Chapter 2

Hazel's POV

The day the SAT scores came out, I was completely calm.

I sat in the school computer lab, staring at the monitor, and quietly confirmed my score.

The room was packed and noisy, but this was the only place I could check my results.

Because I was just a "charity case housekeeper" living in someone else's mansion.

My score was incredibly high.

This score, combined with my AP credits, was my ticket out of this damp, suffocating mining town of Blackcreek. It was enough to finally shut the Vance family's mouths.

"What's the point of a perfect score if you're still a nobody?"

A sharp scoff cut through the chatter.

Chloe Vance walked over, flanked by her two loyal followers, her chin held high.

She stopped right in front of me, looking at the faded sleeves of my hoodie with pure disgust. Then, she raised her voice, making sure everyone heard:

"A parasite whose family is drowning in debt, living off our table scraps. Do you seriously think a test score can change your destiny? You sleep in the maid's room. You eat what my dog leaves behind. No matter how smart you think you are, you are still just trash."

The computer lab fell dead silent. Countless eyes darted toward me, filled with curiosity and silent mockery.

A few looked sympathetic, but most were just waiting to watch me break.

I gripped the straps of my backpack so hard my knuckles turned white.

For two years, I had heard these exact words in the Vances' living room, in their kitchen, and in the school hallways.

I didn't say a word. Instead, my gaze drifted past Chloe's shoulder, looking toward the old oak tree outside the window.

Ethan Vance was standing there.

He was holding his gym bag, his grip so tight his fingers looked blue. His eyes met mine, his throat bobbing nervously.

I stared at him, a tiny, desperate flicker of hope still burning in my chest.

In that hellhole of a house, he was the only one who had ever left burn cream at my door. He was the only one who had ever silently handed me a pair of work gloves to protect my hands.

But now, under the watchful eyes of the entire school, Ethan looked at me... and slowly, deliberately, turned his head away.

He didn't take a single step forward.

A bitter, self-deprecating smile touched my lips.

The very last shred of hope in my heart was instantly crushed by that half-inch movement of his head.

When it came down to the Vance family's precious reputation and his sister's spoiled tantrums, he was just like the rest of them. He could watch me get trampled into the dirt without blinking.

Just as Chloe smirked, ready to spit more venom, the screech of tires echoed from the school gates.

Two black government SUVs sped in, parking right outside the computer lab.

The doors flew open, and several stern-looking agents in federal uniforms stepped out, carrying heavy folders.

The Vances' private chauffeur ran over to block them. "Hey. What do you think you're doing? This is a private school. You can't just..."

The lead agent silently flashed his badge.

The chauffeur's voice died instantly. His face went completely pale.

The crowd of students parted like the Red Sea.

Under a hundred stunned gazes, the federal agents walked straight up to me, looking at a photo in their hands.

"Are you Hazel?"

I stood up straight. "Yes, I am."

"We have officially received your filed complaint regarding Vance Mining's cover-up of the fatal mine collapse and their falsification of safety reports. We are here to verify your identity. Please sign this confirmation of delivery."

Those words were like a bomb dropping in the silent room.

The smirk on Chloe's face froze.

Under the oak tree, Ethan's head snapped up. His eyes filled with absolute disbelief, and the paper he was holding was crushed to dust in his fist.

I remained perfectly calm.

I took the pen and, under everyone's stunned stares, firmly signed my name on the affidavit.

Once done, I handed the pen back.

The agent slipped the document into his folder. He looked at me, a young girl, with a mixture of sympathy and deep respect. He lowered his voice. "We have a team secured to ensure your safety from here on out. You did the right thing."

"Thank you."

As the black SUVs drove away, the computer lab erupted into absolute chaos.

"A federal investigation? Against Vance Mining?"

"Oh my god, Hazel has been working as their maid for two years just to gather evidence!"

"No wonder she never said anything. She wasn't their servant. She was their reckoning!"

The girls who had been standing next to Chloe immediately took three steps back, terrified of being associated with her.

Chloe's face turned from red to white, then to a sickly green. She was shaking violently as she glared at me. "Hazel... you bitch! You're insane!"

I swung my backpack over my shoulder. Without giving her a single glance, I walked right past her.

The sunlight streamed through the door, casting my shadow long and straight. My shoulders were square. I was finally standing tall.

Under the oak tree, Ethan stood frozen like a statue. As the wind blew, the shredded pieces of paper slipped from his fingers, scattering into the dirt.

By evening, I was back at my place.

In the cramped maid's room, my suitcase was already packed. My passport and my acceptance letter to the University of London were tucked safely inside my bag.

My phone screen lit up with a Snapchat notification from my lawyer:

The evidence has been officially submitted to the federal prosecutor. Keep your line open.

I stared at it, then placed the phone face down on the desk.

Two years of silent endurance and suffocating pain. Now, the storm was finally here.