<b>hapter </b><b>508 </b>
Bryan suddenly looked up and stared hard at Carmen. In the instant she froze, he turned his gaze away again.
Ronald was still scolding him. <b>“</b>He was just being concerned? What a joke! The older you get, the dumber you be! You could tell this is a basic mistake, but he <b>still </b>walked right into it!”
He continued. “Use your brain for oncel Aubree didn’t make <b>a </b>single move<b>. </b>She must <b>have </b><b>a </b>backup n. And you? You went straight to help her out!”
Bryan didn’t argue. He really had been too confident, thinking everything was <b>seamless </b>and Aubree would never catch on. In the end, he fell right into her trap.
Clenching his fists, he spoke in a low voice. “<b>Dad</b>, I was careless this time. Next time I’ll…”
Ronald raised <b>a </b>hand, cutting him off. “<b>I’ve </b>already decided. Carmen will be transferred from the branch office to the headquarters <b>as </b><b>a </b>project manager. If she performs <b>well</b><b>, </b>she’ll be promoted to deputy general manager<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Bryan froze. His clenched fists tightened even more. “I understand.”
He suddenly recalled how things were when Aubree <b>was </b>still in the Wilson family. No matter what happened, even if Aubree wasn’t at fault, Carmen would put on a <b>show</b><b>, </b><b>say </b>a few lines, and everyone would turn around and me Aubree.
Now, Bryan finally understood what that felt like.
Ronald <b>walked </b>away.
WH
Carmen pretended to be clueless. “Bryan… I didn’t know…”
“Congrattions.” Bryan slowly straightened up and looked down at <b>her</b>. “I underestimated you.”
That look in his eyes made Carmen furious. She knew it all too well.
From the moment she <b>was </b>sent to the orphanage, this was the look that followed her. Disdain. Bryan always looked down on her.
No, Bryan had never looked up to her.
When she first came to the Wilson family, he hadn’t spared her a nce. Years of trying to win his approval had only barely earned her acknowledgment as a <b>“</b>sister<b>,” </b>
When Aubree came back, she reminded Bryan. It was his fault that Aubree went missing. He had lost his sister. He owed his <b>real </b>sister.
With her constant hints, Bryan developed a <b>fear </b>and obsession with controlling Aubree<b>. </b>Any time Aubree resisted, it felt like a reminder of his failure. And the more she resisted, the more he’dsh out. Every time, Carmen benefited from that.
But now, she had shares, she had backing, and she was in thepany. Bryan shouldn’t look down on her anymore.
Carmen smirked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Bryan. Dad only let me into thepany to help you out. Don’t take it the wrong way.”
Bryan didn’t bother arguing.
He said, “No matter how much I don’t want Aubree in thepany, she’s still my real sister. And you? What are you? Think you <b>can </bpete with
her<b>?</b><b>” </b>
He looked at her with clear disdain. “You’d better make that project of yours a sess<b>.</b><b>” </b>
At the mention of the shared e–bike project, Carmen’s expression shifted slightly. “I know you’re in a bad mood right now. I won’t argue with you.”
Bryan stepped closer and sneered. “Dear <b>sister</b>, your health’s gotten a lot better, hasn’t it? Haven’t had a single heart attacktely.”
Carmen’s face changed. She tried to keep calm. “That’s because Mom and Dad take good care of me. My condition improved with rest.”
Bryan didn’t respond. He just gave her a cold look. This <b>wasn’t </b>over.
Meanwhile, <b>Mark </b>and Bowen had finally pinpointed Nina’s location after a day and a night of searching.
This vi is under the name of a former Wilson family housekeeper. She worked for them for <b>years</b>, and her husband was a driver for the family. Got into an ident and saved Ronald’s life. He lost a leg in the process. The Wilson family gave them this vi.”
<b>2:33 </b><b>PM </b>
“Her husband diedter, and she went back to the countryside to raise her grandson The vi was never sold, just left
“The nearby cameras caught a vehicle involved in the kidnapping heading here. Unless we’re wrong, this is the ce.<b>” </b>
Mark checked his <b>gear </b>“Let’s move.”
Inside the <b>vi</b>, Nina had already untied herself. She’d woken up in the middle of the night. Seeing it <b>was </b>a remote area, she knew escaping on her <b>own </b>would be rough, so she decided to <b>wait </b>for rescue.
After all, she was alone. Those two kidnappers weren’t much of <b>a </b>threat
Now, she had re–tied herself with a slipknot. From the outside, it looked secure, but she could get out easily.
Then. Timothy’s voice sounded. “Hey there, sweetheart. Hungry<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Nina narrowed her eyes <b>as </b>Timothy walked in with a <b>tray </b>of food, grinning lecherously.
He said, “My wife’s a cold–hearted bitch. She wouldn’t let you <b>cat </b><b>all </b><b>day</b>. But I couldn’t bear to see a pretty girl starve, so I brought you something to
cat.
He shoved the tray toward her. She didn’t take it, but that didn’t stop him. One hand held the food, the other slid onto her leg.
Her skin was smooth. It felt amazing.
Timothy waspletely entranced. He thought city girls sure were different. Even their skin <b>was </b>on another level.
Nina’s fingers twitched.
Timothy said, “Stick with me, girl, I promise nothing will happen to you?
<b>Nina </b>rolled her eyes. “Is that so?”
Even her cold smile left him dazed.
“Sweetheart… His hand reached out again. Nina kicked him hard in the face, sending him flying.
“You untied yourself!” Timothy stared at her in shock, then looked down at the ropes. He couldn’t understand how this weak–looking girl had escaped.
He tried to get up, but suddenly his face twisted in pain. He grabbed his stomach, his body shaking uncontrobly. “It hurts… hurts so bad…
He frantically reached out, trying to grab onto anything. “Help… somebody, help me…”
Before he could finish, he copsed, foaming at the mouth, eyes rolling back.
Nina frowned. Is he just pretending?” she thought,
She walked over and checked his breath. Her expression changed. Timothy was dead, just like that.
A chill ran down her spine. Nina pulled the door open. Before she could even reach the stairs, she spotted Marina copsed on the carpet. She was also foaming at the mouth, lifeless.
Her eyes moved to the untouched food on the table. There was no way they bothmitted suicide. Someone did this.
The Wilson family? Nina thought, a flicker of suspicion in her mind.
Before she could investigate<b>, </b><b>a </b>voice rang out from outside.
“Everyone, listen up! You’re surrounded. Release the hostage and surrender immediately!”
No ti
dead