ã€ŠThe Queen They Buriedã€‹


 Tried 1

    95%

    +20)

    The pain of her body giving out still haunted her when a sharp, familiar voice sliced through the fog. ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re a total letdown!¡±

    Aubree Miller¡¯s vision cleared, and there was Emery, her fourth brother, shooting her a look that could kill.

    Her heart skipped. ¡®Am I¡­ back? Five years ago, the day Carmen got named heir? The day my whole world crashed?¡¯

    That day, Carmen yed them all. She set Aubree up, making everyone think she was so jealous of Carmen¡¯s inheritance. that she¡¯d pushed her down the stairs to get rid of her.

    Right on cue, her second brother, Daxton, swooped in like a hero, saving Carmen from anything worse than a fright.

    Emery showed up next, not even listening to her side, demanding she own up.

    Aubree swore she was innocent-she even made a desperate vow-but they thought she was just dodging me.

    In the end, they made her apologize in front of everyone and beg Carmen¡¯s forgiveness. To ¡°fix¡± Carmen¡¯s scare, her parents gave Aubree¡¯s share of the family money to her.

    In one day, Aubree became Rithol City¡¯s biggest joke.

    And that was only the beginning.

    Carmen, with her sugary smile, would say, ¡°I wish I was as pretty as Aubree.¡± Next thing they knew, Aubree¡¯s face was scarred from a random ¡°allergy.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t look better than Carmen-it¡¯d make her feel bad-so Aubree had to be ruined.

    Aubree¡¯s art was her everything, but Carmen wanted to ¡°be that good too.¡± So, every painting Aubree poured her soul into got Carmen¡¯s name on it.

    Aubree? Branded a faker and kicked out of school, her teachers¡¯ disappointed res cutting deep.

    It didn¡¯t stop there. Carmen¡¯s weak heart meant she couldn¡¯t move much, so to keep things ¡°fair,¡± Aubree was starved, forced to waste away beside her.

    Weak, hungry, and crushed, she still got disowned and thrown out like garbage.

    Broke and starving, she ended up huddled under a bridge, her body shutting down, waiting to die.

    Aubree blinked, back in the moment. She saw Daxton cradling Carmen like she was fragile, his face all worry. Then Emery, his eyes burning with disgust.

    These were the brothers who¡¯d found her, promising to make up for lost years, swearing she was family.

    Emery was done waiting. He grabbed her wrist, yanking her toward Carmen.

    ¡°Say sorry!¡± he barked.

    The sting in her wrist snapped her awake.

    She looked at Emery, the brother just two years older, the one who used to get her, who¡¯d look at her with care.

    Now, his eyes were just cold and annoyed.

    ¡°Rx, Emery,¡± Carmen said, shing a sweet smile like she was brushing it off. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m a Wilson on paper, but I¡¯ve got

    outsider blood. No surprise Aubree¡¯s mad.¡± Her words sounded kind, but they left plenty of room for ugly assumptions.

    Daxton snapped. He jabbed a finger in Aubree¡¯s face. ¡°If I¡¯d known you¡¯d turn out this rotten, I¡¯d have told Mom and Dad to leave you in the streets!¡±

    Her blood ran cold. ¡°That is it, isn¡¯t it?¡¯

    If she ever crossed Carmen, they¡¯d rather she was dead.

    God, she wished the Wilsons had never found her at all.

    Aubree gritted her teeth, yanking her hand free as pain shot through her wrist. Her voice came out rough. ¡°Y¡¯all seriously think I pushed Carmen?¡±

    Carmen¡¯s eyes softened, all pity. ¡°Oh, Aubree.¡±

    She didn¡¯t need to say more-her silence hit harder than anyeback Aubree had.

    Emery shook his head, disappointed. He¡¯d hoped she¡¯d own her mistake, not dodge it.

    ¡°Aubree, what¡¯s happened to you?¡± he said.

    He still remembered hering back to the Wilsons-tough, sweet, like a ray of sunshine trying to warm them all up.

    Daxton¡¯s re could¡¯ve burned a hole through her. ¡°You want it straight? You¡¯re pissed Carmen¡¯s getting a cut of the family money. You think she¡¯s stealing your share, so you shoved her down the stairs. You wanted her out.¡±

    He kept going. ¡°For ten years while you were gone, Carmen held us together. Kept Mom and Dad from losing it. And when you showed up? She tiptoed around you so you wouldn¡¯t feel left out. What¡¯s your problem? That inheritance is hers, fair and square.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s lips twisted into a bitter smirk. ¡®Huh, news to me that Carmen is such a hero.

    ¡°My bad,¡± she muttered.

    Not for what they thought-she was done expecting her family to care. No more falling for that trap.

    Carmen yed it sweet, looking pained. ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m not mad.¡±

    Aubree gave a dry chuckle. ¡°A mistake¡¯s a mistake. I¡¯ll fix it.¡± Her real screw-up wasing back to the Wilsons. She¡¯d end that herself.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes flickered with a smug glint-she wanted all the family¡¯s love for herself.

    But she waved it off, all innocent. ¡°Aubree, rx. You said sorry. We¡¯re good.¡±

    Daxton hugged Carmen close, his heart melting. ¡®That¡¯s so you, Carmen-always keeping it ssy, even when you¡¯re hurting.¡¯

    ¡°Don¡¯t feel bad,¡± he whispered to her. ¡°You deserve this.¡± He shot Aubree a cold look. ¡°At least you¡¯ve got some decency left.¡±

    With that, he stormed off, Carmen in his arms, throwing Aubree a final disgusted re.

    Emery nced at her, eyes catching her swollen, red wrist. ¡®Did I do that?¡¯ Guilt flickered, but me won out.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have gone at Carmen like that. Good luck exining this to Mom, Dad, and the boys when they¡¯re back,¡± Emery said.

    He softened a bit. ¡°Ice that wrist.¡±

    15:03 Wed, 9 Jul MW.

    55%

    Aubree stayed silent. Alone in the quiet, she doubled over, clutching her stomach as wild, unhingedughter spilled out.

    Tears streamed down her face. This was their game-crush her, then toss her a crumb of hope, making her think if she yed nice, things would change.

    Herughter turned to choking coughs. Wiping her eyes, she stumbled to her room.

    Her gazended on the family photo album on her dresser.

    A happy couple with six kids-two girls, four boys. The girl in the corner looked out of ce.

    That was her.

    Lost at five, found at fifteen. That first year she was gone, her mom nearly broke, almostnding in a psych ward. Her dad adopted a girl who looked a bit like her to keep her mom sane.

    From then on, the Wilsons poured all their guilt and love into Carmen, Rithol City¡¯s golden girl.

    At first, when Aubree came back, her parents and brothers tried, giving her the love they¡¯d promised.

    But it faded fast.

    ¡°Aubree, Carmen¡¯s got a heart condition. Go easy.¡±

    ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re already taking half her attention. Don¡¯t be selfish.¡±

    ¡°Aubree, we¡¯re your family, but Carmen¡¯s got no one else. Can you get that?¡±

    Her nails dug into the desk, one snapping before she snapped out of it. None of it mattered now.

    She grabbed a clean white box from under her bed, opened it, and walked out the door.

 Tried 2

    Aubree stepped into the mansion¡¯s main hall, and all eyes were glued to Carmen, shining like a star in the spotlight.

    Daxton and Emery stood by her like loyal guard dogs ready to protect their queen.

    Aubree¡¯s arrival sparked a buzz. Whispers of pity, smirks, and shade-she felt every stare itching for her to flop.

    A bitter grin crossed her face. Everyone knew she was the Wilson family¡¯s punching bag, yet she¡¯d once believed their cold hearts might warm up to her.

    In Rithol City, where cash flowed like water, the Wilsons were top-tier.

    Her dad, Ronald, went from nothing to a finance show regr, riding every market wave like a boss. Her mom, Alice Diamonde, was a fashion designer with a brand killing it abroad.

    And her four brothers? Straight-up legends.

    Bryan, the eldest, ran the family empire and was the city¡¯s prime catch.

    Daxton, a genius doc, had his ownb.

    Trevor, the third, was a movie star who could make a dead body scene go viral.

    Emery, once an esports champ, now owned Apex Squad, the top dog in gaming.

    Being their favorite? Tough to resist. But Aubree exhaled slowly. That was over.

    She was a senior now. One year left. She¡¯d focus on herself-ace her exams, get into her dream college, stack some cash, and cut the Wilsons out of her life for good.

    Daxton¡¯s face soured at the sight of her suitcase. ¡°What¡¯s with the bag? You pulling some crap again?¡± he snapped, eyebrows scrunched.

    Emery¡¯s lips twitched. That suitcase looked familiar.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to apologize to Carmen, like you wanted,¡± Aubree said, voice t.

    Daxton¡¯s scowl eased, a rare noding her way. ¡°Well, damn. About time you showed some guts.¡±

    Emery grinned. ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re finally stepping up,¡± he said, eyes warm. ¡°Me and Dax talked. We¡¯re giving your Rithol Art School camp spot to Carmen.¡±

    Not a question. A done deal.

    Aubree didn¡¯t flinch. Same as her old life. Emery, desperate to keep Carmen happy, handed over the spot without asking.

    Carmen was artsy, sure, but to keep her smiling, Aubree-who could¡¯ve crushed her sses-was forced to chase art too.

    Back then, Carmen, mad about losing to Aubree in school, wanted to outshine her in art. But Aubree¡¯s talent was unreal. She became her school¡¯s pride and nabbed Rithol¡¯s only art camp spot-a golden ticket.

    Every kid who got in made a name in the art world.

    Carmen gasped, hands flying up. ¡°No way! I can¡¯t take Aubree¡¯s spot! Dax, Em, take it back!¡±

    Her fake act made Aubree¡¯s stomach turn.

    Aubree stood there, watching Carmen¡¯s little drama. ¡®Ugh, if Carmen wasn¡¯t always chasing clout, they probably wouldn¡¯t even care, she thought to herself.

    In her old life, Aubree would¡¯ve been crushed, wondering why her stuff always went to Carmen when she¡¯d done nothing

    wrong.

    Now? She didn¡¯t give a damn. Let Carmen have it¡ªshe¡¯d just crash and burn.

    Besides, Aubree was over the whole art scene this time.

    Daxton pulled Carmen into a quick hug, messing up her hair. ¡°C¡¯mon, kid, why not?¡±

    Aubree grinned and nodded. ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s the problem?¡±

    She popped open the box in her hands. ¡°A spot¡¯s cool, but how about this?

    ¡°All my best stuff¡¯s in here. It¡¯s yours.¡±

    The box held every gift the Wilsons had given her since she came back three years ago.

    Aubree was done-ready to cut every tie with them, step by step. She couldn¡¯t wait to see if Carmen could still be the family¡¯s golden girl without Aubree fixing their messes.

    Emery¡¯s jaw dropped. Daxton¡¯s face went nk. Those were Aubree¡¯s treasures.

    Emery shot up, ring. ¡°Put it back!¡±

    Inside was ake-blue case with a sapphire crown he¡¯d bought with his first big win in Kornd.

    He could still see sixteen-year-old Aubree, fresh to the family, tucking it into that white box, wiping it clean even though it sparkled.

    Her chubby cheeks glowed as she grinned. ¡°Emery, this is my favorite treasure.¡±

    Aubree tilted her head. ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys tell me to apologize?¡±

    Emery¡¯s throat tightened. Sure, they wanted an apology, but not this.

    ¡®How could she give up her prized stuff? Isn¡¯t it everything to her?¡¯ they wonderd.

    He stared, lost. He just didn¡¯t want Aubree going down a bad path. ¡®Is that wrong?¡¯

    Daxton¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°Aubree, is this an apology or you just throwing shade?¡±

    Sheughed, all bright and breezy. ¡°Daxton, why you mad? If I¡¯m saying sorry, I gotta go big, right? Isn¡¯t this legit?¡±

    Daxton had nothing. It was legit-too legit. Every Wilson knew those gifts were Aubree¡¯s whole world.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes bugged out at the box. ¡®What is Aubree¡¯s game? A real apology or a slick move to make their brothers feel sorry?¡¯

    Either way, Carmen wanted that stuff. A pang of jealousy hit-everything was one-of-a-kind, and she had nothing like it.

    Biting her lip, Carmen yed sweet. ¡°Aubree, this is too much. These are from Mom, Dad, and the boys. They mean more than just stuff. I can¡¯t take it.¡±

    She shook her head, all innocent.

    Carmen¡¯s good-girl vibe had Daxton softening. Next to her, Aubree looked like she was picking a fight.

    +20

    Is she trying to guilt them?¡¯ he fumed.

    He smirked. ¡°Fine, if you¡¯re giving it up, don¡¯te cryingter.¡±

    He grabbed Carmen¡¯s hand, snagged something from the box, and handed it over. ¡°It¡¯s yours now.¡±

    Carmen hid her thrill, acting all torn but not saying no.

    Aubree shrugged. Garbage back where it belonged. She turned to bounce, not caring what they thought.

    Emery¡¯s heart raced. Something felt wrong-like he was losing something big. He started after her.

    Carmen grabbed her chest and yelped, ¡°Ow, it hurts!¡±

    Emery stopped cold, turning to see Carmen¡¯s pale face. He scooped her up without a second thought. ¡°Daxton, get the car!¡±

    Aubree heard the drama but didn¡¯t look back. Carmen or her? She wasn¡¯t even in the running.

    Once, she¡¯d have been crushed seeing her brothers fuss over Carmen. Now, she couldn¡¯t care less.

    Fake or real, if Carmen tanked, Aubree would be out here cheering with popcorn.

 Tried 3

    Carmen¡¯s heart attack mmed the Wilson family like a wrecking ball, turning everything to chaos.

    Emery wanted to have a real talk with Aubree, but that got kicked to the curb.

    Daxton, though, was quick to throw shade, ming Aubree for Carmen¡¯s copse. He was dead set that Aubree freaked Carmen out by shoving her down the stairs on purpose, then pulled a crocodile-tears apology to mess with her head, triggering the attack.

    In her upstairs bedroom, Aubree sprawled on the bed while Carmen got rushed to the hospital.

    The butler was busy shooing party guests out the door.

    School was starting in two days, and since Aubree wasn¡¯t going the artsy route, she needed to ping her teachers to switch back to regr sses.

    No way was she reliving her old life, ying doormat for Carmen¡¯s climb to fame.

    Last time, Carmen¡¯s grades couldn¡¯t cut it for Rithol Art School, but Aubree¡¯s win at a national art contest scored her a free ride. The Wilsons strong-armed her into being Carmen¡¯s ghostwriter, even if it meant torching her own future.

    By some fluke-or Carmen¡¯s dumb luck-it worked out.

    But that was just the start.

    In college, everything Aubree earned got pped with Carmen¡¯s name. She fought back, but the Wilsons had her pinned. Step out of line, and they¡¯d cut her cash flow, leaving her high and dry.

    This time, Aubree¡¯s n was simple: stack her own money. With enough dough, she could call her own shots.

    She was itching to see if Carmen could still y the ¡°world-famous genius painter¡± without her doing the heavy lifting.

    Drained, Aubree passed out. She woke to a sharp stab in her gut, face pale as a ghost, sweat dripping like rain onto the sheets.

    ¡°Damn, this hurts.¡± Gritting her teeth, she dragged herself up, clutching her stomach, reaching for the painkillers in the cab.

    The Wilsons barely fed her, and it had wrecked her stomach. She¡¯d been stuck tailing Carmen all day, ¡°protecting¡± her, and hadn¡¯t eaten a crumb.

    The family was out for dinner, and the maids? They didn¡¯t give a damn if she starved.

    Before she could grab the pills, the door got pounded like a drum.

    A maid barked that her dad wanted her at the hospital to grovel to Carmen.

    Hunched over, stomach screaming, Aubree slid into the car for the hospital, face white as death.

    ¡®Another apology? How much more do I owe Carmen, anyway?¡¯ she thought bitterly. ¡®What is her game this time?¡¯

    Head against the window, eyes closed, Aubree was done caring. Whatever Carmen wanted to take, let her try-she had nothing left to lose.

    Aubree trudged into Carmen¡¯s hospital room, barely opening the door when a sharp p cracked across her face-no

    20)

    warning, no mercy.

    ¡°You little brat! Can¡¯t stand your sister doing okay, huh?¡± The guy in the fancy suit, all proper and polished, had eyes burning with rage that didn¡¯t match his vibe.

    It was like she wasn¡¯t his daughter-like she was his worst enemy.

    ¡°Ahem¡­ Ahem¡­¡± Aubree straightened up, touching her stinging cheek. Blood¡¯s taste filled her mouth.

    This guy was her so-called dad, Ronald.

    Ronald red, with her brother Daxton right behind, shooting her the same nasty look. ¡°If Carmen¡¯s hurt bad, you¡¯re done!¡± Daxton snapped.

    Carmeny in the hospital bed, half-held by Emery, giving Aubree this fake, sad stare, like she was heartbroken.

    Aubree let out a bitter chuckle. She saw it now-why she was here.

    In her old life, her dad skipped Carmen¡¯s big day for some big-deal meeting. Guilt already eating him, he came home to hear Aubree ¡°pushed¡± Carmen.

    Without thinking, he¡¯d beat her senseless with the family¡¯s ¡°discipline¡± and gave her inheritance to Carmen.

    She didn¡¯t know what went down this time, but it was probably the same deal. Another excuse to make her the bad guy to baby Carmen.

    But really?

    ¡°What¡¯d I do?¡± Aubree stared down Ronald.

    ¡®Did I hurt Carmen? Break her? Why are they acting like I owe them her life?¡¯ she fumed internally.

    Her tone set Ronald off. ¡°What¡¯s that attitude?¡±

    He felt disrespected. And he raised his hand for another p.

    Aubree¡¯s stomach was screaming, but somehow she grabbed his wrist mid-swing.

    She shot back,¡±Did I say something wrong? Did Daxton or Emery see me shove Carmen? No! You just think I did it, so that¡¯s the truth. You won¡¯t even check the freaking cameras!¡±

    She yelled, letting her anger spill.

    The old Aubree would¡¯ve cried or begged. She¡¯d never fought back like this. Everyone froze.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t watch out for Carmen, and that¡¯s on you!¡± Daxton barked, face red. ¡°Then you pull out those gifts to rub it in? Trying to mess with her heart or what?¡±

    Ronald¡¯s face was ice. ¡°Aplogize.¡±

    ¡°We talked with your brothers,¡± he said. ¡°Your inheritance? It¡¯s Carmen¡¯s now.¡±

    Carmen, tucked in Emery¡¯s arms, made a weak show of sitting up. ¡°No, Dad, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not Aubree¡¯s fault. Just a ¡®sorry¡¯ is enough.¡±

    ¡®Look at her, ying the angel. Aubree smirked. ¡®Say sorry? That¡¯d be like saying I¡¯ meant to mess with Carmen. No way!

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Aubree red at Carmen. ¡®Sorry? Dream on.¡±

    +20

    ¡°Watch out for Carmen? Am I her mom? The maid? She¡¯s grown-does she need me babysitting her? Since when¡¯s that my job?¡± She dropped her hand from her aching stomach, standing tall.

    Emery started to speak, noticing Aubree¡¯s pale face. He wanted to calm things down.

    Aubree didn¡¯t let him. ¡°Even if I scared Carmen by mistake, I brought those pricey gifts to make up for it. And that¡¯s still my fault? That¡¯s nuts, right?

    ¡°Why¡¯d you even bring me back to this family?¡±

    Everyone knew they yed favorites. Aubree just said it out loud, and the Wilsons¡¯ faces tightened, egos stung.

    ¡°Check the cameras. If I pushed Carmen, I¡¯ll do more than kneel-I¡¯ll give her my life!¡± she added.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes widened, panicked.

    She¡¯d been so sure her dad and brothers would back her up. She didn¡¯t even hide it. The footage would show she threw herself down the stairs when she heard Daxtoning.

    ¡°No need for that!¡± Carmen¡¯s voice spiked.

    She caught herself, clutching her chest. ¡°Dad and the boys have done enough for me. Checking cameras is too much hassle. I just tripped, okay?¡±

    Daxton melted. ¡°Your stuff¡¯s never a hassle, Carmen.¡±

    Ronald¡¯s frown deepened, eyes full of disappointment. ¡°We didn¡¯t think you¡¯d turn out like this, Aubree.¡±

    She was sick of hearing that.

    Her stomach burned like fire, pain overwhelming. Sweat dripped down her face.

    Aubree squinted, Emery¡¯s lips moving in a blur. Her ears buzzed, vision went ck, and she copsed.

    Emery remembered how fiercely Aubree returned those gifts. He was about to suggest checking the footage when she passed out. His heart lurched. ¡°Aubree!¡±

    Dropping Carmen, he scooped her up, panic hitting hard. He turned to Ronald. ¡°Dad, we need to check those cameras.¡±

 Tried 4

    Aubree woke up to the sharp sting of hospital disinfectant in her nose. The ceiling lights flickered, blurry for a second, before her head cleared.

    ¡®A hospital? Seriously?¡¯ she thought.

    ¡°Aubree, thank God you¡¯re awake!¡± a voice sounded.

    She turned and saw Emery, grinning like he¡¯d just won the lottery. Her eyes drifted past him to Ronald, standing stiffly nearby. Over by the door, Daxton had his arm around Carmen, who kept peeking at her.

    A sour thought hit her. ¡®Bet they¡¯re bummed I¡¯m okay!

    Aubree didn¡¯t say a word. Emery¡¯s smile dimmed for a moment, but he quickly pped on a soft,forting one.

    That smile? She¡¯d only seen it aimed at Carmen the past couple of years.

    ¡®What is this? Pity because I ended up in a hospital bed? Pass,¡¯ she thought bitterly.

    Aubree swatted away Emery¡¯s hand as he reached for her and propped herself up. ¡°If you¡¯re here to make me say sorry to Carmen, save it. Ain¡¯t happening.¡±

    Emery blinked, his forehead creasing. ¡®What¡¯s her deal?¡¯

    Daxton jumped in, all hot and bothered. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    Ronald stayed quiet, but his eyes screamed he wasn¡¯t happy.

    ¡°Just what I said,¡± Aubree rasped, her throat scratchy.

    (+20)

    Her ghostly pale face shut Daxton up for a second. Emery, always the good cop, chimed in gently. ¡°We checked the cameras while you were out. Carmen tripped on her own. Me and Dax got heated and jumped to conclusions.¡±

    ¡°Carmen freaked out and thought you pushed her,¡± he added. ¡°It¡¯s just a big mix-up. Dad¡¯s not gonna cut you out of the inheritance or anything.¡±

    Ronald nodded. ¡°It¡¯s nothing big, a mistake. Drop it. Rest up. We¡¯re taking Carmen home to recover.¡±

    Aubree bit back augh. Carmen took a tumble, and they were quick to point fingers, no evidence required. When the truth spilled out? Just a clumsy slip-up.

    Now they were acting like handing her what was rightfully hers was some grand gesture.

    ¡®Nope. Not today,¡¯ she thought.

    ¡°So, shouldn¡¯t Carmen say sorry to me?¡± Aubree asked, eyes narrow.

    Daxton¡¯s jaw dropped, face red. ¡°What¡¯s your problem? Carmen was so worried, she stayed here, no sleep, waiting for you!¡±

    ¡°Daxton, chill,¡± Carmen said, tugging his sleeve, looking all sad and fragile. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I should apologize.¡±

    Ronald¡¯s lips went tight, his stare cold. ¡°Enough, Aubree,¡± he snapped, a warning in his tone.

    Emery jumped in. ¡°Aubree, you just woke up. Take it easy, okay? Let¡¯s move on.¡±

    ¡°Move on?¡¯ Aubree nearly lost it.

    Aubree was so mad she almostughed.

    She eyed them all-Daxton, quick to rip her apart, no questions asked.

    Ronald, acting like her wanting an apology was drama.

    Even Emery, ying nice but still taking sides.

    Carmen shot Aubree a fake-sorry look, promising to make things right but never following through.

    Before she was fifteen, Aubree dreamed her family would swoop in and take her home from the orphanage. They did, but all her pain since then came straight from them.

    With their tant favoritism, she tiptoed around like a stray dog, sneaking peeks at the happiness others got.

    Her parents thought she came from the orphanage with aundry list of bad habits, blowing every tiny mistake way out of proportion.

    Her oldest brother Bryan saw her as a reminder of his screw-ups, so he tried to control her life like he was doing her a favor. Push back? Then she was just ¡°ungrateful.¡±

    Daxton was sure she¡¯d stolen Carmen¡¯s spot the second she showed up, always giving her the cold shoulder.

    Her third brother Trevor thought she was a nobody, a stain on his perfect life. At first, she was like a shiny new toy to him, but once the fun wore off, she was just dirt on his shiny star status, not fit to be his sister.

    Emery was the only one who¡¯d ever been kind, but Carmen¡¯s sneaky tricks slowly turned him against her, too. He started buying the lies.

    Maybe leaving that orphanage was her biggest mistake.

    She took a deep breath. ¡®Why keep this family around for Christmas?¡¯

    ¡°We messed up,¡± Carmen said, ncing at Daxton with big, innocent eyes. ¡°Aubree needs rest. Let¡¯s leave her be. Hey, Daxton, tell the cook to make her favorite seafood pasta.¡±

    Aubree gave her a side-eye. ¡®Seafood pasta?¡¯ She was allergic, and Carmen knew it.

    Carmen was a master at ying the saint, charming the whole Wilson family when they felt bad for her.

    If Aubree hadn¡¯t been through this before, she might¡¯ve bought the act, maybe even thanked Carmen for ¡°caring.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s n was clear: snag the Wilson fortune and all the love that came with it.

    Daxton nodded, patting Carmen¡¯s head like she was a damn angel. ¡°You¡¯re too sweet, Carmen.¡±

    Then he turned to Aubree, his face like ice. ¡°I¡¯ll let this go, but mess with Carmen again, and you¡¯re done.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t blink. ¡°Won¡¯t be a next time.¡±

    !

    The fancy hospital room had everything. She grabbed a pen and paper from the nightstand and started writing.

    Emery peeked over, saw the first words, and went pale. ¡°Aubree, what the hell?¡±

    She ignored him, finished, and shoved the paper at Ronald. ¡°I¡¯ve never been a real Wilson anyway. Let¡¯s make it official.¡±

    Ronald nced at it, his face twisting with shock, then rage. ¡°You gone crazy, Aubree? You wanna cut me out as your dad?¡±

    ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Aubree said, calm as ever. ¡°You never gave me the Wilson name. I was never one of you.

    ¡°You all think I¡¯m a problem. So let¡¯s just end it.¡±

    Ronald crushed the paper in his hand, looking like he might explode. ¡®How dare she?¡¯

    Carmen snuck a nce, and when she saw ¡°Family Ties Termination¡± in big letters, her eyes lit up like she¡¯d won the lottery.

    With Aubree gone, the Wilson empire was hers.

    Still, she yed it up. ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re hurting Dad¡¯s feelings.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t even look at her, staring Ronald down. ¡°Sign it, Mr. Wilson.¡±

    Daxtonughed, cold and sharp. ¡°What, you think this stunt¡¯s gonna make us feel sorry for you? You¡¯re just acting like a damn fool.¡±

    Ronald gritted his teeth. ¡°Fine. You want out? You got it!¡±

    As the head of the Wilson family, he was floored that his own daughter had humiliated him.

    ¡®Fine, she wants to cut ties? I¡¯ll make it quick,¡¯ he thought to himself.

    He snatched the pen, scrawled his signature with a sharp flick, and shot her a cold stare. ¡®Let¡¯s see how this ungrateful kid

    handles life solo.

    Aubree grabbed the paper like it was a winning lottery ticket, her voice almost too sincere. ¡°Thanks a ton, Mr. Wilson.¡±

    That ¡°Mr. Wilson¡± stung like a p. Ronald¡¯s chest tightened, a storm of anger and hurt brewing inside. ¡°If you¡¯re not a Wilson anymore, you¡¯ve got no business in this hospital room,¡± he snapped.

    He thought Aubree was just putting on a show, that if he pushed back, she¡¯d cave.

    Nope. Without missing a beat, Aubree ripped the IV from her hand, flung the nket off, and strutted toward the door.

    Ronald¡¯s face turned stormy, his voice booming after her. ¡°You think you¡¯re tough? Don¡¯te crying back when you crash

    and burn!¡±

    Carmen, his adopted daughter, rushed to his side, her tone gentle. ¡°Dad, chill, don¡¯t let her get you all worked up.¡±

    Ronald looked at Carmen, so much sweeter than Aubree. His expression softened, and he said, loud enough for Aubree to hear, ¡°Carmen, you¡¯ve been dying to check out that new five-star restaurant, right? Let¡¯s go tonight. Time to celebrate.¡±

    Everyone got the hint.

    Aubree stopped at the door, a smirk twisting her lips. ¡°Hey, Mr. Wilson, you ever notice I¡¯m allergic to seafood?¡±

    The room went dead silent, everyone frozen.

 Tried 5

    Aubree was done with the Wilsons. No way was she sticking around their swanky mansion anymore.

    20

    She took a cab back to their ce-empty, quiet as a graveyard. In her room, she dragged an old, beat-up suitcase from the corner and stuffed it with everything she¡¯d brought from the orphanage.

    Under her bed, she found a bank card.

    One grand sat on that card, a goodbye gift from some guy named ¡°Mr. Quinn¡± when she left the orphanage. She¡¯d told him she didn¡¯t need his help, but he never asked for it back. Now, that money was her way out.

    Aubree swapped her Wilson clothes for an old orphanage outfit. Good thing years of barely eating kept her small enough to fit.

    With a bitter chuckle, she grabbed her suitcase and headed out, running smack into Wendy Carter, the housekeeper.

    Wendy¡¯s gut twisted. ¡°That suitcase? Aubree is bolting?¡¯

    ID and luggage in hand, Aubree caught a bus to Rithol City¡¯s rough edges. The city was pricey as hell-only the sketchy suburbs had rentals she could afford. Three hundred bucks got her a tiny room.

    Small, but it had the basics. Cozy, even.

    Back at the Wilson house, the mood was worlds apart.

    Carmen swept in like a queen, her usual posse hyping her up.

    Wendy hesitated, then spilled. ¡°Mr. Wilson, Aubree came by. Grabbed a bag and split. Hasn¡¯t been back.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Mr. Wilson¡¯s face went red, his mind racing. ¡®Is she serious?¡¯

    Daxton smirked, arms crossed. ¡°Oh, please. First, she ¡®cuts us off,¡¯ now she¡¯s pulling this runaway stunt? Thinks we¡¯ll beg her toe back? Lame. Bet she¡¯s back in three days, crying.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll regret this,¡± Ronald snapped. ¡°When she drags her sorry butt back, I¡¯ll deal with her.¡±

    Carmen yed sweet, batting her eyes. ¡°Should we look for her? What if she¡¯s in trouble?¡±

    Her fake concern made the Wilsons roll their eyes at Aubree even harder. They told Carmen to chill-Aubree wouldn¡¯t die out there.

    But Emery¡¯s fists tightened, worry clouding his eyes. ¡®No cash, no n-where could Aubree go?¡¯

    In her new ce, Aubree was settling in. She grabbed some cheap sheets, made the bed, and felt a spark of something new: freedom.

    This cramped room was nothing like the Wilsons¡¯ pce, but it was hers. No more tiptoeing or stressing about getting the boot.

    Next up: school, money, health.

    SATs were a year away, and senior year would start with a review of old material.

    Aubree knew she could self-study and keep up. She was ready.

    Her health, though? Total mess. The Wilsons fussed over Carmen¡¯s heart condition, so they stuck Aubree on a strict diet- tiny meals to keep her weak, so she wouldn¡¯t ¡°stress¡± Carmen.

    55%

    +20)

    Just enough to scrape by, never enough to feel full.

    Did they check if she got those meals? Nope. The staff even blocked her from sneaking snacks.

    The worst part? Aubree used to spend hours cooking stomach-soothing meals for Daxton, who¡¯d skip food for his experiments. She kept his stomach happy while hers was shot.

    Daxton¡¯s fine now, thanks to her. But no one cared about Aubree.

    ¡°I¡¯m done with the Wilsons for good. If I can stack some cash, I¡¯ve got the old-school herbal tricks from my old life to get back in shape,¡± she muttered.

    Aubree stared at her reflection in the dingy mirror. She was skin and bones-thinner than her orphanage days. Her chin was sharp as a knife, and her height? Stuck at 5¡¯3¡å for years.

    ¡°Need a hustle that won¡¯t tank my grades.¡± Aubree mumbled, frowning. Then it hit her. One killer idea.

    In her old life, esports went huge. Games made it to the Olympics, and pro gaming was the ce to be. Betting on a team was like hitting the jackpot.

    Took Emery¡¯s Apex Squad. They rode that wave, turning into an esports dynasty. Later, they cashed in on their star yers, jumping into livestreaming and ruling short-form videos.

    Aubree¡¯s n? Beat them to it. The inte was always a safe bet, no matter the era.

    Right now, LOL was in its fall finals. Emery¡¯s Apex Squad was up against GOD¡¯s Fury, a scrappy rookie team of five.

    But GOD¡¯s Fury¡¯s midner was out with a hand injury, and they were hunting for a sub.

    This was Aubree¡¯s shot.

    Win the tournament cash and invest it. yer to team owner? Hell yeah, she could do that.

    Fueled by the idea, Aubree dove in.

    For two days, she scoped out her new neighborhood. Her routine was tight: mornings at the market for fresh food to fix her health, nights at the inte caf¨¦ grinding LOL, and the rest of the time hitting the books for school.

    The night before the semester started, Aubree crashed early, ready to crush her first day.

    She had no clue the school¡¯s online forum was buzzing about her.

    A wild post about the Wilson family¡¯s ¡°real vs. fake heiress¡± drama-fighting over inheritance-blew up. Bored teens hyped it to the top.

    Jealousy, pushing someone down stairs, getting kicked out-the juicier the story, the faster it spread.

    Overnight, Aubree¡¯s name was the talk of Rithol High.

    Aubree took the bus to school and went straight to her old art ss to get her name off the roster.

    The art ss was chill, especially with the new semester just kicking off. As she climbed the stairs, the loud chatter inside was hard to miss.

    ¡°No way! Carmen, you¡¯re going to Rithol Art School for the rest of the year? You actually scored that spot?¡±

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s Carmen we¡¯re talking about. A Rithol Art School slot isn¡¯t just handed out.¡±

    ?

    55%

    Guys, ease up on the praise. I just got lucky,¡± Carmen said. Aubree didn¡¯t need to see her to know she was eating up the attention, probably smirking while ying the humble card.

    ¡®Such a fake,¡¯ Aubree thought.

    The room was full of Carmen¡¯s fan club, tossing in a few digs at Aubree.

    She ignored them and pushed open the door. The ce went dead quiet.

    Papers in hand, Aubree walked up to the teacher. ¡°Hey, can you sign this?¡±

    ¡°You sure about switching to regr sses?¡± the teacher asked.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    The teacher signed without a fuss and crossed Aubree¡¯s name off the list. That quick exchange got everyone whispering again.

    20

    ¡°Is Aubree losing it? Getting kicked out of the Wilson family really hit her hard, huh? Dropping art for regr sses? That¡¯s a weird way to give up,¡± someone muttered.

    ¡°Probably can¡¯t handle being around Carmen anymore. Easier to quit than look bad.¡±

    The gossip didn¡¯t faze Aubree one bit.

    As she turned to leave, Carmen grabbed her arm. ¡°Aubree, stop being dumb. You can¡¯t just switch to regr sses to get Mom, Dad, and the boys to care. Don¡¯t tank your future like this.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s face was all ¡°I¡¯m so let down.¡±

    Her words had everyone nodding like it clicked. ¡®So, that¡¯s it-Aubree¡¯s just chasing pity!¡¯

 Tried 6

    Aubree clicked her tongue. ¡°You¡¯re burning my retinas.¡±

    Carmen blinked, clueless. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°That saintly glow of yours,¡± Aubree said, her voice dripping with shade. She was totally calling out Carmen¡¯s busybody act.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes got all teary, and she stood there, looking like a kicked puppy.

    Cue the rescue squad. Some dude jumped in, all fired up. ¡°Aubree, don¡¯t act too big for your boots!

    ¡°Carmen¡¯s just being nice, worrying about you. You¡¯re not even close to her level!¡±

    Aubree brushed Carmen¡¯s hand off, smirking. ¡°Oh, really? That fancy art program Carmen¡¯s in? That was my spot. I gave it to her.¡±

    If one got picked for Rithol Art School¡¯s elite art camp and didn¡¯t want it, they could pass it to someone else. But no one even did that.

    Her words hit like a grenade. The guy froze, jaw dropped, disbelief all over his face.

    Carmen was the Wilson family¡¯s golden girl. To keep it that way, Aubree had to stay in the shadows. Some of Carmen¡¯s ¡°masterpiece¡± paintings? Yeah, those were Aubree¡¯s.

    But Aubree was tired of hiding. She wanted her shot to shine.

    She¡¯d secretly signed up for the Rithol Art School exam, hoping to surprise everyone. But, as always, the Wilsons only saw Carmen as the one who deserved the spotlight.

    The room buzzed with gasps.

    ¡®If Aubree¡¯s giving up her spot, is she, like, way more talented than Carmen?¡¯ they wondered. ¡°The teacher didn¡¯t shut it down, so¡­ maybe it¡¯s true? And now she¡¯s switching to regr sses? Is she nuts?¡¯

    All eyes flicked to Carmen,ced with doubt. The Wilson family¡¯s ¡°real heiress vs. fake heiress¡± drama had everyone guessing what was legit.

    Carmen¡¯s perfect smile slipped for a split second, showing a sh of raw jealousy.

    ¡®How dare Aubree spill that tea?¡¯ she fumed to herself. ¡®Isn¡¯t she scared of pissing me off and getting chewed out by the family?¡¯

    Carmen figured Aubree should be groveling for their approval, ying the sad sidekick to make her look like the perfect, big-hearted Wilson heiress.

    Outside the open ssroom door, two figures-one tall, one short-watched it all

    go down.

    Bowen Turner raised an eyebrow. He was just dropping off his nephew and checking out his investment in the school. He didn¡¯t expect to see her again.

    And she wasn¡¯t the Aubree he¡¯d pictured.

    ¡°Is that Aubree?¡± Bowen squinted at the skinny girl in the ssroom. She looked frailer than in those old photos from three years ago. Hadn¡¯t grown an inch.

    ¡®And those shoes¡­¡± he mused. ¡°The ones from her fifteenth birthday? How¡¯d shee back looking this rough?¡¯

    Alvin Tuener shot his uncle a curious look. His uncle had been in Odiond for three years, hustling for the family business. No way he¡¯d know the Wilson family¡¯s lost-and-found heiress.

    ¡°You know her, Uncle Bowen?¡± he asked.

    +20)

    ¡°Heard some talk,¡± Bowen said, all casual, like he was just asking about a random name. ¡°She¡¯s a Wilson, right? Doesn¡¯t look

    it.¡±

    Alvin shrugged. ¡°Yeah, the Wilsons treat her like garbage. Worse than their help. Rumor is, she fought with them and split.¡±

    Bowen nodded, dropping it. ¡°Get to ss, kid. I gotta chat with your principal. Later.¡±

    He didn¡¯t go near the ssroom. As he walked off, he texted his assistant.

    When Kelvin Malone saw the message-his boss wanting dirt on a high school girl-he nearly choked.

    ¡®He finally crushing on someone?¡¯ Kelvin thought.

    He¡¯d been with Bowen since college, and the guy never gave women a second nce.

    Still, Kelvin¡¯s stomach flipped. ¡®She¡¯s gotta be eighteen, right? He¡¯s not that dumb¡­¡¯

    Bowen had no idea his assistant was freaking out.

    Alvin watched his uncle leave, scratching his head. ¡°What¡¯s his deal? Old guy having a midlife meltdown already?¡±

    He shrugged, strolled into ss, tossed his bag on a chair, and zoned out for a nap. The weird vibe in the room? Didn¡¯t care.

    The second he walked in, Aubree saw Carmen tense up. She didn¡¯t check who it was-didn¡¯t matter.

    Shoving past some guy in her way, Aubree ditched art ss without a nce back.

    She waste. By the time she hit ss 13, the teacher was already talking.

    Thanks to her homeroom teacher¡¯s heads-up, the teacher just waved her in to grab a seat.

    After ss, during the break, ss 13-usually a nerdy, quiet senior ss-was whispering like crazy.

    Aubree felt eyes on her and frowned. ¡®If Carmen¡¯s why everyone in art ss was gawking, what¡¯s the deal now?¡¯ she thought to herself.

    She wasn¡¯t stupid. Something was up.

    ¡°You Aubree?¡± her desk mate asked, a girl with a short, spiky wolf-tail haircut, eyeing her like she was trouble.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Aubree said, keeping it short.

    ¡°Name¡¯s Matilda Diaz. Bet you haven¡¯t seen the school forum yet, huh?¡±

    Matilda¡¯s hint was enough. Aubree grabbed her phone and checked the forum. Total mess-posts tearing her apart, some telling her to drop dead.

    They called her a snake, said she tried to kill someone.

    At the top, a pinned post screamed she¡¯d pushed her foster sister down the stairs at some fancy party, getting her kicked out of the Wilson family.

    No surprise. Carmen¡¯s work, obviously.

    To Carmen, step one was getting Aubree tossed from the Wilsons-check. Step two? Making school hell for her, too.

    Aubree¡¯s face didn¡¯t show a hint of worry or anger.

    ¡°You¡¯re not pissed?¡± Matilda asked, head tilted, totally confused.

    Aubree flicked through her phone, barely looking up. ¡°Pissed? Over this? It¡¯s nothing.¡± The half-baked lies and garbage posted about her on the school forum? Just Carmen¡¯s weak attempt to drag her down.

    In her old life with the Wilson family, she¡¯d faced way worse-stuff that made this look like a bad prank.

    Carmen wasn¡¯t trying to wreck her in one go. Nah, she was ying the long game, nting seeds to make people see Aubree in a certain light. So when something else popped off, folks would just shrug and say, ¡°Yup, that¡¯s Aubree. Figures.¡±

    That was exactly how the Wilsons had cornered her, step by slimy step, until she was nothing but a caricature to them.

    A sly grin tugged at her lips. She¡¯d survived that mess once. If she hadn¡¯t learned her lesson by now, there was no point of a second shot.

    She pulled up a video on her phone and posted it to the forum, using her real name.

    It was security footage from the Wilson estate, grabbed from the control room before she ditched that life. She¡¯d been ready for Carmen¡¯s cheap shots.

    Matilda, sitting next to her, peeked at the video and gave Aubree a look, like she wanted to say something but held back.

    Aubree just shrugged, like it was no big deal, and didn¡¯t bother checking the forum again.

    Across campus, a few school higher-ups trailed Bowen, kissing up while giving him the VIP tour.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, we can¡¯t thank you enough for your investment. The kids at Rithol High are so lucky to have this amazing school,¡± the principal said, his bald head gleaming under the sun, two stray hairs pping as he yammered on.

    ¡°Totally!¡± another official chimed in. ¡°Our students are top-notch, future superstars!¡±

    ¡°Superstars, huh?¡± Bowen¡¯s tone had a sharp edge nobody could quite ce.

    He let out a quiet scoff, ncing at his phone. His assistant, Kelvin, had sent a report, including the whole forum drama.

    ¡°So, your ¡®top-notch¡¯ kids spend their time ganging up on someone online for kicks?¡± he said, raising an eyebrow. The principal¡¯s proud hairs seemed to wilt.

    It was a muggy September day in Rithol City, and the principal mopped sweat off his brow. ¡°Mr. Turner¡ª¡±

    ¡°Take a look,¡± Bowen said, handing over his phone. Kelvin, quick as ever, had pinned down the worst culprits-the ones fanning the mes online.

    The principal¡¯s face went pale as he scrolled. The school¡¯s biggest investor was here for the first time, and despite all his nning, this mess had blown up in his face. ¡°We¡¯ll sort this out, I promise!¡± he stammered.

    Bowen pocketed his phone, his voice cold as ice. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say this ce pumps out the best? No room for bad apples, right?¡±

    His polite smile didn¡¯t touch his eyes. Nobody was dumb enough to think he was happy.

    The principal, practically trembling, tested the waters. ¡°So¡­ expel them?¡±

    ¡°Your school, your rules,¡± Bowen said with a sharp nod, but his eyes were hard as steel.

    ¡®How could she just take that crap?¡¯ he thought, his mind spinning.

    He clenched his jaw, his gaze dark and stormy.

    (+20)

 Tried 7

    The school day blew by. Aubree¡¯s high school had evening study sessions, but she¡¯d gotten a pass from her teacher to skip

    them.

    She grabbed her bag, ready to hit the store for some groceries to cook dinner. Needed fuel for ate-night gaming sesh at

    the inte caf¨¦.

    But right outside the school gates, someone stepped in her way.

    It was Emery.

    His face was twisted, eyes shing with disappointment and anger. ¡°I thought cutting off Dad was bad, Aubree, but this? Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d go this dirty.¡±

    Aubree frowned, totally lost. She took a step back. ¡°What¡¯re you even talking about? If it¡¯s nothing, just¡­ let me go, okay?¡±

    Emery¡¯s jaw clenched, like he was biting back a yell. ¡°Why¡¯d you post that video on the school forum? You know how much this¡¯ll wreck Carmen?

    ¡°She¡¯s at Rithol Art School, training, and called me crying her eyes out. Says she doesn¡¯t even know why you¡¯re mad at her, and you¡¯re out here ruining her. That¡¯s cold, Aubree.¡±

    ¡®Cold?¡¯ Aubree let out a sharpugh, then smirked. This was too much. They all knew about the forum drama¡ªthe lies trashing her name-and didn¡¯t care.

    But the second hereback hit Carmen? Boom, she¡¯s the bad guy, no questions asked.

    ¡°Emery, is your brain just for decoration?¡± she snapped. ¡°Only people at the Wilson family party knew about that video. You think those big shots would mess with the Wilsons? So, who leaked it, huh?

    ¡°If I wasn¡¯t getting mmed online first, you think I¡¯d post that video for giggles? And FYI, that video¡¯s legit. It¡¯s the truth, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Emery blinked, thrown, but rallied fast. ¡°You¡¯re always ticking someone off, Aubree. That forum post? Probably just payback from someone you annoyed. Carmen would never do that.¡±

    Aubree rolled her eyes so hard it stung. She was done with this Carmen fanboy. ¡°Buzz off,¡± she growled.

    But Emery wasn¡¯t dropping it. As she turned to leave, he grabbed her wrist. ¡°You¡¯reing with me to apologize to Carmen. Now. I¡¯ll sort out the truthter, but you¡¯re fixing this.¡±

    He wouldn¡¯t let go.

    Aubree¡¯s temper red. She red at him. ¡°So, you don¡¯t even know what went down, and it¡¯s my fault anyway?¡±

    Emery opened his mouth-probably to bring up Carmen¡¯s dumb staircase fall-but Aubree shut it down.

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she cut in. ¡°I remember when I came back to the Wilson family. Carmen was getting trashed at school, people saying she¡¯d be kicked out.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson made me y happy sisters with her for show. You all rushed over to make sure everyone knew Carmen was still the Wilson princess. Bryan even sent awyer¡¯s letter to the jerk stirring the pot.

    ¡°And me? What¡¯ve you done to back me up? Nothing. Zilch.

    ¡°As my real brother, you¡¯re not protecting me. You¡¯re just mad I cleared my name because it might make Carmen sad.

    ¡°What¡¯s her deal? Heart made of ss? She cries over this? Then what about me? I¡¯ve been torn apart online-should I just jump off a cliff?¡±

    ¡°If Carmen¡¯s your favorite sister, fine. Why even bother with me?

    ¡°Emery, there¡¯s ying favorites, and then there¡¯s this.¡±

    Emery¡¯s grip on Aubree¡¯s hand eased up. He didn¡¯t say a word, because he knew she¡¯d hit the nail on the head.

    He tried to speak, wanting to im the family cared about her too, but their icy vibes from before left him tongue-tied.

    Taking a deep breath, he said, ¡°C¡¯mon, juste home with me.¡±

    Aubree looked at him like he was nuts.

    ¡°What¡¯s the hold-up? Weren¡¯t we grabbing food?¡± A sharp, confident voice broke in. Alvin, decked out in a crisp white shirt and ck pants, sauntered over, one hand stuffed in his pocket.

    His eyes flicked toward them, brows low and screaming I¡¯m over this.

    Alvin¡¯s face was stone-cold. He¡¯d been thrown off when his uncle, who¡¯d been MIA for three years, rolled up to grab him from school. Thought maybe it was some uncle-nephew bonding time.

    Nope. They just sat in the car, going nowhere, until Aubree showed up at the gate.

    Then Bowen hit him with.¡±Alvin, you gotta build those ssmate connections, right?¡±

    Total BS. But with his uncle¡¯s re burning holes, Alvin dragged himself over to Aubree.

    Aubree froze for a sec. She knew Alvin, sure, but they weren¡¯t tight enough to just hit up a burger joint together.

    Still, this was her golden ticket to ditch Emery.

    She yanked her hand free and stepped up next to Alvin. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s jaw clenched. He was kinda curious, though. ¡®What¡¯s the story with Aubree and Uncle Bowen?¡¯

    He shot her a couple of quick looks as they headed for the car.

    20

    Emery could¡¯ve stopped Aubree, but Alvin? No chance. Kid¡¯sst name was Turner, and that carried weight. Plus, rumor was Bowen was back in town.

    Right as Aubree took off, Emery¡¯s phone lit up. It was the hospital.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, Miss Miller¡¯s test results are in. Mind swinging by to grab ¡¯em?¡± the doctor said.

    When Aubree cked out andnded in the hospital, Emery had the docs give her a full workup.

    After shaking off Emery, Aubree shed Alvin a grin. ¡°Alvin, thanks for the save. I¡¯m gonna dip now.¡±

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s not me who wants you,¡± Alvin said, swinging open the car¡¯s back door. That was when Aubree spotted a shadowy figure chilling inside, half-hidden in the dark.

    She couldn¡¯t make out his face-just a hand, knuckles sharp, catching the streetlight¡¯s glow.

    A low chuckle came from the shadows, like the guy was in a great mood. ¡°Miss Miller, how about I treat you to some grub?¡±

    019

    When Aubree realized it was Bowen asking, she nodded, still kinda stunned.

    Squished between the uncle-nephew duo in the backseat, it hit her. ¡®Bowen¡¯s taking me to dinner? What the hell?!¡±

    The car was silent. A bodyguard drove, another rode shotgun.

    Alvin was glued to his phone on her left, Bowen flipped through papers on her right. Nobody was chatting, and she wasn¡¯t

    about to start.

    Real talk? She was floored.

    +20)

    Everything she knew about these two came from Carmen, who was legit obsessed with Alvin, swearing he was the only guy worth her time.

    Alvin had it rough growing up-lost his parents young in a freak ident. Bowen¡¯s father Enrique raised him, then he moved in with Bowen.

    Word was he picked painting to honor his mom¡¯sst wish. Carmen, all in on him, jumped into art too, even scheming to follow him to Rithol Art School-probably by paying Aubree to fake her portfolio.

    Bowen, though, was total legend. Rithol City¡¯s number-one bachelor, straight out of a romance novel. Every CEO trope? Nailed it.

    Aubree knew Alvin better, mostly because he was All-Star, GOD¡¯s Fury esports team¡¯s jungle captain.

    Fans called him ¡°Shrek¡± for his sneaky, brutal ys and that cheeky username.

    She¡¯d always figured her first real moment with Alvin would be him hitting her up for the team.

    One nce at Alvin¡¯s phone proved her right. He was watching clips of her tearing it up at the inte caf¨¦.

    She¡¯d shelled out for a high-rank ount and went ham in peak matches, running into streamers and pros. Those clips were blowing up online.

    ¡®GOD¡¯s Fury invite¡¯s gotta be close,¡¯ she thought.

    Aubree twined her fingers, trying to keep her cool. Still, one question nagged her. ¡®What does Bowen want with me?¡¯

 Tried 8

    The car pulled up to a cozy, old-school courtyard.

    ¡°My buddy¡¯s restaurant. Decent grub,¡± Bowen said, hopping out and offering Aubree a hand like a true gent.

    Aubree was surprisingly rxed, thanks to Bowen keeping thingsid-back.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said softly.

    Alvin shot Bowen a side-eye. ¡®Weren¡¯t we hitting that fancy spot tonight?¡¯

    The ce was cute, with a little garden out front that screamed charm.

    The food was total win. The soup was so good Aubree grabbed a second bowl.

    Funny thing-the dishes they ordered were perfect for a sensitive stomach, all warm and hearty. Pure luck? Who knew.

    ¡°Hey, Ms. Miller¡­¡± Bowen started, leaning in.

    ¡°Time for the real talk, Aubree thought.

    ¡°Just use my name,¡± she said with a grin.

    Bowen chuckled. ¡°Alright, Bree it is.¡±

    That nickname hit her hard. Back at the orphanage, her sponsor, ¡°Mr. Quinn,¡± sent her cash every month with a letter, always calling her Bree.

    No one else ever did.

    Aubree bit her lip but didn¡¯t argue. ¡°Sure.¡±

    Bowen lit up when she went with it.

    He said,¡±So, Bree, I heard you snagged a spot in Rithol Art School¡¯s program. That¡¯s dope! You¡¯re into art, right? You know Alvin¡¯s in your ss, but his art grades? Straight-up rough. Got time to swing by our ce on weekends to tutor him?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s jaw hit the floor. ¡®Is he serious?¡¯ He red at Bowen like he¡¯d lost his mind.

    Everyone knew Alvin wasn¡¯t bad at art-he was justzy. Bowen knew that.

    His old teachers were pros. And now he couldn¡¯t believe some high school kid was gonna tutor him.

    ¡®Also, when did I sign up for this?¡¯ he thought.

    Alvin opened his mouth to protest, but Bowen¡¯s look shut him down. ¡°Alvin, you need this, man.¡±

    That smile said, ¡°Don¡¯t even try.¡±

    Alvin zipped it. ¡®Fine. Guess U have no say!

    Aubree was just as shocked. ¡®For real? With Alvin¡¯s family cash, they could hire anyone. Why me?¡¯

    ¡°We¡¯re not asking you to do it for nothing,¡± Bowen added. ¡°How¡¯s 300 dors per session?¡±

    He didn¡¯t say how long the gig would run, but that¡¯s 600 dors a week, minimum.

    Aubree yed it cool, but that cash was calling her. If she didn¡¯t know better, she¡¯d think Bowen knew she was broke and was tossing her a lifeline.

    Bowen leaned back, hands sped, chill as ever. No rush, no pressure-just waiting for her to decide, all respect.

    Aubree didn¡¯t shoot it down. She was thinking.

    It wasn¡¯t just the money. It was Bowen-hiswork, his clout.

    Her n was to make waves, then use Alvin¡¯s family ties tond investors. Simple enough.

    But now? New n. If she could get the Turner family to back her business, that was not just money¡ªit was protection. Nobody crosses the Turners, not even the Wilsons.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m in,¡± Aubree said with a nod, sealing the deal.

    Aubree nced at her phone. ¡°Well, Mr. Turner, it¡¯ste. Wanna swap numbers and chatter? I¡¯m outta here.¡±

    Bowen stood, smooth as ever. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you.¡±

    Alvin, totally sidelined, raised a hand like he was in school. ¡°Uh, I got stuff to do.¡±

    Bowen shot him a look. ¡°Rx, Alvin. I¡¯m just dropping Bree off.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll Uber,¡± Alvin muttered, backtracking fast.

    As Bowen led Aubree out, the bodyguards in the car gawked like it was a reality show.

    ¡°Mr. Turner¡¯s ditching the kid to y taxi for a girl?¡± one hissed.

    ¡°She¡¯s Mr. Alvin Turner¡¯s ssmate. Probably just being nice, right?¡± the other said.

    ¡°Nice? The guy who sasses his dad is nice to some random girl?¡±

    Silence hit the car.

    The first guy chuckled. ¡°C¡¯mon. Mr. Turner¡¯s way older than her. He¡¯s not that crazy. Plus, he¡¯s, like, allergic to girls.¡±

    The second guy smirked. ¡°Didn¡¯t Kelvin say Mr. Bowen Turner had him snoop on this Miss Miller today?¡±

    Dead quiet. Then the first guy growled, ¡°Man, Bowen¡¯s such a dog!¡±

    Meanwhile, Aubree trailed Bowen by a step.

    He was drop-dead gorgeous. She¡¯d seen hot guys-her Wilson family had faces that could stop traffic. Her brother Trevor, the movie star, had a jawline that screamed Hollywood. But Bowen? He was unreal.

    It wasn¡¯t just his looks. He had this vibe-cool, untouchable, like he didn¡¯t belong here. Sharp cheekbones, wickedly bold features that hit like a truck. His eyes were deep, like they could see people¡¯s secrets, with a soft starry glow.

    He was in a in tee and jeans, but on him? Straight-up model vibes.

    Aubree rubbed her nose, slowing down. She wasn¡¯t bad-looking-hell, in her old life, Carmen was jealous enough to mess up her face.

    But next to Bowen, she felt like any creep would flirt with him first.

    ¡°Where to?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Double Loop Road.¡±

    ¡°Gotcha.¡± It was a quick walk to the car. The bodyguard had the door open.

    Aubree slid in. The seat sank as Bowen hopped in beside her, bodyguard up front as usual.

    Aubree froze. They¡¯d ridden together before, but now it was just them.

    She messed with her phone, regretting this big-time.

    His scent-cologne and him-filled the air, and she had to breathe slow to stay cool. Mad respect to Alvin for gaming around this guy without flinching.

    ¡°Why switch to regr sses senior year?¡± Bowen asked, ncing over.

    Aubree jumped, looking up. He leaned back, shirt showing a peek of corbone. His eyes had a chill, curious vibe.

    If his face wasn¡¯t so intense, he¡¯d seem like a cool uncle checking on her grades.

    ¡°Felt like it¡¯s more my thing,¡± she said.

    ¡°Bet it¡¯s tough, huh?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m good.¡± She rxed a bit.

    They chatted, keeping it chill. He mentioned tutoring. ¡°Text me when you¡¯re set, and I¡¯ll send a ride.¡±

    ¡°Cool.¡± Talking to him felt easy. Like they¡¯d been buddies forever.

    ¡°Stop at the inte caf¨¦,¡± she said, eyeing the street. Time to game.

    Alvin had been watching her gamey vids, and tonight, he¡¯d probably queue up to scope her out.

    The God¡¯s Fury team was just five yers, facing Apex Squad, a veteran powerhouse. She couldn¡¯t let them know their mid-ner was out. New yer? Had to be hush-hush.

    From her old life, she knew Alvin would test her in a match-teammate or rival. Pass, and he¡¯d DM her.

    The car pulled up to the caf¨¦.

    20

 Tried 9

    Bowen¡¯s ride wasn¡¯t too shy-just a Benz-but in a ce like this ghetto, a Benz was enough to turn heads.

    Aubree got in first, so to get out, she¡¯d either have to walk along the busy street or ask Bowen to move over.

    As she hesitated, ready to speak, Bowen pushed the door open and got out of the car.

    ¡°Thanks, Mr. Turner,¡± Aubree said, ready to leave.

    ¡°Phone.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aubree looked at him, puzzled.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t we say we¡¯d exchange contact info?¡± Bowen chuckled.

    Aubree quickly handed over her phone. Bowen didn¡¯t hold back, not only saving his number but also adding her on WhatsApp.

    After getting her phone back, Aubree dashed into the inte cafe.

    The bodyguard acting as the driver asked, ¡°Sir, back to Forith Bay or Ellis Heights?¡±

    Bowen got bit longer.¡±

    back in the car, replying, ¡°Park in a corner where we can see the cafe¡¯s entrance. The view here is nice. Let¡¯s stay a

    The bodyguard was stunned. ¡®Nice view? That was a stretch!¡¯

    The street was chaotic and crowded, to say nothing of the indescribable smell that permeated the air. Every few steps, their foot wouldnd in an unidentified puddle of liquid.

    The two bodyguards weremunicating silently through exchanged nces.

    ¡®Mr. Turner¡¯s worried about the girl being taken awayte at night, huh?¡¯ one thought.

    ¡®Guess so. Is he really into her?¡¯ the other replied with his eyes.

    ¡®I can¡¯t help but think of that orphan Mr. Turner sponsored a few years back when I see Miss Miller.¡¯

    ¡®But she¡¯s from the Wilson family, not an orphan, right?¡¯

    Then, the two fell silent.

    Bowen, seated in the back of the car, was unaware of how his subordinates were gossiping about him. His window, a cloud passing over his brow.

    The ce was a dump, not suitable for a lone girl.

    gaze fixed out the

    But he wasn¡¯t nning to just hand her a house. Ensuring her safety was enough; he believed she¡¯d sort out her amodation soon.

    Meanwhile, as soon as Aubree entered the cafe, she caught everyone¡¯s attention. Regrs here pretty much all knew her.

    Aubree asked the boss to open her usual station, logged into the game like a pro.

    Though a bitte, the peak time for matches hadn¡¯t passed yet, so she could still squeeze in a few.

    Today seemed lucky; the match-up was quick.

    ¡°Why pick Katarina? She¡¯s been nerfed hard, practically unyable,¡± a guy with blond hair muttered as he saw Aubree log in. When he noticed her peak score was ridiculously high, his eyes widened.

    Seeing her lock in Katarina, he couldn¡¯t help butin out loud.

    Aubree shot him a nce, replying, ¡°That¡¯s your Katarina.¡±

    The guy scoffed inwardly, ¡®Humph, I¡¯ll see how badass this little girl is.

    Just then, the loading screen appeared.

    On the leaderboard, one couldn¡¯t see teammates or opponents¡¯ IDs, but Aubree¡¯s gaze locked onto the opposing jungler. She felt it was Alvin.

    No reason, it was just a gut feeling.

    Truth be told, she wasn¡¯t particrly gifted at gaming, but she had a knack for numbers.

    In her previous life, Emery¡¯s team had gone through a rough patch. To help Emery, she memorized all the respawn intervals of minor and major jungle camps in League of Legends, all champion cooldowns, and any stats-rted bonuses from items.

    With this, she could pinpoint every opponent¡¯s skill cooldown during a game, making them practically transparent to her.

    Thinking about how she helped Emery¡¯s team in her previous life, she couldn¡¯t help but let out a coldugh.

    After making her decision, she proved her worth to Emery. Carmen, on the other hand, tried to dissuade her, saying girls in esports face a lot of bacsh.

    She was naive back then, immediately offering to wear a hat and mask topete. For years, she propelled Emery¡¯s team to unprecedented heights. Then, just because Carmen wanted to experience the thrill of esports, she was forced to hand over her ount.

    Carmen wasn¡¯t bad at the game, barely passing the professional standard. Using Aubree¡¯s ount and identity, she gained a lot of praise as the only female esports yer.

    Even Emery tacitly approved of this.

    He even suggested shamelessly that Aubree could create a new ount and return to the gameter, asking her to step aside for Carmen.

    Suddenly, the game start alert snapped Aubree back to reality. Slowly exhaling, she thought, ¡®Why should I? In this life, I won¡¯t let go of anything that¡¯s mine.¡¯

    Her gaze fixed on the screen.

    The

    The

    1

 Tried 10

    On the screen, the graceful Katrina, with barely any health left, dodged a fatal skill, even a semi-lock-on one.

    Aubree¡¯s lips curled up. The opponent¡¯s skills were back; if she were them, she wouldn¡¯t miss this chance.

    ¡°Still, too bad. Your other four teammates are dead, and the minions aren¡¯t strong. You¡¯re done for,¡± the blond-haired guymented.

    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Aubree said, operating her champion to full health.

    The enemy team pushed to the base.

    Meanwhile, Katrina left the fountain.

    ¡°What? No way!¡± The yellow-haired guy jumped up. If he hadn¡¯t been watching her, he would¡¯ve thought she was cheating.

    On the screen, Katrina first activated her ultimate. She seemingly was just dodging left and right, but every second skill used was to its fullest potential, perfectly avoiding all enemy skills while capitalizing on their cooldowns to counterkill.

    In no time, the penta-kill effect appeared on the screen.

    Seizing the moment, her teammates respawned,unching a counterattack, and the game ended, in just exactly 30 minutes.

    Then, the game settlement page popped up on the screen.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Shrek?¡± The blond-haired guy pointed at the opposing jungler¡¯s ID, ¡°God¡¯s Fury.All-Star.¡±

    The ring pro badge revealed his identity.

    As soon as the match ended, Aubree saw a red dot appear in her friend system, unsurprisingly a friend request from Alvin.

    God¡¯s Fury.All-Star: [Interested in going pro?]

    Phoenix: [Let¡¯s exchange contact info.]

    After sending her WhatsApp ID, Aubree quit the game. Mission aplished, time to wrap it up for today.

    Beside her, the blond-haired guy stared wide-eyed at Aubree, immediately making a decision-to ride on her coattails. ¡°Ma¡¯am, can you take me under your wing?¡±

    ¡°No way,¡± Aubree replied, with an air of considerable resignation.

    With that, she went straight to thework administrator to log off and walked out of the inte cafe.

    As she walked out, the streetlights flickered. Summer nights fell quickly, and unfortunately, her path home passed through a dark alley with no lights.

    Shivering, Aubree hurried home when two hooligans lurking by the roadside exchanged nces and approached.

    ¡°Youngdy, back from gaming again? We¡¯ve been watching you for days. You¡¯re good at gaming,¡± one of them grinned.

    ¡°Leaving so early today? How about keeping uspany for a game?¡± the other one added.

    The two hooligans leered, reaching out towards her.

    Aubree had anticipated this. The ghetto was chaotic, and being targeted as a lone girl was only natural.

    She remained silent, her gaze growing sharper, while one hand moved stealthily towards the side pocket of her backpack, where she had concealed a fruit knife.

    ¡°Tonight might not be possible. My girl needs to get home to sleep.¡± Just as Aubree was about to act, a steady andforting voice sounded, and arge, cool hand gripped her wrist.

    Turning round, she saw Bowen.

    ¡®He hadn¡¯t left?¡¯ Aubree was surprised.

    Bowen, probably close to 6.2 feet, stood a head taller than her.

    It was reassuring with his presence.

    Instantly, Aubree¡¯s nose tingled. She was used to facing all setbacks alone, never expecting someone to step up and protect her in danger.

    The hand gripping her wrist was cool, but the skin it touched burned as if on fire.

    Bowen¡¯s appearance made the two hoodlums hesitate. To them, the guy looked anything but ordinary, especially with that fancy mechanical watch peeking out from his sleeve.

    Even without knowing the brand, they could tell it was pricey.

    Before they could make up their minds, Bowen¡¯s two bodyguards had already nked them from behind, making the decision for them.

    ¡°It¡¯s not safe for a youngdy to hang around outside alone at night.¡± The cops soon arrived and hauled the two hoodlums

    away.

    Bowen let go of her hand, took a step back, giving Aubree some space.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, you¡¯re still here?¡± Aubree asked.

    Bowen looked down at her. ¡°Just passing by.¡±

    Hearing this, the two bodyguards behind him were stunned, murmuring to themselves, ¡®Passing by? Boss, care to tell us which route leads past here?

    ¡®If you¡¯re worried about her, just say it. You¡¯ve been standing here in the cold wind for half an hour¡¯

    Aubree wasn¡¯t buying it either. Noticing Bowen¡¯s car parked in the corner, she pursed her lips but didn¡¯t point it out.

    After the initial gratitude, she wondered why Bowen was going out of his way to help her and what she could possibly have that was worth all this effort.

    Still confused after some guesses, Aubree took a step back. ¡°Thanks again for saving me, Mr. Turner. Next time I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bowen agreed.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be off,¡± Aubree said, heading towards her rental ce.

    She picked up speed, and a light fqrom behind followed at a distance, disappearing only after she had passed through the dark alley.

 Tried 11

    On the other side, Emery had already picked up the medical report from the hospital.

    The doctor¡¯s words still echoed in his cars. ¡°Severe malnutrition, anemia, and stomach problems. What has happened to this poor young girl?

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, surely the Wilson family isn¡¯t so poor that they can¡¯t even provide a meal for her, right?¡±

    As Emery thought back now, his heart still ached painfully, and his hand holding the report trembled uncontrobly.

    When Aubree first returned to the Wilson family, she went for a check-up at the hospital. Although she dressed inly, all her health indicators were fine. So, how did she end up with so many health issues after three years?

    The term ¡°malnutrition¡± on Miss Wilson was simplyughable.

    Standing before the Wilson family¡¯s vi, Emery felt as if the paper in his hand weighed a ton. Aubree¡¯s pitiful expressions shed before his eyes again, making his eyes sting with tears.

    ¡®How could I have been so harsh on her before? She is our treasure. How did she end up like this after being recovered?¡¯ he murmured inwardly.

    It was only when Wendy saw him standing at the door that she hurriedly invited him inside, ¡°Mr. Wilson, why aren¡¯t youing in?

    ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are back and celebrating Miss Carmen Wilson getting into the training camp of Rithol Art School. They¡¯re waiting for you.¡±

    Emery felt dizzy. While Aubree was still out there alone, not sure if she could get enough to eat, his parents were in the mood to celebrate Carmen¡¯s birthday.

    He felt suffocated.

    With heavy steps, Emery entered the house where food filled an entire long table-appetizing dishes everywhere.

    Yet it was in such a home that they raised a girl who ended up with anemia and malnutrition.

    Something choked him in his throat.

    ¡®What exactly has Aubree been through these past few years in this family?¡¯ he couldn¡¯t help wondering.

    Seeing him at this hour made Ronald unhappy. ¡°Emery, didn¡¯t I send you a message early on that we¡¯re celebrating for Carmen today? Why did you onlye back now?¡±

    Emery opened his mouth but didn¡¯t know what to say, and finally mumbled, ¡°I went to the hospital.¡±

    Hearing this, Carmen immediately looked concerned. ¡°Emery, are you sick?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Emery replied tly, ¡°I went to get Aubree¡¯s medical report.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s name cooled down everyone instantly.

    Ronald frowned immediately. ¡°Why bring up such bad luck?¡±

    ¡®Bad luck?!¡¯ Emery couldn¡¯t believe his ears.

    He remembered when Aubree first went missing, his father would smoke all night long and secretly cry over her photo countless times behind closed doors. Yet now, his father considered,her bad luck.

    A surge of fury erupted within him.

    Emery held up the report, adding, ¡°Do you know what it says? Anemia, malnutrition, stomach problems¡­ Do you remember her initial check-up results when she came home? After living here for three years, look at what happened!¡±

    Alice, Emery¡¯s mother, also widened her eyes upon hearing this. ¡°How could she be malnourished? Is this report real, or did Aubree bribe someone to fake it?¡±

    Daxton nodded. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do something like that.¡±

    Bryan frowned. ¡°When did we ever not provide her with meals at home?¡±

    Trevor yawned indifferently. ¡°Just ask Wendy and we¡¯ll know.¡±

    Clearly, no one really cared about Aubree¡¯s condition and even thought it might be some trick of hers.

    To say there was no disappointment would be a lie, but what truly pained Emery was the realization that he once was part of it, too.

    ¡®Back then, how desperate must Aubree have felt being treated like this by everyone around her! We pushed her away bit by bit, Emery thought.

    Wendy came over quickly.

    Alice asked, ¡°Did Aubree not follow the dietitian¡¯s meal n?¡±

    ¡°She followed it for all three meals, and we also watched her closely to make sure she didn¡¯t eat an extra bite,¡± Wendy replied honestly.

    ¡°Only three meals?¡± Emery caught the key point.

    Wendy felt a bit puzzled but still answered truthfully, ¡°Yes, three meals.¡±

    Emery¡¯s hand holding the report was trembling. Everyone in the Wilson family knew that the amount of food Aubree was allowed per meal was pitifully small.

    If she were only eating three meals a day during her growing phase, she wouldn¡¯t get enough nutrition, and not starving to death was already a blessing for her.

    The other Wilsons soon sensed something was off, too.

 Tried 12

    Ronald questioned, ¡°Why only three meals? Isn¡¯t Aubree¡¯s diet specifically customized to follow the principle of frequent, smaller meals?¡±

    Carmen, sitting in the middle, started to panic, fidgeting with her fingers uneasily. ¡°Maybe the kitchen was too busy and made a mistake?¡±

    Even Trevor, who usually took things lightly, looked surprised. ¡®Aubree couldn¡¯t even eat enough here?¡¯ he said inwardly.

    Alice also felt a vague sense of unease, but since everything had already passed, perhaps, as Carmen said, it was just a mistake in the kitchen.

    ¡°The mistake has already happened, and there¡¯s nothing we can do to change it. We¡¯ll just have to make it up to Aubree when shees back,¡± she said, trying to brush it off.

    Emery suddenly thought of what Aubree said to him at the school gate today. ¡°If it were Carmen, would this matter just pass by so easily?¡±

    He suddenly felt unsure, asking inwardly, ¡°Were our actions really right?¡¯

    It was suffocating. The pain in his heart seemed to spread to his limbs. His eyes were sore, and without looking, he knew they must be red.

    ¡°Today, I went to Rithol High School to see Aubree. Do you know what she told me about the school forum?¡± Emery repeated what Aubree had said.

    ¡°If this happened to Carmen now, Mom, would you just brush it off so lightly? Earlier, you said Aubree might have bribed the doctor to fake this report, but have you thought about where Aubree would get the money?

    ¡°She left the Wilson family; where would she live? Does she have enough money for food?¡±

    Emery practically shouted thest sentence.

    Daxton immediately felt annoyed, as these words had ced Carmen in an unfavorable light.

    ¡°Emery, you¡¯re ying the saint now, but don¡¯t you remember how you treated Aubree before?¡± he snapped.

    The sentence deted Emery instantly. He looked like a lost soul, his eyes nk. ¡°Right, I¡¯m not a saint either.¡± Even the slot they were celebrating now was one he decided to give up for Aubree.

    So the little girl who used to follow him around, sweetly calling him, had been lost by him.

    He walked up the stairs in a daze. By the time Emery snapped back to reality, he was already standing at the door of Aubree¡¯s old room.

    He pushed the door open, only to find that the room¡¯syout hadn¡¯t changed at all, as if the owner were still there.

    Emery sat on the bed like a lost soul, and at the sight of the stuffed bear on the bed, his eyes went nk again.

    He still remembered how excited Aubree was when she first came back and saw the room, holding that little bear with sheer joy.

    But actually, this room was originally a storage room with poor lighting and space. Since everyone in the family was busy, they didn¡¯t have time to set up a proper room for her. The little bear she loved so much was also something Carmen didn¡¯t

    want.

    Emery felt his whole body trembling.

    ??? ?? ????

    ?

    3

    ?

    5.54%

    In contrast, Carmen¡¯s room was thergest and best in the entire Wilson family, filled with limited edition dolls that were almost overflowing.

    Feeling a chill on his face, Emery reached up to touch it and realized he had been crying without knowing when.

    ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m wrong.¡± A low sob echoed in the small room.

    Emery regretted not standing up for Aubree when she was being doubted and used, and he shouldn¡¯t have rushed to school and med her without thinking clearly.

    On the very first day she came home, he stood before her, extended his hand, and told her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll always protect you.¡±

    He failed to keep that promise.

    If he had thought from Aubree¡¯s perspective even once, he would understand that she was the one who suffered the most injustice.

    ¡®How could I make her give up her spot at Rithol Art School training camp so easily!¡¯ Breathing heavily, Emery suddenly remembered something and got up to flip over the mattress.

    ¡°Emery, I¡¯ll tell you a secret. Under my mattress hides my most precious thing,¡± Aubree once told him.

    It was a painting of their family together.

    With trembling fingers, Emery picked up the painting and turned it over.

    ¡°To always be together with Mommy, Daddy, brothers, and Carmen!¡± the words on it read.

    Heartbroken beyond words by what he had done, Emery couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and burst into tears.

    He had lost his sister¡­ again.

 Tried 13

    [Let¡¯s meet on Saturday. I¡¯ll text you the exact spotter.] Aubree replied to Alvin¡¯sst message and flipped through her tenth grade textbooks.

    She found it a bit amusing that she¡¯d chosen the tutoring time for their meeting. Yet Alvin agreed so readily, clearly not taking the tutoring seriously. She wondered what expression he¡¯d have when he found out Phoenix was her.

    The first step was sessful, despite the unexpected appearance of Bowen. Overall, things were going well.

    Every semester, the first day of school at Rithol High School would include a start-of-term exam. It served two purposes: checking if students had cked off over the holidays and reminding them of the effort needed for the new semester.

    Her pen swiftly marked the pages as she studied. She considered herself a genius, but missing nearly two years of schooling was a fact.

    During those two years of art school, her cultural lessons were shallow, and her mind was preupied with how to please the Wilson family. So, she only had a vague grasp of the subjects.

    Aubree didn¡¯t expect much from the start-of-term exam; making it into the top 100 would be a pleasant surprise. She had too much to do and no time to waste.

    Shaking off distractions, she focused on her textbooks, absorbing knowledge like a dry sponge dropped into a vast ocean.

    *****

    Meanwhile, Emery had left Aubree¡¯s room and climbed to the third floor, knocking on Bryan¡¯s door.

    ¡°I know you have all the info on Aubree at school. Send it to me,¡± he said.

    Bryan looked at him, whose eyes still bore the signs of recent tears, and the surprise in Bryan¡¯s gaze hadn¡¯t even had a chance to dissipate before he was caught off guard by the unexpected words that followed.

    Indeed, since Aubree¡¯s return, he assigned someone to keep an eye on her, requiring a monthly report of all incidents involving her outside.

    But he was busy and didn¡¯t have time to check the documents his assistant sent. He only asked for reports on any Aubree caused.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant send it to you; mine¡¯s outdated,¡± Bryan said casually.

    trouble

    His offhand remark hit Emery hard. Outdated meant Bryan, despite assigning someone to watch over Aubree, hadn¡¯t cared enough to check on her, not even bothering to open the files his assistant sent.

    Yet, Bryan always knew everything about Carmen immediately.

    ¡®So, what exactly was Aubree to them in the Wilson family? She hadn¡¯t even received family care, so how could they demand anything from her?¡¯ Emery thought.

    His breathing quickened at the thought, his fists clenched at his sides. ¡°Okay,¡± he bit out, not staying another second.

    He feared he¡¯d lose control and fight his Byran.

    He wanted to confront Bryan but realized he had no right to do so.

    Bryan¡¯s assistant quicklypiled all the information and sent it to Emery¡¯s phone.

    It was a ton of info, all about Aubree¡¯s school life over the past three years.

    20

    Most of it was just everyday stuff, nothing special. But then, Emery saw the first monthly exam results and was totally shocked.

    His eyes went wide, sparkling with disbelief.

    It was a near-perfect score. There was even apliment from Bryan¡¯s assistant: [Mr. Wilson, Miss Miller¡¯s academic performance is excellent. Her homeroom teacher thinks she has the potential to be a top scorer nationwide.]

    ¡®No way?!¡¯ Emery¡¯s hand gripping his phone trembled violently as he roared inwardly, ¡®How could this be?¡¯

    He clearly remembered Carmen showing off her top 100 school ranking after the first exam, and the family was so proud. His dad even handed her a bank card as a reward.

    When they asked Aubree about her grade, she bit her lip and said she was at the bottom of the school, throwing away her report card. Mom was furious that day. She couldn¡¯t ept her daughter being so terrible, so she made Aubree kneel outside the vi all night.

    Then, Bryan suggested that Aubree join Carmen in art school.

 Tried 14

    As he reminisced in the past, Emery suddenly covered his face and bent over, tears streaming down uncontrobly.

    Carmen, who ranked top 100, got a bank card reward of 300 thousand dors. Aubree, who topped the school, was punished to kneel all night, ending up in the hospital.

    ¡°Emery, I¡¯ll definitely be as excellent as you and Byran!¡± Aubree¡¯s dark, bright eyes shed in his mind.

    ¡®Aubree did it. She was truly outstanding.

    ¡®But why did she hide it and im she was at the bottom? Why silentlyply with Bryan¡¯s art school arrangement? Why didn¡¯t she tell him?¡¯ Emery was utterly puzzled.

    Then, it suddenly came to him that Carmen must know about this.

    Without wasting a second, he went straight to Carmen¡¯s room.

    As her door opened, he was a bit surprised to see Daxton still there sote, but he didn¡¯t think much of it, as the two of them had always been closer to each other than the other brothers.

    ¡°Emery, what brings you here sote?¡± Carmen asked, dressed in cute pajamas, her rosy cheeks radiating the innocence nurtured by the indulgent care of the Wilson family.

    Emery was momentarily dazed, thinking maybe Aubree¡¯s maturity and restraint that didn¡¯t go with her age were the real

    anomalies.

    ¡°Carmen, do you know Aubree ranked first in her grade after the first monthly exam in school?¡± he asked directly.

    Carmen¡¯s panic didn¡¯t escape his notice.

    ¡®She knew it?¡¯ Emery felt ice-cold blood run through his veins, every hair on his body standing on end.

    Then, he thought of what happened at the inheritance party.

    ¡°Carmen, was Aubree pushing you down the stairs really just a misunderstanding?¡± he asked.

    Some things, once left unthought of, now, upon careful reflection, revealed ws at every turn.

    His voice was hoarse, and his eyes were seriously intense.

    Before Carmen could say anything, Daxton spoke up first. ¡°Enough, Emery! It¡¯s all in the past. What¡¯s the point of questioning Carmen now?¡±

    ¡°You knew?¡± Seeing Daxton¡¯s unsurprised reaction, Emery couldn¡¯t help but shout out.

    ¡°Yeah, I knew. Not only did I know Aubree¡¯s grades weren¡¯t bad, but I also told her to hide the fact that she was doing well.¡± Daxton stood in front of Carmen, his eyes showing no guilt like he was just saying the weather was nice today.

    Emery couldn¡¯t help but step forward and grab his cor, gritting his teeth, his words almost squeezed out, ¡°Why did you do

    that?¡±

    Daxton pushed him away impatiently. ¡°The fact that she,ing from an orphanage, has suddenly scored so highly might make her parents question Carmen¡¯s abilities. I just told her she did too well, way better than Carmen, and it would make everyone unhappy.

    ¡°I just wanted her to give a lower grade. Who knew she¡¯d tear up her report card and say she got thest ce?¡±

    But Aubree¡¯s move that time really satisfied him, and he even gave her a few good days.

    Aubree also knew her ce and deliberately kept her grades at the bottom of the grade.

    ¡°This has nothing to do with Carmen. She had no idea,¡± Daxton added.

    Emery looked at him, then at Carmen, who seemed surprised, and felt all his strength drained.

    Just to make them happy, even after being punished to kneel all night and getting a high fever, Aubree still hid her real grades in the next exam.

    At this thought, his eyes stung badly. He never thought Aubree could be ¡°so dumb.¡±

    Ironically, if only the family cared about her a bit more, they¡¯d know about her fake grades.

    But no.

    Everyone just took her low grades for granted.

    He didn¡¯t want to dwell on the stairs incident anymore; it didn¡¯t matter. Whether Carmen did it on purpose or not, they really did hurt Aubree.

    He wanted to go find her, but suddenly realized he didn¡¯t even know where Aubree was staying now.

    ¡°Carmen, all those gifts Aubree brought out before, they¡¯re with you, right? Give me the sapphire crown I gave Aubree,¡± Emery suddenly said.

    He¡¯d find her. This time, he wouldn¡¯t let her be wronged for the slightest.

 Tried 15

    The opening exam on the second day proceeded as scheduled.

    This time, instead of grouping students by grades as usual, the school randomly assigned everyone to different exam rooms.

    Aubree¡¯s seat was tucked away in the far corner of the ssroom, hardly noticeable. In front of her sat a bespectacled boy, exuding the unmistakable look of a science whiz.

    As the bell rang, thest paper was collected, and the invigtor stood on the podium, announcing, ¡°You can go home after the exam. sses resume this afternoon, and the results will be out soon.¡±

    The teachers at the school were efficient, usually releasing results by the afternoon of the exam day.

    Aubree strolled at the back of the crowd. Just as she was about to leave the exam room, the sses guy in front of her suddenly turned back and red at her unfriendly.

    Aubree was puzzled.

    She didn¡¯t remember knowing this guy.

    The sses guy didn¡¯t say anything, just gave her a look before turning and leaving.

    The teachers were busy tallying scores. The first ss after lunch was a self-study session for the whole school. Some restless students had already rushed to the office to check on the news.

    Students in ss 13 were also distracted, discussing the difficulty of this exam.

    ¡°Breaking news!¡± A girl with twin ponytails came running back, panting. ¡°Someone cheated in this exam, and it¡¯s from our ss.¡±

    As soon as she finished, the ss erupted into chaos.

    ¡°Who? Bold move!¡± While asking, the speaker¡¯s gaze had already shifted to Aubree¡¯s direction.

    And the answer didn¡¯t disappoint.

    The twin ponytail also looked towards Aubree. ¡°After tallying the scores, the teachers found Aubree ranked 89th. Then they received an anonymous tip saying Aubree cheated.

    ¡°The camera in her exam room was recently broken, so there¡¯s no solid evidence, but the person in front of her was Magnus Stewart from the Honor ss, the best among all sses.¡±

    The whole ss was in an uproar. ¡°89th? I¡¯ve been studying for three years and can¡¯t do as well as someone who just came back after two years of art studies? If she didn¡¯t copy from Magnus, I¡¯ll eat my hat!¡±

    ¡°I bet she didn¡¯t expect the top student of the grade to be sitting right in front of her, leading to a copying disaster,¡¯ someoneughed out loud.

    So that guy was named Magnus Stewart.

    Facing these usations, Aubree remained calm. She only cared about her 89th ce, which was a bit unexpected. She thought she might not even make the top 100.

    But it wasn¡¯t enough. She used to score nearly full marks. This was a big step back:

    The twin ponytail watched Aubree, puzzled by herck of panic. ¡®Did she think not admitting it would be fine since there¡¯s no surveince?¡¯ she wondered.

    ¡°Aubree, I was asked to ry a message. Go to the office; the school has already contacted your family,¡± she said.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Aubree stood up and walked straight out, seemingly deaf to the chatter behind her.

    She chuckled to herself, thinking that on the enrollment form, the family contact was Bryan¡¯s number. ¡®Would he reallye to school? Probably just his assistant, right?¡¯

    But this time, Aubree guessed wrong. As she entered the office, a tall, upright figure stood with his back to her.

    Dressed in a bespoke ck suit, it had to be Bryan.

    ¡®He actually came in person?!¡¯ Aubree smirked coldly.

    During her freshman year of high school, she was subjected to campus violence, and when she almost got shoved into a toilet, Bryan merely called his assistant over.

    And because he found out she was bullied for being rude to Carmen, he even mocked her for causing trouble.

    For God¡¯s sake, she just refused Carmen¡¯s request to run all the way to the convenience store on the other side of the school to buy water when she was so hungry she could faint.

    Bryan caught a glimpse of her approaching out of the corner of his eAubreed, without hesitation, yanked her in front of the bespectacled guy. ¡°Apologies, we failed to properly educate her at home.¡±

    Then he turned to the homeroom teacher. ¡°We appreciate the trouble you¡¯ve gone through, sir. Since Aubree is here, whether it¡¯s a punishment or expulsion, we can ept it.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to bother with any further investigation; it would just be a waste of time.¡±

    §ä§à

 Tried 16

    ¡®Did he just assume I cheated right off the bat?¡¯ Aubree frowned.

    Nothing changed. No matter what happened at school, whether she was the victim or not, Bryan always assumed she caused

    the trouble.

    When she was bullied, after Bryan came back, he told her, ¡°Why don¡¯t they bully others but you? It must be because provoked them first!¡±

    you

    had

    Aubree shook off Bryan¡¯s grip, retorting, ¡°Go get treated if you¡¯re sick. When did I ever say I cheated?¡±

    Magnus looked down on Aubree, chiming in, ¡°I understand your desire for good grades, Miss Miller, but I don¡¯t approve of your methods.¡±

    Bryan was also incensed. He had initially intended to save face for Aubree, but to his shock, she dared to contradict him.

    He red at her and scolded, ¡°Do you think your previous bottom-of-the-ss grades could result in this score after two years of art?¡±

    The homeroom teacher was a bit surprised, thinking, ¡®Didn¡¯t the Wilsons know Aubree used to be the top student?¡¯

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the school¡¯s call today, I wouldn¡¯t know when you learned to cheat.

    ¡°No one in our family has ever been as disgraceful as you,¡± Bryan snapped.

    Aubree lowered her eyes, a chuckle escaping her mouth. ¡°For those who know us, they understand you¡¯re my older brother, but for those who don¡¯t, they might think you¡¯re Magnus¡¯s dad. Since I arrived here, have I ever admitted to cheating?

    ¡°Why are you so eager to make me own up? Oh, I misspoke. You¡¯re not really my brother now, since Mr. Ronald Wilson signed the agreement.¡±

    With that, she turned to the homeroom teacher. ¡°Please contact me directly for anything in the future, sir. I¡¯m an orphan. My whole family¡¯s dead. I got no rtives.¡±

    Bryan red at her instantly. ¡®Was Aubree cursing us to die?¡¯

    ¡°What?!¡± He wanted to p her to knock some sense into her.

    Seeing the tension rise, the homeroom teacher quickly stepped in to smooth things over. ¡°Mr. Wilson, we¡¯re here today to verify the authenticity of Aubree¡¯s test scores. We can¡¯t jump to conclusions and use her of cheating before the results are out.¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t be bothered to look at him anymore and said to the teacher, ¡°It¡¯s simple to prove whether I cheated or not. I can take the test right now.¡±

    The teacher had actually nned to have Aubree take the test on the spot.

    Magnus wasn¡¯t fazed at all and agreed instantly.

    ¡°How else could Aubree have scored so high if not by copying my answers? I didn¡¯t exactly wrong her. Anyone who dared to make me unhappy deserved to die!¡¯ he said inwardly.

    Under his sses, his eyes were gleaming with menace.

    The results came out quickly, and the teacher¡¯s eyes widened in amazement after he graded the paper.

    Bryan humphed. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can even break double digits.¡±

    54%

    -20

    Aubree shot back without hesitation, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely beat your age.¡±

    Bryan was choked up by her words. ¡®What did she mean by that? Was she implying me old?¡¯ he wondered.

    Still, he sneered, ¡°You can¡¯t get what isn¡¯t yours by ying tricks.¡±

    Aubree actually agreed with that statement. In her previous life, Carmen managed to stay in the training session of Rithol Art School because of her help. This time, without her as a proxy, it was unknown how long Carmen could stay.

    The teacher chimed in at that moment, ¡°Aubree didn¡¯t cheat. She scored a perfect on this math paper.¡±

    ¡°I knew¡± Before he could finish, Bryan¡¯s mocking expression froze suddenly. ¡°What? That¡¯s impossible!¡±

    He grabbed the paper to check.

    With three pairs of eyes watching, Aubree couldn¡¯t have faked it.

    Bryan scrutinized the paper twice but couldn¡¯t find any signs of the teacher favoring her. ¡®Did Aubree really not cheat?¡¯ he asked inwardly, disbelieving.

    Magnus¡¯s expression also started to crack.

    ¡°How could¡­¡± he muttered in a panic, but quickly regained hisposure, bowing to the teacher. ¡°If it¡¯s a misunderstanding, then I¡¯ll head back to ss now.¡±

    It was aint from someone else, and Magnus was only called in for questioning.

    Since he wasn¡¯t from their ss, the teacher lectured him briefly before letting him go.

    But as he left, Magnus¡¯s eyes were full of resentment.

    Aubree stared straight at Bryan, mocking, ¡°Looks like me not cheating has disappointed Mr. Wilson quite a bit.¡±

    Her drawn-out tone was dripping with sarcasm.

 Tried 17

    Bryan was furious. ¡®What was that attitude? If it weren¡¯t for the school calling me today, I wouldn¡¯t even know she switched to cultural sses on her own. Who gave her permission?

    As he saw Aubree¡¯s mocking gaze, Bryan¡¯s anger red even more.

    ¡®After being lectured a couple of times, she dares to threaten cutting off ties and running away from home, and now she even dares to talk back to me.

    ¡®If I don¡¯t keep a tight rein on her, is she going to aim for the queen next?¡¯ The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and he raised his hand to p her.

    Caught off guard, Aubree took the hit, but the next second, she pped him back.

    Bryan was stunned-he never expected Aubree to hit him.

    With lightning speed, Aubree snatched a pair of scissors from the coffee table. Her eyes zed with ferocity, locking onto Bryan like a young wolf fixated on its enemy. ¡°Bryan, if you dare touch me again, I¡¯ll take you down with me.¡±

    Bryan had never seen Aubree like this.

    In his memory, Aubree always kept her head down, timid and submissive.

    She wouldn¡¯t dare to resist, and even after being scolded, she¡¯dfort them, telling them to watch their health.

    The p on his face was just angering him, but Aubree pointing scissors at him was a full-on challenge.

    A cloud passed over his face as Bryan snapped, ¡°Aubree, do you know what you¡¯re doing right now?¡±

    ¡°Of course I do!¡± Aubree retorted without flinching, her gaze unwavering as she met Bryan¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just protecting myself. For the past three years, I couldn¡¯t even eat enough at the Wilson family.

    ¡°I did everything you asked, and Ronald already pped me at the hospital, so I don¡¯t owe you anything. Not just this time, if any of the Wilson family ever dares to mess with me again, I¡¯m ready to go down with them.¡±

    As things spiraled out of control, the homeroom teacher¡¯s eyelids twitched. He quickly grabbed Bryan. ¡°Mr. Wilson, let¡¯s talk this out calmly. Aubree, put the scissors down.¡±

    The teacher¡¯s words brought Bryan back to his senses. He gritted his teeth in gloom. They were at school, and while Aubree could afford to be shameless, he couldn¡¯t.

    Suppressing his anger, he said, ¡°Good, very good, Aubree! Let¡¯s see how long you can keep this up.¡±

    With that, Bryan left.

    He had plenty of ways to deal with her.

    Aubree justughed it off-she had nothing to lose, anyway.

    Thanking the homeroom teacher, she returned to ss to continue her lessons.

    After everyone left, the teacher opened his phone and sent a text detailing what had happened to someone.

    The first thing Bryan did after leaving school was to call his assistant. ¡°Get Aubree¡¯sndlord to kick her out, and make sure no ce she can stay at will ept her.¡±

    20

    After school at night, Aubree nned to hit the inte cafe for some gaming as usual.

    Just as she reached the door, she got turned away.

    The boss¡¯s reason? Strict checkstely, and he wasn¡¯t letting students like her in.

    Aubree spotted a kid in a nearby junior high school uniform and wondered, ¡®Was this rule only for high schoolers?¡¯

    She didn¡¯t bother arguing; it wasn¡¯t worth it.

    But her frustration turned to fury when she got back to her rental ce-all her stuff was packed and dumped outside. Thendlord nced at her, ¡°Back? Pack up and move out quick.¡± Then he handed back the thousand bucks rent she¡¯d paid.

    Thendlord nced at her, saying, ¡°You¡¯re back. Pack up and move out quick.¡±

    Then he handed back the 300 dors rent she¡¯d paid.

    Aubree clenched her fists, telling herself not to argue. It¡¯d be useless.

    The inte cafe boss might have a justified excuse, but thendlord¡¯s move? Clearly Bryan¡¯s doing.

    After packing up, Aubree dragged her suitcase to a nearby hotel, only to get rejected as expected.

    If Bryan thought this would make her cave, he was dead wrong.

    She¡¯d rather die on the streets than bow to the Wilson family.

    Night fell fast, and Aubree found a park bench to crash on. She¡¯d have to rough it here tonight.

    hapter 18

 Tried 18

    But she simply refused to believe that she couldn¡¯t find a ce to stay in the entire Rithol City.

    Aubree let out a sigh, thinking she was still too weak.

    She needed to be stronger. Only then would she be able to stand up against the Wilson family and have the power to fight back the next time something like this happened.

    Her eyes were resolute.

    But a gust of night wind hit the next second, and she deted like a pricked balloon. ¡®First, figure out how to survive tonight!

    ¡°My¡­ In just a day, you¡¯ve turned into a stray cat?¡± Suddenly, a teasing, amused voice came from above.

    Aubree looked up, her eyes nk.

    Under the streetlight stood Bowen in a white shirt, ck pants, one hand in his pocket.

    Compared tost time, his hairstyle was way more formal, slicked back with gel, which added some distance.

    His words sounded yful, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of humor in his expression, just some unreadable emotion deep in his

    eyes.

    ¡°Guess I¡¯m cklisted by every ce I could stay,¡± Aubree said, feeling relieved by Bowen¡¯s appearance, even managing a

    weak smile.

    Suddenly, her head dropped as Bowen messed up her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t force a smile. It¡¯s no big deal. I haven¡¯t cklisted you yet.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face stiffened, and the corners of her mouth, which had been rising, slowly fell. ¡°Why are you helping me, Bowen?

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you just happened to pass by this park again and decided to walk in out of pure whim, saw me homeless and felt charitable to take me in.¡±

    Bowen shrugged, replying, ¡°You¡¯ve said it all. What can I say?¡±

    Aubree pursed her lips, looking at him with a serious expression.

    The only reason she could think of that Bowen would help her was that he was attracted to her looks and wanted to ¡°y

    around.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking-¡± she started, but Bowen cut her off.

    His gaze was unusually serious. ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m not that low to mess with a high school girl.

    ¡°My brother and sister-inw died saving a little girl. You can take that as me liking you by association.¡±

    That made sense.

    Aubree smiled, realizing Bowen had no reason to toy with her.

    If he had those intentions, now would be the perfect time. But he didn¡¯t do anything.

    She¡¯d heard about Bowen before she time traveled, so his story seemed credible.

    He even set up a foundation in his brother¡¯s name, funding poor girls in the poor viges to go to school.

    Standing up, Aubree brushed off the dust and gave Bowen a bright smile. ¡°Thanks for taking me in, Mr. Turner.¡±

    Her smile was dazzling, momentarily distracting Bowen.

    The emotions in his eyes surged even more.

    ¡®How did the Wilson family manage to turn the cheerful little girl in the photos into this in just three years?¡¯ he couldn¡¯t help wondering.

    Then, he took over Aubree¡¯s suitcase and led her out of the park, always keeping two steps behind her.

    Outside the park were the same two bodyguards fromst time, their eyes sparkling like they were about to break into dance. at any moment.

    ¡°Mr. Turner just got off the negotiation table and booked the earliest flight back just to pick up Miss Miller,¡± Samson said.

    ¡°No big deal. I was standing behind Mr. Turner today when he got a message from Miss Miller¡¯s homeroom teacher reporting what happened to her today,¡± Chris replied.

    ¡°Speaking of which, did Mr. Turner send Zachary to find a guy named Magnus Stewart?¡±

    ¡°I feel like we¡¯re about to have a Mrs. Turner soon.¡± Chris looked a bit sad.

    Samson rebutted, ¡°Don¡¯t forget what Mr. Turner did before. Maybe he¡¯s just helping the girl out since she¡¯s in trouble.¡±

    Chris gave him a look that screamed, ¡°Do you really believe that? Cause I don¡¯t.¡±

    Aubree followed Bowen into the car.

    ¡°First to Ellis Heights, then to Forith Bay.¡± After giving the instructions, he exined to Aubree, ¡°Ellis Heights is where I usually live. You can stay there until you find a ce. I¡¯ll be staying at Forith Bay with Alvin.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯d be awkward for you whether you stay with me or if I take you to Alvin¡¯s ce, right?¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Aubree mumbled.

    Never had she imagined that someone would care about her so thoughtfully.

 Tried 19

    A sleek Rolls-Royce pulled up at a semi-mountain vi. Far from the urban hustle, it was surrounded by serene and elegant scenery. The vi¡¯s style mirrored Bowen¡¯s persona-seemingly tranquil with pavilions and terraces, yet deeply cold.

    ¡°The domestic helpers here live in the secondary vi; they don¡¯te to the main one unless needed,¡± Bowen briefed Aubree on the general setup.

    As he spoke, he pointed to the middle-aged couple who had been waiting at the door. ¡°This is Hugh Watson and Carol. They¡¯re a couple and different from the others hired; they¡¯re part of the Turner family. Hugh is the butler, and Carol manages everything in the main vi.¡±

    Aubree nodded, indicating she understood.

    Clearly, Bowen had already briefed them, as they greeted her politely with a ¡°Miss Miller¡± without any surprise.

    It was amon trait among the wealthy-preferring those they had personally trained.

    In prestigious families in Rithol, they used such people for internal affairs.

    Like the butler and nanny in the Wilson family, they were all ¡°part of the family.¡±

    Aubree knew these families also had their own ¡°bodyguards,¡± sourced from a securitypany that, in reality, exclusively

    served them.

    The two bodyguards following Bowen were likely such.

    ¡°Just tell Carol if you need anything,¡± Bowen said with a smile, his eyes crinkling. Then, he leaned down to nce at Aubree, unbothered by her dazed expression. He reached out, messing up her already disheveled hair even more before chuckling, ¡°Good night then.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s first night at Ellis Heights was peaceful. Everything she needed was there, and Carol only appeared when needed, never overstepping.

    At Forith Bay, meanwhile, just back from the team, Alvin heard Bowen was staying here tonight and thought to himself that the old man had finally lost it.

    Especially when he overheard the conversation in the study. ¡°Magnus¡¯s mouth was tight; we couldn¡¯t get anything. I restored his phone data, but only found these chat logs,¡± said Zachary.

    There were nine people working for his uncle, all surnamed Turner.

    Alvin hid outside the door, his back against the wall. Listening to the conversation inside, he had more or less pieced the whole thing together.

    Aubree¡¯s cheating scandal at school had been big news, and Alvin had heard about it.

    ¡®But why was Uncle Bowen, supposedly on a business trip in another city, back because of Aubree? On top of that, sending Zachary to hassle a high schooler.¡¯ Putting it all together, Alvin concluded: his uncle was finally about to go full psycho.

    As Zachary left, Alvin appeared at the study door, one hand in his pocket. ¡°Uncle Bowen, just a reminder, Aubree¡¯s two months shy of adulthood.¡±

    Bowen, puzzled by Alvin¡¯s sudden appearance, asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Minor, illegal,¡± Alvin deadpanned.

    When he realized Alvin¡¯s implication, Bowen¡¯s expression turnedplicated. He let out a long sigh. ¡°Alvin, I didn¡¯t realize I came across as such a beast in your eyes.¡±

    Alvin remained skeptical. ¡°Better not be.¡±

    ***

    During her stay at Ellis Heights, Aubree had a dedicated driver arranged by Hugh to take her to and from school.

    In the Wilson family, Bryan was waiting for Aubree to beg toe back. While Emery wanted to find Aubree, he was swamped with the uing finals of the Autumn Split, where the opponents were no joke.

    Overwhelmed with team stuff, he could only ask his assistant to try to locate Aubree.

    A few days passed smoothly, and soon it was the weekend.

    ¡°Why not rest a bit more on weekends, Aubree?¡± Carol smiled as she watched Aubreee down from the second floor.

    After getting familiar with Hugh and Carol, Aubree had asked them to just call her by her name.

    ¡°Got stuff to do today,¡± Aubree replied.

    Even though it was unclear whether she¡¯d wake up early on weekend mornings, breakfast was still prepared for her on the table. The beef sandwich was thick and rich, and the pancakes looked so delicious that they were almost drool-worthy.

    After filling up, Aubree touched her noticeably rounder cheeks and sighed at Carol¡¯s irresistible cooking.

    She wondered if Bowen would let her take Carol if she got rich someday.

    Aubree arrived at Forith Bay around the time she had agreed with Alvin. As soon as she got out of the car, she received a message from Alvin.

    All-Star: [Where should we meet?]

    All-Star: [You¡¯re not backing out, are you?]

    The messages kepting, showing the anxiousness of the person on the other end.

 Tried 20

    It made sense, with the finals of the Autumn Split next Saturday. If she couldn¡¯t sign with God¡¯s Fury, Alvin¡¯s team might not even make it to the game.

    She remembered when Alvin established his esports team in her previous life. While it wasn¡¯t opposed by the Turner family, they didn¡¯t offer any support either.

    The so-called base of God¡¯s Fury was just a vi under Alvin¡¯s name that he had converted.

    If Alvin wasn¡¯t rich, the team might not have even been formed.

    Aubree raised an eyebrow, chose not to reply, and upon entering the door, she found Alvin on the living room sofa holding his phone, looking rather displeased.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need any tutoring. The money will be paid as usual. As for what you do here during this time, do whatever,¡± Alvin said without even looking up.

    Aubree chuckled and walked in front of him.

    Alvin was already irritated by Phoenix not replying to his messages. He looked up impatiently, ¡°I thought I said-¡±

    Before he could finish, Aubree shed her phone in front of him, saying, ¡°Here¡¯s where we meet, Shrek.¡±

    Instantly, Alvin¡¯s poker face cracked as he gave Aubree a thorough once-over, still unable to believe this seemingly malnourished girl could be the Phoenix who pulled off those slick moves.

    Or maybe he¡¯d just assumed Phoenix was male from the start.

    It couldn¡¯t really me him, though¨Cthat was just how the esports scene rolled.

    ¡°You really are Phoenix?¡± he asked in disbelief.

    ¡°Wanna y a round?¡±

    That lit a fire in Alvin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go. There¡¯s a gaming room on the second floor.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s setup at home was even better than most inte cafes. Once in-game, Aubree pulled Alvin into a 3v3 map.

    ¡°I main jungler. You might be at a disadvantage here,¡± he said.

    ¡°No prob. If you can gain an edge, you¡¯re the boss.¡±

    ¡°First blood decides it.¡±

    In-game, Aubree locked in Ahri. This champion boasted multiple discement skills and swift jungle clearing speed, ranking among the faster mages in the midne. In the 3v3 map, letting go of the jungle resources would put one at a considerable disadvantage.

    She wasn¡¯t bad at ying junglers, but since she was aiming for pro midne, gotta show off the skills.

    Alvin wasn¡¯t too surprised by Aubree¡¯s pick.

    At the start, both sides were clearing their jungle and minions as usual. After a skirmish, Alvin provided a fake vision and then crouched in the bushes.

    That was how he got his nickname-always popping out from unexpected spots, catching opponents off guard.

    20

    Aubree noticed and smirked, estimating Alvin¡¯s hiding spot in the bushes, then maneuvered her champion closer.

    When the distance felt right, Alvin made his move.

    A golden figure appeared on the map, apanied by the sound of ss shattering, heading straight towards Aubree. Without haste, Aubree deftly dodged to the side with a well-timed second skill.

    Perfect prediction. Alvin threw out hisbo, but Aubree simply dodged it like it was a piece of cake.

    Timing and distance control were spot on.

    Alvin initially thought it was just a coincidence and didn¡¯t pay much attention. After missing his attack and taking a set of damage himself, he used his skills, only to have his opponent vanish from sight.

    This scenario kept ying out in the subsequent rounds. As he thought of their previous match, Alvin¡¯s breath hitched-this wasn¡¯t coincidence; it was Aubree¡¯s deliberate move.

    ¡®How did she do it?!¡¯ Even after watching her highlight reels countless times, Alvin still marveled at her countless escapes from the brink and her almost-dead counter-kills.

    Before, he thought it was just Aubree¡¯s amazing skills, but what if all of it was her calction? That was just terrifying.

    As he thought about it, Alvin wondered if this was even something a human could achieve.

    With the dimming of his screen, Alvin found himself increasingly unable to sit still as he gazed at the gold disparity on the post-game summary page.

    There was only one kill difference, and he was a pro yer. Yet, the gold gap was so huge on a 3v3 map.

    ¡°How do you always dodge my ambushes?¡± he asked.

    Aubreeughed. ¡°Simple. I just need to know the range of your attack, right?¡±

    Alvin choked on his words, thinking to himself, ¡®Would I have made a move without being certain that Aubree was within my attack range? This is a game map, after all! Such precise distance control-is she even human?

    Taking a deep breath, Alvin stared at Aubree with an unusually intense gaze. ¡°Come on, join my team!¡±

 Tried 21

    The base of God¡¯s Fury was a luxury vi by the river, four stories high. The first floor was the living room; the second had bedrooms for the members and coaches; the third was a remodeled training room, and the fourth was a t-level gym.

    When Alvin brought Aubree here, the team¡¯s support yer, Hector, stumbled down from the second floor with messy hair and sleepy eyes. ¡°Alvin, are you here for training? Is this prettydy your girl?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s eye twitched. Thinking of Bowen¡¯s inexplicable concern for Aubree, he retorted inwardly, ¡®My girl? My Aunt-inw might be more urate.¡¯

    ¡°No, she¡¯s the new mage yer I brought in, nicknamed ¡®Phoenix,¡± he replied.

    Hector¡¯s drowsy eyes immediately perked up at his words, widening from a slit to a perfect circle. ¡°Alvin, you mean thisdy is going to rece Killian?¡±

    The vi was a birthday gift from Alvin¡¯s family when he was a kid. It wasn¡¯t extensively renovated, so the soundproofing wasn¡¯t great.

    At the sound of a shout from Hector, the other members half-asleep on the second floor all poked their heads out.

    The looks they gave Aubree were all the same-full of disbelief, and some even hid disdain.

    They didn¡¯t believe a woman could y the game well, nor did they think a woman was qualified to join their championship-level team and stand on the finals stage with them.

    ¡°Hmph, so the captain was gone for so many days just to bring back someone like this?¡± someone teased.

    ¡°Even if you¡¯re desperate, you can¡¯t just be fooled by looks, right?¡± A highly sarcastic and insulting voice came from the front door.

    A rebellious young man with red hair, who looked fairly handsome, leaned against the doorframe. His gaze swept over Aubree before returning to Alvin. ¡°Captain, no matter what, we¡¯ve yed together for so long, from the League of Legends. Pro League to the Autumn Split Finals.

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just part ways amicably? Let me go, and I¡¯ll help out as a friend in the finals. If you don¡¯t let me go, then keep your sparrow as your treasure.¡±

    Killian grinned confidently, certain that Alvin had no choice but to choose him.

    Aubree was also looking at him. The news that the midner of God¡¯s Fury was injured and couldn¡¯t y was only public knowledge, but insiders with some connections knew that Killian had been approached by Apex Squad¡¯s manager.

    If he didn¡¯t y in the Autumn Split, Apex Squad¡¯s midner would retire after this match.

    In the previous life, Killian sessfully joined Apex Squad. His skills were indeed strong, but he was too impulsive and yed selfishly, causing discord within Apex Squad.

    After bringing in Killian, Apex Squad suffered sixteen consecutive losses, plummeting to the B group and almost losing their spot.

    It was Aubree who stepped in and benched Killian, saving Apex Squad¡¯s ass in the end.

    Killian never thought he did anything wrong.

    Apex Squad wouldn¡¯t pay his penalty fee, and he didn¡¯t have the money himself. The only way he could think of was to

    threaten Alvin.

    He would y, but whether God¡¯s Fury could win wasn¡¯t his concern.

    Compared to God¡¯s Fury, whose future was uncertain, Apex Squad¡¯s offer was an olive branch anyone would jump at.

    Born into the powerful Turner family, Alvin had been pampered wherever he went since childhood. He poured money, effort, and resources into creating the team, only to end up being humiliated and disrespected. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t put up with it.

    ¡°Then get lost sooner.¡± Alvin shot back without mercy. ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re something valuable? Has my good temper made you forget that I¡¯m a Turner?¡±

    He didn¡¯t even have hiswyer sue Killian into bankruptcy, which was already considered kind of him.

    Killian¡¯s expression changed instantly-there was fear, but even more, anger. ¡®Did Alvin really think this woman could take my ce?¡¯ he seethed inwardly.

    ¡°Humph!¡± Killian pursed his lips, making no reply.

    At that moment, Hector hesitated and tried to mediate, ¡°Alvin, maybe we should all take a step back. It¡¯s only natural for Killian to seek better development.¡±

    Clearly, he didn¡¯t believe Aubree had any real talent for gaming, either.

    The coach remained silent for a moment before speaking up. ¡°If Killian can¡¯t y, it¡¯s like handing the championship to the other team.¡±

 Tried 22

    The next second, the crisp sound of apuse stood out sharply in the tense atmosphere. Aubree sincerely praised, ¡°Is this the touching brotherly love?

    ¡°Looking for better opportunities means stabbing your former teammates in the back right before the finals? So that¡¯s what you call a jerk.

    ¡°What¡¯s the difference between that and a home-wrecker shouting that they¡¯re true love?¡±

    Hearing this, Hector blushed to the tips of his ears.

    Aubree¡¯s gaze swept across everyone present, finallynding on Killian. ¡°In esports, being weak is the original sin. You mocked my APC position as something I got by sleeping around, so how about a duel?

    ¡°If I lose, you don¡¯t have to pay the penalty, and you can leave. If you lose, kneel, admit you¡¯re trash, and apologize to the

    insulted.¡±

    women you

    Confident in his skills to dominate Aubree, Killian agreed readily, ¡°Sure.¡± He was gonna strip this phoenix of its feathers today.

    At first listen, it didn¡¯t seem out of ce, but Alvin furrowed his brows, giving Aubree a puzzled nce and thinking to himself, ¡®Isn¡¯t the penalty supposed to be paid to me?¡¯

    No one cared about that, though. The other team members were also eager to see the duel.

    ¡®If, just suppose, this woman could actually beat Killian, who would say no to the championship and a stronger teammate?¡¯ they thought.

    Soon, in the esports room on the third floor, everyone sat behind the two, watching their match.

    Killian chose his signature champion, Lenc, and with the experience from her previous life, Aubree could guess with her toes that Killian would pick Lenc.

    After thinking for a moment, she locked in Lux. This champion¡¯s revamped first skill could freeze herself to avoid damage. In a lvl map, Killian was practically naked to her. As long as Aubree¡¯s second skill dodged the opponent¡¯s ultimate, Lenc might as well ride a wheelchair.

    They were going for a first blood decider. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess Killian¡¯s motive for choosing Lenc-he wanted to end the game with a burst of damage at level four.

    No matter how much Killian underestimated Aubree, he yed very seriously and cautiously. Both mages in the early gamecked the ability to instantly kill, so they cautiously cleared the minion waves without giving each other any opportunities.

    Killian¡¯s ystyle was gambler-like; it seemed stable, but he would rush forward at the slightest w or opportunity, seizing huge benefits if sessful. However, if it was a trap by the opponent, his loss could be fatal to the team.

    Aubree exploited this psychology, deliberately selling a w to him at level four.

    Estimating the skill range, she already had her first skill ready.

    Meanwhile, Killian didn¡¯t disappoint, using his ultimate decisively.

    With a look of certainty in his eyes, he believed it was all over.

    The other members also thought Aubree was done for. Killian¡¯s Lenc, once given a chance, would definitely get the kill.

    But in the next second, Aubree, unhurried andposed, calmly activated her first skill, timing it perfectly with the

    13.07 vved, Y JUI BMW

    opponent¡¯s ultimate in mid-air, while her champ also nullified all damage.

    As Leded, a golden puddle exploded under her feet.

    ¡°Lighting the way.¡± As Lux¡¯s voice faded, the screen turned ck and white. A wless lockdown ensued.

    Killian couldn¡¯t even struggle.

    ¡°No way!¡± His eyes were bloodshot-he couldn¡¯t ept this.

    He mmed his headphones on the table, murmuring in disbelief, ¡°How could I lose?¡±

    ? 54%

    Aubree met his gaze with the same mocking look. ¡°Practice more if you¡¯re bad. Don¡¯t y if you can¡¯t handle losing.¡±

    That hit Killian hard, turning his neck and face red, a vivid case of red neck.

    +20

    The coach was still savoring Aubree¡¯s previous move, a fire burning intensely in his eyes behind the silver-rimmed square sses. That move was definitely no fluke,¡¯ he said inwardly.

    ¡°You!¡± Killian pointed at Aubree, his finger trembling.

    But Aubree simply swatted it away. ¡°Apologize.¡±

    Killian, manly enough, kept his word and knelt before Aubree in front of his former teammates. ¡°I¡¯m not skilled. My abilities fall short. I apologize. I¡¯m not as good¡­ as girls at gaming.¡±

    Thosest words came out through gritted teeth.

    Finishing, he turned to leave without looking back.

    But Aubree¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°I¡¯m Phoenix, reborn from mes, not a sparrow.

    ¡°And sparrows are now a protected species, so don¡¯t look down on them.¡±

 Tried 23

    In the penthouse office of Apex Squad, Emery sat behind his desk, his hands crossed and resting against his forehead, his forehead pressed against the back of his hands.

    None of the tasks demanding his attention could stir any enthusiasm in him.

    It had been days since he sent his assistant to check on Aubree¡¯s current situation, but there was still no news.

    ¡®Aubree has no money, and as a girl, where could she go after leaving home?¡¯ he said inwardly.

    Even the bodyguards he recently sent to block her at school haven¡¯t seen her.

    Just then, his phone rang.

    It was his mom.

    ¡°What have you been busy with these days? Carmen even came to ask if she had upset you. Find some time toe back, and let¡¯s all get together at the hot spring resort for a family gathering,¡± she said.

    Emery¡¯s heart gave a sudden lurch as he listened.

    With Aubree¡¯s whereabouts unknown, his mom was actually in the mood to have the family apany Carmen to rx at a hot spring resort.

    He felt both shocked and infinitely sad. ¡®So this was how Aubree was treated at home!¡¯

    ¡°No, I¡¯m busy here.¡± Emery hung up and almost rushed to call the cops.

    But just then, his assistant knocked on the door and entered. ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve got news. Miss Aubree Miller rented a room in the ghetto after leaving the Wilson family.

    ¡°However¡­¡± Before the assistant could tell Emery that Aubree had been kicked out by Bryan, Emery grabbed his car keys and rushed to the ghetto.

    Upon reaching the ghetto, Emery was shocked that such a ce existed in Rithol.

    The narrow, dirty streets were crowded with people, making parking difficult.

    His fancy car stood out like a monkey in a zoo, attracting stares. So, he had to park further away and then walk to the location his assistant mentioned.

    As a rich heir born with a silver spoon, the biggest hardship Emery had faced was probably eating sd every day during a game in Kornd.

    Stepping into the ghetto, he felt dizzy, assaulted by an indescribable smell, with dirty garbage everywhere. Many middle- aged men strolled around shirtless.

    Groups of green-haired delinquents on the street were smoking and leering at passing young women.

    ¡®Has Aubree been living in such an environment?¡¯ With this thought, Emery¡¯s face turned pale.

    He dared not imagine what Aubree might have gone through. As a pretty girl, how could she survive in such a ce?

    Stumbling, he ran to the residential building where Aubree once rented. After some inquiries, he found thendlord.

    ¡°Excuse me, has a pretty girl around sixteen rented a room here?¡± he asked.

    +20

    Thendlord immediately recognized Emery¡¯s extraordinary background. Remembering the man in a suit who paid him to kick Aubree out, he guessed this guy was here for the girl.

    ¡°Yes, is her name Aubree Miller?¡± He sounded very enthusiastic.

    Emery¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Yes, where is she now?¡±

    Thendlord, thinking he was about to make another profit, simpered, ¡°Since I kicked her out as you instructedst time, how would I know her whereabouts?¡±

    ¡°Kicked out?¡± Emery was stunned.

    ¡®Who instructed to kick her out?¡¯ He panicked.

    Thendlord knew something was up when he saw Emery¡¯s expression. He immediately started groaning and tried to avoid

    contact. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know.¡±

    eye

    At that moment, the assistant, who hadn¡¯t finished speaking, caught up with Emery. ¡°Mr. Wilson, I wasn¡¯t done talking. On Tuesday, during the entrance exam at Rithol High School, Miss Miller was used of cheating.

    20)

 Tried 24

    ¡°Your big brother went to handle it at the school, and there were some unpleasant incidents. Then your big brother told the assistant to negotiate with all nearby merchants to refuse service to Miss Miller.¡±

    Hearing this, Emery was so shocked that his body trembled; then came an overwhelming anger. He never expected his elder brother to be so ruthless.

    ¡®Cheating? Really funny. To think that someone who almost gets full marks every time cheats?¡¯ As he thought about it, tears. welled up in Emery¡¯s eyes.

    He couldn¡¯t bear to think about what might have happened to Aubree.

    ¡°Go report it!¡± The three words seemed to drain all his strength as he shouted them out.

    The assistant was startled and couldn¡¯t help but think that their boss should¡¯ve known better. Yet, as a mere employee, she could only follow orders.

    Realizing something, Emery snapped back into action and hurried toward where he had parked his car.

    Then, he sped through the streets until he reached the building of the Wilson Group.

    Ignoring all greetings from the receptionist, he rushed at top speed to the top-floor office.

    At that moment, Bryan was on a video conference when someone kicked open the door. Frowning and recognizing who it was, he got punched right in the face.

    Being grabbed by the cor, he was yanked up from the chair.

    ¡°Bryan! Are you even a man?¡± Emery roared.

    The special assistant quickly cut off the meeting.

    Coming to his senses, Bryan felt utterly bewildered. He shook Emery off, snapping, ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡±

    ¡°Am I out of my mind? Your own sister is penniless and wandering outside! Not only do you not care but you break herst hope!¡±

    Bryan immediately understood what Emery was talking about. Getting punched in the face really annoyed him, so without any thought, he kicked Emery back and asked, ¡°Calm down yet?¡±

    The pain from being hit calmed down Emery¡¯s rage gradually.

    ¡°Aubree secretly switched to general education courses, was involved in cheating, bringing shame to the Wilson family, and what¡¯s more, she dared to fight back against me.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it only right that I teach her a lesson? Once she¡¯s suffered enough outside, won¡¯t shee back obediently?¡± Facing Emery¡¯s usations, Bryan felt no remorse whatsoever.

    ¡®Lesson? Bryan even hit Aubree?¡¯ Emery found it absurd and his punch was too light.

    ¡°Suffer? Hasn¡¯t Aubree suffered enough? She was supposed to be a pampered youngdy, but at five, it was you, the eldest

    brother, who lost her!

    ¡°She was abducted by human traffickers. If not for a kind couple who helped her on the way, and she managed to escape and waster sent to an orphanage, who knows where she¡¯d be now!

    ¡°Your mistake has made her suffer for ten years. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±,

    Bryan¡¯s face darkened instantly. The issue of Aubree getting lost because of him was his sore spot.

    He refused to admit his mistake. He could use Carmen as a substitute to make up for it, but Aubree¡¯s return constantly reminded him of what he had done.

    He was already making amends-her poor academic performance, so he paved the way for her to study art, hired tutors for

    her.

    ¡®What more does she want? Her repeated defiance is just to vent her grievances from back then, isn¡¯t it? Teaching her a lesson to make her understand her ce-what¡¯s wrong with that!¡¯ Bryan retorted inwardly.

    Emery wasn¡¯t done yet. ¡°You should take some time to read the reports your assistant sends you. Cheating? Shouldn¡¯t she switch to general education courses?¡±

    With a sneer, he added coldly, ¡°Do you know Aubree scores nearly perfect in every exam after enrolling in Rithol High School?¡±

    Seeing the shock on Bryan¡¯s face, Emery felt even more contemptuous.

    His smile grew colder as he said inwardly, ¡°This was the brother who imed he would make up for Aubree. Now, he doesn¡¯t even dare to face his own mistakes.¡¯

 Tried 25

    ¡°How the hell could Aubree be that good at academics?¡± Bryan scoffed like he¡¯d just heard the biggest joke in the world.

    That look of disdain in Bryan¡¯s eyes stung Emery. There were still so many things in that file his assistant hadpiled- things even he hadn¡¯t known about Aubree, things that shocked him. But he hadn¡¯t shared it with the rest of the Wilson family.

    Not that it mattered. Even if they saw it, they probably wouldn¡¯t think anything about it. Maybe they¡¯d even turn it around. and me Aubree for not speaking up. Like it was her fault for staying quiet.

    Emery thought, ¡®Wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they¡¯re the ones who cause half the problems in the first ce.

    ¡®Like how Daxton admitted he told Aubree to hide her grades. Or how Bryan, with all that proof in front of him-someone who can strategize from miles away in the business world-still just sneered at it.

    ¡®Do they really not know what¡¯s going on? Or do they just not give a damn?¡¯

    Emery took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. No point going in circles now. What mattered was finding Aubree.

    Bryan dropped back in his chair, legs spread, raked his perfectly styled hair with his fingers until a few strands fell over his forehead. He lit a cigarette and held it between his fingers. ¡°So Emery, you came here today just to pin everything on me?¡±

    ¡°You think you have the right?¡± Bryan lifted his eyelids slowly, eyes full of mockery. ¡°If I remember right, back when you were still serving, you took both Carmen and Aubree to visit your team.

    ¡°Esports wasn¡¯t even a big thing yet, and the whole squad was crammed into one house. Bunch of guys, no supervision. You were too busy looking after Carmen and nearly letting something happen to Aubree.

    ¡°And afterward, because that guy was a starting member and there was a big matching up, you signed a damn waiver as her guardian and buried the whole thing. All for your precious glory. Or have you forgotten?¡±

    Emery turned his head to the side, eyes flickering with guilt. ¡°I did give that guy a harsh warning.¡±

    Bryan¡¯sugh dripped with contempt. He said coldly, ¡°Oh yeah? And now he¡¯s out of the league, frencing with his skills and making bank. Some punishment.¡±

    Hearing this, Emery lowered his head. No way to argue with that. The truth was, he didn¡¯t want the trouble. He figured a warning was good enough.

    But if it had been Carmen¡­ that guy would¡¯ve been dragged straight to court, no questions asked.

    And afterward, when people brought it up again, the me somehow got turned on Aubree. That she must¡¯ve done something to provoke it. Because she was the one who almost got into big trouble.

    Bryan stared at Emery, then finally let out a sigh. ¡°I can see you¡¯ve been the kindest to Aubree over the years. But you don¡¯t actually think no one knows what¡¯s been going on, do you?¡±

    Emery¡¯s body tensed. He didn¡¯t get what Bryan meant.

    Bryan went on. ¡°Take her grades, for example. I never looked into it, sure. But you think Mom and Dad didn¡¯t call the school? Didn¡¯t check? They just assumed that a little bit of temptation was enough to get her to cheat. Like Aubree is that kind of person-no bottom line if you offer her something shiny.

    ¡°And that time Mom took me, Carmen, and Aubree to the temple. Carmen¡¯s heart acted up again, and we left Aubree behind on the mountain. It was pouring that day, and she came down on her own. Mom and I both figured outter that Carmen faked it.

    ¡°But Aubree-Cod, she was so dumb. So many safer ways toe back down. She could¡¯ve just stayed the night at the

    temple, right? But no, she dragged herself back in the storm like she was trying to get sympathy. Like she wanted us to feel sorry for her and start treating her like Carmen.¡±

    Emery couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. He asked, ¡°So you all started being hard on Aubree because you thought she was maniptive?¡±

    Ìï

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 Tried 26

    Emery thought, ¡®She was, what-fifteen? A kid from an orphanage suddenly got into a family full of strangers. Of course her first instinct was to go home when she was abandoned.

    ¡°That isn¡¯t some kind of power y. It¡¯s just human.¡¯

    Emeryughed bitterly. ¡°Bryan, Mom told me once-when you were little, she took you to a friend¡¯s house and forgot about the time while ying cards. She left you there for hours. You cried your heart out, screaming for your mom.¡±

    Bryan frowned. He didn¡¯t get why Emery was bringing that up now.

    ¡°You were like twelve. Not exactly a toddler,¡± Emery added.

    Emery continued, ¡°You hearing yourself right now? Even you were crying in a house full of familiar people, and you were older than Aubree. But now you expect a fifteen-year-old girl, lost for ten years, dropped into a strange ce, not to freak out? You were yelling for Mom. All she wanted was to go home. What did she do wrong?¡±

    Emery felt a crushing sadness. He¡¯d only heard about that incident through otherster.

    Back then Emery had thought, ¡®What¡¯s the big deal? Now it all just feels sick.

    ¡®So that¡¯s how it worked: the favored one gotforted for every little thing, while the one who actually suffered got told they needed more discipline.

    Emery tilted his head back, blinking hard to hold back tears. ¡°You said Aubree had no bottom line, all for a little attention. You knew Daxton made her do it. You mocked her, but did you ever stop to think-she got lost at five, hadn¡¯t seen her family in ten years. Maybe all she wanted was someone to notice her.

    ¡°Aubree gave up the only thing she had-her grades-just to get Daxton to smile at her. She could kneel in the cold all night if that meant being acknowledged. Carmen fakes a heart problem out of guilt, and you feel bad for her. But the kid who got lost for ten years doesn¡¯t deserve to be cared for?¡±

    After a while, the room went dead quietly.

    Bryan¡¯s eyes widened a little. Something seemed to click-but he still didn¡¯t think he was wrong.

    Emery couldn¡¯t say another word. He just felt cold all over.

    At first, Emery had thought they all just misunderstood Aubree. But now Bryan was saying it out loud-they¡¯d known. They just chose to look the other way.

    Emery thought, ¡®You can¡¯t wake someone who¡¯s pretending to be asleep.

    ¡®No matter how much Aubree cried or begged back then, nobody cared. If it¡¯s Aubree, then it has to be her fault.

    ¡®Bryan isn¡¯t wrong. The way Aubree turns out¡­ I¡¯m part of that.

    ¡®We¡¯re supposed to be family. Real siblings. So how does it all end up like this?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ve already asked the police to help look for her¡­¡± Bryan started.

    ¡°Who are you guys looking for?¡± Carmen¡¯s voice suddenly came from the door. She peeked in, looking curious.

    Carmen spotted the bruise on Bryan¡¯s face and gasped. ¡°What happened to your face?¡±

    Emery quickly shut up. Suddenly, he didn¡¯t know how to face Carmen right now.

    Bryan rxed his brow and smiled. ¡°Nothing, I tripped. Carmen, what are you doing here? Shouldn¡¯t you be in ss?¡±

    Hearing this, Carmen looked sheepish. She replied, ¡°Sorry, Bryan. I might¡¯ve embarrassed you guys.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± Bryan asked right away.

    Emery watched in silence. ¡®Carmen can walk in and out of Bryan¡¯s office whenever she wants.

    ¡®But Aubree? She has to call first if she wants to walk in thepany. And even then, who knows if she¡¯ll be allowed in.

    ¡®So getting into Bryan¡¯s office ispletely out of the question.

    ¡®Because Bryan didn¡¯t worry about Carmen leakingpany secrets. But he didn¡¯t trust his own sister, Aubree.¡¯

    Carmen fidgeted with her fingers, voice soft. ¡°I¡¯m falling behind in my art ss. The teacher said if my next piece doesn¡¯t meet expectations, I should drop out myself.¡±

    Emery couldn¡¯t help thinking-if it were Aubree, she probably wouldn¡¯t have said a word. She¡¯d stay up all night practicing until she could keep up. Carmen, though, didn¡¯t hesitate toe cry to Bryan.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t Aubree our real sister?¡¯ Emery wondered.

    Bryan was alreadyforting her. He said softly, ¡°That¡¯s not a big deal. Just have Aubree draw something for you.¡±

    With that, Bryan grabbed the phone and asked his assistant if Aubree had called or sent any messagestely-anything about wanting toe home.

    The assistant replied, ¡°Mr. Wilson, there¡¯s been no contact from Ms. Miller at all.¡±

    +20

 Tried 27

    Aubree hadn¡¯t been home for a week. The house stayed just as quiet as ever.

    Only Bryan and Emery had gone to the school twice, trying to raise hell.

    At home, as long as Carmen was around, no one even mentioned Aubree¡¯s name.

    Emery never thought the reason Bryan finally decided to go get Aubree back was to have her ghostwrite Carmen¡¯s work.

    When Bryan found out from his assistant that Aubree hadn¡¯t reached out to him once, his first reaction wasn¡¯t concern. He wasn¡¯t worried something might¡¯ve happened to her. No, he was pissed. How dare she?

    Luckily, the police had shared some information. In the surveince footage, Aubree could be seen heading to a park after being kicked out of the vige housing.

    Late at night, a Rolls-Royce stopped in front of the park for a while. After that, Aubree was always seening and going from school in a luxury car.

    In thest bit of the footage, Aubree first went to Forith Bay.

    Forith Bay was a private residential area, easy to recognize. Aubree had barely gone in when a man showed up and took her to one of the riverside vis.

    ¡°The police gave me the exact address of that vi,¡± Emery said, looking at the info on his phone. He couldn¡¯t stop Bryan, so the only thing he could do now was protect Aubree as much as he could when she came back.

    If Aubree knew what Emery was thinking right now, she¡¯d probablyugh out loud. After leaving the Wilsons¡¯ so-called protection, she realized-life outside was wide open and full of light.

    Carmen was watching the surveince footage on her phone, hesitating. She tugged gently at Bryan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Bryan, do you think Aubree would do something stupid?¡±

    Just one sentence and Bryan¡¯s face changed instantly. He muttered, ¡®How can I forget that?

    ¡®I assume Aubree¡¯s bing rebellious, but the surveince suggests she might be seeking favor with a wealthy man!¡¯

    Emery turned pale. It wasn¡¯t that he thought Aubree was shameful or anything, it was the idea that this might¡¯ve all been forced on her.

    That thought hurt so much Emery couldn¡¯t breathe. It was his fault. He hadn¡¯t been a good brother.

    Up on the third floor training room of GOD¡¯s Fury, Aubree had already wiped the floor with everyone except their support. Even the coach didn¡¯t escape.

    Hector watched in awe. He asked, ¡°Captain, between you and Phoenix, who¡¯s stronger?¡±

    Alvin said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you guess why she¡¯s even here?¡±

    Hector scratched his head with a sheepish grin. He almost forgot about Alvin¡¯s strict recruitment standards. From the looks of it, not only had he lost to Phoenix-he¡¯d probably lost more than once.

    Aubree was busy dominating the game and had no idea the Wilsons were three seconds away from showing up at the base.

    ¡°I looked into it. That vi¡¯s under Alvin¡¯s name. He bought it a year ago and turned it into the team¡¯s training base,¡± Bryan said, his face dark.

    Bryan thought, ¡®A girl in an esports team base? Seriously? With a bunch of guys? Who knows what shady stuff she¡¯s up to

    +20)

    here?¡¯

    Hearing this, Carmen gasped and covered her mouth. ¡°So¡­. she¡¯s been living here all this time? With a bunch of boys? That doesn¡¯t seem great.¡±

    As if Carmen had said what he was already thinking, Bryan¡¯s face turned even darker.

    ¡°Aubree is not like that,¡± Emery cut in.

    It was the first time anyone had snapped at Carmen like that. Her smile froze, and she put on a hurt look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    But Emery couldn¡¯t care less. His mind waspletely on Aubree. He didn¡¯t even look at Carmen and went straight to knock on the door,

    Carmen had never been treated like that before. She was too stunned to even react.

    Inside, rage bubbled up. Carmen muttered, ¡®Aubree! How are you still standing after everything?¡¯

    Bryan patted Carmen¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±

    Carmen looked up at him, smiling innocently. ¡°Thanks, Bryan.¡±

    When the three of them were let in by the housekeeper in charge of the team¡¯s daily needs, they saw a bunch of teens crowding around Aubree as they walked down from the third floor.

    The guys were all talking over each other, asking how Aubree pulled off those moves in-game.

    ¡°Aubree!¡± Bryan snapped, the whole scene setting him off. ¡®Isn¡¯t she supposed to be at home, begging me to let here back?¡¯ he thought.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Bryan said coldly.

    Aubree was surprised to see the three of them, then frowned. ¡°Mr. Wilson, what I do has nothing to do with you.¡±

 Tried 28

    Her tone made Bryan instantly furious. He snapped, ¡°Is this how you talk to your brother?¡±

    ¡°Brother? You think you deserve that title?¡± Aubree spat. ¡°I haven¡¯t even bothered you guys. Why can¡¯t you just leave me

    alone?¡±

    ¡®Seriously, how do they even find me here?¡¯ Aubree was beyond annoyed. ¡®If I¡¯ve a choice, I¡¯ll nevery eyes on anyone from the Wilson family again.

    Bryan nearly raised his hand again. ¡°So all that time we raised you, taught you, that was all for nothing?¡±

    ¡°Raised me? I grew up without a dad or a mom. Then when I finally had them, they might as well have been dead. What kind of raising¡¯ do you think that was?¡± Aubree shot back.

    Aubree added, ¡°If youe here to give me a lecture, you can get lost. I don¡¯t have time to listen to a dog barking.¡±

    ¡®She called us dogs?¡¯ Bryan was stunned.

    Meanwhile, Emery¡¯s heart twisted. ¡®Aubree used to be so well-behaved.

    Bryan clenched his teeth, trying to keep calm. ¡°Forget all the stuff you did before. I¡¯m willing to let it go. Come home.¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®Lei it go?¡¯ Sheughed. ¡°Oh wow, I¡¯m supposed to be grateful now?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s gazended on Carmen, and her smile grew colder. At this point, she pretty much knew why these three had shown up.

    That was her family. GOD¡¯s Fury might¡¯ve stayed quiet this whole time, but every single pair of eyes was locked onto the Wilsons.

    Esports worked like this. After just a few rounds, they already respected Aubree.

    They weren¡¯t gonna just stand by and let something happen to her.

    Especially not when Phoenix hadn¡¯t even graduated high school yet. She was the youngest one on the team. It was only natural they¡¯d protect her.

    Hector, who had been walking in front, shifted slightly to the side-just enough to shield Aubree a bit.

    Carmen suddenly felt ufortable under Aubree¡¯s stare. She had the creepy sense that Aubree could see right through

    her.

    ¡°You¡¯re getting kicked out, huh? So now you¡¯re in a rush to find someone to cover for you?¡± Aubree said with a mean little smile.

    ¡®How does she know?¡¯ Carmen was frozen in shock. ¡®How the hell does she know I¡¯m about to get kicked out of Rithol?¡¯

    Panic crept through Carmen, followed by humiliation. She muttered, ¡®She¡¯s mocking me? She thinks she¡¯s better than me? Why?¡¯

    ¡°Get lost,¡± Aubree said coldly. ¡°I¡¯d rather die here than go back with any of you.¡±

    Whatever else, Aubree was Alvin¡¯s teammate now, and technically also helping him with training. No way he was letting the Wilsons walk all over her in his house.

    Alvin said, ¡°Since Apex Squad is our opponent next Saturday in the finals, probably not great for your boss to be showing up here, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    20

    If it were just Aubree here, Bryan might¡¯ve dragged her out by force. But with Alvin standing there too, he had to think

    twice.

    Emery¡¯s mouth tasted bitter. ¡®Aubree doesn¡¯t want to forgive us.¡¯

    Emery stopped Bryan, who was about to argue again. ¡°Bryan, let¡¯s go. We really shouldn¡¯t be here.¡±

    Carmen didn¡¯t want to leave so easily. But now even Emery was acting cold toward her, which was definitely not a good sign. She¡¯d have to tread more carefully.

    As she walked out, Carmen stared hard at Aubree at the top of the stairs. ¡®Why is she always so lucky?

    ¡®Even after getting kicked out of the Wilsons, she still managed to snag Alvin? The Wilsons should¡¯ve been mine. Alvin should¡¯ve been mine too!¡¯

    Bryan took Carmen out first. Emery looked back at Aubree and smiled faintly. ¡°Aubree, can I talk to you alone?¡±

    Aubree agreed and stepped toward him, a curious look in her eyes.

    ¡°Aubree, this is yours.¡± Emery held out the sapphire crown she had returned before.

    Aubree took it and twirled it in her fingers.

    Emery¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Aubree, I just wanted to say¡­ I¡¯m sorry. You went through a lot these past three years.¡±

    Aubree looked down, her hair falling over half her face, hiding her expression.

    From Emery¡¯s angle, all he could see was her shoulders trembling, and he heard a sound like she was choking back tears.

    ¡°I¡­ Emery, I¡­¡± Aubree looked up and burst outughing. ¡°Did you really think I¡¯d say something like ¡®I¡¯m so touched, thank you for finally realizing I wasn¡¯t the one who did those things¡¯?¡±

    The next moment, the crown slipped from Aubree¡¯s hand and shattered on the ground.

    Aubree said, ¡°I said sorry so many times. Not once did any of you forgive me.

    ¡°So your apology? I¡¯m not taking it. And I¡¯m never forgiving you.¡±

 Tried 29

    After dealing with the Wilson family, Alvin took his team out to celebrate the new addition. He even paid for the whole dinner himself.

    Things were cheerful on Aubree¡¯s side, but at the Wilsons, the mood was downright grim.

    Everyone was there except Trevor, who was off filming and couldn¡¯t make it back.

    Then Bryanid out everything that had happened with Aubree over the past few days.

    Alice snapped immediately, ¡°Is Aubree trying to turn the world upside down now? She actually talked back to you?¡±

    As a mother, what Alice cared about wasn¡¯t that her daughter was out there with no home-it was that her daughter had the nerve to argue with her eldest brother.

    Ronald didn¡¯t bother hiding his annoyance. He sneered. ¡°She¡¯s grown pretty bold, hasn¡¯t she? Last time at the hospital, didn¡¯t she say she wanted to cut ties with us?¡±

    Ronald honestly thought Aubree hade crawling back in a few days. Who knew she had it in her to keep going?

    Ronald gritted his teeth. ¡°When did she get so out of control?¡±

    Emery sat there listening to everyone ming and criticizing Aubree, not knowing what to say.

    Honestly, Emery wanted to ask-did Aubree really do anything wrong? What exactly did she do wrong?

    Emery thought, ¡®This house feels suffocating. If I were Aubree, I wouldn¡¯t havested a day. But she lived here for three whole years.

    Daxton, the one who doted on Carmen the most out of all the brothers, had already been furious when he heard Aubree refused to ghostwrite for her. If he could teleport, he would¡¯ve gone straight to Aubree and given her a good scolding.

    Bryan cut in impatiently, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you guys gave her money behind my back? Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t even have been able to rent a ce and would¡¯vee crawling back already.¡±

    Bryan had only found out after sending his assistant to check on things that Aubree had moved into a tiny apartment in a sketchy part of town.

    Aubree¡¯s supplementary card had already been cut off. If she had cash on her, it had to be from the pocket money someone gave her before.

    Alice paused for a second. ¡°But your dad and I never gave her anything. Other than that gift we gave when she first got home, we were worried she¡¯d waste money, so we never gave her another cent.¡±

    Daxton added right away, ¡°Why would I give her money?¡± The disgust on his face was pretty obvious.

    Trevor wasn¡¯t there, but he was always the busiest. Even though he was closest with Carmen, he¡¯d forget to give her anything -let alone Aubree.

    When all eyes turned toward him, Emery let out a bitterugh. ¡°I didn¡¯t give her any.¡±

    Emery hadn¡¯t thought about it before. Aubree had food and a ce to stay at home, plus that card. So he never even considered the money situation.

    But all the other kids-Carmen included-used to get a seven-figure monthly allowance before they started working. Now that they had their own careers, even Carmen¡¯s personal ount never dropped below eight figures.

    At that moment, Alice¡¯s eyes went wide. She asked, ¡°If she didn¡¯t have money, how¡¯d she rent a ce?¡±

    Carmen chimed in at just the right time. ¡°Maybe she took something from the house before she left?¡±

    ¡°She stole from us?¡± Ronald¡¯s fury exploded.

    Ronald already thought this biological daughter wasn¡¯t half as good as Carmen, but he didn¡¯t expect her to be rotten to the core-stealing from her own home?

    Emery rubbed his temples. ¡°Dad, if anything was missing, the housekeeper would¡¯ve noticed right away.¡±

    Daxton scoffed, ¡°You never know. It¡¯s always the ones inside the house that are hardest to guard against.¡±

    Wendy, the housekeeper, couldn¡¯t keep quiet anymore and jumped in. ¡°Ms. Miller had a sponsor when she was living at the orphanage. The sponsor still sent her living expenses the first month she came back, so it¡¯s probably that money.¡±

    Everyone went silent, looking surprised. They really didn¡¯t know much about Aubree¡¯s life before she came to the Wilsons.

    Wendy continued, ¡°And when she left, I saw her with my own eyes. She only packed what she brought when she first came. She didn¡¯t even take any new clothes-wore the same outfit she showed up in.¡±

    20

    +20

 Tried 30

    Their jaws dropped. They didn¡¯t believe Aubree had seriously left without taking a single thing? Not even a change of

    clothes?

    Hearing that, Emery felt a deep sense of doubt. ¡®Is there even a chance Aubree would ever forgive me?¡¯

    Emery thought about how Aubree smashed the sapphire crown without hesitation back at GOD¡¯s Fury base, and his heart sank again.

    ¡°There¡¯s no point talking about all this now. The main thing is what we¡¯re going to do about Carmen,¡± Daxton said, bringing everyone back to the main issue. ¡°We can¡¯t seriously let her get kicked out of Rithol.¡±

    Honestly, Daxton didn¡¯t care whether Aubree was alive or dead-he just wanted to make sure Carmen¡¯s problem got fixed.

    Bryan thought back to how he told everyone in the family group chat not to go soft and secretly help Aubree.

    But now that Bryan thought about it, did he even need to say that? No one in this house cared about her anyway.

    The thought made his chest tighten unexpectedly. Shaking off the weird feeling, Bryan said seriously, ¡°We¡¯ll get someone to help keep Carmen at Rithol Art School for now. But people talk. The best case is getting Aubree to behave.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to her myself tomorrow,¡± Alice said, hugging Carmen with a cold look in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t believe she can just ignore her own parents like that.¡±

    Back at Ellis Heights, Aubree had just received a transfer from Bowen.

    At the same time, Bowen sent a message. [Today¡¯s tutoring fee.]

    Aubree stared at the amount and thought, ¡®It¡¯s a thousand per hour-is he counting from the moment I see Alvin all the way till I get back to Ellis Heights?¡¯

    Aubree sent the money back. [Mr. Turner, I didn¡¯t actually teach Alvin anything today. I can¡¯t ept this.]

    Bowen: [Doesn¡¯t matter if you taught or not. If Alvin says it¡¯s all good, then you¡¯re getting paid.]

    ¡®Is this some kind of rich people¡¯s hobby-just handing out money for fun?¡¯ Aubree was stunned.

    Aubree never agreed to tutor Alvin for the money anyway. She definitely wasn¡¯t keeping it.

    What Aubree needed was to maintain this connection with the Turner family-especially since she was counting on this rich guy to invest in herter.

    Aubree: [How about this-since I¡¯m staying at your ce, why don¡¯t we count it as rent?]

    Seeing that she really didn¡¯t n to take the money, Bowen thought for a second. ¡°Thepetition is only a week away. With prize moneying in, she won¡¯t be short on cash much longer. Since she¡¯s eating and sleeping at my ce anyway, she doesn¡¯t need this extra.¡¯

    Then Bowen replied, [Fine.]

    After the chat ended, Aubree washed up and sat at her desk. Her textbook had already switched from first semester material

    to second semester.

    Now, Aubree wasn¡¯t wasting a single second. Tomorrow she had another practice session with GOD¡¯s Fury. And next Saturday¡¯s match? There was no way they were losing to Apex Squad.

    15:08 Wed, 9 Jul MW.

    Meanwhile, back at the Wilson residence, Carmen knocked on Emery¡¯s door.

    ? ??? 54% ¨C

    ¡°Emery, did I do something to upset you?¡± Carmen asked carefully, her eyes full of innocent confusion. ¡°I feel like¡­tely, you kind of hate me?¡±

    Emery looked at his adopted sister, and his feelings wereplicated.

    ¡®Maybe she isn¡¯t as sweet or kind as I used to think, but even now, I can¡¯t bring myself to be truly harsh with her,¡¯ Emery thought.

    +20

    Emery sighed and patted her head gently. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. Why would I hate you? I¡¯ve just been worried about Aubree, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Emery muttered and didn¡¯t say that, ¡®I just¡­ don¡¯t know how to act around you anymore.¡¯ He was a little lost in thought and missed the sh of resentment in Carmen¡¯s eyes.

    ¡®I know it-Aubree is still a threat as long as she is around, Carmen murmured.

    Pushing that aside, Carmen smiled sweetly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Emery. Aubree¡¯s just being stubborn. Once Mom talks to her tomorrow, she¡¯ll definitelye back.¡±

    ¡°Hope so,¡± Emery said, though he didn¡¯t sound very sure.

    ¡°Oh, right-can I join your team for the next tournament? I really want to experience the thrill ofpeting,¡± Carmen asked, testing the waters.

    Before, Carmen knew Emery would¡¯ve agreed without hesitation. Now¡­ she wasn¡¯t so sure.

    Hearing this, Emery hesitated for the first time. He didn¡¯t say yes immediately.

 Tried 31

    <b>Chapter </b><b>31 </b>

    The mood in the car was heavy. Outside, the sky turned dark, and rain started pouring all of a sudden.

    Aubree sat quietly, lips pressed into a tight line. She heard a soft sigh, then felt a big hand gently touching her cheek..

    ¡°That look doesn¡¯t suit you,¡± Bowen said.

    Aubree pulled his hand away and turned her head, meeting his easygoing smile. His voice, usually cool and calm, was now soft and a little gentle. ¡°What

    look?¡± she asked.

    Bowen thought for a second. ¡°You¡¯ll get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that. Weren¡¯t you treating me to lunch? I skipped breakfast for this, you know

    His teasing made Aubree loosen up a little. She stopped frowning. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already picked a ce.¡±

    She pointed ahead, telling Zachary to pull over by the curb. ¡°It¡¯s in that alley over there.¡±

    Rithol High School students usually had a study block around noon, so they¡¯d eat lunch near the school or in the cafeteria. This whole area had a bunch

    of little restaurants.

    Back then, when Aubree wasn¡¯t allowed to eat properly at home, she¡¯d sneak out here to buy food when she was starving. But every time she went back, she¡¯d end up getting beaten for it.

    Since it was her treat, Bowen didn¡¯tin. Once they <b>got </b>out of the car, he told Zachary to stay behind. He and Aubree walked together into the alley, sharing one umbre.

    Bowen was a lot taller than Aubree. To cover her, he tilted the umbre¨Cand himself¨Cher way.

    Even though it was already fall, the heat still felt like summer in Rithol City. Aubree was wearing her school uniform: a short skirt and a light shirt. As they walked side by side, she kept brushing up against Bowen without meaning to.

    Because of the heat, Bowen rolled up his sleeves, and his shirt fit just right.

    Their arms touched¨Chis skin cool, hers warm¨Cand it made Aubree feel like her own skin was burning. She swallowed without thinking.

    The umbre didn¡¯t give them much room, and Bowen¡¯s light, woodsy scent seemed to wrap all around Aubree. It felt like she couldn¡¯t smell anything

    but him.

    Out of nowhere, the old rumors popped into her head¨Cstories from before the time reset about how cold and ruthless Bowen used to be.

