"Let her come," Hailey said with a smirk.
Lia's jaw dropped at her mistress's reaction.
In the past, just hearing Aunt Margaret's name would make Hailey shiver like a leaf. But now she was calm. She wasn't afraid of Aunt Margaret anymore.
Lia glanced at her, a bit scared and hesitant about what was about to happen.
But she trusted Hailey with her life, so she stayed quietly seated beside her on the bed.
If Aunt Margaret tried to hurt Hailey in any way, Lia wouldn't stay silent. She would do anything to protect and defend her mistress. Even if she didn't have the strength to stop it, she would still try her best to protect Hailey.
Hailey gently reached out and held Lia's hand.
"Lia, I'm planning something," she said softly."Will you help me?"
Lia didn't hesitate. She nodded firmly.
"My lady, you don't even have to ask. I'll do anything to help and protect you."
Hailey smiled, her expression softening as she reached out and patted Lia's head.
"No. This time, I'll be protecting you. You've already done more than enough for me."
But Lia shook her head.
"No, my lady. It's my duty as your maid."
Hailey couldn't help but smile at her words.
The two sat in silence for a few moments.
Hailey was waiting. Waiting for those three maids to run to her aunt and tell her what had happened in the kitchen just minutes ago.
She knew exactly how it would unfold.
Once Aunt Margaret heard, she would storm into Hailey's room to scold her, just like she always did in Hailey's past life.
And right on cue...
BANG!
The door burst open.
Aunt Margaret barged in, her face red with rage. The three maids from the kitchen followed close behind her, smirking.
Hailey rose from the bed, her movements calm, elegant, unhurried.
For the first time, she faced her aunt without fear, something she had never dared to do in her previous life.
"Miss Margaret," she said calmly... a bit too calm for a thirteen-year-old. "It seems these maids have truly learned from you."
Hailey's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I am a noble lady of House Sinclair, and you are a commoner. You cannot just barge into my room without knocking or asking for permission."
She folded her arms. "Anyway, why are you here?" she asked coldly, eyes fixed on her aunt.
"You impudent girl! How dare you talk to me like that in my house?" Aunt Margaret shouted. "Is this how you speak to your elders?"
Hailey let out a short laugh.
"Your house? If I remember correctly, this is still the Sinclair estate. And my brother is still the official head of the household. So how exactly did it become yours?"
Margaret's face twitched, but she straightened her back and lifted her chin.
"I've been the one taking care of this house for three years," she said sharply. "Don't I deserve to call it mine after everything I've done and sacrificed?"
"Stop right there, Miss Margaret," Hailey interrupted coldly. "Sacrifice? Where? In fact, you're a commoner who lives like a noble, dresses like a noble, eats like a noble. If it weren't for your excuse of managing the Sinclair estate, would you or your family ever get to wear such luxurious clothes and eat luxurious meals?"
Aunt Margaret's face turned crimson. Hailey, the same girl who once trembled before her, was now standing up and speaking back like this. It was a direct threat to her authority.
"So what?" Margaret snapped with a smirk.
"My husband runs this estate now. Who knows when your brother will come back? And what are you going to do, little girl? Even if you're noble, I don't care. Me and my husband are the reason the Sinclair estate is still standing and not in ruins!"
Hailey smiled.
"Oh, thank you for your hard work, Miss Margaret. It must have been difficult. But don't worry. I'll relieve you of that burden. You may leave now. I'll manage the Sinclair estate from this point forward."
"What? You're just thirteen!" Margaret snapped.
"Oh no, Miss Margaret," Hailey said smoothly.
"There are noble men who inherit and lead their houses at twelve. Noble women are married by fifteen. So me being thirteen shouldn't matter, should it? I will be fourteen after a month anyway."
Margaret panicked. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"Oh, you don't want to hand it over, right, Miss Margaret?" Hailey said with a smirk.
Hailey continued before Margaret could open her mouth again.
"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."