Chapter 3The "Country Bumpkin" Strikes Back

I deliberately used my hair to hide the red marks on my cheek, but my third brother, Caleb Miller, noticed them.

His eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, his voice instantly turning serious. "Valerie, what happened to your face?"

Everyone immediately turned toward me.

My mother grabbed my shoulder and angled my face toward the light. "Valerie, did someone bully you?"

Her fingers trembled as she gently touched the edge of my cheek. I sucked in a sharp breath at the pain, and she immediately pulled her hand back as if she'd been burned.

My father slowly set down his cutlery. He didn't say anything, but his usually calm, easygoing expression suddenly tightened.

Zachary got up and walked over with an expression I'd never seen on him before. He looked unusually serious. "What happened?"

I flinched at the look on his face. I thought he was going to blame me, so I didn't dare tell them the truth. "I bumped into something. I was running too fast after class and hit the doorframe..."

My second brother, Tyler Miller, stood up and stared at me in disbelief. "You hit a doorframe and somehow ended up with five finger marks? Valerie, tell us the truth. What really happened?"

I didn't dare look at him. My mind filled with the image of Cassie standing over me in the hallway, staring down at me with that arrogant expression.

She had dug her nails into my chin and leaned close. "My dad's on the school board. One word from me, and you'll be kicked out immediately!

"Do you have any idea how many connections my family has in Westhaven? Crushing you would be easier than crushing an ant!"

Cassie's family was rich and powerful, which was why she'd always been so arrogant and domineering. Meanwhile, I had grown up in the countryside. I couldn't do anything to help my family, but at the very least, I couldn't cause them trouble.

I bit my lip and lowered my voice. "I just hit the doorframe..."

Caleb crouched in front of me and looked up at me, his voice gentle. "You don't have to be afraid. You're the Miller heiress. There's no one in Westhaven who can scare you. If anyone ever bullies you again, call us."

Zachary patted my shoulder. "There isn't anyone in Westhaven who can afford to mess with the Millers."

I nodded as tears blurred my vision again.

For so many years, I'd grown used to having no one to rely on. It felt so good to have a family that cared about me and to know I finally had people standing behind me.

…

I didn't follow Cassie's orders or tell the dean that I had cheated.

Near the end of the school day, I was carrying a stack of homework papers when I passed the small garden behind the school building.

I never expected to run into Cassie and her friends there.

Her gaze immediately locked on me. "Oh? How did you know I was just about to come looking for you? Thanks for coming right to me."

She jerked her chin toward her followers. "Drag her to the stairwell."

The four girls grabbed my arms and hair, then dragged me into the secluded stairwell.

Cassie slowly advanced toward me. There wasn't an ounce of kindness in her eyes, only deep hostility. "You didn't appreciate the chance I gave you yesterday. Looks like I'll have to get a little rough."

I hurriedly backed away until I hit the cold, damp wall. I clutched the strap of my backpack. "I didn't cheat. I got the highest score in the school because I studied and did practice problems day and night. I won't make up a lie that could ruin my reputation."

"You really won't appreciate kindness unless you're punished!" Cassie sneered and gestured to the two girls beside her.

They stepped forward and grabbed my arms from either side, their sharp fingernails digging viciously into my skin.