When She Stops Playing Nice

Chapter 3

“Gina, your dorm at school has gone up in flames, Michael stated as they drove.

Gina’s eyes narrowed a bit. “Alright, I’ll head back and check it out” Exiting the car, she made her way on foot.

Her phone vibrated with a text from an unknown number. [Where the hell have you vanished to? Get your ass back to

home, now!].

Gina scoffed and blocked the number. Really? Changing numbers to harass me? What the fuck are they thinking?” she thought.

She had made up her mind to sever ties with the Miller family and wasn’t about to let them pull her back in.

When the Millers first found her, Gina was on a mountain, gathering medicinal herbs, covered in dirt and sweat.

They mistook her for someone foraging for wild vegetables, their eyes laden with barely concealed disdain.

the

They were momentarily surprised to hear Gina had aced her college entrance exam and secured a spot at Trowell University. However, they quickly diminished her achievement, thinking she was nothing more than a bookworm, lacking grace and talents of Olivia, who had been shoehorned into Trowell’s art program through connections and hefty sums.

Gina rarely stayed with the Miller family. They rationalized it by saying living in the dorm was more convenient, saving her the trouble of commuting. Meanwhile, they bent over backward driving Olivia, a fellow Trowell student, around.

But Gina seldom spent her time at school. To her, college was meaningless; she only needed an innocuous front. Yet, this became Olivia’s ammunition to slander her, accusing Gina of being a dropout, always skipping class, and goofing off God knows where.

Regardless of how much Gina tried to set the record straight, the Miller family wouldn’t have a bar of it.

What could you possibly achieve? You might as well quit now.”

First time laying eyes on a computer? Why aimlessly pick computer

the school shows you the door. We can’t afford that kind

scholarship as the top student, paying her way

while, Olivia, who bumbled through piano lessons despite the fortunes spent, failing to grasp even the basics after

chuckling at her folly. ‘I should’ve seen

rolled to a slow stop beside Gina, the window Sliding down to reveal James glaring

cursed under his breath, Figures, she has headed back to school. Blocking her path here was spot on. She has even blocked all our numbers and ignored my texts. She is asking

in the carl he demanded, voice dripping with menace. “Come home and kneel,

reserved for lunatics. “Are you

Tue, 21 May

Chapter 3

thrown, snapped back, “What’s this about dreaming? Are

and still talking crap?” Gina

thinking, ‘Did she hit her head? Used to be as quiet as a mouse, barely uttering

the car,

“You think you can just disappear? One word to the principal from us, and you’re out of Trowell University immediately. Think twice, Gina.”

could, Gina thought, her inner voice laced with

asked, voice cold and lips

will. That alone deserves more than a mere punishment, and yet you dare to question

the keys, let alone access to Dad’s room. How could I have possibly used

insisting, “Who knows what you did to steal it.”

familiar outcome. Never mind, my brothers will never

necessary, Gina turned to leave.

shouted, determined to drag Gina

but Gina’s icy gaze made him flinch, thinking of Liam still