Chapter 5

I stood backstage in the school auditorium.

Today was the senior class appreciation event, held after college application submissions.

Seraphina walked in, arm in arm with Asher, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

Her designer gown was a stark contrast to my plain white tee. Students immediately gathered around, showering them with compliments.

“They look amazing! A goddess and a genius, a match made in heaven!”

“Asher actually chose to stay and study domestically for Seraphina! Who could compare to that kind of devotion?!”

“Seriously, he was a shoo-in for Cambridge, and he just gave it up like that. So impressive!”

Seraphina echoed their laughter, her voice filled with gloating.

“Aubrey, dear, don’t blame Asher.”

“After all, a place like Cambridge is truly an unreachable dream for ordinary people.”

Students on the other side chimed in.

“Is Aubrey still standing there? Does she regret not holding onto Asher?”

“With her grades, does she really think she could get into Cambridge on her own? Overestimating herself!”

“She’s been his annoying shadow since childhood, now she’s finally been completely dumped!”

Asher waved his hand dismissively, looking even more smug.

“It’s nothing. That special admission slot? I can activate it anytime.”

“Worst case, once Seraphina gets tired of staying in the country, I’ll just take her to Cambridge for a couple of years of fun.”

His gaze fell on me again.

“Aubrey, who told you to push Seraphina that day?”

“You want to go to Cambridge with me? Heh, that’s absolutely impossible now.”

I looked at him calmly, without a single ripple of emotion.

Asher, seeing my indifference, his eyes grew colder.

He pulled out his phone from his pocket and opened an email.

“Perfect, Cambridge sent an email today.”

“It should be the final confirmation notice for that special admission slot.”

His voice was loud, as if deliberately letting everyone around him hear.

“It’s good to make some people give up completely. Don’t always covet things that don’t belong to you.”

Seraphina excitedly leaned over.

“Wow, an email from Cambridge!”

Just as Asher was about to open the email, the auditorium doors suddenly burst open.

Mr. and Mrs. Hayes walked in, their faces ashen.

They clutched a thin piece of paper tightly in their hands.

It was the vocational school admission letter that had arrived at their house a few days ago.

Mrs. Hayes spotted Asher immediately and rushed over.

“Asher! You ungrateful brat!”

She waved the admission letter, almost poking Asher’s nose with it.

“What is this?! Southwood Vocational School?!”

“Didn’t you say the Cambridge spot was yours, and you could go anytime?!”

Asher’s face instantly went pale as a ghost.

“Mom! What are you doing?!”

Mr. Hayes walked forward, his face grim.

“You rotten kid, did you really think you could hide this from us?”

“You better tell me honestly, what’s going on? You’re still lying!”