Ten years after graduation, I funded a scholarship for underprivileged students at my alma mater.

During the ceremony's interview segment, one of the scholarship recipients suddenly grabbed the microphone.

"That night at the karaoke bar, you forced yourself on me! Aren't you going to take responsibility?"

Her words cut through the room, and every student and faculty member turned to look at me.

In an instant, I was branded a rapist.

The company's stock fell immediately in response.

Amid the chaos, I simply stared at the girl in front of me.

Had students really become so ruthless just to get what they wanted?

Only a few days ago, I had helped her fend off a gang of troublemakers, so how could she turn around and spread lies about me then?

Besides, I was a woman. What could I possibly have done to her?

Before I could get a word out, the reporters were already on me like a pack of wolves, cameras and microphones thrust in my face.

"We've heard you're quite the hermit and hardly ever seen in public."

"What's your take on the scandal with the scholarship student's assault?"

I narrowed my eyes, a wave of annoyance washing over me.

What was supposed to be a simple ceremony for my foundation had turned into a circus.

I fought back the queasy feeling rising in my throat and faced the camera head-on.

"You're throwing accusations around without a shred of proof, just taking one person's word over mine. That's defamation!"

The crowd gasped and buzzed with whispers.

However, Sarah Lewis, the student in question, let out a shriek like a startled cat.

"Who says I have no proof?! Avery Jones, you're nothing but a wolf in sheep's clothing, too cowardly to own up to your actions!"

'A wolf in sheep's clothing? Me?' I thought.

I took a quick look at the poster of myself on the wall.

Just because I rocked a short, androgynous haircut and a sharp suit without a hint of bling, they pegged me as a man.

I was about to set the record straight when the old principal, Henry Douglas, shaky as a leaf, snatched the mic from me.

"Outrageous! Avery would never do this…"

"Mr. Douglas!"

Someone from the crowd cut him off, dripping with disdain.

"We get it, you're thankful for the donations to the school, but you can't just turn a blind eye to the truth for cash, right? This is about integrity!"

Henry's face went white as a sheet, and he swayed like he was about to keel over. I quickly stepped in to steady him.

"Mr. Douglas, keep your cool. Your health comes first. I've got this."

Henry was my mentor for years. He knew the real me better than anyone.

Still, I did not want him dragged into that mess.

With someone in her corner, Sarah puffed up with newfound boldness.

She turned to me and said, "That night, you promised me that once I graduated, you'd introduce me to your family. You didn't stop there. You showered me with gifts that were supposed to mean something special, but the moment you had the chance, you cut me off completely!"

Her tears flowed freely, painting a picture of deep hurt and betrayal.

I watched her sob story with a frosty gaze.

"Go on. What exactly are these 'special gifts' you're talking about?"

She acted as if she was waiting for that very moment. With a swift turn, she dug into her faded old backpack and pulled out a clear plastic bag.

Inside were several sets of women's lingerie.

"If we didn't have that kind of relationship, why would you give me intimate clothing?" she accused.

The audience was in an uproar, and the reporters zoomed in on the bag of lingerie, their cameras clicking nonstop.

Sarah grabbed her phone and flashed the screen at me.

"Look at this! Here's the seven thousand and five hundred dollars you sent me to keep quiet. You can't deny this!"

I stared at the so-called damning evidence and could not help but find the whole thing laughable.

That woman really thought she could pin that on me with such flimsy proof.

"Ms. Lewis, are you absolutely certain that those lingerie sets are a personal gift from me, a symbol of our commitment?"

"Without a doubt!" she replied.

I was done playing games with Sarah. It was time to tear her story apart.

"This is just absurd. Our company provides a full set of clothing to the students we sponsor every year, including underwear. It's all part of our charity work. Do you need me to pull up the company's purchase records to prove it?

"Also, about this supposed 'hush money' you keep mentioning, take a good look. The money came from the Jones Group Charity Foundation.

"Ms. Lewis, enlighten me, what kind of criminal would use a company's charity account to send 'hush money'?"

Sarah exclaimed, "You're making this up! With all your money and influence, you could fake any record you want! That night, you told me yourself that you picked this out just for me..."

