The Villainess Mastermind
Willow, our resident poor-but-pure girl, was soaking her crisp, but perpetually faded, linen blouse, her eyes glittering with malice. Guess who your brother and your fianc are going to believe? she challenged, the ice in her voice sharper than the water she was pouring over herself.
The moment the heavy door slammed openBeckett, my brother, and Graham, my fianc, charging inshe was on the ground. A crumpled, shivering heap of innocence. Im sorry, Miss Hawthorne, she choked out, her voice barely a tremor. I was wrong. I promise Ill stay away from them. Please, dont hurt me again.
A wave of pure, red-hot furya familiar Hawthorne traitsurged through me. They were both barreling toward me, their faces twisted with an infuriated protectiveness that made my stomach clench. They were going to make me pay, again.
Just as I prepared to launch my defense, a blinding, holographic text overlaylike a malicious, glowing subtitleflashed across my vision:
[This villainess is too much!]
[Its fine, let her keep acting out!]
[Her reputation for being a bully is universal. Soon no one will believe her! Once she embarrasses the Hawthorne name, the family will cut her off! The Male Lead will step up, and shell be the first person he purges!]
I froze.
The anger was instantly replaced by a glacial, sickening clarity.
A slow, cold smile stretched across my face.
I raised my hand and began to strike myselfnot once, but a dozen times. Then, I grabbed the collar of my designer top and ripped it down the front. Finally, I scrambled onto the third-story window ledge and jumped.
I made sure every witness saw the final, terrifying tableau: me, driven to self-destruction from the third-floor ledge by my own brother and fianc, all for the sake of the 'poor white flower' they so adored.
I was unconscious before I hit the ground, rushed to the ER, the family name already screaming in headlines.
That night, the roar of the Hawthorne private jet shook the quiet suburb. Every major name in the citythe old guard, the corporate titansshowed up at the hospital.
Grandfather Elias Hawthorne, propped up by his silver-wolf-head cane, ordered Beckett to receive fifty strokes.
Graham was forced to kneel in the hospital lobby for three days and three nights, begging for Grandfather to lift the corporate sanctions that were already crushing his familys hedge fund.
1
In the restroom stall, Willowher clothes strategically faded, a testament to her hardshipwas methodically dumping a bucket of toilet water over her head.
Guess who your brother and your fianc are going to believe? she repeated, her eyes gleaming.
I looked at her the way you look at a truly bizarre performance artist. This wasnt even the first time she had used this exact trick to set me up.
Willow had arrived at Hawthorne Academy as the token scholarship student. Her innocent features, soft voice, and weaponized fragility had earned her the nickname: The Ingenue. Everyone bought the pure, selfless act.
I, Audrey Hawthorne, the sole granddaughter in the Hawthorne legacy, had been raised on a pedestal of absolute privilege. I was notoriously aloof, arrogant, and rarely suffered fools.
Naturally, I hadn't rolled out the red carpet when Willow started circling Beckett and Graham. Id told her, in front of the entire Advanced Placement class, to stop pretending she could marry her way out of poverty. Shed never forgiven me.
Her revenge campaign was insidious. She'd pretend I tripped her in the hallway, glue her chair to the floor, plant a dead mouse in her locker, or slap herself and scald her own arm with a hair straightener. Then, shed turn on the tears and blame me.
At first, Beckett and Graham had defended me. But Willows relentless, tear-soaked consistency had worked. They slowly started to believe her. My reputation as a privileged, reckless bully who persecuted the poor had solidified across the entire campus.
This newest performancethe drenched victim in the private bathroomwas just another escalation designed to turn everyone, especially Beckett and Graham, further against me.
Seeing my silence, Willows smile widened, radiating smug satisfaction.
Thinking of a defense, Miss Hawthorne? she asked.
Before I could speak, she violently slammed the back of her head against the wall. A red contusion instantly bloomed on her pale forehead.
The sound of desperate, pounding footsteps echoed outside the door.
Willow instantly dropped to her knees, hugging herself, shivering dramatically. Im so sorry, Miss Hawthorne. I was wrong. I wont go near them again. Please, stop tormenting me.
Beckett and Graham burst in simultaneously. The flash of sick panic in their eyes as they saw Willow on the floor was like a physical stab in my chest.
Graham ripped off his limited-edition cashmere jacket and draped it over her trembling shoulders. When he looked up, his eyes were pure ice.
Audrey. When are you going to stop being a goddamn sadist? he hissed. First the mouse in the locker, then locking her in the equipment room, and now this? Cornering her in a bathroom? The whole school knows you harass her. Are you happy only when youve driven her out of school?
