Replacing My Ivy League Cousin

My relatives spent eighteen years plotting against me, all just to steal my spot at an Ivy League university.

When I was in the eighth grade, my uncle changed my cousin's name so it was identical to mine.

They told me back then that it would make our families feel closer.

But after the final merit rankings were released, I supposedly failed, while my cousin received an invitation from the top university in the country.

Living my life over again, I finally realize that they had been calculating every move for nearly two decades.

This time, I will make sure they taste the bitterness of ruin and lose everything they own.

1.

My blurred vision finally snapped back into focus.

The classroom was familiar, filled with the same teachers, classmates, and textbooks I remembered.

The math teacher was droning on at the front of the room.

Behind him, a bright red countdown was pinned to the wall.

218 days until the Ivy Merit Trials.

Outside the window, a cold winter wind whistled, making everything look bleak and dormant.

I froze for a second before a wave of pure ecstasy washed over me.

I actually did it. I've been reborn.

In my past life, I was the top student in my grade, collecting academic medals until I ran out of shelf space.

Everyone assumed I was a shoe-in for a full ride to Harvard or Yale.

But when the results came out, I only scored a 423 out of 800.

I couldn't even get into a decent state college with that score, let alone an Ivy.

Meanwhile, my cousin, who was usually lazy and failing her classes, was suddenly the star of the town.

She scored a 723, and every top-tier university was practically begging her to enroll.

She acted so fake, pouting as she talked to me.

"How did this happen, Macy? You should go to the Board of Education and ask if they scanned your answer sheet wrong," she suggested.

I was desperate and heartbroken, so I took her advice.

I didn't even make it a few blocks from my house before I was grabbed.

A hand clamped over my mouth, and I was dragged into a dark alleyway.

A group of men assaulted me and then ended my life.

I died in that alley, covered in bruises and shame, bearing a grudge that burned even in death.

By the time they found me, I had been dead for days.

In the middle of that sweltering summer, my body had already begun to rot.

As a ghost floating in the air, I watched my cousin's family arrive to identify me.

When my cousin saw my body, she covered her mouth.

It wasn't out of shock or grief. She was struggling to hide her smile.

With their backs to the police, the entire family was grinning from ear to ear.

My mother, who already suffered from a weak heart, came stumbling out of the hospital still hooked to an IV.

She collapsed the moment she saw me, her heart finally giving out from the sheer agony.

She died right there on the pavement.

My uncle used her death certificate to claim a massive life insurance payout and inherited our family home.

It wasn't until I saw him delivering boxes of cash to a high-ranking official at the Board of Education that I understood.

They had rigged the entire thing from the very beginning.

Now, I've opened my eyes back in the final winter before the exams.

My heart hammered against my ribs, and my eyes stung with tears of rage.

This is my second chance, and I won't just sit here and wait for the end.

In this life, I will make my uncle's family pay for every drop of blood they spilled.

I raised my hand and told the teacher I had a stomach ache so I could go home early.

When I walked through the door, I found my aunt and cousin busy in the kitchen.

If I remembered correctly, this was the day my uncle hosted a secret dinner for a board official.

To keep me out of the way, he had given me some pocket money that morning.

He told me it was a reward for my hard work and suggested I go get a nice dinner and stay out late.

Back then, I was so naive that I actually thought he was being a kind uncle.

It wasn't until my cousin let it slip later that I realized they had important guests over.

My uncle had quickly made up an excuse.

"Macy, don't overthink it. It was just a business dinner, and I didn't want the noise to distract you from your studies."

Looking back, those excuses were so incredibly hollow.

How did I ever believe him?

Fortunately, I'm not the same girl I was before.

I looked at my aunt and cousin, pretending to be shocked.

"What's going on? Are we having guests? Let me help you out!"

A flicker of discomfort crossed my aunt's face.

She forced a smile and asked, "Macy? Why are you home? Shouldn't you be in class right now?"

I sighed and looked down. "The hospital called. They said my mom's condition is getting worse."

