CHAPTER 22 — Navira's POV
"Chaos is a Gift. I Just Hand It Out."
Two days after the hospital incident, life at the Aurline mansion hums with tense normalcy.
Vivienne fusses over me as if I might crumble at any second.
Victor keeps asking if I'm eating enough.
Alden and Alastair patrol the house like twin sentinels, each step I take scrutinized with suspicion.
And Agnes? She's seething in every corner, muttering under her breath and plotting… I can feel it in the air.
She thinks she can catch me off guard.
Adorable.
Breakfast — Maintaining the Face
I sit primly at the table, hands folded, the picture of polite, obedient perfection.
"Mom, Dad," I chirp sweetly, "thank you for making sure everything is equal. I… really appreciate it."
Vivienne dabs at her eyes, beaming.
Victor clears his throat proudly.
Behind me, I can hear Agnes's sharp inhale, the one that always precedes a dramatic scheme.
And I do not give her the satisfaction of noticing me.
Instead, I casually mention, "I've been reviewing some business strategies I learned while at the orphanage. Simple cost management… supply-chain basics…"
Vivienne beams. "Oh, Navira, you're so thoughtful."
Victor nods, completely enchanted.
Alden glances at Alastair. His silent look says:
She's planning something.
Yes. Always.
Agnes's Revenge Plotting
After breakfast, I retreat to my room under the guise of "studying for school."
Agnes is not subtle.
I can hear her pacing outside my door, muttering to herself:
"If I can't ruin her with grades… I'll ruin her socially."
"If she thinks she's clever… I'll show her she's nothing."
I smile.
Sweet, small, dangerous smile.
And that's when I hear the name "Jasver."
Agnes's plan: enlist the school bully, make him "corner" me, maybe try to hurt me.Again.
It's laughable.
I know exactly who she's talking about. Jasver — the boy she's liked since childhood.
The one she's been dreaming about.
And now he's suddenly… staring at me in the hallways, noticing everything I do.
Agnes will explode when she realizes I could not care less about him.
Not one bit.
School Strategy — Mock Results Already Known
Today's prep is all about upcoming school challenges.
Teachers whisper about the next exam, but no one suspects what I'm hiding: my mock results are a trump card, still fresh in everyone's mind.
Agnes sneers from across the room, plotting.
The bully smirks, thinking he can play the muscle.
I lean back in my chair, carefully pretending to doodle in my notebook.
A little note to myself:
Keep it calm. Keep it subtle. Let them underestimate you. Let them make the mistakes.
The Twins — Confused and Tense
Alden and Alastair hover like overly cautious bodyguards.
"What's her real goal?" Alastair whispers to Alden.
"Power," Alden replies quietly. "Money. Control. Fame. She's not playing for love."
Exactly.
Because that's the truth. I don't care about boys. I don't care about crushes. I don't care about friendship or love or fake loyalty.
I care about power. Pure, clean, unshakable power.
Between classes, Jasver shows up at my locker.
"Navira," he says quietly, "I… think you're amazing. You… really know what you're doing."
I glance up at him lazily, a half-smile, half-nod.
"Thanks. I know."
Agnes sees him from the corner of the hallway.
Her face is a perfect mix of horror and rage.
I almost laugh.
Not for him. For her.
Planning the Next Moves
Later, I retreat to my room again. I pull out my little notebook, the one where I track everything — conversations, reactions, and opportunities.
I write:
School: keep Agnes busy with rumors
Bullies: aware and neutralized
Twins: always slightly off balance, will intervene incorrectly
Parents: sweet act, remind them of orphanage backstory when needed
Jasver: ignore, let Agnes stew
Perfect.
I lean back, thinking about the next school day, the next manipulation, the next chess move.
Agnes is already panicking.
The bully is powerless.
And the twins? Completely out of the loop.
I smile softly to myself.
"Let the chaos begin," I whisper.
Because the Aurline mansion is mine for the taking.
I just have to play it perfectly.