    ¡°Do you eat around here a lot?¡± Bowen asked as they passed a few storefronts. His voice sounded calm and smooth in the rain, with a touch of charm. He smited like he was just making small talk.

    ¡°Not really. I wasn¡¯t allowed to eat freely when I was with the Wilsons,¡± Aubree mumbled, feeling nervous <b>for </b>some reason.

    She nced to the side and realized she only came up to his chest. With them sharing the same umbre, it felt like his breath was right by her ear.

    They were too close. She shifted a bit, trying not to bump into him again.

    ¡°Oh, right. I almost forgot,¡± Bowen said. ¡°Next time you¡¯re hungry, juste and find me. I¡¯ll make sure you eat.¡±

    He said it like it was nothing, like it didn¡¯t matter at all.

    Aubree thought about what he said and didn¡¯t answer.

    Bowen didn¡¯t seem to care. He suddenly leaned closer, and her arm was pressed tight against his.

    Aubree froze, holding her breath. Just when she was about to move away, he gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her a little toward <b>him</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>The </b><b>clothes </b><b>are </b>

    <b>1/3 </b>

    <b>08:55 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b>6 Jul M

    wet,¡± he said softly. ¡°This way, it¡¯ll stay dry.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes drifted to his shoulder. Sure enough, it was damp with rain.

    Bowen chuckled softly above her head and gave her shoulder a light tap. ¡°I mean, you are getting wet.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s ears turned red. She looked up, confused, and finally noticed her shoulder was halfway soaked.

    Bowen¡¯s deep voice had a warm, smooth tone that sent a tickle straight to her chest.

    Right then, Bowen gently moved his fingers. His eyes sparkled with amusement¨Che clearly found her reactions fun to watch.

    If Chris or Samson had seen this, they probably would¡¯ve called Bowen <i>out </i>for shamelessly flirting with a schoolgirl.

    But in Bowen¡¯s mind, he wasn¡¯t flirting at all.

    Thankfully, the short walk came to an end. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Aubree said quickly, pointing at the pasta shop ahead before rushing inside.

    Bowen watched her run off like she was escaping and let out a quietugh. He thought she was so cute when she got flustered and wondered what kind of guy would end up marrying her.

    Inside the shop, most of the customers were students, with a few locals scattered around. A pretty schoolgirl walking in wasn¡¯t anything special<b>, </b>but the noble, good¨Clooking man with her definitely caught some eyes.

    The shop owner, a middle¨Caged woman, nced over a few times before snapping back to her job. She walked over and seated them. ¡°What can <b>I </b><b>get </b>you?¡±

    Aubree looked at Bowen, sitting across from her. ¡°Mr. Turner, what do you want to eat?¡±

    ¡°You pick,¡± Bowen said.

    ¡°Then one beef pasta and one in pasta,¡± Aubree replied.

    The owner nodded and went to the kitchen.

    Bowen raised an eyebrow. He knew Aubree didn¡¯t have much money, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to order one beef pasta for herself and a in one for

    him.

    Noticing his look, Aubree felt a little embarrassed. Other than that first meeting when he took her out to eat, this was the first time they were actually sharing a meal together.

    ¡°What are you staring at, Mr. Turner?¡± she asked.

    ¡°What else would I be looking at besides you?¡± he said.

    His answer came so quickly and directly that Aubree, in the middle of drinking water<b>, </b>choked.

    She started coughing hard. Bowen gave her a look like she was being ridiculous and reached over to pat her back. ¡°You¡¯re <b>not </b><b>a </b>kid. How do you even choke on water?¡±

    Aubree red at him, annoyed. ¡®It¡¯s your fault for saying something so bold out of nowhere,¡® she thought.

    Her eyes watered from all the coughing, and her re didn¡¯t look fierce at all¨Cif anything, it came off more like a pout.

    Seeing that, Bowen found himself rubbing his fingers and smiling without meaning to. She was just too cute. He had <b>to </b><b>stop </b>himself <b>from </b><b>reaching </b><b>over </b>and pinching her cheeks.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your pasta!¡± the owner called, quickly setting their tes down on the table.

    <b>T </b>0470

    From the moment Aubree walked in, the owner had been quietly guessing what kind of rtionship they had. Even white cooking, she kept sneaking peeks at them. With years of people¨Cwatching under her belt, she figured they were probably dating.

    Aubree had a healthy appetite. The beef pasta here was known for being spicy¨Ctheir specialty. She pushed the beef pasta toward Bowen. ¡°You take thes

    one.¡±

    When the owner saw that, she gave Bowen a look full of judgment. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re a grown man, probably working, and you let a schoolgirl take the in pasta while you eat the beef pasta, huh?¡±

    Then she turned to Aubree and didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°And girl, you¡¯re just a kid¨Cdon¡¯t be fooled by a guy like him just because he acts nice.¡± Her eyes were telling Aubree that Bowen was a bad man and she should stay away from him.

    It was the first time Bowen had ever beenbeled a shady guy who took advantage of young girls. He found it both funny and kind of annoying. Aubree felt awkward and quickly waved her hands. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong idea. We¡¯re not dating. He¡¯s kind of like an older rtive.<i>¡± </i>

    To her, the thought of Bowen being her boyfriend was scary. She couldn¡¯t even imagine it. She believed any girl who could actually be with him had to be seriously impressive.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bowen added. ¡°Think of me as her uncle.¡± Seeing how eager Aubree was to put space between <i>them </i>made something in him tighten. He couldn¡¯t exin why, but it bothered him a little.

    The owner nced back and forth between them, still unsure. But Bowen looked so calm and serious that she didn¡¯t say anything more.

    As soon as the owner walked away, Aubree lowered her head and buried her face. ¡°Um¡­¡± she mumbled.

    Bowen gave a soft chuckle, picked up a clean fork, and moved the beef from his te to hers. ¡°Well, call me uncle now.¡±

 Tried 32

    Aubree felt a little awkward the whole time they were eating.

    For some reason¨Cmaybe because of the mix¨Cup earlier¨CBowen suddenly said that since they¡¯d known each other for a while<b>, </b>calling <b>him </b><b>¡°</b><b>Mr. </b>Turner sounded way too formal. He told her she should just call him ¡°Uncle Bowen¡± like Alvin did.

    Aubree felt like he was messing with her, but thinking of the future investment, she yed along and said, ¡°Uncle Bowen<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°This ce is known for its beef pasta,¡± she added quickly. ¡°Back then, I couldn¡¯t afford them, and <i>now</i>, I can¡¯t really <b>eat </b>spicy stuff<b>, </b><b>so </b><b>go </b><b>ahead </b><b>and </b>enjoy them for me, Uncle Bowen.¡±

    She adjusted to the name pretty easily, since she was close with Alvin anyway.

    But Bowen fett weirdly thrown off by it. Alvin called him ¡°Uncle Bowen¡± all the time, and it meant nothing, but hearing <b>it </b>from Aubree <b>hit </b><b>differently</b><b>. </b><b>It </b>

    sounded nice.

    The difference surprised Bowen himself a bit.

    Meanwhile, Alvin¨Cbusy gaming at the team base¨Chad no clue that just over one meal<b>, </b>Bowen had mentally criticized him from head to toe <b>for </b><b>no </b>

    reason.

    Bowen asked the owner for a bowl of clean water, then used a fresh fork to rinse the beef, washing off the spicy sauce before setting <b>it </b>on Aubree¡¯s te. ¡°If it¡¯s that good, <i>you </i>should have some too.¡±

    The steam <i>from </i>the pasta curled around his face like a soft fog, giving him a kind of dreamy look.

    Aubree identally stared a second too long. When Bowen nced over, she quickly looked down and started eating again.

    Noticing her red ears, Bowen smiled to himself, suddenly thinking about the first time he saw her at the orphanage.

    He was eighteen then¨Calready out of school and running thepany. He¡¯d gone to the orphanage for a charity event.

    Back then, Aubree wore two braids and sat quietly in the corner with a sketchpad, totally out of ce in a room full of noisy<b>, </b>crying kids. She looked way too mature for her age.

    Bowen had thought she was adorable. She reminded him of a little girl his older brother once rescued from traffickers five years earlier. If that girl had managed to escape, she¡¯d be about Aubree¡¯s age now.

    After they finished eating, Bowen drove Aubree back to Ellis Heights. He didn¡¯t stay long¨Cjust asked about the Autumn Finals and said he¡¯de watch before taking off.

    As the Autumn Finals drew closer, the official announcement of the final lineups of both teams stirred up quite a storm on Twitter.

    Both sides had made changes. Apex Squad reced their midsolo with Killian, who used to y for God¡¯s Fury. Carmen, who¡¯d been listed <b>as </b><b>a </b><b>sub</b><b>, </b>wasn¡¯t shown on the poster<b>, </b>so no one really noticed her absence.

    Fans of God¡¯s Fury were shocked to see Killian show <b>up </b>on the other team, and even Apex Squad¡¯s fans weren¡¯t sure what was going on.

    Then, the God¡¯s Fury poster made an even bigger ssh.

    Right in the middle was a girl¨Cabsolutely gorgeous¨Cin a silver and white uniform. If one didn¡¯t know better, one¡¯d think <b>it </b><b>was a </b>promo <b>for </b><b>a </b>TV <b>show</b>. But this was the esports finals. People went nuts.

    [Had God¡¯s Fury lost it? They dropped Killian and reced him with some random girl named Phoenix, huh<b>?</b><b>] </b>

    [Sure, she was beautiful¨Cbut what, were they nning to win by distracting the enemy with her looks?]

    [Who made this <b>call</b>? What were they thinking?]

    This wasn¡¯t a beauty pageant. This was pro gaming. And if they lost, even their own fans were gonna roast them.

    <b>And </b>that was the polite crowd. Killian¡¯s die¨Chard fans had much worse things to say about Aubree.

    Most people agreed¨CGod¡¯s Fury was done for.

    Of course, there were a few who recognized Phoenix as the same yer who¡¯d been turning heads in recent livestreams, but hardly anyone paid

    attention to that.

    When Carmen saw the tweet, she was shocked at first¨CPhoenix was actually Aubree.

    She read through the hatefulments, and a smile tugged at her lips.

    But when she realized that Aubree would be ying alongside Alvin¨Cpracticing together every day¨Cthat smile faded fast, reced by jealousy. <b>How </b>does she get so lucky?¡® Carmen muttered to herself.

    Right then, someone knocked on her door. ¡°Carmen, why didn¡¯t you tell me you joined Emery¡¯s team?¡± Daxton asked as he walked in.

    Carmen quickly pulled herself together. ¡°Daxton, I just wanted to see what it¡¯s like to y in a real tournament.¡±

    Daxton frowned, clearly unhappy. ¡°Your health isn¡¯t great. Why would you take a risk like this?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll take care of myself,¡± she said. ¡°By the way, did you know Aubree¡¯s in the tournament too?¡±

    Daxton¡¯s face darkened as he heard that. When he realized Aubree was on the opposing team, his expression turned ugly.

    ¡°What the hell is she doing? Helping outsiders instead of her own family, huh? She¡¯s just an ungrateful brat,¡± he said with pure disgust, as <b>if </b>everything Aubree did rubbed him the wrong way.

    Carmen clung to his arm and pouted. ¡°Daxton, do you think she¡¯s trying to win the championship just to impress Emery?¡±

    Her tone was light, but her eyes held something more. Carmen didn¡¯t get why Emery and Bryan had both changed their attitudes toward Aubree. She needed to find a way to turn them against Aubree again.

    Herment gave Daxton a new idea. He didn¡¯t even know Aubree could y games. She always acted cold and distant, like she didn¡¯t want anything to do with them. And now she was suddenly showing up at a tournament.

    He scoffed, ¡°Just more of her sneaky games.¡±

    Thinking back to what his mom had told him, Daxton was quick to decide that Aubree had nned all of this. She was pretending to break ties <b>with </b>the family but still trying to worm her way in. Her game was obvious.

    He convinced himself that Aubree was just ying hard to get, trying to win people over and take everything away <b>from </b><b>Carmen</b>.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carmen. I¡¯m still here. And I¡¯ll be at the match too,¡± Daxton said.

    If Aubree had any sense and let Carmen win, fine. But if she dared help the other team beat her own family, Daxton swore he¡¯d make Aubree <b>pay </b>for it.

    God¡¯s Fury didn¡¯t even have an official Twitter ount, so they had no clue what was going <b>on </b>online. With the finals <b>right </b><b>around </b>the corner, even Aubree, who normally didn¡¯t have to train, was spending her after¨Cschool hours at the team base.

    Matilda waspletely focused, trying to figure out the perfect draft to counter Apex Squad even in her dreams.

    08:55 Sun, 6 Jun

    ??? ????

    04.0

    And just like that, the League of Legends Autumn Finals kicked off at Rithol City Stadium.

    Outside, the staff started checking tickets. Bowen entered early through the VIP entrance and sat down in the best seat in the house. He pulled sist his phone and sent a message. [Good luck, tonight¡¯s champ.)

    In the locker room, Aubree¡¯s phone buzzed. Alvin, sitting right next to her, nced over and saw the message on her screen. His face twisted slightly

    He looked down at his own phone. Nothing.

    He tried to convince himself that Bowen had sent it to the wrong person. But deep inside, he cursed Bowen anyway.

    While Bowen was texting, someone peeked over his shoulder.

    But Bowen was quick¨Che flipped the phone face down right away. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±

    Ollie backed off with a sheepish grin. ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯ve never been to one of these esports matches before. Just checking out the vibe¡±

    ¡°You better be,¡± Bowen muttered, shooting him a look.

    They¡¯d been friends for years. Ollie had asked Bowen to hang out a bunch of times since he got back, but Bowen always said no. And now, out of the blue, Ollie had shown up at his office and followed him to this match.

    Ollie made a face but couldn¡¯t stop himself from sneaking another look at Bowen. Something just didn¡¯t feel right.

    Since Bowen got back from overseas, <i>no </i>one really knew what he¡¯d been doing. He kept turning down invites to grab drinks with the guys, always saying he had to get home.

    If Ollie didn¡¯t know Alvin still lived in Forith Bay, he might¡¯ve thought Bowen had a girl waiting for him at home.

    And now here he was, watching an esports game like he cared. That was new. Ollie was pretty sure Bowen didn¡¯t even know how the game worked.

    Something was definitely <i>up</i>. And <i>Ollie </i>was determined to figure out what it was.

    AD

 Tried 33

    <b>Chapter </b><b>33 </b>

    The stadium started filling up. Most of the banners were for Apex Squad, even in areas meant for God¡¯s Fury fans,

    Soon, the teams came out. Since God¡¯s Fury had made it to the finals through the winner¡¯s bracket, they entered first, just like always.

    ¡°That¡¯s gotta be Phoenix. She¡¯s even prettier in person than in the promo pics. What a waste,¡± someone muttered sarcastically.

    Some people even brought banners that said stuff like ¡°Phoenix, get out of God¡¯s Fury.¡±

    ¡°They dropped Killian for a girl in the finals, huh? I¡¯m just here to watch them crash and burn,¡± another person scoffed.

    Killian was second only to Alvin when it came to poprity in God¡¯s Fury. So when he got pulled right before the finals, fans were pissed.

    ¡°All¨CStar must¡¯ve lost his mind letting Phoenix on the team.¡±

    ¡°Phoenix? That¡¯s a joke. She doesn¡¯t deserve that name.¡±

    A few fans tried to stay positive. ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s just hope they can win.¡±

    84<i>% </i>

    <b>120 </b>

    While the crowd was trash¨Ctalking, thements online were even worse. People had been tearing Aubree apart ever since the official team post went live, and it hadn¡¯t stopped¨Cnot even as the match was about to start.

    Aubree could hear the insults being thrown at her from the crowd, but her face didn¡¯t change. In esports, if one couldn¡¯t y, one didn¡¯t belong. She didn¡¯t me them for being mad. Nobody wanted to see their team lose because of some new, untested yer in the finals.

    Not long after, Apex Squad¡¯s yers came out. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the midsolo wasn¡¯t Carmen but Killian.

    Carmen was only listed as a sub and didn¡¯te out for the opening ceremony.

    As soon as fans saw Killian, they rxed.

    ¡°Apex Squad only lost to God¡¯s Furyst time because their mid was weak. Now God¡¯s Fury¡¯s tossing us the win with that dumb move,¡± someone said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s crush that Phoenix girl so bad she never shows her face again,¡± another shouted.

    Apex Squad¡¯s fans were fired up.

    In the stands, Emery and Daxton, who hade to see Carmen, turned their attention to Aubree.

    Daxton leaned toward Emery and said, ¡°This is the sister you¡¯re sticking your neck out for. She¡¯d rather join your enemy¡¯s team than help you.¡±

    On stage, Aubree stood in her God¡¯s Fury uniform, her hair tied back in a clean ponytail.

    Emery let out a weak smile. Unlike the others, he actually knew how good she was. But Aubree had never told him she could y this well.

    Daxton¡¯s words hit a nerve. Emery thought, ¡®Is Aubree trying to go pro in esports? But why didn¡¯t shee to me? Why go to a rival team instead ofing home?¡®

    ¡°As long as she¡¯s happy. I¡¯ve let her down. If this match doesn¡¯t go their way, I¡¯ll try to get her to join us. <b>I¡¯ll </b>m

    ra starter,¡± Emery said.

    Daxton snorted, ¡°You serious? Carmen¡¯s on your team, and she¡¯s stuck as a sub. And you want to give Aubree the starter spot, huh? Are you nuts? Do you really think she¡¯s some innocent little angel that needs your help? She¡¯s way smarter than that!¡±

    He let it all out, convinced he was right. His eyes locked on Aubree with disgust. ¡°She acts all high and mighty, pretending she doesn¡¯t care about you or Bryan, but she keeps messing with Carmen and trying to get our attention.¡±

    Emery frowned. From what he remembered, Aubree joined God¡¯s Fury before Carmen even got involved. If anyone had gone chasing after someone, it

    <b>+</b><b>84</b>%

    was Carmen chasing Aubree.

    ¡°This match¨Cup between them is just a coincidence,¡± Emery said.

    ¡°Coincidence?¡± Daxton scoffed. ¡°You think Aubree doesn¡¯t know you run Apex Squad, huh? Please. I¡¯ve been too busy to deal with her before, but now that she¡¯s finally in front of me, I¡¯ll make sure she learns a lesson after this match.¡±

    Emery gave him a sharp look. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± Daxton said tly.

    Ollie stared at the stage, feeling more and more

    confused. That girl looked familiar.

    He turned to Bowen with a suspicious look. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the girl you used to sponsor from the orphanage? Wow, Bowen, raising a future wife, huh? Even now that she¡¯s found her birth family, you¡¯re still keeping an eye on her.¡±

    He rubbed his chin, his shock turning into a teasing grin.

    When Bowen first started sponsoring her, the guys had all made fun of him. At first, Bowen just brushed it off. But if they pushed too far, he¡¯d snap, and eventually, everyone dropped it.

    Now, Ollie felt like he had finally figured out what was really going on.

    Bowen frowned, giving him a cold nce. ¡°Don¡¯t be gross.¡±

    Ollie blinked, surprised to be called out like that.

    Bowen added, ¡°She¡¯s been through a lot.¡±

    Ollie dropped the joke and got serious. ¡°So? What¡¯s that got to do with you? You¡¯ve already helped her for years. Don¡¯t tell me you n to take care of her

    forever.¡±

    ¡°I just want to give her a hand,¡± Bowen said, his eyes fixed on Aubree as she adjusted her gear onstage. Under the lights, she looked strong and confident, like she belonged there. She had that fire in her eyes¨Clike she came to win.

    ¡°Man, what¡¯s up with you? Are you addicted to saving people? What¡¯s next¨Cpicking out a husband for her?¡± Ollie said, arms crossed.

    ¡°No need,¡± Bowen said calmly. ¡°She¡¯ll figure it out on her own soon.¡±

    He believed the Aubree he¡¯d put his faith in would grow up fast.

    Not wanting to keep talking about her, Bowen changed the subject. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just get a nice green diamond?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I was gonna use it in the new collection<i>,</i><i>¡± </i>Ollie said. He worked in the jewelry business.

    ¡°Sell it to me. Name your price. I want it cut into a leaf shape,¡± Bowen said.

    Ollie gave a sarcastic hum but didn¡¯t argue.

    Bowen didn¡¯t push. He turned back to the stage.

    God¡¯s Fury was already lined up, but what shocked the crowd was that Apex Squad¡¯s midsolo wasn¡¯t Killian; it was a new girl.

    ¡°Who the heck is Wolfshade? No Killian? They¡¯re putting her in instead, huh?¡± someone shouted.

    ¡°The Autumn Finals are getting wild,¡± another said.

    <b>08:55 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>6 </b><b>J¨¹l </b>M

    The crowd booed. Onstage, Aubree was just as surprised to see Carmen instead of Killian.

    Before the timeline reset<b>, </b>Carmen had only joined the esports scene after Aubree became famous.

    Carmen smiled at her and said softly, ¡°My dear sister, I never thought we¡¯d end up facing each other.¡±

    That one line shocked both teams. The Apex Squad members, who¡¯d only heard from Killian that Aubree got on the team thanks to her connection with Alvin, didn¡¯t expect this family link.

    They understood. Wolfshade¡¯s sister was also the daughter of the Wilson family.

    Apex Squad¡¯s tone with Aubree instantly changed. ¡°Oh,e on. You are Wolfshade¡¯s sister, huh? We¡¯ll take it easy on you during the <b>match</b>.<b>¡± </b>

    That was a big shift from how they¡¯d treated her before.

    God¡¯s Fury had no clue about Carmen¡¯s background. They just looked over in surprise, shocked that Phoenix¡¯s whole family was stacked <b>with </b>gaming talent.

    Hearing thements, they immediately spoke up for Aubree. ¡°Who asked you to go easy? Are you afraid to y for real <b>now</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree answered coldly, ¡°Go easy? You mean I should go easy on you this time, huh<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    That hit hard. The Apex Squad guys clearly remembered how Aubree wiped the floor with them during practice. Their smiles dropped fast.

    Then, the first match started. Some God¡¯s Fury fans noticed the midsolo was new, and even the coach was changed to a woman. <b>The </b>crowd buzzed, thinking the match might already be a loss.

    But when God¡¯s Fury locked in theirst <i>pick</i>, even thementators were impressed. ¡°Looks like this new coach knows what she¡¯s doing<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>one of <b>them </b>said. ¡°That final pick really <i>puts </i><i>Apex </i>Squad in a tough spot.¡±

    time!¡± The othermentator chimed in, ¡°God¡¯s Fury¡¯s new mid, Phoenix, is still a mystery. She¡¯s gone with Anivia<b>, </b>which works great with theirp. On <b>the </b>other side, Apex Squad¡¯s mid, Wolfshade, picked <i>Annie</i>. Let¡¯s <i>see </i>how these two new faces do. <i>And </i>now¨Cit¡¯s game

    The cameras zoomed in on the yers.

    Aubree said into her mic, ¡°Alvin, Hector,e midne at the start. Let¡¯s keep it dark<i>.</i>¡±

 Tried 34

    <b>Chapter </b><b>34 </b>

    Before Aubree went back in time, she¡¯d already yed tons of matches with four of the Apex Squad members¨Ceveryone except Killian¨Cso she knew their ystyles inside and out

    Usually, Apex Squad¡¯s support helped them get an early lead on both was ying mid, it was pretty much guaranteed.

    sides

    the map, though it didn¡¯t always work out that way. But now that Carmen

    Aubree controlled her champion and, along with the jungler and support, timed a frost spell just right into the bush.

    One of thementators said, ¡°Looks like both teams are starting off normally. God¡¯s Fury¡¯s new mid, Phoenix, just threw her second ability into the bush. Well, it looks empty. Wait a second¨CWolfshade¡¯s moving toward it.¡±

    Right after he said it, Carmen walked straight into the bush and got frozen on the spot. In a sh, the jungler and support jumped out and attacked her.

    ¡°First blood!¡± the game announced. The crowd went quiet for half a second, then the whole ce blew up with cheers.

    Thementators got loud too. ¡°Perfect timing! First blood in under a minute¨Cthis might be the fastest one we¡¯ve ever seen!¡±

    The other added, ¡°Was that just luck? If not, then God¡¯s Fury¡¯s new midsolo is seriously scary.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s face went stiff as she stared at her gray screen. Dying so early, she could already imagine all the hatements headed her way.

    She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. ¡®It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just the beginning. If I win this game, I¡¯ll still be the star. I¡¯ll be the first female champ in League of Legends history,¡® she thought.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. That was my fault,¡± she said over the mic, trying to sound calm.

    If it had been anyone else, Apex Squad would¡¯ve torn into them right then. But since it was Carmen, and she had status, they held back and even tried <b>to </b>

    be nice.

    The jungler just said, ¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t hand them more chances.¡±

    But it was already toote. Alvin wasn¡¯t gonna waste that early lead. He charged right into the enemy jungle with Aubree and the support backing him up. The other team was already behind.

    Aubree used her deep knowledge of their tactics and yed to her own strengths. It was like she had X¨Cray vision¨Cshe kept calling out enemy locations to her teammates. Sometimes her calls were so spot¨Con that they won fights they hadn¡¯t even nned for.

    If this hadn¡¯t been an official tournament, people might¡¯ve thought Phoenix was cheating.

    Aubree didn¡¯t hold back on Carmen. Ten minutes into the game, she¡¯d already killed Carmen eight times.

    With such a huge lead, Apex Squad couldn¡¯t keep up.

    None of them had ever been crushed this hard in a kills. Didn¡¯t I tell you to be careful?¡±

    a real match. The jungler snapped, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Ten minutes and you fed their mid eight

    Carmen was falling apart. She wasn¡¯t <i>some </i>rookie¨Cshe¡¯d done pretty well in practice games. But Aubree was on a whole different level. Going up against her, Carmen felt like a total newbie.

    The rest of the team lost patience as well. They didn¡¯t care about Carmen¡¯s background anymore. ¡°You¡¯re both girls¨Chow¡¯s the gap this wide?¡± someone

    said.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Phoenix also Emery¡¯s sister? Why didn¡¯t we pick her instead?¡± another said.

    Carmen was used to being pampered by the Wilson family. She¡¯d never been yelled at like this. Hearing them go <b>off </b>on her while <b>praising </b>Aubree <b>left </b><b>and </b>right, she broke.

    08:55 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Jul </b>

    ¡°Why is it all my fault?¡± she snapped. ¡°You guys weren¡¯t exactly killing it either. I was getting ganked the whole time¨Cwhere was the vision? <b>Why </b><b>didn¡¯t </b>anyone help me?¡±

    That just made things worse. The jungler, who was also the team captain, blew up. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve. If you hadn¡¯t fed their midsolo so much, we wouldn¡¯t be in this mess! And what were you doing during that dragon fight? Sleepwalking? Do you need me to remind you wity you¡¯re even on this

    team?¡±

    Carmen¡¯s face twisted with anger. She yanked off her headset and mmed it down.

    The camera quickly cut from God¡¯s Fury celebrating to this blow¨Cup on Apex Squad¡¯s side, and the crowd was stunned.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on with Apex Squad? Are they falling apart live on stage?¡± someone asked.

    ¡°How¡¯d this Wolfshade even get on the team? She¡¯s terrible.¡±

    ¡°Phoenix is looking really good.¡±

    ¡°Please, she just got lucky that Killian¡¯s not here.¡±

    Aubree had pulled off some amazing ys¨Cstuff that left even thementators speechless. But a few people still said it was just luck.

    Then the coach called for a sub.

    In the crowd, Emery watched Carmen throw her tantrum, getting more and more annoyed.

    She¡¯d said she wanted to join the team to make friends, but it looked like she was just making enemies. She yed badly and still had the nerve to <b>blow </b>up like that, right in front of everyone.

    Emery knew Aubree would never act like this. Even if she was treated unfairly, she¡¯d suck it up for the team.

    Daxton didn¡¯t care about the match at all. All he saw was Carmen getting yelled at. His face darkened as he turned to Emery. ¡°Is this <b>how </b>your <b>team </b>acts? One loss and they gang up on Carmen, huh? That jungler¨Cfire him after the game. No one gets to bully Carmen.¡±

    Emery almost thought he¡¯d heard wrong. ¡®Did Daxton really just say that?¡® he thought.

    This wasn¡¯t just some random game¨Cthis was the finals. Most yers dreamed of getting here, and now Daxton wanted him to fire the team captain, all because of Carmen. That was ridiculous.

    Trying to hold back his anger, Emery clenched his teeth and said, ¡°Daxton, I know how to run my own team.¡±

    Daxton didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Are you serious right now? Carmen¡¯s getting bullied!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s getting called out because she messed up,¡± Emery said, his voice tight. ¡°If she hadn¡¯t handed the enemy so many chances, we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± Daxton snapped.

    Emery had hoped Daxton might at least reflect a little, but no, he just kept defending Carmen. ¡°You¡¯re her broth But don¡¯t talk about her like that. And don¡¯t let me hear it again. If you won¡¯t handle that girl, I will.¡±

    won¡¯t stand up for her, huh? Fine.

    Emery just stared at Daxton, feeling helpless. It didn¡¯t matter what he said¨Cnothing was getting through. To Daxton<b>, </b><b>if </b>he <b>didn¡¯t </b>always take Carmen¡¯s side, he was in the wrong.

    And now Emery got it. This must¡¯ve been what Aubree went through. And not just from Daxton¨Cthe entire Wilson family had probably treated her like

    this.

    That thought hardened Emery¡¯s resolve. He was going to bring Aubree back. If she wanted to go pro, he¡¯d clear the way for <i>her</i>.

    Back on stage, Killian walked out, and game two kicked off.

    08:55 Sun, <b>6 </b>Jul M

    Apex Squad fans were all cing their hopes on Killian to turn things around.

    Bowen, sitting in the front row, watched the focused Aubree on stage and couldn¡¯t stop smiling. Even though he didn¡¯t understand much about the game, he could tell Aubree was something special.

    Ollie let out a low whistle. ¡°That girl¡¯s something else.¡± As a gamer himself, he could appreciate how good she was.

    ¡°Of course. My girl is not bad,¡± Bowen said, puffing up with pride.

    ¡°Your girl?¡± Ollie raised an eyebrow, halfughing. Looking at Bowen with such confidence, he doubted Aubree really cared about Bowen.

    Meanwhile, the match kept going. In game two, Apex Squad members finally pulled themselves together. With Killian back, things felt way more bnced.

    At the ten¨Cminute mark, the two teams shed again at the dragon pit¨Cthe same fight they¡¯d lost badlyst game.

    Thementator said, ¡°This is huge. Whoever takes the lead here could win it all.

    ¡°Now, Phoenix is waiting in ambush, but it looks like Apex Squad spotted her. They¡¯re going in!

    ¡°Oh my! Can this just be luck<i>? </i>All five of <i>Apex </i>Squad¡¯s abilitiesnded, but Phoenix dodged every single one! Is this the Phoenix <i>rising </i>from the ashes?¡±

    The y stunned not just thementators but the whole arena.

    The crowd went wild. Someone shouted ¡°Phoenix!¡± and the chant spread until it filled the whole stadium.

    After the fight was over, the camera zoomed in on Aubree as she took off her headset. She looked out at the cheering crowd, a slight smile on her face, and said, ¡°I am the best.¡±

 Tried 35

    Apex Squad¡¯s loss was bound to happen. Except for the one round God¡¯s Fury purposely threw, almost every match ended the same way<b>¨C</b><b>their </b>Nexus got smashed after the ten¨Cminute dragon fight.

    By now, no one dared to talk trash about Aubree being a girl. Anyone who knew anything about the game could see she was just as good as Alvin- maybe even better. Not even Killian could keep up with her.

    ¡°Phoenix! Phoenix! Phoenix!¡± The whole arena roared with the chant.

    Onstage, the five yers stood at the center, facing the crowd. Gold confetti poured down on them, shining like the moment belonged to them. <b>They </b>were the night¡¯s real champions¨Ceven without the crown.

    Bowen stared at Aubree as she stood in the spotlight, confident and glowing. He didn¡¯t even realize how long he¡¯d been watching her.

    Ollie caught the look and couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡®Bowen, you don¡¯t know how much <i>you </i>care about this girl, do you?¡® he thought, amused.

    For someone like Bowen¨Calways cold and detached¨Ccaring this much was way out of character.

    Meanwhile, Carmen sat offstage in Apex Squad¡¯s prep area, watching Aubree soak up the crowd¡¯s cheers. Her face twisted with <b>rage</b><b>. </b>

    ¡®That should be me. The fans, the glory, even Alvin¡¯s attention¨Cit should¡¯ve all been mine. Why did Aubree have toe back and take it all? <b>Why </b>is she always stealing from me?¡® she thought bitterly.

    Jealousy and hate wrapped around her heart like thorns. She couldn¡¯t hide the look on her face anymore. Her expression turned bitter and <b>almost </b>twisted, her eyes locked on Aubree like knives.

    Suddenly, she jumped up and stormed off toward the back. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she¡¯d lose it and charge onto the stage.

    As she walked, her eyes turned cold. Aubree got kicked out of the Wilson family and still made aeback, even getting Bryan and Emery on her side.

    Taking a shaky breath, Carmen made up her mind¨Cshe couldn¡¯t let this keep happening. If Aubree kept rising, she might be the one the family tossed

    next.

    In the stands, Daxton had been watching Carmen ever since she left the stage. When he saw her walk off alone, he didn¡¯t hesitate to follow.

    He¡¯d seen Carmen practicing with Emery¡¯s team these past few days. Even though her health wasn¡¯t great, she¡¯d been trying hard. Daxton knew tonight¡¯s loss had to hit her hard.

    ¡®Aubree just went too far,¡® he thought angrily. ¡®Even if she wanted to win, was it really so hard to let Carmen take one game? Just one? Would that have killed her? What a bitter, spiteful brat.

    The more he thought about it, the more his anger spread, now aimed at Emery as well. ¡®How could Emery let this happen? How could he not even know Aubree was ying? If he had, maybe they could¡¯ve helped Carmen prepare and saved her this humiliation,¡® he thought.

    And when Daxton found Carmen crying alone in the stairwell, he lost it.

    ¡°Carmen, don¡¯t cry. It kills me to see you like this,¡± he said, pulling her into a hug.

    ¡°Daxton, I¡¯m sorry. I lost. I embarrassed you,¡± Carmen cried, tears pouring down her face.

    Daxton¡¯s heart ached just hearing her. He held her tighter. His anger toward Aubree burned even hotter. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault<b>,</b>¡± he said <b>softly</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>This </b>is all

    Aubree¡¯s bad.¡±

    Wanting to cheer her up, he lowered his <b>voice</b>. ¡°Carmen, do you want to be a champion?¡±

    Carmen looked up, eyes red and swollen.I do,¡± she choked out. <b>¡°</b><b>If </b>I <b>won</b>, Emery would be proud. <b>My </b>teammates might <b>be </b><b>happy</b>. <b>But I </b><b>didn¡¯t </b><b>win</b>. Aubree did, I¡¯ll be happy for her.¡±

    Daxton¡¯s chest tightened as he thought, ¡®Carmen is too good. Even after everything, she still thinks of Emery<b>, </b>those ungrateful teammates<b>, </b><b>and </b><b>even </b>Aubree. That bitch stole her moment, and Carmen still wishes her well!

    All Daxton wanted was to protect Carmen, to shield her from everything.

    He gently wiped her tears. ¡°You¡¯ve had a rough day. Go get some rest. I¡¯ll take care of everything.¡±

    He had brought bodyguards, but they were waiting in the car outside the venue.

    C¨¢rmen still had to leave with Apex Squad. She had already thrown a tantrum during the match. If she walked out alone now, she¡¯d just get dragged even

    harder online.

    After seeing Carmen off, Daxton took his bodyguards and headed to the parking garage to find Aubree.

    At the same time, Aubree had just finished her interview. She and her teammates were heading to the underground garage through a back security ext.

    As they entered, a group of men stepped out from the shadows¨CDaxton was leading them. ¡°Grab her,¡± he said.

    God¡¯s Fury members didn¡¯t know who Daxton was, but it was pretty obvious he was there for Aubree. All four of them, plus Matilda, quickly moved in front of Aubree, forming a wall. ¡°Who are you? What do you want?¡±

    Daxton flicked away his cigarette, clearly out of patience. ¡°Do it. I don¡¯t care if she ends up hurt or dead. I¡¯ll take the me.¡±

    These bodyguards were from the Wilson family, the same as Chris and the other men of Bowen.

    The <i>moment </i>Daxton gave the order, the bodyguards attacked. Only Alvin had any training in self¨Cdefense, but he couldn¡¯t match up against trained bodyguards.

    Still, none of them backed down. The four teammates did everything they could to protect Aubree.

    In the chaos, Aubree got knocked down more than once. As she watched them throw themselves in front of her again and again, her heart ached.

    They¡¯d only known her for a couple of weeks, but they treated her like family they had to protect. And yet, her own brother was standing there, telling men to beat her like she didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°Tell them to stop,¡± Aubree said, stepping forward. She couldn¡¯t let them get hurt because of her. A hand injury could end an esports yer¡¯s whole

    career.

    But Daxton wasn¡¯t stopping. Carmen¡¯s loss had pushed him over the edge. Right now, he didn¡¯t care what happened to Aubree. He stormed <i>up</i>, grabbed her by the neck, and mmed her against a concrete pir.

    ¡°Aubree!¡± her teammates shouted, trying to help her, but the bodyguards held them back.

    Then, the bodyguards snatched their phones and smashed them.

    The pain in Aubree¡¯s back was sharp and deep. It felt like something had cracked. She copsed to the ground Still, she looked up and said, ¡°Daxton, if you¡¯re gonna hurt someone, hurt me.¡°.

    ng her throat, struggling to breathe.

    Daxton looked down at her<b>, </b>full of disgust. ¡°Go to the organizers and admit you cheated. Post a statement that you¡¯re quitting esports for good.¡± <b>And </b><b>he </b>would take care of the rest.

    ¡°I¡¯m not doing that,¡± Aubree said, her voice hoarse but steady. This win didn¡¯t just belong to her. Even if it did, she wasn¡¯t about <b>to </b><b>give </b><b>it </b><b><i>up </i></b><b>to </b><b>Daxton¡¯s </b>

    threats.

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking,¡± Daxton said coldly. ¡°I¡¯m telling you.¡±

    Then he waved his hand, and Hector¡¯s scream rang <b>out</b>.

    Aubree turned and saw one <b>of </b>the bodyguards twisting Hector¡¯s right hand.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t do that,¡± Daxton said, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure all three of them lose both hands. I can¡¯t touch Alvin <b>yet</b>, but I¡¯ll ruin the rest without banking ¨C

    A cold chill ran through Aubree. She believed him. Of the four Wilson brothers, Bryan acted the most cold¨Cblooded, but Daxton was <b>worse </b>

    Living in theb for years had taken something out of him. He didn¡¯t feel things the way for Carmen.

    other <b><i>p </i></b>

    people did. He barely treated his family like people, excent

    Right now, Aubree didn¡¯t know what to do. She feltpletely helpless, and she hated it.

    Meanwhile, Emery kept ncing at Carmen in the car. Something felt off. He wondered why Daxton hadn¡¯te back yet.

    Carmen shifted nervously under his stare.

    Emery¡¯s stomach dropped. He quickly told the driver to turn around.

    Outside the arena, Bowen was still waiting for God¡¯s Fury¡¯s car. But something didn¡¯t sit right.

    ¡°Chris, get your team over to the stadium right now,¡± he said. ¡°Ollie,e with me¨Cwe¡¯re going to the underground garage.¡±

    After the call, he gave Ollie a look, then took off running, full speed toward the garage.

 Tried 36

    G G

    ¡°I do it,¡± Aubree said through clenched teeth. Glying in to baston would ruin her future in esports, and she hadn¡¯t nned on staying in the pro scene

    long¨Cterm anywing

    But if she refused, Hector and the others would get hurt, Championships could be won again, but if her teammates got injured, there was no fixing that.

    Daston finally looked a little satisfied. He handed her his phone. ¡°Record it yoursell if I don¡¯t see it posted by tomorrow, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s hands shook as she took the phone and opened the voice recorder. ¡°1-

    Before she could speak, a familiar voice cut in calm but mocking ¡°I was starting to wonder what was taking so long. <b>So </b><b>this </b>is where you¡¯ve <b>been</b>, catching up with Dr. Wilson, huh?¡±

    Bowen¡¯s cold eyes locked onto Daxton <b>as </b>he walked forward slowly. He nced at the bodyguards. ¡°Dr. Wilson, what¡¯s this about? Did my nephew piss you off or something?¡±

    Histone was casual at first, but then it turned sharp. ¡°<b>Or </b>are <b>you </b>acting <b>on </b>behalf of the Wilson family to stir up trouble with me? Bullying my sweetie?¡±

    Thatst part was <b>something </b>else. Aubree wasn¡¯t sure why, but she knew Bowen was talking about her.

    She snuck a few <b>nces </b>at Bowen<b>, </b>puzzled. ¡°Why is he stepping in like this? Why is he defending me so <b>hard</b>?¡± she wondered.

    Alvin rolled his eyes in disgust.

    The <b>bodyguards </b>hesitated, unsure of what to do next. They looked to Daton for <b>a </b><b>signal</b>.

    Daxton ground his teeth in frustration. Just a little more time, and this would¡¯ve been over. He thought Bowen had shown up at the worst possible

    moment.

    Trying to keep control of the situation, Darton waved his hand and told the bodyguards, ¡°Let the others <b>go</b>. But Aubree stays with me.¡±

    He had to keep a hold on Aubree for now and figure the rest outter

    He grabbed her wrist, tight enough to leave <b>a </b><b>red </b><b>mark </b>on her skin. He <b>didn¡¯t </b><b>care </b>if it hurt. Anyway, Aubree wasn¡¯t going anywhere.

    Unlike Bryan, Dation wasn¡¯t into ying games like ¡°pick one.¡± Aubree had Wilson blood, and there was no way <b>he¡¯d </b>let Bowen take <b>her</b>.

    , and we¡¯ll sort everything else outter.¡±

    But Bowen <b>didn¡¯t </b><b>back </b>down. ¡°Dr. Wilson, maybe you didn¡¯t hear me. I¡¯m taking everyone with <b>me</b><b>, </b>a

    Daxton¡¯s expression darkened. After a moment<b>, </b>he <b>let </b>out <b>a </b>low, <b>angry </bugh. ¡°Who <b>does </b>he think he is? He isn¡¯t family. Who is he to interfere <b>with </b>how I deal with my own sister? he thought.

    ¡°Aubree is a <b>Wilson</b>, Daxton said coldly. His voice dropped into a low, threatening growl. ¡°She¡¯s one of us.¡±

    Ollo let <b>out </b><b>a </b>shortugh at that, it had been a while since he¡¯d seen anyone dumb enough to threaten Bowen. Today was really <b>something</b>. He¡¯d known. Bowen a long time and could tell that Bowen was furious.

    Ollle looked Daston <b>up </b><b>and </b>down, wondering if <b>this </b><b>so</b>¨C<b>called </b>scientist could take a beating

    After all, back when Bowen¡¯s older brother was alve, Bowen might¡¯ve seemed cold, but he¡¯d been the wildest one in their group. He only toned it down- after the Turner family¡¯s tall

    ¡°A Wilson!¡± Bowen <b>repeated</b>, pretending to be confused, ¡°You mean the Wilson family that signed <b>a </b>document cutting ties with her, <b>huh</b><b>? </b>She <b>was </b><b>your </b>blood rtive<b>, </b>and you kicked her out. How actly is she stil part of your family?¡±

    His words hit hard. Aubree, still held tightly by Daxion, thought every word Bowen said was <b>spot </b>on. If she could, she would¡¯ve pped.

    07:09 Mon<b>, </b><b>7 </b><b>Jul </b>

    The Wilsons were ridiculous always talking about hering home, like she was still one of them. But to her, they were no longer her family ster they¡¯d done.

    As the argument heated up, Chris finally showed up with <b>backup</b>. The Turner family¡¯s bodyguards quickly lined up behind Bowen

    With his team now in ce, Bowen stopped pretending to be polite. He¡¯d been stalling because he wasn¡¯t sure he could keep Aubree safe in a <b>full</b><b>¨C</b>blowni fight. But now? No more worries

    He thought about the scene he¡¯d just walked into and narrowed his eyes. They were bullying his girl. There was no way he was gonna sit back <b>and </b>do

    nothing

    He took off his tie and dropped it

    the Cros

    started undoing his cufflinks. ¡°Whether she stays or goes isn¡¯t your call.¡±

    Daxton was caught off guard, and Aubree used that moment to strike. She bit down hard on his wrist. Her whole body still ached from when he¡¯d thrown her earlier, and she wasn¡¯t the type to let things slide.

    She bit down as hard as she could, only letting go when Daxton cried out. Then she slipped away like a fish and ran straight to Bowen

    ¡°Aubroot¡± Daxton roared. He grabbed his wrist, which was already turning red and bleeding where her teeth had broken the skin,

    Before he could react, a hand mped down on his shoulder, and then Bowen¡¯s fist mmed into his gut¡­

    Bowen¡¯s eyes were dark and sharp. His voice was low and cold. ¡°So, how about we sattle things now, for putting your hands on my sweetie?¡±

    Daston¡¯s bodyguards moved in to help, but Chris and his team stepped in, blocking them with easy smiles. ¡°Let the bosses sort it out.¡±

    They didn¡¯t throw punches unless Bowen gave the order, but they sure weren¡¯t about to let Daxton¡¯s men mess things up either.

    <b>Daxton¡¯s </b>bodyguards were stuck. They could only stand there, fuming.

    Bowen didn¡¯t waste the moment. Hended a few hard punches before stepping back, calm as ever, He straightened his sleeves and clipped his cufflinks back into <b>ce</b>, looking like he hadn¡¯t <b>even </b>broken a sweat.

    On the other hand, Daxton was left on one knee, gasping and clutching his stomach. His face had gone pale. All that smugness from earlier was gone.

    Bowen looked down at him and warned, ¡°Dr. Wilson, next time won¡¯t be just a couple of punches.¡± He had wanted to stay out of Aubree¡¯s fights with the Wilsons¨Clot her handle things herself <b>But </b>clearly, they didn¡¯t know when to quit, even with him backing up Aubree.

    Then he looked over at Aubree. He gently pulled her cor down and saw the bruises. His jaw tightened. Now he really wished he¡¯d hit Daston harder. He should¡¯ve left Daxton in <b>a </b>hospital bed.

    ¡°I¡¯m <b>fine</b>. It just looks bad,¡± Aubree said quickly, trying to push his hand away. But the small movement made her wince

    Bowen shot <b>her </b><b>a </b>re. ¡°You call this fine, huh?¡±

    Without saying anything else, he¡¯crouched down and scooped her up onto his back, ignoring her weak protests.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking her to the hospital. You take care of the rest,¡± he told Alvin.

    Alvin gave a firm nod. ¡°Got it¡±

    <b>Once </b><b>they </b>were gone, Chris stepped aside and finally let Daxton¡¯s bodyguardse help him.

    Daxton leaned on his men, ring at the spot where Bowen and Aubree had just been. His face twisted with rage. He¡¯d never been this humiliated. Never felt so powerless.

    Just then, Emery showed up. He saw Bowgh walking off with <b>Aubree </b>on his back, and his face changed. ¡®She¡¯s <b>hurt</b>? Where¡¯s Daston<b>? </b>he wondered.

    He scanned the area, not spotting Daxton right away. His face grew even darker. After <b>a </b>moment of hesitation, he allowed his words of concern and

    07:09 Mon, 7 Jul VG.

    rushed toward the parking garage. ¨C

    Aubree saw him and let out a quiet, bitterugh.

 Tried 37

    <b>Chapter </b><b>37 </b>

    Emery had nned to take Daston to the hospital, but Darton refused. He was too embarrassed about getting beaten up by Bowen

    ¡°I¡¯m a doctor. I know how bad it is,¡± he said sharply. Emery had no choice but to call the family doctor to check him out at hom

    ¡°<b>What </b>did <b>you </b>do to Aubree earlier? I saw Bowen carrying her out. Did you hurt her?¡± Emery asked.

    Daxton leaned against the car window, holding his stomach. His tonn was hasty. ¡°That bitch had iting.¡±

    He didn¡¯t even hesitate to call his consister that.

    Emery felt a wave of guilt and gave Daxton a sharp look.

    ¡°At first, I thought Bryan was <b>making </b>it up when he said she clung to Bomen Daston continued, still bitter about being beaten by Bowen. ¡°But now, <b>I¡¯m </b>starting to <b>think </b><b>she </b>already <b>had </b><b>a </b>backup n before she left the <b>family</b>. Look how Bowen¡¯s jumping to protect her.¡±

    Emery rubbed his temple. He was tired <b>of </b>arguing ¡°Bowen¡¯s been out of the country until recently. Aubree couldn¡¯t have known him before. None of us could even get close to the guy.¡±

    Daxton didn¡¯t <b>care</b>. ¡°Come on, what kind of rtionship does it take<b>? </b>She¡¯s a woman, and he¡¯s <b>a </b>man. What other reason would he have to help her?¡±

    Emery had no answer for that. He didn¡¯t understand it either. But Bowen¡¯s actions made him uneasy. He worried Bowen might be hiding something, and Aubree could get hurt. This made him even more eager to bring Aubree back,

    They drove the rest of the way in silence,

    As soon as they pulled up to the house, Camen was standing by the door. Daxton¡¯s <b>face </b>softened the moment he saw her. ¡°Silly girl, why are you waiting out here in the cold? Go inside and rest¡±

    When she noticed his <b>bruises</b><b>, </b>Carmen¡¯s <b>face </b><b>went </b>pale. She ran into <b>his </b>arms, voice shaking ¡°Daxton<b>, </b>you¡¯re hurt! Who did this? Was it Aubree? How could she <b>hurt </b>you like this?¡±

    It <b>hadn¡¯t </b>been Aubree directly, but in Daxton¡¯s mind, it might as well have been.

    Carmen¡¯s words it Daxton¡¯s anger right back up. He thought there was nothing Aubree could not do at this point.

    The doctor <b>showed </b>up soon after. Not wanting Carmen to see him like that, Daston gently talked her into going to bed.

    Lying on the living room couch, he pulled up his shirt. His strong frame was now covered in dark brukes across his waist <b>and </b>stomach.

    to work, putting on ointment and wrapping the worst spots.

    The doctor got to

    Imery watched quietly, his face unreadable. He wasn¡¯t worried about Daston¨Che was thinking about Aubree. <b>If </b>Bowen had hit Daston this hard, <b>he </b><b>believed </b>Aubree had to be in bad <b>shape</b>.

    ¡°<b>Daxton</b>, Aubree is still our sister, Emery said softly. ¡°You don¡¯t <b>have </b>to like her, <b>but </b>do you really have to go this <b>far</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    He never expected the family to love Aubree the way they loved Cammen. But this kind of hate felt too much. And the things Carmen ha

    After thinking for a moment, Emery continued, ¡°Qaxton, Carmen¡¯s not as sweet and innocent as you think.¡± He exined everything he and Bryan had found out.

    ¡°And what about today? Did you go to the garage because Carmen told you something again? Emery asked. He knew Daton wouldn¡¯t have picked a fight with Aubree for no reason. Cammen must¡¯ve said something first.

    Emery didn¡¯t expect Daston to change his mind right away. He just hoped to make <b>Daten </b>think twice <b>and </b>make him more wary of Carmen, But instead, Daxton¡¯s temper exploded.

    He shot up from the couch and punched Emery in the face <b>told </b>you not to talk trash about Carment Has Aubree brainwashed your

    He red at Emory. ¡°What do you mean by saying that Carmen was upsett She¡¯s my sister isn¡¯t it my job to make her feel better? She¡¯s been <b>working </b>her tail of trying to win a championship for you¨Cand this is how you treat her, huh?¡±

    Daston was furious- he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing from Emery. ¡°I think that i

    He wasn¡¯t about to let anyone talk trash about Carmen, not even their parents.

    bitch <b>has </b>clouded your judgment.¡±

    Emery¡¯s eyes widened. He was shocked. As the calinest of the brothers, he felt his temper ring. ¡°What the hell are you talking about? I think Bowen knocked the sense out of you with those punches.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t believe this unreasonable guy in front of him was usually his smart, level¨Cheaded brother.

    But Daxton just got more worked up. ¡°If you still think of yourself as Carmen¡¯s brother, then use your money to buy out the rest of Aubree¡¯s team. Let¡¯s <b>see </b>how well <b>she </b>does without them.¡±

    He made it sound like Emery refusing would be some huge betrayal.

    Emery was so angry he <b>didn¡¯t </b>even know what to <b>say</b>. He could not believe that all this was just because Carmen lost one match. And now he was

    expected to go this far to please her.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here? What are you fighting about?¡± Trevor had just gotten back from filming, suitcase still in hand, and looked at them with curiosity.

    From what little he overheard, it sounded like this had something to do with Carmen and Aubree What really caught his attention was that Emery seemed to be standing up for <b>Aubre </b>

    Seeing Trevor, Daxton jumped in and told him what had happened, clearly expecting backup. ¡°Trevor, don¡¯t you think Emery¡¯spletely lost it?<b>¡± </b>

    Trevor was the smoothest of the four, thanks to his time in the entertainment world. He smiled and casually walked over to Darton ¡°Take it easy. Duxton. Emery is upset. You¡¯re stepping <b>into </b>his team¡¯s business. How would you feel if Bryan told you to ditch yourb to help out at thepany?¡±

    With just a few words, Trevor made it sound Ske Emery was only mad because Daston was messing with his career.

    Emeryv

    y was about to speak up, but Trevor continued, ¡°And Emery, you know Daton cares more about Carmen than any of us. Of course, he¡¯s mad if she¡¯s upset. You should try to be more understanding¡±

    That shut both of them up

    ¡°Come on, this isn¡¯t thatplicated,¡± Trevor said with a half¨Csmile. ¡°There¡¯s already buzz about Aubree being a girl in esports. We could just let <b>public </b>opinion do its thing. Even if she holds up, the officials might <b>not</b>.¡±

    Daxton thought about it. It wasn¡¯t a new idea¨Cthis kind of thing happened all the time in Trevor¡¯s world. <b>It </b>wouldn¡¯t take <b>much</b>, <b>and </b>with Trevor¡¯s connections, it¡¯d be easy to pull off

    Emery caught on quickly and stepped in. ¡°No way. I don¡¯t agree. If we do that, the officials will have no choice but to drop Aubree. She¡¯ll be cklisted

    from the entire esports scene.¡±

    The pressure wouldn¡¯t just be from fans. Daxton would definitely throw the Wilson family name into the mis

    Trevor already expected that reaction. Heughed it off. ¡°Rx, Emery. I¡¯m <b>just </b>

    m just messing

    ng with you. Aubree¡¯s still our sister. I¡¯m <b>not </b>

    But when Emery <b>wasn¡¯t </b>looking, Trevor shot Dayton <b>a </b>knowing nce.

    Daxton looked thoughtful for once and, surprisingly, didn¡¯t argue back.

    Emery looked from one to the other, suspicious. Trevor just kept smiling. Emery finally let it go and <b>added</b>, ¡°You¡¯d better be joking¡±

    Then he walked out of the Wilson family house, feeling like if he stayed any longer, he might actually have a heart attack. Now he got why Aubree didn¡¯t

    back¨Cth

    want toe back this ce was suffocating

    It <b>was </b>like the whole family ran on a ¡°Carmen only¡± rulebook.

    Inside the house, Trevor gave baston a pat on the shoulder without saying a word. At he headed upstairs, he spotted Carmen slipping away around the corner. He just smiled to himself

    nigamay

 Tried 38

    <b>Chapter </b><b>38 </b>

    After taking Aubree to the Turner family¡¯s private hospital for a check up, Bowen brought her back to Ellis Heights.

    Squirming on Bower¡¯s back, Aubree protested, ¡°Bowen, put me down. I can walk by myself¡±

    It was alreadyte when thepetition ended, and after another trip to the hospital, it was now deep into the right. Carol had taken the day off, and <b>Hugh </b>had gone to bed early, leaving the house unusually quiet.

    Fortunately, Daston¡¯s blow hadn¡¯t caused any serious damage, just a few minor injuries,

    Bowen remained silent, his entire body radiating a chilling pressure. Even the usually oblivious Aubree sensed the impending storm and instantly froze on his back, not daring to move another inch

    She swallowed hard. ¡®Did I do anything wrong? Aubree mentally reyed everything she¡¯d done that <b>day </b>

    Feeling her go still on his back, Bowen snorted coldly. ¡°Donening!¡±

    At the hospital, when Bowen saw Aubree¡¯s back covered in dark bruises, he <b>was </b>consumed with regret. He wished he¡¯d done more than just throw a few punches at Daxton.

    Bowen thought, ¡°I always believed I could watch Aubree stumble through life¡¯s challenges and grow, just as I did with Alvin, keeping my distance. But today, I realized I simply can¡¯t.¡¯

    In that split second when something happened to Aubree, his mind wentpletely <b>nk</b><b>, </b>nothing else mattered.

    Bowen finally realized just how much he cared about Aubree, maybe even more <b>than </b>he should.

    His brows frosted with a heavy chill, his gaze sharp as a freshly forged de. Explosive rage surged within him, threatening to break free, yet when he carefullyid her on the bed and faced her, he forced it back, <b>burying </b>it deep within his eyes.

    Aubree <b>nced </b>at him cautiously and asked in a small voice, ¡°Are you¡­ angry? Is it because I caused you trouble today?¡±

    That <b>was </b>the only reason Aubree could think of for Bowen¡¯s anger.

    Tve dragged Alvin into <b>danger</b>, she thought, guilt weighing heavily on her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Aubree apologized meekly. She¡¯d <b>already </b>made up her mind, once the prize money came through, she would move out of Ellis Heights immediately.

    Before Aubree could finish, she felt that familiar touch on her head, Bowen ruffled her <b>hair</b>, just as he¡¯d done so many times before. ¡°What nonsense are you thinking?¡± he said gently, ¡°You could never be any trouble to me. Just don¡¯t let yourself get hurt again. If you can¡¯t win, run <b>away</b>. There¡¯s no need to <b>stand </b>your ground stubbornly.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s words left Aubree stunned. She reyed his words in her mind, Was Bowen telling me that his heart ached seeing me hurt? Bowen Turner

    This realization made Aubree want to smile, but her lips refused to cooperate.

    For the first time, someone told her she wasn¡¯t trouble, that her own safety mattered above all else.

    <b>¡°</b>Bowen¡­ do you¡­ have feelings for me?¡® she wondered, her thoughts tangled with hesitation.

    She thought, ¡®Just like the Wilson <b>family </b>couldn¡¯t understand why Bowen was helping me, I didn¡¯t get it either. Honestly, their suspicion that I might have <b>traded </b>myself for his help wasn¡¯t unfounded. I weren¡¯t the one involved, I¡¯d probably think the same!

    Aubree asked, ¡°Why are you helping me so much?¡±

    Clutching the nket to her chest, she sat up in bed and watched with confusion as Bowen rummaged for the ointment.

    Bowen held the medicine, a feeling emotion shing through his eyes, one she couldn¡¯t read.

    He chuckled lightly, returning to his usual gentle, refined self. ¡°You¡¯ve ved this before, and my answer remains unchanged

    From the very beginning, Bowen never intended to let Aubree know he was her benefactor. He nned to keep his identity hidden since the sponsorship started, partly to avoid unnecessaryplications, and partly because he worried Aubree might develop improper expectations if she knew his status

    Aber the reunited with her biological family, there was even less reason for him to say anything

    Even now, he had no intention of telling her, not because he feared she might use his identity. After spending time together, he knew the wasn¡¯t that kind of person, though she appeared aloof and independent, she treasured every kindness, keeping them close to her heart.

    Bowen didn¡¯t want Aubree to feel any burden because of him, he just wanted to help her, without making her feel indebted.

    Aubree was about to press further when Dowen¡¯s new words made her blush instantly. ¡°Pull up your shirt and Le on your stomach. I¡¯ll apply the medicine for you.¡±

    ¡°Wait pullup what?¡± Aubree stammered, her <b>voice </b>tinged with embarrassment.

    ¡°Poll up your shirt!¡± Bowen ordered.

    When she still didn¡¯t move, Bowen closed the distance with the ointment in hand. ¡°Changed your mind about the treatment?¡± he asked, histone edged with impatience.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®That¡¯s not even the issue <b>here</b>!!

    Her wound was on her back, which meant she¡¯d have to bare her upper body for treatment. Exposing her back wasn¡¯t really the in, the real awkwardness was her front.

    ¡°I can do it <b>myself</b>. No need to trouble you, Bowen,¡± Aubree said, reaching for the ointment. But Bowen swiftly pulled his hand away, keeping it out of her

    reach.

    ¡°Are you <b>a </b>contortionist? Bowen shot her a disapproving look. ¡°How exactly are you going to apply medicine to your own back?¡±

    Aubree screamed internally, ¡°But there¡¯s no way I can let him do it!

    ¡°There¡¯s no way I can bare my back and let a grown man like Bowen apply medicine

    Aubree was still hesitating, and Bowen lost patience. He pinned her face¨Cdown onto the bed. She stiffened as a sudden chill hit her lower back, he had yanked her shirt up.¡°Stop fussing,¡± Bowen said gruffly, ¡°I won¡¯t look. Carol¡¯s off today, I¡¯ll leave right aber finish with the medicina.¡±

    He understood exactly what Bree was worried about, being cautious was only <b>natural</b>. But given the circumstances wasn¡¯t him, the only alternatives were the family doctor or Hugh, and neither seemed right

    Deep down, he didn¡¯t want any other man touching her

    were no other options. tit

    He thought, ¡®Come to think of it, I¡¯ve watched Bree grow up, I¡¯m almost like a father to her. Applying some medicine isn¡¯t really crossing a fine, <b>is </b><b>it</b>?

    ¡°The only kid <b>I¡¯ve </b>really been <b>around </b>is Alvin. Putting myself in that position, I don¡¯t think this is anything inappropriate

    ¡°Wait a second!¡± Aubree stammered. But with Bowen being so insistent, she realized with a sinking heart there <b>was </b>no way she cou avoid having the medicine applied tonight.

    Her ears burning red, Aubree turned to face hiry with shy eyes, her voice softening noticeably as she pleaded, ¡°Please turn around first. I¡¯ll do it myself¡±

    Pinning her down with one hand, Bowen felt his heart skip a beat, an embarrassing realization of his own desire burning through him. He jerked his hand back as if scorched, turned away stiffly, and muttered, ¡°Do it yourself¡±

    Bowen¡¯s eyes darkened as he irritably fidgeted with his cufflinks. Damn<b>, </b><b>am </b>really bing some kind of beast?¡± he thought, frustration and self-

    <b>U</b>/TU Mon, /

    reproach washing over him

    ÐÇ <b>99</b>%

    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Aubere¡¯s timid, slightly trembling voice came from behind. Bimar turned around to see her back, smooth and fair as sculpted emeraldt. glowing with a porcin like radiance

    The patch of purplish bruises stood out starkly against her skin, paradoxically adding a strange allure.

    Bowen¡¯s gare darkened. Had it been someone else, he might have found a perverse fascination in the sight, not that he¡¯d feel guilty about it. He¡¯d never imed to be a good man by any definition.

    But the moment Bowen saw those wounds on Audner, his expression darkened instantly. His jaw clenched, his eyes turned cial, his displeasure win written all over his face.

    Bowen¡¯s burning gaze prickled <b>at </b>Aubree¡¯s back like needles. Unable to see him from her angle, she fidgeted unwasily, her hand giving an involuntary tremble. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, her voice uncertain,

    ¡°Nothing¡± he replied, his tone giving nothing away. There was a rustling sound behind her, then a cool sensation spread across her back while the herbal sort of the ointment gradually permeated the room

    Autree thought, 1 have to admit, this ointment really works! The coolness soothed the burning pain of her wounds, and the relief

    almost let out a moan<b>. </b>

    Clenching her jaw, the flush on her ears only deepened instead of fading

    Bowen¡¯s calloused fingers glided slowly across her bare back, the touch lingering just a little too long. The sensation <b>was </b>so intimate, it sent waves of heat through Aubree¡¯s body. This is just too much for me to handle, she thought, her face burning.

    The blush crept from her ears down her neck and then climbed up to her checks, until she waspletely flushed from head to toe, red <b>as </b><b>a </b>freshly boiled lobster, overwhelmed with embarrassment.

    As Bowen leaned in to apply the ointment, he suddenly noticed that, aside from the fresh, purplish bruises let by Daxton, Aubree¡¯s back was crisscrossed with countless faint scars, pale pink lines so subtle they were almost invisible unless you examined them closely.

    After finishing applying the ointment, Bowen <b>finally </b>spoke up, his voice low and gentle, ¡°How did you get these scars?¡±

    As soon as the medicine was applied, Aubree hastily pulled her shirt down, ¡°Back with the Wilson family,¡± she said with forced nonchnce, ¡°any mistake meant disciplinary punishment. Aher too many rounds, even cosmetic treatments couldn¡¯t erase the scars.¡±

    ¡°Did Bryan do this?¡± Bowen¡¯s <b>eyes </b>darkened as he remembered Aubree confronting Bryan at the school gate.

    ¡°No, these marks on my back were from Ronald and Alice,¡± she replied.

    <b>She </b>dismissed Bowen¡¯s question as just casual curiosity.

    Bowen adjusted her nket, a faint smirk on his lips. Teasingly, he <b>said</b>, ¡°How about let you get back at them someday?¡±

    When Aubree shot Bowen a searching look, <b>he </b>simply smiled, ruffled her hair affectionately, and dropped the subject, as if it were just an offhand

    remark

    ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of what you asked. Just say the word, and we¡¯ll expose Carmen for hiring a hitman¡±

    Aubree was taken <b>aback</b>, then snapped, ¡°Do it. Right now!¡±

    Aubree thought,

    This time, Daxton has really pissed me off!

    They cane aher me all they want, but they have no right to hurt the people care about. If you want to strike your enemy, you hit them where it hurts most, make them suffer. And with Dayton<b>, </b>his weak spot is <b>painfully </b>obvious.

    ¡°Now that Carmen¡¯s upset, you can bet Darton won¡¯t be happy either

    07:10 Mon, 7 Jul

 Tried 39

    Trevor gave lip <b>service </b>to not using showbiz tricks against Aubree, but the moment he turned around, he was already texting his assistant, Joey <b>Reed</b>.

    Trever thought, ¡°What better time to spread rumors than during the esports championship hype

    But little did Trever know, Auburn <b>was </b>thinking the exact same thing

    giarism among college students won¡¯t umon, and the Wilson family could¡¯ve easily swept it under the rug without causing much of a stir. But Carmen just had to get on stage. This made her a prime target for public scrutiny.

    Bowen wasted no time. By the time Joey was about to pay for a smear campaign against Aubree, the trending searches were already filled with hashtags using Carmen of haing a ghostwriter.

    Joey said urgently, ¡°Boss, check the trending searches now, Rumors about Carmen hiring a ghostwriter are all over the inte, and people have already figured out she¡¯s your sister Your haters are using this to attack you if we don¡¯t act fast, this could seriously damage your reputation.¡±

    When Joey called, Trevor almost thought he¡¯d misheard. ¡°Wait, Carmen¡¯s the one getting dragged online?¡±

    She thought. If I remember right, didn¡¯t Bryan handle this? How could it still go wrong?¡±

    Trevor¡¯s gaze froze for a moment as a name surfaced in his mind, Bowen.

    If Bowen was really behind this, then Bryan alone didn¡¯t stand a chance.

    A spark of interest flickered in Trevor¡¯s eyes. ¡°Well, this just got interesting,¡± he thought.

    ¡°Hold off on that matter I asked you to handle,¡± Trevor ordered, <b>a </b><b>smirk </b>ying on his lips. Right now, he was far more interested in seeing how Carmen would dig herself out of this mess

    Meanwhile, Carmen received a call from Rithol Art School, essentially demanding her voluntary withdrawal

    If she refused to

    to withdraw on her own, Rithal Art School would have no choice but to expel her.

    ¡°Aubree, you fucking bitch¡± Carmen screamed, hurling her phone to the floor where it shattered into pieces.

    Carmen¡¯s face darkened with rage, teetering on the edge of explosion. Her breath came in short, ragged bursts

    Bowen never misses his mark. With the bacsh from her outburst at the Autumn Finals already brewing, Carmen had truly shot herself in the foot, <b>leaving </b>her with no way to defend herself.

    Staying at Rithol was <b>out </b>of the question now. The priority was damage control. She had to clear her name from those ghostwriting allegations online. But she wondered who <b>she </b>could possibly turn to for help.

    She thought, ¡®Emery¡¯s definitely out. Daxton rushed back to thebst night for an emergency. No way he¡¯ll be free anytime <b>soon</b>. And Mom and Dad? They¡¯re on a <b>business </b>trip in a neighboring state.

    Among the remaining options, Carmen hesitated for a moment before <b>deciding </b>to turn to Bryan for help.

    At Ellis Heights, Aubree woke from her sleep. Sleeping in until nearly noon hadpletely refreshed her, melting away <b>all </b>the exhaustion from the past few days.

    Bowen¡¯s medicine worked like a charm. Ahorjust one night, the pain in her back had significantly subsided, allowing her to move <b>around </b>normally again.

    <b>Of </b><b>course</b>, what <b>truly </b><b>made </b>her happiest was the bank notification, her prize money from the Autumn Finals had finally arrived

    07:10 Mon, 7 Jul

    The prize pool for the Autumn Finals was a staggering 23 million dors. With only seven members in God¡¯s fury, and Alvin giving <b>up </b>his share for <b>the </b><b>rest </b>of us to split, she ended up with over 3 million dors. With this kind of money, she could finally take the first step toward founding her own club.

    Gleefully rereading the message several times, Aubres finally pocketed her phone and headed downstairs

    Aubree walked into the dining room and saw lood on the table. It looked like someone had already eaten

    Aubree called out, ¡°Carol, did we have a visitor?¡±

    Carol answered, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re up, Aubere. Bowen stayed overst night. We were going to call you down for lunch, but he insisted we shouldn¡¯t disturb your sleep. He ate first and asked us to prepare a fresh meal for you when you woke up.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise. ¡®Bowen stayed overnight at Ellis Heights? she thought, somewhat taken aback by the news.

    ¡®Is Bowen still here?¡® Aubree asked, a little too eagerly. She¡¯d nned to talk to him about the club after the Autumn Finals celebration. If she could rope in this golden ticket as an investor, it <b>would </b>save her a lot of trouble.

    If Bowen were here right now, it would save me a lot of trouble,¡± Aubree thought.

    Dasten made her realize that only by bing truly strong herself could <b>she </b>stand tall.

    Even with Alvin around yesterday<b>, </b>Darton still dared to strike. After all, Alvin was a Turner in name only, he didn¡¯t have any real clout to make people wary. But the moment Bowen showed up, Darton got put in his ce and had no choice but to swallow his pride.

    ¡°He should be in the study, Carol replied<b>. </b>

    Bryan was at the office.

    Standing at thepany reception desk, Carmen was uncharacteristically nervous. She hadn¡¯t spoken to Bryan since that awkward moment when he <b>asked </b>her about the tic

    To this day, she still didn¡¯t know if Bryan had figured anything out. That time, before she could say a word, he just told her to leave.

    Carmen stood at thepany¡¯s front desk, brows furrowed, her fingers fidgeting with the ham of her shirt. Her eyes darted away from the receptionist¡¯s puzzled gaze. After <b>a </b>moment¡¯s hesitation, she finally stepped into the elevator that led straight to Bryan¡¯s office on the top floor.

    ¡°Bryan¡­ Carmen called out, her voice trembling

    After days of relentless work, Bryan looked up dazedly at the sound of his name. When he recognized who it was, a flicker of disappointment shed through his eyes before his brows drew together. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he demanded<b>, </b>his voice edged with Impatience.

    There was an unexpected edge of impatience in his tone,

    Carmen gnawed at her lip, a hint of shock in her eyes, as if trying to confirm what she was seeing

    Ts Bryan annoyed with me? And that look he just gave, who was he hoping to see? Aubree? Carmen thought.

    Question after question swirled in Carmen¡¯s mind. Her lips trembled, eyes smoldering with resentment.

    Snapped out of her date by Bryan¡¯s repeated questioning, she hung her head in dismay and whimpered, ¡°Bryan, did you check your phone? The ghostwriter you found for me turned against me and now Rithol Art School is forcing me to withdraw. What am I supposed to do?

    ¡°Only our family should know about this. Maybe Aubree has caught wind of it too. Could it be that¡­ Or perhaps that person just didn¡¯t know what was good for them.¡±

    Carmen kept her head slightly bowed, stealing nces at Bryan¡¯s expression from the corner of her eye.

    <b>99</b><b>% </b>

    This matter had somehow dragged the Wilson family into it. She deliberately wanted Bryan to pin the me on Aubre, even if not for her sake, surely for thewly¡¯s sake, she fell that he¡¯d be furious at Aubree for being to reckless.

    Unfortunately, Bryan wasn¡¯t the same big brother who used to turn a blind eye and let her do whatever she wanted. He was no longer the one who try to teach Aubree lesson just to keep her in line.

    Hescoed coldly

    As Cammen looked up, she met Bryan¡¯s eyes. He was staring at her with undisguised contempt

    Bryan said coldly, ¡°So you¡¯re trying to pin your ghostwriting on Aubere!¡±

    Her little scheme exposed so bluntly, Carmen¡¯s eyes darted around nervously, an indescribable unease twisting in her chest. What does Bryan mean by this? she wandered ansiously.

    Bryan¡¯s frown deepened. ¡®How could have treated Aubree like that all these years?¡® he thought bitterly, ¡®Compared to Carmen¡¯s malice and hypocrity, <b>Aubree </b>has always been so genuine and kind,pletely devoted to our family. How could I have been so blind?¡°Carmen Wilson

    Bryan looked at her coldly and said, ¡°Had you been truly capable, none of this would¡¯ve happened. You brought this on yourself¡±

    Carmen¡¯s pupils constricted sharply, her gaze filled with utter shock <b>and </b>disbelief. She thought, ¡®Bryan is actually ming mel

    ¡®How dare he say that to me!

    I¡¯ve never been treated like this before, it¡¯s infuriating How dare Bryan say that to me? Wasn¡¯t he the one who found the ghostwriter? if he couldn¡¯t even get that right and ended up hiring someone unreliable, what gives him the right to turn around <b>and </b>me me?¡±

    All those negative emotions piled up at once<b>. </b>Carmen broke down, sobbing and shouting, ¡°Tinel Maybe I do deserve this! I¡¯ll never measure up to Aubree! But if you hadn¡¯t sent her to study art in the first ce, none of this would¡¯ve happened!¡±

    Carmen shouted, ¡°Emery was the one who gave me the spot at Rithol Art School! You were the one who found the ghostwriter So why are you ming me for all of this?¡±

    She thought Treally don¡¯t see how any of this is my fault. All lever did was speak my mind, it¡¯s not like I made them do anything for me, right?

    All of this? The Wilson family did it because they wanted tol¡®

    Bryan never imagined that, in Carmen¡¯s eyes, everything they¡¯d dople was simply expected of them. The absurdity of it all made him let out a bitter Laugh. Searching his conscience<b>, </b>he wondered if she truly didn¡¯t reblis what her hints would lead to.

    Ater all, Bryan and Carmen had been siblings for over a decade. There was genuine affection between them.

    He used to think Carmen was just clinging to their affection. Whenever she acted out, he chalked it up to typical girlhood jealousy and chose to turn a blind eye. Besides, wanting to teach Aubree a lesson, he always indulged her every whim.

    But it never urred to him that, in Carmen¡¯s eyes, all those years of dating <b>affection </b><b>w </b>

    were simply taken for granted.

    With an icy re, Bryan looked at her and said, ¡°If you truly believe our past kindness only hurt you, then don¡¯t evere to me again. Get out!¡±

    The moment the words left her mouth, Carmen instantly regretted it. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I just keep my cool!¡® she thought.

    Before she could even offer a word of apology, <b>Brjan¡¯s </b>abrupt words sent her temper soaring again.

    Carmen thought defiantly, ¡®Fine, I¡¯ll got it¡¯s not like I¡¯m alone, I¡¯ve still got Mom, Dad, and Dayton on my sidel

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare regret this, Bryant

 Tried 40

    The study was empty. Aubree pushed open the door but didn¡¯t see Bowen inside

    ¡°Bowen?¡± Aubree called out tentatively as she stepped into the study for the first time. Her eyes swept across the room, but it appeared empty.

    Moving deeper into the room, Aubree noticed several cigarelles scattered across the desk.

    Aubree thought, ¡°Bowen smokes!

    ¡°Who would we thought someone <b>as </b>refined and gentlemanly as Bowen would actually smoke?¡±

    At first nce, Bowen gave the impression of a perfect gentleman, refined in manner, elegant in demeanor, and cultivated in temperament, all seamlessly blended into one.

    She¡¯d always pictured Bowen as the type to meditate in a room with burning incense. But this discoverypletely caught her off guard.

    Aubree picked up an unlit cigarette from the <b>desk </b><b>and </b>sniffed it. The scent wasn¡¯t unpleasant, more like the kind women would prefer.

    ***No smoking, youngdy.¡± <b>A </brge, well<b>¨C</b>manicured hand reached over her shoulder and plucked the cigarette from her fingers.

    Aubree turned back. Towering over her, Bowen¡¯s usually deep and tranquil eyes met hers, yet now, <b>faint </b><b>ripples </b>of emotion shimmered within them.

    With the desk behind her and Bowen standing closely in front, Aubree found herselfpletely trapped between him and the table.

    <b>Trapped </b>in his ams, Aubree¡¯s face flushed with panic and confusion.

    The way he was pinning Aubree down from above made Bowen recallst night, her bare back exposed as shey face down on the bed, cheeks flushed. eyes filled with shyness,pletely under his control, just like now

    Bowen¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as <b>his </b>gaze darkened, and he unconsciously leaned in closer. Aubree¡¯s instincts screamed, she <b>could </b><b>sense </b>danger in the <b>air</b><b>, </b>warning her, ¡°Something¡¯s not <b>right</b>, <b>he¡¯s </b>way too close.¡±

    ¡°Bowen,¡± Aubree stammered tentatively.

    Bowen braced one hand against the <b>desk</b>, veins bulging on the back of his <b>hand </b><b>as </b>it <b>restraining </b>some powerful urge.

    Bowen parted his lips, mping the cigarette between them. With his free hand, he swept up the metal lighter from the desk and pressed it into Aubree¡¯s palm. ¡°Light it for me.¡±

    Trapped in the tight space between him and the desk, all she could see was him, all she could breathe was his scent. For a moment, she felt utterly dazed, caught in a whirlwind named Bowen.

    The cold metal in her palm snapped Aubree back to reality. <b>Flustered</b>, she hastily shoved the man looming over her away.

    With an amused smirk, Bowen stepped back following her <b>push</b>. As he retreated<b>, </b>he deftly snatched the lighter from Aubree¡¯s hand and it his cigarette with practiced ease.

    The crisp metallic click of the lighter snapped Bowen back to <b>his </b><b>senses</b>, ruthlessly suppressing all the improper thoughts that had been swirling in his

    mind

    ¡°Alright, what brings you here?¡± Bowen exhaled, the smoke slightly obscuring his features. He took just one <b>drag </b>before letting the cigarette rest between his fingers.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to business,¡± Aubree said,posing herself with a serious expression. ¡°I want to invest <b>in </b><b>an </b>esports <b>club</b>¡±

    llowen arched <b>an </b>eyebrow, unsurprised by <b>her </b><b>proposal</b>. ¡°Not exactly groundbreaking, is it?¡±

    She thought, ¡°Indeed, in my previous life, aside from Alvin, the trust ford kid who bankrolled a club of God¡¯s fury and briefly let it <bpete </b><b>with </b><b>the </b>established teams in the esports league, it was basically dominated by the same few teams.

    Right now, League of Legends is the hottest game, and if you want a slice of the exports ple, establishing a club for it is essential

    ¡°This is just the first step. There are rumors that in theing years, League of Legends and several other games will be official Olympic events, if that really happens, esports will enter its golden age. Now is the perfect time to get in on this Aubree dered confidently

    Bowen¡¯s gaze was full of approval. ¡°I suspect you have more in mind, don¡¯t you?¡±

    He didn¡¯t understand gaming, but capital was his domain.

    Bowen had already caught Aubree¡¯s drift the moment she started speaking

    Using God¡¯s Fury as a springboard to enter the League of Legendspetition and establish an esports club was a promising strategy. With its current poprity and buzz, proper branding and management, plus a couple more championship wins, could make bing the next powerhouse like Apor Squad entirely achievable.

    Exactly, Bowen, Have you ever paid attention to any live streams or broadcasts of regr esports matches?

    ¡°Bowen, what if <b>there </b>was an app that could connect fans directly with their idols for real¨Ctime, face¨Cto¨Cface interactions? Do you think people would pay for that? And what if this tform was open to everyone, so ordinary people could also showcase themselves and build their own brand?¡±

    Aubree outlined her vision to Bowen<b>, </b>describing a short video livestreaming tform model that would go viral nationwide in theing years, just as she remembered from her previous life.

    ¡°That¡¯s highly visionary, Bowen remarked. Just from hearing Aubree¡¯s proposals, he could already envision the substantialmercial returns if these Ideas were put into practice.

    Not only that, this model could spawn numerous spin¨Coff ventures, and every <b>single </b>one would be a cash cow.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes lit up. Jackpot she thought to herself, barely able to contain her excitement.

    Seeing that Bowen was hooked, Aubree continued, ¡°With God¡¯s Fury¡¯s championship, they¡¯re at peak poprity. If weunch the club together with the app, we can have the team kick off livestreaming on our tform, starting with gaming streams. <b>Once </b>traffic builds, more creators will want to join. That traffic bes both our product and our customer base, creating a virtuous cycle that fuels its own growth.

    ¡°And as the tform¡¯s operator, all we¡¯d need to do is maintain order.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®Back then, this tform wasn¡¯t just a nationwide phenomenon. Even government agencies joined in to promote themselves

    Bowen hadn¡¯t nned to refuse <b>her </b>anyway. If it failed, he¡¯d just treat it as a learning experience.¡±

    The fact that she came up with such an idea truly caught him off guard. But from a business standpoint, if <b>this </b>proposal hadnded on his desk, he would have invested without hesitation

    Bowen <b>stubbed </b><b>out </b>the cigarette in his hand and asked directly, ¡°So, what do you want me to <b>do</b><b>?</b>¡±

    Aubree was straightforward, ¡°Money I need money she <b>dered</b>, ¡°Even <b>the </b>over 3 million in prize money from the tournament <b>is </b>barely enough to keep God¡¯s Fury¡¯s team running for a year.

    ¡°Just setting up a club and buying a League of Legends franchise spot is already a huge investment. From what I know, a slot usually goes for anywhere between 20 to <b>25 </b>million dors. And I¡¯m broke 7

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help but smile at her bluntness. He¡¯d had plenty of peoplee to him for investment before, but this was the first time someone had been so bold and unapologetic about it.

    He agreed without hesitation. ¡°Done. Name your price, I¡¯ll cover it all. But in return, I <b>want a </b><b>30</b>% equity stake from the very start, in both your new esports club and the software you¡¯ll be developing<b>.</b>¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®Thirty percent is no small stake, but it¡¯s still within my eptable range

    Aubree bit her lip, weighing the offer for a brief moment before giving a farm ned

    Aubree thought, ¡°Trading thirty percent of the shares for unlimited financial backing from the Turner Group, and the prestige of their nam backing? Absolutely worth it, no matter how you look at it

    ¡°After all, without this funding, even getting started would be impossible for me¡±

    Bowen said, ¡°I¡¯ll have the funds wired to your ount by tomorrow¡±

    <b>With </b>the funds secured, all that was left <b>was </b>to set up the club. For that, she still needed to negotiate with Alvin, since he was now the owner of <b>God¡¯s </b>

    Fury

    ¡°I won¡¯t keep you any longer, Bowen Aubree obediently left, carefully closing the door behind her.

    The moment she left, the study was plunged into a hollow silence,

    Bowen hung his head, eyes narrowed in thought as his fingers flicked the lighter restlessly. The me danced, mirroring the turmoil churning inside him

    Bowen clicked his tongue in frustration.

    He thought, ¡®Bowen, what the hell is wrong with you? Why am I feeling that Bree¡­¡±

    An irritated tut escaped through his clenched teeth once more, just as his phone rang.

    Bowen answered curtly, ¡°Talk.¡±

    ¡°Bowen, what¡¯s with that tone? Feeling a little¡­ pent¨Cup?¡± Olle Lane teased over the phone, clearly delighted to catch Bowen in a bad mood.

    Bowen said impatiently, ¡°Whatever I¡¯m hanging up.¡±

    ¡°Come <b>on</b>, mant Mark King¡¯s out and wants to get the guys together. You wouldn¡¯t <b>bail </b>on us, would you?¡±

    He realized he really did need to blow off some steam. Tightening his grip on his phone, Bowen said, ¡°Location¡±

    ¡°Nightworld.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Bowen replied, pausing awkwardly. Trying to sound casual, he added, ¡°That book you Daughter¡°, do you still have it? Mind sending me a copy?¡±

    u mentionedst time¡­ something like ¡®360 Ways to Raise A

    Ollie gasped. ¡°Wait, did Bowen really

    take that random thing I saidst time to heart?

    Ollie¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief as he chuckled styly, ¡°Absolutely, I¡¯ll send <i>it </i>right over

    ug but a document titled ¡°360 Ways to Love Your <b>Wife</b>¡± and renamed it ¡°360 Ways to Raise A Daughter¡°, and sent it to

    As soon as the <b>call </b>ended, Ollie dug Bowen.

    AD

 Tried 41

    ¡°What am I supposed to do?¡® Carmen thought, panic rising in her chest.

    Back at the Wison family mansion, Carmen paced anxiously in the living room. She deeply regretted throwing a tantrum at Bryan earlier, Don wasn¡¯t picking up, her parents were away, and Bryan clearly had no intention of helping her.

    Carmen unlocked her phone, her screen instantly flooded with waves of online hatred.

    To make matters worse, someone dug up that she¡¯d stolen Aubree¡¯s admission spot at fithol Art School

    Carmen thought, ¡®Heel ke <b>I¡¯m </b>going crazy. All my life, I¡¯ve been pampered and praise. Never have been attacked and cursed at like this before

    ¡°What¡¯s troubling our Wilson family¡¯s little princess? Trevor materialized by the staircase, leaning casually against the banister. His devilishly handsome <b>face</b>, hailed by countless <b>fans </b><b>as </b>God¡¯s Fury¡¯s masterpiece, watched her with a teasing smile

    Carmen flinched instinctively. She made a point <b>of </b>avoiding Trevor whenever possible, he was the one she feared most in the family.

    Whenever Carmen was around Trevor, she <b>always </b>feltpletely exposed<b>, </b>as if he could see right through her. No matter what she did, he¡¯d watch her with that infuriating look of fake admiration, as if to say, ¡°You¡¯re so clever.¡± Sometimes<b>, </b>he¡¯d even go out of his way to egg her on or stir things up for her

    Carmen bit her lower lip. She thought anxiously, Right now, Trevor is my only hope. He knows all the tricks when ites to online PR if he¡¯s willing to help, this ghostwriting scandal could probably be swept under the rug.¡±

    ¡°Trevor, I¡¯m in some trouble. Can you help me?¡± Carmen titted her head up, deliberately exposing the delicate <b>curve </b>of her neck. Her eyes gistened with unshed tears as she put on her most vulnerable disy, hoping this pitiful act would move him.

    Trevor let out a soft chuckle as he strolled down the stairs. Reaching out, he gently tucked Carmen¡¯s messy hair behind her ear. ¡°Of course I¡¯ll help you.¡± he said lightly, ¡°<b>You¡¯re </b>my favorite little sister, after all

    Carmen¡¯s body <b>gave </b>an involuntary shudder as relief washed over her. At <b>least </b>Trevor is willing to help, she thought.

    ¡°But¡­¡± Trevor suddenly shifted his tone, his face clouding with feigned concern. ¡°You know how it is, Carmen, as a public figure, I have to be careful about getting directly involved.¡± He shed a reassuring smile. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll think of a way to help you.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s eyes <b>widened </b>in confusion ¡°What on earth does Trevor mean? she wondered,pletely baffled

    His refined, handsome face broke into an amused smirk as he spoke in a velvet, seductive voice, ¡°Aubree may be tough to handle now, but the people close to <b>her </b>aren¡¯t nearly as capable. If we dig up some dirt on her inner circle and spin it right, people will think they¡¯re all birds of a feather, just as bad as she is.¡±

    Trevor¡¯s words sent Carmen¡¯s mind racing, instantly conjuring up several people who would be easier targets

    ¡°But Trevor<b>¡­</b>¡±

    <b>Carmen </b>stammered, her eyes flickering with uncertainty as she gated up at him <b>timidly</b>. ¡°I don¡¯t think Lean¡­

    Trevor ced a gentle finger against her lips, his smile the kind that could make thousands of fans swoon, ¡°How could our little princess ever be alone?¡± he teased. ¡°While I can¡¯t help you directly, I¡¯ve already told Mom about everything that¡¯s been going on. She should be rushing back any minute now.

    d said, ¡°My flurry. She immediately pulled Carmen into a tight emb Just as Trevor finished speaking, Alice burst through the front door in sweetheart, why didn¡¯t you tell Mommy about all this? If it weren¡¯t for your brother, I wouldn¡¯t have even known you were being treated so unfairly!

    ¡°That damn Aubreel How could she be so wicked? What has the Wilson family ever done to her? She chose to leave<b>, </b>and after that, she <b>started </b>stirring up trouble, now she¡¯s targeting and bullying you? Honestly, your father should have been harsher with her back then. Those bad habits she picked up in the orphanage <b>hasn¡¯t </b>changed one bit¡±

    Snuggled in Alice¡¯s embrace, Carmen lowered hershes, putting on a pitiful act. Her voice trembling, she choked out, ¡°Mom¡­ why did <b>you </be back?! didn¡¯t want to trouble <b>you</b>, <b>No</b>, I mean I¡¯m fine¡­

    Carmen¡¯s Incoherent, tearful words enly made Alice¡¯s heart ache all the more for her.

    She thought. ¡®My dear Carmen, how could you be so considerate? Even when you¡¯ve been wronged, you¡¯d rather suffer in silence than trouble <b>your </b>parents¡±

    Alice shot Trevor an appending look and thought, ¡®Good job, Trever, you actually remembered to call me back this time

    Trevor smiled faintly, twisting the knife. ¡°Actually, Carmen did approach Bryan for help, but it seems he would rather side with Aubres.¡±

    After Trevor said this, Alice¡¯s fury shot through the root. ¡°Is Bryan turning against the family now?¡± she snapped,

    ¡°Who else would he help if not Carment That ungrateful brat?¡°,

    cursing was actually her own biological daughter.

    At that mome

    Imoment, it

    nt, it never even crossed Alice¡¯s mind that the ¡°ungrateful brat¡± she was

    She was furious that her son would help his biological sister instead of their adopted one.

    Carmen finally realized what Trevor had meant earlier. <b>Bryan </b>might not want to help her, but now that Alice had spoken, he¡¯d have to, whether he liked t

    or not.

    Wiping away her tears, Carmen sniffled, ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t be mad at Bryan. He must just be really busytely¡±

    Carmen¡¯s words only tanned the mes of Alice¡¯s anger. ¡°What on earth could be more important than his own sister?¡± she fumed

    Alice immediately dialed Bryan¡¯s number, her voice sharp with <b>fury </b><b>as </b>she snapped, ¡°Bryan, got your ass back here, now!¡±

    The moment <b>Bryan </b>answered the phone, he knew Alice <b>had </b>made a special trip back home because of Carmen.

    He recalled that his parents had left Rithol City to attend a party, his father¡¯s old friend was celebrating the birth of a childte in life.

    Bryan rubbed his temples wearily. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m tied up right now. Let¡¯s talk when I get home, okay?¡±

    *Unless thepany is going bankrupt, drop everything and get your ass back here right now!¡± Alice cut him off, her brows knitted in fury. She was having none of Bryan¡¯s excuses, he wasing home, no matter what

    Bryan had no choice but to agree. Sensing his difort, his <b>business </b>partner kindly gave him a way out. ¡°Mr. Wilson, if you need to attend to family matters, we can always reschedule.¡±

    Bryan said<b>, </b>¡°My apologies, Mr. Nash, Let me make it up to you with dinner next time.¡±

    As soon as Bryan lett, Kelvin Malone, who <b>was </b>Bowen¡¯s assistant, emerged with a practiced professional smile. ¡°Mr. Nash, how about changing your partnership from Wilson Group to Turner Group instead?¡±

    ¡ª¨C

    In a private dining room at Rithol City¡¯s famed Grand Hotel, the entire God¡¯s <b>Fury </b>team had gathered for a celebratory dinner:

    The team had nned to celebrate their Autumn Finals victory with a celebratory dinner<b>, </b><b>but </b>Daxton¡¯s sudden interference threw a <b>wrench </b>in those

    ns.

    ¡°Phoenix, how¡¯s <b>your </b>injury?¡± Leroy Castillo, the topner, asked with concern.

    ¡°Pretty much recovered,¡± Aubree smiled, waving it off. ¡°Actually, I owe you all an apology, my personal grudge nearly got you in trouble.¡±

    Hector, who¡¯d faced Daxton that night, was the first to wave it off. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. If anything we¡¯re the unless ones. We <b>should¡¯ve </b>protected you better. Captain! Now that we¡¯ve won the Autumn Finals, is our next goal the World Championship?¡±

    Hector¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked at Alvi

    They were just a bunch of teenagers, and no one would¡¯ve thought they¡¯d win the championship in their very first season in the league.

    07:10 Mon, 7 Jul

    Alvin nced at Aubree. They¡¯d met privately beforeing here to discuss some important matters,

    ¡°Aubree, <b>also </b>known as Phoenix, was only contracted for the Autumn Finals, Alvin said. As soon as the words left his mouth, an awkward chill fell over

    the dinner table.

    Abe Hond, the ADC, chimed in anxiously, ¡°Phoenix, are you leaving God¡¯s fury?¡±

    Before Aubree could respond, Hector started to pank. ¡°You can¡¯t! Our team¡¯s just getting started, we¡¯re gonna win so many championships togethert

    Leroy remained silent but Fixed Aubree with an unwavering gaze.

    Aubree lowered her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but with the SAT next year, I definitely won¡¯t bepleting anymore¡±

    Before she could finish, Luna, the team¡¯s most hot headed member, mmed the table and swore, ¡°Fuck! So this is our farewell dinnert

    Matilda Diaz, who had been somewhat distracted from the start, now looked over with a conflicted expression, clearly wanting to persuade Aubres as well.

    Just as the tension hung in the air, Aubree let out <b>a </b>soft chuckle, and Alvin joined in. ¡°Alright, stop scaring them now,¡± Alvin said with a grin

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± The whole team stared in confusion.

    ¡°I won¡¯t bepeting anymore, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m leaving God¡¯s Fury,¡± Aubree said with a helpless smile, ¡°Your former boss, Alvin, has already sold the whole team, including himself, to me in a package deal I¡¯ve secured investment, acquired TE¡¯s league slot, and their midner. From now on, God¡¯s Fury will officially be God¡¯s Fury Esports Club.

    ¡°<b>And </b>now, let me properly reintroduce myself. I¡¯m Aubree Miller, also known as Phoenix. From this moment on, be <b>your </b>new owner¡±

 Tried 42

    Hector gasped, his eyes wide with shock. ¡°So Phoenix, wait, I mean Aubree, actually bought the sports team and started a club Even with a friendship discount from the captain, their market value as champions wasn¡¯t cheap,

    Hector choked out, ¡°Phoenix, did you sink all your prize money into this?¡±

    Moon smacked Hector on the head. ¡°Are you dense? Didn¡¯t Phoenix just say she bought the slot and got investors?¡±

    Combined, <b>their </b><b>market </b>value was probably still less than that of the league slot.

    Hector let out a yelp, clutching <b>his </b>head as he red resentfully at his botne partner. ¡°I¡¯m just shocked, okay? Never saw thising¡± He thought to himself, ¡°Sure, the captain¡¯s a trust fund <b>baby</b><b>, </b>ultra¨Crich and all, but nobody ever told me <b>Aubree </b>had this kind of cloud toot

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s plenty of money. The contracts are being <b>drafted </b><b>and </b>you¡¯ll have them by tomorrow at thetest. Once you¡¯ve reviewed and signed, the payment will hit your ounts right away.¡± Aubree stated everything in a businesslike manner, covering all the necessary points

    They¡¯d been through <b>it </b><b>all </b>together, <b>training</b>,peting, and winning the championship, which built a solid trust among the teammates.

    Hector said, <b>¡°</b>Guess we¡¯re all set to live the high life under Boss Aubree now!¡±

    The cheerful atmosphere was infectious as Aubree smiled genuinely. ¡°That¡¯s not up to me, it all depends on your performance out there,¡± she said.

    Laughter and banter filled the table, yet Matilda remained unusually quiet

    As the dinner wrapped up, Matilda was the first to decline Hector¡¯s suggestion to continue the party. ¡°Count me out, I¡¯ve got something to take care of she said abruptly

    With that, Matilda gged down a passing cab at the curb and hurriedly took off without looking back.

    Aubree narrowed her eyes, watching the direction Matilda had gone. ¡°She lives in the urban, this isn¡¯t the right way, she thought, suspicion flickering in

    her gazt

    ¡°I¡¯m not going either,¡± Aubree said. She quickly hailed a cab and instructed the driver, ¡°Follow that car¡±

    Bryan had barely stepped through the door before a ss came hartling toward his face. He dodged just in time, and the cup shattered at his feet.

    Rubbing his temples, Bryan sighed helplessly. ¡°Mom, what are you doing?¡±

    Alice¡¯s face was livid, her eyes zing with fury as <b>she </b>red at Bryan. ¡°You want to know what I¡¯m doing? I should be asking what you¡¯re doing! How <b>dare </b>you pick on Carmen the moment we¡¯re not around

    Bryan choked up, his eyes full of confusion. He thought, ¡°Me? Bully Carmen? When did I ever do that? Since when does not helping her count <b>as </b>bullying?

    ¡®Did she really have to make mee back for such a trivial matter? Couldn¡¯t this have waited?

    Mom¡¯s interference

    The nned coboration between ourpany and Turner Group <b>had </b><b>already </b>fallen through after that night when Dad and I stormed into Ellis Heights with our men. Lately, Turner Group¡¯s been applying subtle pressure, <b>and </b>just as our new venture was finally making progress, now likely means that¡¯s going down the drain <b>too</b><b>! </b>

    ¡®Mom¡­ Could you just listen to reason?¡±

    Alice¡¯s face was flushed with anger, refusing to hear <b>a </b><b>single </b>word from Bryan, don¡¯t <b>care </b>what you¡¯re up to, clean up that mess online, right now!¡± she snapped

    Alice just wouldn¡¯t listen to a word he said, and it was driving him crazy. But no matter how pissed off Bryan was, he couldn¡¯t let it show. He just had to

    07:10 Mon, 7 JUI

    swallow it all and keep it bottled up inside.

    He thought, ¡®This suffocating i

    orating feeling of being tongue¨Ctied is suffocating No me cares what I say anyway. Mom only wants to do things her own way

    As the thought crossed his mind, a sudden realization flickered in Bryan¡¯s eyes. He thought, ¡°Was this what Aubree went through in the Wilson family? No matter how she tried to exin herself, no one cared. They only wanted to see the version of events they preferred.

    ¡°No, what she went through was far worse than what I¡¯m dealing with now. At least Mom just sold me a bit, but back then, Aubree had to face the whole

    family¡¯s  and usations, sometimes even got beaten

    Bryan¡¯s chest tightened with frustration as Alice¡¯s voice kept drilling into his ears. ¡°Did you hear what said or not?¡± she snapped.

    Bryan, barely hiding his imitation, snapped, ¡°<b>Yeah</b>, I got it, handle the online mess.¡± With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the Wilson family residence without a backward nce.

    Alice¡¯s face twisted with fury. ¡°One after another, are you all trying to defy me now?¡±

    Aubree stopped at the entrance, looking up at the neon sign, ¡®Nightworld? A nightclub?¡± she thought, her brows furrowing, ¡°What would Matilda be doing here?!

    She knew t

    this ce. Nightworld was one of Rithol City¡¯s most infamous nightclubs. Rumor had it that a bored scion of a wealthy family opened it just for fun. With its exclusive members¨Conly policy, ordinary people didn¡¯t stand a chance of getting in

    She hade here once before with Trevor, when he¡¯d had <b>a </b>major falling¨Cout with his family. She tried to talk him into going home<b>, </b><b>but </b>instead, he dragged her to this ce.

    She ended up in the hospital that night from all the forced drinking, but even that paled inparison to how effortlessly Carmen could make Trevor leave. She just said softly, ¡°Trevor, let¡¯s go home.¡± Then, he¡¯d <b>drop </b>everything for her.

    To make matters worse, the paparazzi snapped photos of her at the hospital, which caused trouble for Trevor He actually came to her hospital room and berated her, ming her for ¡°damaging his image.¡±

    Pulling herself together, Aubree sent a message to Alvin and sessfully gained entry using his credentials.

    It <b>wasn¡¯t </b>even evening yet, but Nightworld was already packed with people. For the rich, there was no such thing as office hours. They¡¯d show up to parties whenever they felt like it.

    Aubree trailed after Matilda, watching as she weaved left and right through the crowd and quickly vanished from sight. Worried she might get into trouble, Aubree hurried in the direction where Matilda had disappeared, asking around for any trace of her.

    Unbeknownst to her, just after she slipped into the crowd, two more people entered, one with a <b>devil</b>¨Cmay¨Ccare swagger, the other exuding an aloof,

    aristocratic air

    Bowen¡¯s gaze swept across the room, then suddenly halted as his brow furrowed. ¡°What is she doing here?¡± he muttered, eyes fixed on her.

    With his arm slung over Bowen¡¯s shoulder, Ollie followed his gaze and asked casually, ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Bree,¡± Bowen muttered.

    Ollie raised his eyebrows in disbelief, ¡°Whoa, what¡¯s a kid like her doing in a ce like this? You must be seeing things.¡±

    <b>Bowen¡¯s </b>frown deepened. ¡°No way I¡¯m wrong,¡± he said firmly, <b>shaking </b>off Ollie¡¯s arm and striding off to find her.

    ¡°Hold <b>up</b>, you won¡¯t find <b>her </b>like this. Let me call in a favor to check the surveince. Let¡¯s head to the VIP room first, Mark is still waiting, if we get any news, we¡¯ll go check on your girl, alright?¡± die quickly grabbed him, thinking to himself, ¡®This guy¡¯s so lovesick he¡¯s seeing things. How could a girl like her even get in here?<b>¡± </b>

    Bowen was caught between his friend¡¯s pride and Aubree

    He paused in his tracks for now, he had no choice but to follow O¡¯s sopprition

    Aubree asked around until she finally managed to g down a waiter. ¡°Oh yeah, I remember her, she went to VIP room 1005

    She said, ¡°Thank you!¡±

    you look like you¡¯re still in school, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Hold on, you

    The waiter, a young guy in uniform, looked Aubree up and down, noticing how young she seemed, and kindly warned, ¡°if I were you, really wouldn¡¯t ga near that VIP room. The people in there are into some shady dealings, once you go in, getting out won¡¯t be easy¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°I appreciate the warning, but my friend¡¯s still in there

    Aubree thanked his sincerely, but her mind was made up, she was going in anyway

    Matilda seemed really distracted during dinner. if something really happened and she didn¡¯t say a word to any of them, that must mean it was

    serious.

    ¡°That just made me have to go! I was terrified something bad might happen to her, Aubree thought.

    Anxiety surging inside her, Aubree quickened her <b>pace</b>. It wasn¡¯t until she saw ¡°Cosmos¡°, Matilda¡¯s gamer tag, on the team¡¯s final roster that everything clicked.

    In her previous life, when Aubreepeted for Emery¡¯s esports team, the most memorable opponent they faced was a squad coached by someone using the ID ¡°Cosmos¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®No wonder I didn¡¯t recognize her. Back then, Matilda waspletely disguised as a man and even went by a different name, Drake Diaz. In that previous life, I never really looked into who ¡°Cosmos¡± was I just knew she was an incredible coach who really give me a hard time during

    that period.

    ¡°Even if I put <b>our </b>friendship aside, from a <b>purely </b>practical standpoint, I absolutely can¡¯t let anything happen to a top tier coach like Matilda. She¡¯s way too valuable to lose!¡±

    Aubree flung open the VIP room door. The moment she

    <b>saw </b>what was inside, her eyes shed with fire. ¡°Matilda¡±

    ?

 Tried 43

    07:10 Mon, 7 Jul VG.

    Mon, 7 Jul

    The private room was bathed in dim, suggestive lighting, the echoes of men¡¯s lewdughter

    Matilda slumped onto the floor, clutching a bottle in one hand while her other hand weakly pipped the ss coffee ta, Serweral empty hottiesy scattered around her, on the table and at her side.

    Her oversized T-shirt was being yanked down over her shoulder by a groping hand, exposing most of her smooth, rounded shoulder, yet she remainedpletely oblivious in her drunken Mupor.

    Her head, which had been hanging limply, finally reacted to the sound of the door being kicked open. She turned stiffly, almost robotically, to look in that. direction, struggling even to open her eyes.

    Her usually bright eyes were new zed over and unfocused, a clear sign she was no longer in her right mind.

    On the sofa facing the door lounged a burly man with a horizontal scar across his <b>face</b>, clearly in his fies, exuding an intimidating presence. At his fant knelt a battered man, sobbing and sniveling, his face streaked with tears and snot.

    With tears streaming down his face, <b>Drake </b>pleaded, ¡°Han, please! You can¡¯t do this. I¡¯ve already given you 300 thousand dors. Just let my sister go I¡¯m begging you! Please<b>, </b><b>have </b>mercy on <b>us</b>!¡±

    Han Pierce didn¡¯t hesitate. He brutally kicked the man in the head, grinding his boot into the side of his face. With a mocking, predatory gaze, he raked his eyes over Aubree and sneered, ¡°So, you figured one girl wasn¡¯t enough to settle <b>your </b>debt, and brought me another one?¡±

    The quick¨Cwitted sidekick nearest the door shoved Aubree inside and mmed the door shut behind her. ¡°Looks like Drake finally got a clue Han, this chick¡¯s way hotter than the one on the floor,¡± he sneered.

    His finalugh dripped with sinister implication.

    Han reared withughter. ¡°Aher I¡¯m done <b>with </b>them, they¡¯re all yours¡±

    Aubree clutched at her cor and took two steps back, her brows furrowing involuntarily. She thought, ¡®Damn it, I was way too reckless, barging in like that¡­ Now I¡¯vended <b>myself </b>in danger too

    Wonly I¡¯d at least <b>ghen </b>Aban a heads¨Cup!

    Matilda<b>, </b><b>still </b>slumped on the floor, finally regained a bit of sobriety. Her eyes narrowed in rm as she recognized the neer. Summoning all her strength, she staggered to her feet and smashed the bottle in her hand over the head of the creep groping her. ¡°If <b>you </b>darey a finger on her,¡± she smarked, ¡°ril fight you to the death!¡±

    Drake, who had just been sobbing and begging for mercy, erupted into exaggerated wails when he saw his sister fight back against Han¡¯s men, his cowardice surfacing faster than anyone else¡¯s ¡°Matilda, are you trying to get us killed?¡± he cried hysterically, ¡°How could youy <b>a </b>hand on Han¡¯s <b>Cuys</b><b>? </b>Apologize now! Let¡¯s just beg for mercy again, maybe they¡¯ll let us go!¡±

    He truly didn¡¯t want to see his sister get bulled, but crossing Han was thest thing he wanted.

    esilently demanding, ¡°What the

    Matilda stepped <b>before </b>Aubree, who quickly reached out to steady her, gripping her arm. Their eyes met, Aubroe¡¯s gaze s hell is going on here?¡±

    ¡°My brother has gambling debts,¡± Matilda gritted her teeth and looked <b>away</b><b>, </b>unable to meet Aubree¡¯s eyes

    Matilda had always kept to herself at school,rgely because of her family situation.

    They weren¡¯t bad to her, but this family could hardly be called <b>a </b>safe haven

    Her brother was a gambler, drowning in loan shark debts and never learning his lesson. But this same brother woulde homete at night with midnight snacks for her, stand up for her whenever she¡¯s <b>bullied</b><b>, </b>and, after drinking with bloodshot eyes, choke out an apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry just stop worrying about me.¡±

    <b>1/3 </b>

    ¨C <b>??? </b>

    Her parents were somewhat traditional, always favoring their son over their daughter, clinging to him even when he¡¯d berge at her expense. Yet they remembered everything she loved. Her mother would prepare all her favorite dishes at dinner, and little toys or snacks after work, smiling as he tried to cheer her up.

    <b>Matilda </b>couldn¡¯t bring herself to abandon her family. All she could do was try to save herself and drag them out with her

    a good for nothing, even or father would bring home

    Scated at the head of the table, Han didin¡¯t even get angry when he saw his sidekick get hit. Instead, he just chuckled and sneered, ¡°What a fisty te thing¡±

    a Gre

    His words dripped with sleazy insinuation.

    Han sneered. ¡°Now now, don¡¯t get mad. We¡¯re all reasonable people here. Since you can¡¯t pay up, I¡¯m just letting you drink to settle the debt. 30 thousand dors a bottle, you¡¯re getting a sweet deall Looks like you can¡¯t handle your liquor, but as long as you pay what you own, we can work something out.¡±

    Han sneered maliciously. He could tell just by looking that the girl who¡¯d burst in wasn¡¯t carrying anything valuable. Still, he fancied himself a man of principle, someone who always yed by his own twisted code.

    Aubree¡¯s frown deepened as she thought, <b>Wait</b>, Matilda just won over 3 million dors in prize money and still couldn¡¯t pay off all the debt?

    <b>Even </b>if Matilda¡¯s family gambled, could they really have borrowed that much?¡±

    Matilda clutched the bottle even tighter, like <b>a </b><b>cornered </b>animal, her voice trembling with fury and desperation. ¡°You shameless bastards!¡± she snarled ¡°My brother only borrowed 1 million from you, and I¡¯ve already given you over 3 million!¡±

    Han¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb,¡± he sneered. ¡°You think I¡¯d lend your brother money for nothing! That 3 million was just the interest, there¡¯s still the one million principal you ove me.¡±

    Han¡¯s scar twitched along with his crooked grin, making him look every bit the shameless thug he was

    Matilda was about to argue further when Aubree tugged at the hem of her shirt and silently shook her head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to take them head¨Con,¡± Aubree warned, tightening her grip on Matilda¡¯s sleeve

    Aubree thought, ¡®If it¡¯s just about the debt, that¡¯s not so bad. I¡¯ve still got money,

    ¡®Alll need to do now is get out of here!!

    Aubree steadied herself slightly, her free hand cautiously feeling for her phone in her pocket. ¡°Mr. Pierce, right? If understand correctly, my friend awes you I million dors, I can pay that¡±

    Han responded briskly, ¡°Wire the money now. <b>Once </b>it clears, then we¡¯ll see

    Han thought, Isaid we¡¯ll see, not that you can leave.

    Aubree quickly caught the wordy in his response. As the sidekick beside her rattled off the bank ount number, she knew better than to make any <b>rash </b><b>moves </b>in this situation.

    Aubree obedientlyplied and transferred the money. As she pocketed her phone, seizing a moment when no one was w

    a contact, her phone only had three contacts saved, her teacher, the members of God¡¯s Fury, and Bowen

    Anyone, please, just realize I¡¯m in danger Aubree thought desperately.

    ¡°The money¡¯s transferred,¡± Aubree said, keeping her voice steady. ¡°We can go now, right?¡±

    she randomly dialed

    Seeing the one million <b>dors </b>hit his ount, Han smirked and kicked Drake aside with <b>his </b>foot. Then he leisurely rose to his feet. ¡°Well, well,¡± he drawled, ¡°didn¡¯t take you for a rich little girl¡±

    Han sneered. ¡°But what I said was<b>, </b>¡°we¡¯ll see, I never said you could leave.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going back on your word!¡± Matilda snapped.

    ¡°Now, don¡¯t put words in my mouth, sweetheart, When did ever say you could leave just because you paid up? Sure, the debt¡¯s settled, but what about the guy you just hurt? That¡¯s not something I can just let slide. But since you¡¯re both youngdies, I won¡¯t make things too hard your friend already finished seven out of ten bottles, so you just drink thest three <b>as </b>an apology to my man. Once you¡¯re done, you can go. Though, if you can¡¯t walk afterward. I would be more than happy to lend a hand.¡±

    As for what kind of ¡°help¡± he meant, that was anyone¡¯s guess, but it definitely wasn¡¯t anything good.

    All the liquor here was high¨Cproof spirits, even a grown <b>man </b>would be in bad shape after downing three bottles. A girl this young was bound to gat wasted, and then he could have his way with her.

    No sooner had Han finished speaking than his sidekicks brandished liquor bottles and closed in on Aubree. Whether she wanted to or not, those drinks were going down her throat, she had no choice in the matter.

    In a private room not far away.

    Bowen had left his phone on the couch, the pounding music drowning out any sound of an iing call. By the time he returned from the restroom, all that was left on his screen was <b>a </b>single missed call,

    Bowen thought, ¡®It¡¯s Bree! She never calls me unless she¡¯s in trouble! I wasn¡¯t seeing things earlier, that was definitely her!¡±

    Just then, a waiter hurried in with a grim expression and went straight to Olle ¡°Mr. Lane,¡± he said urgently, ¡°the girl you asked us to keep an eye on is here. She went into private room 1005. Han has that room booked for tonight.

    Ollie¡¯s face darkened. He recognized the guy to be a loan shark.

    Bowen

    snatched up his jacket and bolted out.

    AD

 Tried 44

    <b>Chapter </b>44

    Aubree¡¯s <b>clear </b>eyes grew misty, her mind growing heavier as the alcohol dragged her consciouse

    She was forced to down two whole bottles of liquor. Though she struggled fiercely, the

    Aubree was a total lightweight. Even one ss would knock her out

    down into the abyss.

    eher drink most of it

    Matilda tried to intervene, but she¡¯d already been force fed so much alcohol that just standing was a struggle. When Han¡¯s thus grabbed she couldn¡¯t even break free.

    Koreling on the floor, Aubree coughed violently. Her throat burned with dryness, and all she could think about was how desperately she needed a dr

    Het vision grew increasingly hazy, Biting down hard on the tip of her tongue until she drew blood, Aubree forced herself to stay conscious. Through gritted teeth, she shared, ¡°Ono¡­ more¡­ bottle.¡±

    The metalic taste of blood and the sharp pain jolted her back to rity. Her forehead was beaded with sweat. ¡°Hold on, she told herself desperately. Hi copse now, both Matilda and I are finished!¡±

    Gasping for breath, Aubree fixed Han with a fierce <b>re</b>. The sudden intensity radiating from her actually made him finch momentarily

    Realizing he¡¯d been intimidated by a mare slip of a girl Han cursed under his breath, ¡°Fuck this! Hurry the hell up and force thatst bottle down her throat. Let¡¯s see how tough this <b>little </b><b>bitch </b>really is¡±

    Han¡¯s thug approached with thest bottle of liquor. Truth be told, Aubree looked utterly wrecked, kneeling on the ground, using every ounce of strength just to keep herself from copsing face first. Her upper body was soaked halfway through with liquor, and her ponytail had somehowe undone, her hair tangled and stered drunkenly across her face inplete disarray.

    Just as the bottle was about to touch her lips, the door to the private room was violently kicked open once more.

    Before anyone could react, the thug approaching Aubree with the bottle was kicked flying

    With a loud crash, the bottle hit the floor, spilling liquor

    in everywhe

    Aubree looked up, dazed. When she recognized the man, her eyes instantly welled up with tears. Red¨Ceyed and gritting her teeth, she struggled to her fest, pointed at Han, and slurred defiantly, ¡°Go to hell, asshole! My knight in shining armor is here!¡±

    As soon <b>as </b>she finished speaking, her body went limp<b>, </b>and she began to copse, <b>but </b>Bowen caught her in his arms just in time.

    pilie, who had been <b>anxiously </b>following Bowen, didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry when he heard this. He felt that she girl really had Bowen figured

    Shout.

    The cool, calming aura around him made her feelpletely at ease. With a contented sigh, she shifted and nestled deeper into his arms, finally able to

    ¡°You¡¯re right on time again¡­she mumbled drunkenly, her breath <b>heavy </b>with alcohol, Bowen was torn between anger and sement

    Holding her protectively in his arms, Bowen looked down at the disheveled, alcohol¨Cdrenched figure. His eyes darkened with a gathering storm of fury he looked up. ¡°Ethan, <b>Samson</b><b>, </b>handle then¡±

    No sooner had he given the order than Ethan and Samson sprang into action, ruthlessly pummeling everyone in the private room and leaving the whole group sprawled and groaning on the floor.

    Han screamed and struggled as Ethan and Samson forced him to his knees in bont of Bowen

    Han shouted, ¡°Who the hell are you haards? Daring toy hands on me! You got <b>any </b>idea who you¡¯re messing with?¡±

    Chapter <b>44 </b>

    Ollie leaned forward with a grin and said, ¡°Of course I know y

    now you, Aren¡¯t you Hant Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t recogn

    ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Lane?¡± Han stammered. He didn¡¯t recognize Bowen, but he knew Ollie in that instant, it hit him that Aubree must be connected to i

    ¡°Mr. Lane, this was just a terrible misunderstanding had no idea the girl was one of yours. How penny, and we¡¯ll

    call it even, alright?¡±

    Han, who had been full of bluster just moments ago instantly covered

    He couldn¡¯t afford to mess with the Lane family,

    Ollie shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re barking up the wrong tree this time. This gill She¡¯s his¡±

    w about this? You take all three of them. I¡¯ll returne

    Pointing at Bowen, Olle said with a smirk, ¡°And him? Let me introduce you properly, this is Bowen Turner.¡±

    Bowen shot him a re, inwardly grumbling, ¡°Since when did he start addressing Bree so intimately?¡±

    At the mention of Bowen¡¯s <b>name</b>, Han¡¯s legs went weak. People in Rithol City might not recognize his face, but his name alone was enough to strike fear into anyone who heard it.

    Han thought he¡¯d only offended Mr. Lane, little did he know he¡¯d crossed paths with someone far more terrifying.

    He said, ¡°Mr. Turnert I swear I had no

    no idea she was under your protection!¡±

    While Olle could still smile and <b>say </b>a few words to him, Bowen wouldn¡¯t hold back at all.

    Bowenmanded coldly. ¡°Force the liquor down his throat, don¡¯t stop until he needs his stomach pumped. Then throw him in jail

    ¡°Mark¡¯s calling<b>,¡± </b>Ollie said to Bowen, ncing at his phone as they stepped out of the private room

    They left so abruptly. Given how close they were, <b>no </b>one took <b>offense</b>, though it did leave everyone

    e wondering what had happened.

    ¡°Cover for me, will you? Bree¡¯s had way too much to drink, I¡¯m taking her home now.¡± Bowen carried Aubree straight toward the door.

    Cradled in Bowen¡¯s arms, Aubree¡¯s mind <b>grow </b>increasingly hazy, her thoughts sinking into a drunken fog

    Just as Bowen strode toward the door, he nearly collided with Alvining from the other direction. They wore both silently wondering, ¡°What¡¯s he doing here?!

    ¡°Alvin?¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°Bree used my credentials to get in Alvin said, btedly realizing something was off. Worried something might have happened, <b>he¡¯d </b>rushed <b>over </b>immediately.

    Alvin¡¯s gazended on Aubree, curled up against Bowen¡¯s chest. Her expression was troubled, forehead listening with sweat, and cheeks flushed. Even from a distance, the pungent stench of alcohol radiated from her.

    Alvin felt a surge of sed reproach. He thought bitterly, I was way too careless. I just assumed Aubree could handle everything

    a girl going into <b>a </b>club alone, but I didn¡¯t even ask mere questions or make sure she¡¯d be sale before letting her go in.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face twisted with self¨Creproach. ¡°Damn it, I screwed up,¡± he muttered.

    Bowen tightened his protective hold around Bree. ¡°I¡¯m taking her home first. That girl from your team is still here. Deal with her yourself.

    Bowen didn¡¯t me Alvin at all. After giving him a couple of quick instructions, he hurried off with Bree in his arms.

    Barely two minutes after getting in the car, the girl who had been so docile in Bowen¡¯s arms stirred with a soft, dated murmur Aubree blinked blearily, her once clear eyes now clouded with <b>a </b>drunken <b>haze</b><b>. </b>Looking up at Bowen, she slurred, ¡°Who are <b>you</b><b>?</b>¡±

    <b>Was </b>

    With that, her body began squirming restlessly in his arms, rubbing against him with des

    Aubree struggled in his arms and slurred drunkenly, ¡°Lemme por

    Bowen¡¯s head was pounding at the drunken Aubree thrashed in his arms. She was s ¡°Hey, stop squirming he said, exasperated.

    singly strong for her son, he could barely keep her in th

    He absentmindedly gave her a pat, not even noticing where his handnded, until the unexpected sensation made Bowen tre

    A soft, springy sensation still lingered in hes palm

    Bowen¡¯s ears flushed red as realization dawned. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he looked down and n pervert! You smacked my butt!¡± Aubree slurred usingly

    the indignant re of Aubree in his arms

    Ethan, diving up front, suddenly lost his grip on the steering wheel, sending the car into a sharp swerve. The jolt threw Bowen sideways mit and Aubree nearly hit her head against the window.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, a car just cut in front of <b>us</b>,¡± Ethan stammered, mortified. He thought, ¡°What kind of x¨Crated talk did I just overhear?

    Bowen said, ¡°Raise the partition.¡±

    The privacy partition slid up, sealing off the back seat and turning it into their own secluded world.

    Aubree kept staring at Bowen with those fiery, unyielding eyes, making it clear she wasn¡¯t going to let this go until he exined himself.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to,¡± Bowen said, rubbing his nose with a sheepish smile.

    Aubree shot back with a yful grin, ¡°Oh sure, you totally meant that!¡±

    Bowen was rendered speechless. He thought, ¡°How did this sweet girl turn into such a handful when she was drunk?¡±

    Seeing him speechless, Aubree let out a couple of smug hums and dered triumphantly, ¡°I¡¯m not that pushover Aubree anymore! Let me tell you, en<ul><li>better of me.¡± wouldn¡¯t get thet family showed up now, they if the whole Wilson</li></ul>

    She seemed so much more childlike than <b>usual</b>. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she boasted, radiating the kind of yful confidence only a girl her ape could have

    She slurred, leaning in with drunken solemnity. ¡°Lemme tell you a secret, if you ever start liking Carmen, I¡¯m gonna ignore you¡±

    Bowen watched her quietly, his gaze fixed on her unusually bright eyes. Even though she was smiling now, all he felt was a pang of heartache.

    When she was sober, she bottled everything up inside, her hatred for the Wilson family and her disgust toward Carmen forced her to mature far beyond her years.

    desperately pushing herself to grow up fast.

    Now that she was drunk, all her pent¨Cup resentment finally spilled out, cloaked in yful teasing.

    He thought, ¡°How much she must have suffered all these years.

    Bow

    only on

    He murt

    C

 Tried 45

    <b>Chapter </b>45

    :98%

    The familiar gesture made Aubree freeze fomentarily. Hearing Bowen¡¯s words, she giggled drunkenly, titing her face up with a tipsy smile. ¡°You¡¯re so handsome¡­ Carl kiss you?¡±

    Before Bowen could react, the tipsy Aubree suddenly sprang up and nted a quick kiss on theer of his lips.

    sal it with a kiss

    Let me seal it with a

    Aubree murmured, her words slursing from the alcohol. Her head lolled to the side, and before Bowen could reset, the

    slumped into his arms, fast asleep.

    Bowen <b>was </b>caughtpletely off <b>guard </b>by the less. His muscles tensed up, and he sat there, <b>frozen </b>in ce.

    The lingering sensation on the corner of his lips clearly told him what had just happened. His mind wentpletely nk, but his body reacted with undeniable instinct

    He was like <b>a </b><b>lovestruck </b>teenager, his heart pounding wildly.

    Bowen¡¯s throat went dry, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing nervously. Still holding <b>Aubree</b>, he carefully freed one hand and tentatively brushed her cheek

    Her cheeks were flushed and hot to the touch from the alcohol.

    His fingertips trembled as he swiftly withdrew his hand. Bowen¡¯s eyes grew <b>profound </b>and unfathomable, their depths swirling with a storm <b>of </b>unnamed

    emotions.

    Aber a long moment, Bowen slumped back and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze was clear. He told himself, ¡°Bree was just drunk. If she were sober, this would never have happened.

    ¡®I¡¯ll just pretend this never happened.

    Meanwhile, at Nightworld, Alvin was giving

    Matilda and her brother a ride home

    Alvin said gently, ¡°Matilda<b>, </b>next time you run into any trouble, just let us know. We¡¯re not <b>just </b>teammates, we¡¯re your friends, too.¡±

    Under the flickering glow of aging streetlights, Alvin¡¯s gaze followed the siblings through the car window as they leaned on each other for support, making their way forward.

    Matilda paused briefly before replying softly, ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in m

    Compared to herb brother Drake, who was covered in wounds, she was in much better shape, just a little dizzy from having had too much to drink

    ¡°Sis,¡± Drake asked, ¡°who was that prl who suddenly came to our rescue today? She seemed pretty <b>badass</b><b>.</b>¡±

    Drake nudged his sister and asked, ¡°That guy just now, he must be loaded, right?¡±

    Drake¡¯s eyes gleamed as he kept rambling on, ¡°Even Han was scared of those two guys powerful people? Howe <b>you </b>never told me?

    uys who showed upter. Matilda, when

    get to know such

    ¡°Matilda, why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡±

    After rambling on for quite a while without getting any response, Drake finally snapped out of it and turned to look at Matilda

    Matilda snapped, ¡°Drake, drop those schemes! My friends are not mel¡±

    After his sister saw right through him, <b>Drake </b>rubbed his nose sheepishly and said. ¡°I was just thinking maybe I could help out the family, make things a

    Title easier for us

    <b>07:11 </b>Mon, 7 Jul

    After all, since Matilda¡¯s friends were so well connected, he wanted to have them help his family.

    He thought, for people like them, it¡¯s just a word.

    ¡®Borrowing some money from them should be a

    a piece of <b>cake </b>

    Thinking this<b>, </b><b>a </b>note of dissatisfaction crept into his voice.

    Matilda knew exactly what kind of preson her brother was. As they were about to enter the apartment building, she stopped dead in her tracks, her supporting gesture abruptly turning into a shove

    Drake was shoved against the wall, yelping, ¡°Owl¡±

    Matilda snapped, ¡°Drake, I¡¯m warning you, stop scheming about my friends! Have you forgotten what you promised mest time? Do you have to rum everyone in this family before you¡¯re satisfied? Now that Han¡¯s been dealt with, I swear, no more gambling ather this!¡±

    Drake thought, I know I shouldn¡¯t gamble¡­ but damn, I just can¡¯t resist the urge!

    Drake wanted to are back, but when his eyesnded on Matilda¡¯s wolf¨Ccut short hair, his defiance instantly deted. ¡°I¡¯ll try to restrain myself,¡± he

    mumbled.

    Before he got hooked on those bad habits, Matilda <b>was </b>just like any ordinary girl, she kept her hair long and loved wearing pretty dresses. But the dragged the whole family down, Matilda chopped off her long hair and was forced to take on the role of protecting the family

    He thought, I hate myself for being so weak willed. Countless sleepless nights. I¡¯ve been consumed by regret and anguish¡­ yet still can¡¯t break the cyclo

    Trying to coax Matilda, he pleaded, ¡°Matilda<b>, </b>please don¡¯t be mad at me,

    okay? I¡¯ll get you a cupcake tomorrow.¡±

    Seeing him carefully trying to appease her, Matilda falta pang of guilt. Clenching her teeth, she wordlessly took Drake¡¯s arm again to support him, refusing to say another word,

    As they reached the apartment door, Matilda suddenly sensed something was off. She fraze, frowning, ¡°Wait¡­ something¡¯s wrong. Why is it so quiet inside?¡±

    In this rundown apartment building, if one family spoke up, practically the whole building could hear them.

    Matilda thought, <b>¡®</b>Something¡¯s wrong

    The lights were still on, so someone was definitely home. A wave of unease swept through Matilda. Her first thought was, ¡°Did Han send more men

    Matilda hurriedly s swung the door open and frode. The scene inside wasn¡¯t what she¡¯d expected.

    What the hell is Carmen doing in my <b>house</b><b>? </b>Matilda thought

    Carmen sat <b>on </b>a stool, clearly disgusted by the <b>ce</b>, having even ced her bodyguard¡¯s jacket beneath her as padding

    Her parents stood shakily by Carmen¡¯s side, their faces full of ingratiating

    #smiles

    Carmen¡¯s bodyguard stood by the door, looking asthough he¡¯d been waiting for Matilda¡¯s return.

    ¡°What are you doing in my house?¡± Matilda demandad, eyeing Carmen warily. They weren¡¯t friends, her unexpected appearance could only <b>mean </b>

    trouble.

    Carmen shed a bright smile,pletely unfazed by Matilda¡¯s <b>attitude</b>. ¡°I just found <b>out </b>you¡¯re at Rithal High too, Matilda. Actually, I¡¯m here to ask <b>you </b>for a favor.

    ¡°I won¡¯t help. Get out of my house,¡± Matilda snapped. Even without her connection to tree, she felt nothing but dislike, only disgust, for Carmen

    Rithol High wasn¡¯t what people made it out to be

    At Bithol High School, students fell into three categories. Those from privileged families, those admitted purely on academic ment, and policy beneficiaries like her.

    Among these three groups, those like her were the most likely to be bullied. She would never forget her best friend¡¯s bright smile when they first entered Rithal High together, or the utter despair on her <b>face </b>before she jumped to her death

    Matilda¡¯s fingers curled into tight fists one by one, her gaze burning with undisguised hatred <b>as </b>she red at Carmen.

    Matilda¡¯s mother, Shirley Diaz, coased her gently, ¡°Matilda, be a bit more polite to Miss Wilson. She said that if <b>you </b>just do her a small favor, she¡¯ll clear Drake¡¯s debts for him.¡±

    Rubbing his hands nervously, Truman Diar scolded, ¡°Matilda, hurry and apologize to Miss Wilson! Miss Wilson, please don¡¯t be upset with her, she¡¯s just a

    For them, it was a no

    was a no¨Cbrainer having their daughter do one thing to solve all their son¡¯s problems.

    Besides, they¡¯d already checked that it was nothing illegal.

    Carmen maintained her calm, gentle smile, though inwardly she was puzzled. I don¡¯t even know Matilda. Why <b>is </b>she looking at me <b>as </b>if she has some deep seated grudge against me<b>? </b>

    ¡®Of course! Aubree must¡¯ve been badmouthing me behind my back!

    She had already looked into this family beforeing. Their son was a gambling addict, and they were drowning in debt. Families like this were the easiest to manipte.

    ¡°Matilda,¡± Carmen said with a gentle smile, ¡°Tm not sure if you¡¯ve heard something that caused some misunderstanding about me. But just as your parents said, if you¡¯re willing to help me with one small thing, can make all your family¡¯s problems disappear.¡±

    Carmen was ko the serpent in Eden, slyly luring Matilda to nod in agreement

    She added, ¡°All you have to do is report Aubree for cheating in the tournament, and I¡¯ll <b>double </b>the prize money for you. I can even get you into Apex Squad.¡±

    Carmen could offer Matilda everything, including money, fame, and status.

    Carmen was certain that if she were Matilda, she¡¯d know exactly what to choose,

    Matilda scoffed. ¡°In your dreams¡±

    She thought, ¡®Even if Dree hadn¡¯t already indirectly helped solve our biggest problem with Han, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d <b>ever </b>help Carmen do something so despicable, I could never betray my conscience like that

    At her refusal, a briet, chilling darkness shed in Carmen¡¯s eyes, but she instantly rposed herself with a pleasant smile. ¡°t¡¯s all right. Take your time to think it over,¡± she said. Then, turning to the elders, she added, ¡°<b>Guys</b>, maybe you can help persuade her too.¡±

    As soon as Carmen leh, Truman snapped. ¡°You stubborn girl! What happens with Aubree is none of your business. Do <b>you </b>know how much money that is? It¡¯s enough to set <b>us </b>up for life!¡±

    Shirley scolded, ¡°Matilda, how can you be so senseless!¡±

    Matilda snapped, ¡°if you want that money so badly, go do it yourselves!¡± With that, she stormed into her bedroom and mmed the door.

    The couple exchanged exasperated nces, their frustration with their daughter¡¯s stubbornness boiling <b>over </b>

    Drake¡¯s eyes gleamed with a sly idea. ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯ve got a n,¡± he said slyly. ¡°If it just needs to be done in Mattie¡¯s name. if she won¡¯t do it herself, we¡¯ll just handle it for her, simple as that.¡±

 Tried 46

    Aubree woke up right on time, her internal rm never falling her, even after a night of heavy drinkin

    She woke up clutching her pounding head. The hangover hit her like a sledgehammer to the skull, sending sharp, throbbing pains through her

    Aubree sat on the bed in a daze for a long moment before graduallying to her senses

    ¡°Carol must have changed my clothesd night. Aubier muttered to herself, ncing doon at her outfit before scanning the room,

    She vaguely remember Bowens was thest to show upi

    ¡°What happened ned?¡± Aubree wondered.

    Still holding her head, Aubree paused, her gaze suddenly nk <b>as </b>confusion washed over her face. ¡°Walt Did L. Dideally kiss Bowen?¡±

    As the memories came flooding back, the scene in the car reyed in her mind with painful nty Aubree buried her face in her hands and let out a mortified scream

    Aubree thought in horror, ¡®Oh my God! What the hell did I do?

    ¡°OMG! I can¡¯t believe Lactually flirted with Bowen while I was drunk What the hell was I thinking?

    ¡°Bown must have taken pity on me, he actually let me off the hook instead of

    stead of strangling

    me on the spot¡±

    Her mind raced through the logistics. The esports club was already in its formation stage. While Alvin¡¯s ce could amodate a pro team, it wasn¡¯t spacious enough for the entire club

    She needed to find a new venue first, then move on to recruiting staff and coaches, and <b>finally </b>announce open tryouts for new talent for the youth

    training program.

    With the prestige of being the Autumn Finals champion, none of these would be difficult

    But there was one more

    was one more important thing Aubree thought, I need to move out of Ellis Heights.

    Now that the tournament¡¯s over and I¡¯ve got my prize money, I¡¯m financially secure enough to rent a high¨Csecurity ce. But afterst night¡¯s incident, even if Bowen didn¡¯t mind, there¡¯s no way I could keep living at y Heights, I¡¯d just die of embarrassment.

    ¡®I¡¯d die of embarrassment if I ran into Bowen anytime soon!¡±

    Seeing it was about time, Aubree scrambled out of bed. As a senior in high school, she no longer had the freedom to skip sses at will since the new term began<b>. </b>

    With little appetite, Aubree only managed a few sips of breakfast. She didn¡¯t see Bowen around. She¡¯d nned to mention she was

    vas <b>moving </b>

    out if he was

    there.

    She thought,

    After all, I¡¯ve been staying at his ce for quite a while. It just wouldn¡¯t feel right to leave without saying a word¡±

    <b>She </b>didn¡¯t ask, but <b>Carol </b>saw right through her. ¡°Looking for Bowen, Aubree!¡± she asked gently, ¡°There was an urgent matter at the Odiond branch, so he left urgentlyst night. He probably won¡¯t be back for a while.¡±

    Carol said with a knowing s smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Bowen said he¡¯ll definitely be back before your birthday,¡± Aubree shihed uncon must have guessed something

    y.convinced Carol

    Aubree scratched the back of her head. ¡°I just wanted to she started, but then thought, ¡®Forget it, Bowen¡¯s not even here right now, there¡¯s no point telling Carol I¡¯m moving out¡±

    Aubree said, ¡°Never mind, I¡¯m off to school Bye<b>, </b>Carol.¡±

    £¤<b>398</b><b>%</b>2

    Aubree grabbed a sandwich, shung her backpack over her thoulder, and saw Zachary already waiting

    ¡°Hey, Zachary,¡± Aubree said, ¡°The moving out of Ellis Heights soon, so from now on you won¡¯t need to pick me up anymore.¡±

    ¡°Mes Miller,¡± Zachary <b>said </b>firmly, ¡°Hr. Turner¡¯s orders are clear. I¡¯m responsible for your transportation and protection¡± His meant that her moving wouldn¡¯t change his assignment

    ¡°But I¡¯m not living at Ellis Heights anymore,¡± Aubree said with a hint of helplessness, ¡°I¡¯ll be a frassle for you to keep following me

    ¡°I need direct onders from Mr. Turner. Before leaving, Mr. Tuner only told me to protect you, Zachary added firmly

    ¡°Why does he have to be so damn stubborn? Aubree thought in frustrations,

    e around¡±

    Aubree gave up trying to persuade Zachary Alter spending some time with him, she realized that if this were ancient times, he¡¯d be the very definition of blind loyalty.

    He only took orders hom Bowen. Nobody else¡¯s words would count¡­

    When is Bowening back, anyway?¡± Aubree thought, gazing absently

    htly cut the window at the scenery whizzing past, her mindpletely nk

    The image of Bowen¡¯s smiling <b>face </b>suddenly shed before her eyes. Aubree shuddered and thought, ¡®Did that damn kiss mess with my head?

    ¡°OMG! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m <b>actually </b>thinking about Bowent

    That thought was absolutely horrifying Aubree shook her head vigorously, as if trying to physically shake the idea loose, and began silently reciting <b>Odiondian </b>vocabry, anything to distract herself

    Aubree muttered under her breath, <b>desperately </b>trying to focus on her vocabry list instead of that infuriatingly handsome face.

    As <b>usual</b>, Zachary parked the car in <b>a </b>less crowded spat some distance from the school.

    The in

    moment the car stopped, Aubree snatched her backpack and scrambled out. ¡°Zachary, skip the pickup tonight, I¡¯ve got stuff to <b>do</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree usually didn¡¯t arrive at school early, so at this hour, the front gate was typically quiet. But today was different, the entrance waspletely blocked by an unexpected crowd.

    She also <b>saw </b>a few camera crews in the crowd.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Aubree wondered, frowning at the unexpected crowd.

    As Aubree approached with her backpack, a sharp¨Ceyed reporter suddenly shouted, ¡°Hey, that¡¯s Aubree! She¡¯s here!¡±

    All

    at once, the crowd surged <b>forward</b>. Several reporters blocked her path while gawking students closed in from all sides, leaving her trapped with no

    way to escape.

    Aubree waspletely baffled. Since when did winning an esports tournament warrant this kind of media frenzy?¡® she wondered.

    The moment the reporters started asking questions, Aubree realized just how dead wrong she <b>was</b>,

    A person asked, ¡°Hey Aubree, are you Phoenix, the midner who just won the League of Legends Autumn Finals<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    They showed <b>a </b>microphone right in her <b>face</b><b>, </b>nearly hitting her

    Aubree frowned and stepped back defensively, yeah, that¡¯s <b>me</b>,¡± she replied, her tone guarded.

    A reporter asked, ¡°Aubree, as a progamer, how do you respond to the cheating allegations in the <b>finals</b>?¡±

    Another asked, ¡°Aubree, rumor has it you¡¯re the long¨Clost heiress of the Wilson family. Were you kicked out due to your misconduct?¡±

    A third asked, ¡°Aubree, did you really cheat in the tournament ?¡±

    Someone else asked, ¡°Aubree, rumor has it you bullied your stepsister Carmen so badly that your family disowned and kicked you out. Any respeto these allegations?¡±

    A reporter asked, ¡°Aubree, did you know it was your own teammate who publicly used you of cheating in the tournamend?¡±

    What the hell is all this? Aubree thought,pletely bewildered.

    Aubree¡¯s mind reeled from the barrage of questions, who cheated! And who reported me? she wondered,pletely bewildered

    I

    She thought, ¡°Isn¡¯t this all that dumbass Daston¡¯s fault? How the hell did my teammate get dragged into this now?

    And how the hell did my family get dragged into this?

    Aubree was just reaching for the nearest microphone when <b>a </b>sudden shout cut through the chaos, ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Alice!¡±

    eticulously manicured hand to snatch the

    Just then, a fur d socialite in a designer miniskirt, Alice Wilson, stepped forward, extending her meticulo microphone, while her bodyguards cleared a path through the crowd with practiced efficiency.

    Alice strode right <b>up </b>and took her ce beside Aubree

    She said, ¡°Good day, friends from the press. I¡¯m Alice<b>, </b>Aubree¡¯s mother. I deeply <b>regret </b>that my daughter has be someone so unscrupulous. As her mother, this is my failure..¡±

    Alice¡¯s words instantly had every reporter turning their questions on Aubree.

    A reporter asked, ¡°Ms. Diamonde, are you admitting that Aubree cheated in the tournament finals<b>?</b>¡±

    ¡°While I¡¯m not entirely clear about this particr incident, i wouldn¡¯t put it past my daughter to do something like this.¡±

    With even her biological mother <b>giving </b>such a <b>damning </b>evaluation, <b>the </b>looks directed at Aubree shifted instantly.

    With an artfully crafted look of helpless resignation, Alice appeared every inch the long¨Csuffering mother driven to her wit¡¯s end by her daughter¡¯s rebelliousness

    Aubree watched with cold detachment, thinking, if these reporters aren¡¯t in <b>cahoots </b>with Alice, I¡¯ll eat my hat

    A reporter asked, ¡°So, are those online rumors about Aubree bullying her stepsister Carmen and getting kicked out of the family true as well?¡±

    Alice replied<b>, </b>¡°Though it pains me to air our family¡¯s dirtyundry in public, my answer is yes. In fact, I¡¯m here today to plead with my dear daughter to mend her ways¡±

    After finishing her little performance with the reporters, Alice finally turned to Aubree. ¡°Aubree, Mommy is willing to <b>forgive </b>all your past mistakes. Just apologize in front of these reporters today, and I¡¯ll take you home right <b>away</b>.

    ¡°All I ask is that you never bully Carmen <b>again</b><b>.</b>¡±

    ¡®How touching Aubree thought sarcastically.

    in the crowd couldn¡¯t help but sigh, wish I had a mom as understanding and kind as Alice!¡±

    Someone in the

    Another said, ¡°wah, totally! Rich, beautiful, and so gentle, she¡¯s exactly the kind of mom ive always dreamed off¡±

    Compared to Alice¡¯s first attempt to confront her, this time she had clearly upped her game, ying a

    She leveraged public opinion to guilt¨Ctrip her, while everyone else remained clueless about the truth.

    afar more calcted hand.

    If Aubree argued back now, just like she didst time, it would only y right into her hands <b>and </b>make her look like the unreasonable brat she imed

    <b>Mon</b>, 7

    she <b>was </b>

    ¡°Well, she is my mother after alll¡® Aubree thought bitterly

    Aubree let out a scoff and thought, ¡°Who says I¡¯m afraid to make a scene just because of this I¡¯ve got nothing to lose so who the hell should be sta

 Tried 47

    The usations against Aubree grew louder and more relentless

    ¡°What a letdown! actually thought our school had a champion,¡± someone muttered.

    Another said, ¡°So a cheating champion still counts, right?¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe Aubree would stoop so low at thepetition,¡± a bystander remarked ¡°But now even her own mother in publicly denouncing her character¡­ They shook their head in disdain.

    Some sighed in sympathy, while others spat in disgust

    One of the onlookers scoffed, ¡°Some people just don¡¯t know how to appreciate the good life they¡¯ve got.¡±

    Another said, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it said on the forums that Aubree got kicked out of the Wilson family for pushing Carmen down the stairs out of jealousy? Then the proved it was actually Carmen who stated it herself, and honestly, I totally believed her back then. But now? Guess where there¡¯s smoke, there¡¯s fire, she¡¯s no saint either.¡±

    If it were just reporters stirring up trouble, people might still have their doubts. But now that even Alice had spoken out against her, suddenly everyone

    believed it

    If Aubree hadn¡¯t crossed the line, people felt that Alice would not publicly condemn her own daughter like this.

    Aubree heard all the scathingments, and of course, Alice heard them too.

    Alice shot Aubree a taunting smile, her eyes full of challenge. She thought, ¡®So you refused to help Carmen and even got her expelled from Rithol Art School? You¡¯re so capable that you don¡¯t even need toe home, right? Let¡¯s see how you get yourself out of this mess now

    *To em in human, please don¡¯t judge my daughter so harshly Alice said, putting on a magnanimous front. ¡°I believe my Aubree simply made a mistake in the heat of the moment. As long as she¡¯s willing <b>to </b><b>admit </b>her wrongdoing and retum the trophy that was never rightfully hers, I¡¯m still willing to take her home and guide her properly.¡±

    The crowd erupted in enthusiastic a

    apuse

    Some parents dropping off their kids couldn¡¯t help nodding in agreement, if their own child had done something so disgraceful, a beating would be letting them off easy. She felt that Aubree <b>sure </b>had a great mother.

    The nted reporter, seeing how things were unfolding, quickly thrust the microphone forward and said pointedly, <b>¡°</b>Aubree, since your mother is <b>being </b>so forgiving, why not take this opportunity, with everyone watching, to show your resolve and apologize right here and now? We¡¯ll all bear witness!¡±

    Aubree thought sarcastically, ¡°What a perfect little scheme!

    I didn¡¯t know exactly what was going on, but could make an educated guess.

    must be the Wilson family colluding with someone to smear me online, iming I cheated in the finals. Then Alice brought in reporters to corner me, and now she¡¯s making her grand entrance to put on this little act with them,

    ¡°Alice gets to y the saintly, selfless mother, while fm cast as the rebellious, wayward daughter.

    If apologize now, Carmen¡¯s little scandal could easily be swept under the rug. After all, nothing someone like her does would surprise anyone.

    Not only that, but Alice would seize this <b>chance </b>to keep me under her thumb¡®

    Aubree grabbed the reporter¡¯s wrist and yanked the microphone to her own mouth. ¡°Me? Apologize?¡± she scoffed. ¡°Why the hell should

    ¡°Cheating in the finals? Excuse me? I don¡¯t even know how that rumor started. Let me make <b>one </b>thing clear. I won that championship on my own my trophy ispletely untainted!¡±

    98%<b>1 </b>

    The reporter struggled to reim the microphone, but Aubree lightened her grip even further the that the reporter a cold look and said lily, ¡°What¡¯s theh, Miss Reporter? I wasn¡¯t finished speaking¡±

    Aubree shed a cold, toothy grin, her gleaming teeth making the reporter free in fear, all struggle forgotten in an instant.

    Aubree swept her gaze across the crowd. ¡°Or should i apologize for being a ¡®difficult daughter too?¡±

    At this point, Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh bitterly. She thought, ¡®Unless I¡¯d actually killed someone, how could ever be worse than the Wilson family

    Aubree stared straight at Alice and demanded, ¡°Ms. Wilson, do you admit that I¡¯ve already severed all ties with your family?¡±

    Alice parted her lips, instinctively ready to deny it. But then it struck het, het husband had indeed signed those legal documents. Even if she tried to deny it. Aubree had concrete proot So she chose silence, foing Aubree with an exaggerated look of helpless resignation

    Aubree thought. If she wants to keep pertending, I¡¯m not ying along

    ¡°ckmail? Sorry, I don¡¯t <b>have </b><b>a </b>moralpasst if that¡¯s how you want to y, then let¡¯s all lose face together

    She said, ¡°You¡¯re not silent because you don¡¯t want to answer, you¡¯re too scared to I have the legal severance agreement right here. You¡¯re no longer m mother. I can have it authenticated in court. I drafted it myself, which means I was the one who initiated the severance¡±

    Aubree¡¯s words <b>made </b>the sharper minds in the crowd start connecting the dots.

    As far as the Wilson family was concerned, Aubree wasn¡¯t driven <b>out </b>for any wrongdoing. On the contrary. i chose to leave of her own ord.

    The Wilson family were Rithol¡¯s top¨Ctier elite, no one would walk away from that kind of fortune.

    People felt that it must be because she¡¯d reached <b>her </b><b>absolute </b>breaking point.

    Aubree red at Alice. ¡°You stand there as my mother, using your daughter of rotten morals and an incorrigible nature. But have you ever stopped for even a moment to consider if <b>you </b><b>are </b>fit to be a mother?

    ¡°For three <b>years </b>in the Wilson family, I never had <b>a </b>single proper meal! <b>Do </b><b>you </b>even know I developed <b>a </b>chronic stomach condition? Have you ever truly looked at the scars all over my body? Every single one of them was caused by the Wilson family!

    ¡°Did you even bother to count how many times I <b>was </b><b>hospitalized </b>in those three <b>years</b>?

    ¡°Did you ever even care whether I was freezing or burning <b>up</b><b>?</b>¡±

    Aubree shouted, ¡°Never

    ¡°For three years, alll ever got from you, my so¨Ccalled mother, <b>was </b>nothing but scolding <b>and </b>beatings. You use me of <b>having </b>no morals, so tell me, exactly where did go wrong? <b>As </b><b>a </b>designer, Alice, don¡¯t you understand what giarism means <b>to </b><b>a </b>creator? Net <b>you </b>forced me to ghostwrite for Carmen in so many importantpetitions, and even enabled her to hire others just to keep <b>herself </b>from <b>being </b>expelled from Rithol Art School. And after all that, you still call Carmen a good kid¡®?

    ¡°If five done anything wrong, it¡¯s only because you drove me to it over these <b>past </b>three years!¡±

    All the injustices of the past three years came pouring out in that moment, <b>and </b>Aubree felt a <b>sense </b>of liberation she ha Watching Alice pale and stumble backward only intensified the triumphant satisfaction surging through her.

    experienced before.

    ¡°I¡± Alice started to retort. But when she met Aubree¡¯s undisguised look of hatred, her words <b>died </b>in her throat, a chill running down her spine

    Alice thought, ¡°She hates me?

    ¡°Why does she hate me so much? <b>Sure</b>, maybe neglected her meals at the Wison household, but in every other respect, haven¡¯t I treated her wel

    ¡®She had top-tier clothes <b>and </b>luxury goods. Other than asking her to yield to Carmen, what exactly did she have toin about

    U/-11 Mon,

    That sliver of guilty conscience Alice had felt just moments before vanished instantly, reced by fury

    Alice thought venomously, What an ungrateful wretch!

    ¡°She keeps going on about how the Wilson family wronged her, but what has she over done for us?

    Aubree never measured up to Carmen in any way. Isn¡¯t it only natural for the family to dote on her mom?

    it was so palpable, it began to ripple through the crowd.

