Chapter 3

The group chat exploded instantly.

Todd Reynolds: [Tara and Cyrus are so generous!]

Sadie Gomez: [Is this an early celebration for you two getting into Boxwood? So sweet!]

Jamie Sparks: [We're definitely going! Wishing our Princess Tara and our school's golden boy a lifetime of happiness!]

In the middle of that wall of flattery, Sadie, who'd never much liked me, suddenly decided to stir up trouble.

[By the way, how come I didn't see Zach go in for the last exam today? Don't tell me he knew he'd fail and just skipped it out of embarrassment.]

The moment those words landed, the whole chat exploded. I stared at the lines on my screen and let out a cold laugh, then fired back without an ounce of restraint.

[Why don't you go ask Tara why I didn't take the exam?]

The message hadn't even finished sending before a wave of accusations buried me.

Sadie: [Zach, you skipped the exam yourself. Are you seriously going to blame Tara and Cyrus for it now?]

Jamie: [Exactly. If you don't have the talent, don't go slinging mud at other people. Why are you so vicious?]

Todd: [I've always found you annoying, honestly. Acting like some rich heir, hanging all over Tara every day.]

I looked at those familiar profile pictures, at every vicious little guess they threw my way. In four years of university, I'd barely touched their little social circle, keeping to myself and my studies.

In their eyes, Tara was the dazzling princess of a business empire, and Cyrus was the gentle, considerate heir of a wealthy family; the two of them were simply meant to be. As for me, the country bumpkin who'd clawed his way back into the family halfway through, I was nothing but a shameless third wheel who wouldn't take a hint.

Tara picked her moment and swooped in to smooth things over.

[Everyone, ease up a little. Zach's in a bad mood today. Skipping the exam was a big enough blow to him already.]

[Zach, you should still come to the dinner tomorrow and get your mind off things. I'll help you figure out a tutoring program for your retake.]

What a devoted, generous fiancée. On the surface, she looked like she was calming everyone down. In reality, she'd just casually cemented my guilt for "skipping the exam" without anyone noticing.

I watched message after message roll in, everyone falling over themselves to flatter Tara while taking jabs at me, and I suddenly felt sick of the whole thing. Wasting my time arguing with people this mindless felt like throwing my life away.

I opened the group settings and left the chat right then and there.

Less than thirty seconds after I left, a private message from Tara came through.

[Zach, why'd you leave the group? Who exactly are you playing the victim for? You have to come to the dinner tomorrow. Don't make my parents think you have no manners.]

I looked at her message without the slightest urge to respond, then blocked her and deleted the thread without a second thought.

The next morning, before I was even fully awake, Mother shoved my bedroom door open.

"Zach, why are you still sleeping? Get up and get ready; the celebration's about to start."

I rubbed my eyes and sat up, frowning. "Mom, I don't want to go."

Mother's expression hardened instantly, her voice turning sharp.

"You're not going? What do you think people will say about our family if you don't show up? That our own son is so jealous of his adopted brother's success he doesn't even dare show his face? Don't you dare embarrass me in this house. Get up and get ready, now."

I looked at the disgust on her face and let out a sigh. Right. In their eyes, I'd always be a useless showpiece, good for nothing but envying Cyrus. If I didn't go, it would only give them one more excuse to twist the story against me.