They Made Me a Scapegoat, I Fought to Clear My Name and Won

After hearing my words, the homeroom teacher collapsed to the floor, slapped her thighs and the ground in anger, "What a sin! Jessica, you're truly a walking disaster!"

The principal's expression shifted repeatedly. He pointed at me and shouted, "Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame the school for being heartless! Your father was seriously ill and you applied to advance the 50,000 pound scholarship for Glasgow students. The school originally planned to grant it after the exam. Now I'm telling you, it's gone!"

Upon hearing this, my calm demeanor shattered. I immediately stood up from the chair, "Principal, how can you go back on your word? That money is my dad's only hope for survival!"

The principal's face turned green with anger, "You have the nerve to blame me? You're the one who ruined your own future! That scholarship is for Glasgow students. Are you one?"

In a panic, I shouted, "I can be!"

"You? Don't kid yourself!" the principal yelled, pointing outside, "The police car's already on its way! You're about to be taken away for investigation!"

Rage surged inside me, but I had no way to explain, "Principal, please believe me, I still have a chance!"

The principal waved his hand, brows furrowed, clearly unwilling to say another word.

Just then, my mom arrived, she should've been at the hospital taking care of my dad.

The moment she saw me in handcuffs, her eyes turned red, "W-what's going on …"

I was stunned, "Mom, why are you here?"

My mom, emotional and flustered, said, "Your teacher called me! She said you were caught cheating on the college entrance exam! I didn't believe it. I said my daughter could never cheat. She told me to come and see for myself! Jessica, did you really cheat?"

I choked up, unsure how to respond.

A few reporters burst in with photographers, they pushed my mom aside.

They'd been shooting outside the school but rushed in the moment they heard that a top student was caught cheating. Cameras flashed right in my face.

One of the journalist asked, "You're Jessica Stockholm, right? You're the first student in this city caught cheating on the college entrance exam. Do you realize this will stain your name forever?"

Another journalist chimed in, "Sources say your mock exam scores were always above 700, why would you cheat? Can you explain?"

The flashbulbs were so bright I couldn't keep my eyes open. Emmet and my classmates pushed the reporters out, "Enough, stop filming! Jessica, are you out of your mind? Why are you determined to ruin yourself like this?"

While they spoke, the police car had already entered the school grounds, I was about to be taken away.

Emmet's neck turned red with urgency. He held onto my mom and shouted at me, "Jessica, say you didn't cheat! If you really did, your dad won't have money for surgery the day after tomorrow!"

"What?" My mom's mouth dropped in shock. After she learned that the principal canceled the payment because of the cheating incident, she panicked like an ant on a hot pan.

"Jessica, we already promised the doctor we'd pay for the surgery tomorrow! I'm begging you, please stop saying you cheated! Do it for your father, I'm begging you!" She dropped to her knees right then and there.

It's always children who kneel to their parents, when have parents ever knelt to their children?

"Mom, get up!" I clenched my teeth, eyes bloodshot.

But my mom shook her head and cried out, "I can't get up. If I do, your dad's really done for! Jessica, you've always been obedient and filial. Can't you take it back just once, for your dad?"

Emmet shouted again, "Jessica, deny it already! If you get taken away today, those reporters will spread the footage everywhere. Your whole life will be ruined! Your family won't be able to show their face in this town again!"