The "Country Bumpkin" Strikes Back

The human traffickers sold me to a remote mountain village when I was young. My parents spent a fortune searching for me and even offered a massive reward for my safe return. They finally found me when I was 16. My parents and three older brothers held me in their arms and wept. After that, they did everything they could to make up for the sixteen years we'd lost. I had more designer clothes than I could ever wear, more luxury handbags than I could ever carry, and a place at an elite private school. On my first day, my oldest brother tied a rosary he'd personally prayed over to my backpack. My second brother bought me the latest phone. My third brother patted me on the shoulder. "Valerie, tell us if anyone dares to bully you." Later, I ranked first in the school on the midterm exams. After class, Cassie Nolan tore my exam paper to shreds in front of everyone. "So what if you got the highest score? You're still just a country bumpkin." She ordered several girls to pin me against the wall, then stared at me with a smug smile. "Now go to the dean and tell him you cheated." "I didn't!" I fought back with all my strength, but Cassie slapped me hard across the face. The blow left me dizzy. What she didn't know was that I was the Miller heiress. My father, Nathan Miller, was the chairman of the Miller Group, a billionaire who controlled much of the city's real estate industry. My oldest brother, Zachary Miller, was a top attorney. A single due diligence report from him could send a publicly traded company's stock price crashing. My second brother, Tyler Miller, was the founder of Starwave Technologies. His company's technology powered nearly seventy percent of the country's smart-city projects. My third brother, Caleb Miller, was a superstar with eighty million social media followers and his own top-tier PR firm. Mess with me, and you'd mess with the entire Miller family. Cassie had just kicked the hornet's nest. Chapter 1 I walked toward the bulletin board with my exam paper in hand. The name "Valerie Miller" appeared in clear, bold letters at the very top of the honor roll. A few girls stood nearby. As I approached, they took two steps back as if I were something filthy they wanted to avoid. One of them, a girl with a ponytail, even made a show of covering her nose with her sleeve. "What's that smell? Why does it smell like a pigsty?" They burst out laughing and looked me up and down. My face grew warm. I had grown up in a small rural town. My skin wasn't dark, but it was nowhere near as pale and delicate as theirs, the kind of complexion that came from a lifetime of pampering. My fingers were thick and rough, with faint yellow calluses around my knuckles from years of hard labor. At St. Claire Academy, everyone came from a wealthy or powerful family. They all assumed I'd been admitted as a special exception because of my grades. I lowered my head and hurried away. The words "Top of Class" on the honor roll suddenly hurt to look at. "Valerie." I stopped in my tracks. Cassie Nolan leaned against the classroom doorway with three girls behind her. "Come here." She lifted her chin and crooked a finger at me. Several boys lounged against the windowsill with their hands in their pockets, clearly waiting for a show. They had me surrounded, and my feet felt as heavy as lead. Cassie's gaze settled on the crooked bow at my collar. The corners of her mouth slowly curled into a mocking smile. She stepped closer and pinched one end of the bow as if it were a dirty rag. "Valerie, didn't your mom ever teach you how to tie a bow?" The ponytailed girl immediately chimed in, "Her mom probably only knows how to feed pigs. When would she ever have worn clothes this fancy?" Another girl laughed. "But aren't those shoes limited edition? They're fake, right?" Chapter 2 Cassie's eyes dropped to my shoes. "What would you know? Some people can wear a crown and still never look like royalty." She circled me once, her gaze traveling from head to toe as she sized me up. I couldn't take it anymore. "Cassie, what the hell do you want?" "What do I want?" Cassie gave a signal, and her followers immediately grabbed me by the hair and pinned me against the wall. I struggled with all my strength, but I was hopelessly outnumbered. Cassie laughed as she picked up the exam paper I'd dropped on the floor. "So what if you got the highest score? You're still just a country bumpkin, right?" She unfolded it in front of everyone and tore it once, then twice, then a third time. The scraps fluttered to the floor and scattered around my feet. "Now go to the dean and tell him you cheated," she said. "I didn't!" I shouted. "If you don't..." She glanced to the side. The girl with the ponytail immediately stepped forward and grabbed the strap of my backpack. "I'll throw all this junk of yours in the trash." Cassie clapped her hands. "I'll make sure you leave this school with nothing but the clothes on your back." Fury surged through me. I had earned the number-one ranking after studying so hard that I'd barely slept or eaten. Who was she to dismiss all my hard work with a single sentence? I fought desperately against their grip. "I told you I didn't cheat! What proof do you have?" Cassie's smile vanished. She slapped me hard across the right side of my face. Five red finger marks immediately rose on my skin, and scorching pain spread from my cheek to the base of my ear. The blow snapped my head to the side. My vision went black, and my ears rang. "Do as I say!" Cassie shook out her hand and calmly rolled her wrist as if she'd done nothing more than swat a mosquito. She frowned in disgust. "I've seen plenty of trash like you. You think getting good grades means you can stand on the same level as us? You could work your whole life, and the best you could ever hope for is a chance to work for us." She jabbed a finger against my forehead, her sharp fingernail digging into my