The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 179

Chapter 179 Who’s Boss

Seeing this, Emma became even more convinced that Natalie was just a social climber obsessed with status.

‘She’s actually trying to cozy up to Henry’s nièce just to look important in front of everyone!‘ Emma thought.

‘No way am I letting that bitch use Lucas!‘

When they got to the field, it was still early for military training, so everyone was just sitting cross–legged on the ground, chatting away.

“Hey, did you hear? Natalie added Chief Instructor’s WhatsApp yesterday!”

“What? No way! Isn’t it against the rules to add instructors on WhatsApp?”

“I don’t know, but I saw her talking to Chief Instructor yesterday. Guess that’s what it was about!”

“I heard she’s the type who’d do anything to get close to the powerful. What a waste of such a pretty face to do something so gross.”

“Shh, stop talking. She’s coming…”

Natalie walked over, having no idea what they were talking about, but everyone’s looks made her frown.

Still, she didn’t care. She went to her spot, sat down, set her hat aside, and glanced at her phone.

There were still five minutes before training started.

“Quiet!”

Zack strode up to the front of the formation, his face stern as he barked out the order.

His gaze swept over the formation, pausing on Natalie for a split second before quickly moving on.

The formation went quiet, but the undercurrent of tension still lingered.

Natalie slipped her phone into her pocket, stood up, brushed the dust off her pants, and got ready to line up.

Just then, a young guy in a white shirt walked in from the entrance.

He wore silver–rimmed glasses, glanced around the field, and headed straight for the physics department group.

He said something to Zack, then called out, “Natalie, step out for a second.”

Everyone turned to look at him. They’d seen him in the freshman group chat yesterday. It was Kyle Gold, the physics department counselor.

Just as he finished, another man in army uniform jogged over to Major Hale.

He saluted. “Major Hale, Colonel Carson wants to see you in his office.”

Everyone glanced at Madison, then at Natalie. They probably knew what was up. Word had already gotten out about, Natalie adding Major Hale on WhatsApp yesterday.

Major Hale’s brows drew together for a moment, but he didn’t say anything, He just nodded at the messenger and turned toward the entrance.

After a couple of steps, he caught a glimpse of Natalie heading over in his direction.

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Natalie followed Kyle out, her steps unhurried, back ramrod straight, the brim of her hat pulled down low to hide her

expression.

Major Hale tore his gaze away and strode off with long, purposeful steps.

On the field, the gossip exploded like a kicked hornet’s nest, buzzing everywhere.

“See? I told you, adding instructors on WhatsApp is totally off–limits during military training.”

“Even the chief instructor got called in. There’s no way she’s getting out of this.”

“I heard she might even get a demerit, or maybe a public reprimand.”

“Yeah, and she added Major Hale on WhatsApp. Now the whole campus is buzzing. The fallout is terrible. No way she’s walking away from this without consequences.”

“Man, getting a public reprimand on the second day of school? That’s got to be a record.”

“That’s what happens when you break the rules Successfully unlocked! hat would happen before adding him on WhatsApp?”

Isabelle wore a triumphant smirk. ‘So what if you’re the Mitchell heiress? So what if you aced the SAT?

I’m going to make sure you’re utterly humiliated, Natalie. Let’s see how you handle being the center of everyone’s gossip!

Zook frowned as he watched the two leave, then called out sharply twice. “Alright, quiet down! Stand at attention, military posture, now!”

In the principal’s office, Colonel Carson and the principal sat across from each other on the sofa, with two cups of coffee on the coffee table between them

Colonel Carson’s uniform was crisp, the stars on his shoulders catching the sunlight Just sitting there, he exuded a commanding presence without uttering a word.

Major Hale knocked and entered, standing at attention and saluting. “Colonel Carson!”

Natalie walked in right after him, hands in her pockets.

Colonel Carson leaned back on the sofa, frowning as he glanced at Natalie, then turned to Major Hale and jerked his chin toward the seat, signaling him to sit.

Major Hale nodded, then looked at Natalie and gestured for her to take a seat first.

Natalie didn’t even look at him. She just sat down, crossing her legs with a laid–back, borderline disrespectful attitude, like

she couldn’t care less about the two men in front of her.

Colonel Carson frowned at her laid–back, almost disrespectful attitude, but kept quiet, just shot a look at the principal.

The principal adjusted his glasses, glanced at Natalie, then at Colonel Carson, and gave a small smile, saying nothing.

He just pretended not to notice. After all, this student was his pride and joy, the first ever to score 1599 on the SAT. And after seeing her at yesterday’s opening ceremony, he could tell she was a handful. If he pissed her off and she walked out, that’d be a total disaster.

Colonel Carson frowned, clearly annoyed, but kept his thoughts to himself.

“Do you know why I called you here?” Colonel Carson asked.

He picked up his coffee and blew gently across the surface.

Major Hale glanced at him and said plainly, “No.”

Colonel Carson raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know?”

He turned to Natalie. “And you? Do you know?”

Natalie shot him a cool glance. “No idea. If you’ve got business, spit it out. If not, I’m out.”

Colonel Carson’s eyes widened at her words, and he looked her up and down in clear annoyance. ‘She doesn’t act like a student at all. No manners, just pure attitude!‘ he thought.

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