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Lahat ng Kabanata ng In Her Shadow: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 8

8 Kabanata

Chapter 1

My eyes were glued to the computer screen while my sister was busy picking out her college choices.I was back! Reborn!Remembering how distant our parents had been in my previous life, I vowed to look out for number one in this life.I was determined to break away from the crazy, loveless family I was born into.I gave Jennifer Scott a chilly glance."Make up your mind. I'm not going to waste my energy on you."Jennifer, all smiles, was heading off to a junior college in some small city with her boyfriend.Meanwhile, I secured a spot at the prestigious Viventis University, ranked among the top ten in the country.I thought I would finally have a smooth sail through life this time.However, a month into the semester, Jennifer's no-good boyfriend cheated on her.She ditched her classes and came home in tears.Our parents, who were mad about her picking that college, melted when they saw her looking so pitiful."Dad, Mom, I wish I'd chosen a university!"What am I going to d

Chapter 2

I grabbed my suitcase, ready to walk out, but my dad's grip on my arm was like iron."Where do you think you're going? Did I say you could leave? This is how it's going to be. You're swapping schools with Jen!""Why should I?""Why? You owe it to Jen! If you hadn't let her make that mistake, would she have ended up at a junior college?"I could not help but scoff. "Her grades were mediocre at best. Why should I give up my spot at a top university for her?"My dad's voice was icy. "After all the trouble you've caused Jen, you think this is unfair? Be grateful we're not making you drop out to wait on her hand and foot. Your mother and I are being more than generous!"You've always been this way, as unpleasant to look at as you are on the inside. You're nothing like Jen with her beauty and kindness. Maybe this will set you straight.""If I'm so hideous and Jennifer is so gorgeous, how could she possibly take my place at school?"People would spot the difference in an instant, woul

Chapter 3

Their words were supposed to sting, but I found them amusing. Jennifer stood by, listening. Did she feel even a twinge of guilt since the barbs were meant for her?Sadly, she did not.Her face was a mask of smug satisfaction.The tutor and my classmates stood frozen, utterly bewildered.My parents jabbed their fingers at me, their voices rising in accusation as they said, "This girl is not Ella. She's our other daughter, Jennifer! She's green with envy over Ella's acceptance into a prestigious school, and now she's trying to steal her identity!"All eyes in the classroom turned to me.Tears streamed down my face as I shook my head. "No, it's not true. You guys have to believe me. I'm Ella! My parents wanted me to switch places with my twin sister, but I refused. They wouldn't take no for an answer!"My dad marched up to me and delivered a stinging slap across my face."Spouting lies in front of everyone? Enough with your lies. You're my daughter. Do you think I can't tell you a

Chapter 4

I got why she was mad.I mulled it over for a sec, and then I said, "Guess I'll skip the dorm life.""Skip the dorm? You want to blow more cash having a blast outside?"I managed a wry smile. "There's this little eatery near campus. I can snag a gig there and crash in their kitchen at night."Don't sweat it. I won't cause any trouble. If you're worried, feel free to video check on me anytime."I was about to bounce when the lecturer showed a soft spot. "You should probably report those pictures to the cops. It's not good, leaving them up."I just laughed and shook my head. "Nah, let them be."Those pictures were not of me, anyway.I would set the record straight someday.No classes meant I was at the snack shop, hustling.At night, I would curl up in the sweltering kitchen, drenched in sweat, on a bed so cramped I could barely roll over.The lady who ran the place took pity on me and tossed a few extra bucks my way. I was thankful, especially since my parents had cut me off,

Chapter 5

Four long years had passed since I last stepped foot in my childhood home, and the welcome I received was not filled with the warm concern of my parents. Instead, my dad hit me with a harsh demand right off the bat."Ella, it's time you hand your identity back to Jen! You'll be Ella now, and let Jennifer go on to Kingsford University for her grad studies!"I could not help but let out a bitter laugh."Why should I? I'm the one who busted my tail for four years to earn my spot in grad school. Why does she get to take it?"My dad's voice thundered with fury. "What do you mean? Take it? That grad school spot was always Jennifer's!"The acceptance letter had Jennifer's name on it. You were only filling in for her. So, giving it back to her is the right thing to do!""And what about me?" I asked."You? Take your high school diploma and do whatever, work in a factory, wait tables, nobody cares!"Just give everything that belongs to Jen back to her!""Give back? What have I ever take

Chapter 6

The professor flashed a reassuring smile. "Just take a seat. You don't have to say a word. I'll handle the reporting. By the time this press conference wraps up, you'll be the name on everyone's lips."Jennifer settled into her chair, a triumphant grin spreading across her face as she beamed at the camera.The professor cradled the thesis in her hands, launching into her presentation.However, in a heartbeat, her expression soured, her brows knitting together in concern, and she hurled the documents at Jennifer."What's going on here? This data is all wrong! It's ten times what it should've been!"How did you miss such a glaring error? You didn't even bother to check it before handing this report to me?"Do you have any idea how much the country has invested in this project? Your blunder has just flushed all that money down the drain, and our college's reputation along with it!"I'm calling the cops this instant. You're going to pay for this!"The word cops sent Jennifer into a

Chapter 7

The room was silent as the advisor played the video from the smart glasses onto the big screen. It showed everything: the moment I walked through the door, my parents pressuring me to switch back from Jennifer to Ella, every word and action laid bare for all to see.The crowd was stunned."Hold on. This is a lot to take in. I can't keep up!""What's there to get? It's simple. Ella got into a top university, but her parents forced her to swap with her sister and go to a junior college as Jennifer. Then, when Ella, as Jennifer, got into grad school, they lost their minds and made them switch back.""Are these parents nuts? Whichever daughter succeeds, she's still their kid. Why all this drama?""It's all about favoritism. I've heard that anyone who's that biased has got to be a little twisted. They probably couldn't stand seeing their eldest do well."The crowd's eyes darted with contempt between my parents and Jennifer.Cornered by the undeniable evidence, my parents dug in their

Chapter 8

I could not help but snort. Right there, with everyone watching, I slipped off my shoes and socks.My right foot was missing two toes.Back when we were kids, Jennifer and I had fought over a toy. Our parents, busy cooking, had rushed over to shield her. That was when our dad's knife dropped, slicing off two of my toes.They did not even bother taking me to the hospital. They only wrapped my foot up in some old rags and called it a day.That kind of pain had stuck with me, but they seemed to have forgotten all about it.I looked up, meeting the eyes of the crowd."The person in those photos had all ten toes. It was clearly not me."Nelson backed me up, saying, "Jennifer had a tattoo with my name on her lower back when we were together. She was scared it'd give her away, and told me to keep those photos hidden."I still have some shots of that tattoo, and it's proof that it's Jennifer in those pictures."And even if she had removed it, there'd be a scar."The reporters swivele

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