"What?" My aunt faked a gasp and winked at my cousin.

"That's terrible. I'll have your cousin go check on her later. You should go back to school, Macy. You can worry about this after the exams are over, okay?"

My cousin jumped in perfectly. "Yeah, Macy! You're so smart, you have to stay focused. I'll go see Auntie for you. Just get back to school!"

Watching their polished performance made me want to scream with laughter.

Before I could say another word, the front door opened.

2.

My uncle Silas walked in and stopped dead when he saw me.

"Macy? What are you doing here so early? Didn't I tell you to go treat yourself to something nice?"

I looked at his hypocritical face and felt like vomiting.

In my last life, they were always like this.

My mother had a hard life, but she managed to marry a decent man.

They worked hard and were happy together for a short time.

But my father died in a construction accident before I was even born.

A heavy concrete slab fell and crushed him instantly.

My mother raised me all by herself after that.

That's why I took her maiden name, Quinn.

My cousin was born the same year as me, but her name was originally Yvonne Mills.

When we were in the eighth grade, Silas suddenly decided to change her name.

He didn't just change it to anything; he changed it to Macy Quinn.

Since we were cousins, we already shared some family resemblances.

With identical names, it was impossible for anyone to stop them from swapping our exam identities.

My aunt had explained it to my mom with a straight face.

"Yvonne and Macy are like sisters. Since you don't have any other family left, having the same name will make the bond between our families even stronger."

My cousin had grabbed my hand with a big grin.

"That's right! From now on, you are me and I am you. We are one inseparable family!"

My mom and I believed them, thinking they were doing it out of love.

Two years later, my mom was diagnosed with a serious heart condition brought on by exhaustion.

That was the year I started my senior year of high school.

My uncle's family acted horrified when they heard the news.

They insisted she stay in the hospital, but she refused because she wanted to take care of me.

To put her mind at ease, Silas suggested I move in with them.

"Don't worry about the money, sister. We'll take care of Macy. She'll have her cousin to study with. We are a family, after all!"

My mom eventually gave in to his apparent generosity and sent me to live with them.

At the time, I thought they were saints.

I thought they were helping my mom and looking out for my future.

I was such a fool.

Changing the name was just the first step to stealing my future.

Helping my mom was just a way to keep me focused on scoring as high as possible on the exams.

The people you think are your closest allies are often the ones who will ruin you.

I met my uncle's concerned gaze and shoved my hatred deep down.

I let out a heavy sigh and looked as miserable as possible.

"Uncle Silas, I've decided I want to change my name."

3.

"What?"

The entire family froze in shock.

My aunt Brenda was the first to speak. "Why on earth would you want to do that? Did someone bully you at school?"

My cousin Yvonne practically shrieked, "Macy! You can't change your name! If you do that, what happens toDI mean, why would you?"

Before she could finish, Silas grabbed her arm and gave it a sharp squeeze.

He laughed nervously and tried to smooth things over.

"She didn't mean it like that. She just means you're her role model. She changed her name because she wanted to be as great as you. Look, I have some important people coming over soon. Can we talk about this in a few days?"

They were such good liars.

I sneered internally, wondering how I never noticed they were all Oscar-level actors.

Since they wanted to play a role, I would play along until the very end.

I rubbed my eyes until they were red and forced a sob into my voice.

"The hospital called me. My mom is getting worse, and we don't have the money for a private room or better treatment. I'm almost an adult and I can't even help her. I can't just watch her die. I've failed her, and I've failed the name she gave me. I'm even failing your expectations!"

If they wanted drama, I would give them a masterpiece.

I was a senior in high school. If I suddenly changed my name and dropped out, my uncle's entire plan would go up in flames.

As expected, Silas scrambled to comfort me.

"Macy, don't cry. I'll figure out a way to cover your mother's medical bills. Just go back to school and study. Changing your name is a massive legal headache. If you really want to do it, we can talk after the Merit Trials, okay?"

