Chapter 51
Chapter 51
M
77%
“That’s it? And it’s still unresolved after all these years?” Hailey shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her. “Nicolas, I think you’re being naive. Catherine clearly harbors a lot of hostility toward you all. It can’t just be about that
Nicholas froze. “What do you mean?”
“She’s probably been jealous of Valerie for a long time. That jealousy runs deep, Even now, years after Valerie’s death, she’s still spreading rumors to hurt her. If there were any true sisterly bond, she would have let go of this by now Hailey explained slowly, her voice calm but firm.
“You don’t need to keep treating her like family out of some sense of obligation. It’s clear that, in her heart, you’ve long ceased to be family.” The room fell silent at her words.
After a few seconds, Mrs. Medrano let out a heavy sigh. “Hailey’s right. Catherine has harbored deep resentment toward this family for a long time. Nicholas, there’s something I’ve never told you. When Everton High School was first established, something went wrong. The partner we had just secured suddenly withdrew their support–it was Catherine’s doing, She’s long stopped seeing us as family. It’s only you who still treats her like a sister,”
“What?” Nicholas’s voice was filled with shock. “Catherine did that? Why would she do something like that?”
Stephanie placed a hand on Nicholas’s arm. “Listen to Mrs. Medrano.”
“Yes, Mrs. Medrano, please explain. How did Catherine end up like this? We’ve never treated her badly, Nicholas said, his voice filled with anguish.
Mrs. Medrano sighed deeply. “Maybe it’s because I was biased when she was younger. She wasn’t my biological daughter. Even though I raised her, there was always something in my heart that felt off. After all, she was the child of my husband’s affair, and that’s something I could never fully come to terms with.”
Everyone fell silent, processing the weight of her words.
Who was right and who was wrong was impossible to determine. In the end, this grudge seemed beyond resolution–for now, at least.
“Alright, enough of this,” Stephanie said, breaking the tension. “Hailey just got back. Don’t let all these bad memories spoil the mood. Dinner’s almost ready. Casey, why don’t you take Hailey for a walk in the backyard?”
Casey stood, casting an awkward glance at Hailey. “Let’s go.”
Hailey nodded, following Casey to the backyard.
The two girls were around the same age and should have had no trouble talking freely, but after everything that had happened, there was an undeniable awkwardness between them.
Casey kept her head down, walking ahead.
Hailey bit her lip, looking for a way to start a conversation. “Casey, is there someone you like? The guy you met last time when you got off the bus on your way back to school…”
Casey, with her cheerful and outgoing personality, didn’t feel embarrassed at the mention of it. In fact, she seemed more at ease now that Hailey had brought it up. She looked less tense and more comfortable.
“Yeah, his name’s Arthur James, from Class C. I’ve liked him for two years,” Casey said, her eyes sparkling as she spoke about him as if a light was shining in them.
Hailey smiled. “So, are you two together?”
Casey blushed and shook her head. “Not yet. I’m planning to confess after the SAT is over.”
1/3
12:59 Sun, 30 Mar
Chapter 51
“Yeah, that makes sense. It would affect your studies now.”
“Hailey, I was wrong about what happened last time.” The conversation flowed more easily now, the tension easing, Casry took the initiative to apologize. “It was really Jeanie’s fault, but I took it out on you. We’re family, and I shoulder’s kase kad those prejudices against you.”
Hailey pressed her lips together slightly. “Casey, I should apologize too. No matter what, it was because of me that you head to go through all of this.”
“It’s fine, Hailey. You already gave Jeanie what she deserved. Look at her now–she’s no longer the glamorous star she used to be. Her reputation is destroyed.”
Hailey shrugged. “She brought it on herself.”
Jeanie’s scandal had dominated the internet for two whole days before finally losing its top spot. Once a rising star and newly crowned best actress, she was one of the hottest names in the industry, her career on an upward trajectory. But after the scandal broke, her reputation and future were shattered.
The whole entertainment industry was buzzing for weeks after the fiasco.
*****
Monday dawned clear and bright. Hailey, unable to resist the warm hospitality, had stayed at Casey’s house for two days. So, they headed to school together on Monday.
Earlier, Hailey had given Beatrix a harsh lecture, and in retaliation, Beatrix rushed home to demand that the Hawthome family withdraw their investment from Everton High School. She even tried to convince her parents to persuade other families to follow suit, insisting that the Medrano family be brought to ruin.
As expected, it didn’t work out. The reason, however, was simple. It was all Hailey’s doing.
It had spread throughout the circle that Hailey, who had recently returned from the countryside, was now dating Owen, the head of the Calhoun family.
Beatrix thought, ‘And Hailey’s mother? The younger generation might not know, but surely the older generation is well aware. Who would dare cross Hailey now? Who would dare challenge the Medrano family?
“To go against the Medrano family is to go against Hailey. And to go against Hailey is to go against Owen. One wrong move, and he could bring your family’s company to its knees.
Beatrix was harshly reprimanded by her family and ordered to apologize to Hailey as soon as she arrived at school on Monday.
So, as soon as Hailey arrived at school, Beatrix and her friends blocked her way.
Casey rolled up her sleeves and glared at Beatrix. “Are you looking for a fight? I’m not afraid of you!”
Eliza hurried over and quickly stepped in front of Hailey, her stance saying loud and clear, “Touch Hailey, and I’ll make you regret it.”
However, Beatrix pulled her friends along and suddenly bent down into a deep bow, apologizing with a perfect formality. “Miss Dalton, we’re sorry. We were wrong.”
Both Casey and Eliza stood frozen in shock.
Hailey thought, ‘What’s going on here?‘ She raised an eyebrow slightly. “If you keep bowing like that, you’ll be taking years off my life.”
Beatrix straightened up, pulling her friends with her. Despite the resentment and frustration in her eyes, she reluctantly
2/3
12:59 Sun, 30 Mar
Chapter 51
༥.77%ཎྛ
yielded to her parents‘ threats and lowered her head. “Last week was our mistake. We shouldn’t have blocked you or bullied you. From now on, we’ll focus on our studies, help our classmates, and listen to you”
Her apology was sincere, though it was clear she wasn’t happy about it. Hailey, however, couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it. She thought, ‘It’s hard enough to get someone to regret their actions truly
“You don’t have to listen to me,” Hailey said, her tone casual. “Just stop bullying other students.” She turned, walking past Beatrix and her friends as she headed toward the classroom.
By early morning, the entire drama was already being discussed on the school forum. The news about Hailey and Owen dating, which had been kept under wraps, was now out in the open.
At least for now, Hailey’s high school life seemed to have found some peace.
Selena seemed to have lost her usual smugness. Whenever she saw Hailey, she’d quickly turn and walk away, no longer looking for trouble.
But there was one thing that hadn’t changed.
There was still that pesky nuisance clinging on.
