Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Quiet Girl
The hallway stayed frozen as my father walked through the entrance.
Everyone knew his name.
Everyone except the students who only knew the version of him shown in newspapers.
A businessman.
A billionaire.
A man who appeared at charity events wearing expensive suits and shaking hands with politicians.
But I knew something different.
I knew the man who woke up before sunrise to make me breakfast.
The man who stayed beside my hospital bed when I broke my arm during training.
The man who disappeared after my parents’ divorce and left me with one unanswered question.
Why?
Madison stared at him as he approached.
“Mr. Hayes…”
Her voice was barely a whisper.
My father stopped in front of me.
His eyes moved from my torn test to my books scattered across the floor.
Then to the five girls standing there.
“Are you okay?””
That was the first thing he asked.
Not why I fought.
Not what happened.
Just if I was okay.
I nodded.
“I’m fine.””
His expression tightened.
“No, you’re not.””
The hallway became even quieter.
Chloe swallowed.
Madison tried to recover.
“This is a misunderstanding.””
My father turned toward her.
“Is it?””
Madison forced a smile.
“Yes. We were just joking around.””
He looked at my torn test.
Then at my broken backpack zipper.
Then at my laptop lying on the floor.
“Interesting joke.””
Nobody spoke.
Madison looked uncomfortable for the first time.
“My father will hear about this.””
My father didn’t react.
“Good.””
Her confidence disappeared.
“What?””
“He should hear about it.””
Madison’s eyes widened.
“You know my father?””
“Yes.””
A pause.
“And that’s exactly why you should understand something.””
He stepped closer.
“Your family name does not protect you from consequences.””
The students watching suddenly looked at Madison differently.
For months, they had treated her like she was untouchable.
Now they saw something they had never seen before.
Someone standing above her.
Madison looked at me.
“This is because of her.””
My father’s expression changed.
“No.””
His voice was calm.
“This is because of your choices.””
I had forgotten what it felt like to have someone defend me.
Not because I couldn’t defend myself.
But because someone finally chose to stand beside me.
After the teachers separated everyone, my father walked me toward the administration office.
The hallway was quieter now.
He looked at my torn test.
“You got a 98?””
I smiled slightly.
“Yeah.””
“You’re disappointed?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?””
I looked away.
Because the truth was harder to say.
“I thought you weren’t coming back.””
His footsteps stopped.
For a few seconds, he said nothing.
Then:
“I know.””
I turned around.
“Then why did you leave?””
Pain crossed his face.
Something I had never seen from him before.
“I didn’t leave because I wanted to.””
“Then why?””
He looked toward the empty hallway.
“Because someone told me if I stayed near you, you would be in danger.””
My heart stopped.
“What does that mean?””
Before he answered, the principal’s office door opened.
A woman stepped out.
She looked nervous.
“Mr. Hayes, we need to discuss something.””
My father’s expression immediately changed.
“What happened?””
She looked at me.
Then lowered her voice.
“It’s about why those girls targeted your daughter.””
My father stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
The principal hesitated.
Then she handed him a folder.
“I think you should see this.””
He opened it.
His face changed as he read the first page.
I had never seen fear in my father’s eyes before.
But I saw it now.
He closed the folder slowly.
Then he looked at me.
“Where did you get this?””
I frowned.
“Get what?””
He turned the folder around.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of me.
Taken years ago.
Before I even knew who I really was.
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And written beneath it were four words:
*“Find her before he does.””*
