Chapter 2

The family group chat went silent.

A moment later, my phone practically exploded with notifications.

Dad was overseas attending an international tech summit. He had his assistant pause the meeting and video-call me.

"Ten points higher than last time! My girl is improving!"

He looked happier than he did when he was named Person of the Year by Global Tech Review.

"So what if you're in last place? I've already arranged a spot for you at a prep program affiliated with one of the top universities overseas. No matter how you do on your college entrance exams, you'll be able to study whatever you want."

Before I could even reply, my oldest brother, Adam Thompson, the tech mogul, sent a screenshot of a stock transfer. "A ten-point improvement deserves a big reward. 20% of the company is yours."

My second brother, Brandon Thompson, a business tycoon, immediately followed up with a picture of a limited-edition sports car. "Pick any color you want."

My third brother, Caleb Thompson, an A-list movie star, was even more ridiculous. "I had the amusement park cleared out for the day. It's all yours. I'm coming to pick you up from school now."

My fourth brother, Daniel Thompson, a renowned doctor, chimed in, "Come to the hospital first. I'll give you a full checkup. Don't overwork your brain."

My fifth brother, Evan Thompson, a top lawyer, said, "My court session was canceled today. I'll put on a drone show for you tonight."

My sixth brother, Francis Thompson, a champion fighter, wrote, "If anyone laughs at you for coming in last, give me their name. I'll teach them a good lesson."

"Do not!" I typed back so fast that I almost sent the message twice.

They'd been spoiling me for as long as I could remember.

Mom died giving birth to me, and I was born seven months premature, weighing barely three pounds. The doctors said it was a miracle I'd grown up healthy.

Dad and my brothers treated me like their little princess. Too bad the royal family skipped me when they were handing out brains.

I'd been dead last on pretty much every test I'd ever taken.

Back in middle school, one teacher had even called me "stupid".

When Francis heard about it, he cornered the teacher in the gym and nearly beat him senseless. Adam had to rush over and pull him away.

That was why I didn't tell them about Jamie breaking my phone. Otherwise, they would've shown up at my school and turned the place upside down.

By the time my phone was fixed, it was already noon. I grabbed a bottle of water and headed back to school for afternoon classes.

The moment I walked into the classroom, I noticed that everyone was avoiding me.

But Hannah walked right up to me. "Alice, I really don't blame you."

Before I could process that, she said through tears, "I'm just upset... My family doesn't have much money. The winner gets 50 thousand dollars, but second place only gets 20 thousand dollars.

"You've had everything you've ever wanted since you were a child. 30 thousand dollars is nothing to you. But that's over half a year's wages for my mom."

I immediately held up a hand. "Stop right there! Everyone has their own problems. What does any of this have to do with me?"

Jamie happened to walk past and heard that. His expression darkened instantly. "Alice, after what you did to Hannah, you're still acting like this?"

Hannah quickly grabbed his arm. "Don't, Jamie. Alice didn't mean it. You don't have to keep defending me."

But the more she tried to stop him, the angrier Jamie looked.

I ignored them and spent the entire afternoon grinding through practice problems in the library, determined to do better in my language class.

By the time the bell rang, I headed to the cafeteria, but my student ID card was nowhere to be found.

I had no choice but to enter my student ID number and use the facial recognition scanner.

The machine beeped. "Insufficient funds."

I froze.

Adam had just reloaded 50 thousand dollars onto my card.

I pulled up my transaction history and saw more than a hundred charges packed into the list—smoothies, fried chicken, gourmet cupcakes, fruit bowls...

Someone nearby laughed and remarked, "Didn't you know? Jamie took your card and bought the whole class treats under Hannah's name. He said it was his way of making you pay back that 30-thousand-dollar prize money you cost her."

I whipped around, ready to confront him.

But after only two steps, my vision went dark at the edges.

I hadn't eaten breakfast. I'd spent lunch getting my phone fixed, then studied for hours that afternoon. My stomach was painfully empty.

I grabbed the edge of a cafeteria table to steady myself, but the room only tilted further. Then every sound around me faded, like someone turning down a volume dial.

My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor.