Chapter 1 - THE DEGREE THAT DIDN’T EXIST
Nora pressed the remote.
The television screen came alive.
For one strange second, all I could see was the reflection of my parents standing in my kitchen, my father still beside the unsigned quitclaim deed and Chloe frozen near the refrigerator.
Then a university webpage appeared.
Nora had already enlarged it.
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY — DOCTORAL CANDIDATES.
There were dozens of names.
Chloe’s was not one of them.
Dad laughed sharply.
“That proves nothing.”
Nora didn’t flinch.
“I know.”
She clicked again.
A second page appeared.
GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT — SPRING CEREMONY.
Another list.
Again, no Chloe.
Mom looked annoyed.
“Maybe the website hasn’t been updated.”
Nora tilted her head.
“So I emailed them.”
My sister’s face changed.
“Nora.”
It was the first time Chloe had spoken.
My daughter looked directly at her.
“What?”
“You emailed my university?”
“I asked whether you were graduating.”
Dad stepped toward her.
“That was completely inappropriate.”
Nora raised her eyebrows.
“So is taking somebody else’s house.”
I almost smiled despite everything.
Then she opened an email.
The sender’s address clearly belonged to the university registrar.
For privacy reasons, the office could not disclose detailed academic records.
But the email contained one sentence Nora had highlighted.
We can confirm that the individual you named is not included in any doctoral degree conferral this academic year.
Silence.
Mom turned toward Chloe.
“What does that mean?”
Chloe grabbed her purse.
“I don’t have to explain myself to an eleven-year-old.”
She moved toward the door.
Dad stepped in front of her.
“Chloe.”
“I said I don’t want to discuss this here.”
“You told us graduation was Friday.”
“It is.”
Nora spoke again.
“No, it isn’t.”
Chloe spun around.
“Would you stop?”
Nora’s expression stayed calm.
“I found the pictures too.”
My stomach tightened.
“What pictures?”
Nora clicked again.
Chloe’s graduation announcement appeared on screen.
Beautiful university crest.
Gold lettering.
DOCTOR CHLOE BENNETT.
Then Nora placed another image beside it.
The official university invitation template.
The fonts were different.
The seal was slightly wrong.
Even the signature at the bottom did not match.
My father stared.
“You made the invitation?”
Chloe’s eyes filled with anger.
“You have no idea what I’ve been dealing with.”
Mom whispered:
“Chloe… did you graduate?”
My sister said nothing.
Dad’s face turned red.
“Answer your mother.”
“No.”
One word.
That was all it took.
The entire fantasy collapsed.
Mom grabbed the edge of the counter.
“What do you mean, no?”
Chloe’s eyes filled with tears.
“I mean I haven’t finished.”
Dad stared at her.
“But you said you defended your dissertation.”
“I lied.”
Mom covered her mouth.
I looked at the legal folder still waiting beside me.
“You came here to take my house as a reward for a degree she doesn’t even have.”
Dad snapped:
“This doesn’t change the bigger issue.”
I actually laughed.
“What bigger issue could possibly make this normal?”
He looked at Chloe.
Then at me.
And something about his expression made the laughter disappear.
“This isn’t only about graduation.”
My stomach tightened.
“What is it about?”
Chloe closed her eyes.
“Dad, don’t.”
He ignored her.
“We need the house transferred quickly.”
“Why?”
Nobody answered.
Then Nora quietly reached for another sheet of paper.
“I think I know.”
She placed it on the counter.
At the top was the name of a private lender.
Below it was my home address.
And beneath that were words that made my blood turn cold.
PROPOSED COLLATERAL: 114 WILLOW STREET.
My house.
May you like
Then I saw the borrower.
Chloe Bennett.
