Chapter 3

She started pulling at my shirt, trying to strip me in front of everyone.

I clutched my clothes desperately, sobbing hysterically.

Finally, a teacher who couldn't stand it anymore stepped forward to stop her and brought her into the office.

After calming Aunt Helen down, the teacher got to the point and pulled out my exam results.

"The rumors will die down. Kids forget fast. Just buy Mia a couple of bras and it'll be fine."

"The real issue is Mia's grades this time... They're not good..."

When we got home, Aunt Helen took my report card to complain to Mom.

"I'm so jealous you have Clara. Great grades, obedient, adorable."

"Not like Mia. Today the teacher called me to school—I've never been so humiliated."

Mom's eyes flashed with relief and pride, though she offered comfort.

"Learning is mostly about natural talent. She'll get there eventually."

In Mom's eyes, I was the one without talent.

But she didn't know—in my past life, my grades were bad because of bullying. After Mom found out and transferred me to an advanced class, my grades still didn't improve.

Because by then, my best friend Luna had already been bullied to death.

This time, I swore I'd protect her.

After the first monthly exam results came out, Luna was targeted again.

Because she'd scored first place by a huge margin.

Using my knowledge from my past life, I quickly became friends with Luna.

I also discovered something shocking—the source of the bullying was Clara.

Luna had been threatened to put Clara's name on the next exam, or the bullying would continue.

I gave her advice: don't score as high next time.

But keep studying hard in daily life.

By the second monthly exam, Luna only scored twentieth in class.

Meanwhile, my grades skyrocketed. I became second in the entire class, drawing all the fire.

When I came home with my good grades, Dad, Mom, Aunt Helen, and Clara were sitting together like a tribunal.

Clara had bombed this exam. She cried pitifully and implied that I'd cheated with the help of the first-place student.

I didn't care what the others thought. Even when Aunt Helen hit me with a broom, I didn't move.

I just stared at Mom without blinking.

Soon, Mom looked at my report card and delivered her verdict:

"She definitely cheated. You don't have the talent. Your grades couldn't improve this fast."

"She did something wrong. A beating will teach her a lesson."

A bitter smile twisted my lips.

What was I even hoping for?

In the eyes of someone who doesn't love you, nothing you do is right.

But in the middle of the night, I found a bottle of painkillers lying quietly outside my door.

Mom's regular medication.

I bit my lip and brought it into my room.

Aunt Helen insisted I'd cheated and deliberately starved me as punishment.

I fainted from hunger at school.

This time, both Aunt Helen and Mom came.

Facing Mom's questioning, Aunt Helen instinctively threw me under the bus.

"She stole money from me, so I cut off her allowance. Don't you have some savings of your own? How could you faint from hunger? I think she's faking!"

I explained weakly, my face pale:

"Clara took my savings."

Mom called Clara over. Clara looked aggrieved:

"You're lying! You gave your savings to those delinquent boys in class."

With her real daughter backing her up, Aunt Helen tried to cement the accusation that I was dating delinquents.

But this time, Mom stopped her with a serious expression.

"Clara, you can't say things like that. A girl's reputation is important."

"If the meal card is lost, just report it and get a new one."

Aunt Helen was a bit afraid of Mom and mumbled into silence.

They all left.

I was lying there with an IV drip, eyes closed, when I felt movement under my blanket. I opened my eyes just in time to see Mom tucking money under my covers.

Caught in the act, Mom jerked her hand back and turned to leave.

But I called out to her:

"Mom!"

Her back stiffened, but she said stubbornly:

"I'm not your mother. Don't call me that."

But I persisted:

"I heard Clara call Aunt Helen 'Mom' in private. What if there was a mistake? What if you really are my mother?"

Mom's voice sounded flustered:

"Everyone wants an excellent daughter. Stop overthinking. I only have Clara as my daughter."

But "Clara Rivers" was the name you gave me in my past life, Mom.

I made up my mind not to let Mom keep deceiving herself.

Since she wanted an excellent daughter, I'd become excellent.

Becoming first place by a landslide should be enough, right?