    Perhaps it was Aubree¡¯s raw and genuine resentment that

    The crowd¡¯s murmurs gradually shifted in tone, their certainly wavering as they struntled to tell who was actually in the right

    Will Jennings Stop crowding at the entrance! Shouldn¡¯t you all be in ss by now?¡± the principle, Will Jennings called out from afar, arrivingte after hearing the news, urgently herding the students back to their ssrooms.

    He thought, ¡®Reporters are everywhere! How can I let this go on?

    Seizing the final moment, Aubree fixed Alice with a piercing <b>re</b>. ¡°I¡¯ve repaid my debt to you. As for your so¨Ccalled ¡°nurturing? I was trafficked at five, and after three years under <b>your </b>roof, I ended up malnourished. If I haven¡¯t retaliated for that kind of care, it¡¯s only because I¡¯m being merciful!¡±

    ¡°You there, the girl in front! I see you. Come to my office, now!¡± Will strode over and firmly grabbed Aubree by the arm. As he looked up, his eyesnded on Alice standing nearby.

    Will recognized Alice because she had visited the school several times due to Carmen

    was a bit dumbfounded. He thought, ¡°What on earth is going on here?¡®

    E

 Tried 48

    <b>Chapter </b>48

    Mrs. Wilson, perhaps next time we could handle student discipline a bit more tactfully<b>? </b>Such public scenes don¡¯t reflect well on the school¡¯s reputation.¡± Will nervously ran his fingers through his thinning hair, swallowing his frustration.

    Will thought with <b>a </b>sigh, if it were just an ordinary student, I¡¯d simply issue disciplinary action and be done with it. But why does it have to involve the Wilson family?

    I remember the Wilson family¡¯s girl is called Carmen, right? So where did this new one pop up from?

    Will thought Aubree looked familiar, but couldn¡¯t quite ce her.

    Alice gave an apologetic smile, ¡°My apologies for the trouble, Mr. Jennings¡±

    So, is this your daughter, Mrs. When?¡±

    Alice <b>nced </b>at the silent Aubree, her eyes <b>shing </b>with a calcted gleam. ¡°Mr. Jennings, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not acquainted with Aubree.¡±

    ¡°Not acquainted?¡± Aubree pondered the words with bitter amusement. ¡°No wonder I never got along with the Wilson family, I could never master this <b>level </b>of shameless.hypocrisy.

    ¡°Just moments ago she was calling me ¡°daughter¡± in front of everyone, <b>and </b>now we¡¯re suddenly strangers? Even professional actors can¡¯t switch masks

    ¡°My apologies for the trouble today, Mr. Jennings, Alice said smoothly. ¡°The Wilson family will be donating a new library to the school aspensation, As for this student, please feel free to handle her strictly ording to school policy<b>.</b>¡±

    Will waspletely baffled by these contradictory statements. So now you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no rtion at all?¡® he wondered.

    But with the school now nning to build a new library<b>, </b>all those other details hardly seemed to matter anymore.

    After all, as the principle of Rithol High School, he know exactly how to read between the lines, whether it <b>was </b>sweet talk or veled threats

    Will saw Alice off with an obsequious smile. Then, turning to Aubree, his smile vanished instantly. ¡°I¡¯d already heard certain rumors about you before even reached the school gate. Of course, we can¡¯t verify these allegations<b>, </b><b>and </b>without concrete evidence, we shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡±

    Aubree nodded. ¡°Just say it straight, Mr. Jennings, I know how these things work.¡±

    With Alke¡¯sst words, even if Will hadn¡¯t nned to make things difficult for her, he now had no choice but to do just that.

    Aubree lowered hershes, a flicker of bitterness shing in her downcast eyes. She thought, ¡°If truth be told, I¡¯m the real victim here. But with the mighty Wilson family¡¯sinfluence, even my innocence would be twisted into guilt.

    I know exactly how the game is yed, but it still burns me up!¡®

    Herfingers, clutching the seam of her pants, slowly curled in as Aubree managed a strained smile. ¡°I¡¯ve caused trouble <b>for </b>the <b>school</b><b>,</b>¡± she said

    Seeing how well Aubroerend the situation, Will pave her a perfunctory smile. ¡°Well then, why don¡¯t you take a few days off

    when this unpleasantness blows over.¡±

    You cane back

    Aubree <b>yielded </b>without protest. She thought, From Will¡¯s standpoint, this punishment is fair and by the book. There¡¯s no point in wasting energy an futile arguments, sometimes it¡¯s better to just ept it and move on.¡±

    Stepping out of the office, Aubree <b>managed </b><b>a </b>wry smile. She thought, ¡°With the club <b>keeping </b>me so busy these days, I might i <b>as </b>a few days off to focus on official business

    Can¡¯t go to school can always hit the books at night. Besides, I still need to find a new ce to live

    I treat this forced leave

    MUIL / <b>QUI </b>

    498%0

    Just thinking about it this way actually made her feel a bit better.

    her backpack sking over one shoulder, scrolling through her phone. She hadn¡¯t checked the online burz SINCH

    Aubree walked down the hallway with her b

    waking up that morning.

    Aher Alice made a scene at the school gate, someone posted it online. The incident quickly started trending. Aubree didn¡¯t even have to search for it. Te news was already flooding her feed

    Scrolling through her phone, Aubree¡¯s fingers freze mid swipe when she spotted the person who had publicly used her of cheating

    She thought, ¡°Am I seeing things? How could it be¡­ Matilda?¡±

    ¡°Pubree Matilda, who should¡¯ve been <b>in </b><b>ss</b><b>, </b>came rushing around the stairwell corner and seized Aubree¡¯s am ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she choked out, her voice trembling ¡°This is all my fault¡­¡±

    Matilda¡¯s eyes were red rimmed with guilt. She stammered, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you still believe me, but that post wasn¡¯t from me. Last night, after I took my brother home, Carmen showed up at my ce. She tried to bribe me into reporting you for cheating, but refused<b>.</b>¡±

    As if afraid Aubree wouldn¡¯t believe her, Matilda raised her fingers in a solemn wow. ¡°I swear, this wasn¡¯t <b>me</b>, it wasn¡¯t what I wanted. My parents they

    saw the money and used my identity. I¡¯m so, so sorry.¡±

    She hung her head low ¡°Go ahead, hate me all you want,¡± <b>she </b>said weakly. The more she tried to exin, the more futile it felt. Whether she did it herself or her family did, in the end, she felt it amounted to the same thing

    red at her in sile

    Aubree simply stared at her in silence.

    Matilda managed a bitter smile. ¡°Til clear this up, and then I quit the team.¡±

    Just as she turned to leave, Aubree cleared her throat

    She said, ¡°Hey, you owe me a favor. Instead of figuring out how to make it up to me, you¡¯re just thinking of bailing on me? If you leave, who¡¯s gonna coach

    When Aubree first realized it was Matilda, she admitted feeling a fare of anger. But she shut it down almost immediately.

    Aubree thought firmly, ¡°That¡¯s not the Matilda know!

    ¡°After hearing her exnation, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of relitt

    ¡°Unlike the betrayals from my own family in my previous life, the friends I¡¯ve chosen this time around have firmly stood by <b>my </b>side!

    Aubree walked over and gave Matilda a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°Your family¡¯s actions are on them, you are <b>your </b><b>own </b>person. I don¡¯t believe in holding you responsible for what they did. Seriously, don¡¯t let this weigh on you. rllhandle it. When I really need your help, I won¡¯t hesitate to ask. And if you really want to make it up to me, just bring home the season championship.

    ¡°Alright, your Boss Aubree is off to find you guys a new home!¡±

    With a casual wave, Aubree left the school gates, hailed a cab, and headed straight for Golden Industrial Park.

    Golden Industrial <b>Park </b>was one of Richol City¡¯s most famousndmarks, especially in the esports scene.

    This ce was home to numerous professional esports teams headquarters.

    Take League of Legends for example. Six of the league¡¯s sixteen franchised teams were based there. That was not even counting the countless other games with official tournaments happening these <b>days</b>.

    When establishing an esports club, one would naturally choose a mainstream location with the rightpetitive atmosphere.

    Originally, this wasn¡¯t her first choice. Back when the rent here was still cheap and the ce hadn¡¯t made anume for itself, it was much more affordable.

    <b>2/3 </b>

    07:11 Mon, 7 Jul

    G

    iscene exploded.

    on of this industrial park soared.

    Now that she had got Alvin¡¯s ck card, this pental fee was no lie

    Even in the cab, Aubree kept working to contain the online firestorm.

    Aubree called Alvin

    He said, ¡°Aubree? I know what¡¯s happening online. I¡¯m handling it.¡±

    Aubree asked, ¡°Is it giving you a hard time?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not trouble,¡± Alvin replied, his voice edged with frustration on the other end of the line

    He continued, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t you think the tournament officials know whether you cheated or not? But you also know the hottest team in the league right now is Apex Squad. And more importantly, the man behind Apex Squad is Emery, who represents the entire Wilson family¡±

    Aubree¡¯s heart sank. She thought, Yeah, normally, when a championship team gets used, the tournament officials issue a statement right away. But it¡¯s been ages since that usation post went up, and still, nothing from the officials

    Many were specting whether the tournament officials had tacitly approved the situation and were now working behind the scenes to resolve it

    Alvin said, ¡°Originally, the officials wanted to give the Wilson family preferential treatment, but I blocked that. Now they¡¯re saying they¡¯ll <b>issue </b>a statement that the matter is still under investigation. As for the final oue, that¡¯s for us to settle ourselves.¡±

    She got the picture, in short, the Wilson family was working against the Turner family on this matter.

    Not wanting to offend either the Wilson family or the Turner family, the officials simply let them duke it out themselves.

    She said, ¡°Got it.¡±

    As Aubree stepped out of the cab, she spotted the leasing agent already waiting for her. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of here, so I¡¯ll hang up now. Thanks, Alvin, I really appreciate it.¡±

    She thought, ¡°Matilda is my winning card here. With enough pressure applied<b>, </b>even the officials can¡¯t just sweep this under the rug

 Tried 49

    Althe Wilson Group.

    Bryan rubbed his temples in frustration. The deal with Harding had been snatched bypetitors, making this quarter¡¯s financial report look domal

    Flipping through the documents submitted by his sinpedomate, firyan felt relieved. At least it was only the new project that had issues. Ferything els seemed fine.

    Bryan tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk as he pondered, if it really came down to an all out war, even the Turner Group wouldn¡¯t i unscathed. Since Bowen hade made any other moves elsewhere, Harding¡¯s deal was clearly just a warning shot.

    The assistant knocked and entered, reporting, ¡°Mr. Wilson, I¡¯vepleted the task you assigned. Everything at Pithol Art School has been arranged, and the person has already been sent abroad as nned.

    ¡°However, I¡¯m not sure if we should make it public now, so I wanted to check with you first¡±

    He slid the tablet across the desk to Bryan.

    oat for her.

    To cover up Carmen¡¯s ganism scandal, Bryan arranged a scapegoat!

    Just like in her previous life, when the Wilson family pushed Aubree out as a scapegoat for Carmen¡¯s giarism.

    This time, Bryan targeted one of Carmen¡¯s sidekicks at Rithol Art School, someone eager to curry favor with the Wilson family, since Carmen had never hidden her identity after enrolling.

    Bryan promised to sponsor that girl¡¯s overseas education, with all expenses covered by the Wilson family, a tempting offer she couldn¡¯t refuse. Her job was to publicly im she was close to Carmen and, in order to ingratiate herself with the Wilson family, had tampered with Carmen¡¯s art assignment without Carmen¡¯s knowledge.

    Once this story was out, whether people believed it or not, at least the Wilson family would save face. With a bit of clever PR. Carmen coulde forwar with a tearful apology and voluntarily withdraw from Rithol, transforming from a <b>shameless </b>giarist into an unwitting victim,

    The public would take pity on Carmen for being forced to quit school because of someone else¡¯s mistake.

    Bryan frowned and think, ¡®Did they really need to bother me with something so trivial?¡± He took the tablet and saw a video of the incident at the school

    What is Mother up to now?¡± he thought, exasperated

    The assistant carefully observed Bryan¡¯s expression and cautiously said, ¡°Sir, ever since Mrs. Wilson made a scene at Aubree¡¯s school this morning there¡¯s been a surge of new spection online, especially because, in the video, Aubree ims that many of Carmen¡¯spetition pieces were actually ghostwritten by her, With Carmen just exposed for hiring a ghostwriter, there¡¯s already a heated discussion about it online, we <b>release </b>our statement now.public opinion would likely turn against Aubree¡±

    In the past, the assistant always knew exactly what to do. When it came to Carmen and Aubree,

    But now, the assistant wasn¡¯t so sure anymore.

    the boss¡¯s preference was clear¨Ccut

    Bryan smiled bitterly. If he made a move, Trevor would surely <b>step </b>in, too. With hundreds of millions of devoted fans, once Trevor publicly took a stand, his fanbase would be an unstoppable force

    Then, Aubree would truly be trapped in an inescapable predicament.

    ¡°Should <b>Trelease </b>it?¡± Bryan thought.

    if he didn¡¯t, it wouldn¡¯t sit <b>well </b>with his mother<b>, </b>and both thepany and the family¡¯s reputation would suffer. But if he did, Aubree would bear the brunt.

    Even as he weighed his

    This options, Bryan already knew the answer in his heart.

    ¡°Release it¡± he said. He¡¯d find other ways to make it up to Aubree

    Bryan¡¯s voice was rough as he said, ¡°I remember that ne we acquired at the auction, it¡¯s still here, right? Have it packaged for me

    Just as Bryan had anticipated, <b>as </b>soon as his assistant contacted the influencer ounts, Trevor¡¯s studio immediately released an official statement

    As the youngest one to already circting

    to have

    won the Best Actor Award, Trevor¡¯s influence online was overwhelming, especially

    by now th

    that the so¨Ccalled ¡°evidence¡± was

    A person wrote online: This drama keeps getting <b>juicier</b>, now even Carmen <b>has </b>weighed in.]

    Another asked: So <b>what¡¯s </b>really going on? Is the Wilson family mistreating Aubree, or is Aubree falsely <b>using </b>Carmen?|

    A third person said: I trust my Trevor! Carmen, <b>we¡¯ve </b>got your back!]

    Someone else said: Even her own mother and brother are presenting solid evidence against Aubree. The truth is obvious]

    No one would believe Aubree was innocent if her own blood rtives chose to side with the adopted daughter.

    At a caf¨¦ in Golden Industrial Park, Aubree finalized the details of the leased space with the manager <b>and </b>signed her name on the contract.

    Tucking away the signed contract, the manager showed not the slightest underestimation toward the young woman before him. She <b>had </b>achieved in less than a month what many of her peers might never aplish in their entire careers.

    She then went on to be a club owner herself.

    As for the online drama, it was none of

    nager¡¯s business

    The client was the most important is

    He said, ¡°Miss Miller, since the contract is signed and there are no other issues, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± Aubree responded with a polite unile:{{{

    After seeing the manager out. Aubree nced down at her silenced phone as another unknown¨Ccall shed on the screen.

    This time, she didn¡¯t hang up

    ¡°Hello?¡± Aubree answered, her voice calm.

    ¡°See that Aubree? This is what happens when <b>you </b>disobey me!¡± The call came from Alice, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction

    Aubree set aude her phone and searched for updates. She thought. So much for their supposed brilliance, just the same old scapegoat routine.

    Who knows these tricks better than I do in my previous life, I lost count of how many times I was made Carmen¡¯s sacrificial

    Hamb.

    So when I decided to expose Carmen as unworthy of her role, it was no surprise that the Wilson family would pull the came predictable move

    ¡°So is this what I get for having a thriving life?¡± Aubree smirked, amusement flickering across her lips

    She nced at the freshly signed contract. Starting her own club, developing software, and founding apany were things she¡¯d never dared dream <b>of </b>in her previous life, but <b>this </b>time, she achieved them all.

    Alice never expected Aubree to react like this. Aubree had been kicked out of school, and public opinion online was clearly on Carmen¡¯s side. She felt that Aubree should be sobbing her eyes out and begging her to let her off the hook by now

    ¡°Mom, what did Aubree say?¡± Carmen stood right next to Alice, fidgeting like she was on hot coals. Seeing her mother stay silent made her even more

    She¡¯d already been kicked out of Bithol Art School, though she hadn¡¯t even set foot (on campus yet. At this point, all she could do was attention to Aubree. Otherwise, she¡¯d be theughingstock,

    Carmen thought fiercely. That can¡¯t happen!

    ¡°It¡¯s all Aubree¡¯s fault! She just has topete with me. Even after leaving the Wilson family, she can¡¯t stay out of <b>trouble</b>, always ying the victim card to win my brothers¡® sympathy

    A barely noticeable smirk flickered across her lips. As long as Bryan and the others <b>saw </b>Aubree for who she really was, things would go back to the way they used to be.

    ¡°Once this blows over, who¡¯ll ever remember the ghostwriting scandal? They¡¯ll just say Aubree set me up out of spite, Carmen thought, her nking

    shape.

    Carmen urged Alice, eager to know if Aubree was truly in dire straits. Alice, however, mistook her urgency for genuine concem about Aubree predicament

    Her eyes softened with maternal warmth, <b>but </b>then her angersurged. ¡°Fine! if you¡¯re going to be this defiant, let¡¯s see what tricks you have lett. Even if you end up begging on your knees at my doorstep, I still won¡¯t let you set foot in this house again!¡±

    Aubree held the phone away from her ear and rubbed it. ¡°Just a friendly reminder, Mrs. Wilson, getting angry all the time will give you wrinkles,¡± she said with a smirk, ¡°Just make sure you¡¯re not the one begging me toe backter.¡±

    With a click, the call ended. Alice¡¯s face twisted in fury as she hurled her phone to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

    ¡°That ungrateful brat!¡± Alice fumed. ¡°How dare she even imagine I¡¯d beg her toe <b>back</b><b>? </b>Was she out of her mind?¡±

    Carmen raised her voice, frustration clear. ¡°Mom! Weren¡¯t we supposed to coax Aubree back?¡± Now that Aubree was getting out of control, Carmen couldn¡¯t rx unless she <b>had </b>her where she could see her,

    Still fuming, ice didn¡¯t notice Carmen¡¯s odd reaction. She snapped, ¡°Carmen, from now on, whatever happens to her is no concern of our family. I know you¡¯re kind¨Chearted, but someone like her doesn¡¯t deserve our concern

    Seeing Alice¡¯s story expression, Carmen swallowed the rest of her words

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 Tried 50

    Chapter <b>50 </b>

    The Whon family was hell bent on destroying Aubree this time. Trevor¡¯s public statement wasn¡¯t enough. They even splurged on buying trending hashtags and hired an army of paid trolls to smear her online.

    s smearing Aubree.

    The inte was flooded with malicious posts sm?

    Matida had been glued to her phone, following every update. Gut gnawed at her as she thought. It¡¯s all my fault if it weren¡¯t for me, Aubree wouldn¡® be getting dragged through the mud ke this

    Even the usually unppable Avin couldn¡¯t stay calm. ¡®Aubrce needs to respond now before she misses the perfect timing¡± he thought anxiously

    Right now, the general pulilic was thinking that Aubree didn¡¯t respond because she felt gui

    Aber finalizing her new apartment, Aubies¡¯s phone was buzzing non stop like a beehive. Even her teammates from God¡¯s Fury we flooding herber with messages, offering help.

    Aubree stared at the hashtags dominating the trending list, absentmindedly chewing on her straw ¡°Now¡¯s the time she thought.

    if the <b>officials </b>wouldn¡¯t intervene, she¡¯d have to force them to <b>pick </b><b>a </b>side. Once their own interests were at stake, they couldn¡¯t possibly

    Aubree texted Matilda: [Matt, it¡¯s time]

    Attertexting Matilda, Aubree registered <b>an </b><b>official </b>Twitter ount for God¡¯s Fury. Once the ount was blue¨Ccheck verified, she beganposing first post.

    She didn¡¯t bother with any exnations. Instead, she simply attached photos of the franchise slot purchase and the lease agreement for Golden

    Industrial <b>Park </b>

    Her post was concise (I¡¯m Aubree Miller, co¨Cowner of God¡¯s Fury Club, currently managing <b>this </b>official ount

    Yet this simple post ignited an online firestorm.

    Within minutes<b>, </b>shares andments skyrocketed to astronomical levels

    The Wilson family were pulling out all the stops, buying up media coverage, hiring troll armies, and even sending in their crown jewel, <b>Trever</b>, <b>a </b>heavyweight at the very top of the entertainment industry. The whole affair became such a spectacle that everyone wanted in, from industry insiders to casual onlookers.

    They wondered if this was a family feud, an esports drama, or something else entirely.

    The onlookers said nothing. They were just here for the drama.

    A person wrote: What¡¯s going <b>on</b>? is the League really going to let a yer

    yer who cheated in the finals join?

    Oneen eximed: (Damn, this just keeps getting wilder! We thought Aubree was lying low out of guilt, but she just dropped a nuclear-level bombshell||

    Just a pathetic clown. And honestly, who even knows where all that money came from?) onementer scoffed.

    Thement section was rife with skeptical voices

    Aubree selected the <b>top </b>votedment and replied: [Actually not mine. The Turner Group brought in the investment.

    A person wrote: [Since the club is brand new, <b>are </b>you hiring study digital media. Can join as a social media manager!

    Autre replied under thisment: We post <b>updates </b>about God¡¯s Fury club recruitment and the youth academy on the official ount. If you¡¯re interested, feel free to submit your application!)

    <b>1/4 </b>

    07:12 Mon, 7 Jul

    Aubere also casually liked a fewments that caught her eye.

    With everything done, Aubere locked her phone and headed back in is Heights,pletely unfazed by the social media storm her few words had

    unleashed

    A person wrote: Sa Turner Group is backing her now? Does that mean Aubree is officially tied to them

    Another wrote: [Back then, Alvin was just protecting his teammates. The whole team thing was Just a passing whim of the young her, with no real

    Someone else wrote: The League officials had assumed Turner Group wouldn¡¯t get involved. At most, they were staying neutral as a courtesy to An But now that Aubree has openly stated the club is backed by Turner Group, if the really cheated, the club would fold immediately.

    A person wrote: With just the franchise slot alone costing Turner Group 20 million, no corporation would simply sit back and watch that kind of money go down the drain.||

    The League officials were starting to waver. Although theirtest statement still hadn¡¯t cleared Aubree of the cheating allegations, the wording wasi already subtly leaning in her favor

    The moment this whole thing reached its peak was a Twitter post from Apex Squad. The post itself didn¡¯t outright confirm or deny whether Aubree had cheated, but when even her opponents called her win legit, suddenly, nobody really cared anymore if she had actually cheated

    The only lingering question was why Matilda, as the coach, would publicly call out Aubree

    A person wrote: [Assuming Matilda was lying. Aubree is already the boss now, but she hasn¡¯t done anything to her to she some kind of saint who just lets

    byrones be byjones?)

    Another wrote: [But if what Matilda <b>said </b><b>was </b>true, even if the League had lost its mind, would Apex Squad really go along with it? Their boss is Emery. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d just let the championship trophy slip away without a fight, right?

    All doubts were put to rest when an explosive video emerged,

    It turned out that Matilda was not the person who posted those thing

    Upon receiving Aubree¡¯s message, Matilda immediately took leave and rushed home<b>. </b>She arrived so early that her family waspletely caught off

    guard

    As she pushed the door open, the first thing she saw was her parents and brother beaming with joy, clutching a bank card as if they¡¯d just won the

    lottery

    Matildalet out a coldugh, snatched the bank card from their hands without hesitation, and snapped it in two. Staring at her family, she demanded, ¡°So without my consent you impersonated me to nder my friend? Do leven exist as your daughter or your sister in your eyes?¡±

    Matilda¡¯s words made the three of them shrink back in guilt. Ever since Drake got hooked on gambling, her parents had been struggling tirelessly to ear and borrow money, leaving Matilda to handle all the family affairs, <b>big </b>or small.

    The three members of the Diaz family undoubtedly felt guilty towards her.

    <b>Previously</b>, <b>to </b><b>appear </b>more intimidating Matilda changed her name <b>and </b>cut her hair short

    Her brother kept breaking his promises to gamble yet she never gave up on this family. Even as <b>her </b>parents wept and pleaded, they sull spoiled him, but she kept trying to <b>pull </b>them all out of the quicksand

    But this time, it <b>was </b>like a <b>cold </b>wave washed over her. She¡¯d never felt so betrayed.

    She was already more than capable of making serious money, but her parents still chose to abandon her without hesitation for the hetty bribe Carmen

    offered

    They never once considered what she¡¯d have to endure afterward, nor did they care what would be of her. Their only concem was that their

    07:12 Mon, 7 Jul

    precious son could get out of debt, and even walk away with a mash windfall in boot

    Drake winced as he looked at the broken hank card in his sister¡¯s hand, his face twisting invisible pain. ¡°Matilda, let¡¯s talk this through Don¡¯t waste all

    those money!¡±

    Truman scowled and said sternly, ¡°Matilda, you¡¯ve gone too far this time.¡±

    Shirley said hesitantly. ¡°Matilda, how could that Aubree ever be as important as your own brother?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Matilda said firmly, ¡°<b>I¡¯m </b>doing this for myself¡±

    Matilda¡¯s deadly serious tone made her family instinctively recoil.

    She said, ¡°I never did well in school, but as you all know, recently became a coach and led my team to a championship, warning over 3 million in prize money. <b>Now</b>, I¡¯m officially the head coach of God¡¯s Fury, with a six figure monthly <b>sry</b>, <b>plus </b>a share of the prize money from very tournament we win.

    Matilda waved the snapped bank card in her hand, ¡°<b>So</b>, do you

    family?¡±

    u want this one time payment, or do you want me to keep bringing in steady money for the

    ¡°Sixsix figures?¡± Truman gasped, blurting out, ¡°Holy cow, holy cow! That¡¯s more than I¡¯ve made in my entire working

    Drake never expected his sister to have such unexpected luck. While their parents only understood basic sries and bonuses, he knew exactly how much under¨Cthe¨Ctable ie this esports career could really bring

    Shirley pped her chest in dismay and said, ¡°Oh no, we¡¯ve really messed up now!

    If Matilda¡¯s sternness earlier was the stick, then her offer of steady ie just now was the carrot

    Matilda employed the carrot¨Cand¨Cstick approach, a tactic Aubree had suggested, and, to her surprise, it worked like a charm.

    Matilda raised her eyebrow slightly, suppressing a triumphant smile and affecting a serious <b>tone</b>. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal,¡± she said, ¡°if you record <b>a </b><b>video </b>together, admit what you did, exin exactly how you did it, and apologize, then I let it go.¡±

    Truman pped his thigh impatiently and urged, ¡°What are we waiting for? Drake, hurry up and get your phone!¡± He was so eager, he almost wished he could turn into a phone himself,

    Drake hastily fished his phone out of his pocket.

    Unnoticed by everyone, Matilda allowed herself a small, triumphat smile. ¡°Nailed it!¡± she thought

    ne but a shameless smear campaign to

    The moment the video went live<b>, </b>everything clicked into ce. It all started with Carmen. This was nothing whitewash herself by framing someone else.

    Although the Diaz family didn¡¯t go into detail about Carmen bribing them, anyone with half a brain could connect <b>the </b>dots, the Wilson <b>family </b>was <b>obviously </b>behind it. Otherwise, they would not smear Aubree instead of supporting her.

    Now even Alice¡¯s <b>usations </b>about Aubree¡¯s ¡°moral corruption¡± were being called into question. People were starting to just part of a smear campaign.

    The counterattack turned out to be surprisingly effective,rgely thanks to Emery¡¯s <b>public </b>statement.

    if those ims were

    Aubree smiled faintly. If Emery wants <b>to </b>make these self¨Cserving a

    ggestures, what does that have to do with me?¡® she thought.

    She got not

    got no time for this

    In Odiond.

    07:12 <b>§Þ§à§Ý</b><b>, </b>

    Bowen, dressed in crisp athletic wear, assumed a textbook perfect golf stance. His buck muscles sed as he focused, and with a smooth, powerful swing, he made a hole in one.

 Tried 51

    A blond, blue eyed man waved Bowen¡¯s phone teasingly and joked in a crisp London ent, ¡°Bowen, your phone¡¯s ringing, it¡¯s from your home country. Could it be your sweetheart missing you already?¡±

    Bowen took the phone, saw it was Carol calling, and exined to him. ¡°It¡¯s just our housekeeper¡±

    The dashing foreigner before him was Aidan Matthews, scion of the prestigious Matthews family in Odiond. Their diversified business empire spanned miltiple industries, with digital media and the inte as their crown jewel, fields in which they reigned as undisputed leaders..

    I was just feeling sorry for my hopelessly unvitten little sister, but thankfully it was just a misunderstanding¡± Aidan shrugged with a teasing grin and pointed to the golden¨Chaired girl nearby, dressed up like a doll under her dainty parasol ¡°Bowen, are you really not going to give my sister a chance? promise, she¡¯s the most sought after debutante in all of Odiond¡¯s high society.¡±

    Bowen didn¡¯t even spare a nce in that direction, though that burning gaze, so frank and full of affection, had been fixed on him from the moment he set foot on the golf course,

    ¡°Compared to pampered flowers, I think I prefer the tenacious grass that defies the harsh winds on a cliff,¡± Bowen said with a wry, apologetic smile, ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll <b>excuse </b>me

    Bowen stepped away with his phone and called Carol back.

    No sooner had Bowen <b>walked </b>away than isis, the <b>doll</b>¨Clike girl under her dainty parasol, glided over to her brother and pouted coquettishly ¡°Brother what did Bowen <b>say</b>?¡± she asked, her tone full of yful curiosity.

    Aidan let out a helpless sigh, he¡¯d already tried his damnedest for his little <b>sister¡¯s </b>happiness

    ¡°I, I think something intriguing happened to Bowen during his trip back to Lumanon,¡± Aidan remarked. As a fellow man, he noticed the subtle shit in Bowen¡¯s expression when he jokingly brought up <b>the </b>sweetheart.

    Bowen called Carol back. She asked if he¡¯d be returning soon and briefly exined what had happened to Aubree recently.

    Bowen said, ¡°I don¡¯t need to go back just for this, she¡¯s already handled it perfectly well, <b>hasn¡¯t </b>she<b>? </b>

    ¡°I won¡¯t being back just yet. Do keep an eye on things over there for me,¡± He had to admit to himself that, in a way, he was <b>running </b>away

    coward

    Bowen¡¯s mind drifted back to that kiss. He knew full well it had been an ident<b>, </b><b>yet </b><b>that </b>night, <b>his </b><b>dreams </b>kept reying it over and over.

    Bowen thought to himself. I¡¯m not <b>going </b>back until I sort out my feelings for Bree!

    ¡°But Bree¡¯s moving out of Ellis <b>Heights</b><b>, </b>she¡¯s <b>upstairs </b>packing right now, and I just can¡¯t stop her¡± Carollingered <b>downstairs</b>, stealing anxious nces upward as dusk fell. Bree hade home insisting she¡¯d already found <b>a </b>new ce, and no amount of pleading could change her mind.

    Before Bowen left, he repeatedly reminded Carol to take good care of Aubree. Now, frantic with worry and at her wits end, Carol had no choice but to call

    him.

    Hearing that Aubree <b>was </b>moving out of Ellis Heights, Bowen¡¯s mind wentpletely nk ¡®She¡¯s leaving he thought in shock,

    Bowen thought, ¡°Even though I knew she couldn¡¯t stay at Ellis Heights forever, this <b>is </b>way too sudden<b>. </b><b>Is </b><b>it </b>because of that drunken night<b>? </b>

    ¡°She¡¯s trying to avoid me too¡±

    That was the only reason Bowen could think of

    Bowen was instantly restless. Less than a minute ather insisting he wouldn¡¯t return, he hung up on Carol and immediately messaged Kelvin: Book me the earliest flight back home tomorrow.

    Bowen¡¯s frustestion shifted to Zachary Tammit, didn¡¯t tell him to keep an eye on her low tha¡¯s about to leave and he didn¡¯t eve me a heads-

    11 Zachary could read his boss¡¯s mind right now, he¡¯d surely protest his innocence. His orders were just to keep her cale, moving house clearly wasn¡¯t part of the job description.

    Carol still couldn¡¯t stop Aubere from leaving. The base of her departure made it clear that she was deliberately trying to avoid Bowen

    Aubree thought to hersell, Bowen jant gave me such a strange feeling.

    There was never any real connection between her and him. Even their first meeting was so random, she still couldn¡¯t figure out how it happened.

    Aubree thought to herself, Now that I¡¯ve achieved what I needed, since Turner Group has invested and taken an equity stake, there¡¯s no way Bowen, as the head of such arge corporation, would personally oversee this project. There must be other executives handing it.

    ¡°Keeping my distance from Bowen shouldn¡¯t cause any problems¡±

    The rented apartment was a fully furnished luxury unit, move¨Cin <b>ready</b><b>. </b>

    The issue with Carmen was basically resolved. When the tournament officials sensed something was off<b>, </b>they promptly issued a statement confirming that, after investigation, God¡¯s Fury had not vited any rules during the Autumn Championship.

    Furious, Carmen trashed her room in a fit of rage.

    That evening, the Wilson family dinner table was devoid of as usual cheerful harmony

    A heavy silence fell over the table.

    <b>Daston </b>and Ronald had all gathered for the family dinner

    Trevor kept his head down, fidgeting with his phone. He thought, ¡°What a miscalction. Never expected Aubree to actually have some real chops.

    ¡°The online bacsh doesn¡¯t worry me much. It¡¯s a bit annoying but hardly a real threat, What really surprises me is <b>discovering </b>that Aubree has be rather intriguing. There¡¯s clearly more to her than I realized.¡±

    Bryan was workingte at the office when he got dragged back home. Emery was still on his way home.

    Alice was the first to break the heavy silence, directing her anger at Bryan. ¡°You really are such a wonderful big brother to Carmen, aren¡¯t you? This is how you handle things? Now the whole inte¡¯s bashing her, <b>how¡¯s </b>she supposed to show her face at school after this?¡±

    In the <b>past</b>, Bryan would have med himself for his mistakes, but now all he felt was annoyance. The only reason he was stil cleaning up her mess was out of lingering sibling loyalty after all these years.

    He thought, Nothing is ever absolute. Once you¡¯ve acted, you must be ready for <b>your </b>mistakes to be held against you.

    ¡°Does the whole world have to revolve around Carmed?

    Not only was Alice upset, but Daxton was also seething with resentment toward Bryan. He¡¯d just pulled two all¨Cnighters finishing criticalb work and hadn¡¯t even caught his breath when he saw the online bacsh. He could scarcely believe this disaster was <b>what </b>Bryan called ¡°damage control¡±

    Daxton red at Bryan. ¡°Did you <b>do </b>this on purpose?

    ¡°I¡¯ve thought this through. When Aubree refused toe home, you hired someone preliable, and their betrayal set <b>off </b>everything that <b>followed</b>. The real problem was your poor choice. Bryan, Aubree used to be terrified of you. She <b>obeyed </b>you <b>more </b>than anyone else in this family, even more <b>than </b>Mom

    <b>and </b><b>Dad</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    With their parents often busy or away from home, the other three brothers mostly took a hands off approach toward Aubree. As long as she stayed out of

    07:12 Mon, 7 Jul VG

    Chapter <b>51 </b>

    trouble, they wouldn¡¯t bother with her, Bryan, however, was always the one who disciplined her the most

    ¡°Honestly, if you¡¯d really put your foot down the first time you went to see Auline, do you seriously think you couldn¡¯t have brought her back? Let alone all those other times after that!¡± Daston¡¯s implication wasn¡¯t lost on Bryan, and his mood darkened even farther.

    Bryan thought angrily, ¡®What does Baston even mean by that? Does he seriously think I deliberately didn¡¯t bring Aubree back, and then just carelessly found someone to be a stand¨Cin for Carmen? Like I have nothing better to do?

    What Bryan found even more unbelievable was that everyone else actually bought it. His father feed him with a skeptical re and demanded, ¡°Bryan is it because you still feel guilty about what happened back then that you keep defending Aubree?

    ¡°You haven¡¯t been treating Carmen very welltely¡±

    Bryan snapped, ¡°These are twopletely different matters!¡±

    Bryan was fuming. Tve just seen through Carmen¡¯s true nature, that¡¯s all, he thought

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it only natural for me to feel guilty about Aubree?¡± he blurted out. The disapproving stares around the table intensified.

    Bryan thought, I¡¯m exhausted<b>, </b>by who was then, and by what I¡¯m facing now!

    He didn¡¯t feel like exining anymore. Suddenly, it dawned on him, maybe this was exactly how Aubree used to feel at home. She always did what the family asked, <b>looked </b>after Carmen as best she could, did everything she could to help. But when things didn¡¯t work out, even when it was clearly Carmen¡¯s fault, Aubree was always the one who got med.

    ¡°Fine, think whatever you want. Since you¡¯re all dissatisfied with how I handled things, don¡¯te to me about Carmen ever again.¡± With that final remark, Bryan angrily mmed his chopsticks down and stormed out of the dining room.

    As Bryan shoved the <b>door </b>open and came face¨Cto¨Cface with Emery, he shot him a look that screamed, ¡°You¡¯re on your own,¡± then brushed past him and disappeared into the night.

    ?

 Tried 52

    Everyone at the table was caught off and when Bryan stormed off. After a stunned silence, Alice napped, ¡°That damn troublemaker Aube

    Daston¡¯s face darkened ¡°I never thought you would treat Carmen like this, and now even Emery has changed. Has Aubree put some kind of spell on them both be thought, hustration and suspicion clouding his mind.

    Cuimen couldn¡¯t believe Bryan would storm out right in front of their parents. She lowered her eyes, her hand clenched tightly under the table. She thought, I¡¯ve worked so hard for meer a decade, and Aufner¡¯s only been hack for what, three years? In just three years, she¡¯s managed to steal my ce

    1 give her any more time, is the going topletely rece me!¡±

    Carmen shuddered as she pictured the Wilson family scoring and loathing her. Her face, lowered to hide her expression, twisted with fear She thought hercely, Tl never let this happen to me!¡±

    rand

    ¡°Mom, Dad,¡± Carmen <b>asked </b>softly, her voice trembling with uncertainty, ¡°does Bryan does he hate me now! And Emeryshe mad at me made hix esports <b>team </b><b>lose</b>?¡± Since Bryan and Emery had stopped supporting her, she thought to herself, ¡°Time to try a different approach.¡±

    The instant her words left her lips, everyone at the table exchanged nces, their expressions shifting all at once

    They thought, ¡°We were so caught up ming Bryan that we nearly let Emery off the hook!

    Trevor added fuel to the fire with a smirk. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Emery, this wouldn¡¯t be getting resolved so soon.¡±

    As soon as these words were spoken, the already heavy atmosphere grew even <b>heavier</b>. Ronald, whose word carried the most weight in the family. frowned so deeply it could have crushed <b>a </b>fly

    ¡°What a damn waste of all the kindness Carmen showed him,¡± Daton sneered. He¡¯d personally witnessed how hard Carmen worked to help Emery win that championship..

    Daston thought angrily, ¡®Carmen was even med by those guys from Emery¡¯s esports team, doesn¡¯t anyone realize how wronged she must feel?

    Emery really sides with Aubree over some damn championship, I¡¯ll make sure the regrets it!¡±

    <b>Daxton </b>gently squeezed Carmen¡¯s han

    reassurance and said softly, ¡°Come on, Emery wouldn¡¯t get mad at you over something so <b>trivial</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I think Emery can¡¯t even tell right hom wrong anymore,¡± Ronald snapped.

    He thought, ¡®Even if we let it slide that you¡¯re siding with Aubree, what¡¯s truly outrageous is that ever since Carmen was set up by that wretch, you haven¡¯t even bothered to show up or say a single word to help her! Is this really how you treat your own sister?¡°:

    Alice¡¯s heart ached seeing Carmen being viciously cyberbullied online. This time, even though Emery was her own son, she felt he had truly crossed the

    She knew Emery was the only one in the family who ever took <b>Aubree¡¯s </b><b>side</b>, but she felt that he couldn¡¯t just <b>brush </b>Carmen aside like that<b>. </b>

    ¡°How could a brother act like this?¡± Alice thought, her heart aching with disappointment.

    ¡°Wait til Emery gets back, I¡¯m going to give him a piece of my mind!¡± With just that one sentence, Carmen immediately turn

    against Emery.

    At that moment, Emery didn¡¯t even wonder why Bryan had left. All he could think about was Aubree.

    Entire Wilson family

    He walked down the street, unable to stop smding. He thought, ¡°This time really helped Aubree She¡¯s got <b>to </b><b>see </b>I¡¯m actually changing for the better!

    Aube¡¯s starting <b>an </b>esports <b>club</b><b>, </b>she must be inexperienced in so many areas. This is my chance to prove myself!

    11 show <b>Aubree </b>my determination, she¡¯ll definitelye back to me

    07:12 Mon, 7 Jul

    I didn¡¯t he

    98%

    Last timest time she just didn¡¯t believe in me

    Carmen checkedi stime and, seeing it was about right, let her eyes redden sightly, her gass brimming i

    grievance, pet forced a magnanimous

    smile ¡°It¡¯s nothing really I¡¯m just a little upset. I¡¯m sure Emery had his reasons for acting that way Mom, Dad, please don¡¯t let this ruin the family harmony because of me

    Her performance drew even more pity from the family

    Carmen was truly bon considerate. Even aber the way her brothers treated her, she still stood op for them

    Especially Barton, sitting beside her, gazed at Carmen with eyes so tender they could melt ice. He thought, ¡°My Carmen is always like this, so considerate and caning of everyone¡¯s feelings in the family. Just be back then¡­

    Daston was the most intellectually gifted of all the Wilson <b>siblings</b>. With Bryan overseeing the family business, he was free to pursue his own passions. He chose medicine and found deep fulfillment in theb, solvingplex medical problems and developing groundbreaking new drugs.

    Growing up, Daston¡¯s parents were constantly busy, and Bryan was overwhelmed by his studies. In Darton¡¯s world, he always felt utterly alo Carmen came into his life.

    Thinking back, a gentle smile spread across his face. In this family, only Carmen ever cared if he was cold or hungry, and as she grow up, she became increasingly considerate,

    A few years back, she¡¯d still check th

    them to him there,

    he was eating on time in theb, going the extra mile to prepare stomach nourishing meals and personally deliver

    He thought, ¡°Back then, I made up my mind, even if everyone else in the family doted on Aubree, I¡¯d still protect Carmen and never let her be wronged. At Teat my familysn¡¯t blind. They know who truly deserve our love.

    ¡®Buttely¡­ things just haven¡¯t been the same.

    Looks like I have to deal with Aubree once I¡¯m free.

    The front door swung open again. Carmen looked up, and just as she¡¯d expected, Emery was

    back

    Emery was about to ask why Bryan had left when a barrage of disapproving stares shattered the good mood he¡¯d carried all the way home.

    Emery looked puzzled, recalling how Bryan had also hurried off earlier, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked.

    ¡°How dare you ask what happened? Don¡¯t you damn well know what you¡¯ve done? Ronald mmed his fist on the table, his eyes zing with fury

    His <b>usually </b>warm and gracious mother sat rigidly in her seat, her gaze fixed on him with unmistakable disapproval

    The remaining two brothers also wore grave expressions, staring?

    gat him as if he¡¯dmitted an unforgivable in

    ing with shock and bitter disappointment. <b>Now </b>he finally understood what that look from Bryan meant.

    Emery¡¯s gaze trembled, his eyes brimming w

    They resented him for siding with Aubree, even though <b>all </b>he did was simply tell the truth and give her the fair treatment she deserved.

    All traces of his earlier <b>good </b>mood vanished

    instantly Unlike Bryan, Emery <b>wasn¡¯t </b>the t type to st

    storm off, he wanted to set the <b>card </b>straight.

    Trying to keep <b>his </b>voice <b>as </b>calm <b>as </b>possible, Emery said, ¡°Dad, Mom, Carmen, I think there¡¯s been some misunderstanding here.¡±

    Emery wanted his <b>family </b>to see that Aubree wasn¡¯t the person they imagined. But he¡¯d forgotten that they¡¯d never intended to listen. All they cared <b>about </b>was his unconditional loyalty, that he¡¯d always take Carmen¡¯s side, no matter what happened<b>. </b>

    <b>Dadon </b>cressed his arms, his eyes filled with scorn. ¡°Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? That <b>you¡¯d </b>rather side with Aubree against <b>your </b>own family than help Carmen¡±

    Emery bristled at the usation. ¡°I wasn¡¯t taking sides. <b>Just </b>stating the facts.¡±

    07:12 Mon, 7 Jul G

    Emery said family, ¡°In esports, losing means losing I don¡¯t care for a title won by shady tactics¡±

    Daston scoffed. ¡°Who cares what you think? if Carmen hadn¡¯t felt gulty about your team losing, I wouldn¡¯t have resorted to this against Autres, <b>only </b>to hand her aeback chance.

    ¡°Who¡¯s as self righteous as you, Emery? Sure, you thought you were being ¡®Tale, but look what you¡¯ve done, Carmer¡¯s now getting dragged through

    y brother¡± mud because of you. The only reason I didn¡¯t haul you over here to make amends to her is that you¡¯re my!

    ¡°Emery, what¡¯s done is done. We won¡¯t dwell on it further,¡± Alice said easily. ¡°But if something like this happen again, don¡¯t act so rashly, at least discuss it with the family first.¡± As a mother, she hated seeing this rih grow between her children.

    Ronald¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he delivered his final verdict. ¡°You should be grateful that Carmen forgave you,¡± he said stely. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯d make sure you learn what¡¯s eptable and what¡¯s not. We don¡¯t turn against our own family.

    ¡°Aubree¡¯s been setting up that sports clubtely. This is your area of expertise, put in some effort and make things tough for her. Think of it at making

    amends to Carmen.¡±

    Emery¡¯s mind <b>went </b>utterly nk for a second. It took him a long moment to process what those words actually meant.

 Tried 53

    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¨Ccalled 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,

    213

    his tone ingratiating an

    st pleading, terrified that even th

    best musstep might s Aubree again,

 Tried 54

    Aubere looked back at him and thought, if you¡¯d said this to me before, I would¡¯ve been over the moon, probably too excited to sleep for days. But now! Heel nothing. If anything, it is almostughable.

    Now you put on this act? Where were you when it actually mattered!

    ¡®So what were those three years of suffering fort Was I just a glutton for punishment?

    ¡°Are they seriously trying to lure me back just so they can keep trampling all <b>over </b>

    ¡°Like he¡¯d really rush to help just because my startup clubcks anything. Who knows, maybe after all this ¡°helping¡± God¡¯s Fury would just end up being renamed Apes Squad¡±

    As soon as the thought book root in Aubree¡¯s mind, it spiraled out of control. Her previously scornful expression instantly hardened into seriousness.

    Aubree shot Emory a guarded look, her whole body tense with suspicion.

    She thought, ¡®Didn¡¯t the Wilson family say they wished I¡¯d just die <b>out </b>there?

    ¡°Why do they keep taking turns showing up to find me! If bolore it was just about keeping Carmen at Rithol Art School, what¡¯s their excuse now everything that¡¯s happened? is Emery really here because they¡¯re plotting something new against me?¡±

    ¡°Emery,¡± Aubree snapped, ¡°wasn¡¯t I clear enoughst time? Your <b>whole </b>family is a joke. What exactly do you want from me,ing after me one after another? If <b>you </b>got all that pent¨Cup family affection and nowhere to put it, just give it all to Carmen. Trust me, she¡¯llp it up. As for me? I¡¯m <b>not </b>your emotional dumping ground.¡±

    Emery watched as Aubree regarded him with wariness and annoyance. It felt as if <b>a </b>thousand knives were stabbing into his heart, the pain so sharp it stole his breath away

    Aubree used to treasure nothing more than her family, these very people. But now, she cast aside what she once held dear like worthless trash

    ¡°Wait, Aubree,¡± Emery blurted out urgently, ¡°I genuinely want to help you. Did you see my posts online? You¡¯re new to this, now¡¯s when you need support the most. My team can get <b>your </b>operation running smoothly in no time. In esports, I guarantee even Bowen doesn¡¯t know the industry <b>as </b>well as do.¡±

    The more carest Emory became, the more suspicious Aubree gren, she could practically smell something fishy.

    ¡°Help me?¡± Aubree echoed, her toneced with irony. That word held no good memories for her, thest time Emery had offered his help,¡± it was all for Carmen¡¯s sake.

    Aubree¡¯s expression turned even more sardonic at the memory. ¡°Seriously, don¡¯t you see how absurd this is?¡± she scoffed. ¡°Let¡¯s be honest, in the three years spent with the Wilson family, I got scraps of kindness but a full course of suffering. So I¡¯m begging you just have some mercy and stay the hell out of my life.¡±

    Emery waspletely caught off guard by Aubree¡¯s reaction. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. If you don¡¯t trust me, I can assign my beam to sign a formal contract. That way, you¡¯ll know I¡¯m serious<b>, </b>okay?¡±

    rectly. We can

    <b>As </b>a premier esports organization, Apex Squad was such a powerhouse that everyone from star yers to support staff became highly sought after by other clubs, unless they¡¯d been dismissed for breaching their contract.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even start. I wouldn¡¯t dare ept even a crumb of your ¡°kindness¡°, who knows what price have to pay for itter? You give me a low <b>lousy </b><b>little </b>Lavers, then expect me to go back and ve away for Carmen, right? Aubree cut him of already wary of this family. Three years had taught her that the price of any <b>favor </b>from the Wilson familly was more than she could ever bear.

    ¡°No, Aubres, this has nothing to do with Carmen, Emery stammered, her words cut off in her rush to exin.

    Aubree was already losing her patience. ¡°Do I really have to rip off everyst mask andy everything bare before you¡¯ll finally back off?

    ¡°Are you seriously going to deny that during my first New Year with the Wilson family, you brought me some lousy freebie that was actually meant for Carmen, called it my present, and then made me take the fall for her? Wasn¡¯t that you?¡±

    Emery froze, his face draining of color as the memory hit him, he remembered it.

    Aubree saw his reaction and knew he hadn¡¯t forgotten. Her voice turned ice cold. ¡°For a moment, I almost thought you¡¯d forgotten. Your precious little Carmen is a treasure, while I¡¯m nothing but trash, is that it? Did you even count how manyshes I took that day? While your whole family was cry and festive inside for New Year, I was locked alone in the basement, not even given a drop of water!!!

    If Wendy hadn¡¯t remembered her after preparing the Wilson family¡¯s New Year¡¯s dinner and brought her some food and supplies, she might have frozen

    to death in that basement that night.

    Aubree¡¯s voice trembled as she said, ¡°Emery, do you know how cold winters get in Pithol City! That kind of cold, FII never forget it. It felt like the chill seeped into my bones, running through every inch of me. I was so cold, so, so cold

    Emery¡¯s lips went <b>pale </b>and trembled slightly. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet her gaze

    It was Aubree¡¯s first New Year back with the Wilson family. Yet it seemed <b>everyone </b>had forgotten about their newest addition. Each family member had carefully prepared a New Year¡¯s gift for Carmen, and Emery was no exception.

    The Wilson family¡¯s original <b>n </b>for that <b>day </b>was to have a big dinner together, then take the kids and Aubree around to visit some important friends and rtives, a way to make up for not throwing her a proper wee party when she first came home, and to finally introduce her to everyone

    While the entire family was busy with New Year preparations, Carmen identally deleted the new collection designs that Alice had saved on theputer. It was the worst fiscal year for Alice¡¯s brand, which was why she had personally created this exclusive holiday collection, with no <b>backups</b>. Panicked at her fnistake, Carmen turned to Emery for help

    Emery¡¯s solution was to <b>pin </b>the me on Aubree. He handed her the freebie perfume that came with Carmen¡¯s gift, pretending it was a New Year¡¯s

    present

    He still remembered the look of surprise on Aubree¡¯s face as she held the gift. ¡°Emery is this realty for me!¡±

    Emery remembered how Aubree¡¯s face had lit up with pure, radiant joy. Now, just thinking about <b>it</b>, all he felt was a deep, burning shame,

    A bone¨Cdeep chill seized Emery.

    What he did back then was absolutely disgusting, not only did he pass off a cheap freeble <b>as </b><b>a </b>special New Year¡¯s gift, but he even had the audacity to use that so¨Ccalled favor to <b>pressure </b>Aubree into taking the me

    Not only that, while Aubree was bring harshly beaten by their furious mother and locked in the basement <b>as </b>punishment, Emery was too busyforting Carmen to even spare her a thought

    sasement<b>, </b>

    While Carmen was <b>being </b>introduced to everyone by her parents and <b>receiving </b>a flood ofpliments, Aubree was locked <b>away </bpletely forgotten. If it hadn¡¯t been for Wendy, who kept worrying about her and sent Alice a message, they might not have remembered her until the

    next morning

    it suddenly dawned <b>on </b>him just how deeply he¡¯d hurt her, far more than he¡¯d ever allowed <b>himself </b>to acknowledge

    some half¨Chearded words offort. Had Aubree not brought it up, that memory would bkely have been buried deep in

    All he could recall was muttering st

    <b>the </b>recesses of his mind.

    All along, he had never truly cared. All that mattered to him was <b>making </b>sure Aubrey took the me to spare Carmen from their mother¡¯s wrath, Ho never once considered just how brutal the punishment would be for Aubree, already the family outcast

    Emery felt as his heart were being crushed in a vice, he could barely breathe.

    ¡°Aubree<b>, </b><b>L</b>.. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The words were so empty and powerless

    Aubree curled her lips in a mocking sneer. ¡°Emery, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to make amends and help me? Giving me <b>prople </b>and resources means nothing. If you¡¯re really serious, I dare you to sign over the entire Apex Squad to mat

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you <b>say </b>you named this club so that when the team finally reached the top, fd be able to find my way back home Aubree¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm.that¡¯s really the case, then just hand the whole team over to me

    Emery¡¯s face drained of color in shock, Apex Squad was his life¡¯s work, built over decades with blood, sweat, and tears. Over the years, he¡¯d spum numerous ventures from the star power of his yers. He could not possibly just hand it all over to her.

    ¡°So you can¡¯t bear <b>to </b>part with it, right?¡± Aubree¡¯s expression turned icy in an instant. ¡°Then shut the hell up! Take your phony affection and get out of my face!¡± Of course, she knew Emery would never agree,

    Aubree thought bitterly. <b>Twas </b>willing to sacrifice everything for the Wilson family?

    She did exactly that, only to pay with her very life.

    Aubree turned on her heel and started to leave. Behind her, Emery reached out, trying <b>to </b>grabber.

    Just as his fingertips brushed against her sleeve, Emery¡¯s vision suddenly cked out. His tall frame stiffened, then copsed straight to the ground

    Aubree turned to see Emery copsed on <b>the </b>ground, unconscious, his cheaks flushed an unnatural crimson

    Hesitating for a brief moment, she reached out and pressed her hand against <b>Emery¡¯s </b>forehead. ¡°Running a fever<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    o with a lever, and yet no one we noticed

    Aubree thought with a hint of irony, ¡®Emery¡¯s <b>burning </b>up w

    Aubree let out two gleefulughs, looked down at him for a moment, then kicked him hard. ¡°Serves you right!¡±

    With that, she turned <b>and </b>walked <b>away </b>without a backward nce.

    As for Emery lying on the ground, it was none of her business. She couldn¡¯t care less.

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 Tried 55

    Under the Wilson family¡¯s heavy handed Intervention, the online storm quickly subsided. Though multiple trending topics exploded daily, the sisters! public catfight was soon forgotten by the fickle public.

    Tet Rithol High School still hadn¡¯t sent Aubree any notice allowing her to return to school

    She¡¯d asked her teacher, who imed Will hadn¡¯t made a decision yet. But Aubree knew that this withholding their approval. Without their say so, Will wouldn¡¯t dare let her return

    en¡¯t about Will¡¯s indecision. it was the Wilson family

    Aubree had nothing but contempt for will. She knew that he was just another useless parasite, clinging to his position without contributing any

    worthwhile

    in her first year at Rithot High, a female student jumped to her death after being relentlessly bullied by a notorious clique. She could no longer recall the girl¡¯s name, only that the bullies belonged to that infamous group. The incident caused a huge uproar, yet will still did nothing

    Not only did a few members of the cliquee from well¨Cconnected families<b>, </b>but they were also Carmen¡¯s devoted followers. With Carmen pulling strings and the Wilson family applying pressure, the incident was quickly swept under the rug.

    Aher transferring in, Aubree became the clique¡¯s new target. But thanks to her lingering ties with the Wilson family s was spared from the same tragic face as that other gel.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡®Well then, looks like it¡¯s about time Rithol High got itself a new <b>principal</b><b>, </b>she thought coldly.

    Powering up her brand¨Cnewptop, Aubree¡¯s fingers flew across the keyboard as she switly logged into the international Mathematics Competition

    website.

    The finals and preliminary rounds of this year¡¯s International Mathematics Competition will be held in Richol City. There were two registration channels, university rmendations and open qualifiers. The open qualifier serves as an entry path for independent applicants, with the top ten scorers advancing to the finals topete alongside the university¨Crmended contestants.

    Although the International Mathematics Competition didn¡¯t restrict the age of applicants, domestic winners had always been top math students from prestigious universities a high school student were to make history by winning an <b>award</b>, it would surely attract the attention of educational circles. Then, she could <b>expose </b>Will¡¯s inaction to the public.

    Aubree thought coldly, ¡®By then, even if Will dislikes me, he¡¯ll have to think twice before crossing me.¡±

    Aubree quickly filled out and submitted the application form. Though she¡¯d missed two years of sses while studying art, her natural affinity <b>for </b>numbers kept her passionate about math. She never stopped exploring it during that time.

    She also got a perfect score in math on the cement test.

    ¡°This mathpetition? Piece of cake, Aubree thought.

    The club¡¯s initial investment was fully sponsored by Bowen. <b>Now</b>, with over 3 million dors from the tournament Aubree had finally built up some

    financial standing of her own.

    Emery¡¯s car was still parked downstairs, but he was nowhere to be seen. She felt that he must have been taken to the hospital by some stranger

    Aubree nced at it but didn¡¯t pay much attention, Since she couldn¡¯t go back to school, she <b>decided </b>to stay productive. Gathering the prepared documents, she registered apany called Bree Technology, nning to develop short video and live streaming tforms, such as yry

    With thepany registrationpleted and licenses in hand, Aubree headed to an office building near Golden Industrial Park, where she confidently <b>leased </b>an entire floor <b>as </b>herpany headquarters.

    Next, she needed to assemble a team to build the app. The Turner Group were experts in this <b>field</b>, and Bowen had already told her that when she was ready to <b>develop </b>it. She could ask <b>his </b><b>assistant</b>, Kelvin, <b>to </b>send some people over to provide <b>guidance</b>.

    Aubree didn¡¯thesitate for <b>a </b><b>second</b>. The moment she signed the lease, she shot off a <b>message </b>to that long dormant contact in her list

    07:13 Mon, 7 Jul

    heauport

    aring to-pick somene

    ttered, Kelvin repl immediately

    sect (Miss Miller, please let itse know

    fof professionals jou require til expedita i

    Since she was already imprung, Aubree clenched her teeth, figuring she might as well be a hands off boot wipany was giving Bowen shares, he couldn¡¯t just collect dividends without contributing Sheid out her requirem could you also see if there are any talented candidates from yourpany who didn¡¯t make the cut? [¡®d app

    The Turner Group wasently hiring,

    Kelvin wrote: I¡¯llcheck with H Later | As Bowen¡¯s right hand man, he understood better than the other assistants just

    boss

    this girl was to the

    Kelvin didn¡¯t underestimate Aubree in the slightest due to her youth. How could someone whoes up with such brilliant ideas.

    cage ever be just some small fry he thought admitingly

    With Kelvin handing recruitment, Aubrew was relieved and left it to him. Even those rejected by the Turner Group were still exceptional talents in her

    The first step was tounch yry. Once it was up and running, she¡¯d have her esports team members stream games and tform. With the champion effect of her yers, she wouldn¡¯t need much promotion. Fans would naturally be drawn in.

    If we can win another championship at the League of Legends Annual Finals, it¡¯ll be a huge boost for growth,¡¯ she thought

    with the

    or both the esports club and Bree Technology

    The esports club¡¯s base should be nearly ready by now. Golden industrial Park was clear who their clients would be Every detail of the initial interior wat designed with exports clubs in mind, so the ce was essentially turnkey. They just needed to set up their ownputers and equipment in the training

    HEL

    Aubree had already hired professionals to set up theputers and fitness area ator leasing the space. Now she nned to inspect the ce. She thought, if everything checks out, I¡¯ll let sector and the others know to move in

    At the hospital

    Emery groggily opened his eyes. His vision swam with double images, taking a while to clear. The sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic stung his nose, making it painfully obvious he was in a hospital

    gatever? Did Aubree bring me to the hospital?¡® Emery wondered, <b>hope </b>flickering in his chest.

    Wm Frunning i

    The mere possibility made him tremble with joy. He thought, ¡®Does Aubree still care about me?¡±

    Carmen walked in right after, instantly dashing his fragile hope. She cooed with sharine concem, ¡°Emery, feeling any better? Honestly, how could you be so careless? Running a fever and <b>passing </b>out in public! <b>Thank </b>goodness one of Darton¡¯s colleagues lives in that neighborh recognized you, and called him. That¡¯s how you ended up here in the hospital.¡±

    Daston followed night behind her,

    So it wasn¡¯t Aubree after all.¡± Emiry thought, his heart sinking.

    His eyes red over for a moment, a cold, stabbing pain filling his chest, and he could barely breathe, He thought, ¡®Does she really not care about me at all anymore?

    Carmen¡¯s words offort continued, but Eshery was already tuning her out

    From the moment Carmen walked in, Emery seemed dared and distant, his first words were practically shooing them <b>away</b>, ¡°I need to rest. Please leave.¡±

    07:13 Mon, 7 Jul G

    7 <b>Jul </b>

    Carmen immediately put on a wronged look and, in a soft voice, said, ¡°Emery, did I say something wrong again! Are you upset with me?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m just tired,¡± Emery¡¯s dismissive attitude made Carmen seethe internally. She was practically itching to scream at him, ¡°What¡¯s so great about Aubree anyway? She doesn¡¯t even care if you live or die, yet you¡¯re still hung up on her

    <b>Daxton </b>frowned at Carmen¡¯s chagrined expression. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare mistake kindness for weakness, Emery! Carmen made an effort to make you soup after learning you were hospitalized with a lever¡±

    Emery¡¯s gaze shifted to the food container in Carmen¡¯s hands. A mocking smile curled his lips.

    *Please. Carmen cooking? She couldn¡¯t even <b>boil </b>water if her life depended on it,¡± Emery thought with a silent sneer.

    Emery had no intention of continuing the conversation. He simply turned his head away, shutting them outpletely

    Daxton was so furious he nearly yanked Emery up to punch him, but Carmen quickly grabbed his arm, maintaining her sweet facade. ¡°Dayton, Emery must be exhausted. Let¡¯s leave him to rest,¡± she cooed.

    ¡°Suit yourself!¡±

    Daxton knew exactly why Emery had copsed in that residential area. He sneered inwardly, ¡°You treat Aubree like she¡¯s everything, but she couldn¡¯t care less about you<b>.</b>¡±

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 Tried 56

    Bowen stepped off the ne through a v passage, dressed casually in loose ck pants and actor blocked face. With his impable poise and striking presence, he could easily be mistaken for a celebrity

    bar of sunsses perched on h

    g at the exit. Aber escorting him into the cat, he began, ¡°Boss, Miss Miller just sent me a message

    Behin was already waiting a

    He then ryed all the tasks she had assigned him.

    ¡°Junt do as Miss Miller says.¡± Bowen didn¡¯t even bother to ask any questions.

    Hearing this, Kelven wasn¡¯t surprised. He thought, ¡®Miss Miller¡¯s stock just went up another notch in my book.

    ¡°Guess I¡¯ll <b>need </b>to take her requests more seriously from now on

    He asked, ¡°Boss, should we head back to Turner Group now, or

    ¡°Go to..¡°Bowen was about to give Aubree¡¯s address when he abruptly changed his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to Turner Group first.¡±

    Kelvin was a bit taken aback. To <b>his </b>knowledge, Bowen had rushed back this time specifically for Aubre

    Before Kelvin could respond, Bowen¡¯s voice mused from the back seat, ¡°Kelvin<b>, </b>do you think I¡¯ve been a bit too clingytely?¡±

    Kelvin nearly choked on his own saliva, barely suppressing a cough. Damn, why can¡¯t I have temporary deafness right now? Was I really supposed to hear that? Boss, do you even hear yourself?¡® he thought.

    Kalvin stole a furtive nce at the rearview mirror, catching Bowen¡¯s serious, thoughtful expression. Testing the waters, he ventured, ¡°So¡­absence makes the heart grow fonder?¡±

    Bowen gave him an approving look. On hisst fight to Odond, he had carefully studied the book ¡°360 <b>Ways </b>to Raise A Daughter¡± that Clie had sent him. The book emphasized giving her some personal space and letting her miss him a little, so she¡¯d realize just how much he meant to her.

    He reflected on himself and realized it was true. When he <b>suddenly </b>returned to Odiond this time, <b>Aubree </b>didn¡¯t even bother to ask. She just moved outright away, <b>as </b><b>if </b>afraid he¡¯d stop her.

    Bowen nodded to himself. This time, I won¡¯t rush over. I need to let Bree realize how much <b>she </b>needs me, he thought

    Bowen asked, ¡°Did that master tailor asked you to reach out tost time get back to you?¡± Since Bree had been handling everything so well on her owntely, and with her birthdaying up soon, he decided to start preparing her gift.

    Hearing this, Kelvin looked troubled. ¡°Boss, Ms. rke said no amount of money could bring her out of retirement. She only makes dresses for those she deemsworthy

    ¡°Make the arrangements ¡®ll go invite her myself.

    Even though Carmen had been expelled from Rithol Art School, she couldn¡¯t <b>just </b>stay cooped up <b>at </b>home forever. To make sure no one at her new school dared to bully or mock her, Alice made the call that the entire Wilson family would escorther

    The scene was truly spectacr.

    With a wave of his <b>hand</b>, Ronaldpletely upgraded all the teaching software and equipment for the entire art ss.

    A motorcade <b>escorted </b>them to school, where Baston and Trevor personally walked Carmen into her ssroom. Alice handed out gifts to every student, gesture that, while appearing generous, was actually <b>a </b>calcted disy of the Wilson family¡¯s influence

    Except for Emery, who remained <b>adamant </b><b>in </b><b>his </b>refusal <b>to </be, <b>even </b>Bryan couldn¡¯t defy their mother¡¯s orders and showed up to make a show of force

    for Cannen. As the real power behind the Wilson Group, someone many of the students¡® parents would go out of their way to curry favor with, his mar presence mured that no one in their right mind would dare permoke Carmen and risk bringing trouble upon their own families,

    Students from modest backgrounds at least knew better than to speak ill of their benefactor.

    When Cannen returned to campus this time, even the school administration made an appearance and held a special assembly for her, cautinning students against being inisled by unfounded rumors

    ¡°Carmen,¡± Alica said, stroking Carmen¡¯s hair, pride shining in her eyes. ¡°Just focus on your studies. Your only goal now is to get into Rithol Art School Leave anything or anyone else that might affect you to Hom

    ¡®Such a thoughtful and intelligent girl is my daughter she thought proudly.

    Daston stood by with a gentle sile, his gaze so tender it could melt anyone¡¯s heart. He said softly, ¡°Carmen, don¡¯t worry about those negative voices <b>We </b>have <b>it </b>all nned out. The local artpetition <b>is </bing up, and I¡¯ll <b>make </b>sure everything goes smoothly for you<b>. </b>Once you win that award, no one will dare question your talent again.¡±

    Mom, Daxter, you don¡¯t have to do this. I can handle things mysell, Carmen said, looking genuinely overwhelmed.

    ¡°What do you mean you can handle this alone? <b>You¡¯ve </b>got your whole family backing you up! The Wilson family¡¯s power and wealth are there to make sure no one ever bullies you. Don¡¯t worry<b>, </b>sweetheart, in my eyes, <b>you¡¯ll </b>always be my one and only daughter,¡± Alice said firmly

    Carmen¡¯s <b>eyes </b><b>welled </b>up with gratitude. ¡°Mom, Daxton, you¡¯re both so good to me. I promise I¡¯ll make you proud!¡±

    Daxton said, ¡°Silly girl, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t try hard. I will pave the way for <b>you</b>.¡±

    Alice beamed with joy: ¡°Carmen is always so thoughtful and sweet. Just do your best, darling your health matters most.¡±

    Bryan watched with <b>a </b>bitter taste in his mouth. Everyone was preupied with making sure Carmen wouldn¡¯t face any judgment after being expelled from Rithal Art School and returning to Rithol High, pulling out all the stops to <b>ensure </b>shemanded respect.

    Yet not a single person seemed to care that Aubree <b>couldn¡¯t </b>even go back to school

    <b>She </b>was suspended <b>and </b>sent home to reflect. Without her mother¡¯s approval, Will wouldn¡¯t <b>dare </b>let her return

    Bryan thought. ¡®Some big brother I am. I promised to look out for Aubree, but what have I actually done for her so far? Nothing that really matters¡±

    Even Emery had more backbone than me. He t¨Cout refused to get involved, no matter how much Mom and Dad <b>pressured </b>him!

    Aubree was swamped. Though suspended from school, she wasn¡¯t about to sit idle. She had signed up for an academicpetition while juggling responsibilities at both herpany and her esports club.

    Aber confirming that everything at <b>club¡¯s </b><b>base </b>was ready, Aubree contacted Hector and her teammates to let them know they could move in

    For now, she ned to focus the esports <b>club </b>on League of Legends, and would gradually expand into otherpetitive games after her SAT

    ording to his contract, God¡¯s Fury¡¯s <b>c </b>coach was supposed to leave after the autumn finals. But Aubree offered him a hefty s extend his contract for another <b>year </b>

    managed to

    <b>¡°</b><b>Coach</b>, the club is still developing and we¡¯re short staffed. Could you stay on for <b>one </b>more year? With Matilda here to help, <b>your </b>workload will be much lighter, won¡¯t?¡± The coach now bitterly regretted being fooled by Aubree¡¯s innocent, doe¨Ceyed plea <b>back </b>then

    He could handle his coaching duties now, but all the extra work, including running daily operations, recruiting new yers, and building up and Strengthening the second team, was dumped squarely on his shoulders

    He thought, ¡®If it weren¡¯t for the fat paycheck. I would¡¯ve quit long <b>ago</b><b>!! </b>

    <b>2/3 </b>

    U/:13 Mon, 7

    Turner Group¡¯s HR hadpleted the preliminary screening, and the prescreened resumes hadnded on Aubree¡¯s deck. All that remained was for her to conduct the final interviews herself.

    Aubree selected several people, offered thempetitive sries, and formed a software development team with a clear mandate. They had to deliver an initial prototype of the yry app on an elerated timeline.

    As for the app¡¯s features and interface, they would make adjustments after she reviewed them. Once everything was finalized and the app passed debugging and testing, it could go live.

    She nned tounch the app right after the League of Legends transfer window, so club members could use and promote it, a win¨Cwin for both urb But these things couldn¡¯t be rushed, so Aubree set them aside for now and focused fully on her studies <b>and </b>the uingpetition

    Aubree signed up just in time. With the preliminary round starting in less than two days, all she could do <b>was </b>

    cram at thest minute

    ¡°I¡¯m not aiming for first prize, just winning any award would make me content, Aubree thought.

 Tried 57

    <b>Chapter </b><b>57 </b>

    The prelims had finally anived.

    The exam hall was packed with over a hundred students. Some nervous types were already trembling before the best papers were even handed out

    Over the past couple of days, Aubree had done some targeted practice onpetition questions, focusing especiall

    they were challenging, she still handled them with effortless ease.

    As soon as the test papers were handed out, Aubree quickly scanned through them and already had a n in mind. Without a moment¡¯s hesitat started sohing problems at lightning speed, to others, these numbers might be hard to crack, but to her, they were like long lost friends, intimately

    <b>familiar</b>.

    Less than halfway through the exons, she had already finished the text, handed in her paper, and left the room.

    Before leaving the exam hall, Aufmee made a quick stop at the restroom. The sound of running water from the faucet blurred out the convertions in the hallway

    That voice sounded a bit familiar,

    She didn¡¯t pay it much mind and was about to leave after washing her hands when the voices outside suddenly became ss

    ¡°Dr. Wilson, this matter is rather delicate to handle,¡± a hoarse voice of the middle¨Caged man came.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Dr. Wilson?

    ¡®Could that be Darton¡±

    Her hand, which had been resting on the doorknob, quickly withdrew, Acting purely on reflex, Aubree pulled out her phone and hit record

    That familiar voice continued, it was indeed Darton

    He said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this just a small favor for you, Mr. oy? For the artpetition, only the finals require contestants to paint on

    on site, the earlier rounds just

    need submitted works. If you make a few minor adjustments, who¡¯s ever going to know who actually made it to the finals

    This artpetition was hosted by the Rithol City Art <b>Association</b>, and Alec oy, whom Daxton mentioned, was the key person in charge.

    Alec still looked hesitant. While clearly tempted, he feared exposure. After <b>all</b>, this was a statepetition. If <b>discovered</b>, his presidency would be over

    Alec hesitated, then said, ¡°But Dr. Wilson, you know our <b>vice </b>president is the chief judge this time, he¡¯s as stubbor as a mule when ites to rules¡±

    ¡°I heard your family has some happy newstely, Mr. oy. How about an apartment at Royal Gardens, right by thendmark tower downtown! You can choose any floor n you like. And if <b>transportation </b><b>is </b><b>inconvenient</b>, <b>just </b>pick any car you want, I¡¯ll cover the cost¡± Daxton casually dangled the bait.

    Daston said casually, ¡°It¡¯s not that my little sister Carmencks skill, she just missed the registration deadline. With her abilities, making it to the finals would be a breeze. She doesn¡¯t need to win big or be in the spotlight. Just let her get an award to make her happy. That¡¯s ¡°¡°*

    Baston spoke with effortless nonchnce, as if he were talking about cabbages at the <b>market </b>rather than a prestigious provincial award

    Alec <b>was </b>swayed by Daxton¡¯s offer, minimal risk<b>, </b><b>and </b>multiplied returns. Only an idiot would say no.

    He¡¯d heard of the Wilson family¡¯s young miss who studied art. Her <b>skills </b>weren¡¯t exactly top tier. She might scrape by <b>for </b>an award, but making it to the finals was no problem. Besides, the list of finalists had just been drafted and hadn¡¯t even been announced yet. As long as she didn¡¯tpletely. embarrass herself in the finals, no one would ever suspect a thing

    At this, <b>Alec¡¯s </b><b>face </b>lit up with a beaming smile. ¡°Well, since you put it that way, Dr Wilson, I suppose I can do you this favor, just for you,¡± h

    he said

    The <b>voices </b>in the hallway faded into silence. Aubree waited another moment, holding her breath, and only when all sounds hadpletely disappeared.

    07:13 Mon, 7 Jul VG

    did she finally step out of the restmoms

    Looking at the phone in her hand, Aubree smirked.

    Aubree thought, Honestly, this scene feels all too familiar

    Treally thought so many things would change, and this wouldn¡¯t happen again. But here it is, resurfacing in a different form

    In her previous life, after Carmen joined Rithol Art School¡¯s intensive training program, Autinee <b>always </b>covered for her during tests and assignments, so nothing else ever happened. Back then, the artpetition schedule wasn¡¯t as tight as it was now. The prelims were already over by that point

    Back then, even though thepetition had already started, slipping someone in was as easy as snapping their fingers for the Wilson family. They didn even need to do it themselves.

    Not only did Carmen get in, but Aubree was lumped in with her <b>as </b>well Looking back, it was almostughable that she actually thought family cared about her.

    Onlyter did Aubree realize that Carmen wanted the gold medal but,cking the skill, used her to pave the way

    During the preliminaries, they reced Carmen¡¯s submission with Aubree¡¯s work, Since she had the scores to back herup, when Aubree ghostpainted for her in the finals, no one suspected a thing.

    Since Carmen stole her achievements in her previous life<b>, </b><b>and </b>now this evidence had fallen right into her hands, Aubree would be wasting a opportunity if she didn¡¯t use it.

    Aubree¡¯s expression turned steely as she rummaged through her memory for a contact, the vice president the two had just mentioned, Stan Frazer

    Stan lived and breathed art, remaining a lifelong bachelor.

    In her previous life, <b>he </b>was the only one who questioned Carmen¡¯s results. But <bcking </b>concrete evidence, he could only postpone her award for as long as he possibly could

    Aubree faintly recalled how, in her previous <b>life</b>, the spirited, white haired Stan hade to Rithol High School clutching the painting she had phostpainted for Carmen. When he asked if she was the true artist, his eyes shone with such intense passion and hope.

    Aubree anonymously sent the recording to Stan¡¯s email, making sure to point out that he could check the security footage from both the restroom area and the hallway

    She wasn¡¯t the least bit worried that Stan would just brush this off He was a true master who treated art with absolute dedication. In her previous he, he¡¯d managed to track her down with only the faintest clue. Now that there <b>was </b>both <b>audio </b><b>and </b>video evidence, there was no way he¡¯d let it slide.

    After finishing everything, Aubree finally left the exam hall, Unnoticed by her, as she walked past <b>a </b>sleek ck Maybach, its tinted window slid down silently, revealing Daton¡¯s face watching her intently.

    Daxton thought with a sneer, ¡°What¡¯s Aubree doing here? Don¡¯t tell me this trash actually came for thepetition?

    Frowning, Daxton watched Aubree¡¯s back, noticing the clear pencil case in her hand, standard exam gear. He scoffed inward ¡°Seriously? Did the actuallye for the mathpetition?

    ¡°What an embarrassing disgrace. She doesn¡¯t even know her ce.¡±

    The prelims had concluded, leaving a few days before the finalisty list would be announced and the championship round <b>began </b>

    At the esports club, the head coach was overseeing operations. He had recruited a new batch of staff and signed <b>a </b>promising rock at the draht event.

    They would decide on the rest during the post season transfer window.

    U/:13 Mon, / Ji

    Aubree took some time out of her busy schedule to check on yry¡¯s progress. The team Turner Group sent over proved theirpeting version of the app was already up and running. She would review it before they refined and pushed for further improvements.

    a prototype

    The hardware for live streaming was already well developed it was just that no one had the idea yet. Honestly, getting it up and running wasn¡¯t a

    hard.

    But even after the app was developed, it still needed stress and bug testing, which were both time¨Cconsuming And right now, time was exactly what she didn¡¯t have.

    To motivate her first batch of employees to put in extra hours developing yry, Aubree promised each a 2% equity stake once the tformunched. While this might seem like a modest share at first nce, these professionals clearly recognized yry¡¯s boundless potential

    That <b>2</b>% stake would set them up for life. The whole team was absolutely buzzing working overtime like crazy

    Aubree firmly reminded the team, ¡°We need to speed up the app development. Don¡¯t cut corners on the subsequent testing it would be uneptable if the app crashes during use

    ¡°Once yty is ready, I¡¯ll have esports yers and celebrity influencers do beta testing to generate buzz. After that, we¡¯ll roll out the live streaming feature to all users.

    ¡°Got it!¡± the team responded enthusiastically.

    Aubree mapped out a detailed timeline for everything, with clear deadlines for each task. Now, it was a race against time.

    Rubbing her temples, Aubree felt the weight of the challenge ahead. Just having esports yers like Hector Ross and his team isn¡¯t enough,¡± she thought, ¡°They can only guide the gaming side, but in my previous life, streaming tforms covered so much more.

    She couldn¡¯t let yry be pigeonholed as just another game streaming tform

    Signing established celebrities and discovering fresh talent to cultivate into stars was essential

    Different fields required different expertise, and honestly, this just wasn¡¯t her thing. She didn¡¯t really know <b>much </b>about showbiz at all.

    Aubree searched her mind and locked onto a target, Peace Entertainment.

    She thought, ¡°Back when I was bending over backwards for Carmen in my previous life, I did some basic research on the entertainment industry. Peace Entertainment was founded by an award¨Cwinning actress and, as far as I know, it¡¯s one of the few cleanpanies out there. At least if we work with them, yty won¡¯t get dragged into any tabloid scandals afterunch¡®

    ?

 Tried 58

    Carmen¡¯s circle in ss couldn¡¯t stop gushing, talking over each other in awestruck tones. One of them said, ¡°Carmen is simply the big deal about Rithol Art School She quietly made it to the state level finalst Theard the bar is set really high this year, even the top an the prestigious high school next door all got eliminated.

    A ssmate sneered ¡°Just wait till Carmen wins the award. Rithal Art School will realize what a huge mistake they made, taming her for Aurer¡¯s screw up. Serves them right¡±.

    Another said, ¡°If Carmen was the award, the whole school will be singing her prases!¡±

    Someone else said. ¡°School wide praise? That¡¯s thinking too small Soon enough, Carmen¡¯s story will probably make it on TV news

    They felt that the Wison family sure got lucky. All four sons were outstanding in their own right, while their only biological daughter brought shame to the family name. But at least their adopted daughter was making them proud

    Everyone got their own destiny. Some prople were just born luckier than others, and there was no use being envious. Aubree was born into the Wilson family but never got to enjoy its privileges, while Carmen somehow ended up with all the good fortune

    Carmen covered her mouth with a giggle, ¡°If you keep praising me like this, I might get so nervous my hands will shake during thepetition, and t be all your faul!¡±

    Carmen¡¯s yful scolding only made her ssmates adore her even more.

    ¡°Carmen, you¡¯re seriously amazing!¡± <b>a </b>ssmate eximed. ¡°You¡¯re already top of the ss, and even though the teacher said you could take the day off, you just can¡¯t even rx for a moment, you still came in for <b>half </b>a <b>day</b><b>!</b>¡±

    Carmen maintained a humble facade, but her eyes gleamed with smug confidence. She¡¯d spent weeks meticulously copying a painting Aubree had left at homu. She thought, I¡¯m definitely winning at the finals. Maybe even the gold!¡±

    Out of the camer of her eye, Carmen noticed Alvin ncing her way from the back seat. Her <b>ears </b>flushed pink. I win the award would he finally notice me more!¡® she wondered.

    Carmen thought smugly, 1 know <b>Alvin </b>better than anyone. He only <b>got </b>into art because histe mother was an artist. If my painting skills are truly exceptional, he¡¯s bound to notice me

    Carmen smoothed her <b>hair </b><b>and </b>walked up to Alvin with a bright <b>sme</b>. ¡°Alvin, my <b>birthday¡¯s </bing up. Would <b>you </b>like toe to my party? if you¡¯re free, we could also talk about painting.

    Graceful and poised, her radiant, confident smile could win over even a stranger, especially with the added prestige of being the Wilson family¡¯s heiress.

    Carmen was absolutely certain Alvin wouldn¡¯t turn her down.

    She thought. My original n was to let Alvin realize how greatm ande to me on his own¡­ but¡­

    ¡°That bitch Aubree, when did she hook up with Alvin? So what it she¡¯s good at gaming? As long as I control the Wilson ta

    she¡¯ll <b>never </b>surpass mal

    She¡¯d deliberatelye to school for just this short while before thepetition, all so Alvin would notice her, and she <b>could </b><b>see </b>the chance to invite him to her birthday party.

    ¡°Get lost.¡± Alin didn¡¯t even bother to look up. His words shattered all of Carmen¡¯s fantasies.

    Carmen¡¯s smile froze on her face, her eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°How could Alvin humate me like this in public?¡± she thought, her cheeks burning with

    Carmen¡¯s eyes instantly welled up with tears. One of her ssmates immediately jumped to her defense, eximing, ¡°Alvin, how could you treat Carmen

    Like that?¡±

    U13 Mon<b>, </b>7

    Alvin said coldly, ¡°You get lost, too!

    The ssmate was about to say something more, but Carmen, woriled that Alvin might think less of her, quickly pulled them back. Forcing a smile, she said, ¡°it¡¯s fine, I was being presumptuous. Mypetition is about to start, so have to go now. Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re all invited to my birthday party at my ceter¡±

    She forced a brave smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, a sight that tugged at everyone¡¯s heartstrings

    As she turned away, her eyes burned with resentment and jealousy. ¡°There¡¯s only one reason Alvin would treat me like this. It has to be because of Aubreel¡® she seethed inwardly ¨C

    She thought, ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter. Once I win the award, Alvin wille around.

    Carmen was heading to the finals, <b>and </b>both Beton <b>and </b>Alice, who were free at home, came to see her gift.

    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Carmen, No matter what happens, you¡¯ll always be the best in Mom¡¯s eyes,¡± Alice said softly, giving her daughter¡¯s hand an

    encouraging squeeze.

    Daxton had already made discreet arrangements, ¡°Just paint as you normally would, Carmen,¡± he said gently, ¡°I will make sure you get whatever you

    want

    ¡°If Aubree were still here, with her skills <b>she¡¯d </b>surely have <b>made </b>it to the finals,¡± Cammen remarked, her tone deceptively wistful

    Carmen¡¯s words instantly froze the air.

    Darton gritted his teeth. He thought, almost forgot about her still haven¡¯t settled the score for her online attacks against Carmen

    Daxton snapped, ¡°Why bring her up? if it weren¡¯t for Aubree, you¡¯d still be at Rithol Art School without a care, getting ready for your SAT and heading to your dream university!¡±

    The more thought of it infuriated him. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for that petty, backstabbing brat Aubree, who couldn¡¯t stand to see Carmen <b>seed </b>and deliberately smeared her, ruining her reputation at Richol Art School and making her worry about being rejected from college, would she really need to win an award just to boost her credentials<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alice¡¯s face darkened with displeasure. ¡°Does she really think she¡¯s hot stuff now? Just started some club and suddenly thinks she¡¯s grown wings!¡±

    She thought, ¡®If I hadn¡¯t been so busy preparing for Carmen¡¯s birthday party, I would¡¯ve taught that girl a lesson already! So what if she has the Tumer Group backing her? The Wilson family isn¡¯t some pushover either!

    Does she really think Bowen would take on the Wilson family for a nobody like her?

    After subtly reminding the Wilson family not to let Aubree off the hook, a glint of trumph shed in Carmen¡¯s eyes. With feigned innocence, she <b>asked</b>, Did I say something wrong?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, sweetheart,¡± Darton said with any adoring sile, ¡°Thepetition¡¯s about to start, go on in now!

    Aber Carmen entered thepetition, neither Daxton nor Alice left. Instead, they got back in the car and waited <b>for </b>her there.

    Time ticked by slowly. Duxton reviewed the medical records <b>again</b>, his eyes growing weary. Finally, he looked up and gazed out the window

    Today, both the International Mathematics Competition and the Painting Competition were taking ce here simultaneously. The mathpetition

    ended a bit earlier, so now test¨Ctakers were stroming out of the venue<b>, </b>gathering in the square, and waiting for the results.

    To prevent any cheating attempts, all the finals were graded and the results announced right there on the spot.

    Daxton¡¯s gaze <b>swept </b>across the crowd. Suddenly, his eyes froze as he thought, ¡®Aubree again?

    H

    Ifst time was just a coincidence, then how do I exin away thi

    Daston nudged his mother and asked, ¡°Mom, is that Aubreet She¡¯s actually here for the mathpetition?

    Alice followed his gaze, her eyes widening in disbelief ¡°That really is her? Since wher was the capable of som

    Anmething like

    the steered, ¡°She probably jus Daston knew Aubree used to have good grades, but after missing two years of school, he doubted she still had got a lucky break to make it to the finals: Some people reallyck self awareness, signing up for apetition like this. When the resultse¨Cout and she ends up at the bottom, the won¡¯t just embarrass herself, she¡¯ll drag the family¡¯s reputation through the mud¡°

    Alice nodded in agreement, her voice dripping with disdain. ¡°Thank goodness we adopted Carmen as my daughter Having that disgrace around a day would probably shave years off my life.¡±

    The two exchanged sneering remarks about Aubree, every wordced with contempt.

    While the mathpetition results were being reviewed, the paintingpetition was also drawing to a close, with participants starting to file out one

    after another.

    Alice said, ¡°Daxton, hurry! Carmen¡¯sing out!¡±

    She quickly opened the car door, and the two of them hurried toward Carmen. ¡°Mommy¡¯s precious, you must be exhausted after all that painting Are you tired? There are drinks and fruit in the car, would you like to have some together!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carmen. You¡¯ll definitely win, you¡¯re the best,¡± Daxton said, ruffling her hair affectionately. In stark contrast to the biting sarcasm he¡¯d shown Aubree just moments before, he now showered Carmen with praise without reservation

    Headed, ¡°Dad heard you werepeting and went out of his way to invite some friends over and book a party hall. We¡¯re all just waiting for you to win so we can celebrate together!¡±

    Alice was beaming with excitement, but neither she nor Daxton noticed that Carmen¡¯s face had gone ghostly pale<b>, </b>har lips drained of color, and she looked utterly absent¨Cminded

    ¡°Mom, Daxton¡­ I can¡¯t win the award,¡± Carmen choked out, her voice trembling on the verge of tears. Her face was a picture of utter devastation as the memory of what had just happened overwhelmed her Suddenly, she turned to Daxton, her eyes boring into him with desperate intensity.

    Daxton¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Carmen, what¡¯s wrong?

    ? What happened?¡±

 Tried 59

    Carmen¡¯s face burned deathly pale ¡°The chief judge found out I took someone else¡¯s

    else¡¯s spot

    spot in the finals, and my eligibility has been re cheating gets out, it¡¯ll be announced to the whole school. How can¡¯t ever stay at this school again?¡±

    She thought, With this stain on my record, Rithol Art would never ept me Alvin is definitely going the Tever be with him now?

    ¡°How could this happen.¡± Daston was utterly stunned. He thought, ¡®Only Alec and I knew about this something?

    Before he could finish speaking, the loudspeaker crackled to life, cutting through the air, and it was Competition results.

    The

    ?Tedoting further away from him. How can

    A person said, ¡°First, we would like to thank all participants for their hard work. Now, we announce the top three winners. The Gold Medal goes to the Department of Mathematics at Rithal University. The Silver Medal goes to an international contestant. The Bronze Medal goes to Aubree Miller

    ¡°Remaining participants may check their rankings on the scrolling disy. Top three medalists, please proceed to the award podium to im your prizes<b>. </b>

    The announcement was broadcast three times in session, sending waves of astonished murmurs through the square.

    It wasn¡¯t the gold medalist who stole the spotlight at thispetition, but the bronze. The single name announced meant this contestant had fought their way up from the open qualifiers.

    et never<b>, </b>regardless of the host country, had an open qualifier be a

    The International Mathematics Competition had been held for several editions, yet n

    medalist.

    A person asked, ¡°Who the hell is Aubree? She¡¯s

    Another said, ¡°Wow, what a legend I gotta head to the award ceremony to catch the interview, I¡¯ve never even heard of this prodigy

    A third said, ¡°<b>Wait</b>, I just remembered There was this young girl in my exam room, she looked like a high schooler. Could that be her!¡±

    Someone eximed.¡±<ol><li>ed. ¡°A high schooler With skills like that, shouldn¡¯t she have been fast tracked to coge already?¡±</li></ol>

    The Wilson family were equally dumbfounded when they heard the announcement

    Alice was so shocked she forgot tofort Carmen. Grabbing Daxton¡¯s arm, she gasped, ¡°Daxton, did I hear that right? Did they just say Aubree?¡±

    Daxton¡¯s face darkened, furious at Aubree¡¯s tant grandstanding.

    Through gritted teeth, Daxton muttered, ¡°Unless there¡¯s someone else with the same name, it has to be her¡±

    Daxton¡¯s thoughts were already churning with <b>a </b>thousand tangled ideas.

    <b>Daxton </b>couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Aubree clearly knows she has what it takes to win. Did she deliberately enter the mathpetition after finding out Carmen was participating in the painting contest?¡±

    As he pieced it together, Daxton¡¯s expression grew even darker. He thought bitterly<b>, </b>¡®There¡¯s no way this is just a coincidencall times, Aubree had to enter thepetition exactly when Carmen was in the painting contest?

    ¡°How could she be so <b>calcting</b>? Does she reary think that by outshining Carmen, we¡¯ll regigt¨Cever being good to her?¡±

    Alice¡¯s jaw dropped. She thought, Wasn¡¯t Aubree always at the bottom of the <b>ss</b>? When did her grades improve so much?¡±

    Carmen clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood, though she barely noticed, lost in a storm of humiliation and rage

    <b>1/3 </b>

    07-15 MUN,

    ¡°Aubree again¡± Carmen seethed

    The surrounding whispers about her became the final straw. Carmen shoved Daiton violently and shouted, ¡°This is all your fauft if it weren¡¯t for you, i wouldn¡¯t be humiliated like thi

    Carmen was having aplete emotional breakdown, her face buried in her hands as she sobbed quietly, when suddenly, the loudspeaker cracked to life again

    The results of the paintingpetition were announced, not only were the top three winners revealed, but

    itional statement win alin included

    A person said, ¡°An investigation has revealed that a contestant in this paintingpetition used unfair means to enter the finals. The judgingmittee has decided to revoke this contestant¡¯s qualification, and investigations into those involved are still ongoing¡±

    The announcement didn¡¯t specify names, but anyone who cared to check the contestant list would know exactly who it was

    Carmen waspletely shattered, wiping away her tears as she stumbled out.

    She couldn¡¯t stand being branded a cheater while Aubree got to bask in <b>all </b>that glory.

    Carmen¡¯s resentment made Daxton¡¯s heart ache for her. He longed tofort her, but reason dictated that he stay behind to investigate who had leaked the information. ¡°Mom, gofort Carme now!¡±

    Daxton thought anxiously, I have to <b>find </b>out who leaked this!

    Avenomous glint shed in Daxton¡¯s eyes.

    Alice finally snapped out of her due and hurried after Carmen. Meanwhile, Daxton went to review the surveince footage from that day.

    Hearing the broadcast announcement, <b>a </b>satisfied smile yed at theers of Aubree¡¯s lips. She thought, ¡°Did Carmen really think she could have all the good things to herself? Not <b>a </b>chance.

    ¡°If you dare to y dirty, you¡¯d better be ready to face the consequences.

    As the judges prepared to present the awards, Aubree finally made her graceful entrance onto the podium. The crowd watching the ceremony was unusuallyrge this time, all drawn here by her presence.

    Everyone was dying to see who fought her way up from the open qualifiers to im bronze at this internationalpetition.

    A person said, ¡°Oh my God! She¡¯s so young! She¡¯s only in high school, right?¡±

    Another <b>said</b>, ¡°if she¡¯s in high school, why didn¡¯t her school nominate her? What kind of idiotic school wouldn¡¯t nurture a prodigy like that?¡±

    Even the judges presenting Aubree with her medal were stunned, how <b>could </b>someone so young win at such a prestigious international mathpetition?

    Some teachers were already schemingways to poach Aubree

    Aubree found <b>all </b>the attention both amusing and <b>a </b>bit overwhelming. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d actually win bronce, she mused, ¡°Honestly, I would have been content with just a constion prize, anything to get noticed. What an unexpected windfall.

    The moment the awards ended, reporters

    s swarmed the three medalists, but nearly all the questions were fired at Aubree

    A person asked, ¡°Miss, how old are you? Still in school? With skils like yours, how did you end uppeting through the open qualifiers instead of being school¨Cnominated?

    Let alone winning the bronze, even just <b>picking </b>up <b>any </b>award would make her prized asset, and every high school would treat her like gold.

    Not only were the reporters baffled, but the surrounding crowd held their breath, waiting for Aubree¡¯s answer.

    Taking the microphone, Aubree replied withposure, ¡°I¡¯m a senior at Rithol High School. There are two reasons entered i the open qualifiers. First, my school didn¡¯t nominate me. Second, I¡¯m currently suspended¡±

    thepetition through

    The reporters immediately fired off questions. ¡°Being suspended? What exactly was the offense?¡±

    Aubree shed a faint smile. ¡°Anyone here is on Twitter? Do you follow that League of Legends match fixing scandal a while back? wah, that was me principal of my school said it was a negative influence and suspended me for a while, so I¡¯ve been staying home. Honestly, I still haven¡¯t heard when I can go back to school.¡±

    The reporters exchanged nces in confusion. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that match fixing scandal settled ages ago? Why aren¡¯t they letting her go back to school? it¡¯s such a crucial time for seniors,¡± one of them whispered.

    The educators frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

    Sensing a potential headline, the reporters pressed on, and Aubree was ready for their questions. ¡°Before high school, lived in an orphanage I went through some things, and yes, I¡¯m still an orphan. After transferring to Rithol High School, if you ask about my experience. well, to be honest, if hen¡¯t been great. Right after Terrolled, I witnessed a female student being bullied into jumping off a building. The teachers barely did anything, <b>and </b>the principal even held a meeting ordering us not to talk about it.

    ¡°And after that? Well¡­ I ended up bing a bullying victim myself.

    ¡°My thoughts on the principal? <b>Well</b>, I suppose he has his own¡­ unique perspective. Like not telling me when I could return to school, maybe he thought I looked exhausted and wanted me to ¡°rest a little longer.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s explosive interview went viral across major news sites. Meanwhile, Will, blissfully unaware in his office<b>, </b>received a phone call.

    When the call ended, his face went ashen. He had been suspended pending investigation.

    With trembling hands, Will recalled the warning from the call and unlocked his phone. The moment he saw Aubree¡¯s interview, his vision darkened in waves. Clutching his chest, his eyes rolled back as he copsed. He knew his career was over,

    C

 Tried 60

    <b>Chapter </b><b>60 </b>

    Fresh off her postpetition interview, Aubree got a text from her teacher. She was expected back in ss the next day.

    Aubree let out a scornfulugh. ¡°if the principal can still keep his job after that investigation, I¡¯ll eat my hat

    While Aubree was riding high, the Wilson household was drowning in misery

    Ronald had gone all out booking a luxury venue, expecting <b>praise </b>and admitation, instead, he got nothing but utter humiliation

    On the sefa, Carmen sat with her face buried in her hands, subbing, while Alice sat beside her, gentlyforting her, her heart aching for her

    Ronald, irritated by Carmen¡¯s crying, snapped, ¡°Stop blubbering Ast look at the mess you¡¯ve made, you¡¯vepletely disgraced met

    Just

    Ronald was obsessed with his reputation and desperate to save face among his friends. Once news of Carmen¡¯s cheating scandal at thepetition broke, it spread like wildfire, inte sleuths <b>quickly </b>identified her, <b>and </b>with her previous viral scandal, everyone realized it was the same girl again.

    Before Carmen even <b>arrived</b>, the scandal had already spread..

    Ronald¡¯s rage kept building as he remembered the awkward, mocking looks from his friends at the hotel. He snapped at Carmen, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be good at art? Don¡¯t you always get top marks? How could you be so stupid as to get caught!¡±

    Carmen¡¯s eyes were red¨Crimmed, but she didn¡¯t dare respond. She thought, I don¡¯t know. I just copied Aubree¡¯s painting, How was supposed to know the judges would immediately question if it was really mine when I submitted it?

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It was all Darton¡¯s idea¡­¡± Carmen mumbled, keeping her head lowered in a timid manner.

    ¡°Alright<b>, </b>alright,¡± Alice <b>said </b>soothingly, ¡°this isn¡¯t Carmen¡¯s fault. You know how Darton is with these things, someone must have interfered. He¡¯s already checking the security footage.¡±

    ¡°Not her fault?¡± Ronald nearly choked on his rage.

    When it didn¡¯t affect his own interests, he could dote on his daughter all he wanted. But now, things had gotten out of hand.

    People on the inte were mocking the Wilson family for raising <b>such </b>a ¡°line¡± daughter, who was a habitual giarist.

    But it was toote for words now. Seeing Carmen¡¯s eyes swollen and red from crying, <b>Ronald¡¯s </b>heart softened. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Daxtone back yet?¡±

    Dalton had just finished checking the security footage.

    The moment he returned home, his expression was thunderous. ¡°I found out,¡± Daxton <b>said </b>grimly, ¡°It was Aubree.¡±

    The moment that name was spoken, a heavy silence instantly fell over the Wilson household.

    ¡°I knew it was that little witch!¡± Alice hissed through gritted teeth, ¡°What does she want? Won¡¯t she be satisfied until she owes my Carmen to the brink?

    ¡°Sure, <b>she¡¯s </b>out there <b>basking </b>in the glory of her inward, but look at my

    y poor Carmen, she¡¯s been crying her eyes out!¡±

    Alice held Carmen in her arms, her eyes burning with genuine malice, as if she truly wished her own biological daughter would just drop dead

    Ronald only knew about Carmen¡¯s cheating scandal. Hearing this, he looked puzzled and <b>asked</b>, ¡°What award did she win?¡±

    ¡°Aubreepeted in the International Mathematics Competition. She won a bronze medal,¡± Duxton reported.

    ¡°A bronze medal?¡±

    Ronald¡¯s eye twitched. He had truly underestimated her

    First, she got in with the Turner <b>family</b>, then won championships, and now she was medaling in internationalpetitions.

    07:13 Mon, / Jul

    Ronald¡¯s eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. No one noticed the shih

    demeanor.

    Daxton continued sharing his findings. ¡°I checked all the surveince footage from around that time, no one else appeared. The only person was Aubree, who passed by theidor to the restroom just before I went to see Alec. I had someone test it. Conversations in the hallway can be heard from inside

    the restroom

    The evidence aligned perfectly with his earlier suspicions. Darton was now certain that Aubres had known Carmen was participating in the artpetition and had deliberately orchestrated the whole scheme,

    As for how Aubree managed to overhear his briberyertation with Aler, Dartong didn¡¯t even bother to think about it in his eyes, she was so calcting that she must have pull some tricks this time.

    Alice spat, her voice trembling with rape, ¡°That ungrateful brat! After the Wilson family raised her for three years, this is how she repays us

    Carmen buried herself in Alice¡¯s arms, her body trembling with subs. ¡°Did I do something to upset my sister?¡± she choked out, ¡°If she thinks I¡¯m in her way at the Wilson family, I can just leave

    Alice said to Carmen, ¡°My darling, what nonsense are you saying? If anyone¡¯s leaving, it¡¯s Aubree, not you. You¡¯ll always be Mommy¡¯s precious treasure.¡±

    The two shared a heartwarming moment, which only made Daxton¡¯s heart ache even more for Carmen. He quickly reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carmen If Aubree dares <b>to </b>scheme against you, I will make her pay?¡± He had already ordered someone to track down Aubree¡¯s add

    Ronald, who had remained silent until now, began plotting about Aubree. He thought. She has quietly aplished quite a few major things. She¡¯s finally proving her worth. I can¡¯t just let her run wild anymore. If force doesn¡¯t work, maybe it¡¯s time for a softer approach¡±

    With this in mind, Ronald patted Dexton on the shoulder. ¡°Aubree¡¯s gone too far,¡± he said to Daxton, ¡°This time, you must bring her back home, no matter

    what¡­

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡± Daxton replied, though his eyes gleamed with icy determination. He thought, Bring her back? I¡¯m not as softhearted as Bryan or Emery

    Late at night, in a luxury apartment.

    Three sharp knocks echoed through the hallway.

    The smart lock alerted Aubree to someone at the door.

    ¡°Who could be knocking at this hour?¡± Aubree immediately tensed up. The high¨Csecurity apartment she rented was <b>safe</b>, <b>but </b>nothing was ever truly

    foolproof

    Aubree walked up to the door but didn¡¯t open it right away. After a long silence, the knocking outside grew increasingly impatient.

    Aubree¡¯s hand instinctively reached for the baseball bat by the shoe cab. Peering through the peephole, she recognized t¨CEgure outside.

    ¡°How the hell did Daxton track me down here? Aubree thought, her heart pounding in disbelief

    <b>¡°</b>Open the damn door!¡± Darton bellowed, his pounding on the door growing more impatient by the second

    Aubree¡¯s expression turned cold. She thought, ¡®Daxton¡¯s showing up thiste<b>, </b><b>he¡¯s </b>definitely up to no good. And after what sure haven¡¯t forgotten that little debt!

    the did to my backst time, i

    Hefting the baseball bat <b>in </b>her hand, Aubree smirked and thought, ¡°No bodyguards this time, Daxton? Perfect, time to settle our score

    Aubree left the bedroom light <b>on </b><b>as </b>a decay, quietly shut the <b>door</b>, <b>and </b>concealed herself. First, she sent <b>a </b>silent text to the police, then used her phone to remotely unlock the front door.

    Daston¡¯s fit met with empty air as the door swung open on its own

    <b>U</b>/-13 <b>Mon</b>,

    197<b>%</b>Á¿

    ¡°Aubree!¡± Daxton bellowed ¡°So you¡¯re just going to ignore everything I told you, right? How dare <b>you </b>upset Carment Do you want another beating?¡± His furious shout chord through the empty room before he realized there was no one standing in front of him,

    ¡°Could she be in the bedroom?¡± Blind with rage, Daxton didn¡¯t stop to think, He charged straight for the bedroom

    Concealed in the darkness, Aubree watched as Daston kicked open the door. Baseball bat in hand, she slipped in silently right behind him, ready to

    <b>strike</b>.

    ¡°Aubree, you.¡± Daxton started to shout, but stopped short when he realized the room was empty.

    A chill shot down Daston¡¯s spine. Before he could turn <b>around</b>, Aubree swung the baseball bat and mmed it straight into <b>his </b>back

    In her previous life, when Daxton lost a fortune due <b>to </b><b>a </b>failed drug research project, Aubree swallowed her pride and audited medical sses at Rithol University to help him

    Thanks to her medical knowledge, Aubree knew human anatomy well. Every strike was measured, targeting only the most painful yet safest spots.

    ¡°How dare <b>you </b>break into my house to steal! I¡¯ll beat you senseless!¡± <b>Aubree </b>cursed, swinging the bat with ruthless precision

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡°With the lights <b>so </b>dim, how could anyone expect me to see who it was? Totally normal, right?

    ¡°I mean, as a single woman living alone, isn¡¯t it only natural to defend myself when a strang

    ge man knocks <b>on </b>my door in the middle of the night?

    An eye for an eye, Aubree didn¡¯t strike randomly. Every blownded squarely on Daxton¡¯s back, payback for what he¡¯d <b>done</b>.

    Blow after blow rained down on his back. Even Daxton couldn¡¯t take it anymore, groans of pain escaped his lips.

    *I¡¯m Daxton! Have you lost your damn mind, Aubree?¡± Daxton yelled, desperately trying to get her to stop. But to his shock, the moment he spoke, Aubree¡¯s blows onlynded harder, each one colder and more precise

    She said, ¡°Still pretending to be someone else? As if my brother Daxton would ever sneak into a girl¡¯s apartment in the middle of the night! So, you¡¯ve investigated me, right? Well, I¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡±

    It wasn¡¯t until the wall of police sites reached her that Aubree calmly stopped, pretending to suddenly recognize him. She gasped in exaggerated surprise, ¡°Baxton? Oh my God, is that really you?¡±

    Daxton nearly coughed up blood. The pain in his back was so intense, he couldn¡¯t even crawl off the floor

    Daxton groaned, ¡°Aubree!¡±

    As the police entered, Aubree grinned and gave him a final, yful kick. ¡°What are you yelling for, Daxton?¡± she asked sweetly.

    Turning to the officers with feigned innocence, Aubree said, ¡°Officer, that¡¯s him. He was trespassing in

    in my apartment!¡±

 Tried 61

    <b>Chapter </b><b>61 </b>

    In the interrogation room of the police station, Daxton sat pale faced, a cup of steaming drink at his side. Aubree upied the seat next to him

    ¡°Alright, start talking. What happened here?¡± The interrogating officer nced from one to the other, rubbing his temples in frustration.

    The officers were quite familiar with Daxton and his group, which only made the whole situation even more baffling to them.

    They thought, ¡®Weren¡¯t they supposed to be siblings? How did this turn into trespassing? And he got beaten up this badly?¡±

    Daxton was so badly injured that officers had to support him all the way to the police station.

    Daxton¡¯s back felt as if it had been scorched, burning and stinging with every movement. Gritting his teeth, he snapped, ¡°Doesn¡¯t this count as her intentionally assaulting me?¡±

    The moment the cops barged in, it all clicked, Aubree had known it was him all along and had deliberately set him up for that beating

    He¡¯d really lost his head and actually let her get exactly what she wanted.

    The searing pain on his back was a brand of humiliation, a constant reminder that he¡¯d been outmaneuvered by the very person he despised most.

    Aubree hunched her shoulders, feigning a frightened look. ¡°Officer, I was home alone when some stranger broke in. Wouldn¡¯t any girl be terrified? i couldn¡¯t see his face or know who he was, so isn¡¯t it better to be safe than sorry?<i>¡± </i>

    Aubree tried to look as helpless as possible and said to the officer, ¡°Officer, didn¡¯t the medical report just confirm they¡¯re only superficial wounds? <b>At </b>worst, this counts as self¨Cdefense, right? Shouldn¡¯t we be focusing on his trespassing vition instead?¡±

    Only now did Daxton snap, ¡°I¡¯m your brother!¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes shed with derision. ¡°We don¡¯t have any adoption papers proving we¡¯re siblings, nor are we even listed in the same family registry. So what kind of siblings does that make us?¡±

    Daxton was left speechless. Back when Aubree had first been found, mostly because he didn¡¯t want Carmen to get hurt, and with some otherplications at the time, he¡¯d strongly opposed his parents from putting Aubree on the family registry and letting her take their surname. He never imagined that decision woulde back to bite him now.

    At this point, the resolution was crystal clear. Aubree had the moral and legal high ground, and Daxton could only swallow his pride and ept the beating he¡¯d gotten.

    The police gave Daxton a brief verbal warning, had both of them sign the paperwork, and then let them go.

    Daxton had contacted the Wilson family early that morning to pick him up. To his surprise, when he stepped out of the police station, it was Ronald who

    hade.

    He asked, ¡°Dad? What are you doing here<b>?</b>¡±

    Ronald didn¡¯t respond, steadying Daxton with one hand while his gaze settled on Aubree. As he reassessed his daughter, he was startled to realize that the timid and unpresentable girl he¡¯d always remembered now had eyes shining with unmistakable confidence.

    The more he looked at her, the more pleased he became, and his tone softened noticeably. ¡°Aubree, it must have been tough for you out there on your own these days. Dad¡¯s been giving things <b>a </b>lot of thoughttely, and I realize I was unfair to you before and caused you grievance. Let me start by apologizing to you here and now.¡±

    Aubree narrowed her eyes warily at Ronald¡¯s sudden change in attitude. ¡®What¡¯s his game this time?¡® she thought, instantly on guard.

    Aubree shifted her feet slightly. She thought, ¡®It¡¯s toote, and Zachary isn¡¯t by my side anymore. But at least I¡¯m still right outside the police station. If Ronald tries anything, I can just shout for help.¡¯

    Baston started. Tad, what are you.

    <b>¡°</b><b>Dawton</b>!¡± Ronald cut in sharply. ¡°After ronging Aubree so many times, shouldn¡¯t you give her a pedper appology and make it up to hart

    ¡®Me? Apologize to Aubree Patton thought, stunned. I¡¯d have to be out of my damn mind to apologize to Aubreet

    ¡°I don¡¯t want it!¡± Aubr¨¦e snapped She wouldn¡¯t dare ept Darton¡¯s apology. Who knows today, she thought warily.

    Aubree said firmly. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s best we go our separate ways!¡±

    what kind of trouble he¡¯ll bring me tomorrow it ept is

    Ronald didn¡¯t seem the least bit angry. ¡®Kids will be kids,¡¯ he thought indulgently, ¡®A little attitude is only to be expected¡±

    In Ronald¡¯s eyes, Aubree used to be utterly nothing but an embarrassment to the family. Any time she acted out, it was just ¡°making frouble. But now that she¡¯s useful to him, her defiance is suddenly brushed off as merely ¡°a child acting up.¡±

    He had double standards down to a fine art.

    He asked, ¡°Your birthday ising up soon. Don¡¯t you want the dress <i>your </i>mother specially designed for you?<i>¡± </i>

    Aubree, who had turned to leave, paused mid¨Cstep.

    Ronald smirked triumphantly. He knew Aubree all too well, she might talk about cutting ties, but deep down, he felt that she was just fishing for their

    attention.

    He added, ¡°At your birthday celebration, I¡¯ll have your registration transferred to our family, change your surname to Wilson, and publicly announce that you are the legitimate daughter of the Wilson family.¡±

    As Aubree turned away, her eyes glinted with undisguised scorn. She thought, ¡®If anyone in the Wilson family is truly formidable, it¡¯s not Daxton or Bryan<b>, </b>it¡¯s Ronald, the one who really holds all the power.¡®

    Ronald was the epitome of self¨Cinterest. Sons or daughters meant nothing to him, only those who could bring him value were worthy of consideration.

    ¡®So now that I¡¯m useful, he thinks he can just coax me back? Dream on<b>,</b>¡® she scoffed to herself.

    Aubree strode off without so much as a backward nce.

    To Ronald, Aubree¡¯s tant rejection only made him more certain of victory. After all, he was offering everything she¡¯d ever dreamed of. He felt that there was no way she¡¯d actually refuse.

    The moment Aubree left, Daxton exploded. ¡°Dad! What the hell were you saying just now? Where does this leave Carmen?¡±

    Ronald gave Daxton a cold sidelong nce, withdrew his supporting hand and shoved it into his trouser pocket. ¡°What do you mean? Did I ever say Carmen isn¡¯t part of our family? She¡¯s just an adopted daughter. Since when do I need her approval to acknowledge my real daughter?¡±

    Ronald said coldly, ¡°After all the trouble she¡¯s caused, the fact that I¡¯m still willing to clean up her messes just shows how generous I¡¯ve already been to her, more than she deserves.

    ¡°Daxton, you¡¯ve been causing troubletely too. Getting the police involved this time? This is looking bad on the Wilson family!¡±

    Daxton clenched his fists, bowing his head in silent fury. ¡®If I say another word, Dad will definitely take it out on Carmen,¡® he thought bitterly.

    ¡°Let this setback be a lesson for Carmen,¡± Ronald said coldly, ¡°Next time, she should use her head and stop giving people ammunition against her.¡± <b>After </b>lecturing his son, he finally signaled for the driver to help Daxton into the car.

    As for Aubree, Ronald wasn¡¯t worried in the slightest. He was certain she¡¯de crawling back home by tomorrow.

    He needed to tell the rest of the family to treat Aubree better for now, at least until he could leverage her connection to Bowen.

    17:21 Mon<b>, </b>

    <b>79</b><b>% </b>

    Back at her apartment, Aubree didn¡¯t take a single word Ronald said seriously: ¡®Only a damn fool would buy that crap; she scoffed to herself

    After beating up Daxton, Aubree felt thoroughly satisfied and slept soundly through the night.

    Dressed in her school uniform with a backpack, Aubree went to Rithol High School the next day.

    The story of how Aubree won the bronze medal and caused Will¡¯s downfall had spread like wildfire through Rithol High School. The moment she stepped into the ssroom, all eyes were instantly drawn to her.

    Unlike before, when they watched her with scorn and schadenfreude, now their eyes shone with nothing but genuine admiration and envy.

    ¡°Look who¡¯s back, the pride of our ss!¡± Once someone spoke up, the rest of the ss erupted in excitement.

    Aubree¡¯s ss was one of Rithol High School¡¯s lower¨Ctier sses, with students of varying abilities.

    A person said, ¡°Hey, Aubree,e and check out my gamey! Do you think I¡¯ve got what it takes to go pro?¡±

    Another said, ¡°Go pro? You? Move over for Queen Aubree! Hey Aubree, free tonight? Wanna carry me to rank up?¡±

    Someone else said, ¡°Back off, everyone! Aubree, could you please help me with this problem?¡±

    Aubree found herself surrounded by her ssmates, the sudden burst of enthusiasm leaving herpletely overwhelmed. ¡®I never imagined I¡¯d actually be this popr one day,¡® she thought.

    Just then, Matilda came to her rescue.

    ¡°Thank you, Aubree!¡± Matilda suddenly pulled her into a tight hug. Aubree was dazed by the sudden embrace.

    ¡®Thank me<i>? </i>For what?¡® Aubree thought, puzzled.

    Matilda said to Aubree, ¡°The girl whomitted suicide was my close friend. Because of what you said, the case was reopened for investigation, and the newly appointed principal got all those people fired.¡±

    Aubree smiled sincerely. ¡°Karma always catches up with the wicked in the end,¡± she said.

 Tried 62

    <b>Chapter </b><b>62 </b>

    Carmen had just stepped into the ssroom when she was instantly drowned in a flood of prying stares and hushed whispers.

    A person asked, ¡°Did you hear?¡±

    Another said, ¡°Everyone¡¯s heard about it by now, alright? She cheated in the statepetition and got Alec kicked <i>out </i>of the Painting Association. As for that Rithol Art School incident, like she didn¡¯t know someone swapped her project. She probably just hired a ghostwriter.

    ¡°And that¡¯s not all. She probably just got back from the new principal¡¯s office. Those bullies who got someone killed were expelled, and word is, she was pulling the strings behind the scenes too.

    ¡°Appearances can be so deceiving! She always acted like such a sweet and generous person, who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d turn out like this<b>? </b>

    ¡°The Wilson family is really unlucky, favoring this worthless trash over their own flesh and blood.

    ¡°Man, Aubree is totally killing it these days!¡±

    One foot in the ssroom, the other rooted outside, Carmen stood frozen, her fingers digging into the straps of her backpack until her knuckles turned white. Head slightly bowed, her eyes zed with barely contained fury.

    She thought, ¡®Aubree is bing more and more of a threat. Last night, Dad and Daxton even made me promise, in front of the whole family, that I¡¯d find an opportunity to apologize to her! How humiliating is that?

    ¡®Why should I apologize to Aubree? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong!

    ¡®Not only that, but Mom actually had my custom¨Cdesigned gown altered for Aubree! How dare she? That dress was mine!¡®

    Carmen seethed as the gossip swirled around her. She thought, ¡®It¡¯s all Aubree¡¯s fault! Why couldn¡¯t she have just stayed missing after being abducted? Why did she have toe back and steal my family, my identity?¡®

    Lizzie Kim snapped, ¡°That¡¯s enough! Don¡¯t act like you all haven¡¯t taken favors from Carmen before!¡±

    A person said, ¡°Everyone knows you¡¯re Carmen¡¯s biggest suck¨Cup.¡±

    Lizzie¡¯s face flushed crimson with anger. Unable to argue with so many people, she rushed up to Carmen, grabbed her, and pulled her toward the ssroom. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them, Carmen,¡± she said urgently, ¡°They¡¯re just jealous of your family¡¯s status, and the fact that you¡¯re with Alvin.¡±

    A person said, ¡°Hrious! Didn¡¯t you see how annoyed Alvin was with herst time?¡±

    Carmen finally snapped. She shook off Lizzie¡¯s hand, stepped forward, and delivered a stinging p across the speaker¡¯s face. ¡°Since when do you get to judge my life?¡± she spat, her voice trembling with rage.

    The girl who got pped was just as hot¨Ctempered and instantly swung back to return the blow, but a quick¨Cthinking ssmate grabbed her arm.¡°Let it go, let it go,¡± the ssmate urged, ¡°She¡¯s got the whole Wilson family behind her. Hit her today, and you¡¯ll be the one paying for it tomorrow.¡±

    The girl said, ¡°What a joke! Mark my words<b>, </b>you¡¯ll never measure up to Aubree, not in this lifetime!<b>¡± </b>

    ¡®Aubree, why is it always her?¡® Carmen seethed inwardly, her frustration reaching a breaking point.

    Carmen was deaf to Lizzie¡¯s words offort. The farce only came to <b>a </b>temporary halt when the teacher entered with teaching materials.

    Carmen barely registered a word <b>of </b>the lesson. Her mind was still seething with resentment.

    She thought, ¡®Make me apologize to Aubree? Fine then, I¡¯ll go apologize to herl

    <b>A </b>calcting gleam flickered in Carmen¡¯s eyes.

    <b>1/3 </b>

    <b>17:22 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b>7 <b>Jul </b>G

    The first ss was followed by an extended break. Seniors could use the time freely, but nearly everyone stayed <b>in </b>the ssroom<b>, </b>buried in their

    textbooks.

    The bell had just rung when someone called from the ssroom door, ¡°Aubree, someone¡¯s here <i>to </i>see you<i>.</i><i>¡± </i>

    Aubree was led to the stairwell. When she saw who hade for her, she smirked. ¡°Well, well, fancy seeing youe to me for once.¡±

    ¡°Sis, don¡¯t be like this,¡± Carmen said, reaching out to her. Aubree immediately took a wary half¨Cstep back, putting distance between them.

    ¡°So, trying that ¡®you pushed me down the stairs¡® trick again?¡± Aubree crossed her arms, her eyes full of mockery.

    Carmen slowly withdrew her hand, her voice soft and pleading. ¡°Sis, you¡¯ve got me all wrong. I just wanted to apologize. Everything that happened <b>was </b>my fault. Please forgive me.¡±

    She tilted her face up, putting on the most pitiful, doe¨Ceyed look imaginable.

    ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s possible?¡± Aubree rolled her eyes. She guessed Ronald must have sent Carmen.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible either.¡± Carmen suddenly smirked, her tone doing aplete 180 from just a moment ago.

    Before Aubree could react, Carmen suddenly raised her hand and delivered a stinging p to her own face. The sharp crack echoed unnervingly through the stairwell. ¡°Sis,¡± she said in a trembling voice, ¡°I just wanted to apologize to you.¡±

    Carmen clutched her cheek as tears welled up in her eyes.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡®Is she out of her damn mind? We¡¯re not even at the Wilson family, who the hell is she putting on this show for?¡® she thought, unable to make sense of Carmen¡¯s behavior.

    ¡°Pathetic,¡± Aubree muttered, turning to leave, only to be stopped by that all¨Ctoo¨Cfamiliar using voice.

    ¡°Aubree! What the hell is this?¡± Daxton snapped.

    Carmen shot her a smug grin and silently mouthed, ¡°Dearest sister, my brother is here at school today, just to deal with my little problem.¡±

    During the break, Carmen had deliberately sent Lizzie to wait by the entrance. The moment Daxton arrived, she would lead him straight to the stairwell, just as Carmen had nned.

    Watching this scene unfold, Carmen thought smugly, ¡®No matter which brother shows up, they¡¯re bound to resent Aubree now, aren¡¯t they?¡®

    Out of the corner of her eye, Carmen saw Bryan and Daxton approaching.

    Daxton charged forward, yanking Carmen behind him protectively. ¡°You¡¯re bullying Carmen again!¡± he snarled.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t decide whether to be more impressed that Daxton could still move so swiftly after the beating she¡¯d given him, or to roll her eyes at how he never seemed to grow, either in height or in brains.

    Rolling her eyes, Aubree muttered, ¡°Dumbass.¡±

    Seething with pent¨Cup rage from old and new grievances, Daxton lunged forward, only for Bryan to intercept him at thest second.

    ¡°Aubree,¡± Bryan said sincerely, ¡°can you tell me what really happened just now? If it wasn¡¯t your fault, I¡¯ve got your back.¡±

    All she had to do was speak, and he¡¯d believe her.

    Carmen wasn¡¯t the least bit flustered. She simply hid behind Daxton, feigning quiet sobs.

    She thought, ¡®This is a surveince blind spot. Winona and her gang used to beat people up here all the time without ever getting caught.

    ¡°Who¡¯d believe I pped myself? No cameras here to prove otherwise.¡®

    Daxton exploded, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Carmen came here to apologize, and you went and hit her! You just can¡¯t stop bullying her, can you?

    Daxton seethed, ¡°Aubree is so vicious and ruthless! As if beating me upst night wasn¡¯t enough, now she even dares toy hands on Carment¡±

    Daxton red daggers at Aubree, his eyes zing with fury.

    Daxton¡¯s words ignited Aubree¡¯s fury. She¡¯d been ready to let it go. After all, it wasn¡¯t worth arguing with an idiot. But since he insisted on using her of hitting someone, she figured she might as well make his usatione true.

    Aubree challenged, ¡°Carmen, do you dare to face me?¡±

    Carmen timidly stepped out from behind Daxton, putting on the most pitiful, victimized expression she could muster. In a trembling voice, she said, ¡°Bryan, Daxton¡­ it¡¯s all just a misunderstanding. Aubree didn¡¯t do anything to me.¡±

    ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t do anything to you!¡± Aubree sneered. Then, seizing the perfect moment, she delivered a stinging backhand p across Carmen¡¯s other cheek.

    She said, ¡°Because this is the only p I gave you.¡±

    The p came so fast that neither Bryan nor Daxton could react in time to stop it.

    ¡°Aubree?¡±

    Daxton¡¯s cry wasced with fury, while Bryan¡¯s was sharp and urgent.

    Bryan waspletely stunned. He never expected Aubree to take action without a word of exnation.

    Carmen couldn¡¯t believe Aubree dared to hit her right in front of her brothers. She stood rooted to the spot,pletely stunned, her mind nk for a long moment. ¡®How could she do this with them watching?¡® Carmen thought, still unable to react.

    Aubree didn¡¯t care what anyone else thought. She stepped forward, gripped Carmen¡¯s chin, and forced her face to the side. ¡°Open your damn eyes and look,¡± she sneered, ¡°Are the p marks on her face the same? If I had pped her, that side of her face would be even more swollen.¡±

    Bryan instinctively nced at both sides of Carmen¡¯s face. Looking closer, he saw the p marks really were different.

    ¡°If that useless brain of yours isn¡¯t doing anything, donate it to science, spare the world your stupidity.¡± With undisguised contempt, Aubree wiped her hand clean on Daxton¡¯s shirt<b>, </b>showing not a shred of courtesy.

    By the time Daxtong snapped out of it, Aubree had already kept a safe distance between them.

    She thought sarcastically, ¡®What if these two grown men decide to y dirty and gang up on a ¡®helpless girl¡® like me? Better keep my distance, just in

    case.¡¯

    As a doctor, Daxton could clearly distinguish the differences between the two p marks on Carmen¡¯s face, the angle, redness, even the subtle swelling. -The professional observation left him momentarily speechless, his throat tightening with emotion.

    After a brief silence, Daxton steeled himself, ¡®Carmen only did this because Aubree¡¯s been hogging all the attentiontely. She had no choice, it¡¯s <b>all </b>Aubree¡¯s fault!¡®

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 Tried 63

    <b>Chapter </b><b>63 </b>

    Bryan looked at Aubree, who was watching like she was enjoying a y, and fulfilled the promise he had made earlier. He stood up for her.

    <b>¡°</b>Carmen, I know you¡¯re upset with Aubree, but that doesn¡¯t justify what you did. Apologize to her,¡± he said in a low and solemn voice, leaving no room for refusal.

    Daxton naturally didn¡¯t want to see Carmen bow her head to Aubree.

    Bryan knew exactly what he wanted to say. His sharp nce silenced Daxton. Daxton suppressed all his protests.

    ¡°If you won¡¯t apologize, I¡¯ll tell Dad everything that happened today.¡± Bryan threatened coldly when he saw that Carmen didn¡¯t move.

    She didn¡¯t want to apologize. She had already been pped twice and hadn¡¯t even gotten justice for herself, yet now she had to apologize to Aubree. She had never suffered this kind of humiliation.

    ¡°Bryan, didn¡¯t she hit me too?¡± Carmen¡¯s whole face was swollen. She waspletely different from her usual delicate appearance, which made others feel sorry for her.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you deserve it?¡± Bryan was getting impatient. It was just an apology. Besides, this whole mess was Carmen¡¯s fault.

    Carmen couldn¡¯t believe her brother would say such a thing to her.

    Seeing that Bryan was getting angrier, she realized if she kept stalling, he¡¯d truly lose patience.

    Aubree hadn¡¯t left. She felt she deserved this apology. And frankly, she was enjoying watching Carmen being put in her ce.

    Carmen clenched her hands, walked up to Aubree, and said with unwilling eyes, ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    After she said it, she was probably grinding her mrs to dust.

    Aubree rubbed her ear. ¡°Sorry for what? Can¡¯t you be more specific?¡±

    ¡°Aubree, don¡¯t go too far!¡± Daxton was furious.

    Aubree shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t ept this kind of apology. People who know what happened will see you¡¯re apologizing for something you did wrong, but people who don¡¯t might think I¡¯m bullying you.¡±

    ¡®Isn¡¯t that exactly what¡¯s happening?¡® Daxton couldn¡¯t understand how Aubree could say something so shameless. In his eyes, she was bullying Carmen.

    Bryan¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°You should be sincere when you apologize. What have you learned <b>in </b>the Wilson family all these years?<b>¡± </b>

    Carmen bit her lip so hard she nearly bled. Her eyes were full of hatred. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have tried to frame you¡­¡±

    Her voice grew quieter and quieter. She was on the verge of losing her mind.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll reluctantly ept this apology.¡± Aubree acted like she was being magnanimous. She had already stomped over Carmen¡¯s <b>pride </b><b>by </b>forcing her to admit her mistakes.

    ss was about to start. Aubree didn¡¯t want to waste her precious time arguing with these people. She left immediately.

    With her face red and swollen<b>, </b>Carmen didn¡¯t have the nerve to stay at school.

    Originally, it was just Bryan who came to deal with her mess<b>, </b>but Daxton insisted on tagging along. Now that Carmen didn¡¯t want <b>to </b><b>return </b><b>to </b><b>ss</b><b>, </b>he pampered her and took her home immediately.

    Meanwhile<b>, </b>at the Wilson family residence.

    Only Alice was at home preparing for the birthday party.

    The moment Carmen saw her, she rushed into her mother¡¯s arms and cried, ¡°Mom, it hurts so much!¡±

    Alice¡¯s heart broke at the sight of Carmen¡¯s swollen face. ¡°Oh my poor baby! What happened? Who hit you?¡±

    She gently caressed Carmen¡¯s cheek, full of real concern. ¡°Oh dear, look at your face.¡±

    Daxton said angrily, ¡°Who else could it be? Of course it was Aubree! Mom, can you believe it? Bryan sided with Aubree!¡±

    ¡°What? Bryan must be crazy!¡± Alice trembled with rage. ¡°Aubree haspletely lost her mind! She beat up Carmen! I¡¯m furious! Where is she? I¡¯ll beat her myself!¡±

    She regretted not being stricter with Aubree when she was younger. Whenever Aubree got sick or injured, she rushed her to the hospital instead of teaching her a lesson. Even strict punishment would have been better than seeing her turn out like this.

    ¡°She will do anything now.¡± Daxton sneered. He¡¯d long known someone like Aubree would be uncontroble if given an inch.

    He only regretted not establishing control over her after she returned and letting her leave so easily back then.

    He added, ¡°I think she¡¯s just relying on Bryan and Emery¡¯s support, plus Dad¡¯s apparent intention to recognize her. That¡¯s why she dares to go against Carmen and upset us.¡±

    Carmen said tearfully, ¡°Mom, do I really have to give that dress to Aubree? I don¡¯t want to. You designed that dress for me, and I¡­¡±

    Her tears melted Alice¡¯s heart. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if your dad favors Aubree, I don¡¯t. Everything of mine belongs to you<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alice added, ¡°Even if Aubreees home, I decide what she wears. The most important thing is that my Carmen is the most dazzling little princess that day.¡±

    Daxton chimed infortingly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carmen. That day, you¡¯ll definitely be the brightest star in all of Rithol City!¡±

    ¡°Mom, Daxton!¡± Carmen was deeply moved.

    The next day was the weekend.

    Aubree called ahead and arranged to meet Matilda. Recently, under the name of Bree Technology, she sessfully connected with Peace Entertainment.

    Thepany¡¯s owner and lead actress, Sylvia Torres, was very interested after listening to Aubree¡¯s yzy app.

    -Under Sylvia¡¯s leadership, Peace Entertainment avoided many shady industry practices. As a result, a few of their artists became mega¨Cstars. Aubree

    nned to use Sylvia¡¯s tform to boost exposure for the artists while Sylvia gained new attention through Aubree¡¯spany. It was a win¨Cwin

    situation.

    If this partnership went well, she¡¯d consider working with Peace Entertainment again during the influencer¨Cto¨Cidol promotion phase.

    Having apatible partner was already half the battle won.

    When Zachary came to pick her up, she noticed Alvin had tagged along.

    She asked, ¡°You came too?¡±

    ¡®Is he observing me?¡® Aubree was briefly confused. Alvin looked her up and down. ¡°I didn¡¯t go to school yesterday. Heard the Wilson family came by.¡± He wanted to ask if she was bullied, but he changed his mind. ¡°You seem fine.¡±

    Then he changed the subject. ¡°Where are we headed?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°To meet Matilda, then to Ramshorn. The first version of yzy is done. After some testing and fixes, it¡¯ll be ready forunch. I¡¯ve arranged for Sylvia to help promote it. She¡¯s filming there now, so I¡¯m going to discuss details with her.¡±

    Alvin nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    That was fine. After all, the Turner family also held shares in thepany. He might even be helpful.

    On the way to pick up Matilda, Aubree suddenly remembered she hadn¡¯t seen Bowen in a while, and casually asked, ¡°is your uncle still in Odiond

    Alvin replied, ¡°Should be. Haven¡¯t seen him back.¡±

    Bowen once said he¡¯d give her a memorable birthday surprise. He¡¯s probably forgotten all about it.

    Aubree felt a little disappointed. She had looked forward to it. Now, she couldn¡¯t help but feel let down.

    Alvin asked, ¡°You need something from my uncle?¡±

    Aubree said, ¡°No, just curious.¡±

    At that moment, Bowen was rolling up his sleeves and pant legs, weeding the yard for a dress designer.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done so much for me these past days. Don¡¯t you have anything to say?¡± The elderlydy with gray hair and reading sses reclined on a chair, looking rxed.

    Bowen smiled. ¡°You already know why I came. I¡¯m trying to win your favor.¡±

    His honesty amused her. ¡°I agreed to make the dress. You¡¯ll have it by the date you asked for. No need to keep working around here. Your assistant is about to cry from worry. Go take care of your business.¡±

    Bowen said, ¡°No rush. I¡¯ll finish this for you first before I leave.¡±

    AD

 Tried 64

    <b>Chapter </b><b>64 </b>

    After picking up Matilda, the three of them headed to Ramshorn on the outskirts.

    Aubree had already arranged with Sylvia to visit the set under the guise of <b>a </b>casual check¨Cin. She would have a break during filming, and Aubree nned

    <b>to </b>talk with her then.

    Before arriving, Aubree bought coffee and desserts out of her own pocket.

    When they got there, Sylvia was still filming, so they waited by the side, quickly drawing quite a few curious nces.

    All three of them were good¨Clooking, even by entertainment industry standards, so people began to specte whether they were neers signed by Peace Entertainment trying to get a cameo in the drama.

    As Aubree watched Sylvia act, a strange sense of familiarity crept over her. She felt like she had seen this scene.

    She frowned and thought for a moment, then her pupils suddenly contracted. She remembered. This drama featured Trevor. He was ying the male

    lead.

    ¡®Just my luck<i>¡­</i><i>¡® </i>Aubree thought.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t describe her feelings. She didn¡¯t want any further entanglements with that family. If any had to happen<b>, </b><b>it </b>would only be her reiming everything she¡¯d once lost.

    She scanned the set. Trevor wasn¡¯t around. It was a small blessing amidst the trouble. He probably didn¡¯t have scenes today and hadn¡¯te.

    After a while, Sylvia finally finished filming.

    ¡°Sorry to keep <i>you </i>waiting,¡± she said. Upon seeing the three young visitors, she was surprised. They looked just like high school students.

    But as a professional actress, she kept herposure. With a graceful smile, she shook hands with all three, showing respect.

    ¡°Hello, let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Aubree Miller, the owner of Bree Technology. This is my friend Matilda Diaz<b>, </b>and this is Alvin Turner, a shareholder.<b>¡± </b>Aubree gave a brief self¨Cintroduction.

    Sylvia was surprised that Aubree was actually the boss.

    She was sure none of them were over 18 or 19, yet here they were,/running apany and with such a bold, innovative idea.

    ¡°About the project you mentioned over the phone. Could you exin it to me in more detail?¡± Sylvia asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Aubree replied, noting with satisfaction that Sylvia¡¯s reaction to her identity as a young boss showed no contempt, only admiration and interest. She liked this kind of partner.

    The app¡¯s initial version had already beenpleted, and Bree Technology had started hiring more staff, forming a basic structure.

    Aubree pulled out prepared documents and began detailing yzy.

    She exined, ¡°We¡¯re in the final stages of development. Once testing confirms stability and we fix any <b>bugs</b><b>, </b><b>we </b>can begin public beta testing. Later, if the tform attracts influencers withrge followings, Peace Entertainment could sign and develop them.¡±

    Aubree borated on how live¨Cstreaming and short video content had boomed inter years, allowing ordinary people to rise <i>to </i>stardom. Influencer managementpanies flourished alongside. So <b>it </b>was better to seize the opportunity first and earn the money.

    Sylvia was tempted, but she also had reservations.

    She suggested, ¡°From the draft contract you showed me, it seems my artists will enter the tform for free, <b>and </b>from the earnings through <b>the </b><b>gift </b>system, the split is 70-30 in favor of the talent?¡±

    She added, ¡°That means if it fails, not only would my artists waste their fire, but it could bergone a repratational rich i

    The benefits were promising, but so were the risks.

    ¡°70-30 is already me giving up a lot. The standard is 50-50, Aubree caid calmly She

    hadn¡¯t eown considered the presbility of fatore. yry man band,

    to seed as long as it ran normally

    But of course, she couldn¡¯t exactly tell Sylvia that she had lived a second life and knew the future,

    ¡°All your concerns arepletely unnecessary. The only reasons yzy might fail are ack of follow up funding or unsessful promotion and tra generation.¡± Alvin suddenly spoke up, drawing Sylvia¡¯s attention.

    ¡®He¡¯s the shareholder, and his surname is Turner?¡® Sylvia thought.

    Sylvia suddenly had a sh of insight, ¡°Wait¡­ could he be from that Turner family?¡±

    ¡°The investor backing Bree Technology is the Turner family,¡± Alvin said inly, confirming Sylvia¡¯s hunch.

    Her hesitation disappeared instantly. ¡°I can have the contract signed and sent to Bree Technology today¡±

    Aubree lit up. ¡°Then I look forward to a great partnership with you.¡±

    Matilda, ever observant, noticed things being carried <i>into </i>the set. ¡°Our food¡¯s arrived!¡±

    ¡°What food?¡± Sylvia asked.

    ¡°We came under the pretense of visiting you, so I thought we should bring something for the crew, just to show some goodwill and build a positive impression,¡± Aubree exined.

    Since no one knew them, the credit for this gesture would naturally fall to Sylvia.

    ¡°You really went all out.¡± Sylvia smiled sincerely.

    She liked Aubree. Aubree was sharp, straightforward, and easy to work with.

    With the food delivered and business settled, Aubree didn¡¯t linger and left with her twopanions.

    What she didn¡¯t know was that shortly after she left, Trevor arrived with a woman in his arms.

    His appearance instantly drew attention. Many of the crew were his fans. After all, Trevor was charismatic and charming.

    ¡°Sylvia, did you buy these?¡± he asked casually, helping himself.

    Sylv¨ªa shook her head. ¡°They were from a friend. Aubree Miller. Do you know her?¡±

    ¡°Aubree Miller!¡± Trevor froze, dessert in hand, unsure whether to eat or set it down.

    Sylvia asked, ¡°You know her?¡±

    Trevor said, ¡°If you mean a very pretty girl who looks about 17 or 18¡­ then probably.¡±

    Sylvia raised her brows. ¡°That¡¯s her.¡±

    Trevor was confident it was the Aubree he knew.

    The woman in his arms immediately grew displeased. ¡°Trevor, is this another one of your old flings?¡±

    ¡°Come <i>on</i><i>, </i><i>no </i>way. She¡¯s my little sister,¡± he said, though his eyes betrayed a moreplicated feeling.

    ???

    1722 MON

    He pondered, ¡®Aubree hade looking for Sylvia? But do they know each other?

    He couldn¡¯t think of any reason for her toe other than for him.

    His eyes darkened a little, probing, ¡°Sylvia, did my sister say what she came for? Did the mention me?

    Sylvia was confused. They were siblings, but they didn¡¯t share the samest name. Even Alice¡¯s fast name wasn¡¯t Miller.

    Still, there was no reason for Trevor to lie about this.

    ¡°Your sister is quite something! So young and alreadying up with brilliant ideas. And she started apany on her own!¡± Sylvia said, will a little in

    awe.

    Trevor was stunned. He pressed again, more urgently, ¡°She didn¡¯te for me?¡±

    He thought all this food was her way of trying to get his attention. He thought she was trying to show affection by offering gifts to the crew

    ¡°Aubree didn¡¯t mention you,¡± Sylvia replied, giving Trevor a curious look. He seemed a bit annoyed when she praised Aubree

    Trevor caught himself under her gaze, forced a smile, and joked, ¡°Guess I¡¯m not a very good brother.¡±

    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll take Evie to go find the director,¡± he added, guiding the woman beside him away.

    The moment he turned, his smile disappeared, and his eyes filled with mixed emotions.

    É«

 Tried 65

    <b>Chapter 65 </b>

    Ever since Aubree hit Carinenst time, things had finally calmed down a bit over the past few days. She went to school and came back normunity, handling matters for both the club and herpany.

    Now that the transfer period for all major clubs had ended, the coach brought in a few new yers to form a secondary team. Meanwhile, Allin¡¯s investment made him a shareholder of the club, and Aubree also hired an agent to start expanding into other gaming ventures.

    With Matilda helping out at the club, Aubree felt reassured enough to start handing over day¨Cto¨Cday operations.

    As for thepany, she still managed that herself. The yzy app hadpleted most of its testing, and after discussing with Sylvia about the list of contracted streamers for the initialunch, they could officially start promoting the app.

    Because of this, Aubree made another trip to Ramshorn.

    Unfortunately, she arrived right when Sylvia had something urgente up.

    Sitting idly on a bench watching the crew film, she suddenly heard a voice behind her. ¡°Aubree, what are you doing here?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree turned to look and immediately frowned.

    She didn¡¯t get to see the person she wanted, but instead ran into someone she really didn¡¯t want to see.

    Her face was full of disdain. She stood up and walked away.

    Seeing this reaction, Trevor was stunned for a moment, then angrily shouted, ¡°Aybree! What kind of attitude is that?¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t even be bothered to respond. There were too many people around, and she figured he wouldn¡¯t dare do anything reckless. if he did, she¡¯d just congratte him on bing the next scandalous celebrity.

    Seeing her ignore himpletely, Trevor ground his teeth in anger.

    Last time, Sylvia said Aubree came to talk about some coboration. And this time, Sylvia wasn¡¯t even here.

    He didn¡¯t think Aubree could bring up any coboration.

    ¡®This is ridiculous!¡® He sneered. Just as he thought, Aubree came to Ramshorn just to show off in front of him.

    Trevor figured this was how she¡¯d won over Bryan and Emery.

    He thought Aubree was still calcting and full of schemes.

    Their father was willing to recognize her, and Daxton wasn¡¯t easy to win over. Trevor thought she must¡¯ve shifted her target to him, trying to bring him to her side to pave the way for her return to the Wilson family.

    ¡®Disgusting!¡® Trevor thought to himself.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to see what you¡¯re really capable of!¡± Trevor had never looked up to Aubree. She was not worthy of being his sister.

    He was looking forward to how Aubree would try to win him over.

    Aubree, naturally, didn¡¯t care what Trevor was thinking.

    Sylvia messaged her, telling her toe to her trailer to talk.

    When Aubree arrived and saw Sylvia inside, she quickly walked over. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re finally here.¡±

    <b>17:22 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>7 </b><b>Jul </b>GO

    <b>She </b>added<b>, </b>¡°The app is finished. I brought it over to show you. If everything looks good, we can finalize which of your artists will tench <b>on </b>the tion

    Sylvia smiled at her. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ve discussed with otherpany execs. There are a few neers and a few mid¨Ctier ones.

    Sylvia continued, ¡°Of course, I know you¡¯re working with me mainly for exposure, so I¡¯m included in the list too.¡±

    There was no doubt that Sylvia was the top star at Peace Entertainment.

    She had both the looks and the acting skills, and her reputation in the industry was clean and positive, with a great public image.

    Aubree had never expected she would agree to join the tform¡¯s live strearning. This was a total surprise bonus.

    Seeing the gentle smile on Sylvia¡¯s face, Aubree felt like a goddess was smiling at her. No wonder so many people loved her. She silently dered that she was also Sylvia¡¯s fan.

    ¡°With you on board, there¡¯s no way yzy will fail.¡± Aubree installed yzy on her phone and gave Sylvia a quick demo.

    She exined, ¡°The tform has two main groups, streamers and viewers. Streamers showcase content for viewers, and if viewers like the streamer, they¡¯ll follow and send gifts. Most of the iees from these gifts.¡±

    She added, ¡°For example, your artists can showcase their tatents, like singing, dancing, anything really. The direction is up to you.¡±

    In other words, if one was good¨Clooking enough, they didn¡¯t even need to do anything. Some people would pay to see them smile.

    Sylvia, as a top star, imagined herself on the tform. Her fans would definitely flock to it, eager to get closer to her and learn more about her.

    Rather than being annoyed, they¡¯d be grateful the tform even existed.

    The more she listened, the more her eyes lit up. Combined with what Aubree had previously exined, she now fully understood. ¡°You¡¯re a genius!¡±

    Sylvia was so excited that she almost wanted to start streaming immediately.

    With the app set tounch in two days, she sent Aubree off and immediately contacted PR to start nning promotions.

    Sylvia hadn¡¯t reached her scene yet, so she rested in the trailer for a while. When she finally headed <b>to </b>set, she saw the girl Trevor had broughtst time yelling at him.

    She remembered her name was Evie. The original second female lead had an ident and couldn¡¯t shoot, so Evie was slotted in. She was also Trevor¡¯s

    new girlfriend.

    If Sylvia were to describe Trevor, he was flirtatious yet oddly loyal.

    He changed girlfriends fast, but during rtionships, he wasmitted and never messed around. He spoiled them and gave them whatever they

    wanted.

    Evie snapped, ¡°Trevor, who are you kidding? That girl is your sister? Looks more like your lover to me!¡±

    ¡°She is my sister. Blood¨Crted.¡± Trevor had a headache.

    Heforted, ¡°Okay, okay, don¡¯t be mad. I bought you that new product you liked, alright?<b>¡± </b>

    Evie didn¡¯t dare throw too big <b>of </b><b>a </b>tantrum and sulked a little before letting it go.

    Noticing Sylvia, Trevor quickly greeted her. ¡°Sylvia<b>, </b>are you still talking about some coboration with Aubree?¡±

    He was sure Aubree had sweet¨Ctalked her somehow. To protect himself and the Wilson family¡¯s image<b>, </b><b>he had </b>to give her a warning.

    He warned, ¡°Sylvia, don¡¯t believe anything she says. Aubree doesn¡¯t know anything. How could she <b>run </b><b>a </bpany? To be honest, she left <b>our </b><b>family </b>because of some issues. Without the Wilson family¡¯s support, she has no power at all. Don¡¯t let her fool you.¡±

    He added, ¡°Even if she¡¯s my sister, I have to admit. Aubree is very cunning, very calcting. You really can¡¯t trust an

    Trevor felt embarrassed, thinking, ¡®Couldn¡¯t shee up with a better excuse to approach me?

    Sylvia was known for her straightforward personality. If he pissed her off, she wouldn¡¯t hold back, if things escted subire, the dar could be serious.

    That was why he went through the trouble of covering Aubree¡¯s ass.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Sylvia looked genuinely confused.

    Trevor said Aubree was cunning, which made no sense to her. She even began to doubt whether Trevor and she were talking about the same person

    Aubree was such a clean, honest¨Clooking girl. Putting those words next to her was like an insult.

    Since yzy had been developed and was about tounch, Sylvia saw no need to keep things vague. ¡°Aubree developed an app. Through this ap9. anyone can stream live, showcase what they want, and attract people to follow and support them.¡±

    ¡°As a top¨Ctier celebrity, I think you understand that the profit potential behind this concept is limitless. Aubree¡¯s still a student, right? I have to say, students these days are incredibly smart. Their minds work so fast!¡± Sylvia said, full of admiration.

    Trevor frowned. ¡°Streaming?¡±

    Trevor thought Aubree was making a mess again. Streaming had existed for ages. If this were such a moneymaker, she still wouldn¡¯t benefit from it.

    <b>AD </b>

    Comment

 Tried 66

    hapter 66

    <b>Chapter </b><b>66 </b>

    Sylvia didn¡¯t notice his expression was off and continued speaking on her own. ¡°Exactly! From our perspective, this is the cheapest <b>type </b>of entertainers,pany. There¡¯s no need to train top¨Ctier celebrities, yet they still take half of the profits.¡±

    She added, ¡°And the best part is, the artists still think the tform gave them a chance. That kind of mindset is just genius.¡±

    Even someone like her, who held a strong position in the entertainment industry, was tempted, let alone all those aspiring nobodies dreaming of fara and fortune.

    This was practically a money¨Cprinting machine.

    Trevor didn¡¯t say anything, but his expression changed slightly. He clearly understood that if Aubree seeded, she¡¯d be a notable figure in Rithof City.

    But he still looked down on Aubree. He didn¡¯t believe she was capable.

    ¡°It¡¯s just child¡¯s y.¡± Trevor scoffed.

    However, Sylvia disagreed with him. ¡°Great minds often emerge young. Weren¡¯t you famous when you were young too? Aubree might be young, but her idea already sets her apart. Times are changing. I think what she¡¯s doing could reshape the whole industry.¡±

    She added, ¡°And even if she fails now, she¡¯ll probably a

    achieve something big in the future.¡±

    Seeing Sylvia¡¯s admiring expression, Trevor felt nothing but contempt. He thought Aubree had no way to be sessful.

    He thought Aubree probably used the prize money from her previouspetitions to start thispany.

    Once she burned through that money, she¡¯d likely have no choice but to crawl back home, begging for help.

    All this arrogance in front of her brothers was probably just a ploy to make them regret favoring Carmen.

    ¡®Just as scheming as ever. Trevor sneered inwardly.

    Trevor didn¡¯t say anything more to Sylvia. Kind advice can¡¯t save someone doomed to fail. Instead of wasting time talking here, he might as well get his own studio¡¯s PR team ready in advance.

    Aubree had been running herself ragged these days.

    Her team was even more enthusiastic than she expected. The testing phase finished two days ahead of schedule. As soon as the appunched, Turner Group aggressively promoted yzy online, flooding the inte with ads.

