Chapter 264 
Zoey regained her footing. She didn’t dare move a muscle as she stared at 

Lily didn’t move either. She assumed a casual stance with her hands in her pocket. There was a long pause before Zoey asked, “Who are you?” 
“Lily Brooks,” Lily drawled icily. 
Zoey’s expression flickered. “So, we meet at last.” 
“Oh?” 
Lily’s interest was piqued, and her lips curled into a smirk as she asked, “Did you come for me?” 
Zory stayed quiet as she pondered on her response. 
Lily continued, “The Moores, huh? I’ve never heard of your family nor do I have any grudge against them. In that case, which family sent you here to look for me?” 
She thought hard but could not recall having ever crossed paths with the Moore family. They didn’t seem to be working for or with anyone either. 
According to the document Elliot had given her, the Moores didn’t ally themselves with any family. Nonetheless, they were a formidable force. They had an impressive number of weapons research methods in their arsenal, and the weapons in question were of advanced makes and models. 
As such, countries and Hidden Families vied for the Moores” support. 
However, the Moores didn’t listen to anyone other than the president. 
The country had been peaceful in recent years, courtesy of the weapons developed by the Moores which kept foreign enemy forces at bay. If the Moores had nothing to do with the Hidden Families and had no grudge against Lily, then Zoey had no reason to be here. 
Zoey hadn’t expected Lily to figure out her business here so quickly. She stiffened before breaking into a smile. “You’re different. They told me you were smart, but I didn’t believe it. 
“Few in this world are truly smart–or smarter than me, at least. Now that I’ve met you in person, I stand corrected.” 
Straightening her clothes, Zoey tucked her hair back and met Lily’s gaze. “I thought you wouldn’t show up for another few days after your grandmother’s passing. ” 
lan and Anya blanched when they heard this. They hadn’t heard about Lily’s grandmother’s passing. They cursed inwardly as they wondered when it happened. 
Lily lifted her icy gaze until it fell on Zoey. 
A moment later, she looked away and turned to leave. “I don’t plan on getting my hands dirty while I’m still in mourning. Tell your buddy to stop pushing my buttons or there’ll be bloodshed.” 
Saying that, she stopped in her tracks and raised her voice. “Everyone in Ember Creek High School is under my protection! From now on, dares to hurt a single person from Ember Creek High School will have their throats ripped out by me!” 
No sooner had the words left Lily’s mouth than the students erupted into raucous cheers. “Long live Lily!” 
anyone who 
The students of Ember Creek High School had been walking on eggshells as they were intimidated by Zoey. They all believed their peaceful school life had come to an end. 
But Lily had returned. While she didn’t directly pick a fight with Zoey, her words left an impact. 
Lily left with lan and Anya. They fell in step behind her and stared at her back. Raising their thumbs, they praised in unison, “Good one, Big Boss!” 
They wouldn’t obey anyone but Lily, whom they thought was a living legend. 
Despite being a transfer student from the countryside, she managed to put Ember Creek High School’s bully in her place while being a medical extraordinaire and an honor roll student. 
“Don’t you think there’s something different about Lily?” Anya asked. 
Ian stared at Lily but did not see anything different about her. “What do you mean? 
“She seems lonelier somehow,” 
“Does she?” lan asked, baffled. 
Anya shook her head, sering no point in enlightening him any further. 
It wasn’t until Lily and the others had left that Zoey said slowly, “You can come out now.”