The situation was so dire that Yvonne had to tell Bianca everything.


    "The identity theft for your degree has been exposed. The person who handled it for us was taken in by the investigation team."


    Bianca copsed onto the sofa, a bone-deep chill spreading through her body.


    "What do we do now?" she asked, trembling with fear.


    "I''m trying to contact people who can help, but we need a backup n."


    Yvonne had made her decision after much agonizing deliberation.


    She told Bianca, "Go beg Noreen. Ask her to drop the matter. I''ll pull some strings on my end and try to minimize the damage."


    "That''s impossible!" Bianca cried, rejecting the suggestion. "Noreen will never agree!"


    "We have to try," Yvonne insisted. Of course, she knew how difficult it would be.


    But if they didn''t go to Noreen, the truth about Bianca stealing the degree would definitelye out.


    When that happened... her reputation would be in tatters.


    Her career would hit rock bottom. Once her carefully crafted image as a highly- educated elite crumbled, there would be noing back.


    Moreover, the investigation would inevitably lead to Yvonne. She could face fines, or even prison.


    Yvonne took Bianca''s hand, her voice firm. "Bianca, our backs are against the wall. We have no other choice."


    Bianca''s face hardened, inch by inch, until it was a sheet of deathly white.


    The next day at noon, Noreen received a call from Halley Joyner, asking her toe to Rivercrest University. There was a new development regarding the academic fraud case.


    However, just as she reached the university gates, Bianca blocked her path. Today''s Bianca was different.


    Her makeup wasn''t meticulously applied, and she wasn''t wearing designer clothes. The arrogance and pride that once defined her were gone.


    All that remained was a pale, defeated woman.


    Her eyes were red-rimmed and glistening with unshed tears, a pitiful sight that could easily evoke sympathy.


    Unfortunately for her, Noreen wasn''t buying it.


    Without giving Bianca so much as a second nce, she tried to walk around her and enter the campus.


    "Noreen!" Bianca''s voice was a choked sob. Swallowing her humiliation, she pleaded, "I''m sorry for giarizing your thesis. Andim Sorry for stealing your spot at the university. Can you please... not press charges?"


    As she spoke those words, Bianca''s body trembled slightly ler price her self-respect, were being subjected to a slow, agonizing death. >


    But she had no way out. She had to bow her head to Noreen.


    Only if Noreen, the victim, relented could she hope for a sliver of salvation.


    She knew the chances were slim.


    But if she didn''t surrender her pride, she would be utterly cornered.


    Her mother might go to jail.


    Her father''s career would be destroyed...


    And she would never, ever have a chance to recover.


    She had no choice.


    Noreen was genuinely surprised that Bianca woulde to her begging.


    She hadn''t bowed her head when


    she was first exposed. She hadn''t bowed her head when Henry


    relentlessly cornered her.


    For her to finally lower that proud head now meant she must truly be at the end of


    her rope.


    But still, where was Seth? Her protector?


    Why hadn''t he stepped in this time? Wasn''t this supposed to be true love?


    Had he finally been defeated by reality?