skin. "I'll give you one last chance. Go to the dean and tell him you cheated. Otherwise, don't expect to have a good life from now on." She turned and walked away with her followers crowded around her. The people in the hallway slowly dispersed. One person deliberately bumped my shoulder as they passed without even looking back. I crouched down and picked up the scraps of my exam paper. I knew that if I admitted to cheating, I'd receive a major disciplinary punishment at best. At worst, I'd be expelled. I had worked so hard to get into such a good school. I wasn't going to give in to her. … At dinner that evening, the table was filled with all my favorite dishes. My mother ladled soup into my bowl and casually asked, "The midterm results are out, right? How did you do?" My cutlery froze in midair. She pushed the bowl of soup toward me. The hot steam rose against my face and stung my eyes until I wanted to cry. The dining table fell silent for a moment. My oldest brother, Zachary Miller, was the first to put down his cutlery. His voice softened. "It's okay, Valerie. You just transferred here, so you're still getting used to everything. It doesn't matter if you didn't do well." My mother rested a hand on my shoulder and gently patted me. "It's okay, sweetheart. I don't care how well you score. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters." My tears fell into the bowl. I hurriedly wiped my eyes with my sleeve. Chapter 3 I deliberately used my hair to hide the red marks on my cheek, but my third brother, Caleb Miller, noticed them. His eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, his voice instantly turning serious. "Valerie, what happened to your face?" Everyone immediately turned toward me. My mother grabbed my shoulder and angled my face toward the light. "Valerie, did someone bully you?" Her fingers trembled as she gently touched the edge of my cheek. I sucked in a sharp breath at the pain, and she immediately pulled her hand back as if she'd been burned. My father slowly set down his cutlery. He didn't say anything, but his usually calm, easygoing expression suddenly tightened. Zachary got up and walked over with an expression I'd never seen on him before. He looked unusually serious. "What happened?" I flinched at the look on his face. I thought he was going to blame me, so I didn't dare tell them the truth. "I bumped into something. I was running too fast after class and hit the doorframe..." My second brother, Tyler Miller, stood up and stared at me in disbelief. "You hit a doorframe and somehow ended up with five finger marks? Valerie, tell us the truth. What really happened?" I didn't dare look at him. My mind filled with the image of Cassie standing over me in the hallway, staring down at me with that arrogant expression. She had dug her nails into my chin and leaned close. "My dad's on the school board. One word from me, and you'll be kicked out immediately! "Do you have any idea how many connections my family has in Westhaven? Crushing you would be easier than crushing an ant!" Cassie's family was rich and powerful, which was why she'd always been so arrogant and domineering. Meanwhile, I had grown up in the countryside. I couldn't do anything to help my family, but at the very least, I couldn't cause them trouble. I bit my lip and lowered my voice. "I just hit the doorframe..." Caleb crouched in front of me and looked up at me, his voice gentle. "You don't have to be afraid. You're the Miller heiress. There's no one in Westhaven who can scare you. If anyone ever bullies you again, call us." Zachary patted my shoulder. "There isn't anyone in Westhaven who can afford to mess with the Millers." I nodded as tears blurred my vision again. For so many years, I'd grown used to having no one to rely on. It felt so good to have a family that cared about me and to know I finally had people standing behind me. … I didn't follow Cassie's orders or tell the dean that I had cheated. Near the end of the school day, I was carrying a stack of homework papers when I passed the small garden behind the school building. I never expected to run into Cassie and her friends there. Her gaze immediately locked on me. "Oh? How did you know I was just about to come looking for you? Thanks for coming right to me." She jerked her chin toward her followers. "Drag her to the stairwell." The four girls grabbed my arms and hair, then dragged me into the secluded stairwell. Cassie slowly advanced toward me. There wasn't an ounce of kindness in her eyes, only deep hostility. "You didn't appreciate the chance I gave you yesterday. Looks like I'll have to get a little rough." I hurriedly backed away until I hit the cold, damp wall. I clutched the strap of my backpack. "I didn't cheat. I got the highest score in the school because I studied and did practice problems day and night. I won't make up a lie that could ruin my reputation." "You really won't appreciate kindness unless you're punished!" Cassie sneered and gestured to the two girls beside her. They stepped forward and grabbed my arms from either side, their sharp fingernails digging viciously into my skin. Chapter 4 A piercing pain shot through my bones, and I couldn't suppress a muffled groan as I struggled desperately. The other two girls yanked my backpack away and hurled it into a puddle of filthy water. The rosary Zachary had prayed over for me tumbled onto the steps. One of the girls raised her foot and stomped on it, snapping the cross. The sight of the broken rosary sent a sharp pain through my heart, and my eyes instantly reddened. "Don't touch my things!" I twisted and fought with all my strength, but they were too strong. They pinned me firmly against the wall, and I couldn't move. Cassie bent down and picked up the broken rosary. "So what if I did?" She casually tossed it into a mop bucket filled with filthy water, then fixed me with a sinister glare. "Some worthless piece of junk from the