Chapter 10: You Are Just Throwing a Tantrum

Mr. Julian’s words were rather tactful. Put nicely, he suggested that her actions were not worth the trouble. Put bluntly, he was saying she was wasting her parents' money and just idling away her time at school.

Anna was well aware of this, but once she had made up her mind, she would not waver.

As for her parents, they probably couldn't wait to see her gone—out of sight, out of mind.

“I can manage my own affairs. Just help me arrange it, please. Rest assured. I won't embarrass you.”

Mr. Julian sighed heavily. Faced with Anna's persistence, he could only nod in agreement.

However, he could only secure an opportunity for her. The outcome was uncertain and depended entirely on Anna herself.

“I can speak to the staff office for you, but whether they'll be persuaded is not guaranteed. You should be mentally prepared for that.”

Anna was very satisfied with this response. She nodded slightly to Mr. Julian and said, “Thank you, Mr. Julian. No matter the outcome, I will face it calmly.”

Mr. Julian's willingness to help made Anna feel very respected and genuinely happy.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Anna, pulling along a bewildered Hazel, left his office.

Hazel, whose mind had gone blank, was somewhat brought back to reality by Anna. She still couldn't believe what she had heard.

“So, Anna, you are not serious, are you?”

Anna shrugged nonchalantly and smiled, “You saw what happened. It's exactly as you saw.”

Hazel flicked Anna's forehead and pinched her own cheek to confirm the reality.

The words Anna spoke, however, were unexpectedly shocking.

“Is it because of the accident you and Thea had, and the Hayes family are giving you trouble again?”

After much thought, that was the only reason Hazel could come up with, having heard plenty of rumors.

Anna's persona as the wicked sister seemed deeply ingrained, whether or not she had done anything, everyone was convinced she was undoubtedly responsible.

Anna neither confirmed nor denied Hazel's speculation. “Don't think too much about it. Just get ready for your speech next month.”

“Anna, come and live with me. My dad is not at home anyway, and it's just my mom and the maid. My mom likes you a lot. She keeps asking when you will visit us.”

Hazel really couldn't stand the way the Hayes family treated Anna and Thea's hypocritical demeanor. Just thinking about it was disturbing.

The Hayes family disliked their own daughter yet spoke highly of the hypocritical Thea. Such biased treatment was hard for an outsider like Hazel to bear, let alone Anna.

“Thanks for your kindness, Hazel. I have my plans. Don't worry. I've already moved out. I won't have to endure their unfair treatment anymore.”

The Thornton family was wealthy and naturally didn't mind an extra person staying with them. However, Anna had her own thoughts and no longer wanted to live dependently. Upon hearing Anna's decision, Hazel widened her eyes in disbelief and said, "What? You moved out? Where are you staying now? Come live with us. Our house is big enough, and you can choose any room you want."

Hazel was visibly shocked, prompting Anna to rub her ears, knowing Hazel meant well and was sincere in her care. But still...

"If you feel uneasy staying at our house, you can make me some cakes when you have time. You know I love your cakes the most," Hazel said, as if guessing Anna's concerns, and began to act coquettishly while pulling on Anna's arm.

Faced with Hazel's overwhelming enthusiasm, Anna was torn between laughter and tears. She was about to say something when she heard someone calling her from behind.

"Anna, don't go yet. I have something to say to you."

Hearing this voice, Anna suddenly turned cold, and the smile vanished from her eyes. Initially, Anna intended to ignore her, but remembering how Thea had been subtly slandering her at school, ruining her reputation, she felt compelled to respond, lest she betray the moniker of "Thea’s vicious sister."

Turning around, Anna saw Thea, as usual, dressed in flashy clothing, wearing the latest dress and a handbag that was sold out everywhere, her appearance screaming luxury. Glancing down at her own simple outfit, worth just a few dollars in total, she couldn't help but scoff, "What now, Miss Hayes? Do you think I'm not miserable enough and want to trample me further?"

The daughter of the Hayes family, expelled from her home, encountered their foster daughter on her first day back at school. Such a dramatic scene naturally attracted a crowd of onlookers eager for entertainment. The students quickly gathered around, craning their necks for a better view, eager for the drama to unfold.

Before Thea could speak, her eyes began to tear up, her innocent and well-behaved demeanor stark against Anna's. "Anna, I came to talk. I know you’re throwing a tantrum, but it's not safe for a girl to live outside alone. Go home with me, OK?"

Realizing it was just a tantrum, the crowd began murmuring and pointing at Anna. Hazel couldn't stand by and watch, stepping forward to defend Anna, but Anna stopped her. Hazel was no match for the cunning Thea, and any defense would only end up backfiring.

"Oh, Miss Hayes, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten that my so-called home was that narrow, cluttered storage room filled with junk."