After hearing Sienna's account, Dr. Morgan still hadn't fully processed what she'd said.
"You mean he donated five hundred thousand at the fundraising gala? Seriously?" he asked, incredulous.
"Of course it's true! He tried to show off. Besides, Tanner Caldwell and Ryder Cole Delgado were right there—if you don't believe me, you can ask them!" Sienna's face lit up with triumph. She felt absolutely certain she had Grayson cornered.
Grayson—you made me look like a fool at that fundraiser. You'll pay for every humiliation! And that little Jasmine—she's going down, too!
She didn't know why, but even thinking about Jasmine filled Sienna with spite.
This wasn't a small matter—Dr. Morgan knew better than to take it at face value. He needed confirmation. Pulling out his phone, he called Tanner.
"It's true! Dr. Morgan, Grayson really did donate five hundred thousand! And he even bought his girlfriend new clothes at Véra Calisé—everything he picked out was over a thousand each!" Tanner said, matter-of-factly. He and Sylvia had been sitting right next to Grayson and Jasmine, so they'd witnessed it themselves.
Hanging up, Tanner looked satisfied. Ryder hurried over. "Tanner, who was that? What're they saying about Grayson?"
Ryder added, with a smug tone, "Damn, never thought that loser would be some trust-fund kid."
"He's no trust-fund kid," Tanner snorted. "But this time, he's screwed—turns out, he just found that million lying around!"
After Tanner's call, Dr. Morgan felt confident enough in Sienna's story to act.
"So, Dr. Morgan, we should report this to the school right away!" Sienna pressed, practically vibrating with eagerness. She wanted to see the moment Grayson was exposed.
Dr. Morgan chuckled with a hint of malice. "Not so fast. We don't know the exact details of how Professor Hart lost the money. Come with me to the campus clinic. We'll talk to her directly—then we can confront Grayson with a solid case."
Sienna nodded fervently. "Right, Dr. Morgan. Let's go!"
In a ward at the campus clinic, a woman in her early thirties leaned against the headboard, half-reclined in bed. Her face was haggard, her brow etched with helpless worry. Yet despite her deep sorrow, a faint, gentle smile fluttered at the corner of her lips as she looked at the young woman beside her.
"Thank you, Jasmine. Thank you so much for coming to see me," she said softly.
This woman was Professor Camille Hart. Normally she spoke in whispers—now, after this devastating event, her words were even softer, like a breeze stirring dust.
"Professor Hart, please don't worry. You're such a kind person. Heaven won't let you suffer like this. Your money will turn up!" Jasmine squeezed her hand, tears brimming in her own eyes.
Jasmine's heart ached. She'd grown up in a poor region and had faced plenty of scorn at school, including bullying from Kayla and her friends in the dorm. So far from home and all alone, the one person who had shown her real kindness was Professor Hart. Hart had tirelessly advocated for more financial aid on her behalf. Though the stipend hadn't changed her life, to Jasmine it meant everything. On top of that, Hart had sometimes taken her out to meals, just to treat her to a change of food—a small gesture that meant the world.
"Jasmine, don't be sad," Professor Hart said, her own eyes glistening with tears as she brushed a strand of hair from Jasmine's face. "It means the world that you came to see me. Really, it does…"
Professor Hart paused, her voice catching. She took a deep breath, then continued in a trembling whisper, "You know, aside from you, no other students have come. Even the ones I've helped—none of them came. They're scared. Scared I'll ask them for money. Now that this happened, everyone's avoiding me—they don't want to be associated. So Jasmine, you're the only one brave enough to come. That means everything to me…"
At that, Jasmine broke down in sobs.
"Don't cry, Jasmine," Professor Hart murmured, stroking the sleeve of Jasmine's coat. "You're wearing new clothes—I can tell. It suits you so well. You're the prettiest girl I know; you deserve to look lovely."
"These clothes were a gift from a friend," Jasmine said, her voice trembling.
Professor Hart nodded, smiling through tears. "Yes, I know. Someone must have bought them for you. You're not the type to spend money on yourself. But I'm happy you've someone who cares enough to spoil you. Is it a boy?"
Jasmine's cheeks flushed at the question—she thought of Grayson and couldn't help blushing.
"That's wonderful," Hart said, genuinely pleased for her. "If a young man treats you that well, you have nothing to worry about."
