Chapter 106 *
Third Person POV
The internet never slept. That was the first thing Scarlett learned when she made the mistake of checking her phone at two in the morning.
She'd woken up thirsty. Grabbed her phone from the nightstand while heading to the kitchen. Opened X out of habit.
Big mistake.
Her name was trending. Again.
But this time it wasn't just trending. It was exploding.
The top tweet had over two hundred thousand likes. Posted three hours ago.
@TruthSeekerNYC: BREAKING: More evidence emerges that Scarlett Romano PAID someone to take her SAT. Multiple sources confirm she was seen with a "tutor" (aka test-taker) weeks before the exam. #SATScandal #PrivilegeExposed
Scarlett stared at the screen. Read it again.
What tutor? What sources?
She scrolled down. The replies were brutal.
@JusticeWarrior: Of course she cheated. Wake up people.
@CollegeIntegrity: The fact that she hasn't denied it publicly tells you everything. Guilty conscience much?
@StudyGrindDaily: Meanwhile actual hardworking students get rejected from schools because cheaters like her take our spots. This is disgusting.
More tweets. Hundreds of them. Thousands.
Someone had created an entire thread "exposing" her. With "evidence" that was completely fabricated.
Screenshots of text messages she'd never sent. Photos of her with people she'd never met. "Witness testimonies" from classmates she'd never had.
It was impressive, actually.
The level of effort that went into fabricating this much fake evidence was almost admirable.
Scarlett set her phone down on the kitchen counter. Poured herself water. Drank it slowly.
Her hands weren't shaking. Her heart wasn't racing.
She just felt... tired.
This wasn't the first time someone had tried to destroy her reputation. Probably wouldn't be the last.
But the scale of it was new. Someone was paying for this. Someone with deep pockets and a serious grudge.
She already knew who. Zelda and her bitches.
The question was: what to do about it?
Five days later, the doorbell rang at the Wolfe estate.
Scarlett was in the library. Reading a medical textbook. Trying to ignore her phone.
Arthur appeared in the doorway. "Mrs. Wolfe, there's a gentleman here to see you. He says it's urgent."
Scarlett looked up. "Who is it?"
"He says he's from the College Board. He has identification."
That got her attention.
She closed the textbook. Followed Arthur to the main entrance.
A man in his fifties stood there. Gray hair. Wire-rimmed glasses. Expensive suit but not flashy.
He held out a leather folder. Inside was an official ID badge.
Raymond Thorne Senior Director of Test Security The College Board
"Ms. Romano." His voice was professional. Courteous. "I apologize for showing up unannounced. But this matter couldn't wait."
Scarlett studied him. "What matter?"
"May we speak privately?"
She glanced at Arthur. He nodded once and stepped away.
She led Raymond to the study. Closed the door behind them.
"I'll get straight to the point." Raymond pulled out a tablet from his briefcase. "We've completed our investigation into the allegations against you."
Scarlett's stomach tightened. "And?"
"Your SAT scores are legitimate. Completely legitimate." He swiped through documents on the screen. "We reviewed your answer sheet. Your timing patterns. The security footage from the testing center. Every single data point."
He looked up at her. "Not only did you not cheat, but your performance was actually exceptional by every metric we measure."
Scarlett blinked. "So why are you here?"
"Because we're going public with our findings tomorrow morning." He turned the tablet toward her. "This is the statement we'll be releasing. I wanted you to see it first."
She read the document on screen.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE COLLEGE BOARD
After a comprehensive investigation into recent allegations regarding test security violations, the College Board has determined that Ms. Scarlett Romano's SAT scores are valid and authentic.
Our investigation included: - Forensic analysis of answer sheets - Review of test center security protocols - Examination of timing and response patterns - Verification of test-day procedures
All evidence confirms that Ms. Romano took her examination in accordance with standard testing protocols. Her perfect score of 1600 represents legitimate academic achievement.
The College Board takes test security seriously. We have found no evidence of any impropriety. This matter is closed.
We condemn the spread of false information and remind the public that allegations of cheating are serious matters that should not be made without evidence.
Scarlett read it twice. Then looked at Raymond.
"This is going public tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow morning. Nine AM Eastern time." He took the tablet back. "We'll release it on our website, send it to major news outlets, and post it on all our social media channels."
"Why are you telling me first?"
Raymond's expression softened slightly. "Because I thought you deserved to know. And because..." He hesitated. "Because what happened to you was wrong. The level of coordinated harassment you've faced is unprecedented in my twenty years at this organization."
He pulled out a business card. Set it on the desk.
"If you need anything. Legal support. Documentation for defamation cases. Whatever you need. Call me directly."
Scarlett picked up the card. "Thank you."
"No." Raymond stood up. "Thank you. For not giving up. For not letting them break you."
He walked to the door. Paused with his hand on the handle.
"For what it's worth? I looked at your test. Really looked at it." He glanced back at her. "That wasn't just a perfect score. That was artistry. The speed of your responses. The confidence in your answers. You're not just smart, Ms. Romano. You're exceptional."
Then he was gone.
Scarlett sat there alone in the study. Staring at the business card in her hand.
Tomorrow morning. Nine AM.
The truth would finally come out.