The results were out.
Vaelis sat in her room, her laptop open to the university portal. The moment her score appeared on the screen, she leaned back, utterly unsurprised. Top scorer.
Not just in her schoolâbut across the entire region.
She had shattered every expectation.
And as a result, she had also secured the prestigious full-ride academic scholarshipâsomething her parents would never have expected.
Downstairs, they were waiting. Not out of concern, but because they needed to maintain their reputation. If she failed, it would be a disgrace. If she succeeded, it would be expected.
She descended the grand staircase, moving with the grace of someone who already knew the outcome. Her mother sat with a cup of tea, expression unreadable, while her father barely looked up from his phone.
âWell?â her mother asked, voice clipped.
Vaelis placed the printed results on the table. âI topped the exams.â
A sharp silence.
Her father finally glanced at the paper, eyes narrowing as he took in the bolded Rank 1 at the top.
âHmph. As you should,â he said, as if it was nothing special.
But her motherâs gaze was sharper. âWhich university?â
Vaelis held back a smirk. âIâve already been accepted into the top university.â
Another silence. Satisfaction flickered in their eyesâuntil she continued.
âBut Iâve decided to major in music.â
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Her fatherâs expression darkened. âWhat nonsense are you saying?â
âI mean exactly what I said. Iâm enrolling in the music department.â
Her motherâs grip on the teacup tightened. âDo you think we sent you to the best schools so you could play?â
Vaelis tilted her head, amused. âYou didnât send me anywhere. You sent me away. Thereâs a difference.â
Her father slammed his palm against the table. âEnough! You will enroll in business or law. End of discussion.â
She met his fury with a calm smile. âIâve already enrolled. And Iâll be covering all my expenses myself, so you donât need to concern yourself with my choices.â
Her mother scoffed. âAnd where will you get the money?â
Vaelis leaned in slightly, her voice like velvet. âThatâs not your concern.â
She slid another paper across the tableâher official scholarship acceptance letter.
Their eyes widened.
âThereâs no need for you to spend a single cent on me,â she continued, voice cold. âSo you can stop pretending to care.â
The silence that followed was deafening.
They could no longer control her.
---
A few days later, the university announcements were made.
Vaelis CaraâRank 1, admitted into the Music Department with a full academic scholarship.
As expected, every significant name in the original novel had also passed.
Adrian Voss, second in rank, entering the business department. Rowan Sinclair, effortlessly securing his place in law. Ezra, architecture. And of courseâSerena Vale.
The real female lead was about to enter the scene.
Vaelis leaned back in her chair, staring at the list of accepted students.
In the first timeline, she was nothing more than a side character. A stepping stone. Forgotten.
Not this time.
This time, the story was hers.