Beckett, without a word, grabbed the bucket Willow had used and, without hesitation, dumped the rest of the freezing water right over my head.
His voice was terrifyingly cold. Is this fun for you, Audrey? Are you finally satisfied?
The cold shock ran from my scalp to my toes, but the freezing water couldn't extinguish the inferno of rage in my heart.
Just as I opened my mouth to scorch the earth, the text overlay reappeared, even brighter now:
[This villainess is too much!]
[Its fine, let her keep acting out!]
[Her reputation for being a bully is universal. Soon no one will believe her! Once she embarrasses the Hawthorne name, the family will cut her off! The Male Lead will step up, and shell be the first person he purges!]
The words hammered the future into my mind. I was the novels Designated Villainess, whose sole purpose was to lose everything before being destroyed by my own brother, the true Male Lead, all because of my repeated attacks on The Ingenue.
But I knew the ending. And I absolutely refused to play the role they had written for me.
Willow, seeing my dazed, drenched state, leveraged the moment.
Graham, Beckett, she whispered, her voice laced with tears. Dont blame Miss Hawthorne. Its my fault for forgetting my place, for foolishly thinking I could be friends with you. Ill stay away from you both from now on. I dont want to be the reason you fight.
Graham, his face contorted with sympathy, bundled her tighter in his jacket. This isnt your fault, Willow. Its Audreys. She never learns.
He glared at me, his eyes full of contempt. Audrey, if you so much as touch her again, I am ending our engagement today.
Beckett stepped closer to Willow, smoothing her damp hair. It has nothing to do with you. Everyone indulged her, which is how she became such a spoiled tyrant. Im making her apologize to you now.
He grabbed my wrist hard. You are going to apologize, Audrey. If you dont, Im telling Mom and Dad, and more importantly, Im telling Grandfather everything youve done at this school.
The text overlay flashed again:
[Will she apologize now that Graham used the break-up threat?]
[No way. Shes too arrogant. Once Beckett tells the family, shes going to face her first-ever session kneeling in the family chapel!]
I looked from Graham's cold indifference to Beckett's smug certainty and finally to Willow's carefully crafted distress. I violently yanked my wrist free from Becketts grip.
SLAP.
The sound echoed through the tiled room as I struck my own face.
Beckett and Graham stared at me, their eyes wide and synchronized. What are you doing? they demanded.
I let out a strange, choked laugh.
Youre both so heartbroken for Willow, I whispered, tears of real, white-hot fury beginning to stream down my already wet cheeks. You dont believe I was set up. Now, Im letting you taste your own medicine, my darling brother and soon-to-be-ex-fianc.
I lifted my hands and began to strike myself again, harder this time. My white face was instantly blotched with red, swelling rapidly.
They surged forward in alarm, but I was faster. I lunged onto the window ledge.
I tore off the rest of my ruined shirt and screamed at the top of my lungs: Ah! Willow! Beckett! Graham! Im sorry! Stop hitting me! Stop!
A crowd instantly formed below the window. They saw me, drenched, shaking, my face hideously bruised, perched precariously on the ledge.
Tears, real ones mixed with the shock, poured from my eyes. I was performing for the largest audience Id ever had.
Oh, God, Beckett, Graham, I really didnt touch her! She poured the water herself! She put the mouse in the bag! It was all lies! She set me up! I wailed. I know youll never believe me. But if I have to die for you to finally see the truth, fine!
I reached out and grabbed their hands, pulling them toward me, and smiled a cold, desperate, unhinged smile.
Youll get to feel exactly like me now. Wait for it.
Beckett scoffed, attempting to maintain control of the spiraling situation. I dont buy it, Audrey. Youre not actually going to jump.
He threw my hand away. That was my cue. I turned and dropped.
As I fell, I screamed a final, desperate plea: AH! STOP PUSHING ME! HELP!
You want a villainess who masters manipulation? Fine. Let's see you try to out-manipulate a girl who already knows the script.
The pain was immediate and absolute, and then the world went black. As I fell, I saw the twin looks of utter, paralyzing horror on Becketts and Grahams faces as they looked down from the frame.
The fall happened during the passing period. A huge crowd instantly gathered.
What happened to Audrey Hawthorne? Why did she jump?
I was right here! I heard her scream that Willow was setting her up, and she was begging Beckett and Graham to stop hitting her!
But thats her own brother and her fianc! Why would they do that to her? And Audrey is so proudshe would never jump without a reason.
I thought I heard her scream, Dont push me...
