288 Vouchers The SAT results came out sooner than I expected . I scored the highest in the whole city . The news didn't surprise me , but Denisse and Derek were over the moon . They promised to whisk me away on an international trip once my college acceptance letters arrived . I protested , mentioning the mountain of classes still on my plate . Derek frowned , his voice gentle but firm . " Eunice , you're pushing yourself too hard . You need to take a break and breathe . " Denisse chimed in , her tone steady but warm . " No matter what , the Benton family will always have your back . You know that , right ? " Her words caught me off guard , and a realization hit me like a quiet wave . Since my rebirth , I'd been driving myself relentlessly , desperate to prove myself to the Bentons . Deep down , Dewitt's rejection in this life had wounded me more than I cared to admit . I'd been ruthless with myself , terrified of being abandoned again , chasing their approval with a ferocity that bordered on obsession . Looking at Denisse and Derek , their faces brimming with genuine concern , a warmth bloomed in my chest . In the end , I gave in to their insistence . The day we headed to the airport , we ran into the Fletchers . The air around them felt heavy , strained . Dewitt's parents wore grim expressions , their faces like storm clouds . Dewitt himself looked detached , his usual spark dimmed . Heather trailed behind him , unusually quiet , her reluctance palpable . Denisse glanced their way , then leaned in with a sly smile . " Turns out , Heather cheated on her SATS , and her scores were voided . The Fletchers are the laughingstock of high so- ciety now . " They're so humiliated they're rushing to ship her abroad before school starts , hoping to hush up the scandal . " 0.0 % 15:09 Chapter 9 I blinked , stunned . Shaking my head , I wondered , " Has Heather lost her mind ? " What was she thinking , pulling something so reckless ? " With her situation , she could've coasted through an overseas degree without a hitch . " Why take such a risk ? " I shrugged my shoulders , brushing off the thought . It wasn't my business to care . As we approached the boarding gate , I felt a gaze prickling my skin . I turned , scanning the crowd , and locked eyes with Dewitt standing not far off . Caught staring , he froze for a heartbeat , his expression a tangle of emotions too complex to name . " Congrats on acing the SAT , " he said , his voice low . " Thanks , " I replied coolly , turning away . Dewitt hesitated , then took a step forward , urgency in his stride . " Eunice ... " Heather grabbed his arm , her eyes flashing with venom as she glared at me . " Dewitt , she doesn't even want to talk to you ! " " Let go ! " Dewitt snapped , shaking her off with a sharp tug . Heather stumbled , hitting the ground hard . Her pent - up frustration erupted . She couldn't fathom why Dewitt , who'd always doted on her , had grown so cold lately . " Are you regretting it now ? But you're the one who pushed her away first ! " Her words stopped Dewitt in his tracks , his feet rooted to the spot . It was my turn to board . Without a backward glance , I followed the Bentons through the gate . We were off to the Maldives , and I couldn't wait . 55.5 % 15:09 288 Vouchers Chapter 10 Chapter 10