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?"