Chapter 1

I didn't go straight home.

If I went back now, my biological parents would only accuse me of humiliating the Tipton name.

Not that it mattered. I'd already secured a placement at the National Institute of Advanced Sciences half a month ago, so today's exam had only ever been a formality for me anyway.

Since Tara Mowry was willing to scheme against me for Cyrus Tipton's sake, even at the cost of our engagement, I figured I'd finally seen exactly who she was.

I turned and walked into a café across from the exam hall, planning to sit there for a while. I'd wait until the test period officially ended, then go home and act like I'd finished the exam like everyone else.

With fifteen minutes left in the last exam period, two familiar figures walked out through the school gate. Tara and Cyrus had turned in their papers early. They were holding hands, both of them smiling, completely at ease.

A reporter who'd been staking out the exam hall rushed at them with a microphone.

"You two turned in your papers early. Sounds like you're feeling pretty confident about this exam? Any schools you're hoping for?"

Tara turned to look at Cyrus, her eyes soft enough to melt.

"The questions weren't hard. We promised each other we'd both get into Boxwood University."

Cyrus blushed and gave a small nod, playing the part of the delicate, love-struck boyfriend.

Watching that golden couple on the screen, I felt an inexplicable ache settle in my chest. On paper, Tara was the fiancée I'd been promised to. I used to believe we held a special place in each other's hearts.

When I'd first been brought back to the Tipton family, some of our classmates had grown jealous over how close Tara and I were. Rumors spread behind our backs, claiming I was shamelessly throwing myself at her, that I was the one who'd come between her and Cyrus.

Once Tara found out, she'd flipped a table over in front of the entire class. She pointed at the classmates responsible and snapped, "Zach is my rightfully engaged fiancé. Anyone who spreads another rumor about him, don't blame me for what happens."

Back then, I'd believed I actually held a place in her heart. Looking back on it now, maybe she'd only been protecting her interests in my real status as the Tipton heir. It wasn't until Cyrus had quietly worked his influence on her that she stopped saying things like that at all.

The bell above the café door jingled. I came back to myself and found Tara's eyes already on me. She and Cyrus had apparently finished their interview.

Tara froze for a second, then her mouth curled into a mocking smile.

"I actually thought you'd run home crying to your parents. What, are you actually hiding out in here? Scared of getting yelled at?"

Cyrus stood beside her and gave her sleeve a gentle tug.

"Tara, don't talk to Zach like that. He must be feeling awful right now."

Watching the two of them play off each other, I felt something close to nausea rise in my chest.

"Awful?" I leaned back in my chair and looked at her coldly. "Why exactly would I feel awful over people like you?"