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?”

girls stepped in, grabbing Hailey’s shoulders. One sneered, “Be smart about this. Get on your knees to Beatrix and Mateo, apologize, and leave

gonna get real ugly–for you and

the Daltons will protect you? Please. They’d drop

She just

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Chapter 27

as pain shot up her arm. “Let

and the unsettling, calm in her

you idiots just gonna stand

nodded and lunged,

was usually just hair–pulling and

ducked, dodging with ease. The girl’s hand swiped at empty air.

Hailey quickly turned around and let

own crew. With a yelp, the crashed into

top of

chorus of groans filled the air as they scrambled to

them a glance. Calmly, she reached up and pulled the black hair tie from her wrist, gathering her hair into

took a step forward.

casting a golden glow around her. She looked almost angelic–except for the cold glint in her

but the fear Hailey sparked

backward, her voice shaking. “D–Don’t come any closer!”

Hailey didn’t stop.

yanking at the handle–only to find it locked. Someone had sealed it from the

was breaking down, barely

“Maybe after today, you’ll learn

crying–and her eyes widened in

*******

out of the restroom,

on the door, then at Eliza, who stood

watching from a distance. Her gaze landed on Hailey’s face, and for some reason, her heart

Hailey carried herself with an effortless kind of authority, the kind

hard. She’d been so sure

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28 Mar

Chapter 27

here, she realized just how ridiculous that

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