Phoebe's POV
My eyes lit up with mischief as I caught Patty staring at me. "No. I'm heading to Clearwater University."
"Clearwater University?" Sergio almost choked on his words. "You realize what caliber of students they accept? Every single one comes from elite families. With your transcript from that unknown school in Heather, even if I tripled my donation, it wouldn't make a dent."
My easygoing smile turned ice-cold. "Then donate more. That's how Patty got her spot, right?"
The truth was, I'd wrapped up all my coursework while still a young teenager. These days, I was Ms. Eden, a top-tier professor at prestigious Bellington University, teaching advanced finance to the world's most powerful players.
But I'd kept that information locked down tight, sharing it only with my inner circle. Sergio only knew about my frequent absences for racing, so he'd written me off as some slacker who couldn't hack it at a decent college.
Since I wouldn't surrender my company shares, Sergio figured he'd just dump me in some random university to keep me occupied.
As for tomorrow's shareholders' meeting I'd demanded, Sergio had already been working overtime while I was away. He'd called in favors, made deals, and secured his position.
Even if I tried to boot him as CEO, the major shareholders would never back me. He planned to keep his iron grip on Hale Group, no matter what I threw at him.
But hearing my sharp response, Sergio nearly exploded. "You ungrateful—"
I'd seen this coming. I didn't even blink. The devious gleam in my eyes made Sergio's skin crawl.
He forced his voice to stay steady, explaining through gritted teeth, "Clearwater University is the city's crown jewel. My donations alone won't cut it. Patty only secured her spot because I donated five buildings, and Darius worked his connections."
Patty chimed in sweetly, "Exactly, Phoebe. Even with Dad and Darius's help, I missed the cutoff by two points. With your academic record, Clearwater University is probably out of reach."
They all assumed I'd just messed around overseas and landed at some joke of a school.
My talk about Clearwater University struck them as completely ridiculous.
I looked utterly bored. Leaning back in my chair, I folded my arms and smirked, "If you won't help, I'll manage on my own. When I decide I want into Clearwater University, I get in."
Sergio and Patty gaped at my audacity. They couldn't even find words.
From the sofa, Atticus nearly choked on his coffee.
He coughed, then sneered, "You? At Clearwater University? Keep dreaming."
My smile vanished as I turned toward him.
My gaze held no real menace—just a wicked sparkle—but it still made Atticus squirm.
He pressed on anyway, refusing to back down. "Clearwater University's president comes from the Calvin family. That's one of the city's big four. Even Brady family members have to wait their turn to meet him. Who exactly do you think you are?"
Atticus felt completely confident. In his mind, I was just some naive girl from Heather, totally disconnected from Clearwater's power circles.
Nathalia, perched beside him, let out a satisfied laugh. "Seriously, Phoebe. You need to understand your place. Clearwater University isn't some playground for people like you."
Sure, I held the Hale heir title—but in Nathalia's view, without the right connections or backing, it meant absolutely nothing.
I absorbed their comments, my grin growing colder. "If you can't help, then keep your mouths shut and stay out of my way."
Right then, a servant appeared with a steaming plate of pasta. I accepted it, ignored everyone else completely, and started eating like I owned the entire house.
The Hale family couldn't compete with the city's wealthiest dynasties, but Sergio still loved his flashy displays. The house blazed with bright lights, expensive artwork, and glittering chandeliers everywhere.
I focused on my pasta, aware of the heavy silence in the room. Under the bright chandeliers, I could feel their eyes on me, but I refused to give them the satisfaction of a reaction.
Sergio had never been fond of me, but even he couldn't deny—I overshadowed Atticus and Patty in countless ways.
I ate quickly but with perfect manners, polishing off the pasta in just a few minutes. Then I dabbed my lips with a napkin and rose. My eyes locked with Sergio's as he settled back on the sofa.
My expression was relaxed, almost lazy, but cold enough to make Sergio shift uncomfortably.
Even sitting there alone, I held myself with a quiet authority, determined to project an aura of confidence that was both distant and impossible to ignore.
"Is my room ready?" I asked, heading toward the stairs and grabbing my suitcase.
I didn't bother to look at either Sergio or the servant, not caring which one answered me.
The servant glanced at Sergio first. Getting no response, she bowed slightly. "Yes, Miss. It's the final room upstairs on the second floor. I'll escort you."
——
Once Phoebe disappeared from view, Patty finally exploded, "Dad, are we seriously going to let her bulldoze us like this? What if she creates chaos at Clearwater University?"
What she really meant was that she feared her classmates discovering she had a half-sister like Phoebe—someone who hadn't attended elite schools, lacked a refined background, and couldn't care less about anyone's opinion.
Even as half-sisters, Phoebe still carried the Hale surname. That alone was enough to give Patty nightmares. Phoebe might not worry about her reputation, but Patty certainly did.
Plus, watching the servant treat Phoebe with such deference made Patty's blood boil. Phoebe had just returned, and she was already claiming territory.
"Calm down. She can boast all she wants, but she won't get into Clearwater University," Sergio declared. "You witnessed how hard Darius had to work just to secure your admission."
He refused to believe Phoebe could accomplish anything independently.
The Lorenzo family might wield influence, but most of it was international. They had zero leverage at Clearwater University.
Patty hesitated. "Dad, shouldn't we at least make a show of helping her? What if she fails and embarrasses our family name?"
"With her arrogance, if she actually got into Clearwater University, that would be the real humiliation," Sergio scoffed. He sounded confident now that Phoebe had left. "Let her make the attempt. I'm curious to see what she thinks she can actually accomplish."
Naturally, what he kept to himself was his lingering fear of Phoebe. The way she'd manhandled him earlier had rattled him more than he wanted to acknowledge.
If word got out that his own daughter had physically confronted him, he'd never recover from the shame.