<b>Chapter </b>421
He made it sound like it was only right. But Carmen felt a wave of bitter resentment rise inside her. Why should I take the fall for him?‘ she fumed.
That was exactly what she told him, <b>too</b>.
“I refuse.”
*For the first <b>time</b>, Carmen <b>didn’t </b>try to fawn over or tter the Wilson family. She lifted her head, half her face swollen and red, but her eyes burned with stubborn defiance.
“I won’t do it. My mentor put his reputation on the line just to help clear my name a little. If I were to admit now that it was my idea to instigate Sophia to frame Aubree, my reputation would bepletely ruined. <b>I’m </b>an artist, and my reputation is important to me.”
In that recording, Carmen was definitely involved, but since she’d always spoken and acted on behalf of the Wilson family and. Trevor, and since Sophia’s miscarriage didn’t bring her any obvious benefit, everyone just saw her as <b>Trevor’s </b>mouthpiece. No. one wasing after her.
But if she did what Trevor wanted, he could <b>y </b>the victim, say <b>a </b>few nice things<b>, </b>or cozy up to Sophia and potentially turn the whole situation around. As for her, she’d be left with nothing and ruined.
She’d end up just like Milena.
But she wasn’t Milena, and she never loved Trevor that much anyway. Carmen had only ever truly loved herself.
“What?” Trevor let out augh, so angry he could barely speak. “You care about your reputation? Then what about mine? I’m a public figure. Who do you <b>think </b>you are?”
He sneered inwardly. “To the Wilson family, you’re just a dog we <b>took </b>in. Don’t <b>think </b>too highly of yourself:
Carmen’s face went even paler, but she still refused to back down.
Trevor was about to lose it and raise his hand to hit Carmen again when Bryan walked in.
“What the hell is going on here?” Bryan barked.”
Carmen clenched her fists, steadied her voice, <b>and </b><b>exined </b>what had just happened to Bryan. “Bryan, I don’t want to do it.”
Her tone was firm, but her face was full of wounded vulnerability.
For a moment, Bryan was dazed. It was like seeing Aubree back in the old <b>days</b><b>, </b>wronged by the Wilson family but still refusing to bow her head.
“Aubree… Bryan thought to himself.
“Trevor, Carmen is our little sister. Do you think it’s okay to <b>say </b>things like that to her? Apologize to Carmen. And instead of trying to fix the mess you made, are you just hoping your family will clean up after you?” Bryan <b>said</b>.
Trevor turned his head <b>away</b><b>, </b>his face full of reluctance. He could re at Carmen all he wanted, but he wouldn’t dare raise hist voice to <b>Bryan</b>. “I know I was wrong.
As <b>for </b>actually apologizing to <b>Carmen</b><b>? </b>That was never going to happen.
Bryan never really expected Trevor to apologize. Just admitting he was wrong was already more than enough.
His tone softened. “Alright, this isn’t the time for fighting. We should focus on how to solve <b>the </b><b>problem</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“This whole thing is <b>obviously </b><b>a </b>setup by Aubree and Sophia. Sophia simply wants <b>to </b>marry into the <b>Wilson </b>family. Fine, I’l let her have her wish, Trevor said with a mocking smile.
He thought, ‘Getting in is easy, <b>but </b>getting out? That’s not going to be so <b>simple</b>.
Right now, the reasonizens were trashing him <b>was </b><b>because </b>they <b>thought </b>he had no sense of responsibility. If he could just
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sweet–talk Sophia and get the marriage <b>license</b><b>, </b>all those usations would fall apart on their own.
As for the recording. Sophia was both the person involved <b>and </b>the supposed victim. If she denied it, then that so–called <b>evidence </b>wouldn’t <b>hold </b>up at all.
Of course, all these <b>moves </b>were just for show, to paper over the cracks. Whether the fans would believe it or what the public would think, who knew? But at least he could keep up appearances.
He was definitely <b>going </b>to pay out breach–of–<b>contract </b>fees for somemercial gigs, and as for any awards this year, he <b>could </b>pretty much kiss those goodbye.
Trevor gritted his teeth. He had truly underestimated Aubree. With just <b>the </b>slightest chance, she’d string everything together, one move after another. Her tricks were so slick that even <b>he </b><b>had </b>to <b>admit </b>he was impressed.
Without wasting any time, Trevor jumped into his car and drove straight to the hospital to find Sophia.
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