My adoptive parents, Hugh Watson and Lindsey Sanders, stood in the doorway, looking at me coldly. The bodyguards behind them cast long shadows across the hallway, making their presence even more menacing.

The moment Flynn saw them, he rushed forward. "Dad, Mom, you're finally here. I'm sorry—it's my fault I didn't handle things properly and let Zayne be misunderstood…"

Lindsey frowned deeply as she grabbed Flynn's arm to check for injuries. When she finally looked at me, her gaze was filled with nothing but disgust and disappointment.

"Zayne, you're hopeless! How many times did I warn you when Flynn came back? You're the older brother—you should take responsibility. You should look after your younger brother! We raised you in luxury for 18 years, treated you like our own, and this is what we get?

"Flynn told us you bullied him at home, and we didn't believe it at first, thinking you were always kind. We even spoke up for you so he wouldn't overthink it. And you? You cheated on the exams and tried to make Flynn take the blame.

"Did you really think that destroying Flynn would let you keep the position of the Watson family heir? Keep dreaming! A fake will always be a fake. You don't even come close to Flynn!"

I had heard those words countless times in my previous life. I thought I wouldn't care anymore, but my heart still ached like it was being stabbed with a thousand knives.

Lindsey used to panic and call the family doctor at the slightest scrape or bruise I got from playing. She would march off to demand justice if anyone called me a "bastard", caring nothing for the appearance of propriety.

She had even once said that both Flynn and I were her children, and she would never treat me coldly just because Flynn returned.

And yet, she was also the one who loaded every one of Flynn's lies onto my shoulders without verifying a single fact.

"It's true, then," someone muttered. "Even the parents are saying it."

"You really can't judge a book by its cover. A fake will always be a fake, and cruelty is in their very nature."

Ignoring the whispers around me, I looked at Lindsey with the last flicker of hope I had left. "Mom, do you really think I would cheat or bully Flynn at home? We've lived together for 18 years, and all of that counts for nothing against what he says?"

Hugh stepped forward, slamming the "evidence" Mr. Stone had given him onto the floor at my feet.

"The proof is right here! There's no denying it! Two identical test papers, even the mistakes match perfectly! How could this be fake? Flynn earned first place, and you're dead last! Do you think we'd believe he copied from you?

"How could you stoop to such despicable tactics just to take his guaranteed admission? Do you even know how much Flynn endured in the countryside? He earned first place on his own, and you try to steal it from him? Have you no conscience? You've brought shame on the entire Watson family!"

Flynn tried to calm Lindsey but added, "Dad, don't get too worked up. Zayne might have just lost his head for a moment. He's usually fine with me. He only sometimes says I'm a country bumpkin, that I don't belong in the Watson family, that everything in the family is his…"

"What? He actually said that to you?" Lindsey snapped.

"I didn't!" I shot back. "I never said that, and I never needed to steal his guaranteed admission!"

I fixed my gaze on them. "Have you forgotten? I received Harmington University's admission letter last month. Why would I ever cheat?"

The room went dead silent for a heartbeat, then exploded into laughter.

Mr. Stone was practically in tears from laughing. "Zayne, couldn't you at least think your lie through? Guaranteed admission to Harmington University? With your usual mock test scores barely cracking 600? You've got to be kidding!"

Flynn looked at me helplessly, as if staring at a madman.

"Zayne, I get that you want to prove yourself, but this lie is way too easy to see through," he said. "Harmington University only offers a handful of guaranteed spots across the whole province. There's no way they would give one to you. You can't even memorize the basic formulas."

Hugh looked utterly humiliated. He pointed a trembling finger at me. "You actually made up this ridiculous excuse to cover your mistakes! How could the Watson family raise such a shameless brat? Zayne, get on your knees! Apologize to Flynn, or I'll break your legs right here!"

I straightened my back, refusing to budge. "Why should I apologize? I didn't cheat. I didn't bully anyone. Every single accusation is a lie Flynn made up! There's no evidence. Just because he says it, you all want to blame me? If anyone owes an apology, it's him, for lying about me in public—"

Hugh slapped me, cutting me off. Blood filled my mouth, and my ears rang.

