My Own Father Destroyed My Dream of Getting into Top UniversitChapter 1
At the banquet celebrating the student my father sponsored getting into a prestigious graduate program, my aunt drank too much and let the truth slip.
"It's all because Professor Swanson is capable," she slurred, her voice carrying across the table. "Charlotte was short by nine points, and he still found a way to get her into Yanda University."
I froze, certain my aunt was joking.
"Auntie, my dad is a man of integrity. When I was short by a single point, he refused to pull any strings for me. How could he possibly break the rules for someone else? Charlotte must have gotten in on her own merit."
My disbelief only agitated her more. She shook off her daughter's desperate grip on her sleeve.
"How is it not true? Charlotte scored a 679. Nine points below the cutoff for the math department. Professor Swanson even declared he'd take Charlotte on as his personal graduate student." Her eyes narrowed at me. "Aren't you Professor Swanson's daughter? Why didn't *you* go to Yanda?"
My head turned slowly toward my parents.
My mother's gaze skittered away, guilt written plainly across her face. "Isabella... Charlotte's family situation is difficult. If she didn't get into Yanda, she wouldn't have been able to handle the blow."
"But you?" A sigh. "You won't do. We have to avoid suspicion. People would talk."
The tears came instantly, spilling over no matter how furiously I wiped at them.
"I understand." My voice cracked. "So being your daughter means you can't participate in my future at all."
The chair scraped harshly against the floor as I stood. "Fine. Then I won't be your daughter anymore. That way, you won't have to rack your brains trying to 'avoid suspicion.'"
——
Another second in that room would have suffocated me. I turned on my heel and marched toward the exit.
Two steps. That's all I managed before my father's voice boomed behind me.
"Charlotte will be my student. As my daughter, if you walk out now, you are publicly declaring your dissatisfaction with her! Do you have any idea how that will impact her reputation?"
I stopped.
Looked back at him.
He hadn't heard a single word I said. Or maybe he had, and he simply didn't care. His only concern was that my departure might tarnish the reputation of his precious sponsored student.