Chapter 4
"Do you have any proof that Natalie switched your test paper?" the teacher asked. His face fell instantly.
He didn't believe Aurora for a second.
Everyone knew I was a hard worker, while he'd heard rumors that Aurora cared more about having fun than hitting the books.
But I also knew this teacher was known for being a softie. Even if he didn't buy it, he wouldn't just shut Aurora down.
"No way. There's no way Natalie got first place. That should've been me. She must've switched our test papers. I demand to see the security footage," Aurora yelled.
"You just can't stand seeing Natalie do well, can you?" the girl who'd mocked Aurora earlier piped up again.
Just then, Liam raised his hand and stood up for me. "Natalie might be new here, but she works her tail off and is sharp as a tack.
"Sometimes, she's way ahead of me. I've asked her for help more than once. Accusing her of cheating is just plain wrong."
The students sitting nearby chimed in to back him up.
"No way, how could this happen? Where did it all go wrong?" Aurora muttered to herself.
She started spiraling, second-guessing everything.
In her world, she was supposed to be the one at the top this time, and I was meant to keep slipping until I got tossed aside for good.
Everyone thought Aurora was a joke now, but I knew her. She wasn't the type to give up that easily.
She was convinced I'd swapped our papers, and thought the only reason no one wanted to check the cameras was that I was a Vaughn.
After school, Aurora cornered me.
"I thought you were some kind of big shot, but in the end, you still have to rely on cheap tricks," she sneered.
"Don't get too full of yourself. I'll find a way to get the security footage and expose you for what you really are. Just wait. I'll ruin your reputation," she spat.
I ignored Aurora. All I needed was for her to pull up the security footage, and I was ready to turn this whole mess into my perfect opening to get my revenge on her.
In my previous life, I was hit by a car, left broken and bleeding in the street, and my future ended right there.
It was all because of Aurora.
I would never forgive her. I was going to make her pay.
The next morning, when I got to school, the Wilde couple was making a scene in the principal's office.
"Is there any justice left in this school? A student cheated and stole someone else's grades, and you're just going to let it slide?" they shouted.
Aurora had gone home and cried to the Wilde couple, claiming I'd stolen her first-place grade.
They might not have had much education themselves, but they knew that good grades meant access to resources and reputation. For a family like theirs, it was the fastest way to get ahead.
To make sure Aurora could be sold for a good price, they were bound to stir up trouble.
The principal had no choice but to call us both in.
Aurora shot me a smug look, but when she saw the Vaughn couple right behind me, her smile instantly disappeared.
"No way. How did they end up here? Natalie, what did you do to get them to come and stand up for you?" Aurora blurted out.
Back in my previous life, no matter how much Aurora tried to impress them, the Vaughn couple never bothered to get involved in her life at all, because deep down, they just thought she was a disgrace.
But I was different. My potential blew Aurora out of the water, and I even put her so-called genius sister to shame.
"The school awards ceremony is tomorrow morning. Do you want to come? I took first place in the whole grade," I said.
The Vaughn couple looked genuinely shocked. They hadn't expected me to achieve such a top result, and they didn't hesitate to say yes.
"That works out well. We haven't actually shown up together as a family since we adopted you," my foster mom said.