Start All Over Again

My brother convinced my father to give me to the principal of an elite high school.

When the principal was treating me like a dog, they showed off to the world with the money and the spot in the high school they had exchanged me for.

I knew nothing about this and waited for them to rescue me.

It was not until the principal showed me a video of how they were living a proud and happy life that I broke down in desperation and helplessness.

On my third failed attempt at escape, the principal whipped me with a leather belt until I was almost dying. After that, he let his precious son, a German shepherd, torture me to death.

When I next opened my eyes, I had returned to a time when none of this had happened yet.

Well, my dear father and brother, do you think things would work out the way you want this time?

I looked around in astonishment. The room was familiar.

When I saw what I was wearing, I was taken aback. I was used to being undressed since Larry Sanders took me away.

"Stop putting up an act, Zara Livingston. You should be honored I'm using your money. Only you would cherish such pitiful possessions.

"Aren't you good at getting money from scholarships? It's mine this time. I've got my eyes on a pair of shoes."

An overbearing voice snapped me out of my reverie.

I looked and saw Zach Livingston.

Zach was my twin brother.

He was a happy-go-lucky and gentlemanly young man with a bright demeanor on the surface.

However, his true personality was extremely vain and prideful. He even had a horrible temper.

I suddenly remembered that this was not long after the last semester of junior year started.

The scholarship money from the last semester had just been distributed, and Zach wanted me to give him the money.

He beat me up because I refused to hand it over.

I lowered my head and tried to calm down. I hid the hatred in my eyes and looked up. Zach was staring at me from above.

"Fine.

"But you have to share the picture of the shoes with me and I'll help you get it. It's easier than having to keep transferring the money."

Zach did not expect me to agree so readily. He looked at me in surprise before agreeing.

"Alright. You can get it for me instead. It's less troublesome."

The next day, I got in contact with an online seller.

"Do you have the shoes from this picture?"

The seller replied very quickly. He even guaranteed that his shoes were the real thing.

However, I was not looking to buy the original shoes.

"I want the same brand of shoes with the highest quality but at the lowest price. Do you have them?"

The seller took a while to reply.

"Sure, we do. But it's a domestic brand. It's replicated carefully from every aspect and doesn't differ much from the original."

Those were the shoes I wanted.

Zach sent me a link after I was done with the payment.

"Buy them from this link. Don't get the wrong ones."

I looked at the link he sent and thought about it before purchasing the shoes.

Then I took a screenshot of the purchase and shared it with Zach.

When the shoes arrived, I placed them in the living room.

Zach came running immediately after I told him about it. I followed him to see the shoes.

When Zach picked them up, he thought they looked exactly like the pictures.

On the first day of school, he could not wait to wear them.

Before he got to class, he bumped into his friends, who noticed his new shoes.

"Wow, Zach! Is that the shoes we were talking about?"

Zach glanced at the person who spoke up.

"That's right. I bought them because I kind of liked them."

"Tsk, tsk. I'm jealous. They're really expensive. I can't believe you bought them without blinking an eye. Come on, let us have a closer look at them in class."

They pushed Zach into the classroom while they chatted. They could not wait to have a good look at the shoes.

"What is it that has all of you so excited? Let me have a look too."

Tom Scanlon came over arrogantly with his group of friends. He looked down at Zach's shoes.

Zach and Tom had always been enemies. Tom was also the main reason why I ended up quitting school.

"Wow, I can't believe you bought those shoes."

Tom raised his leg slightly while talking.

Zach was annoyed. "Do you think you're the only one that can buy them?"

Tom ignored Zach. He stared at Zach's shoes.

"What are you looking at? Stare at your own shoes."

Zach felt uncomfortable and retreated a few steps.

Tom straightened up and shot a condescending look at Zach.

"Mine isn't as nice as yours. After all, yours is done really well. It's quite rare to see a pair made to look so alike the original."

Zach stared at Tom and shouted.

"What do you mean? How dare you say my shoes are fake? I bought them from the official store.

"Are you trying to make me look bad because yours are the fake ones and you realized they look different from mine?"

Tom crossed his hands and said calmly, "Let them compare both shoes with the pictures online and we'll find out who's telling the truth. After all, your shoes are obviously fake."

One of Tom's friends quickly took out a cell. He looked at Zach's shoes and the pictures on the cell. After that, he laughed out loud.

"Hahaha! You're a funny one, Zach Livingston. You're acting so indignant while your shoes are obviously fake."

"I knew it! He wouldn't be able to afford such expensive shoes."

"Yeah! You should really look at yourself in the mirror. I can't believe someone like you would even dream that you can compare with Tom."

Zach listened to the continuous insults as he looked down at the shoes in disbelief.

He suddenly looked up at me.

I quickly stopped smiling and tried to explain anxiously.

"It wasn't me. I had no idea. They were bought from the link you shared. I…"

"Shut up!"

Zach quickly stopped me before I could finish.

"Oh… You weren't the one who paid for the shoes."

"Thick-skinned, isn't he? Trying to pass off as a rich boy."

Zach turned to look at everyone, looking at him sarcastically and whispering. He pushed them apart roughly and ran past me as he scooted off.

I watched him run off in embarrassment silently and smiled.

We were just getting started, Zach Livingston.