It was already late when Rossie returned to the dorm. The shadows of her meeting with Ms. Drake—and that mysterious man—still clung to her mind. But the night wasn't done surprising her.
Nichole was sitting on the bottom bunk, holding an old piece of paper.
"You need to see this," she said, her voice calm but tense.
Rossie walked over. She read the faded handwriting on the yellowed paper:
"If you're reading this, it means I failed. But I believe you can uncover the truth I couldn't protect. -A.S."
Rossie looked at Nichole. "A.S.… That's Alya Singgih. My mother."
Nichole nodded. "This letter was hidden in a keepsake box from my sister, Vivian. She used to be a Bellmont student too. I thought it was just high school memories, but… turns out it's more."
She paused, then added, "Vivian used to be in the drama club. She knew something. But she never talked about it."
Rossie's heart beat faster. "Was Vivian my mom's friend?"
Nichole looked down. "Maybe more than that. But this letter mentions a name… and it's not just any name." She handed over a second sheet.
Rossie read slowly:
"Be careful with G.L. He signed the letter that ended my career. And he might be the one behind everything."
"G.L…?" Rossie whispered.
Nichole nodded. "Gregory Lancaster."
Rossie froze.
The name was all too familiar. He was the chairman of Bellmont's Board of Trustees—and Victoria Lancaster's father.
The Next Day – Bellmont School Courtyard
Rossie, Liam, and Nichole sat quietly behind the old library building.
"We can't just jump in. The Lancaster name carries weight. If we want to expose this, we need solid evidence," Liam said, looking at both girls.
Rossie nodded. "We need access to the foundation archives. Old files, meeting notes, or the termination letter of my mom."
Nichole added, "And I know someone who can help."
Inside Bellmont's IT Room
A boy in thick glasses and a dark blue hoodie typed rapidly on his laptop. His name was Jasper—a quiet tech whiz known for his hacking skills but rarely seen socializing.
"You want foundation files? That's crazy. Their firewall is like a digital fortress," Jasper said, eyes still on the screen.
"Can you do it?" Nichole asked.
He raised an eyebrow. "For you… I'll try. But it'll take time."
Rossie spoke up, her voice steady, "Jasper, this is someone's life. My mom was erased from this school's history. And the person responsible is still in power."
Jasper fell silent for a moment, then started typing again. "Alright. I'll see what I can do. But if I get caught, I'm expelled."
Nichole smiled. "Then don't get caught."
That Night, in Rossie's Room
Rossie opened her mother's old journal—the one she had found in the faded suitcase. She noticed something strange: the last page was blank. But when she touched it, the surface felt slightly textured—like there had been something written and then hidden or erased.
Using a flashlight and a graphite dusting trick, faint letters began to emerge:
"If you're reading this, Rossie… I believe you'll continue what I once fought for. Bellmont is more than just a school. It hides truths darker than you can imagine."
Rossie closed the book with a deep breath.
"I promise, Mom. I'll uncover it all."