There were only thirty transfer students in total.

Five of them had the last name Hayes-and, on top of that, they were all girls.

It was obvious the Hayes family was trying to throw everyone off the scent, using this tactic to protect the real Miss Hayes.

Laurel continued, "Even though we still don't know who the real heiress of the Hayes family is, we can use the process of elimination. First, Celeste is definitely not her. So that leaves four girls. One of them has to be Miss Hayes!"

Out of the three, Laurel was definitely the wealthiest, but just like Grace and Bonnie, she desperately wanted to get close to Miss Hayes.

After all, everyone wants to climb higher. Water flows downhill, but people strive upward.

Who doesn't want to move up in the world?

If she could just make contact with Miss Hayes, she'd finally have the chance to connect with families her own could never even dream of reaching. More connections meant more opportunities.

For business families like hers, networking was everything.

Bonnie kept her head down, a glimmer of ambition flashing in her eyes.

Laurel was right.

They'd already ruled out Celeste. Now, only four remained. High society types were nothing like people at the bottom-she just had to pay close enough attention, and she'd definitely spot the real Miss Hayes.

Then, she'd find a way to become her best friend.

She was sure of it-she would succeed.

With that thought, Bonnie lifted her head and glanced at Caitlin in the crowd, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

So what if Caitlin was the top student at Central Academy?

Just wait.

Once she became best friends with Miss Hayes, marrying into a wealthy family would be a breeze. Then she'd always have Caitlin-divorced, small-town Caitlin -right under her heel.

How could someone like Caitlin ever compete with her?

When the break ended, Class One was the first to leave the field.

Caitlin walked side by side with Celeste.

Scarlett hurried to catch up. "Catie, you were amazing up there! That's the first

time I've ever felt so fired up by a speech."

It was a strange feeling.

Like Caitlin was born to be on stage.

"Really?" Caitlin smiled at her.

"Absolutely! Not only us-even the principal and the other teachers were stunned.

Catie, you're the most incredible girl I've ever met!"

Central Academy had always been a boys' club-more guys than girls.

That meant most of the top students were boys.

Of the top ten students in the whole school, only two were girls.

It got even more lopsided in the top hundred.

Only eighteen girls made the cut!

So every time there was a speech or some big event, it was almost always boys on stage. Girls barely ever got a chance to shine.

Caitlin's arrival changed all that.

She said, "There's always someone better out there. I'm really not as exceptional as you think."

It wasn't forced humility. It was just the way she was-genuine, grounded, never letting her success go to her head.

Scarlett looped her arm through Caitlin's. "I don't care. You're the most amazing girl in the world to me!"

"And to me, too!" Celeste chimed in, grabbing Caitlin's other arm.

"Caitlin! Caitlin, wait up!"

Just as they were about to reach their classroom, a boy's voice called out from behind.