Chapter 32
Antara thought she must have misheard.
She blinked in disbelief and asked again, “Celeste, what did you just say? You ranked first in the entrance exam for Crestwood College?
It wasn’t that she doubted Celeste’s intelligence–she had always known Celeste was bright enough to top the entire university.
Celeste nodded, her expression calm. “Unless something went wrong, that’s correct. If you don’t believe me, Mom, you can check the official results yourself. My name should be on the list”
Amara didn’t usually need proof when it came to Celeste, but curiosity got the best of her. Taking Celeste’s phone, she quickly pulled up. the university’s exam results.
The moment the page loaded, her eyes landed on Celeste’s name–bolded, highlighted, and sitting at the very top of the list.
Celeste got full marks,
“Ah!” The ever–composed Amara fet out an uncharacteristically sharp scream, clutching the phone.
Celeste, you got a perfect score! A perfect score!” Tears welled up in her eyes as overwhelming pride and emotion washed over her.
She had never imagined that the same Celeste who had been expelled from Skyline University for failing would now be standing at the absolute top.
ven manage this?” she asked.
“Celeste, this is incredible! How did you even
Celeste smiled, completely unfazed. “I just took the test like I always do
“But your grades before They weren’t exactly the best. How did you suddenly go from the bottom of the rankings to first place with perfect score?” Amara was confused.
It just didn’t make sense. No one’s academic ability could change that drastically overnight–unless, of course, Celeste had been capable of this all along
Then why did she always place last before? A horrible thought crept into Amara’s mind. Did someone force her to fail? Did her adoptive parents deliberately hold her back?
As if reading Amara’s thoughts, Celeste chuckled. “I failed those tests on purpose.”
So that’s the truth, Amara thought.
Amarase expression darkened. “Did your a adoptive parents make you do it?”
She didn’t know why Amara thought that way, but the truth was, no one had forced her to fail–she had made that choice herself.
Celeste shook her head. “No, actually, they always wanted me to do well. They thought it was embarrassing to have a daughter who couldn’t get decent grades”
“Then why didn’t you just go along with it?” Amara asked.
Celeste shrugged casually. “I was going to at first, but then they kept nitpicking, acting like nothing I did was ever good enough. “And I hated the way my teachers would watch me so closely. I figured–why not just fail on purpose?”
Nitpicking” Amara’s heart twisted painfully. Tad Celeste been miserable in 1/
house?
Amara’s heart ached as she gazed at Celeste, still hiding behind her mask. “Celeste, can you tell me what life w Sinclair family? Did they treat you badly?”
Celeste looked at Amara, taking in the concern in her eyes. She gave a small smile. They were alw. one who looked after me. Back then, I got good grades because I wanted their approval
was really like for you in the
always busy, so my older brother was the
“But they just ignore me. So I thought If being smart wouldn’t get their attention, maybe failing would. And you know what? It worked. They finally noticed me. But instead of caring, they just acted like I was an embarrassment,
“So I thought. Fine, if I embarrass them so much, I might as
it as well go all in. Eventually, I pissed them off so much that they just gave up
I AM o
Chapter 32
on me completely.
“As for whether they treated me well. In the beginning, I’d say they were neither good nor bad. But after they found out I wasn’t their biological daughter, things got much worse.”
They hated her enough to want her gone.
If she hadn’t been strong enough to survive, she wouldn’t be standing here today.
Amara pulled Celeste imo a tight embrace, holding her as if she could somehow make up for all those lost years.
“My sweet girl, you’ve suffered so much. But you’re home now. From now on, your father and I will make sure you get all the love you were denied.” Amara promised
But in a twisted way, she was grateful to the Sinclairs. Their cruelty had forced her to become independent, to push herself beyond limits she didn’t even know she had.
If they hadn’t been so stupid, she never would have mastered everything she needed to take over the Sinclair Group
She would have never risen from obscurity to become someone with so many identities.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Celeste returned Amara’s embrace. “I never thought Fil get to experience what it feels like to be loved by my own parents. Thank you, Mom
Thank you for giving me something I have once thought was impossible, she thought.
As they pulled apart, Amara reached up to Celeste’s mask softly.
Amara said gently. “We’re family, Celeste. You don’t have to be so formal with me.
“And about your face–I already h
had your sister contact the best plastic surgeons for you. You’ll be able to have the procedure soon.
Celeste quickly stopped her. “Mom, there’s no need. My face has already healed.”
Amara’s eyes widened. “It has?”
Celeste nodded. Under Amara’s curious gaze, the reached up and slowly removed the mask. Celeste bore an uncanny resemblance to Amara’s younger self.
Amara thought today had already been filled with surprises. First, Celeste had achieved a perfect score and secured her spot at Crestwood College.
And now, Celeste had her beautiful face back.
Eut one question still lingered. “If your face has healed, why have you been wearing the mask all this time?” Amara asked.
And because of those secret identities, the mask was the easiest way to keep herself hidden.
Celeste hesaated brielly before smirking. “I got used to it. And honestly? I think I’m a little too good looking
“If I walk around without the mask, I’ll draw way too much attention. Keeping a low profile would be impossible. So I want to keep wearing it.”
For a moment, Amara was speechless. That was not the answer she had expected.
But… Celeste wasn’t wrong. She was stunning
If she went around without the mask, men would be lining up for her. Given her current stan wrong kind of attention
Keeping the mask might be the safer option.
“Well, if you’re going to keep wearing one, at least let me buy plain
Celeste didn’t particularly care about the design.
As long as it covered her face, that was all that mattered,
status and influence, she would attract the
y you some better–looking masks” Amara said thoughtfully. “This one is too
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Chapter 32
But she also didn’t want to refuse Amara’s kindness, so she nodded. “Alright, I’ll leave it up to you.”
Amara smiled in satisfaction. “Good. I’ll pick out the best ones.” Without wasting a second, she began browsing online, selecting the most luxurious and intricately designed masks she could find.
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