Rebirth: I Watch the Wicked Fall

As we approached the day of Adelia's enrollment celebration, I grew more and more ill. I coughed violently every single day and was unable to walk steadily. I even applied makeup on my face to appear ashen and weak.

Adelia and Thomas would look disgusted whenever they saw how I looked. It was as if I were some terribly filthy thing to them.

Mom would snap at me or insult me here and there, too. She'd call me a good-for-nothing and sickly burden that only dragged everyone down.

After days of careful acting on my end, it was finally the day of Adelia's celebration.

It was held at the grandest and most luxurious hotel in the country. There was a large banner with the words "Congratulations, my beloved Adelia, for getting into Dalton University!" printed on it.

Mom was wearing a luxurious gown while holding Adelia close, laughing happily. Thomas watched Adelia with a tender gaze from the side.

Meanwhile, I stood ashen in a corner in plain clothes. It was as if I were a mere outsider.

The guests soon arrived, and everyone quickly congratulated Adelia. Adelia beamed as she received praise and adoration from the crowd.

Just then, the mailman who was in charge of sending the university's offer letter arrived.

"Adelia, look! Your offer letter is here!" Mom nudged Adelia excitedly.

Adelia quickly went up to the mailman, grinning from ear to ear.

All the guests immediately raised their phones, using their cameras to capture this merry moment.

"Is Rosalie Quentin here? Please take your offer letter from Dalton University and sign here!" the mailman called out all of a sudden.

Tension filled the air in an instant. Adelia's smile froze on her face while Mom paled. Thomas shot me an incredulous look, swiftly retracting his hand from Adelia's.

All the guests were also stunned with their phones in the air.

I walked out from the corner in front of everyone and went to accept the offer letter. "I'm Rosalie Quentin. Thank you so much."

"No! That's mine!" Adelia screeched and quickly ran over to snatch the letter from my hand.

Mom's eyes were wide with disbelief.

"What nonsense is this, Rose? That letter belongs to Addy. Give it back to her!" Mom snapped.

I smiled softly, tightening my grip around the letter. "I'm afraid you're wrong, Mom. This letter has my name on it."

One of the guests mentioned the possibility that both Adelia and I had been accepted into Dalton University.

But the mailman swiftly cut them off and said, "That's impossible. The university's entry requirements are so high. There's only been one successful intake in the entire region."

All the guests then turned to Mom and Adelia.

Adelia was still in denial. She shakily checked her results online, only to be stunned by her low marks. "This is impossible! Where's my score of 1250? I've already recovered from my illness, so the points should've…"

Aunt Irina pursed her lips together. "Tch. I told you that it's impossible for Adelia to get accepted into Dalton University. She has such terrible grades!"

"So her grades were that low? She sure did put up an act!" Aunt Sarah added loudly.

All the guests began discussing amongst themselves.

Jeremy, who was sitting by the buffet table, peered up to look at the commotion, too. He was in the middle of eating an orange slice.

Adelia happened to glance at him just then. Her face paled when she saw the amethyst bracelet on his wrist.

"Jeremy Trainor, w-where did you get that bracelet?" Adelia asked.