Chapter 1871

Alice went stiff, her whole body frozen. She stared at the girl who'd just spoken, then looked up at Amy, eyes wide like she was seeing her for the very first time.

She'd stood up for Amy. She'd gotten hurt for Amy. And now, somehow, everyone was acting like this was all her fault?

Why did it have to be her?

"I was trying to help you, Amy. How could you just let her say those things about me?"

Amy glanced down at her, an indifferent smile on her lips. "I never asked you to help me."

In an instant, all the color drained from Alice's face. She stared at Amy, her eyes locked on her like she was trying to bore a hole right through her. Even lying in the hospital bed, her face almost entirely hidden by thick gauze to protect the raw burns, the pain in her eyes was impossible to miss.

She stayed quiet as Amy walked out of the room. Every part of her wanted to believe this wasn't real. She'd only gotten hurt because she wanted to help Amy. But Amy just tossed her aside like she was nothing.

Maybe Amy had never really seen any of them as friends-maybe not even as people.

Honestly, the only reason anyone had tried to get close to Amy was because her family had money. She could give them things they'd never have on their own.

...

Right after school, Fiona went straight to meet the girl everyone called the local troublemaker. The girl was ready to brag about finishing her latest assignment, but when she sat down across from Fiona and saw her sour expression, she hesitated. Had she messed something up? Did she do something to make Fiona mad?

It wasn't like Fiona to call her out so suddenly. She'd practically floored it getting here, her nerves a total mess.

"Ms. Fiona, is there something you need?"

Fiona pulled out her phone, opened a news article, and pointed to it. "I need you to deliver this letter to the Woods family."

The tough girl blinked, confused. "Wait, just deliver a letter?"

She couldn't have heard that right.

She glanced down at the envelope, still not getting it. "Just this?"

Fiona nodded, giving nothing away. If it was just about delivering a letter, why all the drama? Fiona's call had made her so nervous she almost caused an accident on the way over.

"Oh, and while you're at it, give me an update on the other things I asked you to do."

The girl almost felt silly for asking. She didn't have much progress to report yet, though she figured was close. "Things have been

weirdlycalm lately. They've net

turned

down my invites a few times. You don't think they've figured out what we're up to, do you?"

Fiona smirked, thinking it over. "No, they're not that sharp. They're just trying to cozy up to the Woods family now. They think if they get the Woods family on their side, we¶ have to back off. Just do what you're supposed to do."

"Understood."

She wasn't wrong.

If everyone wanted to make things difficult, Fiona was more than ready to make things messier. It was the perfect opportunity to kick these people out for good-save herself the trouble later, and maybe even surprise her brother.

After clearing out a few of Jackson's "roadblocks," maybe he'd finally give her a little credit.

Tyler caught up in no time, sliding into the seat beside Fiona. He looked surprised to see the tough girl there.

Noticing Fiona had company, the girl got the message and quickly slipped out of the café.