The Real Heiress Is Coming Back (Hannah Carter) novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

“I never asked you to protect me. I just told you not to mention me to the Thole family,” Hannah corrected firmly.

She was quite strong-willed.

Barnaby chuckled softly and indulged her. “Understood.”

Seeing his smile, Hannah recalled the awkwardness in the car yesterday and blushed slightly, looking away.

Just then, Barnaby’s phone rang. He turned and answered.

After hearing the voice on the other end, the chilling coldness suddenly seeped from Barnaby’s tone, wiping away the warmth he’d had moments ago.

Hedy shivered at the oppressive chill in the air.

Hannah’s expression remained icy, but a voice inside warned her not to trust Barnaby easily.

After hanging up, Barnaby concealed the coldness and escorted Hannah to school, telling her to call him if anything came up. Over the next few days, Hannah didn’t see him again.

She had originally promised to check Barnaby’s health over the weekend and sent him a message asking when he’d be back.

Barnaby replied: [Later, don’t miss me.]

Hannah rolled her eyes, reading the text. ‘Who’s worrying? The patient isn’t anxious, so as a doctor, I have no reason to be either,’ she wondered.

*****

That day, when Felicity returned from the hospital and learned that Hannah was staying at school, she felt reluctant and worried.

She wanted to visit Hannah at school and persuade her to come back home; after all, conditions at home were better than the dormitory.

But Dorian stopped her. “She’s the one at fault here. Not only does she refuse to admit it, but she’s running away from home and throwing a tantrum. Who’s she trying to impress?

“If she’s got guts, she can stay gone for life. Without my permission, none of you is to give her living expenses

or contact her.”

Dorian was furious.

He didn’t believe that cutting off Hannah’s funds would let her survive in Brynlock, such an expensive city.

‘Not even half a month, no, a week tops, Hannah will come back, obedient and apologetic.

‘When that happens, I’ll make sure she knows I’m her father and the ruler of the Scott family, he thought.

The forum storm ignited by Hannah’s cheating and the Scott party died down over the weekend.

On Monday, while heading back to Class 11, Owen called out to Hannah, drawing envious glares from several passing girls.

As one of the school’s heartthrobs and a top student, Owen focused solely on his studies and ignored gossip.

Yet Hannah’s cheating scandal somehow caught his attention.

‘If only we knew this trick worked so well, we’d have done it too, they thought.

“What’s up?” Hannah asked coolly.

Ignoring others’ looks, Owen shyly said, “Hannah, let’s study together from now on.”

After learning Hannah was the mysterious genius, he had been grounded by his father for three days, but was excited for five.

Finally, Monday arrived, and he couldn’t wait to see Hannah.

She was his idol, and he wanted to study with her.

“I refuse,” Hannah said coldly, turning away without a second thought.

Owen watched her retreating back, thinking, ‘A true genius is just different.’

“What’s with her attitude?”

“Exactly. Owen’s willing to forget the past, but she’s still so stuck-up. No idea what favors the Scott family gave the school to keep her here.”

“I’d love to study with Owen, too.”

The nearby girls whispered, nudging each other as they tried to comfort Owen, when Susie appeared. “Owen?”

She had just noticed Owen calling out to Hannah.

“Owen, Hannah grew up in the slum and isn’t very polite. If she offended you, I apologize on her behalf,” Susie said confidently, playing the protective big sister.

But to Owen, those words sounded harsh.

‘So what if Hannah grew up in the slum? Given the limited education there, she still taught herself and made it this far. She has every right to be proud,’ Owen thought.

“Don’t ever speak about Hannah like that again,” Owen said, glaring at the girls watching nearby. “And you all,

too.”

After the warning, he turned and walked away.

Susie and the other girls froze, thinking, ‘Why isn’t Owen mad at Hannah? Why does he keep defending her? Could it be that Hannah’s pretty face has finally caught his attention?’

Whenever Susie thought of Hannah’s exquisite features, her eyes burned with jealousy and resentment. Her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

Owen was the heiress of the Croft family’s second branch, a status even higher than Jasper’s.

Before Jasper and Owen got engaged, Susie had tried to flirt with Owen but was ignored.

If not for Jasper, Owen probably wouldn’t even talk to her.

“Susie, the bell’s ringing. Why are you still standing here?” Jane Dross, hurrying toward the classroom, asked.

Susie snapped out of it and quickly restored her sweet smile.

“I just saw Owen heading to Class 11. Thought I must have been mistaken. Let’s go,” Susie said.

Jane had a close friend named Lily.

Lily, the daughter of a city official, ruled Class 11 like a boss and was known as the class bully.

Everyone knew she liked Owen.

Her boldest move was publicly confessing to him, only to be rejected and then disciplined by the school with a warning not to harass others, which had somewhat reined her in.

Susie deliberately planted that comment to sow suspicion, letting innocent words carry hidden meaning.

Her plan worked.

Jane told Lily about it on WhatsApp, and along with witnesses from that morning, Lily immediately knew Owen had sought out Hannah and was rejected.

Lily had long disliked Hannah. She acts all high and mighty, and now she dares to flirt with Owen. ‘If I don’t teach her a lesson, she’ll never behave,’ she thought.

After school, Hannah went to the restroom and happened upon three girls cornering Yvette, threatening her.

“School bullying?” Hannah lazily glanced at them.

The leader turned out to be Lily.

Her head held high, sporting braided hair, ears decked in oversized earrings, black lipstick, chewing gum dangling from her mouth, a real tough girl vibe.

“Well, well, an uninvited guest,” she sneered.

“Hannah, run,” Yvette cried upon seeing her.

Yvette had often been bullied by Lily before and knew their severity, especially now, since they’d trapped her to force her to bring Hannah over.

“Shut the hell up,” one girl said, shoving a rag into Yvette’s mouth.

Yvette struggled wildly, but two muscular girls held her down firmly.

“Don’t get worked up. We won’t hurt you today,” Lily said with a smirk. She then signaled the two girls. “Put

the troublemaker in the stall.”

Yvette’s face drained of color at the thought of being trapped there again. She fought harder, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Just as the two girls tried to drag Yvette toward the stall, Hannah raised her hand and grabbed their arms, squeezing hard.

Their hands instantly went numb, and they reluctantly loosened their grip on Yvette.

“What’s so urgent that you can’t just talk it out? Why resort to violence?” Hannah shielded Yvette behind her, her gaze cold and proud as she sized up the three girls.

The two muscular girls were stunned by the icy aura radiating from her, unwilling to step forward again.

Lily, used to ruling with impunity, felt her reputation tarnished.

‘She’s just a girl from the slum; what’s there to fear?’ she thought.

She blew a bubble with her gum and glared fiercely. “Bring it on. If anything happens, I’m responsible.”

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