I kept sobbing, acting like my mind was completely made up.

"I don't even want to take the exams anymore. I'll just find a job at a warehouse or something. I can't let her die."

Through my fake tears, I caught a glimpse of Silas's face.

He looked absolutely livid.

He had spent over a decade planning to get that Ivy League acceptance letter, and now I was threatening to ruin it all.

The truth was, after my father died, we didn't hear from Silas for years.

My mother had dropped out of school young to work and support him.

She even married my father partly because his family offered a generous dowry.

Silas took that money to pay for his own college education.

After graduating, he started a small business that failed almost immediately.

It was my mother who spent nights sewing and working extra shifts to bail him out and give him a second chance.

Once his business finally took off, he vanished from our lives.

When my mother ran out of money for my school fees, she tried to call him.

He hung up on her every single time.

She even went to his office and wrote out a formal loan agreement to show him.

He wouldn't even look at it before rejecting her.

"It's not that I don't want to help, but things are tight. My daughter needs her tuition paid, and I have employees to look after. I'm barely keeping my head above water!"

My mother begged him until she was out of breath, but she left his office empty-handed.

That summer, she worked herself to the bone and borrowed from everyone she knew to keep me in school.

That was when her heart problems started.

It wasn't until I reached middle school and started ranking first in the city that Silas suddenly reappeared.

My mother, being the kind soul she was, forgave him instantly.

But now I know that his return was a carefully crafted trap.

Mom, if you knew his true face, would you regret everything you did for him?

It doesn't matter. I'm going to get back everything he stole.

The money, the reputation, the powerDI want it all.

And I'm going to make Silas pay for it.

4.

Silas looked like he was trapped in a corner.

Brenda leaned in and pinched his back hard, whispering through gritted teeth.

"We've worked for this for twelve years. Do you really want to let it all go down the drain?"

Under the pressure from both sides, Silas finally cracked.

"Fine, Macy. Don't worry. I'll pay for your mother's private room and better treatment."

Yvonne chimed in, sounding desperate. "See? We're a family. We would never leave Auntie in trouble. You have to take the exams, Macy! You're my idol. If you quit, who am I supposed to look up to?"

How pathetic. I almost laughed at her.

While I was staying up all night studying, my cousin was usually fast asleep or out partying.

She never paid attention in class and spent all day on her phone.

And she expected me to believe I was her idol?

Her lies were almost impressive.

"Really?" I wiped my tears instantly and grabbed Silas's arm.

"You're so good to my mom. You really are the best brother. Let's go to the hospital right now and handle the paperwork. I don't want to wait another minute."

I knew a verbal promise was worthless. I needed action.

Silas stopped in his tracks.

"Right now? I told you, I have a board official coming over. Can't we do this in a few days? Give me some time to get the cash ready."

I knew he'd say that.

My eyes filled with tears again.

"The doctor said every day we wait puts her in more danger. I'm calling my counselor right now. I'm dropping out so I can start working immediately."

I pulled out my phone and started dialing right in front of them.

The phone barely rang twice before Brenda snatched it away.

"Silas, don't be an idiot! If you're busy, just transfer the money to Macy and let her handle it! If she doesn't take those exams, Yvonne and I will never forgive you!"

Silas let out a long, frustrated groan. Finally, he pulled out his phone and transferred a hundred thousand dollars to my account.

"I'll find the rest of the money soon! Take this for now. Your mother is my sister; I'm not going to let you throw your life away for a hospital bill!"

I smiled, feeling the victory.

The last number I had dialed wasn't my counselor. It was my best friend.

I would never actually drop out before securing my future.

The phone call was just a trick to scare him.

After all, they spent eighteen years lying to me.

It was time I started returning the favor.

5.

I went to the hospital and quickly handled the upgrade for my mother's room.

With a hundred thousand dollars in the bank, the hospital staff moved faster than ever.

When I got back to the house, the board official was still there.

I put my key in the lock and turned it halfway, then stopped when I heard voices from inside.

