Chapter 165

Anastasia didn’t have any classes that evening, but she still needed to swing by her dorm.
“What for?” Harrison’s expression darkened, a hint of displeasure coloring his tone.
She hurried to explain, “I haven’t moved my things out yet!”
Since she was planning to move in with him, it was only natural to retrieve her belongings from the dorm.
At this, the tension in Harrison’s jaw eased.
“I’ll have Logan and a few others go with you,” he said.
Anastasia nodded obediently.
When they arrived at the campus, Logan and his men waited outside the dorm building while Anastasia went up alone to pack. It wasn’t move-in day, so outsiders weren’t allowed inside; she’d have to haul her things down, one load at a time.
As she turned a corner near the stairwell, she nearly collided with a group of girls -Maggie and her usual crowd.
The air grew thick with awkwardness.
Not long ago, they would have rolled their eyes and tossed out a few snide remarks. But after what had happened that afternoon, the whole story had changed. Now, everyone knew what they’d believed about Anastasia was a lie.
They used to resent her for one thing above all: she was supposedly just a distant relative of the Sterlings, but always bragged about being the rightful heiress. On top of that, rumors swirled that her grades hadn’t been good enough-she’d only gotten into Kingsbridge University because her family had paid her way.
The main culprit behind all this? Penelope. Every time she visited, she’d drop comments-sometimes subtle, sometimes not-about Anastasia’s supposed behavior at home.
Like how her father once bought a beautiful pair of earrings. Penelope loved them, but because Anastasia liked them too, they ended up going to her instead.
Or how a designer sent over a gorgeous dress. Penelope could only admire it, because if Anastasia wanted something, she always got first pick.
The list went on and on.
Think about it—Anastasia, just a fostered distant cousin, always “stealing” things from Penelope, the real Sterling daughter. Penelope had to give in every time. Who wouldn’t find that entitled and insufferable?
No wonder they’d all hated her so much.
Now, though, the truth was the exact opposite. Anastasia was actually the legitimate Sterling heiress.
As the only daughter of the family, wasn’t it perfectly normal for her father to buy her earrings? Or for partnered brands to send her dresses? Why should any of that have anything to do with Penelope?
And as for buying her way into Kingsbridge…
“So, Anastasia, what was your actual entrance exam score?” Maggie finally asked.
Anastasia arched a brow. “Six hundred ninety-seven. Why?”
Several girls sucked in a sharp breath.
Six ninety-seven? That was higher than any of them had managed.
Someone blurted out, “Then why didn’t you say anything before? We all thought you pulled strings to get in
Anastasia gave a wry twist of her lips. “Would you have believed me if I had?”
The group fell silent, embarrassed.
It was true-she’d tried to defend herself against the rumors, but none of them had ever listened.
“Who told you I bought my way in?” Official source ıs
“Everyone says so. It’s common knowledge that when you and Penelope enrolled, the Sterlings made a huge donation to the school
Everyone says so? Anastasia gave a cold little laugh to herself. No wonder Sandra had always acted so passive-aggressive toward her.
In her last life, she’d never heard that rumor-Penelope must’ve made sure she didn’t. If Anastasia had known, she’d have shown off her scores, and then everyone would see who really needed to buy their spot.
Looking at the girls now, her gaze turned mocking. “You’re all such good friends with Penelope. Did she never mention the donation was actually for her?”
“Let me think… Oh, right, she only scored in the low three hundreds, didn’t she? You’re her friends-surely you knew that?”
Maggie and the others stared at her, utterly dumbfounded.