Chapter 7 The moment the final bell rang for the SAT , I set down my pen and exhaled deeply . Sunlight streamed through the window , casting a soft golden glow over my test paper . 55 vouchers In my past life , I would've been sweating right now . I was too distracted by foolish romance to study properly in the last three months , my grades plummeting . But this time , every question had been effortless . " The exam is over . Please stop writing . " At the proctor's announcement , I handed in my paper with a smile . Outside , the schoolyard was in chaos . Some students hugged and cried , others cheered , and most frantically compared answers . " Clara ! " Emmett pushed through the crowd and threw her arms around me . " What did you get for the last function problem ? " " V2 . " I patted her back . " Stop worrying . It's over now . " Her eyes widened . " It was √2 ? I guessed right ! " She jumped in excitement . " My mom wants to thank you for tutoring me . You're coming over for dinner ! " I agreed with a smile , but my gaze drifted past her . Carson stood surrounded by guys , flashing his usual confident grin , probably bragging about his performance . Jeremiah leaned against a tree alone , flipping through his notebook expressionlessly . And Sarah ? She was desperately quizzing top students , her flawless makeup unable to hide the panic in her eyes . Last time , she'd gotten into a good university thanks to Jeremiah's " study tips . " Without that advantage now , I wondered how she'd fare . " What're you looking at ? " Emmett followed my stare and scoffed . " Forget them . Let's celebrate ! " Results day . The school gates swarmed with students and parents . I lingered at the edges , in no rush to push forward . " Clara Bailey ! Ranked seventh in the province ! " Someone shouted . The crowd parted instantly , all eyes on me - envy , disbelief , some outright shock . Those who'd once mocked me as " Clara the Clueless " now looked ready to swallow their tongues . Calmly , I walked to the announcement board . My name topped the list . Harverd University's acceptance letter was already waiting in my inbox . " Clara ... " A familiar voice came from behind . Carson stood there , face strained . His score wasn't bad , but next to mine , it paled . " Congratulations , " he said hoarsely . " I didn't expect ... " " That I'd outscore you ? " I smiled . " You never knew me at all . " 175 Chapter 7 He opened his mouth , maybe to explain , but just bowed his head . " I hurt you , but ... " " No buts . " I cut him off . " We were over long ago , if we ever even began . " Pain flashed across his face . In my previous life , that look would've shattered me . Now , it was almost funny . " Is this about Sarah ? " he blurted . " I can explain . We're not ..." " Carson . " I sighed . " Did you know Sarah keeps a diary ? " He froze , confused by the sudden shift . " Her diary . " I said lightly , " Third floor of the library . West wing , second shelf . Hidden in a copy of Pride and Prejudice . " Then I walked away , leaving him rooted in place , lost in thought . 55 vouchets Three days later , I met Jeremiah on the school rooftop . The summer sun blazed mercilessly , heat waves rolling in the air , yet he stood there impeccably dressed in a white button - down , sleeves rolled to reveal toned forearms . " What do you want ? " He cut straight to the point , his eyes sharp behind his glasses . I leaned against the railing , letting the wind tangle my hair . " I heard Carson's been spending a lot of time in the library lately . " Jeremiah frowned slightly . " And ? " " Aren't you curious what he's looking for ? " I smirked . " Here's a hint . It involves Sarah . " His expression darkened instantly . " What did you do ? " " Me ? " I blinked innocently . " I just ... shared a little information . " I stepped closer , lowering my voice . " Like how Sarah's always had feelings for Carson . How she used you , her dear cousin , just to get close to him ..." " Shut up ! " Jeremiah suddenly grabbed my wrist , his grip bruising . " You have no idea what you're talking about ! " " I know more than you think . " I yanked my hand free , rubbing the reddened skin . " Like how you're cousins , ho how ... " I paused . " In my previous life , you married me for her ." Jeremiah went deathly pale , stumbling back . " You're ... insane . " " Call it what you want ." you've been helping Sarah keep tabs on Carson , and I smiled . " But this insane ' person has all the dirt on you and Sarah , cheating , spreading rumors , destroying notes ... " I pulled a flash drive from my bag and dangled it . " W all right here ," His glare turned murderous . " What do you want ? " 2/5 P Chapter 7 " Simple . " My smile faded . " Starting today , I want you and Carson to pursue Sarah wholeheartedly ." " What ? " He stared at me like I'd lost my mind . " You both ' love ' her , don't you ? " I scoffed . " Now's your chance to compete fairly . " For a long moment , Jeremiah just stared , weighing my words . Finally , he took a deep breath . " Why ? " " Because ... " I turned toward the stairwell , glancing back with