BAD INFLUENCE

THE BROWN'S RESIDENCE*

A loud bang on the door nearly made Hailey drop the towel she was using to dry her damp hair.

Before she could react, the door flew open.

"Hailey!" Cecilia yelled out the name.

Hailey barely had time to pull her towel tighter around herself before her aunt stormed into the room, her arms crossed, her eyes burning with the usual disdain.

"What on earth have you been doing in here while the whole house is a mess?" Cecilia barked, her gaze raking over Hailey with pure irritation.

Hailey swallowed hard. She had done the chores...all of them.

"I already finished everything" Hailey said softly, keeping her voice calm, knowing that arguing never helped.

"Oh, you think so, do you?" She took a step closer, her presence suffocating.

"Then why is the laundry still outside? And why is the sitting room still covered in dust?"

Hailey's lips parted. She had washed the clothes early in the morning and had been waiting for them to dry before bringing them in. As for the dust, she had cleaned the sitting room thoroughly. but she knew Cecilia would always find something to complain about.

"But I-"

"Don't you dare talk back to me!" Cecilia snapped.

"You think just because you got that scholarship, you can start acting lazy?!"

Hailey lowered her gaze, gripping the towel tighter. She had barely been able to sleep last night, too nervous about starting Hillsworth College today. The scholarship had been her only way out of this miserable house, and now that she had it, she refused to let anything ruin it.

But Cecilia... Cecilia was determined to make her life hell before she even set foot in that school.

"Get dressed, you're not leaving this house until every single chore is done. Do you hear me?"

Hailey's heart sank. She had an entire first day of school ahead of her, and now she was at risk of being late before it even started.

But what choice did she have?

"And another thing, I hope you're not planning to stay in that school's hostel"

Hailey's heart sank again. She had been considering it. Staying on campus would mean freedom...an escape from this house, from her.

"Because who exactly is going to do the chores if you're not here? You think you can just run off and leave everything behind? You better throw that idea out of your head. You're coming home every day after school" she said.

Hailey swallowed hard, her stomach twisting.

She wanted to argue, to say that the scholarship covered accommodations, that staying on campus would help her focus on her studies.

But she already knew the answer.

Cecilia wouldn't allow it.

"Now get dressed and make sure everything is spotless before you leave" Cecilia said before turning on her heel and marching out.

The door slammed shut behind her.

Hailey exhaled, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

'One year. That's all I need. I'll find a job, save up, and