Chapter 4

The next morning, I contacted Principal Davies of Sterling Heights.

"Principal Davies, this is Aubrey Sterling."

The phone line was noticeably silent for a few seconds, then his tone became enthusiastic.

"Miss Sterling, you're back in the States?"

"Just got back."

I got straight to the point.

"I heard your school has a Foundation Open House next week. I'd like to combine the Sterling Overseas Education Foundation's charity open day segment with yours on the same day. All faculty and students will attend, and the theme will be 'Educational Equity and the Boundaries of Sponsorship'."

The principal immediately agreed.

I added, "I'll be announcing a new round of scholarship recipients and also clarifying past sponsorship cases."

Principal Davies chuckled, "Excellent, that will be a wonderful educational experience for the students."

After hanging up, I had Mr. Henderson, my lawyer, contact the school's legal department to submit a partial disclosure authorization.

Summer's identity information could be disclosed up to the level of kinship.

Security details would remain private.

Pearl's sponsorship records could also be made public.

Because when she enrolled, she signed a foundation sponsorship agreement which explicitly stated: "Do not impersonate the sponsor for profit, and do not spread false information that damages the reputation of the sponsor or associated parties."

That clause was originally just boilerplate.

Now, it would come in handy.

That afternoon, Mrs. Miller came to find me.

She stood at the living room entrance, carrying a thermos, her face still bearing that meek smile.

"Miss Aubrey, you're back and didn't say anything? I made your favorite soup."

I stayed seated on the sofa. "Mrs. Miller, you're very well-informed."

Her smile stiffened slightly.

"Everyone in the family is happy, you know."

I looked at her.

"Is Pearl doing well at Sterling Heights?"

Her eyes flickered.

"Very well, thanks to the Sterling family's care. Otherwise, my daughter and I wouldn't be where we are today."

"Is that so?"

I placed my phone on the table.

On the screen was that photo from Pearl's Ins.

Mrs. Miller's face subtly changed when she saw it.

I asked, "Are you aware that she's been mistaken for the younger Sterling daughter at school?"

Mrs. Miller immediately sighed.

"Miss Aubrey, I've tried to talk to her about it. But she's just a child, vanity is natural. Besides, she never explicitly said she was a Sterling; it was all just a misunderstanding by her classmates."

"And Summer being called the housekeeper's daughter, that was also a misunderstanding?"

She fell silent.

After a while, she said softly, "Summer has a gentle nature and doesn't like to explain. In a few years, when everyone graduates, no one will remember anyway."

I let out a sarcastic laugh.

"So you're telling them to wait it out until graduation?"

Mrs. Miller's eyes welled up.

"Miss Aubrey, I've been with the Sterling family for so many years. I've given so many years to this family. Pearl never had a father, she's always been looked down upon. She just wanted a little respect. Is it really so hard for your family, who has everything, to grant her a little dignity?"

I stood up.

"Dignity isn't something someone else grants you."

"And stolen dignity isn't dignity at all."

Her face instantly went pale.

I walked up to her.

"Mrs. Miller, I'm giving you one chance. By tomorrow, have Pearl publicly clarify and apologize to Summer. Return what needs to be returned, delete what needs to be deleted."

Mrs. Miller bit her lip.

"Miss Aubrey, does it have to be this way? She's still a child..."

"She's three months older than Summer."

Mrs. Miller was speechless.

I continued, "And you don't need to cover for her. The forum account, vehicle records, and guest house inventory records—I have them all."

The thermos in her hand trembled, spilling a few drops of soup.

"Miss Aubrey..."

"Tomorrow at 9 AM."

I turned.

"After that, the offer expires."

Mrs. Miller didn't agree.

Half an hour after she left, Pearl posted a new Ins story.

"Some people are born with everything, yet they try to snatch away even a tiny chance for someone else to find a glimmer of light."

The accompanying image was a black background.

Underneath, classmates quickly offered comfort.

"Don't be sad, Pearl."

"Is that certain someone acting up again?"

"She's truly disgusting, accepting your family's help and still bullying you."

I saved the screenshot and sent it to Mr. Henderson.

"Add this to the evidence package."