Chapter 26

Chapter 26 日4361%廠 Scott’s eyes widened just a bit as he processed Sean’s words. It was clear Sean thought he was sticking his nose where it didn’t belong Scott felt a little ticked off inside, but he kept on smiling. “You got it, Mr. Hayes. You’re totally right. I stepped out of line.”

Elysia glanced at Scott’s brown–nosing act and rolled her eyes in her mind. She thought he was such a wimp. “Mr. Hayes, I don’t accept your apology,” she said flatly.

Scott’s face turned a shade of gray. He figured Elysia was acting all high and mighty, not giving a second thought to how important the Hayes family was in Sivro.

He thought, ‘Does she really believe Sean came to apologize to her because he respects her? Please. It’s only because the Rosewood family’s got her back. If she thinks about messing with the Hayes family, I won’t go easy on her!”

“Elysia, what are you saying?” Scott scolded and then turned to Stan. “Elysia grew up in a small town. She’s a bit of a tomboy.

and she speaks her mind without thinking. Mr. Hayes, don’t take it to heart.”

Sean gave him a sideways look, but he kept quiet.

Elysia let out a soft chuckle, saying, “What I’m getting at is that the Hayes family has already made up for Selena’s mess, so I don’t need to hold it against them.

Mr. Hayes, there’s no need for you to apologize, and there’s no way for me to accept it.”

Sean got what Elysia was hinting at and thought, So she knows everything that went down at the Hayes residence yesterday.

Lucas was spot–on. Elysia from the Rosewood family must be connected to the master of the Arcanum House in some serious way He went on, “It’s only fair to make amends for mistakes, and an apology shows we’re sincere. Please accept it. Ms. Elysia Rosewood.

Noticing Elysia wasn’t speaking, Sean added, “To be straight with you, I’m here today ‘cause Lucas sent me on a mission. If you don’t accept, I’m gonna have a hard time telling Lucas I did my job.”

“Come on, Elysia, Scott chimed in, giving her a nudge. “Look how far Mr. Hayes has come. Don’t be stubborn”

Elysia’s eyebrows twitched a bit as she thought, Seems like I’m stuck accepting this apology today‘

Just then, Bella and Emma walked in from outside.

Emma’s eyes lit up when she saw Sean on the couch “Sean, what brings you by?” she asked with a sweet smile.

Sean just gave a casual nod, not saying a word.

Scott picked up on Sean’s sour mood and waved Emmia away. “Lima, this is grown–up stuff. Go on back to your room.

Emma furrowed her brow, thinking, “Why can Elysis stay but I gotta gor Scott’s voice turned gruff, “What are you waiting for?”

Dad, Elysia’s here too. Emma started to protest 14:19 Tue, Jan 28 DE Chapter 26 “Your sister’s here ‘cause she’s got business with Mr. Hayes. Now scoot!” Scott’s tone was all impatient.

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Bella caught on to what was happening. Not wanting Emma to get another scolding from her husband, she advised, “Emma, listen to your dad.”

Emma had no choice but to slink back to her room, thinking, “What could Sean and Elysia be talking about? Could it be about Selena’s thing, and Sean’s here to grill Elysia? If that’s the case, that’d be awesome!

“Ms. Elysia Rosewood, what do you think...” Sean trailed off.

“Mr. Hayes, I’ve accepted your apology.” Elysia said, her voice steady.

Sean nodded. “Glad to hear it. I won’t take up any more of your time then.” He started to get up, ready to leave.

Scott stood up, too. “Mr. Hayes, let me walk you out.”

Bella was quick to follow suit, standing up as well, ready to see Sean off.

Sean didn’t object. After Scott and Bella saw him walk to his car and watched it pull away, they turned their attention back inside.

Just as the last echoes of Sean’s departure faded, Emma descended the stairs. Spotting Elysia lounging on the couch, she sauntered over and piped up in a voice as soft as a whisper, “Hey Elysia, has Sean left already?”

