Chapter 2

Countless calls and messages almost crashed my phone.

The first message I saw was from Mom.

[You really went too far today. We raised her like our own daughter. You have no idea how hard she's been through. Is it wrong for us to want her to have a better life?]

Scrolling down, I saw Dad's message.

[Scarlett is different from you. She's sensitive and sees Scotland University as her life's goal. She almost committed suicide after learning she wouldn't get in. I can't just ignore her. You made such a scene today, how can she face anyone? Apologize to her right now!]

I didn't read the rest and deleted it all.

A phone call came in. I meant to reject it, but my hand slipped and I answered.

“Helena, your mother said you're cutting ties with the family?”

It was my second uncle, Brian.

“Yes.”

“It's not that I'm criticizing you, but you're heartless. Your parents worked so hard to raise you and you don't want them anymore?”

He went on and on about how hard my parents had worked.

“Your dad just felt sorry for that the student he was sponsoring and wanted to help her out. There's no need to go to the point of disowning your parents, is there?”

I waited for him to finish, quietly watching the city lights. I didn't speak and my uncle's voice gradually faded.

“Uncle, I’ve always wanted to go to Scotland University.”

“We all know that…”

I interrupted him, continuing, “Back then, I missed the cutoff score by one point on the college entrance exam. I begged Dad for a favor. After all, he’s worked at Scotland University his whole life; helping me out shouldn’t be a problem. He said he despises people who use connections.”

Uncle Brian fell silent. I didn’t give him a chance to explain.

“But Scarlett got in, even though she was nine points short. For me, it’s about despising people who use connections, but it’s the same for others. Uncle, I’m his daughter, so I need to avoid suspicion, but don’t the students he sponsors need to do the same thing?”

“That’s a real double standard,” I said sarcastically.

Dad sponsored more than one student, but in terms of the level of investment and effort, I was always behind them. For them, my dad was a qualified teacher, the respected Professor Murphy. But for me, he’s not even a qualified dad.

A person’s time was limited; if it was given to them, there was really not much left for me.

My uncle stammered in defense, "Your dad was just doing a good deed. There's no need for you two to argue about this."

I had a terrible headache hearing that, "Uncle, I passed the entrance exam for Scotland University's graduate program last year and my interview went very well. I was practically guaranteed admission. But I didn't get in. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because my dad went to someone to prevent me from getting in. He thought if I got into Scotland University, people would say I got in through connections. Scarlett was directly selected as his graduate student. Isn't that ridiculous?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a long while, my uncle's voice finally came through.

"Try to understand your dad. He's a big professor. If a student he sponsors can't even get into the university his sponsor is in, he'll lose face."

I snapped. "Am I not giving them enough face? I've always been number one since I was little, winning awards here and there. Why can't I go to my favorite school just to avoid suspicion? And why should your child suffer for the sake of outsiders?”

“What kind of parents are these? What kind of logic is that? Tell them I'll take care of them in their old age, but only financially!"