Sarah's grip on the bag of lingerie was so tight that her knuckles turned pale, and tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably.

"To you, we're just poor students whose lives don't matter, right? Just pawns for your games? How am I supposed to face the world after what you've done to me?"

In a burst of despair, she lunged toward the sharp corner of the stage's table.

Quick as a flash, a girl from the class, Janice Turnbull, grabbed Sarah around the waist, holding her back.

Janice exclaimed, "Sarah! Don't do something stupid over that jerk. Remember what the doctor told you? Your body can't handle this kind of stress!

"Just leave Sarah alone, will you? She hasn't slept well since that night, crying herself to sleep every day. She's a girl who's been pushed to the brink. She wouldn't be doing this if she weren't desperate..."

'She hasn't slept well, but what about me?' I thought.

That night, after a round of schmoozing, I was walking past the karaoke bar's back alley when I saw a bunch of lowlifes cornering Sarah against a wall.

They were hurling abuse and trying to rip her clothes off.

I could not just watch. I stepped in and took those goons down.

Sarah was a wreck, her eyes wide with fear and shock. That scene haunted my dreams for days, leaving me feeling choked up inside.

Due to that incident, I talked to the folks who handle our company's sponsorships. When I found out her family was struggling with medical bills, I told them to look out for Sarah.

That was the thanks I received. A setup, a trap laid with calculation!

Before I could even get my head around that pathetic act, a voice, low and smirking, cut through the tension.

"Avery, this doesn't look good at all."

It was Wade Rogers, my longtime nemesis, who suddenly appeared right beside me.

Wade warned, "The foundation was barely off the ground when the scandal hit, and it hit hard. If you don't get a handle on this mess, we'll have to take it up with the authorities."

No sooner had he finished than a bunch of students shot their hands up like they were on cue.

"I'm a law student. We can offer Ms. Lewis legal help!"

"We're tax majors. We say dig into the Jones Group's books. Check for any shady accounting!"

The reporters went wild, cameras flashing at me and the students non-stop.

Keith Newman, my assistant, pushed through the crowd to my side, his voice shaking as he showed me his phone.

"Ms. Jones, our stock is tanking. The PR hotline is jammed..."

I scanned the crowd, seeing faces twisted with anger and scorn.

Then, there was Sarah, sobbing in Janice's arms, making my stomach churn.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool.

"Ms. Lewis, we're in a world full of cameras, a world of laws. If you stick to your story, we'll call the cops now, let them pull the tapes, and the truth will come out."

"No police!" she yelled.

"Why the heck not?!" I exclaimed.

Sarah wriggled out of Janice's arms, rummaged through her old backpack, and yanked out a wrinkled piece of paper.

She held a hospital pregnancy report. "That's because I'm... I'm pregnant! If the cops get involved and my parents find out, I'm done for! They'll be devastated! My life would be over!"

Wade stepped up, trying to play peacemaker, his hand on my shoulder.

"Avery, think about it... Dragging this mess into the police station isn't good for anyone. A girl's reputation is on the line, and so is the reputation of the Jones Group. Since there's a kid in the picture, why not handle it on the down low? Give her some closure, and keep your own pride intact."

Sarah's eyes were brimming with tears as she looked at me.

"What kind of respect can I even hope for now?

"All I want is to quietly deal with the pregnancy, skip town, and start fresh... I need cash, I need to cover the medical bills! Seventy-five thousand dollars might be change to you, but it's my ticket out of here!"

75,000 dollars.

I glanced at the flimsy pregnancy test in Sarah's hand, at Wade's mocking smirk, at the students with their arms raised, and at the reporters with their cameras ready to pounce.

Evidence, rumors, the moral high ground, and corporate pressure... It was all perfectly orchestrated.

So, that was the ambush they had set for me.

I would bet that even if I coughed up the money, it would not be the end of it.

"Since you're so sure you're carrying my kid…"

I paused, catching the brief look of shock in Sarah's eyes, before I pressed on. "I'll see it through, no matter what."

The crowd went wild.

Surprise flickered across Sarah's face, quickly replaced by sheer elation.

