CHAPTER SEVEN: THE GIRL WHO FINALLY FOUGHT BACK

"NO! PLEASE DON'T KILL THEM!"

I woke up screaming, my entire body covered in sweat.

My heart was beating so fast that I thought it would jump out of my chest.

I looked around desperately, searching for Bryan De Luca, but instead, I saw my nanny standing beside my bed.

"Nanny!"

"Good morning, Carla. What's wrong, my dear?"

I stared at her in disbelief.

She was alive!

"Nanny, you're okay?"

She frowned.

"Of course, sweetheart. Why wouldn't I be?"

I quickly looked at her wounded arm.

The bandage was still there, but she was standing perfectly fine.

I released a shaky breath.

"How was your night?" she asked.

"Night? Wait, what time is it?"

"It's morning, Carla."

"Morning already?"

She chuckled.

"You slept early yesterday. You didn't even have lunch or dinner."

I rubbed my forehead.

Everything felt so confusing.

Bryan was standing beside my bed.

My father is lying in a pool of blood.

My nanny is motionless on the floor.

And that terrifying voice whispering that I belonged to him.

It had all been a nightmare.

Thank goodness!

"Get ready for school," Nanny continued. "Take your bath and come downstairs for breakfast."

I quickly held her hand.

"What about Dad?"

"He's downstairs waiting for you."

I sighed in relief.

"And your wound? Does it still hurt?"

She smiled gently.

"Don't worry about me, sweetheart. I'll be fine."

I studied her face.

She was smiling, but I could still see the exhaustion in her eyes.

Yesterday had been terrible for everyone.

"Nanny?"

"Yes, Carla?"

"Aren't you going to ask why I came home looking like a red paint princess yesterday?"

Her smile slowly disappeared.

For a moment, she looked as though she wanted to say something.

Then she sighed.

"Carla, you need to prepare for school."

"But—"

"I'll meet you downstairs, sweetheart."

She gently squeezed my hand and walked toward the door.

"Nanny, wait!"

She stopped.

"Were you aware Dad was expecting a visitor yesterday?"

Her expression changed.

"Carla..."

"Did you know Bryan De Luca was coming?"

She looked away.

"I'll meet you downstairs."

Before I could ask another question, she left.

I stared at the closed door.

Why was everyone avoiding my questions?

Was there something they weren't telling me?

I sighed and climbed out of bed.

At least my father and nanny were alive.

That was enough for now.

I entered the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and took a quick shower.

Afterward, I wore my neatly ironed school uniform and brushed my blonde hair.

I stared at my reflection.

"Carla Mayday, please try not to get covered in paint today."

I smiled weakly.

Then my eyes fell on the diamond ring.

Bryan's ring.

It was still sitting perfectly on my finger.

I remembered his warning.

Take it off, and you'll officially become an orphan.

A shiver ran down my spine.

I hated that man.

Yet somehow, he had managed to make himself impossible to forget.

I grabbed my schoolbag and hurried downstairs.

(IN THE DINING ROOM)

"Good morning, Dad."

My father looked up immediately.

"Good morning, Princess."

He was sitting at the dining table, his injured legs carefully positioned beneath him.

Seeing him alive brought another wave of relief.

"Carla, please sit down. I want to talk to you."

I glanced at the clock.

"Dad, I'm going to be late."

"It won't take long."

I reluctantly sat down.

He looked at me with guilt-filled eyes.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you yesterday. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way."

I lowered my gaze.

"Dad, please. I don't want to talk about yesterday."

"Carla—"

"You don't want to be late for work, and I don't want to be late for school."

Nanny entered with my breakfast.

"Carla, please listen to your father."

I sighed.

My father reached across the table.

"Before your mother died, I promised her I would take good care of you."

My chest tightened.

Why was he bringing up Mum?

"And I've tried my best to fulfill that promise," he continued.

I looked at him.

"Yes, Dad. You have."

