Part of me wanted to say something sharp. Something that would make him feel even a fraction of what I had felt when they laughed.
But my mother had taught me that power loses shape when you spend it on revenge too quickly.
So I said nothing.
Carter’s eyes dropped.
“I spoke without verifying the facts. I used my position to embarrass you. That was wrong.”
The words were correct.
But they sounded rehearsed.
My mother noticed too.
“Say the rest,” she said.
He looked at her.
His jaw tightened.
“I interfered with your scholarship review.”
A wave of whispers moved through the gym.
My hands went cold.
Carter continued, each word dragged out of him.
“I submitted a recommendation questioning your integrity. I had no verified basis for doing so.”
My mother’s voice was flat. “And?”
His eyes flicked toward Chief Ramirez.
The chief gave him nothing.
Carter exhaled.
“And I did it because I believed your claim reflected badly on the Navy.”
My mother tilted her head slightly.
“No.”
Carter’s face tightened.
“Because it reflected badly on me.”
There it was.
The truth.
Ugly.
Public.
Smaller than the damage it caused.
My mother stepped closer to him.
“You will contact the committee today.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“You will retract your statement.”
“Yes, Commander.”
