Chapter 45 The Wrong Name
Vanessa's POV
I was lying in my hospital bed staring at nothing when Mom burst through the door.
"Vanessa! Oh my God, I completely forgot to tell you!" She rushed over and grabbed my hand, bouncing on her toes. "Today's the day! University acceptance letters are being released!"
I blinked at her, my brain taking a moment to process through the fog of pain that had been my constant companion for the past two days.
"The acceptance letters," I repeated slowly, sitting up. "Right."
"Come on, turn on your phone!" Mom was already digging through my bedside table, pulling out my phone and shoving it into my hands. "I bet you got into somewhere amazing!"
"Where is my brother anyway?" I asked, keeping my voice casual. "I haven't seen him since..."
"Oh, he's staying with a friend," Isabella said dismissively.
Fine. When he finally came back with an apology, I was going to make him wait. Let him see what it felt like to be ignored.
The door opened and Dad walked in, his expression carefully neutral. He looked at me with my phone and something that might have been concern flickered across his face before he smoothed it away.
"Vanessa, how are you feeling today?"
"Better," I lied. "Mom just reminded me about the acceptance letters."
Dad's expression shifted into something that looked almost like approval. "Ah yes, I'd forgotten. I'm sure you'll have excellent options with your academic record."
Dad's phone rang before I could start checking my email. He answered it and his entire demeanor changed in an instant, his eyes going wide and his posture straightening.
"Yes? This is Reginald Blackwood speaking." A pause, and then his face transformed into pure shock and delight. "What? Right now? Yes, of course, we'll be there immediately."
He ended the call and turned to us with eyes that were practically glowing. "That was Nightshade University. Their admissions officer is at our house right now with a personal acceptance letter."
The words didn't register at first. I stared at Dad, trying to process what he'd just said, and then it hit me like a physical blow. Nightshade University. One of the most prestigious werewolf universities in the country. And they'd sent someone to deliver my acceptance letter personally.
"Oh my God!" Mom shrieked, grabbing my shoulders. "Vanessa! They only do personal deliveries for the top students! You must have gotten the highest SAT score!"
Pure euphoria rushed through me, washing away the pain. This was proof that I was special, that I was worthy, that all my hard work had paid off.
"We need to go right now," Dad said, already moving toward the door. "We can't keep them waiting."
We made it to Dad's car in record time, Isabella practically dragging me along as we rushed through the hospital parking lot. The drive home was a blur of anticipation and nervous energy, Dad pushing the speed limit while Isabella kept bouncing in her seat and talking about how amazing this was going to be.
When we pulled up to the house, I saw an unfamiliar car parked in our driveway, sleek and expensive-looking with university parking permits visible on the windshield. My heart started racing even faster as we hurried out of the car and up the front steps.
Our butler opened the door before we could reach it, his expression professionally neutral as he gestured toward the sitting room. "The gentleman from Nightshade University is waiting in the sitting room, sir. I've offered him refreshments."
"Thank you," Dad said, straightening his jacket and running a hand through his hair in a quick attempt to look more presentable after the rushed drive. "Please show him we'll be right there."
We followed the butler into the sitting room where I saw him. Dr. Ashford was distinguished-looking, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, sitting on our couch with a leather portfolio in his lap. He rose to his feet as we entered, his expression polite and professional.
"Mr. Blackwood," he said, extending his hand to shake Dad's. "Thank you for coming so quickly. I hope I haven't inconvenienced you."
"Not at all," Dad said, gesturing for me to sit while he and Isabella took seats on either side of me. "We're very honored that Nightshade University would send someone personally."
Dr. Ashford smiled, opening his portfolio. "Nightshade University takes great pride in recognizing exceptional academic achievement. When a student scores in the top percentile of all applicants, we believe they deserve personal acknowledgment."
He pulled out a thick cream-colored envelope with the university seal embossed in gold. "It gives me great pleasure to inform you that Miss Blackwood achieved an SAT score of 1590, making her the highest-scoring applicant in this year's incoming class."
The words hung in the air, so perfect and wonderful that I felt tears prick at my eyes. 1590. The highest score. This was everything I'd ever wanted, validation beyond my wildest dreams.
"We would be honored," Dr. Ashford continued, his smile widening, "to welcome Elara Blackwood to Nightshade University's incoming freshman class."
The world stopped.
Every muscle in my body locked up, the blood draining from my face so fast I got dizzy. Beside me, Isabella made a sound like she'd been punched, and Dad's hand tightened on the chair arm hard enough to make the wood creak.
Elara Blackwood.
"I'm sorry," I heard myself say, my voice coming from very far away. "Did you say... Elara?"
Dr. Ashford's smile faltered, confusion flickering across his face as he glanced at the envelope. "Yes, Elara Blackwood. That's who we're here to see. Is she not available?"
"That's not possible," Isabella said shrilly, her voice climbing toward hysteria. "There must be some mistake. Elara didn't even take the SAT seriously, she can't have scored 1590!"
"I assure you there's no mistake," Dr. Ashford said, his tone cooling as he pulled out a document. "Elara Blackwood, daughter of Reginald and the late Caroline Blackwood, graduated from Silverstone High School. SAT score 1590, perfect GPA, extensive extracurricular involvement."
I couldn't breathe. I physically could not get air into my lungs as I stared at that envelope with Elara's name on it. 1590.
The sitting room door opened and our butler appeared. "Sir, there's another admissions officer here. From Lycanthrope Alliance University. They're also asking for Miss Elara Blackwood."
The silence was so complete I could hear my own heartbeat thundering in my ears.
"Elara no longer lives here," Dad said finally, his voice flat and emotionless. "She moved out several weeks ago."
Dr. Ashford's expression shifted from confused to concerned to something that looked almost like disapproval. "I see. Do you have a forwarding address? Nightshade University is very eager to discuss scholarship opportunities and—"
"No," Isabella cut him off, her voice rising to a near-shriek. "We don't have her address because she left without telling anyone where she was going! She just walked out on her family like we meant nothing to her, like some ungrateful brat who—"
"Isabella," Dad said sharply, but the damage was done.
Dr. Ashford was looking at all of us with an expression that had gone from professional courtesy to barely concealed distaste. Whatever he saw clearly didn't impress him, because he stood up abruptly and began gathering his things.
"I see," he said, his tone glacial. "Well, I'll make a note that Miss Blackwood is no longer at this residence. Good day."
He was gone before any of us could respond, the front door closing with a decisive click. Moments later we heard voices as the Lycanthrope Alliance University officer was presumably given the same information and departed just as quickly.
I sat there staring at nothing, my mind refusing to process what had just happened. Elara had scored 1590. Elara was being personally recruited by two of the most prestigious universities in the country. Elara, who I'd spent years dismissing as weak and pathetic, had somehow completely outshone me in the most public, humiliating way possible.
I hated her. I hated her with an intensity that made my hands shake.