Chapter 28
She didn’t see anything wrong with that.
So she was always on the lookout for a more “valuable” match.
If she could marry one of the Hendrix family’s two heirs, her life would be set. Her family would gain powerful ties, and back home, she’d finally be taken seriously.
That was why, while everyone else was trying to win over Dora, she chose to side with Linda.
Yes, Linda was painfully naive for someone in their circle–but it was exactly that kind of naivete that made her easy to manipulate.
Dora could see right through Kayla’s game–but honestly, she couldn’t be bothered to get involved.
Other people’s schemes had nothing to do with her. As long as they didn’t come knocking on her door, she was happy to stay out of it.
No one in that classroom understood the social elite better than she did. The less drama, the better. There was no point making enemies over things that didn’t matter.
‘After all, who’s to say today’s nobody won’t end up at the top tomorrow?‘ she thought.
“All right, that’s enough. Everyone, cool it.”
With that, Dora spoke up, breaking the awkward silence before Effie said something that couldn’t be taken back.
She turned to Linda and said, cool and detached, “Two things you need to
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remember. First–I’m not going back to the Hendrix family. Second–I’m not interested in playing some ‘lost heiress‘ drama with you. As long as you stay out of my way, we’ll have no problem. But if you push me… well, we’ll see if the Hendrix family can actually cover for you.”
Linda froze mid–sob. Her heart skipped a beat. She looked up, stunned, straight into Dora’s eyes–calm, clear, steady. There wasn’t a ripple of emotion in them, just a quiet, unshakable confidence.
She couldn’t understand how Dora could still be so composed after losing everything–her name, her title, her identity. There wasn’t even a trace of bitterness or insecurity on her face.
Everyone in class still stood by her, like nothing had changed. Even after her family went bankrupt, people still respected her.
‘And now, she is bold enough to talk like she can go up against the Hendrix family?‘ she wondered.
‘Where did she get that kind of confidence? Is it Byron? But what if… what if Byron doesn’t belong to her anymore?”
As Linda stared, trying to figure her out, Derrick leaned lazily against the desk next to Dora’s, looking relaxed as ever, “Don’t bother. You’d need more than a pig brain to understand her.”
Not that Linda was alone in her confusion. Even the classmates who had grown up with Dora for nearly a decade had no clue how deep her connections ran
All they knew was, no matter how impossible the request, no matter how rare or ridiculous–if they needed something, Dora could always get it.
Maybe no single contact of hers could rival the Hendrix family. But if you added them all together?
Even the Hendrix family, sitting pretty at the top of the country’s elite.
circle, wasn’t immune to a fall from grace.
“In this circle,” Derrick added with a smirk, “first rule of survival–know who you’re dealing with.”
For once, Effie didn’t argue. Not because she agreed with him, but because if this meant Linda would stop being a pain and leave Dora alone, she was all for it.
Linda’s jaw clenched so tight her teeth practically cracked. Her eyes were bloodshot as she glared at Dora–then finally turned and stormed out of the
room.
“Linda!” Kayla called after her, feigning concern as she stepped forward to follow.
But Dora blocked her path. Kayla shot her a look, but Dora only smiled. faintly and said, “Kayla, if you really want to earn someone’s trust, wait until their guard’s down. That’s when you make your move.”
Kayla paused, catching the meaning behind her words.
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you helping me?”
Dora gave a casual shrug. “I don’t do favors for free. You aren’t worth anything to me. But your family is.”
Kayla pressed her lips together, then nodded. “Got it.”
She walked out of the classroom at a measured pace, off to “find” the runaway Linda.
With the two irritants finally gone, Effie stretched her arms over her head and let out a lazy yawn. “Well, show’s over.”
She pulled a blue–covered certificate from her backpack and set it on Dora’s desk. “Dora, here’s the version you asked for. Take a look–if it’s not right, I’ll call and have it redone. I can get a new one delivered by
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lunchtime.”
Dora flipped it open for a glance. The wording was formal, the layout sleek. Aside from the lack of a school seal, it was convincing enough to pass as the real deal.
“Looks great. Thanks.”