Silas was sounding incredibly sycophantic. "Mr. Sterling, I'm counting on you to take care of my daughter."

A deep, gravelly voice replied, "This isn't enough money, Silas."

"I know," Silas said, sounding strained. "Another hundred thousand. On top of what I already gave you."

"A hundred? That's low. I'm taking a huge risk doing this for you, kid."

Silas was a cheapskate by nature, but he didn't seem to hesitate when it came to bribes.

This Mr. Sterling was clearly the man who would facilitate the score swap.

I pressed my ear against the door and continued to listen.

"Mr. Sterling, I already changed her name," Silas argued. "They have the same name, they're cousins, and they look alike. Nobody will notice. Can we do a hundred and fifty and call it even? My wife and I have worked so hard for this."

"Three hundred thousand."

"What? That's that's a lot. My money is tied up in stocks and assets right now. I can't get that much cash overnight. Can you give me a break?"

"Don't forget, Silas. I'm the one who covered up that death at your construction site years ago."

I froze. I remembered Silas worked as a contractor, but I had never heard of any fatal accidents on his watch.

Silas's voice immediately became timid. "I haven't forgotten, sir. I'll have the money for you by the end of the week. Please, you have to help Yvonne!"

I heard footsteps approaching the door and quickly ducked into the shadows of the stairwell.

Silas saw Mr. Sterling out and then started cursing under his breath as soon as the door closed.

"That greedy bastard. Asking for three hundred thousand. Just wait until Yvonne gets into Harvard and marries the heir to the Thorne Group. I'll make that man regret ever crossing me."

The Thorne Group heir.

If Silas hadn't mentioned it, I might have forgotten about him.

The Thorne Group was a massive pharmaceutical empire that had dominated the local economy for decades.

Their eldest son, Caleb Thorne, went to our school.

He was handsome, incredibly wealthy, and brilliant.

But unfortunately for him, I was the one person who kept him in second place on every exam.

In my last life, I didn't pay him much attention.

I was too busy maintaining my top rank and winning competitions while worrying about my mom's health.

I didn't have time for a rich boy with a silver spoon in his mouth.

I remembered that toward the end of our senior year, Caleb had approached me with a bouquet of flowers.

He told me he admired my hard work and wanted to get to know me.

I had turned him down.

I was focused on my studies and didn't have room for romance.

After that, Yvonne had used some dirty tactics to get close to him.

She was obsessed with him and would harass any girl who even looked in his direction.

Because we had the same name, Yvonne caused a lot of trouble for me back then.

With my current resources, I couldn't take down Silas and Mr. Sterling on my own.

But the Thorne Group they would be the perfect weapon for my revenge.

6.

Given our academic rankings, it wasn't hard to get close to Caleb.

The state math competition was coming up, and our school only had two slots.

Caleb and I took the top two spots, as usual.

After the awards ceremony, I did something I never would have done before. I asked him for a photo.

"We did a great job representing the school. We should take a photo to celebrate. It was a pleasure working with you, Caleb."

Caleb's jaw tightened, and he looked like he wanted to say something, but he hesitated.

Finally, he spoke. "Macy, I actually have a name. I'm not just 'the guy who always comes in second.' It's Caleb."

I blinked in surprise and then burst out laughing.

I didn't realize the ice prince of the school actually had a sense of humor.

I snapped the photo and immediately forwarded it to the teacher in charge of the school newspaper.

In my past life, she had begged me for photos of my competitions, but I always refused because I didn't want the attention.

This time, she was thrilled that I reached out.

The next day, the photo of me and Caleb was on the front page of the school paper.

In the picture, I was leaning close to him, and we looked incredibly intimate.

The entire school started buzzing.

"Wow, the real Macy is actually way prettier than her cousin when you see them like this."

"The top student and the billionaire heir? That's a power couple right there!"

"I'm totally shipping this. They look perfect together."

"Seriously, Macy needs to steal him away. Her cousin doesn't stand a chance. This is better than a movie!"

