My parents also made it clear he wasn't welcome.

He must have felt the shame, because he eventually stopped coming around.

In my last life, Lila got the study materials but still didn't get into college.

That's when they came up with the plan to steal my spot.

They hid it from me my entire life.

Things were quiet for a while after that, and I threw myself completely into studying for the SATs.

Finally, test day arrived.

Outside the testing center, I ran into Ethan and Lila, who were running late.

Compared to my calm focus, Lila looked tense and anxious.

Ethan, however, didn't seem to notice her anxiety; he just assumed she was upset because she saw me.

Now that things were out in the open with my family, he dropped the act.

"You actually dared to show up? I heard you've been studying really hard."

"What's it to you? Jealous?"

"Hmph. You're pathetic. Don't come crying to me when you see your score."

I had no desire to argue with them.

I glanced at Lila, whose eyes were darting around nervously, gave a small, cold smile, and walked into the testing center.

The time for the test began.

The bell rang.

I walked into that room carrying all my hopes and dreams.

The testing room was so quiet you could only hear the soft scratching of pencils on paper.

When the final bell rang, I put down my pencil and let out a long breath, feeling a wave of relief.

I was confident I'd done much better this time.

On my way out, I ran into Lila again.

She was waiting for me on purpose.

All her earlier tension and anxiety were gone, replaced by a look of smug satisfaction.

It was like she was already sure she'd gotten into a good school.

Thinking about my past life, a wave of unease washed over me.

"Grace, it doesn't matter how hard you try. You're never going to get ahead in life."

"Just you watch how Ethan and I get out of this dead-end town and leave you in the dust forever."

Lila's voice was a low whisper, meant only for me to hear.

I knew that Lila had an uncle who worked for the College Board.

Stealing my admission had to be connected to him.

But this time, I had anonymously reported her uncle for ethics violations weeks before the test.

He should still be under investigation.

The thought calmed my nerves a little.

Waiting for the acceptance letters was torture.

I went to the end of our driveway to meet the mailman almost every single day, terrified my letter would be stolen again.

The people in town thought I was overreacting.

The mayor even came by to talk to me.

"Grace, honey, there's no rush. If a letter comes for you, I'll bring it to your door myself. You don't have to camp out here every day."

"I can't, Mayor. I just don't trust it."

Just then, Ethan walked by and shot me a sideways glance.

"You still haven't given up? Stop embarrassing yourself out here. Look, I'm not a total monster. Your family was good to me over the years. When I make it big in the city, I'll pay you back."

I snorted.

Pay me back?

His idea of paying me back was to steal my chance at college, then show up like a savior, saying he wasn't ashamed of me and would still marry me.

I would have spent my whole life slaving for him, washing his clothes, cooking his meals, taking care of his every need, only to be looked down on by him forever.

"Get lost."

"You... you're unbelievable."

The mayor, seeing us about to fight, quickly stepped in to play peacemaker.

With the mayor there, Ethan and I didn't keep arguing.

But at that exact moment, a conversation between two people down the street made me freeze.

"Ethan and Lila, those two kids are really something, huh?"

"You said it. Both of them getting into college at the same time. They've really made this town proud."

My head started spinning, and I felt like I was going to fall over.

Their words drifted in and out of focus.

"I heard someone from the College Board is coming to deliver the letters personally. Said our town produced one of the top scorers in the state. A reporter from the local paper is coming, too. Lila and Ethan are over at the town hall right now, giving an interview."