    Sylvia reposted on Twitter, announcing her official move to yzy and inviting fans to join her for chats and games.

    Even God¡¯s Fury announced its members were signing with yzy<i>, </i>and they would be doing a live broadcast of League of Legends on the tform that very night.

    Whether out of curiosity or love for their idols, yzy rocketed into the top three of the app store on its first day.

    That evening, Aubree stayed at thepany, watching the real¨Ctime fluctuations of the user data alongsi

    <b>¡°</b>It¡¯s still climbing!¡±

    ¡°At this rate, we¡¯ll be number one by tomorrow.¡±

    core developers.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, you¡¯re amazing! Getting Turner Group as a sponsor was a power move. The promotion is outssing everything else out there <b>right </b><b>now</b><b>!</b>¡±

    <b>24 </b>MO

    Aubree looked at the ever¨Crising red line on the screen and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll give extra bonus to everyone as a celebration¡±

    She added, ¡°Also, get the streamers we recruited ready. Looks like we can go live starting tomorrow.¡±

    If the tform wanted to operate long¨Cterm, traffic was key. But aside from viewers, quality streamers were equally important.

    Drawing from her experience, Aubree had already reached out in advance to those who had gone viral when streaming tforms first boomed. She¡¯d

    have them start broadcasting to seed various content niches.

    It was like <b>a </b>manual, showing aspiring creators what was possible.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, a lot of gaming clubs just messaged me asking about signing deals,¡± her secretary, Vincent Sloan, said as he approached with his phone. His usually pale face was flushed with excitement.

    Vincent had just graduated with a degree in finance. Initially, when Turner Group declined <i>to </i>refer him elsewhere and instead sent him to Aubree, he had low expectations. He thought a teenage girl starting apany was ridiculous.

    He took the job thinking he could cozy up to her and maybe get into Turner Group through the back door. But the more he worked with Aubree, the more he realized how much potential Bree Technology had.

    If he could stick around, he could be her right¨Chand man, just like Kelvin, the legendary assistant to Turner Group¡¯s head, Bowen!

    Aubree said without hesitation, ¡°Of course we wee them. These clubs have their own loyal fan bases. The fan retention for e¨Csports yers is insanely high.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± She paused and then smiled. ¡°If Apex Squad contacts us, reject them, no matter what they offer.¡±

    Whether for personal reasons or business concerns, Apex Squad was off¨Climits.

    With Killian joining their team and ongoing internal issues, Apex Squad was heading for a streak of defeats in the uing tournament. Public opinion would soon turn against them.

    If they started streaming on yzy during that storm, it would bring nothing but toxic energy to the tform. And personally, Aubree couldn¡¯t stand Emery. There was no way she¡¯d let him benefit from this.

    ¡°Got it, I understand.¡± Vincent nodded and rushed off to handle it.

    He had noints about working overtime on such a promising project.

    yzy¡¯s debut created massive buzz online. Otherpanies quickly sensed the opportunity, either looking to coborate or rush <b>out </b>copycat products.

    Aubree didn¡¯t care. She was already preparing her next project, Zappy.

    This app had even more potential than yzy. In the previous timeline, it became a nationwide sensation and eventually went global.

    No one could resist mindlessly scrolling on Zappy.

    The next morning, when she woke up and saw the financial report from the ounting department, her smile was truly heartfelt.

    The total revenue on the first day had surpassed two million dors. And that was with many users still unfamiliar with the tform¡¯s gifting features.

    Aubree woke up in the morning and received the financial statement sent to her<i>. </i>She smiled sincerely wher

    <i>w </i>the numbers.

    yzy had already signed deals with several clubs. The next step was to secure the official partnership with the League of Legends game, ideally as <b>the </b>exclusive live broadcast tform. But that could wait.

    For now, Aubree needed to continue boosting promotions, bringing in more celebrities, and cultivating grassroots stars to attract everyday users <b>to </b><b>start </b>streaming and expand tform diversity,

    A few days afterunch, yzy¡¯s user traffic was still climbing daily. It had now imed the top spot in the <b>app </b>store tankings,

    Daily revenue had stabilized around seven million dors. That number alone meant Aubree had already won. All that was left was refining <b>and </b>expanding the tform¡¯s operations.

    ¡°Seven million dors a day¡­ that means we¡¯ll break a hundred million dors in the first month!¡±

    ¡°I still have 2% equity. Oh my god! This is insane! I never imagined I¡¯d live to see this day!¡±

    ¡°Ms. Miller, I¡¯ve gotten some offers from other techpanies trying to poach me,¡±

    Thatment was echoed by everyone in the core development team.

    But, before Aubree could respond, every one of them beat her to it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Miller. We¡¯ll stick with you <i>to </i>the end!¡±

    No otherpany could match what their shares were worth. The better Bree Technology did, the more they earned. Only a fool would jump ship <b>just </b>for higher sries.

    Aubreeughed. ¡°Stick with me, and you¡¯ll be well taken care of.¡±

    Offering equity had motivated them to work overtime and also protected her team from being stolen by rivals.

    It was still early days. If she lost her team now, it would all be over.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®Might as well pack it up and call it a day.¡®

    With yzy¡¯s rising poprity, senior leadership at Turner Group had started to take notice.

    At the first meeting Bowen attended after returning to Rithol City, someone brought it up.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, you have a great vision. Getting in on this project was

    a genius move.¡±

    ¡°Yes! If Bree Technology¡¯s founder had picked someone else to partner with, we¡¯d be left drooling on the sidelines.¡±

    ¡°Whoever runs Bree Technology is a real talent!¡±

    No one hated making more money. Turner Group held a 30% stake in Bree Technology, which brought in significant cash flow.

    Bowen listened to thepliments with great satisfaction. ¡°Of course. She¡¯s always been amazing.¡±

    It had been a while since hest saw her. He wondered if she had lost or gained weight.

    Her birthday wasing up soon. He still had a few more arrangements to finalize<b>¡­ </b>

 Tried 67

    It was a day off today.

    Aubree rubbed her temples and got up from bed. It wasn¡¯t until her phone calendar alert reminded her that she remembered. It was her birthday today.

    With yzy¡¯sunch these past few days and her schoolwork piling up, she¡¯d been running like a spinning top. She¡¯dpletely forgotten about her birthday.

    Aubree had never expected much from birthdays. Back at the orphanage, birthdays were a luxury no one dared to hope for Later, after returning to the Wilson family, every birthday was celebrated with Carmen. Carmen was the star of the show, and Aubree was nothing,

    It didn¡¯t matter to Aubree. No one cared anyway.

    With a self¨Cmocking smile, Aubree got up to wash up, nning to review Odiondian in the morning and then visit the club.

    The annual finals were about to start next week. If they could take the championship again, God¡¯s Fury would officially enter the public eye.

    Around noon, Aubree went to the club. At that time, everyone was just waking up one after another.

    She looked around and didn¡¯t see Alvin or Matilda.

    Given the uing match, the two should¡¯ve been here for joint training whenever they had time. She hadn¡¯t heard they were busy either.

    Feeling puzzled, Aubree happened to see Leroying downstairs. ¡°Alvin and Matilda didn¡¯te<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Seeing it was her, Leroy looked flustered for a second, then quicklyposed himself and looked around evasively. ¡°Not sure. Maybe they had something to do.¡±

    Aubree narrowed her eyes. She thought they had something to hide from her.

    Unable to guess what they might be up to, she didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Got it/<b>I </b>came to check on your training progress.¡±

    Once it came to business, Leroy looked confident. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll definitely bring you back a trophy. The new midner is strong. We¡¯re syncing up

    well.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to chill the champagne early.¡± Seeing everyone in good form, Aubree gave the new midner some pointers on finer techniques and then

    left.

    Compared to Aubree¡¯s usual routine, today was an extremely different day for the Wilson family.

    Their beloved youngest daughter was turning eighteen.

    Alice called back all four older brothers, even Ronald wasn¡¯t spared.

    The Wilson family hosted today¡¯s event. Though Bryan was reluctant, for the family¡¯s reputation, they had to keep up appearances.

    Daxton didn¡¯t need to be reminded. He had finished all hisb work early so he could spend the day with his beloved little sister.

    Trevor was still filming but had already said he¡¯d return early.

    Emery, on the other hand, showed his displeasure openly. These days, he didn¡¯t even want to <b>go </b>home. He w

    apartment.

    to stay at the club or in his own

    When Alice told him toe home for Carmen¡¯s birthday, the first thing he said when he arrived was, ¡°<b>Aubree¡¯s </b><b>not </bing?¡±

    He didn¡¯t even try to hide his attitude, nearly driving Alice into a rage.

    Emery was adamant. ¡°If Aubree¡¯s noting for the

    birthday, then I won¡¯t stay here¡±

    ¡°Alright. Today is Carmen¡¯s birthday, don¡¯t stir trouble, Rx, Aubree wille back.¡± Ronald stepped in to calm things down Eyes at this point, bren firmly believed Aubree wouldn¡¯t abandon the Wilson family.

    He had made his intentions clear, given Aubree the Wilson family name she always wanted. She was bound toe back.

    ¡°Honey, did you prepare the custom dress I asked for Aubree? I had Wendy waiting at the gate. Once she sees Aubreg, she¡¯s to take her straight to get her hair and makeup done.¡± Ronald was so confident that when inviting guests, he said it was a joint birthday celebration for both daughters.

    When he brought up the dress, Alice turned her eyes away guiltily. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s ready.¡±

    Alice never nned to follow his instructions and give Carmen¡¯s dress to Aubree. Nothing of Carmen¡¯s should be taken by Aufree.

    Her n was to prepare any random dress, but Daxton told her that since everyone was focused on Carmen¡¯s birthday<i>, </i>no one would notice if something went wrong with Aubree¡¯s dress. But if anything did go wrong, the Wilson family would lose face.

    Since Aubree and Carmen had simr builds, they could just give Aubree one of Carmen¡¯s old dresses. That would be safer and less of a hassle

    Alice went with the idea. So in reality, no new dress was ever prepared for Aubree.

    Ronald didn¡¯t notice her guilty look and assumed everything had been properly arranged.

    ¡°Alright, Emery. If you¡¯ve got nothing else to do, go rest in your room.¡± His tone had a hint of warning.

    Recently, there were online rumors of discord within the Wilson family, which affected thepany¡¯s shares. Everyone had to be present at tonight¡¯s party, no exceptions.

    Emery was annoyed but could only grumble, ¡°Got it.¡±

    A bitter, Trevor came back.

    Their mom was upstairs with Carmen doing her makeup, and Emery wasn¡¯t home. Their dad was contacting guests.

    Only Bryan and Daxton were handling the party preparations.

    Seeing him return, Bryan greeted him. ¡°Trevor, you¡¯re back. Busy with filmingtely?¡±

    Trevor replied, ¡°It¡¯s been okay. Of course, I made time toe home for my sister¡¯s birthday.¡±

    Then, Daxton chimed in with a mood¨Ckilling remark. ¡°The question is, which sister are you here for?¡±

    Trevor smiled diplomatically. ¡°You know who.¡±

    He yed it safe. Then he mentioned how Aubree had visited his filming set recently.

    Trevor said, ¡°The female lead, Sylvia, said Aubree came to discuss some live¨Cstream coboration, but I don¡¯t think Aubree is capable of something like

    that.¡±

    He¡¯d been too busy with filmingtely and hadn¡¯t kept up with the news. He didn¡¯t know that yzy had alreadyunched and gone viral. Even <b>when </b>he saw some headlines, he never made the connection to Aubree.

    Daxton was even more clueless. He¡¯d been sacrificing sleep to make time for Carmen¡¯s birthday prep.

    He gave the same opinion as Trevor had before.

    Daxton said, ¡°She wasn¡¯t there to talk business. She was just trying to get close to you. Don¡¯t fall for it. Aubree¡¯s always scheming.¡±

    Trevor nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too. She never came back after those two days.¡±

    ¡°Probably saw you didn¡¯t fall for her and gave up.¡± Daxton folded his arms with a cold sreer.

    Just then, Wendy came rushing in, looking flustered. Daxton frowned. ¡°Wendy, what are you panicking for? Didn¡¯t bad tell you to <b>wait </b>for fuhr <b>z </b>

    Wendy replied, ¡°Mr. Daxton Wilson, that¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m looking for Mr. Ronald Wilson.¡±

    ¡®What did she mean?¡® Daxton nced toward the door. ¡®Did Aubree arrive?¡±

    He said, ¡°So what if she did? Why all the fuss?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Wendy became more anxious. She had seen how Ronald was dead set on Aubreeing today. But as someone who¡¯d observed <b>everything </b>over the years, she knew very well what kind of life Aubree had in this household.

    Seeing that Aubree still hadn¡¯t shown up, Wendy sent a message to check in. Aubree never even intended toe back.

    Wendy couldn¡¯t wait any longer. It would upset Ronald and ultimately hurt his reputation.

    ¡°Miss Miller won¡¯te back here!¡± Wendy blurted it out and rushed off to find Ronald, leaving Daxton dumbfounded.

    Bryan¡¯s expression turned thoughtful. He looked at Trevor. ¡°Trevor, is Aubree¡¯spany called Bree Technology?¡±

    Unlike the other two, Bryan had been paying attention. With how viral yzy had be, he¡¯d already started looking into it.

    Now, hearing what Trevor said, he had a hunch. ¡°I think that¡¯s the name.¡±

    Bryan replied, ¡°Then Aubree probably didn¡¯te to look for <i>you </i>after all.¡±

    He continued, ¡°Recently, a new live¨Cstream app called yzyunched. It shot to the top of app stores overnight. And ording to financial estimates, thepany¡¯s revenue in just a few days has conservatively exceeded 30 million dors.¡±

    Trevor¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn¡¯t imagine those numbers having anything to do with Aubree.

    Daxton was equally shocked.

    .

    <b>AD </b>

 Tried 68

    <b>Chapter 68 </b>

    The Wilson family¡¯s birthday party was about to begin.

    Guests were arriving one after another, but there was still no sign of Aubree.

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened. Even when Wendy came to report to him, he still couldn¡¯t believe Aubree really remained unmoved by the conditions he had offered.

    It seemed she didn¡¯t care about bing legally independent from them at all.

    He thought he was aiming to take over the entire Wilson family. At most, he could restore her inheritance rights, but anything more was out of the question.

    While Ronald was secretly considering further lowering his bottom line, the bodyguards he had sent to look for Aubree returned. They wore uneasy expressions and seemed hesitant to speak. Aubree didn¡¯t care about the birthday party at all.

    One of them said, ¡°Mr. Wilson, Miss Miller¡­ she is celebrating her birthday.¡±

    Then, there was a sound of a ss shattering.

    ¡°Good, very good!¡± Ronald¡¯s face turned red with fury. ¡°That ungrateful girl! Is she trying to embarrass me?<b>¡± </b>

    He had announced that the party would celebrate both daughters. If Aubree didn¡¯t want to attend, he could have made excuses. The family was holding a party for her, but she chose to celebrate with others. That felt like a p in his face.

    The bodyguards kept their heads down, not daring to reply.

    ¡°Fine! Let her be! Our family is doing fine without her!¡± Ronald raged. ¡°Daxton said <b>it </b>best. She was born lowly, and if kindness doesn¡¯t work, then <b>we¡¯ll </b>deal with her the hard way!¡±

    Aubree knew nothing about what was happening in the Wilson family household.

    That afternoon, just as she left the office, she was whisked away by Ethan and Samson, who had been waiting for her. She asked <b>where </b>they were going, but both only grinned and refused to answer.

    ¡°You arranged this?¡± Aubree asked, surprised when they stopped at a high¨Cend styling studio.

    Walking in, she was met with the sight of Bowen, dressed mboyantly in an ink¨Cwash¨Cinspired outfit, looking every bit like a peacock in full disy.

    ¡°Yeah. I wanted to surprise you, though I guess it¡¯s more of a shock,¡± he said with an apologetic smile.

    Beside him stood a clothing rack covered with ck fabric<b>. </b>It was hiding a dress.

    ¡°Not exactly a shock,¡± Aubree replied, trying to sound calm, though her heart was pounding. It seemed <b>he </b>was nning to celebrate her birthday.

    ¡°Get dressed and made up. Tonight, you¡¯re the star and you need to shine brightest,¡± he said, eyes full of affection. He couldn¡¯t hide his emotions. They

    were written all over his face.

    He hoped tonight¡¯s arrangements would make her/happy.

    With one motion, he pulled off the cover, revealing a dress.

    Girls naturally found it hard to resist beautiful things, and Aubree was no exception.

    If this gown meant anything to her, it was because it brought back dreams from when she was younger.

    Back in school, she had fantasized about wearing something stunning, walking into a room, and drawing everyone¡¯s attention.

    Bowen said, ¡°It¡¯s custom made. But if you don¡¯t like it, I also had some designerbels send over theirtest collections

    ¡°I love it,¡± Aubree muimured, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

    She didn¡¯t love just the dress. She loved that someone had taken her seriously.

    She ran her hand over the gown¡¯s smooth fabric. From the stitching to the subtle embroidery, everything, screamed craftsmanship and care

    ¡°I¡¯ll go change,¡± she murmured, turning away so Bowen wouldn¡¯t see the emotion brimming in her eyes.

    When Aubree reappeared, everyone went silent,

    Aubree had always been beautiful, but in that gown, she was divine. The off¨Cshoulder cut showed off her delicate corbones, and the flowing skirt hugged her silhouette just right. Her long hair was curled loosely and swept to one side, essorized only with pearl earrings and a matching bracelet.

    ¡°You look like you just stepped off a red carpet, Miss Miller,¡± Samson said, ears turning red.

    It wasn¡¯t just her looks. It was the quiet confidence and elegance she radiated.

    ¡°You¡¯re stunning,¡± Ethan added sincerely.

    Even the usually quiet Zachary said, ¡°Beautiful.¡±

    Bowen offered his hand like a gentleman. ¡°Miss, may I take you to dinner?¡±

    No one disliked genuinepliments. Aubree smiled and ced her hand in his. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡±

    The restaurant had been reserved in advance. Bowen had spared no expense. He¡¯d booked out Rithol City¡¯s most prestigious hotel, located <b>atop </b>the city¡¯s tallest building, offering a panoramic view of the entire skyline.

    He led Aubree to the door and then stopped.

    Just as she turned to ask why, he looked at her with a soft smile. ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    Bowen released her hand and motioned toward the entrance.

    Aubree pushed open the door.

    Confetti cannons went off, and colorful ribbons floated down from the ceiling.

    ¡°Happy birthday, Aubree!¡±

    ¡°Not fair! You didn¡¯t tell us it was your birthday!¡±

    ¡°Seriously, Miss Miller, next time you owe us a round of bonuses!¡±

    T

    ¡°You¡­ all of you¡­¡± Aubree was speechless. Matilda, Alvin, her teammates from the esports club, and her colleagues from thepany. They were all

    here.

    Bowen had invited everyone who mattered to her.

    ¡°Aubree, I thought we were friends,¡± Matilda said dramatically, waving the gift box in her hand. ¡°Guess I was <b>wrong</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    She pretended to take the gift back.

    Knowing she was teasing, Aubree snatched it and hugged it tightly. ¡°You were already nning to give it. No takebacks!¡±

    Matildaughed.

    17:23 Mon, <b>7 </b>Jul G

    Alvin shoved a box at her awkwardly. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Uncle Bowen ¡±

    He was still the same proud, awkward guy.

    Aubree smiled. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Turner. And thanks to your uncle for convincing you to show up.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s ears turned red. ¡°Whatever.¡±

    Her teammates crowded around, each presenting gifts.

    The core staff from herpany didn¡¯t bother with presents. ¡°Miss Miller, here¡¯s our gifts!¡±

    103

    Back at the Wilson family mansion, the party was in full swing. As one of Rithol City¡¯s elite families, their name carried weight.

    Even though it was just a foster daughter¡¯s birthday, plenty of big names from business, politics, and entertainment had shown up. A¨Clist celebrities were the lowest tier of guests.

    When the event began, Ronald announced that Aubree was absent due to health issues.

    Whether or not it was true didn¡¯t matter. Nobody was here for a heartfelt birthday celebration anyway.

    Among the guests, Emery sneered coldly. His father was still deluded enough to think a shiny facade could cover the damage Aubree had done to their family.

    While Ronald was still speaking, Emery stood up and walked out in front of everyone.

    Emery¡¯s abrupt exit immediately sparked a wave of hushed whispers among the distinguished guests.

    Ronald¡¯s face turned stormy, but he forced a smile and carried on.

    No matter what happened, the Wilson family had to maintain face tonight.

    As his speech ended, Carmen descended <i>the </i>staircase in a designer gown.

    In that moment, she was every inch the pampered princess, dazzlingly radiant as shemanded the room¡¯s attention,

    ¡°Carmen, I have a gift for you,¡± Daxton announced. The party was being held on the estate¡¯s massivewn.

    As he finished, dazzling lights shot into the sky. Fireworks exploded above, and guests all looked up.

    Daxton continued, ¡°I want all of Rithol City <i>to </i>know that today is your birthday.¡± The sky lit up with brilliant bursts. Even among this crowd of the rich and powerful, the disy was breathtaking.

    People around Carmen were full of admiration.

    They envied her status, her family, and her brothers.

    She lifted her chin proudly, basking in it all. She was the star.

    She was the beloved little princess of the Wilson family.

    But just then¡­

    ¡°Wait¡­ doesn¡¯t that firework say ¡®Aubree, happy birthday¡®?¡± Someone shouted in shock.

    The first firework spelled out ¡°Aubree.¡± The ones that followed had messages using various nicknames like Miss Miller and Bree.

    No matter the nickname, the message was clear. These fireworks were for Aubree.

    Carmen¡¯s face turned pale.

 Tried 69

    <b>Chapter </b><b>69 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>This one¡¯s my birthday wish for you!¡± Hector leaned over the railing, pointing excitedly at the fireworks in the sky.

    Matilda pointed to the next one. ¡°And that one¡¯s mine.¡±

    ¡°Bree, may you always be safe and at peace.¡±

    Seeing that nickname, Aubree instinctively turned around. Bowen was behind her, smiling softly. ¡°That one¡¯s from me.¡±

    ¡°Thank you all so much!¡± Aubree threw her arms around the nearest person, Matilda. ¡°Thank you, all of you. This is the most romantic, most wonderful birthday I¡¯ve ever had.¡±

    ¡°Silly girl. We¡¯ll celebrate every year,¡± Matilda said, hugging her back.

    Meanwhile, across the river where the wind bit like knives, Ollie stood shivering. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, dressed in a sharp surt with his hair slicked back. Autumn had arrived, and the temperature had dropped.

    In front of him were the empty firework boxes.

    ¡°Damn it! That bastard!¡± Ollie cursed through chattering teeth. ¡°I thought he called me out to celebrate Aubree¡¯s birthday. Turns out I¡¯m just here to light fireworks so he could impress her!¡±

    He had even dressed up for the asion, only to be left standing around freezing.

    As the president of Turner Group, Bowen could ask anyone to do this job.

    However, Bowen said it was too important to entrust to an outsider. Ollie scoffed. He bet Bowen was just afraid he¡¯d steal the spotlight <b>at </b>the party.

    Beside him stood another man. It was Mark. He was tall and imposing, with a buzz cut and a stoic face. ¡°What¡¯s Bowen been up totely?¡± <b>Mark </b>asked. ¡°Last time I came back from a mission and finally got some leave, he popped into Nightworld for five minutes and ghosted.¡±

    And he asked them to set off fireworks. Mark thought Bowen must be bored out of his damn mind.

    ¡°Remember that girl Bowen used to sponsor at the orphanage?¡± Ollie asked, his voice more serious now.

    At that, Mark looked up at the sky again. The fireworks had faded. ¡°So it¡¯s her.¡±

    He said, ¡°I¡¯ve been digging into the truth behind what really happened with Bowen¡¯s brother and sister¨Cinw. I¡¯m finally starting to piece things together.¡±

    He added, ¡°Alvin is keeping close tabs on it too¡­ but I don¡¯t know whether the truth will bring peace or more pain.¡±

    Ollie let out a long sigh. ¡°He still can¡¯t let it go, huh?¡±

    Back at the Wilson family¡¯s estate, the guests had long dispersed. Housekeepers and servants were cleaning <b>up </b>the aftermath. The Wilson family sat clustered in the living room.

    Daxton stormed in, phone in hand and face twisted with fury. ¡°I made some calls. Bowen ordered those fireworks before I even did. They were custom- made. The factory had already notified me about canceling my order, but I¡¯ve been too swamped to notice¡±

    Carmen sat stiffly, clutching her knees. Rage was bubbling under her skin. It was her most humiliating birthday ever.

    The sky had been filled with fireworks celebrating Aubree, and none of them were <i>for </i>her. The spotlight <b>that </b>should have belonged to her had been stolen in the most morous way.

    Even though no one said anything to her face, Carmen could feel their judgment in every nce. Those gazed cut her pride in pined. All because of Aubree.

    <b>¡°</b>This is all your fault!¡± Alice snapped at Daxton. ¡°Look at the mess you¡¯ve made!¡±

    Daxton looked guilt¨Cridden. ¡°Carmen, I¡¯m sorry. I embarrassed you,¡±

    Carmen forced a tight smile. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Daxton. Besides, celebrating for Aubree is a good thing too. It¡¯s all the same.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s all the same,¡± Bryan chimed in nonchntly. ¡°Celebrating for Aubree just lets everyone know today¡¯s our sisters¡® birthday¡±

    Deep down, he was even a little relieved. At least Aubree had finally had a proper birthday.

    His fingers brushed the gift in his pocket. He¡¯d thought Aubree mighte back tonight, but it seemed he¡¯d have to wait to give it to her next time.

    Carmen¡¯s smile faltered. Bryan¡¯s reaction was nothing like she had imagined. She thought he wouldfort her or scold Aubree for stealing her thunder

    ¡°Bryan¡¯s right. It¡¯s fine. Mom, Dad, it¡¯s not like this is the only birthday I¡¯ll ever have. If Aubree is happy, that¡¯s good enough for me,¡± she said with a smile full of forced generosity.

    Inside, though, her fury was razor¨Csharp. ¡®Aubree, you pushed me this far. Don¡¯t me me for whates next!

    Her eyes gleamed with malice.

    Bryan frowned slightly. Something about Carmen¡¯s tone didn¡¯t sit right.

    Ronald, on the other hand, was consumed with thoughts of Aubree and Bowen¡¯s rtionship. He bitterly regretted letting Aubree go so easily.

    Trevor had left early to return to her filming schedule.

    Only Daxton and Alice remained. Their hearts ached over Carmen¡¯s humiliation, but moved by her apparent magnanimity. They never once questioned that the fireworks were clearly never meant for Carmen, nor that the ¡°surprise¡± belonged entirely to someone else.

    The next morning, Aubree awoke to her phone buzzing nonstop.

    The fireworks Bowen had set off had made quite the ssh online. Since registering herpany and starting her esports club, Aubree had also set up a Twitter ount. Previously, she¡¯d had only a handful of bot followers. Overnight, she gained a million. She was nearly on par with some rising celebrities.

    Aubree was stunned.

    She instinctively reached for her neck. Her fingers paused. Looking down, she saw a dark green pendant carved into the shape of a leaf. The memory came flooding back. It was Bowen¡¯s birthday gift.

    She sped it in her hand. It was cool to the touch, but the chill soon warmed in her palm. Thanks to her recent rise to fame, even thement section of hertest ad was flooded with blessings from strangers.

    Aubree smiled faintly. Living again really was a gift. If only the Wilson family didn¡¯t exist, it would be perfect. But she would reim every ounce of pain she had suffered in the past timeline.

    For now, she jumped out of bed and packed her school bag. The midterm exams wereing up, and she couldn¡¯t afford to ck. Her goal was top 50.

    As usual, on the way to school, Zachary parked the car a short distance from the school. Aubree just nee

    campus.

    But today, Zachary frowned, scanning the surroundings. ¡°Miss Miller, someone¡¯s watching the area.¡±

    ¡°What kind of person?¡± She was a billionaire now. Being targeted wasn¡¯t out of the question.

    walk through an alley to reach the

    17723 MON, JUI

    Aubree instantly grew alert.

    Zachary observed closely. ¡°A few girls¡­ around your age?

    Aubree quickly pieced it together<i>. </i>

    In the past timeline, the bullying gang that tormented Aubree was secretly backed by Carmes, it was her persvandt deg displeased her.

    They had once targeted her for being smarter, prettier, and briefly admired by Alvin,

    They were also the ones responsible for the death of Matilda¡¯s friend.

    Even though she had reopened the case, theck of evidence meant those giris had only been expelled for bullying, not chmiely provented fod co they dared show up again.

    Aubree chuckled coldly. She already had a n.

    They were all civilized people, and no need for fists and knives in the shadows.

    She leaned over to Zachary, ¡°Here¡¯s what you¡¯ll do¡­¡±

    Zachary hesitated. ¡°But what if you get hurt?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve been training. I might not be able to beat them, but I can keep them fromying a finger on me.¡± Aubree opened the door and walked off, swinging her school bag over one shoulder.

    The moment she stepped out, the girls watching her immediately alerted someone.

    As she entered the alley, three delinquent girls with dyed hair and tattoos appeared ahead. The leader had a cigarette dangling from her lips. ¡°Well, well. Isn¡¯t this Miss Miller? Look at you. Such a big shot.¡±

    Aubree took two steps back. Turning around, she saw two more girls closing in. She was trapped.

    From her quick scan, at least three of them were carrying weapons.

    Aubree smirked. Their weapons were enough to get them locked up for a couple of years.

    <b>AD </b>

 Tried 70

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Aubree feigned fear as she was quickly cornered by the five girls.

    ¡°What are we going to do?¡± The leader spat out her cigarette and red viciously. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, my parents wouldn¡¯t n to send me abroad

    No parent would willingly ept a daughter being a murderer. Their families were either ashamed and ready to abandon them, trying to ship them off abroad, or marrying them off as quickly as possible if money was tight.

    These five girls had pinned all their misfortunes on Aubree.

    ¡°You think you¡¯re so great with your little bronze award? You got all of us into trouble!¡± Another girl pped Aubree¡¯s face lightly.

    The one with the knife sneered. ¡°You think you¡¯re something, bullying Carmen? Don¡¯t you know she¡¯s under our protection? Had fun at your birthday yesterday, huh? How dare you stole Carmen¡¯s spotlight?¡±

    Another one said, ¡°That fireworks disy was really something. How many sugar daddies did you have to sleep with to make it happen?¡±

    A flood of foul and vulgarnguage poured down on Aubree.

    Aubree lowered her head without retorting, her hand behind her back clutching the fruit knife she always carried. The moment was drawing near¡­

    She weed their endless taunts. Because the more they said now, the harder it would be to deny itter.

    ¡°Enough chit¨Cchat, Taya. Look at her pathetic face. She won¡¯t even squeak if we beat her. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Another girl waved the knife threateningly at Aubree.

    Aubree looked terrified. ¡°What¡­ what are you going to do to me?¡±

    ¡°What do you think?¡± The leader grinned maniacally.

    She added, ¡°You love attention, right? We¡¯ll get you on the front page. How about this headline? ¡®High school girl assaulted and murdered on her way to school¡®? We think it suits you perfectly.¡±

    ¡°Lucky you, we won¡¯t waste time. We¡¯ll only make it hurt for a moment. After you¡¯re dead, we¡¯ll strip off your clothes and then¡­¡± Their eyes dropped to Aubree¡¯s private parts, twisted with sadistic delight.

    They had chosen this ce specifically because it had no surveince. Every step had been carefully scouted in advance.

    Aubree¡¯s heart turned colder. The people before her were nothing but beasts by nature. Calling them inherently evil was more urate than any other

    She had long lost track of how many victims had suffered at the hands of this group. After one of Matilda¡¯s friends jumped off a building, Aubree had overheard them in the bathroom joking and mocking her death without an ounce of remorse or fear.

    Aubree looked up with a cold smile. ¡°Well, sounds like you¡¯ve made a thorough and evil n. But I¡¯m sorry, looks like you won¡¯t get to carry out even the first step.¡±

    Thinking Aubree was provoking her, the leader grabbed the knife from herpanion and raised it. ¡°You think I¡¯m bluffing? No one¡¯s saving you today!¡±

    Just as the de neared Aubree, a hand suddenly appeared and gripped her wrist tightly.

    The leader let out a piercing scream as her wrist was twisted at an unnatural angle. It popped out of its socket with a sickening crack.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± The others pulled out their weapons, aiming at Zachary, who suddenly appeared.

    Without a word, Zachary took them down/swiftly, with brutal efficiency.

    17:23 Mon

    He had heard everything. It was hard to imagine that girls only seventeen or eighteen years old could harbor wich crudit,

    Then, the wail of police sirens filled the air.

    Seeing the shing lights, the five girls finally showed signs of fear.

    Aubree casually pulled out her phone and yed a recording of everything they¡¯d just said. She smiled. ¡°Attempted murder. Ward to guess how many years mywyer can get you sentenced for?¡±

    Their faces turned ashen. Worse, they had mentioned Carmen¡¯s name. If she got involved, their situation would be hopeless.

    At Rithol High School.

    During art ss, several uniformed officers appeared at the door.

    ¡°Carmen,e with us.¡±

    Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Carmen was taken away.

    With guilt hanging over her like a cloud, Carmen was uneasy the entire way. But when she saw Aubree inside the police station, smiling and waving at

    her, her heart sank.

    Aubree was alive. Carmen thought Taya and the others must have failed.

    Before she could even process what was going

    on,

    the five girls, now in handcuffs, were escorted past her, their faces pale.

    Carmen¡¯s face went pale. ¡®How could this have gone wrong? Did they rat me out?¡®

    She had been very careful. As long as she didn¡¯t admit anything, no evidence would link her to the crime.

    Carmen tried to stay calm. Her guardians, Ronald and Alice, had also been summoned.

    In the interrogation room, the police exined the case and yed the recording. Even Alice, who always spoiled Carmen, was in disbelief that such a cruel act could be connected to her daughter.

    Her hands trembled. ¡°Carmen, tell Mom the truth. Were you involved in this?¡±

    Alice couldn¡¯t bear to imagine it. If that recording was real, she didn¡¯t know how to face Aubree.

    Alice looked at Aubree, overwhelmed with guilt. That was her daughter too. She disliked Aubree for being vulgar and unrefined. But if Aubree died in that way, Alice wouldn¡¯t have been able to handle it.

    Carmen bit her lip and let tears fall. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t you believe me? How could I possibly do something like that to my sister?¡±

    Carmen was always kind. Even after Aubree left, she worried about her. Alice felt ashamed for even suspecting her.

    Carmen had covered her tracks thoroughly. All contact had been through untraceable ck¨Cmarket ounts. No one could find direct evidence.

    Even if the others mentioned her name, the Wilson family¡¯swyers would ensure she remained untouched.

    Alice calmed herself and turned to Aubree, trying to take her hand, but missed it. ¡°Aubree, this must be a m

    it.¡±

    derstanding, Carmen couldn¡¯t have done

    ¡°Stop. I¡¯m here as the victim, investigating whether Carmen is the perpetrator Aubree¡¯s face was cold, unmoved.

    Alice froze. The sliver of guilt she had felt vanished. Aubree was still as unreasonable as ever. There was no way this had anything to do with Carmen. And to think she had actually considered coaxing Aubree toe home.

    17:23 Mon,

    Aubree said, ¡°Since you deny involvement, why did they say they were protecting you? We have reason to believe you indrinted them ¡°

    No one could fake victimhood better than Carmen. Even as a suspect, the officers spoke to her gently.

    Carmen tried to exin, ¡°I didn¡¯t know they were like this. We were just ssmates. Maybe they thought I was kind and wanted to protect me isores and I¡­ don¡¯t get along. They might¡¯ve misunderstood.¡±

    She added, ¡°Besides, Aubree already had conflicts with them. Just because they mentioned me doesn¡¯t prove anything, right?¡±

    C¨¢rmen seemed flustered, but her every word deflected me, iming the girls acted on their own. She¡¯d never asked them to do anything.

    They already had a grudge against each other, so mentioning her was just an offhand remark.

    The police couldn¡¯t refute Carmen. There was no direct evidence.

    After routine questioning, she was allowed to leave.

    Outside the police station, Ronald pped Carmen hard across the face.

    The p stunned both Carmen and Aubree.

    Carmen had assumed Ronald was silently nning how to defend her. She didn¡¯t expect the p at all.

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 Tried 71

    <b>Chapter 71 </b>

    The crisp sound of a p echoed in the air. Carmen clutched her face, stunned and unable to recover,

    Alice yanked Ronald back, distressed. ¡°Ronald, what are you doing?¡±

    No one had expected that p. The atmosphere among them grew even colder in its aftermath.

    Ronald snapped, ¡°What am I doing? She got herself involved in something like this. Shouldn¡¯t she be taught a lesson?¡±

    ¡®Teach Carmen a lesson? What a novel idea.¡® Aubree sneered inwardly.

    In thest timeline, she¡¯d never heard such a thing, and now she had the misfortune of hearing it in this one.

    Carmen was fitted with grievance. ¡°Dad, do you think I did this?¡±

    Ronald avoided her gaze. ¡°Even if you didn¡¯t do it, you¡¯re still connected to it. Apologize to Aubree!¡±

    Alice stood torn. No matter how much she disliked Aubree, she was still her daughter by blood. If Aubree were dead, she would still feel sorrow.

    But on the other hand, Carmen was the daughter she had spoiled and adored for over a decade.

    Clenching her teeth, Alice had to admit this situation was a bit too much. Carmen would just have to endure the scolding.

    If Aubree could hear Alice¡¯s thoughts, she¡¯d surely find themughable. Alice sided with Aubree only because the evidence showed her as the victim. Had something truly happened to Aubree, Alice wouldn¡¯t have shed a single tear. On the contrary, she would¡¯ve hated her for being shame to the Wilson family, even in death.

    Aubree had nearly been killed, and yet Carmen was the one feeling wronged. It was utterly ridiculous!

    Alice said, ¡°Carmen, just listen to your father.¡±

    Aubree had always minded their favoritism toward Carmen. Now, with Carmen apologizing, Alice thought Aubree would be satisfied.

    Ronald¡¯s thinking was simr. He never felt that the Wilson family owed Aubree anything. He simply saw her as petty, throwing a tantrum over Carmen. He thought that by backing her up just this once, she¡¯d finally feel content ande home.

    Greed shimmered in his eyes. Even someone like him, who had but hispany from nothing, couldn¡¯t help but envy the financial reports from yzy that the finance department had handed over.

    If he could merge Bree Technology into the Wilson Group and ride the momentum of the yzy project, even surpassing the Turner family wasn¡¯t

    impossible.

    The more Ronald thought about it, the more excited he became. He didn¡¯t even notice the sneer in Aubree¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Oh? An apology? Forget it. After all, I wasn¡¯t dead. Carmen was just briefly questioned as a suspect!¡± Aubree said with exaggerated sarcasm.

    She added, ¡°I thank you for not asking me to apologize to her.¡±

    Carmen was still trying to y the victim.

    But after Aubree¡¯s words, her pitiful expression suddenly looked ridiculous.

    Aubree had nearly died and hadn¡¯t cried once/Carmen, on the other hand, was being questioned normally and yet was tearing <b>up </b>and acting miserable. It came off <b>as </b>over¨Cthe¨Ctop.

    Carmen pouted, now unsure whether to cry or speak.

    <b>17:23 </b><b>Mon</b>, <b>7 </b><b>Jul </b>G <b>D </b>

    Chapter <b>71 </b>

    Aubree said, ¡°Enough. Since the matter is resolved, let¡¯s just be strangers and not interfere in each other¡¯s lives.¡±

    As Aubree turned to leave, Ronald and Alice panicked.

    Ronald coveted Aubree¡¯s connections andpany. He never cared about Aubree before, but now, he wanted her to be a Wilson forever.

    Alice said, ¡°Aubree! You just experienced something dangerous out there. Come home with Mom.¡±

    She added, ¡°You¡¯ve always said we favored Carmen, right? Well, this time we¡¯re on your side. Carmen even apologized! What more do you want<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Ronald quickly chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re family. There¡¯s no need to split hairs. No matter what, you have our blood running through your <b>veins</b>. Your mom and brothers all know they were wrong. Come home with us.¡±

    Aubree had lived two lifetimes. If Alice¡¯s words had even a sliver of sincerity, Ronald¡¯s were nothing but lies.

    He didn¡¯t care about her before. Now suddenly he cared. It was only because he saw value in her.

    Aubree stepped back. ¡°No. Go back with you? So you can whip me again?¡±

    She continued, ¡°Alice, you say you¡¯re helping me. But can you look me in the eye and honestly say you¡¯ve never thought I deserved what happened? That you never med me for dragging Carmen into this?¡±

    Alice looked away, guilty, though her tone remained hard. ¡°As a mother, of course I care about Carmen. I did this all for your own good. I¡¯m worried <b>you¡¯ll </b>get into trouble.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t know if Alice felt ridiculous when she said that, but she sure did.

    She asked, ¡°You? Worried I¡¯ll get

    trouble? As a mother? Are you worthy to be a mother?¡±

    Aubree continued, ¡°When I first returned to the Wilson family, Carmen got into trouble with some punks from a neighboring school. She wasered in an alley. I risked myself to save her. But when we got home, did you scold or punish her for getting into trouble?¡±

    She added, ¡°No. You scolded me instead. You said I was useless for not protecting her well enough. You made me skip dinner and stand in the corner!¡±

    Alice¡¯s gaze turned hazy. She had forgotten she had done that.

    Still unwilling to back down, she mumbled, ¡°I did it out of concern for you. If I didn¡¯t care, why would I punish you and not someone else? It was all to

    help you.¡±

    Alice added, ¡°As long as you get along with Carmen and don¡¯t bully her, you¡¯ll have everything she has in the Wilson family.¡±

    She offered this as if it were a great gift. She thought Aubree just wanted fairness.

    Just like Carmen, Aubree should be overjoyed.

    However, Alice didn¡¯t realize the condescending tone she used when making promises.

    Aubree looked disgusted. ¡°You think I want your cheap love? <b>Or </b>Carmen¡¯s giarist reputation? Get lost. All of you.¡±

    She added, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time on me. If I were strong enough right now, the first thing I¡¯d do is crush the entire Wilson fa

    Alice¡¯s face turned ashen. She didn¡¯t believe Aubree hated them this much. But her tone and her gaze showed no hint of pretense.

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened. He never imagined Aubree would truly look down on the Wilson family.

    Aubree sneered. Their shocked faces delighted her.

    This was only the beginning. She¡¯d make sure they were even more stunned in the future.

    <b>2/3 </b>

    <b>Mon</b><b>, </b>7 Jul

    The car drove off slowly.

    Carmen shrank into a corner, not daring to speak.

    The car was filled with Ronald¡¯s oppressive silence.

    Alice was fuming too. No matter how indifferent they were toward Aubree before, she was still part of the Wilson family. Wanting <b>to </b>cut ties was a p to the family¡¯s face.

    ¡°She got bold.¡± Ronald spat angrily.

    If the Wilson family couldn¡¯t manipte Aubree, he would never allow her to be a threat to them either.

    He said, ¡°If she really wants nothing to do with the Wilson family, then I¡¯ll make things difficult for her.¡±

    Now that Aubree was getting close to Bowen, if she sided with him, the Turner family could be a hurdle the Wilson family might never ovee

    Carmen¡¯s eyes lit up. She thought Aubree was asking for death. She didn¡¯t even know how to take advantage of a good opportunity.

    If Aubree continued to antagonize the Wilson family, her father would eventually take action to deal with her.

 Tried 72

    <b>Chapter </b><b>72 </b>

    The midterm exams arrived as scheduled. This time, Aubree performed normally and ranked 48th in the grade.

    After winning the bronze medal in thest mathpetition, several universities had extended offers to her. However, her goal was to attend <i>Rithol </i>University.

    Technically, the bronze medal was enough for her to be guaranteed admission. Unfortunately, she had studied art for two years and only recently switched to academic subjects. On paper, she was a genius.

    157

    But other than mathematics, his performance in other ces wasckluster. Rithol University even sent someone to talk to her. If she were willing to join the math department, they¡¯d offer guaranteed admission.

    But Aubree¡¯s goal was the finance department. After aprehensive evaluation, Rithol University didn¡¯t offer direct admission but said that if she took the national college entrance exam, her required score could be lowered.

    The Wilson family had reminded her of something. Legally, she wasn¡¯tpletely separate from them.

    After entering the foster system, she¡¯d been ced in the orphanage. When the Wilson family adopted her, only the adoption procedures were done.

    Now that she was of legal age and had purchased a home in Rithol City, she nned to visit the orphanage director to inquire about bing legally independent.

    She bought some food and supplies, handed them over to the director upon arrival, and was warmly received.

    At first, the director thought Aubree hade back just to visit. Seeing that she looked well¨Coff and healthy, her eyes were filled with relief. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re doing well after returning to your family. I was worried you might not be treated well since you were an adopted daughter,¡± the director said.

    The director was a good person.

    Though Aubree¡¯s time at the orphanage wasn¡¯t the mostfortable, it had been a happy period. Before she left, the director had warned her kindly to be obedient in her new home, but also to know when to protect herself and to recognize whether people were truly family.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes stung. It was clear that even back then, this kindhearted elderly woman had worried about what her life would be like after being taken away by the Wilson family.

    She said, ¡°Director, I¡¯ve already left the Wilson family. I made some money on my own and came back to see you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so¡­¡± The director seemed momentarily stunned, then held Aubree¡¯s hand. ¡°That¡¯s okay. This ce will always be your home. If you ever feel wronged out there,e back home.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Aubree¡¯s voice was hoarse, and she held back her tears. ¡°By the way, I want to be legally independent. I need to terminate any remaining guardianship records.¡±

    The director said, ¡°That¡¯s not hard to do. The only trouble is you were adopted by the Wilson family, so you¡¯ll need their approval to cancel the adoption

    formally.¡±

    Originally, the Wilson family had said they were going to acknowledge her as their biological daughter, but because of interference from Carmen and Daxton, it ended up being a formal adoption instead.

    Aubree said, ¡°I have a signed severance agreement from Ronald.¡±

    The director replied, ¡°That¡¯s not enough. That just shows you¡¯ve cut ties as rtives, but you still have a legal adoption in ce. You¡¯ll need to formally terminate that adoption and get it notarized.¡°/

    Notarizing the severance would mean dealing with the Wilson family again. But Aubree figured they wouldn¡¯t refuse. After all, cutting ties with her was

    their dream scenario<b>. </b>

    Aubree stayed at the orphanage a little longer, helping take care of the kids and leaving some money for the director before she left.

    But right after she left, Ronald showed up with his secretary and bodyguards.

    Given how Aubree had recently spoken about her poor treatment in the Wilson family household, the director¡¯s attitude toward Ronald was ice cold.

    Confused but still needing something from her, Ronald forced a friendly smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you still remember me. I¡¯m Aubree¡¯s father. I was hoping you could assist with transferring some legal guardianship papers to officially reflect that she belongs to our family.¡±

    No matter how one looked at it, the connection between Aubree and the Wilson family wasn¡¯t so easily erased. Even if she refused to return home, it didn¡¯t matter to him. As long as he could get control of herpany, he¡¯d consider it a win.

    If he could reinstate guardianship, it would make things easier. If Aubree still acted ungrateful, he wouldn¡¯t mind letting something happeri to her.

    The director had seen all kinds of people in her lifetime. She instantly knew something was off.

    There had to be a reason why Ronald suddenly cared about a legal connection now. She had no intention of agreeing, especially since Aubree also wanted to be legally independent. She couldn¡¯t let Ronald catch on. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring Aubree with you?¡±

    Ronald Wilson said casually, ¡°She had something to do today.¡±

    ¡°Thene back together when she¡¯s free.¡± The director didn¡¯t even bother to be polite as she shooed him out.

    Driven out of the orphanage, Ronald cursed in frustration. ¡°Ungrateful hag!¡±

    Even an orphanage director dared to give him attitude. He refused to believe he couldn¡¯t handle Aubree.

    Meanwhile, Aubree wasn¡¯t idle either.

    yzy had now exploded in poprity. A flood of amateur streamers had brought vitality and limitless potential to the tform, which meant it was time to begin recruiting and managing inte influencers.

    In the past timeline, as short¨Cform video media developed, entire entertainmentpanies emerged just to cultivate different types of influencers through streaming tforms. They profited immensely.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t about to let someone else scoop up that opportunity.

    Aubree contacted Peace Entertainment and gathered key members and department heads for a meeting.

    She said, ¡°yzy has now established its foundation. But that¡¯s not enough. As an entertainmentpany, I¡¯m sure Peace Entertainment¡¯s team can see the growth potential of influencer¨Cbased media.¡±

    Peace Entertainment¡¯s delegation, led by Sylvia, had actually discussed this before during contract talks, though they hadn¡¯t finalized any terms at the

    time.

    ¡°Of course. A single stream can rake in millions in gift revenue. Who wouldn¡¯t want a piece of that pie?¡±

    ¡°I propose Peace Entertainment create a department specifically for influencer development. Bree Technology will invest in Peace Entertainment, and we¡¯ll co¨Cmanage it. What do you think, Sylvia?¡±

    Starting a newpany from scratch was time¨Cconsuming and unfamiliar territory for Aubree. Working with the Turner Group was possible, but unnecessary when a solid partner was already at hand.

    She was confident Sylvia wouldn¡¯t refuse. Though they¡¯d have to share the profits, the partnership offered apetitive edge across the board.

    After a brief discussion with her executives, Sylvia agreed. Working with Bree Technology was practically a guarantee of sess.

    With Bree Technology backing her, she thought that once influencer traffic takes off, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being squeezed out.

    Comparing both options, this partnership was a sess with no risk of losing.

    After a quick discussion with the apanying executives, Peace Entertainment unanimously agreed to the partnership.

    Ever since yzyunched, the influencers they¡¯d pushed early on were already seeing big returns.

    Some had evennded major acting roles. With their poprity skyrocketing, there was no way they were going to let this opportunity slip by.

    Negotiations went smoothly. It was a win¨Cwin situation.

    Sylvia said, ¡°But relying only on gift revenue feels a bit shallow. No one will keep throwing money at streamers forever.¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Aubree replied with a small smile. ¡°Just like famous celebrities get sponsorships, influencers can too. There¡¯s a thing called livestream e-merce.¡±

    That was the real gold mine behind short video tforms.

    Sylvia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Looks like I was worried for nothing. You¡¯ve already thought through every next step.¡±

    Aubree shook her head. ¡°We still can¡¯t be too optimistic. yzy¡¯s growing fast, and we¡¯re definitely being watched. Attacks are inevitable.¡±

    Sylvia smiled. ¡°But judging by your calmness, you¡¯ve already made your preparations.¡±

    Over this period, Sylvia had seen enough to know this seemingly young girl was anything but ordinary. Anyone who could make such decisions surely wasn¡¯tcking in foresight or preparation.

    The two exchanged a knowing smile.

    Sylvia stood and shook Aubree¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡±

    After sending off the Peace Entertainment team, Aubree turned to the next big matter.

    Sylvia asked, ¡°How¡¯s the development going on Zappy?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°It¡¯s already underway.¡±

 Tried 73

    Mentioning ¡°Zappy,¡± some people couldn¡¯t help but raise concerns.

    Aubree exined, ¡°Zappy shares a lot of simrities with yzy. From a professional standpoint, once it¡¯s developed, it might surpass yzy. Aren¡¯t we just undermining our product by investing in Zappy?¡±

    Aubree smiled. ¡°If even you can see Zappy¡¯s potential, don¡¯t you think others will too? It¡¯s only a matter of time before someone takes what we¡¯ve done with yzy, builds on it, and turns it into a directpetitor.¡±

    She continued, ¡°The core philosophy behind yzy isn¡¯tplicated. Financial media outlets are already analyzing it. And soon, simr or even more advanced tforms will emerge. Eventually, livestreaming tforms willpete based on the influence of their top creators.¡±

    She concluded, ¡°And when that timees, Zappy will lead the next wave.¡±

    In other words, let everyone else focus on dissecting yzy. By the time they figure it out and start celebrating their piece of the pie, Aubree and her team will have already moved on one step ahead.

    Aubree said, ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk operations strategy for Zappy.¡±

    There was no way the Wilson family would sit by and watch her continue to rise. A cornered animal would still bite, let alone a wealthy, powerful family like the Wilson family.

    Even with support from the Turner Group, if the Wilson family decided to go all in and burn bridges, Aubree would be caught in the crossfire.

    Ronald¡¯splete 180 in attitude toward her could only mean one thing. Bree Technology had be valuable in his eyes.

    He never cared about the club. He probably still looked down on it.

    But now that Aubree had publicly rejected the Wilson family, Ronald was bound to retaliate. Let him. She¡¯d already cashed out her shares and was ready to walk away.

    Aubree announced, ¡°I¡¯m not just talking about short videos and streaming. I n tounch a gaming division too. We¡¯ll develop our own games.¡±

    Hearing that, everyone exchanged surprised looks. It wasn¡¯t easy to make a sessful game these days.

    The market was saturated. The most popr titles, like League of Legends, had already cornered the industry. Turner Group had invested in most of them. Any new game either copied League of Legends¡¯s MOBA gamey or fell into the same gun¨Cand¨Cshoot formats.

    Aubree replied calmly, ¡°Right now, the types of games on the market are fixed and saturated. The big profits always go to the same fewpanies. I understand all your concerns. What I¡¯m suggesting is to develop a new category of game entirely.¡±

    MOBAS were long¨Cstanding and profitable. Butrge open¨Cworld games or female¨Coriented fantasy adventures could take off too.

    Right now, those types of games barely existed.

    If the current market was saturated, then they had to create something new. They needed to carve out a new path.

    Afterying out her vision, everyone in the room was visibly stunned.

    ¡°Miss Miller, how does your brain even work like that?¡±

    Compared to apps like Zappy, game development had a much longer production timeline and higher technical demands. They needed to start now. If they waited, someone else would be the first to take the leap.

    Aubree was pleased with the team¡¯s confidence. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. From today on, we¡¯reunching <b>a </b>game division. HR can begin recruiting immediately. Pay is flexible. If someone has the skills, we¡¯ll make it work.¡±

    Since yzy¡¯sunch, it sparked countless online discussions about its business model and livestream ecosystem.

    Aubree didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. She hired media professionals and influencers to spread the word. Of course, some of the analysis pieces hade from independent financial writers who saw the value in what she was building.

    Her name began popping up in financial reports across the web.

    A high school student. A startup founder. Daily revenues in millions of dors. An international mathpetition bronze medalist.

    Each of those achievements was impressive on its own. Put together, they created a media storm.

    [A genius entrepreneur.]

    [The youngest business leader in Rithol City.]

    [A possible sessor to the legendary Bowen Turner.]

    The praise came pouring in like there was no tomorrow. The word ¡°genius¡± was starting to feel overused.

    But the result was undeniable. yzy¡¯s earnings reached record¨Cbreaking highs.

    After the meeting ended, Aubree¡¯s secretary, Vincent, brought her an invitation.

    It was for Rithol City¡¯s Outstanding Young Achievers Forum.

    Almost everyone from the Wilson family had received this kind of invitation. No matter what else was said, those four siblings were objectively impressive. Even Carmen had received one many years ago, after a painting she ¡°made¡± stunned the Rithol City art world and earned her the title of ¡°Most Promising Young Artist.¡±

    Of course, that painting had actually been Aubree¡¯s.

    Back then, as a member of the Wilson family, Aubree had always stood silently behind them. She was out of sight, filled with envy. Now, she couldn¡¯t

    believe she was the one receiving an invitation.

    Vincent gushed. ¡°Miss Miller, you are amazing. Everyone knows these invitations usually go to rich kids to pad their resumes. For you to be chosen¡­ that¡¯s pure merit!¡±

    His eyes sparkled with admiration.

    He used to idolize only Bowen. But now, the person he respected most in the world was Aubree.

    Vincent was certain that, given the same amount of time, Aubree¡¯s achievements would far surpass even Bowen¡¯s.

    Aubree smiled. She was truly proud of the recognition. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±

    Meanwhile, at the Wilson family residence.

    Ronald mmed the table. ¡°Where the hell is Emery? Does he think he can nevere back?¡±

    Alice quickly tried to calm him. ¡°He¡¯s working. He¡¯s not avoiding the family on purpose.¡±

    Trevor was off filming, so he couldn¡¯t attend. Other than him, only Daxton was busier than Emery.

    Ronald sneered. ¡°Busy? He¡¯s busy running a club. That¡¯s not work. Call him, If he doesn¡¯t show up for dinner tomorrow, then tell him never to bothering back.¡±

    His outburst silenced the whole table.

    Carmen tried to lighten the mood and asked the housekeeper to turn on the TV. Unfortunately, the channel switched to a financial news segment.

    Aubree¡¯s image filled the screen, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply.

    ¡°Rising star Aubree. While still a high school student, she hasunched a sessful livestreaming tform and pioneered a new frontier in digital

    media¡­<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree was standing confidently on stage. Her aplishments were listed behind her.

    ¡®It¡¯s Aubree.¡¯ The Wilson family members couldn¡¯t help but all think the same thing.

    Wearing a suit, Aubree stood out among the crowd of high¨Clevel executives and dignitaries.

    The camera cut to the audience, and in the front row sat Bowen.

    He was pping proudly, smiling at her from the very front.

    Watching this on TV, Ronald was filled with regret. He was now sure there was something between Aubree and Bowen.

    Ronald thought, ¡®That ungrateful brat! I¡¯d taken her in for three years, and this is how she repaid us? No gratitude at all!¡®

    If he¡¯d known she¡¯d be this sessful, he would¡¯ve never let her go, no matter what.

    Ronald snapped, ¡°Bryan, yzy is growing fast. If Aubree refuses to work with the Wilson Group, don¡¯t hold back. Use whatever means necessary.¡±

    Bryan was quiet for a moment. ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t think we should. No matter what, Aubree is still part of this family. Since when does a brother sabotage his

    <b>own </b>sister?¡±

    That pushed Ronald over the edge. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to care about that when you were helping suppress her before! Just because you¡¯re chairman now doesn¡¯t mean you can ignore me. Refuse my demands, and you¡¯re out!¡±

    Bryan¡¯s heart sank. Yes, he had once failed to treat Aubree like family.

    But Aubree was his sister, and he wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt her again.

    He stood up and bowed slightly. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll leave thepany to you. You can take back control.¡±

    ¡°You! You!¡± Ronald pped him, knocked over a bowl, and stormed away from the table.

    Alice gasped and rushed after him.

    Carmen stared at Bryan, who said nothing and quietly left. Then she looked at Daxton, who kept eating as if nothing had happened. The television continued ying praise after praise for Aubree.

    She murmured, almost to herself, ¡°Aubree is so amazing now. No wonder the family¡¯s been ignoring metely¡­¡±

    Suddenly, Daxton gently ced a shrimp into her bowl. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Just eat,¡± he said softly.

 Tried 74

    <b>Chapter </b><b>74 </b>

    That morning, Ronald got up very early.

    He had already made it known that Bryan was being removed from his position as chairman. Being someone whose pride and reputation were paramount, Ronald would go back on his word. He got up early to go to thepany.

    Daxton was also up early, seemingly waiting for Ronald. He stood by the staircase, blocking his way. ¡°Dad, I heard you¡¯ve been pretty interested in that yzy tform Aubree developed.¡±

    ¡°Why are you asking? Don¡¯t you usually only care about your experiment data?¡± Ronald adjusted his tie and shot him a sideways nce.

    Daxton replied, ¡°Family matters are important. A friend in this field found out that Aubree is my sister and shared this report. Dad, want to see it?¡±

    Suspicious, Ronald took the envelope, opened it, and started reading. As he read, his expression shifted from delight to worry.

    He asked, ¡°Is what¡¯s in here true?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Daxton replied confidently.

    This wasn¡¯t from any so¨Ccalled friend. After finding out that Aubree was behind yzy, he had specifically hired professionals to dig this up.

    yzy had been riding high in the spotlight, but with so many streamers on the tform, it was impossible to regte them all or ensure they had proper ethics<b>. </b>

    The report highlighted some incidents of streamers guiding minors to spend excessively. The issue hadn¡¯t exploded yet, but it was a ticking time bomb.

    If they used this to stir things up, Aubree would be in serious trouble.

    Daxton said, ¡°Dad, no matter what, she¡¯s a Wilson. She¡¯s young, inexperienced, and not managing the tform well. If something serious happens, won¡¯t

    you, as her father, still have to step in and help?¡±

    What he said matched up exactly with what Ronald had been thinking.

    ¡°But¡­¡± Ronald hesitated.

    He frowned. He wanted Aubree to fall, but he didn¡¯t want yzy to suffer. If this scandal came to light and wasn¡¯t handled well, the damage to yzy

    would be hard to recover from.

    In his mind, both yzy and Bree Technology already belonged to him. Any loss was his loss.

    Ronald said, ¡°This can¡¯t be leaked for now.¡±

    Daxton¡¯s calm, calcted expression cracked. Disbelief shed across his face. The entire purpose was to bring Aubree down, ideally to bankruptcy.

    Turner Group invested heavily in yzy. If it all went down the drain, Bowen¡¯s shareholders would never allow him to continue helping Aubree.

    That way, Aubree wouldn¡¯t just be broke. She¡¯d lose her biggest supporter.

    But now, his father was saying to keep it under wraps.

    ¡°Why?¡± Daxton blurted, then quickly tried to cover, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t you want this project? Wouldn¡¯t exposing this make it easier?¡±

    Ronald gave him a deep look. ¡°Daxton, you¡¯re brilliant in academia, but you don¡¯t understand business. Things aren¡¯t that simple.¡±

    He patted his son¡¯s shoulder and sighed. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been worried about Carmentely, but¡­¡±

    Ronald sighed again. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Aubree toe this far. Carmen¡­ she¡¯s ultimately not a true Wilson. She¡¯s stillcking.¡±

    Neither of them noticed the figure hiding in the corner.

    Carmen heard their conversation clearly. Her breathing grew rapid as she clutched her mouth tightly with trembling hands. Hatred burned in her eyes.

    She cursed inwardly, ¡®Aubree is just trash! Trash! How could trash possiblypare to me? She doesn¡¯t deserve it!¡®

    Hatred surged in Carmen¡¯s heart as she quickly left. If her father was too soft to expose things that could damage Aubree, she would do it herself.

    It looked like Daxton wasn¡¯t too fond of Aubree either.

    Carmen then left, missing onest thing that Ronald said.

    Ronald said, ¡°But speaking of it, Carmen doesn¡¯t need to be that capable. We¡¯ll give whatever she wants anyway.¡±

    After Ronald and Daxton both left, Carmen waited for the house to empty and went to find Wendy in the kitchen. ¡°Wendy, help me make chicken soup today. Put it in a thermos when it¡¯s done.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Wendy replied.

    Carmen didn¡¯t have Aubree¡¯s talents. She couldn¡¯t cook, couldn¡¯t start a business. But Aubree was foolish. Even when she did something good, she let

    others steal the credit.

    She nced sideways at Wendy. She couldn¡¯t make soup, but there were plenty of people in the house who could.

    That same day was God¡¯s Fury¡¯s first match in the annual finals. Right after school, Aubree rushed to the venue.

    With Matilda as the coach, she had already gotten approval to be with the team full¨Ctime.

    Her ID badge was ready, so she entered through the staff passage and headed straight to the backstage lounge.

    ¡°Aubree! It really is you!¡± A surprised voice called out.

    Suddenly, Emery appeared right before her.

    Emery¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you with the team and thought you weren¡¯ting.¡±

    He looked genuinely thrilled.

    Aubree sneered inwardly, taking a step back to keep her distance. Whether he was genuinely happy or just putting on a show, none of it mattered to her

    anymore.

    She said coldly, ¡°Do you need something? If not, please move.¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± Emery wanted to say he just wanted to see her.

    But the words stuck in his throat. Emery¡¯s eyes dimmed as pain stabbed through his chest.

    Aubree treated him like a stranger, but he was still her brother.

    Emery forced a smile. ¡°Aubree, today is the Apex Squad versus God¡¯s Fury match.¡±

    Aubree responded, ¡°I saw the schedule. You didn¡¯t need to tell me.¡±

    ¡°I meant¡­ do you want to win?¡± Emery looked at her with hope. ¡°You came here after school just to watch, so you must really want your team to win<b>, </b>

    right?¡±

    ¡®If you want¡­ I¡­ I could help you¡­¡® He added that silently in his heart.

    He didn¡¯t know what to do to make it up to her, but he was willing to do anything that would make her happy.

    Aubree thought he was crazy. Everyone would want their team to win.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking me if I want to win? Of course I want to see God¡¯s Fury crush your team and sweep you 3-01¡± She spoke angrily and shoved past him, hurrying away.

    ¡®What a nutjob!¡® Aubree thought.

    Emery had just blocked her path to say this nonsense, which was wasting her time. She needed to cheer for Alvin and the others immediately.

    She rolled her eyes and quickened her pace. Not far behind her, Emery shouted, ¡°I got it, Aubree!¡±

    Aubree scoffed inwardly. ¡®Like hell you do.¡¯

    She sped up again, worried he might chase her.

    The match started on schedule.

    Aubree sat in the front row, tense. They¡¯d beaten Apex Squadst time. She knew this would be the beginning of Apex Squad¡¯s decline.

    However, she remembered Apex Squad would still ce second in this year¡¯s finals.

    More importantly<i>, </i>she didn¡¯t know what Emery meant by all that.

    ¡°Nervous?¡± A mildly amused voice spoke beside her.

    Aubree turned in surprise. ¡°Bowen? You came?¡±

    She instinctively touched the ne around her neck. She hadn¡¯t seen him since her birthday.

    Bowen had put the ne on her that night.

    Bowen said, ¡°I hold 30% of God¡¯s Fury. Coming to check in as a shareholder isn¡¯t too much, is it?¡±

    Aubree smiled. ¡°You¡¯re wee. Thanks again for the birthday gift. I really liked it.¡±

    Looking at the chain on her neck, Bowen smiled as well. ¡°d you do. Ollie¡¯s men do have fine craftsmanship. The match is starting. Let¡¯s watch.¡±

    Meanwhile, a short distance away, Emery¡¯s gaze was locked in their direction.

    He muttered, ¡°Aubree, I will give you everything you want. Last time, you said you wanted Apex Squad. Well, maybe that¡¯s not impossible.¡±

 Tried 75

    <b>Chapter </b><b>75 </b>

    ¡°These two teams are old rivals,¡± the caster said, ¡°They just faced off in the Autumn Split finals for the championship trophy. Tonight, will it be Apex Squad¡¯s revenge or God¡¯s Fury sessfully defending their title?

    ¡°God¡¯s Fury is a young squad, but they¡¯ve already shown incredible potential. Let the match begin!¡±

    With Aubree in the lineup during the Autumn Finals, God¡¯s Fury looked unstoppable, dominating Apex Squadpletely. However, with a new midsolo, they had lost that overwhelming edge in the match.

    The back¨Cand¨Cforth continued, and God¡¯s Fury was slowly losing ground in the exchanges.

    Aubree sat in the audience, her fingers tightly inteced, anxiety etched across her face. If God¡¯s Fury lost this match, it would be quite a blow to both the yers¡® morale and the fans¡® spirits.

    ¡°The match remains neck and neck as we approach the crucial 10¨Cminute dragon fight. This ssic teamfight moment could swing momentum either way.¡±

    ¡°Apex Squad makes the first move! Their support secures vision and spots the enemy. Wait, hold on! Was that a misy?¡±

    Kill notifications for Apex Squad kept shing across the screen in rapid session.

    But as the caster just pointed out, Apex Squad had the advantage in that situation. How could a veteran team possibly throw away such a golden opportunity?

    Missing the opportunity was bad enough, but then they seemed to havepletely lost their minds, feeding one after another like brainless lemmings

    off a cliff<b>. </b>

    God¡¯s Fury capitalized on this dragon fight, wiped out the enemy team, and snowballed into taking the Nexus in the first match.

    Even with the win, Aubree¡¯s brows furrowed even tighter. ¡®Was I just imagining things?¡® she wondered.

    Bowen didn¡¯t understand the game, but he could tell something was off with Aubree. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t you guys win?¡± he asked.

    ¡°But that misy¡­ It shouldn¡¯t have happened,¡± Aubree said, shaking her head.

    ¡®No way. Emery is also a pro gamer. How could he do something like this? But what Emery said before the match¡­¡® Aubree thought, suspicion gnawing at

    her.

    Bowen nodded with partial understanding, his gaze drifting toward Emery¡¯s seat.

    The second match started soon after, and God¡¯s Fury got the win.

    God¡¯s Fury took game three as well.

    God¡¯s Fury swept the series 4-0 in the BO5 match point game.

    Aubree, however, couldn¡¯t muster even the slightest bit of joy. Even if God¡¯s Fury had lost fair and square, she would have felt regret and disappointment. But this kind of victory? It only made her furious.

    ¡®Emery wasn¡¯t just insulting me,¡® she thought. ¡®He was insulting every single member of God¡¯s Fury who had fought so hard for this!

    ¡®God¡¯s Fury doesn¡¯t need his charity to win the championship! Throwing the game this tantly in a championship match? Does Emery take everyone for a fool?¡®

    Aubree abruptly stood up from her seat. ¡°Uncle Bowen, go congratte the team for me first, take them out to celebrate, and send me the address. I have something to handle and I¡¯ll catch up with youter.¡±

    18:32 Wed<b>, </b><b>y </b>Jur

    Bowen had some inkling of what was going on. He nced at the team members on stage, who were thanking the audience, and, without pressing for details, readily agreed, ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aubree was wearing her school uniform, which made her stand out when she got up and moved around.

    Meanwhile, on the second floor, a stylishly dressed man in his early twenties stood at the front, surrounded by members of a team that hadpeted. the day before, all still in their team uniforms.

    ¡°Jacob, you keep staring at that girl in the school uniform. What, do you have a crush on her?¡± someone asked.

    Jacob Timbeke was the team¡¯s investor, the kind of rich kid who casually funded things, just for fun.

    Jacob didn¡¯t even notice who was sitting beside Aubree. His attention was all on her. ¡°Such a young woman sitting in that position¡­ Is she someone¡¯s girlfriend?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Actually, no. That woman looks familiar. Isn¡¯t she Phoenix, the yer who crushed Apex Squad at the Autumn Finals? Later, she used the prize money to get Alvin to invest and started the team,¡± one of them replied.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± another person cut in. ¡°That¡¯s her. She¡¯s the owner of God¡¯s Fury now, supposedly with no family.¡±

    Jacob smirked with a wicked glint in his eyes. ¡°An orphan, huh? So into gaming? Well, I guess I have to go introduce myself.¡±

    The people around Jacob exchanged knowing nces. It was clear to everyone that he had taken a fancy to Aubree.

    But no one dared to judge him.

    it wasn¡¯t just because Jacob was their investor, but even people with connections couldn¡¯t stop someone like Jacob.

    One of Jacob¡¯s guys grinned and said, ¡°Jacob, if you decide to befriend her, that girl¡¯s hit the jackpot! Does she even know who you are? Even Bowen, that high¨Cand¨Cmighty big shot from Rithol City, has to put on a smile in front of you!¡±

    Jacob smirked and waved them off. ¡°Alright then, go have fun.¡±

    With that, he strode toward Aubree.

    Unaware that someone was watching her, Aubree stood scowling. Right on cue, Emery approached with cautious steps, his face etched with apprehension.

    ¡°Aubree, aren¡¯t you happy you won?¡± Emery asked, unable to gauge her mood.

    ¡°Happy? Emery, would you be happy if someone let you win? You used to be a pro yer yourself. When you made your teammates throw games, did you ever think about how they felt?¡± Aubree said.

    She truly never expected Emery would stoop to match¨Cfixing.

    ¡®Is this the same Emery I¡¯d first seen, beaming with that triumphant swagger as he held the championship trophy?¡® Aubree wondered.

    ¡°None of that matters.¡± Emery seemed unfazed. ¡°I just want you to be happy. Aubree, if you¡¯re worried about it affecting God¡¯s Fury, don¡¯t be. Even if something happens, I¡¯ll handle it for you.¡±

    With desperate longing in his eyes, Emery tentatively reached out his hand. ¡°Aubree,¡± he pleaded, ¡°I just want to make it up to you, no matter what it takes. Can you forgive me? Please, will youe back with me?¡±

    Aubree shot Emery a look of utter disgust and quickly stepped away. ¡°No. Emery, you make me sick!

    ¡°If someone abandons their very principles, are they even themselves anymore?¡±

    ¡°If you had beaten me fair and square, maybe I¡¯d look up to you and genuinely call you impressive. But right now, all I feel is disgust. Can you stop clinging to me like a piece of gum stuck to my shoe? Have you no shame at all?¡±

    13:32 wed, <b>y </b>Jul

    Emery was utterly shattered, his eyes brimming with despair.

    He thought in disbelief, ¡®Aubree called me disgusting¡­ Disgusting? Me?¡®

    The raw disgust on Aubree¡¯s face hit Emery like a knife to the chest, and pain radiated through every inch of his body, right down to his fingertips.

    ¡®So this is what it feels like to be despised by someone you care about. Is this how Aubree felt when we treated her that way before? Was it this unbearable for her, too?¡® Emery wondered.

    Tears streamed down Emery¡¯s face as he slowly sank to his knees<b>, </b>his body wracked with uncontroble sobs. ¡°Aubree¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°Not every ¡®sorry¡® deserves forgiveness,¡± Aubree said. ¡°Your apology? I¡¯ll never ept it.¡±

    She showed not a shred of pity, and her gaze was chillingly cold. She had sought out Emery alone for one reason only, and that was to make sure he would never throw another match in futurepetitions.

    +15

    I don¡¯t need it, and neither do the young members of God¡¯s Fury!¡® Aubree thought with disdain. ¡®This is a stain on esports itself, and an outright insult to every ounce of effort God¡¯s Fury members have poured into this.¡®

    Behind her, Emery¡¯s sobs still echoed, but Aubree didn¡¯t so much as pause or nce back. With each step, she walked forward with unshakable

    determination.

    Bowen sent her the restaurant address, and Zachary was waiting for her outside.

    Aubree hadn¡¯t gone far when she sensed something was off. ¡®Is someone following me?¡® she wondered.

    Jacob had never been the sneaky type, nor did he intend to hide. The moment he realized Aubree had spotted him, he strode out into the open, as if it

    were the most natural thing in the world.

    With his bright red hair and trendy clothes, the look in his eyes told Aubree he wasn¡¯t some spoiled rich kid, just a street punk.

    Jacob, well over six feet tall, slouched casually with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

    Aubree¡¯s fingers tightened around her phone. ¡®Who the hell is this guy?¡® she wondered. ¡®What does he want? Judging by his designer clothes, he¡¯s wealthy, probably not after my money!

    Jacob was no stranger to preying on lone girls. He always knew his limits, targeting only those without connections or influence. Willing or not, it never mattered. He could always make any trouble disappear afterward, no sweat.

    ¡°Hey, gorgeous, heard you¡¯re a gaming legend. Mind if I introduce myself?¡± said Jacob.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not interested in getting to know you. My friends are waiting, so I¡¯ll be going now,¡± Aubree said, subtly warning him that she wasn¡¯t alone.

    Jacob smirked. ¡°Friends? Didn¡¯t you stay behind all by yourself? The rest of God¡¯s Fury already went off to celebrate their victory, didn¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡®He knows?¡® Aubree thought, her guard instantly rising.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply. She didn¡¯t have any self¨Cdefense tools with her, but since earning her own money, she¡¯d been taking self¨Cdefense

    sses.

    She just wasn¡¯t sure if she could take on a grown ran over six feet tall.

    <b>3/4 </b>

    13:33 Wed, <b>9 </b>Jul G

 Tried 76

    ¡°If Bree¡¯s been inside for too long, go check on her.¡± These were Bowen¡¯s parting words to Zachary,

    While unlikely, after the Daxton incident, Bowen couldn¡¯t afford to be careless.

    Last time, he¡¯d made it just in time, but he couldn¡¯t count on always being that lucky.

    When Zachary arrived, he found Aubree still locked in a tense standoff with Jacob.

    ¡®He knew Alvin and the others were gone, and from the way he looked at me, he must know me. This guy is no ordinary threat,¡® Aubree thought.

    Aubree grew even more cautious, not daring to make the first move. ¡°Sir, if you have nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave now,¡± she said carefully.

    Jacob wasn¡¯t about to let Aubree leave. Without another word, he lunged for her.

    Being on guard, Aubree reacted swiftly. Maybe Jacob was caught off guard, but she managed tond a perfect throw.

    With a sharp over¨Cthe¨Cshoulder move, she sent Jacob crashing hard to the ground.

    Jacob, always coddled and never having suffered such humiliation, grimaced in pain, his vision swimming.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± he fumed. ¡°I¡¯ve never lost in the game of love before, but this little girl just got the best of me.¡®

    <b>61</b>%

    +15)

    Clutching his aching waist as he struggled to his feet, Jacob¡¯s fury only hardened his resolve. He was now hell¨Cbent on making Aubree grovel at his feet.

    ¡°She¡¯s got quite the temper,¡± Jacob muttered to himself, just catching his breath when Zachary showed up right on cue.

    Seeing this scene, Zachary instantly knew the red¨Chaired guy was bad news.

    Jacob clenched his jaw. He was no useless pretty boy. Even if Aubree could do some self¨Cdefense, it¡¯d just mean putting in a little extra effort if he was on guard.

    ¡°I¡¯m not holding it against you for hurting me just now. Do you even know who I am? I¡¯m-¡± Before Jacob could finish, Zachary punched him square in

    the face.

    He was sent flying back a foot and a half.

    The punch packed serious power, leaving him dazed, his head throbbing, and seeing stars.

    ¡°Motherfucker! Who the fuck dares toy a hand on me!¡± Jacob roared as he scrambled up from the ground.

    Zachary rarely appeared in public with Bowen, so few people knew he was part of the Turner family.

    Aubree¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What¡¯s your next move?¡± she asked Jacob.

    Jacob was shaken by Zachary¡¯s intimidating presence, cursing his bad luck under his breath.

    Seeing that Jacob dared not make another move, Aubree then left with Zachary.

    Clutching his face, Jacob grimaced in pain and snarled, ¡°Fuck! Just wait till I find out who that bastard is. I¡¯ll fucking end him! Fuck!¡± The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

    Jacob immediately made a call. ¡°Hey, listen up! I just got beaten up in Rithol City. Find out who did it. Be quick! Oh, and there¡¯s this chick named Aubree,

    look into her too.¡±

    After a few seconds, Jacob yelled, ¡°He¡¯s rted to the Turner family? Fuck, I¡¯m their damn brother¨Cinw!¡±

    In Rithol City, is there anything I can¡¯t get? How dare someoney hands on me? Aubree, huh? I¡¯ll remember that name. She¡¯d better fucking pray she can dodge me every single timel¡® Jacob cursed inwardly.

    15

    Aubree made it to the restaurant safe and sound after the scare.

    At first nce, Zachary thought Jacob looked familiar. While driving, it finally clicked. Jacob is the Timbeke family¡¯s youngest son, born to elderly parents. His sister is Bowen¡¯s sister¨Cinw.¡±

    Then, he sighed, ¡®Jacqueline is such a gentle and dignified woman. How did her younger brother end up like this? Even the finest tree can bear rotter fruit, but he¡¯s warped beyond belief! His parents must have doted on their youngest son too much.

    When Aubree arrived, most of the dishes were already on the table.

    Hector quickly waved her over. ¡°Aubree, here. We¡¯ve been waiting for you!

    ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re freaking amazing. I could hardly believe the Turner Group was backing us, and now you¡¯ve got Bowen himself here eating with us!¡±

    As he spoke, he kept stealing nces at Bowen. ¡®Bowen in the flesh!¡® he thought excitedly. ¡®Big shots from Rithol City would kill for a meeting like this, and here I am, not just meeting him, but sharing a damn table. Hell yeah, I¡¯m gonna brag about this for life.¡¯

    Alvin, who was constantly around Bowen, couldn¡¯t fathom why his teammates were making such a big deal.

    ¡°He¡¯s just a regr guy. What¡¯s the big deal about himing to dinner?¡± Alvin scoffed.

    Even as the captain, Alvin faced relentless bacsh the moment those words left his mouth.

    ADC and Abe rolled their eyes at Alvin. ¡°Yeah, yeah, we all know you¡¯re Bowen¡¯s nephew. Could you stop flexing already?¡±

    Alvin just gave them a deadpan look, as if to say, ¡°Seriously?¡±

    The new midsolo, Van Helsing, nodded in agreement and joked, ¡°Come on, Mr. Turner, have mercy on us peasant yers, will you?¡±

    Bowen smiled politely.

    Alvin rolled his eyes and teased in his heart, ¡®Such a damn show¨Coff.

    ¡®There are perks to putting on an act<b>, </b>though. After all, Bowen does have an air of sophistication, and this little disy instantly sent the club members¡® admiration for Aubree soaring to new heights.¡¯

    ¡°Jokes aside, let¡¯s talk business,¡± Aubree said.

    Her expression turned serious as she looked around. ¡°So, what did you guys think about today¡¯s match?¡±

    Apex Squad¡¯s performance was masterfully deceptive. They only threw key teamfights to give up advantages, and they performed normally most of the time. Alvin¡¯s team was solid too, and they capitalized on those openings to take the match.

    As soon as Aubree brought it up, Alvin¡¯s face clouded over. ¡°Do they take us for idiots?¡± he spat.

    ¡®Maybe the audience can¡¯t tell,¡® he thought, ¡®but as their opponents, how could we not notice? Honestly, this is the most humiliating win I¡¯ve ever had.

    The others didn¡¯t look much happier either. Sure, a win was a win, but being handed victory like this felt like a p in the face.

    Bowen knew they were discussing Apex Squad¡¯s tant match¨Cthrowing, but he chose not toment. Instead, he quietly focused on Aubree¡¯s favorite dishes, meticulously preparing and cing portions on her te.

    ¡°But Killian didn¡¯t seem to be throwing the match,¡± Hector suddenly said.

    00:01

    ??<b>I </b>

    The others nodded in agreement.

    ¡°At least he¡¯s got somepetitive spirit,¡± someone added.

    Killian¡¯s departure from God¡¯s Fury was quite a messy affair, but hispetitive drive never wavered.

    He joined Apex Squad back then because he felt he¡¯d hit a ceiling with God¡¯s Fury. Knowing they couldn¡¯t win the finals, he figured he might as well trade one unwinnable match for a shot at future championship glory.

    ¡°It was probably Emery¡¯s idea,¡± Aubree said, rubbing her temples with a sigh.

    ¡°Alright, alright. No point overthinking it. It¡¯s not like we forced Apex Squad to throw. If anything goes wrong, we¡¯re the victims here,¡± Leroy, the topner, said, raising his drink. ¡°Now, let¡¯s toast to our first victory!¡±

    Because they had matchesing up, nobody touched any alcohol.

    Hector and the others still had to head back to the team base for a post¨Cmatch debrief, and Alvin was going with them.

    ¡°So, I¡¯ll head back first.¡± Aubree nced at Bowen. With just the two of them left, the atmosphere suddenly feltpletely different.

    ¡°Okay, can you get back on your own? I need Zachary for something,¡± Bowen said. Zachary<i>, </i>standing off to the side, hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. Bowen immediately understood that Zachary had something to say.

    ¡®Since Zachary didn¡¯t say it upfront, that means either he couldn¡¯t, or he wasn¡¯t sure if Aubree should hear those things,¡¯ Bowen thought.

    ¡°Of course, he¡¯s always been your man,¡± Aubree replied.

    The moment Aubree left, Zachary immediately reported the incident to Bowen.

    He said, ¡°Aubree and I both got physical with Jacob. Knowing what he¡¯s like, I doubt he¡¯ll just let this go.¡±

    ¡°Jacob?¡± Bowen snorted coldly. ¡®For Jacqueline¡¯s sake, I used to let it slide when Jacob dropped my name around town. But toy a hand on my people? Does he think I¡¯m dead and buried?¡®

    ¡°Forget about him. Just focus on keeping Bree safe. Go along with what she¡¯s doing. If anyone ends up maimed or in the hospital, that¡¯s all on me,¡± Bowen said, his eyes ruthless.

 Tried 77

    Standing before Bree Technology, Bryan gazed at the now well¨Cestablishedpany, his heart filled with both awe and unease,

    ¡®Who would¡¯ve thought that the in little duckling from back then could achieve all this?¡® Bryan couldn¡¯t help but worry, ¡®Will Aubree even want to see me? And if she does, will she still trust me?¡®

    For a fleeting moment, Bryan¡¯s eyes zed over as he recalled the simple, unassuming girl from three years ago who always stood behind him, gazing up

    at his back.

    She used to say, ¡°Bryan, you¡¯re amazing! Running such a hugepany! Can I study finance when I grow up? Then I could help you at yourpany.¡±

    She also said, ¡°Bryan, I heard Dad started from scratch, and you are already a sessful young man. If I, as your little sister, build my business empire one day, will people mention me alongside you and Dad when they talk about our family?¡±

    ¡°But now¡­ Bryan¡¯s throat went dry as he thought, a bitter ache rising within him.

    True to his word, Ronald had Bryan relieved of his position as chairman. When his father told him about yzy streamers inducing minors to spend money, Bryan, being a businessman himself, knew all too well that if they couldn¡¯t handle it properly, yzy could copse.

    Bryan let out a sigh.

    He understood his father¡¯s intentions. ¡®I don¡¯t want to hurt Aubree again, Bryan thought. ¡®But this matter had to be dealt with. I¡¯ll return to the Wilson family first. As for everything else, there¡¯ll always be a way.¡®

    With these thoughts in mind, Bryan agreed when Ronald asked him to talk to Aubree.

    Vincent soon came over and told Bryan to go in.

    Hearing this, Bryan hurried to follow Vincent¡¯s lead.

    Vincent said, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought the young boss of the Wilson Group would visit ourpany in person? Mr. Wilson, you must be here to discuss some yzy coborations with Ms. Miller, right?¡±

    Hearing this, Bryan shifted ufortably and replied, ¡°Sort of.¡±

    Vincent then said, ¡°You¡¯re too modest, Mr. Wilson. Partnering with Wilson Group is our privilege, though that¡¯s just my personal opinion. The final decision rests with Ms. Miller. It is her office. Please go right in.¡±

    Vincent assumed Bryan was just like those otherpany bosses sniffing around yzy for a piece of the pie now that it was booming,ing to Aubree to discuss a partnership.

    He couldn¡¯t help but feel smug, thinking, ¡®This job just keeps getting better. With the Turner Group backing us, even the Wilson Group is now actively seeking us out for coboration.¡±

    But Bryan was filled with a bitterness too profound for words.

    ¡®Coboration?¡® Bryan thought bitterly. ¡®Even if I were genuinely here to discuss a partnership, even if it were the Wilson Group, she still wouldn¡¯t agree.¡¯

    Truth be told, when his father told him to take Aubree back home, he didn¡¯t hold out much hope. ¡®The only real possibility is that Aubree can¡¯t bear to see her life¡¯s work destroyed and, for the sake of yzy¡¯s hidden crisis, may relent and go home with me,¡® Bryan thought.

    Vincent held the door open and motioned for him to enter.

    Inside, Aubree sat at her desk, herputer screen disying yzy¡¯s recent analytics dashboard.

    ¡°Aubree,¡± Bryan called out. ¡°yzy¡¯s been thrivingtely. As your brother, I¡¯m so proud of how far you¡¯vee.¡±

    Aubree turned to look at him, her expressionced with disgust. ¡°Proud? Are you serious?

    ¡°I remember back then, every time I outshone Carmen, you¡¯d get angry and call me pretentious, like I was just trying to steal the spotlight. Honestly, I always thought that you¡¯d never let me surpass her in your eyes.¡±

    Bryan¡¯s mind screamed, ¡®No, it¡¯s not like that!¡®

    He wanted to exin, but every excuse sounded hollow and pathetic, even to his ears.

    The truth was, he was afraid, afraid that if Aubree grew beyond his reach, it would only make his past mistakes even more unbearable.

    Bryan hung his head in defeat. ¡°I¡­ As your brother, of course, I want you to be better.¡±

    Aubree scoffed, her voice dripping with contempt. ¡°Brother¡®? That¡¯s a title you don¡¯t deserve in front of me, Bryan. Get to the <i>point</i>, what do you want today?¡±

    Bryan¡¯s heart clenched. Even though he¡¯d braced himself, facing Aubree¡¯s cold, disdainful demeanor still left him breathless. He struggled to get <i>the </i>words out, ¡°It¡¯s about yzy. Dad¡¯s been watching it closelytely and found that some streamers are inducing minors to spend money. It¡¯s not an isted incident. If this blows up, the consequences could be disastrous.¡±

    He hesitated before continuing, ¡°If things get serious, you might need to shut down the entire yzy tform. Dad wants you toe home so we can all figure out a solution together.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Aubree burst intoughter. ¡°Ronald? ¡®Discussing solutions¡®? Are <i>you </i>sure it¡¯s not just another ploy to make me hand over mypany?¡±

    Bryan caught sarcasm in Aubree¡¯s tone, yet found himself powerless to counter it.

    ¡®That¡¯s exactly what Dad intends,¡¯ he thought bitterly.

    Aubree sat back in her chair, legs casually crossed with an air of effortless elegance. She looked at Bryan and said coolly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know exactly what would happen if I went back to the Wilson family.¡±

    Bryan was too ashamed to look her in the eye.

    ¡°You knew it!¡± Aubree spat out.

    She added, ¡°You pulled this stunt before! After I switched to art studies, even with excellent grades, you still looked down on me. I truly felt I didn¡¯t belong with the Wilson family, so I went back to the orphanage. But soon after, when Carmen had apetitioning up and her painting skills weren¡¯t good enough for first prize, you, Bryan, went all the way to the orphanage to bring me back to make sure she¡¯d take the top spot.

    ¡°How pathetic I was to believe your lies! You pulled some strings to swap mypetition painting with Carmen¡¯s. She got all the fame, while I got threatened into silence.¡±

    Aubree looked at Bryan with a mocking smile and asked, ¡°When you were all celebrating Carmen¡¯s first prize, did it ever ur to you that the painting was mine?

    ¡°I confronted you, and all you did was use me of being dramatic and making a scene. Wasn¡¯t I justified in making a fuss? Bryan, do you even remember what you said back then?¡±

    Bryan¡¯s face twisted in shame as he lowered his head, unable to meet Aubree¡¯s gaze.

    Of course, he remembered every single word he¡¯d said.

    At that time, he said, ¡°Aubree, the only reason I brought you back was to secure Carmen¡¯s first ce. Did you think you deserved to return to the Wilson family for any other reason?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Bryan apologized, his voice rough with emotion.

    But it was already toote. Aubree no longer needed his empty apology.

    With a chilling smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes, Aubree said, ¡°I don¡¯t need this. You may have forgotten the past, but I remember every single detail for you.¡±

    Bryan took a deep breath. ¡°My apologies. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±

    Just as Bryan was about to leave, Aubree spoke up, ¡°But I do need to go back. You tell Ronald I¡¯ll be returning <i>to </i>the Wilson family this afternoon. Some things still need to be made clear.¡±

    Bryan had no idea what Aubree was talking about, but an inexplicable sense of unease settled over him.

    A voice in his head warned, ¡®You can¡¯t let Aubree go through with this. You¡¯ll regret it.¡®

    Yet when he opened his mouth, all that escaped was, ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡®What right do I have to stop her now?¡® Bryan thought.

    ¡°See yourself out,¡± Aubree said, not even bothering to look up.

    Bryan walked out of Bree Technology¡¯s towering headquarters and stood on the street, a bone¨Cdeep chill settling in his chest.

    Every icy re, every cutting word from Aubree stripped away their self¨Cdeceptive facade.

    He thought making amends would let them start over, but broken things didn¡¯t magically mend.

    The harm they had done to Aubree was beyond repair.

    ¡°What monstrous things have we done to her all these years?¡® Bryan sighed.

    He turned back for another look at the building, bitterly aware that he, too, wasplicit.

    Then, he thought bitterly, ¡®Aubree¡¯s hatred for me likely far exceeds even her resentment toward Emery.¡®

    Aubree remained focused on the analytics dashboard on her screen.

    Her secretary, Vincent, knocked and entered, presenting a file. ¡°Ms. Miller, as you requested, here are the streamer ounts we¡¯ve identified as encouraging underage spending.¡±

    Aubree looked at Vincent and nodded. ¡°How¡¯s the underage spending prevention system we discusseding along?¡±

    ¡°The development team says it¡¯s all ready,¡± Vincent replied.

    ¡°Good,¡± said Aubree. ¡®Underage spending caused a massive uproar in my past life,¡® she thought. ¡®We even had to implement a minor refund system because of it. Did they think I wouldn¡¯t take precautions? I don¡¯t need Ronald¡¯s fake concern.¡®

 Tried 78

    +20

    Aubree woke up right on time, her internal rm never failing her, even after a night of heavy drinking.

    She woke up clutching her pounding head. The hangover hit her like a sledgehammer to the skull, sending sharp, throbbing pains through her nerves.

    Aubree sat on the bed in a daze for a long moment before graduallying to her senses.

    ¡°Carol must have changed my clothesst night¡­¡± Aubree muttered to herself, ncing down at her outfit before scanning the room.

    She vaguely remember Bowen was thest to show up.

    ¡°What happened next?¡± Aubree wondered.

    Still holding her head, Aubree paused, her gaze suddenly nk as confusion washed over her face. ¡°Wait¡­ Did I¡­ Did I really kiss Bowen?¡±

    As the memories came flooding back, the scene in the car reyed in her mind with painful rity. Aubree buried her face in her hands and let out a mortified scream.

    Aubree thought in horror, ¡®Oh my God! What the hell did I do?

    ¡®OMG! I can¡¯t believe I actually flirted with Bowen while I was drunk! What the hell was I thinking?

    ¡®Bown must have taken pity on me, he actually let me off the hook instead of strangling me on the spot!

    Her mind raced through the logistics. The esports club was already in its formation stage. While Alvin¡¯s ce could amodate a pro team, it wasn¡¯t spacious enough for the entire club.

    She needed to find a new venue first, then move on to recruiting staff and coaches, and finally announce open tryouts for new talent for the youth training program.

    With the prestige of being the Autumn Finals champion, none of these would be difficult.

    But there was one more important thing. Aubree thought, ¡®I need to move out of Ellis Heights.

    ¡®Now that the tournament¡¯s over and I¡¯ve got my prize money, I¡¯m financially secure enough to rent a high-security ce. But afterst night¡¯s incident, even if Bowen didn¡¯t mind, there¡¯s no way I could keep living at Ellis Heights, I¡¯d just die of embarrassment.

    ¡®I¡¯d die of embarrassment if I ran into Bowen anytime soon!¡¯

    Seeing it was about time, Aubree scrambled out of bed. As a senior in high school, she no longer had the freedom to skip sses at will since the new term began.

    With little appetite, Aubree only managed a few sips of breakfast. She didn¡¯t see Bowen around. She¡¯d nned to mention she was moving out if he was there.

    She thought, ¡®After all, I¡¯ve been staying at his ce for quite a while. It just wouldn¡¯t feel right to leave without saying a word.¡¯

    She didn¡¯t ask, but Carol saw right through her. ¡°Looking for Bowen, Aubree?¡± she asked gently, ¡°There was an urgent matter at the Odiond branch, so he left urgentlyst night. He probably won¡¯t be back for a while.¡±

    Carol said with a knowing smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Bowen said he¡¯ll definitely be back before your birthday,¡± Aubree shifted ufortably, convinced Carol must have guessed something.

    Aubree scratched the back of her head. ¡°I just wanted to¡­¡± she started, but then thought, ¡®Forget it. Bowen¡¯s not even here right now, there¡¯s no point telling Carol I¡¯m moving out.

    Aubree said, ¡°Never mind, I¡¯m off to school. Bye, Carol.¡±

    Aubree grabbed a sandwich, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and saw Zachary already waiting in the car at the door.

    ¡°Hey, Zachary,¡± Aubree said, ¡°I¡¯ll be moving out of Ellis Heights soon, so from now on you won¡¯t need to pick me up anymore.¡±

    ¡°Miss Miller,¡± Zachary said firmly, ¡°Mr. Turner¡¯s orders are clear. I¡¯m responsible for your transportation and protection.¡± His meant that her moving wouldn¡¯t change his assignment.

    ¡°But I¡¯m not living at Ellis Heights anymore,¡± Aubree said with a hint of helplessness, ¡°It¡¯ll be a hassle for you to keep following me around.¡±

    ¡°I need direct orders from Mr. Turner. Before leaving, Mr. Turner only told me to protect you,¡± Zachary added firmly.

    ¡®Why does he have to be so damn stubborn?¡¯ Aubree thought in frustration.

    Aubree gave up trying to persuade Zachary. After spending some time with him, she realized that if this were ancient times, he¡¯d be the very definition of blind loyalty.

    He only took orders from Bowen. Nobody else¡¯s words would count.

    ¡®When is Bowening back, anyway?¡¯ Aubree thought, gazing absently out the window at the scenery whizzing past, her mindpletely nk.

    The image of Bowen¡¯s smiling face suddenly shed before her eyes. Aubree shuddered and thought, ¡®Did that damn kiss mess with my head?

    ¡®OMG! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m actually thinking about Bowen!¡¯

    That thought was absolutely horrifying. Aubree shook her head vigorously, as if trying to physically shake the idea loose, and began silently reciting Odiondian vocabry, anything to distract herself.

    Aubree muttered under her breath, desperately trying to focus on her vocabry list instead of that infuriatingly handsome

    face.

 Tried 79

    As usual, Zachary parked the car in a less crowded spot some distance from the school.

    The moment the car stopped, Aubree snatched her backpack and scrambled out. ¡°Zachary, skip the pickup tonight, I¡¯ve got stuff to do.¡±

    Aubree usually didn¡¯t arrive at school early, so at this hour, the front gate was typically quiet. But today was different, the entrance waspletely blocked by an unexpected crowd.

    She also saw a few camera crews in the crowd.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on here?¡¯ Aubree wondered, frowning at the unexpected crowd.

    As Aubree approached with her backpack, a sharp-eyed reporter suddenly shouted, ¡°Hey, that¡¯s Aubree! She¡¯s here!¡±

    All at once, the crowd surged forward. Several reporters blocked her path while gawking students closed in from all sides, leaving her trapped with no way to escape.

    Aubree waspletely baffled. ¡®Since when did winning an esports tournament warrant this kind of media frenzy?¡¯ she wondered.

    The moment the reporters started asking questions, Aubree realized just how dead wrong she was.

    A person asked, ¡°Hey Aubree, are you Phoenix, the midner who just won the League of Legends Autumn Finals?¡±

    They shoved a microphone right in her face, nearly hitting her.

    Aubree frowned and stepped back defensively. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me,¡± she replied, her tone guarded.

    A reporter asked, ¡°Aubree, as a pro gamer, how do you respond to the cheating allegations in the finals?¡±

    Another asked, ¡°Aubree, rumor has it you¡¯re the long-lost heiress of the Wilson family. Were you kicked out due to your misconduct?¡±

    A third asked, ¡°Aubree, did you really cheat in the tournament?¡±

    Someone else asked, ¡°Aubree, rumor has it you bullied your stepsister Carmen so badly that your family disowned and kicked you out. Any response to these allegations?¡±

    A reporter asked, ¡°Aubree, did you know it was your own teammate who publicly used you of cheating in the tournament?¡±

    ¡®What the hell is all this?¡¯ Aubree thought,pletely bewildered.

    Aubree¡¯s mind reeled from the barrage of questions. ¡®Who cheated? And who reported me?¡¯ she wondered,pletely bewildered.

    She thought, ¡®Isn¡¯t this all that dumbass Daxton¡¯s fault? How the hell did my teammate get dragged into this now?

    ¡®And how the hell did my family get dragged into this?¡¯

    Aubree was just reaching for the nearest microphone when a sudden shout cut through the chaos, ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Alice!¡±

    Just then, a fur-d socialite in a designer miniskirt, Alice Wilson, stepped forward, extending her meticulously manicured hand to snatch the microphone, while her bodyguards cleared a path through the crowd with practiced efficiency.

    Alice strode right up and took her ce beside Aubree.

    She said, ¡°Good day, friends from the press. I¡¯m Alice, Aubree¡¯s mother. I deeply regret that my daughter has be someone so unscrupulous. As her mother, this is my failure..¡±

    Alice¡¯s words instantly had every reporter turning their questions on Aubree.

    A reporter asked, ¡°Ms. Diamonde, are you admitting that Aubree cheated in the tournament finals?¡±

    ¡°While I¡¯m not entirely clear about this particr incident, I wouldn¡¯t put it past my daughter to do something like this.¡±

    With even her biological mother giving such a damning evaluation, the looks directed at Aubree shifted instantly.

    With an artfully crafted look of helpless resignation, Alice appeared every inch the long-suffering mother driven to her wit¡¯s end by her daughter¡¯s rebelliousness.

    Aubree watched with cold detachment, thinking, ¡®If these reporters aren¡¯t in cahoots with Alice, I¡¯ll eat my hat.¡¯

    A reporter asked, ¡°So, are those online rumors about Aubree bullying her stepsister Carmen and getting kicked out of the family true as well?¡±

    Alice replied, ¡°Though it pains me to air our family¡¯s dirtyundry in public, my answer is yes. In fact, I¡¯m here today to plead with my dear daughter to mend her ways.¡±

    After finishing her little performance with the reporters, Alice finally turned to Aubree. ¡°Aubree, Mommy is willing to forgive all your past mistakes. Just apologize in front of these reporters today, and I¡¯ll take you home right away.

    ¡°All I ask is that you never bully Carmen again.¡±

    ¡®How touching,¡¯ Aubree thought sarcastically.

    Someone in the crowd couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°I wish I had a mom as understanding and kind as Alice!¡±

    Another said, ¡°Yeah, totally! Rich, beautiful, and so gentle, she¡¯s exactly the kind of mom I¡¯ve always dreamed of!¡±

    Compared to Alice¡¯s first attempt to confront her, this time she had clearly upped her game, ying a far more calcted hand.

    She leveraged public opinion to guilt-trip her, while everyone else remained clueless about the truth.

    If Aubree argued back now, just like she didst time, it would only y right into her hands and make her look like the unreasonable brat she imed she was.

    ¡®Well, she is my mother after all!¡¯ Aubree thought bitterly.

    Aubree let out a scoff and thought, ¡°¡±Who says I¡¯m afraid to make a scene just because of this? I¡¯ve got nothing to lose, so who the hell should I be scared of?¡¯

    +20)

 Tried 80

    The usations against Aubree grew louder and more relentless.

    ¡°What a letdown! I actually thought our school had a champion,¡± someone muttered.

    Another said, ¡°So a cheating champion still counts, right?¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe Aubree would stoop so low at thepetition,¡± a bystander remarked. ¡°But now even her own mother is publicly denouncing her character¡­¡± They shook their head in disdain.

    Some sighed in sympathy, while others spat in disgust.

    One of the onlookers scoffed, ¡°Some people just don¡¯t know how to appreciate the good life they¡¯ve got.¡±

    Another said, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it said on the forums that Aubree got kicked out of the Wilson family for pushing Carmen down the stairs out of jealousy? Then she proved it was actually Carmen who staged it herself, and honestly, I totally believed her back then. But now? Guess where there¡¯s smoke, there¡¯s fire, she¡¯s no saint either.¡±

    If it were just reporters stirring up trouble, people might still have their doubts. But now that even Alice had spoken out against her, suddenly everyone believed it.

    If Aubree hadn¡¯t crossed the line, people felt that Alice would not publicly condemn her own daughter like this.

    Aubree heard all the scathingments, and of course, Alice heard them too.

    Alice shot Aubree a taunting smile, her eyes full of challenge. She thought, ¡®So you refused to help Carmen and even got her expelled from Rithol Art School? You¡¯re so capable that you don¡¯t even need toe home, right? Let¡¯s see how you get yourself out of this mess now,

    ¡°To err is human, please don¡¯t judge my daughter so harshly,¡± Alice said, putting on a magnanimous front. ¡°I believe my Aubree simply made a mistake in the heat of the moment. As long as she¡¯s willing to admit her wrongdoing and return the trophy that was never rightfully hers, I¡¯m still willing to take her home and guide her properly.¡±

    The crowd erupted in enthusiastic apuse.

    Some parents dropping off their kids couldn¡¯t help nodding in agreement. If their own child had done something so disgraceful, a beating would be letting them off easy. She felt that Aubree sure had a great mother.

    The nted reporter, seeing how things were unfolding, quickly thrust the microphone forward and said pointedly, ¡°Aubree, since your mother is being so forgiving, why not take this opportunity, with everyone watching, to show your resolve and apologize right here and now? We¡¯ll all bear witness!¡±

    Aubree thought sarcastically, ¡®What a perfect little scheme!

    I didn¡¯t know exactly what was going on, but I could make an educated guess.

    ¡®It must be the Wilson family colluding with someone to smear me online, iming I cheated in the finals. Then Alice brought in reporters to corner me, and now she¡¯s making her grand entrance to put on this little act with them.

    ¡®Alice gets to y the saintly, selfless mother, while I¡¯m cast as the rebellious, wayward daughter.

    ¡®If I apologize now, Carmen¡¯s little scandal could easily be swept under the rug. After all, nothing someone like her does would surprise anyone.

    ¡®Not only that, but Alice would seize this chance to keep me under her thumb.¡¯

    Aubree grabbed the reporter¡¯s wrist and yanked the microphone to her own mouth. ¡°Me? Apologize?¡± she scoffed. ¡°Why the

    hell should I?¡±

    ¡°Cheating in the finals? Excuse me? I don¡¯t even know how that rumor started. Let me make one thing clear. I won that championship on my own merit, my trophy ispletely untainted!¡±

    The reporter struggled to reim the microphone, but Aubree tightened her grip even further. She shot the reporter a cold look and said icily, ¡°What¡¯s the rush, Miss Reporter? I wasn¡¯t finished speaking.¡±

    Aubree shed a cold, toothy grin, her gleaming teeth making the reporter freeze in fear, all struggle forgotten in an instant.

    Aubree swept her gaze across the crowd. ¡°Or should I apologize for being a ¡®difficult daughter¡¯ too?¡±

    At this point, Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh bitterly. She thought, ¡®Unless I¡¯d actually killed someone, how could I ever be worse than the Wilson family?¡¯

    Aubree stared straight at Alice and demanded, ¡°Ms. Wilson, do you admit that I¡¯ve already severed all ties with your family?¡±

    Alice parted her lips, instinctively ready to deny it. But then it struck her, her husband had indeed signed those legal documents. Even if she tried to deny it, Aubree had concrete proof. So she chose silence, fixing Aubree with an exaggerated look of helpless resignation.

 Tried 81

    Aubree thought, ¡®If she wants to keep pretending, I¡¯m not ying along.

    ¡®ckmail? Sorry, I don¡¯t have a moralpass! If that¡¯s how you want to y, then let¡¯s all lose face together!¡¯

    She said, ¡°You¡¯re not silent because you don¡¯t want to answer, you¡¯re too scared to! I have the legal severance agreement right here. You¡¯re no longer my mother. I can have it authenticated in court. I drafted it myself, which means I was the one who initiated the severance.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s words made the sharper minds in the crowd start connecting the dots.

    As far as the Wilson family was concerned, Aubree wasn¡¯t driven out for any wrongdoing. On the contrary, she chose to leave of her own ord.

    The Wilson family were Rithol¡¯s top-tier elite, no one would walk away from that kind of fortune.

    People felt that it must be because she¡¯d reached her absolute breaking point.

    Aubree red at Alice. ¡°You stand there as my mother, using your daughter of rotten morals and an incorrigible nature. But have you ever stopped for even a moment to consider if you are fit to be a mother?

    ¡°For three years in the Wilson family, I never had a single proper meal! Do you even know I developed a chronic stomach condition? Have you ever truly looked at the scars all over my body? Every single one of them was caused by the Wilson family!

    ¡°Did you even bother to count how many times I was hospitalized in those three years?

    ¡°Did you ever even care whether I was freezing or burning up?¡±

    Aubree shouted, ¡°Never!

    ¡°For three years, all I ever got from you, my so-called mother, was nothing but scolding and beatings. You use me of having no morals, so tell me, exactly where did I go wrong? As a designer, Alice, don¡¯t you understand what giarism means to a creator? Yet you forced me to ghostwrite for Carmen in so many importantpetitions, and even enabled her to hire others just to keep herself from being expelled from Rithol Art School. And after all that, you still call Carmen a ¡®good kid¡¯?

    ¡°If I¡¯ve done anything wrong, it¡¯s only because you drove me to it over these past three years!¡±

    All the injustices of the past three years came pouring out in that moment, and Aubree felt a sense of liberation she had never experienced before. Watching Alice pale and stumble backward only intensified the triumphant satisfaction surging through her.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Alice started to retort. But when she met Aubree¡¯s undisguised look of hatred, her words died in her throat, a chill running down her spine.

    Alice thought, ¡®She¡­hates me?

    ¡®Why does she hate me so much? Sure, maybe I neglected her meals at the Wilson household, but in every other respect, haven¡¯t I treated her well?

    ¡®She had top-tier clothes and luxury goods. Other than asking her to yield to Carmen, what exactly did she have toin

    about?¡¯

    That sliver of guilty conscience Alice had felt just moments before vanished instantly, reced by fury.

    Alice thought venomously, ¡®What an ungrateful wretch!

    She keeps going on about how the Wilson family wronged her, but what has she ever done for us?

    ¡®Aubree never measured up to Carmen in any way. Isn¡¯t it only natural for the family to dote on her more?

    Perhaps it was Aubree¡¯s raw and genuine resentment that was so palpable, it began to ripple through the crowd.

    The crowd¡¯s murmurs gradually shifted in tone, their certainty wavering as they struggled to tell who was actually in the right.

    Will Jennings Stop crowding at the entrance! Shouldn¡¯t you all be in ss by now?¡± the principle, Will Jennings called out from afar, arrivingte after hearing the news, urgently herding the students back to their ssrooms.

    He thought, ¡®Reporters are everywhere! How can I let this go on?¡¯

    Seizing the final moment, Aubree fixed Alice with a piercing re. ¡°I¡¯ve repaid my debt to you. As for your so-called ¡®nurturing¡¯? I was trafficked at five, and after three years under your roof, I ended up malnourished. If I haven¡¯t retaliated for that kind of ¡®care,¡¯ it¡¯s only because I¡¯m being merciful!¡±

    ¡°You there, the girl in front! I see you. Come to my office, now!¡± Will strode over and firmly grabbed Aubree by the arm. As he looked up, his eyesnded on Alice standing nearby.

    Will recognized Alice because she had visited the school several times due to Carmen.

    Will was a bit dumbfounded. He thought, ¡®What on earth is going on here?¡¯

 Tried 82

    ¡°Mrs. Wilson, perhaps next time we could handle student discipline a bit more tactfully? Such public scenes don¡¯t reflect well on the school¡¯s reputation.¡± Will nervously ran his fingers through his thinning hair, swallowing his frustration.

    Will thought with a sigh, ¡®If it were just an ordinary student, I¡¯d simply issue disciplinary action and be done with it. But why does it have to involve the Wilson family?

    ¡®I remember the Wilson family¡¯s girl is called Carmen, right? So where did this new one pop up from?¡±

    Will thought Aubree looked familiar, but couldn¡¯t quite ce her.

    Alice gave an apologetic smile. ¡°My apologies for the trouble, Mr. Jennings.¡±

    ¡°So, is this your daughter, Mrs. Wilson?¡±

    Alice nced at the silent Aubree, her eyes shing with a calcted gleam. ¡°Mr. Jennings, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not acquainted with Aubree.¡±

    ¡®Not acquainted?¡¯ Aubree pondered the words with bitter amusement. ¡®No wonder I never got along with the Wilson family, I could never master this level of shameless hypocrisy.

    ¡°Just moments ago she was calling me ¡°daughter¡± in front of everyone, and now we¡¯re suddenly strangers? Even professional actors can¡¯t switch masks this fast.

    ¡°My apologies for the trouble today, Mr. Jennings,¡± Alice said smoothly. ¡°The Wilson family will be donating a new library to the school aspensation. As for this student, please feel free to handle her strictly ording to school policy.¡±

    Will waspletely baffled by these contradictory statements. ¡®So now you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no rtion at all?¡¯ he wondered.

    But with the school now nning to build a new library, all those other details hardly seemed to matter anymore.

    After all, as the principle of Rithol High School, he knew exactly how to read between the lines, whether it was sweet talk or veiled threats.

    Will saw Alice off with an obsequious smile. Then, turning to Aubree, his smile vanished instantly. ¡°I¡¯d already heard certain rumors about you before I even reached the school gate. Of course, we can¡¯t verify these allegations, and without concrete evidence, we shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡±

    Aubree nodded. ¡°Just say it straight, Mr. Jennings. I know how these things work.¡±

    With Alice¡¯sst words, even if Will hadn¡¯t nned to make things difficult for her, he now had no choice but to do just that.

    Aubree lowered hershes, a flicker of bitterness shing in her downcast eyes. She thought, ¡®If truth be told, I¡¯m the real victim here. But with the mighty Wilson family¡¯s influence, even my innocence would be twisted into guilt.

    ¡®I know exactly how the game is yed, but it still burns me up!¡¯

    Her fingers, clutching the seam of her pants, slowly curled in as Aubree managed a strained smile. ¡°I¡¯ve caused trouble for the school,¡± she said.

    Seeing how well Aubree read the situation, Will gave her a perfunctory smile. ¡°Well then, why don¡¯t you take a few days off at home? You cane back when this unpleasantness blows over.¡±

    Aubree yielded without protest. She thought, ¡®From Will¡¯s standpoint, this punishment is fair and by the book. There¡¯s no point in wasting energy on futile arguments, sometimes it¡¯s better to just ept it and move on.¡±

    Stepping out of the office, Aubree managed a wry smile. She thought, ¡®With the club keeping me so busy these days, I might

    as well treat this forced leave as a few days off to focus on official business.

    ¡®Can¡¯t go to school? I can always hit the books at night. Besides, I still need to find a new ce to live.

    Just thinking about it this way actually made her feel a bit better.

    Aubree walked down the hallway with her backpack slung over one shoulder, scrolling through her phone. She hadn¡¯t checked the online buzz since waking up that morning.

    After Alice made a scene at the school gate, someone posted it online. The incident quickly started trending. Aubree didn¡¯t even have to search for it. Te news was already flooding her feed.

    Scrolling through her phone, Aubree¡¯s fingers froze mid-swipe when she spotted the person who had publicly used her of cheating.

    She thought, ¡®Am I seeing things? How could it be¡­ Matilda?¡±

    ¡°Aubree!¡± Matilda, who should¡¯ve been in ss, came rushing around the stairwell corner and seized Aubree¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she choked out, her voice trembling. ¡°This is all my fault¡­¡±

    20

    20/

 Tried 83

    Matilda¡¯s eyes were red-rimmed with guilt. She stammered, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you still believe me, but that post wasn¡¯t from me. Last night, after I took my brother home, Carmen showed up at my ce. She tried to bribe me into reporting you for cheating, but I refused.¡±

    As if afraid Aubree wouldn¡¯t believe her, Matilda raised her fingers in a solemn vow. ¡°I swear, this wasn¡¯t me, it wasn¡¯t what I wanted. My parents¡­ they saw the money and used my identity. I¡¯m so, so sorry.¡±

    She hung her head low. ¡°Go ahead, hate me all you want,¡± she said weakly. The more she tried to exin, the more futile it felt. Whether she did it herself or her family did, in the end, she felt it amounted to the same thing.

    Aubree simply stared at her in silence.

    Matilda managed a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯ll clear this up, and then I¡¯ll quit the team.¡±

    Just as she turned to leave, Aubree cleared her throat.

    LWH

    She said, ¡°Hey, you owe me a favor. Instead of figuring out how to make it up to me, you¡¯re just thinking of bailing on me? If you leave, who¡¯s gonna coach my squad?¡±

    When Aubree first realized it was Matilda, she admitted feeling a re of anger. But she shut it down almost immediately.

    Aubree thought firmly, ¡®That¡¯s not the Matilda I know!

    ¡®After hearing her exnation, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of relief.

    ¡®Unlike the betrayals from my own family in my previous life, the friends I¡¯ve chosen this time around have firmly stood by my side.¡¯

    Aubree walked over and gave Matilda a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°Your family¡¯s actions are on them, you are your own

    person.

    I don¡¯t believe in holding you responsible for what they did. Seriously, don¡¯t let this weigh on you. I¡¯ll handle it. When I really need your help, I won¡¯t hesitate to ask. And if you really want to make it up to me, just bring home the season championship.

    ¡°Alright, your Boss Aubree is off to find you guys a new home!¡±

    With a casual wave, Aubree left the school gates, hailed a cab, and headed straight for Golden Industrial Park.

    Golden Industrial Park was one of Rithol City¡¯s most famousndmarks, especially in the esports scene.

    This ce was home to numerous professional esports teams¡¯ headquarters.

    Take League of Legends for example. Six of the league¡¯s sixteen franchised teams were based there. That was not even counting the countless other games with official tournaments happening these days.

    When establishing an esports club, one would naturally choose a mainstream location with the rightpetitive atmosphere.

    Originally, this wasn¡¯t her first choice. Back when the rent here was still cheap and the ce hadn¡¯t made a name for itself, it was much more affordable. But as its reputation grew and the esports scene exploded, the value of this industrial park soared.

    Now that she had got Alvin¡¯s ck card, this rental fee was no big deal.

    Even in the cab, Aubree kept working to contain the online firestorm.

    Aubree called Alvin.

    (+20)

    He said, ¡°Aubree? I know what¡¯s happening online. I¡¯m handling it.¡±

    Aubree asked, ¡°Is it giving you a hard time?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not trouble,¡± Alvin replied, his voice edged with frustration on the other end of the line.

    He continued, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t you think the tournament officials know whether you cheated or not? But you also know the hottest team in the league right now is Apex Squad. And more importantly, the man behind Apex Squad is Emery, who represents the entire Wilson family.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s heart sank. She thought, ¡®Yeah, normally, when a championship team gets used, the tournament officials issue a statement right away. But it¡¯s been ages since that usation post went up, and still, nothing from the officials!¡¯

    Many were specting whether the tournament officials had tacitly approved the situation and were now working behind the scenes to resolve it.

    Alvin said, ¡°Originally, the officials wanted to give the Wilson family preferential treatment, but I blocked that. Now they¡¯re saying they¡¯ll issue a statement that the matter is still under investigation. As for the final oue, that¡¯s for us to settle ourselves.¡±

    She got the picture, in short, the Wilson family was working against the Turner family on this matter.

    Not wanting to offend either the Wilson family or the Turner family, the officials simply let them duke it out themselves.

    She said, ¡°Got it.¡±

    As Aubree stepped out of the cab, she spotted the leasing agent already waiting for her. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of here, so I¡¯ll hang up now. Thanks, Alvin, I really appreciate it.¡±

    She thought, ¡®Matilda is my winning card here. With enough pressure applied, even the officials can¡¯t just sweep this under the rug.

 Tried 84

    At the Wilson Group.

    Bryan rubbed his temples in frustration. The deal with Harding had been snatched bypetitors, making this quarter¡¯s financial report look dismal.

    Flipping through the documents submitted by his sinprdomate, Bryan felt relieved. At least it was only the new project that had issues. Everything else seemed fine.

    Bryan tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk as he pondered. If it really came down to an all-out war, even the Turner Group wouldn¡¯t escape unscathed. Since Bowen hadn¡¯t made any other moves elsewhere, Harding¡¯s deal was clearly just a warning shot.

    The assistant knocked and entered, reporting, ¡°Mr. Wilson, I¡¯vepleted the task you assigned. Everything at Rithol Art School has been arranged, and the person has already been sent abroad as nned.

    ¡°However, I¡¯m not sure if we should make it public now, so I wanted to check with you first.¡±

    He slid the tablet across the desk to Bryan.

    To cover up Carmen¡¯s giarism scandal, Bryan arranged a scapegoat for her.

    Just like in her previous life, when the Wilson family pushed Aubree out as a scapegoat for Carmen¡¯s giarism.

    This time, Bryan targeted one of Carmen¡¯s sidekicks at Rithol Art School, someone eager to curry favor with the Wilson family, since Carmen had never hidden her identity after enrolling.

    Bryan promised to sponsor that girl¡¯s overseas education, with all expenses covered by the Wilson family, a tempting offer she couldn¡¯t refuse. Her job was to publicly im she was close to Carmen and, in order to ingratiate herself with the Wilson family, had tampered with Carmen¡¯s art assignment without Carmen¡¯s knowledge.

    Once this story was out, whether people believed it or not, at least the Wilson family would save face. With a bit of clever PR, Carmen coulde forward with a tearful apology and voluntarily withdraw from Rithol, transforming from a shameless giarist into an unwitting victim.

    The public would take pity on Carmen for being forced to quit school because of someone else¡¯s mistake.

    Bryan frowned and think, ¡®Did they really need to bother me with something so trivial?¡¯ He took the tablet and saw a video. of the incident at the school gate.

    ¡®What is Mother up to now?¡¯ he thought, exasperated.

    The assistant carefully observed Bryan¡¯s expression and cautiously said, ¡°Sir, ever since Mrs. Wilson made a scene at Aubree¡¯s school this morning, there¡¯s been a surge of new spection online, especially because, in the video, Aubree ims that many of Carmen¡¯spetition pieces were actually ghostwritten by her. With Carmen just exposed for hiring a ghostwriter, there¡¯s already a heated discussion about it online. If we release our statement now, public opinion would likely turn against Aubree.¡±

    In the past, the assistant always knew exactly what to do. When it came to Carmen and Aubree, the boss¡¯s preference was

    clear-cut.

    But now, the assistant wasn¡¯t so sure anymore.

    Bryan smiled bitterly. If he made a move, Trevor would surely step in, too. With hundreds of millions of devoted fans, once Trevor publicly took a stand, his fanbase would be an unstoppable force.

    Then, Aubree would truly be trapped in an inescapable predicament.

    (+20)

    ¡®Should I release it?¡¯ Bryan thought.

    If he didn¡¯t, it wouldn¡¯t sit well with his mother, and both thepany and the family¡¯s reputation would suffer. But if he did, Aubree would bear the brunt..

    Even as he weighed his options, Bryan already knew the answer in his heart.

    ¡°Release it,¡± he said. He¡¯d find other ways to make it up to Aubree.

    Bryan¡¯s voice was rough as he said, ¡°I remember that ne we acquired at the auction. It¡¯s still here, right? Have it packaged for me.¡±

    Just as Bryan had anticipated, as soon as his assistant contacted the influencer ounts, Trevor¡¯s studio immediately released an official statement.

    As the youngest one to have won the Best Actor Award, Trevor¡¯s influence online was overwhelming, especially now that the so-called ¡°evidence¡± was already circting.

    A person wrote online: [This drama keeps getting juicier, now even Carmen has weighed in.]

    Another asked: [So what¡¯s really going on? Is the Wilson family mistreating Aubree, or is Aubree falsely using Carmen?]

    A third person said: [I trust my Trevor! Carmen, we¡¯ve got your back!]

    Someone else said: [Even her own mother and brother are presenting solid evidence against Aubree. The truth is obvious.]

    No one would believe Aubree was innocent if her own blood rtives chose to side with the adopted daughter.

    *****

 Tried 85

    At a caf¨¦ in Golden Industrial Park, Aubree finalized the details of the leased space with the manager and signed her name on the contract.

    Tucking away the signed contract, the manager showed not the slightest underestimation toward the young woman before him. She had achieved in less than a month what many of her peers might never aplish in their entire careers.

    She then went on to be a club owner herself.

    As for the online drama, it was none of the manager¡¯s business.

    The client was the most important issue to him.

    L

    He said, ¡°Miss Miller, since the contract is signed and there are no other issues, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± Aubree responded with a polite smile.

    After seeing the manager out, Aubree nced down at her silenced phone as another unknown call shed on the screen.

    This time, she didn¡¯t hang up.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Aubree answered, her voice calm.

    ¡°See that, Aubree? This is what happens when you disobey me!¡± The call came from Alice, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction.

    Aubree set aside her phone and searched for updates. She thought, ¡®So much for their supposed brilliance, just the same old scapegoat routine.

    ¡®Who knows these tricks better than I do? In my previous life, I lost count of how many times I was made Carmen¡¯s sacrificialmb.

    ¡®So when I decided to expose Carmen as unworthy of her role, it was no surprise that the Wilson family would pull the same predictable move.¡¯

    ¡°So is this what I get for having a thriving life?¡± Aubree smirked, amusement flickering across her lips.

    She nced at the freshly signed contract. Starting her own club, developing software, and founding apany were things she¡¯d never dared dream of in her previous life, but this time, she¡¯d achieved them all.

    Alice never expected Aubree to react like this. Aubree had been kicked out of school, and public opinion online was clearly on Carmen¡¯s side. She felt that Aubree should be sobbing her eyes out and begging her to let her off the hook by now.

    ¡°Mom, what did Aubree say?¡± Carmen stood right next to Alice, fidgeting like she was on hot coals. Seeing her mother stay

    silent made her even more anxious.

    She¡¯d already been kicked out of Rithol Art School, though she hadn¡¯t even set foot on campus yet. At this point, all she could do was shift everyone¡¯s attention to Aubree. Otherwise, she¡¯d be theughingstock.

    Carmen thought fiercely, ¡°That can¡¯t happen!

    ¡®It¡¯s all Aubree¡¯s fault! She just has topete with me. Even after leaving the Wilson family, she can¡¯t stay out of trouble, always ying the victim card to win my brothers¡¯ sympathy.¡¯

    A barely noticeable smirk flickered across her lips. As long as Bryan and the others saw Aubree for who she really was, things would go back to the way they used to be.

    Once this blows over, who¡¯ll even remember the ghostwriting scandal? They¡¯ll just say Aubree set me up out of spite,¡¯ Carmen thought, her n taking shape.

    Carmen urged Alice, eager to know if Aubree was truly in dire straits. Alice, however, mistook her urgency for genuine concern about Aubree¡¯s predicament.

    Her eyes softened with maternal warmth, but then her anger surged. ¡°Fine! If you¡¯re going to be this defiant, let¡¯s see what tricks you have left. Even if you end up begging on your knees at my doorstep, I still won¡¯t let you set foot in this house again!¡±

    Aubree held the phone away from her ear and rubbed it. ¡°Just a friendly reminder, Mrs. Wilson, getting angry all the time will give you wrinkles,¡± she said with a smirk, ¡°Just make sure you¡¯re not the one begging me toe backter.¡±

    With a click, the call ended. Alice¡¯s face twisted in fury as she hurled her phone to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

    ¡°That ungrateful brat!¡± Alice fumed. ¡°How dare she even imagine I¡¯d beg her toe back? Was she out of her mind?¡±

    Carmen raised her voice, frustration clear. ¡°Mom! Weren¡¯t we supposed to coax Aubree back?¡± Now that Aubree was getting out of control, Carmen couldn¡¯t rx unless she had her where she could see her.

    Still fuming, Alice didn¡¯t notice Carmen¡¯s odd reaction. She snapped, ¡°Carmen, from now on, whatever happens to her is no concern of our family. I know you¡¯re kind-hearted, but someone like her doesn¡¯t deserve our concern.¡±

    Seeing Alice¡¯s stormy expression, Carmen swallowed the rest of her words.

 Tried 86

    The Wilson family was hell-bent on destroying Aubree this time. Trevor¡¯s public statement wasn¡¯t enough. They even splurged on buying trending hashtags and hired an army of paid trolls to smear her online.

    The inte was flooded with malicious posts smearing Aubree.

    Matilda had been glued to her phone, following every update. Guilt gnawed at her as she thought, ¡®It¡¯s all my fault. If it weren¡¯t for me, Aubree wouldn¡¯t be getting dragged through the mud like this.¡±

    Even the usually unppable Alvin couldn¡¯t stay calm. ¡®Aubree needs to respond now before she misses the perfect timing!¡¯ he thought anxiously.

    Right now, the general public was thinking that Aubree didn¡¯t respond because she felt guilty.

    After finalizing her new apartment, Aubree¡¯s phone was buzzing non-stop like a beehive. Even her teammates from God¡¯s Fury were flooding her inbox with messages, offering help.

    Aubree stared at the hashtags dominating the trending list, absentmindedly chewing on her straw. ¡®Now¡¯s the time,¡¯ she thought.

    If the officials wouldn¡¯t intervene, she¡¯d have to force them to pick a side. Once their own interests were at stake, they couldn¡¯t possibly remain neutral.

    Aubree texted Matilda: [Matt, it¡¯s time.]

    After texting Matilda, Aubree registered an official Twitter ount for God¡¯s Fury. Once the ount was blue-check verified, she beganposing her first post.

    She didn¡¯t bother with any exnations. Instead, she simply attached photos of the franchise slot purchase and the lease agreement for Golden Industrial Park.

    Her post was concise. [I¡¯m Aubree Miller, co-owner of God¡¯s Fury Club, currently managing this official ount.]

    Yet this simple post ignited an online firestorm.

    Within minutes, shares andments skyrocketed to astronomical levels.

    The Wilson family were pulling out all the stops, buying up media coverage, hiring troll armies, and even sending in their crown jewel, Trevor, a heavyweight at the very top of the entertainment industry. The whole affair became such a spectacle that everyone wanted in, from industry insiders to casual onlookers.

    They wondered if this was a family feud, an esports drama, or something else entirely.

    The onlookers said nothing. They were just here for the drama.

    A person wrote: [What¡¯s going on? Is the League really going to let a yer who cheated in the finals join?]

    Oneizen eximed: [Damn, this just keeps getting wilder! We thought Aubree was lying low out of guilt, but she just dropped a nuclear-level bombshell!]

    [Just a pathetic clown. And honestly, who even knows where all that money came from?] onementer scoffed.

    Thement section was rife with skeptical voices.

    Aubree selected the top-votedment and replied: [Actually not mine. The Turner Group brought in the investment.]

    A person wrote: [Since the club is brand new, are you hiring? I study digital media. Can I join as a social media manager?]

    Aubree replied under thisment: [We¡¯ll post updates about God¡¯s Fury club recruitment and the youth academy on the official ount. If you¡¯re interested, feel free to submit your application!]

    Aubree also casually liked a fewments that caught her eye.

    With everything done, Aubree locked her phone and headed back to Ellis Heights,pletely unfazed by the social media storm her few words had unleashed.

    A person wrote: [So Turner Group is backing her now? Does that mean Aubree is officially tied to them]

    Another wrote: [Back then, Alvin was just protecting his teammates. The whole team thing was Just a passing whim of the young heir, with no real interests at stake.]

    Someone else wrote: [The League officials had assumed Turner Group wouldn¡¯t get involved. At most, they were staying neutral as a courtesy to Alvin. But now that Aubree has openly stated the club is backed by Turner Group, if she really cheated, the club would fold immediately.]

    A person wrote: [With just the franchise slot alone costing Turner Group 20 million, no corporation would simply sit back and watch that kind of money go down the drain.]

    The League officials were starting to waver. Although theirtest statement still hadn¡¯t cleared Aubree of the cheating allegations, the wording was already subtly leaning in her favor.

    The moment this whole thing reached its peak was a Twitter post from Apex Squad. The post itself didn¡¯t outright confirm or deny whether Aubree had cheated, but when even her opponents called her win legit, suddenly, nobody really cared anymore if she had actually cheated.

    The only lingering question was why Matilda, as the coach, would publicly call out Aubree.

    A person wrote: [Assuming Matilda was lying. Aubree is already the boss now, but she hasn¡¯t done anything to her. Is she some kind of saint who just lets bygones be bygones?]

    Another wrote: [But if what Matilda said was true, even if the League had lost its mind, would Apex Squad really go along with it? Their boss is Emery. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d just let the championship trophy slip away without a fight, right?]

    All doubts were put to rest when an explosive video emerged.

    20)

 Tried 87

    It turned out that Matilda was not the person who posted those things/

    Upon receiving Aubree¡¯s message, Matilda immediately took leave and rushed home. She arrived so early that her family waspletely caught off guard.

    As she pushed the door open, the first thing she saw was her parents and brother beaming with joy, clutching a bank card as if they¡¯d just won the lottery.

    Matilda let out a coldugh, snatched the bank card from their hands without hesitation, and snapped it in two. Staring at her family, she demanded, ¡°So without my consent, you impersonated me to nder my friend? Do I even exist as your daughter or your sister in your eyes?¡±

    Matilda¡¯s words made the three of them shrink back in guilt. Ever since Drake got hooked on gambling, her parents had been struggling tirelessly to earn and borrow money, leaving Matilda to handle all the family affairs, big or small.

    The three members of the Diaz family undoubtedly felt guilty towards her.

    Previously, to appear more intimidating, Matilda changed her name and cut her hair short.

    Her brother kept breaking his promises to gamble, yet she never gave up on this family. Even as her parents wept and pleaded, they still spoiled him, but she kept trying to pull them all out of the quicksand.

    But this time, it was like a cold wave washed over her. She¡¯d never felt so betrayed.

    She was already more than capable of making serious money, but her parents still chose to abandon her without hesitation for the hefty bribe Carmen offered.

    They never once considered what she¡¯d have to endure afterward, nor did they care what would be of her. Their only concern was that their precious son could get out of debt, and even walk away with a massive windfall to boot.

    Drake winced as he looked at the broken bank card in his sister¡¯s hand, his face twisting in visible pain. ¡°Matilda, let¡¯s talk this through. Don¡¯t waste all those money!¡±

    Truman scowled and said sternly, ¡°Matilda, you¡¯ve gone too far this time.¡±

    Shirley said hesitantly, ¡°Matilda, how could that Aubree ever be as important as your own brother?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Matilda said firmly, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for myself.¡±

    Matilda¡¯s deadly serious tone made her family instinctively recoil.

    She said, ¡°I never did well in school, but as you all know, I recently became a coach and led my team to a championship, earning over 3 million in prize money. Now, I¡¯m officially the head coach of God¡¯s Fury, with a six-figure monthly sry, plus a share of the prize money from every tournament we win.¡±

    Matilda waved the snapped bank card in her hand. ¡°So, do you want this one-time payment, or do you want me to keep bringing in steady money for the family?¡±

    ¡°Six¡­ six figures?¡± Truman gasped, blurting out, ¡°Holy cow, holy cow! That¡¯s more than I¡¯ve made in my entire working life!¡±

    Drake never expected his sister to have such unexpected luck. While their parents only understood basic sries and bonuses, he knew exactly how much under-the-table ie this esports career could really bring.

    Shirley pped her chest in dismay and said, ¡°Oh no, we¡¯ve really messed up now!¡±

    If Matilda¡¯s sternness earlier was the stick, then her offer of steady ie just now was the carrot.

    +20

    Matilda employed the carrot-and-stick approach, a tactic Aubree had suggested, and, to her surprise, it worked like a charm. Matilda raised her eyebrow slightly, suppressing a triumphant smile and affecting a serious tone. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal,¡± she said, ¡°If you record a video together, admit what you did, exin exactly how you did it, and apologize, then I¡¯ll let it go.¡±

    Truman pped his thigh impatiently and urged, ¡°What are we waiting for? Drake, hurry up and get your phone!¡± He was so eager, he almost wished he could turn into a phone himself.

    Drake hastily fished his phone out of his pocket.

    Unnoticed by everyone, Matilda allowed herself a small, triumphant smile. ¡®Nailed it!¡¯ she thought.

    The moment the video went live, everything clicked into ce. It all started with Carmen. This was nothing but a shameless smear campaign to whitewash herself by framing someone else.

    Although the Diaz family didn¡¯t go into detail about Carmen bribing them, anyone with half a brain could connect the dots, the Wilson family was obviously behind it. Otherwise, they would not smear Aubree instead of supporting her.

    Now even Alice¡¯s usations about Aubree¡¯s ¡°moral corruption¡± were being called into question. People were starting to wonder if those ims were just part of a smear campaign.

    The counterattack turned out to be surprisingly effective,rgely thanks to Emery¡¯s public statement.

    Aubree smiled faintly. ¡®If Emery wants to make these self-serving gestures, what does that have to do with me?¡¯ she thought.

    She got no time for this.

    **

    In Odiond.

    Bowen, dressed in crisp athletic wear, assumed a textbook-perfect golf stance. His back muscles tensed as he focused, and with a smooth, powerful swing, he made a hole in one.

 Tried 88

    (+20)

    A blond, blue-eyed man waved Bowen¡¯s phone teasingly and joked in a crisp London ent, ¡°Bowen, your phone¡¯s ringing, it¡¯s from your home country. Could it be your sweetheart missing you already?¡±

    Bowen took the phone, saw it was Carol calling, and exined to him, ¡°It¡¯s just our housekeeper.¡±

    The dashing foreigner before him was Aidan Matthews, scion of the prestigious Matthews family in Odiond. Their diversified business empire spanned multiple industries, with digital media and the inte as their crown jewel, fields in which they reigned as undisputed leaders.

    ¡°I was just feeling sorry for my hopelessly smitten little sister, but thankfully it was just a misunderstanding.¡± Aidan shrugged with a teasing grin and pointed to the golden-haired girl nearby, dressed up like a doll under her dainty parasol. ¡°Bowen, are you really not going to give my sister a chance? I promise, she¡¯s the most sought-after debutante in all of Odiond¡¯s high society.¡±

    Bowen didn¡¯t even spare a nce in that direction, though that burning gaze, so frank and full of affection, had been fixed on him from the moment he set foot on the golf course.

    ¡°Compared to pampered flowers, I think I prefer the tenacious grass that defies the harsh winds on a cliff,¡± Bowen said with a wry, apologetic smile, ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me.¡±

    Bowen stepped away with his phone and called Carol back.

    No sooner had Bowen walked away than I, the doll-like girl under her dainty parasol, glided over to her brother and pouted coquettishly. ¡°Brother, what did Bowen say?¡± she asked, her tone full of yful curiosity.

    Aidan let out a helpless sigh, he¡¯d already tried his damnedest for his little sister¡¯s happiness.

    ¡°I, I think something intriguing happened to Bowen during his trip back to Lumanon,¡± Aidan remarked. As a fellow man, he noticed the subtle shift in Bowen¡¯s expression when he jokingly brought up the sweetheart.

    Bowen called Carol back. She asked if he¡¯d be returning soon and briefly exined what had happened to Aubree recently..

    Bowen said, ¡°I don¡¯t need to go back just for this, she¡¯s already handled it perfectly well, hasn¡¯t she?

    ¡°I won¡¯t being back just yet. Do keep an eye on things over there for me,¡± He had to admit to himself that, in a way, he was running away like a coward.

    Bowen¡¯s mind drifted back to that kiss. He knew full well it had been an ident, yet that night, his dreams kept reying it over and over.

    Bowen thought to himself, ¡®I¡¯m not going back until I sort out my feelings for Bree.¡¯

    ¡°But Bree¡¯s moving out of Ellis Heights, she¡¯s upstairs packing right now, and I just can¡¯t stop her.¡± Carol lingered downstairs, stealing anxious nces upward as dusk fell. Bree hade home insisting she¡¯d already found a new ce, and no amount of pleading could change her mind.

    Before Bowen left, he repeatedly reminded Carol to take good care of Aubree. Now, frantic with worry and at her wits¡¯ end, Carol had no choice but to call him.

    Hearing that Aubree was moving out of Ellis Heights, Bowen¡¯s mind wentpletely nk. ¡®She¡¯s leaving?¡¯ he thought in shock.

    Bowen thought, ¡®Even though I knew she couldn¡¯t stay at Ellis Heights forever, this is way too sudden. Is it because of that drunken night?

    ¡®She¡¯s trying to avoid me too.

    That was the only reason Bowen could think of.

    Bowen was instantly restless. Less than a minute after insisting he wouldn¡¯t return, he hung up on Carol and immediately messaged Kelvin: [Book me the earliest flight back home tomorrow.]

    Bowen¡¯s frustration shifted to Zachary. ¡®Damn it, didn¡¯t I tell him to keep an eye on her? Now she¡¯s about to leave and he didn¡¯t even give me a heads-up?¡¯ he fumed inwardly.

    If Zachary could read his boss¡¯s mind right now, he¡¯d surely protest his innocence. His orders were just to keep her safe, moving house clearly wasn¡¯t part of the job description.

    Carol still couldn¡¯t stop Aubree from leaving. The haste of her departure made it clear that she was deliberately trying to avoid Bowen.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®Bowen just gave me such a strange feeling¡­

    There was never any real connection between her and him. Even their first meeting was so random, she still couldn¡¯t figure out how it happened.

    Aubree thought to herself, Now that I¡¯ve achieved what I needed, since Turner Group has invested and taken an equity stake, there¡¯s no way Bowen, as the head of such arge corporation, would personally oversee this project. There must be other executives handling it.

 Tried 89

    ¡®Keeping my distance from Bowen shouldn¡¯t cause any problems.''¡±

    The rented apartment was a fully furnished luxury unit, move-in ready.

    The issue with Carmen was basically resolved. When the tournament officials sensed something was off, they promptly issued a statement confirming that, after investigation, God¡¯s Fury had not vited any rules during the Autumn. Championship.

    Furious, Carmen trashed her room in a fit of rage.

    That evening, the Wilson family dinner table was devoid of its usual cheerful harmony.

    A heavy silence fell over the table.

    Daxton and Ronald had all gathered for the family dinner.

    Trevor kept his head down, fidgeting with his phone. He thought, ¡®What a miscalction. Never expected Aubree to actually have some real chops.

    ¡®The online bacsh doesn¡¯t worry me much. It¡¯s a bit annoying but hardly a real threat. What really surprises me is discovering that Aubree has be rather intriguing. There¡¯s clearly more to her than I realized.¡¯

    Bryan was workingte at the office when he got dragged back home. Emery was still on his way home.

    Alice was the first to break the heavy silence, directing her anger at Bryan. ¡°You really are such a wonderful big brother to Carmen, aren¡¯t you? This is how you handle things? Now the whole inte¡¯s bashing her, how¡¯s she supposed to show her face at school after this?¡±

    In the past, Bryan would have med himself for his mistakes, but now all he felt was annoyance. The only reason he was still cleaning up her mess was out of lingering sibling loyalty after all these years.

    He thought, ¡®Nothing is ever absolute. Once you¡¯ve acted, you must be ready for your mistakes to be held against you.

    ¡®Does the whole world have to revolve around Carmen?¡¯

    Not only was Alice upset, but Daxton was also seething with resentment toward Bryan. He¡¯d just pulled two all-nighters finishing criticalb work and hadn¡¯t even caught his breath when he saw the online bacsh. He could scarcely believe this disaster was what Bryan called ¡°damage control.¡±

    Daxton red at Bryan. ¡°Did you do this on purpose?

    ¡°I¡¯ve thought this through. When Aubree refused toe home, you hired someone unreliable, and their betrayal set off everything that followed. The real problem was your poor choice. Bryan, Aubree used to be terrified of you. She obeyed you more than anyone else in this family, even more than Mom and Dad.¡±

    With their parents often busy or away from home, the other three brothers mostly took a hands-off approach toward Aubree. As long as she stayed out of trouble, they wouldn¡¯t bother with her. Bryan, however, was always the one who disciplined her the most.

    ¡°Honestly, if you¡¯d really put your foot down the first time you went to see Aubree, do you seriously think you couldn¡¯t have brought her back? Let alone all those other times after that!¡± Daxton¡¯s implication wasn¡¯t lost on Bryan, and his mood darkened even further.

    Bryan thought angrily, ¡®What does Daxton even mean by that? Does he seriously think I deliberately didn¡¯t bring Aubree back, and then just carelessly found someone to be a stand-in for Carmen? Like I have nothing better to do?¡¯

    What Bryan found even more unbelievable was that everyone else actually bought it. His father fixed him with a skeptical

    20

    re and demanded, ¡°Bryan, is it because you still feel guilty about what happened back then that you keep defending Aubree?

    ¡°You haven¡¯t been treating Carmen very welltely.¡±

    Bryan snapped, ¡°These are twopletely different matters!¡±

    Bryan was fuming. I¡¯ve just seen through Carmen¡¯s true nature, that¡¯s all, he thought.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it only natural for me to feel guilty about Aubree?¡± he blurted out. The disapproving stares around the table intensified.

    Bryan thought, ¡®I¡¯m exhausted, by who I was then, and by what I¡¯m facing now.¡¯

    He didn¡¯t feel like exining anymore. Suddenly, it dawned on him, maybe this was exactly how Aubree used to feel at home. She always did what the family asked, looked after Carmen as best she could, did everything she could to help. But when things didn¡¯t work out, even when it was clearly Carmen¡¯s fault, Aubree was always the one who got med.

    ¡°Fine, think whatever you want. Since you¡¯re all dissatisfied with how I handled things, don¡¯te to me about Carmen ever again.¡± With that final remark, Bryan angrily mmed his chopsticks down and stormed out of the dining room.

    As Bryan shoved the door open and came face-to-face with Emery, he shot him a look that screamed, ¡°You¡¯re on your own,¡± then brushed past him and disappeared into the night.

 Tried 90

    Everyone at the table was caught off guard when Bryan stormed off. After a stunned silence, Alice snapped, ¡°That damn troublemaker Aubree! She¡¯s even led Bryan astray!¡±

    Daxton¡¯s face darkened. ¡®I never thought Bryan would treat Carmen like this, and now even Emery has changed. Has Aubree put some kind of spell on them both?¡¯ he thought, frustration and suspicion clouding his mind.

    Carmen couldn¡¯t believe Bryan would storm out right in front of their parents. She lowered her eyes, her hand clenched tightly under the table. She thought, ¡®I¡¯ve worked so hard for over a decade, and Aubree¡¯s only been back for what, three years? In just three years, she¡¯s managed to steal my ce. If I give her any more time, is she going topletely rece me?¡±

    Carmen shuddered as she pictured the Wilson family scorning and loathing her. Her face, lowered to hide her expression, twisted with fear and anger. She thought fiercely, ¡®I¡¯ll never let this happen to me!¡¯

    ¡°Mom, Dad,¡± Carmen asked softly, her voice trembling with uncertainty, ¡°does Bryan¡­ does he hate me now? And Emery¡­ is he still mad at me because I made his esports team lose?¡± Since Bryan and Emery had stopped supporting her, she thought to herself, ¡°Time to try a different approach.¡¯

    The instant her words left her lips, everyone at the table exchanged nces, their expressions shifting all at once.

    They thought, ¡®We were so caught up ming Bryan that we nearly let Emery off the hook!¡¯

    Trevor added fuel to the fire with a smirk. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Emery, this wouldn¡¯t be getting resolved so soon.¡±

    As soon as these words were spoken, the already heavy atmosphere grew even heavier. Ronald, whose word carried the most weight in the family, frowned so deeply it could have crushed a fly.

    ¡°What a damn waste of all the kindness Carmen showed him,¡± Daxton sneered. He¡¯d personally witnessed how hard Carmen worked to help Emery win that championship.

    Daxton thought angrily, ¡®Carmen was even med by those guys from Emery¡¯s esports team, doesn¡¯t anyone realize how wronged she must feel?

    ¡®If Emery really sides with Aubree over some damn championship, I¡¯ll make sure he regrets it!¡¯

    Daxton gently squeezed Carmen¡¯s hand in reassurance and said softly, ¡°Come on, Emery wouldn¡¯t get mad at you over something so trivial.¡±

    ¡°I think Emery can¡¯t even tell right from wrong anymore,¡± Ronald snapped.

    He thought, ¡®Even if we let it slide that you¡¯re siding with Aubree, what¡¯s truly outrageous is that ever since Carmen was set up by that wretch, you haven¡¯t even bothered to show up or say a single word to help her! Is this really how you treat your own sister?¡¯

    Alice¡¯s heart ached seeing Carmen being viciously cyberbullied online. This time, even though Emery was her own son, she felt he had truly crossed the line.

    She knew Emery was the only one in the family who ever took Aubree¡¯s side, but she felt that he couldn¡¯t just brush Carmen aside like that.

    ¡®How could a brother act like this?¡¯ Alice thought, her heart aching with disappointment.

    ¡°Wait till Emery gets back, I¡¯m going to give him a piece of my mind!¡± With just that one sentence, Carmen immediately turned the entire Wilson family against Emery.

    At that moment, Emery didn¡¯t even wonder why Bryan had left. All he could think about was Aubree.

    +707

    He walked down the street, unable to stop smiling. He thought, ¡°This time I really helped Aubree. She¡¯s got to see I¡¯m actually changing for the better!

    ¡®Aubree¡¯s starting an esports club, she must be inexperienced in so many areas. This is my chance to prove myself!

    ¡®If I show Aubree my determination, she¡¯ll definitelye back to me.

    ¡®Last time¡­st time she just didn¡¯t believe in me yet.

    Carmen checked the time and, seeing it was about right, let her eyes redden slightly, her gaze brimming with grievance, yet forced a magnanimous smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. I¡¯m just¡­ a little upset. I¡¯m sure Emery had his reasons for acting that way. Mom, Dad, please don¡¯t let this ruin the family harmony because of me.¡±

    Her performance drew even more pity from the family.

    Carmen was truly too considerate. Even after the way her brothers treated her, she still stood up for them.

 Tried 91

    Especially Daxton, sitting beside her, gazed at Carmen with eyes so tender they could melt ice. He thought, ¡®My Carmen is always like this, so considerate and caring of everyone¡¯s feelings in the family. Just like back then¡­¡±

    Daxton was the most intellectually gifted of all the Wilson siblings. With Bryan overseeing the family business, he was free to pursue his own passions. He chose medicine and found deep fulfillment in theb, solvingplex medical problems and developing groundbreaking new drugs.

    Growing up, Daxton¡¯s parents were constantly busy, and Bryan was overwhelmed by his studies. In Daxton¡¯s world, he always felt utterly alone, until Carmen came into his life.

    Thinking back, a gentle smile spread across his face. In this family, only Carmen ever cared if he was cold or hungry, and as she grew up, she became increasingly considerate..

    A few years back, she¡¯d still check if he was eating on time in theb, going the extra mile to prepare stomach-nourishing meals and personally deliver them to him there.

    He thought, ¡®Back then, I made up my mind, even if everyone else in the family doted on Aubree, I¡¯d still protect Carmen and never let her be wronged. At least my family iasn¡¯t blind. They know who truly deserve our love.

    ¡®Buttely¡­ things just haven¡¯t been the same.

    ¡®Looks like I¡¯ll have to deal with Aubree once I¡¯m free.¡¯

    The front door swung open again. Carmen looked up, and just as she¡¯d expected, Emery was back.

    Emery was about to ask why Bryan had left when a barrage of disapproving stares shattered the good mood he¡¯d carried all the way home.

    Emery looked puzzled, recalling how Bryan had also hurried off earlier. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked.

