The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 46: When Lines Are Drawn

The hallway was quieter than usual, which only made the sound of Jane’s designer heels louder against the floor.

Anna tried to keep her head down and keep moving, but Jane stepped right into her path, cutting her off. Her three friends spread out behind her, closing the space until Anna was backed against the cold marble wall.

“Well,” Jane said, her voice dropping to a whisper. “We didn’t get a chance to say congrats after that big signing the other night.”

Anna gripped her books tighter. “Move Jane.”

Jane didn't budge. She actually laughed— a dry, nasty sound. “Did you see the news this morning? My family is fourth in the world now, Anna. We aren’t just rich anymore. We’re powerful and untouchable.”

Her friends nodded, their eyes scanning Anna like she was something they found on the bottom of their shoes.

“And that little show this morning?” Jane’s lip curled. “The Bugatti? Please. Everyone knows your brother borrowed that from Avery just to look important. He’ll have to hand those keys back before the sun goes down.”

A few students nearby slowed their pace, watching the standoff. Anna felt her heart thumping against her ribs, but she forced herself to look Jane in the eye. “You don't know a thing about my brother.”

“I know enough,” Jane snapped. “With the power my dad has now, I could have your brother working construction on the side of a road by noon.”

The girl to Jane’s left stepped in closer, her voice cruel and low. “And you? We could sell you off to places where nobody would ever bother looking for you.”

Anna felt the air leave her lungs. The threat was casual, which made it worse. Jane’s eyes lit up, enjoying the look of fear on Anna’s face. “Who’s going to stop us, Anna? Seriously. Who?”

Before Anna could even swallow, the girls cornered her. One of them shoved Anna’s shoulder, hard.

“She actually thinks she’s special,” the girl mocked.

“Get out of my way!” Anna tried to push past, but Jane shoved her back. Anna’s spine hit the wall with a dull thud.

“Shh,” Jane murmured, putting a finger right in front of Anna’s face. “You don’t talk while I’m speaking.”

With a sudden, mean jerk, Jane slapped the books out of Anna’s arms. They hit the floor with a loud crack, papers sliding across the tile. The girls broke into a vicious, loud laughter.

Anna dropped to her knees, her vision blurring as she scrambled to grab her things. Suddenly, a designer heel stepped right onto her notebook, grinding the paper into the dirt.

“Oops,” Jane giggled.

One of the other girls reached for Anna’s pocket, spotting the new iPhone. “Hand it over, you little thief,” she demanded, reaching for it.

“Don’t touch my stuff!” Anna cried out, pulling the phone to her chest. Her voice cracked, which only made them laugh harder.

Jane grabbed Anna’s wrist and pinned it against the wall. “Get used to losing things, Anna. It’s how your life is going to be from now on.”

“That’s enough.”

The voice was flat and tired. The school director was standing a few feet away, looking at the mess on the floor and the girls hovering over Anna.

“What is going on here?” he asked.

Jane stepped back instantly, smoothing her hair and putting on a fake smile. “Just a misunderstanding, sir. We were helping her up.”

“I’m sure,” he said dryly. “Pick up those books. All of you. Then get to class. Now.”

Jane gave Anna one last hateful look before walking off. Her friends followed, their laughter echoing down the hall. The director stayed for a second. “Miss Anna,” he said quietly. “Go to class.”

The second he was gone, Anna’s composure broke. She wiped her face with a shaking hand, her breath hitching. “I swear,” she whispered to the empty hallway. “I’ll make you regret this, Jane. Every bit of it.”

Jane, who hadn't gone far, stopped and looked back over her shoulder. She didn't look worried, she looked bored. “Good,” she called out. “I was hoping for a fight.”

A minute later, tucked away in a quiet corner of the school garden, Jane pulled out her phone. Her father picked up almost immediately.

“Daddy,” she said, her voice sweet and high. “I need a new car. Something... special.”

There was a pause. “How much?”

“Fifty million.”

The silence on the line lasted a few seconds. Then, her father let out a proud, low chuckle. “Fine. Anything for you, princess. It’s done.”

Jane’s pulse spiked. “Thank you, Daddy.”

By break time, the entire campus felt different. A deep, mechanical growl started vibrating through the air— not just a car engine, but a heavy, terrifying sound that made people stop talking.

Every head turned toward the front gates.

A Ferrari FXX K Evo drifted into view. It was finished in a deep, blood red paint that looked like glass. It didn't look like a car, it looked like a weapon.

The school went into a total frenzy.

“Is that for real?!”

“That’s a fifty million dollar car!”

“Who owns that thing?!”

The Ferrari pulled into the center of the courtyard, making every other luxury car in the lot look like junk. The driver’s door swung up like a wing. A man in a sharp suit stepped out, walked to the other side, and opened the door for the passenger.

The crowd gasped as Jane stepped out. She took off her sunglasses, her diamonds catching the light, and a swarm of students immediately surrounded her, screaming her name and holding up their phones— recording.

“That’s insane, Jane!”

“You actually got the limited edition!”

Upstairs, Anna stood by the classroom window. She didn't want to look, but she couldn't help it. She saw the crowd bowing to Jane like she was a queen. She saw the red Ferrari glowing in the sun. She heard the cheers.

Down there, Jane was everything she wanted, but up here, Anna was alone.

She looked at her reflection in the glass. She didn't even have a car of her own. Her fingers curled into fists against the window frame. It wasn't just jealousy— it was the memory of the promise Robert had made her.

Down below, Jane was laughing, soaking herself in the worship.

Anna turned away from the window. Her eyes weren't wet anymore. They were cold.

The war had started. And neither of them planned on losing.