Chapter 2

In the past, I had immediately rushed over to warn Theo.

Theo knew the importance of this examination, so he took out the mini walkie-talkie without any hesitation and threw it onto the floor.

Then, he had a huge argument with Flora in public.

Flora had been furious. She wanted to play the same trick on me by putting the walkie-talkie into my pencil case. However, I noticed it and informed the examiner, Albert Solace.

Flora lost her chance to sit for the examination.

The event had left Theo traumatized. He was touched and told me that I was the only one who treated him sincerely.

I thought the happiness that I had waited for so long had finally arrived.

When the results were released, I realized my college applications were swapped from the Ivy Leagues to a regular community college.

I had broken down as Theo sneered.

“You ruined Flora’s life, so I’m ruining your future. Do you really think you deserve to go to an Ivy League?

“You should spend your life at a lousy community college to make it up to her!”

After my family learned that I was going to a regular community college despite having flying colors, they were deeply embarrassed.

My parents locked me up in the basement, and they only fed me once every few days.

I was trapped in the dark for a very long time. I did not even have the strength to cry from hunger. My voice was reduced to mere whispers of pleas.

One day, I heard my mother talking.

“Flora’s released from prison. She’s having an engagement party with Theo today.”

I stared at the ceiling with my mouth open, but I could not even make a sound.

Then, I died.

As I died, my last thought was to keep my head out of anyone’s business.

The queue slowly nudged forward.

I saw Theo chatting with other classmates. He claimed that he was confident about his math while he kept glancing at Flora, who was still angry.

He was probably thinking of ways to comfort her after the examinations.

I looked down and walked into the examination hall.

Behind me, I heard a loud beeping sound coming from the security scanner.

All the students were shocked, and Theo was stunned.

“What…”

Albert immediately took away his bag and found the small black gadget.

“What’s your name? Theo? What is this?”

Theo’s face became pale. His voice was shaking.

“I… I don’t know! This isn’t mine!”

“If it isn’t yours, why is it in your bag? Are you trying to cheat?”

“No! I’m not!”

Theo was anxious. His voice got louder.

“Someone set me up! Someone must’ve planted it there!”

Some classmates gathered at the window and gossiped quietly.

“Maybe he’s lying. Perhaps he really planned to cheat, but since he’s caught, he’s trying to lie his way out.”

“But Theo always has good results. I don’t think he needs to cheat.”

I quietly took out my student ID and wiped away the sweat from my palms.

In the past, I sacrificed thirty minutes of the examination’s precious time to report Flora for her act.

Even though I still scored well, I had always found it a shame that I never got to see my best ever possibilities.

I ignored Theo as he was brought away and shut my eyes to rest my mind a little.

After the examinations started, I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down and stop my fingers from trembling. Then, I started to answer the questions.

The clock was ticking. When I was about to flick the page, a police officer appeared at the doorway.

Then, Albert walked toward me.

“Lucy, please come with me.”

Everyone looked at me. I gulped and got up. I followed her out of the examination hall.

The police officer brought me to an office.

The door cracked open and I saw Theo standing there with his face flushed.

“I really didn’t plan to cheat! It’s Lucy who put this in my bag!”

When he saw me, his eyes lit up.

“It’s her!

“She’s pursued me for three years! I didn’t agree to be her boyfriend, so she wants to ruin me!”