<b>Chapter </b><b>96 </b>
Linda Morgan paced around the kitchen, phone pressed to her ear, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. Your brother already agreed,” she said, ncing nervously toward the hallway. “In a few days, once he figures out that physics problem, I’ll make Max send it to you.”
She opened the refrigerator, mindlessly rearranging items while continuing her conversation with Emily.
“That dead–weight Jade cares about Max. She’ll definitely help him. And from now on, whenever you have physics
problems, I’ll make sure Max gets them solved. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
Linda’s voice suddenly shifted from scheming to excited. “Did you know Jade’s been making connections with rich and powerful people at school? I’m thinking of visiting Princeton soon to see her–and to meet these wealthy boys.
she knows.”
Sheughed, the sound brittle and false. “You need to be nicer to Jade, Emily. We might need her connections in the future. I know you’re angry, but what good will that do? Just y nice.”
A floorboard creaked behind her.
Linda whirled around, nearly dropping her phone when she spotted Max standing in the doorway, his face a mask of
confusion. How long had he been there?
“Mom? Who’s making Emily do physics problems?” Max asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
Linda’s face flushed. “No one, honey. I was just—”
“I heard you,” Max interrupted, his eyes narrowing. “You said I agreed to something. What exactly did I agree to?”
Linda fumbled with her phone, quickly ending the call. “It’s nothing, Max. Emily just needs some help with—*
“With what?” Max pressed, taking a step forward. “What physics problem?<b>” </b>
Linda’s nervousugh echoed in the kitchen. “Just some homework, sweetie. Nothing important.”
Max’s eyes hardened. “Emily stole my notebook, didn’t she? She stole that physics problem Jade worked out.”
The color drained from Linda’s face.
“That’s why my draft notebook went missingst month,” Max continued, his voice rising. “She’s been pretending to <b>be </b>Jade<b>, </b>hasn’t she? She lied to Princeton, to Edward Sheldon, to Principal Thornton–to everyone!”
Linda grabbed Max’s arm<b>, </b>her fingers digging into his skin. “Keep your voice down! Neighbors might hear you.”
42
“Good! They should hear this!” Max yanked his arm away. “Do you even understand what Emily did? Shemitted identity theft and fraud!”
“It’s not like that, Linda hissed. “Emily just needed a chance.”
Max turned and limped quickly toward the hallway.
“Where are you going?” Linda called after him.
“To call Jade. She deserves to know the truth.”
Linda lunged forward, grabbing Max’s phone from his hand with surprising strength. “You can’t do that! You’ll ruin
everything!”
“And what about Jade<b>?</b>” Max shouted, his face reddening with anger. “How are you and Emily any different from those criminals who steal identities to get into college?”
Linda’s eyes filled with tears–whether genuine or manufactured, it was hard to tell. “Please, Max. Don’t tell Jade. Emily is your sister too.”
“A sister who stole from the only person in this family who ever actually cared about me,” Max shot back. “And you still call Jade ‘that dead–weight‘ behind her back. You’re stealing her aplishments and still treating her like garbage.”
Frank Morgan chose that moment to walk through the front door, his work boots tracking mud onto the linoleum. He froze<b>, </b>taking in the scene: his wife clutching a phone, tears streaming down her face, his son trembling with
rage.
“What’s going on?” he asked, setting down his lunch box.
Linda rushed to him. “Max wants to destroy Emily’s life! He’s threatening to tell Jade about the schrship!”
Frank looked bewildered. “I don’t understand-”
“Max wants to ruin this family,” Linda wailed, clutching Frank’s arm. “After everything we’ve done for him!”
“What you’ve done?” Maxughed bitterly. “You mean besides treating Jade like crap her entire life? Besides stealing her future<b>?</b><b>‘ </b>