The Real Daughter Said I Copied Her？Oops, My Test Was Blank Chapter 03
The room went dead quiet for a second.
Then the laughter exploded.
Morrison’s shoulders shook as he laughed so hard his eyes started to water:
“Lena Walsh—do you even think before you lie?”
“An early admission letter from MIT’s Mitchell Institute?”
“With your grades? The ones that’ve been scraping the bottom of every practice test? Were you dreaming when you came up with this one?”
Sophia gave me that look—the one that said she felt sorry for me, like I was delusional:
“Lena, I know you want to prove yourself, but this kind of lie is way too easy to see through.”
“Mitchell Institute only takes like twenty kids a year—nationwide. Why would they pick you? You can’t even get through basic SAT algebra.”
Patrick looked like he’d been publicly humiliated. His finger shook as he pointed at me:
“You’d make up something this ridiculous just to cover your tracks?”
“How did a person like you ever end up in the Walsh family?”
“Lena Walsh, get on your knees right now and apologize to Sophia! Or so help me, you’re out of this house today!”
“Why should I apologize?”
I straightened my spine and held my ground.
“I didn’t cheat. I didn’t bully anyone.”
“Every single thing that’s happened here is a lie Sophia cooked up herself!”
“Where’s your proof? You’re going to convict me just because she said so? Use your heads!”
“If anyone should be apologizing, it’s Sophia—she’s the one who stood here and lied to everyone’s face—”
Smack.
Patrick’s hand connected with my face before I could finish.
The force of it knocked me half a step sideways.
Metallic taste flooded my mouth, and my ears started ringing.
I could see the smug looks on people’s faces.
I was done.
Done going back and forth with these people.
I straightened up slowly, spit out a mouthful of blood, and looked the three of them dead in the eye.
“Consider that slap payment in full—for the eighteen years you raised me.”
“Starting today, I have nothing to do with this family.”
All three of them froze.
“What are you talking about?”
Patrick’s brow furrowed hard.
“You can’t even afford rent in Boston without the Walsh name, and you’re cutting ties?”
“Fine! Let’s see how you survive out there on your own.”
“Just don’t come crawling back like a stray dog when you’ve got nothing left.”
“I have zero interest in Sophia’s so-called top-of-the-grade title. And I wouldn’t copy from her if you paid me.”
My voice was ice cold.
“Ha! That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all week!”
Morrison let out a sneer.
“Did that slap knock the sense right out of you, Lena?”
“The evidence is right here on the table—and you still have the nerve to say you wouldn’t ‘stoop’ to it?”
“Who do you think you are? Some kind of prodigy?”
Sophia wiped her tears, a flicker of triumph showing at the corner of her eye:
“Lena… if you don’t want to admit you’re wrong, fine. But why are you being so stubborn?”
“Everyone in this school knows exactly what you’re capable of. You cheated—that’s the reality.”
“Just say you’re sorry. Mom and Dad will forgive you if you do.”
Eleanor clutched her chest, her face drained of color:
“This family is cursed. God… truly cursed…”
“How did a liar like you ever end up in this house?”
“Get out. Today. Right now.”
“The Walsh family doesn’t have a daughter like you.”
Watching all of them, I felt something I hadn’t expected: calm.
“Then pull up my original answer sheet.”
“The school testing center has it on file. The scans are also in the College Board system.”
“Take one look—and we’ll all know who’s really lying.”