Chapter 3

"Sorry about this. I happen to know a thing or two about raising kids, and my daughter's just plain stubborn. A girl like her won't admit she's wrong until she's been beaten into it."

The officer looked at me like she wanted to say something, then hesitated and asked instead.

"What's your name?"

I couldn't make out what she said.

Half my sleeve was soaked with whatever was leaking out of my ear. I didn't dare look at it.

I only dared to lift my eyes to the officer.

My mother shoved me hard from behind, hard enough to send me lurching forward.

"What are you spacing out for? You committed a crime and you still won't cooperate? Do you have any idea how much of everyone's time you're wasting? Are you trying to drive me to my grave?"

The officer raised a hand to stop her and looked at me.

She lifted her voice a little. "Don't be scared. What's your name?"

My lips trembled. "Jasmine."

The hand taking down the statement paused. The officer looked up, plain surprise crossing her face.

"Jasmine, this year's state valedictorian in science?"

I said nothing.

My mother spoke up. "Nothing to be proud of. A measly 2380 on the SAT, that's all. Grades like that aren't worth mentioning. What I care about is a child's character."

"As my daughter, if she committed a crime, then she needs to face the consequences under the law, honestly. I want you to post everything she did all over the internet, so everyone online can see clearly that education isn't only about grades. What matters more is holding on to the basic decency of being a person."

The officer closed her notebook and turned to my mother.

"Ma'am, I understand the situation now. As long as the person involved comes forward to explain, this can be settled privately. It doesn't rise to assault. This girl's grades are so good. It would be a real shame to ruin her future over something this small."

My mother shot up from her chair.

"Good grades and bad character are two different things."

"She deliberately hurt my niece. That's a crime, plain as day. It's a matter of principle."

"As her mother, I will absolutely not cover for her just because her grades are good. The moment I go soft, I'll only ruin her."

I sat there in silence, watching her put on that righteous show.

It felt like something had been carved straight out of my chest.

Just this morning, before we left the house, she had braided my hair herself and straightened my collar.

Beaming with pride as she praised me.

"My daughter really is remarkable. You're the greatest pride of my life."

"Fifty tables at the party. I'm going to have everyone witness my daughter walking toward a bright future."

What she wanted to witness wasn't my future.

It was her own finest moment in the spotlight.

Bought at the price of snuffing out my light.

My eyes went red, my voice shaking apart as I looked at her, pleading.

"Mom…"

"Don't call me that!"

She glared at me viciously, as if I were some unforgivable criminal.

"I don't have a daughter as vicious and vain as you."

"Your father divorced me and left you behind, and I was both mother and father to you. Do you know how much I sacrificed to raise you into someone worthwhile? I poured myself into you, and what about you?"

"You get into a good college and lose your head completely, think you're above everyone else? And then you turn around and strike at your own family. Today it's your cousin. Tomorrow, are you going to kill me too? Is this how you repay me?"

The tears finally broke loose, falling in heavy drops.

"Mom, I know I was wrong. I'll listen to you from now on, I promise. Please. I can't go to prison."

"I want to go to Ashford. You know that. Getting into Ashford is my only dream."

My mother let out a cold laugh.

"Oh? Getting into Ashford is some great achievement? Getting into Ashford makes it okay to be a murderer? Is Ashford a royal pardon the country handed you?"

"First you have to be a good, law-abiding citizen. Your future and your grades come after that."