Everyone around me smirked with glee.

I was done wasting time on these fools. I spat onto the floor and fixed them with a cold, lethal stare. "That slap settles the debt for the 18 years you raised me. From this day on, the Watson family and I have nothing to do with each other."

The three of them froze in shock.

"What are you talking about?" Hugh said with a deep frown. "You're just an ungrateful brat who couldn't survive a day without the Watson family. How dare you sever ties with us? Fine. Let's see how you manage on your own! Don't think you can come crawling back later."

"Flynn and his so-called first place mean nothing to me, and I won't stoop to copying him," I said coldly.

Mr. Stone jabbed a finger at me and sneered. "This is ridiculous! Zayne, did that slap scramble your brain? The evidence is right in front of you, yet you still act so arrogantly. Do you think you're some kind of genius?"

Flynn straightened his collar and gave me a smug look. "Zayne, if you won't admit it, that's your choice. But why keep putting on this act? Everyone already knows you're a terrible student. If you cheated, just admit it. Take responsibility like a man, and Mom and Dad would forgive you anyway."

Lindsey clutched her chest, looking ready to collapse. "What a disgrace. How did we raise a son who lies and refuses to repent? Today, you leave the Watson family. We have no son like you!"

I watched this circus with a strange calm. "Bring out my original test papers, or access the scans from the grading system. The truth will reveal itself instantly."

"The original test papers have already been sealed and sent to the Department of Education as evidence of cheating!" Mr. Stone thundered.

His eyes flickered for a split second. It was obvious he had been in on this with Flynn from the start. There was no way he could produce the original papers.

"The grading system is for teachers only. A cheating student like you has no business looking at it! Who knows if you'd try to alter the data?"

Mr. Stone gave up trying to reason with me and turned to Hugh. "Mr. Watson, Zayne has seriously corrupted the school's culture. He shows no remorse and openly defies both parents and teachers. I recommend immediate expulsion, with a school-wide announcement."

"Expel him! He has to be expelled!" Hugh roared. "It's a disgrace to keep a troublemaker like this around! He's already brought shame to our family!"

Hugh yelled toward the door. "Security! Get over here! Throw this shameless brat out! He's never coming back to this school!"

The security guards, who had been waiting by the door, charged in, closing the circle around me.

The hallway outside the classroom was jam-packed with students eager to watch. The word "expel" set off a roar of cheers and jeers.

"Finally! He's gone!"

"This trash should've been gone a long time ago!"

"Get out! Get out!"

Somebody—no one could tell who—began flinging paper balls into the office. A discarded apple core hit my shoulder, leaving a dark smudge.

"How dare you mess with Flynn, our heartthrob? You're dead!"

"You shameless cheater!"

The crowd erupted, and I felt like a rat in the street, hunted from every side.

A security guard grabbed my arm with enough force to make me wince. "Move! Now! Don't linger!"

I stumbled forward under their push, nearly falling. Flynn stood behind Lindsey, smirking smugly in triumph.

As I took in the crowded hallway, the smug Flynn, and my unforgiving parents, rage finally flared within me.

"Step aside!"

I wrenched my arm free and leveled a cold glare at them all. "You wanted proof, didn't you? You said I copied a perfect score!"

I stormed toward Mr. Stone's desk, where a computer connected to the school-wide broadcast system and the hallway's electronic screens waited.

Mr. Stone went pale. "What are you doing? Are you crazy? Stop him!"

The guards lunged at me again, but I was faster. "Open your eyes and look carefully!"

I slammed my hand down on the Enter key. The computer screen in the office lit up, along with all the electronic displays lining the hallway that showcased the top students.

The noisy hallway fell into a sudden hush. Everyone instinctively looked up, and on the screens, my test paper was entirely empty.

In the essay section, a huge turtle filled the page in black ink, with wild, defiant words written next to it that read, "What are you staring at? Never seen a blank paper before?"