Chapter 2

Later that day, our homeroom teacher brought in a new girl, and the girl was Sophie.

"""Sophie's joining our class today. Let's all make her feel welcome,"" the teacher announced.

"

With that, the teacher stepped aside and let the students mingle.

Emily immediately ran up to Sophie, fawning over her. "She has no shame at all. After stealing your place for so many years, enjoying all the luxury that should've been yours, she still has the nerve to show up at school. And you—poor thing—you must've suffered so much, never eating well or staying warm growing up."

Sophie played the part of the understanding one, gently comforting her. "It's okay. This isn't Charlotte's fault. Maybe I just wasn't meant for that kind of luck. While she was dining on delicacies, I was making do with plain bread. While she slept warmly with the heater, I could only pull my blanket tighter against the cold wind.

"But at least I'm home now. The nurse who mixed us up back then has already been fired by the hospital, and my family is still pursuing legal action against her."

Sophie really knew how to cherry-pick the details. Anyone who didn't know better would think she'd been abused all those years living with my biological parents. Her performance was flawless—tears, trembling voice, the whole act.

I wasn't afraid of trouble. I'd just been choosing not to stir it. But if she wanted to spread lies, then fine—we could hash it out properly.

A trace of mockery flickered in my eyes, and I snorted coldly. "Emily, the way you switch sides is impressive. You should've gone into acting. Oh—wait. With that look, you'd probably just be stuck as a background character."

I was honestly pissed. Our school was a super exclusive academy for the rich. But every year, the principal made an exception to admit 30 high-achieving students from low-income families, waiving their tuition. Emily was one of them.

Our class was the honors track. According to the rules, she should've been transferred out long ago after ranking outside the top 70 six times in a row.

But since I was the top student and have a big-name family, I went to bat for her with the principal. That was the only reason she was still here.

After that, I tutored her privately, corrected her mistakes, and broke down problems step by step so she could understand them.

I never expected that the moment I fell from grace, even she would turn on me so quickly and rush to stand by Sophie's side.

Right in front of everyone, Sophie spoke again, looking all gentle and considerate. "Charlotte, I know it must be hard to fall from being a princess to a regular overnight. If you want, I can talk to Mom and Dad tonight and see if they'll let you come back."

The class quickly turned their fire on me, rushing to speak up for her.

"Sophie, you're just too kind. Don't even bother thinking about her. She's the fake one—giving everything back is only right."

"Seriously, how does she even have the guts to show her face around here? If I were her, I'd be too embarrassed to come to school."

"The fall must've been too much for her to take. Hogging someone else's parents for over ten years and getting used to it. I heard her real parents are still renting. Hilarious. Does anyone still not own a house these days?"

Sophie sat there, biting her lip delicately, eyes rimmed red, looking every bit the fragile victim.

I let out a scornful laugh. "Sophie, you're talking as if my parents abused you all these years. Funny thing—Lucas told me just yesterday that if the food didn't suit your taste, you simply wouldn't eat. Then you'd get hungry in the middle of the night and refuse everything except a sweet bread roll. My dad had to run around for over an hour just to buy it for you.

"Surviving on plain bread? Choosing not to eat and then blaming others—honestly, I should give you a round of applause.

"And sleeping in the cold wind? Please. You were so 'frail' you slept under four thick quilts and didn't wake up until ten in the morning—because you were too warm. If anything, tell your parents to buy you some vitamins and toughen you up."

Good thing Lucas had talked nonstop last night, or I wouldn't have had this much ammo today.

Sophie pointed at me, stammering, "Y-you—you—," and couldn't get a full sentence out.

I swept my gaze across the classroom. What a bunch of fair-weather friends.

Then I opened fire. "If you've got so much time on your hands, maybe spend it studying. Getting left in the dust by a poor kid is pretty embarrassing.

"And for the record, I actually love my real parents. You guys have no clue what's really going on, but you sure talk like you're experts. With all that fake wisdom, who can even tell you apart from Einstein?

Watching them all fall silent, I calmly picked up my water bottle and took a few sips. After all, my essays had won city-level awards. Schooling these losers was child's play for me.

"Charlotte, that's enough. Talking to your classmates like that isn't very appropriate." A low, calm voice cut through the dead-silent classroom.

It was Ethan Carter—Sophie's deskmate. He was also the person my adoptive parents had told me, ever since we were kids, would one day be my arranged match. Now, that role belonged to Sophie.

At this level, families didn't look for love. They looked for balance—status, resources, and business value. Romance alone was just window dressing.

If you enjoyed the family's privileges, you also carried its responsibilities. What protected you also boxed you in.

So even though I never had romantic feelings for Ethan, I'd gone along with the plan and kept things cordial.

Who the marriage was with didn't really matter. What mattered was being a Grant daughter.

The classmates lit up like they'd just been thrown a lifeline, nodding like crazy.

I shot him a cold glance. "Oh, I was so busy roasting them, I almost forgot about you."