The Blank Exam Gambit

My confident declaration went viral almost immediately.

People dug into my school and my grades, then uncovered that I was the Kaplan family's biological daughter, only recently brought home.

[An heiress who's also a genius! Some people really are born with everything!]

[A swan is still a swan, even if she grew up in the wild. You can't hide that kind of brilliance!]

My younger sister, Daphne Kaplan, walked toward me while reading the comments from her phone in a mocking tone. "A top university? You haven't even received your score yet, but you sure know how to brag.

"Besides playing tricks to get attention, what else can you do?

"A genius heiress? Please. It'll be hilarious when you can't even get into an ordinary trade college."

In my previous life, I'd thought she treated me this way because she was afraid I'd take some of Dad's love away from her.

It wasn't until I was dying that she twisted her face into a sneer and said, "Do you think Mom and Dad would've brought you home if your grades couldn't help me get into a top university?

"You're a backward, ugly little nobody. Even they were embarrassed to be seen with you."

Only then did I realize that my father had planned from the beginning to let her steal both my score and my life.

Now, though, I couldn't help laughing as I looked at her.

Her brows drew together when she saw me smile. "I'm warning you, the Prescott family would never choose trash like you for a marriage alliance.

"I'm the true lady of this house, and I'm the one who's going to become Mrs. Prescott.

"You're nowhere near qualified to compete with me."

The Prescotts. Julian Prescott.

In my previous life, I'd secretly had feelings for him, but now I saw him for what he was: a mediocre man with an absurdly high opinion of himself.

I knocked her hand away and said with a bright smile, "Wow, really? That's incredible. You're amazing!"

Her mouth opened, and confusion flashed across her face.

Just then, Lydia Kaplan - the wealthy socialite who was supposedly my mother - came up behind her with a smile. "Of course our Daphne is amazing. Unlike certain people, she doesn't need to put on an act."

Daphne looked even more smug once Lydia arrived. "Tomorrow is the school's score-release ceremony. I'll show you what real ability looks like!"

I sneered inwardly and said nothing more.

I was also looking forward to seeing her face once the scores came out.

Early the next morning, I'd barely stepped out of my room when a blur of pink slammed into me.

Caught off guard, I nearly tumbled down the stairs.

Daphne stood there in a custom couture gown, looking down her nose at me. "Why are you blocking the way like a dog? You almost made me fall."

The gown had clearly been custom-designed by my foster mother for my graduation ceremony.

I wasn't surprised. Daphne had stolen it in my previous life too.

When she saw me staring, she smiled triumphantly. "Oh, right. Dad said everything in the Kaplan family belongs to me, so this dress is mine too."

I shrugged. Since she loved stealing my things so much, she could steal to her heart's content.

I only hoped she'd still love the dress when she ended up standing naked in front of everyone later.

Hearing the commotion, Lydia came out and beamed at the sight before her. "Only someone as beautiful as our Daphne deserves to wear a Draper Atelier gown."

"Draper Atelier?" Daphne stared at me in shock. "How could a broke country girl like you possibly afford this?"

"I know! That man who drove you back to school last time must've bought it for you!"

The moment she finished, my father came up behind us. "What man? You've been associating with disreputable men behind our backs? Have you no shame?"

I laughed. "So you're making up sexual rumors about me now?"

My father froze, apparently not expecting the daughter who'd always been timid to talk back.

Daphne burst into tears and threw herself into his arms. "Dad! If some man didn't buy the dress for her, then she must've stolen it!"

Stolen it?

My foster mother had founded Draper Atelier herself.

Why would I ever need to steal from it?

And that man wasn't some stranger. He was my foster brother, the youngest CEO of a publicly traded company in Westbridge.

The Kaplans and Prescotts might think they ruled this city, but one word from my brother could strip them of everything.