Chapter 3

After the weekend passed, Monday morning arrived.

The second I set foot on campus, I marched straight into the guidance counselor's office with a printout of Maya’s nomination file.

"Mrs. Hayes, I need to know why my National Olympiad Gold Medal from last fall is credited under Maya Vance’s application."

The room went dead silent.

Several staff members and student aides snapped their heads toward me.

Mrs. Hayes barely glanced at the paper. Her expression didn't even shift.

"Chloe, Maya achieved an equivalent honor and met all holistic admission criteria. The decision is perfectly valid."

"What about me, then? I earned the gold medal with my own hands. Why was my name removed from the nomination list?"

Whispers erupted among the students sitting at the study tables.

"Wait, Chloe Vance didn't get the early recommendation? She’s literally ranked number one in our entire grade."

"I know Maya, she’s the popular girl in homeroom 3. Since when is she a science genius?"

"Genius my ass. Her homeroom's average physics score was twenty points lower than ours on the last mock exam..."

Mrs. Hayes cleared her throat sharply.

The whispering died down instantly.

She leveled an authoritative, condescending glare at me.

"Chloe, there is always someone better than you in this world."

"The school selected Maya instead of you because her overall profile and leadership qualities far exceed yours."

"Get your priorities straight and fix your attitude. Don't let this petty jealousy ruin your final exams."

With that, she picked up her red pen and went back to grading papers.

No matter what I asked, she treated me like thin air.

By the end of the school day, not a single administrator had offered an explanation.

Fine.

If no one would give me justice, I’d take it myself.

As I was leaving the main hallway, I ran dead into Maya and her clique.

She deliberately rammed her shoulder into mine, knocking my heavy backpack to the floor.

She crossed her arms and looked down her nose at me.

"Are you the pathetic loser running around telling everyone I stole your recommendation spot?"

I didn't answer. I knelt down to pick up my bag.

Maya lifted her foot and stomped hard on my backpack, grinding her designer sneaker into the fabric.

"What a piece of cheap trash," she sneered, rotating her heel. "You almost got dirt on my shoes."

Her friends immediately chimed in.

"Seriously. Poor people are always so bitter. Just because she’s a nobody, she hates on people with real money."

I stared at the sneakers on Maya’s feet.

They were the ultra-rare, limited-edition designer kicks circled in red ink in my dad’s private journal, captioned: To celebrate my baby girl’s college nomination.

That reward was supposed to be mine.

Now, they were worn by a thief.

I grabbed the strap of my backpack and yanked it with all my strength.

Off balance, Maya stumbled backward and nearly fell flat on her butt.

Her voice turned shrill and furious.

"Chloe Vance! Did you just try to push me? Do you have any idea who my dad is?"

Her friend snickered.

"Maya’s dad runs a massive private firm. He pulls in millions and is close personal friends with the board of trustees. You are so dead."

Maya tilted her chin up, looking at me with pure arrogance.

"Get on your knees and lick my shoes clean, and maybe I’ll consider letting this slide."

"Otherwise, I’ll have my dad completely destroy you and your family!"

I looked into her eyes and smiled.

"Sounds great. I’ll be waiting for your dad to come destroy me."

Without another word, I picked up my scuffed backpack and walked away.

Maya screamed curses at my back, but I didn't stop. I kept my spine straight, even though a freezing wind seemed to howl through the hollow ache in my chest.

As soon as I walked out the school gates, my phone buzzed.

It was a text from my dad.

[Chloe, are you home yet?]

[Not yet.]

He replied instantly: [Hurry back. Dad bought you a present.]

I froze.

In eighteen years, this was the very first time he had ever bought me a gift.

A sudden, humiliating burn stung the back of my eyes.

Before I could type a response, he sent an image.

[You said you liked this brand, right? The shoes were way too expensive, so Dad bought you a pair of athletic socks instead. Good luck on your upcoming exams, sweetie.]

In the photo was a cheap three-pack of plain athletic socks.

Right next to them on the shopping counter was the shoebox for the exact limited-edition designer sneakers on Maya’s feet.

The warmth behind my eyes vanished instantly, replaced by sheer ice.

His love for me was nothing more than a free promotional throw-in from the purchase he made for his mistress's child.

I stared at the picture and slowly tapped out a reply.

[Thanks, Dad. I also prepared a gift for you.]

A very, very big gift.