Chapter 1

At the banquet celebrating the college admission of a student my dad had sponsored, a middle-aged lady, slightly drunk, let slip the secret.

"It's all because of Professor Murphy's doing. Even though Scarlett was nine points short, he still managed to get her into Scotland University."

I thought she was just joking, "Ma’am, my dad is an upright man. He wouldn't help me even if I was just one point short. Why would he help others? Scarlett got in on her own efforts."

Seeing my disbelief, the middle-aged lady became anxious, ignoring her daughter who was desperately trying to pull her away.

"How could it not be? Scarlett scored 679, nine points short of the math major's cutoff. Professor Murphy even said he'd take her on as a graduate student. Aren't you Professor Murphy's daughter? Why didn't you go to Scotland University?"

I slowly turned to look at my parents. My mom seemed a little guilty.

"Helena, Scarlett's family isn't well-off. She wouldn't be able to handle not getting into Scotland University. Meanwhile, you can't. We need to avoid suspicion."

Tears streamed down my mom’s face, impossible to wipe away.

"I understand now. So, parents can't be involved in my future. Then I won't be your daughter anymore.

——

That way, you won't have to go through all that trouble avoiding suspicion."

I couldn't bear to stay here even a second longer. I turned to leave.

I was immediately scolded by my dad, "Scarlett will be my student in the future. You, as my daughter, are leaving now. Doesn't that mean you're dissatisfied with her? Do you know how much this will affect her reputation?"

I looked at my dad in disbelief. He hadn't listened to me at all, or rather, he didn't care at all. He was only afraid that my departure would negatively impact the students he was sponsoring.

My mom came over to pull me away. "Leaving halfway through the meal? Where did your manners go? Even if it's a huge deal today, you should wait until the meal is over!"

Someone appeared out of nowhere and forced me back into my seat. The suppressed anger could no longer be contained.

I turned and overturned the entire table. The crashing sound drowned out all the noise.

I stared straight at my dad. "She was nine points short and you went to great lengths to get her into Scotland University. What about me? I was only one point short back then. Fine, I'm not as good as her, I can still get into Scotland University through graduate school."

"I got the highest score in the written exam, I was the best among those who made it to the interview stage and I won the most awards. But my chosen graduate advisor told me you don't want me to go to Scotland University. Tell me, why are you doing this to me?"

I completely lost control of my emotions. Tears and snot blurred my vision. I looked really awful.

Suddenly a slap landed perfectly on my face. My head tilted to one side.

"This is outrageous! Apologize to Scarlett right now!"

Scarlett's mother slapped her thigh and shouted, "Even if Professor Murphy paid for this graduation banquet, don't take it out on the food!"

I just sneered, "I failed in my business and owed you money. I asked you for a loan and you said you didn't have any. So all the money went to this."

I never held a graduation banquet back then, saying it was too ostentatious. But they specially prepared an 88-table banquet for outsiders back home to make a grand impression. All of it just for Scarlett Warner.

“Since you care about her so much, then let her be your daughter. From now on, unless it's a matter of life and death, don't contact me again!” I pushed them aside and strode away.

Dad didn't expect me to be so disrespectful; his face turned ashen with anger.

The phone kept ringing the whole way home; I couldn't keep up with the calls, so I simply turned off my phone. I bought the next available flight home. I only turned my phone back on when I got home.