Chapter 3 - THE SCHOLARSHIP THAT BOUGHT THEIR SILENCE.
Andrew Vale claimed Lily had given him the hoodie after becoming upset during a study session.
Tessa answered, “She wore it because she could not afford a winter coat.”
University records showed Lily’s scholarship required fifteen weekly service hours.
In reality, she and other working-class students were ordered to clean laboratories, carry equipment and complete research credited to wealthy classmates.
When Lily protested, her stipend was frozen.
A trustee told Daniel that students should be grateful for opportunities.
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“My daughter earned admission. Gratitude is not permission to steal her labor.”
A laboratory assistant produced emails showing Andrew had submitted Lily’s research under his own name.
The project was worth a federal defense grant.
Lily had threatened to report him.
Campus police then found a broken gold cuff link near the place where she was discovered.
It matched Andrew’s formal set.
Vale called it planted evidence.
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Daniel asked who had first searched the walkway.
The answer was Sergeant Michael Mercer—Daniel’s estranged younger brother.
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