"Professor Hart...that boy—he might be able to help you," Jasmine ventured quietly.
Perhaps Grayson could help Professor Hart. After all, everyone assumed he was coming from money himself.
Hart smiled, though it was tinged with both relief and sorrow. She didn't know Grayson's true background—in her mind, she figured Jasmine was simply a girl in love, magnifying her boyfriend's abilities. She didn't take Jasmine's remark too literally, but at least it gave her heart a brief lift.
"Thank you, Jasmine," Hart said, gently pressing Jasmine's hand. "For everything. Your kindness...it's a gift in itself."
"Professor Hart! Professor Hart!"
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, and then Sienna and Dr. Morgan appeared at the door.
"Oh—so you're here, too," Sienna said, surprised to see Jasmine at Professor Hart's side.
"And who is she?" Dr. Morgan asked.
"She's Grayson's girlfriend, Jasmine!" Sienna spat the words "Grayson's girlfriend" like it hurt to say them—after all, she had been Grayson's ex once.
Dr. Morgan paused. "Grayson's girlfriend? Why is she visiting Professor Hart?"
"Obviously, Dr. Morgan," Sienna said, flashing a cold smile as she pointed at Jasmine Ramirez. "She's here to get ahead of us, to cozy up to Professor Hart—and to cover up her boyfriend Grayson's crimes."
"That's right!" Dr. Morgan nodded in agreement, as if that explained everything.
Professor Hart looked at Sienna and Dr. Morgan in confusion. "What are you saying? Jasmine is here to visit me."
"Professor Hart, don't let her fool you! Do you know who found your missing million?" Sienna's excitement boiled over. She pointed accusingly at Jasmine. "It was her boyfriend—or maybe both of them—who found it!"
"What? That can't be," Professor Hart said gently, studying Jasmine's face. "I know Jasmine well—she's honest. If they had found it, she would have told me."
Sienna stepped closer to Jasmine, grabbing at the fabric of her coat. "Oh, come on, Professor Hart. Look at the clothes she's wearing—do you know who bought them?"
Professor Hart frowned. "These clothes? Jasmine just told me her boyfriend bought them. A young man who cares for her—like I said."
At that, a surge of anger and jealousy rose within Sienna. "Professor Hart, these clothes are from Véra Calisé—they cost thousands of dollars! What kind of person can afford clothes that expensive? And Dr. Morgan can attest: her boyfriend is a student in our project group. A low-income student—how could he possibly afford such pricey clothes?"
Dr. Morgan nodded eagerly. "Yes, I can confirm that."
Professor Hart's expression faltered. If Dr. Morgan said it, it must be true—so Sienna's accusation made sense. And yet, she'd always trusted Jasmine. She gazed at Jasmine, searching her face, struggling with uncertainty.
"Professor Hart—" Jasmine started, but the tears still blocked her throat. She knew she had to speak, but the words felt thick and foreign.
Professor Hart took a breath, then gave a small nod. "No...I trust Jasmine." Her voice was quiet but resolute.
Sienna's grin flickered as she searched for another tactic. Suddenly her eyes lit up. "There's still one way to find out!" Her gaze snapped to Jasmine again. "Jasmine, show us your bag."
"What…why?" Dr. Morgan asked, puzzled.
"Because if she and Grayson really found the money, they'd be carrying it around. Girls keep money in their bags—I know that as a woman!" Sienna laughed triumphantly, as though she'd hamstrung Jasmine. "Open your bag, Jasmine—right now!"
"Yes, let's see what's in it!" Dr. Morgan urged, crossing his arms.
Professor Hart watched without protest—whether it was true or not, there was no harm in checking Jasmine's bag.
"My bag is in the locker outside," Jasmine stammered. She looked at Sienna, then at Dr. Morgan, stunned by how far they'd taken this accusation.
"A stalling tactic!" Sienna snarled. She grabbed Jasmine's arm. "Come on—we'll go get it. Don't try to run away!"
Sienna roughly steered Jasmine out of the ward. They retrieved the bag from the locker and returned to the bedside.
"All right—open it!" Sienna ordered, her eyes blazing.
Professor Hart's face turned ashen. She pointed at the bag in Jasmine's hands. "Th-this is the very bag I lost…"
Everyone froze. Professor Hart's voice, so full of astonishment, echoed in the silent room.