Chapter 9: Chapter 9

took it easy at home, grabbing some lunch and then a nice nap. Later, she called a taxi and headed over to the Harrell residence for a pretty big family shindig

The Harrell residence’s living room was hopping with relatives from all over. Carter Harrell, Dexter’s mother, holding court in the middle, with Alexa sitting next to her, trying to act all chill but totally giving off snobby vibes. Carter’s prized grandchildren were on her other side. A bunch of Fiona’s aunts, uncles, and cousins were squeezed onto solas and chairs all around.

Fiona couldn’t help snickering when she saw Carter in charge, and everyone else acting like they ran the joint. Macy definitely wouldn’t be thrilled with this setup.

“Fiona, don’t you know to show your elders some respect?” That jab came from Clare Farley, Fiona’s cousin who thought she was all that. She was two years older than Fiona and went to the same fancy school as Alexa, basically her right–hand girl Laura Harrell, Dexter’s sister–in–law swished her arm around, flaunting some big time bling. “Bet you’ve never seen a bracelet like this back where live. Get down and show us some respect, and maybe I’ll let you have it.”

Looking at them, Fiona couldn’t help but grin, “Sounds like little dog got loose, Barking and trying to nip at folks, no less.”

Clare was fuming. “Who you calling a little dog?”

Fiona fired right back, “if you’re barking, that must be you ”

Clare looked at Alexa, then went for Fiona, arms flailing. “

gonna shut you up! She tried to claw at Fiona’s face, but Fiona just grabbed Clare’s hand casily, twisted it around. Clare ended up smacking herself right in the mug. Fiona gave a sly smile and booted Clare on the rear, sending her toppling down–super embarrassing. Brushing off her hands, Fiona joked, “That little show deserves a tip, but sorry, got nothing for you.”

“Clare!” Lily Harrell, Clare’s mother, hollered, hurrying over to help.

are’s face was red with both anger and shame. She pushed her mom shot daggers at Fiona, yelling “You wild thing! Keep dreaming about Looking up with Mr. Nathan Quinn. You’re kidding yourself! You’re not even good enough to shine Nathan’s shoes. He and Alexa are perfect for each other.”

Fiona stayed cool as a cucumber, tossing a mocking look at Alexa, “Yeah, one’s trash and the other’s a piece of work. They’re meant for each other, alright.”

As Alexa was gearing up to let Fiona have it, she caught sight of Dexter stepping onto the top of the stairs. She clamped her mouth shut and quickly switched to play the victim. She rushed over to Fiona, grabbed her , and turned on the waterworks. “Fiona, I messed up big time. Flirting with Nathan was way out of line, and I’m super sorry. Lay into me, yell, slap me if you gotta, just don’t take it out on Mom and Dad. Look, if you’re after cash, ril cough up my allowance every last cent. Just drop the whole Nathan thing, will you? You’re freaking Mom and Dad out. We’re family, we’ve gotta stick together.”

Fiona laughed right in her and yanked her hand back hard. “Get lost!”

Caught off guard, Alexa stumbled backward and slammed right into the coffee table and hit the deck.

“Alexa Macy charged forward and was by her in a flash.

“Mom!” Alexa was bawling her eyes out. The fall supposed to be a stunt, but Fiona’s yank threw her off, and she cracked her back on the table’s corner. It hurt like crazy and she didn’t dare move an inch.

“Who told you that it’s cool to mess with Alexa?” Macy ticked and heartbroken, ready to slap Fiona senseless.

Fiona gave her the evil eye, so chilling Macy cold. Fuming but , Macy pointed and screamed, “When will you grow up? Why can’t you be nice and smart like Alexa I mean it, apologize now! You’re grounded tonight, and tomorrow you’re gonna go see the Quinns, say you’re sorry to

18:19 Mon,

Chapter 9

Jun

Charlotte, give the money back, all the pictures and the engagement token, too: This wedding is off!”

60%

“You think you’re in charge of me?” Fiona smirked, her eyes like ice. She flicked her finger at Macy’s pointing hand with full boss energy. “Try pointing those claws my way again, and the whole world will know how Mrs. Harrell’s been babying her little jewel, letting her wreck her sister’s engagement.”

“You…

Fiona shot her hand out, blocking Macy’s. “You wanna get Alexa hitched to the Quinns so bad? Well, you better start digging up the dough. Once the cash is sorted, I’ll hand over everything–pictures, taken.”

Macy’s were blazing with fury.

Just then, Dexter made his way down the stairs.

Clare, caught off guard, suddenly burst into sobs.

Lily felt sorry for her daughter. She had planned to sit back and enjoy the drama, fully expecting Macy to give Fiona a hard lesson. But no one expected Fiona to be this bold or disrespectful. Since Clare went to the same high–end school as Alexa and they needed to cotton up to Macy’s family, Lily quickly pulled Clare in front of Dexter. She ratted out Fiona, “Look at what she did to your niece–school’s about to start, and now she’s all scratched up!”

Clare, tears streaming down her face, clutched at Dexter’s sleeve and whimpered, “Uncle Dexter, I just asked her to say hi to our family, and she hit me! Then Fiona called Alexa trash, and Aunt Macy, well, she ignored har–Fiona’s got zero respect. Uncle Dexter, without you, we’d all be toast under her thumb.”

Dexter shot Fiona a lock. She was pretty picture, casually flipping her hand in her pocket, grinning a bit wild but charming. No shocker Sebastian was head over heels. His face crumpled into a frown as he scolded Lily and Clare, “Enough from you two! This is the Harrell residence, not your playground to boss my kid around!”

That shut Lily and Clare up.

a stern glance at Macy, Dexter turned to Fiona with a friendly grin, “Fiona, it’s been tough for you. I didn’t know you were back in town and took off on a trip. You hungry? Want something to eat?”

Fiona hummed noncommittally, shot a smug look at Macy and Alexa, and strolled over to the dinner table. It was a grand spread, and the chatter from the rest of the Harrells made for a noisy dinner.

Fiona took a seat right by Dexter, with Macy sitting across, glaring icicles and not touching her food.

Alexa wasn’t looking too cheerful, either.

Halfway through, Dexter put his fork down and looked at Fiona, weighed down by guilt. “You’re a tough cookie, and you’ve been through a lot. Where’ve you been staying lately?”

Fiona just looked at him, about to fake–cry from his over the top concern, and suddenly lost her appetite. She silent.

Dexter went on, “Your mom and I thought , and we want to send you to Blueden Girls‘ School. It’s where Alexa goes–you two cant each other ”

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