"No, I just wanted to say... this is your father’s study, you can’t just go in there." Hazel Bennett hurriedly explained, afraid that Hayley Cole might misunderstand.

"Mom, what do you mean?" Despite Hazel Bennett having explained well, Hayley Cole still had a dark face, "What do you think I’m going to do? I know I’m just an outsider in this family, everyone is on guard against me."

After shouting this, Hayley Cole stormed off angrily.

"Hayley, Hayley..." Hazel Bennett wanted to chase after her, but there’s no way she could catch up with Hayley Cole. In her panic, she stumbled and fell straight toward the ground.

"Mom, be careful!" Mia Cole, who had just entered, quickly supported Hazel Bennett, preventing her from falling.

"Mia, you’re back?" Supported by Mia Cole, Hazel Bennett smiled joyfully upon seeing her stepdaughter, "Have you eaten yet? I’ll make something for you right away."

"Mom, I..." Mia Cole’s words were interrupted by Hayley Cole’s sarcastic remark, "Mom, aren’t you worried about where I’ve gone, or whether something might happen to me? As soon as the ’real’ young lady returns, you immediately start sucking up!"

"Hayley, I’m not..." Hazel Bennett hurried to explain, fearing Hayley Cole would feel sad due to the misunderstanding.

"Hayley Cole, you haven’t run far. You saw Mom almost fall just now, why didn’t you help her?" Mia Cole interrupted Hazel Bennett, then turned to question Hayley Cole, "Also, you’ve stormed out thousands of times. How could anything happen?"

"So my mom shouldn’t worry about me, right? I know this family never considers me one of their own. Is it okay if I leave?" Hayley Cole said angrily and then turned to run away.

"Hayley..." Hazel Bennett turned pale with worry.

"Mom, don’t worry. She’s just gone out to play for a couple of days. She’ll be back in a couple of days. She’s grown up; nothing will happen." Mia Cole comforted her. Hasn’t it always been like this over the years?

Her stepmother is truly a good person, but she’s too soft-hearted, which is why Hayley Cole went more astray as she grew.

Every time her dad tried to discipline Hayley Cole, her stepmother would cry uncontrollably, leaving her dad no choice but to give up and let things be.

"Yes, yes." Hazel Bennett nodded repeatedly, wiped her emerging tears, and tried to smile as she said, "Mia, you must be tired. Go wash up in your room. I’ll make you some noodles."

"Okay." To be honest, Mia Cole actually liked this stepmother. Back then, she was just a few years old, and it was her stepmother who brought her up, filling in the motherly love she lacked and giving her warmth.

Unlike her strong-willed, silent father, her stepmother was gentle, always speaking softly, taking good care of them.

Whatever was on her mind, she preferred to share it with her stepmother.

Hayley Cole stormed outside, angrily calling James Reed: "I want to see you!"

James Reed asked surprisedly, "It’s so late, you..." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"I want to see you now!" Hayley Cole commanded, leaving no room for argument.

"Alright." James Reed relented, asked for Hayley Cole’s location, and said, "Find a place to sit, I’ll be there soon."

In less than half an hour, James Reed’s car arrived. As soon as it stopped, Hayley Cole opened the door and got in.

"Miss Cole, you..." James Reed had just started, when Hayley Cole discontentedly said, "Call me Hayley!"