"This is just ridiculous. You've called him dad for ages, and yet he treats her better just because she's related by blood? It's unfair." Kelly huffed, her arms crossed. Carmen, who had remained silent until this moment, experienced a rush of guilt. She thought back, We frequently blamed her for hiding the truth and letting everyone assume that Seraphina was adopted. After seeing Linara lose her room, endure Seraphina's actions, and watch Oberon prioritize Seraphina while overlooking Linara, my sympathy now outweighs my guilt. In a firm voice, Carmen declared, "Complaining won't bring about any change. If we want her out of the picture, we must ensure she's entirely isolated at school." Kelly's face lit up. "You're right! Do you have a plan? Come on, tell us!" The girls leaned in, all eyes on Carmen. She smirked. "It's easy. Seraphina's already made enemies in her class. All we have to do is connect with them and give them the push they need to act."Linara's eyes flickered with interest, but she hesitated. "Are you sure this isn't too much?" Kelly threw an arm around her shoulder. "Come on, Linara. She's walked all over you, and you're still worried about her? She'll take advantage of you if you keep giving her a pass." "Relax. Nothing bad will happen," Carmen added, patting Linara's arm. Meanwhile, Seraphina sat silently during the ride back to the Whitewood Residence, her mind racing with thoughts. She and Oberon were on opposite ends of the car, their silence making the tension obvious. Though annoyed, Oberon kept his composure before the driver. As soon as they got home, Seraphina raced upstairs, but Oberon's commanding voice halted her. He insisted, "Hold on." Seraphina turned slowly, her expression cold. "What now?" Oberon snapped, "You know exactly what. On your first day at school, you caused a scene. What were you thinking? School is for learning, not for stirring up trouble." Seraphina raised an eyebrow, her tone calm but cutting. "They started it. I won't sit back and let them walk all over me. If I don't stand up for myself now, they'll think I'm an easy target next time. I'm a Whitewood. If this family can't even defend its own daughter, it's not just me who looks bad—it's the entire Whitewood name." Oberon hesitated, her words hitting their mark. She's right. The families involved are minor players, hardly worth considering. Letting them push Seraphina around would reflect poorly on the Whitewood name. "If that's all, I'm going to rest." Without waiting for a reply, Seraphina turned back toward the stairs. Oberon said nothing as she disappeared upstairs. The following day, Linara shocked the maid by showing up early in the dining room—a rare occurrence for someone who usually rushed in at the last minute. The maids exchanged surprised glances as she entered. "Let's move it. I'm pressed for time," Linara sharply stated while seated at the table. The maids scrambled to serve her breakfast quickly. As Linara wrapped up her meal, Chloe entered and was visibly surprised. "Linara, what's got you up so early today?" "I've got some student council duties to handle," Linara replied casually, avoiding eye contact. Chloe smiled warmly and softly caressed her cheek. "You've been working so hard lately. Don't overwork yourself." Linara got to her feet, dismissing her mom's worries. "Ms. Cooke, is the car ready?" Jasmine appeared from the hallway, nodding. "It's ready, but Seraphina hasn't come down yet." The Whitewood Residence had two drivers—one exclusively for Oberon's business affairs and another for family use, including school drop-offs. If Linara had left now, it meant Seraphina would have been left without a ride.