She must have thought I was about to cave in and pay her off.

However, I dropped a bombshell that no one saw coming.

"Let's go for a prenatal checkup now. If it's a Jones baby, I'll take responsibility for it!"

I was betting on it.

I bet she would not go through with it and bet the test was fake.

Surely enough, I saw a hint of panic in Sarah's eyes before she pushed it down.

She puffed out her stomach, which was hardly noticeable, and her voice wavered with a hint of tears, yet it rang out clear and strong.

"Alright, let's do this! Let's have the doctor check out how you've been treating me, a poor student, and let everyone here be the judge!"

She agreed so quickly that it actually made me feel uneasy.

She shifted her tone and added, "I get queasy in cars, so we can't go to some far-off hospital. How about the private clinic just around the corner? It's got a nicer vibe."

I shot her down without hesitation, my voice brooking no argument. "No way. If we're going to do this, we're going to the top-notch place. No one's going to accuse me of foul play later on."

I glanced at Wade, who was fidgeting in the crowd, amongst those so-called heroes of justice.

"We're heading to Saint Mary's Hospital."

The blood drained from Sarah's face.

"Saint... Saint Mary's Hospital? Why there? I'm really not feeling well..."

"That's because my partner works at Saint Mary's. I'm married, and getting checked there is in both our best interests."

The word 'married' exploded like a bomb, leaving everyone in the room dazed.

Even Wade, who had been snickering on the sidelines, was caught off guard.

Sarah's mouth fell open, her eyes brimming with shock.

"You're married? No... That can't be! You're lying!"

She knew the score. Wrecking someone's marriage was not just a moral no-no, it could land her in legal hot water too.

"Come on, Ms. Lewis."

I did not let her catch her breath. I stepped closer and took hold of her arm.

"I... I can't go! My stomach's killing me all of a sudden! Let's do it another day!"

She tried to pull away, shrinking back, seeking refuge among her supportive classmates.

However, I was not having it. I tightened my grip.

"You're not feeling well? Great, the doctors at the hospital can take care of that."

Keith was on the ball. He stepped in, gently but firmly took Sarah off my hands, and guided her to the car parked outside the auditorium.

Reporters were hot on our trail, their cars zooming behind us in a frenzied chase.

Within half an hour, we pulled up to Saint Mary's Hospital.

I had barely helped Sarah out of the car when a booming voice, laced with shock, called out.

"Avery? What brings you here?"

A distinguished-looking elder with shiny badges on his uniform approached us with purposeful strides.

"Hello."

"Feeling under the weather? Where's your other half, not with you today?"

I did not even get a chance to answer when Sarah, who had been slumped over like she was out of commission, suddenly sprang to life and stumbled toward the Dean of Medicine, Patrick Hoffman.

"Sir, you've got to help me!"

Patrick looked completely thrown off by her dramatic entrance, his brow creasing in confusion.

"And you are?"

Tears streamed down Sarah's face as they clutched their stomach, a picture of distress.

"This person… I'm carrying their child! However, this person… denying it, and dragged me here today to get an abortion!"

Her talent for spinning lies was next-level.

Patrick's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he processed her words.

He shot me a look of sheer disbelief, then back at Sarah.

After a tense few seconds of silence, Patrick said, "Say that again. You're carrying this person's child? Do you have any idea who this person's partner is? Do you realize the gravity of messing with someone's marriage? You're here spewing lies, so what's your goal?"

Sarah shook like a leaf under his thunderous voice, but she was in too deep to back down.

"I'm telling you the truth, this person forced me to get an abortion! I have proof! Sir, you can't side with them just because they have money and influence!"

"Fine! Just fine! Absolutely fine!"

Patrick's anger flipped to a bitter laugh as he spat out the word 'fine' three times.

"Well, since you're so sure of yourself, let's clear this up once and for all, right here at Saint Mary's Hospital!"

He swept his hand through the air with authority and barked at the hospital staff who had hurried over at the sound of the commotion.

"Get someone to check her out, top to bottom, thoroughly. I'm going to see for myself today how Avery, a woman, supposedly got you pregnant!"