Not long after I was taken to the separate room, the bell rang, it marked the end of the English exam.

None of my classmates left after finishing; they all rushed over to see me, led by my childhood friend Emmet Barker.

He was drenched in sweat and shouted at the inspectors, "Teachers, you must be mistaken! Jessica would never cheat! She's a top student at No. 1 High School, a guaranteed candidate for Glasgow, she has no reason to cheat!"

The inspector watching over me sighed, "That boy really cares about you. He just finished his exam and already came to plead for you."

Hearing that, I let out a cold laugh, "Really?"

Emmet and I grew up together, though our families were worlds apart. But he never looked down on my background and was always a good friend to me.

I used to dream of getting into a top university, thinking only then I'd be worthy of him. But after today's scandal, there was no way that would ever happen.

The inspectors were also baffled, "They all say you were going to be the top scorer, why ruin your future like this?"

I lifted my eyes, looked at the teacher and said word by word, "Because if I didn't do this, I would die."

The inspector was startled by my words, but I remained calm, even wore a faint smile on my face. As if that wild statement had come from someone else entirely.

Soon, my homeroom teacher arrived. She banged on the windowsill from outside and glared at me furiously like I'd let her down. He angrily said, "Jessica, are you out of your mind? The college entrance exam decides your whole future, why would you mess up now by cheating?"

"Your parents are hardworking farmers, planting vegetables day and night just to scrape together your tuition. How could you be so irresponsible to them?" When she mentioned my parents, I bit my lip and lowered my head.

Everyone assumed I was ashamed and guilty, which made the accusation of cheating seem even more solid.

But I knew better than anyone, only by reporting myself for cheating could I have a real chance at getting into Glasgow.

Soon, the principal arrived after hearing the news and with him came Ms. Travis from the Glasgow admissions office.

When Ms. Travis saw me handcuffed and sat in a chair, she was stunned. She asked in disbelief, "Jessica, weren't you already guaranteed a spot at Glasgow through the competition program? Why are you even in the exam hall, let alone cheating?"

With that one sentence, everyone was stunned.

Emmet looked at me blankly and asked, "You … you were already admitted?"

The principal and my homeroom teacher were shocked and asked Ms. Travis for confirmation.

Ms. Travis nodded repeatedly, "I'm not mistaken, I'm certain! Jessica has already been accepted into Glasgow's Physics Department! The offer letter is on the way!"

Now people were even more confused.

I'd already been admitted to the best university in the country, so why would I cheat in the entrance exam?

My homeroom teacher slapped her thigh and said firmly, "I get it! Someone set her up! Jessica, tell me the truth, did someone plant that cheat sheet in your pocket?"

The principal quickly agreed, "Yes, Jessica. As long as you say you didn't cheat, we'll get to the bottom of this!"

Everyone stared at me, eyes filled with hope. I knew that if I denied it, the teachers and classmates would protect me.

But instead, I said with a blank face, "I cheated. The cheat sheet is mine."

After hearing my words, the homeroom teacher collapsed to the floor, slapped her thighs and the ground in anger, "What a sin! Jessica, you're truly a walking disaster!"

The principal's expression shifted repeatedly. He pointed at me and shouted, "Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame the school for being heartless! Your father was seriously ill and you applied to advance the 50,000 pound scholarship for Glasgow students. The school originally planned to grant it after the exam. Now I'm telling you, it's gone!"

Upon hearing this, my calm demeanor shattered. I immediately stood up from the chair, "Principal, how can you go back on your word? That money is my dad's only hope for survival!"

The principal's face turned green with anger, "You have the nerve to blame me? You're the one who ruined your own future! That scholarship is for Glasgow students. Are you one?"

In a panic, I shouted, "I can be!"

"You? Don't kid yourself!" the principal yelled, pointing outside, "The police car's already on its way! You're about to be taken away for investigation!"

Rage surged inside me, but I had no way to explain, "Principal, please believe me, I still have a chance!"

The principal waved his hand, brows furrowed, clearly unwilling to say another word.

Just then, my mom arrived, she should've been at the hospital taking care of my dad.

The moment she saw me in handcuffs, her eyes turned red, "W-what's going on …"

I was stunned, "Mom, why are you here?"

My mom, emotional and flustered, said, "Your teacher called me! She said you were caught cheating on the college entrance exam! I didn't believe it. I said my daughter could never cheat. She told me to come and see for myself! Jessica, did you really cheat?"