Everyone stared at my visibly bruised face and the drenched, torn remnants of my clothes. Audrey Hawthorne, the spoiled tyrant, was untouchable. No one would dare bully her. The only logical explanation in their minds was that someone had pushed her, or driven her to it.
The news of the Hawthorne Heiresss jump spread faster than a market crash, alarming the headmaster, the board of directors, and the entire Hawthorne corporate apparatus. Within ten minutes, private security and medics swarmed the campus. My father, currently closing a deal in Zurich, mobilized his private jet to return immediately.
I was out for a full day and night. Other than a nasty spiral fracture in my leg, I was fine.
When I finally woke up, my room was packed. My eyes immediately locked on the three figures kneeling in the corner of the room.
Grandfather Eliass voice was the first one I heard. It was thick with concern.
Audrey. Tell me exactly what happened. Why did you do this?
My parents looked devastated. They told us it was your brother and Graham that they pushed you. Is that true, sweetheart?
Beckett exploded. I already told you, she jumped! She did this to herself! Why wont anyone believe me?
Grandfather roared, Silence!
The text overlay flashed again, now with new, frantic comments:
[Wait, what? This plot twist wasnt in the draft! Did the villainess just jump to frame Willow and the guys?]
[Theyve been kneeling for a day and a night because of her jump. What an evil, disgusting villainess!]
[...Is the villainess starting to use her brain? Beckett just got Grandfathers wrath for the first time because of her.]
A day and a night? Pathetic.
My face crumpled. I unleashed a flood of tears.
Grandfather, Mom, Dad, you have to help me. I reached for my fathers hand. Willow poured water on herself to frame me, and they refused to listen. They slapped me, they poured water on my head, and they cornered me on the window ledge, telling me to apologize to her. I forced a sharp, painful cough. When I refused, they pushed me.
I leaned back, weak and frail. It wasnt just this time! Every time Willow hurt herself to set me up, Beckett and Graham believed her, and they always took her side. Grandfather, I was so scared. I thought I would never see you again.
My parents faces hardened. Grandfathers expression was thunderous.
Grandfather! Dad, Mom! She is lying! She is framing us! Beckett pleaded, furious. Shes the one who bullies Willow at school! Everyone knows it! She had Willow cornered in the bathroom, and if Graham and I hadnt gotten there, Willow would have been the one going out the window!
Willow, still kneeling, whispered meekly, her lips trembling, I didnt lie, Miss Hawthorne. I know my place is beneath you. I would never have the courage to harm you or offend you.
Graham quickly chimed in. Mr. Hawthorne, Audrey is completely lying. She slapped herself, she ripped her own clothes, and she jumped. We never laid a hand on her!
Grandfather slammed his cane on the floor.
Nonsense! he bellowed. Audrey Hawthorne is the heiress of the Hawthorne legacy. She can snap her fingers and ruin anyone who crosses her. Why on earth would she mutilate herself and jump from a third-story window just to frame you three?
Exactly. No one could believe I would degrade myself that way. It only proves how desperate I was to clear my name.
I met Willows eyes. A flicker of pure, unadulterated hatred swam in hers, but she didnt dare speak another word.
Beckett, emboldened by panic, stood up. Grandfather! Why do you believe Audrey and not us? Shes a bully! Shes been tormenting Willow since she arrived!
Graham nodded seriously. Mr. Hawthorne, Beckett is telling the truth. Shes the aggressor. Her jump was an attempt to frame us.
Grandfathers face was a mask of cold disappointment. He directed his fury at Beckett.
Disgraceful! You, as the elder brother, not only failed to protect your sister but actively conspired with an outsider against her! You will take the fifty strokes, copy the family rules one hundred times, and kneel in the family chapel for seven days and seven nights!
He turned to Graham. And you. You have been betrothed to my granddaughter since childhood. You have not only failed your duty as a fianc but aided in her abuse. The Hawthorne corporation is immediately severing all financial and political ties with the Graham Group. The engagement is null and void.
Beckett and Graham stared, aghast and speechless, at the patriarch. I watched, a vicious joy coiling in my chest.
Willow threw herself forward, forehead hitting the floor with a loud thud. Her voice was a heartbreaking sob. Its all my fault! I caused this! If hitting my head until I bleed would make Miss Hawthorne feel better, I would do it!
She hammered her head again. Please, dont punish Beckett and Graham! I caused this argument! Punish me instead! If Miss Hawthorne is still angry, I will leave the school and never show my face again!
[Oh God, our poor Willow! Shes being framed, but shes apologizing for the villainess! When will this cruel villainess get whats coming to her?]
