Chapter 3

When my parents heard the words "valedictorian daughter," pride flickered plainly in their eyes.

But only for a second.

Then both their faces darkened all at once.

"So what if she's a perfect-score valedictorian?"

"Even if she topped the whole world, she'd still be our daughter."

"When it comes to education, we're extremely strict."

"If she does something wrong, we still hit her!"

The female officer opened her mouth, about to say something.

The male officer beside her asked me, "Emma Gilbert, did you steal your cousin's watch?"

I shook my head hard.

"I didn't steal it!"

My mother's eyes snapped to me. "You're already at the station and you're still making excuses?"

"Admit it right now. Give the watch back to your cousin."

"Then straighten up your attitude and apologize properly."

Before I could get a word out, the male officer motioned for my parents to be quiet.

Then he asked them, "You two need to think this through. If you insist on charging your daughter with theft, she'll have a record. The National Defense University's review process for this kind of thing is extremely strict."

"Once the case is opened, she's finished with the National Defense University."

I bit my lip and looked at my parents.

My eyes were hopeful, edged with a trace of pleading.

I had worked so hard for so many years.

I had gotten into the school of my dreams as a perfect-score valedictorian.

I really didn't want to lose it just like this.

But they didn't just ignore my pleading.

They turned to the officer, self-righteous, and told him:

"Open the case if it needs opening. Detain her if she needs detaining."

"This is how we've always raised our daughter. We won't allow her the smallest mistake."

The male officer and the female officer taking the record exchanged a glance.

Both of them let out a soft sigh, then looked at me with a strange expression.

Like they pitied what was happening to me.

In the end, the case was opened, and the police would handle the investigation.

Not only did I get a record, they also confiscated my ID.

Until this case was cleared up, I wasn't allowed to leave the city.

Once we came out of the station, the relatives all left, one after another.

My uncle's wife made a point of pulling her son aside to keep him at a distance from me.

"Son, from now on, stay far away from this valedictorian cousin of yours."

"She's a super genius, you know."

"What if one day she goes after your things again for a life of luxury?"

"Our family may be well-off, but we can't afford to be a target."

"Understand?"

My cousin stood there, wanting to say something, but my uncle dragged him into the car.

After they left, my parents were shaking with rage.

The whole way, they didn't say a word.

But it was obvious how angry they were.

I held it in for a long time before I finally spoke. "Mom, Dad, I..."

"Shut up!"

My mother whipped around, her bloodshot eyes glaring, and screamed at me.

"You worthless thing."

"We finally had something to brag about to them."

"And you go and commit a disgrace like this."

"How can you be so greedy for money?"

"Didn't we feed you?"

"You just had to steal?"

She screamed the questions at me, pinching me with her hand the whole time.

The pain left my face streaming with tears.

My father, driving, let out a cold snort. "Don't think this is over."

My heart lurched. I already knew what they meant to do.

Sure enough, once we got home.

The moment we reached the living room, my father unbuckled his belt and lashed it down hard across my body.