The results were extensive. Grayson's father has been very involved with campus affairs. Marcus said major donor sits on the development board regular communication with administration. Look at these dates. He pulled up an email from Victor Vale to Dr. Weston sent just 2 days after Maria's complaint was withdrawn.
The subject line read, "Gratitude for reasonable resolution." "They've done this before," Nia said multiple times. Marcus kept searching. Another case appeared from 18 months ago. Jennifer Louu, also a scholarship student, reported harassment and intimidation from Grayson and his friends. Same pattern, same outcome. case withdrawn after Victor Vale contacted the university.
Then another case from last year. David Reyes, work study student, reported being publicly humiliated and threatened by Grayson after accidentally bumping into him at a campus event. Same administrator, same wealthy father intervening. Same mysterious withdrawal of complaints. Three cases, Marcus said.
Three different students. Same behavior from Grayson. Same protection from his father. Same administrator making it disappear. Aaliyah stared at the screen.
Dr. Weston has been covering for him for years. And now she's handling your case, Nia added. No wonder she seemed ready to believe Grayson's story from the beginning. Marcus began printing the complaint logs. The old printer worded and clicked as pages emerged.
This changes everything. Your case isn't just about what happened beside the brick building. It's about exposing a pattern of abuse that's been protected by institutional corruption. What do we do with this? Aaliyah asked.
Marcus gathered the printed pages and handed them to her. We document everything. We connect every dot. and we make sure that if the university tries to bury your case too, this pattern becomes impossible to explain away. Aaliyah walked across campus toward the brick academic building, her backpack slung over her shoulder and her head held high. Students she passed looked at her differently now.
Some whispered, others stared. Word had spread about the confrontation, the investigation, the accusations flying in both directions. She wouldn't hide. Marcus had offered to walk with her, but Aaliyah refused. She needed to show everyone, including herself, that Grayson's threats wouldn't drive her away from her classes or her life at Hartwell.
The investigation could continue. The hearing could come, but she would not disappear. As she approached the familiar walkway beside the brick building, she saw them. Grayson stood 20 ft from the entrance, flanked by Cody and Tessa. They positioned themselves carefully, staying just beyond the 50 ft distance required by the no contact order, close enough to be seen, close enough to send a message, far enough away to claim they weren't violating anything.
Grayson's left cheek still showed a faint bruise from where he'd hit the brick wall. His expensive jacket was perfectly pressed, his posture confident, but something in his eyes looked different. Desperate. "There she is," Grayson called out loudly as Aaliyah reached the bottom of the steps. His voice carried across the walkway, drawing attention from every student within earshot.