Scott's POV

After the college entrance exam results came out, I scored over 1550 and became the top scorer.

But my dad said, “Your cousin looks a lot like you. Let him take your place and go to college instead.”

My cousin had always been a troublemaker. He never studied and often hung out with thugs. On the day of the exam, he got drunk and didn’t even show up.

Dad said, “He needs to go to a good university. Maybe that environment will straighten him out. Otherwise, his life’s going to be ruined. You're hardworking and disciplined anyway. Even if you don’t go to college, you’ll still make it as long as you’re willing to work hard.”

When I didn’t respond, he called my girlfriend, Lovell Soto, over.

As soon as she arrived, she said to me, “Just listen to your dad. Getting out into the real world earlier isn’t a bad thing. You’ve been burying your head in books for too long. You’re practically a nerd. It’s time you experience the real world.”

I nodded. “Alright.”

——

The moment I agreed, my dad lit up with joy. He hurried to gather all my documents, like he was afraid I’d change my mind.

I just sat there, numb, silently watching him rush around.

Then suddenly, he turned back to me and casually added, “Oh, by the way, your cousin got involved in a theft a few days ago. His accomplices have already been arrested. The police are looking for him now. He’s about to start university, so we can’t let him get a criminal record. Since you’ve already switched identities with him, why don’t you turn yourself in?”

I rubbed my eyes, trying to force the tears back.

Still, my voice came out hoarse. “Dad… do you even care about me?”

He sighed, looked at me seriously, and said, “Of course I care. You’re my son. How could I not? It's just that your cousin lost his parents when he was young. Life’s already been hard enough for him. I have to look out for him.”

Lovell walked up and said, “It’s just a few years in prison. Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you. By the time you’re out, your cousin will have already graduated. He can split his salary with you and support you. You won’t even have to work, yet you’ll still get money. Isn’t that pretty nice?”

Before I could say anything, she reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and called the police.

She held the phone to my ear and whispered, “Turning yourself in can reduce your sentence. Don’t miss the chance.”

Immediately, the call connected. I let out a long breath and spoke quietly, “This is Adrian Osborne. I'm turning myself in.”

My dad and Lovell exchanged a smile.

After I hung up, my dad gently stroked my head. “Scott, I’m sorry this has to happen to you.”

Lovell pulled out a mesh bag.

Inside were a washbasin, toothpaste, toothbrush, and soap —all things for a prison.

She handed it to me and said, “I picked out everything myself. Got you the best stuff.”

I wiped my tears. “Let’s go.”

I opened the door, ready to walk to the police station.

But the moment I stepped out, I saw my grandma, panting as she climbed the stairs.

Her face lit up when she saw me. “Scott! I heard you scored over 1550 on the exam, and you’re the top scorer? That’s amazing! Your mom would’ve been so proud of you. She must be smiling from heaven.”

She then held up the chicken in her hand and added, “I brought a chicken to make a dish for you. You’ve worked so hard all these years. Grandma knows.”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I collapsed to the floor, sobbing.

Startled, she dropped the chicken and rushed to hug me. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

My dad stayed silent while Lovell kept glancing at her watch.

Annoyed, she nudged me. “The call’s been made. If we wait too long, it won’t count. Come on, let’s go.”

Scott's POV

Grandma looked confused. “Where are you all going?”

But Dad didn’t answer. He just grabbed my arm and started pulling me along.

The confusion on Grandma’s face deepened. She held onto me with one hand and grabbed the mesh bag with the other. “What is this? What are you doing with all this stuff?”

That was when my phone rang.

It was a call from the police.

“Mr. Adrian, you need to report to the station within twelve hours. Missing this window will affect the leniency of your confession.”

Grandma’s eyes widened in shock. “Adrian? What confession? That has to be a mistake!”

Lovell rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. “He’s Adrian now. He and Scott switched identities. It’s too complicated to explain to you right now. We don’t have time. We have to go.”

Grandma clutched my arm tighter, refusing to let go.

Even in her old age, it didn’t take her long to figure it all out.

She burst into tears. “Scott, have you lost your mind?! After all your hard work, after becoming the top scorer, you’re just going to give your future away to that delinquent cousin of yours?!”

“You’re throwing away everything—your future, your life! What would your mother think, watching from above? Do you remember her last words before she passed? She begged you to live a good, honorable life… to make something of yourself!” she reminded.

Tears were already streaming down my face.

Still, I forced a smile and said, “Grandma, even without college, I can still make something of myself. Please, don’t stop me. If I don’t get there in time, it won’t count as turning myself in, and I’ll have to stay in prison even longer.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, pried her hands off me, and walked away as fast as I could.

Grandma tried to run after me, but Lovell blocked her.

Suddenly, Grandma cried out in despair, “Scott! If you walk out that door, I’ll kill myself right here!”

Instantly, I froze mid-step.

I turned around and saw the tears pouring down her wrinkled cheeks, and my heart ached like never before.