    ¡°How dare you ask what happened? Don¡¯t you damn well know what you¡¯ve done?¡± Ronald mmed his fist on the table, his eyes zing with fury.

    His usually warm and gracious mother sat rigidly in her seat, her gaze fixed on him with unmistakable disapproval.

    The remaining two brothers also wore grave expressions, staring at him as if he¡¯dmitted an unforgivable sin.

    Emery¡¯s gaze trembled, his eyes brimming with shock and bitter disappointment. Now he finally understood what that look from Bryan meant.

    They resented him for siding with Aubree, even though all he did was simply tell the truth and give her the fair treatment she deserved.

    All traces of his earlier good mood vanished instantly. Unlike Bryan, Emery wasn¡¯t the type to storm off, he wanted to set the record straight.

    Trying to keep his voice as calm as possible, Emery said, ¡°Dad, Mom, Carmen, I think there¡¯s been some misunderstanding here.¡±

    Emery wanted his family to see that Aubree wasn¡¯t the person they imagined. But he¡¯d forgotten that they¡¯d never intended. to listen. All they cared about was his unconditional loyalty, that he¡¯d always take Carmen¡¯s side, no matter what happened.

    Daxton crossed his arms, his eyes filled with scorn. ¡°Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? That you¡¯d rather side with Aubree against your own family than help Carmen?¡±

    Emery bristled at the usation. ¡°I wasn¡¯t taking sides. Just stating the facts.¡±

    Emery said firmly, ¡°In esports, losing means losing. I don¡¯t care for a title won by shady tactics.¡±

    Daxton scoffed. ¡°Who cares what you think? If Carmen hadn¡¯t felt guilty about your team losing, I wouldn¡¯t have resorted to this against Aubree, only to hand her aeback chance.

    ¡°Who¡¯s as self-righteous as you, Emery? Sure, you thought you were being ¡®fair,¡¯ but look what you¡¯ve done, Carmen¡¯s now getting dragged through the mud because of you. The only reason I didn¡¯t haul you over here to make amends to her is that you¡¯re my brother.¡±

    ¡°Emery, what¡¯s done is done. We won¡¯t dwell on it further,¡± Alice said wearily, ¡°But if something like this happens again, don¡¯t act so rashly, at least discuss it with the family first.¡± As a mother, she hated seeing this rift grow between her children.

    Ronald¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he delivered his final verdict. ¡°You should be grateful that Carmen forgave you,¡± he said sternly, ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯d make sure you learn what¡¯s eptable and what¡¯s not. We don¡¯t turn against our own family.

    ¡°Aubree¡¯s been setting up that esports clubtely. This is your area of expertise, put in some effort and make things tough for her. Think of it as making amends to Carmen.¡±

    Emery¡¯s mind went utterly nk for a second. It took him a long moment to process what those words actually meant.

    FFF

 Tried 92

    He thought, ¡®Of course, they all knew Aubree was being framed. How naive I was. As the masterminds behind it all, they were fully aware of the truth.

    He had thought they just misunderstood Aubree.

    It wasn¡¯t until today that Emery finally saw his so-called family for who they really were.

    Breathing heavily, his voice trembling with anger, Emery demanded, ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is that I identally 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 cut like a knife.

    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 and defying 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 herself, ¡®Daxton really was so-called farsighted.¡± When Aubree was first brought home, she had genuinely wanted to make amends to her long-lost daughter by giving her the best of everything.

    But Daxton had cautioned her, since no one knew what kind of temperament Aubree had developed growing up in an orphanage, giving her too much might only spoil her or make her too wild at heart.

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened with rage. ¡°That damned brat had the nerve to sever ties with us at the hospital, she must¡¯ve alreadytched onto the Turner family! 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 swear I¡¯ll 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. It¡¯s all 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 gossiping 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. Now that she¡¯s out in the world, she¡¯s running wild!¡¯

    Having achieved her desired effect, Carmen bit her lip, feigning hesitation as she nced at Emery. ¡°Emery, I know you care about Aubree, but it¡¯s really not safe for her to be out there alone. Whatever the circumstances, couldn¡¯t we just ask her toe home first?¡±

    Back then, Emery never thought there was anything wrong with what Carmen said. He truly believed she cared about Aubree. But hearing those same words now just made him feelughable.

    Emery thought to herself, ¡®Aubree already resents them. If Mom and Dad really force her back by clipping her wings under the pretense of ¡®doing what¡¯s best for her,¡¯ 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 Bree 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 dagger stabbing into my heart, the pain so intense it stole my breath. Their arguments were utterly ridiculous. If 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 it¡¯s Aubree, suddenly she¡¯s ¡®too ambitious¡¯? And now, clipping her wings is

 Tried 93

    ¡®Since none of them are willing to stand by her, then I will!¡¯

    With steely determination in his eyes, Emery swept his gaze across the faces of his family, once familiar, now utterly alien. ¡°I refuse. If this is what you want, do it yourselves. From today on, I won¡¯t do a single thing to hurt Aubree again.¡±

    With that, he cast a mocking nce at the now-cold dinner on the table, his lips curling in disdain. ¡°Let¡¯s be real, Mom, Dad, this so-called ¡®family dinner¡¯ was never about a reunion. You just wanted an excuse to call Bryan and me back for a lecture. In that case, there¡¯s no need for me to stay and eat.¡±

    With a stiff bow, Emery turned and walked away without a backward nce, leaving behind the suffocating prison that was the Wilson mansion.

    The Wilson family usually lived together at the family mansion, though each maintained their own ce in the city. But after leaving home, Emery didn¡¯t go to his own apartment, instead, he drove straight to a luxury apartmentplex.

    His car came to a stop in the shade of a towering tree.

    From this vantage point, he only needed to nce up to see the window of Aubree¡¯s 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 important had to be reported to him right away.

    When Emery first learned that Aubree had moved out of Ellis Heights, he was ecstatic. Bowen had recently left Rithol City for Odiond, and shortly after, Aubree moved out too.

    He wasn¡¯t sure what had happened between them, but to him, this was the perfect opportunity to win Aubree back. ¡®When she was living at Ellis 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 gaze seemingly fixed on her apartment building.

    Aubree frowned and thought, ¡®Emery? What¡¯s he doing here?

    What on earth possessed Emery to suddenly defend me online? Does he really think a few petty favors will make me grateful? How delusional.

    ¡®He really is dreaming.

    ¡®I¡¯m not the same Aubree anymore.¡¯

    Aubree snorted inwardly. ¡®Let him wait if he wants, it¡¯s none of my business,¡¯ 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 head. Their eyes met, his alight with joy, hers dark with annoyance.

    ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re back! Did you just have dinner out?¡± Emery asked, his eyes hopeful, as 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.

    +20)

    How could I have been so blind before? How did I never realize what a wonderful sister she was?¡¯

    Aubree 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 me?¡¯

    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 help with

    Emery froze for a second before hurriedly exining, ¡°Aubree, you¡¯ve misunderstood¡­ I realize now how wrong I was¡­¡±

    Aubree snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare act like we¡¯re family!¡±

    Seeing that Aubree outright denied their rtionship, Emery felt as if his heart were being ripped out of his chest while he was still alive.

    Pale-faced and vacant-eyed, Emery said meekly, ¡°Alright. I heard you started a club. I¡¯ve got experience with clubs, Aubree. I can help with operations, recruitment, and anything you need. My connections and resources are all yours, just say the

    word.

    As he spoke, Emery was treading carefully, his tone ingratiating and almost pleading, terrified that even the slightest misstep might upset Aubree again.

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 Tried 94

    Emery looked at her, his eyes earnest.

    Aubree looked back at him and thought, ¡®If you¡¯d said this to me before, I would¡¯ve been over the moon, probably too excited to sleep for days. But now? I feel nothing. If anything, it is almostughable.

    ¡®Now you put on this act? Where were you when it actually mattered?

    ¡®So what were those three years of suffering for? Was I just a glutton for punishment?

    ¡®Are they seriously trying to lure me back just so they can keep trampling all over me?

    ¡®Like he¡¯d really rush to help just because my startup clubcks anything. Who knows, maybe after all this ¡®helping, God¡¯s Fury would just end up being renamed Apex Squad.

    As soon as the thought took root in Aubree¡¯s mind, it spiraled out of control. Her previously scornful expression instantly hardened into seriousness.

    Aubree shot Emery a guarded look, her whole body tense with suspicion.

    She thought, ¡®Didn¡¯t the Wilson family say they wished I¡¯d just die out there?

    ¡®Why do they keep taking turns showing up to find me? If before it was just about keeping Carmen at Rithol Art School, what¡¯s their excuse now, after everything that¡¯s happened? Is Emery really here because they¡¯re plotting something new against me?¡¯

    ¡°Emery,¡± Aubree snapped, ¡°wasn¡¯t I clear enoughst time? Your whole family is a joke. What exactly do you want from me,ing after me one after another? If you¡¯ve got all that pent-up family affection and nowhere to put it, just give it all to Carmen. Trust me, she¡¯llp it up. As for me? I¡¯m not your emotional dumping ground.¡±

    Emery watched as Aubree regarded him with wariness and annoyance. It felt as if a thousand knives were stabbing into his heart, the pain so sharp it stole his breath away.

    Aubree used to treasure nothing more than her family, these very people. But now, she cast aside what she once held dear like worthless trash.

    ¡°Wait, Aubree,¡± Emery blurted out urgently, ¡°I genuinely want to help you. Did you see my posts online? You¡¯re new to this, now¡¯s when you need support the most. My team can get your operation running smoothly in no time. In esports, I guarantee even Bowen doesn¡¯t know the industry as well as I do.¡±

    The more earnest Emery became, the more suspicious Aubree grew, she could practically smell something fishy.

    ¡°Help me?¡± Aubree echoed, her toneced with irony. That word held no good memories for her, thest time Emery had offered his ¡°help,¡± it was all for Carmen¡¯s sake.

    Aubree¡¯s expression turned even more sardonic at the memory. ¡°Seriously, don¡¯t you see how absurd this is?¡± she scoffed. ¡°Let¡¯s be honest, in the three years I spent with the Wilson family, I got scraps of kindness but a full course of suffering. So I¡¯m begging you, just have some mercy and stay the hell out of my life.¡±

    Emery waspletely caught off guard by Aubree¡¯s reaction. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. If you don¡¯t trust me, I can assign my team to you directly. We can sign a formal contract. That way, you¡¯ll know I¡¯m serious, okay?¡±

    As a premier esports organization, Apex Squad was such a powerhouse that everyone from star yers to support staff became highly sought after by other clubs, unless they¡¯d been dismissed for breaching their contract.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even start. I wouldn¡¯t dare ept even a crumb of your ¡®kindness¡¯, who knows what price I¡¯ll have to pay for itter? You give me a few lousy little favors, then expect me to go back and ve away for Carmen, right?¡± Aubree cut him off, already wary of this family. Three years had taught her that the price of any favor from the Wilson family was more than

    +20)

    she could ever bear.

    ¡°No, Aubree, this has nothing to do with Carmen, I¡­¡± Emery stammered, her words cut off in her rush to exin.

    Aubree was already losing her patience. ¡°Do I really have to rip off everyst mask andy everything bare before you¡¯ll finally back off?

    ¡°Are you seriously going to deny that during my first New Year with the Wilson family, you brought me some lousy freebie that was actually meant for Carmen, called it my present, and then made me take the fall for her? Wasn¡¯t that you?¡±

    Emery froze, his face draining of color as the memory hit him, he remembered it.

    Aubree saw his reaction and knew he hadn¡¯t forgotten. Her voice turned ice-cold. ¡°For a moment, I almost thought you¡¯d forgotten. Your precious little Carmen is a treasure, while I¡¯m nothing but trash, is that it? Did you even count how manyshes I took that day? While your whole family was cozy and festive inside for New Year, I was locked alone in the basement, not even given a drop of water!¡±

    If Wendy hadn¡¯t remembered her after preparing the Wilson family¡¯s New Year¡¯s dinner and brought her some food and supplies, she might have frozen to death in that basement that night.

    Ìï

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 Tried 95

    Aubree¡¯s voice trembled as she said, ¡°Emery, do you know how cold winters get in Rithol City? That kind of cold, I¡¯ll never forget it. It felt like the chill seeped into my bones, running through every inch of me. I was so cold, so, so cold¡­¡±

    Emery¡¯s lips went pale and trembled slightly. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet her gaze.

    It was Aubree¡¯s first New Year back with the Wilson family. Yet it seemed everyone had forgotten about their newest addition. Each family member had carefully prepared a New Year¡¯s gift for Carmen, and Emery was no exception.

    The Wilson family¡¯s original n for that day was to have a big dinner together, then take the kids and Aubree around to visit some important friends and rtives, a way to make up for not throwing her a proper wee party when she first came home, and to finally introduce her to everyone.

    While the entire family was busy with New Year preparations, Carmen identally deleted the new collection designs that Alice had saved on theputer. It was the worst fiscal year for Alice¡¯s brand, which was why she had personally created this exclusive holiday collection, with no backups. Panicked at her mistake, Carmen turned to Emery for help.

    Emery¡¯s solution was to pin the me on Aubree. He handed her the freebie perfume that came with Carmen¡¯s gift, pretending it was a New Year¡¯s present.

    He still remembered the look of surprise on Aubree¡¯s face as she held the gift. ¡°Emery¡­ is this really for me?¡±

    Emery remembered how Aubree¡¯s face had lit up with pure, radiant joy. Now, just thinking about it, all he felt was a deep, burning shame.

    **

    A bone-deep chill seized Emery.

    What he did back then was absolutely disgusting, not only did he pass off a cheap freebie as a special New Year¡¯s gift, but he even had the audacity to use that so-called favor to pressure Aubree into taking the me.

    Not only that, while Aubree was being harshly beaten by their furious mother and locked in the basement as punishment, Emery was too busyforting Carmen to even spare her a thought.

    While Carmen was being introduced to everyone by her parents and receiving a flood ofpliments, Aubree was locked away in the basement,pletely forgotten. If it hadn¡¯t been for Wendy, who kept worrying about her and sent Alice a message, they might not have remembered her until the next morning.

    It suddenly dawned on him just how deeply he¡¯d hurt her, far more than he¡¯d ever allowed himself to acknowledge.

    All he could recall was muttering some half-hearted words offort. Had Aubree not brought it up, that memory would likely have been buried deep in the recesses of his mind.

    All along, he had never truly cared. All that mattered to him was making sure Aubree took the me to spare Carmen from their mother¡¯s wrath. He never once considered just how brutal the punishment would be for Aubree, already the family

    outcast.

    Emery felt as if his heart were being crushed in a vice, he could barely breathe.

    ¡°Aubree, I¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± The words were so empty and powerless.

    Aubree curled her lips in a mocking sneer. ¡°Emery, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to make amends and help me? Giving me people and resources means nothing. If you¡¯re really serious, I dare you to sign over the entire Apex Squad to me!

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you named this club so that when the team finally reached the top, I¡¯d be able to find my way back home?¡± Aubree¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. ¡°If that¡¯s really the case, then just hand the whole team over to me.¡±

    ???

    Chaptcy 05

    Emery¡¯s face dedined of color in shock. Apex Squrd was his life¡¯s work, bent over decades with blood, sweat, and tears. Over the years, he¡¯d apum off numerous ventures from the star power of his yers. He could not possibly just hand it all over to

    ¡°So you can¡¯t bear to part with it, right Aubree¡¯s expression turned icy in an instant. ¡°Then shut the hell up! Take your phony affection and get out of my bice! Of course, she knew Emery would never agree.

    Aubree thought binerly, I was willing to sacrifice everything for the Wilson family!

    She did exactly that, only to pay with her very life.

    Aubree turned on her heel and started to leave. Behind her, Emery reached out, trying to grab her.

    Just as his fingertips brushed against her sleeve, Emery¡¯s vision suddenly cked out. His tall frame stiffened, then copsed straight to the ground.

    Aubree turned to see Emery copsed on the ground, unconscious, his cheeks flushed an unnatural crimson.

    Hesitating for a brief moment, she reached out and pressed her hand against Emery¡¯s forehead. ¡°Running a fever?¡±

    Aubree thought with a hint of irony, ¡®Emery¡¯s burning up with a fever, and yet no one even noticed?¡¯

    Aubree let out two gleefulughs, looked down at him for a moment, then kicked him hard. ¡°Serves you right!¡±

    With that, she turned and walked away without a backward nce.

    As for Emery lying on the ground, it was none of her business. She couldn¡¯t care less.

 Tried 96

    20

    4

    Under the Wilson family¡¯s heavy-handed intervention, the online storm quickly subsided. Though multiple trending topics exploded daily, the sisters¡¯ public catfight was soon forgotten by the fickle public.

    Yet Rithol High School still hadn¡¯t sent Aubree any notice allowing her to return to school.

    She¡¯d asked her teacher, who imed Will hadn¡¯t made a decision yet. But Aubree knew that this wasn¡¯t about Will¡¯s indecision. It was the Wilson family withholding their approval. Without their say-so, Will wouldn¡¯t dare let her return.

    Aubree had nothing but contempt for Will. She knew that he was just another useless parasite, clinging to his position without contributing anything worthwhile.

    In her first year at Rithol High, a female student jumped to her death after being relentlessly bullied by a notorious clique. She could no longer recall the girl¡¯s name, only that the bullies belonged to that infamous group. The incident caused a huge uproar, yet Will still did nothing.

    Not only did a few members of the cliquee from well-connected families, but they were also Carmen¡¯s devoted followers. With Carmen pulling strings and the Wilson family applying pressure, the incident was quickly swept under the

    rug.

    After transferring in, Aubree became the clique¡¯s new target. But thanks to her lingering ties with the Wilson family, she was spared from the same tragic fate as that other girl.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡®Well then, looks like it¡¯s about time Rithol High got itself a new principal,¡¯ she thought coldly.

    Powering up her brand-newptop, Aubree¡¯s fingers flew across the keyboard as she swiftly logged into the International Mathematics Competition website.

    The finals and preliminary rounds of this year¡¯s International Mathematics Competition will be held in Rithol City. There were two registration channels, university rmendations and open qualifiers. The open qualifier serves as an entry path for independent applicants, with the top ten scorers advancing to the finals topete alongside the university- rmended contestants.

    Although the International Mathematics Competition didn¡¯t restrict the age of applicants, domestic winners had always been top math students from prestigious universities. If a high school student were to make history by winning an award, it would surely attract the attention of educational circles. Then, she could expose Will¡¯s inaction to the public.

    Aubree thought coldly, ¡®By then, even if Will dislikes me, he¡¯ll have to think twice before crossing me.¡¯

    Aubree quickly filled out and submitted the application form. Though she¡¯d missed two years of sses while studying art, her natural affinity for numbers kept her passionate about math. She never stopped exploring it during that time.

    She also got a perfect score in math on the cement test.

    ¡®This mathpetition? Piece of cake, Aubree thought.

    The club¡¯s initial investment was fully sponsored by Bowen. Now, with over 3 million dors from the tournament, Aubree had finally built up some financial standing of her own.

    Emery¡¯s car was still parked downstairs, but he was nowhere to be seen. She felt that he must have been taken to the hospital by some stranger.

    Aubree nced at it but didn¡¯t pay much attention. Since she couldn¡¯t go back to school, she decided to stay productive. Gathering the prepared documents, she registered apany called Bree Technology, nning to develop short video and live streaming tforms, such as yzy.

    With thepany registrationpleted and all licenses in hand, Aubree headed to an office building near Golden

    10.45 Wed, Jul

    +20)

    Industrial Park, where she confidently leased an entire floor as herpany headquarters.

    Next, she needed to assemble a team to build the app. The Turner Group were experts in this field, and Bowen had already told her that when she was ready to develop it. She could ask his assistant, Kelvin, to send some people over to provide guidance.

    Aubree didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. The moment she signed the lease, she shot off a message to that long-dormant contact

    in her list.

    Kelvin was at the airport preparing to pick someone up when he received the message.

    ttered, Kelvin replied with eager respect: [Miss Miller, please let me know what kind of professionals you require. I¡¯ll expedite the arrangements immediately.]

    C

    20

 Tried 97

    Since she was already imposing, Aubree clenched her teeth, figuring she might as well be a hands-off boss with thepetitioning up. After all, thepany was giving Bowen shares, he couldn¡¯t just collect dividends without contributing. Sheid out her requirements, then added: [Mr. Malone, could you also see if there are any talented candidates from yourpany who didn¡¯t make the cut? I¡¯d appreciate any referrals.]

    The Turner Group was currently hiring.

    Kelvin wrote: [I¡¯ll check with HRter.] As Bowen¡¯s right-hand man, he understood better than the other assistants just how important this girl was to the boss.

    Kelvin didn¡¯t underestimate Aubree in the slightest due to her youth. ¡®How could someone whoes up with such brilliant ideas and achieves so much at her age ever be just some small fry?¡¯ he thought admiringly.

    With Kelvin handling recruitment, Aubree was relieved and left it to him. Even those rejected by the Turner Group were still exceptional talents in her eyes.

    The first step was tounch yzy. Once it was up and running, she¡¯d have her esports team members stream games and engage with fans on the tform. With the champion effect of her yers, she wouldn¡¯t need much promotion. Fans would naturally be drawn in.

    ¡®If we can win another championship at the League of Legends Annual Finals, it¡¯ll be a huge boost for both the esports club and Bree Technology¡¯s growth,¡¯ she thought.

    The esports club¡¯s base should be nearly ready by now. Golden Industrial Park was clear who their clients would be. Every detail of the initial interior was designed with esports clubs in mind, so the ce was essentially turnkey. They just needed to set up their ownputers and equipment in the training area.

    Aubree had already hired professionals to set up theputers and fitness area after leasing the space. Now she nned to inspect the ce. She thought, ¡®If everything checks out, I¡¯ll let Hector and the others know to move in.¡±

    ***

    At the hospital.

    Emery groggily opened his eyes. His vision swam with double images, taking a while to clear. The sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic stung his nose, making it painfully obvious he was in a hospital.

    ¡®Am I running a fever? Did Aubree bring me to the hospital?¡¯ Emery wondered, hope flickering in his chest.

    The mere possibility made him tremble with joy. He thought, ¡®Does Aubree still care about me?¡¯

    Carmen walked in right after, instantly dashing his fragile hope. She cooed with sharine concern, ¡°Emery, feeling any better? Honestly, how could you be so careless? Running a fever and passing out in public! Thank goodness one of Daxton¡¯s colleagues lives in that neighborhood, recognized you, and called him. That¡¯s how you ended up here in the hospital.¡±

    Daxton followed right behind her.

    ¡®So it wasn¡¯t Aubree after all¡­ Emery thought, his heart sinking.

    His eyes zed over for a moment, a cold, stabbing pain filling his chest, and he could barely breathe. He thought, ¡®Does she really not care about me at all anymore?¡¯

    Carmen¡¯s words offort continued, but Emery was already tuning her out.

    From the moment Carmen walked in, Emery seemed dazed and distant, his first words were practically shooing them away, ¡°I need to rest. Please leave.¡±

    Carmen immediately put on a wronged look and, in a soft voice, said, ¡°Emery, did I say something wrong again? Are you upset with me?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m just tired.¡± Emery¡¯s dismissive attitude made Carmen seethe internally. She was practically itching to scream at him, ¡°What¡¯s so great about Aubree anyway? She doesn¡¯t even care if you live or die, yet you¡¯re still hung up on her!¡±

    Daxton frowned at Carmen¡¯s chagrined expression. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare mistake kindness for weakness, Emery! Carmen made an effort to make you soup after learning you were hospitalized with a fever!¡±

    Emery¡¯s gaze shifted to the food container in Carmen¡¯s hands. A mocking smile curled his lips.

    ¡®Please. Carmen cooking? She couldn¡¯t even boil water if her life depended on it, Emery thought with a silent sneer.

    Emery had no intention of continuing the conversation. He simply turned his head away, shutting them outpletely.

    Daxton was so furious he nearly yanked Emery up to punch him, but Carmen quickly grabbed his arm, maintaining her sweet facade. ¡°Daxton, Emery must be exhausted. Let¡¯s leave him to rest,¡± she cooed.

    ¡°Suit yourself!¡±

    Daxton knew exactly why Emery had copsed in that residential area. He sneered inwardly, ¡®You treat Aubree like she¡¯s everything, but she couldn¡¯t care less about you.¡¯

    Ìï

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    16:45 Wed,

 Tried 98

    ?

    20

    Bowen stepped off the ne through a VIP passage, dressed casually in loose ck pants and a color-blocked shirt, a pair of sunsses perched on his face. With his impable poise and striking presence, he could easily be mistaken for a celebrity.

    Kelvin was already waiting at the exit. After escorting him into the car, he began, ¡°Boss, Miss Miller just sent me a message¡­¡±

    He then ryed all the tasks she had assigned him.

    ¡°Just do as Miss Miller says.¡± Bowen didn¡¯t even bother to ask any questions.

    Hearing this, Kelvin wasn¡¯t surprised. He thought, ¡®Miss Miller¡¯s stock just went up another notch in my book.

    ¡®Guess I¡¯ll need to take her requests more seriously from now on.¡±

    He asked, ¡°Boss, should we head back to Turner Group now, or¡­¡±

    ¡°Go to¡­¡± Bowen was about to give Aubree¡¯s address when he abruptly changed his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to Turner Group first.¡±

    Kelvin was a bit taken aback. To his knowledge, Bowen had rushed back this time specifically for Aubree.

    Before Kelvin could respond, Bowen¡¯s voice mused from the back seat, ¡°Kelvin, do you think I¡¯ve been a bit too clingytely?¡±

    Kelvin nearly choked on his own saliva, barely suppressing a cough. ¡®Damn, why can¡¯t I have temporary deafness right now? Was I really supposed to hear that? Boss, do you even hear yourself?¡¯ he thought.

    Kelvin stole a furtive nce at the rearview mirror, catching Bowen¡¯s serious, thoughtful expression. Testing the waters, he ventured, ¡°So¡­ absence makes the heart grow fonder?¡±

    Bowen gave him an approving look. On hisst flight to Odiond, he had carefully studied the book ¡°360 Ways to Raise A Daughter¡± that Ollie had sent him. The book emphasized giving her some personal space and letting her miss him a little, so she¡¯d realize just how much he meant to her.

    He reflected on himself and realized it was true. When he suddenly returned to Odiond this time, Aubree didn¡¯t even bother to ask. She just moved out right away, as if afraid he¡¯d stop her.

    Bowen nodded to himself. ¡°This time, I won¡¯t rush over. I need to let Bree realize how much she needs me,¡¯ he thought.

    Bowen asked, ¡°Did that master tailor I asked you to reach out tost time get back to you?¡± Since Bree had been handling everything so well on her owntely, and with her birthdaying up soon, he decided to start preparing her gift.

    Hearing this, Kelvin looked troubled. ¡°Boss, Ms. rke said no amount of money could bring her out of retirement. She only makes dresses for those she deems worthy.¡±

    ¡°Make the arrangements. I¡¯ll go invite her myself.¡±

    Even though Carmen had been expelled from Rithol Art School, she couldn¡¯t just stay cooped up at home forever. To make sure no one at her new school dared to bully or mock her, Alice made the call that the entire Wilson family would escort her.

    The scene was truly spectacr.

    With a wave of his hand, Ronaldpletely upgraded all the teaching software and equipment for the entire art ss.

    A motorcade escorted them to school, where Daxton and Trevor personally walked Carmen into her ssroom. Alice

    20

    handed out gifts to every student, a gesture that, while appearing generous, was actually a calcted disy of the Wilson family¡¯s influence.

    Except for Emery, who remained adamant in his refusal toe, even Bryan couldn¡¯t defy their mother¡¯s orders and showed up to make a show of force for Carmen. As the real power behind the Wilson Group, someone many of the students¡¯ parents would go out of their way to curry favor with, his mere presence ensured that no one in their right mind would dare provoke Carmen and risk bringing trouble upon their own families.

    Students from modest backgrounds at least knew better than to speak ill of their benefactor.

    When Carmen returned to campus this time, even the school administration made an appearance and held a special assembly for her, cautioning students against being misled by unfounded rumors.

 Tried 99

    ¡°Carmen,¡± Alica said, stroking Carmen¡¯s hair, pride shining in her eyes. ¡°Just focus on your studies. Your only goal now is to get into Rithol Art School. Leave anything or anyone else that might affect you to Mom.¡±

    ¡®Such a thoughtful and intelligent girl is my daughter!¡¯ she thought proudly.

    Daxton stood by with a gentle smile, his gaze so tender it could melt anyone¡¯s heart. He said softly, ¡°Carmen, don¡¯t worry about those negative voices. We have it all nned out. The local artpetition ising up, and I¡¯ll make sure everything goes smoothly for you. Once you win that award, no one will dare question your talent again.¡±

    ¡°Mom, Daxton, you don¡¯t have to do this. I can handle things myself,¡± Carmen said, looking genuinely overwhelmed.

    ¡°What do you mean you can handle this alone? You¡¯ve got your whole family backing you up! The Wilson family¡¯s power and wealth are there to make sure no one ever bullies you. Don¡¯t worry, sweetheart, in my eyes, you¡¯ll always be my one and only daughter,¡± Alice said firmly.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes welled up with gratitude. ¡°Mom, Daxton, you¡¯re both so good to me. I promise I¡¯ll make you proud!¡±

    Daxton said, ¡°Silly girl, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t try hard. I will pave the way for you.¡±

    Alice beamed with joy. ¡°Carmen is always so thoughtful and sweet. Just do your best, darling, your health matters most.¡±

    Bryan watched with a bitter taste in his mouth. Everyone was preupied with making sure Carmen wouldn¡¯t face any judgment after being expelled from Rithol Art School and returning to Rithol High, pulling out all the stops to ensure shemanded respect.

    Yet not a single person seemed to care that Aubree couldn¡¯t even go back to school.

    She was suspended and sent home to reflect. Without her mother¡¯s approval, Will wouldn¡¯t dare let her return.

    Bryan thought, ¡®Some big brother I am. I promised to look out for Aubree, but what have I actually done for her so far? Nothing that really matters.

    ¡®Even Emery had more backbone than me. He t-out refused to get involved, no matter how much Mom and Dad pressured him.¡¯

    *****

    Aubree was swamped. Though suspended from school, she wasn¡¯t about to sit idle. She had signed up for an academicpetition while juggling responsibilities at both herpany and her esports club.

    After confirming that everything at the club¡¯s base was ready, Aubree contacted Hector and her teammates to let them know they could move in.

    For now, she ned to focus the esports club on League of Legends, and would gradually expand into otherpetitive games after her SAT.

    ording to his contract, God¡¯s Fury¡¯s coach was supposed to leave after the autumn finals. But Aubree offered him a hefty sry and managed to extend his contract for another year.

    ¡°Coach, the club is still developing and we¡¯re short-staffed. Could you stay on for one more year? With Matilda here to help, your workload will be much lighter, won¡¯t it?¡± The coach now bitterly regretted being fooled by Aubree¡¯s innocent, doe-eyed plea back then.

    He could handle his coaching duties now, but all the extra work, including running daily operations, recruiting new yers, and building up and strengthening the second team, was dumped squarely on his shoulders.

    He thought, ¡®If it weren¡¯t for the fat paycheck, I would¡¯ve quit long ago!¡±

    Turner Group¡¯s HR hadpleted the preliminary screening, and the prescreened resumes hadnded on Aubree¡¯s desk. All that remained was for her to conduct the final interviews herself.

    Aubree selected several people, offered thempetitive sries, and formed a software development team with a clear mandate. They had to deliver an initial prototype of the yzy app on an elerated timeline.

    As for the app¡¯s features and interface, they would make adjustments after she reviewed them. Once everything was finalized and the app passed debugging and testing, it could go live.

    She nned tounch the app right after the League of Legends transfer window, so club members could use and promote it, a win-win for both sides.

    But these things couldn¡¯t be rushed, so Aubree set them aside for now and focused fully on her studies and the uingpetition.

    Aubree signed up just in time. With the preliminary round starting in less than two days, all she could do was cram at thest minute.

    ¡®I¡¯m not aiming for first prize, just winning any award would make me content, Aubree thought.

    20

 Tried 100

    The prelims had finally arrived.

    The exam hall was packed with over a hundred students. Some nervous types were already trembling before the test papers were even handed out.

    Over the past couple of days, Aubree had done some targeted practice onpetition questions, focusing especially on past years¡¯ finals papers. While they were challenging, she still handled them with effortless ease.

    As soon as the test papers were handed out, Aubree quickly scanned through them and already had a n in mind. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she started solving problems at lightning speed. To others, these numbers might be hard to crack, but to her, they were like long-lost friends, intimately familiar.

    Less than halfway through the exam, she had already finished the test, handed in her paper, and left the room.

    Before leaving the exam hall, Aubree made a quick stop at the restroom. The sound of running water from the faucet blurred out the conversations in the hallway.

    That voice sounded a bit familiar.

    She didn¡¯t pay it much mind and was about to leave after washing her hands when the voices outside suddenly became clear.

    ¡°Dr. Wilson, this matter is rather delicate to handle,¡± a hoarse voice of the middle-aged man came.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Dr. Wilson?

    ¡®Could that be Daxton?¡¯

    Her hand, which had been resting on the doorknob, quickly withdrew. Acting purely on reflex, Aubree pulled out her phone and hit record.

    That familiar voice continued, it was indeed Daxton.

    He said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this just a small favor for you, Mr. oy? For the artpetition, only the finals require contestants to paint on site, the earlier rounds just need submitted works. If you make a few minor adjustments, who¡¯s ever going to know who actually made it to the finals?

    This artpetition was hosted by the Rithol City Art Association, and Alec oy, whom Daxton mentioned, was the key person in charge.

    Alec still looked hesitant. While clearly tempted, he feared exposure. After all, this was a statepetition. If discovered, his presidency would be over.

    Alec hesitated, then said, ¡°But Dr. Wilson, you know our vice president is the chief judge this time, he¡¯s as stubborn as a mule when ites to rules.¡±

    ¡°I heard your family has some happy newstely, Mr. oy. How about an apartment at Royal Gardens, right by thendmark tower downtown? You can choose any floor n you like. And if transportation is inconvenient, just pick any car you want, I¡¯ll cover the cost.¡± Daxton casually dangled the bait.

    Daxton said casually, ¡°It¡¯s not that my little sister Carmencks skill, she just missed the registration deadline. With her abilities, making it to the finals would be a breeze. She doesn¡¯t need to win big or be in the spotlight. Just let her get an award to make her happy. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Daxton spoke with effortless nonchnce, as if he were talking about cabbages at the market rather than a prestigious provincial award.

    Alec was swayed by Daxton¡¯s offer, minimal risk, and multiplied returns. Only an idiot would say no.

    +20

    He¡¯d heard of the Wilson family¡¯s young miss who studied art. Her skills weren¡¯t exactly top-tier. She might scrape by for an award, but making it to the finals was no problem. Besides, the list of finalists had just been drafted and hadn¡¯t even been announced yet. As long as she didn¡¯tpletely embarrass herself in the finals, no one would ever suspect a thing.

    At this, Alec¡¯s face lit up with a beaming smile. ¡°Well, since you put it that way, Dr. Wilson, I suppose I can do you this favor, just for you,¡± he said.

    The voices in the hallway faded into silence. Aubree waited another moment, holding her breath, and only when all sounds hadpletely disappeared did she finally step out of the restroom.

    Looking at the phone in her hand, Aubree smirked.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Honestly, this scene feels all too familiar.

    ¡®I really thought so many things would change, and this wouldn¡¯t happen again. But here it is, resurfacing in a different form.¡¯

    In her previous life, after Carmen joined Rithol Art School¡¯s intensive training program, Aubree always covered for her during tests and assignments, so nothing else ever happened. Back then, the artpetition schedule wasn¡¯t as tight as it was now. The prelims were already over by that point.

    Back then, even though thepetition had already started, slipping someone in was as easy as snapping their fingers for the Wilson family. They didn¡¯t even need to do it themselves.

    Not only did Carmen get in, but Aubree was lumped in with her as well. Looking back, it was almostughable that she actually thought the Wilson family cared about her.

    Onlyter did Aubree realize that Carmen wanted the gold medal but,cking the skill, used her to pave the way.

 Tried 101

    During the preliminaries, they reced Carmen¡¯s submission with Aubree¡¯s work. Since she had the scores to back her up, when Aubree ghostpainted for her in the finals, no one suspected a thing.

    Since Carmen stole her achievements in her previous life, and now this evidence had fallen right into her hands, Aubree would be wasting a heaven-sent opportunity if she didn¡¯t use it.

    Aubree¡¯s expression turned steely as she rummaged through her memory for a contact, the vice president the two had just mentioned, Stan Frazier.

    Stan lived and breathed art, remaining a lifelong bachelor.

    In her previous life, he was the only one who questioned Carmen¡¯s results. Butcking concrete evidence, he could only postpone her award for as long as he possibly could.

    Aubree faintly recalled how, in her previous life, the spirited, white-haired Stan hade to Rithol High School clutching the painting she had ghostpainted for Carmen. When he asked if she was the true artist, his eyes shone with such intense passion and hope.

    Aubree anonymously sent the recording to Stan¡¯s email, making sure to point out that he could check the security footage from both the restroom area and the hallway.

    She wasn¡¯t the least bit worried that Stan would just brush this off. He was a true master who treated art with absolute dedication. In her previous life, he¡¯d managed to track her down with only the faintest clue. Now that there was both audio and video evidence, there was no way he¡¯d let it slide.

    After finishing everything, Aubree finally left the exam hall. Unnoticed by her, as she walked past a sleek ck Maybach, its tinted window slid down silently, revealing Daxton¡¯s face watching her intently.

    Daxton thought with a sneer, ¡®What¡¯s Aubree doing here? Don¡¯t tell me this trash actually came for thepetition?¡¯

    Frowning, Daxton watched Aubree¡¯s back, noticing the clear pencil case in her hand, standard exam gear. He scoffed inwardly, ¡®Seriously? Did she actuallye for the mathpetition?

    ¡®What an embarrassing disgrace. She doesn¡¯t even know her ce.

    The prelims had concluded, leaving a few days before the finalists¡¯ list would be announced and the championship round began.

    At the esports club, the head coach was overseeing operations. He had recruited a new batch of staff and signed a promising rookie at the draft event.

    They would decide on the rest during the post-season transfer window.

    Aubree took some time out of her busy schedule to check on yzy¡¯s progress. The team Turner Group sent over proved theirpetence, a prototype version of the app was already up and running. She would review it before they refined and pushed for further improvements.

    The hardware for live streaming was already well-developed. It was just that no one had the idea yet. Honestly, getting it up and running wasn¡¯t all that hard.

    But even after the app was developed, it still needed stress and bug testing, which were both time-consuming. And right now, time was exactly what she didn¡¯t have.

    12:39 pm

    To motivate her first batch of employees to put in extra hours developing yzy, Aubree promised each a 2% equity stake once the tformunched. While this might seem like a modest share at first nce, these professionals clearly recognized yzy¡¯s boundless potential.

    That 2% stake would set them up for life. The whole team was absolutely buzzing, working overtime like crazy.

    Aubree firmly reminded the team, ¡°We need to speed up the app development. Don¡¯t cut corners on the subsequent testing. It would be uneptable if the app crashes during use.

    ¡°Once yzy is ready, I¡¯ll have esports yers and celebrity influencers do beta testing to generate buzz. After that, we¡¯ll roll out the live streaming feature to all users.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± the team responded enthusiastically.

    Aubree mapped out a detailed timeline for everything, with clear deadlines for each task. Now, it was a race against time.

    Rubbing her temples, Aubree felt the weight of the challenge ahead. Just having esports yers like Hector Ross and his team isn¡¯t enough,¡¯ she thought, ¡°They can only guide the gaming side, but in my previous life, streaming tforms covered

    so much more.¡¯

    She couldn¡¯t let yzy be pigeonholed as just another game streaming tform.

    Signing established celebrities and discovering fresh talent to cultivate into stars was essential.

    Different fields required different expertise, and honestly, this just wasn¡¯t her thing. She didn¡¯t really know much about showbiz at all.

    Aubree searched her mind and locked onto a target, Peace Entertainment.

    She thought, ¡®Back when I was bending over backwards for Carmen in my previous life, I did some basic research on the entertainment industry. Peace Entertainment was founded by an award-winning actress and, as far as I know, it¡¯s one of the few cleanpanies out there. At least if we work with them. yzy won¡¯t get dragged into any tabloid scandals afterunch.¡¯

 Tried 102

    Carmen¡¯s inner circle in ss couldn¡¯t stop gushing, talking over each other in awestruck tones. One of them said, ¡°Carmen is simply amazing! What¡¯s the big deal about Rithol Art School? She quietly made it to the state-level finals! I heard the bar is set really high this year, even the top art students from the prestigious high school next door all got eliminated.

    A ssmate sneered. ¡°Just wait till Carmen wins the award. Rithol Art School will realize what a huge mistake they made, ming her for Aubree¡¯s screw-up. Serves them right!¡±

    Another said, ¡°If Carmen wins the award, the whole school will be singing her praises!¡±

    Someone else said, ¡°School-wide praise? That¡¯s thinking too small! Soon enough, Carmen¡¯s story will probably make it on TV news!¡±

    They felt that the Wilson family sure got lucky. All four sons were outstanding in their own right, while their only biological daughter brought shame to the family name. But at least their adopted daughter was making them proud.

    Everyone got their own destiny. Some people were just born luckier than others, and there was no use being envious. Aubree was born into the Wilson family but never got to enjoy its privileges, while Carmen somehow ended up with all the good fortune.

    Carmen covered her mouth with a giggle. ¡°If you keep praising me like this, I might get so nervous my hands will shake during thepetition, and it¡¯ll be all your fault!¡±

    Carmen¡¯s yful scolding only made her ssmates adore her even more.

    ¡°Carmen, you¡¯re seriously amazing!¡± a ssmate eximed. ¡°You¡¯re already top of the ss, and even though the teacher said you could take the day off, you just can¡¯t even rx for a moment, you still came in for half a day!¡±

    Carmen maintained a humble facade, but her eyes gleamed with smug confidence. She¡¯d spent weeks meticulously copying a painting Aubree had left at home. She thought, ¡®I¡¯m definitely winning at the finals. Maybe even the gold!¡¯

    Out of the corner of her eye, Carmen noticed Alvin ncing her way from the back seat. Her ears flushed pink. ¡®If I win the award¡­ would he finally notice me more?¡¯ she wondered.

    Carmen thought smugly, ¡®I know Alvin better than anyone. He only got into art because histe mother was an artist. If my painting skills are truly exceptional, he¡¯s bound to notice me!¡¯

    Carmen smoothed her hair and walked up to Alvin with a bright smile. ¡°Alvin, my birthday¡¯sing up. Would you like toe to my party? If you¡¯re free, we could also talk about painting.¡±

    Graceful and poised, her radiant, confident smile could win over even a stranger, especially with the added prestige of being the Wilson family¡¯s heiress.

    Carmen was absolutely certain Alvin wouldn¡¯t turn her down.

    She thought, ¡®My original n was to let Alvin realize how great I am ande to me on his own¡­ but¡­

    That bitch Aubree, when did she hook up with Alvin? So what if she¡¯s good at gaming? As long as I control the Wilson family, she¡¯ll never surpass me!¡¯

    She¡¯d deliberatelye to school for just this short while before thepetition, all so Alvin would notice her, and she could seize the chance to invite him to her birthday party.

    ¡°Get lost.¡± Alvin didn¡¯t even bother to look up. His words shattered all of Carmen¡¯s fantasies.

    12:39 pm

    Carmen¡¯s smile froze on her face, her eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°How could Alvin humiliate me like this in public?¡± she thought, her cheeks burning with shame.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes instantly welled up with tears. One of her ssmates immediately jumped to her defense, eximing, ¡°Alvin, how could you treat Carmen like that?¡±

    Alvin said coldly, ¡°You get lost, too.¡±

    The ssmate was about to say something more, but Carmen, worried that Alvin might think less of her, quickly pulled them back. Forcing a smile, she said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I was being presumptuous. Mypetition is about to start, so I have to go now. Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re all invited to my birthday party at my ceter!¡±

    She forced a brave smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, a sight that tugged at everyone¡¯s heartstrings.

    As she turned away, her eyes burned with resentment and jealousy. ¡°There¡¯s only one reason Alvin would treat me like this. It has to be because of Aubree!¡¯ she seethed inwardly.

    She thought, ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter. Once I win the award, Alvin wille around!¡¯

    Carmen was heading to the finals, and both Daxton and Alice, who were free at home, came to see her off.

    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Carmen. No matter what happens, you¡¯ll always be the best in Mom¡¯s eyes,¡± Alice said softly, giving her daughter¡¯s hand an encouraging squeeze.

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 Tried 103

    Daxton had already made discreet arrangements. ¡°Just paint as you normally would, Carmen,¡± he said gently, ¡°I will make sure you get whatever you want.¡±

    ¡°If Aubree were still here, with her skills she¡¯d surely have made it to the finals,¡± Carmen remarked, her tone deceptively

    wistful.

    Carmen¡¯s words instantly froze the air.

    Daxton gritted his teeth. He thought, ¡®I almost forgot about her! I still haven¡¯t settled the score for her online attacks against Carmen.¡¯

    Daxton snapped, ¡°Why bring her up? If it weren¡¯t for Aubree, you¡¯d still be at Rithol Art School without a care, getting ready for your SAT and heading to your dream university!¡±

    The mere thought of it infuriated him. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for that petty, backstabbing brat Aubree, who couldn¡¯t stand to see Carmen seed and deliberately smeared her, ruining her reputation at Rithol Art School and making her worry about being rejected from college, would she really need to win an award just to boost her credentials?¡¯

    Alice¡¯s face darkened with displeasure. ¡°Does she really think she¡¯s hot stuff now? Just started some club and suddenly thinks she¡¯s grown wings!¡±

    She thought, ¡®If I hadn¡¯t been so busy preparing for Carmen¡¯s birthday party, I would¡¯ve taught that girl a lesson already! So what if she has the Turner Group backing her? The Wilson family isn¡¯t some pushover either!

    ¡®Does she really think Bowen would take on the Wilson family for a nobody like her?¡¯

    After subtly reminding the Wilson family not to let Aubree off the hook, a glint of triumph shed in Carmen¡¯s eyes. With feigned innocence, she asked, ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, sweetheart,¡± Daxton said with an adoring smile, ¡°Thepetition¡¯s about to start, go on in now.¡±

    After Carmen entered thepetition, neither Daxton nor Alice left. Instead, they got back in the car and waited for her there.

    Time ticked by slowly. Daxton reviewed the medical records again, his eyes growing weary. Finally, he looked up and gazed out the window.

    Today, both the International Mathematics Competition and the Painting Competition were taking ce here simultaneously. The mathpetition ended a bit earlier, so now test-takers were streaming out of the venue, gathering in the square, and waiting for the results.

    To prevent any cheating attempts, all the finals were graded and the results announced right there on the spot.

    Daxton¡¯s gaze swept across the crowd. Suddenly, his eyes froze as he thought, ¡®Aubree again?

    ¡®Ifst time was just a coincidence, then how do I exin away this?

    Daxton nudged his mother and asked, ¡°Mom, is that Aubree? She¡¯s actually here for the mathpetition?¡±

    Alice followed his gaze, her eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°That really is her? Since when was she capable of something like this?¡±

    Daxton knew Aubree used to have good grades, but after missing two years of school, he doubted she still had it in her. He sneered, ¡°She probably just got a lucky break to make it to the finals. Some people reallyck self-awareness, signing up for a

    12:39 pm

    28)

    Alice nodded in agreement, her voice dripping with disdain. ¡°Thank goodness we adopted Carmen as my daughter. Having that disgrace around every day would probably shave years off my life.¡±

    The two exchanged sneering remarks about Aubree, every wordced with contempt.

    While the mathpetition results were being reviewed, the paintingpetition was also drawing to a close, with participants starting to file out one after another.

    Alice said, ¡°Daxton, hurry! Carmen¡¯sing out!¡±

    She quickly opened the car door, and the two of them hurried toward Carmen. ¡°Mommy¡¯s precious, you must be exhausted after all that painting. Are you tired? There are drinks and fruit in the car, would you like to have some together?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carmen. You¡¯ll definitely win, you¡¯re the best,¡± Daxton said, ruffling her hair affectionately. In stark contrast to the biting sarcasm he¡¯d shown Aubree just moments before, he now showered Carmen with praise without reservation.

    He aded, ¡°Dad heard you werepeting and went out of his way to invite some friends over and book a party hall. We¡¯re all just waiting for you to win so we can celebrate together!¡±

    Alice was beaming with excitement, but neither she nor Daxton noticed that Carmen¡¯s face had gone ghostly pale, her lips drained of color, and she looked utterly absent-minded.

    ¡°Mom, Daxton¡­ I can¡¯t win the award,¡± Carmen choked out, her voice trembling on the verge of tears. Her face was a picture of utter devastation as the memory of what had just happened overwhelmed her. Suddenly, she turned to Daxton, her eyes boring into him with desperate intensity.

    Daxton¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Carmen, what¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡±

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 Tried 104

    Carmen¡¯s face turned deathly pale. ¡°The chief judge found out I took someone else¡¯s spot in the finals, and my eligibility has been revoked. If news of my cheating gets out, it¡¯ll be announced to the whole school. How can I ever stay at this school again?¡±

    She thought, ¡®With this stain on my record, Rithol Art would never ept me. Alvin is definitely going there¡­ I¡¯m drifting further away

    from him. How can I ever be with him now?¡¯

    ¡°How could this happen¡­¡± Daxton was utterly stunned. He thought, ¡®Only Alec and I knew about this. How could Stan possibly know? Is he psychic or something?¡¯

    3

    Before he could finish speaking, the loudspeaker crackled to life, cutting through the air, and it was the announcement of the International Mathematics Competition results.

    A person said, ¡°First, we would like to thank all participants for their hard work. Now, we announce the top three winners. The Gold Medal goes to the Department of Mathematics at Rithol University. The Silver Medal goes to an international contestant. The Bronze Medal goes to Aubree Miller.

    ¡°Remaining participants may check their rankings on the scrolling disy. Top three medalists, please proceed to the award podium to im your prizes.¡±

    The announcement was broadcast three times in session, sending waves of astonished murmurs through the square.

    L

    It wasn¡¯t the gold medalist who stole the spotlight at thispetition, but the bronze. The single name announced meant this contestant had fought their way up from the open qualifiers.

    The International Mathematics Competition had been held for several editions, yet never, regardless of the host country, had an open qualifier be a medalist.

    A person asked, ¡°Who the hell is Aubree? She¡¯s insane!¡±

    Another said, ¡°Wow, what a legend! I gotta head to the award ceremony to catch the interview, I¡¯ve never even heard of this prodigy before.¡±

    A third said, ¡°Wait, I just remembered! There was this young girl in my exam room, she looked like a high schooler. Could that be her?¡±

    Someone eximed. ¡°A high schooler! With skills like that, shouldn¡¯t she have been fast-tracked to college already?¡±

    The Wilson family were equally dumbfounded when they heard the announcement.

    Alice was so shocked she forgot tofort Carmen. Grabbing Daxton¡¯s arm, she gasped, ¡°Daxton, did I hear that right? Did they just say Aubree?¡±

    Daxton¡¯s face darkened, furious at Aubree¡¯s tant grandstanding.

    Through gritted teeth, Daxton muttered, ¡°Unless there¡¯s someone else with the same name, it has to be her.¡±

    F?

    Daxton¡¯s thoughts were already churning with a thousand tangled ideas.

    Daxton couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Aubree clearly knows she has what it takes to win. Did she deliberately enter the mathpetition after finding out Carmen was participating in the painting contest?¡¯

    As he pieced it together, Daxton¡¯s expression grew even darker. He thought bitterly, ¡°There¡¯s no way this is just a coincidence. Of all times, Aubree had to enter thepetition exactly when Carmen was in the painting contest?

    12:40 pm

    ¡®How could she be so calcting? Does she really think that by outshining Carmen, we¡¯ll regret ever being good to her?

    Alice¡¯s jaw dropped. She thought, ¡®Wasn¡¯t Aubree always at the bottom of the ss? When did her grades improve so much?¡±

    Carmen clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood, though she barely noticed, lost in a storm of humiliation and rage.

    ¡°Aubree again!¡± Carmen seethed.

    The surrounding whispers about her became the final straw. Carmen shoved Daxton violently and shouted, ¡°This is all your fault! If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t be humiliated like this!¡±

    Carmen was having aplete emotional breakdown, her face buried in her hands as she sobbed quietly, when suddenly, the loudspeaker crackled to life again.

    The results of the paintingpetition were announced, not only were the top three winners revealed, but an additional statement was also included.

    A person said, ¡°An investigation has revealed that a contestant in this paintingpetition used unfair means to enter the finals. The judgingmittee has decided to revoke this contestant¡¯s qualification, and investigations into those involved are still ongoing.¡±

    The announcement didn¡¯t specify names, but anyone who cared to check the contestant list would know exactly who it was.

    Carmen waspletely shattered, wiping away her tears as she stumbled out.

    She couldn¡¯t stand being branded a cheater while Aubree got to bask in all that glory.

 Tried 105

    Carmen¡¯s resentment made Daxton¡¯s heart ache for her. He longed tofort her, but reason dictated that he stay behind to investigate who had leaked the information. ¡°Mom, gofort Carme now!¡±

    Daxton thought anxiously, ¡®I have to find out who leaked this!¡±

    A venomous glint shed in Daxton¡¯s eyes.

    Alice finally snapped out of her daze and hurried after Carmen. Meanwhile, Daxton went to review the surveince footage from that day.

    Hearing the broadcast announcement, a satisfied smile yed at the corners of Aubree¡¯s lips. She thought, ¡®Did Carmen really think she could have all the good things to herself? Not a chance.

    ¡°If you dare to y dirty, you¡¯d better be ready to face the consequences.

    As the judges prepared to present the awards, Aubree finally made her graceful entrance onto the podium. The crowd watching the ceremony was unusuallyrge this time, all drawn here by her presence.

    Everyone was dying to see who fought her way up from the open qualifiers to im bronze at this internationalpetition.

    A person said, ¡°Oh my God! She¡¯s so young! She¡¯s only in high school, right?¡±

    Another said, ¡°If she¡¯s in high school, why didn¡¯t her school nominate her? What kind of idiotic school wouldn¡¯t nurture a prodigy like that?¡±

    Even the judges presenting Aubree with her medal were stunned, how could someone so young win at such a prestigious international mathpetition?

    Some teachers were already scheming ways to poach Aubree.

    Aubree found all the attention both amusing and a bit overwhelming. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d actually win bronze,¡± she mused, ¡°Honestly, I would have been content with just a constion prize, anything to get noticed. What an unexpected windfall.¡±

    The moment the awards ended, reporters swarmed the three medalists, but nearly all the questions were fired at Aubree.

    A person asked, ¡°Miss, how old are you? Still in school? With skills like yours, how did you end uppeting through the open qualifiers instead of being school-nominated?¡±

    Let alone winning the bronze, even just picking up any award would make her a prized asset, and every high school would treat her like gold.

    Not only were the reporters baffled, but the surrounding crowd held their breath, waiting for Aubree¡¯s answer.

    Taking the microphone, Aubree replied withposure, ¡°I¡¯m a senior at Rithol High School. There are two reasons I entered thepetition through the open qualifiers. First, my school didn¡¯t nominate me. Second, I¡¯m currently suspended.¡±

    The reporters immediately fired off questions. ¡°Being suspended? What exactly was the offense?¡±

    Aubree shed a faint smile. ¡°Anyone here is on Twitter? Do you follow that League of Legends match-fixing scandal a while back? Yeah, that was me. The principal of my school said it was a negative influence and suspended me for a while, so I¡¯ve been staying home. Honestly, I still haven¡¯t heard when I can go back to school.¡±

    12:40 pm dd D

    The reporters exchanged nces in confusion. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that match-fixing scandal settled ages ago? Why aren¡¯t they letting her go back to school? It¡¯s such a crucial time for seniors,¡± one of them whispered.

    The educators frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

    Sensing a potential headline, the reporters pressed on, and Aubree was ready for their questions. ¡°Before high school, I lived in an orphanage. I went through some things, and yes, I¡¯m still an orphan. After transferring to Rithol High School, if you ask about my experience¡­ well, to be honest, it hasn¡¯t been great. Right after I enrolled, I witnessed a female student being bullied into jumping off a building. The teachers barely did anything, and the principal even held a meeting ordering us not to talk about it.

    ¡°And after that? Well¡­ I ended up bing a bullying victim myself.

    ¡°My thoughts on the principal? Well, I suppose he has his own¡­ unique perspective. Like not telling me when I could return to school, maybe he thought I looked exhausted and wanted me to ¡®rest¡¯ a little longer.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s explosive interview went viral across major news sites. Meanwhile, Will, blissfully unaware in his office, received a phone call.

    When the call ended, his face went ashen. He had been suspended pending investigation.

    With trembling hands, Will recalled the warning from the call and unlocked his phone. The moment he saw Aubree¡¯s interview, his vision darkened in waves. Clutching his chest, his eyes rolled back as he copsed. He knew his career was

    over.

 Tried 106

    Fresh off her postpetition interview, Aubree got a text from her teacher. She was expected back in ss the next day.

    Aubree let out a scornfulugh. ¡°If the principal can still keep his job after that investigation, I¡¯ll eat my hat!¡±

    While Aubree was riding high, the Wilson household was drowning in misery.

    Ronald had gone all out booking a luxury venue, expecting praise and admiration. Instead, he got nothing but utter humiliation.

    On the sofa, Carmen sat with her face buried in her hands, sobbing, while Alice sat beside her, gentlyforting her, her heart aching for her.

    Ronald, irritated by Carmen¡¯s crying, snapped, ¡°Stop blubbering! Just look at the mess you¡¯ve made, you¡¯vepletely disgraced me!¡±

    Ronald was obsessed with his reputation and desperate to save face among his friends. Once news of Carmen¡¯s cheating scandal at thepetition broke, it spread like wildfire. Inte sleuths quickly identified her, and with her previous viral scandal, everyone realized it was the same girl again.

    Before Carmen even arrived, the scandal had already spread.

    Ronald¡¯s rage kept building as he remembered the awkward, mocking looks from his friends at the hotel. He snapped at Carmen, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be good at art? Don¡¯t you always get top marks? How could you be so stupid as to get caught?¡±

    Carmen¡¯s eyes were red-rimmed, but she didn¡¯t dare respond. She thought, ¡®I don¡¯t know. I just copied Aubree¡¯s painting. How was I supposed to know the judges would immediately question if it was really mine when I submitted it?¡¯

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. It was all Daxton¡¯s idea¡­¡± Carmen mumbled, keeping her head lowered in a timid manner.

    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Alice said soothingly, ¡°this isn¡¯t Carmen¡¯s fault. You know how Daxton is with these things, someone must have interfered. He¡¯s already checking the security footage.¡±

    ¡°Not her fault?¡± Ronald nearly choked on his rage.

    When it didn¡¯t affect his own interests, he could dote on his daughter all he wanted. But now, things had gotten out of hand.

    People on the inte were mocking the Wilson family for raising such a ¡°fine¡± daughter, who was a habitual giarist.

    But it was toote for words now. Seeing Carmen¡¯s eyes swollen and red from crying, Ronald¡¯s heart softened. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Daxtone back yet?¡±

    Daxton had just finished checking the security footage.

    The moment he returned home, his expression was thunderous. ¡°I found out,¡± Daxton said grimly, ¡°It was Aubree.¡±

    The moment that name was spoken, a heavy silence instantly fell over the Wilson household.

    ¡°I knew it was that little witch!¡± Alice hissed through gritted teeth. ¡°What does she want? Won¡¯t she be satisfied until she drives my Carmen to the brink?

    ¡°Sure, she¡¯s out there basking in the glory of her award, but look at my poor Carmen, she¡¯s been crying her eyes out!¡±

    Alice held Carmen in her arms, her eyes burning with genuine malice, as if she truly wished her own biological daughter

    would just drop dead.

    Ronald only knew about Carmen¡¯s cheating scandal. Hearing this, he looked puzzled and asked, ¡°What award did she win?¡± ¡°Aubreepeted in the International Mathematics Competition. She won a bronze medal,¡± Daxton reported.

    ¡°A bronze medal?¡± Ronald¡¯s eye twitched. He had truly underestimated her.

    First, she got in with the Turner family, then won championships, and now she was medaling in internationalpetitions.

    Ronald¡¯s eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. No one noticed the shift in his demeanor.

    Daxton continued sharing his findings. ¡°I checked all the surveince footage from around that time, no one else appeared. The only person was Aubree, who passed by the corridor to the restroom just before I went to see Alec. I had someone test it. Conversations in the hallway can be heard from inside the restroom.¡±

    The evidence aligned perfectly with his earlier suspicions. Daxton was now certain that Aubree had known Carmen was participating in the artpetition and had deliberately orchestrated the whole scheme.

    As for how Aubree managed to overhear his bribery conversation with Alec, Daxtong didn¡¯t even bother to think about it. In his eyes, she was so calcting that she must have pull some tricks this time.

    Alice spat, her voice trembling with rage, ¡°That ungrateful brat! After the Wilson family raised her for three years, this is how she repays us?¡±

    Carmen buried herself in Alice¡¯s arms, her body trembling with sobs. ¡°Did I do something to upset my sister?¡± she choked out, ¡°If she thinks I¡¯m in her way at the Wilson family, I can just leave¡­¡±

    Alice said to Carmen, ¡°My darling, what nonsense are you saying? If anyone¡¯s leaving, it¡¯s Aubree, not you. You¡¯ll always be Mommy¡¯s precious treasure.¡±

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 Tried 107

    The two shared a heartwarming moment, which only made Daxton¡¯s heart ache even more for Carmen. He quickly reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carmen. If Aubree dares to scheme against you, I will make her pay!¡± He had already ordered someone to track down Aubree¡¯s address.

    Ronald, who had remained silent until now, began plotting about Aubree. He thought, ¡®She has quietly aplished quite a few major things. She¡¯s finally proving her worth. I can¡¯t just let her run wild anymore. If force doesn¡¯t work, maybe it¡¯s time for a softer approach.

    With this in mind, Ronald patted Dexton on the shoulder. ¡°Aubree¡¯s gone too far,¡± he said to Daxton, ¡°This time, you must bring her back home, no matter what.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Daxton replied, though his eyes gleamed with icy determination. He thought, ¡®Bring her back? I¡¯m not as softhearted as Bryan or Emery.¡¯

    Late at night, in a luxury apartment.

    Three sharp knocks echoed through the hallway.

    The smart lock alerted Aubree to someone at the door.

    ¡°Who could be knocking at this hour?¡± Aubree immediately tensed up. The high-security apartment she rented was safe, but nothing was ever truly foolproof.

    Aubree walked up to the door but didn¡¯t open it right away. After a long silence, the knocking outside grew increasingly impatient.

    Aubree¡¯s hand instinctively reached for the baseball bat by the shoe cab. Peering through the peephole, she recognized the figure outside,

    ¡®How the hell did Daxton track me down here?¡¯ Aubree thought, her heart pounding in disbelief.

    ¡°Open the damn door!¡± Daxton bellowed, his pounding on the door growing more impatient by the second.

    Aubree¡¯s expression turned cold. She thought, ¡®Daxton¡¯s showing up thiste, he¡¯s definitely up to no good. And after what he did to my backst time, I sure haven¡¯t forgotten that little debt.¡¯

    Hefting the baseball bat in her hand, Aubree smirked and thought, ¡®No bodyguards this time, Daxton? Perfect, time to settle

    our score.

    Aubree left the bedroom light on as a decoy, quietly shut the door, and concealed herself. First, she sent a silent text to the police, then used her phone to remotely unlock the front door.

    Daxton¡¯s fist met with empty air as the door swung open on its own.

    ¡°Aubree!¡± Daxton bellowed. ¡°So you¡¯re just going to ignore everything I told you, right? How dare you upset Carmen? Do you want another beating?¡± His furious shout echoed through the empty room before he realized there was no one standing in front of him.

    ¡°Could she be in the bedroom?¡± Blind with rage, Daxton didn¡¯t stop to think. He charged straight for the bedroom.

    Concealed in the darkness, Aubree watched as Daxton kicked open the door. Baseball bat in hand, she slipped in silently right behind him, ready to strike.

    12:40 pm

    ¡°Aubree, you¡­¡± Daxton started to shout, but stopped short when he realized the room was empty.

    A chill shot down Daxton¡¯s spine. Before he could turn around, Aubree swung the baseball bat and mmed it straight into his back.

    In her previous life, when Daxton lost a fortune due to a failed drug research project, Aubree swallowed her pride and audited medical sses at Rithol University to help him.

    Thanks to her medical knowledge, Aubree knew human anatomy well. Every strike was measured, targeting only the most painful yet safest spots.

    ¡°How dare you break into my house to steal! I¡¯ll beat you senseless!¡± Aubree cursed, swinging the bat with ruthless precision.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®With the lights so dim, how could anyone expect me to see who it was? Totally normal, right?

    ¡®I mean, as a single woman living alone, isn¡¯t it only natural to defend myself when a strange man knocks on my door in the middle of the night?¡¯

    An eye for an eye, Aubree didn¡¯t strike randomly. Every blownded squarely on Daxton¡¯s back, payback for what he¡¯d done.

    Blow after blow rained down on his back. Even Daxton couldn¡¯t take it anymore, groans of pain escaped his lips.

    ¡°I¡¯m Daxton! Have you lost your damn mind, Aubree?¡± Daxton yelled, desperately trying to get her to stop. But to his shock, the moment he spoke, Aubree¡¯s blows onlynded harder, each one colder and more precise.

    She said, ¡°Still pretending to be someone else? As if my brother Daxton would ever sneak into a girl¡¯s apartment in the middle of the night! So, you¡¯ve investigated me, right? Well, I¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡±

    It wasn¡¯t until the wail of police sirens reached her that Aubree calmly stopped, pretending to suddenly recognize him. She gasped in exaggerated surprise, ¡°Daxton? Oh my God, is that really you?¡±

    Daxton nearly coughed up blood. The pain in his back was so intense, he couldn¡¯t even crawl off the floor.

    Daxton groaned, ¡°Aubree!¡±

    As the police entered, Aubree grinned and gave him a final, yful kick. ¡°What are you yelling for, Daxton?¡± she asked sweetly.

    Turning to the officers with feigned innocence, Aubree said, ¡°Officer, that¡¯s him! He was trespassing in my apartment!¡±

 Tried 108

    In the interrogation room of the police station, Daxton sat pale-faced, a cup of steaming drink at his side. Aubree upied

    the seat next to him.

    ¡°Alright, start talking. What happened here?¡± The interrogating officer nced from one to the other, rubbing his temples in frustration.

    The officers were quite familiar with Daxton and his group, which only made the whole situation even more baffling to

    them.

    They thought, ¡®Weren¡¯t they supposed to be siblings? How did this turn into trespassing? And he got beaten up this badly?

    Daxton was so badly injured that officers had to support him all the way to the police station.

    Daxton¡¯s back felt as if it had been scorched, burning and stinging with every movement. Gritting his teeth, he snapped, ¡°Doesn¡¯t this count as her intentionally assaulting me?¡±

    The moment the cops barged in, it all clicked, Aubree had known it was him all along and had deliberately set him up for that beating.

    He¡¯d really lost his head and actually let her get exactly what she wanted.

    The searing pain on his back was a brand of humiliation, a constant reminder that he¡¯d been outmaneuvered by the very person he despised most.

    Aubree hunched her shoulders, feigning a frightened look. ¡°Officer, I was home alone when some stranger broke in. Wouldn¡¯t any girl be terrified? I couldn¡¯t see his face or know who he was, so isn¡¯t it better to be safe than sorry?¡±

    Aubree tried to look as helpless as possible and said to the officer, ¡°Officer, didn¡¯t the medical report just confirm they¡¯re only superficial wounds? At worst, this counts as self-defense, right? Shouldn¡¯t we be focusing on his trespassing vition instead?¡±

    Only now did Daxton snap, ¡°I¡¯m your brother!¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes

    shed with derision. ¡°We don¡¯t have any adoption papers proving we¡¯re siblings, nor are we even listed in the same family registry. So what kind of siblings does that make us?¡±

    Daxton was left speechless. Back when Aubree had first been found, mostly because he didn¡¯t want Carmen to get hurt, and with some otherplications at the time, he¡¯d strongly opposed his parents from putting Aubree on the family registry and letting her take their surname. He never imagined that decision woulde back to bite him now.

    At this point, the resolution was crystal clear. Aubree had the moral and legal high ground, and Daxton could only swallow his pride and ept the beating he¡¯d gotten.

    The police gave Daxton a brief verbal warning, had both of them sign the paperwork, and then let them go.

    Daxton had contacted the Wilson family early that morning to pick him up. To his surprise, when he stepped out of the police station, it was Ronald who hade.

    He asked, ¡°Dad? What are you doing here?¡±

    Ronald didn¡¯t respond, steadying Daxton with one hand while his gaze settled on Aubree. As he reassessed his daughter, he was startled to realize that the timid and unpresentable girl he¡¯d always remembered now had eyes shining with

    unmistakable confidence.

    3:41 pm d

    The more he looked at her, the more pleased he became, and his tone softened noticeably. ¡°Aubree, it must have been tough for you out there on your own these days. Dad¡¯s been giving things a lot of thoughttely, and I realize I was unfair to you before and caused you grievance. Let me start by apologizing to you here and now.¡±

    Aubree narrowed her eyes warily at Ronald¡¯s sudden change in attitude. ¡®What¡¯s his game this time? she thought, instantly on guard.

    Aubree shifted her feet slightly. She thought, ¡®It¡¯s toote, and Zachary isn¡¯t by my side anymore. But at least I¡¯m still right outside the police station. If Ronald tries anything, I can just shout for help.¡¯

    Daxton started, ¡°Dad, what are you¡­¡±

    ¡°Daxton!¡± Ronald cut in sharply. ¡°After wronging Aubree so many times, shouldn¡¯t you give her a proper apology and make it up to her?¡±

    ¡®Me? Apologize to Aubree?¡¯ Daxton thought, stunned. ¡®T¡¯d have to be out of my damn mind to apologize to Aubree!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want it!¡± Aubree snapped. She wouldn¡¯t dare ept Daxton¡¯s apology. ¡®Who knows what kind of trouble he¡¯ll bring me tomorrow if I ept it today, she thought warily.

    Aubree said firmly, ¡°Besides, it¡¯s best we go our separate ways!¡±

    Ronald didn¡¯t seem the least bit angry. ¡®Kids will be kids,¡¯ he thought indulgently, ¡®A little attitude is only to be expected.

 Tried 109

    In Ronald¡¯s eyes, Aubree used to be utterly nothing but an embarrassment to the family. Any time she acted out, it was just ¡°making trouble.¡± But now that she¡¯s useful to him, her defiance is suddenly brushed off as merely ¡°a child acting up.¡±

    He had double standards down to a fine art.

    He asked, ¡°Your birthday ising up soon. Don¡¯t you want the dress your mother specially designed for you?¡±

    Aubree, who had turned to leave, paused mid-step.

    Ronald smirked triumphantly. He knew Aubree all too well, she might talk about cutting ties, but deep down, he felt that she was just fishing for their attention.

    He added, ¡°At your birthday celebration, I¡¯ll have your registration transferred to our family, change your surname to Wilson, and publicly announce that you are the legitimate daughter of the Wilson family.¡±

    As Aubree turned away, her eyes glinted with undisguised scorn. She thought, ¡®If anyone in the Wilson family is truly formidable, it¡¯s not Daxton or Bryan, it¡¯s Ronald, the one who really holds all the power.¡¯

    Ronald was the epitome of self-interest. Sons or daughters meant nothing to him, only those who could bring him value were worthy of consideration.

    ¡®So now that I¡¯m useful, he thinks he can just coax me back? Dream on,¡¯ she scoffed to herself.

    Aubree strode off without so much as a backward nce.

    To Ronald, Aubree¡¯s tant rejection only made him more certain of victory. After all, he was offering everything she¡¯d ever dreamed of. He felt that there was no way she¡¯d actually refuse.

    The moment Aubree left, Daxton exploded. ¡°Dad! What the hell were you saying just now? Where does this leave Carmen?¡±

    Ronald gave Daxton a cold sidelong nce, withdrew his supporting hand and shoved it into his trouser pocket. ¡°What do you mean? Did I ever say Carmen isn¡¯t part of our family? She¡¯s just an adopted daughter. Since when do I need her approval to acknowledge my real daughter?¡±

    Ronald said coldly, ¡°After all the trouble she¡¯s caused, the fact that I¡¯m still willing to clean up her messes just shows how generous I¡¯ve already been to her, more than she deserves.

    ¡°Daxton, you¡¯ve been causing troubletely too. Getting the police involved this time? This is looking bad on the Wilson family!¡±

    Daxton clenched his fists, bowing his head in silent fury. ¡®If I say another word, Dad will definitely take it out on Carmen,¡¯ he thought bitterly.

    ¡°Let this setback be a lesson for Carmen,¡± Ronald said coldly, ¡°Next time, she should use her head and stop giving people ammunition against her.¡± After lecturing his son, he finally signaled for the driver to help Daxton into the car.

    As for Aubree, Ronald wasn¡¯t worried in the slightest. He was certain she¡¯de crawling back home by tomorrow.

    He needed to tell the rest of the family to treat Aubree better for now, at least until he could leverage her connection to Bowen.

    Back at her apartment, Aubree didn¡¯t take a single word Ronald said seriously. ¡®Only a damn fool would buy that crap,¡¯ she

    scoffed to herself.

    After beating up Daxton, Aubree felt thoroughly satisfied and slept soundly through the night.

    Dressed in her school uniform with a backpack, Aubree went to Rithol High School the next day.

    The story of how Aubree won the bronze medal and caused Will¡¯s downfall had spread like wildfire through Rithol High School. The moment she stepped into the ssroom, all eyes were instantly drawn to her.

    Unlike before, when they watched her with scorn and schadenfreude, now their eyes shone with nothing but genuine admiration and envy.

    ¡°Look who¡¯s back, the pride of our ss!¡± Once someone spoke up, the rest of the ss erupted in excitement.

    Aubree¡¯s ss was one of Rithol High School¡¯s lower-tier sses, with students of varying abilities.

    A person said, ¡°Hey, Aubree,e and check out my gamey! Do you think I¡¯ve got what it takes to go pro?¡±

    Another said, ¡°Go pro? You? Move over for Queen Aubree! Hey Aubree, free tonight? Wanna carry me to rank up?¡±

    Someone else said, ¡°Back off, everyone! Aubree, could you please help me with this problem?¡±

    Aubree found herself surrounded by her ssmates, the sudden burst of enthusiasm leaving herpletely overwhelmed. ¡®I never imagined I¡¯d actually be this popr one day, she thought.

    Just then, Matilda came to her rescue.

    ¡°Thank you, Aubree!¡± Matilda suddenly pulled her into a tight hug. Aubree was dazed by the sudden embrace.

    ¡°Thank me? For what?¡¯ Aubree thought, puzzled.

    Matilda said to Aubree, ¡°The girl whomitted suicide was my close friend. Because of what you said, the case was reopened for investigation, and the newly appointed principal got all those people fired.¡±

    Aubree smiled sincerely. ¡°Karma always catches up with the wicked in the end,¡± she said.

 Tried 110

    Carmen had just stepped into the ssroom when she was instantly drowned in a flood of prying stares and hushed whispers.

    A person asked, ¡°Did you hear?¡±

    Another said, ¡°Everyone¡¯s heard about it by now, alright? She cheated in the statepetition and got Alec kicked out of the Painting Association. As for that Rithol Art School incident, like she didn¡¯t know someone swapped her project. She probably just hired a ghostwriter.

    ¡°And that¡¯s not all. She probably just got back from the new principal¡¯s office. Those bullies who got someone killed were expelled, and word is, she was pulling the strings behind the scenes too.

    ¡°Appearances can be so deceiving! She always acted like such a sweet and generous person, who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d turn out like this?

    ¡°The Wilson family is really unlucky, favoring this worthless trash over their own flesh and blood.

    ¡°Man, Aubree is totally killing it these days!¡±

    One foot in the ssroom, the other rooted outside, Carmen stood frozen, her fingers digging into the straps of her backpack until her knuckles turned white. Head slightly bowed, her eyes zed with barely contained fury.

    She thought, ¡®Aubree is bing more and more of a threat. Last night, Dad and Daxton even made me promise, in front of the whole family, that I¡¯d find an opportunity to apologize to her! How humiliating is that?

    ¡®Why should I apologize to Aubree? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong!

    ¡®Not only that, but Mom actually had my custom-designed gown altered for Aubree! How dare she? That dress was mine!¡¯

    Carmen seethed as the gossip swirled around her. She thought, ¡®It¡¯s all Aubree¡¯s fault! Why couldn¡¯t she have just stayed missing after being abducted? Why did she have toe back and steal my family, my identity?¡¯

    Lizzie Kim snapped, ¡°That¡¯s enough! Don¡¯t act like you all haven¡¯t taken favors from Carmen before!¡±

    A person said, ¡°Everyone knows you¡¯re Garmen¡¯s biggest suck-up.¡±

    Lizzie¡¯s face flushed crimson with anger. Unable to argue with so many people, she rushed up to Carmen, grabbed her, and pulled her toward the ssroom. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them, Carmen,¡± she said urgently, ¡°They¡¯re just jealous of your family¡¯s status, and the fact that you¡¯re with Alvin.¡±

    A person said, ¡°Hrious! Didn¡¯t you see how annoyed Alvin was with herst time?¡±

    Carmen finally snapped. She shook off Lizzie¡¯s hand, stepped forward, and delivered a stinging p across the speaker¡¯s face. ¡°Since when do you get to judge my life?¡± she spat, her voice trembling with rage.

    The girl who got pped was just as hot-tempered and instantly swung back to return the blow, but a quick-thinking ssmate grabbed her arm.¡±Let it go, let it go,¡± the ssmate urged, ¡°She¡¯s got the whole Wilson family behind her. Hit her today, and you¡¯ll be the one paying for it tomorrow.¡±

    The girl said, ¡°What a joke! Mark my words, you¡¯ll never measure up to Aubree, not in this lifetime!¡±

    ¡®Aubree, why is it always her?¡¯ Carmen seethed inwardly, her frustration reaching a breaking point.

    Carmen was deaf to Lizzie¡¯s words offort. The farce only came to a temporary halt when the teacher entered with

    teaching materials.

    Carmen barely registered a word of the lesson. Her mind was still seething with resentment.

    She thought, ¡®Make me apologize to Aubree? Fine then, I¡¯ll go apologize to her!¡±

    A calcting gleam flickered in Carmen¡¯s eyes.

    The first ss was followed by an extended break. Seniors could use the time freely, but nearly everyone stayed in the ssroom, buried in their textbooks.

    The bell had just rung when someone called from the ssroom door, ¡°Aubree, someone¡¯s here to see you.¡±

    Aubree was led to the stairwell. When she saw who hade for her, she smirked. ¡°Well, well, fancy seeing youe to me for once.¡±

    ¡°Sis, don¡¯t be like this,¡± Carmen said, reaching out to her. Aubree immediately took a wary half-step back, putting distance between them.

    ¡°So, trying that ¡®you pushed me down the stairs¡¯ trick again?¡± Aubree crossed her arms, her eyes full of mockery. Carmen slowly withdrew her hand, her voice soft and pleading. ¡°Sis, you¡¯ve got me all wrong. I just wanted to apologize. Everything that happened was my fault. Please forgive me.¡±

    She tilted her face up, putting on the most pitiful, doe-eyed look imaginable.

    ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s possible?¡± Aubree rolled her eyes. She guessed Ronald must have sent Carmen.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible either.¡± Carmen suddenly smirked, her tone doing aplete 180 from just a moment ago.

    Before Aubree could react, Carmen suddenly raised her hand and delivered a stinging p to her own face. The sharp crack echoed unnervingly through the stairwell. ¡°Sis,¡± she said in a trembling voice, ¡°I just wanted to apologize to you.¡±

 Tried 111

    Chapter Ill

    Carmen clutched her cheek as tears welled up in her eyes.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡®Is she out of her damn mind? We¡¯re not even at the Wilson family, who the hell is she putting on this show for?¡¯ she thought, unable to make sense of Carmen¡¯s behavior.

    ¡°Pathetic,¡± Aubree muttered, turning to leave, only to be stopped by that all-too-familiar using voice.

    ¡°Aubree! What the hell is this?¡± Daxton snapped.

    Carmen shot her a smug grin and silently mouthed, ¡°Dearest sister, my brother is here at school today, just to deal with my little problem.¡±

    During the break, Carmen had deliberately sent Lizzie to wait by the entrance. The moment Daxton arrived, she would lead him straight to the stairwell, just as Carmen had nned.

    Watching this scene unfold, Carmen thought smugly, ¡®No matter which brother shows up, they¡¯re bound to resent Aubree now, aren¡¯t they?¡¯

    Out of the corner of her eye, Carmen saw Bryan and Daxton approaching.

    Daxton charged forward, yanking Carmen behind him protectively. ¡°You¡¯re bullying Carmen again!¡± he snarled.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t decide whether to be more impressed that Daxton could still move so swiftly after the beating she¡¯d given him, or to roll her eyes at how he never seemed to grow, either in height or in brains.

    Rolling her eyes, Aubree muttered, ¡°Dumbass.¡±

    Seething with pent-up rage from old and new grievances, Daxton lunged forward, only for Bryan to intercept him at thest second.

    ¡°Aubree,¡± Bryan said sincerely, ¡°can you tell me what really happened just now? If it wasn¡¯t your fault, I¡¯ve got your back.¡±

    All she had to do was speak, and he¡¯d believe her.

    Carmen wasn¡¯t the least bit flustered. She simply hid behind Daxton, feigning quiet sobs.

    She thought, ¡®This is a surveince blind spot. Winona and her gang used to beat people up here all the time without ever getting caught.

    ¡®Who¡¯d believe I pped myself? No cameras here to prove otherwise.¡¯

    Daxton exploded, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Carmen came here to apologize, and you went and hit her! You just can¡¯t stop bullying her, can you?¡±

    Daxton seethed, ¡°Aubree is so vicious and ruthless! As if beating me upst night wasn¡¯t enough, now she even dares toy hands on Carmen!¡±

    Daxton red daggers at Aubree, his eyes zing with fury.

    Daxton¡¯s words ignited Aubree¡¯s fury. She¡¯d been ready to let it go. After all, it wasn¡¯t worth arguing with an idiot. But since he insisted on using her of hitting someone, she figured she might as well make his usatione true.

    Aubree challenged, ¡°Carmen, do you dare to face me?¡±

    +38)

    Carmen timidly stepped out from behind Daxton, putting on the most pitiful, victimized expression she could muster. In a trembling voice, she said, ¡°Bryan, Daxton¡­ it¡¯s all just a misunderstanding. Aubree didn¡¯t do anything to me.¡±

    ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t do anything to you!¡± Aubree sneered. Then, seizing the perfect moment, she delivered a stinging backhand p across Carmen¡¯s other cheek.

    She said, ¡°Because this is the only p I gave you.¡±

    The p came so fast that neither Bryan nor Daxton could react in time to stop it.

    ¡°Aubree?¡±

    Daxton¡¯s cry wasced with fury, while Bryan¡¯s was sharp and urgent.

    Bryan waspletely stunned. He never expected Aubree to take action without a word of exnation.

    Carmen couldn¡¯t believe Aubree dared to hit her right in front of her brothers. She stood rooted to the spot,pletely stunned, her mind nk for a long moment. ¡®How could she do this with them watching?¡¯ Carmen thought, still unable to

    react.

    Aubree didn¡¯t care what anyone else thought. She stepped forward, gripped Carmen¡¯s chin, and forced her face to the side. ¡°Open your damn eyes and look,¡± she sneered, ¡°Are the p marks on her face the same? If I had pped her, that side of her face would be even more swollen.¡±

    Bryan instinctively nced at both sides of Carmen¡¯s face. Looking closer, he saw the p marks really were different.

    ¡°If that useless brain of yours isn¡¯t doing anything, donate it to science, spare the world your stupidity.¡± With undisguised contempt, Aubree wiped her hand clean on Daxton¡¯s shirt, showing not a shred of courtesy.

    By the time Daxtong snapped out of it, Aubree had already kept a safe distance between them.

    She thought sarcastically, ¡®What if these two grown men decide to y dirty and gang up on a ¡®helpless girl¡¯ like me? Better keep my distance, just in case.¡¯

    As a doctor, Daxton could clearly distinguish the differences between the two p marks on Carmen¡¯s face, the angle, redness, even the subtle swelling. The professional observation left him momentarily speechless, his throat tightening with emotion.

    After a brief silence, Daxton steeled himself, ¡®Carmen only did this because Aubree¡¯s been hogging all the attentiontely. She had no choice, it¡¯s all Aubree¡¯s fault!¡¯

    11

 Tried 112

    Bryan looked at Aubree, who was watching like she was enjoying a y, and fulfilled the promise he had made earlier. He stood up for her.

    ¡°Carmen, I know you¡¯re upset with Aubree, but that doesn¡¯t justify what you did. Apologize to her,¡± he said in a low and solemn voice, leaving no room for refusal.

    Daxton naturally didn¡¯t want to see Carmen bow her head to Aubree.

    Bryan knew exactly what he wanted to say. His sharp nce silenced Daxton. Daxton suppressed all his protests.

    ¡°If you won¡¯t apologize, I¡¯ll tell Dad everything that happened today.¡± Bryan threatened coldly when he saw that Carmen didn¡¯t move.

    She didn¡¯t want to apologize. She had already been pped twice and hadn¡¯t even gotten justice for herself, yet now she had to apologize to Aubree. She had never suffered this kind of humiliation.

    ¡°Bryan, didn¡¯t she hit me too?¡± Carmen¡¯s whole face was swollen. She waspletely different from her usual delicate appearance, which made others feel sorry for her.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t

    you deserve it?¡± Bryan was getting impatient. It was just an apology. Besides, this whole mess was Carmen¡¯s fault.

    Carmen couldn¡¯t believe her brother would say such a thing to her.

    E

    Seeing that Bryan was getting angrier, she realized if she kept stalling, he¡¯d truly lose patience.

    Aubree hadn¡¯t left. She felt she deserved this apology. And frankly, she was enjoying watching Carmen being put in her ce.

    Carmen clenched her hands, walked up to Aubree, and said with unwilling eyes, ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    After she said it, she was probably grinding her mrs to dust.

    Aubree rubbed her ear. ¡°Sorry for what? Can¡¯t you be more specific?¡±

    ¡°Aubree, don¡¯t go too far!¡± Daxton was furious.

    Aubree shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t ept this kind of apology. People who know what happened will see you¡¯re apologizing for something you did wrong, but people who don¡¯t might think I¡¯m bullying you.¡±

    ¡®Isn¡¯t that exactly what¡¯s happening?¡¯ Daxton couldn¡¯t understand how Aubree could say something so shameless. In his eyes, she was bullying Carmen.

    Bryan¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°You should be sincere when you apologize. What have you learned in the Wilson family all these years?¡±

    Carmen bit her lip so hard she nearly bled. Her eyes were full of hatred. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have tried to frame you¡­¡±

    Her voice grew quieter and quieter. She was on the verge of losing her mind.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll reluctantly ept this apology.¡± Aubree acted like she was being magnanimous. She had already stomped over Carmen¡¯s pride by forcing her to admit her mistakes.

    ss was about to start. Aubree didn¡¯t want to waste her precious time arguing with these people. She left immediately.

    With her face red and swollen, Carmen didn¡¯t have the nerve to stay at school.

    Originally, it was just Bryan who came to deal with her mess, but Daxton insisted on tagging along. Now that Carmen didn¡¯t want to return to ss, he pampered her and took her home immediately.

    Meanwhile, at the Wilson family residence.

    Only Alice was at home preparing for the birthday party.

    The moment Carmen saw her, she rushed into her mother¡¯s arms and cried, ¡°Mom, it hurts so much!¡±

    Alice¡¯s heart broke at the sight of Carmen¡¯s swollen face. ¡°Oh my poor baby! What happened? Who hit you?¡±

    She gently caressed Carmen¡¯s cheek, full of real concern. ¡°Oh dear, look at your face.¡±

    Daxton said angrily, ¡°Who else could it be? Of course it was Aubree! Mom, can you believe it? Bryan sided with Aubree!¡±

    ¡°What? Bryan must be crazy!¡± Alice trembled with rage. ¡°Aubree haspletely lost her mind! She beat up Carmen! I¡¯m furious! Where is she? I¡¯ll beat her myself!¡±

    3:42 pm

 Tried 113

    She regretted not being stricter with Aubree when she was younger. Whenever Aubree got sick or injured, she rushed her to the hospital instead of teaching her a lesson. Even strict punishment would have been better than seeing her turn out like

    this.

    ¡°She will do anything now.¡± Daxton sneered. He¡¯d long known someone like Aubree would be uncontroble if given an inch.

    He only regretted not establishing control over her after she returned and letting her leave so easily back then.

    He added, ¡°I think she¡¯s just relying on Bryan and Emery¡¯s support, plus Dad¡¯s apparent intention to recognize her. That¡¯s why she dares to go against Carmen and upset us.¡±

    Carmen said tearfully, ¡°Mom, do I really have to give that dress to Aubree? I don¡¯t want to. You designed that dress for me,

    and I¡­¡±

    Her tears melted Alice¡¯s heart. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if your dad favors Aubree, I don¡¯t. Everything of mine belongs to you.¡±

    Alice added, ¡°Even if Aubreees home, I decide what she wears. The most important thing is that my Carmen is the most dazzling little princess that day.¡±

    Daxton chimed infortingly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carmen. That day, you¡¯ll definitely be the brightest star in all of Rithol City!¡±

    ¡°Mom, Daxton!¡± Carmen was deeply moved.

    **

    The next day was the weekend.

    Aubree called ahead and arranged to meet Matilda. Recently, under the name of Bree Technology, she sessfully connected with Peace Entertainment.

    Thepany¡¯s owner and lead actress, Sylvia Torres, was very interested after listening to Aubree¡¯s yzy app.

    Under Sylvia¡¯s leadership, Peace Entertainment avoided many shady industry practices. As a result, a few of their artists became mega-stars. Aubree nned to use Sylvia¡¯s tform to boost exposure for the artists while Sylvia gained new attention through Aubree¡¯spany. It was a win-win situation.

    If this partnership went well, she¡¯d consider working with Peace Entertainment again during the influencer-to-idol promotion phase.

    Having apatible partner was already half the battle won.

    When Zachary came to pick her up, she noticed Alvin had tagged along.

    She asked, ¡°You came too?¡±

    ¡®Is he observing me?¡¯ Aubree was briefly confused. Alvin looked her up and down. ¡°I didn¡¯t go to school yesterday. Heard the Wilson family came by.¡± He wanted to ask if she was bullied, but he changed his mind. ¡°You seem fine.¡±

    Then he changed the subject. ¡°Where are we headed?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°To meet Matilda, then to Ramshorn. The first version of yzy is done. After some testing and fixes, it¡¯ll be ready forunch. I¡¯ve arranged for Sylvia to help promote it. She¡¯s filming there now, so I¡¯m going to discuss details with

    her¡¯

    Alvin nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    That was fine. After all, the Turner family also held shares in thepany. He might even be helpful.

    On the way to pick up Matilda, Aubree suddenly remembered she hadn¡¯t seen Bowen in a while, and casually asked, ¡°Is your uncle still in Odiond?¡±

    Alvin replied, ¡°Should be. Haven¡¯t seen him back.¡±

    Bowen once said he¡¯d give her a memorable birthday surprise. He¡¯s probably forgotten all about it.

    Aubree felt a little disappointed. She had looked forward to it. Now, she couldn¡¯t help but feel let down.

    Alvin asked, ¡°You need something from my uncle?¡±

    Aubree said, ¡°No, just curious.¡±

    At that moment, Bowen was rolling up his sleeves and pant legs, weeding the yard for a dress designer.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done so much for me these past days. Don¡¯t you have anything to say?¡± The elderlydy with gray hair and reading sses reclined on a chair, looking rxed.

    Bowen smiled. ¡°You already know why I came. I¡¯m trying to win your favor.¡±

    His honesty amused her. ¡°I agreed to make the dress. You¡¯ll have it by the date you asked for. No need to keep working around here. Your assistant is about to cry from worry. Go take care of your business.¡±

    Bowen said, ¡°No rush. I¡¯ll finish this for you first before I leave.¡±

    391

 Tried 114

    After picking up Matilda, the three of them headed to Ramshorn on the outskirts.

    Aubree had already arranged with Sylvia to visit the set under the guise of a casual check-in. She would have a break during filming, and Aubree nned to talk with her then.

    Before arriving, Aubree bought coffee and desserts out of her own pocket.

    When they got there, Sylvia was still filming, so they waited by the side, quickly drawing quite a few curious nces.

    All three of them were good-looking, even by entertainment industry standards, so people began to specte whether they were neers signed by Peace Entertainment trying to get a cameo in the drama.

    As Aubree watched Sylvia act, a strange sense of familiarity crept over her. She felt like she had seen this scene.

    She frowned and thought for a moment, then her pupils suddenly contracted. She remembered. This drama featured Trevor. He was ying the male lead.

    Just my luck¡­¡¯ Aubree thought.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t describe her feelings. She didn¡¯t want any further entanglements with that family. If any had to happen, it would only be her reiming everything she¡¯d once lost.

    She scanned the set. Trevor wasn¡¯t around. It was a small blessing amidst the trouble. He probably didn¡¯t have scenes today and hadn¡¯te.

    After a while, Sylvia finally finished filming.

    ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting,¡± she said. Upon seeing the three young visitors, she was surprised. They looked just like high school students.

    But as a professional actress, she kept herposure. With a graceful smile, she shook hands with all three, showing respect.

    ¡°Hello, let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Aubree Miller, the owner of Bree Technology. This is my friend Matilda Diaz, and this is Alvin Turner, a shareholder.¡± Aubree gave a brief self-introduction.

    Sylvia was surprised that Aubree was actually the boss.

    She was sure none of them were over 18 or 19, yet here they were, running apany and with such a bold, innovative idea.

    ¡°About the project you mentioned over the phone. Could you exin it to me in more detail?¡± Sylvia asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Aubree replied, noting with satisfaction that Sylvia¡¯s reaction to her identity as a young boss showed no contempt, only admiration and interest. She liked this kind of partner.

    The app¡¯s initial version had already beenpleted, and Bree Technology had started hiring more staff, forming a basic

    structure.

    Aubree pulled out prepared documents and began detailing yzy.

    She exined, ¡°We¡¯re in the final stages of development. Once testing confirms stability and we fix any bugs, we can begin public beta testing. Later, if the tform attracts influencers withrge followings, Peace Entertainment could sign and develop them.¡±

    ¤¿¤¤

    Aubree borated on how live-streaming and short video content had boomed inter years, allowing ordinary people to rise to stardom. Influencer managementpanies flourished alongside. So it was better to seize the opportunity first and earn the money.

    Sylvia was tempted, but she also had reservations.

    She suggested, ¡°From the draft contract you showed me, it seems my artists will enter the tform for free, and from the earnings through the gift system, the split is 70-30 in favor of the talent?¡±

    She added, ¡°That means if it fails, not only would my artists waste their time, but it could be a reputational risk.¡±

    The benefits were promising, but so were the risks.

    ¡°70-30 is already me giving up a lot. The standard is 50-50,¡± Aubree said calmly. She hadn¡¯t even considered the possibility of failure. yzy was bound to seed as long as it ran normally.

    But of course, she couldn¡¯t exactly tell Sylvia that she had lived a second life and knew the future.

    ¡°All

    your concerns arepletely unnecessary. The only reasons yzy might fail are ack of follow-up funding or unsessful promotion and traffic generation.¡± Alvin suddenly spoke up, drawing Sylvia¡¯s attention.

    ¡®He¡¯s the shareholder, and his surname is Turner?¡¯ Sylvia thought.

    Sylvia suddenly had a sh of insight. ¡®Wait¡­ could he be from that Turner family?¡¯

    ¡°The investor backing Bree Technology is the Turner family,¡± Alvin said inly, confirming Sylvia¡¯s hunch.

    Her hesitation disappeared instantly. ¡°I can have the contract signed and sent to Bree Technology today.¡±

    Aubree lit up. ¡°Then I look forward to a great partnership with you.¡±

    Matilda, ever observant, noticed things being carried into the set. ¡°Our food¡¯s arrived.¡±

    ¡°What food?¡± Sylvia asked.

    ¡°We came under the pretense of visiting you, so I thought we should bring something for the crew, just to show some goodwill and build a positive impression,¡± Aubree exined.

    Since no one knew them, the credit for this gesture would naturally fall to Sylvia.

    ¡°You really went all out.¡± Sylvia smiled sincerely.

    She liked Aubree. Aubree was sharp, straightforward, and easy to work with.

    With the food delivered and business settled, Aubree didn¡¯t linger and left with her twopanions.

    What she didn¡¯t know was that shortly after she left, Trevor arrived with a woman in his arms.

    His appearance instantly drew attention. Many of the crew were his fans. After all, Trevor was charismatic and charming.

    ¡°Sylvia, did you buy these?¡± he asked casually, helping himself.

    Sylvia shook her head. ¡°They were from a friend. Aubree Miller. Do you know her?¡±

    ¡°Aubree Miller!¡± Trevor froze, dessert in hand, unsure whether to eat or set it down.

    Sylvia asked, ¡°You know her?¡±

    Trevor said, ¡°If you mean a very pretty girl who looks about 17 or 18¡­ then probably.¡±

    Sylvia raised her brows. ¡°That¡¯s her.¡±

    Trevor was confident it was the Aubree he knew.

    The woman in his arms immediately grew displeased. ¡°Trevor, is this another one of your old flings?¡±

    ¡°Come on, no way. She¡¯s my little sister,¡± he said, though his eyes betrayed a moreplicated feeling.

    He pondered, ¡®Aubree hade looking for Sylvia? But do they know each other?¡¯

    He couldn¡¯t think of any reason for her toe other than for him.

    His eyes darkened a little, probing, ¡°Sylvia, did my sister say what she came for? Did she mention me?¡±

    Sylvia was confused. They were siblings, but they didn¡¯t share the samest name. Even Alice¡¯sst name wasn¡¯t Miller.

    Still, there was no reason for Trevor to lie about this.

    ¡°Your sister is quite something! So young and alreadying up with brilliant ideas. And she started apany on her own!¡± Sylvia said, still a little in awe.

    Trevor was stunned. He pressed again, more urgently, ¡°She didn¡¯te for me?¡±

    He thought all this food was her way of trying to get his attention. He thought she was trying to show affection by offering gifts to the crew.

    ¡°Aubree didn¡¯t mention you,¡± Sylvia replied, giving Trevor a curious look. He seemed a bit annoyed when she praised Aubree.

    Trevor caught himself under her gaze, forced a smile, and joked, ¡°Guess I¡¯m not a very good brother.¡±

    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll take Evie to go find the director,¡± he added, guiding the woman beside him away.

    The moment he turned, his smile disappeared, and his eyes filled with mixed emotions.

 Tried 115

    Ever since Aubree hit Carmenst time, things had finally calmed down a bit over the past few days. She went to school and came back normally, handling matters for both the club and herpany.

    Now that the transfer period for all major clubs had ended, the coach brought in a few new yers to form a secondary team. Meanwhile, Alvin¡¯s investment made him a shareholder of the club, and Aubree also hired an agent to start expanding into other gaming ventures.

    With Matilda helping out at the club, Aubree felt reassured enough to start handing over day-to-day operations.

    As for thepany, she still managed that herself. The yzy app hadpleted most of its testing, and after discussing with Sylvia about the list of contracted streamers for the initialunch, they could officially start promoting the app.

    Because of this, Aubree made another trip to Ramshorn.

    Unfortunately, she arrived right when Sylvia had something urgente up.

    Sitting idly on a bench watching the crew film, she suddenly heard a voice behind her. ¡°Aubree, what are you doing here?¡±

    Aubree turned to look and immediately frowned.

    She didn¡¯t get to see the person she wanted, but instead ran into someone she really didn¡¯t want to see.

    Her face was full of disdain. She stood up and walked away.

    Seeing this reaction, Trevor was stunned for a moment, then angrily shouted, ¡°Aubree! What kind of attitude is that?¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t even be bothered to respond. There were too many people around, and she figured he wouldn¡¯t dare do anything reckless. If he did, she¡¯d just congratte him on bing the next scandalous celebrity.

    Seeing her ignore himpletely, Trevor ground his teeth in anger.

    Last time, Sylvia said Aubree came to talk about some coboration. And this time, Sylvia wasn¡¯t even here.

    He didn¡¯t think Aubree could bring up any coboration.

    ¡®This is ridiculous!¡¯ He sneered. Just as he thought, Aubree came to Ramshorn just to show off in front of him.

    Trevor figured this was how she¡¯d won over Bryan and Emery.

    He thought Aubree was still calcting and full of schemes.

    Their father was willing to recognize her, and Daxton wasn¡¯t easy to win over. Trevor thought she must¡¯ve shifted her target to him, trying to bring him to her side to pave the way for her return to the Wilson family.

    ¡®Disgusting!¡¯ Trevor thought to himself.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to see what you¡¯re really capable of!¡± Trevor had never looked up to Aubree. She was not worthy of being his sister.

    He was looking forward to how Aubree would try to win him over.

    Aubree, naturally, didn¡¯t care what Trevor was thinking.

    Sylvia messaged her, telling her toe to her trailer to talk.

    When Aubree arrived and saw Sylvia inside, she quickly walked over. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re finally here.¡±

    She added, ¡°The app is finished. I brought it over to show you. If everything looks good, we can finalize which of your artists willunch on the tform.¡±

    Sylvia smiled at her. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ve discussed with otherpany execs. There are a few neers and a few mid-tier ones.¡±

    Sylvia continued, ¡°Of course, I know you¡¯re working with me mainly for exposure, so I¡¯m included in the list too.¡±

    There was no doubt that Sylvia was the top star at Peace Entertainment.

    She had both the looks and the acting skills, and her reputation in the industry was clean and positive, with a great public image.

    Aubree had never expected she would agree to join the tform¡¯s live streaming. This was a total surprise bonus.

    Seeing the gentle smile on Sylvia¡¯s face, Aubree felt like a goddess was smiling at her. No wonder so many people loved her. She silently dered that she was also Sylvia¡¯s fan.

    ¡°With you on board, there¡¯s no way yzy will fail.¡± Aubree installed yzy on her phone and gave Sylvia a quick demo.

 Tried 116

    She exined, ¡°The tform has two main groups, streamers and viewers. Streamers showcase content for viewers, and if viewers like the streamer, they¡¯ll follow and send gifts. Most of the iees from these gifts.¡±

    She added, ¡°For example, your artists can showcase their talents, like singing, dancing, anything really. The direction is up to you.¡±

    In other words, if one was good-looking enough, they didn¡¯t even need to do anything. Some people would pay to see them smile.

    Sylvia, as a top star, imagined herself on the tform. Her fans would definitely flock to it, eager to get closer to her and learn more about her.

    Rather than being annoyed, they¡¯d be grateful the tform even existed.

    The more she listened, the more her eyes lit up. Combined with what Aubree had previously exined, she now fully understood. ¡°You¡¯re a genius!¡±

    Sylvia was so excited that she almost wanted to start streaming immediately.

    With the app set tounch in two days, she sent Aubree off and immediately contacted PR to start nning promotions.

    Sylvia hadn¡¯t reached her scene yet, so she rested in the trailer for a while. When she finally headed to set, she saw the girl Trevor had broughtst time yelling at him.

    She remembered her name was Evie. The original second female lead had an ident and couldn¡¯t shoot, so Evie was slotted in. She was also Trevor¡¯s new girlfriend.

    If Sylvia were to describe Trevor, he was flirtatious yet oddly loyal.

    He changed girlfriends fast, but during rtionships, he wasmitted and never messed around. He spoiled them and gave them whatever they wanted.

    Evie snapped, ¡°Trevor, who are you kidding? That girl is your sister? Looks more like your lover to me!¡±

    ¡°She is my sister. Blood-rted.¡± Trevor had a headache.

    Heforted, ¡°Okay, okay, don¡¯t be mad. I bought you that new product you liked, alright?¡±

    Evie didn¡¯t dare throw too big of a tantrum and sulked a little before letting it go.

    Noticing Sylvia, Trevor quickly greeted her. ¡°Sylvia, are you still talking about some coboration with Aubree?¡±

    He was sure Aubree had sweet-talked her somehow. To protect himself and the Wilson family¡¯s image, he had to give her a warning.

    He warned, ¡°Sylvia, don¡¯t believe anything she says. Aubree doesn¡¯t know anything. How could she run apany? To be honest, she left our family because of some issues. Without the Wilson family¡¯s support, she has no power at all. Don¡¯t let her fool you.¡±

    He added, ¡°Even if she¡¯s my sister, I have to admit. Aubree is very cunning, very calcting. You really can¡¯t trust anything she says.¡±

    Trevor felt embarrassed, thinking, ¡®Couldn¡¯t shee up with a better excuse to approach me?¡¯

    Sylvia was known for her straightforward personality. If he pissed her off, she wouldn¡¯t hold back. If things escted online, the damage to his reputation could be serious.

    That was why he went through the trouble of covering Aubree¡¯s ass.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Sylvia looked genuinely confused.

    Trevor said Aubree was cunning, which made no sense to her. She even began to doubt whether Trevor and she were talking about the same person.

    Aubree was such a clean, honest-looking girl. Putting those words next to her was like an insult.

    Since yzy had been developed and was about tounch, Sylvia saw no need to keep things vague. ¡°Aubree developed an app. Through this app, anyone can stream live, showcase what they want, and attract people to follow and support them.¡±

    ¡°As a top-tier celebrity, I think you understand that the profit potential behind this concept is limitless. Aubree¡¯s still a student, right? I have to say, students these days are incredibly smart. Their minds work so fast!¡± Sylvia said, full of admiration.

    Trevor frowned. ¡°Streaming?¡±

    Trevor thought Aubree was making a mess again. Streaming had existed for ages. If this were such a moneymaker, she still wouldn¡¯t benefit from it.

    3:42 pm

 Tried 117

    Sylvia didn¡¯t notice his expression was off and continued speaking on her own. ¡°Exactly! From our perspective, this is the cheapest type of entertainmentpany. There¡¯s no need to train top-tier celebrities, yet they still take half of the profits.¡±

    She added, ¡°And the best part is, the artists still think the tform gave them a chance. That kind of mindset is just genius.¡±

    Even someone like her, who held a strong position in the entertainment industry, was tempted, let alone all those aspiring nobodies dreaming of fame and fortune.

    This was practically a money-printing machine.

    Trevor didn¡¯t say anything, but his expression changed slightly. He clearly understood that if Aubree seeded, she¡¯d be a notable figure in Rithol City.

    But he still looked down on Aubree. He didn¡¯t believe she was capable..

    ¡°It¡¯s just child¡¯s y.¡± Trevor scoffed.

    However, Sylvia disagreed with him. ¡°Great minds often emerge young. Weren¡¯t you famous when you were young too? Aubree might be young, but her idea already sets her apart. Times are changing. I think what she¡¯s doing could reshape the whole industry.¡±

    She added, ¡°And even if she fails now, she¡¯ll probably achieve something big in the future.¡±

    Seeing Sylvia¡¯s admiring expression, Trevor felt nothing but contempt. He thought Aubree had no way to be sessful.

    He thought Aubree probably used the prize money from her previouspetitions to start thispany.

    Once she burned through that money, she¡¯d likely have no choice but to crawl back home, begging for help.

    All this arrogance in front of her brothers was probably just a ploy to make them regret favoring Carmen.

    Just as scheming as ever. Trevor sneered inwardly.

    Trevor didn¡¯t say anything more to Sylvia. Kind advice can¡¯t save someone doomed to fail. Instead of wasting time talking here, he might as well get his own studio¡¯s PR team ready in advance.

    Aubree had been running herself ragged these days.

    Her team was even more enthusiastic than she expected. The testing phase finished two days ahead of schedule. As soon as the appunched, Turner Group aggressively promoted yzy online, flooding the inte with ads.

    Sylvia reposted on Twitter, announcing her official move to yzy and inviting fans to join her for chats and games.

    Even God¡¯s Fury announced its members were signing with yzy, and they would be doing a live broadcast of League of Legends on the tform that very night.

    Whether out of curiosity or love for their idols, yzy rocketed into the top three of the app store on its first day.

    That evening, Aubree stayed at thepany, watching the real-time fluctuations of the user data alongside her core developers.

    ¡°It¡¯s still climbing!¡±

    3:42pm d

    ¡°At this rate, we¡¯ll be number one by tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Miller, you¡¯re amazing! Getting Turner Group as a sponsor was a power move. The promotion is outssing everything else out there right now!¡±

    Aubree looked at the ever-rising red line on the screen and smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll give extra bonus to everyone as a celebration?

    She added, ¡°Also, get the streamers we recruited ready. Looks like we can go live starting tomorrow¡±

    If the tform wanted to operate long-term, traffic was key, But aside from viewers, quality streamers were equally important.

    Drawing from her experience, Aubree had already reached out in advance to those who had gone viral when streaming tforms first boomed. She¡¯d have them start broadcasting to seed various content niches.

    It was like a manual, showing aspiring creators what was possible.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, a lot of gaming clubs just messaged ine asking about signing, deals,¡± her secretary, Vincent Sloan, said as he approached with his phone. His usually pale face was flushed with excitement.

    Vincent had just graduated with a degree in finance. Initially, when Turner Group declined to refer him elsewhere and instead sent him to Aubree, he had low expectations. He thought a teenage girl starting apany was ridiculous.

    He took the job thinking he could cozy up to her and maybe get into Turner Group through the back door. But the more he worked with Aubree, the more he realized how much potential Bree Technology had.

 Tried 118

    If he could stick around, he could be her right-hand man, just like Kelvin, the legendary assistant to Turner Group¡¯s head, Bowen!

    Aubree said without hesitation, ¡°Of course we wee them. These clubs have their own loyal fan bases. The fan retention for e-sports yers is insanely high.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± She paused and then smiled. ¡°If Apex Squad contacts us, reject them, no matter what they offer.¡±

    Whether for personal reasons or business concerns, Apex Squad was off-limits.

    38

    With Killian joining their team and ongoing internal issues, Apex Squad was heading for a streak of defeats in the uing tournament. Public opinion would soon turn against them.

    If they started streaming on yzy during that storm, it would bring nothing but toxic energy to the tform. And personally, Aubree couldn¡¯t stand Emery. There was no way she¡¯d let him benefit from this.

    ¡°Got it, I understand.¡± Vincent nodded and rushed off to handle it.

    He had noints about working overtime on such a promising project.

    yzy¡¯s debut created massive buzz online. Otherpanies quickly sensed the opportunity, either looking to coborate or rush out copycat products.

    Aubree didn¡¯t care. She was already preparing her next project, Zappy.

    This app had even more potential than yzy. In the previous timeline, it became a nationwide sensation and eventually went global.

    No one could resist mindlessly scrolling on Zappy.

    The next morning, when she woke up and saw the financial report from the ounting department, her smile was truly heartfelt.

    The total revenue on the first day had surpassed two million dors. And that was with many users still unfamiliar with the tform¡¯s gifting features.

    Aubree woke up in the morning and received the financial statement sent to her. She smiled sincerely when she saw the numbers.

    yzy had already signed deals with several clubs. The next step was to secure the official partnership with the League of Legends game, ideally as the exclusive live broadcast tform. But that could wait.

    For now, Aubree needed to continue boosting promotions, bringing in more celebrities, and cultivating grassroots stars to attract everyday users to start streaming and expand tform diversity.

    A few days afterunch, yzy¡¯s user traffic was still climbing daily. It had now imed the top spot in the app store rankings.

    Daily revenue had stabilized around seven million dors. That number alone meant Aubree had already won. All that was left was refining and expanding the tform¡¯s operations.

    ¡°Seven million dors a day¡­ that means we¡¯ll break a hundred million dors in the first month!¡±

    ¡°I still have 2% equity. Oh my god! This is insane! I never imagined I¡¯d live to see this day!¡±,

    ¡°Ms. Miller, I¡¯ve gotten some offers from other techpanies trying to poach me.¡±

    Thatment was echoed by everyone in the core development team.

    But, before Aubree could respond, every one of them beat her to it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Miller. We¡¯ll stick with you to the end!¡±

    No otherpany could match what their shares were worth. The better Bree Technology did, the more they earned. Only a fool would jump ship just for higher sries.

    Aubreeughed. ¡°Stick with me, and you¡¯ll be well taken care of.¡±

    Offering equity had motivated them to work overtime and also protected her team from being stolen by rivals.

    J

    It was still early days. If she lost her team now, it would all be over.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®Might as well pack it up and call it a day!

    With yzy¡¯s rising poprity, senior leadership at Turner Group had started to take notice.

    At the first meeting Bowen attended after returning to Rithol City, someone brought it up.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, you have a great vision. Getting in on this project was a genius move.¡±

    ¡°Yes! If Bree Technology¡¯s founder had picked someone else to partner with, we¡¯d be left drooling on the sidelines.¡±

    ¡°Whoever runs Bree Technology is a real talent!¡±

    No one hated making more money. Turner Group held a 30% stake in Bree Technology, which brought in significant cash. flow.

    Bowen listened to thepliments with great satisfaction. ¡°Of course. She¡¯s always been amazing.¡±

    It had been a while since hest saw her. He wondered if she had lost or gained weight.

    Her birthday wasing up soon. He still had a few more arrangements to finalize¡­

 Tried 119

    It was a day off today.

    Aubree rubbed her temples and got up from bed. It wasn¡¯t until her phone calendar alert reminded her that she remembered. It was her birthday today.

    With yzy¡¯sunch these past few days and her schoolwork piling up, she¡¯d been running like a spinning top. She¡¯dpletely forgotten about her birthday.

    Aubree had never expected much from birthdays. Back at the orphanage, birthdays were a luxury no one dared to hope for. Later, after returning to the Wilson family, every birthday was celebrated with Carmen. Carmen was the star of the show, and Aubree was nothing.

    It didn¡¯t matter to Aubree. No one cared anyway.

    With a self-mocking smile, Aubree got up to wash up, nning to review Odiondian in the morning and then visit the club.

    The annual finals were about to start next week. If they could take the championship again, God¡¯s Fury would officially enter the public eye.

    Around noon, Aubree went to the club. At that time, everyone was just waking up one after another.

    She looked around and didn¡¯t see Alvin or Matilda.

    E

    Given the uing match, the two should¡¯ve been here for joint training whenever they had time. She hadn¡¯t heard they were busy either.

    Feeling puzzled, Aubree happened to see Leroying downstairs. ¡°Alvin and Matilda didn¡¯te?¡±

    Seeing it was her, Leroy looked flustered for a second, then quicklyposed himself and looked around evasively. ¡°Not sure. Maybe they had something to do.¡±

    Aubree narrowed her eyes. She thought they had something to hide from her.

    Unable to guess what they might be up to, she didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Got it. I came to check on your training progress.¡±

    Once it came to business, Leroy looked confident. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll definitely bring you back a trophy. The new midner is strong. We¡¯re syncing up well.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to chill the champagne early.¡± Seeing everyone in good form, Aubree gave the new midner some pointers on finer techniques and then left.

    Compared to Aubree¡¯s usual routine, today was an extremely different day for the Wilson family.

    Their beloved youngest daughter was turning eighteen.

    Alice called back all four older brothers, even Ronald wasn¡¯t spared.

    The Wilson family hosted today¡¯s event. Though Bryan was reluctant, for the family¡¯s reputation, they had to keep up

    appearances.

    Daxton didn¡¯t need to be reminded. He had finished all hisb work early so he could spend the day with his beloved little

    sister.

    38)

    Trevor was still filming but had already said he¡¯d return early.

    Emery, on the other hand, showed his displeasure openly. These days, he didn¡¯t even want to go home. He wanted to stay at the club or in his own apartment.

    When Alice told him toe home for Carmen¡¯s birthday, the first thing he said when he arrived was, ¡°Aubree¡¯s noting?¡±

    He didn¡¯t even try to hide his attitude, nearly driving Alice into a rage.

    Emery was adamant. ¡°If Aubree¡¯s noting for the birthday, then I won¡¯t stay here.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Today is Carmen¡¯s birthday, don¡¯t stir trouble. Rx, Aubree wille back.¡± Ronald stepped in to calm things down. Even at this point, he still firmly believed Aubree wouldn¡¯t abandon the Wilson family.

    He had made his intentions clear, given Aubree the Wilson family name she always wanted. She was bound toe back.

    ¡°Honey, did you prepare the custom dress I asked for Aubree? I had Wendy waiting at the gate. Once she sees Aubree, she¡¯s to take her straight to get her hair and makeup done.¡± Ronald was so confident that when inviting guests, he said it was a joint birthday celebration for both daughters.

    When he brought up the dress, Alice turned her eyes away guiltily. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s ready.¡±

    Alice never nned to follow his instructions and give Carmen¡¯s dress to Aubree. Nothing of Carmen¡¯s should be taken by Aubree.

 Tried 120

    Her n was to prepare any random dress, but Daxton told her that since everyone was focused on Carmen¡¯s birthday, no one would notice if something went wrong with Aubree¡¯s dress. But if anything did go wrong, the Wilson family would lose face.

    Since Aubree and Carmen had simr builds, they could just give Aubree one of Carmen¡¯s old dresses. That would be safer and less of a hassle.

    Alice went with the idea. So in reality, no new dress was ever prepared for Aubree.

    Ronald didn¡¯t notice her guilty look and assumed everything had been properly arranged.

    ¡°Alright, Emery. If you¡¯ve got nothing else to do, go rest in your room.¡± His tone had a hint of warning.

    Recently, there were online rumors of discord within the Wilson family, which affected thepany¡¯s shares. Everyone had to be present at tonight¡¯s party, no exceptions.

    Emery was annoyed but could only grumble, ¡°Got it.¡±

    A bitter, Trevor came back.

    Their mom was upstairs with Carmen doing her makeup, and Emery wasn¡¯t home. Their dad was contacting guests.

    Only Bryan and Daxton were handling the party preparations.

    Seeing him return, Bryan greeted him. ¡°Trevor, you¡¯re back. Busy with filmingtely?¡±

    Trevor replied, ¡°It¡¯s been okay. Of course, I made time toe home for my sister¡¯s birthday.¡±

    Then, Daxton chimed in with a mood-killing remark. ¡°The question is, which sister are you here for?¡±

    Trevor smiled diplomatically. ¡°You know who.¡±

    He yed it safe. Then he mentioned how Aubree had visited his filming set recently.

    Trevor said, ¡°The female lead, Sylvia, said Aubree came to discuss some live-stream coboration, but I don¡¯t think Aubree is capable of something like that.¡±

    He¡¯d been too busy with filmingtely and hadn¡¯t kept up with the news. He didn¡¯t know that yzy had alreadyunched and gone viral. Even when he saw some headlines, he never made the connection to Aubree.

    Daxton was even more clueless. He¡¯d been sacrificing sleep to make time for Carmen¡¯s birthday prep.

    He gave the same opinion as Trevor had before.

    Daxton said, ¡°She wasn¡¯t there to talk business. She was just trying to get close to you. Don¡¯t fall for it. Aubree¡¯s always scheming.¡±

    Trevor nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too. She never came back after those two days.¡±

    ¡°Probably saw you didn¡¯t fall for her and gave up.¡± Daxton folded his arms with a cold sneer.

    Just then, Wendy came rushing in, looking flustered. Daxton frowned. ¡°Wendy, what are you panicking for? Didn¡¯t Dad tell you to wait for Aubree?¡±

    pm

    Wendy replied, ¡°Mr. Daxton Wilson, that¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m looking for Mr. Ronald Wilson.¡±

    ¡°What did she mean?¡¯ Daxton nced toward the door. ¡®Did Aubree arrive?¡¯

    He said, ¡°So what if she did? Why all the fuss?¡±

    C33

    ¡°No¡­¡± Wendy became more anxious. She had seen how Ronald was dead set on Aubreeing today. But as someone who¡¯d observed everything over the years, she knew very well what kind of life Aubree had in this household.

    Seeing that Aubree still hadn¡¯t shown up, Wendy sent a message to check in. Aubree never even intended toe back.

    Wendy couldn¡¯t wait any longer. It would upset Ronald and ultimately hurt his reputation.

    ¡°Miss Miller won¡¯te back here!¡± Wendy blurted it out and rushed off to find Ronald, leaving Daxton dumbfounded.

    Bryan¡¯s expression turned thoughtful. He looked at Trevor. ¡°Trevor, is Aubree¡¯spany called Bree Technology?¡±

    Unlike the other two, Bryan had been paying attention. With how viral yzy had be, he¡¯d already started looking into it.

    Now, hearing what Trevor said, he had a hunch. ¡°I think that¡¯s the name.¡±

    Bryan replied, ¡°Then Aubree probably didn¡¯te to look for you after all.¡±

    He continued, ¡°Recently, a new live-stream app called yzyunched. It shot to the top of app stores overnight. And ording to financial estimates, thepany¡¯s revenue in just a few days has conservatively exceeded 30 million dors.¡±

    Trevor¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn¡¯t imagine those numbers having anything to do with Aubree.

    Daxton was equally shocked.

 Tried 121

    The Wilson family¡¯s birthday party was about to begin.

    Guests were arriving one after another, but there was still no sign of Aubree.

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened. Even when Wendy came to report to him, he still couldn¡¯t believe Aubree really remained unmoved by the conditions he had offered.

    It seemed she didn¡¯t care about bing legally independent from them at all.

    He thought he was aiming to take over the entire Wilson family. At most, he could restore her inheritance rights, but anything more was out of the question.

    While Ronald was secretly considering further lowering his bottom line, the bodyguards he had sent to look for Aubree returned. They wore uneasy expressions and seemed hesitant to speak. Aubree didn¡¯t care about the birthday party at all.

    One of them said, ¡°Mr. Wilson, Miss Miller¡­ she is celebrating her birthday.¡±

    Then, there was a sound of a ss shattering.

    ¡°Good, very good!¡± Ronald¡¯s face turned red with fury. ¡°That ungrateful girl! Is she trying to embarrass me?¡±

    He had announced that the party would celebrate both daughters. If Aubree didn¡¯t want to attend, he could have made excuses. The family was holding a party for her, but she chose to celebrate with others. That felt like a p in his face.

    The bodyguards kept their heads down, not daring to reply.

    ¡°Fine! Let her be! Our family is doing fine without her!¡± Ronald raged. ¡°Daxton said it best. She was born lowly, and if kindness doesn¡¯t work, then we¡¯ll deal with her the hard way!¡±

    Aubree knew nothing about what was happening in the Wilson family household.

    That afternoon, just as she left the office, she was whisked away by Ethan and Samson, who had been waiting for her. She asked where they were going, but both only grinned and refused to answer.

    ¡°You arranged this?¡± Aubree asked, surprised when they stopped at a high-end styling studio.

    Walking in, she was met with the sight of Bowen, dressed mboyantly in an ink-wash-inspired outfit, looking every bit like a peacock in full disy.

    ¡°Yeah. I wanted to surprise you, though I guess it¡¯s more of a shock,¡± he said with an apologetic smile.

    Beside him stood a clothing rack covered with ck fabric. It was hiding a dress.

    ¡°Not exactly a shock,¡± Aubree replied, trying to sound calm, though her heart was pounding. It seemed he was nning to celebrate her birthday,

    ¡°Get dressed and made up. Tonight, you¡¯re the star and you need to shine brightest,¡± he said, eyes full of affection. He couldn¡¯t hide his emotions. They were written all over his face.

    He hoped tonight¡¯s arrangements would make her happy.

    With one motion, he pulled off the cover, revealing a dress.

    Girls naturally found it hard to resist beautiful things, and Aubree was no exception.

    If this gown meant anything to her, it was because it brought back dreams from when she was younger.

    Back in school, she had fantasized about wearing something stunning, walking into a room, and drawing everyone¡¯s

    attention.

    Bowen said, ¡°It¡¯s custom-made. But if you don¡¯t like it, I also had some designerbels send over theirtest collections.

    ¡°I love it,¡± Aubree murmured, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

    She didn¡¯t love just the dress. She loved that someone had taken her seriously.

    She ran her hand over the gown¡¯s smooth fabric. From the stitching to the subtle embroidery, everything screamed craftsmanship and care.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go change,¡± she murmured, turning away so Bowen wouldn¡¯t see the emotion brimming in her eyes.

    When Aubree reappeared, everyone went silent.

    Aubree had always been beautiful, but in that gown, she was divine. The off-shoulder cut showed off her delicate corbones, and the flowing skirt hugged her silhouette just right. Her long hair was curled loosely and swept to one side, essorized only with pearl earrings and a matching bracelet.

    ¡°You look like you just stepped off a red carpet, Miss Miller,¡± Samson said, ears turning red.

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 Tried 122

    It wasn¡¯t just her looks. It was the quiet confidence and elegance she radiated.

    ¡°You¡¯re stunning.¡± Ethan added sincerely.

    Even the usually quiet Zachary said, ¡°Beautiful.¡±

    Bowen offered his hand like a gentleman. ¡°Miss, may I take you to dinner?¡±

    No one disliked genuinepliments. Aubree smiled and ced her hand in his. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡±

    The restaurant had been reserved in advance. Bowen had spared no expense. He¡¯d booked out Rithol City¡¯s most prestigious hotel, located atop the city¡¯s tallest building, offering a panoramic view of the entire skyline.

    He led Aubree to the door and then stopped.

    Just as she turned to ask why, he looked at her with a soft smile. ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    Bowen released her hand and motioned toward the entrance.

    Aubree pushed open the door.

    Confetti cannons went off, and colorful ribbons floated down from the ceiling.

    ¡°Happy birthday, Aubree!¡±

    ¡°Not fair! You didn¡¯t tell us it was your birthday!¡±

    ¡°Seriously, Miss Miller, next time you owe us a round of bonuses!¡±

    ¡°You¡­ all of you¡­¡± Aubree was speechless. Matilda, Alvin, her teammates from the esports club, and her colleagues from thepany. They were all here.

    Bowen had invited everyone who mattered to her.

    ¡°Aubree, I thought we were friends,¡± Matilda said dramatically, waving the gift box in her hand. ¡°Guess I was wrong.¡±

    She pretended to take the gift back.

    Knowing she was teasing, Aubree snatched it and hugged it tightly. ¡°You were already nning to give it. No takebacks!¡±

    Matildaughed.

    Alvin shoved a box at her awkwardly. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Uncle Bowen¡­¡±

    He was still the same proud, awkward guy.

    Aubree smiled. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Turner. And thanks to your uncle for convincing you to show up.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s ears turned red. ¡°Whatever.¡±

    Her teammates crowded around, each presenting gifts.

    The core staff from herpany didn¡¯t bother with presents. ¡°Miss Miller, here¡¯s our gifts!¡±

    pm

    Back at the Wilson family mansion, the party was in full swing. As one of Rithol City¡¯s elite families, their name carried weight.

    Even though it was just a foster daughter¡¯s birthday, plenty of big names from business, politics, and entertainment had shown up. A-list celebrities were the lowest tier of guests.

    When the event began, Ronald announced that Aubree was absent due to health issues.

    Whether or not it was true didn¡¯t matter. Nobody was here for a heartfelt birthday celebration anyway.

    Among the guests, Emery sneered coldly. His father was still deluded enough to think a shiny facade could cover the damage Aubree had done to their family.

    While Ronald was still speaking, Emery stood up and walked out in front of everyone.

    Emery¡¯s abrupt exit immediately sparked a wave of hushed whispers among the distinguished guests.

    Ronald¡¯s face turned stormy, but he forced a smile and carried on.

    No matter what happened, the Wilson family had to maintain face tonight.

    As his speech ended, Carmen descended the staircase in a designer gown.

    In that moment, she was every inch the pampered princess, dazzlingly radiant as shemanded the room¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Carmen, I have a gift for you,¡± Daxton announced. The party was being held on the estate¡¯s massivewn.

    As he finished, dazzling lights shot into the sky. Fireworks exploded above, and guests all looked up.

    Daxton continued, ¡°I want all of Rithol City to know that today is your birthday.¡± The sky lit up with brilliant bursts. Even among this crowd of the rich and powerful, the disy was breathtaking.

    People around Carmen were full of admiration.

    They envied her status, her family, and her brothers.

    She lifted her chin proudly, basking in it all. She was the star.

    She was the beloved little princess of the Wilson family.

    But just then¡­

    ¡°Wait¡­ doesn¡¯t that firework say ¡®Aubree, happy birthday¡±?¡± Someone shouted in shock.

    The first firework spelled out ¡°Aubree.¡± The ones that followed had messages using various nicknames like Miss Miller and

    Bree.

    No matter the nickname, the message was clear. These fireworks were for Aubree,

    Carmen¡¯s face turned pale.

 Tried 123

    This one¡¯s my birthday wish for you!¡± Hector leaned over the railing, pointing excitedly at the fireworks in the sky.

    Matilda pointed to the next one. ¡°And that one¡¯s mine.¡±

    ¡°Bree, may you always be safe and at peace.

    Seeing that nickname, Aubree instinctively turned around. Bowen was behind her, smiling softly. ¡°That one¡¯s from me.¡±

    ¡°Thank you all so much!¡± Aubree threw her arms around the nearest person, Matilda. ¡°Thank you, all of you. This is the most romantic, most wonderful birthday I¡¯ve ever had.¡±

    ¡°Silly girl. We¡¯ll celebrate every year,¡± Matilda said, hugging her back.

    Meanwhile, across the river where the wind bit like knives, Ollie stood shivering. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, dressed in a sharp suit with his hair slicked back. Autumn had arrived, and the temperature had dropped.

    In front of him were the empty firework boxes.

    ¡°Damn it! That bastard!¡± Ollie cursed through chattering teeth. ¡°I thought he called me out to celebrate Aubree¡¯s birthday. Turns out I¡¯m just here to light fireworks so he could impress her!¡±

    He had even dressed up for the asion, only to be left standing around freezing.

    As the president of Turner Group, Bowen could ask anyone to do this job.

    However, Bowen said it was too important to entrust to an outsider. Ollie scoffed. He bet Bowen was just afraid he¡¯d steal the spotlight at the party.

    Beside him stood another man. It was Mark. He was tall and imposing, with a buzz cut and a stoic face. ¡°What¡¯s Bowen been up totely?¡± Mark asked. ¡°Last time I came back from a mission and finally got some leave, he popped into Nightworld for five minutes and ghosted.¡±

    And he asked them to set off fireworks. Mark thought Bowen must be bored out of his damn mind.

    ¡°Remember that girl Bowen used to sponsor at the orphanage?¡± Ollie asked, his voice more serious now.

    At that, Mark looked up at the sky again. The fireworks had faded. ¡°So it¡¯s her.¡±

    He said, ¡°I¡¯ve been digging into the truth behind what really happened with Bowen¡¯s brother and sister-inw. I¡¯m finally starting to piece things together.¡±

    He added, ¡°Alvin is keeping close tabs on it too¡­ but I don¡¯t know whether the truth will bring peace or more pain.¡±

    Ollie let out a long sigh. ¡°He still can¡¯t let it go, huh?¡±

    Back at the Wilson family¡¯s estate, the guests had long dispersed. Housekeepers and servants were cleaning up the aftermath. The Wilson family sat clustered in the living room.

    Daxton stormed in, phone in hand and face twisted with fury. ¡°I made some calls. Bowen ordered those fireworks before I even did. They were custom-made. The factory had already notified me about canceling my order, but I¡¯ve been too swamped to notice.¡±

    Carmen sat stiffly, clutching her knees. Rage was bubbling under her skin. It was her most humiliating birthday ever.

    The sky had been filled with fireworks celebrating Aubree, and none of them were for her. The spotlight that should have belonged to her had been stolen in the most morous way.

    Even though no one said anything to her face, Carmen could feel their judgment in every nce. Those gazes cut her pride to pieces. All because of Aubree.

    ¡°This is all your fault!¡± Alice snapped at Daxton. ¡°Look at the mess you¡¯ve made!¡±

    Daxton looked guilt-ridden. ¡°Carmen, I¡¯m sorry. I embarrassed you.¡±

    Carmen forced a tight smile. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Daxton. Besides, celebrating for Aubree is a good thing too. It¡¯s all the same.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s all the same,¡± Bryan chimed in nonchntly. ¡°Celebrating for Aubree just lets everyone know today¡¯s our sisters¡¯ birthday.¡±

    Deep down, he was even a little relieved. At least Aubree had finally had a proper birthday.

    His fingers brushed the gift in his pocket. He¡¯d thought Aubree mighte back tonight, but it seemed he¡¯d have to wait to give it to her next time.

 Tried 124

    Carmen¡¯s smile faltered. Bryan¡¯s reaction was nothing like she had imagined. She thought he wouldfort her or scold Aubree for stealing her thunder.

    ¡°Bryan¡¯s right. It¡¯s fine. Mom, Dad, it¡¯s not like this is the only birthday I¡¯ll ever have. If Aubree is happy, that¡¯s good enough for me,¡± she said with a smile full of forced generosity.

    Inside, though, her fury was razor-sharp. ¡®Aubree, you pushed me this far. Don¡¯t me me for whates next.

    Her eyes gleamed with malice.

    Bryan frowned slightly. Something about Carmen¡¯s tone didn¡¯t sit right.

    Ronald, on the other hand, was consumed with thoughts of Aubree and Bowen¡¯s rtionship. He bitterly regretted letting Aubree go so easily.

    Trevor had left early to return to her filming schedule.

    Only Daxton and Alice remained. Their hearts ached over Carmen¡¯s humiliation, but moved by her apparent magnanimity. They never once questioned that the fireworks were clearly never meant for Carmen, nor that the ¡°surprise¡± belonged entirely to someone else.

    The next morning, Aubree awoke to her phone buzzing nonstop.

    The fireworks Bowen had set off had made quite the ssh online. Since registering herpany and starting her esports club, Aubree had also set up a Twitter ount. Previously, she¡¯d had only a handful of bot followers. Overnight, she gained a million. She was nearly on par with some rising celebrities.

    Aubree was stunned.

    She instinctively reached for her neck. Her fingers paused. Looking down, she saw a dark green pendant carved into the shape of a leaf. The memory came flooding back. It was Bowen¡¯s birthday gift.

    She sped it in her hand. It was cool to the touch, but the chill soon warmed in her palm. Thanks to her recent rise to fame, even thement section of hertest ad was flooded with blessings from strangers.

    Aubree smiled faintly. Living again really was a gift. If only the Wilson family didn¡¯t exist, it would be perfect. But she would reim every ounce of pain she had suffered in the past timeline.

    For now, she jumped out of bed and packed her school bag. The midterm exams wereing up, and she couldn¡¯t afford to ck. Her goal was top 50.

    As usual, on the way to school, Zachary parked the car a short distance from the school. Aubree just needed to walk through an alley to reach the campus.

    But today, Zachary frowned, scanning the surroundings. ¡°Miss Miller, someone¡¯s watching the area.¡±

    ¡°What kind of person?¡± She was a billionaire now. Being targeted wasn¡¯t out of the question.

    Aubree instantly grew alert.

    Zachary observed closely. ¡°A few girls¡­ around your age.¡±

    pm

    Aubree quickly pieced it together.

    In the past timeline, the bullying gang that tormented Aubree was secretly backed by Carmen. It was her personal hit squad for dealing with anyone who displeased her.

    They had once targeted her for being smarter, prettier, and briefly admired by Alvin.

    They were also the ones responsible for the death of Matilda¡¯s friend.

    Even though she had reopened the case, theck of evidence meant those girls had only been expelled for bullying, not criminally prosecuted. And now they dared show up again.

    Aubree chuckled coldly. She already had a n.

    They were all civilized people, and no need for fists and knives in the shadows.

    She leaned over to Zachary. ¡°Here¡¯s what you¡¯ll do¡­¡±

    Zachary hesitated. ¡°But what if you get hurt?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve been training. I might not be able to beat them, but I can keep them fromying a finger on me.¡± Aubree opened the door and walked off, swinging her school bag over one shoulder.

    The moment she stepped out, the girls watching her immediately alerted someone.

    As she entered the alley, three delinquent girls with dyed hair and tattoos appeared ahead. The leader had a cigarette dangling from her lips. ¡°Well, well. Isn¡¯t this Miss Miller? Look at you. Such a big shot.¡±

    Aubree took two steps back. Turning around, she saw two more girls closing in. She was trapped.

    From her quick scan, at least three of them were carrying weapons.

    Aubree smirked. Their weapons were enough to get them locked up for a couple of years.

 Tried 125

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Aubree feigned fear as she was quickly cornered by the five girls.

    ¡°What are we going to do?¡± The leader spat out her cigarette and red viciously. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, my parents wouldn¡¯t n to send me abroad!¡±

    No parent would willingly ept a daughter being a murderer. Their families were either ashamed and ready to abandon them, trying to ship them off abroad, or marrying them off as quickly as possible if money was tight.

    These five girls had pinned all their misfortunes on Aubree.

    ¡°You think you¡¯re so great with your little bronze award? You got all of us into trouble!¡± Another girl pped Aubree¡¯s face lightly.

    The one with the knife sneered. ¡°You think you¡¯re something, bullying Carmen? Don¡¯t you know she¡¯s under our protection? Had fun at your birthday yesterday, huh? How dare you stole Carmen¡¯s spotlight?¡±

    Another one said, ¡°That fireworks disy was really something. How many sugar daddies did you have to sleep with to make it happen?¡±

    A flood of foul and vulgarnguage poured down on Aubree.

    Aubree lowered her head without retorting, her hand behind her back clutching the fruit knife she always carried. The moment was drawing near¡­

    She weed their endless taunts. Because the more they said now, the harder it would be to deny itter.

    ¡°Enough chit-chat, Taya. Look at her pathetic face. She won¡¯t even squeak if we beat her. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Another girl waved the knife threateningly at Aubree.

    Aubree looked terrified. ¡°What¡­ what are you going to do to me?¡±

    ¡°What do you think?¡± The leader grinned maniacally.

    She added, ¡°You love attention, right? We¡¯ll get you on the front page. How about this headline? ¡®High school girl assaulted and murdered on her way to school¡¯? We think it suits you perfectly.¡±

    ¡°Lucky you, we won¡¯t waste time. We¡¯ll only make it hurt for a moment. After you¡¯re dead, we¡¯ll strip off your clothes and then¡­¡± Their eyes dropped to Aubree¡¯s private parts, twisted with sadistic delight.

    They had chosen this ce specifically because it had no surveince. Every step had been carefully scouted in advance.

    Aubree¡¯s heart turned colder. The people before her were nothing but beasts by nature. Calling them inherently evil was more urate than any otherbel.

    She had long lost track of how many victims had suffered at the hands of this group. After one of Matilda¡¯s friends jumped off a building, Aubree had overheard them in the bathroom joking and mocking her death without an ounce of remorse or fear.

    Aubree looked up with a cold smile. ¡°Well, sounds like you¡¯ve made a thorough and evil n. But I¡¯m sorry, looks like you won¡¯t get to carry out even the first step.¡±

    Thinking Aubree was provoking her, the leader grabbed the knife from herpanion and raised it. ¡°You think I¡¯m bluffing? No one¡¯s saving you today!¡±

    Just as the de neared Aubree, a hand suddenly appeared and gripped her wrist tightly.

    The leader let out a piercing scream as her wrist was twisted at an unnatural angle. It popped out of its socket with a sickening crack.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± The others pulled out their weapons, aiming at Zachary, who suddenly appeared.

    Without a word, Zachary took them down swiftly, with brutal efficiency.

    He had heard everything. It was hard to imagine that girls only seventeen or eighteen years old could harbor such cruelty.

    Then, the wail of police sirens filled the air.

    Seeing the shing lights, the five girls finally showed signs of fear.

    Aubree casually pulled out her phone and yed a recording of everything they¡¯d just said. She smiled. ¡°Attempted murder. Want to guess how many years mywyer can get you sentenced for?¡±

    Their faces turned ashen. Worse, they had mentioned Carmen¡¯s name. If she got involved, their situation would be hopeless.

    At Rithol High School.

    During art ss, several uniformed officers appeared at the door.

    ¡°Carmen,e with us.¡±

    Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Carmen was taken away.

    With guilt hanging over her like a cloud, Carmen was uneasy the entire way. But when she saw Aubree inside the police station, smiling and waving at her, her heart sank.

    Aubree was alive. Carmen thought Taya and the others must have failed.

    Before she could even process what was going on, the five girls, now in handcuffs, were escorted past her, their faces pale.

    Carmen¡¯s face went pale. ¡®How could this have gone wrong? Did they rat me out?¡¯

    She had been very careful. As long as she didn¡¯t admit anything, no evidence would link her to the crime.

    Carmen tried to stay calm. Her guardians, Ronald and Alice, had also been summoned.

    In the interrogation room, the police exined the case and yed the recording. Even Alice, who always spoiled Carmen, was in disbelief that such a cruel act could be connected to her daughter.

    Her hands trembled. ¡°Carmen, tell Mom the truth. Were you involved in this?¡±

    Alice couldn¡¯t bear to imagine it. If that recording was real, she didn¡¯t know how to face Aubree.

    Alice looked at Aubree, overwhelmed with guilt. That was her daughter too. She disliked Aubree for being vulgar and unrefined. But if Aubree died in that way, Alice wouldn¡¯t have been able to handle it.

    Carmen bit her lip and let tears fall. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t you believe me? How could I possibly do something like that to my sister?¡±

    Carmen was always kind. Even after Aubree left, she worried about her. Alice felt ashamed for even suspecting h

    Carmen had covered her tracks thoroughly. All contact had been through untraceable ck-market ounts. No one could find direct evidence.

    Even if the others mentioned her name, the Wilson family¡¯swyers would ensure she remained untouched

    Alice calmed herself and turned to Aubree, trying to take her hand, but missed it. ¡°Aubree, this must be a misunderstanding. Carmen couldn¡¯t have done it.¡±

    ¡°Stop. I¡¯m here as the victim, investigating whether Carmen is the perpetrator¡± Aubree¡¯s face was cold, unmoved.

    Alice froze. The sliver of guilt she had felt vanished. Aubree was still as unreasonable as ever. There was no way this had anything to do with Carmen. And to think she had actually considered coaxing Aubree toe home.

    Aubree said, ¡°Since you deny involvement, why did they say they were protecting you? We have reason to believe you instructed them.¡±

    No one could fake victimhood better than Carmen. Even as a suspect, the officers spoke to her gently.

    Carmen tried to exin, ¡°I didn¡¯t know they were like this. We were just ssmates. Maybe they thought I was kind and wanted to protect me. Aubree and I¡­ don¡¯t get along. They might¡¯ve misunderstood.¡±

    She added, ¡°Besides, Aubree already had conflicts with them. Just because they mentioned me doesn¡¯t prove anything. right?¡±

    Carmen seemed flustered, but her every word deflected ine, iming the girls acted on their own. She¡¯d never asked them to do anything.

    They already had a grudge against each other, so mentioning her was just an offhand remark.

    The police couldn¡¯t refute Carmen. There was no direct evidence.

    After routine questioning, she was allowed to leave.

    Outside the police station, Ronald pped Carmen hard across the face.

    The p stunned both Carmen and Aubree.

    Carmen had assumed Ronald was silently nning how to defend her. She didn¡¯t expect the p at all.

    3:43 pm

 Tried 126

    The crisp sound of a p echoed in the air. Carmen clutched her face, stunned and unable to recover.

    Alice yanked Ronald back, distressed. ¡°Ronald, what are you doing?¡±

    No one had expected that p. The atmosphere among them grew even colder in its aftermath.

    Ronald snapped, ¡°What am I doing? She got herself involved in something like this. Shouldn¡¯t she be taught a lesson?¡±

    ¡°Teach Carmen a lesson? What a novel idea. Aubree sneered inwardly.

    ??

    In thest timeline, she¡¯d never heard such a thing, and now she had the misfortune of hearing it in this one.

    Carmen was filled with grievance. ¡°Dad, do you think I did this?¡±

    Ronald avoided her gaze. ¡°Even if you didn¡¯t do it, you¡¯re still connected to it. Apologize to Aubree!¡±

    Alice stood torn. No matter how much she disliked Aubree, she was still her daughter by blood. If Aubree were dead, she would still feel sorrow.

    But on the other hand, Carmen was the daughter she had spoiled and adored for over a decade.

    Clenching her teeth, Alice had to admit this situation was a bit too much. Carmen would just have to endure the scolding.

    If Aubree could hear Alice¡¯s thoughts, she¡¯d surely find themughable. Alice sided with Aubree only because the evidence showed her as the victim. Had something truly happened to Aubree, Alice wouldn¡¯t have shed a single tear. On the contrary, she would¡¯ve hated her for being shame to the Wilson family, even in death.

    Aubree had nearly been killed, and yet Carmen was the one feeling wronged. It was utterly ridiculous!

    Alice said, ¡°Carmen, just listen to your father.¡±

    Aubree had always minded their favoritism toward Carmen. Now, with Carmen apologizing, Alice thought Aubree would be satisfied.

    Ronald¡¯s thinking was simr. He never felt that the Wilson family owed Aubree anything. He simply saw her as petty, throwing a tantrum over Carmen. He thought that by backing her up just this once, she¡¯d finally feel content ande home.

    Greed shimmered in his eyes. Even someone like him, who had built hispany from nothing, couldn¡¯t help but envy the financial reports from yzy that the finance department had handed over.

    If he could merge Bree Technology into the Wilson Group and ride the momentum of the yzy project, even surpassing the Turner family wasn¡¯t impossible.

    The more Ronald thought about it, the more excited he became. He didn¡¯t even notice the sneer in Aubree¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Oh? An apology? Forget it. After all, I wasn¡¯t dead. Carmen was just briefly questioned as a suspect!¡± Aubree said with exaggerated sarcasm.

    She added, ¡°I thank you for not asking me to apologize to her.¡±

    Carmen was still trying to y the victim.

    But after Aubree¡¯s words, her pitiful expression suddenly looked ridiculous.

    (Ï¦ÈÕ

    Aubree had nearly died and hadn¡¯t cried once. Carmen, on the other hand, was being questioned normally and yet was. tearing up and acting miserable. It came off as over-the-top.

    Carmen pouted, now unsure whether to cry or speak.

    Aubree said, ¡°Enough. Since the matter is resolved, let¡¯s just be strangers and not interfere in each other¡¯s lives.¡±

    As Aubree turned to leave, Ronald and Alice panicked.

    Ronald coveted Aubree¡¯s connections andpany. He never cared about Aubree before, but now, he wanted her to be a Wilson forever.

    Alice said, ¡°Aubree! You just experienced something dangerous out there. Come home with Mom.¡±

    She added, ¡°You¡¯ve always said we favored Carmen, right? Well, this time we¡¯re on your side. Carmen even apologized! What more do you want?¡±

    Ronald quickly chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re family. There¡¯s no need to split hairs. No matter what, you have our blood running through your veins. Your mom and brothers all know they were wrong. Come home with us.¡±

    Aubree had lived two lifetimes. If Alice¡¯s words had even a sliver of sincerity, Ronald¡¯s were nothing but lies.

    He didn¡¯t care about her before. Now suddenly he cared. It was only because he saw value in her.

    Aubree stepped back. ¡°No. Go back with you? So you can whip me again?¡±

    She continued, ¡°Alice, you say you¡¯re helping me. But can you look me in the eye and honestly say you¡¯ve never thought I deserved what happened? That you never med me for dragging Carmen into this?¡±

    Alice looked away, guilty, though her tone remained hard. ¡°As a mother, of course I care about Carmen. I did this all for your own good. I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll get into trouble.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t know if Alice felt ridiculous when she said that, but she sure did.

    She asked, ¡°You? Worried I¡¯ll get into trouble? As a mother? Are you worthy to be a mother?¡±

    Aubree continued, ¡°When I first returned to the Wilson family, Carmen got into trouble with some punks from a neighboring school. She was cornered in an alley. I risked myself to save her. But when we got home, did you scold or punish her for getting into trouble?¡±

    She added, ¡°No. You scolded me instead. You said I was useless for not protecting her well enough. You made me skip dinner and stand in the corner!¡±

    Alice¡¯s gaze turned hazy. She had forgotten she had done that.

    Still unwilling to back down, she mumbled, ¡°I did it out of concern for you. If I didn¡¯t care, why would I punish you and not someone else? It was all to help you.¡±

    Alice added, ¡°As long as you get along with Carmen and don¡¯t bully her, you¡¯ll have everything she has in the Wilson family.¡±

    She offered this as if it were a great gift. She thought Aubree just wanted fairness.

    Just like Carmen, Aubree should be overjoyed.

    However, Alice didn¡¯t realize the condescending tone she used when making promises.

    Aubree looked disgusted. ¡°You think I want your cheap love? Or Carmen¡¯s giarist reputation? Get lost. All of you.¡±

    She added, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time on me. If I were strong enough right now, the first thing I¡¯d do is crush the entire Wilson family.¡±

    Alice¡¯s face turned ashen. She didn¡¯t believe Aubree hated them this much. But her tone and her gaze showed no hint of pretense.

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened. He never imagined Aubree would truly look down on the Wilson family.

    Aubree sneered. Their shocked faces delighted her.

    This was only the beginning. She¡¯d make sure they were even more stunned in the future.

    The car drove off slowly.

    Carmen shrank into a corner, not daring to speak.

    The car was filled with Ronald¡¯s oppressive silence.

    Alice was fuming too. No matter how indifferent they were toward Aubree before, she was still part of the Wilson family. Wanting to cut ties was a p to the family¡¯s face.

    ¡°She got bold.¡± Ronald spat angrily.

    If the Wilson family couldn¡¯t manipte Aubree, he would never allow her to be a threat to them either.

    He said, ¡°If she really wants nothing to do with the Wilson family, then I¡¯ll make things difficult for her.¡±

    Now that Aubree was getting close to Bowen, if she sided with him, the Turner family could be a hurdle the Wilson family might never ovee.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes lit up. She thought Aubree was asking for death. She didn¡¯t even know how to take advantage of a good opportunity.

    If Aubree continued to antagonize the Wilson family, her father would eventually take action to deal with her.

 Tried 127

    The midterm exams arrived as scheduled. This time, Aubree performed normally and ranked 48th in the grade.

    After winning the bronze medal in thest mathpetition, several universities had extended offers to her. However, her goal was to attend Rithol University.

    Technically, the bronze medal was enough for her to be guaranteed admission. Unfortunately, she had studied art for two years and only recently switched to academic subjects. On paper, she was a genius.

    But other than mathematics, his performance in other ces wasckluster. Rithol University even sent someone to talk to her. If she were willing to join the math department, they¡¯d offer guaranteed admission.

