Chapter 1

"Don't let her innocent act fool you! Ruby Smith didn't earn her place at this university. She's a complete fraud!" Jenna Lane screamed as she lunged at me and dug her nails into my wrist.

"Two years ago, you came between Fred and me, stole the exam questions, and took my spot for studying abroad! An academic fraudster who steals other women's boyfriends has no right to represent this university!"

My boyfriend, Fred, had been standing close beside me only moments earlier. He quickly stepped away and stared at me with open disgust.

"Ruby, you used such a disgraceful trick to beat Jenna just so you could study abroad with me? What makes you any different from a thief? I even felt sorry for you at the time. I thought that even though you might not be smart, at least you worked hard!"

I laughed out in anger.

He had no idea I was a child prodigy who had been admitted directly to every school I had attended since middle school. Even before taking the SAT, several prestigious universities had already competed to recruit me because I held several invention patents.

I had enrolled here only because the university chancellor offered me a place on a cutting-edge national research project.

Meanwhile, Fred came from a poor family and had barely managed to get into the university after years of hard work.

Whenever he cautiously asked about my grades, I chose to protect his pride and told him with a smile, "I barely passed. I got lucky."

There had originally been only one study abroad placement spot. The chancellor had made room for Fred solely because of me.

I had never expected him to use my kindness against me like this.

My classmates' expressions changed at once, and jeering comments swept through the room.

"I really didn't expect this. Who would've thought quiet little Ruby was shameless enough to steal someone else's boyfriend?"

"I knew something was off. She hardly ever comes to class, and no one sees her in the study room. How did she get the spot so easily?"

"Jealousy really does show the worst in people. Jenna's the prettiest girl in class, gets good grades, and is close to Fred, so Ruby went after her."

Only Robin Brown, our faculty advisor, frowned and raised a hand. "Calm down! Don't accuse her without evidence."

I gave the advisor a grateful look and tried to calm my emotions. "Jenna, I understand that you're upset about losing the spot, but that doesn't give you the right to take it out on me. I never even entered the exam room..."

There was a loud smack as Jenna's hand struck my face, leaving my cheek red.

Her eyes were red. Her finger trembled as she pointed at me.

"How can you tell such a ridiculous lie and treat us like idiots? If you didn't take the exam, where did your score come from? Did God Almighty give it to you? Or did you sleep with the examiner?"

She threw a stack of papers in my face.

"Everyone, look carefully! I found these under her mattress. Why would she hide them there if she hadn't stolen the questions?"

Robin's expression changed as she rushed forward, her face went pale as she read it.

"Ruby... These are the confidential exam questions that disappeared from the department office! How could you do this? I'm so disappointed in you! I trusted you, and you stole the questions, cheated, and disgraced every teacher who taught you!"

I stood frozen. My cheek burned, but my mind had gone blank.

How could I have cheated when I had never even entered the exam room?