive silk tie.

"College students are remarkably gullible when it comes to underground sports betting," the Dean explained.

"Your brother lost millions of my money, and I expect you to balance his ledger tonight," he added.

He pointed the silver handgun directly at my forehead.

"Give me the authentication code to the offshore account right now," he demanded.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out Chloe's burner phone.

"I do not have the code, but I do have a live stream running," I announced boldly.

I turned the screen around to show the live video feed connected directly to the FBI cyber division.

"You just confessed to running a criminal syndicate on a federal broadcast," I smiled.

The Dean's arrogant expression crumbled into pure, unadulterated panic.

He dropped the gun and bolted toward the warehouse exit like a coward.

Brandon suddenly lunged forward, having secretly untied his own ropes.

He scooped up the discarded handgun from the concrete floor.

When my newborn 'passed away,' my mother-in-law leaned in and said

My Husband Left Me Alone in My Car While I Was in Labor

“You’re Dead When We Get Home,” He Snapped

Brandon leveled the weapon directly at my chest with tears streaming down his face.

"If I am going to prison, you are going down with me, Ava," my brother sobbed.

Chapter 9 - The Final Exam