Chapter 11 All This Time Chapter 11 All This Time +10 Free Coins " Let's meet on Saturday and talk in person . I'll text you the exact location later . " After replying to Wylie's last message , Azalea flipped through her first - year textbooks . She couldn't help but be a little mischievous , intentionally picking tutoring hours for their meetup . The fact that Wylie agreed so quickly showed he clearly didn't care about his tutoring . She couldn't help but wonder what kind of expression he'd have when he realized Phoenix was actually her . Step one had been a success . Even with Hubert's unexpected appearance , things were still moving in the right direction . Every semester , Draywick High School holds an entrance exam on the second day of school . The purpose is twofold : to see if students have slacked off over the break and to help them understand which areas need improvement going into the new term . Azalea's moved swiftly across the pages , underlining key points . She considered herself a genius , but losing nearly two years of school was no joke . While her time studying art included some academic classes , they were barely skin - deep . And back then , all she thought about was how to please the Larks . She only had a vague memory of most of the core material . She didn't expect to do particularly well on the entrance exam . If she managed to rank in the top hundred , that would already be a miracle . There was simply too much she needed to do , not a second to waste . With that in mind , Azalea shoved all distractions aside and focused on the textbook before her . She was like a shriveled sponge plunged into the sea , absorbing knowledge like her life depended on it . Meanwhile , Bastian had just left Azalea's room and headed up to the third floor , where he knocked on Cassius door . " I know you have everything on Azalea's school life . Send it to me , " he said bluntly . Cassius looked up , still registering the tears in Bastian's eyes , when the request hit him like a curveball . It was true . Ever since Azalea returned , he had someone keeping an eye on her . He got a monthly report detailing everything that happened to her outside the Larks . But he was too busy to go through the documents his assistant had organized and sent over . Instead , he had only asked to be briefed on the parts where Azalea had caused trouble . " I'll have my assistant send it to you . The files on my phone are no longer accessible , " Cassius said casually , not thinking much of it . That offhand remark hit Bastian like a punch to the chest . It is no longer accessible , which means that even though Cassius had ordered someone to keep an eye on Azalea , no one truly cared about what happened to her . They hadn't even bothered to open the files the assistant had sent ! Yet when it came to Sydney , Cassius always knew everything the moment it happened . III 1/4 Chapter 11 All This Time $ 10 Free Coin So , what did Azalea even mean to this family ? She was not even worthy of their concern , yet they always felt entitled to demand things from her . Bastian's breathing quickened , his fists clenched so tight they trembled . " Okay ," he bit out through gritted teeth and turned to leave . Not even a second of hesitation . Because if he stayed any longer , he was scared he'd punch his brother . He wanted to question Cassius but painfully realized he didn't even have the right to . A few minutes later , Cassius ' assistant forwarded everything to his phone . There was a lot of information , everything that had happened to Azalea at school over the past three years . Most of it was mundane and unremarkable . But then , Bastian's eyes locked onto her first monthly exam report , and his whole body froze . It was a near - perfect score . His eyes widened in disbelief , and his hands shook as he gripped the phone . Attached to the report was a note from the assistant . " Mr. Lark , Ms. Yarrow's academic performance is exceptional . Her homeroom teacher says she has the potential to be the national top scorer . " Impossible . How could this be ? He clearly remembered how , after the first monthly exams , Sydney had proudly presented a report showing she ranked in the top hundred across the entire school . Everyone was thrilled . Wesley even gave her a credit card with a million dollars on it as a reward . Then they turned to Azalea , who bit her lip and said she'd ranked near the bottom . She threw away the report card before anyone could see it . Ivy was furious enough to make her stand outside the villa all night as punishment . Later , Cassius told their mom that Azalea should follow Sydney's path and also study art . Bastian covered his face and bent over , tears spilling from his eyes . Sydney ranked in the top 100 and received a reward card loaded with a million . Azalea ranked number one and was punished so harshly that she ended up in the hospital . " Bastian , I'll become someone as amazing as you and Cassius one day ! " He could still see that hopeful , determined look in her eyes . And she'd actually done it . She really was outstanding . But why ? Why lie and say she'd ranked at the bottom ? Why silently accept Cassius ' decision to have her study art ? Why didn't she tell him the truth ? He couldn't understand . But one thing was clear : Sydney had to know . Without wasting another'second , Bastian stormed off to confront her . 2/4 ||| Chapter 11 All This Time When he trus kest on the door , he was surprised to find Manhas riff in Sydney's room this late at night- but he slidn't think much of it Sedney had always been closet to Matthise than to any of them " Bastian ' What brings you here this late ? Sydney asked sweetly , dressed in soft pink pajamas . Her fair face glowing with binocence from years of pampering . Bastian felt a pang of dissonance . So this was what a sheltered girl looked like . No wonder Azalea's ques maturity always felt so jarring . She shouldn't have had to grow up so fast . " Sydney , I want to ask , did you know that Azalea ranked first in her first monthly exam after starting high school ! " A flicker of panic crossed Sydney's face , and that was all the answer he needed . She knew . A chill ran through him . His blood turned cold . And then he remembered the inheritance banquet . " Sydney , I need to know , was it really just a misunderstanding when Azalea pushed you down the stairs ? Bastian wasn't an idiot . There were things he had once chosen not to think about , but now , looking back , the coincidences were glaring . His voice was hoarse , his gaze frighteningly serious . Sydney opened her mouth , but before she could speak , Matthias stepped forward . " Enough , Bastian . That's all in the past . Why are you bringing this up now ? " " You knew ? " Bastian's voice cracked in disbelief . Matthias wasn't even surprised . " Yes , I knew , " Matthias said calmly . " Not only did I know Azalea had good grades . I'm the one who told her to hide it . " He stood in front of Sydney , his expression devoid of guilt , as if he were simply making a casual remark about the weather . Bastian lunged forward and grabbed Matthias by the collar , his molars grinding audibly . " Why ?! " Matthias shoved him off , annoyed . " She was a kid from an orphanage suddenly topping the charts . How do you think that would make Mom and Dad see Sydney ? I just told her that her score was too high , which would upset everyone if she showed it off . I only meant for her to tone it down . Who knew she'd go and tear up the report card and say she ranked near the bottom ? " But that time , Azalea had done exactly what Matthias wanted , and he had been so satisfied that he once treated her with a bit of kindness for a few days . Azalea had been quick to take the hint , keeping her grades at the very bottom of the class ever since . " This has nothing to do with Sydney . She had no idea , " Matthias added . Bastian looked at him , then at Sydney , who seemed genuinely surprised . His whole body felt drained of strength . ||| O 3/4 Chapter 11 All This Time +10 Free Ceine It was all just to please them . Even after being punished to stand outside all night and developing a fever so high she had to be hospitalized , she went on to fake her scores in the next exam His eyes burned . He never imagined Azalea could be this foolish . The cruelest part ? If anyone in the family had cared even a little , they would've easily noticed she was lying about her grades . But no one did . They had all simply accepted her failures as a given . The stairs didn't matter anymore . Whether Sydney had done it on purpose or not - it was irrelevant. In the end , they all hurt Azalea . He needed to find her , but then it hit him . He didn't even know where she was staying now . His hands clenched into fists . " Sydney , you still have all the gifts Azalea brought out earlier , right? " His voice was cold , unwavering . " Give me the sapphire crown I gave her ." He was going to find her . And this time , he would never let Azalea suffer again . ||| Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!