Chapter 1

The SAT scores were finally released. I, who had always been a straight-A student, scored a miserable 580.

For the first time in my life, my parents actually held me in their arms, gently comforting me: "It's okay, sweetie. We'll pay for an elite prep school so you can retake it next year."

With my eyes welling up with tears, I promised them, "I will definitely get into a top-tier school next year. I won't let you down."

They prepared a lavish dinner and, with warm smiles, told me to get some early rest.

Late that night, I heard laughter coming from my parents' bedroom.

Through the crack in the door, my twin sister’s voice drifted out:

"Mom, Dad, you guys are absolute geniuses! I'm going to Stanford!"

Holding my glass of water, I froze right at the turn of the hallway.

From inside the room came my mother’s voice. It was filled with a tenderness I had never once heard in my sixteen years of life.

"Don't worry, Chloe. She won’t find out. And even if she does, what can she possibly do about it?"

My father chimed in with a chuckle, his tone completely dismissive. "Exactly. You two look completely identical. Who could tell you apart? Besides, we’ve raised her for so many years. What’s wrong with her giving up her score for her sister?"

Then came my sister Chloe’s voice, carrying a slight hint of anxiety. "Mom, is there any chance she might hear us?"

"That little bookworm? She’s probably still locked in her room, obsessively checking her practice books. You know what she's like. She won't stop analyzing every single question ten times over until she's exhausted. She has no brainpower left to care about what we’re saying."

My mother sneered. "And even if she does hear, so what?"

My father added, "Your mom and I have already set everything up. We paid off the right people. As soon as the official acceptance letter arrives, we’ll throw a massive gala at the country club to celebrate our baby girl."

Only then did Chloe relax, her voice returning to that sweet, spoiled tone. "Thank you, Mom and Dad. I knew you loved me most."

I stood there in the dark, my hand gripping the glass so hard it began to tremble.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Just a few hours ago, the moment the SAT scores were released, I had logged in to check my results.

580.

I was completely paralyzed with shock.

My estimated score was at least a 1580. I had double-checked my answers for every section. My math and reading were practically perfect, and my essay was flawless.

I had even re-entered my registration ID three times to make sure there was no mistake.

But the screen clearly showed: Total Score: 580.

Thinking there was a system glitch, I refreshed it again and again. It was still 580.

I stumbled out of my room. My parents were in the living room watching TV.

When I told them my score, shock and deep concern instantly washed over their faces.

My mother was the first to rush over, wrapping me in a tight hug.

She rubbed my shoulders, her voice incredibly soft. "It’s okay, Nora. It’s just one test. Don't worry, we'll pay for a private prep program so you can retake it next year."

My father also came over, patting my back. "Don't be sad. It's just the SATs. You can always try again next year."

Chloe peeked out from her bedroom. She didn't say anything, but her eyes seemed to carry a look of concern.

At that moment, a wave of warmth had flooded my heart. I thought that even though they had never treated me very well growing up, at least in a moment of crisis like this, they were on my side.

For dinner, my mother had cooked a massive feast. There were prime rib, lobster, garlic shrimp, and my absolute favorite sweet and sour pork.

My father opened a bottle of expensive red wine and poured me a small glass.

"Come on, Nora. Let's make a toast. You didn't do well this time, but Dad doesn't blame you. Next year, we’ll get you into Harvard to show them all."

With teary eyes, I held up my glass, my voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Mom, Dad. I promise I’ll get into a great school next year. I won't embarrass you."

Chloe smiled from across the table. "Good luck, Nora. I know you can do it."

That dinner had felt so incredibly warm—so warm that it felt almost unreal.

Growing up, I had only ever seen Chloe receive this kind of treatment.

After dinner, my mother urged me to go to bed early, saying I had been under too much stress lately and needed to catch up on sleep.

Obediently, I took a shower, went back to my room, and lay down. But I kept tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

The number 580 kept flashing in my mind. No matter how I looked at it, it made absolutely no sense.

Throughout my three years of high school, my practice scores had never dropped below 1500.

A score of 580 was mathematically impossible for me.

Refusing to give up, I got out of bed and checked the portal again. Still 580.

I went online, cross-referencing my memory with the leaked answer keys over and over. I knew for a fact I had gotten those questions right.

By the time I had tossed and turned until 1:00 AM, my throat was burning with thirst. I finally got up to get a glass of water.

And that was when I overheard their conversation.