Rise of Underdog

10

After receiving a response from the minister, Thomas felt a bit more at ease. At the very least, his confidence began to return, and he was quite certain that the exam results would leave Ethan disappointed. But he couldn’t have been more wrong—his false sense of security was shattered in an instant, without warning.

“I noticed you don’t look as gloomy today,” Evelyn said, watching her husband closely.

“Of course. I’m feeling a bit more relaxed than before,” Thomas replied with a faint smile.

“Does this have something to do with Ethan Caldwell?” Evelyn probed, her curiosity clearly growing.

Thomas hesitated, staring at his wife’s face—the woman who always seemed to know how to read the unease hidden behind his forced smiles. Evelyn wasn’t just his life partner; she had been a strategic ally in many of his plans over the years. But this time, he wasn’t sure he wanted to share everything.

“You know, Evelyn… that man has received too much attention lately,” Thomas finally said, trying to sound neutral. “But I have good reason to believe his luck is about to run out.”

Evelyn folded her arms and walked slowly toward the window, gazing out at the garden. “You’re still holding a grudge, aren’t you?”

“A grudge?” Thomas raised an eyebrow. “No. I just want to put everyone in their rightful place. Ethan’s held a position that was never his for far too long.”

Evelyn turned to look at her husband, her gaze intense. “But if the results don’t turn out the way you’re hoping… are you ready for that?”

Thomas’s expression stiffened slightly. “I’ve prepared for every possible outcome. But even if Ethan wins, it won’t last long.”

“What do you mean?” Evelyn asked softly, her tone now tinged with suspicion.

Thomas gave a faint smile and stood up. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Meanwhile, in another room, Ethan stood beside Robert, who was reading a document that had just arrived from the examination committee. Ethan waited patiently, though his heartbeat quickened. His eyes didn’t leave Robert’s face, watching every twitch of his brow, which occasionally rose in surprise.

“Robert?” Ethan finally said, unable to bear the silence.

Robert looked up. “You’d better sit down.”

Ethan’s chest tightened. He sat down slowly, trying to read his friend’s expression. “Just tell me. No matter how bad it is, I’m ready.”

Robert handed him the document. “You… got the highest score.”

Ethan froze. “What?”

“Yes. You didn’t just pass, Ethan. You broke the highest record in this exam’s history.”

It took Ethan a few seconds to fully grasp the words. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face—not from arrogance, but from the overwhelming relief after all the pressure and ridicule he had endured.

“Thank you, Robert,” he whispered.

Robert patted his shoulder. “You earned it.”

Back in the study, Thomas let out a light laugh, leaving Evelyn confused and furrowing her brows.

“What have you done to that young man?” she asked again, this time with a sharper tone, pressing for clarity.

“I’ve sabotaged him. I mean, there’s been manipulation involved in the upcoming exam results,” Thomas said with unwavering confidence, like someone certain he’d never face consequences.

Evelyn’s eyes widened. She was shocked—even though this wasn’t the first time her husband had done something like this. Still, every time she heard something so unethical and heartless, her body tensed, as if rejecting the idea that such actions could ever be justified.

But Evelyn wasn’t the only one who felt shocked.

Standing silently behind the door… was their daughter.

Scarlett.

She hadn’t knocked, hadn’t made a sound. But for the past few minutes, she had been standing there, frozen in place. At first, she had only intended to find her father to talk about something important she’d been holding in all morning. But her steps had stopped the moment she overheard voices slipping through the slightly ajar door.

What she heard nearly took her breath away.

Scarlett closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm the sudden pounding of her heart. Her father’s words echoed in her ears—words like “sabotage,” “manipulation,” and “exam results.” They all wove together into a horrifying realization—one she never expected to come from a man she had always looked up to.

Her hands clenched. She lowered her gaze, fighting the urge to barge in and scream. But she knew that would only make things worse. She needed more evidence. And more importantly: she needed time to process it all.

Scarlett slowly stepped back, careful not to make the floor creak. She stared blankly down the empty hallway behind her, then turned around and walked away—her mind in turmoil.

Inside the room, Thomas kept talking, unaware of what had just happened. Evelyn remained silent, her gaze vacant. But outside, a new storm had just begun to form—and it came from within their own family.

“Oh… so Dad sabotaged Ethan?” Scarlett whispered to herself, her voice barely audible, like a breath lost to the walls and passing time. Her head bowed low, as if the weight of that truth was too much to bear.

A pang of guilt surged in her chest. She couldn’t deny it—Ethan was one of the most promising students in their year. She knew how hard he’d worked. But now, all that effort seemed destined to be crushed… not by a lack of ability, but by the hands of her own father.

At the same time, Scarlett couldn’t lie to herself. She had been upset with Ethan these past few days. He had changed. He wasn’t warm like before—he’d grown distant, cold, withdrawn. Scarlett had felt hurt, even considered ignoring him entirely.

But now, after hearing the truth behind Ethan’s change, everything felt different. Maybe... Ethan knew. Maybe he had already sensed the unfair treatment coming his way. And that explained everything.

Scarlett let out a long sigh. The concern she had tried so hard to bury resurfaced. And it wasn’t just ordinary empathy—it was something deeper. She genuinely cared about Ethan. Not just because he was a victim, but because he meant something to her. More than she could ever express in words.