His face softened.

"You've given me everything I could ever need."

He nodded slowly.

"But have you forgotten the attention part?"

My father froze.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Money isn't everything, Dad."

He looked away.

"I know."

"You buy me beautiful clothes, expensive gifts, and everything I ask for. But sometimes, I just want you to sit with me."

My voice trembled.

"I want you to ask how my day went."

My father closed his eyes briefly.

"I promised your mother that too," he whispered. "And I failed."

I could see the regret on his face.

"I'm sorry, Carla."

For a moment, I wanted to hug him.

I wanted to tell him everything.

About Ella.

Bella.

Rena.

And Dylan.

But the memories were still too painful.

"Nanny, where's my lunch?" I asked instead.

She sighed.

"Carla..."

"I don't want to be late for school."

My father tried again.

"Princess, please—"

I stood up and collected my lunchbox.

"Goodbye, Dad. Goodbye, Nanny."

"Carla!"

I pretended not to hear him.

I hurried toward the door before the tears returned.

Behind me, I heard my father sigh.

"Raising a daughter is harder than I imagined."

"She just needs time, sir," Nanny replied. "She'll come around."

I stepped outside.

My father's apology kept replaying in my mind.

Maybe he was finally beginning to understand me.

But I wasn't ready to forgive everything so quickly.

And now I had another problem.

School.

Another day of humiliation.

I tightened my grip on my bag and continued walking.

(IN AN UNKNOWN LOCATION)

BRYAN'S POV

I sat behind my enormous office desk, staring at the photograph on my phone.

My Doll.

Carla Mayday.

Even covered in red paint, she had looked beautiful.

Her innocent eyes.

Her soft blonde hair.

And that stubborn little mouth that never seemed to stop challenging me.

I smiled.

She had slapped me.

Bryan De Luca.

Nobody had ever dared do that and walked away unharmed.

But my doll was different.

I wanted to see that fiery side of her again.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in."

Ace entered, holding a folder.

"Boss, we found the people responsible for what happened to Miss Carla."

My smile disappeared.

"Details."

He opened the folder.

"Three female students at Queen's University."

I leaned back.

"Names."

"Ella Benson. Twenty-one years old. Her father is a shareholder at Queen's University and also the director of Treasure Sky."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting."

Ace remained silent.

"The director of my company and a shareholder in my university?"

I chuckled darkly.

"What a small world."

Ace continued.

"Bella Anderson. Twenty-two years old. Her father works for Ella's father."

"And the third?"

"Rena Wene. Twenty years old. Her father owns a coffee café down the street."

I tapped my fingers against the desk.

Three girls.

Three foolish girls who thought they could humiliate what belonged to me.

"Did they know who Carla was?"

"No, Boss. Her identity has been kept private."

I smiled coldly.

"That explains their confidence."

Ace waited for my next instruction.

"Give them a special invitation."

He understood immediately.

"Yes, Boss."

"And make sure they receive the treatment they deserve."

"Understood."

I looked at Carla's photograph again.

"I'll personally bring my doll."

Ace nodded.

"Where are we going next, Boss?"

"Back to the company."

"Which one, sir?"

"Diamond Gates."

Ace looked surprised.

"Diamond Gates, Boss?"

I smiled.

"I need to get a gift for my doll."

"Yes, Boss."

I stood up and adjusted my suit.

My little doll probably thought she could return to her normal life.

How adorable.

She had no idea how much her world was about to change.

(QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY)

CARLA'S POV

I stood outside the university gate, staring at the enormous building.

My stomach twisted.

I could already imagine the laughter waiting for me inside.

Yesterday's humiliation had probably become the biggest entertainment on campus.

I took a deep breath.

"Come on, Carla. You can do this."

I adjusted my schoolbag and walked through the gate.

Almost immediately, I heard someone whisper.

"Look! It's the red paint, princess!"

Another student laughed.

"Where's your red dress today?"