But I steeled myself, gritted my teeth, and said coldly, “Grandma, you promised Mom you’d take care of me. If you die, then when I get out of prison, no one will be there for me. So please, you have to live. Otherwise, how will you face Mom?”

Only then did she collapse to the floor, stunned, mumbling, “Why? Why is this happening?”

Dad and Lovell took the chance to drag me down the stairs and shove me into the car.

I sat there with my eyes closed, but I could still hear Grandma’s cries echoing in my head.

I’m sorry, Grandma.

We arrived at the police station quickly.

But Dad didn’t let me get out of the car just yet.

Lovell pulled out a tiny glass vial and a few cotton swabs.

She said calmly, “Scott, you and your cousin may look alike, but your fingerprints aren’t the same. That could be a problem. This is going to hurt, but hang in there.”

What she pulled out was sulfuric acid.

She dipped a cotton swab in it and started rubbing it on my fingertips.

The pain was excruciating. I screamed.

But she held my hand firmly, refusing to let me pull away.

It felt like fire drilling into my nerves, every fingertip burning straight to the bone. My whole body convulsed from the agony.

But Dad pinned my shoulders down, making sure I couldn’t move.

Lovell looked heartbroken. “I know it hurts. I’m so sorry. Just a little more. Almost done.”

Her face was full of sympathy, but her hands never stopped.

All ten of my fingers were burned.

By the time they were finished, my shirt was drenched in sweat, and my throat was raw from screaming.

Dad handed me a bottle of water with a kind smile.

The moment I took a sip to soothe my throat, they grabbed me again and pulled me out of the car, marching me straight toward the police station.

Scott's POV

When I was filling out the paperwork, my fingers hurt so badly I could barely hold the pen.

Soon after, someone from the detention center came to pick me up. Before the trial, I’d have to be held in custody.

My dad let out a sigh and asked the officer, “Can we have a moment? Just to say goodbye?”

The officer gave us a sympathetic look and led us into a small, bare visiting room.

I sat down and said in a low voice, “What’s left to say? Everything that needed to be said has already been said.”

Lovell was on her phone as she replied, “Don’t worry. He’s almost here.”

I frowned. “Who?”

Right then, the door opened and Adrian walked in.

He strolled in with a grin and said, “Bro, thanks for giving me the chance to go to college.”

Dad added seriously, “Adrian came all the way here because he wanted to thank you in person.”

I nodded silently.

Then Adrian complained to Lovell, “Did you really have to make me get a fingerprint tattoo? Do you have any idea how painful that was? You’re the one who came up with that crazy idea just to mess up my fingerprints.”

I looked down at my own fingertips, still raw and burned from the acid, and gave a bitter, silent smile.

Adrian turned to her again. “Lovell, you owe me a reward.”

He pulled her into his arms and started kissing her like no one else was in the room.

Lovell looked awkward as she glanced over at me. “Scott, you know how it is. Now that you and Adrian have switched identities, a lot of people still think I’m dating you. If I act distant around him, it’ll look suspicious. So, Adrian and I have to keep up the act for a while. But don’t worry. We’ll break up when the timing’s right.”

I nodded. “You’re doing a great job acting.”

Then I stood up, walked to the door, and followed the detention officers to the car.

That night, I curled up on the cold metal bed, my mind filled with the sound of Grandma’s cries and my mom’s dying words.

She had asked me to make something of myself, to fight for a better life. Even without her around, she wanted me to stay strong and never give up.

I had studied so hard all these years, grinding through every day so I wouldn’t let her down. I wanted to earn a place in the world, to become someone she could be proud of, even in the afterlife.

But now, all of it was gone.

I’d failed her.

My dad’s cold indifference and Lovell’s betrayal all sat on my chest like a pile of bricks.

I broke down and cried.

But no one cared.

“Mom, I’m sorry,” I whispered, eyes shut tight. “I didn’t have a choice.”

The next day, it was time for the inmates to watch TV.

We all sat on tiny plastic stools, lined up neatly, watching the news.

To my surprise, Adrian appeared on screen.

He was dressed to the nines, wearing a bright red flower pinned to his chest, being interviewed under my name.

Smiling for the camera, Adrian said, “I became the top scorer in the college entrance exams to honor my late mother. My mom was a teacher. She died after being severely injured while trying to protect someone during a robbery…”

He was telling my mom’s story.

And the truth was that the story had been the reason I worked so hard all these years. That pain had fueled me.

Sitting there behind bars, I couldn’t hold back my tears.

Then the reporter turned to my dad.

“Mr. Osborne, we’ve heard that you had a nephew who lost his parents young, and you raised him. But recently, he was arrested for theft. Do you have any thoughts on that?”

My dad’s face turned cold. “He’s a disgrace to our family. I don’t want to talk about him. I just hope his mistakes won’t affect my son’s future in civil service.”

The reporter smiled politely and turned to Lovell. “We’ve heard you’re a top student couple. Now that you’re heading off to college, do you think this will impact your relationship?”