Chapter 11

It didn't take long for the results of the investigation to come out. The state Department of Education issued an official statement. It read, "The investigation determined that Olivia Clark had fraudulently used her twin sister Victoria Clark's SAT score as her own. The employees involved have been placed under investigation. Olivia Clark's admission has been revoked, and her SAT score has been invalidated."Mr. Vance was fired from his position at the school, while officials in the district admissions office were also investigated and held accountable. My parents were also placed under investigation for allegedly paying bribes. Once the story hit the news, it sparked a huge public backlash. The story of twin sisters whose parents had switched their SAT scores quickly went viral, drawing a flood of angry comments online.One comment read, "What kind of parents would do that to their own kid?""The younger sister had to know about it too, right? What kind of people are they?"

Chapter 12

Autumn arrived, and a new academic year began. I stood at the college gates with my suitcase in hand, looking up at its name gleaming in gold above me. This was my college. I had earned my place here with a score of 1470. After everything I had been through, it was finally mine. I took a deep breath, then walked through the gates. Sunlight bathed the campus, reaching every corner. The sycamore leaves were beginning to turn yellow, and they rustled whenever the wind stirred them.I walked along the tree-lined path, surrounded by new students whose faces glowed with excitement and anticipation. I was one of them now. I was no longer the girl who hid in a corner and ate cold leftovers, the girl her parents had used as a tool, or the girl who had spent her whole life feeling unloved.I was someone new now. …When I checked in, the academic advisor looked over my file and smiled. "Victoria Clark, 1470. You have the highest score in the department this year."I smiled and said

Chapter 13

By the end of September, the weather had begun to cool. The leaves on the campus trees had begun to turn yellow. Whenever the wind picked up, they came fluttering down, carpeting the ground. Gradually, I settled into college life. I got used to the food in the dining hall, my roommates' antics, the professors' accents in class, and even the sound of pages turning in the library.Every now and then, I found myself thinking about the past. But those memories had faded like old photographs, growing blurrier with each passing day. …In the middle of October, Ms. Ross called me. "Victoria, how have you been?"Her voice was as gentle as ever, with a slight rasp to it."I'm doing well, Ms. Ross. My classes aren't too demanding, and I've been eating well. I've even put on a few pounds."I heard her laugh on the other end. "That's good to hear. You were always so skinny. A few extra pounds will do you good. Oh, I wanted to tell you that the verdict in your case is in."I tightened m

Chapter 14

During my sophomore year of college, I heard what had become of Olivia. Emma, a distant cousin from back home, was the one who told me. She said Olivia had gone south and found a job at an electronics factory, working on an assembly line. She'd found a boyfriend there, a man from out of town whose family was struggling financially.She worked at the factory for more than six months before getting pregnant. Then, she quit her job, followed the man back to his hometown, and married him there.Emma sent me a few pictures. Olivia had gained a lot of weight. She wore a flower-print coat, and her hair was loosely tied back, her face blank. She held a baby whose face was streaked with snot, the child bawling in her arms. Behind them was a rundown house with crumbling walls. Much of the plaster had fallen away, and plastic sheeting covered the windows. I zoomed in on the pictures and stared at them for a long time. That face, identical to mine, looked exhausted and numb.Then, I d

All Chapters of My Family Celebrates When I Flunk the Exams: Chapter 11 - Chapter 14

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14