    But Aubree¡¯s goal was the finance department. After aprehensive evaluation, Rithol University didn¡¯t offer direct admission but said that if she took the national college entrance exam, her required score could be lowered.

    The Wilson family had reminded her of something. Legally, she wasn¡¯tpletely separate from them.

    After entering the foster system, she¡¯d been ced in the orphanage. When the Wilson family adopted her, only the adoption procedures were done.

    Now that she was of legal age and had purchased a home in Rithol City, she nned to visit the orphanage director to inquire about bing legally independent.

    She bought some food and supplies, handed them over to the director upon arrival, and was warmly received.

    At first, the director thought Aubree hade back just to visit. Seeing that she looked well-off and healthy, her eyes were filled with relief. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re doing well after returning to your family. I was worried you might not be treated well since you were an adopted daughter,¡± the director said.

    The director was a good person.

    Though Aubree¡¯s time at the orphanage wasn¡¯t the mostfortable, it had been a happy period. Before she left, the director had warned her kindly to be obedient in her new home, but also to know when to protect herself and to recognize whether people were truly family.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes stung. It was clear that even back then, this kindhearted elderly woman had worried about what her life would be like after being taken away by the Wilson family.

    She said, ¡°Director, I¡¯ve already left the Wilson family. I made some money on my own and came back to see you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so¡­¡± The director seemed momentarily stunned, then held Aubree¡¯s hand. ¡°That¡¯s okay. This ce will always be your home. If you ever feel wronged out there,e back home.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Aubree¡¯s voice was hoarse, and she held back her tears. ¡°By the way, I want to be legally independent. I need to terminate any remaining guardianship records.¡±

    The director said, ¡°That¡¯s not hard to do. The only trouble is you were adopted by the Wilson family, so you¡¯ll need their approval to cancel the adoption formally.¡±

    Originally, the Wilson family had said they were going to acknowledge her as their biological daughter, but because of interference from Carmen and Daxton, it ended up being a formal adoption instead.

    Aubree said, ¡°I have a signed severance agreement from Ronald.¡±

    The director replied, ¡°That¡¯s not enough. That just shows you¡¯ve cut ties as rtives, but you still have a legal adoption in

    ce. You¡¯ll need to formally terminate that adoption and get it notarized.

    Notarizing the severance would mean dealing with the Wilson family again. But Aubree figured they wouldn¡¯t refuse. After all, cutting ties with her was their dream scenario.

    Aubree stayed at the orphanage a little longer, helping take care of the kids and leaving some money for the director before

    she left.

    But right after she left, Ronald showed up with his secretary and bodyguards.

    Given how Aubree had recently spoken about her poor treatment in the Wilson family household, the director¡¯s attitude toward Ronald was ice cold.

    Confused but still needing something from her, Ronald forced a friendly smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you still remember me. I¡¯m Aubree¡¯s father. I was hoping you could assist with transferring some legal guardianship papers to officially reflect that she belongs to our family.¡±

    S

 Tried 128

    No matter how one looked at it, the connection between Aubree and the Wilson family wasn¡¯t so easily erased. Even if she refused to return home, it didn¡¯t matter to him. As long as he could get control of herpany, he¡¯d consider it a win.

    If he could reinstate guardianship, it would make things easier. If Aubree still acted ungrateful, he wouldn¡¯t mind letting something happen to her.

    The director had seen all kinds of people in her lifetime. She instantly knew something was off.

    There had to be a reason why Ronald suddenly cared about a legal connection now. She had no intention of agreeing, especially since Aubree also wanted to be legally independent. She couldn¡¯t let Ronald catch on. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring Aubree with you?¡±

    Ronald Wilson said casually, ¡°She had something to do today.¡±

    ¡°Thene back together when she¡¯s free.¡± The director didn¡¯t even bother to be polite as she shooed him out.

    Driven out of the orphanage, Ronald cursed in frustration. ¡°Ungrateful hag!¡±

    Even an orphanage director dared to give him attitude. He refused to believe he couldn¡¯t handle Aubree.

    Meanwhile, Aubree wasn¡¯t idle either.

    yzy had now exploded in poprity. A flood of amateur streamers had brought vitality and limitless potential to the tform, which meant it was time to begin recruiting and managing inte influencers.

    In the past timeline, as short-form video media developed, entire entertainmentpanies emerged just to cultivate different types of influencers through streaming tforms. They profited immensely.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t about to let someone else scoop up that opportunity.

    Aubree contacted Peace Entertainment and gathered key members and department heads for a meeting.

    She said, ¡°yzy has now established its foundation. But that¡¯s not enough. As an entertainmentpany, I¡¯m sure Peace Entertainment¡¯s team can see the growth potential of influencer-based media.¡±

    Peace Entertainment¡¯s delegation, led by Sylvia, had actually discussed this before during contract talks, though they hadn¡¯t finalized any terms at the time.

    ¡°Of course. A single stream can rake in millions in gift revenue. Who wouldn¡¯t want a piece of that pie?¡±

    ¡°I propose Peace Entertainment create a department specifically for influencer development. Bree Technology will invest in Peace Entertainment, and we¡¯ll co-manage it. What do you think, Sylvia?¡±

    Starting a newpany from scratch was time-consuming and unfamiliar territory for Aubree. Working with the Turner Group was possible, but unnecessary when a solid partner was already at hand.

    She was confident Sylvia wouldn¡¯t refuse. Though they¡¯d have to share the profits, the partnership offered apetitive edge across the board.

    After a brief discussion with her executives, Sylvia agreed. Working with Bree Technology was practically a guarantee of

    sess.

    With Bree Technology backing her, she thought that once influencer traffic takes off, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being squeezed out.

    Comparing both options, this partnership was a sess with no risk of losing.

    After a quick discussion with the apanying executives, Peace Entertainment unanimously agreed to the partnership.

    Ever since yzyunched, the influencers they¡¯d pushed early on were already seeing big returns.

    Some had evennded major acting roles. With their poprity skyrocketing, there was no way they were going to let this opportunity slip by.

    Negotiations went smoothly. It was a win-win situation.

    Sylvia said, ¡°But relying only on gift revenue feels a bit shallow. No one will keep throwing money at streamers forever.¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Aubree replied with a small smile. ¡°Just like famous celebrities get sponsorships, influencers can too. There¡¯s a thing called livestream emerce.¡±

    That was the real gold mine behind short video tforms.

    Sylvia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Looks like I was worried for nothing. You¡¯ve already thought through every next step.¡±

    Aubree shook her head. ¡°We still can¡¯t be too optimistic. yzy¡¯s growing fast, and we¡¯re definitely being watched. Attacks are inevitable.¡±

    Sylvia smiled. ¡°But judging by your calmness, you¡¯ve already made your preparations.¡±

    Over this period, Sylvia had seen enough to know this seemingly young girl was anything but ordinary. Anyone who could make such decisions surely wasn¡¯tcking in foresight or preparation.

    The two exchanged a knowing smile.

    Sylvia stood and shook Aubree¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡±

    After sending off the Peace Entertainment team, Aubree turned to the next big matter.

    Sylvia asked, ¡°How¡¯s the development going on Zappy?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°It¡¯s already underway.¡±

 Tried 129

    Mentioning ¡°Zappy,¡± some people couldn¡¯t help but raise concerns.

    Aubree exined, ¡°Zappy shares a lot of simrities with yzy. From a professional standpoint, once it¡¯s developed, it might surpass yzy. Aren¡¯t we just undermining our product by investing in Zappy?¡±

    Aubree smiled. ¡°If even you can see Zappy¡¯s potential, don¡¯t you think others will too? It¡¯s only a matter of time before someone takes what we¡¯ve done with yzy, builds on it, and turns it into a directpetitor.¡±

    She continued, ¡°The core philosophy behind yzy isn¡¯tplicated. Financial media outlets are already analyzing it. And soon, simr or even more advanced tforms will emerge. Eventually, livestreaming tforms willpete based on the influence of their top creators.¡±

    She concluded, ¡°And when that timees, Zappy will lead the next wave.¡±

    In other words, let everyone else focus on dissecting yzy. By the time they figure it out and start celebrating their piece of the pie, Aubree and her team will have already moved on one step ahead.

    Aubree said, ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk operations strategy for Zappy.¡±

    There was no way the Wilson family would sit by and watch her continue to rise. A cornered animal would still bite, let alone a wealthy, powerful family like the Wilson family.

    Even with support from the Turner Group, if the Wilson family decided to go all in and burn bridges, Aubree would be caught in the crossfire.

    Ronald¡¯splete 180 in attitude toward her could only mean one thing. Bree Technology had be valuable in his eyes.

    He never cared about the club. He probably still looked down on it.

    But now that Aubree had publicly rejected the Wilson family, Ronald was bound to retaliate. Let him. She¡¯d already cashed out her shares and was ready to walk away.

    Aubree announced, ¡°I¡¯m not just talking about short videos and streaming. I n tounch a gaming division too. We¡¯ll develop our own games.¡±

    Hearing that, everyone exchanged surprised looks. It wasn¡¯t easy to make a sessful game these days.

    The market was saturated. The most popr titles, like League of Legends, had already cornered the industry. Turner Group had invested in most of them. Any new game either copied League of Legends¡¯s MOBA gamey or fell into the same gun-and-shoot formats.

    Aubree replied calmly, ¡°Right now, the types of games on the market are fixed and saturated. The big profits always go to the same fewpanies. I understand all your concerns. What I¡¯m suggesting is to develop a new category of game entirely.¡±

    MOBAS were long-standing and profitable. Butrge open-world games or female-oriented fantasy adventures could take off too.

    Right now, those types of games barely existed.

    If the current market was saturated, then they had to create something new. They needed to carve out a new path.

    Afterying out her vision, everyone in the room was visibly stunned.

    ¡°Miss Miller, how does your brain even work like that?¡±

    Compared to apps like Zappy, game development had a much longer production timeline and higher technical demands. They needed to start now. If they waited, someone else would be the first to take the leap.

    Aubree was pleased with the team¡¯s confidence. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. From today on, we¡¯reunching a game division. HR can begin recruiting immediately. Pay is flexible. If someone has the skills, we¡¯ll make it work.¡±

    Since yzy¡¯sunch, it sparked countless online discussions about its business model and livestream ecosystem.

    Aubree didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. She hired media professionals and influencers to spread the word. Of course, some of the analysis pieces hade from independent financial writers who saw the value in what she was building.

    Her name began popping up in financial reports across the web.

    2

    A high school student. A startup founder. Daily revenues in millions of dors. An international mathpetition bronze medalist.

    Each of those achievements was impressive on its own. Put together, they created a media storm.

    [A genius entrepreneur.]

    [The youngest business leader in Rithol City.]

    [A possible sessor to the legendary Bowen Turner.]

    The praise came pouring in like there was no tomorrow. The word ¡°genius¡± was starting to feel overused.

 Tried 130

    But the result was undeniable. yzy¡¯s earnings reached record-breaking highs.

    After the meeting ended, Aubree¡¯s secretary, Vincent, brought her an invitation.

    It was for Rithol City¡¯s Outstanding Young Achievers Forum.

    Almost everyone from the Wilson family had received this kind of invitation. No matter what else was said, those four siblings were objectively impressive. Even Carmen had received one many years ago, after a painting she ¡°made¡± stunned the Rithol City art world and earned her the title of ¡°Most Promising Young Artist.¡±

    Of course, that painting had actually been Aubree¡¯s.

    Back then, as a member of the Wilson family, Aubree had always stood silently behind them. She was out of sight, filled with envy. Now, she couldn¡¯t believe she was the one receiving an invitation..

    Vincent gushed. ¡°Miss Miller, you are amazing. Everyone knows these invitations usually go to rich kids to pad their resumes. For you to be chosen¡­ that¡¯s pure merit!¡±

    His eyes sparkled with admiration.

    He used to idolize only Bowen. But now, the person he respected most in the world was Aubree.

    Vincent was certain that, given the same amount of time, Aubree¡¯s achievements would far surpass even Bowen¡¯s.

    Aubree smiled. She was truly proud of the recognition. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±

    Meanwhile, at the Wilson family residence.

    Ronald mmed the table. ¡°Where the hell is Emery? Does he think he can nevere back?¡±

    Alice quickly tried to calm him. ¡°He¡¯s working. He¡¯s not avoiding the family on purpose.¡±

    Trevor was off filming, so he couldn¡¯t attend. Other than him, only Daxton was busier than Emery.

    Ronald sneered. ¡°Busy? He¡¯s busy running a club. That¡¯s not work. Call him. If he doesn¡¯t show up for dinner tomorrow, then tell him never to bothering back.¡±

    His outburst silenced the whole table.

    Carmen tried to lighten the mood and asked the housekeeper to turn on the TV. Unfortunately, the channel switched to a financial news segment.

    Aubree¡¯s image filled the screen, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply.

    ¡°Rising star Aubree. While still a high school student, she hasunched a sessful livestreaming tform and pioneered a new frontier in digital media¡­¡±

    Aubree was standing confidently on stage. Her aplishments were listed behind her.

    ¡®It¡¯s Aubree. The Wilson family members couldn¡¯t help but all think the same thing.

    Wearing a suit, Aubree stood out among the crowd of high-level executives and dignitaries. 1/2

    The camera cut to the audience, and in the front row sat Bowen.

    He was pping proudly, smiling at her from the very front.

    Watching this on TV, Ronald was filled with regret. He was now sure there was something between Aubree and Bowen.

    Ronald thought, ¡°That ungrateful brat! I¡¯d taken her in for three years, and this is how she repaid us? No gratitude at all!¡¯

    If he¡¯d known she¡¯d be this sessful, he would¡¯ve never let her go, no matter what.

    Ronald snapped, ¡°Bryan, yzy is growing fast. If Aubree refuses to work with the Wilson Group, don¡¯t hold back. Use whatever means necessary.¡±

    Bryan was quiet for a moment. ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t think we should. No matter what, Aubree is still part of this family. Since when does a brother sabotage his own sister?¡±

    That pushed Ronald over the edge. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to care about that when you were helping suppress her before! Just because you¡¯re chairman now doesn¡¯t mean you can ignore me. Refuse my demands, and you¡¯re out!¡±

    Bryan¡¯s heart sank. Yes, he had once failed to treat Aubree like family.

    But Aubree was his sister, and he wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt her again.

    He stood up and bowed slightly. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll leave thepany to you. You can take back control.¡±

    ¡°You! You!¡± Ronald pped him, knocked over a bowl, and stormed away from the table.

    Alice gasped and rushed after him.

    Carmen stared at Bryan, who said nothing and quietly left. Then she looked at Daxton, who kept eating as if nothing had happened. The television continued ying praise after praise for Aubree.

    She murmured, almost to herself, ¡°Aubree is so amazing now. No wonder the family¡¯s been ignoring metely¡­¡±

    Suddenly, Daxton gently ced a shrimp into her bowl. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Just eat,¡± he said softly.

 Tried 131

    That morning, Ronald got up very early.

    He had already made it known that Bryan was being removed from his position as chairman. Being someone whose pride and reputation were paramount, Ronald would go back on his word. He got up early to go to thepany.

    Daxton was also up early, seemingly waiting for Ronald. He stood by the staircase, blocking his way. ¡°Dad, I heard you¡¯ve been pretty interested in that yzy tform Aubree developed.¡±

    ¡°Why are you asking? Don¡¯t you usually only care about your experiment data?¡± Ronald adjusted his tie and shot him a sideways nce.

    ??

    Daxton replied, ¡°Family matters are important. A friend in this field found out that Aubree is my sister and shared this report. Dad, want to see it?¡±

    Suspicious, Ronald took the envelope, opened it, and started reading. As he read, his expression shifted from delight to

    worry.

    He asked, ¡°Is what¡¯s in here true?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Daxton replied confidently.

    This wasn¡¯t from any so-called friend. After finding out that Aubree was behind yzy, he had specifically hired professionals to dig this up.

    yzy had been riding high in the spotlight, but with so many streamers on the tform, it was impossible to regte them all or ensure they had proper ethics.

    The report highlighted some incidents of streamers guiding minors to spend excessively. The issue hadn¡¯t exploded yet, but it was a ticking time bomb.

    If they used this to stir things up, Aubree would be in serious trouble.

    Daxton said, ¡°Dad, no matter what, she¡¯s a Wilson. She¡¯s young, inexperienced, and not managing the tform well. If something serious happens, won¡¯t you, as her father, still have to step in and help?¡±

    What he said matched up exactly with what Ronald had been thinking.

    ¡°But¡­¡± Ronald hesitated.

    He frowned. He wanted Aubree to fall, but he didn¡¯t want yzy to suffer. If this scandal came to light and wasn¡¯t handled well, the damage to yzy would be hard to recover from.

    In his mind, both yzy and Bree Technology already belonged to him. Any loss was his loss.

    Ronald said, ¡°This can¡¯t be leaked for now.¡±

    Daxton¡¯s calm, calcted expression cracked. Disbelief shed across his face. The entire purpose was to bring Aubree down, ideally to bankruptcy.

    Turner Group invested heavily in yzy. If it all went down the drain, Bowen¡¯s shareholders would never allow him to continue helping Aubree.

    That way, Aubree wouldn¡¯t just be broke. She¡¯d lose her biggest supporter.

    But now, his father was saying to keep it under wraps.

    ¡°Why?¡± Daxton blurted, then quickly tried to cover, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t you want this project? Wouldn¡¯t exposing this make it easier?¡±

    Ronald gave him a deep look. ¡°Daxton, you¡¯re brilliant in academia, but you don¡¯t understand business. Things aren¡¯t that simple.¡±

    He patted his son¡¯s shoulder and sighed. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been worried about Carmentely, but¡­¡±

    Ronald sighed again. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Aubree toe this far. Carmen¡­ she¡¯s ultimately not a true Wilson. She¡¯s stillcking.¡±

    Neither of them noticed the figure hiding in the corner.

    Carmen heard their conversation clearly. Her breathing grew rapid as she clutched her mouth tightly with trembling hands. Hatred burned in her eyes.

    She cursed inwardly, ¡®Aubree is just trash! Trash! How could trash possiblypare to me? She doesn¡¯t deserve it!¡¯

    Hatred surged in Carmen¡¯s heart as she quickly left. If her father was too soft to expose things that could damage Aubree, she would do it herself.

    It looked like Daxton wasn¡¯t too fond of Aubree either.

    Carmen then left, missing onest thing that Ronald said.

    Ronald said, ¡°But speaking of it, Carmen doesn¡¯t need to be that capable. We¡¯ll give whatever she wants anyway.¡±

 Tried 132

    C78

    After Ronald and Daxton both left, Carmen waited for the house to empty and went to find Wendy in the kitchen. ¡°Wendy, help me make chicken soup today. Put it in a thermos when it¡¯s done.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Wendy replied.

    Carmen didn¡¯t have Aubree¡¯s talents. She couldn¡¯t cook, couldn¡¯t start a business. But Aubree was foolish. Even when she did something good, she let others steal the credit.

    She nced sideways at Wendy. She couldn¡¯t make soup, but there were plenty of people in the house who could.

    That same day was God¡¯s Fury¡¯s first match in the annual finals. Right after school, Aubree rushed to the venue.

    With Matilda as the coach, she had already gotten approval to be with the team full-time.

    Her ID badge was ready, so she entered through the staff passage and headed straight to the backstage lounge.

    ¡°Aubree! It really is you!¡± A surprised voice called out.

    Suddenly, Emery appeared right before her.

    Emery¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you with the team and thought you weren¡¯ting.¡±

    He looked genuinely thrilled.

    Aubree sneered inwardly, taking a step back to keep her distance. Whether he was genuinely happy or just putting on a show, none of it mattered to her anymore.

    She said coldly, ¡°Do you need something? If not, please move.¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± Emery wanted to say he just wanted to see her.

    But the words stuck in his throat. Emery¡¯s eyes dimmed as pain stabbed through his chest.

    Aubree treated him like a stranger, but he was still her brother.

    Emery forced a smile. ¡°Aubree, today is the Apex Squad versus God¡¯s Fury match.¡±

    Aubree responded, ¡°I saw the schedule. You didn¡¯t need to tell me.¡±

    ¡°I meant¡­ do you want to win?¡± Emery looked at her with hope. ¡°You came here after school just to watch, so you must really want your team to win, right?¡±

    ¡®If you want¡­ I¡­ I could help you¡­¡¯ He added that silently in his heart.

    He didn¡¯t know what to do to make it up to her, but he was willing to do anything that would make her happy.

    Aubree thought he was crazy. Everyone would want their team to win.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking me if I want to win? Of course I want to see God¡¯s Fury crush your team and sweep you 3-0!¡± She spoke angrily and shoved past him, hurrying away.

    What a nutjobf Aubree thought.

    Emery had just blocked her path to say this nonsense, which was wasting her time. She needed to cheer for Alvin and the others immediately.

    She rolled her eyes and quickened her pace. Not far behind her, Emery shouted, ¡°I got it, Aubree!¡±

    Aubree scoffed inwardly. ¡®Like hell you do!¡¯

    She sped up again, worried he might chase her.

    The match started on schedule.

    Aubree sat in the front row, tense. They¡¯d beaten Apex Squadst time. She knew this would be the beginning of Apex Squad¡¯s decline.

    However, she remembered Apex Squad would still ce second in this year¡¯s finals.

    More importantly, she didn¡¯t know what Emery meant by all that.

    ¡°Nervous?¡± A mildly amused voice spoke beside her.

    Aubree turned in surprise. ¡°Bowen? You came?¡±

    She instinctively touched the ne around her neck. She hadn¡¯t seen him since her birthday.

    Bowen had put the ne on her that night.

    Bowen said, ¡°I hold 30% of God¡¯s Fury. Coming to check in as a shareholder isn¡¯t too much, is it?¡±

    Aubree smiled. ¡°You¡¯re wee. Thanks again for the birthday gift. I really liked it.¡±

    Looking at the chain on her neck, Bowen smiled as well. ¡°d you do. Ollie¡¯s men do have fine craftsmanship. The match is starting. Let¡¯s watch.¡±

    Meanwhile, a short distance away, Emery¡¯s gaze was locked in their direction.

    He muttered, ¡°Aubree, I will give you everything you want. Last time, you said you wanted Apex Squad. Well, maybe that¡¯s not impossible.¡±

 Tried 133

    Ka

    ¡°These two teams are old rivals,¡± the caster said, ¡°They just faced off in the Autumn Split finals for the championship trophy. Tonight, will it be Apex Squad¡¯s revenge or God¡¯s Fury sessfully defending their title?

    ¡°God¡¯s Fury is a young squad, but they¡¯ve already shown incredible potential. Let the match begin!¡±

    With Aubree in the lineup during the Autumn Finals, God¡¯s Fury looked unstoppable, dominating Apex Squadpletely. However, with a new midsolo, they had lost that overwhelming edge in the match.

    The back-and-forth continued, and God¡¯s Fury was slowly losing ground in the exchanges.

    Aubree sat in the audience, her fingers tightly inteced, anxiety etched across her face. If God¡¯s Fury lost this match, it would be quite a blow to both the yers¡¯ morale and the fans¡¯ spirits.

    ¡°The match remains neck and neck as we approach the crucial 10-minute dragon fight. This ssic teamfight moment could swing momentum either way.¡±

    ¡°Apex Squad makes the first move! Their support secures vision and spots the enemy. Wait, hold on! Was that a misy?¡±

    Kill notifications for Apex Squad kept shing across the screen in rapid session.

    But as the caster just pointed out, Apex Squad had the advantage in that situation. How could a veteran team possibly throw away such a golden opportunity?

    Missing the opportunity was bad enough, but then they seemed to havepletely lost their minds, feeding one after another like brainless lemmings off a cliff.

    God¡¯s Fury capitalized on this dragon fight, wiped out the enemy team, and snowballed into taking the Nexus in the first match.

    Even with the win, Aubree¡¯s brows furrowed even tighter. ¡®Was I just imagining things?¡¯ she wondered.

    Bowen didn¡¯t understand the game, but he could tell something was off with Aubree. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t you guys win?¡± he asked.

    ¡°But that misy¡­ It shouldn¡¯t have happened,¡± Aubree said, shaking her head.

    ¡®No way. Emery is also a pro gamer. How could he do something like this? But what Emery said before the match¡­ Aubree thought, suspicion gnawing at her.

    Bowen nodded with partial understanding, his gaze drifting toward Emery¡¯s seat.

    The second match started soon after, and God¡¯s Fury got the win.

    God¡¯s Fury took game three as well.

    God¡¯s Fury swept the series 4-0 in the BO5 match point game.

    Aubree, however, couldn¡¯t muster even the slightest bit of joy. Even if God¡¯s Fury had lost fair and square, she would have felt regret and disappointment. But this kind of victory? It only made her furious.

    ¡°Emery wasn¡¯t just insulting me,¡¯ she thought. ¡®He was insulting every single member of God¡¯s Fury who had fought so hard

    for this!

    ¡®God¡¯s Fury doesn¡¯t need his charity to win the championship! Throwing the game this tantly in a championship match?

    3:45pm

    Does Emery take everyone for a fool?

    Aubree abruptly stood up from her seat. ¡°Uncle Bowen, go congratte the team for me first, take them out to celebrate, and send me the address. I have something to handle and I¡¯ll catch up with youter.¡±

    Bowen had some inkling of what was going on. He nced at the team members on stage, who were thanking the audience, and, without pressing for details, readily agreed, ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aubree was wearing her school uniform, which made her stand out when she got up and moved around.

    Meanwhile, on the second floor, a stylishly dressed man in his early twenties stood at the front, surrounded by members of a team that hadpeted the day before, all still in their team uniforms.

    Jacob, you keep staring at that girl in the school uniform. What, do you have a crush on her?¡± someone asked.

    Jacob Timbeke was the team¡¯s investor, the kind of rich kid who casually funded things, just for fun.

    Jacob didn¡¯t even notice who was sitting beside Aubree. His attention was all on her. ¡°Such a young woman sitting in that position¡­ Is she someone¡¯s girlfriend?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Actually, no. That woman looks familiar. Isn¡¯t she Phoenix, the yer who crushed Apex Squad at the Autumn Finals? Later, she used the prize money to get Alvin to invest and started the team,¡± one of them replied.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± another person cut in. ¡°That¡¯s her. She¡¯s the owner of God¡¯s Fury now, supposedly with no family.¡±

    Jacob smirked with a wicked glint in his eyes. ¡°An orphan, huh? So into gaming? Well, I guess I have to go introduce myself.¡±

    The people around Jacob exchanged knowing nces. It was clear to everyone that he had taken a fancy to Aubree.

    But no one dared to judge him.

    It wasn¡¯t just because Jacob was their investor, but even people with connections couldn¡¯t stop someone like Jacob.

    GD

 Tried 134

    One of Jacob¡¯s guys grinned and said, ¡°Jacob, if you decide to befriend her, that girl¡¯s hit the jackpot! Does she even know who you are? Even Bowen, that high-and-mighty big shot from Rithol City, has to put on a smile in front of you!¡±

    Jacob smirked and waved them off. ¡°Alright then, go have fun.¡±

    With that, he strode toward Aubree.

    Unaware that someone was watching her, Aubree stood scowling. Right on cue, Emery approached with cautious steps, his face etched with apprehension.

    ¡°Aubree, aren¡¯t you happy you won?¡± Emery asked, unable to gauge her mood.

    ¡°Happy? Emery, would you be happy if someone let you win? You used to be a pro yer yourself. When you made your teammates throw games, did you ever think about how they felt?¡± Aubree said.

    She truly never expected Emery would stoop to match-fixing.

    ¡®Is this the same Emery I¡¯d first seen, beaming with that triumphant swagger as he held the championship trophy?¡¯ Aubree wondered.

    ¡°None of that matters.¡± Emery seemed unfazed. ¡°I just want you to be happy. Aubree, if you¡¯re worried about it affecting God¡¯s Fury, don¡¯t be. Even if something happens, I¡¯ll handle it for you.¡±

    With desperate longing in his eyes, Emery tentatively reached out his hand. ¡°Aubree,¡± he pleaded, ¡°I just want to make it up to you, no matter what it takes. Can you forgive me? Please, will youe back with me?¡±

    Aubree shot Emery a look of utter disgust and quickly stepped away. ¡°No. Emery, you make me sick!

    ¡°If someone abandons their very principles, are they even themselves anymore?

    ¡°If you had beaten me fair and square, maybe I¡¯d look up to you and genuinely call you impressive. But right now, all I feel is disgust. Can you stop clinging to me like a piece of gum stuck to my shoe? Have you no shame at all?¡±

    Emery was utterly shattered, his eyes brimming with despair.

    He thought in disbelief, ¡®Aubree called me disgusting¡­ Disgusting? Me?¡¯

    The raw disgust on Aubree¡¯s face hit Emery like a knife to the chest, and pain radiated through every inch of his body, right down to his fingertips.

    ¡®So this is what it feels like to be despised by someone you care about. Is this how Aubree felt when we treated her that way before? Was it this unbearable for her, too?¡¯ Emery wondered.

    Tears streamed down Emery¡¯s face as he slowly sank to his knees, his body wracked with uncontroble sobs. ¡°Aubree¡­ I¡¯m

    so sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°Not every ¡®sorry¡¯ deserves forgiveness,¡± Aubree said. ¡°Your apology? I¡¯ll never ept it.¡±

    She showed not a shred of pity, and her gaze was chillingly cold. She had sought out Emery alone for one reason only, and that was to make sure he would never throw another match in futurepetitions.

    ¡®I don¡¯t need it, and neither do the young members of God¡¯s Fury!¡¯ Aubree thought with disdain. ¡°This is a stain on esports itself, and an outright insult to every ounce of effort God¡¯s Fury members have poured into this.

    Behind her, Emery¡¯s sobs still echoed, but Aubree didn¡¯t so much as pause or nce back. With each step, she walked forward with unshakable determination.

    Bowen sent her the restaurant address, and Zachary was waiting for her outside.

    Aubree hadn¡¯t gone far when she sensed something was off. ¡®Is someone following me?¡¯ she wondered.

    Jacob had never been the sneaky type, nor did he intend to hide. The moment he realized Aubree had spotted him, he strode out into the open, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

    With his bright red hair and trendy clothes, the look in his eyes told Aubree he wasn¡¯t some spoiled rich kid, just a street punk.

    Jacob, well over six feet tall, slouched casually with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

    Aubree¡¯s fingers tightened around her phone. ¡®Who the hell is this guy?¡¯ she wondered. ¡®What does he want? Judging by his designer clothes, he¡¯s wealthy, probably not after my money!¡¯

    Jacob was no stranger to preying on lone girls. He always knew his limits, targeting only those without connections or influence. Willing or not, it never mattered. He could always make any trouble disappear afterward, no sweat.

    ¡°Hey, gorgeous, heard you¡¯re a gaming legend. Mind if I introduce myself?¡± said Jacob.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not interested in getting to know you. My friends are waiting, so I¡¯ll be going now,¡± Aubree said, subtly warning him that she wasn¡¯t alone.

    Jacob smirked. ¡°Friends? Didn¡¯t you stay behind all by yourself? The rest of God¡¯s Fury already went off to celebrate their victory, didn¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡®He knows?¡¯ Aubree thought, her guard instantly rising.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply. She didn¡¯t have any self-defense tools with her, but since earning her own money, she¡¯d been taking self-defense sses.

    She just wasn¡¯t sure if she could take on a grown man over six feet tall.

 Tried 135

    ¡°If Bree¡¯s been inside for too long, go check on her.¡± These were Bowen¡¯s parting words to Zachary

    While unlikely, after the Daxton incident, Bowen couldn¡¯t afford to be careless.

    Last time, he¡¯d made it just in time, but he couldn¡¯t count on always being that lucky.

    When Zachary arrived, he found Aubree still locked in a tense standoff with Jacob.

    ¡®He knew Alvin and the others were gone, and from the way he looked at me, he must know me. This guy is no ordinary threat, Aubree thought.

    Aubree grew even more cautious, not daring to make the first move. ¡°Sir, if you have nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave now,¡± she said carefully.

    Jacob wasn¡¯t about to let Aubree leave. Without another word, he lunged for her.

    Being on guard, Aubree reacted swiftly. Maybe Jacob was caught off guard, but she managed tond a perfect throw.

    With a sharp over-the-shoulder move, she sent Jacob crashing hard to the ground.

    Jacob, always coddled and never having suffered such humiliation, grimaced in pain, his vision swimming.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± he fumed. ¡®I¡¯ve never lost in the game of love before, but this little girl just got the best of me.¡¯

    Clutching his aching waist as he struggled to his feet, Jacob¡¯s fury only hardened his resolve. He was now hell-bent on making Aubree grovel at his feet.

    ¡°She¡¯s got quite the temper,¡± Jacob muttered to himself, just catching his breath when Zachary showed up right on cue.

    Seeing this scene, Zachary instantly knew the red-haired guy was bad news.

    Jacob clenched his jaw. He was no useless pretty boy. Even if Aubree could do some self-defense, it¡¯d just mean putting in a little extra effort if he was on guard.

    ¡°I¡¯m not holding it against you for hurting me just now. Do you even know who I am? I¡¯m-¡± Before Jacob could finish, Zachary punched him square in the face.

    He was sent flying back a foot and a half.

    The punch packed serious power, leaving him dazed, his head throbbing, and seeing stars.

    ¡°Motherfucker! Who the fuck dares toy a hand on me!¡± Jacob roared as he scrambled up from the ground.

    Zachary rarely appeared in public with Bowen, so few people knew he was part of the Turner family.

    Aubree¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What¡¯s your next move?¡± she asked Jacob.

    Jacob was shaken by Zachary¡¯s intimidating presence, cursing his bad luck under his breath.

    Seeing that Jacob dared not make another move, Aubree then left with Zachary,

    Clutching his face, Jacob grimaced in pain and snarled, ¡°Fuck! Just wait till I find out who that bastard is. I¡¯ll fucking end him! Fuck!¡± The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

    Jacob immediately made a call. ¡°Hey, listen up! I just got beaten up in Rithol City. Find out who did it. Be quick! Oh, and there¡¯s this chick named Aubree, look into her too.¡±

    After a few seconds, Jacob yelled, ¡°He¡¯s rted to the Turner family? Fuck, I¡¯m their damn brother-inw!¡±

    ¡®In Rithol City, is there anything I can¡¯t get? How dare someoney hands on me? Aubree, huh? I¡¯ll remember that name. She¡¯d better fucking pray she can dodge me every single time!¡¯ Jacob cursed inwardly.

    Aubree made it to the restaurant safe and sound after the scare.

    At first nce, Zachary thought Jacob looked familiar. While driving, it finally clicked. ¡®Jacob is the Timbeke family¡¯s youngest son, born to elderly parents. His sister is Bowen¡¯s sister-inw.¡¯

    Then, he sighed, ¡®Jacqueline is such a gentle and dignified woman. How did her younger brother end up like this? Even the finest tree can bear rotten fruit, but he¡¯s warped beyond belief! His parents must have doted on their youngest son too

    much.¡¯

    When Aubree arrived, most of the dishes were already on the table.

    Hector quickly waved her over. ¡°Aubree, here. We¡¯ve been waiting for you!

    ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re freaking amazing. I could hardly believe the Turner Group was backing us, and now you¡¯ve got Bowen himself here eating with us!¡±

 Tried 136

    As he spoke, he kept stealing nces at Bowen. ¡®Bowen in the flesh!¡¯ he thought excitedly. ¡®Big shots from Rithol City would kill for a meeting like this, and here I am, not just meeting him, but sharing a damn table. Hell yeah, I¡¯m gonna brag about this for life.

    Alvin, who was constantly around Bowen, couldn¡¯t fathom why his teammates were making such a big deal.

    ¡°He¡¯s just a regr guy. What¡¯s the big deal about himing to dinner?¡± Alvin scoffed.

    Even as the captain, Alvin faced relentless bacsh the moment those words left his mouth.

    2¡ä

    ADC and Abe rolled their eyes at Alvin. ¡°Yeah, yeah, we all know you¡¯re Bowen¡¯s nephew. Could you stop flexing already?¡±

    Alvin just gave them a deadpan look, as if to say, ¡°Seriously?¡±

    The new midsolo, Van Helsing, nodded in agreement and joked, ¡°Come on, Mr. Turner, have mercy on us peasant yers, will you?¡±

    Bowen smiled politely.

    Alvin rolled his eyes and teased in his heart, ¡®Such a damn show-off.

    ¡®There are perks to putting on an act, though. After all, Bowen does have an air of sophistication, and this little disy instantly sent the club members¡¯ admiration for Aubree soaring to new heights.

    ¡°Jokes aside, let¡¯s talk business,¡± Aubree said.

    Her expression turned serious as she looked around. ¡°So, what did you guys think about today¡¯s match?¡±

    Apex Squad¡¯s performance was masterfully deceptive. They only threw key teamfights to give up advantages, and they performed normally most of the time. Alvin¡¯s team was solid too, and they capitalized on those openings to take the match.

    As soon as Aubree brought it up, Alvin¡¯s face clouded over. ¡°Do they take us for idiots?¡± he spat.

    ¡®Maybe the audience can¡¯t tell,¡¯ he thought, ¡®but as their opponents, how could we not notice? Honestly, this is the most humiliating win I¡¯ve ever had!

    The others didn¡¯t look much happier either. Sure, a win was a win, but being handed victory like this felt like a p in the face.

    Bowen knew they were discussing Apex Squad¡¯s tant match-throwing, but he chose not toment. Instead, he quietly focused on Aubree¡¯s favorite dishes, meticulously preparing and cing portions on her te.

    ¡°But Killian didn¡¯t seem to be throwing the match,¡± Hector suddenly said.

    The others nodded in agreement.

    ¡°At least he¡¯s got somepetitive spirit,¡± someone added.

    Killian¡¯s departure from God¡¯s Fury was quite a messy affair, but hispetitive drive never wavered.

    He joined Apex Squad back then because he felt he¡¯d hit a ceiling with God¡¯s Fury. Knowing they couldn¡¯t win the finals, he figured he might as well trade one unwinnable match for a shot at future championship glory.

    ¡°It was probably Emery¡¯s idea,¡± Aubree said, rubbing her temples with a sigh.

    ¡°Alright, alright. No point overthinking it. It¡¯s not like we forced Apex Squad to throw. If anything goes wrong, we¡¯re the victims here,¡± Leroy, the topner, said, raising his drink. ¡°Now, let¡¯s toast to our first victory!¡±

    Because they had matchesing up, nobody touched any alcohol.

    Hector and the others still had to head back to the team base for a post-match debrief, and Alvin was going with them.

    ¡°So, I¡¯ll head back first.¡± Aubree nced at Bowen. With just the two of them left, the atmosphere suddenly feltpletely different.

    ¡°Okay, can you get back on your own? I need Zachary for something,¡± Bowen said. Zachary, standing off to the side, hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. Bowen immediately understood that Zachary had something to say.

    ,¡¯

    ¡®Since Zachary didn¡¯t say it upfront, that means either he couldn¡¯t, or he wasn¡¯t sure if Aubree should hear those things,¡¯ Bowen thought.

    ¡°Of course, he¡¯s always been your man,¡± Aubree replied.

    The moment Aubree left, Zachary immediately reported the incident to Bowen.

    He said, ¡°Aubree and I both got physical with Jacob. Knowing what he¡¯s like, I doubt he¡¯ll just let this go.¡±

    ¡°Jacob?¡± Bowen snorted coldly. ¡®For Jacqueline¡¯s sake, I used to let it slide when Jacob dropped my name around town. But toy a hand on my people? Does he think I¡¯m dead and buried?¡¯

    ¡°Forget about him. Just focus on keeping Bree safe. Go along with what she¡¯s doing. If anyone ends up maimed or in the hospital, that¡¯s all on me,¡± Bowen said, his eyes ruthless.

 Tried 137

    Standing before Bree Technology, Bryan gazed at the now well-establishedpany, his heart filled with both awe and

    unease.

    Who would¡¯ve thought that the in little duckling from back then could achieve all this?¡¯ Bryan couldn¡¯t help but worry, ¡®Will Aubree even want to see me? And if she does, will she still trust me?¡¯

    For a fleeting moment, Bryan¡¯s eyes zed over as he recalled the simple, unassuming girl from three years ago who always stood behind him, gazing up at his back.

    She used to say, ¡°Bryan, you¡¯re amazing! Running such a hugepany! Can I study finance when I grow up? Then I could help you at yourpany.¡±

    She also said, ¡°Bryan, I heard Dad started from scratch, and you are already a sessful young man. If I, as your little sister, build my business empire one day, will people mention me alongside you and Dad when they talk about our family?¡±

    ¡®But now¡­ Bryan¡¯s throat went dry as he thought, a bitter ache rising within him.

    True to his word, Ronald had Bryan relieved of his position as chairman. When his father told him about yzy streamers inducing minors to spend money, Bryan, being a businessman himself, knew all too well that if they couldn¡¯t handle it properly, yzy could copse.

    Bryan let out a sigh.

    He understood his father¡¯s intentions. ¡®I don¡¯t want to hurt Aubree again, Bryan thought. ¡®But this matter had to be dealt with. I¡¯ll return to the Wilson family first. As for everything else, there¡¯ll always be a way.¡¯

    With these thoughts in mind, Bryan agreed when Ronald asked him to talk to Aubree.

    Vincent soon came over and told Bryan to go in.

    Hearing this, Bryan hurried to follow Vincent¡¯s lead.

    Vincent said, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought the young boss of the Wilson Group would visit ourpany in person? Mr. Wilson, you must be here to discuss some yzy coborations with Ms. Miller, right?¡±

    Hearing this, Bryan shifted ufortably and replied, ¡°Sort of.¡±

    Vincent then said, ¡°You¡¯re too modest, Mr. Wilson. Partnering with Wilson Group is our privilege, though that¡¯s just my personal opinion. The final decision rests with Ms. Miller. It is her office. Please go right in.¡±

    Vincent assumed Bryan was just like those otherpany bosses sniffing around yzy for a piece of the pie now that it was booming,ing to Aubree to discuss a partnership.

    He couldn¡¯t help but feel smug, thinking, ¡°This job just keeps getting better. With the Turner Group backing us, even the Wilson Group is now actively seeking us out for coboration.¡¯

    But Bryan was filled with a bitterness too profound for words.

    ¡®Coboration?¡¯ Bryan thought bitterly. ¡®Even if I were genuinely here to discuss a partnership, even if it were the Wilson Group, she still wouldn¡¯t agree.¡¯

    Truth be told, when his father told him to take Aubree back home, he didn¡¯t hold out much hope. ¡°The only real possibility is that Aubree can¡¯t bear to see her life¡¯s work destroyed and, for the sake of yzy¡¯s hidden crisis, may relent and go home with me, Bryan thought.

    pa

    Vincent held the door open and motioned for him to enter.

    Inside, Aubree sat at her desk, herputer screen disying yzy¡¯s recent analytics dashboard.

    ¡°Aubree, Bryan called out. ¡°yzy¡¯s been thrivingtely. As your brother, I¡¯m so proud of how far you¡¯vee.¡±

    Aubree turned to look at him, her expressionced with disgust. ¡°Proud? Are you serious?

    ¡°I remember back then, every time I outshone Carmen, you¡¯d get angry and call me pretentious, like I was just trying to steal the spotlight. Honestly, I always thought that you¡¯d never let me surpass her in your eyes.¡±

    Bryan¡¯s mind screamed, ¡®No, it¡¯s not like that!¡¯

    He wanted to exin, but every excuse sounded hollow and pathetic, even to his ears.

    The truth was, he was afraid, afraid that if Aubree grew beyond his reach, it would only make his past mistakes even more unbearable.

    Bryan hung his head in defeat. ¡°I¡­ As your brother, of course, I want you to be better.¡±

    Aubree scoffed, her voice dripping with contempt. ¡°Brother¡¯? That¡¯s a title you don¡¯t deserve in front of me, Bryan. Get to the point, what do you want today?¡±

    3:45 pm

 Tried 138

    Bryan¡¯s heart clenched. Even though he¡¯d braced himself, facing Aubree¡¯s cold, disdainful demeanor still left him breathless. He struggled to get the words out, ¡°It¡¯s about yzy. Dad¡¯s been watching it closelytely and found that some streamers are inducing minors to spend money. It¡¯s not an isted incident. If this blows up, the consequences could be disastrous.¡±

    He hesitated before continuing. ¡°If things get serious, you might need to shut down the entire yzy tform. Dad wants you toe home so we can all figure out a solution together.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Aubree burst intoughter. ¡°Ronald? ¡®Discussing solutions¡¯? Are you sure it¡¯s not just another ploy to make me hand over mypany?¡±

    Bryan caught sarcasm in Aubree¡¯s tone, yet found himself powerless to counter it.

    That¡¯s exactly what Dad intends,¡¯ he thought bitterly.

    Aubree sat back in her chair, legs casually crossed with an air of effortless elegance. She looked at Bryan and said coolly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know exactly what would happen if I went back to the Wilson family.¡±

    Bryan was too ashamed to look her in the eye.

    ¡°You knew it!¡± Aubree spat out.

    She added, ¡°You pulled this stunt before! After I switched to art studies, even with excellent grades, you still looked down on me. I truly felt I didn¡¯t belong with the Wilson family, so I went back to the orphanage. But soon after, when Carmen had apetitioning up and her painting skills weren¡¯t good enough for first prize, you, Bryan, went all the way to the orphanage to bring me back to make sure she¡¯d take the top spot.

    ¡°How pathetic I was to believe your lies! You pulled some strings to swap mypetition painting with Carmen¡¯s. She got all the fame, while I got threatened into silence.¡±

    Aubree looked at Bryan with a mocking smile and asked, ¡°When you were all celebrating Carmen¡¯s first prize, did it ever ur to you that the painting was mine?

    ¡°I confronted you, and all you did was use me of being dramatic and making a scene. Wasn¡¯t I justified in making a fuss? Bryan, do you even remember what you said back then?¡±

    Bryan¡¯s face twisted in shame as he lowered his head, unable to meet Aubree¡¯s gaze.

    Of course, he remembered every single word he¡¯d said.

    At that time, he said, ¡°Aubree, the only reason I brought you back was to secure Carmen¡¯s first ce. Did you think you deserved to return to the Wilson family for any other reason?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Bryan apologized, his voice rough with emotion.

    But it was already toote. Aubree no longer needed his empty apology.

    With a chilling smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes, Aubree said, ¡°I don¡¯t need this. You may have forgotten the past, but I remember every single detail for you.¡±

    Bryan took a deep breath. ¡°My apologies. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±

    Just as Bryan was about to leave, Aubree spoke up, ¡°But I do need to go back. You tell Ronald I¡¯ll be returning to the Wilson family this afternoon. Some things still need to be made clear.¡±

    Bryan had no idea what Aubree was talking about, but an inexplicable sense of unease settled over him.

    A voice in his head warned, ¡®You can¡¯t let Aubree go through with this. You¡¯ll regret it.

    Yet when he opened his mouth, all that escaped was, ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡®What right do I have to stop her now?¡¯ Bryan thought.

    ¡°See yourself out,¡± Aubree said, not even bothering to look up.

    Bryan walked out of Bree Technology¡¯s towering headquarters and stood on the street, a bone-deep chill settling in his chest.

    Every icy re, every cutting word from Aubree stripped away their self-deceptive facade.

    He thought making amends would let them start over, but broken things didn¡¯t magically mend.

    The harm they had done to Aubree was beyond repair.

    What monstrous things have we done to her all these years?¡¯ Bryan sighed.

    He turned back for another look at the building, bitterly aware that he, too, wasplicit.

    Then, he thought bitterly, ¡®Aubree¡¯s hatred for me likely far exceeds even her resentment toward Emery!

    Aubree remained focused on the analytics dashboard on her screen.

    Her secretary, Vincent, knocked and entered, presenting a file. ¡°Ms. Miller, as you requested, here are the streamer ounts we¡¯ve identified as encouraging underage spending.¡±

    Aubree looked at Vincent and nodded. ¡°How¡¯s the underage spending prevention system we discusseding along?¡±

    ¡°The development team says it¡¯s all ready,¡± Vincent replied.

    ¡°Good,¡± said Aubree. ¡®Underage spending caused a massive uproar in my past life,¡¯ she thought. ¡®We even had to implement a minor refund system because of it. Did they think I wouldn¡¯t take precautions? I don¡¯t need Ronald¡¯s fake concern.¡¯

 Tried 139

    <b>Chapter </b>139

    At least Aubree had agreed to return.

    Bryan informed Ronald that Aubree was returning that afternoon.

    The news spread like wildfire, and unexpectedly, by the time Aubree returned, the entire Wilson family had already gathered.

    Alice even went out of her way to have Wendy prepare avish feast, specifically requesting Aubree¡¯s favorite dishes.

    **

    28

    Meanwhile, Aubree stepped out in a designer trench coat. She had hired twowyers.

    Zachary stood waiting with a team of bodyguards, ready to escort her to the car.

    Aubree nced at the group and asked, ¡°Are all these people from the Turner family?¡±

    Zachary replied respectfully, ¡°Yes, Miss Miller. Mr. Turner worried about what they might do, so he specifically assigned a team for your protection.¡±

    Gesturing to the well-dressed man beside him, Zachary continued, ¡°This is the attorney Mr. Turner arranged for you. If the Wilson family causes any trouble, Miss Miller, you can rely on him for assistance.¡±

    ¡®Awyer arranged by Bowen?¡¯ she wondered. Aubree took a closer look, and a jolt ran through her. ¡®Wait? That¡¯s the renowned Attorney, Caesar? He¡¯s the Turner Group¡¯s chief legal counsel, with an absolutely undefeated record.¡¯

    Aubree thought, ¡®Going to the Wilson residence to terminate the adoption is not a big issue, and Bowen sent the Turner Group¡¯s top attorney to help me? Isn¡¯t that a bit of overkill?

    ¡®Well, the Wilson family will have a hard time. Well, Bowen really knows the ropes. He even arranged bodyguards and many luxury cars for me.¡¯

    While a whole convoy of high-end vehicles might be nothing special to a family as wealthy as the Wilson family, the disy certainly made an undeniable statement.

    Aubree thought, ¡®I¡¯m not going back to the Wilson family for some cozy reunion. I¡¯m here to make them pay!

    ¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± Aubree said with a confident smirk.

    Back when she lived with the Wilson family, they treated her worse than dirt. And now, they were all lined up at the gate to wee her home. How utterlyughable and pathetic.

    The Wilson family gaped at the lineup of pristine luxury cars.

    The motorcade came to a halt. Six ck-suited bodyguards were the first to emerge, forming two disciplined lines that tightly encircled the central car.

    Zachary was the first to step out of the car, opening the door for Aubree.

    The deep red trench coat swept into view first, seizing the Wilson family¡¯s attention. Only then did Aubree emerge from the car, herwyer hot on her heels.

    Upon seeing such a grand disy, Alice¡¯s heart sank with a sudden sense of foreboding. Bryan had only said that Aubree wasing back but never mentioned why. It seemed she wasn¡¯t here for a friendly visit.

    ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re really back,¡± Daxton eximed urgently, his eyes beaming with joy. At first, he had thought it was just a false rm about her return.

    Aubree shot him a cold nce. ¡°Just here to settle some business.¡±

    Daxton was so swept up in the joy of Aubree¡¯s return that all sense of reason left him. He was so happy that she had finallye back that he didn¡¯t notice what she said at all.

    Daxton beamed, ¡°You¡¯re back. That¡¯s great. Wendy has prepared a whole feast. Let¡¯s have our family reunion dinner together.¡±

    Alice quickly chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right, Aubree. We specially prepared all this for you. Please,e inside.¡±

    ¡°Specially prepared for me? Seafood pasta?¡± Aubree almostughed out loud, recalling how Carmen had hypocritically asked Wendy to make seafood pasta for her back at the hospital.

    Apparently, Emery also recalled the incident. His face stiffened as he said, ¡°Of course not, Aubree. I didn¡¯t understand before, but I promise it won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    you

    ¡°No need. I didn¡¯te back for any so-called family reunion dinner with you people anyway. Besides, just the thought of sitting at the same table as you makes me want to throw up,¡± said Aubree.

    Aubree let out a derisiveugh, not bothering to spare the Wilson family any dignity. There were no more cherished good memories between her and the Wilson family.

    28

 Tried 140

    ¡°Aubree, how could you treat Emery and Mom like this? We¡¯ve all been waiting for you at the door since early this morning, and even prepared a special meal just for you. How can you be so ungrateful.¡± Carmen stepped forward, her voice full of indignation.

    She made it sound as if skipping this meal was an unforgivable crime against the family.

    But the moment Carmen was done with her words, Aubree pped her hard across the face. A sharp, clear crack rang out.

    Carmen was utterly dazed by the p, while the rest of the Wilson family stood there,pletely dumbfounded.

    Aubree rubbed her stinging palm. ¡®Figures. Carmen really is thick-skinned; my hand actually hurts from pping her,¡¯ she thought with contempt.

    The moment Aubree walked in and spotted Carmen, she¡¯d been itching to deliver that p for ages.

    With old grudges and new grievances weighing on her, today Aubree was determined to burn all bridges with the Wilson family. She owed it to herself to settle everyst score.

    Daxton was the first to snap out of his shock, bellowing in rage, ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. She spun around and pped Daxton hard across the face. Daxton looked like he wanted to fight back, but the bodyguards standing nearby made it clear that wasn¡¯t an option.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes burned red with raw hatred. ¡°Yes, you drove me crazy.¡±

    Apart from Carmen, the person she hated the most was Daxton.

    Sure, everyone in the Wilson family had a hand in her death in her old life, but the real masterminds were Carmen and Daxton.

    As the family doctor, Daxton was always the first to review the Wilson family¡¯s medical reports, which meant he knew about Aubree¡¯s early signs of organ failure all along. But he deliberately tampered with her reports, making every checkup look perfectly normal.

    So whenever Aubree said she felt unwell, the Wilson family just thought she was faking it and punished her more badly. That was how they drove Aubree to an early grave before she even turned thirty in her old life.

    Rubbing her wrist, Aubree shot a cold, mocking look at Carmen, who had shrunk into Daxton¡¯s arms. She sneered, ¡°An adopted daughter will always be an adopted daughter. You¡¯ll never truly amount to anything more.¡±

    The words cut Carmen to the quick. Fury zed within her, nearly shattering herposure. Yet, with the crowd watching, she swallowed her rage and quickly donned a pitiful mask.

    Carmen forced a smile and said, her voiceced with feigned pain, ¡°Aubree, if hitting me brings you joy, I¡¯ll dly endure it. Just please don¡¯t take your anger out on everyone else.¡±

    Daxton snapped, ¡°Carmen, stop wasting words on her. Aubree¡¯s gonepletely mad.¡±

    Aubree smirked to herself. ¡®Well, Carmen actually got that right. Hitting her really does make me happy, she thought. ¡®How impressive. She can still keep up appearances after being pped in front of everyone!

    ¡°Carmen, what a performance,¡± Aubree sneered. ¡°I¡¯ve got other things to do today, but don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve got all the time in the world. We¡¯ll y this game nice and slow.¡±

    As for Daxton, Aubree couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. He was, hands down, the biggest moron in the entire Wilson family.

    In the past, such behavior would have earned Aubree a beating. But now, even if the Wilson family loathed Aubree, they had to put up with it. After all, Ronald still coveted thepany in Aubree¡¯s hands.

    Alice¡¯s jaw tightened. Through clenched teeth, she demanded, ¡°Aubree, what exactly are you here for today?¡±

    ¡°Enough. Stop making a scene. Come with me to the study.¡± Ronald¡¯s face darkened. He assumed Aubree hade back to talk aboutpany matters rted to yzy. He decided to tolerate her for now.

    ¡°Why go to the study?¡± Aubree smiled sweetly. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to talk right here with everyone watching? That way, you can¡¯t suddenly develop selective amnesia and flip-flop on what was said.¡±

    Only then did Ronald sense that something was off. He shifted his gaze to Bryan.

    Bryan took a deep breath. ¡°Dad, Aubree never mentioneding back to discuss yzy.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ronald was thunderstruck. He frowned at Aubree, who wore a mocking smile. ¡°So, what exactly did youe back for this time?¡±

 Tried 141

    Aubree nced around; everyone else was here except for Trevor.

    A triumphant smile tugged at Aubree¡¯s lips. She was truly overjoyed. At the mere thought of finally severing all ties with the Wilson family, Aubree wished she could pop open a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

    Aubree said, ¡°Since you¡¯re all here, I want you to pay close attention and remember what happens next. No backing out this time.¡±

    The Wilson family waspletely baffled, unable to fathom what stunt Aubree could possibly pull next.

    Aubree nodded to the twowyers she had brought. ¡°These are attorneys I¡¯ve retained, Tamid and Hamish. As for this gentleman-¡±

    Aubree turned her gaze to Caesar. ¡°He wasn¡¯t retained by me, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of his reputation, Caesar Valdez, chief legal counsel for the Turner Group. Of course, I hope things won¡¯t escte to the point where Caesar needs to intervene.¡±

    Following Aubree¡¯s introductions, the three attorneys offered a brief, professional greeting to the assembled Wilsons.

    Upon hearing that all three werewyers-one of whom was none other than the Turner Group¡¯s undefeated chief legal counsel-Caesar, Alice, and the others exchanged uneasy nces.

    Ronald stared at Aubree. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he demanded, a sudden suspicion dawning. ¡®Has she discovered my attempt to transfer her documents from the orphanage?¡¯ he wondered.

    ¡°Nothing much,¡± Aubree shrugged. ¡°Since I¡¯m leaving for good, I might as well sever all other tiespletely.¡± She produced a document from her pocket, the very severance agreement Ronald had personally signedst time.

    She continued, ¡°This is the severance agreement you signed at the hospitalst time. You haven¡¯t forgotten about it, have you, Ronald?

    ¡°This agreement isn¡¯t legally binding yet. The first thing I¡¯ll do now that I¡¯m back is to make it legally valid. From this moment onward, I hereby sever all legal parent-child ties with you and Alice.¡±

    The moment those words left her lips, the entire Wilson family froze,pletely dumbfounded. It had never crossed their minds that Aubree would actually go through with this legal severance this time.

    Ronald was too stunned to even react to Aubree¡¯s tant disrespect in calling him by his name.

    ¡®How dare she sever ties with me? This isn¡¯t some empty threat. She¡¯s broughtwyers to legally dissolve our blood ties once and for all,¡¯ he wondered.

    With that, Aubree took another document from Tamid. ¡°Secondly, it¡¯s about our adoptive rtionship. When you took me from the orphanage, you publicly dered it was an adoption.

    ¡°I was never registered under the Wilson family name, nor did I change my surname, but the official adoption procedures at the orphanage werepleted.

    ¡°Now that I¡¯m transferring my documents. Sign this document. From this moment onward, I will no longer be considered the Wilson family¡¯s adopted daughter-not in name, not inw, not in any way.¡±

    A collective gasp swept through the Wilson family. ¡°Transferring your documents?¡±

    Emery was both shocked and heartbroken. ¡®Is Aubree really rejecting us as family?¡¯ he thought. ¡®Wasn¡¯t severing our blood

    26)

    ties enough-now she wants to dissolve the adoption too?¡¯

    ¡°Why?¡± Emery cried out, heartbroken.

    Why are you leaving the Wilson family? Why are you rejecting us-your family?¡¯ Emery cried out inwardly, his voice breaking with pain.

    Emery clutched Aubree¡¯s hand desperately, his eyes brimming with anguish as he pleaded, ¡°Aubree, aren¡¯t we family? Please, don¡¯t do this. Now that you¡¯re back, isn¡¯t it better for us to stay together as a family?¡±

    Emery was begging her not to leave.

    Aubree lowered her eyelids, her gaze cold as she watched his desperate plea. Just like all those times, she¡¯d begged them not to choose Carmen over her.

    Bryan¡¯s voice choked with emotion. ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re our sister, Mom and Dad¡¯s daughter. Where could you possibly transfer your documents to? We¡¯ve realized our past mistakes. Won¡¯t you give us a chance?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Aubree yanked her hand free from Emery¡¯s grasp. ¡°Why am I cutting ties with you? Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know.

 Tried 142

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be great if we just cut ties? That way, you won¡¯t have to see me and get annoyed anymore, and I won¡¯t have to endure being cursed. You¡¯ll finally have peace, and I¡¯ll be free. It¡¯s a win-win. What¡¯s there to object to?¡±

    She continued, ¡°Otherwise, why do you think I brought thewyers here? The paperwork¡¯s all ready. Ronald, Alice, just sign, and you¡¯ll finally get what you always wanted, to be rid of me as your daughter.¡±

    At Aubree¡¯s signal, the two attorneys immediately stepped forward, each holding open a legal document.

    Tamid gave Ronald a professional smile. ¡°Mr. Wilson, Ms. Diamonde, once you sign this document, your legal parent-child rtionship with Miss Miller will be immediately terminated.¡±

    Hamish stepped forward, holding up a document. ¡°After visiting the orphanage and discussing matters with its director, I drafted this adoption termination agreement. Please review it, and if you find no issues with the terms, you may proceed to sign here.¡±

    These two documents represent theplete severance of all legal and familial ties between Aubree and the Wilson family.

    A deathly silence settled over the entire Wilson family. When Ronald angrily signed the agreement, everyone just thought Aubree was being dramatic.

    No one truly believed she would abandon the Wilson family and sever all ties. After all, without anywyers or official legal bodies present, that agreement held no real legal weight.

    By now, everyone finally realized that Aubree truly loathed the Wilson family to the core.

    Aubree had already signed her name on the signature lines of both documents. Once the Wilson family added their signatures, there would be no turning back; the severance would be legally binding.

    Bryan¡¯s throat constricted, his breath hitched. It finally dawned on him where that gnawing sense of unease hade from. He was about to lose his sister forever.

    Emery¡¯s eyes grew red.

    Alice¡¯s face contorted in anger. ¡°Well. So all this spectacle was just for you to put on airs? We¡¯ve alreadypromised so much.

    ¡°We offered you inheritance rights, let you join the Wilson family, even allowed you to take the Wilson surname, and you¡¯re still making a scene? What more do you want? For us to kick Carmen out instead?¡±

    Aubree shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you kick Carmen out or not. Either way, you¡¯re signing these papers today-no way around it.¡±

    Alice stiffened, her anger reaching a boiling point. ¡°You¡¯re utterly hopeless,¡± she spat.

    Even now, Alice still refused to believe that Aubree genuinely wanted to leave the Wilson family.

    ¡®Even if we sign the agreement, we can void itter, Alice scoffed inwardly, ¡®Aubree must be trying to force us to terminate Carmen¡¯s adoption right here and now!¡¯

    Bryan and Emery were rendered speechless as they watched their mom, a chill settling in their hearts.

    Even now, she still believed Aubree had ulterior motives. She would surely regret this one day just as they were already drowning in regret.

    12:56 am d

    Ronald wasn¡¯t pleased with Aubree¡¯s decision to transfer her documents and sever all ties with them, but he was already thinking several steps ahead.

    Ronald realized that Aubree¡¯s real motive for severing ties was to transfer her documents out of the orphanage.

    Now that he understood this, a pressing question arose in his mind. Where exactly was she nning to relocate her legal residency?

    Ronald¡¯s gaze shifted between Zachary and Caesar. Both were clearly Bowen¡¯s men.

    ¡®Is Aubree nning to transfer her documents to the Turner family? If that¡¯s the case,¡¯ Ronald mused, ¡®I might just allow it

    after all.¡¯

    Aside from Bowen, the Turner family only had Alvin left as heir. yzy might be decent, butpared to the Turner Group, it didn¡¯t evene close.

    If Aubree were to move her documents to the Turner family, he might just be able to leverage her to seize control of the Turner Group.

    ¡°Aubree, just where exactly are you nning to transfer your documents?¡± he asked.

    Aubree rolled her eyes at his stupid question. ¡°I own my ce in Rithol City, and I¡¯m a native. Of course, I¡¯m the one owning my documents.¡±

    She wondered, ¡®Does he really expect me to join a family?¡¯

    Realizing Aubree wouldn¡¯t join the Turner family, Ronald snapped vehemently, ¡°Absolutely not.¡±

    He must secure at least one-either yzy or the Turner Group. Aubree¡¯s documents must remain exclusively with the Wilson or Turner families.

    12:56 am

 Tried 143

    Aubree chuckled and wondered, ¡®As if I came here to ask the Wilson family¡¯s permission?¡¯

    ¡°Looks like I can¡¯t avoid troubling Caesar after all,¡± Aubree said. She had already anticipated the Wilson family¡¯s dogged refusal to sign, and the twowyers she¡¯d originally hired had prepared all the necessary groundwork.

    On the way here, Caesar had assured her that if the Wilson family proved unwilling, she could leave it entirely to his discretion.

    With that assurance from Caesar, the twowyers Aubree had hired dly handed over the case, without her needing to say another word.

    This was none other than Caesar, the Legal Titan. They could gain invaluable insights just by watching him defend a case.

    Alice¡¯s face darkened with rage, while Ronald¡¯s eyes were zing with suppressed fury.

    Upon receiving Aubree¡¯s instruction, Caesar stepped forward and gave a courteous bow. ¡°Mr. Wilson, Ms. Diamonde, if you refuse to sever all ties with my client, I will initiate legal proceedings against you on her behalf.¡±

    ¡®What the hell, Ronald thought, his face twisting in disbelief. ¡®Sue me? What right does Aubree have to sue me?

    ¡®I raised her for three damn years. Didn¡¯t even demand she repay me for everything I¡¯ve done, and now she wants to sue me? That¡¯spletely outrageous.¡¯

    Bryan pleaded desperately, ¡°Aubree, please don¡¯t cut ties with me. Just name it. Whatever you want, if it¡¯s within my power to give, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡±

    To everyone¡¯s astonishment, Bryan was the first to erupt.

    Bryan suddenly spoke up, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°Didn¡¯t you sayst time I should repay what I owe you? You told me if I cut myself¡ªto match the scar on your abdomen-you¡¯d considering back. I¡¯ll do it. Please, Aubree, don¡¯t leave, okay?¡±

    Aubree nced at him and smirked. Bryan was actually begging her now. He would even go so far as to hurt himself just to keep her here.

    A

    This realization filled Aubree with savage satisfaction, yet her gaze remained icy. They never gave her an ounce of hope before, so she wouldn¡¯t offer them any either.

    Under Bryan¡¯s hopeful gaze, Aubree smirked coldly, ¡°I refuse. Even if you died right in front of me, I still wouldn¡¯t stay, let alone stab yourself.

    ¡°That wasst time¡¯s condition. Since you didn¡¯t act on it then, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m reconsidering now. Or rather, even if I did consider it, the answer would still be no.¡±

    As her words sank in, the light in Bryan¡¯s eyes flickered and died, inch by agonizing inch.

    Alice seethed with rage as she wondered, ¡®Bitch, is she really trying to incite Bryan tomit suicide? How could she be so heartless?¡¯

    Seeing that Aubree showed no reaction, Caesar cleared his throat and continued, ¡°Regarding this adoption arrangement, ever since you took in my client, she was repeatedly injured to the point of hospitalization, systematically deprived of adequate nutrition.

    ¡°Despite her outstanding academic record, she was forcibly transferred to an art program. These documented patterns of behavior allow me, on behalf of my client, to file awsuit asserting that what you called adoption was, in reality, systematic

    12:56 am d

    D

    abuse and maltreatment.¡±

    He continued, ¡°Regarding the biological parent-child rtionship, despite being her biological parents, after locating my client, you chose to register her as an adopted daughter rather than acknowledge her as your own.

    ¡°I have reasonable grounds to suspect that your true intention was, in fact, to abandon her.

    ¡°Mr. Ronald and Ms. Diamonde, you must understand that if I proceed with awsuit on these grounds, the inevitable oue would be theplete severance of all legal ties with my client, and you could even be facing criminal charges and prison time.¡±

    The man standing before them was Caesar, and every word he said was noughing matter.

    Ronald¡¯s expression grew grim. This was Caesar, the undefeated Legal Titan. Ronald simply couldn¡¯t afford to gamble against him.

    No matter what, the Wilson family was clearly in the wrong. Aubree¡¯s medical records, medical examination reports, and school transfer records were all hard evidence.

    ¡°Are you truly going to sever all ties with us?¡± Ronald asked.

    Aubree nodded, her voice unwavering. ¡°More than anything.¡±

    ¡°But have you really thought about whates after severing ties?¡± Ronald coaxed gently.

    ¡®I can¡¯t let Aubree cut ties with me,¡¯ Ronald thought anxiously. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t all my schemes go down the drain?¡¯

    But Ronald knew he truly couldn¡¯t afford to cross Caesar. At this point, his only hope was that Aubree still held a sliver ofpassion for them, or maybe, just maybe, she still needed something from the Wilson family.

    12:56 am dd

 Tried 144

    Ronald said, ¡°Bryan must have already told you about yzy¡¯s vulnerabilities. As long as you remain with the Wilson family, as my daughter, the Wilson Group will step in and handle this trouble for you.¡±

    Ronald paused, his expression softening. ¡°Aubree, I still remember how happy you were when you first came home and finally found your family. And now, are you really going to abandon us?¡±

    Aubree remained unmoved, a faint, cynical smile even touching her lips. Three years ago, she had believed nothing in the world mattered more than these so-called family members before her.

    Back then, in her old life, she had bent over backward for them, no matter how low she had to stoop, just craving their approval. But what she got in return was nothing but abuse to the point of death.

    ¡°I can manage mypany just fine,¡± Aubree shot back. ¡°As for ditching this so-called family? Ronald, you abandoned me first. Since you all despised me so much, what¡¯s wrong with me walking away from you?

    ¡°Just sign these two agreements already. Search your conscience. Do I owe the Wilson family anything?¡±

    Ronald was rendered speechless.

    ¡°We raised you for three years,¡± Alice roared in fury and wondered, ¡®How could Aubree be so ungrateful? She is just an ungrateful wretch.¡¯

    Aubree shot back at Alice, her voice icy with contempt, ¡°Are you senile? Do I really need to spell out what I went through these past three years?

    ¡°Oh, so this is what you call raising me for three years? Starving, forced to stand in the corner every three days, beaten ck and blue every five. Even a stray dog wouldn¡¯t be treated this way.¡±

    Alice fell silent, her face darkening with rage and embarrassment. She suddenly remembered all the ways she had disciplined Aubree.

    ¡®But even then, so what?¡¯ Alice thought defiantly. As her mother, everything I did-even hitting and scolding-is for her own good. Carmen turns out just fine under my discipline.¡¯

    Aubree tossed the documents at their feet, her gaze fixed on them. ¡°Take my advice. Signing would be in your best interest. Trust me, if this goes to court, it won¡¯t be nearly as civil.¡±

    Both escape routes were sealed. Ronald was trapped. He stared intently at the documents at his feet.

    ¡®I can¡¯t sign this,¡¯ he thought. ¡®Aubree is now backed by the Turner family and has Bree Technology in her hands. How could I possibly sign?¡¯

    Once the papers were signed, Aubree¡¯s entire future, everything she had and would ever have, would bepletely severed from the Wilson family.

    Ronald took a deep breath and bent down to pick up the documents from the floor. His eyes gleamed with terrifying malice. After dominating the business world for decades, he never imagined he¡¯d be tricked by his daughter.

    ¡®Like a father, like a daughter?¡¯ Ronald thought bitterly.

    ¡°No, Emery cried out in despair, mistakenly thinking Ronald was about to sign.

    Even after Bryan went that far, he still couldn¡¯t win Aubree back. She utterly despises the Wilson family, he wondered, Right, what Aubree truly despises is the Wilson family. If I weren¡¯t a Wilson, would she finally look at me differently?

    Emery pleaded, ¡°Aubree, if you¡¯re really going to cut ties with the Wilson family, how about Ie with you? I¡¯ll leave the family too. From now on, as your brother, I¡¯ll take care of you. No one will ever bully you again.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s expression instantly turned icy. ¡°I¡¯m not some refuge for rejects. Even if you dropped dead right in front of me, it wouldn¡¯t mean a damn thing to me. Don¡¯t you dare try to emotionally ckmail me.¡±

    Emery¡¯s heart shattered into pieces. All eyes locked on Ronald as they wondered what he would do next.

    With a violent motion, Ronald tore all the documents to shreds, scattering the fragments across the floor.

    Shredded paper scattered across the floor as Ronald tore all the documents to pieces. ¡°Name your price. I¡¯ll give you anything,¡± he snapped, ¡°but cutting ties with the Wilson family? That¡¯s absolutely out of the question.¡±

    Alice let out a quiet sigh of relief. ¡®Aubree is still my daughter, after all, she thought. ¡®How could I ever truly sever ties with her?¡¯

    Alice snapped, ¡°We¡¯re your family, Aubree. That¡¯s never going to change, not in this lifetime. If you want to take this to court, just go. Don¡¯t think the Wilson family is an easy target.¡±

    Caesar might have an undefeated record, but that was only because he had never faced the likes of the Wilson family.

    Ronald seethed. ¡°Time to teach Aubree a lesson,¡¯ he wondered.

    ¡®Even a saint has their limits,¡¯ she wondered.

    ¡°Fuck,¡± Aubree swore, her fury boiling over. ¡°Since you¡¯re spurning my goodwill, you¡¯ll regret this. So you refuse to sever ties, huh? Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you when you regret this.¡±

    Ronald¡¯s expression turned to ice. ¡®Signing this would be my only real regret,¡¯ he seethed inwardly.

 Tried 145

    Aubree stormed out of the Wilson residence with her team.

    Zachary was at the wheel, with Aubree and Caesar in the same car.

    Aubree¡¯s face darkened with anger. She never expected the Wilson family to stoop so low.

    If she¡¯d suggested cutting ties with the Wilson family before, they would¡¯ve probably thrown a grand party to celebrate. That was how well she knew them.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Now, all that supposed reluctance and those attempts to keep me? It¡¯s all just a sham. They only care now because I¡¯ve made something of myself. All they want is to im my achievements as their own.¡¯

    A suffocating silence filled the car.

    Aubree mmed her fist down. ¡°This is beyond shameless.¡±

    Caesar remained calm. ¡°Rest assured, Miss Miller. Since Mr. Turner has assigned me to assist you, I¡¯ll see this through to the end, no matter what.

    ¡°Everything I stated at the Wilson residence just now was factual. With this evidence, ensuring some of them face jail time won¡¯t be difficult.¡±

    Aubree sighed deeply. It was not that she didn¡¯t trust Caesar, but the Wilson family¡¯s influence was overwhelming. After living with them for three years, she knew all too well how ruthless they could be.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®If I push the Wilson family too far, it could backfire on me.¡¯

    She originally intended to resolve the issue with them in a mutually agreeable manner.

    Once she had developed and gained more power, she nned to deal with the Wilson family in such a way that their control over her would be reduced to zero.

    ¡°Caesar, could you safe keep this evidence for me? I¡¯ll need your assistance when the opportune momentes,¡± said Aubree.

    Caesar nodded.

    *****

    Meanwhile, back at the Wilson residence, Carmen shrank into Daxton¡¯s embrace, not daring to make a sound.

    After Aubree left, Emery started yelling that he wanted to leave the Wilson family, then stormed out, mming the door behind him.

    Bryan sat slumped on the couch, head bowed, lost in thought.

    Ronald, boiling with rage, trashed the living room. Alice, too, wore a mask of utter gloom. She didn¡¯t understand why Emery had stormed out of the house, all for Aubree.

    ¡°Everyone, get back to your business,¡± Ronald said wearily, massaging his temples with one hand and waving them off with the other.

    No one had expected that Aubree¡¯s return this time would turn the Wilson familypletely upside down.

    Carmen seemed about to say something more, but Daxton gently pulled her aside and shook his head in warning.

    Carmen hesitated, and Daxton pulled her away.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carmen. After the ruckus Aubree caused today, Dad will definitely deal with her. I will be tied up withb work for a while, so make sure to look after yourself.

    ¡°And watch out for Aubree. Don¡¯t let her give you any trouble.¡± Daxton¡¯s eyes fixed on the bruised side of Carmen¡¯s face, his heart twisting with pain and fury.

    ¡®One day, I¡¯ll make Aubree pay for this, no matter what it takes,¡¯ Daxton vowed to himself, his eyes burning with hatred.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes flickered as she nodded, feigning vague understanding. With a show of concern, she asked, ¡°Will Aubree be alright?¡±

    Daxton smirked, his eyes glinting with venom. ¡°She¡¯ll be just fine.¡±

    Only after Daxton had left did Carmen finally let a slow, sly smile curl across her lips. She sneered inwardly, ¡®Aubree, you¡¯re digging your own grave.

    [Want to take down Aubree?] Just then, Carmen¡¯s phone buzzed with a new message, snapping her out of her thoughts.

    Carmen froze for a split second before quickly typing back: [What do you mean?]

    Without hesitation, they shot over a recording.

    [I¡¯ve edited it. Once this recording gets out, that¡¯ll be enough to put Aubree through the wringer.]

    Skeptically, Carmen tapped to y the recording. The audio had clearly been edited. She couldn¡¯t tell what the original sounded like. But after listening, only one undeniable fact stood out to her.

    So it was Aubree who asked Emery to throw the match, and Emery even promised that no matter what happened, she would never have to take the fall.

    [Where did you get this?] Carmen¡¯s excitement was barely contained.

    Carmen thought with a satisfied grin, ¡®One thing¡¯s undeniable. This really happened.¡¯

    This recording must be about the recent match between Apex Squad and God¡¯s Fury.

 Tried 146

    [Forget about that. I don¡¯t need any reward-all I want is for you to get Aubree kicked out of the League of Legends.]

    Carmen¡¯s smirk deepened with malicious glee.

    38)

    ¡®Let¡¯s see how you wriggle out of this one, Aubree,¡¯ she wondered. ¡®With both Bree Technology and God¡¯s Fury embroiled in scandals at the same time, even with all your so-called superhuman abilities, Aubree, there¡¯s no way you can handle this mess, is there?¡¯

    After securing the recording, Carmen immediately reached out to a gaming gossip ount notorious for digging up and roasting League of Legends tournaments and yers.

    dirt

    ¡®I will have him drop the recording. Even if it turns out to be fake, people will still eat it up. After all, this gossip ount is notorious for posting half-truths and outright fabrications,¡¯ Carmen thought.

    That night, Aubree¡¯s phone was blowing up with calls.

    First, the club¡¯s agent called. ¡°Miss Miller, have you heard that recording yet?¡±

    ¡®What recording? The Odiondian listening practice?¡¯ Aubree wondered. She nced nkly at the Odiondian listening practice still ying in her hand, her thoughts wandering aimlessly.

    Aubree blinked. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Miss Miller. You¡¯re really living under a rock. You have no idea what¡¯s going on. I just sent you a link on Twitter. Check it out.¡± The agent quipped and hung up abruptly.

    She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to open the video when Vincent called again.

    ¡°Miss Miller,¡± he reported, ¡°just as you predicted, there¡¯s a surge of news and reports online-parents are publicly using yzy Live streamers of encouraging underage spending, and iming the tform is turning a blind eye.¡±

    Aubree began instructing Vincent, ¡°Just follow the-¡±

    Before Aubree could finish speaking, Alvin¡¯s frantic call abruptly cut in.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. ¡®Seriously? How many things do these people have to report, one after another?¡¯ she thought.

    Aubree hung up on everyone and started a conference call. ¡°Alright,¡± she said curtly, ¡°now tell me what¡¯s going on-one at a

    time.¡±

    On the video call, the group exchanged hesitant nces before the club agent took the lead. ¡°Miss Miller, have you checked that tweet I sent you?¡±

    ¡°On it. Next,¡± said Aubree.

    Vincent paused for a moment, then said defiantly, ¡°Our tech team traced those online smear posts back to the Wilson Group. So if we¡¯re going up against them, should we reach out to the Turner Group?¡±

    They had a solid contingency n in ce to handle this, but the Wilson Group wielded immense power. They were still worried things could spiral out of control in the end.

    That¡¯s easy. The Turner Group rep is right here-just ask the person in charge,¡± said Aubree.

    Alvin gave a wry look. ¡°What I was going to say is pretty much the same as theirs. Uncle Bowen asked me to tell you. Go all out. If anything happens, he¡¯s got your back.¡±

    Aubree ordered, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve read the tweets. For Apex Squad, first issue an official statement on Twitter rifying that all the online rumors are just that-rumors.

    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss other matters when Ie to the club tomorrow. Tell the yers to focus on their training. I¡¯ll handle everything else.¡±

    ¡°Vincent,¡± Aubree instructed, ¡°have all departments proceed as nned. We¡¯ll adjust if needed.¡±

    Aubree ended the conference call.

    Aubree had long prepared for the underage spending allegations against Bree Technology, resolving it would be easy. The real threat was the Wilson Group¡¯s potential to fabricate a counterattack out of thin air.

    The top priority right now was to quickly resolve the Apex Squad match-fixing scandal. At least the online bacsh hadn¡¯tpletely turned against them yet.

    Many were also questioning how God¡¯s Fury could convince a powerhouse like Apex Squad to throw the match.

    Aubree thought, ¡®The longer this drags on, the worse it gets for us. It¡¯ll damage the yers¡¯ morale and throw off their game.¡¯

    The recording circting online was fake. Aubree distinctly remembered there were surveince cameras in the hallway where she¡¯d spoken with Emery that day.

    Aubree immediately contacted the League official.

    ¡°Miss Miller, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help, but you¡¯ll have to wait. There are procedures to follow. I¡¯ll need to go through proper channels to request that surveince footage,¡± the person in charge said.

    After that phone call, Aubree was fuming. ¡®Application, my ass. They¡¯re clearly on the take or something. Just passing the buck and giving me the runaround,¡¯ she wondered.

    Aubree never saw thising.

    As night fell, Bree Technology and God¡¯s Fury issued their denial statements almost simultaneously.

    God¡¯s Fury couldn¡¯t produce any concrete evidence. In their official statement, they tly denied any wrongdoing, pledged to conduct an internal investigation, and said they would report the matter to the authorities.

    Bree Technology, on the other hand, was far more direct-they immediately unveiled a list of all the streamers they had caught luring minors into spending, every single one of whom has now been banned.

    Additionally, Bree Technology wouldunch a dedicated refund channel for underage spending. All ounts with unauthorized purchases made by minors could apply for a refund by submitting the required documentation.

    Additionally, yzy would introduce an underage protection system. All new ounts will require age verification, and ounts registered to users under 18 would have their payment features disabled.

    These measures were instantly met with widespread praise.

    They had covered all bases-from immediatepensation toprehensive future protections.

    [yzy¡¯s speed is insane.]

    [yzy¡¯s acting way too fast-it almost makes you wonder if they staged the whole thing themselves.]

    [Oh, the perpetually victimized minors.]

    [The number of streamers yzy banned is nothingpared to all the so-called innocent victims crying online. Clearly, someone¡¯s just jealous and trying to frame them.]

    While someuded yzy¡¯s actions, others naturally saw this incident as revealing a genuine underlying problem.

    [If something like this has happened, there¡¯s no smoke without fire. Even with all these measures in ce, they can¡¯t fully prevent it, can they?]

    [This tform was made for nothing but harm. My son is hooked on watching these live streams every day. If he fails to get into Rithol University, who¡¯s going to take responsibility?]

    [Honestly, even as an adult, I¡¯m hooked on watching live streams on yzy-imagine how much harder it is for minors with even less self-control. I say just shut the whole tform down.]

    [There¡¯s no way yzy would shut down over something this minor-unless a major scandal breaks out.]

    Ronald had expected to see Aubree get torn apart by the public, but instead, yzy ended up getting some unexpected positive publicity out of the whole thing.

    That night in his study, Ronald was so enraged by the news that he grabbed a cup and smashed it to the floor. ¡°Damn Aubree. No wonder she was so fearless-she must have been prepared for this all along.¡±

    ¡°But then again,¡± Ronald sneered, his gaze lingering on a particrment. ¡°Still too young to understand why the old fox is always the slyest.¡±

    Ronald¡¯s voice was cold and calcting. ¡°Hey, is that guy we talked aboutst time on board now? Okay. Then we¡¯re ready to

    move.¡±

    Bree Technology swiftly resolved the matter, bringing it to a quiet conclusion without much fanfare.

    However, the club¡¯s attempt to bribe Apex Squad into acting as stooges was still getting nowhere.

    Aubree spent the next day trying to get the officials to cooperate, but they kept stonewalling and refused to let them ess the surveince footage.

    Even by the time she left school for the club meeting that afternoon, there was still no word from the officials.

    In the esports club¡¯s conference room, nearly all the management staff had gathered. To avoid disrupting the yers¡¯ matches, Aubree had deliberately excluded Alvin and Matilda from attending the meeting.

    ¡°This is getting tricky,¡± Aubree said. ¡°The officials must¡¯ve been paid off-they keep giving us the runaround and just won¡¯t let us check the surveince footage.¡±

    Even if this blows up, it¡¯s still just between Apex Squad and God¡¯s Fury-the League officials won¡¯t get dragged into it.

    Agent Den Whitaker¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Our statement hasn¡¯t had much effect. With the tournament in full swing, not only are our fans demanding answers, but casual viewers are jumping on the bandwagon, and influencer ounts are fueling the fire.

    ¡°In the past few days, even the top-tier League of Legends streamers on yzy have been dragged into this mess.¡±

    Aubree sighed, ¡°I know, but it¡¯ll take ages to get the audio recording authenticated. Besides, even if they can verify it, this timeframe alone could cripple us.¡±

    After all, the conversation between her and Emery on that recording was undeniably real.

 Tried 147

    ¡°I swear, if I find out who recorded this.¡± Aubree ground her teeth in frustration. ¡°You all get to work-send the recording to the forensicb first. I need to figure out how to handle this situation.¡±

    Keeping everyone here won¡¯t solve anything. With so much else to handle, Aubree waved her hand and decisively called an end to the meeting.

    Aubree propped her chin in her hands. ¡®What should I do? Just wait it out?¡¯ she wondered. ¡®Who knows what other surprises might pop up if I just wait around? Should I ask Emery toe forward and rify?¡¯

    A fleeting thought crossed Aubree¡¯s mind, but she dismissed it at once. ¡®First,¡¯ she reasoned inwardly, ¡®I can¡¯t be sure if Emery is involved-and even if he isn¡¯t, I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to ask him!

    ¡°Bree, you in there?¡± A voice called from outside the slightly ajar conference room door.

    A voice filtered through the slightly ajar conference room door.

    Aubree froze for a moment and looked up. ¡®Did I mishear?¡¯ she wondered. ¡®Why did I just hear Bowen¡¯s voice?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ming in,¡± he said.

    A momentter, a series of sharp knocks rapped against the door.

    ¡®Bowen actually came?¡¯ Aubree thought in disbelief.

    The conference room door swung halfway open, revealing Bowen¡¯s unfairly handsome face. ¡°Mind if Ie in?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Come on in,¡± Aubree replied.

    Bowen walked in, dressed simply and casually, with sneakers on his feet.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re in a bit of trouble.¡± Bowen arched a brow, then helped himself to the chair closest to Aubree and sat down.

    ¡°You¡¯re here, so you obviously already know, don¡¯t you?¡± Aubree snapped.

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Well, should I say you really get me now?¡±

    Aubree said impatiently, ¡°I¡¯m really not in the mood for your jokes right now.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s yful demeanor faded as he grew serious. ¡°The club¡¯s issues aren¡¯t hard to resolve. I know exactly what you¡¯re after.¡±

    Bowen leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, hushed tone. ¡°I had Kelvin get the surveince footage.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s pupils constricted. Before she realized it, his face was mere inches away-his breath brushing her cheek. Ufortable with the sudden proximity, she instinctively tilted her head aside.

    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bowen asked, genuinely puzzledpletely unaware of how close he was to Aubree.

    His warm breath brushed her skin, his intoxicating scent filling the air and surrounding her from all sides, leaving her nowhere to escape.

    The conference room was huge, yet she felt suffocated.

    Flustered, Aubree quickly averted her gaze. ¡°N-nothing, how did you get the surveince footage?¡± she said. 1/2

    12:43 pm D

    Bowen gave a dry chuckle. ¡°The Turner Group holds shares in the official League of Legends operator.¡±

    The Turner Group primarily operated in investments, with its presence spanning virtually every industry.

    ¡°Don¡¯t put all your eggs in one basket¡±-this principle has been the key to the Turner Group¡¯s enduring sess. They consistently spot new business opportunities and invest in cutting-edge, profitable ventures.

    Aubree had to admit she was impressed. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t even begin to describe the whirlwind of emotions. inside her.

    Aubree subtly edged back, hesitated for a moment, then quietly asked, ¡°I¡¯m always troubling you. Does that make me a burden to you?¡±

    ¡®Had Bowen note to me first, I wouldn¡¯t have thought to ask for his help,¡¯ she wondered.

    Aubree knew full well this would be a breeze for Bowen to handle. But the more she relied on him, the more dependent she¡¯d be-and that wasn¡¯t good news for Aubree.

    Aubree pursed her lips. ¡°It feels like you¡¯ve been helping me ever since we met,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in free lunches.¡±

    Bowen mulled over her words, and it suddenly dawned on him. ¡®Wait, is Bree actually getting tired of me?¡¯ he wondered.

    She wanted to distance herself from him-or even leave him altogether.

    This wasn¡¯t supposed to be bad news for him. After all, his original n was to quietly step back from her life once she became fully capable of handling things on her own.

    ¡®But why do I feel so bothered?¡¯ Bowen wondered.

    Bowen¡¯s lips curved in a faint smile, but his eyes turned cold and distant. ¡°I see,¡± he said tonelessly.

    With that, he left only a USB drive on the table.

    38

 Tried 148

    Aubree did end up using the USB drive. She handed it to Den-he knew what to do.

    By the time Aubree left the club, nightfall had already descended.

    Hidden in the night shadows was a Maybach, its window slightly ajar to reveal nothing but a hand holding a cigarette.

    His gaze was fixed squarely on the main entrance of Golden Industrial Park.

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help but scoff at himself.

    Bowen thought to himself, ¡®God, I¡¯m pathetic. She¡¯s desperate to distance herself from me, yet here I am, still worrying about her safety at night.¡¯

    ¡°Um, Mr. Turner, aren¡¯t we leaving yet?¡± Samson, sitting in the front seat, asked hesitantly, ncing about in confusion as he wondered who they were waiting for.

    Samson thought, ¡®If we¡¯re really waiting for Miss Miller, why can¡¯t Mr. Turner just wait openly? Why hide in the car like some shady character?¡¯

    Bowen choked up for a moment, then came up with ame excuse that wouldn¡¯t fool a soul. He muttered weakly, ¡°Oh, I told Zachary toe back. We¡¯re waiting for him before leaving.¡±

    ¡®Wait for Zachary?¡¯ Samson thought skeptically, exchanging a nce with Ethan. ¡®Mr. Turner must be lying.¡¯

    Ethan and Samson exchanged a knowing nce, their eyes aze with the fire of gossip.

    Samson wondered, ¡®Was he just dumped by Miss Miller?¡¯

    Ethan thought, ¡®Absolutely. He even called Zachary back-he must¡¯ve really been dumped!¡¯

    Samson wondered, ¡®Mr. Turner must be worried about Miss Miller¡¯s safety at night and wants to follow and escort her home on the sly.¡¯

    Ethan thought, ¡®Hey, why don¡¯t you ask him?¡¯

    True to his word, Samson cautiously ventured, ¡°Mr. Turner, it¡¯s not really safe for Miss Miller to be alone thiste at night. Maybe we should escort her home together?¡±

    Bowen gave a dry chuckle. ¡°The Yastraria project is short-staffed. Why don¡¯t you two go check it out?¡±

    Ethan and Samson mmed up at once, groaned inwardly, ¡®Mr. Turner just loves to pick on us.¡¯

    Bowen exhaled a slow stream of smoke as he reclined in his seat. Even his subordinates could tell how deeply he cared about Aubree.

    No, to be precise, everyone around him could see it-everyone except himself, clinging to self-deception and refusing to dwell on it.

    ¡°Walk away, or-¡® he wondered. Before Bowen could reach a decision, a sharp rap on the car window startled him.

    Zachary reported, ¡°Mr. Turner, as you instructed, I¡¯ve stopped following Miss Miller.¡±

    Bowen rolled down the window and stared at Zachary, stunned. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    39

    Zachary¡¯s usually impassive face showed a hint of confusion. ¡°I told Miss Miller I¡¯d leave after seeing her home, but she said I could go now. She headed back on her own.¡±

    Bowen was so furious he could feel his chest tightening. ¡®Is he made of wood or what?¡¯ he wondered.

    Bowen fumed, ¡°I told you to escort her home before leaving-so why the hell are you back here?¡¯ He wondered, ¡®Damn it, what if she encounters danger on her way back? Or gets lost?¡¯

    The more Bowen dwelled on it, the wilder his imagination ran. He could already picture Bree getting bullied.

    Bowen snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there-get in the car. Ethan, drive.¡±

    ¡°Go back and face your punishment,¡± Bowen said sharply, his finalmand directed at Zachary.

    Even though his rational mind told Bowen the odds were slim, the mere thought of Aubree being in danger filled him with a gnawing unease.

    Bowen thought, ¡®I feel like I¡¯m losing my mind a little. I can¡¯t pinpoint when it started-maybe before I went to Odiond, or maybe after I got back.

    ¡®But whenever Bree isn¡¯t within my sight or I don¡¯t know where she is, this irrational panic just takes over, and I¡¯m terrified something might happen to her.¡¯

    Bowen knew better than anyone how messed up his state of mind was-constantly suppressing inappropriate thoughts, and forcing himself to remove all restraints when it was time for Bree to spread her wings.

    But he couldn¡¯t stand it, and it was only just the beginning.

    Bowen let out a bitter chuckle, thinking to himself, ¡®Serves me right.¡¯

    Streetlights cast the shadows of trees onto the ground as the ck Maybach crawled through the night, its upants¡¯ eyes darting anxiously from side to side.

    The cool autumn breeze brushed against her skin, deste, yet strangely liberating.

    +38

 Tried 149

    Pedaling her bike against the biting wind, Aubree¡¯s face had gone numb. ¡°Once senior year is finally over, the very first thing I¡¯ll do is get my driver¡¯s license,¡± she grumbled to herself.

    Aubree tightened her jacket against the chill,pletely oblivious to the red-haired figure staggering out from the bar she¡¯d just passed.

    Jacob¡¯s bloodshot eyes locked onto the retreating figure. Before his alcohol-clouded mind could process what was happening, he¡¯d already swung onto his motorcycle and roared off in pursuit.

    Jacob thought to himself, ¡®Well, I hadn¡¯t even gone looking for her yet, and she just fell right into myp.

    ¡®Aubree, huh? So you¡¯ve got some so-called connection with Bowen. Well, that paltry little acquaintance won¡¯t mean a damn thing in *his* world.

    The roar of a motorcycle engine suddenly erupted beside Aubree¡¯s ear. Before she could even identify the rider, a dark blur shot past-then, a bike skidded sideways, abruptly blocking her path.

    Everything happened in a split second-Aubree had no time to brake and crashed head-on into the motorcycle¡¯s front.

    The impact sent Aubree reeling.

    Aubree barely managed to steady herself, narrowly avoiding an embarrassing facent. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡±

    Jacob didn¡¯t even care about his motorcycle, reeking of alcohol, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her. He drawled menacingly, ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Aubree. Long time no see.¡±

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Aubree demanded. He¡¯d been digging into her past.

    Jacob scoffed, ¡°What do I want? Wasn¡¯t it obviousst time? Stop ying dumb. You¡¯re just an orphan girl kicked out by the Wilson family-how the hell did you suddenly get so capable?

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve already been passed around by Bowen and Alvin. I¡¯m from the Timbeke family. Do you know my sister? She¡¯s married to Bowen¡¯s older brother. Even Alvin has to call me uncle. Stick with me, and I¡¯ll treat you right.¡±

    ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Aubree was genuinely taken aback by Jacob¡¯s family connections.

    No sooner had Aubree fallen out with Bowen than she ran straight into Jacob, hitting on her. She thought to herself, ¡®Just my luck.¡¯

    Most importantly, even in her previous life, she knew that Bowen deeply respected his elder brother, and, by extension, his sister-inw too.

    To make matters worse, there wasn¡¯t a soul in sight.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®Jacob is drunk-he might not actually be able to overpower me.

    The drunken man staggered closer, reeking of alcohol. Aubree¡¯s muscles tensed. Seizing the opportunity, sheshed out with her backpack, mming it straight into Jacob¡¯s face.

    Jacob clutched his face, howling in pain. ¡°Fuck. When I get my hands on you, you¡¯re dead meat.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t hesitate-she bolted.

    ¡°Fuck¡± Jacob lunged forward in pursuit, but just as he moved, a blinding beam of headlights suddenly cut through the

    +38.

    darkness. Instinctively squinting against the re, he heard the sharp clunk of car doors opening nearby.

    The next moment, a powerful kick mmed into him, sending him sprawling to the ground.

    Aubree fled without a backward nce,pletely unaware of the violent scene unfolding behind her.

    Jacob scrambled to his feet, clutching his sore ass. ¡°Who the fuck just sucker-punched me?¡± he roared. But when he finally saw the three hulking men closing in, his blood turned to ice-he was scared out of his wits.

    ¡®Did I piss anyone offtely?¡¯ he wondered. Before he could even process it, Ethan, Samson, and Zachary instantly swarmed him and started beating the crap out of him.

    Jacob shouted, ¡°Agh. Who the hell are you guys?. Do you even know who I am?¡±

    Jacob scrambled for cover, about to shout out his identity, then suddenly froze. ¡®Wait. Isn¡¯t this the guy who punched mest time?¡¯ he thought. Aren¡¯t they Bowen¡¯s right-hand men?¡¯

    Ethan sneered, ¡°Huh? Cat got your tongue? Who the hell are you?¡±

    Samson barked, ¡°Think you can get drunk and harass a girl? Beat the crap out of him.¡±

    Ethan and Samson traded taunts as they beat him, each blownding harder than thest.

    Zachary stayed silent, only grunting in acknowledgment as his blows grew heavier.

    ¡°Fucking stop. Ethan, Samson, open your damn eyes and see who I am. I¡¯m Jacob.¡± Jacob¡¯s pleasure-seeking, frail frame was no match for the three-man beating, and he kept howling in pain.

    ¡®Huh? They stopped?¡¯ he wondered.

    The moment Jacob bellowed, the rain of punches abruptly stopped.

    ¡®Now they¡¯re scared, huh? Toote,¡¯ Jacob thought with a chilling sneer, ¡®Just wait till I see Bowen. I¡¯ll make sure he makes those bastards pay dearly.¡¯

    Before Jacob could straighten up, a powerful kick mmed into his gut, sending him flying three feet backward. ¡°B-Bowen?¡±

 Tried 150

    Jacob realized then. They knew exactly who he was, and they weren¡¯t about to hold back.

    Jacob¡¯s legs trembled uncontrobly as he stared at Bowen, too terrified to even attempt getting up from the ground.

    Sure, Jacob kept throwing Bowen¡¯s name around every day, but deep down, he knew the truth-he was just himself, and his sister¡¯s status had nothing to do with him.

    Bowen respected his sister, but that didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d treat Jacob like he mattered.

    He could unt Bowen¡¯s name all he wanted-most of the time, Bowen might just turn a blind eye. But if he ever truly provoked Bowen directly, there¡¯d be no mercy.

    Jacob staggered backward, trembling uncontrobly. He had designs on Aubree and only dared to act because he was gambling on Bowen¡¯s indifference toward her.

    ¡°Bowen, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know Aubree was yours-if I¡¯d known, I never would¡¯ve dared,¡± he said.

    Bowen remained silent, pressing his foot down on Jacob¡¯s calf with an impassive expression. Meanwhile, beads of cold sweat erupted across Jacob¡¯s forehead.

    ¡°Ah, Bowen, for my sister¡¯s sake, please spare me,¡± Jacob said.

    Bowen narrowed his eyes and said coldly, ¡°Do you even deserve to mention your sister?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Turner, the cops are almost here,¡± Ethan leaned in and whispered in Bowen¡¯s ear.

    Ethan didn¡¯t bother to lower his voice, so Jacob heard everything. Trembling even harder, Jacob pleaded, ¡°No, Bowen, just treat me like worthless trash and let me go. There¡¯s no need to make things so ugly between our families.¡±

    Bowen cast a disdainful nce at Jacob, who was cowering at his feet in terror, let out a mocking scoff, andpletely ignored his pleas.

    With deliberate slowness, he lifted his leg and turned to leave.

    Jacob heaved a sigh of relief. As long as Bowen didn¡¯t touch him, the Timbeke family could easily handle the cops.

    Before Jacob could fully calm his racing heart, Bowen¡¯s deceptively light voice drifted to him on the breeze.

    Bowen said, ¡°Can¡¯t even behave yourself, stalking girls every day. Since you are my friends, guess I¡¯ll have to teach you a proper lesson.¡±

    Jacob¡¯s face instantly drained of color. Everyone knew Bowen had the face of an angel, but a heart cker than the devil¡¯s.

    His words made it crystal clear. He was going to break Jacob¡¯s legs. Whether it was one or both would all depend on his mood.

    Sure enough, just as Bowen¡¯s words fell, the sound of footsteps slowly drew closer.

    Bowen ordered, ¡°Samson, when the cops ask, go with them.¡±

    As Bowen¡¯s words faded, a blood-curdling scream tore through the night behind him.

    Meanwhile, all hell broke loose at the Timbeke family¡¯s house.

    Jacob was the Timbeke family¡¯ste-born son. Ever since their eldest daughter left, the whole family spoiled their only son to the point ofwlessness.

    The police called, and it was Jacob¡¯s father, Gareth Timbeke, who picked up.

    The police simply said that Jacob was involved in an incident and had been taken to the hospital, offering no further details.

    Gareth was still at a business dinner when the call came. So shocked that his wine ss slipped and shattered on the floor, he rushed straight to the hospital.

    Gareth demanded anxiously, ¡°How¡¯s Jacob?¡±

    The nurse confirmed his identity and said, ¡°It¡¯s quite serious. Two ribs are broken, both legs are fractured, and there are multiple other injuries.¡±

    ¡°Who did this?¡± Gareth bellowed, his vision blurring with rage. In Rithol City, the Timbeke family held considerable influence, not to mention that he was Bowen¡¯s father-inw.

    ¡®Who on earth would darey hands on my son?¡¯ Gareth wondered. ¡®He¡¯s my only son, bornte in my life-he¡¯s my lifeblood, my very foundation.''¡±

    ¡°The police didn¡¯t say,¡± the secretary reported.

    Gareth¡¯s face was livid with rage, and the secretary who had followed him in was trembling uncontrobly behind him. ¡°Call Chief Julien Rourke. Now,¡± he barked.

    Getting into trouble was nothing new for Jacob-he¡¯d been at it for ages. Gareth had already spent a fortune greasing the right palms to keep things under control.

    ¡°Mr. Timbeke, he¡¯s not picking up,¡± the secretary reported, voice trembling.

    ¡°No answer?¡± Gareth saw red, not stopping to think. He snarled, ¡°So he won¡¯t pick up? Fine. Let¡¯s see which fucking bastard daredy a hand on my son. Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ming to the station with you.¡±

    ¡®Who the hell dares touch

 Tried 151

    At the police station, Samson sat there, clutching a water cup, his face a picture of pure innocence. ¡°Officer, you¡¯re asking me? I really wouldn¡¯t know. I was just driving by when I noticed that guy following a young girl.

    ¡°Our boss, bless his kind heart, thought he had bad intentions and told me to check it out. By the time I got there, the guy was already lying on the road, beaten half to death. My boss? It¡¯s Bowen.¡±

    The officers exchanged nces and said, ¡°Mr. Turner?¡±

    Samson said, ¡°Why did I even call the cops? I honestly didn¡¯t realize at the time-onlyter did I find out this troublemaker was actually Mr. Turner¡¯s brother-inw, you know?¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying your presence at the scene was just a coincidence?¡± the officer asked skeptically.

    There was barely any surveince on that street-just a clip of Jacob leaving the bar, clearly tailing a girl, though her face wasn¡¯t caught on camera. Now that Jacob is in aa, you¡¯re the only one we can question.

    Samson feigned innocence. ¡°I was just trying to be a Good Samaritan, but it backfired. You¡¯re not suggesting I was the one who beat him up, are you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what we meant,¡± the police said.

    The officer¡¯s lips twitched. Anyone with eyes could see that Jacob had been beaten to a pulp, but in all of Rithol City, very few had the power to pull that off.

    ¡®And, wouldn¡¯t you know it, the one sitting right in front of them was exactly that,¡¯ they wondered.

    Samson continued, ¡°For a bodyguard like me, I¡¯m on call 24/7 to protect Mr. Turner. How could I just leave without his orders?

    ¡°If I actuallyid hands on someone, wouldn¡¯t that mean Mr. Turner wanted him dealt with? Does that sound usible to you?¡±

    With no evidence, the police had no choice but to let Samson go for now.

    As Samson was leaving the police station, he ran into Gareth, who was just arriving. They exchanged a brief nce-they were no strangers to each other.

    Gareth¡¯s heart sank. ¡®Isn¡¯t that Bowen¡¯s man? What¡¯s he doing here?¡¯

    As he made his way over, Gareth¡¯s initial anger gradually subsided. A sense of dread crept in. ¡°This is bad,¡¯ he thought. ¡®Could that damn kid have actually provoked Bowen this time?¡¯

    But the next instant, his rage red up again. ¡®So what if it¡¯s Bowen? That doesn¡¯t give him the right to beat my son within an inch of his life, Gareth thought..

    Samson walked straight past him without so much as a nce.

    When he reached the duty room, only a handful of officers were inside.

    ¡°Mr. Timbeke, you¡¯re here. Please have a seat and rx. We just wanted to get your statement,¡± the officer said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn about the details. Just tell me whoid hands on him.¡± Gareth snapped. He wasn¡¯t about to sit around sipping coffee-he wanted answers now.

    38

    ¡°Mr. Timbeke, we asked you here to let you know that the surveince footage is missing. At the moment, we only have one eyewitness, and beyond that, there¡¯s not much else we can confirm,¡± the officer said.

    Gareth red at them, refusing to back down. ¡°You¡¯d better think this through. Chief Rourke and I go way back.¡±

    The police, however, simply stuck to their original statement.

    Faced with Gareth¡¯s furious threats, the officers exchanged knowing nces, their eyes gleaming with thinly veiled derision.

    They¡¯d lost count of how many times they¡¯d had to clean up Jacob¡¯s messes. Every time, the Timbeke family would just buy their way out of trouble. This time, while they couldn¡¯t say for sure, it was clear Bowen¡¯s influence was definitely at y.

    ¡®If Gareth had really managed to get through to Chief Rourke, why would he bothering down here in person?¡¯ they wondered.

    ¡°Mr. Timbeke, please calm down first. Chances are, Jacob was probably the one who started this,¡± the officer said.

    Gareth snapped, ¡°Even if he was at fault, beating him to that extent-isn¡¯t that excessive self-defense?¡±

    ¡°All I want to know is-who the hell did this?¡± demanded Gareth.

    ¡°Honestly, we really don¡¯t know. And even if we did, we wouldn¡¯t be at liberty to disclose that information,¡± the officer said.

    The officers¡¯ derisive buck-passing made Gareth tremble with barely contained rage.

    Gareth snapped, ¡°Fine. You all just wait. I¡¯m not done with you yet.¡±

    As soon as they left the police station, Gareth barked at his secretary, ¡°Keep trying to get through to Chief Rourke. If he still won¡¯t answer, go pay him a visit in person-and don¡¯t forget to bring some gifts.¡±

    In Gareth¡¯s eyes, anything money could fix wasn¡¯t even worth a second thought.

 Tried 152

    The secretary dared only to murmur in agreement. Gareth was consumed with rage over his son being beaten, though not entirely irrational, he still had his wits about him.

    Julien wasn¡¯t answering his phone, and the officers from earlier didn¡¯t provide any useful information. All this only confirmed that whoever dared toy a hand on Jacob was someone way out of their league.

    Gareth figured it had to be rted to the Turner family.

    Gareth couldn¡¯t care less. His son had been beaten, and he was going to make them pay.

    He, too, was frantically calling every contact, pulling strings to dig up answers.

    After returning, Samson went to see Bowen. ¡°Mr. Turner, Jacob¡¯s business isn¡¯t over yet.¡±

    Bowen said coolly, ¡°They think it¡¯s over? Did I ever say they could?¡±

    Samson hissed under his breath, ¡°The Timbeke family¡¯s in for hell this time.

    Aubree waspletely unaware of all this.

    Aubree quickly put the whole Jacob incident out of her mind after getting home.

    ¡®Maybe I should hire a couple of bodyguards myself, she mused. ¡®Next time I run into that bastard, I¡¯ll have them teach him a lesson before dragging him straight to the police station.

    With the surveince footage Bowen provided, sorting out the club mess was a breeze. Aubree didn¡¯t beat around the bush -she just released the video straight away.

    Now everyone knew Emery had his team openly throw the match just to please Aubree.

    The tide of public opinion instantly turned. The key was, Emery didn¡¯t even try to defend himself-he openly admitted, ¡®Yeah, I did it. It was my fault. If you want to me someone, me me. Don¡¯t drag anyone else into this.

    Before long, Aubree¡¯s identity was all over the inte.

    Quite a few people sted Aubree as heartless for turning her back on her own family, while those in the know pushed back, revealing the hardships she¡¯d endured with the Wilson family. Soon, a heated me war broke out online-but Aubree couldn¡¯t be bothered.

    The next morning, Jacob woke up in the hospital. The police conducted a routine questioning, but he was evasive, offering no details beyond admitting he¡¯d been beaten.

    In the hospital, the moment the police left, Gareth urgently pressed, ¡°Jacob, tell me right now-who did this to you?¡±

    Jacob knew better than to cross Bowen, and the Timbeke family was no match for the Turner family either.

    ¡°Dad, just drop it, okay? I¡¯m fine. I got beat up, so what? I¡¯ll heal. The hospital can¡¯t figure out who did it, and there¡¯s no proof I actually did anything wrong. Let¡¯s just let it go, alright?¡± Jacob said.

    He knew he¡¯d crossed Bowen, so he could only chalk it up to bad luck.

    Careth clearly wasn¡¯t about to let this slide. He pressed, ¡°Jacob, tell me. Was the Turner family involved in this?¡±

    Jacob shot him a surprised nce.

    That nce was all Gareth needed to confirm his suspicions. ¡°Even if it¡¯s the Turner family-¡± he said.

    The police, who had just left, abruptly returned. An officer announced, ¡°Jacob, we¡¯ve just received a video. You are suspected of sexual misconduct involving a minor. Please cooperate with our investigation.

    ¡°Regarding the victim in this case, we¡¯ve already dispatched other officers to investigate. Be aware that every statement you make could be critical evidence in a trial. We expect you to answer all questions truthfully.¡±

    Given that Aubree was still a minor, the police went directly to her home to get her ount of what had happened that night.

    Aubree gave the police a full ount of Jacob¡¯s attempted sexual assault, detailing everything from start to finish.

    With irrefutable evidence, Jacob was immediately taken into custody.

    No leads had surfaced on who beat him up, but everyone had their suspicions.

    Gareth was beside himself with anxiety, desperately pulling every string and calling in every favor to get his son out.

    ¡°Chief Rourke, it¡¯s me,¡± Gareth began, his voice tinged with urgency.

    Gareth snapped, ¡°They said not to contact him anymore? Can¡¯t help? No way. Fine, I understand. Thanks for trying.¡±

    *****

    Life seemed to have returned to normal.

    Aubree maintained her usual routine, school, meals, and, in between, handling affairs for both herpany and the esports club.

    While Aubree was perfectly fine, someone else had been utterly tormented these past few days.

    ¡°How could you came up with this garbage proposal? Get your ass back to the drawing board and start over,¡± a voice sounded.

 Tried 153

    Kelvin stood by the door, tsking softly. As someone emerged carrying a stack of documents, he stopped them, took the files, and gave them a quick look. Honestly, they were pretty subpar.

    Kelvin stroked his chin. ¡®Normally, Mr. Turner wouldn¡¯t be quite so harsh with his words, but these days- It¡¯s all because Miss Miller and Mr. Turner have a falling-out,¡¯ he wondered.

    Kelvin patted the manager on the shoulder. ¡°Even if this project is tough, you still need to put in more effort. Mr. Turner¡¯s been in a foul moodtely, so everyone better be on their toes.¡±

    With that, Kelvin entered with this quarter¡¯s financial report. ¡°Mr. Turner, here¡¯s the financial statement from ounting. Please take a look.¡±

    Bowen pressed a hand to his forehead and waved the report away.

    Kelvin casually brought it up, ¡°Mr. Turner, I have this friend who recently took a liking to a youngdy. The thing is, he thought he was such a catch that she¡¯d naturally fall for him without him even trying. Guess what happened?¡±

    Kelvin continued, ¡°The girl got snatched up by another guy.¡±

    Bowen stared at Kelvin, shifting his full attention to him.

    Seeing he had Bowen¡¯s attention, Kelvin cleared his throat and continued, ¡°I think, if he likes her, he has got to make his move quickly. Or at least drop some hints. Just waiting around will get him nowhere.¡±

    ¡°Kelvin, do you have too much free time on your handstely?¡± Bowen asked in a dangerous voice.

    He pressed, ¡°Or is it because I haven¡¯t docked your bonustely that you¡¯ve gotten cocky?¡±

    Bowen wondered, ¡®Does he really take me for a fool, thinking I can¡¯t tell he¡¯s making a point about me?¡¯

    Kelvin forced augh. ¡°Let¡¯s not go there with the bonus deduction, Mr. Turner. How about checking the financial statements first?¡±

    Bowen scoffed derisively.

    Bowen thought, ¡®If you like her but don¡¯t take the initiative, some other guy might sweep her off her feet? Nonsense, how is that evenparable to me?

    Who do I even like? How could I possibly like her? I just see her as a little girl.

    As Bowen mulled over Kelvin¡¯s words, he grew increasingly unsettled

    He wondered, ¡®Holiday ising up, and in just about six months, Bree will be heading off to college. There¡¯d be plenty of guys chasing after her then. What if she meets some smooth-talking charmer? What if she gets taken advantage of?¡±

    Bowen couldn¡¯t make sense of the documents in his hands. ¡°You¡¯re dismissed,¡± he ordered.

    After dismissing Kelvin, Bowen called Ollie.

    ¡°Well, I should go buy a lottery ticket today-the super busy guy actually called me,¡± Ollie teased.

    Bowen remained silent, half-listening to Ollie brag for a while.

    ¡°Alright, spill it. Why¡¯d you call?¡± Ollie asked.

    4387

    *Got a question for you,¡± Bowen said, narrowing his eyes, though what really upied his mind was how Aubree hadn¡¯t shown the slightest intention of reaching out to him these past few days.

    Bowen even asked Alvin about herst night-not a single word about him.

    ¡°Now that¡¯s something,¡± Ollie chuckled. ¡°Come on, what¡¯s the scoop?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the deal when a girl doesn¡¯t give a guy the slightest attention?¡± Bowen said.

    ¡°They used to spend quite some time together,¡± he added.

    This sent Ollie into a fit ofughter. He¡¯d been wondering why Bowen suddenly reached out to him. ¡®So that¡¯s why, he wondered. ¡®It seems he is about to fall in love.¡±¡®

    Ollieughed and said, ¡°Come on, isn¡¯t it obvious? The girl just isn¡¯t into the guy.¡±

    The corners of Bowen¡¯s mouth instantly drooped, but still unwilling to give up, he rationalized, ¡°What if she¡¯s just been too busytely?¡±

    Ollie could barely contain hisughter. This was absolutely hrious. ¡®Bree must¡¯ve finally dumped him,¡¯ he thought, thoroughly amused.

    ¡°Come on, Bowen, who could be busier than you? Back when you were so into Bree, you always made time for her, no matter how packed your schedule was. Let¡¯s be real. If she really cared, she would find the time. Bottom line is, she¡¯s just not making you a priority,¡± said Ollie.

    Bowen fell silent for a moment, then weakly insisted, ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about my issue.¡±

    ¡°Right, of course it¡¯s not you,¡± Ollie drawled, kicking back in his chair and picking at his ear. ¡°Anything else? Or can I hang up

    now?¡±

    Bowen said, ¡°Let¡¯s grab drinks tonight.¡±

    ¡°Sure thing, I¡¯ll round up Mark and the gang,¡± Ollie smiled.

 Tried 154

    38

    Despite Gareth¡¯s considerable clout in Rithol City, Julien didn¡¯t help him directly. However, Julien did drop hints about the identity of the assant-likely Bowen-and the other key figure involved in the incident.

    Gareth finally understood and wondered, ¡°That¡¯s why Samson was at the police department. No wonder the cops were so tight-lipped; they must be afraid of crossing Bowen.¡¯

    Gareth believed that there must be someone out there who could put Bowen in his ce.

    The moment Gareth learned of Aubree, her entire dossiernded on his desk that same day.

    ¡°She¡¯s got some skills. But thinking she cantch onto Bowen and marry him? Pure fantasy,¡± Gareth sneered, then called his secretary.

    ¡°Got it confirmed? Has Enrique been going to the park to y chess every daytely?¡± Gareth asked his secretary.

    Bowen didn¡¯t dare confront trouble head-on, but there was no way he could just let his son¡¯s beating slide-especially with the boy still in police custody. Once his injuries healed, jail time was a real possibility.

    That very afternoon, Gareth headed straight to Souther Park-Enrique¡¯s usual chess haunt-to way the old man.

    Ethan reported, ¡°Mr. Turner, Gareth went to Mr. Enrique Turner andined that you¡¯ve lost your head over a woman,pletely disregarding the Timbeke family¡¯s honor. He wants Mr. Enrique Turner to intervene.¡±

    Bowen didn¡¯t go to the office today-he¡¯d had one too manyst night after summoning Ollie and Mark out for drinks. Now his temples were throbbing with a dull, dizzying ache.

    Bowen thought, ¡°He sure knows who to go to. I¡¯ll go check it out myself. Get two men to tail Mark-I want to know what he¡¯s been up totely.¡±

    Bowen winced at the memory ofst night-how Ollie had kept refilling his ss, plying him with drink after drink until Bowen was drunk, then said things he¡¯d rather not remember now.

    ¡®Just chase who you like? If you let her slip away, you¡¯ll be left with nothing but soul-crushing regret, Bowen wondered, ¡®Absolute nonsense.¡¯

    Even now, recalling it, Bowen¡¯s ears still burned, but what truly concerned him was Mark¡¯s attitude.

    As Bowen was about to leave the Nightshade, Mark stepped in and blocked his path.

    His words were utterly baffling. Mark asked, ¡°Bowen, is that girl called Aubree?¡±

    Bowen asked, ¡°What about her?¡±

    Mark said, ¡°Since she doesn¡¯t need you anymore, just act like she never existed. I¡¯ve found out some things recently. Just trust me on this.¡±

    When Mark got serious about something, it was no trivial matter.

    ¡°Mr. King?¡± Ethan eximed and thought in shock, ¡®Mr. King? Isn¡¯t he Bowen¡¯s close friend?¡¯

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Bowen nodded.

    Ethan didn¡¯t dare ask any more. ¡®Dealing with Mark? That¡¯s way out of my league-with his skills and counter-surveince abilities, he wondered. But then, it hit him-he knew just who to turn to.

    ¡®Damn, this job¡¯s way over my head-but Nina would kill it,¡¯ Ethan thought.

    633

    In the Souther Park, Rithol City, after retiring, Enrique didn¡¯t have many hobbies. He just liked going to Souther Park to find someone to y chess with.

    He was just about to win today¡¯s game when an unwee interruption suddenly barged in and ruined the moment.

    Enrique had married young, as wasmon in his generation. Despite losing his eldest son prematurely, he was only in his early sixties.

    Yet his hair had long since turnedpletely gray, and the deep lines on his face spoke volumes about a lifetime of hard- earned wisdom.

    Sitting upright on the stone bench, Enriquemanded respect with his very presence. People reverently addressed him as Enrique.

    Despite being only a few years younger, Gareth looked every bit the clueless junior standing before Enrique,pletely overshadowed by the elder¡¯smanding presence.

    Enrique remained calm as he idly rolled a white chess piece between his fingers. ¡°Well, Mr. Timbeke, fancy seeing you here. Decided to grace the park with your presence and y some chess today?¡±

    Gareth didn¡¯t dare acknowledge the title.

    Gareth, his face a picture of utter distress as he stooped low, pleaded, ¡°I know it¡¯s entirely my fault for rudely disturbing your peace, Mr. Turner, but I¡¯m truly at my wits¡¯ end.¡±

    Enrique had retired from family affairs, and his only remaining connection to the Turner family was through histe eldest daughter¡¯s marriage, a rtionship he¡¯dpletely squandered over the years.

    Normally, Enrique refused visitors, so Gareth had no choice but to way him at the park.

    He exined, ¡°Does Mr. Bowen Turner really have to take it out on my boy over some girl? His men beat my son half to death. Jacob¡¯s still in the hospital. And now, thanks to Mr. Bowen Turner, the police won¡¯t budge. It¡¯s obvious he is just trying to put my boy behind bars.¡±

    ???

 Tried 155

    Enrique paused, the chess piece still between his fingers. He hadn¡¯t intended to get involved, but this unexpected turn-his youngest son getting mixed up in things for the sake of a woman-truly caught him off guard.

    ¡®Well, that¡¯s a first,¡¯ he wondered.

    Enrique asked, ¡°What exactly happened?¡±

    Gareth¡¯s face lit up with hope. He immediately put on a pitiful act and wailed, ¡°Enrique, you know how worthless my son is, but he¡¯s my only child. Lately, he took a liking to some girl. Who could¡¯ve known she was under Mr. Turner¡¯s protection? That¡¯s how this whole mess started.

    ¡°After all, our families do have ties. It¡¯s one thing for my son to get beaten up by Mr. Turner disciplining a younger one. But now he wants to put my son behind bars? Isn¡¯t that just tant bullying?¡±

    Enrique remained impassive. Of the entire Timbeke family, the only decent one had been his eldest son¡¯s wife. Enrique hardly believed a word Gareth said.

    Gareth only harped on how Bowen bullied Jacob, conveniently omitting any mention of what Jacob did to provoke Bowen.

    ¡°My eldest daughter is gone. Now I only have this one son left. I can¡¯t just stand by and watch Mr. Turner ruin him,¡± Gareth

    said.

    Enrique¡¯s brow twitched. Before he could speak, an icy voice cut through the air. ¡°Mr. Timbeke, how resourceful-going straight to my father.¡±

    Gareth turned toward the voice, only to see Bowen approaching, nked by Ethan and Samson.

    Bowen strode forward, the hem of his charcoal-gray coat ring with each step. His strikingly beautiful, almost demonic features radiated a dangerous allure as he closed in.

    Gareth¡¯s heart sank. ¡®Damn it. I haven¡¯t even convinced Enrique yet. How did Bowen show up so soon?¡¯ he thought to himself.

    Seeing his youngest son arrive, Enrique couldn¡¯t be bothered to intervene. Still, out of respect for his eldest daughter-inw, he threw in a remark, ¡°You¡¯re here just in time. Whatever issues you have, talk it out face to face, and keep this civil.¡±

    The implication was that Bowen should at least cut the Timbeke family some ck.

    But Bowen would never listen.

    Bowen said coldly, ¡°If it weren¡¯t out of respect for my sister-inw, I¡¯d have killed that bastard by now. Since you¡¯vee all the way here, let¡¯s have a proper talk.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s voice was cold, yet every word he spoke cut like a knife.

    Bowen demanded, ¡°Wasn¡¯t Jacob tailing a young woman, attempting to vite her?¡±

    Gareth avoided Bowen¡¯s gaze and muttered, ¡°She¡¯s just a nobody, after all. Besides, you¡¯ve already punished Jacob. Why make a mountain out of a molehill?¡±

    ¡°A nobody? Go ask Jacob if he didn¡¯t know she was under my protection. He knew full well I was shielding her, and he still dared to make a move. Was he trying to publicly humiliate me?¡± Bowen scoffed.

    Bowen¡¯s voice turned icy. ¡°And this isn¡¯t the first time. The first time, he got a beating but still didn¡¯t learn his lesson. The

    second time, he actually tried to get physical. So what¡¯s next? Does he think he can have the audacity to mess with her right under my nose?¡±

    Bowen spoke in a dangerously low voice, his icy gaze piercing through Gareth.

    Enrique arched a brow, pondering who this girl they were talking about could be. As far as he knew, Bowen hadn¡¯t shown any interest in a woman recently.

    Enrique paused, then thought, ¡®Wait a minute? There is one¡¯

    ¡°I won¡¯t ept your usation that I¡¯m strong-arming the police to go after Jacob,¡± Bowen retorted. ¡°Isn¡¯t his continued detention just following due process? Shouldn¡¯t everyone pay the price for their own mistakes?¡±

    Gareth could only mutter weakly, ¡°He¡¯s still just a kid, after all.¡±

    ¡°A twenty-something kid?¡± Bowen sneered mercilessly.

    Behind Bowen, Ethan and Samson snickered.

    Gareth¡¯s face burned red with humiliation at theirughter.

    Bowen dered coldly, ¡°I¡¯mying it out right now. No matter whoes begging, it won¡¯t make a damn bit of difference.¡±

    Gareth choked with fury. Their families were tied by marriage, yet Bowen dared to show him absolutely no respect.

    Enrique remained utterly unperturbed, making it clear he had no intention of getting involved. With no other choice, Gareth could only slink away, utterly humiliated.

    As soon as Gareth left, Enrique ced a chess piece on the board and, with a hint of amusement, asked, ¡°So, who¡¯s this little girl you¡¯re fighting for?¡±

    Bowen said, ¡°Dad, you¡¯ve already figured it out, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Enrique arched an eyebrow and teased, ¡°You¡¯re really smitten with her, huh?¡±

    Bowen remained nomittal.

    Enrique harrumphed. ¡°I won¡¯t meddle in the Timbeke family¡¯s affairs. Old as I am, I¡¯m not that old-fashioned. If you¡¯re truly serious about her, bring her home to meet me.¡±

    Bowen sighed helplessly, ¡°Dad, what are you even thinking?¡±

    Enrique shot him a knowing nce. He mused, ¡®He¡¯s in for itter. Who would¡¯ve thought that in my old age, I¡¯d get to see Bowen finally get hiseuppance!

    Behind Dowan Ethan and Common struggled to contain theirughton Evon Fnrique could son it alonek, trot Douan

 Tried 156

    At Timbeke Group, Gareth had been humiliated by Bowen. As an elder, he never expected Bowen to show him such tant disrespect. The slight stung his pride, and there was no way he was going to let this slide.

    The secretary eyed the file on Aubree sitting on the desk and smirked. ¡°Mr. Timbeke, since Mr. Turner cares so much about her, we can¡¯t go after him directly-but we can certainly make life difficult for Aubree.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± said Gareth.

    ¡°Aubree had a falling out with the Wilson family, and it¡¯s Mr. Wilson who¡¯s been behind the recent troubles targeting herpany, Bree Technology. We can¡¯t go up against the Turner family, but that doesn¡¯t mean the Wilson family are off- limits,¡± he said.

    Gareth stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Contact Mr. Wilson for me. I¡¯d like to invite him to dinner tonight.¡±

    He had already gathered quite a few allies. With Jacob still recovering from his injuries, he had ample time to orchestrate his ns.

    Bowen wouldn¡¯t budge-he didn¡¯t care about the ties between the two families, but he definitely cared about Aubree. ¡®If I could get leverage over her, it would serve the same purpose,¡¯ wondered Gareth.

    Aubree remained blissfully unaware of the Timbeke family¡¯s schemes against her. The USB drive Bowen gave her worked like a charm, instantly resolving the club¡¯s troubles. As for who was really behind it, she had a pretty good idea-it could only be one of those few suspects.

    Aubree saw no point in digging any deeper; it would just be a waste of time and energy.

    Herpany was thriving. Ronald had tried to crush her with the underage spending scandal, but Aubree turned the tables and leveraged it to her advantage, further enhancing her public image.

    Perhaps stung by this setback, the Wilson family abruptly fell silent.

    With the Wilson family no longer causing trouble, Aubree was d for the reprieve. She was now fully focused on expanding herpany¡¯s gaming division and frequently attended key matches of her esports team in person. Life kept her busier than ever.

    As usual, Aubree was there in person for God¡¯s Fury¡¯s decisive S-tier qualifier match.

    However, the previous match was Apex Squad¡¯s. When Aubree arrived, she saw them getting steamrolled, the other team already destroying their Nexus. She hadn¡¯t been following the matches muchtely, but she knew her boys had been killing it, only dropping a single game.

    ¡®Killian is actually on the bench,¡¯ she wondered. Aubree was taken aback. She might not like him, but she had to admit-he was one of the top midners right now, and Apex Squad¡¯s heavy investment in him said it all.

    But now, Killian wasn¡¯t even in the game.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Alvin leaned over in his team jersey to ask.

    Aubree asked, ¡°Why did Apex Squad change their midner?¡±

    Alvin shrugged, ¡°They switched him out back in Game 3. Apex Squad hasn¡¯t won a single series since the regr season started-at this rate, they¡¯re probably getting knocked out in Round Two.¡±

    Aubree was genuinely shocked this time-even in her old life, Apex Squad had never performed this poorly.

    No wonder Emery looks so grim on the sidelines. But with things going this badly, why isn¡¯t he putting Killian back in?¡± Aubree wondered.

    ¡°Rumor has it Emery found out Killian was involved in some shady dealings. But since it¡¯s mid-tournament and he can¡¯t take official action, he just benched him,¡± Alvin exined.

    Aubree had some answers now. ¡°That audio clip online using us of bribing Apex Squad to throw the match-it¡¯s almost certainly Killian¡¯s doing.¡±

    Alvin replied, ¡°Figured as much. Apex Squad lost. Time for us to get ready to go on.¡±

    As thementator¡¯s final congrattions rang out, the Apex Squad yers filed off the stage one by one, their faces ashen with defeat.

    ¡°Who cares about them? We just need to win today¡¯s match,¡± Aubree thought. Apex Squad¡¯s future was none of her concern now, and neither was Emery¡¯s.

    Backstage, the two teams crossed paths-one, God¡¯s Fury, poised for glory; the other, Apex Squad, utterly defeated.

 Tried 157

    Emery¡¯s gaze lingered on Aubree at the front of the team. ¡®She¡¯s truly exceptional now,¡¯ he thought.

    Another few days passed, and Aubree remained as quiet as ever.

    Bowen finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He called it a day early. ¡°To Rithol High School,¡± he ordered.

    ? ? ? ? ???????

    Both Ethan and Samson in the front seats, and Kelvin in the back, immediately snapped their attention to Bowen.

    Needless to say about the two in front. Behind his sses, Kelvin¡¯s eyes sparkled with an excitement he couldn¡¯t quite name. ¡®It¡¯s finally happening. Mr. Turner is finally making his move,¡¯ he thought.

    Despite being an elite executive assistant, Kelvin has his hobbies, like devouring bossy CEO romance web novels.

    ¡®As Mr. Turner¡¯s elite executive assistant, I¡¯ve got to be his ultimate wingman in love-helping him win over Miss Miller is my top priority,¡¯ Kelvin thought to himself.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, are we really going empty-handed?¡± Kelvin was practically tearing his hair out. ¡°It¡¯s freezing out. How about we grab some coffee to warm her hands?¡±

    ¡®After all this time apart, and Mr. Turner¡¯s just going to show up empty-handed?¡¯ Kelvin wondered.

    Ethan and Samson chimed in, ¡°Actually, a small cake would work too. Don¡¯t all girls love desserts? Even if Miss Miller doesn¡¯t want it, Mr. Turner, you can always eat it himself.¡±

    They grinned, clearly giving him an out-he could always say it was for himself if things got awkward.

    ¡®It¡¯s really handy for them that Mr. Turner has a sweet tooth, they wondered.

    Bowen¡¯s face twitched as he caught on to what they were insinuating. Sure, he was going to Rithol High School for that reason but they really had to spell it out, which embarrassed him slightly.

    Through gritted teeth, Bowen snapped coldly, ¡°If you want to work overtime, just say so. No need to beat around the bush.¡±

    Ethan, Samson, and Kelvin immediately shut their mouths in unison.

    ¡°I¡¯m just picking up Alvin from school,¡± Bowen muttered. ¡°Dad¡¯s been missing his grandson.¡±

    Bowen insisted defensively, putting on a tough front.

    The three exchanged knowing nces and chimed in unison, ¡°Oh, right, I see.¡±

    None of them bothered to ask what Bowen was really there for.

    ¡®Besides, doesn¡¯t Alvin already have his own driver? Aren¡¯t Simon and Sebastian specifically assigned to him?¡¯ they wondered.

    They saw right through him, but wisely kept quiet-everyone was in on it.

    His ears burning red, Bowen finally relented and told Ethan to drive to Rithol High School.

    They arrived just in time for Rithol High School¡¯s dismissal. Since Aubree didn¡¯t stay for evening study sessions, she usually exited through the main gate.

    28)

    With the car parked by the roadside, Bowen had the perfect vantage point to watch for her from inside.

    Aubree slung her backpack over one shoulder and blended into the stream of students leaving Rithol High School. Every so often, she nced around, as if searching for someone in particr.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, Miss Miller¡¯s out.¡± The three of them were practically buzzing with excitement, all craning their necks to peer outside-way more worked up than Bowen.

    ¡°So what if she¡¯s out? What¡¯s got you all so worked up?¡± Bowen said dismissively, though his previously upright posture had already shifted toward the window.

    Just as he was about to roll it down, his brows suddenly furrowed. ¡°Wait? Who¡¯s that?¡±

    Kelvin was still puzzled when he nced over-his face darkened instantly. ¡°Who is that boy?¡±

    Ethan scoffed, ¡°He looks like nothing but trouble.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s no match for Mr. Turner,¡± Samson concluded.

    Bowen remained silent, but the storm brewing in his eyes betrayed his foul mood.

    As for Bowen¡¯s earlier excuse about picking up Alvin, well, Alvin had already left in the family car. Not that anyone cared.

    Aubree walked up to a guy with a bright smile. He had a ck backpack slung over his shoulder and was dressed casually, looking just like a typical college student.

    He looked pretty young and was quite good-looking-not on the same level as Bowen or Alvin¡¯s god-tier handsomeness, but still, definitely what one would call a handsome guy.

    Kelvin, studying their expressions and lip movements, guessed, ¡°Miss Miller must know this guy-they seem pretty close.¡±

    Kelvin couldn¡¯t tell what they were chatting about, but one thing was clear-Miss Miller was absolutely beaming.

    Bowen¡¯s face darkened.

    23

 Tried 159

    It was unclear what the two people outside the window were talking about. Aubree nodded before the two of them walked away together.

    Kelvin thought to himself, ¡®Oh snap. Then, as if spelling it out for Bowen, he kept up his runningmentary. ¡°Looks like that guy just asked Miss Miller out-and she said yes.¡±

    Ethan offered some evidence, ¡°Looks like they¡¯re going out to grab dinner. They¡¯re walking in the opposite direction from Miss Miller¡¯s home, and the nearest street that way is lined with restaurants.¡±

    Samson jumped to a conclusion and eximed, ¡°Oh no. Miss Miller¡¯s gone on a date with him.¡±

    Kelvin immediately turned to look at Bowen and blurted out, ¡°Mr. Turner, Miss Miller¡¯s gone on a date.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s face darkened as he frowned at Kelvin. ¡°So what if it¡¯s a date? It¡¯s not like she¡¯s going out with you. Why the hell are you so worked up?¡±

    Kelvin sighed in frustration. ¡®Excited? No-I¡¯m worried sick for you, Mr. Turner,¡¯ he wondered. ¡®If you keep clinging to your pride like this, Miss Miller will slip right through your fingers.

    Kevin¡¯d been with Bowen since graduating college. While he wouldn¡¯t im to know Bowen inside out, he¡¯d bet no one in the entirepany understood his mind better than he did. So, he got promoted so fast.

    Kelvin thought, ¡®Mr. Turner undoubtedly feels he¡¯s watched Miss Miller grow into her current sess, and just can¡¯t ovee that mental block-he dare not consider her in

    any other way.

    ¡®Mr. Lane and the others might joke that Mr. Turner was raising a daughter, but honestly, at most, it was just like looking after a younger sister.¡¯

    Honestly, Kelvin couldn¡¯t fathom why Bowen insisted that Aubree address him as an elder, just like Alvin did.

    Bowen nced out the window again-Aubree was already walking side by side with that man.

    The three of them waited with bated breath for Bowen¡¯s next move.

    Bowen was torn. ¡®Perhaps it¡¯s best to just let it go. Bree is exceptional-it¡¯s only natural she has suitors. This is the life she was meant to have,¡¯ he wondered.

    ¡®As long as I¡¯m certain she¡¯s doing well, that should be enough,¡¯ Bowen told himself.

    Bowen said curtly, ¡°Drive.¡±

    Ethan gasped, ¡°Mr. Turner, aren¡¯t we going to follow them? What if that guy¡¯s up to no good and has ulterior motives toward Miss Miller?¡±

    ¡°Drive,¡± Bowenmanded, his tone sharper now. She was perfectly capable of handling herself-he told himself he had no right to interfere anymore.

    Kelvin let out a silent sigh. ¡®Figures-Mr. Turner is overthinking things again,¡¯ he thought. ¡®But the more he keeps it bottled up, the bigger the explosion will be.

    Ethan couldn¡¯t disobey Bowen¡¯s order, so he started the car. But he had his own little n.

    Since Bowen hadn¡¯t specified a destination, he figured it wouldn¡¯t hurt to head in Aubree¡¯s direction.

    The car pulled away, swiftly overtaking the two pedestrians ahead.

    Kelvin watched the two figures sh by outside the window, a pang of regret in his eyes. He thought to himself, ¡®I really thought this would finally make Mr. Turner feel some urgency-maybe even realize his true feelings.

    Bowen¡¯s brow remained furrowed as he mulled over Ethan¡¯s words. ¡®What if that guy¡¯s a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing?¡± he thought. He might look decent, but actually have ulterior motives.

    Bowen thought, ¡®Bree is sharp, but even the smartest have their blind spots. What if that guy takes advantage of her?

    I¡¯m just worried about her. If that guy really meant no harm, I could just stay out of sight.

    Bowen cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. ¡°Wait-follow them.¡±

    Bowen thought to himself, ¡®After all, Bree is practically under my protection. I can¡¯t just let anyone take advantage of her!

    Bowen stroked his chin, mentally iming the moral high ground for himself.

    Aubree followed the man into a restaurant.

    The man was Randall Galvin, a junior inputer science at a nearby prestigious university.

    He was referred to her by someone at thepany.

    The moment Aubree heard the name, she knew exactly who it was.

    Aubree thought in amazement, ¡®The pioneer of otome games in my previous life-I never imagined he¡¯d actually take the initiative to seek me out.

    ¡®I was nning to track him down myself-now he¡¯se to me. That saves me the trouble.¡¯

 Tried 158

    Before today, they¡¯d only texted each other. Randall¡¯s ideas were strikingly simr to those that had debuted in Aubree¡¯s past life-though, perhaps because it was still early, they were still a bit rough around the edges.

    His past-life trajectory was clear. He would first find a few like-minded partners to form a team, and then, after graduation, they would rent a studio and develop their game.

    Today was the day they¡¯d agreed to meet and discuss things in detail. Randall expressed his intention to start his own studio and hoped to secure investment from Bree Technology.

    However, Aubree had her sights set on recruiting him into Bree Technology.

    If all went as nned, she¡¯d bring him into Bree Technology to spearhead otome game development. Not just with a sry -he would get an equity stake too.

    Given that Randall was a cash-strapped college student, Aubree took the initiative to treat him to this meal.

    Still waiting for their food, the two sat by the window.

    ¡°Mr. Galvin, have you considered my proposal for an equity stake in exchange for your technical expertise?¡± said Aubree.

    Randall¡¯s face betrayed his inner conflict. Of course, his first instinct was to start his ownpany, but epting this youngdy¡¯s offer would be far more convenient.

    Join Bree Technology, and they will have everything ready for us,¡¯ he wondered.

    But he couldn¡¯t be sure if Aubree would genuinely appreciate his creative work, Randall thought to himself.

    Randall asked, ¡°Miss Miller, if I join Bree Technology, can you guarantee I won¡¯t be kicked to the curb once I¡¯ve outlived my usefulness?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Aubree said confidently. ¡°We¡¯ll draw up a contract. The gaming division will set up a dedicated studio for you to lead. You pick your team-whatever you need, I¡¯ll provide. Plus, you¡¯ll get equity, and you¡¯ll have the final say in the studio.¡±

    ¡®Really?¡¯ Randall hesitated as he wondered. ¡®If she can really pull this off, maybe it¡¯s a good idea after all.¡¯

    ¡®What I fear most is thesepanies treating my brainchild as nothing but a cash cow.¡¯

    ¡°Miss Miller, aren¡¯t you asking for anything in return?¡± said Randall.

    Aubree said, ¡°Of course, I do. I need to review and approve all candidates for the core management team, and I must retain decision-making authority over personnel appointments.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Randall nodded. Compared to the generous terms she¡¯d offered, this was a small price to pay.

    ¡®After all, she¡¯s thepany owner-no matter how much authority she grants me, there¡¯s no way anyone would be brought on board without her approval, he wondered.

    Randall was so won over that he agreed before the appetizers even arrived.

    ¡°The contract will be ready soon,¡± Aubree thought cheerfully. She was genuinely pleased-while her current team waspetent in software development, game development would be a real stretch for them.

    She knew what kinds of games could be developed, but honestly, she was not well-versed in this field.

    It¡¯s better to leave professional matters to the professionals, Aubree thought.

    Outside the restaurant, inside the ck car, Ethan and Samson in the front seats were practically piled on top of each other, straining to get a better view.

    Things were a bit better in the back, but Kelvin didn¡¯t dare drape himself over his boss to peek outside-he could only crane

    his neck as far as he could.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, Miss Miller doesn¡¯t know me. Why don¡¯t I go check things out inside?¡± Kelvin couldn¡¯t hold back any longer.

    ¡°We can¡¯t hear a damn thing they¡¯re saying from out here, he thought anxiously.

    Bowen rubbed his temples, his gaze fixed on the two chatting happily by the window. ¡°Quit staring. I¡¯m not even here because of her,¡± he grumbled.

    Kelvin rolled his eyes. ¡®If we¡¯re not here for Miss Miller, then what-just here for dinner?¡¯ he wondered.

    Bowen then added with feigned indifference, ¡°But since I¡¯m such a considerate boss-Kelvin, you must be hungry? Go grab a bite at that restaurant ande back. I¡¯ll wait.¡±

    Kelvin couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes inwardly.

    Ethan and Samson wondered, ¡®Mr. Turner is even faster at making excuses for himself.

    Kelvin finally stepped out of the car. Feigning nonchnce, he walked into the caf¨¦ and, coincidentally, took the seat right behind them.

    Kelvin propped the menu up high enough to fully conceal himself, deliberately sitting with his back to Aubree.

    With their business concluded and the meal still far from over, Randall casually asked Aubree a couple of questions about her studies and personal life.

 Tried 160

    Just call me Aubree,¡± Aubree said, feeling a bit ufortable with Randall always calling her Miss Miller.

    Randall readily went along with it, grinning. ¡°Fine, Aubree, why don¡¯t you call me Randall?¡±

    ¡°Okay, Randall,¡± Aubree smiled.

    At the next table, Kelvin stamped his feet in frustration. ¡®Oh my god, it¡¯s only been a few minutes and she¡¯s already so close to him? Even Mr. Turner never got that kind of treatment,¡¯ he wondered.

    Kelvin fumed inwardly. ¡®Seriously? They just met, chatted for a bit, and she¡¯s already so kind. Mr. Turner, can¡¯t you step up your game?¡¯

    As the top executive assistant, Kelvin put his dramatic spin on what he¡¯d overheard and immediately texted Bowen.

    Kevin: [Mr. Turner, that guy definitely has ulterior motives for Miss Miller. He was just asking about her grades and if she wanted to apply to his university-isn¡¯t it obvious he¡¯s trying to snatch her up?]

    Kelvin added: [And another thing-this guy is way too familiar. It hasn¡¯t even been that long, and he¡¯s already very close to Miss Miller. They were chatting happily when I entered.]

    Kevin: [Mr. Turner, Miss Miller looks so happy-she¡¯s been smiling nonstop and speaking so gently. Could it be that she¡¯s actually falling for this guy¡¯s tricks?]

    If Randall ever found out about Kelvin¡¯s messages, he¡¯d be screaming bloody murder. He was merely showing professional courtesy to his business partner, nothing more.

    They¡¯d be seeing each other constantly as colleagues now, maintaining a good rtionship was necessary.

    As for all that smiling, everyone would grin when a goldmine came calling.

    When Bowen saw the message, his mind was flooded with images of Aubree smiling at Randall.

    Bowen looked up at the girl by the window. Her radiant smile put even the most vibrant blossoms to shame.

    Bowen¡¯sposure finally shattered. He reached for the car door handle.

    Kevin: [Mr. Turner. Look quick, that guy¡¯s making his move.]

    In the restaurant, Randall identally knocked over his ss, sending the drink spilling toward Aubree. Some had already sshed onto her clothes.

    Randall frantically wiped the table, all the while hurriedly handing tissues to Aubree, his face full of apology and worry.

    But to those already viewing things through a biased lens, this guy was clearly up to no good.

    Bowen wondered, ¡®Where the hell do you think you¡¯re putting your hands?¡¯

    Without hesitation, Bowen flung open the car door and stormed into the restaurant.

    ¡®Seriously, Bree?¡¯ he fumed inwardly. ¡®What kind of taste do you have, falling for some smooth-talking guy who can¡¯t keep his hands to himself after barely a few words?¡¯

    Ethan and Samson¡¯s eyes lit up as they swiftly exited the car and followed.

    Up ahead, Kelvin mmed the menu down, bracing for action.

    The waiter, who had been keeping a close eye on Kelvin since he entered, was already on high alert.

    Just as Kelvin was about to make his move, the waiter swiftly intercepted him. ¡°Sir,¡± the waiter said firmly, ¡°you¡¯ve been holding our menu upside down since you arrived. Is there something about our dishes that displeases you?¡±

    Before Aubree had a chance to see who the oddball with the upside-down menu was, Randall let out a sharp cry.

    Bowen¡¯s face darkened, his eyes turning icy as he wrenched Randall¡¯s wrist. ¡°Where the hell do you think you¡¯re putting your hands?¡± he snarled.

    Aubree froze at the familiar voice. ¡°Bowen?¡±

    Behind him, Kelvin, shaking free from the waiter¡¯s hold, rushed over and eximed, ¡°Miss Miller, you can¡¯t just judge people by their looks. Well, if you must, at least go for someone like Mr. Turner. You really shouldn¡¯t trust just anyone.¡±

    ¡°What the heck is going on?¡¯ she wondered. Aubree stared nkly at the group that had just stormed in, utterly bewildered. Randall¡¯s hand was twisted at an unnatural angle-clearly dislocated.

    ¡°Wait, what are you talking about?¡± he groaned, wincing in pain. ¡°Aubree, I mean, Miss Miller and I were just discussing a business coboration. Maybe you¡¯ve got it all wrong?¡±

    Bowen froze, his gaze dropping to the spilled water on the table. The sight made him realize-he¡¯dpletely misread the situation.

    The menacing aura that had just enveloped Bowen instantly dissolved. Though he was still gripping Randall¡¯s wrist, his hold had ckened considerably.

    Bowen found himself in an awkward limbo-not knowing whether to advance or retreat gracefully, utterly embarrassed. Bowen shot a furtive re at Kelvin. ¡®What kind of nonsense is he spreading now?¡¯ he thought.

    Randall was drenched in cold sweat from the searing pain. Wincing, he pleaded, ¡°Uh, sir, could you please just let go of my hand first?¡±

 Tried 161

    Bowen reset Randall¡¯s dislocated joint, then, a bit embarrassed, apologized. ¡°My apologies,¡± he said.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t decide whether to facepalm orugh. ¡°This is the game developer my team rmended. We were just discussing a contract.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± Randall nodded frantically, rubbing his wrist. Inwardly, he thought, ¡®Just my rotten luck.

    The thing was, he really didn¡¯t dare lose his temper with the man before him. He recognized him-Bowen, CEO of Turner Group, the very investor he¡¯d once hoped to court.

    Kelvin¡¯s eyes darted around, not daring to meet Bowen¡¯s gaze. ¡®Damn it,¡¯ he thought, ¡®there goes my bonus for this month- no, scratch that, for the whole year.

    Ethan and Samson ducked their heads, wishing they could disappear. It was so awkward.

    Sensing the awkward tension in the air, Randall wasted no time in making a hasty exit. ¡°Miss Miller,¡± he said quickly, ¡°since we¡¯ve finished our discussion and you seem a bit upied, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±

    The moment he left, Aubree¡¯s full attentionnded on Bowen. She knew she needed why Bowen was here.

    A strange flicker passed through Bowen¡¯s eyes for a moment before he visibly rxed. He made himself at home in the chair opposite Aubree and said nonchntly, ¡°That¡¯s right. I followed you.¡±

    To be honest, he breathed a sigh of relief when he realized there was nothing romantic going on between them.

    Bowen couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it, but this feeling-somehow even more exhrating than when he¡¯d first joined Turner Group andnded that major deal that shut up all those old-timers who¡¯d dared to underestimate him.

    Bree gaped at him, stunned by his brazen confession.

    Aubree was genuinely stunned. ¡°He¡¯s not even pretending anymore? Seriously, is this normal?¡±

    ¡°Why are you following me?¡± Aubree demanded. If only he¡¯d said he was just passing by or here to pick up Alvin, she might have convinced herself to believe it.

    Bowen didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he studied her face intently. Her eyes were wide with surprise, and he couldn¡¯t help but notice how her cheeks had grown noticeably fuller and softer since they first met.

    Bowen noticed that hershes fluttered like butterfly wings, belying theposure she was forcing herself to maintain.

    In that instant, Bowen felt something erupt from his chest-his heart softened considerably, apanied by a peculiar, fluttery tingling.

    His gaze grew increasingly bold and possessive as he looked at her.

    Bowen¡¯s thin lips curled into a subtle, possessive smile, a calcting gleam shing in his eyes. ¡®Since I can¡¯t trust anyone else with her, why not just keep her by my side, watching over her all the time?¡¯ he wondered.

    Self-preservation kicked in-Aubree¡¯s instincts screamed danger from all sides. In a sh, she sprang to her feet, ready to

    bolt.

    ¡°It¡¯ste. I¡¯m going home,¡± she said.

    Kelvin, Ethan, and Samson had long since retreated outside the restaurant.

    1:34pm

    Bowen reached out and caught her wrist, a yful smile tugging at his lips as he effortlessly slipped back into his easygoing

    manner.

