The Love Letter I Should've Thrown Away novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: The Cost

The committee met on Monday at nine, in the same room with the long walnut table.

This time I sat alone on one side of it, with Phoebe on a folding chair by the door, because the dean had allowed me one friend in the room.

Brady sat across from me in a gray hoodie.

Nobody sat beside him.

His father's chair was empty, and the pitcher of water had been replaced.

Brady looked at his hands.

For two years he had never once looked small, and now he did.

The dean read the findings aloud, with her glasses on her nose.

"On the charge of harassment against Ms. Bellinger, the committee finds that the complaint was filed in bad faith. It is withdrawn and struck from her record."

My shoulders came down.

It was the cleanest sound I'd heard in a month.

"Her scholarship is restored without condition. The conduct clause will not be applied."

"Thank you," I said.

"Don't thank us," one of the professors said. "Thank Ms. Stockton's uncle, who phoned the president at eleven last night."

Phoebe made a small noise by the door.

"He said he was very proud of my initiative," she whispered. "And that I owe him a new letterhead."

The dean turned a page.

"Mr. Sutliff. Your Ethics final was not yours. Neither was your thesis outline, or your student senate address."

Brady said nothing.

"Mr. Ketterman has surrendered the files and the deposits. You have not denied them."

"I'd like to speak to my father," Brady said.

"Your father resigned his seat on the board at six o'clock last night. He did not leave a message."

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