The campus air was thick with tension, though few could sense it the way Cassandra did. Every step she took toward uncovering the truth seemed to push her further into a labyrinth she wasn't sure she could escape. And now, with Matilda's name connected to the payment, the stakes had never been higher.
Cassandra sat in her dorm room, staring at the name on her laptop screen. Matilda Casantro. The queen of campus drama, the loudest voice in every room, didn't seem like someone capable of orchestrating such a dark scheme. But Cassandra had learned the hard way that appearances could be deceiving.
She leaned back, her heart pounding as thoughts raced through her mind. If Matilda was involved, she wasn't just a nuisance. She was dangerous. And yet, this new revelation opened more questions than it answered. Was Matilda working alone, or was she part of a larger conspiracy? And, most haunting of all—did Jackson know?
Her stomach churned as she thought of him. Every memory of their shared laughter and his gentle reassurances now felt like a dagger twisting in her chest. Could he be part of this tangled web of lies, knowingly or not?
Cassandra shook her head. No. She couldn't believe that. But she had to be sure.
The next morning, Cassandra made it a point to "accidentally" bump into Matilda outside the student lounge. Matilda, as always, was holding court with her entourage, flipping her perfectly styled hair as she regaled her audience with some exaggerated tale.
"Matilda," Cassandra called out, injecting just enough friendliness into her voice. "Got a minute?"
Matilda turned, her eyebrows arching in surprise. "Cassandra? You want to talk to me?"
"Yeah," Cassandra said, forcing a smile. "It's about Jackson."
At the mention of Jackson's name, Matilda's interest sharpened like a blade. She turned to her friends with a dismissive wave. "Girls, I'll catch up with you later."
Her posse scattered, leaving the two women standing alone. Cassandra couldn't help but notice how quickly Matilda's confidence seemed to rise when the attention was focused solely on her.
"What about Jackson?" Matilda asked, her tone guarded but curious.
Cassandra tilted her head, studying her. "I've noticed you care about him a lot. I was just wondering… how far would you go for someone you really cared about?"
Matilda smirked, though the expression didn't quite reach her eyes. "That's a weird question. Why are you asking?"
Cassandra shrugged, keeping her tone casual. "Just curious. You always seem so protective of him."
For a split second, something flickered across Matilda's face—hesitation, maybe even guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by her usual smug demeanor.
"Jackson's a great guy," Matilda said, her voice firm. "He deserves someone who looks out for him. Unlike some people."
Cassandra forced a smile, ignoring the jab. "Fair enough. Thanks for answering."
As she walked away, Cassandra's mind raced. Matilda's brief hesitation had spoken volumes. She wasn't as uninvolved as she pretended to be.
That evening, Cassandra decided it was time to confront Matilda directly. She couldn't keep dancing around the truth. Armed with the evidence she had uncovered, she waited until Matilda was alone in the campus café.
The space was quieter than usual, the hum of conversation subdued. Matilda sat by the window, scrolling through her phone, a cappuccino in hand. Cassandra's heart pounded as she approached, her fingers tightening around her phone like a lifeline.
Matilda looked up, surprised to see her again. "Wow," she said with a smirk. "Twice in one day? Should I be flattered or concerned?"
Cassandra slid into the seat across from her, her gaze piercing. "I know what you did."
Matilda froze, her confident facade slipping for the briefest moment. "Excuse me?"
Cassandra pulled out her phone, opening the financial records she had found. She slid it across the table toward Matilda. "You thought you could hide this, didn't you? But I found it. The payment. The account. It all leads back to you."
Matilda's smirk disappeared entirely. Her eyes darted to the screen, then back to Cassandra. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me," Cassandra hissed, her voice low but intense. "This isn't just about campus gossip, Matilda. This is about my parents. About everything I've lost."
For a moment, Matilda said nothing. Then she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Fine," she said coolly. "Let's say I did know something. What are you going to do about it?"
The casual tone of her voice sent a chill down Cassandra's spine. Matilda wasn't just arrogant—she was dangerous.
"I'll do whatever it takes to get justice," Cassandra said firmly.
Matilda laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "Justice? Oh, sweetie, there's no such thing. Not in this world."
The tension between them hung heavy as they sat in silence. Cassandra's mind raced, trying to process Matilda's cryptic words. Did she just admit to being involved? Or was she playing some twisted game?
"I don't have time for your games," Cassandra said finally. "Tell me the truth, or I'll expose everything."
Matilda's expression hardened. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Digging around in things you don't understand. But you have no idea what you're dealing with."
Cassandra leaned forward, her voice sharp. "Then enlighten me."
For a long moment, Matilda said nothing. Then, she smiled—a cold, calculating smile that made Cassandra's blood run cold.
"You're not ready for the truth," Matilda said. "But when it comes, don't say I didn't warn you."
With that, she stood and walked away, leaving Cassandra alone with more questions than answers.
Shaken but undeterred, Cassandra decided to share what she had discovered with someone she trusted. That someone was Jackson.
She found him later that night in the library, his face buried in a book. He looked up as she approached, his expression softening into a smile.
"Cassandra," he said. "Hey."
She sat down across from him, her hands trembling slightly. "Jackson, we need to talk."
His smile faded. "What's wrong?"
Cassandra hesitated. She knew this was a risk, but she couldn't carry the burden alone any longer.
"I've been looking into some things," she said carefully. "About my parents. And… about your family."
Jackson's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"
Cassandra took a deep breath and pulled out her phone, showing him the evidence she had gathered. "There's something going on, Jackson. Something bigger than we realized. And Matilda is involved."
Jackson stared at the screen, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Matilda? Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," Cassandra said. "But I need your help to figure out the rest."
Jackson leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "This is… a lot to take in."
"I know," Cassandra said. "But I can't do this alone."
He met her gaze, his expression serious. "I'm with you, Cassandra. Whatever it take
As they left the library together, Cassandra couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to stretch longer, the night air colder than usual.
"Do you feel that?" she whispered to Jackson.
He frowned. "Feel what?"
"Like we're not alone."
Jackson's eyes darted around, but the campus seemed empty.
"You're just on edge," he said, trying to reassure her.
But Cassandra wasn't so sure.
As they walked back to the dorms, a figure watched them from the shadows, their presence hidden but deliberate.
Cassandra's instincts were right. The walls were closing in, and the game was far from over.