chapter 7

After I got back, it was the day when the SSAT scores were released. Rebecca flaunted her outstanding score report everywhere.

"Miss Rebecca Wrenley, you nailed it this time! You did even better than in the mock exams. Awesome!"

"We never see you study hard on a regular basis. If you put in a bit more effort, what chance would the rest of us have?"

"Sevyn studies like crazy all day long, yet she only gets those mediocre scores. You're so smart, Rebecca, and you've got the right mindset."

The classmates either genuinely complimented or just pretended to, which fully satisfied her vanity.

"Sevyn, let me have a look at your score report. Did you manage to score over 100 this time?" Rebecca said.

I ignored Rebecca, but the report was right there on the desk, and she picked it up herself.

Rebecca unfolded it cheerfully at first, but then her face turned as dark as a thundercloud.

She tore my score report to shreds right away.

"This can't be true! This is impossible! Sevyn, you cheated!" she roared, pointing at me.

Someone picked up the torn pieces, put them back together, and after reading, was as shocked as Rebecca. "Sevyn, your score is amazing!" she blurted out, wide-eyed.

*****

I ranked third in the whole city.

Not only did several high school recruiters contact the Wrenley family and camp outside the school to try to persuade me to enroll in their schools, but local TV reporters also came to interview me.

I seized every chance to appear in public, hoping to leave an impression on the public.

I acted so fast that the Wrenley family didn't have time to stop me.

When Michael and Evelyn found out, they were so furious that they locked me up.

Evelyn talked to me through the door, "Sevyn, let me make it clear. You have to follow Rebecca. Wherever she goes to high school, you go too."

I proposed, "But Mom, I have my own dream high school. How about you spend some money to let Rebecca go to Kingswood School with me... But Rebecca's score is so much lower than mine. Will she be able to keep up?"

Evelyn snapped, "Let Rebecca follow you? You're dreaming! To be honest, you were adopted by us just to accompany Rebecca. Stay at home obediently. I'll arrange everything and let you out when school starts.

"By the way, I've had the knives and scissors in your room taken away. Someone will bring you meals every day, so you won't starve."

I lowered my eyes and kept silent. Evelyn thought I had given in.

"Alright, it's settled." After saying this, she turned to leave.

I looked up and said loudly, "Mom, knives and scissors aren't necessary. I can use other things, like toothbrushes, bed sheets, and ceramic shards. Whatever's handy. Besides, even if you lock me up until school starts, it'll be a piece of cake for me to get a knife once I'm out."

Evelyn was so angry that she was speechless. "You..."

I softened my tone and said, "Mom, I can go to high school with Rebecca, but you have to promise me a few conditions."

Evelyn didn't say a word, but I knew she was waiting for me to list them.

I said, "First, I need two days of freedom on weekends. I don't want to stay at home with Rebecca or go out with her. Second, get me a mobile phone. Everyone else has one except me. Third, give me 50 thousand dollars as pocket money every month."

"Sevyn, don't push your luck too far!" Evelyn snapped.

I added, "Mom, you know my temper. Either let me go to Kingswood School, or agree to these three conditions. Otherwise, the news of you forcing the adopted daughter into death will definitely make the headlines."

At my words, Evelyn's face turned deathly pale with anger.