Not This Time

It wasn't just Scott. Jane was the same as well.

Whenever I tried to study at home, Jane would start looking worried. That was when I would make my demands.

"Mom, can we take a set of mother-daughter photos together?"

"Mom, will you read me a bedtime story tonight?"

"Mom, can we bake a cake for my eighteenth birthday? Will you wish me a happy birthday?"

During this time, everything I had missed out on before was slowly made up for.

I started acting like a lazy little heiress. I stopped reading and studying. I threw myself into romance and love as well, soaking up all the family affection I could get.

As a result, my ranking dropped lower and lower every time I took a test.

The comments section was full of scorn.

"This is hilarious! So what if she's smart? She's completely fallen for the kid. She's hopeless!"

"Just say a few nice words, and the side character gives up on her future. No wonder she'll end up pregnant and kicked out, and then sold off by her own parents to a fifty-year-old man…"

But I didn't care at all.

I smiled as I watched how happy Tessa was to take first place for the first time. The tears in her eyes looked like she had finally proved herself.

Of course, I didn't miss the look she shot me. That smug, mocking glance as she glanced at my grades.

She was happy, and so was I.

When she was happy, I could reap rewards.

Sure enough, both Scott and Jane were in a great mood that day.

Jane bought me a limited-edition Hermes bag. Scott burst into my room, hugging me and promising to grant me a wish.

I quietly closed the door, grinning as I pushed him down onto the bed.

"My wish is… I want you."

After I said that, the comments section exploded.

"What the hell? According to the original plot, wasn't this the part where she got drugged and slept with another man that the male lead called here? She even got pregnant, right? Why is she making the first move now?"

"Holy… Is the male lead really going to do it? He's not pure anymore!"

"Seriously, isn't this story supposed to be rated for all? Why is it getting so exciting all of a sudden?"

All the noise in the room didn't escape Tessa's notice, of course.

After Scott left, she stormed into my room and glared at the faint hickey on my shoulder. Her eyes were practically shooting flames of fury.

In the end, all she did was bite out a few snide remarks.

"You really don't waste time, do you? You just turned eighteen, and you're already in such a hurry?"

I just smiled at her, completely unbothered. "Scott is my fiancé. Isn't this perfectly normal? After all, I've got so much energy these days. Can't exactly spend it all on…studying, right?"

Tessa paused for a moment, caught off guard.

She understood that she could only pick one—Scott, or being top of the class.

She shot me another fierce glare. "Well, I hope you enjoy yourself every single day until the exams!"

The next day, I secretly followed Scott and Tessa, who were acting suspiciously, all the way to an abandoned gym. Peeking through the door, I watched as Tessa threw herself into Scott's embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck, anxious.

"Scott, once that hussy's results are out, dump her and come back to me, okay? I'll give myself to you, too…"

She lifted her face to kiss him, but Scott turned away. Even he didn't know why.

Tessa, who had managed to hold back in front of me all night last night, finally lost it after seeing Scott rejecting her.

"Scott, what's your problem? Don't tell me you've really fallen for that broke loser!"