"Shh, be careful. Last time a girl even touched Caleb, Yvonne cornered her in the bathroom. Macy should just stay single; guys are nothing but trouble."

The rumors spread like wildfire.

While the drama unfolded at school, I was relaxing at the hospital, peeling an apple for my mom.

She looked at me and said, "Macy, you seem different lately. I don't want you to feel too much pressure from the exams. I don't care about the Ivy League; I just want you to be happy."

I thought about how she died alone in the last life, and my eyes stung.

Before I could say anything, Yvonne burst into the room like a hurricane.

Silas and Brenda were right behind her, trying to hold her back.

She kicked the door open and pointed a finger at my face, screaming.

"Macy Quinn, you absolute bitch! It was just one math competition! How dare you try to seduce my boyfriend!"

7.

I put on my best innocent face.

"Yvonne, what are you talking about? We just went to a competition together. Nothing happened."

"Don't lie to me!" She slammed her hand on the table.

"I saw the photo in the paper! You think a little sparrow like you can turn into a phoenix just by standing next to him? Not a chance!"

I sat back slowly and pretended to think about it.

"But Yvonne, I came in first place. Caleb didn't beat me."

Her face turned a deep shade of purple. She looked like she was about to explode.

"Who cares about first place? I'm his girlfriend! You're just a homewrecker, a cheap slut! You'll never be on his level! Tell me, what did he say to you?"

I tapped my chin thoughtfully.

"He didn't say much. He just mentioned that he's just having fun right now. He said if he's going to marry someone, she has to be an Ivy League student like him. He called it a perfect match. Then he asked if I would consider visiting his family home sometime."

I mentally apologized to the Thorne family for the lie.

I hoped the universe wouldn't punish me too much for using them.

Yvonne gritted her teeth, her eyes full of venom. "And did you say yes?"

I gave her a vague smile. "Well Caleb is very wealthy, isn't he?"

Yvonne lost it. She lunged at me, her hand raised to strike my face.

"You bitch! You think you're so special! You think you're going to Harvard? Even if you get in, you'll just end up working for my family! Your scores belong to me! Everything you have is mine! Go to hell!"

I was ready for her. I stepped aside at the last second, and she went flying.

She hit the floor hard, face-first.

Silas and Brenda tried to catch her, but they were too late. She looked pathetic sprawled on the ground.

Brenda forced a nervous smile. "Macy, she's just stressed. She doesn't mean it. I'll talk to her when we get home. Just focus on your studying, okay?"

Typical adults. They were willing to swallow their pride because they knew they needed me for the score swap.

I put down the apple and looked at them with a serious expression.

"Uncle Silas, Aunt Brenda, you heard her. She said my education is useless and that I'll just end up working for you anyway."

"So, I've made a decision. I'm not taking the exams. I'm going to go find a job right now."

The room went silent. It was like I had dropped a bomb.

"Macy, what kind of nonsense is that?" Silas shouted, dropping his polite facade.

I shrugged. "Well, if Caleb only wants an Ivy League wife, I should give Yvonne a chance to be that person. I'm stepping aside."

I pulled a stack of withdrawal forms out of my bag.

"I've already filled them out. Yvonne, you can take these to the principal for me tomorrow. I'm going to go look for a warehouse job this afternoon."

Silas looked at the forms and felt his blood pressure rising. He turned around and kicked Yvonne while she was still on the floor.

"You stupid girl! Are you trying to ruin everything we've worked for? Apologize to your cousin right now!"

Silas was a strong man, and the kick sent Yvonne curling into a ball, whimpering in pain.

Brenda tried to intervene, but I cut her off.

"Yvonne didn't do anything wrong. I just don't want to take the exams. Don't blame her. She just helped me realize what I really want."

Hearing that made Brenda even angrier. She slapped Yvonne across the face.

"You useless brat! We've spent years making sure your cousin succeeded so our family could thrive! If she quits now, what are you going to do?"