Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism
Chapter 87 Enter The Twins, The Illegitimate Children Of The Ridges

After ending the call, Violeta retrieved her phone. She had only used Hayden as an excuse to end the conversation with her brother.

"Thank you. My brother wouldn't have felt at ease without your help," she expressed her gratitude.

Hayden wiped the beer stains off the back of his hand with two tissues and calmly responded, "So you see me as a tool?"

Violeta's gaze momentarily froze. "Huh? No, not at all."

It was then that she realized she had accidentally spilled beer from Hayden's glass.

"Should I pour you another glass?" Violeta picked up the bottle from the table, preparing to pour him more.

Hayden stopped her in time. "Why should I drink so much? This is alcohol, not a tonic."

"Fine."

Reluctantly, Violeta put down the bottle.

Hayden discarded the tissues and glanced at her, asking, "What brand of shampoo do you use? It smells nice."

"You mean the jasmine scent? That's not shampoo, it's essential oil. Do you like it? I can send you the link when I go back."

At that moment, Zoren, with flushed cheeks from drinking, approached them. "What essential oil? Are you guys going for a massage later?" Violeta covered her nose. "Ew, you stink!"

Zoren leaned closer and sniffed himself. "I don't! How can you say that, Vio? Come, smell me. Say I don't stink!"

He leaned forward to let Violeta smell his arm, but before he could get close to her, Hayden firmly grabbed his hand.

The pain made Zoren's eyes much clearer!

"Ouch! Hade, you really went all out, huh? Are we still buddies?"

Zoren pulled back his arm and shook it, wincing in pain.

Hayden asked, "Are you sober now?"

Jasper and Liam walked over to them. "He's asking for trouble, no wonder he's called a contemptible wretch."

Liam added, "That's right. Of course, Hade won't go easy on him."

Zoren turned his head and glared at them, "What are you guys bickering about?"

Jasper and Liam stuck out their tongues at Zoren.

When the two of them started acting silly, Zoren walked over, elbowing them and kicking their butts.

The three of them were fooling around.

Hayden shook his head helplessly, sat down, and leaned against the back of the chair.

Violeta finally understood.

No wonder her brother only trusted Hayden.

Among the four of them, Hayden was the most reliable, while these three were completely out of control!

Especially Zoren, he could not be relied upon at all!

Even so, with Hayden's cold personality, it would be a good balance to have these three friends with their personalities.

If all four of them had the same personality as Hayden, it would be dull.

Violeta's gaze fell on Hayden. He leisurely leaned against the back of the chair, the light above his head adding a warm touch to his aloof demeanor. He had a picturesque appearance, and right now, he looked noble and ethereal.

Sensing Violeta's gaze, Hayden raised his eyes and met her gaze.

Violeta smiled at him.

Hayden's eyelids twitched slightly. He felt as if something had struck his heart.

After being dropped off by Hayden, it was already dawn.

As soon as Violeta got out of the car, Tuna pounced on her. She caught it and used its paws to bid farewell to Hayden.

"Goodbye."

Hayden's expression softened. "Goodnight."

After watching Violeta walk inside, he rolled up the window and instructed the driver to drive away.

The second round of the campus beauty pageant had ended, and Violeta emerged as the winner.

All of the top ten contestants advanced.

After the vote count was reset to zero, Zelena, who was originally in seventh place, slipped down to the ninth spot.

Luckily, she still managed to advance to the third round.

However, without the option to manipulate the votes, it was wishful thinking for Zelena to surpass Violeta through organic votes alone.

The vote count for the third round would be based on the previous two rounds, so Violeta had already been designated as the campus belle of the new term at Toland University.

Not to mention her stunning performance at the Moon Festiva The video recorded on that day had already been viewed nearly a million times on the forum

Who could possibly compete with her?

Zelena knew that anything she did right now would be in vain, so she stopped fighting.

After a few quiet days, there was some new activity in the class.

shared over a hundred thousand times.

That day, the instructor walked into the classroom with a boy and a girl.

The girl had delicate features and eyes like water.

The boy had bright eyes and an elegant demeanor.

Violeta was taking notes, while Kaylee was playing a game on her phone.

The instructor said, "Everyone, please quiet down. I'd like to introduce two new students to our class."

Kaylee lightly tapped Violeta's hand and whispered, "Vio."

Violeta's pen paused and she looked up.

The two people on the stage were introducing themselves:

"Hello, everyone. My name is Hattie Ridge. I have just transferred to Toland University and I hope to learn from all of you. This is my twin brother, Benson Ridge."

"I'm Benson Ridge. Nice to meet you all."

Hattie and Benson Ridge.

Upon hearing these names, both Kaylee and Violeta were stunned.

When they went to the play that day, they had talked about Liam suddenly having a brother and how two illegitimate children from Harbor City would be fighting him for the family inheritance. It seemed that Jasper was right.

These two had been transferred to Violeta's class!

Violeta exchanged a glance with Kaylee, and Kaylee also realized that these two were the twins they had talked about at the theater last time.

She lowered her voice and whispered to Violeta, "Vio, these two are the ones we talked about last time ... "

"Yeah, it's them."

"Gosh!"

Hattie and Benson also reminded Violeta of some other things.

She did not remember when they were talking about this at the theater, but now that she saw their faces, she suddenly remembered.

Hattie and Zelena were very good friends!

No wonder she couldn't remember.

In the previous life, Violeta was just a white-collar worker. She would either be going to class or work.

She had no contact with Zoren, so naturally, she did not know Liam.

So, how would she know that Hattie and Benson were related to Liam by blood?

Now, everything was connected.

In Violeta's memory, not long after Hattie came to the class, she became very close with Zelena, and they went everywhere together.

After their debut, Zelena and Hattie maintained a good relationship. They would appear on variety shows together and showcase their sisterly bond in front of the camera! Based on Violeta's understanding of Zelena, there was no way she would be friends with someone from an ordinary family.

Hattie had the support of the Ridges, so that was why Zelena became friends with her.

So that's how it is!

Violeta lowered her gaze. She had no good impression of Hattie!

In the previous life, Violeta had very little interaction with Hattie, but there was once a conflict between them.

During a singing class, Violeta caught a cold from juggling work and study, so her voice became hoarse. She needed to get some water and medicine.

Hattie happened to be going to get water as well.

There was very little water left in the water dispenser, and luckily, Violeta managed to take the last bit of boiled water.

By the time it was Hattie's turn, there was none left.

Violeta saw some bottled water nearby, so she kindly suggested that they could share it.

However, unexpectedly, Hattie responded with sarcasm and disdain, "My face would be ruined if I drank the same water as you, right?"

Yes, at that time, Zelena caused an allergic reaction on Violeta's face, and she was already very self-conscious about that. Hattie's mocking words deeply pierced Violeta's fragile heart, but she did not say anything and just wanted to leave with her cup of water. Perhaps Hattie perceived Violeta's silence as a sign of vulnerability, so she extended her hand and forcefully pushed Violeta. Caught off guard, Violeta lost her balance and the scalding water from the cup spilled onto her arm, resulting in painful blisters.