Chapter 2Measured No More

I rushed to Crestmont Community Bank. After pulling up my account, the representative's expression changed.

"Ms. Keppler, this account is frozen under a judicial order. You may want to review any outstanding debts in your name."

My thoughts were such a mess that I swore at the clerk when I called Crestmont County Superior Court.

The clerk's tone sharpened.

"You took out a thirty-thousand-dollar personal loan and haven't made a single payment. Now you're cursing at court staff?

"If you didn't sign for it, what are you suggesting? That your phone borrowed the money by itself?"

I went cold from head to toe as one terrifying possibility took shape.

After the call, I dialed Mom with shaking hands.

She answered as though she'd been expecting me.

"What happened to all that confidence? Calling to beg already?"

My throat felt crushed, and my voice came out rough.

"Did you use my Social Security number to take out a loan?"

There was a brief pause. Then she exploded.

"You found out this fast? You must be trying to make some huge purchase!

"Good thing I planned ahead. You needed to experience the consequences of debt firsthand. Maybe now you'll learn not to throw money around."

The room tilted. I nearly lost my balance.

"You destroyed my credit. Are you trying to ruin my life?"

Mom clicked her tongue impatiently.

"Calm down. Do you honestly think I was trying to hurt you?

"I used the money for Tyler's car. Graduating high school is a major milestone, and as his older sister, you should have given him something.

"Work hard and pay it off. The default will fall off your report eventually, and most employers won't check anyway. I work in HR. I know these things.

"You're broke now, aren't you? Come home.

"Apologize, follow the family rules, and I'll give you twenty dollars a day. You won't starve."

I closed my eyes and ended the call.

After a full minute of breathing, I finally managed to call my cousin Avery, an attorney.

"Avery, Mom took out a loan using my personal information.

"I recorded her admitting it. Can we use that to sue her?"

Avery knew exactly what Diane Keppler was like. She became angrier than I was.

"Your mother has lost her mind. Send me everything. I'll prepare a preservation letter and contact the lender."

After listening to the recording, she was quiet for a moment before speaking with resolve.

"The evidence chain isn't complete yet, but that's all right. We have time to build it, and the legal process won't move overnight.

"Don't panic, Nora. My firm has handled similar identity-theft cases. I'll start assembling the filings now."

My palms remained ice-cold. All I could do was thank her mechanically.

I forced myself to calm down and managed two bites of food before a message from Professor Cole appeared.

"The university review committee has lost confidence in your project. They're canceling this funding cycle."

"I won't stop you from continuing, but any further work will have to be self-funded."

"The department has given you three days. Without a new source of funding, the lab space must be cleared."

That final blow drove me into the ground. I didn't even have the strength to cry.

The thought of quitting had barely surfaced when I remembered asking my future self why she had abandoned the project.

She had laughed bitterly after a long silence.

"When you're poor, all you can see is the cash directly in front of you.

"I sold the technology to Avenrix Systems. Six months later, they used it to become the dominant company in the field."

I wiped my face, forced myself upright, and hurried toward Avenrix's headquarters.

It still wasn't time to give up.

When I reached the front entrance, Caleb Whitaker, Avenrix's CEO, was stepping into his car.

I gathered my courage and grabbed his hand.