[Sweetie, you did nothing wrong! Don't apologize! It's only because you don't have the background! Youll step on Audrey Hawthorne one day!]
Beckett and Graham rushed to her, their faces contorted with pity.
Grandfather, this has nothing to do with Willow. Its my fault for not looking after Audrey. Punish me.
Mr. Hawthorne, Willow is from a poor background. Its hard enough for her to attend school. Ill take the punishment.
Grandfathers expression darkened, ready to deliver his verdict, but I spoke first, my voice weak but steady.
Grandfather, let her go. Its not worth it. We dont want to be accused of bullying a poor townie.
Willow looked up at me in shock. I gave her a small, sweet smile.
You dont think Id just let you walk away after you put me in the hospital, do you?
Grandfather looked at me with approval. Fine. On the condition that Audrey has forgiven you, I will spare you the corporate consequences. However, you will write a full apology and read it aloud to the entire student body. If this happens again, you will be dealt with severely.
I was satisfied.
The Hawthorne family was dangerously thin on heirs; it was just Beckett and me. Grandfather, being old school, favored the male heir, but I was still his only granddaughter. This incident had shaken his faith in Beckett.
My goal wasn't just revenge; it was the legacy.
From this day forward, I would prove that Beckett was unfit to lead the Hawthorne empire.
Beckett spent two weeks recovering from his fifty strokes.
Graham was forced by his parents to kneel outside my hospital room for three days straight, begging Grandfather to reconsider.
When Willow returned to school, the sympathy in her peers' eyes was gone. Whispers of her being a manipulative "white lotus" followed her everywhere. She finally got a taste of what it felt like to be publicly maligned and utterly powerless.
I spent a month recovering. During that time, I enrolled in the upcoming national academic competition.
On the day of the competition, I arrived in a wheelchair, only to find Willow sitting in my reserved spot. Beckett and Graham were flanking her, still acting as her self-appointed bodyguards.
They were whispering to her, eliciting a delicate, muffled giggle.
The moment they saw me, their faces went cold. Willow remained firmly planted in my seat.
She tilted her face up, a picture of false concern. Miss Hawthorne, are you feeling better? I wanted to visit you, but I thought you wouldn't want to see me, especially after well, everything.
She brightened suddenly. I see you signed up for the academic competition! I admire your courage! But youve been in the hospital. I know you havent had time to study. Dont worry. Ill let you have first place as my apology for everything that happened.
I looked down at her, utterly unimpressed. Move, I said, my voice flat.
Beckett stepped forward, his eyes burning with familiar contempt.
Audrey, what is your problem? Willow is trying to be kind! Dont be a brat! And for Gods sake, whats the point of you even showing up? Dont you dare come in last place and embarrass the Hawthorne name again.
Graham chimed in with his usual condescension. Willow is being gracious. Youve been sidelined for a month; youve probably forgotten the basic formulas. If you place dead last, youll only confirm the rumors that the Hawthorne Heiress is just a golden cage with nothing inside.
I ignored them both. Move. This is my seat.
Willow immediately broke into a fit of delicate coughing, looking like a weak puff of wind could scatter her.
Im so sorry, Miss Hawthorne. I didnt mean to steal your spot, she whispered. After you poured that water on me, and then the kneeling Ive been sick off and on all month. I just felt dizzy and needed to sit down. Please, dont be angry.
Beckett shot me a hateful look. Willow, stay put. Rest here until the competition starts.
He turned to me, his voice a low, hostile growl. Dont think that just because Grandfather is protecting you, Im afraid of you. I will make them see you for what you are. As long as Im a Hawthorne, you will not touch Willow!
Graham stood directly behind her, shielding her. I wont let you bully her again.
I glanced past them. Willow caught my eye and flashed a small, confident smirk. She mouthed the words: What can you do?
The text overlay exploded:
[LOL, Willow's so fierce! If Audrey charges in, shes screwed! Willow already called the pressif the villainess loses control, tomorrows headline is "Psycho Heiress Bullies Sick Classmate," and Hawthorne stock will plummet! Grandfather will disinherit her!]
[Since Audrey framed them last time, Beckett and Graham are both wearing tiny pinhole cameras! If Audrey tries to lie, the recording goes straight to Grandfather!]
I slowly released the arms of the wheelchair and stood up, leaning against the table. The noise around us had swelled.
Do you think Audrey will actually attack her this time?
Of course, she will. Its Audrey Hawthorne. She has no brain, only a terrible temper. Shell blow up instantly.
I bet $500,000 she flips the table!
A million! I bet she slaps her!
Everyone was waiting for the show.
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