Chapter 6
1023 Words
Back in college, she had accompanied Jason Lincoln as he built his business from nothing. She had even slept in a basement with him before.
This small one-bedroom apartment was indeed simple, but Anna had an extraordinary father. In order to let her study peacefully, he gave the only bedroom to Anna.
As for himself, he placed a chair on the balcony and slept there—ever since Anna had been in middle school.
Anna had once asked him to share the room with her, but her father had said,
“Anna, you’re grown now. You’re a young woman. Your father may not be able to buy a house or give you a beautiful room, but I can still give you your own space.”
“I often come home late from work. Going in and out would disturb your rest. If my Anna ends up looking tired like a little kitten and your grades fall, your father would never forgive himself.”
“As long as you can enter a good university and succeed in life, your father will already be satisfied.”
In fact, even after Anna entered university, her father still slept on the balcony.
Every time Anna came home during summer or winter break, she asked him why he still refused to sleep in the room.
Her father would only smile and say,
“My body smells like sweat. How could I sleep on my daughter’s bed?”
“Besides, the balcony is nice. I’m used to it.”
“My daughter’s room—no one is allowed to touch it.”
Back then, Anna Nolan had felt incredibly grateful to have such a father.
But now…
She only felt deep guilt.
For Jason Lincoln—or more accurately, for Jason Lincoln’s mother—Anna had hidden her true abilities all these years.
She had never told her father that her academic performance was actually even better than Jason Lincoln’s.
The greatest pride in Wendy Lincoln’s life had always been having a son who ranked first in the entire grade.
Because her father liked Wendy Lincoln, and Anna had always believed that she and Jason Lincoln would eventually become family, she thought it didn’t matter whether she ranked first or tenth.
But now—
Anna Nolan no longer thought that way.
She would reclaim everything that should have belonged to her.
Only then could she and her father hold their heads high with pride.
“Anna, what exactly happened to you today?” her father asked anxiously.
“How could you speak to Aunt Wendy like that? And Jason… did the two of you argue? Anna…”
Her father was still confused and worried.
“Dad,” Anna interrupted him gently, “do you want your daughter to become a special-admission student at a prestigious overseas university?”
Mr. Nolan froze.
It took him a long time before he spoke.
“Of course I do.”
“My Anna is so capable. You deserve a better school.”
“But Anna, we also have to be realistic. The famous overseas university Aunt Wendy always talks about…”
“The special admission program only accepts the top-ranked student of the entire grade, and there is only one spot.”
“There are also several strange examinations to pass.”
“You’re ranked tenth…”
He laughed awkwardly.
“Anna, I know you’re trying to comfort me, but—”
“Dad,” Anna said softly but firmly, “just answer me.”
“Do you want it or not?”
Of course he did.
What parent wouldn’t want their child to succeed and shine?
Especially since he had always heard Wendy Lincoln bragging about her son being the number one student.
Although his own Anna was also excellent…
first place and tenth place were still different.
“Then it’s settled,” Anna Nolan said calmly with a smile.
“Dad, today I already changed my application choice.”
“I applied to the university that Aunt Wendy always wanted Jason Lincoln to attend.”
“Tomorrow at noon, you don’t need to bring lunch to school for me. I have to handle some documents and take several exams.”
“Dad, forty-five days from now, just wait for the admission letter from that prestigious overseas university—addressed to your daughter.”
The information Mr. Nolan received that day was simply too overwhelming.
His face turned pale.
Even his legs trembled slightly.
“Anna… am I already old and useless?”
“Why would you take Jason’s spot?”
“If Aunt Wendy finds out—”
“Dad,” Anna interrupted gently but firmly, “that spot doesn’t belong to Jason Lincoln.”
“It belongs to whoever is capable enough to earn it.”
“Besides…”
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“Jason Lincoln actually has no intention of applying to that university.”
Mr. Nolan was stunned.
“Anna…”
“Dad, don’t ask yet,” Anna said with a smile.
“You’ll find out soon enough which university Jason Lincoln actually plans to attend.”
“Oh, and don’t tell Aunt Wendy.”
“If she finds out, she’ll definitely be jealous of you.”
“Besides…”
Anna deliberately paused.
“Who says I’ll definitely succeed?”
Anna Nolan wasn’t worried that her father would reveal this secret.
Her father was actually very cautious.
Even if he accidentally said something, Wendy Lincoln wouldn’t believe it anyway.
In her eyes, Anna Nolan was no better than the servants who had once served her in Anna’s previous life.
More importantly, Anna chose to tell her father first for two reasons.
First, her father would inevitably meet Wendy Lincoln again, and she might even call him.
Second, when the admission letter arrived forty-five days later, he wouldn’t panic, become angry, or be influenced by Wendy Lincoln’s emotions.
Her father—even if he still cared about Wendy Lincoln—would still risk everything for his daughter.
Anna Nolan only needed to wait.
Wait for the grand show to begin.
- Writer
