The Cambridge Bet — Alina's Straight A's

Who else am I supposed to spoil? If she wants to study, let her have her fun. You seriously think she can get in? Doesn't matter, as long as she's happy.

None of them knows that for the past six months, I've waited until the estate went quiet every night before turning on my old laptop. I used free online courses to catch up on everything I'd missed,

then deleted my browsing history before I went to bed on the day of the qualifying exams I told everyone I had a routine checkup and walked into the testing center alone this wasn't some whim I had been keeping this secret for six months my hand slowly loosens around the door handle ten years ago my desk

was stuffed with college applications my teachers told me I could get into almost any school I wanted then I moved into the Moretti estate before I even made it to graduation after that no one ever asked about my grades again all anyone cared about was how much jewelry Damien bought me and how long it would take

before he got tired of me I don't open the door I turn around and start walking toward the end of the hallway then my phone buzzes the results of the the qualifying exams are out. I got straight A's. For the first time in 10 years, I'm