Chapter 3

When I got to school, I immediately spotted Anna Smith, the girl who used to help Yara bully me.

Anna, another Clusian, wasn't here for a degree. She was husband-hunting.

Ignored by everyone, she latched onto the only fellow Clusian in sight: the so-called Ludwig heiress, Yara.

Even after the truth came out, she stayed, grinning, and helped them finish me off.

I still remember that nasty look on her face.

After the video was finished, Anna yanked my hair and hissed, "I don't care which one of you is the real Ludwing heiress. All I care about is what you're worth. And clearly, you're not worth anything to me anymore."

Anna kept staring at me from the moment I walked in. Guess a fresh Clusian face was hard to miss around here.

I planned to befriend her myself and see what she was about.

I took the seat right next to Anna and said hi in Clusian.

"Hey, are you from Clusia?" I asked.

Anna's eyes lit up, and she burst out, "Oh my gosh, it's fate. I can't believe I ran into another Clusian here."

As she talked, she kept sizing me up, watching me closely.

I just nodded and gave her a cool smile, putting on my best Ludwing heiress act.

After that, I kept quiet.

Anna did all the digging, and I only let slip what I wanted her to hear.

Things like: "I've been to a bunch of countries since I was a kid, and I think studying here is pretty cool.

"My dad thought I was lonely, so he bankrolled a study-abroad companion to tag along.

"I'm living with that companion now."

Anna asked, "So, where's that companion?"

I scanned the room and frowned; no Yara.

Was she plotting again, or had she bailed because she couldn't scrounge an outfit?

"No idea," I replied casually.

Just then, a teacher walked in, and right after he entered, there was a knock at the door.

Then I heard someone ask in Velmoran, "May I come in?"

I glanced over and saw Yara.

She was wearing my clothes.

How did she even get in my room?

Yara quickly looked away when she caught me staring.

Once she walked in, she introduced herself in flawless Velmoran.

I had to admit, my cheating dad, William Ludwing, really went all out for Yara.

After her introduction, Yara took a seat in the front row.

I watched her back with a cold stare.

Guess she was really scrambling now.

Anna caught me staring at Yara's back and asked, "You know her?"

I raised an eyebrow and said, "Yeah, that's the companion my dad set me up with."

Anna perked up. She asked, "Why didn't she even say hi? And seriously, she looks nothing like any broke student I've ever met. Have I been gone from Clusia so long that 'poor' now means designer tags?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her. She was just as dense as ever, just like in my previous life.

No wonder she ended up taking the blame for Yara, just so Yara could waltz into the Ludwing family with zero baggage.

I said slowly, "Who knows? Maybe the thief's too scared to look the rightful owner in the eye."

Anna finally took a good look at what Yara had on.

The clothes were clearly way too tight on Yara: totally the wrong size.

After my little hint, Anna immediately caught on.

She exclaimed, "No way. This is a live-action cautionary tale: the snake you feed turns around and bites you."

I just smiled and didn't say anything else.

Yara spent the whole day deliberately keeping her distance from me, sitting as far away as she could.

Honestly, it was just ridiculous.

After the opening ceremony, I went home alone.

I was honestly dying to know how Yara managed to get into my room.

As soon as I got back, I went straight to check my lock. It was open, but there was no sign of forced entry.

Without a second thought, I called the cops.