Chapter 1He Lies With a Smile, I Act Through Tears

When my adoptive sister first beat me badly enough to send me to the hospital, I was only five years old. That was the day a floating golden screen first flickered to life before my eyes:

[CONGRATULATIONS, HOST. YOU ARE NOW BOUND TO THE SYSTEM. COMPLETE MISSIONS TO EARN POINTS AND EXCHANGE THEM FOR ANYTHING YOU DESIRE.]

From that day on, I followed the system's demands. I accepted the lie my family drilled into me: that we owed Tabitha our lives. I let her kick me out of my bedroom, let her tear up my school certificates, and stayed quiet.

I deliberately played dumb in front of my teachers and told my relatives my grades were terrible, terrified of overshadowing her. I even pushed away my childhood friend, Stefan, watching in silence as he grew closer and closer to her.

Until last week, when the system issued its final, ultimate mission:

[YOUR SAT SCORE MUST NOT EXCEED YOUR ADOPTIVE SISTER'S.]

I spent three grueling months calculating, studying just enough to score exactly two points lower than her. When the system flashed green with the words Mission Accomplished, I was so overwhelmed I nearly cried. I couldn't wait to redeem my points for the ultimate reward: my freedom, a chance to escape this house forever.

Instead, my older brother, Joshua, walked out of his study holding a small black remote control. He pressed a button, and the golden interface floating in my vision flickered once, then went completely dark.

That was the moment I realized there was no system. There were no magic missions.

It was an AR chip, a piece of high-tech cruelty Joshua had spent years perfecting, implanted in my head while I lay unconscious in the hospital at five years old. Every single "mission" was just a command he typed into his computer. All the suffering, all the years of playing the fool, was just a sick game he played to make me willingly pay back our family's "debt" to his beloved adoptive sister.

Joshua smiled, patting my shoulder. "Tomorrow is your sister's Ivy League celebration banquet. Once that's over, my debt to her is paid. I'll take you to the clinic to have the chip removed."

I looked at him and smiled back.

The system was a lie. But my life didn't have to be. If they wouldn't let me go, I would escape on my own.

"Fiona, don't you dare throw a tantrum at your sister's dinner tomorrow."

Joshua casually tossed the black remote into a desk drawer, locked it, and pulled out the key. The movement was so smooth, so practiced, he must have done it a thousand times.

The golden screen in my eyes was gone. For thirteen years, the "system" that forced me to fetch water for Tabitha, ordered me to tank my tests, and demanded I hand my achievements to her, had died inside a cheap plastic remote.

I stared at him. "Joshua."

"What?" he asked, adjusting his collar in the mirror, his tone completely indifferent.

"For thirteen years, you watched me talking to empty air. You watched me punish myself when I couldn't complete those fake missions." I paused, my voice barely a whisper. "Did you find it funny?"

Joshua frowned, his brows knitting together. "Watch your mouth. Funny? If I hadn't come up with that, would you have ever stepped aside for Tabitha? Her father died saving our dad. Our family owes her a life. You've been stubborn since you were a kid. If I didn't trick you with a 'system,' would you have ever been this obedient?"

He stepped closer, reaching out to pat my head. I flinched away. His hand froze in mid-air, and his expression hardened.

"Fiona, don't be ungrateful. I only did this to protect our family's honor. Your sister got into Yale. We've done right by her father's memory. Once the banquet is over tomorrow, I'll take you to the clinic to get the chip out. After that, you can do whatever the hell you want. I won't stop you."

Whatever I want. I was eighteen. The early-admission offers I had to decline, the ripped-up Math Olympiad awards, the condescending glares from teachers who thought I was a lost cause, the childhood best friend he had pushed into Tabitha's arms... could removing a chip ever give those back to me?

Tabitha walked down the stairs, wearing a freshly tailored white designer suit and holding an iced americano. Her hair was perfectly styled, and she practically glowed with the smug satisfaction of a victor.

"Joshua, don't be mad at Fiona. Her SAT scores were barely enough for a community college. It's only natural she's bitter." She stopped in front of me, looking down her nose. "Fiona, I know you feel like life is unfair. But some people are just born to win. Your brain isn't as sharp as mine, and that's okay. If you ever struggle to make ends meet, just come to me."

She took a sip of her coffee, offering a condescending smile. "I'm going to run the family company eventually. I can always hire you as my assistant. I'll even pay you double. I'll make sure you're looked after."

The girl who had stolen my resources, hijacked my life, and was now preparing to take over my family's company, was talking about "looking after me."

Joshua looked at her, his eyes filled with pride. "Look at how mature your sister is. And then look at you, moping around like the world owes you something. Aren't you going to thank her?"

I looked at Tabitha. Her eyes were alight with malicious triumph. Of course she was thrilled. For thirteen years, no matter how hard I worked, the "system" would force me to ruin my own success. She was used to stepping on my head to reach the stage.

"No thanks," I said, turning toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Joshua yelled behind me.

"To my room. To pack."

"Wake up early tomorrow! And wear that old grey coat. Don't you dare try to steal your sister's spotlight!"

I locked my bedroom door, pulling a dusty suitcase out from under my bed.

My phone buzzed. A text from Stefan.

Fiona, don't act like a mute wallflower at Tabitha's dinner tomorrow. Smile more, try to be supportive. She doesn't have her real parents, and this day is huge for her. You already have everything, so just let her have this.

I stared at the words you already have everything.

What did I have? A chip in my skull that could shock my brain at any moment? A brother who treated me like a sacrificial lamb to pay his debts? An adoptive sister who had bled me dry for over a decade?

I typed back: How exactly do you want me to support her?

Stefan replied instantly. There will be a lot of family friends there. If they ask about your scores, just be honest and admit you didn't do well. Don't look so victimized, like Tabitha stole something from you. Fiona, a girl needs to have some grace.

I stared at the text, a heavy exhaustion settling over me.

Thirteen years as childhood friends. Because of the fake "system missions," I had pushed him away, driving him toward Tabitha. I used to think he would see through it, that he would ask questions. But he didn't. He happily ran to her side and now had the nerve to lecture me on grace.

I didn't reply. I tossed the phone onto my bed and unzipped the hidden compartment of my suitcase.

Lying inside was a folder: a flight confirmation from Chicago to Boston, and a full-ride scholarship admission letter to MIT.

They thought I had ruined my life just to satisfy a fake SAT score cap. What they didn't know was that the crude chip in my head could only track domestic, standardized tests. It had no access to the international science competitions, the independent research, or the private AP exams I had stayed up past midnight to complete under my covers.

I ran my fingers over the gold-embossed letters of the MIT letter.

Tomorrow was indeed a great day. Perfect for a celebration, and perfect for leaving them forever.