CHAPTER 12 - Navira's POV
"Mock Exams, Manipulation, and the Aurline Household Circus."
By the time school ends, Agnes looks like she's aged twelve years.
Meanwhile, I look great.
Alden meets us at the gate like a guard dog with good hair.
He opens the car door for me first - very obviously - and Agnes stiffens.
"Why her?" she snaps.
Alden shrugs. "Because she doesn't fake-cry on staircases."
Agnes goes silent.
I hide a smile.
Alastair is already in the car, headphones on, scrolling through something academic. He glances up when I sit beside him.
"You caused a spectacle today."
His tone is flat, but his eyes? Curious.
"I cause results," I reply, buckling in.
A slight smirk twitches at his lips.
Alden snorts. Agnes sulks.
Family harmony at its finest.
Back Home - The Aurline Estate
Vivienne is waiting at the front entrance - pearls, perfect posture, and the emotional intensity of a mother discovering a new favorite child.
"You're home!" she gushes. "Navira, sweetheart, how was your day?"
Agnes steps forward with a dramatic inhale.
"M-Mom-"
Vivienne doesn't even look at her.
She cups my cheeks like I'm made of glass.
"Oh darling... did anyone treat you badly? If anyone made comments about your albinism-"
"They did," I say with fake sadness.
Agnes's eyes widen in pure betrayal.
I continue smoothly, "They said I looked like an ice queen."
Vivienne giggles.
Alden chokes on air trying not to laugh.
Alastair actually covers his mouth.
Vivienne hugs me tightly. "Oh, my baby!"
Agnes looks like she's going to drop dead on the marble floor.
Good.
When Vivienne pulls away, she announces, "Dinner in thirty! And we must discuss the upcoming school mock exam. It's very important."
Mock exam?
Oh, this just gets better.
Dinner - Family Meeting
Victor sits at the head of the table, posture king-like, voice booming as always.
"Alden, Alastair. Agnes. And now Navira. The mock exam is in ten days. We expect high results from all of you."
Agnes straightens like she's preparing to give a speech.
"Dad, you know I always do well-"
Victor raises a finger. "But Navira will be taking the advanced placement exam."
Agnes stops breathing.
"What?" she croaks.
Victor looks at me proudly.
"I spoke with the principal. Based on Navira's entrance test ranking, she qualifies for the highest tier."
Ah yes.
The test I purposely finished in 7 minutes.Even though the test was supposed to take an hour.
Vivienne claps happily. "Isn't our daughter brilliant?"
Alden elbows Alastair like Are you seeing this?
Agnes grips her fork like she wants to stab the salad.
Then she tries it.
The card she always uses:
"M-Mom... Dad..."
Her voice trembles.
"I-I'm scared Navira will be under too much pressure. She wasn't raised like us. She didn't have the same education. I'm just... worried for her. As her sister."
Vivienne melts instantly.
Victor softens.
Alden sighs.
Agnes gives me a very smug look, like she just won the Nobel Peace Prize for manipulation.
Cute.
Time to crush her confidence.
I lower my spoon gently, look at the whole family, and whisper:
"Agnes is right."
Everyone freezes.
She looks confused, but pleased.
I continue, voice soft and trembling just enough to sound believable:
"I'm sorry if I cause... inconvenience."
A pause.
A shaky inhale.
"I don't want the family to think I'm... competing for love."
Vivienne holds her chest.
"Oh sweetheart-!"
I subtly wipe a fake tear.
Oscar-worthy.
"I just want to stand on my own," I say quietly. "Success... money... prestige... power. That's all I need. Love is Agnes's department, not mine."
Agnes goes pale.
Victor clears his throat. "Navira, you deserve EVERYTHING. Love included."
Vivienne nods rapidly. "Yes! You are our daughter! You don't have to earn our affection!"
Alden: "Agnes, stop making her think she's stealing something."
Alastair: "She's not competing. She's just... better."
Agnes slaps her palm on the table.
"This is NOT FAIR!"
I tilt my head innocently.
"You started it."
Vivienne snaps, "Agnes! Apologize to your sister!"
Agnes sputters. "But-she- I- She's manipulating-"
I widen my eyes, hurt.
"Why would you say that?"
Victor frowns at her like she's personally offended the nation.
Alden mutters, "Here she goes again."
Agnes looks around the table, desperate, betrayed, humiliated.
And I sip water like I'm at a spa.
Later - Study Room
Alden corners me after dinner.
He crosses his arms. "You played them."
I close my book. "And?"
He tries not to grin.
"Do it again tomorrow."
Alastair enters, tosses a mock exam guide on the table. "You're taking advanced. Don't embarrass us."
"I won't."
I smirk.
"I'll top it."
Both brothers look strangely satisfied.
Alden whistles. "Agnes is gonna explode."
"She already is," I reply.
Upstairs Hallway - Agnes' Last Nerve
I'm heading to my room when Agnes jumps out of nowhere.
Her eyes are wild.
"You think you're clever," she hisses.
"I am clever," I correct her.
"You're ruining everything!"
I lean closer, whispering:
"Agnes, I don't want your love. I don't want your friends. I don't want your Jasver."
She flinches.
"I want power," I continue softly. "And you're nothing but practice."
She gasps.
I pat her shoulder gently.
"So thank you. For being useful."
And I walk away before she can respond.
Behind me, she lets out a strangled sound between a sob and a scream.
Poor girl.
She'll never catch up.