Chapter 1

My dad guarded the gates of our high school for ten years.

The principal called him a watchdog, and he just lowered his head and said, "You're right."

Students would throw trash into his guard booth, and he would silently sweep it up with a broom.

The whole school called him "Old Turtle."

My mom is a cafeteria lunch lady.

Every day her hands shake so badly it looks like she has Parkinson's.

When students knocked over her food tray, she crouched down to pick up the grains of rice.

And yet this couple raised me, the top student in my grade.

A sweet, adorable, clever daughter.

Today, the school board chairman's daughter cornered me in the restroom with her friends.

For a college recommendation slot, she tore up my exam paper and stripped off my school uniform.

"A security guard's daughter thinks she's fit to fight me for a spot at a top Ivy League university?"

She held up her phone recording, laughing wildly.

"Kneel down and bark like a dog, and I'll let you go."

I looked at the shredded paper scattered all over the floor and laughed.

"Bark like a dog? Sure."

"But what you owe me, we're going to settle first, one item at a time."

...

"Settle accounts? What do you have to settle with me?"

Rowena burst into exaggerated laughter.

At that moment, Rufus, who had been keeping watch outside the door, walked in.

He was my deskmate, the one I'd tutored for free for three years, and the school's acknowledged heartthrob.

Now he trailed after Rowena, wearing a fawning look.

"Sonia, don't be so ungrateful."

"It's your good fortune that Rowena even wants your slot."

"You're just some low-level security guard's daughter. Even if you got into an Ivy, you'd come out a penniless nobody working for the rich."

"Better to do the Pruitt family a favor now. Rowena could let a little money slip through her fingers, and it'd be enough for your dad to gnaw on bread in that guard booth for the rest of his life."

Looking at that face that had once so humbly begged me for help, my stomach turned.

"Rufus, did you forget what got you that city-level Model Student award last month?"

I didn't waste any more words. I just pulled out my phone.

I opened a recording I'd backed up long ago.

"Rufus, I've already bought the answers to this final exam. Copy them onto your paper for me."

"No problem, Rowena. As long as you help me change the name on Sonia's first prize in the physics competition to mine, I'll cover all your exams from now on."

"She's just a security guard's daughter. I'll have a word with the academic affairs office."

In the restroom, Rowena and Rufus's laughter cut off all at once.

Rowena stared at my phone, her smile draining away until only barely concealed panic was left.

Rufus went further, pointing at me and cursing.

"Sonia, how dare you set us up!"

I gave them a cool glance.

"You want me to give up my recommendation slot? Fine."

"Rowena, cough up the scholarship funds you stole by cheating."

"Rufus, give back the competition slot you claimed in my place."

"If even one thing is missing, this recording lands in the Department of Education's complaint inbox tomorrow."

Rowena screamed and lunged to grab my phone.

"You bitch! Give me that phone!"

I twisted aside and slapped her backhand across the face.

Rowena clutched her cheek, her eyes going wide.

"You dared to hit me?"

"Hold her down! Smash her phone!"

Just as the girls moved to act, the tightly shut restroom door let out a huge crash.

"Bang!"

The door was violently kicked open from the outside.

Chairman Pruitt walked in, briefcase under his arm, four burly bodyguards in suits behind him.

He glanced at Rowena, still covering her face, and then his gaze settled on me.

"Sonia, you think you're walking out that door today?"