Chapter 4

“Grandpa Sullivan, you’re truly blessed. Both your granddaughters are at the top of their class, maybe one of them could even become the state SAT champion!”

Grandpa Sullivan stroked his cane and gave me a calm, unreadable look.

“Since everyone is here today, I’ll make it official: whichever of you, Natalie or Vivian, scores higher on the SAT will be recognized as the heir groomed by the Sullivan Group.”

Mrs. Whitmore beside him nodded repeatedly.

“Then it’s most likely my future daughter-in-law, Vivian. After all, in the recent exams, she has consistently outscored her sister!”

At that, everyone immediately crowded around Vivian.

“Vivian, you’re brilliant! The position of Sullivan family heir is definitely yours.”

“Wow! With the union of the Sullivan and Whitmore families, if you become the Sullivan heir, Ethan will have every right to surpass his brother and inherit the Whitmore family! This is a perfect alliance of powerhouses!”

“You’re so lucky, attending a prestigious school and getting engaged to the man you love!”

Finally, it was time to check the scores. Vivian and I logged onto the website at the same time, but both pages were blank.

Many onlookers praised Grandpa Sullivan. “It seems both girls are in the top 50 in the state. The scores have been hidden. The Sullivan family is truly blessed!”

“Let’s see who really comes out on top.”

Vivian, calm and composed, walked over to me. “Thanks for working so hard. That way, you could be my stepping stone. Natalie, all your life, you’ve been my defeated subordinate.”

I sneered. “Is that so? I happen to think I might not lose this time.”

Ethan looked at me mockingly. “Natalie, don’t be so confident. Sometimes, things are just destined.”

The students standing nearby chimed in.

“Vivian is simply better at learning. She doesn’t even need to study, yet she scores higher than you. Can’t you just admit it?”

“Don’t be stubborn. I bet this time Vivian manipulated the scores again, just a little above her sister!”

I ignored their sarcasm.

Vivian pretended to be magnanimous. “It’s fine. I heard Yale gets advance notice and calls to recruit students.”

She was right. Yale did call. But not for her. They called for me.

In front of everyone, I answered call after call from admissions offices, listening to the country’s top universities offer me extremely generous terms. Everyone’s jaws dropped in shock.

A reporter couldn’t help but speak. “Even last year’s state champion didn’t get this kind of treatment. Could Miss Sullivan be the national SAT champion?”

Vivian’s face darkened.

The next second, a sudden burst of firecrackers went off outside. The principal and homeroom teacher, along with a group of officials, entered jubilantly.

Vivian beamed. “Looks like the best things come personally!”

I was slightly surprised. Could it be that, in this second life, the grading standards had shifted, and my perfect essay had points deducted?

Before I could figure it out, a group of people dressed as police officers appeared beside Vivian.

“Vivian, you are suspected of SAT cheating. Please come with us.”

“Impossible!” Vivian screamed hysterically. “You can’t accuse me of cheating just because I scored high!”

Ethan stepped forward to block the officers. “On what basis are you claiming Vivian cheated? Did someone report her? That’s all false!”

He shot a sharp glare at me as he spoke.

The officer spoke reluctantly. “No one even needed to report it.

“Vivian’s SAT score is 1610, while the maximum possible score is 1600!”