Rebirth Of The Forgotten Heiress - Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Xavier couldn't figure out how he'd ended up in his room. In just one brutal moment, his arrogance had been shattered. He couldn't even muster his usual confidence now. He sat stiffly on the bed, his wide eyes revealing a mix of confusion and dread.
When a gentle hand touched his shoulder, he almost blurted out, "I'm fine," on reflex. Of course it would be someone familiar coming to check on him—probably Yalena.
Then he saw Quinlyn, the one he hated. Every nerve in his body jolted. His cool demeanor evaporated, and his eyes widened in undisguised panic. "Y-you! What are you—"
The words tumbled out before Quinlyn could respond. "Back off. My family might not be as powerful as the Fletcher family, but we're still way above your family!" His bravado would have been more convincing if he hadn't been backing away across the mattress, hands raised in self-defense.
Quinlyn raised an eyebrow. "So you're chickening out of your bet and hiding behind family connections now?"
"I'm not that kind of guy." The retort slipped out before he could stop it.
Xavier immediately looked like he'd swallowed his tongue. He knew how hypocritical that sounded. Every muscle in his body tensed, ready to bolt. But under Quinlyn's gaze, he felt glued to the bed—unable to move, too ashamed to shout, just radiating awkwardness.
Quinlyn watched with amused fascination. 'Who would have thought the future untouchable business titan would be this flustered in his youth? The kid version is way more entertaining. I should have noticed this.'
She took a deliberate step forward. He scrambled backward until his shoulders hit the headboard, looking like he was about to climb the walls.
With another step, Xavier's eyes were practically glowing with mortification. "Quinlyn, if you think you can force me into some... I'd rather die."
She couldn't hold back her laughter and gave him a dismissive once-over. "You've been reading too many bad romance novels, haven't you? No muscles, no game, and all that teenage angst. What exactly do you think I'd see in you?"
As Xavier's face twisted through shades of purple, she decided to put him out of his misery. Her hand landed on his head—surprisingly soft hair for such a prickly personality.
Xavier went statue-still. 'See? Women always say one thing and do another. She's touching me.'
The room was thick with tension until Quinlyn finally spoke up, "Let's make one thing crystal clear: today ends here. No drama, and I won't hold this over you. But if you cross me again, you'll regret it. And the consequences will be far worse."
She knew that boys his age often had oversized egos that didn't match their abilities. Xavier, however, had potential. He was salvageable for now. If not, she could always deal with the problem more permanently.
Mission accomplished, Quinlyn turned to leave. Staying longer would only invite unwanted rumors, and besides, she had a feeling that tonight was going to be interesting.
She had just reached the door when Xavier finally spoke up, his voice strained and defensive. "Why?" he blurted out, clenching his fists. "You must hate me. We all do. You showed up out of nowhere and took everything that belonged to Yalena."
Quinlyn dismissed the ownership debate—that wasn't Xavier's concern. But the other questions deserved an answer. With a smirk, she replied, "Because you'd make such a perfect lapdog."
There was a stunned silence. Then, a couple of seconds later, an enraged roar shook the entire dormitory. Thanks to her partially open door, the outburst echoed through the building, drawing curious onlookers just in time to see Quinlyn's graceful exit.
"Quinlyn is insufferable," Rita muttered, glaring at Quinlyn's back. "Look at how she's tormenting Xavier."
Inside, Xavier had slammed the door shut. Yalena knocked. "Xavier? What happened?"
The door slowly creaked open just enough for her to slip inside. And then it was firmly shut again, leaving the curious onlookers in the hallway to wonder what was going on.
Elsie clung to Yarden's arm with feigned innocence. "Your sister is quite the social butterfly, isn't she? I thought she was involved with Zachary?"
Yarden's jaw tightened. Yalena now carried herself like royalty—untouchable, as if his mere presence tainted her privileged world. The irony amused him—none of these people knew that their precious princess was actually an impostor.
"Who cares?" he deflected, pulling Elsie closer. "The beds here are surprisingly comfortable. And it gets nice and private at night. We could explore some options." Their door closed on giggles and whispers.
Only Rita, Kevin, and the quiet bookworm Hannah Baker remained upstairs.
Hannah's gaze lingered on Xavier's door, her lip caught between her teeth. She was only enduring this awful place for Xavier's sake.
Something about Yarden's reaction—or lack thereof—nagged at her. While the others retired, Hannah kept vigil, determined to see Yalena's exit.
Inside the room, Yalena found Xavier visibly struggling to contain his emotions. When she reached out to comfort him, he recoiled sharply, retreating to the farthest corner.