Chapter 3

My father's face darkened when he heard that. "What lies? Daphne has never told a lie in her life!

"You're the one who didn't grow up beside me. I have no idea what bad habits you picked up out there."

Daphne scoffed. "An acceptance package? The scores aren't even being released until today! How could you already have an acceptance package?

"You must be completely delusional!"

Lydia couldn't suppress her smile. "I know your jealousy of Daphne has nearly driven you insane, but that's no excuse to lie so shamelessly.

"Today's score-release ceremony is being broadcast nationwide. You're not only disgracing the Kaplan family, but dragging the school into it too."

The Prescott family members standing nearby all frowned.

Julian walked straight past me to Daphne's side. "Evelyn loved putting on an act at school. There's nothing surprising about this.

"A top university? She'll be lucky to qualify for a third-rate trade college.

"You should give up on trying to steal Daphne's place as the future Mrs. Prescott. I would never want someone like you."

Everyone expected me to lower myself before him the way I had in my previous life, but I burst out laughing. "You don't want me? That's hilarious.

"Have you been living under a rock without internet access? Do you truly have no idea how unimpressive you are?"

"You!" Julian's eyes narrowed, and his face went livid with rage.

His mother, Victoria Prescott, snapped, "How dare an illegitimate nobody speak to my son that way?"

Coming back to his senses, my father shoved me in front of the crowd. "You ungrateful daughter! Apologize to the Prescotts right now!"

At that moment, my phone began vibrating.

Messages from my foster mother and foster brother poured in one after another. They had clearly seen the livestream.

Before I could reply, my father snatched the phone from me and smashed it against the floor. "All you ever do at home is play with your phone. How could you possibly get into a top university?"

He pointed at my face, his voice trembling. "When you said you could do it, I was proud of you. Now I wish I could crawl into a hole and hide!

"Having a descendant like you is a disgrace to the Kaplan name."

I stared at my shattered phone and laughed in fury. "Then I won't be part of the Kaplan family anymore. Nothing would make me happier."

The instant I finished speaking, my father slapped me hard across the face. "You still dare to talk back?

"Since this is being broadcast live, I'll discipline you properly in front of the entire country!"

Lydia pretended to hold him back while secretly grinding her high heel into my foot several times. "Don't blame Evelyn too much. She grew up without proper parents, so poor character is only to be expected.

"Still, Evelyn, if you can't get into college, then you can't. You can always work as a janitor at my company. I promise I won't let you starve."

When she raised her heel to step on me again, I kicked her to the floor. "What mother? I don't have a mother like you."

Daphne reacted first and rushed toward Lydia with a sob.

My father drew a deep breath and raised his hand to slap me again. "You've completely rebelled against us!"

I moved aside before he could touch me.

My foster family had cherished me all my life. What right did this man have to hit me?

When his hand struck empty air, he put on a heartbroken expression. "Bringing you home was clearly a mistake!

"Since you have no respect for your parents or your sister, the Kaplan family will consider you no daughter of ours after today!"

Julian was the first to applaud. "After the humiliation Evelyn has caused in front of the whole country, the Prescott family could never accept her.

"Besides, everyone knows she's been obsessed with me for years.

"She's so calculating. How could I know what she'd do to Daphne in the future?"

Julian's parents nodded repeatedly.

Just then, a ten-second countdown appeared on the giant screen.

Everyone pulled Daphne into the center. "Daphne is definitely getting into a top university!"

She gave me a triumphant look and whispered, "Watch closely. Everything that belongs to you is about to become mine."

But the instant the scores appeared on the screen, the entire crowd froze at the sight of Daphne's single-digit result.

Disbelief covered her face as she lunged forward. "How could this happen? That can't be my score!"

The movement triggered the hidden release at the back of her custom gown. The entire dress slid smoothly to the floor, leaving her standing there completely naked.

At the same moment, an excited voice rang out from the entrance. "Which student is Evelyn Kaplan? Your Thornwood acceptance package has arrived!"