Chapter 27
Hailey’s eyes widened. “Wait–so without your families backing them, the Medrano family could go under?
It wasn’t quite that dramatic. The Medrano family wouldn’t collapse overnight, but things would get tough. They were an old academic family, deeply rooted in education rather than business.
Unlike the power–hungry elites of Hallon City, they’d never prioritized expanding their influence,
Generations of scholars and teachers had shaped their legacy, and in this generation, they’d poured their wealth into schools and education centers…
But everything required money. The more they wanted to contribute, the more investment they needed.
While other families built their fortunes, the Medranos funneled their earnings into education, making them far less financially aggressive.
Running a school meant relying on other families–but not entirely.
After everything the Medrano family had done, even if they went broke, the government and good–hearted people were willing to step in and help.
Everton High School had several investors, but the biggest shareholder wasn’t the Daltons or the Hawthornes–it was Owen.
No one knew because he’d invested privately, separate from his family’s wealth.
Beatrix, ever the spoiled heiress, didn’t grasp the bigger picture.
She assumed that if the Hawthorne family pulled their funding and convinced others to do the same, the Medrano family would be finished.
In her mind, the Medrano family was nothing.
Lifting her chin like a self–important swan, she smirked at Hailey. “That’s right.”
Hailey couldn’t help it–she laughed.
Beatrix’s expression darkened. “What the hell’s so funny?”
Hailey met her glare with a smirk. “You. You’re ignorant, arrogant, and completely clueless.”
“You little-” Beatrix’s face twisted in rage as she swung her hand toward Hailey’s cheek.
Hailey caught her wrist midair, fingers tightening like a vice. Her eyes held no fear, only an eerie, quiet confidence.
For a brief second, Beatrix hesitated. But with her girls surrounding them, she quickly shoved her doubt aside. “You really think you can take all of us?”
The other girls stepped in, grabbing Hailey’s shoulders. One sneered, “Be smart about this. Get on your knees to Beatrix and Mateo, apologize, and leave Everton High while you still can.
“Otherwise, things are gonna get real ugly–for you and your family.”
Another added, “You think the Daltons will protect you? Please. They’d drop you in a heartbeat if it meant saving their reputation.”
Hailey didn’t respond. She just squeezed Beatrix’s wrist harder.
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Chapter 27
Beatrix yelped, furious as pain shot up her arm. “Let go, you bitch
Hailey didn’t even blink. She was stronger than she looked, and the unsettling, calm in her expression made Prants stomach twist.
“Are you idiots just gonna stand there? Do something! Beatriz barked,
The girls nodded and lunged, reaching for Hailey’s hair.
When girls fought, it was usually just hair–pulling and slapping. But hair–polling was the real Killer
Hailey moved fast. She ducked, dodging with ease. The girl’s hand swiped at empty air.
And then, with a flick of her wrist, Hailey quickly turned around and let go of Beatrix.
Thrown off balance, Beatrix staggered backward–straight into her own crew. With a yelp, the crashed into them, sending all of them sprawling to the floor.
Beatrix, not exactly light, had landed hard on top of her friends, knocking the wind out of them.
A chorus of groans filled the air as they scrambled to untangle themselves,
Hailey barely spared them a glance. Calmly, she reached up and pulled the black hair tie from her wrist, gathering her hair into a messy bun. It exposed her slender neck–stunningly beautiful.
Then she took a step forward.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden glow around her. She looked almost angelic–except for the cold glint in her eyes.
Beatrix felt a chill run down her spine. She wasn’t hurt, not really, but the fear Hailey sparked in her had reached a whole new level.
She scrambled backward, her voice shaking. “D–Don’t come any closer!”
Hailey didn’t stop.
Desperate, Beatrix reached for the door, yanking at the handle–only to find it locked. Someone had sealed it from the outside.
She was breaking down, barely holding back tears.
Behind her, Hailey’s voice was soft, almost lazy. “Maybe after today, you’ll learn how to treat people with respect.”
Then she turned, crying–and her eyes widened in terror.
*******
Thirty minutes later, Hailey stepped out of the restroom, wiping her hands dry.
She glanced at the “Under Maintenance” sign hanging on the door, then at Eliza, who stood a few feet away, watching. She smirked.
Eliza was watching from a distance. Her gaze landed on Hailey’s face, and for some reason, her heart raced.
That smirk was confident, bold–but not obnoxious. Hailey carried herself with an effortless kind of authority, the kind that made people take notice.
Eliza swallowed hard. She’d been so sure Hailey was weak.
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Chapter 27
Now, standing here, she realized just how ridiculous that assumption had been.
Hailey walked toward her.
Eliza’s pulse sped up. A strange nervousness crept over her–an urge to run.
But her feet felt glued to the ground.
Hailey stopped in front of her, voice cool and even. “Thanks.”
Eliza looked away, suddenly feeling nervous. “It was nothing,” she muttered.
Hailey arched an eyebrow.
She thought, amused, ‘Seemed like a lot of effort for nothing.
Hailey gave her a small smile, saying nothing.
She let it slide with a small smile. “I’ll help you with your situation.”
Eliza blinked, caught off guard. She looked at Hailey.
It was a quiet smile, but somehow, it put people at ease.
Eliza’s throat tightened, her eyes suddenly stinging.
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She’d spent her whole life watching, adapting, making herself small for Selena–learning how to stay in their good graces. No one had ever stood up for her and respected her.
She never thought the first person to stand up for her would be Hailey.
And yet, somehow, it felt inevitable.
Her voice came out softer than she intended. “Thank you.”
The sincerity in those two words didn’t go unnoticed.
Hailey didn’t reply, just pulled a tissue from her pocket and handed it to her. Then, as if nothing had happened, she turned away. “Class is starting.”
Pursing her lips, Eliza watched her go, gripping the tissue tightly in her hand.
Just as she was about to follow the restroom door burst open.
Beatrix and her crew stumbled out, their hair a mess, their clothes rumpled, and a distinct, awful stench clinging to them.
