Chapter 1

"I knew it," Mom sneered.

She pinched the acceptance letter between two fingers like it was a filthy piece of trash. "You've been stupid since you were little. All you ever did was tinker with that useless junk. It'd be a miracle if you actually got into university."

Right in front of all our relatives, she tore the acceptance letter bearing the seal of the Orivelle Institute of Technology, a university known for aerospace studies, in half. The scraps fluttered onto the red carpet in the hotel lobby.

I stared at the torn pieces on the floor without saying a word.

Ten minutes ago, I would have fought desperately to get them back. I would have shouted that it was real, that I'd gotten a perfect SAT score.

But now, that strange text message felt like a bucket of ice water, chilling me to the bone.

"That's enough. Stop embarrassing yourself at the entrance."

Dad frowned as he pulled my younger sister, Winnie Larson, behind him. "Today is Winnie's big day. Stop making a scene."

My brother, Wade Larson, stepped forward and planted his foot on the torn half of my acceptance letter. "Sadie, even if you're jealous of Winnie, you don't have to stoop this low. Forging an acceptance letter from a top-tier university? Are you trying to get yourself arrested?"

Our relatives whispered among themselves, their murmurs pricking at me like a thousand tiny needles.

I lowered my head.

A pair of custom-made leather shoes came into view. It was Henry Carter, my childhood sweetheart, my boyfriend, and the heir to the Carter family.

We had grown up together. When we were 18, he confessed his feelings and promised to protect me for the rest of my life.

He stood there in a perfectly tailored suit, his demeanor gentle and refined, but his eyes were filled with scrutiny.

"Sadie, this is completely unacceptable."

Henry didn't even bother to hear me out. He'd already decided I was guilty.

"Winnie worked herself to the bone to get into Caelmont State University. She stayed up until midnight every night, and she's always been in poor health. Instead of being happy for her, you're pulling a stunt like this just to upset her."

Henry sighed and pulled out a delicate velvet box from his pocket.

I recognized it immediately.

Last month, we were walking past a jewelry shop when I paused to admire a celestial charm bracelet in the window.

Henry had smiled and told me that once my SAT results came out, he'd buy it for me as a gift.

Now, he opened the box right in front of me. Inside lay the expensive bracelet.

He turned around and fastened it around Winnie's wrist. "Winnie, this is for you. A little something to celebrate getting into university."

Winnie gasped and covered her mouth, her eyes instantly filling with tears. "Henry, this is too expensive. Sadie will be mad at me."

She cast a timid glance at me before shrinking behind Henry.

Henry gently patted her shoulder. "She didn't get into university. She doesn't deserve to wear it. You got into university. You deserve this."

Then he turned back to me, his gaze turning cold again. "Sadie, apologize to Winnie."

I looked at the diamonds sparkling on Winnie's wrist and adjusted my glasses.

The left temple of my glasses had snapped two days ago after Winnie sat on them. I'd held them together with clear tape, just enough to keep them on my face.

Back then, Henry had told me that once the SAT was over, he'd take me to get the best, lightest pair of anti-blue light glasses he could find.

Now, I realized his promises were nothing more than empty words.

I met Winnie's eyes, my voice calm. "I'm sorry."

There were no tears, no protest, and no attempt to defend myself.

Henry froze for a moment.

Normally, whenever something like this happened, I would argue with him through tearful eyes, desperately trying to prove my innocence.

But this time, I'd given in without a fight.

The surprise on his face quickly faded, replaced by a look of satisfaction. "That's more like it. She's your sister. You shouldn't be so petty about every little thing."

Out of habit, he reached out to ruffle my hair.

I turned my head, avoiding his touch.