He thought, “Of course, they all knew Aubren was being framed. How raivet was. As the masterminds behind it all, they were fully aware of the truth?
He had thought they just mounderstood Aubren |
It wasn’t until today that I mery finally saw his to called family for who they really
Breathing badly, his vence trembling with anger, Timary demanded. “So what you’re saying is that Laczidentally ruined your scheme to frame Aubree, and now you actually want me to join in bullying her?”
When their veneer of decency was torn away, the words beneath o
Emery was utterly shocked, he couldn’t believe those words had actuallye from his own parents.
“Emery, how can you call this bullying Aubree?” Trevor spread his hands in exasperation, looking utterly helpless, “She’s the one picking on Carmen an delving Mom and Dad. Aubree’s so rebellious, we’re just trying to teach her a lesson before she gets herself into even bigger trouble. We’re only doing this for her own good.”
Alice gave her third son an approving look. “Trevor’s right,” she said, feigning concern, “Aren’t we just doing this for Aubree’s own good? Back when she still lived at home, she’d never have dared act like this?”
With a dejected look, Alice thought to <b>herself</b>, ‘Daxton really was so–called farsighted.” When Aubree was first brought home, she had genuinely to make amends to her long lost daughter by giving her the best of everything
But Dadan had cautioned her<b>, </b>since no one knew what kind of temperament Aubree had developed growing up in an orphanage, giving her too much might only spother or make her too wild at heart.
Ronald’s face darkened with <b>rage</b>. “That damned brat had the nerve to sever ties with us at the hospital, she must’ve alreadytched onto the Turner tamily! You and Bryan have lost your minds, spoiling her like this. You’re only emboldening her to defy us if she daresy a finger on Carmen, i: make you both pay
Ronald snapped, “That brat won’t learn her lesson until she feels real pain! Now that she’s got some skills, she dares to defy the family, give her an inch and she’ll take a mile. We’re asking you to put her in her ce. <b>It’s </b><b>all </b>for Aubree’s own good. Even if you’re not doing it for Carmen, at least do it for her.”
His anger only grew as he recalled that party where his friends were <b>gossiping </b>about that online scandal, making a spectacle of his family. He fumed, That brat is an utter disgrace! At least when we kept her locked up at home, her misbehavior stayed within the family New that she’s out in the world. she’s running wild!
Having achieved her desired effect, Carmen bit her lip, leigning <b>hesitation </b><b>as </b>she nced at Emery “Emery, I know you care about Aubree, but it’s really not <b>safe </b>for her to be out there alone. Whatever the circumstances, couldn’t <b>we </b>just as
st ask her to cothe home first?”
Back then, Emery never thought there was anything wrong with what Carmen said. He truly believed <b>she </b><b>cared </b><b>about </b><b>Aubree</b>. But hearing those same words now just made him feelughable,
Emery thought to herselt, Aubree <b>already </b>resents them, if Mom and Dad really force her back by clipping her wings under the pretense of “doing best for he is that truly for her benefit! Or are they just making sure she ends up loathing them?
‘Back when Bree was still at home, I thought her unruly temperament needed reflecting. But now I see it clearly, it was never Bee who needed to change. From the very start, we were the ones looking at her through prejudiced eyes, finding fault with everything she did.
Every word from Mom and Dad felt like a daggey <b>stabbing </b>into my heart, the pain so intense it stole my breath. Their arguments were utterly ridiculous.
it were Carmen starting a club, they’d be falling over themselves to support her I’d honestly think they’d been possessed! But when <b>it’s </b>Aubree, suddenly she’s ‘too ambitious And now, Cipping her wings is <b>supposed </b>to be for her own good“?
Since none of them are willing to stand by bar, <b>then </b>I will
With strely determination in his eyes, Emery swept his gaze across the faces of his family, once familiar, now utterly alien. “Tree, this is what <b>you </b>want, do it yourselves. From <b>today </b><b>on</b><b>, </b>I won’t do a single thing to hurt Aubree again.”
<b>1/3 </b>
With that he cast a mocking nce at the
cold dinner on the ta, his lips corting in disdain. “Let’s tenis, kam, Dad,
was never about a reunion. You just wanted an excuse to rad Bryan And me back fa a lectura bathutzau
With a stiff bow. Desery turned and walked away e
cating prison that was the Wrisen manster,
The Wilson family usually lived together at the family mansion, though each maintained their own ce in the city. But after leaving home, Emery go to his man apartment, instead, he drove straight in a funny apartmentplex
His car came to a stop in the shade of a towering free.
From this vantage point, he only needed to nce up to see the window of Aubree apartment
Ever since the police report revealed news about Aubree, Emery had his assistant keep a close eye on her whereabouts. Minor matters could be ignored. but anything impertant had to be reported to him right away.
When Emery first learned that Aobene had moved out of Ellis Heights, he was ecstatic. Bowen had recently left tol City for Odiond, and shortly after, Aubree moved out to
He wasn’t sure what had happened between them, but to him, this was the perfect opportunity to win Aubree back. “When che was long at E Heights, I never really got a chance to talk to her or make amends, he thought,
Somehow. Aubree’s club friends got wind of her move to her new ce and insisted on throwing a little housewarming celebration. She had just returned from dinner with them
Walking home, Aubree spotted a familiar silhouette standing under a streetlight in the distance, his gue seemingly fixed on her apartment
Aubree frowned and thought, ‘Emery? <b>What’s </b>he doing here?
What on earth possessed Emery to suddenly defend me online? Does he really think <b>a </b>few petty <b>favors </b>will make me gratefult How delusional
He really <b>is </b>dreaming.
I’m not the same Aubree anymore!
Aubree snorted inwardly. “tet him wait if he wants, it’s none of my <b>business</b>, she thought, making it clear she had no intention of acknowledging Emery
Pretending not to see him, she headed straight inside.
Just as Aubree tried to slip by. Emery whirled around, as if he had eyes in the back of his <b>head</b>. Their eyes met his alight with joy, her dark with
annoyance
“Aubree, you’re back! Did you just have dinner out?” Emery asked, his <b>eyes </b>hopeful, <b>as </b>if he hadn’t seen her in ages.
Emery thought, ‘She looks a little fuller. She’s really taken good care of herself since she left home.
How could I have been so blind before? How did I never realize what a wonderful sister <b>she </b>was?
<b>Aubree </b>shot him a look of pure disgust, deliberately pulling away to put clear distance between them, ‘I broke your precious family rules by eating. Are you mad now? Did youe here just to punish m??
He thought, ‘No, I’m not here to lecture her. I just wanted to see how she’s doing, and if there’s anything I can <b>help </b>with
Emery frome for a second before turnedly exining, “Aubree<b>, </b>you’ve misunderstood, realice now how wrong I was
Aubree snapped, “Don’t you <b>dare </b><b>act </b>like we’re family!”
Seeing that Aubree outright denied their rtionship, Emery <b>felt </b><b>as </b><b>if </b>his heart <b>were </b><b>being </b>ripped out of his chest while he was still alien,
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his tone ingratiating an
st pleading, terrified that even th
best musstep might s Aubree again,