"Whatever. I don't care. Just give me what's rightfully mine... my personal property, which my mother set aside for me. I'll leave this house. You can do whatever you want with the estate then," Hailey said calmly.
Margaret was already angry with Hailey for talking back to her for the first time, and she couldn't do anything about it.
"You want me to give you your property? What are you going to do with it? And why should I give it to you? You're not even getting married."
She never thought the day would come when Hailey would demand her property.
Hailey narrowed her eyes.
"Why I want it? Why should I even tell you? You are going to give me my property. And as I said, I will leave this house."
Margaret grew more furious.
"I will not give you your property—"
Hailey cut her off.
"Uh uh... not so fast. You do know I can go to the knights and show them my bruises. Tell them how you treated me. Hitting a noble is a crime. You can be executed for that. You and your whole family."
Margaret began to panic. Hailey knew she was never good at thinking clearly in situations like this.
She just had to push her aunt a little harder.
Hailey continued, her voice sharper.
"So you have no option. Either give me my property and I silently walk away,"
Hailey pulled up her sleeves, showing her bruises.
"Or I go complain to the knights. You, your husband, and Lily will go to jail. Do you want to be executed with your family? On the bright side... you might even get a discount on coffins for the family package."
Lia, who had been standing silently to the side, couldn't believe her eyes. Her mistress, who used to be terrified of Aunt Margaret, was now talking back to her and forcing her to accept her terms.
But there was one thing Lia didn't understand.
Why was Hailey asking for money now? A noble woman only receives her property when she gets married.
"So, Ms. Margaret... what is your answer?" Hailey asked with a smirk.
Margaret was angry, but she knew that if the knights found out, her entire family could be executed.
Compared to the Sinclair estate, Hailey's property was nothing. If she could send Hailey away, that would be one less problem to deal with.
Margaret spoke, cooled down but still bitter.
"Fine. I will give them to you in a week, and you have to do your chores properly. Only then—"
"No. I want them right now," Hailey said firmly. "I'm not waiting for a week or even a day."
Hailey was not backing down. She had to leave today.
The Crown Prince's birthday was only a week away. If she didn't leave now, Hailey would have to attend the party and would be engaged to him again.
There was no way she was letting her fate follow the same path in this life.
Margaret grew angrier.
"Didn't I tell you I will give them? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"That's none of your business. Just give them to me right now. And Lia is coming with me too."
Hailey turned to Lia.
"Lia, start packing our belongings. We are leaving this estate by evening."
Back to the present, in the carriage
That day, after Aunt Margaret gave Hailey her property, everything changed.
Hailey successfully avoided the engagement with the Crown Prince. And Lia wasn't dead.
Hailey looked at Lia, who was gazing out the window, happy that she was returning to the capital. But those weren't the only changes.
With the money she got from selling her property, Hailey succeeded in getting into the Royal Academy and eventually graduated. Now that she was seventeen years old, an adult, and had graduated, she had the right to become the head of House Sinclair.
But it wasn't that easy.
As a woman, she needed to be married to officially become the head of the family. She had forgotten that this stupid rule even existed.
Now she had to find a man who could act like her husband until she could take over the Sinclair estate.
As Hailey's mind was racing with thoughts, suddenly, her carriage was attacked by bandits.