Chapter 1 The Day the Exam Broke Me

The day exam scores came out, the entire school was buzzing.

"Caspian's the national top scorer!"

The students around me groaned in frustration. Everyone here had IQs over 140, true prodigies. But like me, we all came from poor families. From first grade, we'd been handpicked for sponsorship.

They started with a hundred students, then the first round of selection cut down the numbers after the middle school exams. The state top scorers, along with regional champions, totaled forty. All of us were sent to Crownridge to spend three years at Crownridge High School, sponsored by the Sage family.

"Even if I had no chance, shouldn't Miles have taken first?" someone muttered. "Did Caspian cheat?"

"Maybe Aveline helped him behind the scenes! They've been dating secretly since freshman year. Otherwise, how could he score three points higher than Miles?"

I glanced at my own score and felt a flicker of doubt. Something didn't add up.

Last life, I had scored one point higher than Caspian. This time, I'd only missed one true-or-false question, so I should be one point behind him. Why was I three points behind instead? Had there been a glitch in this second chance at life?

Aveline saw Caspian's score and squealed like a bird, clinging to him in excitement. "Caspian, there's no escaping now!"

Caspian grinned smugly, parading around the school with Aveline draped over him. When they passed by me, Aveline shot me a cold, hostile look.

My heart skipped a beat. I wasn't the top scorer this time, so why the intense hostility?

Aveline had to have been reborn too. That explained the three-point gap. She'd secretly given Caspian extra points—probably two, just to be safe—unaware I had also come back to this life, missing a true-or-false question.

That was why I ended up three points behind him.

"You losers who couldn't beat Caspian, don't be too sad!" Aveline crowed from Caspian's shoulders. "My dad will sponsor your college, and he'll even cover your weddings and kids!"

She looked down at us like we were stray dogs.

I was still frozen in disbelief when the principal grabbed me and dragged me to his office. He closed the blinds, cut the security feed, and slammed two fists into my face.

"What's wrong with you? Twelve years as the national top scorer, and you mess up at the crucial moment?" he yelled, glaring at me.

Blood ran from my mouth. I tasted iron. "Mr. Duskwood—"

"Did you know people were betting online on your score? I put in ten million! You brat! That was my life's savings!" He smashed another pair of punches into me.

I was bruised and battered all over. He threw me out of his office, and I slumped in the hallway, watching Caspian stroll out of the vice principal's office, smug as ever.

The only person who'd bet correctly in this game? The vice principal. Caspian was the top scorer, and she had just pocketed nearly a hundred million dollars.

I dragged myself home, clutching my score sheet, only to be beaten again by my dad.

"I already bragged about it! Told everyone my son was the national top scorer! What the hell happened? You drop the ball at the most important moment! How am I supposed to face people?

"The principal had handed me the money, and I'd have to return it! What a curse, giving birth to a useless son like you!"

I froze. "Money? What money?"

Dad slammed a thick stack of cash on the table. "The principal knew you were the top scorer and had a bonus ready! I thought for sure you had it in the bag! I've already spent eighty thousand. How the hell am I supposed to give it back?"

I collapsed on the floor. A second chance at life had not prepared me for this mess.

In my last life, I was the top scorer. My dad was proud, the principal was supportive, and none of this ever came to light. This time, just to stay alive, I had to give up the top score, and then I discovered that the principal had been playing games behind the scenes.

And that eighty thousand? Of course, my dad had used it for gambling.

I forced a bitter smile. A son must repay his father's debts.

"Dad, Clara Lark has always liked me. You offended her family back then because you refused to move your fish shop. Maybe I can appeal to her. With her backing, you could start your seafood chain."

Dad's expression softened. "Well, if the heiress is out of reach, marrying a mafia princess will work just fine."