“I have the truth,” I said.

“If you leave this house with those files, I will sue you for theft,” he hissed. “I will ruin your name before you ever set foot on that campus.”

“You already ruined my future,” I said, walking toward the door.

“You think Ellison will keep you when they find out your family is under federal investigation?” he asked, his voice dropping to a low, venomous whisper.

“They are investigating you and Brandon, not me,” I said.

I unlocked the door and pulled it open.

My father stood in the dimly lit hallway, his tie pulled loose and his white collar stained with sweat.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked smaller than he ever had before.

He looked at my duffel bag.

“You won’t last a week without our help,” he said.

“You haven’t helped me in years,” I said, pushing past him.

I carried the heavy bag down the stairs, the weight of it pulling at my shoulder.

In the foyer, two police officers were boxing up files from my father’s desk.