Celeste’s features were striking with a high–bridged nose, refined face, and a pair of eyes that seemed to glimmer with an inner light. Even without makeup, she could embody beauty effortlessly.
It felt as though every compliment the world could offer had been poured into Celeste’s appearance.
After the president finished looking her over, Celeste spoke up. “Now that my identity’s verified, can we begin the exam?”
The president took a deep breath, snapping back to attention. “Yes, follow me” With that, he gathered the exam papers and led the group to an empty classroom.
Each classroom seated only ten students, spaced several seats apart to prevent any chance of cheating.
Once everyone was seated, the president began distributing the exams and went over the details. This exam totals 1600 points. Only those who score at least 1550 will be considered for admission to Crestwood College.
“And you guys have two and a half hours. Keep an eye on the clock, and good luck!”
As the president finished, everyone focused on their tests. Celeste skimmed through the questions quickly before diving into her answers.
Meanwhile, back in Kingston, Chloe was dealing with the aftermath of Celeste hanging up on her. Lachlan, her manager, had found her. “Chloe, it’s almost nine. Where’s your sister? Did she bail on you?” he asked.
Chloe glanced at him, visibly awkward. “Lachlan, my sister said she had an urgent matter to take care of, so she’s asking if we can push the press conference back a biĹTM
Instantly, Lachlan’s expression turned stormy. “Every reporter’s already in the hall waiting. If we delay now, they’ll think you’re making them wait on purpose, pulling some kind of diva stunt. Chloe, you never fail to disappoint me.”
“L.” Chloe replied, biting back a hundred curses for Celeste. Her expression was one of pure frustration as she pleaded, “I’m sorry, Lachlan. I put too much trust in my sister.
“She said she’d be here at eight, and I believed her. I’m really sorry. Give me another shot to fix this, please?”
If Chloe weren’t the heiress of the Sinclair family and reasonably good–looking, Lachlan would have stopped wasting his time with this rookie long ago.
“Fine, I’ll give you an hour. If your sister isn’t here by then, you’re handling the press yourself, Lachlan replied.
With that, Lachlan stormed off, leaving Chloe fuming in the lounge room. “Celeste! If you ruin my career, I swear I’ll make you pay!” she snapped.
What should I do now? Chloe thought. Then she tried calling Celeste again, but her phone just rang endlessly without an answer. “Where the hell did that bitch go? Chloe muttered angrily.
A moment later, Eleanor walked in and saw Chloe on the phone. Curious, she asked, “Chloe, all the reporters are waiting. Why aren’t you out there?”
As soon as she saw Eleanor, Chloe’s frustration turned to a plea for help. “Mom, I want to start, but Celeste still isn’t here! She’s not picking up either. I can’t do this without her,” she said pitifully.
What time is it? She hasn’t shown up yet? Eleanor muttered.
Eleanor comforted her, saying, “Your father transferred 30 million dollars into her account yesterday, and she still can’t get here on fame? We could sue her for fraud at this rate.”
“Even if we’re going to sue her for fraud, we need to get through this conference, Chloe thought. Then she held onto Eleanor’s arm, nearly in tears. The lawsuit can wait; the real issue here is that if Celeste doesn’t show up, who’s going to take the fall for me?”
Eleanor looked at Chloe thoughtfully. A moment later, a determined glint entered her eyes. “Ill do it”
She does it? Wait… is she serious? Chloe wondered eyeing Eleanor skeptically.
Chapter is
With that, Eleanor pulled her to sit down on the nearby sofa, and then began making arrangements. Soon, someone was dispatched to buy her a set of clothes and a mask.
Everyone in Kingston knew that, after a severe car accident the previous year, Celeste’s face had been severely scarred, so she never went
out without a mask.
If Eleanor wore a mask and dressed younger, no one would know she wasn’t Celeste.
Once Eleanor had her plan figured out, she explained it to Chloe, who looked a bit doubtful. She glanced at Eleanor’s neck, noting the faint lines.
en with t the mask, Eleanor didn’t
Moreover, Eleanor’s eyes had crow’s feet too, and her hands weren’t exactly youthful anymore. Even exactly pass for someone in her twenties.
As soon as she appeared, Eleanor was likely to be exposed as an impostor constantly.
But Eleanor’s idea gave Chloe inspiration. If Eleanor couldn’t pull off the look, maybe she could find someone else who could. As long as Celeste’s name took the fall, the details didn’t really matter.
After setting the plan in motion, Chloe sent Eleanor to find a woman about her age to take the disguise. She had the woman brought to the lounge room to get dressed, put on the mask, and rehearse what to say,
At Crestwood College in Ravenshire, Celeste finished her test within the hour and handed it over to the president. Then she drove to the airport hurriedly, catching the earliest flight back to Kingston.
The flight only took an hour, but exhaustion finally hit her. Celeste hadn’t slept a wink all night, and her eyelids grew heavier as she leaned back to close her eyes.
One hour later, the plane finally touched down at Kingston International Airport. Celeste overheard people talking about Chloe’s press conference as she made her way out.
“I can’t believe Celeste would go that low, setting up her sister like that. She’s disgusting.”
“Exactly!”
As the voices faded, Celeste took out her phone and looked up the latest news quickly. Every trending story was about Chloe. Frowning. the flagged down a taxi, got in, and pulled up the live stream of Chloe’s press conference on her phone.
Just in time, Celeste watched in disbelief as the imposter wearing her name knelt before Chloe and begged, “Chloe, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have les jealousy cloud my judgment. I used my plagiarized songs to ruin you and get you publicly hated.
“Please, I’m begging you to forgive me.”
Then the woman started bowing repeatedly, even knocking her forehead against the floor. When Celeste saw this, her blood pressure spiked
Chlor, Celeste thought, if you think I’ll just sit back and let you tear me down with a fake, you’re dead wrong!
Celeste clenched her phone in her hand and leaned forward toward the driver. “Sir, can you go any faster?” she asked.
I need to go to the scene in person to expose the fraud, Celeste thought.
“This is as fast as it gets, miss, the driver replied earnestly.
