Chapter 51

Chapter 51

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“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?”

stood, casting an awkward glance

following Casey to the backyard.

had no trouble talking freely, but after everything that had happened, there was

her head down, walking ahead.

to start a conversation. “Casey, is there someone you like? The guy you met last time when

mention of it. In fact, she seemed more at ease now that Hailey had brought it up. She looked

him for two years,” Casey said, her

smiled. “So, are you two together?”

head. “Not yet. I’m planning to confess after the SAT

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Sun, 30 Mar

Chapter 51

would affect your

conversation flowed more easily now, the tension easing, Casry took the initiative to apologize. “It was really Jeanie’s fault,

her lips together slightly. “Casey, I should apologize too. No matter what, it was because of me that you head to go through all

Look at her now–she’s no longer the glamorous

“She brought it on herself.”

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

industry was buzzing for weeks after

*****

stayed at Casey’s house for two days. So, they headed to school together on

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

expected, it didn’t work out. The reason, however,

from the countryside,

the older generation is well aware. Who

Medrano family is to go against Hailey. And to go against Hailey is to go against Owen. One wrong move,

harshly reprimanded by her family and ordered to apologize to

arrived at school, Beatrix and her friends

sleeves and glared at Beatrix. “Are you looking for a fight? I’m not afraid

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