Chapter 6
Valerie jolted to her feet. “Noah…”
“What’s wrong?” I feigned surprise, turning to her. “Do you have an issue with my boyfriend and me studying abroad together?”
Noah glanced anxiously between me and Valerie, then at Jack’s thunderous expression, looking like a man being roasted alive.
I allowed my eyes to well up with tears. “Noah, have you fallen out of love with me?”
“When I was just an orphan, I didn’t dare promise you a future. Now that I’m a Crawford heiress, my brother can give you any opportunity you want. Don’t you want to skip a decade of struggling?”
“Riley, stop this nonsense!” Noah awkwardly pulled his arm away. “My foster parents are still here in the States…”
“They’d be thrilled for you,” I softly interrupted. “Besides, didn’t you say when you got your early acceptance that you’d give it up in a heartbeat to be with me?”
Valerie suddenly cut in: “Riley, studying abroad is a serious decision, you can’t just—”
“Then maybe nobody should go,” I declared flatly.
Turning to Jack, I continued, “I’ve suddenly realized that American education has its merits too.”
The atmosphere in the room instantly crystallized.
Jack, clearly more composed than the others, responded evenly: “Riley, you’re young. You don’t understand what’s best for you.”
“Whether I understand or not doesn’t matter. I just suddenly want to know what it feels like to graduate at the top of my class.”
“What are you implying?” Jack’s voice was quiet, but it dropped the temperature in the room by ten degrees.
“Exactly what I said.” I replied methodically. “The results aren’t out yet, so… who knows?”
15:32
They Stole My Identity. I Stole Their Future
3.1
Chapter 6
Camden let out a strange, forced laugh: “You didn’t even take the exams! Stop daydreaming!”
I turned to him, suddenly smiling: “What if I repeated senior year?”
“Repeat senior year?” Camden looked dumbfounded. “Have you lost your mind? Turning down elite European universities just to-”
“You don’t have a choice,” Jack calmly interrupted him. “A Crawford daughter doesn’t need to
compete in the rat race of American college admissions.”
“But brother, I love Noah,” I cut in, my voice carrying fake emotion. “If he stays, I stay. I have to
attend the same university as him. I’ll repeat senior year if that’s what it takes to be his
underclassman!”
Jack gave a slight, condescending laugh. “With your status, you could have any man in the world. Why waste time on-”
“You don’t understand love,” I interrupted firmly. “I only want Noah.”
As the standoff intensified, I suddenly changed tactics: “How about… we make a bet? If I lose, I’ll give
up Noah.”
“What kind of bet?”
I looked directly at Noah. “We’ll bet on Valerie’s exam results.” I smiled slightly. “If she earns valedictorian, I’ll let her have you. I’ll immediately leave for Europe and never look back.”
Valerie’s eyes suddenly lit up.
But she still pretended to hesitate: “Riley, what are you saying? Noah and I are just good friends…”
“Drop the act!” I called her out directly. “Noah is exceptional. It’s natural you’d be interested in him. But I won’t give him up unless you prove yourself worthy by becoming valedictorian. Only then will I step aside gracefully!”
Everyone fell silent.
“But if you don’t succeed…” I stared directly into Jack’s eyes, “I’m staying in the States and attending college with Noah.”
Noah’s expression grew even more troubled: “This…”
Chapter 6
The private room was terrifyingly quiet.
Jack’s lips curved into a calculating smile. “You’re quite the strategist.” He turned to Valerie. “What do you think?”
Valerie’s face brightened with confidence: “I accept.”
She looked at me with thinly veiled condescension. “Riley, you’re going to regret this.”
Camden straightened his posture: “Riley, you know Valerie has consistently ranked in the top three in our state. She performed exceptionally well on these Finals. She’s a lock for valedictorian, so stop embarrassing yourself and just go to Europe with your brother!”
I watched them calmly. “I don’t care. Either Noah comes with me to study abroad, or you convince me fair and square. Otherwise, I’m staying right here, and if you don’t agree, brother, I’ll appeal directly to my birth parents!”
“Then it’s settled,” Jack declared with finality. “When the results are announced, the loser accepts the
outcome.”
As he stood to leave, he gave me a meaningful look.
I returned a sweetly innocent smile.
Sorry, but in this lifetime, I’m the one writing the script.
3.0