But Elysia wasn’t biting, not even a sideways glance her way. Emma’s eyes twinkled with a sly delight as she thought, ‘Did Sean really come to lay into her? No wonder she looks upset.‘

“Elysia, don’t get all huffy. Selena’s the apple of everyone’s eye at home. You dissed her yesterday, so it’s only fair Sean came to give you a piece of his mind today,” Emma said, trying to sound all logical–like.

Elysia shot her a sideways look colder than ice and said in a tone flatter than a pancake, “He came to apologize to me.” Emma nearly choked on her own spit. ‘Did I just hear that right Sean actually apologized to her? No way!

So she asked again, her voice wavering like a leaf in the wind, “Elysia, what did you just say?”

“I said he came to apologize to me, Elysia repeated, still as cool is a cucumber.

Now Emma knew she hadn’t imagined things. ‘So it’s true. There’s only one explanation. Elysia must’ve gotten all mixed up after getting scolded and is having some kind of delusion!

“Elysia, are you sure you’re not feeling sick?” Emma asked, her voice oozing fake concern.

Elysia didn’t even dignify that with a response, and she just picked up her coffee from the table and sipped it slowly, savoring the taste.

Just then, Scott and Bella walked in. Emma’s eyes locked onto Scout, and she blurted out, “Dad, what was Sean really here.

for?”

“To apologize to Elysia, Scott replied, liis voice as steady as a ro Hearing this from Scott, Emma was totally blown away. She could hardly wrap her head around it, but it was the truth. It’s really truer What Elysia said la true! How did she pull that off) Wit because of the Rosewood family Tut as soon as that thought erosted her mind, she dimissed iter than a bad idea.

14.19 Tue, Jan 28 LLI Chapter 26 1961 Even though she wasn’t a business whiz, she knew the Hayes family in Sivro had the upper hand over the Rosewood family in every way–money, resources, and manpower. A family like that wouldn’t bow down and apologize to Elysia In the past, Selena had been a total brat and hadn’t hesitated to push other rich girls around. The Hayes family had always looked the other way and never stepped in, let alone come knocking to apologiz She couldn’t figure out why things were different when Elysia was the one getting picked on.

Not only was she stumped, but Scott was, too. Just before hopping into his car, Sean had dropped a line that left Scott scratching his head like a dog with a flea.

Sean said, “Mr. Rosewood, you don’t think the Hayes family is applogizing today just to show the Rosewood family respect, do you?”

“What’s he getting at? If it’s not for the sake of the Rosewood family, then whose good graces are they trying to win! Elysia’s?

She’s just a small–town girl. Who would she know? Who’s got her back? Scott pondered.

He racked his brain but still couldn’t crack the code, so he decided to let it go for now. He figured time would eventually spill the beans like a bag of marbles.

As the sun peeked over the horizon, the monthly exam hit Milton School like clockwork.

Emma had been itching for this day without a deep reason–she just wanted to take Elysia down a peg. She was dead sure that Elysia pulled some shady move to land in Class 1.

Though Scott had called Levi on the sly to get the lowdown on Elysia’s Class I hustle, Levi gave Elysia a solid nod, calling her top–notch student. But Emma wasn’t having in She was convinced Levi was in some sketchy alliance with Elysia Up until now, Emma was flying blind without proof to back her up. But she figured this exam was her golden ticket. She was banking on the scores to lay it all bare.

At Milton School, exam results were like an open book, visible to all. If Elysia tanked this test, it’d be a dead giveaway that she weaseled her way into Class L. Then the truth would come out, and she couldn’t make a quibble anymore.

Elysia wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell to argue. Emma couldn’t wrap her head around how someone who didn’t even finish elementary school could tackle Grade 12 stuff.

But Elysia was cool as a cucumber. It was just another test for her Passing it was no sweat The first test was Language and Composition. As soon as Elysia got the paper, she gave it a quick once–over and started scribbling answers.

In less than thirty minutes, she had every question in the bag. Of course, she ditched the essay because she thought it was too much hassle Once she was done, she joined her name on the paper and then her head hit the desk for a moore.

When Justin swung his head back and caught sight of her sarkedut, he wrinkled his forehead, thinking. How can she be so laid–

back about this?

14:19 Tue, Jan 28 Chapter 27