    ¡°Running away?¡± he teased. ¡°Weren¡¯t you just dying to know why I was following you?¡±

    Her gut screamed that she shouldn¡¯t hear his answer, so Aubree firmly refused. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I should just go home. Everything that happened today was just idents.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t an ident,¡± Bowen said. He held Aubree with just enough strength that she couldn¡¯t break free, but not enough to

    hurt her.

    Bowen looked at her and said softly, ¡°I came here just to see you.¡± He left it at that.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something between them had changed, but she was too afraid to let herself think about what it might be.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going home? I¡¯ll give you a ride,¡± Bowen said, his handsome features softening into a warm smile-a sight sure to delight anyone with an eye for good looks.

    Aubree would have liked to refuse, but Bowen left her no chance.

    He seemed easygoing and gentle on the surface, sometimes even giving off a carefree, unpredictable vibe.

    But in the subtle details, you could sense that deep down, he was unyielding, dominant, and brooked no defiance.

    Aubree struggled for a moment, but realizing it was pointless, she finally gave in and let Bowen lead her away.

    ¡°If Bowen would just keep his distance like we agreedst time, that¡¯d be fine. But if he refuses, honestly, with my current abilities, there¡¯s really nothing I can do to stop him,¡¯ Aubree thought helplessly.

    ¡®If I couldn¡¯t stand up to him, then at least I could try to stay out of his way, right?¡¯ she wondered.

 Tried 162

    Bowen led Aubree out of the restaurant, heading toward his car.

    Just as Ethan and Samson were about to follow, Kelvin quickly stepped in with a chuckle and blocked their way. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the hurry? Can¡¯t you see Mr. Turner wants some private time with Miss Miller?¡±

    Ethan and Samson nodded in unison, then promptly changed course and put some distance between themselves and the

    car.

    Realizing the trio hadn¡¯t followed, Bowen shot them an approving nce out of the corner of his eye.

    Kelvin swelled with pride-his bonus was safe.

    Bowen held the passenger door open for Aubree.

    Inside the car, Aubree pressed against the window, putting as much distance as possible between herself and Bowen.

    She¡¯d have preferred the back seat, but knowing Bowen, who had already opened the passenger door, she knew he wouldn¡¯t let her have her way.

    Bowen¡¯s fingers traced the steering wheel. He tilted his head, ncing at Aubree beside him. Why is she sitting so far away from me?

    ¡®Never mind,¡¯ Bowen thought to himself. ¡®I¡¯ve got all the time in the world.¡¯

    Bowen pressed his lips together, the faintest smile ying at their corners.

    The engine roared to life as Aubree clicked her seatbelt into ce.

    As Aubree watched the buildings outside the window slowly recede, a thought suddenly popped into her mind. ¡®For someone like Bowen who always has a chauffeur, how good is he at driving himself?¡¯ she wondered.

    Ethan slung an arm around Samson¡¯s shoulders while Kelvin stood ramrod straight beside them.

    The three watched with satisfied smiles as the car slowly pulled away-but then, as it suddenly started zigzagging down the road, they all shouted in unison, ¡°Oh no.¡±

    Inside the car, Aubree clung to her seatbelt as she was jolted from side to side. ¡®Wait a minute,¡¯ she thought, ¡®why is Bowen not good at driving as I expected?¡¯

    With a sudden brake, Aubree lurched toward Bowen, her forehead bumping into his firm chest. For a split second, she thought, ¡®Nice physique.¡¯ But then suspicion crept in, ¡®Wait, did he do that on purpose?¡¯

    Bowen gave an awkward chuckle, meeting Aubree¡¯s suspicious gaze as if seeing right through her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m genuinely a bit rusty at driving.¡±

    Aubree nced at Bowen, a bit uneasy. ¡°Maybe you should just have Ethan drive instead,¡± she suggested.

    ¡°They¡¯re already gone. I¡¯ve got this.¡± Bowen dered, not one to back down. ¡®Calling them back now? How humiliating would that be?¡¯ he wondered.

    Aubree had no choice but to keep quiet.

    Bowen was indeed rusty at first, but he quickly got the hang of it. In no time, the car was cruising smoothly and steadily down the open road.

    134 pm

    Maybe it was the intense jolting just now, but Aubree felt a wave of dizziness.

    078

    Pressing her forehead against the window, she squeezed her eyes shut as a wave of nausea rose within her, trying to fight off the difort.

    Bowen quickly noticed her difort. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m a bit dizzy,¡± Aubree murmured. No sooner had she spoken than Bowen reached out and grasped her other hand, which had been hanging limply by her side.

    Aubree instinctively tried to pull her hand away.

    Instead of letting go, Bowen tightened his grip on her hand!

    In that instant, Aubree¡¯s entire focus was pulled to his hand-his warm, dry fingers pressed tightly against hers, leaving no gap between them.

    ¡°Bowen?¡± Aubree blurted out, her voiceced with urgency and surprise.

    Aubree felt a sudden rush of panic. ¡®I thought I was prepared for this,¡¯ she thought, ¡®but I never expected Bowen to make a move so quickly.

    ¡®Should¡¯ve told me you were after me-I would¡¯ve grabbed the cash and run ages ago.

    Instantly, the dizziness vanished and the nausea disappeared.

    Bowen stopped the car at the red light. Locking eyes with Aubree, his deep,manding voice left no room for argument. ¡°Don¡¯t squirm.¡±

    Bowen gently took her hand in his, lowering his gaze to study it. Bree¡¯s fingers were beautiful, but not the delicate kind pampered by luxury-he could feel the calluses on her palms and fingertips.

    Aubree¡¯s ears burned red-not from shyness, but as a natural physiological response. She could feel his warm fingertips slowly tracing across her palm; everywhere he touched seemed to ignite like wildfire, leaving a trail of searing heat in their

    wake.

    ¡®My hand doesn¡¯t even feel like mine anymore-it¡¯s scalding hot,¡¯ she wondered.

    Bowen¡¯s fingers finally came to rest, pressing firmly into the fleshy web between her thumb and index finger. He kneaded it twice with deliberate pressure. In a low, reassuring voice, he said, ¡°This should help.¡±

    Maybe it was just her mind ying tricks, but she did feel much better.

    ¡°I can do it myself,¡± Aubree said.

    1:34 pm

 Tried 163

    He was driving, so Aubree couldn¡¯t really resist. If something happened, it¡¯d be her life on the line.

    ¡®Fine, let him hold my hand. What¡¯s the harm?¡¯ she thought. ¡®It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to lose anything!

    After a full day at Rithol High School, Aubree slumpedfortably in the passenger seat. Lulled by the car¡¯s slow, steady pace, she soon drifted off to sleep.

    Bowen massaged her hand for a while. After a long, thoughtful pause, he finally spoke, his voice tentative. ¡°Maybe from now on, you could-¡±

    Only when he noticed no response from her side did Bowen realize Aubree had fallen asleep.

    His hand stilled, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to let go.

    He couldpletely envelop her hand in his, and he didn¡¯t want to let go.

    ¡®Guess I¡¯m not letting go, then,¡¯ she wondered.

    As twilight deepened, Bowen¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes dark with possessive intensity.

    If Kelvin were here right now, he¡¯d definitely be grumbling about his shameless boss.

    ¡®Miss Miller is already fast asleep, yet Bowen still refuses to let go of her hand,¡¯ he wondered. ¡®And to think someone once said he only saw her as a kid, like Alvin. Yeah, right.¡¯

    Bowen slowly pulled the car into Aubree¡¯s apartmentplex and parked outside her building.

    Bowen watched as Aubree slept soundly, unable to bring himself to wake her. With no one else around, he dropped all pretenses, his gaze hungrily sweeping over every inch of her face.

    The longer he gazed at her, the more his heart swelled with delight.

    It was obvious to everyone how differently Bowen treated Aubree, yet he stubbornly kept lying to himself.

    The emotion in Bowen¡¯s eyes only grew deeper, deep, thick, and impossible to hide.

    Under Bowen¡¯s gaze, Aubree frowned in her sleep. Suddenly, she jolted awake. Instinctively, her hand shot out and seized the front of his shirt.

    Her fingers desperately clutched his white dress shirt, pulling the cor askew to reveal his well-defined corbone.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bowen asked, his voiceced with concern.

    Aubree took a moment to collect herself, blinking as the face before her slowly came into focus. Only then did the pounding in her chest begin to fade-she had just relived her death in that old life once again.

    The Wilson family¡¯s crimes against her haunted her every thought-their blood debts still unpaid.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said. Her grip gradually loosened as Aubree took a steadying breath. Looking up, she found herself caught in the warmth of Bowen¡¯s gaze, though he seemed oblivious to the tenderness in his own eyes.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Aubree blurted out, instantly letting go. Her face flushed a deep crimson-now she was genuinely embarrassed.

    Bowen remainedpletely unfazed. He even reached out and pulled her hand back. ¡°If you like tugging at my shirt, go

    §à§ä §Ü§Ñ§Þ§á §á§â§Ú§ß§ä§Ú§â§Ñ

    1:34 pm

    right ahead,¡± he said, his tone indulgent.

    Bowen asked gently, ¡°Did you just have a nightmare?¡±

    ¡®Even though he said I could, I¡¯m not nearly shameless enough to actually do it, she wondered.

    Startled as if burned, Aubree jerked her hand back. ¡°No need-just a bad dream, but I¡¯m fine now. Since we¡¯re home, I¡¯ll head up now. Thanks, Bowen.¡±

    Aubree darted away, vanishing in a sh.

    Bowen watched her retreating figure and muttered to himself, ¡°I must¡¯ve been crazy back then, treating her just like a kid and making her treat me as an elder.¡±

    After standing downstairs in the chilly night air for a while to clear his head, Bowen made a call to Ollie.

    ¡°Not gonna lie, Bowen, you¡¯ve been blowing up my phely, huh?¡± Ollie teased. ¡°Alright, spill it. What¡¯s thetest friend story you¡¯ve got for me this time?¡±

    Bowen hesitated for a moment before finally asking, ¡°So how do you go about wooing a girl?¡±

    Ollie nearly jumped out of his skin on the other end of the line. ¡®Well, looks like he¡¯s finally seen the light,¡¯ he wondered.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve definitelye to the right guy. Besides, didn¡¯t I already give you that book? Didn¡¯t it teach you anything?¡± said

    Ollie.

    Bowen suddenly remembered that parenting guide Ollie had given him-no wonder it had felt so off. The veins on the back of his hand bulged as he snapped, ¡°Seriously, do something useful for once.¡±

    ¡°I am doing a good deed right now,¡± Ollie crowed, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. He could practically hear Bowen grinding his teeth.

    ¡®Bute at me if you dare,¡¯ he wondered.

    Ollie said, ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve definitelye to the right guy for advice on chasing girls. Aubree¡¯s winter break ising up. Rithol High always lets out two days before New Year.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t really have any family around, so she¡¯ll probably be spending the holiday alone. Seize this chance¡ªask her out, go see the snow, and really spend some quality time together.

    ¡°She¡¯s pretty guarded, dude. You can¡¯t rush her-just be genuine and take it slow.¡±

    Bowen took silent note of everything.

    1:34 pm

 Tried 164

    Ever since that day, Bowen had been deliberately or not making his presence felt around Aubree.

    Beyond the asional text messages, there were also Bowen¡¯s so-called chance encounters whenever he showed up to pick Alvin up from school.

    Aubree simply ignored it all.

    In Turner Group, Kelvin asked, ¡°Mr. Turner, the flowers you ordered are ready. But are we seriously going to Bree Technology?¡±

    Kelvin couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Mr. Turner¡¯s been going out of his way to impress Miss Millertely, but she¡¯s just been brushing him off. Now he¡¯s even showing up at Bree Technology-won¡¯t that just put her off even more?¡¯

    ¡°Bree Technology is holding a board meeting. As the major shareholder with a 30% stake, how could I possibly miss it?¡± said

    Bowen.

    Bowen was unfazed. ¡®Isn¡¯t it my right to manage my investment?¡¯ he wondered.

    He was just there for the meeting-and while he was at it, he might as well check in on his old friend.

    Bowen swiftly signed off on thest document. ¡°Get the car ready,¡± he ordered.

    Kelvin pursed his lips. ¡®Fine, that was a waste of breath,¡¯ he thought.

    yzy had been online for a while now, and its growth prospects are obvious to everyone. After all, no one would pass up such a lucrative opportunity.

    These days, simr live-streaming tforms are springing up like mushrooms after rain, with some evenunched by established inte giants.

    Withpetition intensifying, Bree Technology had lost its greatest unique selling point. Over time, the live-streaming market pie would inevitably be divided up.

    Aubree¡¯s immediate goal was to strengthen Bree Technology¡¯spetitive edge before the market got carved up.

    Securing the exclusive official tournament tform for League of Legends was a prime example of this strategy.

    These days, simr live-streaming tforms are springing up like mushrooms after rain, with some evenunched by established inte giants.

    The main focus of this meeting was precisely this. When it came to partnerships, connections and capital were indispensable-and both were major pain points for Aubree.

    While the profits were substantial, the expenses were just as high. Zappy was still in development and burning through cash, the gaming division was also in the works and needed more investment.

    Besides, after signing the contract, Randall had happily joined thepany and was already hiring a whole new team-yet another major expense.

    The revenue from her esports club wasn¡¯t even enough to fund its development. Right now, Bree Technology was her only profitable venture.

    1:34 pm

    So she decided to seek investment.

    When Aubree entered the conference room, everyone who was supposed to be there had already arrived along with one unexpected guest.

    Aubree¡¯s gaze swept over to Bowen, sitting at the end of the conference table with that shamelessly charming smile. ¡®Honestly, it¡¯s almost impressive how far he¡¯s willing to go, she thought.

    ¡®He¡¯s neglecting business deals that rake in millions a minute just toe all the way here and listen to my meeting? I should be ttered, Aubree thought to herself.

    Most of Bree Technology¡¯s shareholders were partners Aubree had personally handpicked herself-colleagues who were also friends. As a result, their meetings were usually quite rxed.

    With an extra person in the room today, the atmosphere shifted noticeably. Everyone sat ramrod straight.

    Bowen,pletely oblivious to being the source of the tension, shed a charming smile and said, ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯m just here to see if my investment is paying off.¡±

    Aubree did her best to ignore Bowen.

    Aubree said, ¡°Vincent, let¡¯s get started.¡±

    Standing beside her, Vincent projected the prepared materials onto the screen. After his presentation, he concluded, ¡°That covers Ms. Miller¡¯stest strategic n for the Bree Technology project.¡±

    No one raised any objections-they had already reviewed the n before the meeting. Today¡¯s discussion was simply to finalize the polished version.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a question,¡± a voice rang out. ¡°We just talked about seeking investment.

    ¡°Why not have Turner Group invest? Didn¡¯t Bree Technology secure Turner Group¡¯s investment through yzy when it was first founded? Logically, we could ask them to increase their investment.¡±

    As he spoke, the person nced at Bowen.

    ¡®Besides, with Bowen, the president of Turner Group, right here, why go through the hassle of finding other investors?¡¯ he wondered.

    That made sense on paper, but Aubree couldn¡¯t very well use Bowen of having ulterior motives. How was she supposed to just ignore him while still taking his money?

    ¡®I ignore him while still take his money? How hypocritical would that be?¡¯ Aubree thought.

    Aubree retorted sternly, ¡°So every time we¡¯re short on cash, we just run to Turner Group? Are they our private ATM? What if one day they ston investing in us¡ªwhat then?¡±

 Tried 165

    The shareholder instantly had noeback and fell silent.

    After all, he wasn¡¯t really trying to challenge Aubree. As the boss, if she wanted to bring in other investors, it was ultimately

    her call.

    Since Bowen remained silent throughout, the others simply assumed he wasn¡¯t willing to put in more money.

    With no further objections, they unanimously approved Aubree¡¯s proposal.

    Seated below, Bowen merely offered a faint smile as he listened to the subtle jabs and veiled attempts to brush him aside.

    He knew exactly what Bree was wary of, but if she thought she could gradually cut ties with him, there was no way he would ever allow it.

    Now that Bowen knew exactly what he wanted, he was determined to have it-no matter the cost.

    Bowen¡¯s slightly lowered eyes gleamed with a resolve that brooked no refusal-he was determined to get what he wanted.

    If Aubree could see the look in his eyes right now, she¡¯d probably be so freaked out she¡¯d want to catch the next train out of town that very night.

    Aubree delegated this task to her two trusted aides at thepany-Birgitte and Vincent-instructing them to reach out and negotiate, then report back to her with the oue.

    The meeting concluded, but Bowen remained seated, staring at Aubree with undisguised intensity and no intention of leaving. His lingering presence left Aubree in an awkward limbo.

    She stayed put, and seeing her hesitate, the others also remained rooted to their seats.

    Still, it was Vincent who, disying his professional secretarial tact, stepped in and ushered the others out of the room first.

    Aubree shot him a skeptical look. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you came all the way here just for this meeting.¡±

    ¡°What if I did?¡± Bowen grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

    Aubree, with exaggerated formality, announced, ¡°Now that the meeting¡¯s over, you may leave.¡±

    ¡®She really doesn¡¯t give me any face at all,¡¯ he wondered. Bowen let out augh. ¡°Anyone else might¡¯ve left by now, but what can I say? I¡¯m just too shameless.¡±

    ¡®Well, at least he knows what he is,¡¯ Aubree mused.

    Aubree was speechless. ¡°The worst kind of person to meet must be someone like Bowen-so capable, yet utterly shameless,¡¯ she thought.

    Right on cue, Kelvin entered with the bouquet Bowen had prepared.

    The bouquet Bowen had prepared was tasteful and elegant-a mix of fresh, elegant flowers, beautifully arranged and a feast for the eyes. It was clear he¡¯d put a lot of thought into it.

    Bowen handed her the bouquet with a smile. ¡°These are for you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the flowers. If that¡¯s all, Bowen, would you mind leaving now?¡± Aubree took the flowers, essentially showing Bowen the door.

    34 pm

    Bowen, knowing better than to push his luck, spread his hands with a smile and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take my leave. If you need any help, juste find me.¡±

    ¡°Also, Turner Group will always be willing to invest in you,¡± Bowen said sincerely. In his heart, he added, ¡®And so will I

    With over a month left in the semester, Birgitte and the others were busy securing investment.

    As for the club, Aubree mostly left it to its own devices unless something major came up, pouring all her energy into cramming for finals.

    Perhaps knowing how busy she was with her studies, Bowen wisely refrained from disturbing her. Yet, every now and then, he would send over some nourishing tonic soup prepared by Carol.

    During this time, Bowen received word that Mark had recently shown unusual interest in the orphanage where Aubree used to live.

    It seemed Mark even nned to visit.

    Final exams arrived quickly, and Aubree felt she had performed exceptionally well.

    At Rithol High School, exam results weren¡¯t released immediately-they were typically announced at the start of the next semester, giving students a proper break without worrying about their grades.

    After finishing her exams, Aubree wasted no time-she immediately redirected her focus back to Bree Technology and her esports club.

    Birgitte and Vincent had made some headway in securing investment.

    The investors they¡¯d lined up finally came to Bree Tech for a meeting with Aubree.

    ¡°So you must be Ms. Miller? Truly impressive for someone so young. Though I should rify-I¡¯m not the investor, just the representative.¡± The man, dressed in a sharp suit and appearing to be in his thirties, offered a warm, professional smile.

    Aubree didn¡¯t really care whether the investment came from him or someone else-as long as the deal got done, that was all that mattered to her.

    Then, Mr. Cohen, would you be willing to make the introduction for us?

    Absolutely. Only a fool would pass up such a lucrative opportunity. I¡¯ll arrange it for you right away, Ms. Miller-how about tonight?

    ¡°No problem,¡± Aubree replied.

 Tried 166

    Aubree had reserved a private room and was waiting there with Vincent and Birgitte for the investors.

    ¡°Sorry we¡¯rete.¡± As Cohen hurried in with two sharply dressed men. One was an older gentleman with graying temples, while the other, exuding confidence and presence, appeared to be about the same age as Bowen.

    As beamed, ¡°These are the two investors I¡¯d like to introduce to Aubree. One is Ronald Wilson, a renowned entrepreneur from Rithol City, and the other is his son, Bryan, who is every bit as impressive as his father.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson represents the Wilson Group, while Bryan is here on behalf of his ownpany, Peakru Group.¡±

    At his words, two all-too-familiar faces appeared before her.

    ¡®It¡¯s them, Aubree thought. Her face instantly darkened, her expression turning thunderous.

    Her two colleagues who hade with her to handle the matter immediately tensed up, fully aware of the long-standing feud between Aubree and the Wilson family.

    As had approached them on his own initiative. As a well-known investment broker in Rithol City, he specialized in connecting project owners seeking funding with potential investors.

    But they never expected the investors he introduced would turn out to be the Wilson family.

    ¡°Hi, Aubree,¡± Ronald and Bryan greeted as they walked in.

    As, still oblivious to the tension in the room, continued cheerfully, ¡°I doubt these gentlemen need much introduction, Aubree. Their reputation surely precedes them.¡±

    As said enthusiastically, ¡°Mr. Wilson, Bryan, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re both well aware of how explosively popr Aubree¡¯s yzy project is right now. The growth potential is simply phenomenal.¡±

    A ster project and formidable investors-As was convinced this brokered deal was a match made in heaven.

    ¡°With you two teaming up, it¡¯s like adding wings to a tiger,¡± he added.

    Aubree¡¯s face darkened. ¡®Cooperate with the Wilson family? Not even in my wildest dreams,¡¯ she fumed inwardly. She could only me herself for not checking who the investors were in advance.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s just a coincidence that you two ended up as my investors,¡± Aubree asked, her voice icy.

    As grew flustered. ¡°Coincidence? What do you mean, Aubree? Mr. Wilson and Bryan are clearly here for investment cooperation. Shouldn¡¯t we at least maintain some professional courtesy?¡±

    Aubree nced at him. ¡°If the investors are the Wilson family, then with all due respect, Mr. Cohen, this partnership simply won¡¯t be possible.¡±

    As frowned. ¡°Ms. Miller, this isn¡¯t a joke. Are you saying these two don¡¯t have what it takes to invest in your project?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. When ites to capability, who in all of Rithol City could possibly match these two oh-so-impressive gentlemen here?¡± Aubree¡¯s words sounded like praise, but her tone dripped with sarcasm.

    Aubree thought mockingly, ¡®Who would dare question the oh-so-mighty Wilson family¡¯s power?¡¯

    Ronald and Bryan clearly caught the sarcasm in her words and were both a little embarrassed.

    As was even more baffled and wondered, ¡®Who in their right mind would turn down that much money?¡±

    Aubree shot him a cold look. ¡°Mr. Cohen, did you even bother to look into my background?¡±

    Honestly, I didn¡¯t look into that, As admitted awkwardly.

    Bryan said with feigned concern, ¡°Aubree, don¡¯t be like this. Dad and I only came here to help you.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. If you need investment, we can provide whatever you want,¡± Ronald chimed in eagerly.

    Originally, Ronald had nned to force Aubree to willingly hand over Bree Technology.

    Gareth had also proactively extended an olive branch to Ronald. But just as he had everything nned out, news broke that Aubree was seeking investment.

    Given the circumstances, Ronald didn¡¯t mind giving her a chance-as long as she knew what was good for her. After all, he still had some paternal affection left for her.

    After all, if Ronald had to resort to a hostile takeover, Bree Technology would surely suffer devaluation once it was in his hands-and he¡¯d be the one taking the financial hit.

    ¡°Help me?¡± Aubree scoffed inwardly, an inexplicable surge of anger rising within her. The longer she looked at the Wilson family, the more her disgust grew.

    In the past, they¡¯d just been cruel and abusive, always showing tant favoritism toward Carmen. She used to chalk it up to personal preference and simply paid them back in kind.

 Tried 167

    ¡°They¡¯ve truly lost all shame now,¡¯ Aubree thought. ¡®Day after day, they spout this nonsense, but in reality, they¡¯ve already schemed to take everything I possess.

    ¡®How did I never realize before just how utterly shameless the Wilson family were?¡¯

    ¡°If you really want to help me,¡± Aubree snapped, ¡°then sign the damn contract.¡±

    Ronald put on his most fatherly demeanor, as ifpletely forgetting all the things he¡¯d done behind her back. ¡°Now, now, Aubree,¡± he said with feigned warmth, ¡°what kind of talk is that? We¡¯re family, after all.¡±

    A wave of disgust washed over Aubree-she was so revolted she nearly gagged.

    As froze,pletely baffled by what was happening.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t a Wilson, so it genuinely hadn¡¯t urred to As that they might be rted. But the more he listened, the more he started to put the pieces together.

    ¡®Wait-wasn¡¯t there a rumor that the Wilson family raised their own biological daughter as an adopted one? Could Aubree actually be her?¡¯ As wondered.

    Damn, he really stepped right on andmine.

    ¡®But then again, with the Wilson family actively extending an olive branch, why wouldn¡¯t Aubree capitalize on it? After all, the Wilson family is no ordinary force,¡¯ As thought.

    As thought, ¡®When ites to business, it¡¯s no exaggeration to say the Wilson family controls half the business world in Rithol City. And in political and military circles, they also wield considerable influence. The Wilson family is second only to the Turner family in Rithol City.

    The Wilson family is second only to the Turner family in Rithol City.

    ¡®Beyond managing the Wilson Group, Bryan also founded Peakru Group, which is likewise one of the top-tier enterprises in Rithol City!¡¯

    Vincent sensed the situation was deteriorating. He gave the other two a meaningful look, signaling them to follow him out.

    The private room was cleared, leaving the three of them alone.

    Aubree casually picked up the cup from the table and took a sip to steady herself. Then she said coldly, ¡°Other than signing the contract, I have nothing to say to you people.¡±

    Seeing these two did sour her mood, but then she thought, ¡®Their desperate scramble to get close to me now is the clearest proof of my own sess

    ¡®Wasn¡¯t this exactly what I wanted-to make the Wilson family taste the same hell I went through in my old life? Finally, I¡¯ll drag them down into the abyss.¡¯

    Aubree¡¯s lips curled into a sardonic smile as she surveyed the two men withposed ease.

    ¡°Aubree, you must have noticed some of Bree Technology¡¯s shorings by now, right? You handled the underage user issue well enough, but let¡¯s be honest-you¡¯re still young and inexperienced. That was just the beginning,¡± said Bryan.

    Aubree¡¯s face remained impassive. ¡®So what?¡¯ Aubree thought defiantly, ¡®If I can handle one problem, what makes you think I

    can¡¯t handle the next?¡¯

    1:35 pm

    He continued, ¡°You¡¯re seeking investment mainly because other live-streaming tforms have emerged, right? To staypetitive. Honestly, Bree Technology¡¯s profits are nowhere near what they used to be.¡±

    Aubree finally shot Bryan a nce. ¡°Well, what a rare asion to see you showing concern for me for once.¡±

    Bryan was left speechless.

    26

    ¡°Cut the crap. Even if mypany goes bankrupt, I¡¯ll never let it carry the Wilson name.¡± Aubree swept a cold, contemptuous nce over the two.

    ¡®Damn it, Ronald thought, rubbing his temples. ¡®How did I never realize Aubree could be this unyielding?¡¯

    Ronald said with feigned resignation, ¡°Aubree, we admit we¡¯ve wronged you-all the past mistakes were ours. But we are family. Why keep holding this grudge against us?

    ¡°You have to understand, the underage user issue is just the tip of the iceberg. If something worse happens, Bree Technology could get shut down for good.¡±

    Aubree scoffed, ¡°So what?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s unyielding attitude left Ronald and Bryan feeling like they were punching cotton-utterly frustrated and powerless.

    Ronald looked at Aubree and said earnestly, ¡°Aubree, I really want to help you. You need investment, right? How much do you want? Just say the word, and I¡¯ll give it to you.¡±

    Bryan added, ¡°It¡¯s not just the Wilson Group-I¡¯m willing to give you all the liquid assets my privatepany can mobilize.¡±

    ¡°Aubree,¡± Bryan said, his voice softening, ¡°I truly miss you. Emery and Mom all miss you too.¡±

    Ronald, his voice trembling with feigned remorse, implored, ¡°Aubree, won¡¯t you forgive me for not being there for you before?¡±

    Aubree let out a cold, sarcasticugh. ¡®So generous, huh? Just how generous could they possibly be?¡¯

    C28

 Tried 168

    ¡°So eager to have me return to the Wilson family, are you?¡± Aubree casually took a seat.

    In stark contrast to their former domineering attitude, Ronald and Bryan, who once lorded over her now stood before her, their faces wearing carefully feigned pleading expressions.

    While Ronald was still mulling over her words, Bryan was already lighting up with excitement. ¡°Bree, you¡¯re really willing toe back with us?¡± he eximed.

    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s just going home-why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Aubree met his gaze, a knowing smile ying on her lips.

    Bryan was so overwhelmed by this unexpected joy that he could barely think straight. ¡®Wait? Is this real? She¡¯s actually willing to return to the Wilson family? She¡¯s really going to forgive me?¡¯ he wondered.

    Bryan¡¯s eyes gleamed with intense excitement. Before he could offer any more sweet promises, Aubree spoke up again.

    ¡°Hand over every single share of the Wilson Group you own, and I¡¯lle back. How about it? Haven¡¯t you been begging me to return? Not a bad deal for you, is it?¡± A sly smile yed on Aubree¡¯s lips-she knew better than anyone that the Wilson family would have to be out of their minds to ever agree to her terms.

    Bryan froze, the words hitting him like a bucket of ice water.

    Bryan¡¯s soaring spirits crashed into the abyss, the eager gleam in his eyes snuffed out in an instant.

    Aubree said, ¡°Unwilling, are you? Bryan, weren¡¯t you so desperate for my forgiveness before that you were practically tearing yourself apart?

    ¡°And now you won¡¯t even part with your precious Wilson Group shares? Didn¡¯t you always say you regretted what you did to me? Then prove it-hand over your shares and beg for my forgiveness.¡±

    ¡°Bryan, just hand over your shares of the Wilson Group and I¡¯ll forgive you. I promise I¡¯ll wipe the te clean and never bring up the past again. How about that?¡± Aubree rose to her feet, a deceptively serene smile on her lips as she advanced step by step toward Bryan.

    Bryan¡¯s face turned ashen. With each step Aubree took forward, he instinctively took a step back.

    ¡°Aubree, I-¡± Bryan¡¯s voice shook, the words catching in his throat.

    Aubree¡¯s expression hardened abruptly. She snapped at Bryan, ¡°Since you¡¯re so unwilling to part with those shares, drop the devoted big brother act already.¡±

    ¡°And you?¡± Aubree¡¯s gaze stabbed toward Ronald. ¡°Spare me your sanctimonious speeches.¡±

    Ronald didn¡¯t show any anger at Aubree¡¯s words-or if he felt any, he expertly kept it bottled up inside.

    Ronald was silently calcting whether Aubree genuinely wanted the Wilson Group shares. If she did, trading a small portion of shares for a venture with limitless growth potential wouldn¡¯t be a losing proposition.

    Ronald said, ¡°You want shares in the Wilson Group? I can transfer a portion to your name. As my daughter, this is your rightful due.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡®Huh? He¡¯s really giving them?¡¯ she wondered.

    Aubree let out a coldugh. ¡°I must have underestimated you, Ronald. No wonder you built the Wilson Group-handing out shares like candy.

    ¡°But are your cars failing you in your old age? I said all the shares held by every single member of the Wilson family.¡±

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened. Aubree was truly audacious-not content with just being offered shares, she actually demanded all of them.

    ¡°Not a chance, huh?¡± Aubree shrugged, utterly unfazed.

    Aubree snapped, ¡°Since you can¡¯t do it, then get out of here. There¡¯s nothing left to discuss between us.

    ¡°After everything I¡¯ve endured these past three years, do you really think your half-hearted apology and pathetic begging for forgiveness could ever make up for it? Not a damn chance.

    ¡°I¡¯vee to terms with everything that happened before. I wasn¡¯t strong enough, so I got pushed around. But mark my words-one day, I¡¯ll rise so high that even you will have to crane your necks just to see me.¡±

    29

 Tried 169

    Ronald and Bryan finally slunk out of the private room, shoulders slumped in defeat.

    The three waiting outside could tell at a nce from Ronald and Bryan¡¯s faces that the negotiations had fallen through. Vincent and Birgitte, however, remained unfazed-they¡¯d seen thising all along.

    They weren¡¯t in a hurry. Securing funding for yzy would be effortless-the only real consideration was which investors to bring on board.

    As, on the other hand, sighed repeatedly,menting, ¡°What a pity, what a terrible shame.¡±

    Vincent remained unppable. ¡°Mr. Cohen, if you have other investors to rmend, let¡¯s set up a meeting. Otherwise, I¡¯ve got no shortage of interested parties reaching outtely.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do. I¡¯ll get on it right away,¡± said As.

    He¡¯d introduced the Wilson family out of old business ties, but now that the deal has fallen through, he naturally couldn¡¯t keep clinging to that connection.

    With a brief farewell, As excused himself and left without another word.

    Vincent and Birgitte then pushed open the door.¡±Ms. Miller,¡± Vincent reassured her, ¡°we can always reach out to other investors.¡±

    Aubree nodded. ¡°Do some legwork and vet them carefully.¡±

    Mid-conversation, the private room door swung open again, revealing an unexpected visitor.

    Aubree, assuming the Wilson family had circled back, didn¡¯t even look up before snapping, ¡°Still here? Need me to call security to throw you out?¡±

    ¡°Who on earth has upset you, Bree?¡± came Bowen¡¯s familiar, teasing voice. Aubree looked up and saw him standing there.

    Aubree¡¯s brows had barely rxed before they furrowed again. She looked up and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Bowen clutched his chest dramatically in mock distress. ¡°So harsh, Bree. Can we try a different greeting next time?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s brows furrowed even more. She really wasn¡¯t in the mood for any idle chatter from Bowen right now.

    Seeing her expression, Bowen dropped his yful grin. ¡°Let¡¯s get serious-trouble with the investment?¡±

    Aubree nodded, not hiding it. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Aubree said tly, ¡°The Wilson family meddled in the deal.¡± That single sentence was all Bowen needed to grasp the whole situation.

    Bowen nodded, pulled out a business card, and slid it across to Aubree. ¡°Aidan Matthews-the heir to the renowned Matthews family, the godfather of inte new media in Odiond.

    ¡°I once told him about your livestreaming concept, and he was very interested. He even regretted not being your first partner.¡±

    He continued, ¡°Last time I talked to him, I mentioned you¡¯ve been looking for investorstely. He should be on a flight to Rithol City right now.

    1:35 pm

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying you have to work with him-just do me this favor and give my friend a chance, alright?¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®Seriously? This is beyond perfect.

    The Matthews family was a global leader in digital media, and their sole partner in Odiond was the Turner Group. Upon learning that someone of their caliber wanted to work with her, Aubree couldn¡¯t be more thrilled.

    Partnering with Aidan would mean opening doors to the international market for her.

    Aubree thought, ¡°This is like instantly leveling up.¡¯

    Bowen said, ¡°Since you wouldn¡¯t let the Turner Group help, I had to pull some strings elsewhere for you.¡±

    Meeting Aubree¡¯s gaze, Bowen shed her a bright, knowing smile.

    Bowen was a businessman through and through-shrewd, calcting. If he did something, she absolutely had to know and remember it. Quiet sacrifices simply weren¡¯t his style.

    Bowen thought to himself, ¡®How could she possibly remember what she never even knew?¡¯

    ¡°When is Aidan arriving?¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°Should be tonight, barring any unexpected issues,¡± he said.

    Aubree turned and exchanged a knowing nce with Vincent and Birgitte.

    Birgitte immediately caught on. ¡°Mr. Turner, would you mind helping us arrange a wee dinner? We at Bree Technology would like to host Mr. Matthews.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± she said.

    In fact, Bowen had already reserved a restaurant before he even showed up. Everything was firmly within his grasp.

    Bowen¡¯s eyes burned with absolute certainty.

 Tried 170

    Bowen dispatched Samson to pick up the guests at the airport.

    The dinner was set at a characteristic restaurant on the outskirts of the city.

    When Aubree arrived with Vincent and the others, she noticed chickens and ducks kept in fenced areas in the courtyard.

    ¡®I always thought someone like Bowen would book five-star hotels or restaurants for business meetings, she mused. ¡®Never expected him to be this characteristic.

    But then again, Aubree thought, ¡®It makes sense since Bowen and Aidan are friends.¡¯

    ¡°Hi, Mr. Turner,¡± the owner greeted them with a broad smile. ¡°Everything¡¯s all set.¡±

    When his gazended on Aubree standing beside Bowen, his smile grew even wider.

    Aubree coughed awkwardly.

    Why is he smiling like that?¡¯ she wondered.

    ¡°Much appreciated,¡± Bowen said.

    The owner ushered them inside. ¡°No trouble at all, pleasee right in.¡±

    They had barely settled into the private room when Samson ushered in Aidan and I, a pair of foreigners.

    The man, Aidan, was dressed in a gentlemanly manner and carried a walking cane. Just a half-step behind him trailed I, who looked far more yful-with twin braids and blinking eyes, she looked just like a doll.

    ¡°Bowen, I miss you so much,¡± I beamed, a radiant smile spreading across her face as she flung herself into Bowen¡¯s arms.

    Caughtpletely off guard, Bowen instinctively nced at Aubree, who merely nced back, showing no further reaction.

    Bowen¡¯s heart sank as he noticed Aubree¡¯s indifference. Applying more force, he pushed I away and, speaking in perfect ent, said, ¡°I, that was highly improper.¡±

    ¡°Bowen?¡± I instantly wilted, her whole demeanor deting.

    Aidan¡¯s gaze shifted from Bowen to Aubree, a thoughtful gleam deepening in his eyes as he gently pulled his sister back to his side. ¡°I, what exactly did you promise me before we came?¡±

    ¡°My apologies, Aidan.¡± I lowered her head.

    Among those present, Aubree probably had the weakest Odiondian. It was a bit of a struggle for her to follow, but she could still make out what was being said.

    ¡°You must be Miss Miller. My sister is quite vivacious-please excuse her manners,¡± Aidan said in Lumanonish.

    Aubree was surprised. ¡®I didn¡¯t expect Aidan¡¯s Lumanonish to be this fluent-his pronunciation is impable,¡¯ she wondered.

    Bowen leaned in close to Aubree¡¯s ear and murmured, ¡°Aidan has quite a few Lumanonish business partners, so his Lumanonish is excellent. I can understand it but can¡¯t speak it-so feel free to use Lumanonish.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s warm breath fanned Aubree¡¯s ear. She couldn¡¯t quite tell if she felt more ufortable or more shy. Turning her

    28

    head away, she subtly shifted to the side.

    Bowen caught every nuance of her reaction, a knowing smile ying on his lips before subtly fading away.

    Bowen smiled at Aidan and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you cager to try the local dishes here? I specifically chose this characteristic restaurant for you-the food here truly captures the authentic vors of Rithol City, and they use meticulously chosen ingredients.¡±

    As he spoke, Bowen also ushered everyone to their seats at the table.

    Aidan thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Even I, who had harbored a hidden hostility toward Aubree since they arrived, was now so absorbed in the simple but delicious dishes that shepletely forgot about her.

    ¡°This is so good. Lumanonish cuisine is absolutely amazing.¡± I eximed, her eyes wide with delight as she savored the ordinary yet vorful food.

    ¡°Aidan, that¡¯s so unfair. You never brought me to Lumanon before,¡± she pouted.

    Aidan looked at his sister indulgently and smiled. ¡°Well, you can eat to your heart¡¯s content while you¡¯re here.¡±

    I didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I want Bowen to keep mepany.¡±

    ¡°That depends on whether Bowen is willing,¡± Aidan replied, still smiling.

    Bowen never minced words when rejecting I. ¡°My staff can y host in my ce.¡±

    I scrunched up her face in disappointment, but quickly brightened at the thought that having some food was better than

    none.

    After dinner, it was time to get down to business.

 Tried 171

    <b>Chapter 171 </b>

    Aidan cut straight to the chase. ¡°Miss Miller, I¡¯m very interested in your yzy live streaming tform. If you need an investor, I¡¯d be <b>happy </b><b>to </be on board. But more than that, I¡¯d like to propose a business partnership¨CI want to help bring yzy to the international market<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but smile inwardly. ¡®Great minds think alike,¡¯ she thought.

    After Aidan showed up, Aubree was almost certain he was one of her investors. What thrilled her even more was that Aidan had actually taken the initiative to propose expanding yzy into overseas markets..

    Vincent and Birgitte could practically see dor signs in their eyes¨Cthepany¡¯s future profits looked immense.

    Aubree paused to consider. ¡°I can agree to expanding into overseas markets. But as for your investment, Mr. Matthews, I hope you understand¨CI can¡¯t give a definitive answer just yet. I still need to consider other potential investors as well.¡±

    Aidan nodded in understanding.

    Bowen kept a low profile throughout and hardly said a word. He knew exactly where he stood¨Cjust a go¨Cbetween, nothing more.

    As the dinner was winding down, Aubree excused herself and headed to the restroom.

    No sooner had Aubree left than I, tugging at Aidan¡¯s sleeve with a mischievous glint in her eyes, piped up, ¡°Aidan, I need to use the restroom too.¡±

    Bowen arched an eyebrow, about to follow, when Aidan blocked his way. ¡°Bowen, hovering like that isn¡¯t a good look, you know<i>,</i>¡± he teased.

    Aidan winked. ¡°You might just get a pleasant surprise. I¡¯s a sweet girl¨Cshe won¡¯t hurt Miss Miller.¡±

    Bowen paused in his tracks.

    Aidan chuckled, amusement in his voice as he looked at Bowen. ¡°Seems like quite a few interesting things have happened to youtely.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve found the one I want to spend my life with,¡± Bowen said simply.

    Nearby, Vincent and Birgitte exchanged awkward nces, wishing they could disappear. ¡®Is this really something we are supposed to be hearing?¡® they

    wondered.

    ¡°Congrattions,¡± Aidan offered, though inwardly he was already mourning for his sister. He could already imagine Ista crying her eyes out once she got

    home<i>. </i>

    In the restroom, Aubree was washing her hands. ¡°What are you doing following me?¡±

    I hesitated, then stepped out, looking sheepish. ¡°How did you know it was me?¡± she mumbled.

    Aubree smirked, ¡°Miss, I¡¯m not blind.¡±

    I¡¯s skin flushed with a rosy blush as she bit her lip. ¡°Bowen is mine,¡± she dered.

    I¡¯d loved him for so many years. And just now at dinner, she could clearly see how attentively Bowen watched the girl in front of her.

    Aubree finished washing and drying her hands<b>, </b>and that was <b>all </b>she got.

    She raised an eyebrow and teased, ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°What?¡± I blinked her wide, innocent eyes in confusion. ¡®What else is <b>she </b>expecting?¡® she wondered.

    After all <b>the </b>dirty tricks she¡¯d seen from the

    family, this was the <b>first </b>time Aubree¡¯d run into such <b>a </b>toothless <b>threat</b>.

    An

    <b>10:01 </b><b>Sun</b>, 13 <b>Jul </b>GOU.

    ¡°What are youughing at?<b>¡± </b>I bristled, puffing herself up like a fluffed¨Cup kitten, iling her arms in a futile attempt <b>to </b>look fierce.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t resist reaching out to ruffle I¡¯s hair. I was probably only a couple of years older than her, but with two <b>lifetimes</b>¡® worth of <b>age </b><b>and </b>experience, Aubree couldn¡¯t help but see her as a little sister.

    Aubree pointed at herself, her eyes twinkling with amusement. ¡°From my experience, shouldn¡¯t you be pretending to trip and frame <b>me </b><b>right </b>now? Or maybe even throw a punch to humiliate me?¡±

    I¡¯s mouth fell open in shock at Aubree¡¯s words. ¡°I am the daughter of the Matthews family. My upbringing would never allow me to stoop <b>to </b><b>something </b>

    like that.

    ¡°I like Bowen, but he¡¯s free to like someone else. May the best woman win, fair are.

    ¡°If I were to do any of those things you just mentioned, it would be an insult to

    and an even greater disgrace to the Matthews family

    The cute girl before her, beautiful as a living porcin doll, lifted her chin<b>, </b>proud <b>as </b>a peacock.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®I think I kinda like I.¡®

 Tried 172

    <b>Chapter </b><b>172 </b>

    When yzy announced it was seeking investment, interested parties came flooding in¨Cone could hardly count them all,

    Companies that rode the initial yzy hype wave byunching simr live¨Cstreaming apps

    made a killing.

    Meanwhile, those who had sat on the fence at first were now kicking themselves¨Cand the moment the news broke, they scrambled to get <b>in </b>touch.

    ¡®Sure, there¡¯s risk. But what doesn¡¯te with risks?¡® they wondered.

    With the Turner Group backing Bree Technology, no risk was too big¨Cjust getting in on the action means guaranteed profits.

    Over the past few days, Aubree, together with Birgitte and Vincent, had been hustling through meetings with various investors. After several rounds of intense negotiations, she finally narrowed it down to two partners.

    Between them was Aidan:

    It wasn¡¯t that Aubree particrly wanted to pick Aidan¨Cit¡¯s just that the guy was offering way too much. No matter what terms she threw out, that foreigner would just sh her a big grin and agree without hesitation.

    As Aidan put it, his goal was to partner with Bree Technology, so naturally, he had to show the utmost sincerity.

    The investment from the Matthews family in Odiond gave Bree Technology another major boost, and astute observers had already sensed that Aubree was making a push into overseas markets.

    After securing the investment, Aubree channeled every cent into yzy¡¯s operations. She actively leveraged her connections to secure exclusive live- streaming rights for multiple national tournaments. During every contract negotiation, she made it a non¨Cnegotiable demand. yzy had <b>to </b>be the sole live¨Cstreaming tform.

    This essentially meant that yzy now enjoyed official endorsement from national authorities for its development.

    At this point, Bree Technology¡¯s market valuation entered a period of explosive growth, soaring overnight from a billion to 3 billion dors.

    When the news broke, everyone was left speechless.

    Such achievements were rarely matched across the whole of Lumanon¨Ceven Bowen, in his day, built on the Turner family legacy to achieve his own remarkable feats. As for Aubree, it was no exaggeration to call her truly self¨Cmade.

    Sure, she had help, yet it couldn¡¯t deny that she was powerful.

    Aubree roping in a powerhouse like the Turner Group from day one already showed it.

    With a grand gesture, Aubree handed out hefty bonuses to every employee in thepany.

    ¡°Overseas market expansion needs to be next on the agenda,¡± Aubree mused, nodding approvingly as

    she reviewed thetest financial reports.

    Overseas expansion meant working with Aidan¨Cand that was exactly why he was here. Every negotiation went off without a hitch.

    Aubree took the chance to give Aidan a glimpse of Zappy.

    ¡°Aubree, how on earth does your mind work like that?¡± Just <b>a </b>few words from her had already left Aidan in awe.

    ¡®If she weren¡¯t my buddy Bowen¡¯s girl, I¡¯d seriously consider whisking her back to Odiond, Aidan mused.

    ¡°Just yed it smart,¡± Aubree said with a faint smile.

    Aidan let out a heartyugh. ¡°Well then, Aubree, my money¡¯s all set for you.¡±

    <b>10:01 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b>13 <b>Jul </b>G C

    With the domestic market already wide open for her, and the Matthews family paving the way overseas, it was only a matter of time before Aubree took the international scene by storm.

    444

    In the Wilson residence, Rithol City, while Aubree¡¯s star was shining brighter than ever, things weren¡¯t looking so rosy for the Wilson family.

    Ronald¡¯s scheme to take over Bree Technology had failed, and now hispany

    in

    trouble

    In the living room, Emery sat slumped on the sofa, head bowed. Ronald, livid, hurled the documents at his head. ¡°What the hell <b>have </b>you done<b>?</b>¡±

    Apex Squad¡¯s rapid rise to be a premier League of Legends powerhouse owed much to the Wilson Group¡¯s instrumental backing.

    One could say Apex Squad was the Wilson Group¡¯s arm in the esports industry.

    As Apex Squad¡¯s primary investor, the Wilson Group mostly took a hands¨Coff approach to how the funds were actually used for development.

    Ronald had just received word that esports was officially included in the major tournaments turn around and find that Emery had practically run the club into the ground.

    In the season finals, they were seeded into Group B in the

    sand was all set to build up Apex Squad and cash in¨C<b>only </b>to

    first round, only to crash out immediately in the second.

    To make matters worse, Emery, Apex Squad¡¯s owner, openly admitted to throwing matches in the main event.

    Quite a few investors have already started pulling out.

    No wins, no integrity¨Cfans are fleeing in droves.

 Tried 173

    <b>Chapter </b><b>173 </b>

    Ronald snapped, ¡°Even if you really did have your guys throw the match, you never, ever admit it.¡±

    ¡®And if you are going to admit it, what¡¯s the point of benching our star yers on top of that?¡® Ronald wondered.

    Ronald was fuming. He didn¡¯t know jack about esports, but when it came to turning a profit, that was his bread and butter.

    Emery said, ¡°I messed up and got caught, which dragged Aubree into it. As her brother, it was my duty to clear her name. And Killian¨Che¡¯s <b>part </b>of <b>Apex </b>Squad, but if he was fixing matches behind the scenes, shouldn¡¯t I have punished him for that too?¡±

    Emery methodically gathered the documents and ced them neatly on the table. His calm yet firm words pushed Ronald to the brink ofshing <b>out </b>again.

    Ronald sneered, looking at him with open disdain. ¡°Oh, so now you suddenly want to act like a big brother? Where were you all this time? Do you really think she cares now?¡±

    Emery¡¯s face paled. ¡®If only I¡¯d always trusted Aubree and stayed true to my heart<b>, </b>things between us wouldn¡¯t be like this now, he thought bitterly

    ¡°Oh, so you want to be a good brother now? Don¡¯t you have a sister at home¨CCarmen¨Cfor you <b>to </b>show all that brotherly love to?¡± Ronald just couldn¡¯t fathom how his once perfectly normal fourth son had ended up like this.

    ¡®Emery used to dote on Carmen, didn¡¯t he? So why is he nowpletely obsessed with Aubree?¡® Ronald wondered.

    At the mention of Carmen, Emery gave a bitter, self¨Cmocking smile and chose not to respond.

    The recording of Apex Squad throwing matches for God¡¯s Fury was made by Killian<b>, </b>but he wasn¡¯t the one who leaked it.

    Emery dug deeper and uncovered some leads, but when he realized who might be behind it, he chose not to pursue the matter any further.

    Carmen only thought about how this would hurt Aubree,pletely overlooking that it would implicate Emery.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t want to waste my breath on you. I called you back for one reason. You have to fix Apex Squad,¡± said Ronald,

    Bringing Apex Squad back was the <i>best </i>move right now¨Cbetter than starting from scratch.

    ¡°Need money? The Wilson Group will provide it. Management not working? Rece them. yers not good enough? Recruit new ones,¡± Ronald added.

    Emery fell silent for a moment. By all rights, he should have been thrilled by such an offer.

    Ronald, sensing Emery¡¯s unusual hesitation, scowled, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m nning to sell off Apex Squad,¡± Emery said quietly.

    ¡°What?¡± Ronald¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°I forbid it<b>.</b>¡±

    Just as esports is bing a gold mine, Emery wants to sell off Apex Squad? Did he even think to consult me first?¡® Ronald wondered.

    ¡°Dad, if you won¡¯t let me sell off Apex Squad, then find someone else to run the club,¡± said Emery.

    With the Wilson Group as the primary investor, it was nearly impossible for Emery to go through with the sale without their approval¨Cbut honestly, Emery just didn¡¯t want to manage the club anymore.

    ¡®Everything Aubree said about me was spot on¨CI can¡¯t even stand the person I¡¯ve be,¡® Emery thought bitterly.

    ¡°I¡¯m heading to Kornd. A friend I used to y professionally with is building his team there and invited me to <b>join </b><b>as </b><b>an </b><b>esports </b><b>coach</b><b>. </b><b>Barring </b><b>any </b>surprises, I probably won¡¯t being back here much,¡± Emery said.

    Ronald was momentarily stunned speechless. When he regained his senses, overwhelming rage consumed all reason. <b>He </b>raised his hand <b>and </b><b>d</b>. stinging p across Emery¡¯s face. <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re actually leaving? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re cutting ties with the Wilson family for <b>Aubree</b>?¡±

    Emery kept his head bowed in silence. His silence spoke volumes.

    ¡®Aubree doesn¡¯t want to forgive me,¡® Emery thought. ¡®After making my yers throw matches, I don¡¯t deserve to keep managing Apex <b>Squad</b><b>. </b><i>Maybe </i>it¡¯s better if I just leave¨Cat least that might make Aubree happy, and maybe I can finally find some peace of mind!

    Stubbornly, Emery continued, ¡°I won¡¯t be leaving until after the New Year at the earliest. After I¡¯m gone, Dad, take care of yourself and Mom. And <b>if </b>you can, please try to be a little kinder to Aubree.¡±

    Ronald¡¯s face turned beet red with rage. Inwardly, he fumed, ¡®Aubree is a damn scourge.

    <b>¡®</b>Of all the damn times we could have brought her back or kept her from leaving, we just had to nod and let Aubree walk away without <b>a </b>fight¨C<b>right </b>when we should have held on the tightest.¡®

 Tried 174

    <b>hapter 174 </b>

    Emery wanted to leave, but of course Ronald would never allow it. Anger aside, he still had to talk him into staying

    Ronald looked at Emery and said, ¡°Come on, wasn¡¯t all this just about getting Aubree back<b>? </b>

    ¡°Aubree also started her club. Her club is still quite new, and the only notable achievement they have is League of Legends. Apex Squad <b>just </b>hit a snag with their most profitable League of Legends division. Wouldn¡¯t merging the two be the perfectplementary solution?¡±

    Ronald continued, ¡°You think she¡¯d refuse? Rx. Last time Bryan and I went to see her, she was already softening her stance. This time, we¡¯re <b>giving </b><b>her </b>the entire Apex Squad as an apology gift¨Cwhat¡¯s not to like? Her club would call the shots, with full investment from the Wilson Group backing <b>it </b>

    Ronald yed his cards right. Emery¡¯s reluctance to keep managing the club was all about Aubree. So he¡¯d use her as leverage to persuade Emery

    Last time, when Aubree demanded all the shares of the Wilson Group, it was clear she had her own agenda. Now that he was handing her the entire <b>Apex </b>Squad on a silver tter, he was sure she wouldn¡¯t be even slightly tempted.

    Both clubs had their strengths and weaknesses, and since they were both under the Wilson umbre, who managed them was irrelevant¨Cas long as the Wilson family profited in the end.

    Little did Ronald know, however, that when Aubree had made that demandst time, she was perfectly aware he would never actually agree to it.

    If the Wilson family really lost their minds and handed her the shares, of course, Aubree would be thrilled. Once she got them, she¡¯d kick the whole damn family out onto the streets, leaving them utterly destitute.

    Aubree secured the connection with the Mattei family and partnered with Aidan. Whether she admitted it or not, Bowen¡¯s influence was behind it all.

    And Bowen was quick to press his advantage.

    Before Aubree could even say a word, Bowen couldn¡¯t wait to rush over and im the credit.

    He texted her. [Don¡¯t you think <i>you </i>owe me a thank you this time?]

    [Yeah, I gotta thank you for the help,] Aubree replied. She acknowledged the favor.

    ¡®Admitted it? Perfect,¡® Bowen smirked slyly, sending shivers down the spines of those around him. No one could tell which poor soul Bowen was scheming against now.

    Bowen: [So, when you have some free¨Ctime, how abouting with me to Gracefield Church? Dad went there to prayst time and asked me to fulfill the vow. Coincidentally, the roses at the church are in full bloom this season¨Cthey¡¯re quite a sight.]

    What Bowen didn¡¯t mention was that his father¡¯s prayer had been for him to settle down soon.

    That wish really dide true.

    The weather forecast said there would be snow in theing days. Bowen slightly lowered his eyelids, veiling the dark thoughts in his eyes.

    Little did Aubree know there were so many hidden agendas behind all this. Gracefield Church was famous in Rithol City¨Cnot only for its reputation<b>, </b><b>but </b>also for its spectacr Rose Garden.

    ¡®Might as well check it out,¡® she thought.

    [Sure,] Aubree replied.

    Bowen said he was free, and true to his word, he drove straight to Aubree¡¯s ce the very <b>next </b>day to <b>pick </b>her up himself. Determined <b>to </b><b>finally </b><b>get </b><b>the </b>private time he¡¯d been scheming for ages, he didn¡¯t even bring a bodyguard.

    <b>They </b>were already on their way up the mountain. Gracefield Church sat halfway up the <b>slope</b>, essible only after <b>navigating </b>a winding mountain <b>fo </b><b>and </b><b>a </b>final stretch on foot.

    Bowen said, ¡°The meals and roses at Gracefield Church are quite renowned. After we pray, we can check them out and if we <b>have </b>time<b>, </b><b>maybe </b>stay for

    meal<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>Can¡¯t </b>wait to see them,¡± Aubree replied with a smile. Perhaps it was the string of recent good fortune¨Cthe club¡¯s championship <b>win </b>and the <bpany¡¯s </b>bright prospects¨Cthat had visibly brightened herplexion.

    Even her usual reserve toward Bowen had softened.

    Aubree didn¡¯t spot many people heading up the mountain along the way, but she didn¡¯t give it much thought.

    With the chilly,weather, a sparse crowd wasn¡¯t particrly surprising.

    The higher they climbed, the colder it got.

    Stepping out of the car, they were greeted by an endless flight of gray brick steps, winding upward until they disappeared from sight.

    As they ascended the <i>steps</i>, the heavy toll of belts grew clearer. Against the ancient<i>, </i>starkndscape, prayer ribbons fluttered in the wind<b>¨C</b>each one <b>a </b>silent wish left by prayers.

    The church was quiterge, yet there were surprisingly few visitors around.

 Tried 175

    <b>Chapter </b><b>175 </b>

    They could see godfathers and believers walking around. Enrique believed in Christ and used toe to pray with his elders <b>when </b><b>he </b><b>was </b>young<b>. </b>Under his father¡¯s influence, Bowen might not be extremely devout, but he still came to worship every year and made donations.

    Most of the godfathers here recognized him on sight. ¡°Mr. Turner, are you here to pray today?¡± a godfather said.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to fulfill a vow for my father, and I¡¯ve brought some friends to admire the roses,¡± said Bowen.

    The godfather led them to a grand hall, where there were many believers.

    Bowen led Aubree into the hall to fulfill their vow. As Aubree gazed up at the statue high above, she thought, ¡®To be granted a second chance at <b>life </b>is beyond human power. Maybe this truly is God¡¯s intervention. God took pity on how wretched and powerless i was before, and gave me another chance<b>! </b>

    With that thought, she stood beside Bowen, seeking peace of mind.

    Closing her eyes, palms pressed together, she prayed silently, ¡®<b>If </b>God truly can see, then let me settle all the scores and find justice in this life. Standing in the middle, Bowen quietly cracked open one eye <b>to </b>steal <b>a </b>nce at Aubree beside him. He knew exactly why he was here. First, <b>to </b><b>give </b>thanks for her return to his side; second, to pray for their future together.

    Afterpleting their prayers, a godfather served as their guide, leading them through the church grounds.

    After touring the church grounds and seeing most of what they had to offer, Bowen checked the time and bid farewell <b>to </b>the godfather. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯d like to <b>take </b>Aubree to see the Rose Garden,¡± he said.

    The godfather smiled serenely, ¡°An excellent choice. The roses are at their peak this season¨Ctruly a magnificent sight.¡±

    Walking along the gstone path, Bowen moved forward almost brushing against Aubree. ¡°After my father retired, he loveding here to pray. He donated quite a sum to the church, and the godfather even specially arranged a private courtyard in the back just for him to stay in.

    ¡°Now he only visits asionally, but the courtyard is still kept clean and reserved for him.¡±

    At first, Aubree had no idea why Bowen was telling her all this. Now, she couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes¨Cso it had all been part of his n from the very beginning.

    The mountain air was chilly, but the roses bloomed vibrantly, each one vivid against the stark, destendscape, making their beauty stand out all the

    more.

    ¡°Wow,<i>¡± </i>Aubree gasped in admiration, quickly pulling out her phone to snap a few carefully angled shots.

    Standing behind Aubree, Bowen acted on impulse and raised his phone to snap a photo.

    The picture showed only her profile. Without thinking, his finger gently caressed her face on the screen before he set it as his wallpaper.

    ¡°It¡¯d be even more beautiful if it snowed,¡± Aubree murmured, reluctantly putting away her phone.

    However, soon delicate snowkes began drifting down from the sky.

    ¡°It¡¯s snowing,¡± she eximed, her eyes sparkling with delight. She reached out to catch a couple of kes in her outstretched palms, <b>then </b><b>turned </b><b>back </b><b>to </b>Bowen with a radiant smile.

    His breath hitched, his fingers twitching in his pocket with a restrained impulse.

    Watching this scene, Bowen instantly regretted putting his phone away a moment too soon.

    Snowkes dusted Aubree¡¯s hair and clothes, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold. With half her face buried <b>in </b><b>the </b><b>scarf </b><b>around </b><b>her </b><b>neck</b><b>, </b><b>she </b><b>looked </b>utterly adorable.

    Bowen¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he smiled and replied, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s snowing.<b>¡± </b>

    Bowen narrowed his eyes at the sky¨Cthe snow wasing down harder now.

    Amidst the white snow and roses, Aubree¡¯s spirits soared¨Cshe couldn¡¯t stop smiling. She dashed over and thrust her phone <b>into </b><b>Bowen¡¯s </b><b>hand</b>. Bowen could you take some photos for me?¡± she grinned.

    Without waiting for a reply, she scampered back beneath the fos

    and struck a yful pose.

    Bowen didn¡¯t offer a single reminder, happily indulging Aubree with his own phone.

    Pas sh

    took photos to pass

    the time. Meanwhile, he discreetly <b>snapped </b><b>a </b>few <b>pictures </b>

    It wasn¡¯t until Aubree, contentedly scrolling through her phone to select photos to post on social media, that Bowen finally looked down <b>at </b>her.

    ¡°Bree, looks like we¡¯ll have to stay at the church overnight,¡± he said.

    Aubree¡¯s smile froze instantly.

    ¡°The good news is, the courtyard I mentioned is habitable,¡± Bowen said with a faint, apologetic smile. ¡°The bad <i>news</i>? There¡¯s only one room.

    He gave her an apologetic look. ¡°Seems you¡¯ll have to make do with sharing a room with me tonight, Bree.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s expressionpletely shattered. ¡®You¡¯ve got to be kidding me?¡® she thought.

 Tried 176

    <b>Chapter </b><b>176 </b>

    As it turned out, it wasn¡¯t a joke her all

    As they stepped out of the Rose Gardens, the snow was falling in thick, feathery kes, nketing the earth and sky in white, From the looks of it, tha bravy snowfall showed no sign of letting up anytime soon.

    Aubree stood outside the church gates, her face clouded with worry as the ceaseless snow fell. ¡°Bowen,¡± she asked anxiously, ¡°is there no other way!

    She¡¯d prefer to avoid being in the same room as Bowen, if possible.

    Bowen stood under his umbre, snowkes dusting his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll try to figure something out,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the church for now. It¡¯s freezing out here¡±

    Bowen made a <b>call</b>, Meeting Aubree¡¯s hopeful gare, he could only shake his head. ¡°The snow¡¯sing down too hard. All the mountain roads are blocked. It¡¯s just too dangerous to try heading down now.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face immediately fell, but she wasn¡¯t the type to make a fuss. Once it was clear they couldn¡¯t go down the mountain, she epted it with a wry sense of humor. ¡°At least it¡¯s winter, and I don¡¯t have to worry about changing clothes at night. If it were summer, that¡¯d be much more awkward,¡± sha remarked, trying to look on the bright side.

    A priest approached and said respectfully, ¡°Mr. Turner, the pastor asked me to let you know that the roads are dangerously slippery because of the snow, so it¡¯s not safe to go down the mountain. The guest quarters we previously prepared for your father are still avable and have been kept clean. Please stay overnight tonight.¡±

    ¡°Okay, thank you for your trouble,¡± Bowen replied respectfully.

    The priest said, ¡°You two may rest in the church for now. I¡¯lle to invite you for the evening mealter

    The church only served vegetarian meals Aubree remembered Bowen mentioning how famous their dishes were. She hadn¡¯t expected to try them so

    <b>soon </b>

    Bowen wasn¡¯t lying<b>. </b>

    The food had a unique vor.

    The priests went to their evening prayers after eating, leaving Bowen and Aubree alone.

    Bowen fetched some warm water for the two of them to wash up.

    With poor cell reception up in the mountains and heavy snowfall, they could barely make phone calls, let alone online gaming. With no real entertainment options, sleep was pretty much the only activity left.

    Being a guest, Aubree avoided wandering off and instead followed Bowen back to the courtyard.

    To call it a ¡°courtyard¡± was generous. The truth was, it was <b>just </b>a single room with a patch of open ground and <b>a </b>stone table.

    ¡°Come in,¡± Bowen said, pushing open the door. The mountain air was biting <b>cold</b>, and the priests lived a simple life, without heating or air conditioning, except in this guest room. The priests here had <b>kindly </b>turned on the air conditioning ahead of time for their guests,

    As <b>Aubree </b>stepped inside, warm air enveloped her. The chill from the snowstorm soon melted away.

    However, the room <b>was </b>small. Apart from a single table, there was just a bed pushed flush against the wall

    Aubree <b>had </b>considered sleeping on the floor, but now she had to abandon that idea. After all, sleeping outside in the snow wasn¡¯t an option.

    Aubree stared at the room for a long moment, her gaze conflicted. Standing beside her, a subtle, knowing smile yed on Bowen¡¯s lips.

    Bowen said, ¡°I¡¯ll go ask them for another quilt.¡±

    As soon as Bowen stepped out, Aubree started fidgeting nervously in the room. The bed looks only a bit bigger than Bowen, a tall grown man, to sleep on. With me added in, crowding isn¡¯t even

    main concern. But physical contact

    The priest handing the quilt to Bowen was fairly young and seeined familiar with him.

    ¡°I thought one quilt would suffice for you, Mr. Turner, the priest remarked with a teasing smile.

    Bowen chuckled and said, ¡°Still working on winning over her,¡±

    The young priest smiled and said, ¡°Miss Miller has bright, intelligent eyes and a genuinely kind heart. She¡¯s truly blessed, Mr. Turner, if you and Miss Miller should form an attachment, you must treat her with the utmost care,¡±

    ¡°Of course I will,¡± Bowen replied.

    Bowen walked back into the room, carrying a quilt. Aubree <b>was </b>still frowning, agonizing over how they would sleep that night. Seeing him return, she quickly stepped forward to take the quilt from him. ¡°Bower, let me handle it,¡± she said.

    AD

 Tried 177

    <b>Chapter </b><b>177 </b>

    With deliberate slowness, she straightened the bedding, yet even dawdling had its limits.

    Bowen knew what was troubling her. With an amused smile, he stood by, making no move to hurry her as she fussed with the bedding.

    Then he <b>said </b>cainly. ¡°You should take the inside by the wall tonight. The bed¡¯s a bit narrow. Wouldn¡¯t want you to fall off¡± His face was the picture ofposaire, as if he didn¡¯t have a single ulterior thought.

    Aubree sat on the edge of the bed, nervously fiddling with her fingers. ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy yet. I think I¡¯ll go to bed a bitter,¡± she said.

    Bowen didn¡¯t insist. Instead, he quietly began straightening the bedding himself Before long, his phone ring it was from Hugh, the family butler,

    ¡°Hello?¡± Bowen answered as he settled onto the bed.

    ¡°Bowen, when are youing back tonight?¡± In Ellis Heights, High nced at the beautiful, doll like girl on the sofa and felt troubled. This girl¡¯s brother is truly unreliable. How could he <b>leave </b>her here like this?¡± he thought

    I, sitting on the sofa, seemed to notice Hugh¡¯s gaze. She looked up with a sweet smile and asked<b>, </b>¡°Mr. Watson, when is Bowening back?¡±

    Hugh rubbed his temples in frustration. He couldn¡¯t understand <b>a </b>word of Odiondian, and the little girl¡¯s chattering might as well have been gibberish

    to him.

    ¡°I brought Aubree to Gracefield Church to fulfill my father¡¯s vow, Bowen said. ¡°The snow has blocked the roads, and I don¡¯t think make it back tonight. Did something <b>happen </b>at home?¡±

    Hugh frowned and said, ¡°Bowen, your foreign friend said he had to go back to Odiond, but his younger sister wanted to stay. He asked you to look after her. He came to look for you but couldn¡¯t find you, so he just left his sister here.

    ¡°Carol and I don¡¯t understand a word of Odiondian. What are we supposed to do?¡±

    Bowen frowned for a moment, then seemed to have an idea and chuckled. ¡°Hugh, go get Alvin¨Cand have him entertain our guest¡±

    Hugh hesitated, his expression uncertain. ¡®Is it okay to call Alvin over? he wondered.

    Whether Alvin woulde was another matter. At that time, the bed was already ready in the church courtyard

    Aubree tried to keep herself <b>busy</b>, stubbornly scrolling through her phone despite the terrible signal Out of the corner of her eye<b>, </b><b>she </b>noticed Bowen taking off his coat, and from the looks of it, he was about to shed moreyers.

    Aubree was instantly scared straight. ¡°Bowen, what are you doing?¡± she blurted out.

    ¡°To get undressed for <b>bed</b>, obviously,¡± Bowen replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to do up here in the mountains, so we might as well turn in early, rest up, and see if we can make it down tomorrow.¡±

    Well, I guess that makes sense, but isn¡¯t this moving a little too fast? Aubree thought and bit her lower lip. Honestly, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m being dramatic. Anyone would feel awkward sharing a room with a guy she <b>barely </b>knew!

    ¡°Are y

    you getting sleepy?¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°Kind of,¡± Bowen replied<b>, </b>tilting his head <b>at </b>her/Just do your thing, don¡¯t worry about me

    Hey, that¡¯s not the point, Aubree thought frantically. She grew restless, unable to decide whether to sit or stand.

    Bowen watched her agitation, a faint, knowing smile ying in his eyes as he feigned ignorance. He removed his outer garments, remaining in his shirt <b>and </b>pants, andy down on the outer side of the bed

    Just as Aubred was still hesitating, a voice called out from outside the window, ¡°Miss Miller, Mr. Turner, are you still awakar

    From the sound of it, it was the same priest who had arranged for them to stay.

    ¡°<b>Yeah</b>, is there something?¡± Aubree asked,

    I your lights were still on, so I thought I¡¯de by and see if you

    ¡°No, nothing. The pastor was a bit concerned and sent me to check on you. I noticed y needed anything. If there¡¯s anything you need, just let me know,¡± said the priest.

    ¡°Nothing needed. We¡¯re turning in now, Aubree replied

    Not wanting to trouble the priests, she reluctantly switched off the light.

    With the lights out, Aubree felt even more <b>fustered</b>,

    Come on, Aubree thought to herself. Bowen won¡¯t do anything inappropriate. We¡¯re not even under the same nket, so what am I so nervous about

    With a resigned sigh, Aubree took off her outerwear and shoes, then slipped into the inner side of the bed.

    Bowen kept his eyes closed. It was only after <b>a </b>while that he sensed Aubree quietly slipping into bed.

    <b>AD</b>

 Tried 178

    <b>Chapter </b><b>178 </b>

    The bed was small. After Aubree got in, the inmediately pressed herself against the wall, curling up into a

    Bowen, a disciplined sleeper,y rigidly on the far side of the heil, which surprisingly created a distinct gap between them.

    But that was all.

    The space was still cramped. One turn, and they¡¯d bump i

    pinto each other.

    Aubree gripped the quilt tightly in both hands, her entire body rigid with tension. Enveloped by Bowen¡¯s unfamiliar scent, she felt like she could hardly breathe.

    The church at night was eenly quiet. Despite the distance between them, Aubree could hear his heartbeat with startling rity

    ¡°Thump¡­ Thump¡­¡± His heartbeat was strong and steady.

    Curled up under the quilt and facing the wall, Aubree found sleep impossible in these circumstances

    Before long. Bowen¡¯s breathing grew slow and <b>steady</b>.

    Is he asleep? Aubree wondered.

    It was getting ufortable to lie in the same position for so long. After hesitating for a couple of seconds, Aubree cautiously turned over.

    Sure enough, the bed was tiny. Even through the quilt, Aubree could feel her arm <b>brush </b>against Bowen¡¯s.

    As she lifted her head, Aubree¡¯s body went rigid in an instant

    Unbeknownst to her, Bowen had turned onto his side, his face now mere inches from hers

    If I¡¯d moved just a fraction more, our lips might <b>have </b>met, Aubree thought to herself.

    Aubree gazed at <b>Bowen¡¯s </b>impossibly perfect face mere inches from hers, her heart pounding wildly out of control.

    Perhaps sensing her gaze, Bowen¡¯s eyelids fluttered. He cracked his eyes open slightly, his gaze still clouded with sleep, looking utterly groggy <b>as </b>if lost in drowsy confusion.

    ¡°Just sleep,¡± As if acting on instinct, Bowen reached out and casually ruffled <b>Aubree¡¯s </b>hair. ¡°Don¡¯t fuss.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s scorching breath made Aubree shrink back, her whole body tensing. His rough voice sent a shiver down her spine.

    Aubree jolted and instinctively burrowed deeper under the covers<b>, </b>suddenly feeling awkward and tense all over..

    But Bowen only stirred briefly at her touch, then fell motionless again.

    Peeking through half¨Cclosed eyes, Aubree stole another nce at Bowen and muttered under her breath, ¡°Why do you have to be so damn handsome

    In the darkness, Bowen, who was supposed to be asleep, curled his lips into a smirk. Silently, he mused, ¡°How else would I catch your eye if I weren¡¯t handsome<b>?</b>¡®

    ¡ª¨C

    After what felt like ages, drowsiness finally crept in Aubree¡¯s <b>eyelids </b>grew heavy, and she drifted into a deep slumber.

    Almost the moment Aubree dritted off, Bowen stirred beside her, rolling onto his side. His eyes gleamed intensely in the darkness, betraying no hint of the drowsiness he¡¯d feigned earlier.

    ¡°Bree?¡± Bowen called softly<b>, </b>but received no response.

    Alter being wound up tight, Aubree fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.

    Bowen smiled and reached out to caress Auber¡¯s face, It felt warm, delicate, and incredibly soft. Unable to resist, he gave her cheek a gentle pinch, only pulling his hand back after he¡¯d had his fill of the delightful sensation.

    In the darkness, floweny on his side, his <b>gaze </b>burning with gentleness as he stared at Aubree

    After gazing at her for what felt like an eternity, Bowen slowly propped himself up and nted two soft kisses on Aubree¡¯s forehead, in a gentle <b>murmur</b>, he said, ¡°Good night Sweet dreams¡±

    After doing all this, Boweny back down, inching closer to Aubree through the quilt.

    The room¡¯s air conditioner was on a timer. It <b>was </b><b>a </b>small space, and running it all night would have <b>made </b>it unbearably stuffy.

    In the dead of night, the room temperature dropped. Aubree, with a delicate constitution and prone to cold hands and feet in winter, soon began to feel the chill.

    Still deep in sleep, she instinctively snuggled toward the warmth.

    At some point, <b>her </b>hand slipped under Bowen¡¯s nket. The warmth <b>seeped </b>in, and Aubree rxed, the tension melting from her face.

    Bowen¡¯s nket, tucking her hands and feet against his chest, her body instinctively curling into his

    Unconsciously. Aubree had burrowed under Bowe warmth.

    Bowen had woken up the moment Aubree reached out her hand. But really, who in their right mind would turn down such <b>a </b>sweet, unconscious embrace? So in

    instead of stopping her or waking her, he quietly lifted his quilt to make room for her.

    AD

 Tried 179

    <b>Chapter </b><b>179 </b>

    with the gat he adored curled up in his arms, Bowen would have to be a saint, or made of dure, to keep his enviposime.

    Bowen fell the delicate warmth of her body in his arms. His Adam¡¯s apple hobbed as heat consumed him, his blood running hot, ¡®Yet she slept indisturbed, her body stinctively seeking his warmth, pressing closer with each drowsy shift.

    Bowen thought to himself, ¡®This is sweet agony¡±

    He was burning up with desire, yet he couldn¡¯t act on it. Gritting his teeth, Bowen forced himself to fall asleep.

    Here, Bowen got tormented by desire, while at Ellis Heights, Alvin was also on the verge of a breakdown.

    Hugh called to say that Bowen wasn¡¯t home and asked Alvin toe to Eis Heights to help look after the guest. Alvin, considering that Bowen was stat his uncle, after all, went. But the moment he saw I on the s<b>, </b>his jaw nearly hit the floor

    Alvin thought to himself, ¡®Seriously, is this how an uncle sets up his nephew)

    I knew Bowen had a nephew, so she immediately recognized Alvin andtched onto him, bombarding him with endless questions about Bowen.

    Left with no choice, Alvin steered I into the study and fired up <b>a </b>game, hoping to distract her with some mindless fun

    The n worked Maybe a little too well.

    Alvin nced at the clock and realized it was the wee hours. He looked over at I, who was still trash¨Ctalking with others in broken Lumanonian in the canyon. He sighed and looked <b>up </b>at the sky. Did this n work a little too well?¡® he thought wryly.

    ¡°Oh! Alvin, I can¡¯t beat him. Get over here and help!¡± i said.

    Alvin could only reply. ¡°Coming!¡±

    Aubree spent the first half of the night wound up so tight she couldn¡¯t sleep a wink, but in thetter half, she slept like a baby.

    When Aubree woke up the next morning, she thought the church bed was surprisinglyfortable. The mattress beneath me feels springy and just the right firmness¡­she thought. ¡®Wait, nol Hold on a second! Mattress?¡®

    As her mind cleared, Aubree remembered that there was only a wooden board with two quilts, no mattress at all.

    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± Bowen¡¯s husky, teasing voice rang in her ears. To Aubree, at that moment, it was like a bolt of lightning striking her brain, leaving her a blushing, frazzled mess.

    For the first time, she feltpletely disconnected from her own body.

    Aubree swore she scrambled off Bowen at breakneck speed. That had to be Guinness World Record material, she thought frantically. Can someone please exin how I ended up practically sprawled all over Bowen?¡®

    After scrambling off Bowen, Aubree finally took stock of the situation. ¡®Wait, why was the quit that should have been covering me now kicked down to the foot of the bed? And how did I end up curled up against Bowen¡¯s chest like this?

    ¡®But that¡¯s not even the worst part. Judging by the way I woke up, it¡¯s painfully clear that I must¡¯ve been the one who crawled into Bowen¡¯s bed all by myself

    ¡°Bowen slept stiff as a board, but I practically coiled around him like <b>a </b>snake. Honestly, he wasn¡¯t to me in the slightest.¡±

    <b>Bowen</b>, his hair tousled from sleep, propped himself up on one elbow and quietly watched as Aubree sat frozen on the bed, a triumphant smirk Bashin in <b>his </b>eyes.

    Chapter <b>179 </b>

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bowen asked.

    Aubree turned stiffly, swallowing hard. I distinctly remember Bowen¡¯s clothes we buttoned up all proper when he first got into bed, she thougins fresh wave of horror. So those undana buttons¡­ Was his half exposed chest my doing?

    ¡°N¨Cno, nothing.¡± Aubree stammered, hastily averting her gaze, quilt flickering in her eyes.

    Bowen nced down, then chuckled softly. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t mind a bil

    Aubree¡¯s face instantly burned crimson. ¡°Seriously, is that even the point?¡± she fumed inwardly, utterly awkward.

    Even though he¡¯d just said he didn¡¯t mind, Bowen still let out a theatrical sigh ¡°But Bree, you¡¯re quite the restless sleeper. This morning, I honestly, thought it was sleep paralysis. You had all your arms and legs wrapped around me like an octopus. I couldn¡¯t budge an inch and just had to wait for your to wake up.¡±

    In her haste to scramble over Bowen and get out of bed, Aubree almost ended up kneeling right on top of him.

    Enough already! Seriously! Aubree groaned inwardly, her face burning with embarrassment

    <b>AD </b>

 Tried 180

    <b>Chapter </b><b>180 </b>

    Aher washing up with warm water and stepping not, the pilest in the church served them breakfast.

    ¡°Did you sleep wellst night?¡± the priest asked.

    Bowen suddenly smirked, ncing sideways at Aubree, who stood beside him with her head lowered riot bad,¡± he said.

    Aubree blushed.

    The priest, oblivious to the st

    strange undercurrents, chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s good,¡±

    The priest set down their breakfast and left. As soon as he <b>was </b>gone, Bowen handed the meal to Aubree. ¡°Eat up,¡± he said. ¡°The mountain path should tie clear now. After <b>breakfast</b>, we cais head <b>back</b><b>.¡± </b>

    ¡°Oh, okay. Sure,¡± Aubree murmured.

    After breakfast, Bowen had to head to the office. After discussing with Aubree, he called Ethan to take her home.

    After getting Aubree¡¯s consent, Bowen called Ethan and Samson over.

    Alone in the car on her way back, Aubree should <b>have </b>felt at <b>ease</b>, yet something <b>didn¡¯t </b>feel right. An indescribable unease lingered in her heart, and Bowen¡¯s face kept surfacing in her mind.

    Meanwhile, in the other car, Bowen sat in the backseat while Samson drove up front<b>. </b><b>Samson </b>kept sneaking <b>nces </b>at Bowen through the rearview mirror, unable to ignore that little grin that had been on Bowen¡¯s face since he got in. It was driving Samson crazy with curiosity.

    Samson couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®What the hell happened between Mr. Turner and Miss Miller at Gracefield Church? And why did they have to go back separately? Wouldn¡¯t it be easier for them to get closer if they just shared a ride?¡±

    Samson had barely dropped Bowen off at the Turner Group before, bursting with questions, he rushed to spill all his juicy intel in their WhatsApp group,

    The group consisted of nine members, all elite bodyguards personally trained by the Turner family to protect Bowen and Alvin,

    And Samson was the group admin.

    Ethan said in the group chat<b>: </b>[Oh, I¡¯ve got the inside scoop! Miss Miller was totally out of it the whole way back, <b>if </b>you catch my drh.

    Seeing that message, <b>Zachary </b>sent a string of ellipses in the group chat

    Samson asked: [Why did Mr. Turner and Miss Miller go back separately?

    Ethan replied: [Come on, it¡¯s obvious! This way, Miss Miller would be thinking about him the whole ride back!]

    ¡°Man, Mr. Turner is such a sly dog. Ethan thought to himself

    Most of the chat <b>was </b>just Ethan and Samson talking, with others asionally chiming in,

    <b>Nina </b>said: <b>[</b>Screen recorded. I¡¯ll send this to Mr. Turner in a bit.

    Ethan replied: [Come on, Ninal That¡¯s not how we do things. By the way, Mr. Turner told you to keep <b>an </b>eye on Mr. King. How¡¯s that going?]

    Nina replied: (He¡¯s been going to the orphanage that Mr. Turner used to sponsor a lottely.

    Ethan read the message and instantly sensed trouble brewing. The orphanage before she returned to the Wilson family?<b>¡± </b>

    Turner sponsored? he thought ¡®Wasn¡¯t that where Miss Miller stayed

    Far away at the Turner Group headquarters, Bowen was going through documents when he rubbed his nose. He couldn¡¯t shake the nagging feeling that

    <b>he¡¯d </b>forgotten something.

    Still stuck at Ellis Heights<b>, </b>babysitting i, a ¡°kid¡± actually older than himself, Alvin fet utterly done with life. Did Uncle Bowen parfoods me?¡® he wondered.

    Back in Odiond, Aldan hit the ground running.

    Leveraging the Matthews family¡¯s clout, Aidans effortlessly secured approval tounch yry in Odiond.

    Without hesitation, he invested over 100 million dors <b>as </b>startup capital to set up a subsidiary in Odinnd. Autres took a minority stake, but he retained full decision¨Cmaking authority.

    Building on yzy¡¯s proven business model in Lumanon, he made a few strategic tweaks to better suit Odiond¡¯s preferences, then swiftlyunched yzy.

    Not stopping there, Aidan expanded into other markets as well. As he put it, ¡°I¡¯ve got the capital, while Aubree¡¯s got the tech, yry is one of a kind anywhere. Why not make money in more countries?

    ¡°With the market open now, this conveniently paves the way for Zappy, the short video tform, in the future, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Back in Lumanon, Aubree hadn¡¯t been idle either, After finalizing the deal with Randall, she had already assembled a core team, set up a studio, <b>and </b>started developing their first otome game. They were also working on a casual dress¨Cup title in parallel.

    Looking ahead, while the market for this type of game might not be huge, the profits were substantial.

    Aubree made it clear that as long as he delivered an outstanding game, he could ask for any resources and money he needed.

    When it came to expanding her gaming empire, what caught Aubree¡¯s attention were open¨Cworld titles, the kind that went head¨Cto¨Chead with League of Legends afterunch. Even yearster, their revenue¨Cgenerating capabilities remained staggering. And as gacha games, they enjoyed an extra stream of ie from character merchandise, something that games like League of Legends couldn¡¯t match

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    Based on the timeline from her previous life, Martin Studios was in the process of developing an open¨Cworld Adventure game cd Prime. actively seeking Investors.

    Aubree mused, ¡®Marlin Studios already has a full team in ce, and poaching their talent like we did with Randall probably in Lan option. But Bey, wouldn¡¯t taking as equity stake still mean serious profits?¡±

    Aubree <b>didn¡¯t </b>dwell on this. After consulting with Vincent and the board, the decided to invest in Marie Studios, acquiring a 30% stake in thepany She kept 15% for herself and allocated the rest to others.

    Not only that, drawing on her past life insights, Aubire practically poured all her liquid assets into these ventures. ¡®Once they take off, the returns with be staggering Aubree thought.

    While Aubree was thriving, Carmen was on edge.

    Last time, Carmen, swayed by Killian¡¯s words, released those recordings, hoping <b>to </b>get to Aubree, or, ideally, even bring down her God¡¯s Fury dub. Little did she expect that, in the end, all the fallout wouldnd squarely on Emery

    Apex Squad got rocked by a massive match¨Cfixing scandal<b>, </b>and their losing streak at the year¨Cend tournament was downright embarrassing. Not only did they fail to reach the finals, but they got eliminated in the first round of the yoffs. It was total humiliation.

    As the owner and a key figure in the match¨Cfixing <b>scandal</b>, Emery faced relentless <b>verbal </b>abuse from Apex Squad¡¯s pro gamers.

    After his conversation with Ronald, Emery posted a public statement on Twitter announcing that he would be stepping down from Apex Squad, with new management taking over.

    What made Carmen even more argious was that her father had already given her <b>a </b>stern warning. He knew <b>she </b>was the one behind leaking the recording involving the Apex Squad yers.

    Her status <b>as </b>an adopted daughter left her unsettled.

    ¡®No blood rtion, Carmen thought. That means I could be cast aside at any moment.

    The worst part is, the one thing I used to be most proud of, the Wilson family¡¯s favor, isn¡¯t what it used to be. Emery turned against the whole family for Aubree. What hope <b>do </b>I, a mere adopted daughter, have? Bryan may not have gone that far, but in his eyes, I¡¯m nothing special. No, worse than that, I¡¯m someone he¡¯d willingly sacrifice if it meant protecting Aubree,

    Dad has seen Aubree¡¯s worth now I bet <b>his </b>once¨Cbeloved adopted daughter must pale inparison to someone who can take the Wilson family to new

    heights.

    Right now, only Daxton and Mom are wholeheartedly on my side. As for Trevor, I could never figure him out. He seems to date on me, but in truth, it¡¯s only because he loathes Aubree.

    ¡°If pushes to shove, Trevor wouldn¡¯t hesitate to throw me under the bus. That man only ever looks out for himself, always has, always will¡±

    Recently, Carmen heard that Aubree secured investment from the Matthews family in Odiond. She recognized the <b>family¡¯s </b>name Now, Aubree¡¯s worth had skyrocketed to billions of dors, which was <b>a </b>fact Carmen couldn¡¯t stomach<b>. </b>

    screen. ¡®How can Alone in her room, Carmen red at her smartphone, <b>seething </b>with rage as news reportsvishing <b>praise </b>on Aubree flooded her scre everyone be so obsessed with her? It is so unfairl¡¯she turned, abruptly clenching her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep <b>into </b>her palms,

    ¡°Live streaming can be profitable,¡± Carmen muttered, ¡°but with no relevantws to regte it yet, it¡¯s practically a gray area. Where there are no rules, things get messy. There¡¯s no way <b>Aubree </b>can keep her record spotless forever.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s eyes darkened with malice as she plotted to hire someone to dig up dirt on Aubree and Bree Technology. As long <b>as </b><b>I </b>can find even a single mistake, <b>she </b>thought viciously, with Aub¨¦e under public scrutiny, even the smallest w will be magnified into an unforgivable <b>sin</b>.¡±

    ¡°Not only that.¡± Carmen muttered <b>darkly</b>, ¡°with so many powerful backers supporting Aubree now, minor setbacks won¡¯t shake Bree Technology¡¯s

    foundation for the time being. And freal troubleex Dad will step in. He¡¯d never just let Brew Technology pra<b>: </b>

    She couldn¡¯t help but think indignantly, ¡°How could Aubree possibly outshine me<b>? </b>I¡¯m the Wilson family¡¯s meticulously groomed youn all their heart and soul. How could some orphanage bumpkin like Aubree ever hope topare?

    Carmen gritted her teeth. I¡¯m gonna outshine Aubreel¡± she thought. ¡°If Aubree can build a live streaming tform, then so can¡¯t live about mizing traffic in the end? With Wilson Group backing me, developing something better than yry should be a piece <b>of </b><b>cake</b>.

    Now, everyone was rushing to copy yty, and the live streaming

    ng form wasmon knowledge.

    Carmen scoffed, ¡°Aubree¡¯s whole streaming tform is just riding on its top streamers to carry the entire operation. How naival Onlypetition and pressure drive real progress. You¡¯ll see, Aubree!¡±

    thave enough cash on hand for this, but I¡¯m sure

    She schemed, ¡®I¡¯ve got everything worked out. Now, all that¡¯s missing is funding. Of course, I don¡¯t h Daxton will back me up:

 Tried 182

    <b>Chapter </b><b>182 </b>

    In another chamber of the W

    of the W

    only residence, Mice

    clutched the photo in her hands, her heart tom between two worlds

    The photo showed an utterly adorable five year old girl with twin ponytail.

    It was Aubree at age five.

    Alice¡¯s vision blurred for a moment. She realized with <b>a </b>pang that she could barely recall what her daughter looked like as a child.

    She thought, ¡°Somehow, all my memories of Aubree pot reced by Carmen. If we hadn¡¯t found Aubre, I would have already regarded Carmen as my biological daughter, as if I¡¯d never lost a daughter at all.

    ¡°But why can¡¯t the two of them just get along peacefully? No matter what, I could never give up on Carmen. She¡¯s my daughter!

    Alice¡¯s phone buzzed. It was a message from Bryan about Aubree.

    yword brimming with his amazement at how far Aubree¡¯de

    It detailed her recent achievements, every i

    Mom, Aubree was closest to you when she lived at home. Now she refuses toe back. She can¡¯t stand us brothers. Could you try talking to her?]

    Mom, all those things we thought about Aubree were wrong. The truth is, she¡¯s a good person. You must see that too, right?

    Ahood of messages poured in, all from Bryan, pressing her to convince Aubree toe back.

    Not once did he mention Carmen, which let Alice feeling ufortable again. All Bryan cares about is <b>bringing </b>Aubree back, she thought. ¡®Did it even ur to him <b>what </b>would happen <b>to </b>Carmen if <b>Aubree </b>returned?

    As the adopted child, Carmen never truly felt belonged. Now that Aubree is so outstanding, if shees back, won¡¯t Carmen bepletely disced<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alice fidgeted uneasily, her face cycling through shades of pale and ashen. ¡®Aubree has to return, she decided, but it absolutely can¡¯t beat Carmen¡¯s

    ¡®Now that she¡¯s so sessful, she no longer needs the Wilson <b>family¡¯s </b>fortune.

    If Aubree insists on returning to the Wilson family, she <b>must </b>relinquish her share of the <b>family </b>fortune to Carmen. And <b>that </b>matter must nevere to

    light¡±

    ¡°Aubree <b>was </b>taken from me when the was just five and has lived in an orphanage all these years,¡± Alice muttered. ¡°So, of course, we¡¯re not close. Carmen is my real daughter, the one I raised from infancy. I can¡¯t let my daughter feel wronged.¡±

    With winter break underway, Aubree finally had more control over her schedule.

    She poured almost all her time into herpany.

    The Wilson family kept <b>pushing </b>their way into Aubree¡¯s life, <b>but </b>she wasn¡¯t some pushover. When she was still building her career in the past, she <b>had </b>no choice but to tolerate it. But now, her business bad grown, not enough to take on the entire Wilson Group, but <b>big </b>enough to fight back,

    The Wilson Group is huge,¡± Aubree <b>thought</b>, <b>and </b>so corporation that big stayspletely <b>clean </b>in everyer

    ¡°Vincent, with a corporation as massive as the Wilson Group, surely there must be some dead weight, don¡¯t you think<b>?</b>¡± Aubree mused, recalling her past life. Back when Ronald was young, he was <b>a </b>veionary intellectual who recognized the potential of real estate with <b>great </b><b>foresight</b>.

    He had <b>made </b>his fortune in real estate, and when the market hit rock bottom, he pivoted the Wilson Group into other industries,ying the foundation for today¡¯s diversified conglomerate

    Now, despite the real estate market¡¯s recovery, Wilson Group, while still the industry leader, had seen its attention wane as it prioritized higher¨Cpowth

    sectors

    The head of Wilson Group¡¯s real estate division, a longtime associate of Ronald, brazenly traded on his close ties to Ronald and plunderedpany funds without restraint, even embezzling money raimarked for workers¡® safety equipment at the construction sites

    Vincent nodded in understanding ¡°I¡¯ll have someone keep tabs on them.¡±

    Aubree smiled faintly. ¡°Focus your investigation on Rosepoly Group,¡± she instructed.

    Vincent looked genuinely surprised, ¡°Does Ms. Miller already know something?¡± he wondered.

    <b>As </b>Rithol City¡¯s leading enterprise, Rosepely Group served as the origin of Wikon <b>Group</b><b>. </b>

    <b>??? </b>

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    I¡¯m on it. Vincent replied without hesitation. He thought, Since Ms. Miller is so certain, there must be something shady going on at Rosepoly roup

    Aubree watched Vincent leave. ording to her paste memories, it was right around this time that a worker at a Rosepoly Group site fell to his death from a height do to substandard safety equipment.

    The incident inmediately drew intense media scrutiny, and the victim¡¯s family protested vehemently for quite some time.

    To quell the scandal, Ronald threw Rosepoly Group¡¯s director under the bus and paid off the victim¡¯s family to hush up the matter

    Aubree couldn¡¯t recall exactly which construction site it had happened at, but if she could get ahead of this, even if she couldn¡¯t cripple the Wilson Group. she could at least give them a massive headache,

    With that in mind, Aubree called Birgitte again. ¡°Birgitte, contact the media and leak that RosepolyGroup, under the Wilson Group, disregards workers¡± lives. Their executives are embezzling funds for safety equipment and substituting shoddy materials,¡±

    Birgitte said something on the other end, and Aubree replied, ¡°We don¡¯t have concrete proof yet, but ite.¡±

    In the end, Aubree said, ¡°Good, make it happen.¡±

    No sooner had Aubree hung up than a WhatsApp message from Bowen popped up on her screen.

    Bowen said Caesar just found something ne

    Aubree: What is it?

    Bowen: Last time, when your bid for independent status didn¡¯t go through, Caesar started digging for more on the Wilson family. And he found something.|

    Bowen: [[

    I think it¡¯s better to discuss this in person.

    Bowen: I¡¯ve arranged for Kelvin to pick you up.

    Aubree replied: [Okay]

    Even though she couldn¡¯t see Bowen¡¯s expression, just reading his messages gave her <b>an </b>inexplicable sense of heaviness.

    She had a sinking feeling that this discovery might not be good news for her,

    Aubree¡¯s heart sank even further, this napping unease lingering until kelvin escorted her to the Tumer Group¡¯s reception lounge.

    When she arrived, Bowen and Caesar were already there waiting for her.

    Bowen sat with his brows furrowed, his expression unreadable. Caesar, as always, looked stern and unyielding

    ¡°Miss Miller, please take a <b>look </b>at this photo first.¡± As soon as she sat down, Caesar slid a photograph in front of her.

    The background of the photo <b>was </b>the very orphanage where Aubree had grown <b>up</b>. She recognized it instantly, it was that group phon the Yahya, the head of our orphanage, had arranged for a photographer to take of all the children.

    But something was off in this version, two extra figures were standing in the corner, their backs turned, quietly watching the group.

    One was Grandma Ethel, and the other. Aubree rubbed her temples. So familiar. Where have I seen this person before? Oh, right. She came to the orphanage once. But back then, she <b>was </b>wearing a mask and sunsses, and couldn¡¯t make out her face

    Bowen looked at her, a trace of sympathy flickering in his eyes. ¡°Aubree, you know <b>this </b>person

    19.30 MUN,

    Chapter <b>183 </b>

    He pointed at the figure in the photo

    Aubree¡¯s heart plummeted. I know who it is, she realized.

    Caesar produced another photo, a frontal shot of a woman wearing a mask and sunsses,

    In the past, Aubree might not have recognized her, but now, Aubree shut her eyes briefly and said, ¡°Sh

    Caesar nodded and continued, ¡°Miss Miller, you were abducted at age five, but no one knows what happened during the abduction. You ended up in an orphanage, which was not in Rithol City. It only relocated hereter. In the third year after the orphanage moved to Rithol City, when you were ten, Alice had already found your whereabouts.

    ¡°But strangely, she kept this information to herself. Within the Wilson family, only she knew you were in Rithol City, and she visited you at the orphanage

    once

    Alice knew I was in the orphanage. She had known all along. Aubree thought

    This news lett Aubree with mixed emotions. Confusion shed in her eyes. ¡®So <b>Was </b>I <b>just </b>abandoned?

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 Tried 184

    Aubree stared at the two photos on the table, suppressing a bitter, desteugh. ¡°So they always knew where was They only took me back when t was fifteen just because they didn¡¯t want me,¡± she muttered. ¡°No wonder she resented me so much aber came back To wonder, in my previous <b>ite </b>whenever Carmen was unhappy, it was always my fault, Aubree thought bitterly.

    Even Caesar felt a <b>knot </b>in his stomach. Honestly, after all his years as awyer, he will couldn¡¯t understand it. The Wilson family had made such a public spectacle when their daughter went missing,¡± he thought. ¡°And their frantic search became the talk of the town. Yet five yearster, even after knowing exactly where she was, they chose not to bring her back.¡±

    ¡°Miss Miller, don¡¯t worry,¡± Caesar said. ¡°We also found it quite puzzling, so we conducted further inquiries into Ms. Diamond

    Bowen¡¯s heartached as he looked at Aubree. He exined gently, ¡°Alice was diagnosed with severe mentalitness at the time.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°After you went missing at the <b>age </b>of five, Alice couldn¡¯t handle the shock and developed a severe mental illness, so the Wilson family adopted Carmen <b>as </b>your recement. When Alice finally had a daughter <b>again</b>, she became a bit obsessed,¡± Bowen said, carefully choosing his words.

    He¡¯d only managed to uncover all this by resorting to some cather unconventional methods.

    ¡°She watched Carmen obsessively,¡± Bowen continued. ¡°If Carmen were out of sight for even a minute, Alice¡¯d be frantic. It wasn¡¯t so much that the doted on her adopted daughter. Deep down, she¡¯d alreadypletely reced you with Carmen.

    ¡°When news of you finally reached the Wilson family, it plunged Alice into sheer terror. She was terrified your reappearance would once again snatch her daughter away.¡±

    So she chose to abandon me Aubree¡¯s lips twisted into a bitter, mocking smile. ¡®But it doesn¡¯t matter now. Be it feigned favoritism or outright abandonment, I¡¯ve <b>already </b>seen the Wilson family for what they were in my previous life

    Fortunately, this time, Aubree managed to cut ties in time. Sure, it stung for a moment, but after that, she was over it

    After all, the Wilson family and I <b>are </b>sworn enemies, Aubree thought coldly.

    ¡°Perhaps she was

    ps she was just¡­ Bo

    Bowen tried to say something tofort her

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Aubree met <b>Bowen¡¯s </b>worried gaze with a reassuring smile. ¡°Whether she had mental problems or just wanted to abandon me, the oue is the same either way.¡±

    She then turned to Caesar. ¡°Mr. Valder, when you specifically told me this, what¡¯s <b>your </b>angle?¡±

    Caesar replied, ¡°As <b>your </b>biological parents, they knew you were in the orphanage yet refused to acknowledge you. Instead, yearster, they recognized you as an adopted daughter. It gives you grounds to sue Ronald and Alice for child abandonment

    ¡°However, our current evidence isn¡¯t quite sufficient. We need someone who can positively identify the person in the photo as Alice.¡±

    Their identification of Alice relied partly on spection and partly on Bowen¡¯s off the record tactics, neither of which would hold up <b>as </b>legal evidence.

    Aubree nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to the orphanageter, and ask Grandma Ethel about it.¡±

    Bowen thought to himself, Speaking of the orphanage, I did have Nina tailing Mark. Now that I think about it, Mark¡¯s been free

    lottely, too.

    the orphanage a

    Ugo with <b>you</b>,¡± Bowen <b>said</b>.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Aubree agreed. She knew they¡¯d inevitably need Caesar¡¯s helpter, so having Bowen along wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing

    With their discussion wrapped up. Caesar perceptively took his cue and leht, first, <b>leaving </b>only Aubree and Bowen in the lounge.

    heard Aidani leht I with you. Howe I haven¡¯t seen her pestering youtely?¡± Aubree felt a bit awkward and changed the subject Aberat, bomen <b>had </b>just helped her out. It would¡¯ve been rude to leave right away.

    A strange look crossed Bowen¡¯s face for a moment. is Bree bothered by my rtionship with i? he wondered

    The truth was, Aubree didn¡¯t mean anything by it, just making conversation.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like Bowen <b>said</b>.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aubree was a bit confused. <b>¡®</b>What¡¯s this all about?¡®

    Bowen gently took both of Aubree¡¯s hands from herp, looking at her intently. ¡°Strictly speaking, I <b>and </b>Laren¡¯t even friends,¡± he said. ¡°She¡¯s not really into me. You could say she¡¯s just attracted to my looks¡±

    Bowen wouldn¡¯t have been so lenient with I if he hadn¡¯t known she was just a spoiled kid from a privileged family.

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 Tried 185

    In I¡¯s eyes, Bowen was the most perfect looking man she¡¯d ever seen, to naturally, she believed they belonged togethe

    Now that Alvin hade along, someone who not only matched her aesthetic standards but could also game with the <b>back </b>of her mind.

    she¡¯d naturally tossed flown to

    So this is what being ce con feels the? Aubree¡¯s mind drifted for a moment, and when she snapped back to reality, she realized just how she

    Sepping back to <b>reality</b>, Aubree hastily snatched her hand back. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin,¡± she blurted out. Tm not even anyone to you, so you don¡¯t. need to exin this to me.¡± With that, Aubene hastily <b>stood </b>up. She had a sinking feeling that if this confined, things might go out of control.

    ¡°Twe got to go now,¡± Aubree said, then hastily made her escape.

    Bowen watched her retreating figure, his eyes <b>dark </b>and brooding, yet beneath that somber gave burned an unshaka determination

    Is she running away? Or just not ready to face her feelings? he wondered. ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s a good sign. At lestre is starting to care. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t have gotten so flustered?

    The following <b>day</b>, Aubree cleared her schedule for the day. After picking up some gifts, she went to the orphanage with Bowen

    During the holidays, Ethel was ying with the children in the yard. When she saw Aubree arrive, her face lit up as she happily hurried over to greet her.

    ¡°Aubree, what brings you here today?¡± Ethel asked.

    ¡°I just wanted toe <b>see </b><b>you</b>,¡± Aubree replied. ¡°And there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask you.¡±

    Ethel had someone put away the gifts <b>Aubree </b>brought, then took her hand and led her to sit in a quieter,

    Bowen gated at the orphanage, whose appearance had barely changed over the <b>years</b><b>, </b>and a faint smile touched his lips. Looking back now, he still couldn¡¯t exin why he¡¯d taken that particr path, the one that led him past this orphanage, where he first saw Aubree, her face it up with a radiant

    Ethel was up <b>there </b>in age. After sitting down with <b>Aubree</b>, her gaze lingered on Bowen, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, in a warm, gentle tone, she <b>asked</b>, ¡°Aubree<b>, </b>who is this young man<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°You could say he¡¯s a friend of mine. His name¡¯s Bowen Turner, Aubree replied,

    Ethel let out a thoughtful ¡°Oh,¡± as if a realization had just dawned on her. ¡°A Turner, huh?¡±

    Of course, Bowen knew exactly what Ethel was getting at, but <b>his </b><b>face </b>betrayed nothing. He remained as calm andposed as ever.

    Aubree took out the two photos and handed them to Ethel ¡°Grandma Ethel,¡± she asked carefully, ¡°do you still remember when I was ten <b>and </b>you invited <b>a </b><b>photographer </b>to take <b>pictures </b>of <b>us</b>? There was a <b>strange </b>woman who came that day. Do you remember anything about her?¡±

    Ethel replied, ¡°Oh yes, I remember that well. At that time, it wasn¡¯t me but the woman you mentioned who arranged for the photographer. She said it <b>was </b><b>a </b>charity project and wanted to take your photos for media coverage to help you find your biological parents. Sh ¡®t give her name. Everyone just called her Ms. Diamonde.¡±

    Diamonde¡­ Then there¡¯s no mistake, Aubree Wought bitterly.

    Aubree produced another photo, <b>a </b>recent media shot of Alice, and handed it to Ethil. ¡°is this her?¡± she <b>asked</b>.

    Ethel eximed, ¡°Oh, yest That¡¯s her!¡±

    19:51 Mon, 14 Jul

    Aubree sneered inwardly. ¡®Helping them find their biological parents? How could Alice have the gall to say something like that?

    She clenched her fists tightly as she recounted the whole story to Ethel Ethel¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What? How could thin be

    Ms. Diamonde is Aubree¡¯s birtil mother? Ethel couldn¡¯t believe it.

    Mice never once showed her face. Since Ethel never kept up with social media, she neem Ronald had always been the one visiting the orphanage. realized that Ms. Diamonde from those years ago was <b>Alice</b>.

    Ethel¡¯s heart ached as she listened to Aubree. She pulled Aubree into aforting embrace and murmured, ¡°My dear, you¡¯ve been through so much if you ever need anything, just let me know anytime.¡±

    Aubree felt a lump in her throat. Even the staff at the orphanage cared more about me than my so¨Ccalled family ever did, she thought bitterly.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Aubree whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll probably need your help to confirm itter.¡±

    They were deep in conversation when suddenly a voice called out from the doorway. ¡°Bowen, what are you doing here?¡±

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 Tried 186

    The person who just arived was in a military uniform, apanied by a sharply dressed woman.

    It was Mark and Nina.

    yo when Mack and

    Ethel didn¡¯t even bat <b>an </b>eye when Mark and Nina walked in.

    She knew Mark¡¯s identity, but wondered why someone like him kept showing up at the orphanage, especially since all his inquiries were about Aubree

    Ethel remained cautious with Mark, offering only vague answers to his questions. She had no idea how much he already knew, or if he had connected the

    dels to Aubree

    When Autree ran into Mark today, Ethel involuntarily furrowed her brow,

    Bowen, however, was waiting for Mark. Nina had tipped him off that Mark would visit the orphanage today.

    He wondered why Mark had been so interested in the orphanagetely, and what he meant by those wants he¡¯d said to himst time

    ¡°Why did he tell me to stay away from Bree? Bowen wondered.

    Mark¡¯s gaze shifted <b>and </bnded on Aubree. He frowned. Her again?¡±

    Bowen <b>stared </b>at him. ¡°That¡¯s my line. What are you doing here? Since I had Nina follow you, you must¡¯ve known i¡¯de looking for you eventually¡±

    Speaking of which, Mark rolled his <b>eyes </b>and scoffed, ¡°You call this following me?¡°¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more like tant surveince Mark thought.

    ¡°Only <b>a </b>scheming bastard like you would think to send Nina to tail me,¡± Mark said, ¡°If it were anyone else, he thought, I would¡¯ve packed them up and shipped them back to the sly old fox Bowen by now!¡±

    ther<b>. </b>

    ¡°But Nina Mark rubbed his temples, feeling a wave of guilt. He owed her too much. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to do anything about h

    ¡°Looks like you have something to discuss, so I¡¯ll leave you to it,¡± Ethel said with a chuckle, giving them their space.

    Before leaving, she <b>gave </b>Aubree a knowing <b>wink</b>. ¡°Aubree, could you run a quick errand for me?¡±

    Aubree frogs Grandma Ethel deliberately sending me away?¡± she wondered.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Aubree replied

    Nina had never met Aubree in person, but from what she¡¯d heard from Ethan and the others, she knew Aubree was very likely to be the future Mrs.

    Turner.

    Nina watched as Aubree walked <b>away, </b>noticing nothing out of the ordinary

    ¡°Mr. Turner, I¡¯ll wait over there,¡± Nina said.

    Soon, the space was cleared, leaving just Mark and Bowen.

    Bowen cut straight to the chase. ¡°Come on, spit. Why have <b>you </b>been haunting this cetely? Don¡¯t tell me your dad¡¯s marriage pressure has you so desperate you¡¯re thinking of just adopting someone from here.¡±

    <b>Mark </b><b>rolled </b>his eyes. ¡°Sometimes this guy can piss me off so much, he <b>thought </b>

    He quipped, ¡°If you won¡¯t hand her over, how am I supposed to answer my

    y <b>dad</b><b>?</b>¡±

    Mon 14

    Bowen threw up his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t pin that on the Nina¡¯s not into you. I already sent her your way, so if you happen, you¡¯d better step up your gamel¡±

    After trading a few jabs, Bowen¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Enough small talk. Get to the point¡±

    Mark sighed inwardly. ¡°Guess there¡¯s no dodging this after all.¡®

    He sprawled in his seat across from Bowen. ¡°That girl¡¯s name is Aubree. You¡¯re into her

    As longtime friends, Mark could instantly read the changes in Bowen,

    ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± Bowen said.

    ¡°If you trust me, you¡¯d best steer clear,¡± Mark said.

    Bowen¡¯s gaze froze. ¡°Mark, I thought you knew me better <b>than </b>that. What I¡¯ve set my heart on, I won¡¯t let go of unless it¡¯s impossible.¡± Then, he thought to himself, ¡®Even if there¡¯s not <b>a </b>sliver of hope, I¡¯ll still fight for her,

    Mark let out a sigh, He knew all too well how stubborn Bowen could be. That was why, back at Nightworld, he¡¯d tried to nip things in the bad befor Bowen even realized how he truly felt.

    ¡°That kid Ollie doesn¡¯t know anything, Mark thought, ¡°He just loves to stick his nose in

    Mark stopped hiding it.

    He said, ¡°You know, Alvin has had me investigating what happened to his parents all these years. It all happened so suddenly, and with no surveince footage from that long ago, I¡¯ve just been hitting dead ends.

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 Tried 187

    <b>Chapter </b><b>187 </b>

    ¡°The only witness was a viger passing by from a nearby vige, who caught a glimpse and knew that his parents got into trouble welche

    ¡°The got a new lead. The person who got rescued back then might have been sent to this orphanage of that girl is here, the Aubre? m?c?like the bones.¡±

    Bowen lowered his gaze. ¡°Hypotheticals and probabilities don¡¯t equal facts¡±

    Mark sputtered, exasperated. Is this guy just impossible to reason with?¡±

    He continued, ¡°With my methods, when I call something a hypothesis, it¡¯s practically a fact. I¡¯ve beening! evasive. She must know who I¡¯m talking about.

    ¡°If it was just suspicion before, after seeing how she acted with Aubree today, I¡¯m practically certain she¡¯s t

    Bowen remained unmoved. ¡°So what? Even if it¡¯s Bree, she was a victim too back then¡±

    ¡°That may be true for him, but others might not be so clear-headed, Mark thought.

    Mark knew how stubbom<b>, </b><b>no</b>, downright obsessive, Bowen could be.

    to question <b>the </b><b>director</b>. She¡¯s afin

    He sighed and patted Bowen on the shoulder helplessly<b>. </b>¡°Even if you don¡¯t care, you <b>have </b>to consider Alvin. He¡¯s grown quieter and quieter since his parents passed <b>away</b>. Though he <b>never </b>said anything, we <b>could </b>all tell it still bothered him

    ¡°He¡¯s had me investigating this all along. Besides tracking down the real murderer who killed his parents, he isn¡¯t about to let the person they saved off the hook either¡±

    Alvin took out his anger on everyone connected to that incident.

    Bowen frowned in contemtion. ¡°Then we¡¯ll make sure he never finds out.¡± +

    not be wise. This kid¡¯s mind works in

    Eliminate all risks, and there will be no danger at all, Bowen thought coldly. ¡®Letting Alvin know the truth might not shadows too deep

    ¡°Let me know when you find the murderer. I¡¯ll deal with them myself,¡± Bowen <b>said </b><b>as </b>he narrowed his eyes, his gaze murderous. ¡°I¡¯m off to End Bree Let¡¯s grab a

    b <b>a </b>drink sometime.¡±

    Mark facepalmed in resignation. ¡°How did I end up with friends like Bowen <b>and </b>Alvin?¡® he thought. ¡°I must owe them from a past life.¡±

    Meanwhile, Aubree beamed at Ethel ¡°Grandma Ethel, was there something you wanted to tell <b>me</b><b>?</b>¡±

    Ethel looked at Aubree with mixed emotions. Such a wonderful girl, she thought, ¡®Why does fate <b>keep </b>dealing her such a rough hand? She thought life would get better once she was back home, only to find herself <b>in </b>a den of wolves. After leaving the Wilson family, things finally started looking up, until someone new set their sights on her¡±

    Ethel looked <b>at </b>Aubree with concern. ¡°That man¡¯s name is <b>Mark</b>, I¡¯m <b>not </b>sure exactly who he is, but he must be a big shot. I don¡¯t know what he investigating, but it seems to involve you.¡±

    Involving me?¡± Aubree thought

    ¡°Did he say my name directly?¡± Aubree asked.

    Ethel shook her <b>head</b>. ¡°No, but from the way he <b>was </b>asking, I just <b>had </b>a feeling he was talking about you.¡±

    I¡¯ve never even met Mark, and I haven¡¯t done anything illegal. Why on earth is he investigating me? Aubree wondered

    19-51 Mon, 14 Jul

    Ethel looked hesitant, her expression troubled. ¡°Autree, do you not rechamber anything about what happi

    Aubree shook her head, only remember being rescoed, then walking i

    Back then, she¡¯d hit her head and coilde¡¯t even remember her name. All she knew was that she had a frame with loving parents and four

    brothers

    It was only after the Wilson family found her that these memories begin to return.

    Come to think of it, Mubree rend, ¡°I don¡¯t know Mark, but we do have mutual acquaintances. 1 Theard¡¯Alvin¡¯s parents died saving someone, vous de person they saved me? What are the odds?¡±

    Aubree quickly dismissed the thought. ¡®No, that¡¯s impossible

    ¡°It¡¯s probably just a misunderstanding,¡± Aubree said, giving Ethol a reassuring smils, ¡°thaven¡¯t done anything wrong, so I¡¯m not worded about him looking into it Oh right, Grandma Ethel, I also wanted to ask who exactly Mr. Quinn, the one who sponsored me all those years ago.

    his <b>kindness</b>.¡±

    Honestly, Ethel didn¡¯t know.

    So she <b>said</b>, ¡°I never kept in touch with him. I only met. Mr. Quinn that time when he wanted to sponsor you. He was just a boy then, maybe fifteen or sixteen. After all these years, <b>it¡¯s </b>all fuzzy now.¡±

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>188 </b>

 Tried 188

    <b>Chapter </b><b>188 </b>

    After returning from the orphanage, they could confirm that Alice had indeed abandoned her child Cansarhad already starte the case.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t nning on fang awsuit for the time being. Litigation will dragon for too long, the thought. ¡°It¡¯ll be for leverage to pressure Alice into agreeing right away¡±

    Aubree wondered what Bowen and Mark had discussed at the orphanage <bst </b>time. She hadn¡¯t seen hime to visit her in a

    efficient isine tha

    Ever since they got back from Gracefield Church, Bowen had been like an NPC that respawned on schedule, showing up at very mealtime se she was free

    Snapping out of her thoughts, Aubree pulled herself together <b>and </b>tumed her attention back to business.

    The investigation that Aubree assigned to Birgitte and Vincent, exposing Rosepoly Group¡¯s embezzlement of worker safety <b>funds</b><b>, </b>use of interior materials<b>, </b>and tant disregard forborers Inves, was finally bearing fruit.

    Vincent moved quickly. He¡¯d already uncovered some leads

    This type of news <b>began </b>appearing sporadically in the media. At first, it didn¡¯t seem threatening at all. Many people even did it with h

    Rosepoly Group was a veteranpany and a subsidiary of the Wilson Group at that. People thought that they couldn¡¯t possibly stoop so low for suck paltry sum

    But Aubree wasn¡¯t rushed. She wasying the groundwork and building momentum.

    As Vincent uncovered more evidence, Aubree had Birgitte feed the media a strategic blend of fact and clever embellishment, making the stories all the

    more convincing

    As public skepticism grew, many demanded that Rosepoly Group¡¯s management produce evidence to clear their names. Thepany could only offer vague responses, merely pledging to investigate the matter,

    As the scandal gained traction, Wilson Group¡¯s top executives also began to take notice

    The news reached Ronald

    ¡°Who¡¯s behind this scandal?¡± Ronald asked his assistant.

    The assistant replied, ¡°Mr. Car from Roseply Group still hasn¡¯t been able to track down who <b>was </b>behind this

    ¡°Then hurry up and clear this mess up!¡± Ronald snapped, his patience wearing thin, ¡®How could such a <b>trivial </b><b>koue </b>blow up like this be thought Anthony¡¯s just getting too old for the job. Looks like he¡¯s ready for early retirement.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Carr.¡± the assistant hesitated before saying, ¡°it appears he did embezzle the safety funds.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ronald was shocked. He¡¯d always known Anthony had sticky fingers and usually just turned a blind eye. But he never imaghyed Apathway wo even steal the safety funds. ¡°If someone gets killed, how much will it cost to deal with it¡± Ronald thought anxiously

    At that thought, Ronald grew restless, and he couldn¡¯t sit still.

    Ronald could tell it was targeting the Wilson Gropp. He turned to his assistant. ¡°<b>is </b>Emery in the office right now?

    ¡°Yes,¡± the assistant replied. Ever since Emery proposed selling Apex Squad and moving to Kornd, Ronald had asked some Squad and appointed him General Manager at the Wilson Group.

    Emery had been learning how to run apanytely

    DIRMUN,

    Ronald ordered, ¡°Gel Emery in here.

    Emery had been with thepany for a while now, but even though he and Ronald crossed paths at work constantly, they had barely spokes<b>, </b>deep down, Emery had developed an aversion to anyone from the Wilson family.

    Or rather, he was taking his anger out on them.

    He med the others for Aubree¡¯s reluctance toe home.

    Ronald called him in to hand over the Rosepoly Group matter. Like Bryan, Emery had studied financial management. Back when he was managing the Apex Squad, Ronald never pressured him to join thepany.

    ¡°Now that he¡¯s no longer managing Apex Squad and wants to leave the family, I might as well give him some responsibilities to keep him around, Ronald thought.

    ¡°He¡¯s here,¡± Ronald¡¯s assistant announced.

    Emery remained silent.

    Ronald gave him a measured look and didn¡¯t immediately assign him any tasks. ¡°Last time, when Aubree was seeking investment, Bryan and I went to see her. She <b>made </b><b>a </b>demand.¡±

    Emery¡¯s eyes flickered <b>as </b>he looked over

 Tried 189

    <b>Chapter </b><b>189 </b>

    Ronald let out <b>a </b>

    t out a wry chuckle. He knew Emery all too well, ¡®Like father, like son, he thought. Who could know my son¡¯s nature better than ma?

    ¡°She demanded all the shares of the Wilson Group,¡± Ronald said.

    Emery blurted out, ¡°Aubree, she.¡± As the words left his mouth, he caught his father¡¯s meaning gare fixed on him, making him pause mid¨Csentent

    Ronald said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you always want Aubree toe back to the family? Then why don¡¯t you hand over your shares first!¡±

    Emery fell into silence.

    He could bring himself to sell Apex Squad to Aubree, but when it came to handing over his shares of the Wilson Group, that was out of the question

    It was because he knew he could always rebuild the club, but without his shares, he¡¯d lose his leverage

    Awry smile tugged at the <b>corner </b>of Emery¡¯s lips. Turns out I¡¯m not as selfless as I thought. When ites to what matters, I still put myself first, he thought.

    Emery¡¯s silence spoke volumes to Ronald.

    Ronald sighed and said, ¡°Emery, Aubree is your sister, <b>and </b><b>she¡¯s </b>my daughter too. You¡¯re not the only one who wants her toe home. I¡¯m trying to work it out as <b>well</b>. Sure, we¡¯ve made mistakes <b>before</b><b>, </b>but as long as <b>we¡¯re </b>willing to try, there¡¯s always away.¡±

    At the same time, Ronald thought to himself, ¡°As long as it works, who cares if it¡¯s right or wrong?¡±

    ¡°Stop thinking about <b>leaving</b>,¡± Ronald said. ¡°You¡¯ve been doing well at Wilson Grouptely. Even the shareholders praised you for having Bryan¡¯s potential. Since you¡¯re no longer interested in running the club, why not focus on your work here! Also, Bryan could use a right hand man by his side.¡±

    Faced with this mix of threats and incentives, Emery wavered. Aber <b>all</b>, he had studied financial management just like Bryan, <b>precisely </b>because he¡¯d always harbored ambitions for the Wilson Group

    ¡°RosepolyGroup, our subsidiary, has run into some trouble. You¡¯ll handle it,¡± Ronald pulled out a file and ced it squarely in front of Emery

    Emery hesitated, tom by inner conflict, but in the <b>end</b>, he reached <b>out </b>and took the file,

    Ronald smiled in satisfaction.

    The assistant at the door couldn¡¯t hear the conversation inside, but he could guess more or less. Something about this doesn¡¯t sit right with me! thought. ¡®Is Mr. Ronald Wilson making the right call by handing this directly to Emery?¡±

    Meanwhile, yzy had mostly stabilized.

    The live¨Cstreaming industry once experienced a boom, leading to a market shakeout where many tforms folded while only a few managed to the.

    yzy currently facedpetition from only four to five rivals, the majority of which had replicated its operation ¡°¡°ramework

    Aubree hadn¡¯t paid much attention to these, but afisingpetitor called MindDrift truly caught her eye.

    MindDrih pioneered a never¨Cbefore¨Cseen streaming method, PK battles.

    The tform enabled streamers to connect live for PK battles, like setting up fun punishments,peting in talent shows or other challenges, <b>and </b>getting viewers to vote for them. With impressive results, it quickly became a rising star in the industry.

    Aubree had a unique perspective on this

    19:51 Mon, 14 Jul: N

    This streaming strategy was something Aubree had seen in her past life, a tactic thatter became widely adopted. Naturally, it proved highly for both streamers and the tform.

    Leveraging this strategy, MindDrift had poached numerous high¨Cprofile streamers from rival tforms. Even Aubree¡¯s yry <b>had </b>recently seen ona defections.

    yzy hadn¡¯t rolled out the PK feature yet, not because Aubree didn¡¯t want to, but because she knew the timing wasn¡¯t right.

    Aubren thought to herself, ¡®The lengths people will go for money are unfathomable. In the early days, a tform can still keep things under control, <b>but </b>once it scales up, can it micromanage every single detail?

    ¡®Once PK battles start, things could quickly go out of control. Unscrupulous individuals might emerge, exploiting loopholes. If the tform <b>fails </b>to rein them in, it could lead to catastrophic consequences.

    She had nned to <b>wait </b>until yzy¡¯s operations stabilized and the development team had <b>built </b><b>a </b>robust monitoring system before gradually rolling <b>out </b>the PK feature. She never expected <b>a </b>trailzer to emerge so soon.

    If MindDrift takes off, I¡¯ll follow their ybook. If they crash and burn, I¡¯ll learn from their mistakes and do it even better, Aubree thought.

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 Tried 190

    Drill was founded by Carmen with the help of Daton

    MindBri

    Instead of building from scratch, they acquired a failing live¨Cstreaming tforms, rebranded it as MindDrift, and runched it.

    Cannen went straight to Daston and asked him for 35 milion dors to invest. The truth was, Daxton didn¡¯t have so much liquid capital on hand. But when he heard Cammen wanted the money to start a business and prove she was better than Aubree, he directly embered theb¡¯s research funds.

    Of course, Daxton didn¡¯t impulsively throw money at Carmen¡¯s idea. He had considered that her n might work. New media is currently a booming trend, he thought<b>, </b><b>¡°</b><b>and </b>while live streaming tforms are bing saturated, they still hold clear advantages over other ventures

    As long as no groundbreaking innovations emerge in the market, the streaming remains a profitable industry With Carmen¡¯s innovative PX <b>feature</b>, there¡¯s a real chance to revive the business¡±

    Not only that, Alice also came to Carmen.

    Without another word, she handed Carmen <b>a </b>bank card. ¡°There¡¯s 35 million dors here. Make go

    good use of it.¡±

    As soon as Carmen received the money, tears streamed down her face. Her performance would put professional actresses to shame. ¡°Thank you, Mom I¡¯ll surely prove <b>mysel </b>

    Alice smiled affectionately, gazing at Carmen¡¯s face as she gently stroked her brow. ¡°You¡¯ll always be my daughter. That will never change. No matter what protect you.¡±

    Carmen nodded eamestly. ¡°I make you proud, Mom<b>!</b>¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not tell your father about this for now. <b>Once </b>you seed, we¡¯ll give him a surprise,¡± Alice added. She <b>had </b>another reason for this. If Carmen fails, 70 million dors is nothing to the Wilson family, and at least Ronald won¡¯t be disappointed in Carmen again.¡±

    Cammen didn¡¯t think she would fail. After all, Mindrift had only justunched, but its profits were already rivaling yry¡¯s early days. She took Alice¡¯s words at face value. Besides, this was her n all along.

    Dad has been so good to Aubreetely, all because she created yry, right? if my MindDrift outperforms ycy, he¡¯ll naturally push Aubree aside just as he did before. And I¡¯ll still be the one and only heiress of the Wilson family!

    Meanwhile, Aubree was finally on a read break.

    With both her club andpany running smoothly, she no longer had to micromanage everything

    <b>Aubree </b>knew it was still there. Lately, she¡¯d been running Alvin ragged, even tagging along to the club where she had all the young guys blushing <b>and </b>tripping over themselves.

    The thought made Aubree want tough.

    Aubree invited is out today, nning to y the host and take her out for some fun. As for how she convinced i, that was a piece of cake

    She logged into her long unused <b>gaming </b>ount and put on a dazzling disy instantly enchanting  so much that

    Aubree took <b>I </b>to the mall, i was quite fond of traditional Lumanon outfits, so Aubree decided to bury her a couple of sets.

    I was still dressed in her chic dress, delicate adorable, yet perfectly poised.

    forgot about Alvin

    Seeing Aubree<b>, </b><b>I </b>lihed her chin with a feigned air of pride. ¡°<b>Tmonly </bing with you <b>because </b>you¡¯re <b>good </b>at games. Don¡¯t bother buttering me up to get on my brother¡¯s good side. It won¡¯t work,¡± she dered.

    19:51 Mon, 14 Jul

    ¡°Alright, Princess I, can we go now!¡± Aubree said, offering her hand. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, reluctantly took it.

    tty nice. i mused. ¡®Hmph, consider it a favor to Aubree. But only for today:

    It feels pretty nice¡ª¡®

    Since it wasn¡¯t the weekend, the mall was pretty quiet. Aubree held i¡¯s <b>hand </b>as they stepped into the elevator. The only other passengers were <b>two </b>smartly dressed, broad shouldered men, the kind who looked like they either lived at the gym or had serious training. Aubren geve them a quick once over before looking away as the elevator climbed floor by floor.

    ista suddenly frowned and pressed closer to Aubree. She whispered, ¡°Aubree, those two guys behind us seem to be staring at us.¡±

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 Tried 191

    Merted by her, Aubree turned her head for a nce. The moment the two men notic friendly smiles. One of them askeit, is something wrong?¡±

    ced her looking, they immediately averted their eyes and revealed:

    Aubree frowned too, feeling something was off about them.

    She tightened her grip on I¡¯s hand. As she looked away, she caught a glimpse of identical tattoo on the sides of their necks.

    Trouble¡¯sing!¡® Aubree thought.

    I tensed up as well and asked nervously, ¡°Aubree, are they bad guys!¡±

    The elevator was small. No matter how quietly they spoke, anyone paying attention could hear, Yet the two men seemedpletely oblivious. Aubree realized they didn¡¯t understand Odiondian

    <b>Aubree </b>whispered urgently to it, ¡°As soon as the doors open, run like hel

    Although unable to understand Odiondian, the two men behind still sensed Aubree and I¡¯s heightened alertness. They exchanged a nce and, in

    unison, pulled switchdes from their pockets.

    Fortunately<b>, </b>someone pressed the elevator button at that moment. Seizing the opportunity, Aubree grabbed i and bolted out.

    They crashed into the person waiting outside, who snapped, ¡°Hey Got a death wish or something?¡±

    A split secondter, <b>two </b>burly men burst out of the elevator, making the bystander jump in fright.

    ¡°Move! Don¡¯t block the way!¡± one of the burly men growled.

    Aubree and i were on a high floor, so taking the elevator was out of the question. Without hesitation, Aubree grabbed i and pulled her toward the emergency stairwell. Aubree know <b>there </b>were security guards outside the mall. If they could make it out, they¡¯d be safe

    The two men chased relentlessly, each footfalling a drumbeat of dread in Aubree¡¯s veins.

    As she ran, Aubree snatched out her phone, quickly pulled up a pre¨Csaved SOS message from her drafts, added their location, and sent it out to all her

    contacts

    She thought, ¡®Ever since I started going up against the Wilson family, I¡¯ve been on guard, expecting they mighte after me. That¡¯s why I prepared this emergency message in advance. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d need it so soon. But what exactly are these people after?¡±

    Then, Aubree quickly dialed 911. ¡°Help<b>! </b>I¡¯m being chased. I¡¯m at Horizon zal¡±

    Mubree!¡°one of the two burly men yelled. Then, the two men, hot on their heels, suddenly lunged at Aubree and <b>I </b>

    I let out a terrified shriek,

    Bowen was attending apany meeting, seated among the attendees as the department head delivered the presentation.

    Suddenly, the conference room door burst open Kelvin rushed in, phone in hand. ¡°Mr. Turner, Miss Miller is in trouble!¡±

    While the others in the conference room were still puzzling over who Miss Miller was, they saw Bowen, seated at the head of the table, free, his expression turning cial

    The entire conference room immediately fell <b>into </b>a deathly hush. The glow from the projector only deepened the ominous shadows on Bowen¡¯s <b>face</b>, making him appear even colder and darker.

    Without a word, <b>Bowen </b>snatched the phone and stormed out of the conference room. The stunned attendees only caught his clipped ord. ¡°Contact Ethan and Samsons. Tell them to get the team ready!¡±

    He strode out, his pace quickening with every step until he finally broke into a rut

    Bowen clenched his phone In his hand. There was not just Aubree¡¯s 505, but Alvin had messaged him too.

    Bowen thought anxiously, <b>¡®</b>She¡¯d sted the message to everyone. It must be an emergency!¡±

    His chest tightened with dread. As he stepped into the elevator, he realized his hands were trembling. He quickly called Mark. ¡°Mark, pull up the surveince footage at Horizon za. Bree¡¯s in trouble!¡±

    Before <b>Mark </b>could ask any questions, Bowen abruptly ended the call.

    The elevator was still descending as Ethan <b>and </b>Samson raced to Horizon za at full speed with their team.

    Bowen made his second call to Horizon za¡¯s management. ¡°This is Bowen. Lock down the mall immediately, I¡¯ll cover all damages tenfold.¡±

    Hearing Bowen¡¯s name, Horizon za¡¯s management, out of respect, initiated an emergency lockdown without hesitation.

    As the elevator descended to the parking garage, Bowen kept calling Aubree, but each call went straight to voicemail

    Had something already happened to her? he wondered<b>, </b>anxiety tightening his chest.

    ?

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 Tried 192

    At Horizon za, the emergency stairwell was nearly empty. On a level stretching around a corner, the two men lunged to subdue fubri

    warning

    Aubree whirled around to see two burly men lunging at her. Without a second thought, t not to be outdone, swing her bag and smashed it into the head of the nearest attacker.

    ; the phonia in her hand straight at them Beside her,¨ºN,

    The two attackers recolled in pains, giving filtree and i a precious moment to catch their breath,

    Aubree wasn¡¯t familiar with this mall. When she finally made it out of the emergency. a wave of despair hit her again. Horizon za¡¯s emergency exit didn¡¯t lead outside, but straight into the underground parking garage.

    To make matters worse, their path ahead was <b>also </bpletely sealed off

    Trapped from both sides, they had nowhere to ruh

    ¡°Who are you guys? <b>What </b>do you want? Aubree gripped I¡¯s hand tightly, stepping protectively in front of her. She was determined to keep ista sale no

    matter what.

    Aubree¡¯s </b>arm, her expressionposed despite the situation. As a daughter of the Matthews family, she was no stranger to such attacks and kidnappings, having faced them before in Odiond,

    The garage was freezing A creeping cold seeped into I and Aubree¡¯s bones, wrapping around them until their blood seemed to turn to ca

    ¡°What do we want? Can¡¯t you tell? Of course, we¡¯re here to make <b>your </b>life hell,¡± one of the men sneered and said.

    The Timbeke family sent these four men here. With Jacob almost fully recovered and the police poised to take him away, Gareth couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Ronald had promised to work with him against Aubree, but kept dragging his feet. Gareth couldn¡¯t wait any longer.

    So he simply hired <b>four </b>desperadoes to kidnap Aubree.

    Since Bowen has thrown courtesy out the window, he shouldn¡¯t me me for <b>dropping </b><b>all </b>pretenses, Gareth thought. ¡°Bowen is unwilling to let my son go just because of that woman named Aubree, right? Fine, I¡¯ll just kidnap her for an exchange. Let¡¯s see if he can still stayposed

    The four men closed in. They¡¯d been watching Aubree for quite some time, and today, they finally seized their chance.

    ¡°Damn, these two are gorgeous, and this one¡¯s a foreign chick!¡± one of the men leered, Mashing a mouthful of rotten teeth that <b>made </b>one¡¯s stomach tum His lecherous paze shamelessly raked over Aubree and I¡¯s bodies.

    He then said, ¡°Well, that person only said to bring Aubree. He never mentioned we couldn¡¯t have some fun first, right?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s heart clenched, thinking about how to protect both of them.

    I tugged at Aubree¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aubree. I¡¯m tougher than look

    The four thugs couldn¡¯t understand the foreignnguage, but they knew that the longer they waited, the more likely it would go wrong. ¡°Inough bik,¡± one <b>of </b>them growled. ¡°Let¡¯s grab them first. Once we¡¯ve got them, <b>what </b>happens wat is up to us.¡±

    With that, one of them lunged forward, reaching out

    Aubree <b>released </b>I¡¯s hand. Thanks to her ongoing self¨Cdefense training, she slipped aside <b>in </b><b>a </b>sh

    I was even more impressive. She <b>grabbed </b>the man¡¯s arm and executed a textbook¨Cperfect over¨Cthe¨Cshoulder throw, mming him hard to the ground. Though she dressed to appear decaptively spreet and cute, she was tall. As the daughter of the Matthews family, self defense was part of her training

    The four men rushed of them all at once. Aubree and <b>i </b>knew they <b>were </b>no match for them, so they bolted

    ¡°Stop, Aubree! Don Linovel¡± one of the thugs shouted.

    Ethan and Samson were the first to arrive with reinforcements. They quickly deployed teams to secure the mall, then split up to search for led his team up from the underground garage via the emergency stairwell, while Samson conducted a sweep through the mall interior.

    By sheer luck, Ethan heard someone yelling Aubree¡¯s name when he was approaching the underground garage. As he was about to lend his term inside a group of men brandishing iron rods emerged from the shadows and blocked their path.

    ¡°Hey, buddy, we¡¯re handling some business here. Mind staying out of our way?¡± His words sounded polite enough, but the ominous scraping of the iron rod he dragged along the ground bold a different story.

    Ethan wasted no words. ¡°Get them,¡± hemanded.

    These men were trained thugs, but against Ethan and his team, they stood <b>no </b>chance at all in just <b>a </b>few moves, they were all knocked fat on the ground.

    AD

 Tried 193

    The burly th

    thugsy sprawled all over the ground, every bone in their bodies se wondered. Damn! Our intel never mentioned Aubree had backup like this!

    ¡°Go in and find her. Enstine Miss Miller is unharmed,¡± Ethan ordered.

    thing in pain. ¡°Where the hell did these monsterse from they

    The bodyguards fanned out in different directions. Fortunately, the pursuing thugs relentless shouting give them crucial clues to Aubree and I

    whereabouts.

    Unfamiliar with the mall, Aubree and Ista panicked <b>and </b>ran toward random directions, turning down any passage they sane, until their luck can out and they found themselvesered in a dead end

    The four thugs closed in, panting heavily. ¡°Run? Try running now!¡± one of them snarled.

    Aubree clenched her fists nervously <b>as </b>she faced the four men ¡°Who hired you to do this? The Wilson!

    One of the thugs sneered, ¡°Wilson family? Never heard of ¡®em, Quit ying games. You¡¯ve only got yourself to me for pissing off the wrong people

    Not the Wilson family? Aubree¡¯s expression darkened. Even with the self defense moves the and a knew, four trained thugs seriously outmatched thent

    Aubree pushed I behind her, whipped out a foldable pocket knife she always carried, and held it out in front of her with a trembling hand. ¡°Stay back!¡±

    Aubree <b>was </b>gasping for breath, her knife wielding hand trembling. She <b>was </b>already a mess from their frantic dash, let alone i, who had even kicked off her high heels in desperation.

    One of the thugs sneered, ¡°Hey there, sweetheart, think you can handle that little knife? Don¡¯t get yourself hurt.¡± The four of them showed not a hint of fear. They even broke into mockingughter

    The folding knife waspact in Aubree¡¯s hand, yet its de gleamed razor¨Csharp.

    Just as Aubree got caught in a desperate struggle, Ethan arrived in the nick of time.

    Unlike the <b>guards </b>at the entrance, these four were genuine desperadoes, some even on the wanted list

    The four thugs exchanged nces Three of them charged straight at Ethan, while thest one lunged <b>fiercely </b>at Aubree, intent on subduing her. Autres reacted swiftly, throwing up her hands in defense

    didn¡¯t just watch. She rushed forward to help Aubree

    Outside the mall, Alvin and his team met Bowen, Without a word, they locked eyes and rushed together toward the underground parking garage.

    They sprinted over, only to watch helplessly as the ident unfolded before their eyes.

    In the chaos, Aubree¡¯s hand slipped, and the knife plunged deep into the <b>man¡¯s </b>abdomen. A torrent of crimson blood gushed out, coating her trembling

    The burly man howled in pain and, with a desperate surge of strength, flung both women off, sending them crashing to bleeding abdomen, his face twisted in utter disbelief. He red at Aubree with murderous eyes, like a vengeful demon

    ¡°ng!¡± The knife hit the floor

    Aubree¡¯s entire body trembled uncontrobly, a bone¨Cchilling <b>dread </b>sting her. ¡°¡­I killed someone,¡± she choked out

    Jound. Clutching his

    Ista immediately wrapped her arms around Aubree in a tight embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± she soothed. ¡°Bowen¡¯s here now. Everything will be alright.¡±

    MUG <b>14 </b>

    The other three, realizing the tide had turned, tried to fee. But Ethan moved like lightning, ordering his team to intercept them

    ¡°Mr. Turner!¡± Ethan stepped aside and called out.

    One thugy sprawled on the ground, his fate unknown, while the other three stared up in terror as Bowen advanced toward them

    *Turner? Bowen Turner? One of the thugs panicked, thinking, ¡°Damn! That guy never said that girl had someone like Bowen backing her

    Bowen had just rushed over from a meeting, d in an impably tailored suit. His features were a mesmerizing blend of ethereal and devilish charm. With a slight tilt of his head, he gazed down at them as if they were nothing more than insects beneath his notice

    His features were almost sculptural, his posture tall and straight, but his expression was far from pleasant now. With lowered brows and a piercing game. he radiated suffocating intensity.

    A bone chilling auras

    a sliced through the air.

    At that moment, Bowen <b>was </b>beyond reason. The sight of Aubree desperately defending herself with a knife ignited a murderous rage in him. He wanted nothing more than to ughter everyst one of these men.

    Still, Alvin, fearing that the man on the ground might die and leave Aubree facing murder charges, rush him to the hospital.

    immediately ordered his men to stop the bleeding and

    ¡°As for the other three? Well, they¡¯ll naturally be ¡°persuaded¡± to

    to reveal who was pulling the strings Alvin thought.

    Like uncle, like nephew. Alvin and Bowen had that same chilling and terrifying gaze.

    ?

 Tried 194

    ¡°Uncle Bowen, something¡¯s off with Muhree,¡± <b>Alvin </b>said

    Bowen closed his eyes b

    briefly. ¡°Keep Aubree sale,¡± he ordered

    Aubree waspletely numb to her surroundings now, her vacant eyes fired on the pool of blood on the ground. Aber es lifetime: Hailed someone she thought, stunned.

    The thought haunted her. Just as she was on the verge of breaking down, someone draped a suit jacket over her head. The metallic tang of blood in her nose faded, reced by a scent she knew all too well.

    ¡°Bowen, killed someonel¡± Aubree sabbed uncontrobly, her voice breaking with panic.

    ¡°No, he¡¯s not dead,¡± Bowen replied, his unwavering certainty instantly bringing her a sense of relief

    Bowen added, ¡°Don¡¯t think about a thing now. l handle everything.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s taut <b>nerves </b>suddenly rxed, her body going limp as she copsed into unconsciousness.

    y had a few minutes of relief before their scalps

    Bowen had Aubree and I sent to the hospital for examination. As for the three thugs, they barely h prickled with dread.

    Bowen <b>fixed </b>his murderous gare on them. They didn¡¯t doubt for a second that he truly wanted them dead. A shiver ran down their spines Who are the real desperadoes here? they wondered in terror. ¡®Us<b>, </b><b>or </b>this usually so refined and respectable Mr. Turner?¡±

    Alvin knew what <b>his </b>uncle was nning ¡°I¡¯ll post <b>some </b>men at the entrance. Make it quick. The cops are almost here.¡±

    Bowen grunted in response. With deliberate, unhurried movements, he pulled at his tie and undid his cufflinks. Under the stark garage lights, heada an incredibly menacing aura,

    The three men, forced to crouch on the ground with their calves trembling uncontrobly, were already starting to regret taking this job

    ¡°What exactly did you guys do?¡± Bowen rolled his wrists as he asked, his unnervingly casual tone sending a chill through the room.

    ¡°W we didn¡¯t do anything, I swear one of the thugs stammered.

    Ethan was about to say, ¡°Maybe we should check the surveince footage, but the words died in his throat because Bowen had already sprung into

    <b>action</b>.

    Bowen moved lightning fast, grabbing the nearest thug by the throat and lifting him clean off the ground. His crushing grip cut off the man¡¯s air supply like a death sentence, and within moments, the thug¡¯s face turned purple fromck of oxygen. ¡°Not talking, huh?¡± Bowen asked coldly.

    ¡°P please, spare us! W¨Cwe¡¯re just hired hands, We only meant to kidnap her,¡± the man replied, voice trembling with fear.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Bowen cocked his head. ¡°I don¡¯t buy it all you wanted was to kidnap her, why was she so terrified she fought you tooth and nail?¡±

    Bowen thought coldly. ¡°If these bastards hadn¡¯t revealed their <b>sick </b>intention to <b>assault </b>her, Aubree wouldn¡¯t have fought back so desperately, for her safety and to protect I. She¡¯d already called the police and alerted others anyway. She could¡¯ve just waited calmly for b¨Ckup¡±

    The man¡¯s face went white. Being the sest to Bowen, he felt the full, chilling intensity of Bowen¡¯s rage

    The other thugs, pressed down by Ethan and his men, trembled uncontrobly, their teeth chattering in terror, too frightened to speak.

    Bowen¡¯s lips twisted into a sinister smile. ¡°Still not talking?¡±

    His other hand loosened for a split second, then clenched tight as he drove his fist straight into the man¡¯s face.

    19:52 <b>Mon</b>, 14 Jul

    The man choked on a cry of

    animal.

    achis neck jest seired on

    1 tell you! We were just ovee with hat the moment we saw her

    Bowen didn¡¯t need to hear the rest. It lined up wi

    This brutal kick sent the man sprawling across the

    day there, peping for breath, nee

    Bowen fired them with a cold stare. ¡°Are you going to tell me yourselves, or do I have to ma

    With the brutal lesson of theirrade¡¯s fate still fresh in their minds and surrounded by Breen¡¯s them blurted out, ¡°It was the Timbeke family! They sent us Gareth asked us to kidnap Autres *

    Bowen let out a cold, mockingugh ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that just perfect? if the Timbeke fan

    ¡°Drag them aside and teach them a lesson. Then, hand them over when the cops arrive Bowen ordered.

    Before they had a chance to plead for mercy, Ethan and his men, quick as a sh, pped ha

 Tried 195

    Own Fate 195

    <b>Chapter </b><b>195 </b>

    Alvin said to Bowen <b>as </b>he emerged, ¡°Wuhrer was in distress, so the hospital prve her a sedative. She¡¯s resting now!

    Bowen gave a cured, his gare growing even icler and more unhinged.

    He said. ¡°Go keep an eye on Aubree at the hospital. I¡¯ve got some business to take care of.¡±

    ¡°Keeping an eye on her for him? What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Alvin wondered but brushed off the odd phrasing the next second. ¡°Did they say who sent them?¡± he asked.

    Bowen said coldly. ¡°The Timbeke family.¡±

    So it was the Timbeke family after all, Alvin thought.

    Curling his lips into a mocking sneer, he said, ¡°They must have a <b>death </b>wish.¡±

    Meamchile, at the Timbeke family, Gareth paced anxiously back and forth in the living room. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t there been any news yet? Did today¡¯s

    operation seed or not? he wondered,

    He knew full well this would cross the Tumer family, but he¡¯d already made ns. Once he got his son out, he¡¯d take his family and leave Rithol City

    altogether. ¡°IfI can¡¯t fight them, at least I can fee¡± he thought.

    Gareth grashed his teeth in fury. ¡°Bowen shows no regard for our ties at all. He¡¯s having Jacob thrown in jail over what I consider such a trivial matter he fumed inwardly¡°Even if Jacob did something to Aubree, would she lose out by being connected to the Timbeke <b>family</b>?

    Just as he was thinking this, his wife Mandy came downstairs. The moment she saw him still at home, her temper <b>red</b>. ¡°<b>What </b><b>are </b>you still doing here?¡± she formed. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you doing something to get Jacob <b>out</b>? He¡¯s <b>your </b>onlyson!¡±

    Gareth, already irritated, <b>snapped</b>, ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m working on it? If the n seeds, we¡¯ll get Jacob out, alright?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that!¡± Mandy asked.

    ¡°I sent me to kidnap Aubree,¡± Gareth replied.

    ¡°What did you just say you did?¡± Mandy¡¯s voice shot up in disbelief. ¡°Bowen <b>only </b><b>went </b>after <b>Jacob </b>because of Aubree, and <b>you </b>still <b>dare </b>to mess with

    her?¡±

    Gareth thought she was overreacting. ¡°What¡¯s <b>all </b>the <b>fuss </b>about?¡± he scoffed. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ve got it all ned out. Once we trade Aubree for Jacob<b>, </b>our whole family will leave Rithol City. We can develop in other cities anyway. We¡¯ve alreadypromised<b>. </b>Given our daughter¡¯s connection to them, the Turner

    family will have to give <b>us </b><b>a </b><b>pass</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    He took it for granted and thought smugly, ¡°Over the years, I¡¯ve reaped plenty of benefits from the Turner family thanks to my daughter. Do the Turner family <b>people </b>not know? Of course they do. But since they owe the Timbeke family, they have to pretend not to see!

    Mandy hesitated. ¡°Will they let us off? I heard Bowens <b>running </b>the Turner family now. He¡¯s a heartless bastard.¡±

    ¡°Rx. It¡¯s all under control.¡°Gareth had barely fished boasting when thunderous pounding erupted at the front door

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Mandy called out nervously<b>. </b>

    Gareth said nonchntly. ¡°That must be my peopleing back.¡±

    With that, he stepped forward to open the door. The moment it cracked open a sliver, someone outsidended a brutal kick with explosive force, sanding the <b>door </b>flying inward.

    19:52 Mon, 14 Jul

    If Gareth hadn¡¯t reacted with quick reflexes and dodged, that brutal kick would havended on more than just the door.

    Mandy¡¯s face drained of all color the moment she recognized the intruder.

    Gareth was just about to unleash a torrent of curses, but the moment he looked up, he truepletely on the spot

    Bowen strode in, nked by bodyguards. ¡°Mr. Timbeke, long time no see,¡± he said.

    ¡°D¨CBowen¡°¡± Gareth was stunned.

    Bowen strode up to him, his gaze <b>coldly </b>a

    assessing. ¡°Mr. Timbeke,¡± he said, ¡°don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡±

    Gareth had been running himself ragged trying to get Jacob out of trouble, and his hair had grown noticeably grayer. Now, face to face with Bown, the

    once arrogant and self¨C<b>assured </b>man was reduced to a haggard, cowering figure, shrinking back, not daring to say a word

    Bowen sneered, ¡°Cat got your tongue? I only greeted you politely out of respect for your daughter. Did you think you were hot stuff, Gareth?

    ¡°How dare youy a finger on what¡¯s mine? Who the hell gave you the nerve?

    ¡°I might¡¯ve let Jacob off with just a few months in jail ill were feeling generous. But you just had to go begging for death, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    With each word Bowen uttered, Gareth¡¯s face grew paler. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± he stammered.

    Gareth tly denied it.