I lowered my head.

Just ignore them.

Keep walking.

But the whispers followed me through the hallway.

Some students pointed at me.

Others brought out their phones.

I felt like a plague everyone wanted to avoid.

By the time I reached my classroom, my hands were trembling.

I quickly found an empty seat and sat down.

Thankfully, our lecturer entered almost immediately.

For once, I was grateful for lectures.

At least nobody would dare pour paint on me while the teacher was present.

I tried concentrating, but my mind kept wandering.

Dad's apology.

Bryan's threats.

The ring on my finger.

And Dylan's cruel expression.

Why couldn't my life be normal?

After lectures, I hurried toward the cafeteria.

I found a quiet table in the corner and brought out the lunchbox Nanny had prepared.

Finally!

Food.

At least my lunch wouldn't insult me.

I opened the container and began eating quickly.

For a few peaceful minutes, everything seemed fine.

Until I heard a familiar voice.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here."

I froze.

Oh, no.

Not again.

I slowly raised my head.

Ella Benson stood before me with Bella and Rena beside her.

Her usual arrogant smile was plastered across her face.

"If it isn't Car Midnight!"

The girls burst into laughter.

I sighed.

"It's Carla Mayday, Ella."

Ella raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"And please, I need to finish eating before lectures start."

Rena gasped dramatically.

"Someone has suddenly grown wings!"

Bella laughed.

"Maybe yesterday's red paint gave her superpowers."

I ignored them and continued eating.

Big mistake.

Before I could take another bite, Ella grabbed a cup of water from the table.

SPLASH!

Cold water poured over my head and uniform.

I gasped.

My food was ruined.

My hair was wet.

And once again, the entire cafeteria erupted into laughter.

Students gathered around us.

Phones appeared.

Everyone wanted to record another episode of Carla Mayday's humiliation.

I stared at my soaked uniform.

Not again.

Please, not again.

Ella folded her arms.

"What's wrong, Car Midnight? Aren't you going to cry?"

I slowly closed my lunchbox.

My hands were shaking.

But this time, something felt different.

I was angry.

Not just embarrassed.

Angry.

I remembered Bryan's words.

You need to learn to stand up for yourself.

I hated him.

But perhaps, for once, he had said something useful.

I packed my lunchbox into my bag and stood up.

I wasn't going to give Ella another opportunity to humiliate me.

I turned toward the exit.

But she wasn't finished.

"Where are you going, Car Midnight?"

I kept walking.

"Don't tell me you're running away again!"

The students laughed.

Then Ella said something that made me stop.

"Or are you going to run into your mummy's arms?"

My entire body stiffened.

Ella laughed cruelly.

"Oh, wait! I forgot!"

She placed a hand over her mouth, pretending to be shocked.

"You don't have a mother!"

The cafeteria exploded with laughter.

But I couldn't hear anything anymore.

My mother's face appeared in my mind.

The photographs.

The stories Dad told me.

The woman who died bringing me into this world.

I slowly turned around.

Ella was still laughing.

Something inside me finally broke.

I walked straight toward her.

She smirked.

"What? Are you going to cry again?"

I raised my hand.

SLAP!

The sound echoed through the cafeteria.

Everything went silent.

Ella staggered slightly, holding her cheek.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"You... you slapped me?"

For the first time, I wasn't trembling.

I looked directly into her eyes.

"Listen carefully, Ella Benson."

My voice was cold.

"You can insult me. You can laugh at me. You can pour whatever you want over my uniform."

I stepped closer.

"But the next time you open that filthy mouth of yours to say anything disrespectful about my late mother..."

Ella stared at me.

"I'll make this university unbearable for you."

Nobody laughed.

Nobody moved.

I tightened my grip on my bag.

"And that's a promise, Ella Benson."

For the first time in my life, I had stood up to my bully.

And judging by the shocked expressions around me, nobody had expected Carla Mayday to fight back.