Chapter 3 The city library on Saturday was so quiet I could hear the pages turning . 55 vouchers I was carrying a stack of competition books toward a window seat when I suddenly stopped at the corner of the philosophy section . Three shelves ahead , a familiar figure stood with his back to me . It was Jeremiah . Dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers , his slender fingers pulled a copy of Criminal Psychology from the shelf . Sunlight streamed through the window , outlining his sharp , refined silhouette . This was the same gentle , scholarly facade that had fooled me in my past life . For five years of marriage , he was always tender and thoughtful , remembering my periods and waking up at midnight to make me food Until I overheard him say , " I only married her to protect Sarah . " That was when I realized it had all been an act . I was about to leave when I saw him pull out a notebook from his bag , not his . The cover read : [ Class 3-1 , Adam Hill . ] Adam was the second - ranked student in our grade , right behind Jeremiah . Jeremiah glanced around , and after confirming no one was watching , his lips curled into a chilling smirk . He flipped open the notebook , carefully tore out several pages of key notes , and then casually tucked the mutilated notebook back into his bag . My blood ran cold . This wasn't the gentle Jeremiah I knew . This was a viper , flicking its tongue in the shadows . " Enjoying the show ? " A cold voice cut through the silence . My heart lurched . Jeremiah had turned around and was now watching me through the gap between shelves . His eyes behind his glasses held none of the warmth he'd once shown me . Caught red - handed , I stepped out . " So the VP of the student council steals notes ? " He narrowed his eyes , scanning my face . " Clara ? I barely recognized you without the glasses . " He waved the torn pages . " Competition is ruthless . I'm just helping Adam adapt to the real world early . " His shameless tone made me sick . Had he played me the same way ? " Can't wait for everyone to see the real you . " I said with a smile . Jeremiah suddenly stepped closer , his crisp cedar scent enveloping me . It was the fragrance I'd once loved , now revolting . " Got proof ? " He leaned in , breath grazing my ear . " Who'd believe the top student would do this ? Meanwhile , you go from ugly duckling to swan overnight ." He paused . " Plastic surgery ? " I took a step back . " Jeremiah , did you know ? When you smile , the left corner of your mouth lifts 0.3 centimeters higher than the right , 1/4 P Chapter 3 like it's rehearsed . " For the first time , his mask cracked . " And ... " I continued , " You always touch your wristwatch with your right hand before lying . Like now . " His hand froze mid - air . " Have we met before ? " Danger flickered in his eyes . " In a dream . " I left him with that cryptic smile and walked away . Outside , the sunlight stung my eyes . Just how blind had I been in my previous life , to be fooled by a man like that for five years ? 55 vouchers On the day of the school arts festival , backstage was pure chaos . " Clara , you look stunning ! " Emmett adjusted the hem of my dress , eyes sparkling . " Carson sneaked over to peek at you three times . He practically drooled ! " I applied a bold red lipstick in the mirror . The backless crimson gown hugged my curves , my wavy hair cascading freely , a far cry from the frumpy " Glara the Clueless " of my past life . " Where's Sarah ? " I asked " Next door getting ready . I heard she's doing a guitar solo today . " Emmett rolled his eyes . " She practiced for two weeks just to steal your spotlight . " I smirked . In my previous life , Sarah's performance earned her a recommendation letter , while my piano solo was " canceled due to technical issues . " " Next up , Sarah Evans from Class 5 with Yellow ! " Through the curtains , I watched Sarah float onstage in white , delicate . The applause was thunderous , especially from the boys ' section . Carson sat in the front row , smiling politely , but his gaze kept darting backstage . Sarah's performance was smooth , except for two glaring mistakes . She left the stage looking pale . " And now , Clara Bailey from Class 2 with Croatian Rhapsody ! " I took a deep breath and stepped into the spotlight . The crowd gasped when the lights hit me . Settling at the piano , my fingers hovered over the keys . Ten years of practice in my previous life were abandoned because Carson once said , " Showy girls are tacky . " How pathetic . The music began , gentle then fierce , my hands flying across the keys . The piece spoke of hope amid war , just like my rebirth . As the final note faded , silence held for two heartbeats before erupting into applause . I bowed and saw Carson on his feet , clapping wildly , that familiar hunger in his eyes . Backstage , Sarah lurked i in the shadows , face stormy . Backstage , she " accidentally " bumped into me 2/4 " Not bad . Practiced a lot , huh ? " 55 vouchers འ P Chapter 3 . Her tone dripped venom . " But boys hate show - offs . Carson despises attention - seekers . " I smiled . " Really ? He seemed very attentive just now . " Her eye twitched . " Girls who ' glow up ' overnight ? Either plastic surgery or just make - up ." She grabbed a water bottle , " Oops ! " , and dumped it on my dress . Luckily , the fabric was waterproof . Calmly , I pulled a prepared glass of red wine from my bag . " What are you ... " I flung it . The wine splashed across her pristine white gown , blooming like blood . " Ahh ! " Sarah shrieked . " This cost a fortune ! " " Don't care . " I leaned in . " Next time , it won't be wine ." She trembled with rage , raising a hand to slap me , but I caught her wrist , squeezing until her tears welled . " Let her go ! " Carson burst in , playing the hero . In my previous life , this would've shattered me . Now ? Hilarious . " Carson ! " Sarah instantly teared up . " She ruined my dress ... " He looked between us , conflicted . I could see him calculating . Sarah was his fling , but the " new Clara " was the prize . " Clara , " he finally mediated , " Sarah was wrong , but you shouldn't have ... " " Shouldn't what ? " I cut in . " Defend myself ? " I sneered . " Carson , you know what's pathetic ? Your spineless neutrality . " He stiffened . No girl had ever called him out . " And , " I added , " real men don't string two girls along ." The blow landed . His face cycled through shock , anger , then ... interest . " You've got me wrong . Sarah and I are " Colleagues ? I know . " I mimicked his tone . " Also , you blink more with your right eye when lying ." I walked off , leaving them speechless . Around the corner , 1 froze . Jeremiah stood there , holding a tissue I'd used . " Bravo . He clapped slowly . " I didn't know bunnies could bite . " I snatched the tissue and tossed it . " Creep ." just ... " 3/4 Chapter 3 Unfazed , he smiled . " Clara , I'm intrigued . " " Save it . " I rolled my eyes . " Your act doesn't work on me . " " Act ? " 0 . 0 He stepped closer , voice a whisper. " You think I care about Sarah ? She's a pawn , just like you were to Carson . " My breath hitched . How did he know ? Jeremiah grinned at my reaction . " We're alike , Clara . Both experts at ... wearing masks . " " No. " I backed away . " The difference is , I still have a line . " Outside , the sunset stretched my shadow long . My phone buzzed . It was a friend request from Carson . [ You were breathtaking today . ] I didn't accept . I just screenshotted it and sent it to Sarah's number . Game on . 4/4