Chapter 1

My parents dropped me off at my new dorm room with a final hug and a platinum bank card.

"The university tuition and housing are all paid for, Chloe," my dad said, his voice warm. "This card is for you. We' ll deposit ten thousand dollars into it on the first of every month for your living expenses. Don' t worry about saving it, just focus on your studies and enjoy your first year of college."

I hugged them tightly, feeling a rush of excitement and gratitude. This was it. The first day of my new, independent life.

My roommate, Sarah, had already unpacked. She was a small, quiet girl with wide, unassuming eyes. She helped me make my bed and organize my closet, and her sweetness made me feel instantly at ease. We seemed to be off to a great start.

A few weeks into the semester, I decided to treat myself. My old laptop was lagging, and I needed something powerful for my design classes. After a morning of research, I went out and bought the newest, top-of-the-line model, a sleek silver machine that was as beautiful as it was fast.

I was unboxing it on my desk when Sarah walked in. She stopped in the doorway, her eyes fixed on the logo on the box.

"Wow," she said, her voice flat. "That must have cost a fortune."

"It was a bit of a splurge," I admitted, smiling. "But it' ll be great for my coursework."

Sarah didn' t smile back. She crossed her arms, and a strange, tight look came over her face.

"My brother works sixty hours a week at a factory," she said, her tone sharp and judgmental. "He doesn' t even make in a month what you just spent on a toy."

The sudden hostility took me by surprise. My smile faded.

"I' m sorry to hear that your brother has to work so hard," I said, trying to keep my voice even. "This isn' t a toy, it' s a tool for my education."

"It' s a waste," she snapped. "You rich kids have no idea what real work is. You just throw money around like it' s nothing."

I felt my own anger begin to rise. This was my money, a gift from my parents who had worked their whole lives to provide for me. I didn' t have to justify my spending to her.

"How I spend my money is my business, Sarah," I said, my voice turning cold. "It' s my parents' gift to me, and it' s my financial responsibility, not yours. I would appreciate it if you didn' t comment on it again."

Sarah stared at me for a long moment, her eyes filled with a resentment that was almost shocking in its intensity. Then, without another word, she turned and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

The air in the room still felt tense and ugly. I tried to shake it off, focusing on setting up my new computer. But I couldn' t shake the feeling of being watched, of being judged.

A few days later, I was getting ready to go out for dinner with some new friends. I reached into my purse for my wallet and my heart stopped. The secondary debit card my parents had given me, the one linked to a savings account for emergencies, was gone. I remembered it held over a hundred thousand dollars, a safety net my parents insisted I have.

I tore my purse apart, then my desk, then my entire side of the room. Nothing. A cold dread seeped into my stomach. I had used it only once, at an ATM a week ago, and I remembered putting it right back in its designated slot.

Just as panic began to set in, my phone buzzed with an alert from my bank: Unusual withdrawal attempt of $5,000 denied at City Center ATM.

My blood ran cold. I knew, with absolute certainty, who had taken it. The quiet, unassuming girl with the resentful eyes.

I didn' t hesitate. I didn' t confront her. There was no room for discussion or explanation. This wasn' t a misunderstanding, it was a crime. I picked up my phone, my hands shaking with a mixture of fear and fury.

First, I called the bank and had the card frozen and cancelled.

Then, I called the campus police.

Within the hour, two officers were at my door. I explained the situation calmly and clearly. They listened, then went to find Sarah in the library. They brought her back to the room, and when they searched her backpack, they found my card tucked into a side pocket.

Sarah was arrested on the spot. She didn' t even look at me as they led her away in handcuffs. The idyllic college life I had imagined shattered into a million pieces. The betrayal was a bitter taste in my mouth, and I knew I couldn' t stay there another night.