The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180

Colonel Carson said, “Right now, the whole school is buzzing with rumors that you’re not following the rules, cozying up to the rich and powerful, and that there’s something fishy between you and Major Hale.

“If these rumors keep spreading, it’s a huge negative impact on you, the school, and the military training

“Major Hale nearly got in trouble because of what you did, and you’re still acting like it’s no big deal?”

Natalie’s lips curled in impatience.

“First,” she said.

Her voice was soft, but every word was clear as day. “I didn’t ask to add him on WhatsApp. He scanned my code and added

me.”

She tilted her head and looked over at Madison.

Madison sat upright beside her. When he heard that, he didn’t argue, just gave a slight nod.

‘Second,” Natalie continued, “Madison and I go way back. We didn’t just meet during boot camp. Do I really need to get permission from someone just to add an old friend on WhatsApp?”

Colonel Carson was taken aback. “You two already knew each other?”

Madison spoke up, his voice steady: ‘Yes.‘

‘Colonel Carson, I meant to tell you this earlier. We actually met at the Hell Boot Camp. We never got a chance te exchange contact info back then, so when we bumped into each other yesterday, we just added each other on WhatsApp

The office fell silent.

Colonel Carson stared in disbelief. “Hell Boot Camp? Are you talking about her?”

Hell Boot Camp was reserved for the best soldiers from every unit, chosen through brutal rounds of services and ust over forty people made the cut.

And you had to be at least a lieutenant to even qualify But Natalie? She’s barely eighteen or attown, rigs og sett delicate How could she possibly end up in a place like that?

Madison you can’t just make up such a lame he to protect her! There’s no way she could ve qok u

Even the principal was stunned Hed heard of Hell Boot Camp lomall but Natale the slices look at it theres no way she could ever be counted to a path test

Madison opened his mouth to explain in Caskaita halved a mega har

“You dust need to say anything Carton Burto

He turned to Natale syru department

“But jums kuri ause you have great desi

“You probably have touch a what Hill Memoran creamyof the crup Troum every misis person anal they hom

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Chapter 180-

You’re just a student Not even part of the military. There’s no way you could’ve been one of Hell Boot Camp’s partic

Natalie nodded, unfazed. That’s right, I wasn’t a participant there.”

Colonel Carson assumed Natalie was finally admitting they’d made it all up, and a cold, mocking smile spread across |

face.

He leaned back on the sofa, picked up his coffee and spoke as if he was above it all.

‘Good. Owning up to your mistakes is admirable. This wasn’t a huge issue anyway, so we’ll let the lying go this time. B breaking the rules? That still needs to be dealt with. Principal-

‘When did we ever lie?” Natalie interrupted, sitting up straight on the sofa.

Natalie sat up, cutting him off.

Colonel Carson’s frown tightened, clearly annoyed.

What do you mean by that?” he demanded.

Natalie narrowed her eyes. “Which part didn’t you hear clearly? I already said we’re old friends. Why are you still talkin about punishment?”

The principal felt a jolt in his chest when he heard Natalie talking to Colonel Carson like that. “Natalie, is that how you! o Colonel Carson?”

Colonel Carson sat there, locking eyes with Natalie.

After being challenged like this again and again, at his age and after clawing his way up to colonel, he’d never reat him like he was nothing. Where was he supposed to put his pride now?

Neither of them spoke. The air between them crackled with tension, their gazes sharp and unyielding neither back down.

Madison had seen right through Colonel Carson’s game from the start. When it came to the WhatsApp thane se who made the first move, Colonel Carson just wanted to pin the blame on Natale.

Sure, Colonel Carson outranked him, but given his age and ability, that was as far as he was ever going w

Back in the military, Colonel Carson had always tried to cozy up to ban and Madison had always dow was after

I always boiled down to two things his grandfather, and the fact that Madison was already

44

Madison shot a look at Natalie, then at Colonel Carson and sindhenry spots ap

Colonel Carson let me clear things up the wasn’t podents

instructor

Madison’s voice wasir tool but every word mein ka

Colonel Carson Coreath caught his face y

The art instructor Colonel’s arsuit. Dongh

The chief instrYSE of Hell Boot Campe

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Chapter 180

Are you saying the mysterious figure who had the army’s top elites completely under her thumb, the one command kept praising again and again… is this laid–back college freshman girl right in front of me? Colonel Carson couldn’t wrap his

head around it.

Colonel Carson’s first reaction was pure disbelief.

The second hit him even harder. He just couldn’t believe it.

The third? ‘Has Madison totally lost it, making up such a wild story?‘

“Madison,” he croaked, “do you even know what you’re saying?”

The principal was just as shocked. ‘Oh my god, what are they even saying now?

This is getting crazier by the minute!‘

Madison nodded. “Trust me, I know exactly what I’m saying. If you don’t believe me, I’ll call my grandpa right now

As he said that, the video call started ringing.

Colonel Carson tried to stop him, but it was already too late. He gulped nervously. How did something so trivial end up getting the commander–in–chief of Harbor City Army involved!

A couple seconds later, the call went through.

Luca Hale answered, sounding a bit surprised and curious. “Madison? Why are you calling me right now

Colonel Carson was in his fifties, and after nearly thirty years in the military, he’d only ever caught glimpses of Latar rom afar, always lost in the crowd, never once having the chance to even speak to him.

But now, with a single video call, Madison had pulled Luca Hale right into this tiny office.

Colonel Carson’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously, his movements growing even more awkward

Madison held up his phone, and on the screen, Luca Hale appeared, dressed in a casual gray T–shirt, setting in an

hair. Behind him, a bookshelf was packed with military books and a few yellowed medals.

Grandpa, I’m on site at Redvale University’s military training camp, Madison said, his on Cas

There’s a bit of an issue here, and I need you to vouch for me

La Hale raised an eyebrow “What kind of situation??

Madison angled his phone letting the camera sweep across the seller

Colonel Carson shot to his feet his fare going from pale to Hoshed bauch hwaging

aboard

Command Hale te u Kut

La nodded in agent and du ca

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Natalie was sprawled casually oncile and tw

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