Chapter 9

When Nayeli got back to the dorm, her roommates were already asleep. She tiptoed through her nighttime routine, climbed into bed, and pulled the covers over her head. In the darkness, her lips curved into a smile.

This time around, everything would be different.

Monday.

The classroom buzzed with whispered conversations as everyone checked the school system.

A message had popped up on the computer screen, announcing that a high school student had achieved straight A+'s in every single course—words of special commendation splashed across the top.

The achievement was so dazzling it had landed on the homepage of the school's official system.

Nayeli sat in the back row by the window, twirling a pen between her fingers, her expression calm.

The teacher walked into the classroom, clearly surprised that the school had produced a genius.

"Our school has produced a genius. This student earned A+'s in every single course, so the administration is expanding the ice rink in her honor."

Whispers rippled through the classroom.

"Oh my God!"

"I bet it's Lucia!"

"She gets straight A's. Perfect in everything."

"Plus she's on the varsity figure skating team AND cheer captain, AND president of the honor society. No wonder everyone loves her."

"She's literally good at everything."

"..."

Lucia was logging into the system right then. The moment she saw the screen, her smile froze.

Other students logging in groaned in disappointment.

"I wish I had Lucia's brains."

"Damn, I bombed it again!"

"I'm screwed. No way I'm graduating this time."

"..."

When Lucia didn't say anything, the others leaned in to check her grade.

The screen displayed a C.

The classroom fell silent.

"Grades don't mean everything. Lucia's still the most perfect girl in school."

"Exactly. Who cares about some A+ when you don't have Lucia's social skills!"

"Right. Lucia's popular, and that's what matters."

The teacher clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.

She looked toward Nayeli with pride. "The student with straight A+'s is Nayeli. She's made incredible progress, and she even requested that the principal expand the ice rink for the varsity team's training. Everyone should thank her!"

The entire classroom went quiet.

Every pair of eyes turned toward that unremarkable corner in the back row. Nayeli sat there, pen still spinning between her fingers, expression unchanged.

Lucia's smile stiffened on her face.

She turned her head in disbelief, staring hard at Nayeli, nails digging into her palms.

How was this possible?

How could Nayeli have gotten A+'s? Wasn't she supposed to be some nobody loser?

"That's impossible!" A voice shattered the classroom silence.

Shepherd jumped to his feet, his face radiating defiance.

"Ms. Williams, there's no way Nayeli scored that high! Her grades have always been average at best. For her to suddenly score this high—she must have cheated!"

The homeroom teacher frowned. "Shepherd, don't make accusations without proof."

"I'm not making it up!" Shepherd pointed at Nayeli. "She definitely cheated! How else could she improve this much all at once?"

Students around them started murmuring.

"It is kind of weird. Wasn't she ranked like fiftieth last time?"

"Improving this much in one go is pretty ridiculous."

"Maybe she really did cheat."

Nayeli's pen stopped spinning.

She looked up, meeting Shepherd's gaze with calm eyes.

"You're saying I cheated. Do you have proof?"

"I don't need proof!" Shepherd's voice was self-righteous. "Your grades ARE the proof! How could any normal person improve this fast?"

"So anything a normal person can't do must be cheating?" Nayeli's tone was even. "By that logic, you ranked three hundredth last exam. Did you cheat too?"

"You—!" Shepherd's face flushed crimson. "You're talking nonsense!"

The teacher tapped the podium. "Nayeli's exams were graded by all her subject teachers. No irregularities were found. If you have concerns, you can request to review the surveillance footage at the administration office."

Shepherd clenched his jaw, eyes practically shooting flames at Nayeli. "Fine! I'll review the footage then!"

He stormed out of the classroom alone, heading toward the administration office.

The teacher sighed and continued reading grades.

Nayeli lowered her head and went back to twirling her pen.

In her past life, she'd deliberately thrown one subject each exam just to make Lucia happy. She'd even secretly passed answers to Lucia.

She'd thought her brothers would treat her better that way. She'd thought Lucia would be grateful.

Not anymore. She was taking back every bit of honor that belonged to her.

After class, Nayeli went to refill her water bottle.

Students in the hallway stared and whispered as she passed.

Nayeli ignored them, filled her bottle, and headed back.

At the classroom entrance, she spotted Lucia standing at the corner of the hallway, shoulders shaking. Several girls surrounded her, offering comfort.

"Lucia, don't cry. She just got lucky. You'll beat her next time for sure."

"Exactly. You're way more popular than her. She's just a weirdo."

Lucia dabbed at her tears, voice small. "I don't want anyone fighting because of me and Nayeli. Maybe I should just... stay away from everyone."

"You didn't do anything wrong! She's the one with the nasty attitude!"

"Right! Lucia, stop crying. We'll teach her a lesson for you."

Nayeli walked past them without breaking stride.

"Nayeli!" One of the girls called out, voice sharp with anger. "Lucia's crying because of you. You're not allowed to sit here anymore. Get out of the classroom."

Nayeli glanced at Lucia, lips curving into the faintest smile.

"I bullied her? She sheds a few tears and suddenly she's been bullied? Well, my leg got injured because she deliberately dropped me during a lift. By that standard, can I say she tried to hurt me on purpose?"

The girls fell silent.

Lucia's expression flickered. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. "Nayeli, the fall really wasn't on purpose... Please forgive me? I don't want to fight with you. I just want our family to be okay..."

"If you don't like me, I can move out of the McCarthy house..."

Her voice was soft and trembling, enough to melt anyone's heart.

Students around them shot accusatory looks at Nayeli.

Nayeli watched the performance, face completely blank.

"Are you done?" Her tone was flat. "If you're done, I'm leaving."

She turned and walked into the classroom without sparing Lucia a single glance.

Lucia stared after her, the vulnerability vanishing from her eyes for just a moment, replaced by something cold and dark.

When Shepherd returned from the administration office, his expression was complicated.

He'd watched the surveillance footage. Throughout the entire exam, Nayeli hadn't even lifted her head, let alone cheated.

But he couldn't admit that. He'd been so confident she'd cheated—if he came back empty-handed now, he'd be a laughingstock.

When Nayeli walked into the classroom, Shepherd was standing by the podium, loudly telling a group of gathered students something.

As Nayeli pushed the door open, every eye turned toward her.

Shepherd's voice faltered, then got even louder. "Nayeli, if you confess now, I can still put in a good word for you with the school!"

"You reviewed the footage? What did you find?"

"I found proof you cheated! Even the proctor said so!"

"Which proctor? What's their name? Have them tell me to my face."

Shepherd felt his confidence waver under her steady gaze. "Why does their name matter! Point is, you cheated!"

Nayeli walked to her seat and sat down, picking up her water bottle and taking a sip.

"Shepherd."

"What do you want?"

"If you'd actually found proof I cheated, you'd be excited right now. Not defensive." Nayeli set down her bottle and looked up at him. "You're so nervous your fingers are shaking. Your voice is a whole pitch higher than usual."

"When people lie, their pupils dilate. They talk faster. And they unconsciously touch their nose."

Shepherd touched his nose reflexively, then jerked his hand away, face turning bright red.

"You're—you're making stuff up!"

"Whether I'm right or not, you know the truth." Nayeli opened her textbook, done looking at him. "If you really have evidence, go report me to the principal's office. If you don't, shut up."

Students around them exchanged uncertain glances.

Shepherd's face darkened. His lips moved, searching for some kind of comeback, but he couldn't find the words.

Finally, he kicked a desk leg hard, swore under his breath, and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The loud bang echoed through the classroom.

Nayeli didn't even look up. She kept reading.