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?”

Scott's POV

Lovell and Adrian exchanged a look, then suddenly kissed, right there in front of the cameras.

The crowd around them broke into cheers, claps, and whistles, showering them with blessings like they were some perfect couple.

I stared blankly at the screen, completely mesmerized. At some point, without even realizing it, tears were streaming down my face.

Before long, the court hearing arrived.

I didn’t fight back or deny anything. I admitted to every charge.

As such, the judge announced the verdict on the spot. Since the theft involved a large amount and was committed as part of a group, I was sentenced to ten years in prison.

From where I sat, I clearly saw the expressions of my dad, Lovell, and Adrian in the courtroom gallery. They all let out a huge sigh of relief.

After the trial ended, I was escorted out of the courtroom and prepared for prison transport.

Just before I got in the van, a reporter shoved a microphone in my face.

“Your cousin is the top scorer in the college entrance exam, while you’re going to prison. How does that make you feel? Do you have anything to say to the public?”

I paused, then said with a faint smile, “Prison’s not so bad. You can learn a lot. Might even be more useful than college.”

The reporter couldn’t help but chuckle.

The people around us burst out laughing.

I saw it in their eyes—the pure mockery.

Someone sneered, “That’s just sour grapes. Can’t have it, so he pretends it’s worthless.”

Another muttered, “With logic like that, no wonder he ended up behind bars.”

Someone else said, “Clearly never had any parents to raise him right. Probably never taught a thing about respect.”

Just then, a frail figure pushed through the crowd.

She was crying as she stumbled forward, her voice shaky but loud with desperation. “You’ve made a mistake! All of you, this is wrong! He’s not Adrian. He’s my grandson, Scott! He’s innocent! He’s the one who topped the entrance exam!”

Grandma must’ve come from far away as she was drenched in sweat, barely standing. Yet, she clung to my arm, sobbing uncontrollably.

She nearly dropped to her knees as she begged, “Scott, please, don’t do this to yourself. Tell them the truth. Don’t throw your life away for nothing!”

I fought back tears, forcing myself to act like a delinquent. “Lady, I think you’ve got the wrong guy.”

Seeing me act differently, she cried even harder.

Then, as if something clicked, she grabbed me again and pleaded, “Are they threatening you? Did your father hit you? You can tell us right now. There are officers here. No one will hurt you.”

I just shook my head. “Ma’am, you really have the wrong person. Your grandson’s over there.”

Just then, my dad and Lovell came running over.

Each of them took one of Grandma’s arms and started dragging her away.

They then gave the reporters a rehearsed explanation. “She’s got dementia. Can’t tell people apart. Sorry about that, everyone.”

Afterward, they shoved Grandma roughly into a car and drove off without looking back.

I wiped my face, slipped the handcuffs on willingly, and climbed into the transport van.

After I was officially sent to prison, my dad never came to see me again.

Lovell disappeared too—completely vanished from my life.

The only one who tried to visit was Grandma. But I turned her away every time.

She shouldn’t see me like this.

She was too old, too frail. Seeing me behind bars would only break her heart more.

It was better this way. Better to wait until I was free. Then I’d make it up to her properly.

About a month later, one of the guards approached me.

“Someone’s here to see you,” he said.

I asked three times first to confirm it wasn’t Grandma before heading to the visiting room.

The moment I saw who it was, I froze.

It was Adrian.

He sat there, looking smug. He then leaned in and said quietly, “All that hard work and studying and still, you ended up with nothing.”

I stayed silent.

He smirked and added, “I bet you still don’t know, huh? You and I we’re actually half-brothers. Same father, different mothers.”

Scott's POV

“Your dad is my dad,” Adrian said smugly. “All that talk about being your cousin or nephew? Just lies to cover things up.”

I replied calmly, “I figured that out a long time ago.”

He froze, caught off guard.

My calmness clearly unsettled him. He looked a little surprised and a little annoyed.

Then he gave a slow grin. “There’s something else you probably didn’t know. I’ve actually been with Lovell for a while now. She told me in bed how much she loves me. Said I’m better than you, more exciting. As for you? You’re like a block of wood. Completely useless outside of books. If we hadn’t needed you to swap identities, she would’ve dumped you ages ago.”

Still, I said nothing.

But under the table, my hands were clenched so tightly the veins popped out. My fingernails dug into my palms so hard that they broke skin. Soon, blood began to seep out.

Adrian stood up and stretched lazily. “Go on, keep pretending you don’t care. You won’t be able to keep it up for much longer. Oh, and I actually came here today to deliver you a little gift. Back when I was running with a gang, I pissed off some nasty people. Word is, they’ve just been locked up too. And guess what? When they heard ‘Adrian’ was also in this facility, they paid and pulled strings to make sure they’d be assigned to your cell.”

My whole body stiffened at that.

I could handle prison life—the early mornings, bland food, the monotonous routine. I’d been living like that for years while studying.

But bullying? That was my breaking point.

I’d already suffered enough, and now a gang of enemies was being purposely thrown in with me?

What was I supposed to do?

That flicker of panic in my expression finally gave Adrian the reaction he wanted.

Only then did he smile in satisfaction and say, “Hang in there, okay? Let’s hope you make it till your release date.”

“Well, I’ve got a party to attend,” he said, turning to leave. “A few rich folks want to introduce me to their daughters. I mean, who can blame them? I’ve got the grades, the looks, and now the fame.”

He sighed dramatically. “You’re lucky, really. Peace and quiet in prison. Out here, life is so stressful.”

With that, Adrian walked out.

I returned to my cell with a heavy heart, and just as he mentioned, new inmates had arrived.

From that day on, I was given special treatment every single day.

I gritted my teeth and endured it.

Because I knew something they didn’t. I wouldn’t be in here for long.

Sure enough, just a week later, my dad and Lovell came to visit.

The moment I stepped into the visiting room, they grabbed my arm in a panic.

“Hurry!” they said. “You and Adrian need to switch identities back. We’ve lined up a reporter. You’ll make a public statement, and we’ll testify for you. You’re the real top scorer, Scott! Let him take your place in prison. You’re getting out!”

I stared at them and let out a quiet laugh. “That’s strange,” I said. “I’m the criminal, Adrian. Why should my model student cousin, Scott, take the fall for me?”