country, and your family treats it like a treasure? Valerie, do you really think a few good grades mean you can get above me?" She stepped forward, grabbed my long hair, and violently yanked my head back. I had no choice but to look up at her malicious face as searing pain tore across my scalp. She shoved me by the shoulder and slowly dragged me toward the window. The sharp, rusted metal edge of the windowsill drew closer and closer to my head. Another half step, and my head would probably slam straight into that jagged edge. Despair swept over me. My limbs went weak, and my entire body began to tremble uncontrollably. Tears burned my eyes as I shouted at her, "Cassie, I've never done anything to you. We have no grudge against each other, so why do you keep bullying me?" At my accusation, the spite on Cassie's face gave way to intense jealousy. She gritted her teeth and finally revealed what she'd really been planning. "No grudge? There's only one guaranteed spot at Kingsley University, and it was supposed to be mine! Do you really think I'd let you take first place and get it?" Her anger intensified. She dug her fingernail into my shoulder so hard that it nearly broke the skin. "You're just some country bumpkin. What gives you the right to compete with me for an opportunity that was supposed to be mine? "I've had the best resources and connections my entire life. That guaranteed admission spot can only be mine! "I just need to get rid of you, my competition, and make sure you lose your chance at that spot!" I froze. So all those public humiliations had happened simply because she'd assumed I would steal her guaranteed admission spot. I had never even dreamed of getting something like that. All I had wanted was to study quietly and mind my own business. The girls behind me continued to shove me until the back of my head pressed against the cold, sharp edge of the windowsill. A deathly fear seized me. I trembled as I felt inside my school uniform pocket until my fingers found my phone. I frantically swiped across the screen and dialed Zachary's number. The call connected, and Zachary's calm, gentle voice immediately came through. "Valerie, why are you calling me at this time?" Hot tears streamed down my face. I was about to cry out for help when Cassie suddenly grabbed my wrist. With tremendous force, she ripped the phone from my hand, raised her arm high, and slammed it against the hard concrete steps. The deafening crack of shattering glass echoed through the empty stairwell. The phone bounced into the murky puddle, its screen fractured into a dense web of cracks. Pieces of the casing and internal components broke loose and scattered across the wet concrete. Chapter 5 The call abruptly disconnected. Cassie stepped on my ruined phone and ground it beneath her shoe several times. A cold, cruel smile curled across her lips. "You still think you can call someone for help? Who do you think can save you? You're just a country girl. Who could you possibly call?" I suddenly remembered what my brothers had told me. They'd said no one in Westhaven would dare bully a Miller, much less lay a hand on me. In my panic, I blurted out, "I'm a Miller. My dad is Nathan Miller, and my oldest brother is Zachary Miller..." The girls burst into laughter as if they'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. "Valerie, do you think we're as stupid as you are? Just because your last name is Miller, you think Nathan Miller is your dad?" "Wake up! A real heiress wouldn't look like you. Your dad's probably still shoveling manure back in your village!" Cassie laughed even harder. "Give me a break, Valerie. You really think I'm going to believe you? "Nathan Miller is the chairman of the Miller Group, the man who controls 70% of Westhaven's real estate business. Even my family's company depends on his projects to stay afloat. "The Millers' eldest son, Zachary, is a top attorney. Their second son, Tyler, is a tech genius, and their youngest, Caleb, is a celebrity. "How come I've never heard that the Millers have a daughter? "Hah! A country girl like you actually thinks she's part of some powerful family? You watch too many TV dramas." Cassie's laughter abruptly stopped. "I'll ask you one last time. Are you admitting it or not?" I didn't answer. Cassie turned to the four girls beside her and barked a vicious order. "Then teach her a proper lesson. Make her understand who she really is, and make sure she stops dreaming about taking my guaranteed admission spot! I'll take responsibility if anything happens. Do it!" The four girls immediately tightened their grip on me. Two held my arms firmly while the other two pressed against my back and shoved me forward with all their strength. My back scraped against the sharp, rusted edge of the windowsill, which tore through my skin. Tiny stabs of pain shot through me without pause. The back of my head was only a few inches from the sharp metal edge. If they pushed just a little harder, my skull would slam straight into it. "You're still fighting back? Know your place!" "Let's see if she dares go against us after this!" "Don't think we won't dare do anything to you. Your life isn't worth anything." "Even if you die here today, no one will care." Cassie seemed to lose what little patience she had left. She strode toward me, grabbed me by the collar, and raised her arm, ready to slam my head into the windowsill. "Then don't blame me for what happens next!" she barked. I closed my eyes in despair. "Stop!" Just as everyone thought Cassie was about to smash my head against the windowsill, a voice thundered from the stairwell entrance and brought everyone to an abrupt halt. Everyone froze at the sight of the newcomers, then stiffly turned toward the bottom of the stairs. I looked toward the stairwell entrance. Three tall figures with commanding presences slowly made their way up the steps. "I'd like to see who dares lay a hand on my sister!"