a flawless smile . " I want to watch you fight each other apart . " { 55 vouchers A week later , Emmett burst into the café and plopped into the seat across from me . " Big news ! Carson and Jeremiah got into a fight over Sarah in the library ! " I stirred my coffee lazily . " Oh ? " " Apparently , Carson read Sarah's diary and found out she's been obsessed with him for years ! Then Jeremiah showed up , and they started screaming at each other ! " Emmett gestured wildly . " By the time Sarah arrived , they were already brawling . They knocked over entire bookshelves ! " I took a sip , hiding my smirk behind the cup . Of course , that diary was my masterpiece . It was filled with enough delusional fantasies to inflate Carson's ego . How Sarah worshipped him . How she used Jeremiah to get closer to him . How she seethed with jealousy over every girl who so much as glanced his way ... " The best part ? " Emmett lowered her voice . " Sarah fainted on the spot ! The nurse said it was from ' extreme emotional distress ' ! " I raised a brow . That part was unexpected . Sarah's acting skills had clearly leveled up . " Clara . " Emmett suddenly grew serious . " Did you ... have something to do with this ? " I set down my cup and met her gaze . " What if I did ? " She was silent for a moment and then grinned . " Good . Those assholes deserved it . " I laughed . Real friends didn't ask questions . They were always on my side . " Oh , right ." Emmett pulled an envelope from her bag . " This is for you . From Carson , I think . " I took it , tore it in half without looking , and tossed it into the trash . " Damn , cold ! " Emmett gave a thumbs - up . " But ... what's your plan now ? " I gazed out the window at the golden sunlight . " Lashkar City . A fresh start . " " What about them ? " 3/5 P Chapter 7 55 vouchers She tilted her head meaningfully . I smiled . " They'll torture each other until graduation . Then they'll finally see Sarah for who she really is . And in the end ... " I pulled up a photo on my phone and showed her . " Sarah will follow her parents to Shindand , out of their lives for good . " The image showed Sarah and her parents standing outside the Shindand consulate . Emmett gasped . " You planned even that ? " " Not entirely . " I pocketed my phone . " I just ... gave things a little push . " Like anonymously sending Sarah's parents " compromising " details about the Collins brothers . Like hinting at how Shindand would be better for Sarah's future . Rich people cared about their image . With the right nudge , they'd always make the " proper " choice . ***** The day before leaving school , I returned to finalize paperwork . The halls were empty . Most students had already gone . As I passed the student council office , angry shouts spilled out . " You knew all along ! " Carson's voice was raw with fury . " Sarah's always loved me! " " Bullshit ! " Jeremiah snapped , uncharacteristically crude . " She was just using you to get to me ! " " Then why did her diary ... " " That diary was fake ! " Jeremiah cut him off . " Clara set the whole thing up ! " I leaned against the wall , amused . So Jeremiah had finally figured it out . Too late . " Clara ? " Carson's voice cracked . " Why would she ... " " Because she hates us , " Jeremiah said coldly . " She hates you for abandoning her . She hates me for ... lying to her ." " Lying ? " Carson sounded confused . " What did you do ? " Silence . Then Jeremiah sounded exhausted . " Doesn't matter . She's leaving . Flight to Lashkar City tomorrow morning . " " How do you know that ? " " I He paused . " I went to her place . Her neighbor told me ." I hadn't expected Jeremiah to look for me , but I'd moved out a week early . " She didn't tell anyone . " Carson whispered , voice thick . " Not even Emmett knows her flight ... " Because she never wants to see us again ." Jeremiah said quietly . " Ever . " 4/5 P Chapter 7 A long silence followed . I slipped away unnoticed . Ο 0 For me , this game was over . For them ? The torment was just beginning . My " gifts " would deliver themselves at the perfect moment . 55 vouchers Proof of Carson five - timing girls . Security footage of Jeremiah tearing up notes . Recordings of Sarah spreading vicious rumors . The recipients ? The entire school and both families ' elders . As for when they'd discover these surprises ? Well , a surprise . The next morning , I stood in the airport departure hall , boarding pass in hand . My phone was flooded with missed calls and texts , all from three familiar names . I ignored them , sending Emmett just one message : [ Taking off . Call you when I land . ] As I powered off , a final text popped up . It was from an unknown number : [ Whatever happened in our previous life ... I'll repay my debt in this one . . Jeremiah . ] I deleted it with a scoff and shut down my phone . As the plane soared into the clouds , sunlight streamed through the window onto my face . The old Clara , the lovesick fool , was dead . Now , reborn from the ashes , I'd live a new life . " They'd remain trapped in doubt , misery , and regret . That was the perfect revenge . 田