Chapter 1Replacing My Ex With Her Rival

It happened again. I took the top spot in the senior class rankings.

And, naturally, Gemma Sterling’s childhood sweetheart wasn’t happy. He filed an official complaint, accusing me of cheating.

My guidance counselor, Mr. Harrison, cornered me. “Kai, you’re too young to be chasing notoriety with this kind of dishonesty. You have two options right now: either you admit you cheated and promise to stop trying to outshine certain students. Or, per school policy, we will have to—"

“—expel you.”

Jesse, my desk mate, tugged anxiously at my sleeve. “Kai, the SATs are around the corner. Just bite your tongue, man. You know how protective Gemma is of Braden. We can’t afford to cross her.”

They were all waiting for me to concede. To nod, apologize, and retreat back into the shadows they expected me to inhabit.

But this time, I just pulled my backpack off the back of my chair.

“Then expel me,” I said quietly.

* * *

The moment the words left my mouth, the classroom went silent. You could hear the fluorescent lights humming.

Mr. Harrison looked stunned. His voice was a frantic, desperate whisper. “Kai, do you have any idea what you’re doing? Look, just write a formal letter of apology and the school won’t pursue this.”

I managed a dry smile. Of course. He didn't actually want to kick me out. He just wanted a quick win to appease Braden, who was a legacy student with an influential family.

In the past, I would have swallowed it.

Like the time Braden intentionally slashed my bike tires, making me late, and I took the detention without a word.

Like the dozen times Braden and his buddies dumped the trash on the floor while I was on cleaning duty, and I simply swept it up.

I was tired. Bone-deep tired.

I nodded. “I know exactly what I’m saying.”

I started packing my books. Jesse was frantic, kicking me under the desk, trying to stop me.

I gave him a slight, reassuring smile. I was okay. He was the only one in this whole place who treated me like a friend, and he’d been targeted plenty because of it. Now that I was leaving, he’d be free of that burden.

I zipped up my bag and turned to leave. That’s when Gemma, who must have heard the commotion, rushed in and grabbed my wrist.

Seeing her chest rise and fall slightly with exertion, I felt a flicker of stupid hope. I thought, Maybe she’s here to tell me not to go.

The dream lasted one second.

Her face was cold as she warned me, “If you walk out of Northwood High with an expulsion on your record, no reputable college prep school in the state will touch you.”

“You’ve thought this through?”

She wasn't exaggerating. She was Gemma Sterling, the heiress to Sterling Industries. Our headmaster practically polished her shoes. Ensuring a scholarship kid like me never saw the inside of a university would take her nothing more than a few phone calls.

“I have.” I took a deep breath and started walking toward Mr. Harrison.

Gemma let out a quiet, almost imperceptible sigh of relief. Braden, smirking, leaned back in his seat, ready for the show of my complete defeat.

Then I stopped in front of the counselor’s desk and raised my voice.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Harrison, but I shouldn’t have posted that anonymous tip online about you accepting cash payments from Braden Sterling’s family to inflate his academic record.”

I flashed my phone screen at him, pivoted, and walked out.