I choked up, unsure how to respond.

A few reporters burst in with photographers, they pushed my mom aside.

They'd been shooting outside the school but rushed in the moment they heard that a top student was caught cheating. Cameras flashed right in my face.

One of the journalist asked, "You're Jessica Stockholm, right? You're the first student in this city caught cheating on the college entrance exam. Do you realize this will stain your name forever?"

Another journalist chimed in, "Sources say your mock exam scores were always above 700, why would you cheat? Can you explain?"

The flashbulbs were so bright I couldn't keep my eyes open. Emmet and my classmates pushed the reporters out, "Enough, stop filming! Jessica, are you out of your mind? Why are you determined to ruin yourself like this?"

While they spoke, the police car had already entered the school grounds, I was about to be taken away.

Emmet's neck turned red with urgency. He held onto my mom and shouted at me, "Jessica, say you didn't cheat! If you really did, your dad won't have money for surgery the day after tomorrow!"

"What?" My mom's mouth dropped in shock. After she learned that the principal canceled the payment because of the cheating incident, she panicked like an ant on a hot pan.

"Jessica, we already promised the doctor we'd pay for the surgery tomorrow! I'm begging you, please stop saying you cheated! Do it for your father, I'm begging you!" She dropped to her knees right then and there.

It's always children who kneel to their parents, when have parents ever knelt to their children?

"Mom, get up!" I clenched my teeth, eyes bloodshot.

But my mom shook her head and cried out, "I can't get up. If I do, your dad's really done for! Jessica, you've always been obedient and filial. Can't you take it back just once, for your dad?"

Emmet shouted again, "Jessica, deny it already! If you get taken away today, those reporters will spread the footage everywhere. Your whole life will be ruined! Your family won't be able to show their face in this town again!"

Other classmates also pleaded with me, "Yeah, Jessica, come back from the edge!"

The voices around me grew louder and louder, my head felt like it was about to explode.

My kneeling mother, my tearful homeroom teacher, the admissions officer waiting for me…

My lips moved, "I … I did cheat." Those words came out through gritted teeth.

As soon as I said it, my mom's eyes rolled back and she fainted on the spot.

Emmet angrily questioned me, "Jessica, you're not just destroying yourself, you're going to kill your parents too!"

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. The pain kept me awake.

Ms. Travis, the admissions officer from Glasgow, shook her head and sighed, "Forget it, what's done is done. Jessica, I'm sorry, your recommendation is now revoked."

From top student to criminal, it all changed in a single moment.

A shiver ran through me. I bit my lips so hard they started bleeding, but even so, I forced down the urge to reveal the truth and nodded, "Thank you, Ms. Travis. I understand."

Everyone lost hope. They had all wanted to protect me. As long as I said I didn't cheat, they were ready to fight the inspection team.

But I wouldn't say it. I admitted to cheating without hesitation.

A siren wailed across the school grounds. Two officers pushed down on my shoulders and began escorting me out.

Just then, the inspection team leader burst in from outside. His face was cold and stern as he shouted, "Wait! Something's wrong!"

My heart sank. Had he figured out my plan?

The homeroom teacher, thought there was still hope, quickly asked, "Mr. Bass, did you find out Jessica didn't cheat?"

Mr. Bass clenched his teeth, "She didn't cheat, she's trying to throw her life away!" The whole crowd gasped in shock.

"Jessica, we've just confirmed with the Examination Office that the answers on your cheat sheet match exactly with the official answers for tomorrow's exams. We now strongly suspect that you have stolen the test questions, an act of stealing state secrets!" he said again.

The national college entrance exam is a top-secret matter. If that accusation held, I wasn't just facing three years in prison anymore.

Hearing that, Emmet's legs buckled and he collapsed to the ground.

Tears streamed down his face, "Jessica, how could you be so foolish? Even stealing the exam? Did you forget our promise?"

I turned my head away, not even looking at him.

Just then, Mr. Bass's phone rang. He answered it and suddenly shouted in disbelief, "What? The Exam Office says there was no leak?"

Everyone's eyes returned to me, they desperately wanted an answer, "Jessica, how did you get tomorrow's answers?"

I took a deep breath and said slowly, "Fine, I'll tell you. It's actually simple. All you have to do … is cast a fortune……