    Bowen let out a chillingugh. ¡°ying dumb, huh?¡±

    In the next second, Bowen swung a vicious backhanded punch that smashed into Gareth¡¯s face, sanding him crumpling to the ground, his body going limp from the blow.

    Bowen sneered, <b>¡°</b>Do you need a reminder?¡±

    Gareth¡¯s face contorted in sheer terror as he stumbled backward. He was genuinely terrified, afraid that Bowen might just <b>beat </b>him to death right there

    E

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 Tried 196

    The Timbeke family¡¯s front door swung wide open, letting the winter wind rush in Bowen stood framed in the entrance, his coat trapping at his sides, hair whipping wildly in the guts

    The refined elegance he usually disyed was nowhere to be seen. His eyes now held nothing but bleak, steely coldness.

    At that moment, Gareth fully realized just how his overconfidence had utterly doomed him. He¡¯d wall and truly dug his own grave this time.

    ¡°You¡¯re trespassing!¡± Mandy, standing nearby, mustered unexpected courage and shrieked.

    Boven merely chuckled. ¡°Do you want me to help you call the police? And while we¡¯re at it, maybe we should talk about Gareth hiring thugs for kidnapping? That¡¯s a much more serious crime than your son¡¯s pathetic attempt to molest a girl¡±

    Gareth and Mandy copsed in utter despair. Mandy¡¯s lips trembled as she pleaded, her voice shaking ¡°Bowen, for Jacqueline¡¯s sake, I¡¯m begging you. Please spare us this time. Nothing happened to that girl,did it?¡±

    ¡°Then if I beat Gareth half to death and send him to the hospital, can we also pretend nothing happened?¡± Bowen retorted mercilessly.

    Seeing that the two of them fell silent, Bowen didn¡¯ty a hand on them or say another word. He cast onest, prating nce at them, then turned and strode <b>away</b>.

    No sooner had Gareth and Mandy finally breathed a sigh of relief than a throng <b>of </b>reporters, who had been waiting in ambush, swarmed in and blocked every exit. Hot on their heels came the piercing wall of <b>police </b>sirens.

    Merely charging Gareth with hiring thugs for kidnapping would be letting him off too lightly. Bowen wanted to saddle him with far more serious charges, carrying prohibited weapons, being a dangerous fugitive, and attempted murder.

    In less than half a day, the Timbeke family scandal exploded everywhere, with Jacob¡¯s past misdeeds dragged into the spotlight, every dirty detailid bare

    <b>Victims </b>who got silenced by the Timbeke family¡¯s influence finally came forward, exposing Jacob¡¯s crimes one aterher.

    One by one they fell, first Jacob, then Gareth, leaving spalled Mandy stranded. She was powerless to stop the family¡¯s copse.

    The Timbeke family was finished

    Enrique was reading <b>the </b>newspaper when he learned of the incident. True to his age, he was a man of old habits. He never cared for news on his phone, always prefering the feel of a physical newspaper in his hands.

    Enrique remained unfazed. He remarked, ¡°The Timbeke family has grown increasingly brazen these past few years. it¡¯s no surprise they¡¯ve finally

    ¡°But I heard they crossed Bowen this time. They harmed someone under his protection,¡± one of Enrique¡¯s subordinates said.

    <b>¡°</b><b>Oh</b><b>?</b>¡± Enrique responded, <b>his </b>interest <b>piqued</b>.

    ¡°And it was a woman,¡± the subordinate added.

    Enrique¡¯s <b>eyes </b>glinted. ¡°Now that¡¯s interesting.¡±

    After settling matters with the Timbeke family. Bowen rushed straight to the hospital without a moment¡¯s <b>dy</b>.

    When he arrived at the hospital, Aubree was still unconscious, with Alvin and Matilda waiting outside the ward.

    <b>¡°</b>How is sho<b>?</b>¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°Still asleep,¡± Alvin replied.

    ¡°You two go get some rest. I¡¯ll stay with her,¡± Bowen said.

    Even the most oblivious person could <b>tell </b>Bowen had special feelings for Aubree Realizing there was no reason for her to stay, Matilda nodded and int

    Alvin silently studied Bowen for a moment. Til go check on i. She¡¯spletely shaken up

    Aubree woke to find night had already allen. She opened her eyes groggily, her head throbbing <b>as </b>about to explode, and her mouth festing <b>packed </b>Spotting a ss of water on the nightstand, she reached for it, but her body was still weak. Her fingers fumbled, and the ss slipped from her hand, crashing to the floor.

    The water spilled across the floor. Aubree shuddered. She saw blood, so much blood, a vast crimson pool spreading <b>just </b>like spilled water

    Even though it was just clear water, in Aubree¡¯s eyes, it instantly became a vivid rey of that bloody scene in the parking garage.

    Even after living two lives, this still shook her to the core.

    Did that guy die? Did I kill someone?¡® Aubree wondered, her lips deathly pale.

    Aubree shrieked and couldn¡¯t stop shaking. <b>She </b>clutched her head and let out <b>a </b>desperate scream.

    At that very moment, the hospital room door burst open

    Aubree¡¯s eyes lifted, and she saw Bowen standing there. Almost instinctively, her hand shot put toward him.

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    She had just woken up, her body still weak and reeling from such a penfound shock. She staggered forward, unable to steady herself. The vers underground garage reyed vividly is her Hike a relentless nightmare,

    After starting a new life, shepletely severed ties with the Wilson family And, as much at she hated to admit it, the only person whose mani could truly bring her peace and reassurance was undoubtedly Bowen,

    Bowen strode forward swiftly, catching her in his arms with lightning relieves in one fluid motion, he potted her tightly against his chest.

    Bowen ced his hand on Aubree¡¯s waist and pulled her forcefully into his embrace.

    He couldn¡¯t even bear to imagine what would have happened if he had arrived just a momentter today. He might have lost Aubred forever.

    ¡°It was my fault, Bowen thought, ¡®Gareth must have resorted to desperate measures, and I failed to keep her safe

    ¡°Bowen Aubree choked out, burying her face in his shoulder. Her fingers clung desperately to his shirt as tears streamed down her face.

    It <b>was </b>rare for Aubree to show such vulnerability: As Bowen felt <b>the </b>warmth of her tears soaking through his shoulder, his heart clenched as if squeezed by an invisible fist. The pain was almost unbearable.

    ¡°It¡¯s over now. You¡¯re safe,¡± Bowen murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to Aubree¡¯s hair, His hand came to rest on Aubree¡¯s back, gently patting in slow, steadyrhythms, <b>like </b>soothing a frightened child.

    His voice <b>was </bced with exhaustion.

    From the moment Aubree was sent into the hospital, Bowen had been <b>wound </b>tight <b>as </b><b>a </b>colled spring, his shirt rumpled, those always perfect strands of hair now falling loose, eyes bloodshot.

    I killed someone¡± Aubree choked <b>out </b>in a <b>daze</b>, her voice thick with confusion. When she looked up at Bowen, her eyes were brimming with utter

    helplessness

    Bowen¡¯s chest tightened. He said, ¡°He¡¯s alive. You acted in self¨Cdefense. I handle the rest.

    As he spoke, a fierce glint shed in Bowen¡¯s eyes. ¡®I¡¯ll have to fix that mistake, he thought, ¡°But right now, it¡¯s clear that Aubreees first.¡±

    Bowen gently wiped the sweat from Aubree¡¯s forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he murmured, ¡°I¡¯ve got everything covered.¡±

    His voice was gentle yet unwavering, instantly putting her at ease.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Aubree looked up and met Bowen¡¯s deep eyes. <b>She </b>nodded vigorously, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. The sight made Bowen¡¯s heart clench painfully.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t had anything to eat all day. <b>Are </b>you hungry?¡± Bowen asked.

    Aubree shook her head weakly. She had no appetite and even felt nauseous.

    Bowen knew she was still grappling with the <b>trauma</b><b>, </b><b>so </b><b>he </b>didn¡¯t force her to eat. He reached out and touched her face. Her skin was <b>ice</b>¨Ccold under his fingers. Not worrying was impossible, but he also knew he couldn¡¯t simply talk her out of her fear.

    ¡°Would you like to rest a bit longer?¡± Bowen <b>asked </b>gently

    ¡°Okay¡± Aubree nodded.

    Bowen tucked her in. He moved to withdraw his hand when a soh, gentle touch settled on the back of it. Aubree tightened her grip around his hand and said nothing. She just gazed up at him with shimmering eyes,pletely melting Bowen¡¯s heart

    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± Bowen reassured her.

    52 Mon, 14 JUL

    With Aubree still clinging to his hand, Bowen directly took a seat at the edge of the bed.

    Aher what felt like an eternity, Aubree noticed the breathing beside her had grown steady and deep. Turning her head, the realized that at somaj Bowen had dozed off, leaning against her bedside.

    She¡¯d never seen him look so broken before.

    His grip remained firms around her hand. When she tried to pull away, it only tightened.

    Almost without realizing it, Aubree reached out and brushed her fingers against Howen¡¯s face. His skin was surprisingly soft under her touch

    Bowen was breathtakingly handsome, and she¡¯d known it from the very first moment <b>she </bid eyes on him. Now, as she studied him more closely, she realized that every single one of his features was perfect.

    Aubree¡¯s gaze drifted down to his lips, perfectly shaped, with a deep, almost painted hue. The longer she looked, the more unexpected warmth bloomed inside her.

    Aubree¡¯s mind shed back to that drunken night and the idental kiss they¡¯d shared.

    Flustered, Aubree quickly averted her gaze and shut her eyes. She felt as if something inside her quietly broke through her walls.

    AD

    P

 Tried 198

    After the kidnapping incident, Aidan made a trip from Odiond to take a back home,

    I had originally stayed for Bowen, but unexpectedly, she¡¯d barely spent time with him and instead got hooked on video games

    That day when Bowen came to rescue Aubree, I finally realized that there was no ce for her in Dowen¡¯s heart. With her pride, she <b>decided </b>not to keep chasing what was impossible.

    So, I made a clean break and returned to Odiond with Aldan.

    Before leaving, I reminded Aubree, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to keep teaching me how to y games on the phone | when you¡¯re free:

    Aubree spent two days in the hospital before being cleared to leave, While her body had recovered, the events of that day stayed with <b>her</b>.

    For quite some time, Aubree <b>was </b>in low spirits, barely able to muster any energy. Noticing this, Bowen helped her get in touch with a therapist.

    At Es Heights, Hugh and Carol, along with the other staff members, stood anxiously outside the kitchen, watching Bowen¡¯s busy figure inside with bated <b>breath</b>.

    Hugh thought to himself, ¡°Surely Bowen can manage not to blow up the kitchen, right?¡±

    None of them knew what had gotten into Bowen today. He suddenly decided to learn how to cook, stubbornly refused <b>all </b><b>help</b>, and shooed everyone out of the kitchen.

    In the kitchen, Bowen fumbled around <b>for </b>ages before finally locating the rolled oats.

    His phone, on speaker for a group video call, sat on the kitchen counter

    ¡°Well, well, well, isn¡¯t this a rare sight! Our very own Mr. Turner, actually getting his hands dirty in the kitchen lie¡¯s yful, slightly mocking voice was the first to chime in.

    Then came Mark¡¯s <b>deadpan </b>question. ¡°We won¡¯t die from eating this, right?¡±

    ¡°Is there anything I¡¯m not capable of?¡± Armed with online tips, Bowen put the rolled oats into the pot.

    <b>¡°</b>Besides,¡± Bowen thought to himself, it¡¯s <b>just </b>oatmeal. How hard could it possibly be?

    ¡®Still, since it¡¯s my first time making this, I¡¯d better get someone to try it first<b>, </b><b>just </b>in case it turns out terrible. Hugh and Carol are getting on in years, and It¡¯s inappropriate to put them through that. The other staff are still busy with work, so I¡¯d better not interrupt them either

    Aher mulling it over, Bowen decided that Mark and Ollie were the most idle, free<b>, </b>and healthy of the bunch. When it came to using his friends <b>as </b>guinea pigs, he never held back.

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± he mused. ¡®Bowen¡¯s reliability <b>speaks </b>for itself, he thought. ¡°Everything he does is wless

    Trusting his friendpletely, Ollie didn¡¯t hesitate for <b>a </b>second before choosing to believe Bowen,

    Mark, being in the know, thought to himself, ¡®Wait, is Bowen just using us as guinea pigs before cooking for Aubre,

    With Ollie¡¯s approval, Bowen smirked as he poured the rolled oats into the pot. ¡°<b>So</b><b>, </b>care toe to Ellis Heights and be my taste testers?¡±

    Mark was still racking his brain for an excuse to get out of it when Ollie had already agreed without a second thought.

    ¡°Getting to eat a home¨Ccooked meal from Bowen? That¡¯s prime bragging material for our next night out olie <b>thought</b>. He couldn¡¯t wait to jump at the chance, and he made sure to drag Mark along, ¡°Come on, Mark, you¡¯ve got toe too. When Bowen cooks himself, it¡¯d be rude to say no!¡±

    19:52 Mon, 14 Jul G

    Mark gritted his teeth. ¡°<b>Fine</b>, I¡¯ll go.¡±

    The oatmeal was almost <b>mady</b>. Bowen figured in oatmeal was too nd, so he grabbed some seasonal veggies to whip up a quick

    sd was ready, Olle and Mark showed up.

    Ollie¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the sd. ¡°Damn<b>, </b>Bowen, you¡¯ve got some serious skills¡±

    Bowen served oatmeal and sd. The oatmeal was simple <b>to </b>make but looked decent, and the vegetable sd turned out presentable with the nor ting, Ollie¡¯s <b>guard </b>droppedpletely

    Mark eyed the vegetables suspiciously. Is this veggle even sd material?

    Dowen waved them over. ¡°Care for a taste?¡±

    AD

    Comment

 Tried 199

    Ollie happily picked up his fork and took a big bibe, only for the saltiness to almost kill him. Eyes watering, he infinctively grabbed the bout of sto and took a gulp, forgetting it was still piping hot. His face twisted through a series of expressions. He wanted <b>to </b>spit it out, but couldn¡¯t, shared himself to swallow it,

    Having wisely anticipated potential disaster, Mark only took a couple of cautious bites of oatmeal beforementing. ¡°The atmaal is not <b>bad</b>.¡°.

    ¡°Bowen, I know you¡¯re loaded, but that doesn¡¯t mean you have to use the entire salt supply!¡± Ollie spluttered his tongue numb from both the scalding heat and overwhelming saltiness. He gulped down several sses of water before finally catching his breath

    Bowen frowned thoughtfully, picked up a vegetable, and took a small bite. ¡°The oatmeal needs to cool down, he muttered. ¡°And loverulted the

    Ollie finally caught on ¡°Hold up, Bowen, what the hell do you mean? So you¡¯re using me as your guinea pig, huh?¡±

    Bowen shot D

    Olle a disdainful look. ¡°You just realized he retorted,pletely unapologetic.

    Ollie coughed violently, nearly choking. ¡®Damn it, Bowen! What do you take me for? Yourb rat?

    He didn¡¯t need to think hard to guess who could get Bowen to cook. ¡®Great So Aubree¡¯s precious, and I¡¯m just chopped liver pie thought angrily.

    He said, ¡°Bowen, keep this up and you won¡¯t have any friends left.¡±

    Turned out, Bowen still had friends after all. After his first failed attempt, he carried the dish back into the kitchen. After two more rounds of tweaking, the new sd finally burned out pretty decent

    Having never known such hardship in his pampered life, Ollie ¡°gloriously became a permanent resident of the bathroom after eating that oversalted and haphazardly thrown together vegetable sd.

    Mark watched Bowen busying himself in the kitchen and <b>asked</b>, ¡°Did you look into Mrs. <b>Wilson </b>before?¡±

    ¡°Alice, you mean?¡± Bowen nced up at him, his manner casual <b>and </b>unhurried.

    Mark nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s up with her!¡± Bowen asked.

    Mark replied, ¡°The nearly finished investigating whether Aubree is the person <b>Alvin¡¯s </b>parents saved before they got killed. I got some childhood photos of Aubree from the <b>orphanage</b>, but they were damaged. I sent them to a restoration service. Once the resultes out, we¡¯ll know if it¡¯s her.

    <b>¡°</b><b>While </b>I was looking into this, my investigation led me to Alice. Turns out, the information you had checked before wasn¡¯t entirely urate

    Bowen hadn¡¯t even had time to think about how Mark had been investigating <b>Aubree </b>when that sentence snagged his attention. <b>¡°</b>What do you mean?¡± he asked.

    ¡°ording to my intel,¡± Mark <b>said</b>, ¡°after Aubree went <b>missing </b>Alice did appear troubled for a while, but in reality, she only seemed mildly depressed nowhere near the intense emotional swings your investigation suggested, it wasn¡¯t until muchter that her behavior suddenly changed<b>. </b>That¡¯s when the psychiatric hospital diagnosed her with a stress disorder, and only then was Carmen brought back to the Wilson fami

    ¡°I think this <b>should </b>help you, I wanted to dig deeper, but that¡¯s as far as I could get.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s eyelids twitched. ¡°You¡¯re saying Alice taked her mental illness, probably just to bring Carmen back to the Wilson family!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Mark shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ¡°Oh, by the way, Bowen, <b>are </b>you nning to call <b>hina </b>back!¡±

    If it were Ollie, he probably wouldn¡¯t have picked up on the subtext.

    4

    But Bowen chuckled with a hint of amusement. ¡°What are you scheming now?¡±

    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t put it like that. Doesn¡¯t what I told you about Alice mean you owe me one? Just let her stay with me for a few more menths, right Mark said.

    Bowen said, ¡°Well, that depends on whether Nina is willing to keep doing this.¡±

    Mark curled his lip, cursing under his breath, ¡°Sly old fox

    Upon receiving the <b>news</b>, <b>Bowen </b>didn¡¯t think about what Mark was up to. He immediately headed back into the kitchen, prepared a fresh batch of oatmeal and vegetable sd, packed them carefully into takeout containers, and set off for Bree Technology

    Lately, Aubree had been heading straight to Bree Technology after her therapy sessions, so flowen decided to wait for her there.

    <b>AD </b>

 Tried 200-

    Bowen brought lunch to the office, and Aubree did him the Imour of finishing every bite.

    He watched her, his gaze openly affectionate, making her cheeks flush. She averted her eyes akwardly ¡°To done with the past. You should go now<b>? </b>

    ¡°As a shareholder, inspecting thepany isn¡¯t unreasonable, is it Bowen sprawledzily on the sofa, making it clear he wasn¡¯t leaving

    Aubree couldn¡¯t really kick him out. Pursing her lips in feigned annoyance, she said, ¡°Suit yourself. I¡¯ve got work to do

    Bowen didn¡¯t disturb her, resting his chin on his hand as he quietly observed her from across the desk. The view is interesting

    After a while, when she¡¯d nearly finished her tasks, he finally brought up what Mark had told him,

    Aubree¡¯s reaction?

    Her fingers paused on the document. ¡°I see.¡±

    Her tone was t, as if it had nothing to do with her.

    Faking an illness? It wouldn¡¯t be surprising. Aubree could easily imagine Alice doing something like that. But she needed proot to confirm it

    Ever since learning that Alice might have abandoned her, nothing about the Wilson family could shock her anymore.

    If someone told her the Wilsons hadmitted arson or murder<b>, </b><b>shed </b>believe it.

    In her eyes<b>, </b>Alice faking a mental disorder <b>was </b><b>just </b>another potential <b>weapon</b>.

    Finishing thest file, <b>Aubree </b>looked up, ¡°Want to go for a walk?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bowen was dumbfounded. Aubree had never made the first move with him before.

    Bowen couldn¡¯t believe <b>h </b>

    his ears. Did I just imagine that?¡± he wondered.

    Aubree <b>smiled</b>. ¡°<b>You </b>told me about <b>this </b>and even found me a therapist. I¡¯ve been feeling much bettertely. Consider this my thanks.¡±

    Bowen felt like he was walking on air. So this <b>is </b>what it feels like when perseverance finally pays off

    ¡°Let¡¯s go! Where to? Right now!¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement as she silently took note of everything about Alice. She¡¯d need to investigate what really happened back then.

    Time flew, and soon, Christmas was approaching. As the holiday drew near, Rithol City, the bustling industrial metropolis, was adorned with festive

    decorations

    At the Wilson residence, <b>Ronald </b>gathered the family after dinner <b>for </b><b>a </b>discussion,

    ¡°Emery, how did the Rosepely Group matter turnout?¡±

    ¡°Anthony did embezzle the equipment funds. First, had the press silenced. Then I used my connections to have a report issued, iming the equipment was fine. I reced all the substandard equipment andpensated the victims¡® families

    ¡°The online <b>bacsh </b><b>has </b>mostly died down, but Anthony <b>is </b><b>a </b>longtime employer. We haven¡¯t decided how to deal with him yet.¡±

    Emery¡¯s expression darkened. The situation <b>had </b>erupted and resolved too <b>quickly</b>. It felt like someone <b>was </b>targeting Rosapoty Group. This might just be the beginning.

    19:52 Mon, 14 Jul

    To Ronald, it was a minor issue. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have handed it over to Emery as a tr Lopportunity ¡°Fallow protocol,

    excuse such a mess,¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Entery responded

    Pleased with his handling of the matter, Ronald actually smiled. ¡°Wher this, retum to thepany. Focus on your work.

    Then he turned to Bryan ¡°I assume you¡¯ve had time to reflect on what¡¯s eptable and what isn¡¯t?¡±

    Bryan nced at Emery, his grip tightening around his cup. ¡°I have¡±

    ¡°Return after Christmas. I¡¯m not getting any younger. Wilson Group will need to be passed down eventually.¡±

    The implication hung heavy in the air, Bryan¡¯s eyes darkened, but he said nothing. Emery <b>only </b>worked for thepany out of boredom. He never

    considered himself an heit,

    Daston had eyes only for Carmen and his experiments. Thepany meant nothing to him.

    Trevor¡¯s eyes flickered briefly, but he quickly slipped back into his <b>usual </b>carefree smirk.

    Carmen, however, took the words to heart. With the sess of her livestreaming tform, she¡¯d grown addicted to power and money

    <b>She </b>held shares in Wilson Group, not much, but it meant <b>she </b>could inherit.

    With Daxton¡¯s support and Alice¡¯s backing, it wasn¡¯t impossible.

    Her eyes gleamed <b>as </b>she tugged Alice¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mom, can I give Dad my surprise how?¡±

    Her expression was sweet, her tone hopeful.

    Alice smiled and gently stroked Carmen¡¯s hair, ¡°Go ahead, sweetheart.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What surprise has my <b>dear </b>Carmen prepared for me?¡± Ronald was in a <b>good </b>mood today

    Carmen feigned shyness. <b>¡°</b><b>Dad</b>, have you heard of MindDrift!¡±

    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s the secondrgest livestreaming tform after yzy¡±

    Daxton chuckled. ¡°Dad<b>, </b>Carmen founded it.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Ronald¡¯s surprise was genuine. He¡¯d actually considered acquiring MindDrit if he couldn¡¯t take over yry. It never urred to him that it was his family¡¯s business all along!

    Carmen blushed and nodded shyly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just me. Daxton and Mom invested tod<b>.¡± </b>

    Ronaldughed heartily. ¡°Regardless, this is a wonderful surprise. I had no idea you had such <b>business </b>acument¡±

    ¡°A Wilson is never mediocre,¡± Daxton said proudly.

    Alice pped her hands. <b>¡°</b>Since it¡¯s almost Christmas, why don¡¯t we visit the hot spring ind we bought two years ago?

    At the mention of the ind, Emery¡¯s expression joured. They¡¯d purchased it for Carmen¡¯s birthday after she developed a love for hot springs, even

    naming it after her.

    The whole family had celebrated there that year,

    Meanwhile, on the same <b>day</b>, Aubree had spent her birthday in the hospital <b>as </b>punishment for a mistake¨Cno gifts, no celebration

    ¡°Since it¡¯s Christmas, why don¡¯t e invite Aubree to join us?¡± Emery interjected abruptly, and the cheerful atmosphere instantly used frosty

    Daxton rolled his eyes. ¡°The ind is Carmen¡¯s. After what Aubree did to her, you still want to bring her along? How shameless can you be?¡±

    Emery clenched his jaw, Christmas was for family. <b>Wasn¡¯t </b>Aubree part of theirs?

    Bryan nodded in agreement. ¡°Emery¡¯s right. Christmas is for family reunions. We never took Aubree to the ind before, so this time, we can make it up

    to her.¡±

    With MindDrift¡¯s sess, Ronald no longer felt desperate to acquire yzy, though he¡¯d still prefer it.

    He¡¯d been furious when he heard about Bowen¡¯s impulsive move against Aubree:

    Dealing with Aubree? That was where his tactics came into y.

    He had already made arrangements, and the timing was just right. Interrupting the argument, Ronald dered, ¡°Enough. Aubree is a Wilson by blood. Alice, reach out to her. Tell her if shees home for Christmas, my promise stands. Wilson Group will support her fully. If she refuses, I won¡¯t hesitate to

    cut ties.

    ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate any <b>threat </b>to the Wilson Group¡¯s standing¡±

    <b>Had </b>Ronald not known about MindDrift, he¡¯d never have made such an offer. But with an alternative to yzy secured, his attitude toward Aubree reverted instantly.

    Or perhaps, it had never changed at all.

 Tried 201

    <b>Chapter </b><b>201 </b>

    As Christmas approached, Aubree handed out generous bonuses to her employees and announced the holiday schedule.

    ¡°Miss Miller, a woman named Alice ims to be your mother and wishes to see you. Vincent knew exactly who Alice was, which was why he hesitated and came to <b>ask </b><b>for </b>instructions.

    Aubree was about to refuse when she reconsidered. ¡°Let here up.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s words about Alice possibly faking her mental illness echoed in her mind. Today might be the perfect opportunity to best that

    Alice, clutching her handbag, was escorted into the conference room<b>, </b>

    ¡°Miss Miller will be here shortly. Let me know if you need anything, Ms. Diamonde.¡± The receptionist was none other than Birgitte

    Vincent had assigned someone else, but Birgitte insisted on handling it herself. In the entirepany, no one was more fiercely loyal to Aubree than Birgitte, not evon Vincent couldpete.

    Once, a now employee had gossiped about Aubree behind her back. Birgitte overheard and had them fired on the spot.

    Aubree found it amusing. ¡°People can <b>say </b>whatever they want. I just ignore it.¡±

    Birgitte remained stubborn. ¡°If I don¡¯t hear it, fine. But if I do, they¡¯re gone.¡±

    Alice requested coffee. Birgitto ¡°graciously fetched a packet of instant coffee, poured hot water over it, and served it without ceremony. Just then, Aubree walked in.

    ¡°Well? What do you want?¡±

    Seeing that Aubree had agreed to meet, Alice dared to hope things weren¡¯t beyond repair.

    ay from the Wilsons forever. But absence made the heart grow fonder, and Alice couldn¡¯t risk Carmen¡¯s position being

    Ideally, Aubree would stay far <b>away </b>undermined.

    ¡°Christmas¡¯sing up. I wanted to ask if you¡¯d join us at the hot spring ind. A family celebration.¡±

    Carmen had been raised under Alice¡¯s doting <b>care</b>, and her acting skills were impable. As her mother, Alice was no amateur eithe

    Aubree nearly scoffed. The eagerness was all an act. If she actually agreed, Alice would be seething.

    ¡°Pass, I¡¯d rather not end up in the hospital again,¡± Aubree said, rolling her eyes.

    When the Wilsons first bought the ind for Carmen, <b>they¡¯d </b>called it a ¡°family trip. Aubree knew no gift awaited her, but the word family had struck a chord. She didn¡¯t care about birthdays or presents, she just wanted to be included.

    Back then, she¡¯d desperately tried to win Carmen¡¯s favor, hoping good behavior <b>would </b>earn her a <b>ce</b>.

    Instead, Alice punished her.

    ¡°You¡¯re buttering up Carmen just to go to the ind. Disgusting.¡±

    Absurd. Yet at the time, Aubree believed she deserved it. Even hospitalized afterward, she didn¡¯t me Alice, she med herself for failing to measure<ol><li><b>up</b>.</li></ol>

    guilt, but difort.

    Alice paled, not from gui

    For a moment, Alice waspletely at a loss for words.

    While Alice struggled, Aubree pressed on. ¡°Alice, every time you show up, it¡¯s the same old song. I¡¯m bored. Let¡¯s talk about something else:

    She slid a document across the table.

    Alice looked over and her heart skipped a beat. It was the exact same agreement Aubree had brought to the Wilson family that day<b>, </b>the one Ronald had ripped to shreds when she tried to sever ties with them.

    ¡°I won¡¯t sign

    ¡°Don¡¯t rush to refuse.¡± Aubree smiled coldly. ¡°I said we¡¯re discussing something new today.¡±

    She then pushed forward several photographs. The instant Alice¡¯s eyesnded on them, her face went utterly pale. This time, it was out of sheer terror.

    How¡­ how did Aubree get these photos?!

    She lunged for them, but Aubree pinned her hand down. ¡°Alice<b>, </b><b>who </b>do you think this person in the photos is!

    ¡°You look I Do you recognize them?¡±

    Alice wrenched free and gulped the terrible coffee, grimacing but forcingposure. ¡°What exactly do you !

    Aubree had clearlye prepared.

    ¡°What do I know? Oh, quite a bit.¡± Aubree tapped her chin mock thoughtfully.

    ¡°For instance, you knew I was at the orphanage when I was ten. You visited, but hid it from the Wilsons.¡±

    know?¡±

    For how about this? You supposedly had severe psychosis, mistaking Carmen for me. That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t want me back, right?¡±

    She watched Alice closely

    The first im made Alice tense. The second, about her ¡°illness¡°, made her rx slightly.

    Aubree narrowed her eyes.

    Just as Alice was about to y along. Aubree struck again.

    ¡°Except your ¡°psychosis was take, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Alice¡¯s mind went nk. She searched Aubree¡¯s face, desperate to know if this was a bluff.

    Her lips whitened. Digging her <b>nails </b>into her palm, she clung to the pain for focus. ¡°I don¡¯t know what <b>you </b>mean<b>, </b>I had severe PTSD. That¡¯s no secret

    Her implication was clear. Even if Aubree tried to <b>use </b>this as leverage against her, it would be useless.

    <b>Aubree </b>smiled. She <b>had </b>her answer.

    Alice¡¯s ¡°illness¡± was almost certainly fabricated. Now, she just needed proof. With concrete evidence, she could turn the Wilsons against each other, or at least make them sweat.

    ¡°We¡¯re done here. Get out.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s words were cutting. Alice was just about to snap back when a knock interrupted her. It was Birgitte. Birgitte fixed Alice with a hostile re that

    sent chills down her spine.

    ¡°L. I¡¯ll be going n

    now.¡±

    ?Alice stammered, hastly grabbing her handbag and practically fleeing the room

    in her frantic rush Alice didn¡¯t even notice Bowen by the door.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Turner¡¯s here,¡± Birgitte said.

    Before Evie could finish speaking, Bowen had already strolled in, making himselfpletely at home.

    ¡°Seems you made some progress?¡± He arched an eyebrow,

    Aubree grinned. ¡°We can start digging into her now!

    No further exnation was needed. They understood each other perfectly.

    Bowen¡¯s gaze drifted to the coffee on the table, and he frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s in charge of procurement here? This coffee is terrible.¡±

    Aubree blinked. ¡°Is it? I had it before and thought it was fine!

    Aubree picked up the coffee Alice had left behind and took a sniff, then shot a questioning look at Birgitte, who was standing by the door.

    Birgitte didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°Borrowed instant coffee from the breakroom. Frankly, giving her tap water would¡¯ve been more than she deserved.¡±

    Aubree burst <b>out </bughing.

    Bowen thought to himself, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to stay on Birgitte¡¯s good side from now on.¡±

    ¡°Anyway,

    I came to ask about your Christmas ns.¡±

    ¡°Same as always,¡±

    ¡°How about spending it with me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you and Alvin to Shiyvania. Skiing, fondue, the whole experience.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes lit up.

 Tried 202

    <b>Chapter 202 </b>

    Aubree had agreed to Bowen¡¯s invitation. This year, she¡¯d spend Christmas with him and Alvin in Shiyvania.

    Unlike some employers, she didn¡¯t believe in overworking her staff. Most of Bree Technology¡¯s employees were already on holiday, leaving only <b>a </b>handful of executives to wrap up final tasks.

    Christmas was just around the corner.

    Aubree nced at the calendar and summoned Vincent. ¡°Any progress on the Rosepoly investigation?¡°.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got everything we need.¡± Vincent¡¯s recent focus had been digging into Rosepoly. Just as in her previous life, thepany had been embroiled in scandal, but the Wilsons had swiftly buried it, throwing money at anyone who might talk.

    Vincent had gathered evidence and tracked down the victims¡® families. ¡°Emery¡¯s managing Rosepoly now. The man who fell to his death was Logan Berry, a migrant worker who came to Rithol City with his wife, barely scraping by. After his death, his wife took the hush money and ran off with their son, leaving their teenage daughter to care for her grandparents in a poor vige.¡±

    Emery was truly calcting. He paid off Logan¡¯s wife to keep her quiet, and the remaining family¨Ca child and elderly grandparents¨Cwould be too poor and powerless to fight back.

    Aubree knew that most of her earlier attempts had already been neutralized by the Wilson Group. She never really expected those mixed truths and rumors to inflict any real damage. Their purpose was to divert the Wilsons¡® attention so she could better investigate the matter.

    ¡°One more thing,¡± Vincent added. ¡°Anthony, Rosepoly¡¯s former director, was demoted. He¡¯s furious. He ims the Wilsons betrayed him after all his years

    of service.¡±

    ¡°Alright, got it.¡± Aubree dismissed him, keeping the evidence.

    Aubree let out a cold chuckle as she scanned the meticulously documented incidents on the papers.

    Once, she¡¯d never have believed Emery would brush off a death so callously, punishing the responsible party with nothing more than a demotion.

    In her eyes, Emery had always been principled. On the esports stage, he¡¯d been brilliant, relentless, and authentic.

    She remembered how he¡¯d refused to leverage his family name early in his career, grinding his way from the bench to the top through sheer skill.

    During her first five years with the Wilson family, she deeply admired Emery. He was the only one in the family who achieved sess on his own, without relying on the family¡¯s influence.

    Back then, she looked up to Emery as her role model and vowed that one day she¡¯d carve out a path of her own.

    Now? The memory made her sick,

    Maybe he¡¯d never been the man she thought. Or maybe power had rotted him.

    The moment he¡¯d rigged matches to manipte her, the old Emery was gone.

    He had be utterly selfish, a man who would stoop to anything for his <b>own </b>gain.

    If Rosepoly could ignore a death, what other filthy hidden?

    But Aubree wasn¡¯t rushing to expose it. Sometimes, the best way to reveal rot was to poke a bole and let the stench out on its own.

    Aubree pulled out her phone and gave the order. ¡°Take a team to find Logan¡¯s parents and daughter. Convince them to testify against Rosepoly<b>, </b><b>then </b>leak everything to the press,¡±

    This scandal would be her Christmas gift to the Wilsons.

    <b>1/3 </b>

    08:05 <b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>15 </b><b>Jul </b>

    ¡°Aubree, I forgot to mention earlier about MindDrift. Just as you predicted, problems are starting to emerge.¡±

    Vincent suddenly returned.

    Aubree pocketed her phone and nodded.

    When MindDrift firstunched, she¡¯d traced it back to Carmen. The tform¡¯s predatory ¡°PK battles¡± were a disaster waiting to happen.

    After discovering that Carmen was behind it, Aubree not only didn¡¯t stop her but even secretly encouraged the trend.

    She¡¯d wanted to see how Carmen would handle the fallout.

    9781

    ¡°The punishments for PK challenges on Mind Drift have gottenpletely out of hand. Many streamers push boundaries just to get their ¡®big spenders¡® <b>to </b>support them. Some even end up in the hospital. Our team has been tracking this, and others are starting to take notice of MindDrift too.¡±

    ¡°They want tounder money!¡±

    Vincent Sloan had to admit, he was almost impressed by the founder of Mind Drift. On one hand, she seemed reckless, yet she¡¯d devised such a profitable

    scheme. On the other hand, how could she be so blind to the risks?

    ¡°Don¡¯t interfere. Keep watching and wait for them to crash. Focus on the Wilson Group. If they show any interest in MindDrift, report to me immediately.¡± Someone like Carmen only cared about profit. As long as the money kepting, she wouldn¡¯t care about the consequences<b>. </b>

    But Ronald and his people would surely recognize the dangers. There was no way she¡¯d let MindDrift thrive.

    ¡°Also, contact Magnus. Tell him I¡¯d like to invite him to dinner.¡±

    The Wilson Residence.

    Ever since Alice met Aubree, she hadn¡¯t been herself.

    In the living room, Carmen was the only one home, watching TV. When she noticed Aliceing downstairs, she asked, ¡°Mom, are you feeling okay? You¡¯ve seemed offtely.¡±

    Alice¡¯s eyes were unfocused, her mind wandering. When she saw Carmen, she forced a weak smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine, sweetheart.¡±

    Carmen took a bite of fruit. ¡°Oh, by the way, Mom, is Aubreeing with us for Christmas?¡±

    The question seemed casual, but it struck a nerve. Alice suddenly grabbed Carmen¡¯s wrist hard. Carmen winced in pain, dropping the fruit.

    ¡°Mom! That hurts!¡±

    Alice seemed not to hear her and asked, ¡°Carmen, how¡¯s MindDrift been doingtely?¡±

    Carmen pulled her hand free and immediately perked up with pride. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me? Profits are soaring. Dad even said that <b>after </b>Christmas, once he¡¯s discussed it with the shareholders, he¡¯ll invest in MindDrift.¡±

    Alice said, ¡°Is that so? You have to prove yourself, Carmen. If you need money, just ask me. You must do better than Aubree<b>, </b>understand?¡±

    As Alice spoke, she grew increasingly agitated.

    Carmen didn¡¯t notice Alice¡¯s odd behavior. She was too busy worrying about her own problems. Lately, some of MindDrift¡¯s earnings seemed questionable. But she didn¡¯t want to <b>dig </b>deeper. She didn¡¯t know where the money came from, so it wasn¡¯t her responsibility<b>, </b>right<b>? </b>

    Right now, her priority was making sure her father forgot about Aubree for good. The Wilson family only needed <b>one </b><b>daughter</b><b>¨C</b><b>her</b>.

    As for Bryan and Emery, she¡¯d find a way to win them back.

    <b>213 </b>

    97%

    And if she couldn¡¯t? Carmen¡¯s expression darkened. If she secured enough shares in the Wilson Group, it wouldn¡¯t matter whether they liked her or not.

 Tried 203

    <b>Chapter 203 </b>

    Vincent wasted no time and set up a meeting with Anthony the very next day. Magnus, now idle and spending his days ying with his dogs at home, was surprised to hear Aubree wanted to see him.

    As a veteran of the Wilson Group, he knew all the dirtyundry of the Wilson family. Stroking his chin, he considered that this might just be <b>an </b>opportunity for him.

    Aubree was no small fry now. Ronald was pulling out all the stops to win her over. If the Wilsons had no regard for loyalty, then why should he?

    Vincent booked a private dining room in advance.

    When they met, Anthony acted oblivious, stuffing his face with food and downing drinks as if this were nothing more than a casual meal,

    Aubree wasn¡¯t in a hurry. She let him eat his fill.

    She intended to use Anthony to pit him against Ronald. But she had no ns to protect him. A scumbag like him deserved to pay for what he¡¯d done.

    Once the tes were cleared, Anthony wiped his mouth.

    Aubree smiled. ¡°Enjoyed the meal, Mr. Carr? We can order more if you¡¯d like. I didn¡¯t realize life after leaving Wilson Group had been so¡­ difficult for you.¡±

    Anthony¡¯s face darkened. ¡®Is she mocking me for being broke after getting kicked out?¡®

    She wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, though. Ever since Emery kick him out of thepany, all his former bootlickers had scattered like roaches, terrified of being associated with him.

    Anthony couldn¡¯t tell if Aubree was being deliberately provocative or just na?ve.

    ¡®Forget it,¡® Anthony thought. ¡®I¡¯m above this, no point in arguing.¡¯

    ¡°No need for ¡®Mr. Carr.¡® You¡¯re practically my niece. Just call me Anthony.¡±

    Aubree chuckled but didn¡¯t take the bait. ¡°Let¡¯s keep this professional. What do you think of Rosepoly Group these days?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± As soon as the conversation turned serious, Anthony, ever the seasoned yer in the cutthroat business world, immediately slipped into diplomatic mode.

    ¡°Let me be blunt. I¡¯m taking down Rosepoly Group. I¡¯d bet you¡¯ve got plenty of dirt on them. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? You worked for Wilson Group your whole life, yet they never gave you a single share. Then, when you took what you deserved, they tossed you out for some spoiled brat.

    Doesn¡¯t that piss you off?

    ¡°If the Wilsons have no shame, why should anyone y nice?¡±

    Anthony thought bitterly, ¡®Aubree¡¯s words really hit home. If Ronald had just cut me in on some shares, would I have had to hit home?¡®

    Anthony downed his drink in one gulp. ¡°What¡¯s in it for me?¡±

    ¡°The Wilsons won¡¯t pay you, but I will.

    ¡°Name your price.¡±

    Anthony lowered his gaze, offering neither eptance nor refusal. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I need you to testify when Logan¡¯s family exposes Wilson Group. And I want proof of their tax evasion.¡± Aubree¡¯s tone left no <b>room </b>for negotiation.

    The first demand was expected. The second made Anthony¡¯s pupils shrink.

    <b>08:05 </b><b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>15 </b><b>Jul </b>M

    ¡°How did you¡­¡± He cut himself off.

    Aubree smirked. ¡°No need to panic. If I¡¯m bringing it up, I already know enough.¡±

    In her past life, the worker¡¯s death alone hadn¡¯t been enough to shake the Wilsons. It was the subsequent investigation that uncovered billions <b>in </b><b>tax </b>fraud. That was what sent them scrambling.

    And in the end? Ronald had thrown Anthony to the wolves as the fall guy.

    Anthony¡¯s expression darkened, hesitation flickering. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it. For $50 million.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s just a rookie. What does she know about business?¡® Anthony thought smugly, ¡®I can agree now. Once Rosepofy Group runs into real trouble <b>and </b>Emery can¡¯t fix it, I¡¯ll just apply a little pressure. Then Ronald will be begging on his knees to have me back!

    Anthony agreed. Aubree raised her cup in a toast. ¡°Deal!¡±

    Once Anthony left, Vincent stepped in, frowning. ¡°Can we really trust him?¡±

    Even if Anthony resented the Wilsons, would he actually help them? 50 million was a lot, but to someone like him, it wasn¡¯t life¨Cchanging.

    Aubree narrowed her eyes. ¡°Of course, he won¡¯t bepletely on our side, but that doesn¡¯t matter. All I need is for him to say one thing in public.¡±

    ¡°And the money¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll pay him, but not through traceable channels.¡±

    Vincent winced. ¡®Fifty million for one sentence?¡®

    Aubreeughed at his expression. ¡°Let him take the money. Whether he lives to spend it is another matter.¡±

    Things moved quickly. Aubree¡¯s team soon found Logan¡¯s parents.

    In <i>Bree </i>Technology¡¯s lounge, Birgitte brought in tea and pastries. ¡°Please have some coffee. Would you like cake, sweetheart?¡±

    Three people sat on the sofa, simply dressed but neatly put together.

    They appeared extremely uneasy, barely perched on the edge of the sofa. Caleb, his face deeply lined with wrinkles, asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Youngdy¡­ is what you said earlier really true? Can you really get justice for my son?

    ¡°My poor <i>son</i>¡­ All he wanted was to earn enough to give his children a better life. And <b>it </b>cost him everything. We don¡¯t care about the money. My grandchildren just want their father back. But that daughter¨Cinw of ours¡­ She took their blood money and let it go.¡±

    As they spoke, Logan¡¯s parents couldn¡¯t hold back their tears.

    Logan¡¯s daughter, Madelyn, lifted <i>her </i>small, grimy face and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want cake. I want Daddy.¡±

    Birgitte¡¯s heart clenched. She¡¯d known the family suffered, but she never imagined it would be so heartbreaking¡­

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Logan¡¯s death won¡¯t be swept under the rug. At the very least, those responsible will pay the price.¡± Aubree¡¯s firm <b>voice </b><b>through </b><b>as </b>she entered with twowyers.

    ¡°I¡¯m Aubree Miller, CEO of Bree Technology. These are mywyers.¡±

    The elderly couple was astonished that someone so young could already be the CEO of such a prominentpany. Yet their amazement soon <b>turned </b><b>to </b>concern. Why would Aubree help them? And at her age, could she really do <b>it</b><b>? </b>

    Maggie tugged Aubree¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Really? Will the bad people be punished?¡±

    Aubree nced down at the little girl¡¯s hands, rough and darkened frombor, chapped with chilins, <i>her </i><b>clothes </b><b>threadbare </b><b>against </b><b>the </b><b>cold </b><b>Without </b>

    25.03

    10

    <b>Äî</b><b>97</b>%•þ

    hesitation, she took Maggie¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s true. While you¡¯re in Rithol City, I¡¯ll cover all your living expenses. But I¡¯m not doing this out of kindness. I just have a score to settle with Rosepoly Group.¡±

    Her bluntness oddly reassured the grandparents. They¡¯d already resolved to fight, even at the cost of their lives.

    ¡°We¡¯ll do whatever it takes, as long as our son can finally rest in peace!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that extreme,¡± Aubree said calmly, turning to thewyers she¡¯d brought with her.

    The twowyers, quick on the uptake, exined, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Berry, there¡¯s a legalplication with your son¡¯s case. Your daughter¨Cinw eptedpensation and signed a waiver. Since this involves a death, charges can still be filed, but the punishment may be reduced.¡±

    ¡°Unless,¡± the other added, ¡°this bes too big to ignore.¡±

    AD

 Tried 204

    <b>Chapter </b><b>204 </b>

    The three had little education and barely understood thewyers¡® jargon. But they were cooperative, doing exactly as Aubree instructed without question.

    Birgitte arranged their amodations per Aubree¡¯s orders and scheduled a media interview for them.

    After handling Logan¡¯s family, Aubree headed to her therapy clinic.

    This was her final session. The underground garage incident no longer haunted her, and her doctor had rmended onest evaluation to confirm <b>her </b>

    recovery.

    Her therapist was runningte today. The nurse gestured for her to wait in the consultation room.

    Feeling a bit thirsty, Aubree wanted to ask a passing nurse where she could get some water.

    ¡°Even with Christmas approaching, Dr. Wilson¡¯s schedule stays packed.¡±

    Two physicians chatted in the break room.

    ¡°Psychiatrists are still doctors. Holidays don¡¯t mean much in our field.¡±

    Daxton was her primary therapist. Aubree had no interest in eavesdropping, but just as she was about to step into the break room for some water, she overheard¡­

    ¡°Yeah, sometimes I wonder why I ever chose this field. Most people might find these odd cases fascinating, but for us, it¡¯s just another day. We see them all the time.¡±

    Perhaps thinking they were alone, the two doctors spoke rather indiscreetly.

    ¡°At least these people really have psychological issues. Remember that woman from years ago? Always came in covered head¨C<b>to</b><b>¨C</b>toe?¡±

    ¡°How could I forget? She seemed perfectly normal. I never understood why Dr. Bender diagnosed her with severe PTSD, cognitive impairment, and all.

    Wonder if she¡¯s better now or¡­<b>¡± </b>

    The doctor spoke with a hint of regret.

    Aubree steadied herself. The woman was all covered up, suffering from severe PTSD¡­

    Could it be¡­

    This was the most prestigious and discreet private clinic in all of Rithol City. If Alice were faking a mental illness<b>, </bing here to obtain a diagnosis certificate would make perfect sense.

    Aubree held her breath and kept listening.

    ¡°Better? I was assisting Dr. Bender when that woman came. She was totally fine. She just paid Dr. Bender off for a fake psychiatric evaluation.¡±

    ¡°Seriously? Why would anyone willingly make themselves out to be mentally ill?¡±

    ¡°Who knows? But judging by how freely she spent<b>, </b>she was probably somedy from Rithol¡¯s elite circles. You know how twisted <b>those </b><b>wealthy </b><b>families </b>can be. Why else do you think Dr. Bender left the clinic the very next year? He was on track to be deputy director. Leaving <b>at </b><b>that </b><b>critical </b><b>juncture</b><b>? </b>Doesn¡¯t make sense unless something shady went down.¡±

    Could that woman be Alice?¡® Aubree wondered.

    Ever since realizing Alice had likely faked her breakdown, Aubree and Bowen had devoted considerable resources <b>to </b><b>investigating</b><b>, </b><b>but </b><b>found </b><b>nothing </b>

    concrete.

    08:05 Tue<b>, </b>15 <b>Jul </b>MT

    The sudden lead sent a jolt through her. Without thinking, she pushed open the break room door. ¡°Excuse me, do you still have any records from that

    case?¡±

    The two doctors were startled by Aubree¡¯s sudden intrusion. Patient confidentiality was crucial, and being caught gossiping made them instantly defensive. ¡°Sorry, we really don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Aren¡¯t you Dr. Wilson¡¯s patient? She should be almost done. Why don¡¯t you head over

    to her office?¡±

    The other tugged her colleague away, muttering, ¡°Go, go! Why can¡¯t I keep my mouth shut? If the director finds out we leaked patient info, we¡¯re done

    for.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t stop them. Pressing further would only make them shut downpletely and risk their careers.

    Dr. Bender¡­

    She burned the name into her memory, filled her water cup, and returned to the consultation room.

    ¡°Miss Miller, it seems you¡¯re quite resilient. That incident no longer affects you.¡± Daxton, a warm, middle¨Caged woman, smiled kindly.

    Aubree knitted her brows, her face devoid of the expected relief.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miss Miller?¡±

    ¡°Dr. Wilson,¡± Aubree asked hesitantly, ¡°may I ask you a question?¡±

    Daxton paused for a moment. ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°Dr. Wilson, is it really possible for someone with PTSD to be so affected that they can¡¯t even recognize the people closest to them?¡±

    ¡°Theoretically, <i>yes</i><b>, </b>but each case needs to be evaluated individually.¡±

    ¡°So, what if a mother lost her daughter and developed PTSD, then adopted another girl, mistaking her for her lost child? Would she be so protective of the adopted daughter that, when her biological child is finally found, she¡¯d even turn against her real daughter to protect the adopted one?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s identity was hardly a secret. After all the online controversies, even those who didn¡¯t know her personally were at least somewhat aware of herplicated rtionship with the Wilson family.

    Daxton¡¯s smile faded as she, of course, realized who the story was about. After a thoughtful pause, she said, ¡°While theoretically possible, my professional opinion leans against it. The mother¡¯s trauma stems from losing her biological daughter. The adopted child would only ever be an emotional ceholder. When the real daughter returns, maternal instinct would logically prioritize protecting her, not rejecting her.

    ¡°If the loss was traumatic enough to cause such a breakdown, no substitute could everpare to the real child.¡±

    Aubree blinked, collecting herself. ¡°Dr. Wilson,¡± she said, ¡°there¡¯s something else I¡¯d like to ask. Do you know a Dr. Bender at this hospital? The one who nearly became deputy director?¡±

    By now, it would be professional negligence if Daxton didn¡¯t grasp the situation.

    ¡°Did you overhear something, Miss Miller?¡±

    Aubree nodded silently. ¡°I was just getting some water in the break room when I overheard some doctors chatting.¡±

    Daxton gave her a knowing look. ¡°You suspect that Dr. Bender¡¯s patient was your mo¡­ your birth mother?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t know the patient¡¯s identity. All I can tell you <i>is </i>that Dr. Bender¡¯s first name is Gordon<b>, </b>originally from Kroit City.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Dr. Wilson.¡±

    08:05 Tue, 15 Jul <b>MT </b>

    97%8

    After leaving Dr. Wilson¡¯s clinic, Aubree wasted no time reaching out to her contacts to investigate Gordon. She was certain that finding him would canal why Alice had faked her illness.

    Time marched on. Beneath the surface tranquility, undercurrents of tension swirled.

    Carmen¡¯s ambition knew no bounds. Flush with early sess, she recklessly pushed to expand MindDrift¨Ca ssic case of biting off more than the could chew.

    Daxton, concerned about her inexperience, hired a seasoned CEO to assist her.

    All Carmen could think about now was surpassing Aubree, not just beating her, but utterly dominating her. With Alice¡¯s unconditional backing, Carmen charged ahead, determined to prove she could crush Aubree.

    With all her money and connections, wasn¡¯t it only natural for her toe out on top?

    Drunk on her newfound power, Carmen insisted on expanding MindDrift despite knowing its growth was unstable. The professional CEO tried to dissuade her, but to no avail. When he turned to Daxton, Daxton simply said, ¡°Let Carmen do as she pleases. There¡¯s no problem our Wilson family can¡¯t handle.¡±

    Money and connections smoothed every obstacle. Executives tripped over themselves to amodate Carmen, eager to curry favor with the Wilson empire.

    And Ronald? Engrossed in other ventures, he paid no attention to Mind Drift¡¯s unchecked <i>expansion</i>.

    AD

 Tried 205

    <b>Chapter </b><b>205 </b>

    ¡°What weck right now is traffic. Once we get more viewers, everyone will earn way more money!

    ¡°Our edge over otherpanies? Simple. We¡¯ve got money, and money solves everything!

    ¡°I¡¯ve already partnered with major media tforms to promote us. Every leading app store has promised to feature MindDrift on their front page<b>.¡± </b>

    In the conference room, Carmen spoke with fiery confidence. She might not have the business experience others did, but so what? Profit was all that

    mattered.

    Carmen had already fired the professional CEO Daxton hired. Anyone who dared to stand in her way was her enemy!

    Some in the room were fired up with excitement, while others couldn¡¯t shake their growing concerns.

    ¡°Carmen,tely, several streamers have been hospitalized because of those extreme PK battles on our tform. Shouldn¡¯t we do something about it?¡±

    Carmen snapped back impatiently, ¡°We are handling it. PR¡¯s paying them off to keep quiet.

    ¡°Besides, they signed contracts. If they want to keep earning on my tform, they¡¯ll stay silent.¡± She took things way too much for granted.

    She was loaded. She paid whatever hush money they demanded. The penalties for those PK battles? Their choice. She just chose not to interfere. In her eyes, none of this was her fault.

    She even shelled out extra cash as bonuses for all the traffic they brought to the tform. Honestly, they should be falling over themselves to thank me! What¡¯s there to worry about?¡®

    The concerned employee still wore a troubled expression. ¡®Even if we let that slide, what about those obviously suspicious financial transactionstely?¡±

    Streamers ¡°gifting¡± billions during PKs? That was straight¨Cup moneyundering!

    If authorities investigated, they¡¯d all be liable.

    ¡°Listen up. Stay with me, and I¡¯ll make you rich. Here¡¯s a spoiler. After Christmas, Wilson Group is investing in MindDrift.

    ¡°If you¡¯re too scared? Leave now. I won¡¯t stand in your way!¡±

    The Wilson Group?

    The conference room was filled with a mix of expressions, but a few still harbored deep concerns about the hidden dangers <b>of </b>Mind Drift. Afraid it might one day blow up in their faces, they wavered for a moment and then leave.

    Carmen stared coldly at the hesitant few as they left the conference room, then scoffed, ¡°Mark my words. Everyone who walks out today will regret it.

    ¡°One more thing. My brother Trevor, the A¨Clist Oscar winner, will personally endorse our tform.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s words were a bit vague, which easily led to misunderstandings.

    Everyone assumed Trevor would stream on MindDrift. Ever since yzy exploded in poprity, celebrities joining live tforms w.

    listers.

    ndy, even A

    But in reality, Trevor had little faith in Carmen¡¯s Venture. He thought Daxton and Mom might blindly fund Carmen, but as a public figure, his reputation was everything. He¡¯d agreed to a vague ¡°promotion¡°, not signing up.

    If anything ever went wrong, Trevor could easily shift the me, iming he only supported his sister Carmen out of family loyalty and was totally unaware of the specifics.

    Right now, Carmen didn¡¯t think that far.

    Carmen made the call and began pouring vast sums of money into an all¨Cout, relentless promotional blitz for MindDrift.

    Bryan and Emery¡¯s betrayal had taught Carmen a harsh lesson¨Cfamily love was fickle. Aubree had won them over <b>with </b><b>talent</b>. <b>Carmen </b><b>would </b>reim her ce in the Wilson family with results.

    MindDrift¡¯s ads exploded across every tform, dwarfing even yzy¡¯sunch hype. Every major media tform was promoting <b>MiridDrift</b>.

    Aubree observed everything.

    Most of Bree Tech¡¯s employees were on holiday, but a few critical operations continued For instance, Birgitte was still following Logan¡¯s family. Their interview footage was already in the can, now just waiting for Aubree¡¯s green light.

    Aubree had pretty much uncovered all the shady dealings at Rosepoly Group.

    Scrolling through the endless MindDrift ads, Aubree smirked. ¡°Enjoy the celebration while itsts. The reckoning ising.¡±

    A message from Bowen popped up on her phone: [I¡¯ve got everything ready for our trip to Shiyvania. We leave when you¡¯re ready.]

    Aubree replied: [In two days.]

    With Anthony removed from his position, Emery needed toplete the formal transition process before taking over. Ronald nned to use <b>Rosepoly </b>Group¡¯s annual meeting to officially announce that Emery would be taking charge of thepany going forward.

    As the dominant force in Rithol City¡¯s real estate industry, its annual g, a high¨Cprofile event packed with industry elites and media, was the perfect stage.

    In the front row, Bowen stood out in a crisp white suit.

    Next to him sat Emery, his attention furtively drifting toward Bowen. ¡®What¡¯s he doing here?¡®

    Bowen almost never showed up at business gs like this; he usually sent his assistant, Kelvin. The rtionship between the Turner and Wilson families was always lukewarm, and after the whole Aubree situation, the invitation had been a mere formality. No one expected him to show up.

    His presence meant trouble.

    Emery¡¯s eyes darted across the room. ¡®Is Aubree here too?¡®

    Bowen shot him a nce. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. She¡¯s not here.

    ¡°What makes you think she¡¯d ever want to see you again?¡±

    Emery¡¯s face stiffened, and he mumbled, ¡°We¡¯re family, after all.¡±

    ¡°Are you?¡± Bowen narrowed his eyes with a faint smirk. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see if you can keep that attitudeter.¡±

    The truth about Alice wasn¡¯t fully uncovered yet, but Bowen was already certain of the truth. He couldn¡¯t wait <b>to </b>see the Wilson <b>family¡¯s </b>reaction <b>when </b>they found out Alice had deliberately abandoned Bree. The fallout would be delicious.

    Bowen wondered what secrets Alice was truly hiding.

    As <b>the </b>event began<b>, </b>unease coiled in Emery¡¯s gut. He pulled an organizer aside and warned in <b>a </b>low <b>voice</b><b>, </b>¡°Be extra careful <b>tonight</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    He was right <b>to </b>worry. Bowen was here just <b>to </b>watch Rosepoly Group¡¯s downfall.

    Right on schedule, the host took the stage, showering Emery with praise. Then came the <b>announcement</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>Now</b><b>, </b>let¡¯s wee <b>Mr. Wilson</b><b>* </b>

    <b>The </b>screen flickered.

    The screen, which was supposed to disy Emery¡¯s photo, suddenly went ck for a split second before lighting up again, only to show a <b>viden </b><b>ying </b>

    instead.

    Three unfamiliar faces appeared on screen, an elderly couple and a girl, all looking visibly uneasy.

    ¡°Shut it off!¡± Emery shouted instinctively.

    But it was already toote.

    Since the video appeared on the screen, there was no way to stop it until it ran its full course.

 Tried 206

    Emery¡¯s face darkened as he shot up from his seat. His abrupt movement instantly alerted the media crew, who smelled a breaking story. Every camera swiveled toward the giant screen on stage.

    The video yed.

    First came a nervous inquiry from Caleb. ¡°Can we start now? What should we say? What can we say to let my son rest in peace?¡±

    On screen, Caleb looked uncertainly at someone off-camera.

    ¡°Just tell the truth.¡±

    ¡°Hello, everyone. My name is Madelyn. My dad is Logan. You probably don¡¯t know us. These are my grandpa and grandma. My dad is a construction worker, and he¡¯s amazing. He helped build so many skyscrapers in the city. But before he ever got the chance to take me to see any of the buildings he worked on, I lost him forever.

    ¡°Not long ago, Dad was working at a Rosepoly construction site. He fell from high up. I didn¡¯t even get to see him onest time. All that came back to our hometown was his ashes. I miss

    my dad so much.¡±

    Madelyn¡¯s clear, childlike voice tugged at everyone¡¯s heartstrings.

    Her thick rural ent made her words even more raw. The room fell deathly silent.

    Her grandmother pulled her into her arms, tears streaming down her face. ¡°The Wilson Group has no conscience! They bribed my daughter-inw and gave her money to keep quiet! How could apany this big steal from workers¡¯ safety funds?¡±.

    Over the past few days, Birgitte had exined Logan¡¯s death to the family. They didn¡¯t understand all the technicalities, but they knew that their son died because thepany cheaped out on safety equipment.

    Caleb choked out, his voice heavy with grief, ¡°We don¡¯t want money. We came here with our granddaughter for one reason. We want the people who killed my son to pay!¡±

    The screen faded to ck, plunging the annual g into absolute silence, until the room erupted in a frenzied discussion.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did someone actually die?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the embezzlement case involving Anthony, right?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t the Wilson Group im they immediately brought in Emery to rece all the defective safety equipment before any major idents could happen?¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s to say what really happened? Construction sites are remote. If the family doesn¡¯t kick up a fuss, who¡¯d even find out?¡±

    Emery had ordered the equipment to be reced the moment he took over. But Rosepoly had too many sites, and Anthony¡¯s corruption ran too deep. The upgrades took time.

    Logan died before his site¡¯s turn came, and his fatal fall from a height sent shockwaves through the site. Emery, who had prepared for just such an emergency, immediately sealed off the scene and handed out hefty payoffs to the workers present, desperate men just trying to make ends meet. The generous hush money ensured their silence.

    Once the scene was cleared, Emery wasted no time bundling up and sending away everyone who had witnessed the incident that day. He brought in a fresh crew to rece them, and construction resumed as if Logan¡¯s death had never urred.

    Next up was Logan¡¯s wife, and she was handled just as smoothly.

    Had Aubree not instructed Vincent to keep a close eye on the situation beforehand, the truth might never havee to light.

    The scene erupted into chaos as reporters swarmed forward, abandoning all decorum. If not for the swift intervention of security, Emery would have been mobbed by a sea of microphones.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, care to exin?¡±

    ¡°Does yourpany value profits over lives?¡±

    ¡°If you reced the equipment, why did this happen? Have you really taken absolutely no action since taking office? Was your predecessor, Anthony, just a scapegoat?¡±

    Emery¡¯sposure shattered. He never expected Logan¡¯s death to be dragged into the spotlight like this.

 Tried 207

    Emery wondered, ¡®How could anyone else know about this? Wasn¡¯t his wife already gone? How did these broke, backwater peasants even get to Rithol? How did they find journalists?¡¯

    His head snapped toward Bowen, who lounged in his seat, watching with cold amusement. Emery snarled, ¡°You did this?¡±

    Bowen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Honestly, this wasn¡¯t my doing.¡±

    Bowen came here to stop Emery from sweeping this under the rug, but he clearly overestimated Emery. Emery had crumbled without him lifting a finger.

    Reporters, blocked from reaching Emery, turned on the nearby Rosepoly staff instead.

    Rosepoly Group¡¯s annual g was live-streamed.

    Even before the media could report on it, the news had already gone viral online.

    Online tforms were swamped with viral reports of Rosepoly Group¡¯s deadly negligence, right at the height of Christmas. The news sparked outrage among blue-cor workers like Logan. Though they were strangers, the shared bitter fate and heartbreak hit home, as any one of them could have been next.

    This time, there was no way even the Wilson Group could bury this.

    Aubree lounged back, watching Rosepoly Group¡¯s annual g descend into chaos on the livestream. ¡®An unscrupulouspany that harms both others and itself really ought to go bankrupt sooner rather thanter.¡¯

    She sent a message.

    Aubree: [Execute the n.]

    On the scene, seeing everything unfold exactly as Aubree had nned, Bowen didn¡¯t linger. Meeting Emery¡¯s dazed gaze, he delivered a soul-crushing blow. ¡°I didn¡¯t do this. It was Bree.

    ¡°She thinks Rosepoly is disgusting And frankly? She thinks you¡¯re disgusting too.¡±

    He gave a faint, mocking smile.

    Emery staggered as if struck, nearly copsing. Had he not grabbed the armrest, the public humiliation would have beenplete.

    Whether his feelings were genuine or just a front, at this moment, the only person Emery truly cared about was Aubree.

    Hate would¡¯ve been preferable. At least it meant she still cared.

    But now Bowen revealed the cruel truth. The very sister he cared about and so desperately wanted forgiveness from, found him utterly repulsive. Even worse, she¡¯d known he was taking over Rosepoly¡­ and destroyed it anyway.

    Emery could no longer care about the circling reporters. A bitter, resigned smile touched his lips. ¡®So all those things before¡­ were Aubree¡¯s doing too. She is truly something else. We did underestimate her before.¡¯

    She worked with ruthless efficiency. Exposing everything at the annual meeting must have been part of her n from the

    start.

    After this, Rosepoly Group would undoubtedly face investigations. If deeper secrets came to light, thepany would be Ricky to survive intact.

    Nowen took a moment to savor Emery¡¯s expression before leisurely exiting the scene.

    The scene descended into utter chaos. Some, realizing Emery had lost control, seized the chance to slip away, only to give reporters an opening.

    Cameras and microphones swarmed, shoving into Emery¡¯s face.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson! Mr. Wilson!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Wilson! Mr. Wilson!¡±

    His vision blurred as the voices merged. ¡®Whatever. So what if I am ruined? Maybe it is the least I owe Aubree.¡¯

    ¡°Why is everyone standing around? Security, clear the press! Senior management stays, emergency meeting, now!¡±

    The hall doors burst open. Bryan marched in with a team of bodyguards.

    Order was restored in minutes. Bryan strode to Emery and pped him hard across the face. ¡°Snap out of it!

    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?

    ¡°Aubree doesn¡¯t know any better, but you¡¯re enabling the disaster. If Rosepoly copses, Dad won¡¯t let Aubree off the hook.¡±

    Emery snapped back to reality. ¡®Right, the real trouble is whates next. If Dad finds out Aubree is behind this, he¡¯ll definitely take it out on her.¡±

    ¡°Since our little sister is so capable, we ought to show her what we are made of, don¡¯t you think?¡± Bryan hauled Emery to his feet.

    ¡°PR works overtime. Suppress online bacsh. Contact Logan¡¯s family. Whatever it takes, silence them. And keep Anthony under watch.¡±

    Decades in the business sharpened Bryan¡¯smands into weapons.

    Rosepoly Groupunched into damage control.

 Tried 208

    Bryan was going all out to suppress negative press, while exhausting every possible means to track down the Berry family.

    Even with Bryan¡¯s efforts, the annual meeting scandal was too massive for one man to contain. Ronald stepped in personally to oversee damage control.

    Of course, Emery faced harsh reprimands.

    But to little avail.

    The leaked footage was just the beginning. With Aubree fanning the mes, the story exploded online: Rosepoly killed a man, bribed the family, and left the poor victim¡¯s family no choice but to travel all the way to Rithol City seeking justice.

    Bryan, having been burned before, didn¡¯t dare to make any promises this time. He stated that the matter was still under investigation and that the public would be promptly notified once results were avable.

    Behind the scenes, they scrambled to uncover what else Aubree had besides the Berry family¡¯s testimony.

    If she had no more evidence, they¡¯d dismiss it as lies.If she did, they¡¯d find a scapegoat.

    The goal was to minimize the damage.

    ¡°Any updates?¡± Aubree asked, dressed in loungewear with study materials at hand, as Vincent briefed her on thetest developments over the phone.

    ¡°Miss Miller, Rosepoly¡¯s in chaos. Reporters from all the major outlets are moring for thetest scoop, but everyone at Rosepoly Group is staying tight-lipped and refusing all interviews. For the past few days, the Wilsons are using back exits with bodyguards to dodge reporters.¡±

    Vincent reported, ¡°Also, Rosepoly Group¡¯s stock price is taking a hit right now.¡±

    Aubree understood. ¡°If they won¡¯t talk, someone else will. Send our reporters to interview Anthony.¡±

    The moment chaos erupted at Rosepoly Group¡¯s annual meeting, Anthony knew Aubree was behind it.

    ¡®So she¡¯d been nning this all along, Anthony realized. ¡®She must have already brought that deceased worker¡¯s family to Rithol City long ago. The Wilson family really underestimated their own flesh and blood.¡¯

    Anthony was leisurely sipping coffee in his living room when a knock came at the door. His wife went to answer it.

    ¡°Mrs. Carr? Hello, we¡¯re reporters. We¡¯d like to interview Anthony about the fatal fall ident at Rosepoly Group¡¯s worksite.¡±

    Eliza stood frozen at her doorstep, bewildered by the swarm of reporters outside. ¡®This can¡¯t be just one media outlet,¡¯ she thought.

    ¡°Let them in,¡± Anthony said as he finished a cup of coffee and took a whiff of its aroma. ¡°The coffee just can¡¯tpare to wine, he thought to himself.

    Eliza ushered them in, and the reporters wasted no time setting up their camera equipment.

    ¡°As former CEO, do you confirm the worker¡¯s death was linked to Rosepoly¡¯s fund mismanagement?¡±

    Anthony maintained a straight face. ¡°I¡¯ve heard some things.¡±

    ¡°Earlier, rumors suggested that Rosepoly¡¯s executives embezzledpany funds, leading to the incident. Is this true?¡±

    Officially, Anthony had been dismissed for ¡°mismanagement¡±, a face-saving gesture from Ronald to avoid an outright feud.

    All I can say is that nothing happens by ident,¡± Anthony replied ambiguously, but everyone present knew how to read between the lines.

    ¡°So it did happen?¡±

    Anthony gave a wry smile. ¡°There was indeed a worker named Logan at the site. But as a mere general manager, my voice carried little weight. I was removed just like that.¡±

    The reporters got what they wanted and left the Carr residence satisfied.

    What Anthony actually said didn¡¯t matter; what mattered was how they would spin it. His hints were enough for them to twist the narrative entirely.

    After their explosive reports, the scandal the Wilson family had barely contained red up again, worse than before.

    Initially, three unidentified individuals had imed to be the victim¡¯s family without evidence. Given the Wilson Group¡¯s strong public image, their statements still held some credibility.

    But now, Anthony Stewart, the former head of Rosepoly, had all but confirmed the rumors. Extricating thepany from this mess wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    Rosepoly¡¯s stock, which had been declining gradually, suddenly crashed.

    In just one day, Rosepoly Group¡¯s stock price plummeted by 10%, and the freefall showed no signs of stopping. The speed of the drop was staggering.

    In the Wilson family¡¯s living room, Ronald had already smashed countless objects in rage. Worse, he couldn¡¯t even leave the house. Reporters swarmed outside, forcing him to handle business remotely.

    ¡°These damn reporters are like leeches!¡± he snarled through gritted teeth.

    Ronald looked at Bryan and Emery. ¡°Bryan, Emery, any solutions?¡±

    Rosepoly¡¯s copse was inevitable. Clearly, Aubree¡¯s goal was to destroy them, and this was likely just the beginning.

    Bryan rubbed his temples in frustration. ¡°We should¡¯ve admitted fault right after the incident and pinned all the me on Anthony. Now that Emery¡¯s running Rosepoly Group, if the authorities uncover those shady dealings, he¡¯ll be dragged down

    too.

    ¡°Our top priority is to locate the Berry family immediately. As long as they stay quiet, we can handle the rest.¡±

    Suddenly, Bryan¡¯s phone rang.

    Seeing it was his secretary, he put it on speaker.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, bad news. Reporters just got to Anthony, and he confirmed Logan¡¯s death was real.¡±

    Rosepoly had neither denied nor admitted the incident, only stating it was ¡°under investigation.¡± But now, Anthony¡¯s admission meant Emery, as the responsible executive, had not only failed to report a workce death but tried to cover it <ol><li></li></ol>

    And the true cause of death? Still under scrutiny.

    Bryan¡¯s heart lurched. ¡°Hurry, Emery, leave Rithol City now!¡±

    Aubree was never really after Rosepoly Group. Her true target was them, the Wilson Group, the real power behind Rosepoly Group.

    Emery was still processing Anthony¡¯s sudden interview when Bryan¡¯s urgent words left him even more stunned,

    ¡°What the¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, the front door swung open. The housekeeper let in several uniformed officers, who shed their badges. ¡°Rithol City Police Department. Mr. Emery Wilson, you¡¯ll need toe with us.¡±

    ¡°Dad!¡± Emery instinctively turned to Ronald.

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened with fury as he finally realized the truth. Anthony had actually dared to betray him!

    ¡°Emery, don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Ronald said, patting Emery¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I will find a way to get you out of this.¡±

    One officer shot him a scornful look. ¡°Mr. Wilson, you might want to worry about yourself first.¡±

    With that, they escorted Emery away.

    Reporters were already camped outside. As soon as the police arrived, news of Emery being taken into custody went viral within the hour, topping the trending topics once again.

    Rosepoly Group¡¯s stock price took an even steeper nosedive.

    Ronald exhaled sharply. ¡°Fine. Let Rosepoly burn. But we will save Emery at all costs.¡±

    Ronald might have been aplete failure as a father to Aubree, but when it came to Emery, at least he still acted like a real dad.

    Bryan¡¯s phone buzzed again.

    Bryan¡¯s face finally lit up. ¡°Dad, we¡¯ve found Logan¡¯s family. I¡¯m heading over right now.¡±

    Ronald waved him off.

    After Bryan left, Ronald slumped onto the sofa, aplex mix of regret and disbelief swirling in his eyes. He realized he had truly underestimated Aubree.

    If Emery couldn¡¯t be freed¡­ well, he¡¯d make Aubree back down. By force, if necessary.

    Just as Ronald was sinking into exhaustion, he spotted Carmen rushing out of her room in a panic.

    Rondom fredinol.. ¡°Coon right then¡±

 Tried 209

    ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Carmen asked nervously.

    Ronald shot her a disapproving look. ¡°Where are you going? I told everyone to stay home unless necessary.¡±

    The family had nned a Christmas getaway to a hot spring ind, but with the Rosepoly crisis, they needed to wrap up loose ends first.

    After the Rosepoly Group incident, Alice, Daxton, and Trevor were all away from home, having been advised to stay out for a while longer to avoid being hounded by reporters upon their return.

    At home, both Carmen and the household staff had been warned to be wary of reporters¡¯ persistent questioning.

    ¡°MindDrift has¡­¡± Carmen bit her tongue. She¡¯d been about to mention the death of a MindDrift streamer, but stopped herself. With Ronald already swamped by Rosepoly¡¯s copse, adding her crisis would be pouring gasoline on the fire. She quickly changed her tone. ¡°A financial publication invited me for an interview.¡±

    Ronald, too distracted to question it, waved a hand. ¡°Take bodyguards. Ande straight back. Thest thing we need is more media trouble.¡±

    Ronald snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t dawdle-juste straight back. If reporters spot you, it¡¯ll only stir up more trouble.¡±

    Carmen felt deeply wronged, but she really didn¡¯t dare to speak up.

    She kept her eyes down, afraid her panic might betray her. ¡°Understood,¡± she murmured.

    Ronald paid her no mind. To Ronald, Carmen¡¯s only use now was not making things worse.

    Outside, Carmen¡¯s face was pale, her thoughts in turmoil. Her im about going for an interview wasn¡¯t entirely false. A financial publication had noticed the buzz around her and Aubree¡¯s adoptive sister rtionship and wanted to capitalize on it by creating a ¡°genius sisters¡± narrative.

    But her immediate dread was that there¡¯d been a death on MindDrift!

    A MindDrift host with preexisting health issues had copsed after an extreme punishment during a livestream PK. Though they¡¯d logged off immediately, it was toote.

    But the streamer was still gone.

    For now, the fans hadn¡¯t noticed, but sooner orter, that streamer¡¯s fans would notice something¡¯s wrong.

    Carmen thought anxiously, ¡®What if it gets out? I¡¯m totally screwed! What should I do?¡¯

    ¡°Miss Miller, thank you for your time. That concludes today¡¯s interview.¡±

    Aubree nodded politely. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±

    ¡°Miss Miller, you may rest backstage for now. We¡¯ll arrange for a staff member to escort you out shortly.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that.¡±

    This was Aubree¡¯sst task before Christmas.

    Aubere stretchedzily as she followed the staff member. The Rosepoly Group situation was on the brink; just one final push remained. As for Carmen¡­ well, let her enjoy her little moment for now.

    Carmen had some tricks up her sleeve in her previous life. She was still a bit green in high school, but college had polished her into a cunning operator.

    But this time, Carmen hadn¡¯t had the same smooth ride. And Aubree wasn¡¯t the same pushover she¡¯d been.

    Carmen was clearly getting desperate now. After suffering repeated setbacks, instead ofying low and rebuilding her image, she was stubbornly fighting in areas she had no expertise in.

    Without the Wilson family¡¯s backing, she wouldn¡¯t even have seeded inunching MindDrift in the first ce. God knows where she got the audacity to think she could make it on her own.

    After removing her makeup and resting backstage, Aubree was about to leave when she overheard another interview in progress. She remarked casually, ¡°Wow, you guys are still this busy with Christmasing up.¡±

    Aubree casually made small talk, and the staff member assigned to her, not thinking much of it, replied, ¡°It¡¯s year-end, so we¡¯re all scrambling to hit our targets. The person being interviewed up front right now is probably Miss Wilson.¡±

    Miss Wilson?¡±

    Aubree froze. This financial magazine¡¯s main feature was on rising entrepreneurs. Given the recent buzz in Rithol City, and with the surname Wilson¡­ the only person she could think of was Carmen.

    ¡°Carmen?¡± Aubree murmured.

    The staff member suddenly realized their blunder and fumbled, ¡°Uh¡­ Miss Miler¡­¡±

    ¡°Rx, I was just asking,¡± Aubree said with a nonchnt smile.

    Chapter

 Tried 210

    The higher Carmen climbed, the harder she¡¯d fall. Aubree knew exactly what Carmen craved. If she still had the leisure to do interviews for financial magazines, then the death of that tform streamer hadn¡¯t shaken her enough.

    Aubree smirked mockingly and said to the staff member, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Aubree, what are you doing here?¡±

    The staff had gone to get the car, leaving Aubree waiting by the entrance.

    Aubree turned around to see Daxton, her hands tucked into her coat pockets, giving him a dismissive look. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be here? And you? You¡¯re quite free, aren¡¯t you? It seems the Wilson family¡¯s troubles aren¡¯t quite big enough yet.¡±

    People saw things differently based on their circumstances.

    For example, before, she¡¯d wanted nothing more than for the Wilsons to drop dead. She couldn¡¯t stand the sight of them. Now? She loved seeing them. Their helpless rage, their panicked struggles¡­ it was hrious.

    Daxton¡¯s face darkened. ¡°If you know we have been having trouble, why haven¡¯t youe back to help?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Was he out of his mind?

    Aubree lifted an eyebrow. ¡°The Wilsons¡¯ troubles are my doing. What am I supposed to help with? Hurrying Ronald along to his grave?¡¯

    Daxton only knew the family was in some trouble. He had no idea Aubree was behind it all.

    ¡°I really don¡¯t get why Mom and Dad are so desperate to bring you back, even offering you all those conditions. They should¡¯ve given those to Carmen instead. She might not have built a sessfulpany like you, but she¡¯s trying. She wants to help the family. When MindDrift took off, her first thought was to merge it into the Wilson Group to strengthen it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re nothing like her,¡± Daxton sneered.

    Thatst remark dripped with disdain.

    If he hadn¡¯t brought up Carmen, Aubree might¡¯ve just brushed him off. But now? She almostughed. ¡®Is Daxton actually proud of Carmen for creating MindDrift?¡¯

    She hoped that the pride of hissted.

    The longer he blindly threw money at Carmen, the deeper he¡¯d sink into the pit with her.

    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re in trouble now? No wonder things have been so peacefultely. Fewer annoying mosquitoes buzzed in my ear. Do let me know when your family finally goespletely bankrupt.¡±

    Daxton flew into a rage. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you? Are you seriously cursing our family right now?¡±

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m not cursing you.¡± Aubree smiled sweetly, ¡°I genuinely wish you¡¯d all just drop dead.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Daxton, seething, snapped, ¡°Aubree, you¡¯ve really turned your back on us now! Do you honestly think starting that littlepany makes you so high and mighty?¡±

    ¡°Well, it must be something, considering how Ronald keeps begging me toe back.¡± Aubree nodded, as if confirming her

    sess.

    Daxton choked on his words, too furious to speak. ¡®How did I never realize before that Aubree could be so shameless?¡¯ he thought.

    He sneered. ¡°You¡¯re just lucky! yzy¡¯s revenue isn¡¯t even growing. It¡¯s declining, isn¡¯t it? Carmen¡¯s ten times smarter than you. She knows how topete, how to innovate, and push her tform forward. Meanwhile, you¡¯re just sitting there gloating over your little achievements. Just wait. She¡¯ll crush yourpany and swallow it whole.¡±

    Aubree shot Daxton a mocking smile. If MindDrift survived past Christmas, she¡¯d consider it an act of mercy. If this were Bryan or Ronald, men who actually knew business, they¡¯d never say something so stupid.

    To put it bluntly, Daxton was just an egghead. His head was stuffed with nothing but Carmen and medicine.

    ¡°Whatever makes you happy.¡± Aubree had no interest in arguing. Seeing her car arrive, she turned to leave.

    But Daxton wasn¡¯t done. ¡°Aubree, you¡¯ll regret leaving the Wilsons. If you apologize to Carmen now and make things right, maybe I¡¯ll even forgive you. There might still be a ce for you at home. But if you lose everything. Trust me, I¡¯ll pay you back for every single thing you¡¯ve done to Carmen.¡±

    Already seated in the car, Aubree rolled her eyes. ¡®Has Daxton been so busy studying medicine that he forget to get his brain checked first?¡¯

 Tried 211

    clearly waiting for the Berry family to emerge.

    Bryan stayed in the car, instructing his secretary to park in an inconspicuous spot where he could observe from a distance.

    Unable to decipher Aubree¡¯s intentions, Bryan dared not act rashly. He could only wait in the car to see how events would

    unfold.

    After what felt like an eternity, the Berry family finally emerged from the police station, with Emery walking out alongside

    them.

    ¡®Emery¡¯s out?¡¯ Bryan wondered, surprised.

    Watching this, Bryan grew even more confused about Aubree¡¯s endgame. As far as he could tell, all her actions were meant to retaliate against their family, coborating with Anthony to put Emery behind bars.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on now?¡¯ Frowning, Bryan sent thetest update to Ronald.

    Ronald replied almost immediately.

    Ronald: [What¡¯s so hard to understand? Aubree¡¯s still young and inexperienced in business. She probably thought the Berry family testimony would be enough to implicate Emery, not realizing the investigation would show he wasn¡¯t primarily responsible.]

    38

 Tried 212

    Ronald: [What an ungrateful wretch we¡¯ve raised! To be so ruthless to her brother.]

    Ronald: [Alright, since Emery¡¯s been released, stop lurking outside the station before reporters spot you. Our priority is controlling the online narrative. Get to the office. I called an emergency meeting.]

    As Bryan read the stream of messages, unease lingered. ¡®Is it really that simple?¡¯

    But with Emery¡¯s release being fact, he had no choice but to leave.

    News of Emery¡¯s release from the police station spread like wildfire. Rosepoly Group¡¯s case took an unexpected turn as online rumors swirled, with many specting there was more to the story than met the eye.

    Ronald couldn¡¯t let this golden PR opportunity slip away. Even if he couldn¡¯tpletely resolve the crisis, he had to at least stem the bleeding and reverse the downward spiral. Rosepoly¡¯s shares had already plummeted 30%.

    At this rate, they¡¯d be finished!

    The conference room packed with Rosepoly executives, Ronald presided at the head table with Bryan beside him. Even Emery, fresh from the police station, had rushed straight to the meeting.

    ¡°I told police Anthony embezzled funds by substituting substandard equipment, causing Logan¡¯s death. The Berry family corroborated my ount. Regarding the payoff, I exined it as a private settlement with the widow to avoid publicity,pletely reasonable, given I wasn¡¯t at fault. That¡¯s why I was released.¡±

    ¡°In that case, this matter is easily resolved. We¡¯ll issue a public apology and pin all the me on Anthony.¡±

    ¡°Breaking news. Anthony Stewart has been arrested.¡±

    ¡°I want mywyer! This is a wrongful arrest. What¡¯s your evidence?¡± Anthony roared, handcuffed in the interrogation room.

    Just an hour ago, he¡¯d been home enjoying Rosepoly¡¯s downfall, never expecting police to storm in.

    His mind was a whirlwind of suspicion and unease, making his behavior grow increasingly agitated.

    The officer interrogating him rapped on the table. ¡°Save your breath. Emery¡¯s already confessed. You pocketed the equipment funds and used substandard materials. Logan¡¯s death? That¡¯s on you.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s your proof?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We have eyewitnesses from the Berry family, and Emery¡¯s secretary just delivered this.¡± The officer waved an item before Anthony.

    Seeing the familiar ledger, Anthony finally understood. The Wilsons were sacrificing him as their scapegoat.

    No, how could this be?¡¯ Anthony thought. ¡®Isn¡¯t Aubree supposed to be targeting the Wilson family? How did the Berry family end up testifying against me instead?¡¯

    Dumbstruck, he finally shouted, ¡°I demand to see Aubree!¡±

    This was hisst-ditch effort.

    The police granted his request.

    38)

    When Aubree arrived, she showed no surprise, though she¡¯d been packing for her Shiyvania vacation tomorrow.

    Upon seeing Aubree, Anthony¡¯s eyes zed with fury. ¡°What¡¯s your game?¡±

    Aubree regarded him with something close to pity. Only after the interrogation room door clicked shut did she speak, her voice calm and measured. ¡°You¡¯re really not very bright, are you?¡±

    ¡®You can¡¯t even embezzle right. Stealing from funds that can put lives at risk? Someone as shrewd as Ronald knew better than to touch worker protection budgets, no matter how desperate things got at Rosepoly. Such a basic rule, and yet you missed it.

    In the surveince room, the police officers were watching the two closely.

    ¡°I made a promise to help the Berry family, so how could I possibly let you off the hook?¡± Aubree said coldly.

    It finally hit Anthony. ¡°So all this time, you weren¡¯t just after the Wilson family. You wereing for me too?¡±

    ¡°Sort of. Consider yourself coteral damage.¡±

    Anthony nearly choked on his own rage. After decades of ying the system, he¡¯d been outmaneuvered by a girl barely half his age.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want Rosepoly Group¡¯s¡­¡± He trailed off, but Aubree knew exactly what he meant.

    This was Anthony¡¯s final card, evidence of Rosepoly Group¡¯s tax evasion.

    Aubree sighed, almost amused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you already give it to me?¡±

    Anthony froze, utterly dumbfounded. ¡®What does that mean?¡¯

 Tried 213

    He thought he had never given Aubree anything. He was puzzled about what she had gained. Anthony stared nkly at Aubree. Aubree prompted, ¡°Mr. Carr, why don¡¯t you take a moment to recall our conversation from that day?¡±

    Anthony wondered, still puzzled, ¡®What could be wrong with that conversation?¡¯

    Anthony reyed the events of that day in his mind, and suddenly his expression froze in shock.

    1 2 2 2 2 2 27

    Aubree stated, ¡°When Logan¡¯s familyes forward to identify the Rosepoly Group, you will be my witness. I also need solid evidence of the Rosepoly Group¡¯s tax evasion.¡±

    Anthony replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take care of it. However, I expect 150 million dors.¡±

    ¡°You set me up!¡± Anthony yelled, his voice filled with rage.

    Nothing else mattered. Those two sentences were undeniable evidence of Rosepoly Group¡¯s tax evasion-and his involvement. No matter how thorough the investigation, everything would ultimately concern him. With Logan¡¯s blood on his hands, Anthony felt a knot form in his throat. ¡®What should I do now? Is it a lifetime behind bars or¡­¡¯

    Aubree said calmly, ¡°Unless something unexpected has urred, that recording should already be in the hands of the police.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Anthony eximed in desperation, pleading as he turned to Aubree. ¡°Please, just let me go! I¡¯ll do anything you ask. You¡¯re targeting the Wilson family, right? I can help you. After all, I¡¯ve worked for Ronald for years-I know a thing or two about dealing with him.¡±

    He believed he could manipte Aubree to make Ronald deeply regret abandoning him. However, in the end, he became nothing more than a disposable pawn in someone else¡¯s strategy-a mere piece to be discarded at any moment.

    ¡°Mr. Carr, are you attempting to bribe me?¡± Aubree pretended to be distressed. ¡°As aw-abiding citizen, I must respectfully decline your generous offer.¡± With a sigh, Aubree stood up. ¡°It¡¯s time to face the consequences. Repent for your actions here.¡±

    As Aubree exited the interrogation room, Anthonypletely lost hisposure, his furious curses echoing after her. ¡°Aubree Miller, drop dead!¡± Anthony shouted, his voice raw with anger. ¡°How dare you frame me! Just wait-the Wilson family will ruin you! Do you think you can take on the Wilsons? You¡¯re not even in their league!¡±

    Aubree walked on, unfazed by Anthony¡¯s insults, and didn¡¯t spare him a single nce.

    As Aubree stepped out, she sneered, thinking, ¡®Defeated by the Wilsons? I fought my way back from hell to settle the score with them!¡¯ She coldly contemted, ¡°This time, even if it costs me everything, I¡¯ll drag every single member of the Wilson family down with me! Emery, are you ready for this?¡¯

    It was an obvious day in Rithol City. Bowen had parked his car outside and was standing beside it. The moment he spotted Aubreeing out, he immediately walked toward her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°What could go wrong? Can you take me home? I still need to pack for my flight tomorrow. The weather is beautiful today. Emery should take the time to enjoy the view while he can-he won¡¯t have many opportunities to see it where he¡¯s headed,¡± Aubree said.

    Aubree¡¯s lips formed a devious smile as Bowen gazed at her intently. He was certain-Emery wouldn¡¯t be able to recover from this one.

    In the conference room of Rosepoly Group, Ronald instructed the executives, ¡°The PR department should leverage

    Anthony¡¯s arrest to mitigate our losses.¡±

    ¡°The stock price is already on the rise. Just hold on for the next few days-this crisis will soon be behind us.¡±

    ¡°Thank you all for your hard work during this busy year-end period. I¡¯m pleased to inform you that your annual bonuses have already been credited to your ounts.¡±

    Ronald turned to Emery and said, ¡°Emery, you were reckless this time. Now that Bryan is back, shadow him for a couple of years, learn from this experience, and ensure you manage Rosepoly Group properly in the future.¡± Ronald made it clear to the gathered executives that he nned to hand over control of the Rosepoly Group to Emery.

    Emery immediately stated, ¡°I fully ept responsibility and will learn from this experience. I assure you that a crisis of this nature will not ur again at Rosepoly Group.¡±

    The others quickly joined in, adding theirpliments. ¡°Mr. Wilson may be young, but he¡¯s destined for sess,¡± someone praised.

    ¡°How can this possibly be Mr. Wilson¡¯s fault? It¡¯s Anthony¡¯s insatiable greed. That¡¯s the real issue. We¡¯ve grown tired of him bossing everyone around thepany for a long time.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡±

    The sycophantic praises were still resonating in the conference room when the door was suddenly thrown open. ¡°Who are Emery and Ronald Wilson?¡±

    Emery said, ¡°I¡¯m Emery.¡±

 Tried 214

    ¡°Officers, what seems to be the problem?¡± Ronald asked, his eyelid twitching uncontrobly.

    ¡°We¡¯ve received a report that Rosepoly Group is under suspicion of tax evasion. You are required toe with us for questioning.¡± At those words, more than half the people in the conference room suddenly turned pale.

    Ronald still attempted to protest, his voice filled with desperation. ¡°Officers, is there some sort of misunderstanding here?¡±

    ¡°If there is any misunderstanding, you can rify it at the station.¡± A police officer shouted, ¡°Take them away!¡±

    The police finally escorted Ronald and Emery out. As they stepped through the main gate, a flurry of camera shes illuminated the night.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson! There are rumors that the Rosepoly Group is involved in tax evasion-what do you have to say about that?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, you¡¯ve always portrayed the ideal entrepreneur. Aren¡¯t you embarrassed by this scandal?¡±

    ¡°If your son Emery is involved, will you choose justice over family ties, or will you do whatever it takes to protect him? Mr. Wilson, please answer us!¡±

    ¡°Emery! You¡¯ve just taken over at Rosepoly Group, and everything is falling apart. Is this a result of your ipetence, or was Rosepoly Group already struggling from the start?¡±

    ¡°Emery, is your father grooming you to be his sessor? With your brother Bryan recently removed from the Wilson Group, is he pitting you two against each other?¡±

    Undeterred by the police, the reporters eagerly sought even a single word from the two members of the Wilson family. Emery had never encountered a situation like this before; overwhelmed by the swarm of reporters, he was utterly speechless. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± he stammered.

    Ronald strongly rejected the allegations, stating, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for the official investigation results before jumping to any conclusions.¡± However, his words went unheeded.

    Once the police took them away, the inte erupted with headlines about the Rosepoly Group¡¯s tax evasion scandal and the arrest of all its top executives. The images conveyed everything on their own.

    Just as Rosepoly Group¡¯s shares had started to recover, they plummeted again, causing investors to panic and rush to sell their holdings. This situation led Rosepoly Group into an unprecedented crisis.

    With the police inplete control of the situation, even Bryan-thest remaining core leader-was unable to influence the oue. The evidence against Anthony was clear-cut. Seeking leniency, he fully cooperated with the investigation, and with Aubree intensifying the matter, the police quickly acquired decisive evidence.

    Regrettably, Ronald was by then just the major shareholder of Rosepoly Group. Although he made the key decisions, he didn¡¯t hold an official position in thepany, which made it challenging to hold him directly ountable for the situation. As for poor Emery, he hadn¡¯t taken any money for himself, yet he couldn¡¯t escape the consequences of the predicament.

    As the acting CEO of Rosepoly Group, who intentionally concealed tax fraud, Emery could not avoid punishment, even with the Wilson family¡¯s elite legal team. Ultimately, Anthony received a ten-year prison sentence for multiple offenses, while Emery was sentenced to three years and ordered to repay the owed taxes.

    With Emery in prison, the stock price of Rosepoly Group immediately fell to its daily limit. Thepany struggled to survive for long, and Ronald soon dered the Rosepoly Group bankrupt.

    By then, Aubree was already on a private jet bound for Shiyvania. The Wilson family had lost their enthusiasm for a

    vacation-an air of despair hung heavily over the entire household.

    ¡°Damn! Aubree Miller dared to do this!¡± Ronald gritted his teeth in anger, thinking, ¡°That damn Aubree dared to send Emery straight to prison!¡¯

    With her youngest son going to prison, Alice was overwhelmed with tears. ¡°How could I have given birth to such an ungrateful person?¡± she cried.

    Daxton sneered. ¡°So this is the ¡®beloved daughter¡¯ you went through hell and high water to bring back, Dad? She¡¯s nothing but ungrateful-now that she has some power, she doesn¡¯t hesitate to turn against her own family!¡±

    Trevor couldn¡¯t help but add salt to the wound. ¡°If I remember correctly, the club that Emery used to manage, Apex Squad, is on itsst legs, right? Aubree¡¯s God¡¯s Fury has already acquired it.¡±

    While Ronald was focused on the crisis at Rosepoly Group, Apex Squad became entirely unsustainable. After careful consideration, the board of shareholders decided to sell it to God¡¯s Fury. Aubree has transformed Bree Technology into an undeniable powerhouse in the business world and has rapidly propelled God¡¯s Fury to the forefront of the esports scene.

    ¡°Dad, Aubree has crossed the line this time! We¡¯re talking about our brother, Emery!¡± Carmen gasped, tears filling her eyes.

    Ronald¡¯s eyes hardened, a dangerous glint shing within them. ¡°She showed no mercy, so don¡¯t expect any from me!¡±

 Tried 215

    As soon as Aubree arrived in Shiyvania, she received a message that Emery had been involved in a fight in prison, resulting in both of his hands being shattered withminuted fractures. Even with treatment, he would only be able to perform basic daily activities and would never regain the ability to handle tasks that require fine motor skills.

    Aubree wondered, ¡®He¡¯s destroying both his body and soul! What did Emery care about most in the past? Esports! And now? Power, status, and the wealth of the Wilson family.¡¯

    Once he was released from prison, the Wilson family continued to exist, but he essentially had no ce within it. The shareholders of Wilson Group would never have permitted someone with such a tarnished reputation-someone who had already brought down Rosepoly Group-to set foot in thepany again.

    If he wanted to return to his old career in esports, the reality would be grim. After three years away from the scene, his instincts would be painfully outdated. Plus, with both hands damaged, that door was now firmly closed for good.

    Aubree thought, ¡®What an unexpected coincidence-his hands, of all things?¡¯ She set her phone aside, her gaze thoughtfully lingering on Bowen as he gathered their luggage.

    Bowen asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Aubree demanded, ¡°Was what happened to Emery you doing?¡± He was the only one she could think of.

    Bowen openly stated, ¡°Three years in prison is too lenient. I ensured he endured more-does that trouble you?¡± He asked carefully.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m delighted!¡± Aubree said coldly. Even if Bowen hadn¡¯t arranged it, she would have ensured that Emery suffered in prison herself.

    Over the past few days, Bowen introduced Aubree to ice skating, and she quickly fell in love with the sport.

    Interestingly, Enrique apanied them to Shiyvania. When Aubree met Enrique for the first time, she felt extremely nervous. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he was secretly evaluating her. Maybe it was just her imagination, but it felt as though he was truly watching her every move.

    Enrique had two wives. His previous wife gave birth to Bowen¡¯s older brother, but sadly, sheter passed away due to illness. His current wife was part of an arranged marriage for business reasons and gave birth to Bowen. Although they were half- brothers, both shared an incredibly close bond.

    There was a considerable age difference between Enrique and his current wife, which meant that Bowen was bornter. The young wife valued her independence, and shortly after Bowen¡¯s birth, they decided to divorce.

    Bowen¡¯s mother never loved Enrique, nor did she ever honestly acknowledge Bowen as her son-he was merely a pawn in the family¡¯s ns. After the divorce, she left to chase her ambitions, leaving Bowen behind.

    Even so, Enrique¡¯s investment in nurturing Bowen was just as significant as what he provided for his brother. The presence of both helped to fill the gap left by his mother¡¯s absence.

    All of this had been shared with Aubree by Enrique himself. A peculiar thought crossed Aubree¡¯s mind: ¡°Is Mr. Turner trying to reveal Bowen¡¯s past to me?¡±

    The days passed quickly, and before long, it was Christmas Eve. In Shiyvania, Bowen only employed a housekeeper for cleaning, while Ethan and Samson took care of security during their stay.

    When it came to meals, Alvin handled all the cooking. Aubree was genuinely surprised-no one would have expected that Alvin, who grew up with privilege, could cook so well. Feeling guilty about relying on Bowen day after day, she suggested that she and Alvin take turns preparing meals.

    Bright and early on Christmas Eve, Bowen was already busy preparing for the family dinner that evening. Enrique was a strict adherent to tradition-even while celebrating Christmas in Shiyvania, he insisted that every customary ritual be strictly followed. As a result, Bowen had no choice but to honor his wishes and take Alvin out shopping for the festivities.

    Now, only Aubree and Enrique remain at home. Enrique, always eager for adventure, wasted no time after arriving in Shiyvania; he promptly visited the local flower and bird market and returned with a delightful array of flowers and fish to keep.

    At that moment, he was happily guiding Aubree as she watered the nts and fed the fish. ¡°Easy now, don¡¯t overfeed them- my fish can¡¯t handle it,¡± Enrique fussed. His fish were delicate and high-maintenance, requiring precisely controlled water temperatures and carefully measured food portions-not a speck more, not a speck less.

 Tried 216

    Aubree attempted to feed the fish previously. She identally killed more than half of them. For days afterward, Enrique would huff and puff, lecturing her. Aubree found herself wondering, ¡®How did Mr. Turner, who was so stern when we first met, end up bing more and more mischievous the longer we spent together?¡¯

    ¡°Please, take a seat over here.¡± It was a beautiful day, and the house was immacte, thanks to the housekeeper. Enrique turned to Aubree, gesturing for her to join him and enjoy the sunshine.

    [Mr. Turner and Miss Miller worked together tending to the flowers and fish, sharingughter and engaging in conversation.]

    [Now, they were sitting together, chatting.]

    Before leaving, Bowen instructed Samson to stay home and keep a close watch on Enrique. Bowen had a strong suspicion. Usually, Enrique would spend the festival at his home, paying respects to histe wife. However, this year, he unexpectedly came with them to Shiyvania. There was no doubt it was a calcted move.

    Upon seeing the message, Bowen frowned. ¡®What on earth is he up to?¡¯

    Samson: [Bad news, Boss! Mr. Turner just asked Miss Miller if she had feelings for you!]

    What on earth is this?¡¯ Bowen thought, nearly throwing his phone across the room. ¡®Bree has only just started to let me get :lose-if Dad keeps this up, he¡¯s going to scare her off for good!¡¯

    Bowen was in such a frenzy that he didn¡¯t even notice Alvin, who was still busy shopping ording to the list. Hemanded Ethan to return immediately. Ethan respectfully inquired, ¡°Mr. Turner, aren¡¯t we waiting for Alvin?¡±

    Let him take a cab back by himself,¡± Bowen snapped.

    3ags in hand, Alvin turned around, only to discover that Bowen had disappeared. Alvin wondered, ¡®Could he have been kidnapped by some thugs or something?¡¯

    So, Aubree, what are your thoughts on Bowen?¡± Enrique asked.

    Aubree had just taken a sip of water to rx when she suddenly choked, almost spitting it out in shock. ¡®A zero-frame startup! How am I supposed to avoid that?¡¯ Aubree thought.

    Enrique smiled knowingly at her, a glimmer of mischief in his eye. ¡°Take your time. There¡¯s no need to rush. I¡¯m aware that Bowen has feelings for you.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes widened in shock, though she had some inkling about this. However, she was surprised by how much more straightforward Enrique waspared to Bowen. ¡®Does Bowen even know his dad can be this blunt?¡¯ Aubree thought.

    Aubree silently pushed her water ss further away, feeling puzzled by Enrique¡¯s intentions. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t someone of his stature be vetting a girl his son is interested in before immediately trying to y matchmaker?¡¯

    Aubree carefully chose her words before responding, ¡°Mr. Turner, I¡¯m not entirely sure what you mean. Bowen has never mentioned anything like that to me, so I can¡¯tment on it. However, I am truly grateful for all the support he¡¯s provided.¡±

    Enrique¡¯s eyes crinkled with even deeper amusement as he remarked, ¡°In the end, it alles down to my Bowen not being up to the task-he couldn¡¯t win you over, could he? No need to sugarcoat it to protect his feelings.¡±

    He waved a hand with casual indifference, clearly unamused. ¡°Honestly, girls your age seem to be into those overly sweet or intense typestely. Bowen? He¡¯s practically from a different generation. There¡¯s nothing remotely romantic about him, and that stiff corporate smile of his-who knows if he¡¯s trying to charm someone or deliver a sales pitch.¡±

    Enrique added, ¡°If I were in your position, I wouldn¡¯t like him either.¡±

    Wait, did he just say that out loud?¡± Aubree was taken aback. She never expected Enrique to speak about Bowen that way. It almost made her want tough. Was this what they called an official roast from his dad?¡±

    Naturally, Samson conveyed every word to Bowen exactly as it was spoken.

    ¡°Oh, no, Bowen is a wonderful guy-he has his unique charm, Aubree exined.

    Enrique yfully asked, ¡®Oh, so you like him too?¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡± Aubree stammered nervously, just as Bowen rushed back in.

    Gasping for breath-having run from the car-Bowen red at Enrique through clenched teeth. ¡°Dad, I wouldn¡¯t mind sending you back to your ce tonight!¡±

    Enrique said, ¡°Hey, take it easy. You¡¯re already at a disadvantage, and now youe across as a domestic abuser. Be careful, or she might like you even less.¡±

    Bowen sneered, thinking, ¡®Oh, thanks a lot then!¡±

    Bowen clearly understood Enrique¡¯s intentions. Without hesitation, he seized Aubree¡¯s wrist and pulled her away. ¡°I can take care of my matters,¡± he stated firmly.

    Enrique¡¯s smile faded, and he remained silent. Aubree suddenly felt goosebumps spreading across her skin. ¡®Why are both Enrique and Bowen so unsettling?¡¯ she thought.

 Tried 217

    Bowen led Aubree up to his room. ¡°Don¡¯t let what my father said bother you,¡± Bowen remarked, his tone impatient.

    Aubree was momentarily taken aback, but then she offered a reassuring smile. ¡°Mr. Turner didn¡¯t say anything inappropriate.¡±

    Bowen hesitated, the words choking him. ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t mind,¡± Aubree said with a warm, reassuring smile.

    Bowen felt a lump in his throat as emotion overwhelmed him. For the first time, Aubree¡¯s smile pierced him like salt in a wound. ¡®Does she not care about anything¡­ or is it that she just doesn¡¯t care about me?¡¯ he wondered.

    His eyes briefly darkened. Bowen shed a teasing grin and spoke yfully, ¡°That¡¯s great to hear. But so that you know, I don¡¯t believe any of the things my dad said about me.¡± Without warning, Bowen suddenly grasped Aubree¡¯s wrist, pulling her toward him until their faces were only inches apart.

    Aubree gasped softly and instinctively raised her hand-she nearly pped Bowen, but fortunately, her rational side intervened just in time. ¡°You startled me!¡± she eximed, instinctively retracting her hand.

    ¡®Sorry,¡± Bowen quickly released his grip, but couldn¡¯t resist showing off for Aubree. ¡°Do I look handsome?¡± he asked with a yful grin.

    ¡°You¡¯re stunning,¡± Aubree eximed impulsively.

    Bowen preened even more, his smile broadened. ¡°Am I too old?¡±

    Well, Aubree thought, ¡®I guess it all depends.

    Bowen was eight years older than her, a gap that once seemed significant. But she had already been through more than most. By the time everything hade full circle, she had reached herte twenties-nearly thirty. Measured by experience and maturity, she might have even surpassed him.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Aubree murmured.

    Bowen leaned closer, lowering his voice to a yful whisper. ¡°Just okay? So, I¡¯m old, huh?¡± His deep-set eyes held a mystery within them-something she couldn¡¯t quite grasp.

    ¡°N-no, not at all,¡± stammered Aubree.

    Aubree gasped in surprise and instinctively tried to step back, but Bowen¡¯s arm quickly wrapped around her waist. With a firm pull, he drew her close to his chest. The scent of his cologne enveloped her as his chin rested on her shoulder. ¡°No?¡± he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. ¡°Then stop calling me what Alvin calls me, okay?¡±

    ¡°But didn¡¯t you allow me, just like Alvin does?¡± Aubree retorted.

    ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind. Call me anything but that.¡± Bowen flustered.

    ¡°O-okay¡­¡± Aubree stammered, still flustered, as Alvin¡¯s voice suddenly broke the tension.

    Alvin snapped, ¡°Uncle Bowen, have you no shame? You just left me stranded at the supermarket without even a car, and to make matters worse, you didn¡¯t take a single shopping bag with you!¡±

    Alvin was struggling to carry shopping bags in both hands-almost ready to hang one around his neck and mp another between his teeth. Meanwhile, Bowen rushed back just to put on a show for Aubree. Alvin¡¯s jaw was clenched, with a vein

    throbbing on his forehead as he red at Bowen.

    Aubree hastily pushed Bowen away, flustered. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two to talk.¡±

    Bowen smirked. ¡°Alvin, don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯m just trying to find you a future aunt, aren¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡®He isn¡¯t even pretending anymore!¡¯ Alvin rolled his eyes dramatically. ¡°Do you even remember what you used to say? And honestly? Even beasts woulde second to you.¡±

    ¡°I only made my move after she came of age,¡± Bowen said weakly, his voice wavering between defiance and embarrassment.

    Alvin scoffed. ¡°Even though you¡¯re my uncle, Aubree is my friend. I stand with what¡¯s right, not just with family.¡± Alvin¡¯s expression darkened slightly, and his mock-threatening re only amused Bowen.

    Bowen wondered, ¡®Did my nephew threaten me? Well¡­

    Bowen gestured for Alvin toe in and take a seat. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry; what you¡¯re fearing won¡¯t happen,¡± he said with conviction. ¡°What has Mark told you about what happened back then?¡±

    ¡°Mark told me he found a damaged photo and had it digitally restored. He mentioned that it won¡¯t be long before he tracks down the individuals who murdered my parents.¡± Alvin¡¯s voice turned icy. ¡°Once I find them, I¡¯ll show them what a true living hell is.¡±

    ¡®Throwing them in prison? That¡¯d be showing mercy-they don¡¯t even deserve that, Alvin thought. Alvin reflected bitterly, ¡®I will never forgive those responsible for their deaths. If it weren¡¯t for them, they would still be alive, and I wouldn¡¯t have had to grow up all alone.¡¯

 Tried 218

    During that time, every time Alvin closed his eyes, all he could see were the loving smiles of his parents. A single tear rolled down his cheek. His voice, rough and filled with menace, growled, ¡°When the timees, stay out of my way.¡±

    Watching Alvin like this, Bowen couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. He wondered, ¡®How would Alvin react if he ever found out that the girl from back then was Bree? Ever since they passed away, Alvin haspletely shut himself off emotionally. The fact that he can even refer to Bree as his friend shows just how much he valued her.¡¯

    Bowen knew that Alvin would never allow the killers to escape justice. However, the mere existence of Aubree could pose another heartbreaking challenge for him. After a moment of hesitation, Bowen quietly asked, ¡°Alvin, just hypothetically speaking¡­ What would you do if that little girl from all those years ago suddenly appeared before you?¡±

    He added, ¡°It would also be nearly impossible to remove her from your life. You¡­¡± Bowen paused, contemting, ¡®Would you consider making peace with it? And with yourself?¡¯

    Alvin interrupted sharply, saying, ¡°If she dares to show up in front of me, I won¡¯t hold back. She may be innocent, and it¡¯s already incredibly generous of me to offer her an out. But if she can¡¯t keep herself out of my sight for good, then I¡¯ll make sure she does!¡±

    Alvin couldn¡¯t help but resent Aubree-she was a victim too, but if his parents hadn¡¯t risked their lives to save her, they wouldn¡¯t have died. Not treating her like one of those human traffickers was already the most significant concession he could make. Alvin bitterly thought, ¡®If that girl¡¯s life hadn¡¯te at the cost of my parents¡¯ lives, I wouldn¡¯t have shown her any mercy either!¡¯

    Bowen bit his tongue, worried that if he spoke any further, Alvin would realize the person in question was Aubree. Reluctantly, he decided to hold back. ¡®I¡¯ll just have to y it by ear,¡¯ he thought.

    For Bowen, this was just as agonizing a choice. Bowen yfully tapped Alvin on the back of the head, immediately reverting to his usual teasing demeanor. ¡°You cheeky brat, lecturing your Uncle now? Get yourself down to the kitchen and start cooking!¡±

    Alvin grumbled inwardly, ¡®Seriously, this guy¡¯s moods change faster than the weather!¡¯ Alvin pouted as he rubbed the back of his head and muttered, ¡°Fine¡­¡±

    Downstairs, Aubree sat on the couch with the TV remote in hand, while Ethan and Samson were busy putting up tinsel on the Christmas tree. Enrique gestured for Bowen toe over. ¡°Come, walk with me,¡± he said.

    There¡¯s no escaping this, Bowen thought.

    Bowen was well aware that Enrique hade to Shiyvania solely to assess Aubree-these past few days had been nothing short of an evaluation. ¡°Dad, just tell me what¡¯s on your mind,¡± he said.

    Enrique¡¯s expression hardened, utterly-devoid of the yful amusement he had disyed towards Aubree. Leaning on his cane, he remarked, ¡°She¡¯s eptable.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s wonderful,¡± Bowen corrected firmly.

    Enrique rolled his eyes at him. ¡®How had I never noticed before that Bowen was¡­ What do kids call it these days? Well, a love-struck fool!¡¯ he thought, a blend of exasperation and affection in his gaze.

    He said, ¡°But you two aren¡¯tpatible. She doesn¡¯t have strong feelings for you-not yet, at least. In this rtionship, she has the upper hand. And as the head of the family, you should always prioritize yourself.¡±

    Enrique continued, ¡°I¡¯ve never meddled in your love life before. Back then, with the family under your leadership, we didn¡¯t need political marriages to strengthen our position, and I believed you were level-headed enough to handle them. But I see

    now-I was mistaken.¡±

    Enrique¡¯s gaze was sharp and clear,cking the cloudiness often associated with his age. ¡°With your temperament, when you truly fall for someone, you bepletely uncontroble.¡±

    Bowen nodded slightly, his voice firm. ¡°For me, there¡¯s only ever been one answer-it¡¯s her, and only her.¡±

    ¡°Forgive me, Dad. I can choose not to be the head of the Turner family-you still have Alvin. But I cannot live without Aubree. It¡¯s Christmas Eve, and we can¡¯t keep everyone waiting for dinner. I¡¯ll go lend a hand now.¡±

    Watching Bowen walk away. Enrique felt no anger at being contradicted. Instead, he chuckled, ¡°You little rascal!¡± He murmured, a hint of pride in his voice. ¡°You can¡¯t even win over a young girl-no match for my charm back in the day. But when ites to devotion, that¡¯s something you inherited from me.¡±

 Tried 219

    The six of them had dinner together. After the meal, Enrique stayed to watch the festive show, while Bowen, having had quite a bit to drink that evening, went upstairs to rest.

    Alvin was ying cards with Ethan and Samson. When ites to intelligence, Alvin certainly inherited the genes of the Turner family-the Dird brothers were no match for him and ended up losing an entire month¡¯s sry.

    However, those two were as stubborn as mules and refused to admit they couldn¡¯t even beat Alvin, who rarely yed cards. Aubree didn¡¯t know how to y, so she just watched from the sidelines, thoroughly amused by the scene.

    ¡°Aubree,¡± Enrique said, ¡°Bowen had a little too much to drink tonight. Could you deliver him a hangover remedy? It¡¯s in the

    kitchen.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Aubree replied. Since she was the only one free at the moment, she went to the kitchen, carefully grabbed the drink, and made her way upstairs.

    Enrique¡¯s earlier words echoed in Bowen¡¯s mind. It was clear to anyone that Aubree held only a fleeting affection for him. Growing up in an orphanage, Aubree met the investor, who provided her with vital emotional support during her childhood. However, upon returning to the Wilson family, she was left with deep emotional scars.

    On the surface, she seemed lively and friendly, but in reality, she kept her emotions closely guarded. Earning herplete trust and love was no simple task.

    Bowen had quite a few drinks that night, but it wasn¡¯t enough to make him drunk. He stood on the balcony, gazing up at the night sky with a thoughtful expression. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer.

    He struggled to understand Enrique¡¯s intentions. While it was evident that he had developed a fondness for Aubree these past few days, there was always a subtle undertone in his words. Bowen¡¯s expression grew serious. He realized he needed to quicken his pace.

    As if on cue, Aubree appeared at the door with a drink in hand and knocked. She quickly caught herself and asked, ¡°Bowen, are you asleep? Mr. Turner asked me to bring you some hangover remedy.¡± She recalled how frightening Bowen had looked that morning, and she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he might consume her entirely.

    ¡®No. Come in.¡± With Bowen¡¯s consent, Aubree finally opened the door and stepped inside. The room was dim, leading her to believe he had already gone to bed or was at least lying down. To her surprise, Bowen stood by the window, bathed in the soft moonlight that shimmered off the snow outside, casting a gentle glow throughout the room.

    The dim light only entuated Bowen¡¯s spectral appearance as he stood by the window, pale andpletely lifeless. He turned sideways to face her, his gaze lowered, and silently observed her. The room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

    ¡°Bowen, are you feeling ill from drinking too much? If you stay out in the cold, you¡¯ll feel even worse tomorrow.¡± Aubree stepped a little closer, carefully holding the drink she had let cool to just the right temperature before bringing it in. Her heart raced as she moved forward, unease prickling down her spine.

    Bowen cast his gaze down at her, his deep, unreadable eyes exuding a dangerously enticing, nearly predatory aura. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Bowen murmured, his voice low and tinged with alcohol, his breath warm and heavy against her skin.

    Aubree hesitated for a moment. She wasn¡¯t sure whether to approach him or ce the hangover remedy on the table. In the end, she spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the drink here for you. Don¡¯t forget to drink it and get some rest, alright.¡± She lingered for a moment, clearly on the verge of leaving.

    ¡°Okay, Aubree Miller,¡± Bowen called in a low, captivating voice, ¡°Come here.¡± He rarely used her full name. Lowering his gaze, his eyes were fixed entirely on Aubree, creating a sense of intention, as if he were trying to seduce her. In that moment,

    12:56 pm

    it felt like she was the only person in his world.

    This thought made the tips of Aubree¡¯s ears warm. She paused briefly before stepping forward, finding herself standing right in front of him, close enough to touch.

    Standing by the window, Aubree nced up at him cautiously and asked, ¡°Did you¡­ need something?¡± Suddenly, Bowen reached out, cing his hands on either side of Aubree and trapping her against the window. She was cornered.

    Aubree felt dazed; from the back, it appeared as though she was enveloped in Bowen¡¯s embrace. Their eyes met-Bowen¡¯s gaze descended, while Aubree¡¯s rose. Their gazes locked.

    Aubree¡¯s hand shook, causing the hangover remedy she was holding to spill. The world around them seemed to shrink to just inches apart.

    Aubree was so tense that she held her breath. ¡®What is Bowen trying to do?¡¯

 Tried 220

    Bowen moved closer, his breath recking of alcohol, sending a sharp, stinging heat across her face. Aubree¡¯s cheeks burned with such intensity that it felt as if the heat might radiate outward. There was a hazy, almost dazed expression in Bowen¡¯s eyes-clearly, the alcohol was taking its toll.

    ¡°Bowen¡­¡± Aubree held her breath, afraid that the intoxicated Bowen might act unpredictably.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bowen murmured in a low voice. ¡°Could you taste it for me first?¡± Bowen¡¯s voice was deep and filled with an undeniable intensity that made Aubree¡¯s heart race.

    Aubree¡¯s hand trembled slightly once more. ¡°Don¡¯t all hangover remedies taste the same?¡± she muttered, hoping he would drop the topic.

    Bowen leaned in, a yful sparkle in his eyes. ¡°How could you know if you haven¡¯t tasted it?¡± He wore a determined expression, clearly intent on not letting her leave until she took a sip.

    Don¡¯t argue with a drunk,¡¯ she thought. ¡®I¡¯ll just gulp it down and bring him another er. That should do the trick. With that in mind, Aubree steadied herself and finished the drink in one go.

    A faint smirk danced in Bowen¡¯s eyes as he watched Aubree sip the hangover remedy, intentionally closing the distance between them. He appeared determined to pin her against the window. Leaning closer, his breath warmed her ear. ¡°How does that taste?¡± he asked.

    It¡¯s just hangover soup, Aubree thought as she swallowed thest mouthful. She was about to speak-hadn¡¯t even formed the first syble-when suddenly, Bowen¡¯s hand pressed firmly down on her shoulder.

    In an instant, Bowen suddenly lowered his head and captured her lips with a kiss. Aubree¡¯s body went rigid, as if struck by a bolt of lightning-her vision faded to a blur. At that moment, it felt as if her mind had short-circuited.

    Wait-Bowen is kissing me?¡¯ Aubree thought, utterly stunned. His lips were elegantly thin yet surprisingly soft, and their intense warmth made her heart race.

    A loud crash echoed; the empty cup in her hand had served its purpose. It fell to the floor and shattered into countless pieces.

    Bowen remained unbothered. He enclosed Aubreepletely, his lips pressed against hers-first exploring, then teasing, and gradually deepening the kiss, as if gauging just how much she could handle.

    It waspletely different fromst time. Aubree was fully conscious, but her mind had gone nk. Her eyes zed over- she couldn¡¯t process what was happening. Her legs turned to jelly, and her whole body began to give way.

    Bowen¡¯s hand rested at Aubree¡¯s waist. In one smooth motion, he lifted her, pressing her tightly against his chest, leaving no space between them.

    He gently bit her lip-the sharp sting brought Aubree back to her senses. Aubree thought, ¡®We are kissing, for real?¡¯

    Bowen leaned back slightly, their bodies still entwined. Their breaths mingled-hers quick and shallow, his warm and heavy. Bowen teased, ¡°You¡¯ve consumed it all¡­ Now, there¡¯s nothing left for me, is there?¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®So¡­ He¡¯s trying to taste the hangover remedy from my lips?¡¯ Her mind was inplete turmoil¡ªat that moment, it felt as if the air had frozen. Her lips were swollen from the kiss, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She

    couldn¡¯t find her voice at all.

    Bowen grinned, his voice low and teasing. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve tasted it¡­ It¡¯s sweet.¡±

    Liar! It wasn¡¯t sweet at all!¡¯ Aubree fumed inwardly. She stood there in a daze, staring nkly at Bowen.

    He leaned in once more, his lips brushing her ear as he murmured in a deep, husky voice, ¡°I want to savor it again.¡±

    Aubree snapped back to reality and eximed, ¡°You¡¯re drunk!¡± Then, she quickly pushed Bowen away and hurried out, saying over her shoulder, ¡°I¡¯ll have Ethan bring you some more!¡±

    +39)

    Aubree stumbled out of the room and leaned against the hallway wall, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she gasped for breath. Her face was flushed with embarrassment. Without thinking, her hand instinctively went to her lips-where he had nipped her, the skin was tender, and the contact sent a stinging sensation through her.

    Everything that had just transpired reyed in her mind, uninvited. Horror flickered in Aubree¡¯s eyes. ¡®What am I doing? Am I enjoying this?¡¯ she thought in panic.

    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Aubree hurried into the bathroom, cupping water to her face in an attempt to steady herself. The mirror offered back a version of her. She barely recognized-color rising to her cheeks, eyes glinting with unspoken emotion, and lips tinged with an unfamiliar sheen. ¡®I must be crazy!¡¯ she thought.

    Aubree tossed and turned all night, unable to find even a moment of peace. Little did she know that her hurried exit was witnessed by everyone downstairs, nor did she realize that Bowenr, still in the room, was sporting a devilish smirk.

    As dawn finally broke at eight in the morning, a knock echoed at the door.

 Tried 221

    After a restless night of barely any sleep, Aubree woke up feelingpletely disoriented. When she heard Bowen¡¯s voice. she instinctively pulled the covers tighter around herself. ¡®How am I supposed to face him?¡¯ she wondered, feeling utterly lost. After gathering her courage with a deep breath, Aubree finally opened the door.

    Bowen wore a ck windbreaker, with his hair down and lightly tousled bangs framing his forehead, giving him a fresh and well-groomed appearance. ¡°Breakfast is ready! Do you want to hit the skating rink after we eat?¡± Bowen said.

    ¡°Oh, and this.¡± Bowen pulled a gift envelope from his pocket, its festive shimmer catching Aubree¡¯s eye. ¡°Pocket money for you,¡± he said casually, as if the events of the night before had never happened.

    Aubree looked at Bowen with suspicion. ¡°Last night¡­¡± A wave of indignation washed over her; she felt utterly used and then dismissed. ¡®Is he ying dumb, or had he forgotten?¡¯ she wondered.

    ¡®Last night? I was drunk-I honestly don¡¯t remember what happened,¡± Bowen said with a look of confusion, his expressionpletely deadpan.

    Aubree said, ¡°Last night, I visited your room-¡±

    Bowen lightly interrupted, ¡°So, you brought me that hangover remedy, right? Dad mentioned it. The cup broke, but it¡¯s all

    leaned up now. Did I¡­ do something to upset you when I was drunkst night?¡± he asked, feigning concern. ¡°I can¡¯t remember.¡± He frowned, adopting a troubled expression.

    Aubree felt all her resolve fade away; everything she wanted to express was lodged in her throat. ¡®How could I possibly ask Bowen why he pinned me down and kissed mest night?¡¯ she wondered, frustration bubbling inside her.

    Bowen looked at her before suddenly pausing. ¡°What happened to your lip?¡±

    ¡®I¡­¡± Aubree felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

    ¡®Did you bite it yourself?¡± Bowen asked.

    Like hell I did! This masterpiece is all your doing!¡¯ she fumed inwardly. But all she could do was nod. ¡°Yeah, I had a dreamst night.¡± She thought, ¡®Some shameless scoundrel kissed me!¡¯

    ¡®Anyway, I woke up this morning, and it was like this.¡± Aubree gritted her teeth, imagining a hundred different oues but never considering that Bowen would forget. ¡°Alright, fine. You said we were going ice skating. I¡¯ll go get ready.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement as he waved the gift envelope in his hand. ¡°You still haven¡¯t taken your gift,¡± he remarked.

    Aubree thought it was just a good luck charm as she felt the thin envelope in her hand. Assuming it contained only a small token amount, she epted it absentmindedly.

    She returned to her room and changed her clothes. Before leaving, she nced at the gift envelope on the bed, intrigued by the amount inside. She squeezed it and immediately felt that something was off. Upon opening the envelope, she discovered a bank card inside.

    Wait, is this how the Turner family gives out pocket money?¡¯ Aubree wondered with a hint of disbelief in her mind.

    She checked the bnce on her card using her phone-the significant amount stared back at her. However, she didn¡¯t need this money at the moment.

    She thought about returning it, but realized that Bowen certainly had enough money. Since he had given it to her, he probably wouldn¡¯t let her refuse it. Rather than making a fuss, she tucked the card into her pocket.

    As Aubree descended the stairs, Alvin was just about to take a bite of his oatmeal. He nced up, did a double-take, and spat it out in shock, his eyes wide. ¡°What the-Aubree! What happened to your lip?¡± Alvin eximed.

    Last night, Aubree went to Bowen¡¯s room with the handover remedy, then returned to her room and never came back

    downstairs. Alvin had figured it was just the same old story-Bowen was probably showing off again. But now, he doubted <ol><li></li></ol>

    Ethan, who was sitting closest to Alvin, quickly shifted away with a hurt expression. ¡°Alvin, I lost all my money to youst night. Did you have to do that?¡±

    Right then, Samson sharply nudged his arm and tilted his chin toward Aubree. At the dining table, Bowen and Enrique seemed the least affected. Aubree felt utterly embarrassed. With Alvin causing such amotion, she was half-convinced h had figured everything out.

    ¡°Just a bite mark,¡± Bowen interrupted before Aubree could exin. She could only nod in reluctant agreement, unable to -peak the truth.

 Tried 222

    After breakfast, Enrique, who wasn¡¯t eager to go out at his age, handed each of the five a gift envelope and then settled down to watch TV at home. Since one car couldn¡¯t amodate all five of them, Aubree, intentionally avoiding Bowen, insisted on one car for herself.

    Bowen didn¡¯t provide any furtherments, and the two cars left one after the other. Once inside the car, Alvin immediately muttered under his breath, ¡°Uncle Bowen, I take back what I said about you being a beast yesterday.¡±

    Bowen shot him a nce. ¡°You¡¯re a total monster,¡± Alvin added.

    Bowen tried to restrain himself but ultimately couldn¡¯t resist and gave Alvin a light smack on the head. ¡°Could you show some respect, please?¡±

    Alvin clutched his head but responded with a serious tone, ¡°I¡¯m judging you, Uncle. That bite mark? I¡¯m pretty sure you did most of the biting.¡±

    Bowen gave him a long, meaningful nce. ¡°It was bitten,¡± he said.

    Alvin¡¯s expression shifted, and he scoffed, ¡°Whatever.¡±

    ¡°I drank too muchst night,¡± Bowen said, trying to change the topic. Both Alvin, sitting beside him, and Ethan, driving up front, silently rolled their eyes at his tant lie.

    Ethan couldn¡¯t help but stir the pot. ¡°Mr. Turner, ming it on booze is one of the oldest excuses out there. If you were truly that drunk, you would have passed outpletely-there¡¯s no way you¡¯d be capable of anything else.¡±

    Suddenly, Ethan felt a chill running down his spine. ¡°Bryce¡¯s team is understaffed. After Christmas, you¡¯ll be going there for wo months,¡± Bowen said.

    Ethan fell silent immediately. Each of the nine had their responsibilities. Samson and Ethan stayed with Bowen, while Jase and Jay were tasked with protecting Alvin. Bryce oversaw operations in Yastraria.

    Zachary was typically assigned to conduct surveince or investigations while the rest of the team provided backup support, always ready for assignments.

    ¡®Mr. Turner, I was wrong,¡± Ethan said, his expression filled with regret.

    Bowen shot him an icy re. ¡°Make it three months. After we leave, you¡¯ll head directly from Shiyvania. Notify Gilberto- when I return, he¡¯ll take over your responsibilities.¡±

    Ethan was now properly chastened and didn¡¯t dare to utter another word.

    After returning from the skating rink, they decided to shorten their stay in Shiyvania and head back early, rather than remain for a few more days. They had initially nned to stay until Aubree and Alvin returned for school. Little did they know that unexpected trouble had arisen in Rithol City-yzy was in serious trouble.

    Recently, due to the MindDrift situation, Aubree had Vincent exhaust his annual leave andy the groundwork for her n to expose MindDrift¡¯s scandals right after the New Year.

    Once that urred, authorities would undoubtedly shut down MindDrift. Even if Carmen somehow managed to evade personal consequences, the tform would be doomed. A live-streaming tform struggling with fatalities and rampant moneyundering, Carmencked the expertise to keep it running smoothly.

    Aubree brought on Vincent to engage with regtory officials, subtly promoting new regtions for live streaming. Once those regtions were established, she nned tounch PK battles and live-stream shopping on yzy. Subsequently, she would coborate with Aidan to develop a marketing campaign for Zappy¡¯s short video tform.

    Little did she anticipate that before she could take any action against MindDrift, someone else would act first. It seemed that whatever had happened with Emery had motivated Ronald to take a step forward.

    At one point, Ronald got involved with a woman whose son was obsessed with live streams. The boy believed he could be a top streamer, but yzy didn¡¯t allow users under eighteen to stream on their tform. He ended up glued to the screen all day, refusing to go to school.

    No one quite understood how Ronald managed to sway the family, but the boy eventually fell from a building. In the aftermath, his family stirred up a storm online, using yzy of leading the young astray and killing their drive to seed.

    When news of the incident surfaced, a wave of self-proimed concerned parents followed-some seemingly sincere, others more interested in fueling the uproar. As for the child, he remains hospitalized-alive, but he may never regain consciousness.

    Aubree¡¯s team had already begun investigating the details. Before her flight home took off, Aubree sent a message to Vincent: [Expose the dirt on MindDrift. There¡¯s no way we¡¯re working hard while they sit around.]

    If that¡¯s how they want to y, then no one¡¯s getting off easy, she thought coldly.

    1:42 pm

 Tried 223

    After disembarking from the ne and not spotting Ethan, Aubree turned to Bowen and asked, ¡°Where is Ethan?¡±

    +38

    Their return trip was so hurried that they couldn¡¯t arrange for a private jet. With tickets in high demand on such short notice, they ended up being spread across different cabin sses. The first-ss seats went to Aubree, Enrique, and Bowen, while Alvin and the other two had to settle for business ss.

    ¡°There were initially only five return tickets avable.¡± Bowen smiled and said, ¡°Ethan bought a ticket to Yastraria. I sent him there to take care of a few matters.¡±

    Aubree chose not to inquire further; after all, it wasn¡¯t her role to interfere in the internal dynamics between superiors and subordinates.

    Gilberto arrived to pick up Bowen, and Vincent was also present. With Enrique still there, Bowen felt it was inappropriate to see Aubree off personally. Instead, he reminded her to stay safe on her journey, watching as Vincent escorted her away.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough staring. She¡¯s not interested in you,¡± Enrique called from the car, noticing that Bowen was still frozen in ce. He figuratively doused Bowen¡¯s hopes with cold reality.

    This year, the Wilson family faced a challenging celebration. Emery was sentenced to prison, and Ronald exhausted every effort to secure his release, but to no avail-he nearly got himself entangled in the process. He hoped to ask Aubree for help in sparing Emery from his sentence, only to discover that she was in Shiyvania.

    The negative publicity surrounding Ronald also affected Trevor, a public figure. Consequently, the stock price of the Wilson Group declined following Emery¡¯s imprisonment.

    To make matters worse, it became unclear who was secretly trying to undermine them from the shadows. Multiple government agencies unexpectedly coordinated surprise inspections on other businesses within the Wilson Group, revealing numerous vitions-both significant and minor-and mandating immediate corrective actions along with penalties.

    While these may seem like minor issues, when they umte in this way, they can drive anyone to distraction. Forget about enjoying a proper holiday dinner-getting a hot meal would be a stroke of luck.

    Ronald had been so stressedtely that he was losing hair in handfuls. His investigation revealed that Aubree wasn¡¯t the only one-someone else had been working against him from the beginning. It turned out to be Bowen all along; he was the one behind all these minor troubles.

    Ronald sneered, thinking, ¡°But Aubree must have received my gift by now, right? That girl should know by now-I still have tricks. No one crosses the Wilson Group and gets away with it!¡¯

    Ronald made a call. ¡°This is our family¡¯s business, and Bowen keeps interfering. We need to stop that. Let¡¯s create some challenges for him. I heard the Turner Group is interested in the government¡¯s East District project. Although the Wilson Group isn¡¯t involved, we can help itspetitors. If I recall correctly, that would be the Lawson family, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, by partnering with the Lawson family, we need to inform Bowen-he may have significant influence in Rithol City as long as we show him proper respect. However, if we fail to do so, even someone of his stature might struggle to maintain his position,¡± the person on the other line replied.

    Contrary to Ronald¡¯s expectations that Aubree would be in a state of panic, she neither attempted to downy the news nor deflect responsibility. yzy¡¯s PR department quickly stated that they would meet public expectations.

    yzy¡¯s transparent approach has garnered public support. Although the parents of the suicidal child were outraged, the

    tform was not at fault. Ronald manipted public opinion by mixing truth with falsehood to coerce overprotective parents into filing numerousints, all in an effort to drive yzy out of business.

    Aubree assigned Vincent to manage the yzy crisis while she went to the hospital to check on the child who had attempted

    suicide.

    She kept her true identity hidden. Recently, the hospital had been crowded with reportersing and going for interviews, and she seamlessly blended in with them. The childy in bed, connected to a venttor, caught between life and death. Most of the time, it was only hospital staff who tended to him; oddly, his parents only appeared when the reporters were

    present.

 Tried 224

    When Aubree arrived, she found the child¡¯s father and grandmother at his bedside. Hoping to gather more information, she and Birgitte posed as reporters for an interview. However, before they could enter the ward, they unexpectedly encountered

    the child¡¯s father.

    Arthur Morgan was just a junior high student at that rebellious age. Stanley gave them a suspicious look and asked, ¡°Are you reporters?¡±

    Aubree and Birgitte exchanged nces, instantly sensing that something was amiss. ¡°That¡¯s strange, Aubree thought. ¡®From what we heard, the Morgan family has always been incredibly weing to the press-so why this sudden change? But our arrival seemed to make Mr. Morgan unusually guarded?¡¯ Aubree pondered, surprised.

    Birgitte nced at Aubree for a signal and began, ¡°Hello, Mr. Morgan. We¡¯re here for an interview¡­¡± adhering to their prepared script. Before she could finish, Stanley interrupted her. He turned to Aubree and said, ¡°You¡¯re Aubree Miller, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Did he recognize me?¡¯ Aubree was briefly taken aback but quickly regained herposure. She then stated, ¡°That¡¯s correct. Let me reintroduce ourselves-we are from Bree Technology, here to gather theplete ount of Arthur¡¯s suicide attempt from you, Mr. Morgan.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Stanley snapped, his eyes zing with disgust. ¡°I have nothing to say to you murderers. Now get out!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with this attitude? Aren¡¯t we just here to discuss things properly?¡± Birgitte retorted indignantly. Usually, situations like this involve simply asking forpensation or taking a strong stance and insisting on filing awsuit.

    Honestly, they weren¡¯t worried about going to court-legally, this entire situation had little to do with them. However, with so many eyes watching from the shadows, even the smallest action could be blown out of proportion. Recently,ints against the tform surged.

    The higher-ups were under increasing pressure, having repeatedly called for urgent discussions to resolve the issue quickly. However, the Morgan family refused all offers ofpensation and showed no interest in legal action. Their main goal appeared to be stirring up trouble and drawing media attention. No one could tell what their true intentions were.

    Stanley sneered. ¡°My son is lying in there, his life hanging by a thread, and you expect me to speak nicely? I¡¯m already showing mercy by not killing you.¡±

    Birgitte was ready to argue further, but Aubree stopped her. ¡°Let it go, Birgitte. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Aubree added calmly, ¡°My apologies for the intrusion, Mr. Morgan.¡±

    As soon as Aubree exited the hospital, her expression darkened. Ronald¡¯s intentions were now unmistakable-he was resolute in his n to undermine her. ¡°Ms. Miller, why did you stop me from speaking just now? He refused to meet with us -there¡¯s something suspicious happening here!¡± Birgitte seethed with indignation.

    ¡°No, no,¡± Aubree reassured her. ¡°We¡¯re already at a disadvantage in terms of public opinion. If we create a scene, it will only backfire on us.¡±

    Aubree carefully reviewed the inconsistencies in Arthur¡¯s suicide case, convinced that she had overlooked something important. She closed her eyes to think, then suddenly opened them wide. Urgently, she eximed, ¡°Birgitte, I need all the interview materials released tonight-right now.¡±

    ¡°Got it. I¡¯m on it right away,¡± Birgitte replied.

    Birgitte worked with impressive efficiency. Shortly after Aubree returned to thepany, she received the materials that Birgitte hadpiled. As Aubree carefully reviewed each one, she confirmed a suspicion she had been harboring.

    Throughout all the media interviews, several members of Arthur¡¯s family appeared-yet one person was notably absent his mother, Lynn. However, Lynn was not absent; she recorded several usatory videos and shared them on social media while intentionally avoiding any public appearances.

    Why is that? Is she afraid to show herself? Or would appearing in public reveal her true intentions? Aubree wondered.

    Aubree drummed her fingers on the desk. ¡°Please run a background check on someone for me,¡± she instructed. ¡°Make sure to focus your investigation on anything rted to the hospital.¡±

    Arthur was the only child of the Morgan family, and naturally, they indulged him,vishing care and resources on his upbringing from a young age. This incident involving jumping was undoubtedly not a coincidence. All Aubree knew was that the Morgan family had met with Ronald several times, but the details of those discussions remained unclear.

    The only exnation that came to Aubree¡¯s mind for why they would sacrifice their only son like this was deeply troubling.

 Tried 225

    Vincent had gathered all the evidence against the MindDrift tform. Now, he just needed the signal from Aubree-then every ruthless tactic that MindDrift used to drive traffic would be brought to light.

    Aubree said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to hurry. School starts in a couple of days, and Carmen must be feeling pretty pleased with herself right now. Let¡¯s save the surprise for the first day-let¡¯s make her even more notorious.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s spections had a basis. Carmen, who had been panicking due to recent deaths before the New Year, saw that nothing significant had urred and, feeling relieved, thought it was not a big deal.

    Little did Carmen know that immediately after the incident, Aubree¡¯s team had already contacted Arthur¡¯s family. After some negotiations, the family agreed to remain silent for the time being-but only if Aubree would assist them in taking down the MindDrift tform, and Aubree readily consented.

    School resumed just a few days after the New Year, and with only about a hundred days left until the SATS, Aubree remained dedicated to her studies throughout the break. By the time of the first exam of the semester, her scores had already secured her a spot in the school¡¯s top ten.

    Aubree was quite pleased with her results-getting into Rithol University now felt like a sure thing. ¡®But I can¡¯t afford to rx, she thought. ¡®I need to reinforce my position and continue pushing myself! With her academic priorities in order, it was time for Aubree to settle some scores.

    Inspired perhaps by Aubree, Carmen¡¯s art scores in the semester-opening exam showed a remarkable improvement. Even her teacher, who seldom offeredpliments, had to acknowledge that she was not bad when she put in some effort.

    Despite the secret disdain some felt towards her, Carmen remained true to her identity, and her ssmates continued to shower her withpliments in front of her. That night, the ss group chat turned into an awkward disy of people gushing over Carmen.

    They praised her youthful talent, referring to her as a rising star who was capable of outshining established yers. MindDrift,unched a year ago, was projected to surpass yzy in earnings. They imed she had always been brilliant- she just never felt the need to study until then, likely having taken it easypared to Aubree.

    Carmen reveled in the long-awaited sensation of being the center of attention. To her, this was exactly how life was meant to be¡ªsurrounded by privilege, cherished by devoted parents, admired by friends, and paired with the perfect partner. Everything was falling into ce, just as she had always envisioned.

    Her eyes shimmered with ambition, and a smug smile yed on her lips. Carmen was convinced that Aubree wasn¡¯t as tough as she appeared-it hadn¡¯t taken much to push her aside. With Aubree nearly out of the way, Carmen intended to shift her focus to her exams, have her family pull a few strings, and set her sights on the Rithol Art Institute. Attending the same university as Alvin was all part of the n.

    Carmen¡¯s ambition was unmistakable. She believed that once she was with Alvin, her position within the Wilson family would soar. Daxton, in her eyes, was too absorbed in his preciousb to pay attention to anything else. With the Turner family backing her, Daxton¡¯s influence, and her cunning, she saw no reason to settle for the title she longed for. She had her sights set on taking over the entire Wilson family,

    1

    ¡°Thank you for all the kind words, everyone! Since we just celebrated the New Year, I¡¯d like to send out some gifts in the group, chimed in Carmen, effortlessly charming everyone around her.

    No one would be foolish enough to turn down gifts. The group chat instantly lit up with yful excitement, as everyone began calling Carmen their generous sponsor and jokingly begged to be adopted.

    Feeling ecstatic, Carmen sent arge gift envelope in the group chat. Before the gift could be delivered, a message appeared, disrupting the festive atmosphere.

    Someone in the chat messaged: [MindDrift drove a streamer to suicide andundered money-This is what you call ¡®youthful prowess¡¯? You¡¯d better save that cash for yourwyer fees.]

    It was Carmen¡¯s long-time rival. Carmen couldn¡¯t care less about her rival¡¯s attitude-what truly bothered her was what she had just said. ¡®What on earth does that mean? How could she possibly know about this?¡¯ she thought.

 Tried 226

    Carmen¡¯s eyes widened in sudden panic. Almost immediately, her phone rang-it was a call from apany executive. ¡°Miss Wilson, Nick¡¯s death is all over the inte! What should we do now?¡±

    Nick was the streamer who lost his life in the ident despite rescue efforts. Carmen¡¯s head was spinning as she frantically grabbed her phone. She didn¡¯t even need to search-when she opened her news app, bold headlines screamed at her.

    [Genius Sisters or Ruthless Killers?]

    Upon clicking, the article carefully revealed how MindDrift ruthlessly exploited its streamers through relentless battle punishments, causing many to be injured or ill, and, even more shockingly, leading to some fatalities.

    Soon, fans voiced concerns online, noting that in a previous livestream, Nick appeared distressed and asked to end the session, promising to finish the punishmentter. The opposing streamer refused, used him of dodging the challenge, and even threatened to report him if he didn¡¯tply.

    To maximize profits and encourage user spending, Carmen implemented strict rules: anyone found intentionally avoiding challenges would face penalties-minor vitions would incur a fine. At the same time, more serious offenses may result in aplete ount ban. Nick had no choice but to endure the punishment. After that, he never went live again.

    The tform was filled with talented streamers, while Nick was just another mid-tier yer. After the incident, he was soon forgotten, as if he had never mattered at all. Now that the old incident has resurfaced, Aubree not only reached out to Nick but also made every effort to contact any streamer who had been affected by MindDrift, getting in touch with everyone she could find.

    While some were still reliant on MindDrift and hesitated, many stepped forward to help Aubree expose the tform. That night, the inte erupted-viewers circted clips of battles where both sides casually threw around nearly 300 million dors. The sheer extravagance soon drew the attention of regtors.

    Aubree leaned back, calmly watching the storm unravel from her strategic distance. The bacsh against Carmen had gone far beyond simple criticism-she had be the face of public outrage. The hostility was so overwhelming that stepping outside risked more than just harsh words; someone mightsh out in a petty, unpleasant way.

    MindDrift didn¡¯t even survive the night-it was swiftly ordered to shut down by the authorities. Whether the ban would ever be lifted depended entirely on how Carmen chose to handle the situation.

    When things seemed like they couldn¡¯t get worse, Carmen was still enjoying praise and admiration just yesterday. However, this morning, she woke up to find a notice from school stating that she had been suspended, effective immediately.

    A sharp p resonated through the Wilson family¡¯s living room. Ronald¡¯s face flushed with anger. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he seized the nearest object and hurled it at Carmen. At such close range, the projectile struck her forehead with brutal force, causing blood to stream down and stain half her face crimson.

    ¡°Ronald!¡± Alice eximed, bursting into tears as she rushed forward, desperately trying to pull him back. ¡°But she¡¯s our daughter!¡± Her voice trembled as she cried. Alice never imagined that Ronald would be this furious-she couldn¡¯t believe he

    would hurt Carmen like this.

    ¡°Carmen¡­¡± Ronald¡¯s eyelid twitched, a flicker of panic and guilt shing across his face. His heart softened¡ªhe was about tofort her when Daxton¡¯s frantic, panicked voice suddenly pierced the air as he burst through the front door.

    ¡°Carmen!¡± Daxton eximed, breathless from rushing back after being awayst night. The moment he heard the news, he hurried home, only to realize he was already toote.

    1:43 pm

    Seeing Carmen¡¯s bruised and bleeding face-a truly pitiful sight-Daxton¡¯s heart ached. Anger surged within him as he red at Ronald. ¡°Dad! How could you strike Carmen?¡± he demanded, his voice shaking. ¡°What did Carmen do to deserve this? None of it was her fault-it was all that awful Aubree¡¯s doing!¡± His eyes burned with resentment as he med Ronald for mistreating Carmen.

    381

    Ronald, who had just felt a pang of guilt moments earlier, was quickly provoked by Daxton¡¯s attitude. His anger red as he shouted, ¡°She¡¯s not wrong? Didn¡¯t I tell you to keep your people in line and ensure no one causes trouble during this time!¡±

    Ronald fixed Carmen with a piercing gaze. ¡°Something seemed off about youst time. Be honest-were those online scandals already starting back then?¡±

    If it were only MindDrift, Ronald wouldn¡¯t be this upset. However, with Rosepoly Group first and then Mind Drift-both tied to the Wilson family-the Wilson Group¡¯s stock price has taken a significant hit recently.

 Tried 227

    The Wilson Group faced significant losses, leading to increasing dissatisfaction among shareholders with Ronald. Consequently, pressure was mounting for him to resign as chairman in favor of Bryan.

    Ronald seethed with anger, while Carmen, filled with guilt, stammered, ¡°Dad, I saw how busy you were back then, so I didn¡¯t want to disturb you. I thought I could handle it on my own. Dad, I¡¯m so sorry-it¡¯s all my fault. I guess I¡¯m just not as good as Aubree. I don¡¯t have what it takes like she does.¡±

    While the reactions of others were unclear, Daxton and Alice felt a deep ache for her. ¡°Ronald, Carmen only wanted to spare you the trouble. She never intended for things to turn out this way-why are you directing your anger at her?¡±

    As the owner of her ownpany, Alice understood that a title was merely an aestheticbel; in truth, she was every bit a businesswoman. Deep down, she recognized that Carmen wasrgely to me, yet she struggled to bring herself to scold

    her.

    She could only me Aubree, convincing herself that it was entirely Aubree¡¯s fault-that Aubree couldn¡¯t stand to see their family happy and was deliberately causing trouble for them, never considering who had started it all.

    Daxton interjected, ¡°Yeah, Dad, Carmen always thinks about the family, and you still treat her like this? What¡¯s the point of losing your temper now that things are already this way? Instead of wasting time ming everyone, shouldn¡¯t we focus on how to fix the situation?¡±

    Ronald was so furious that he nearly lost his bnce, staring in disbelief at Alice and Daxton. ¡®It¡¯s unbelievable-mypany¡¯s stock keeps plummeting because of Carmen, but the moment I lose my temper, I¡¯m suddenly the one in the wrong?¡¯ he thought.

    A suffocating sense of injustice, unlike anything he had ever felt before, clogged Ronald¡¯s chest. He gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently as the weight of regret pressed down on him, haunted by the realization of having driven Aubree

    away.

    They made a valid point. At this stage, damage control was what truly mattered. Ronald rubbed his forehead, overwhelmed by exhaustion. He felt the weight of age pressing down on him and resolved that once the chaos was settled, Bryan would return to the board and take over managing the group.

    Ronald stated emphatically, ¡°This situation has escted into a significant crisis. Since Aubree is closely tied to it, she undoubtedly possesses substantial evidence. With yzy already facing its issues, it is essential to make a public acknowledgment of the mistake and announce a thorough revamp of MindDrift. Once yzy falls, I¡¯ll leverage my connections to help get MindDrift back on track.¡±

    Ronald, practical as ever, knew how to prioritize. Scheming against Aubree was nearly impossible now, and as sworn enemies, he couldn¡¯t let her thrive. Although Carmen was average, she was better than anyone else. With some guidance, she might recover.

    Carmen listened to the suggestion, her heart sinking. ¡®A public apology? Wouldn¡¯t that mean admitting defeat to Aubree?¡¯ she thought bitterly. ¡®How could I allow her to walk all over me?¡¯

    Carmen clenched her fists and gritted her teeth in frustration. Under Ronald¡¯s warning re, she reluctantly nodded and forced herself to say, ¡°Got it, Dad. I¡¯ll do what you say.¡±

    Ronald knew that Carmen would never dare to defy his wishes. He nodded, considering the matter resolved, and then instructed, ¡°Call the doctor to examine her.¡±

    After all, Carmen was the daughter that Ronald had cherished since childhood. Although recent events had begun to tarnish his view of her, he still cared for her deep down. Instinctively, he reached out tofort her, but halfway there, he hesitated

    and withdrew his hand.

    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Carmen. Once this situation settles, I¡¯ll have the Wilson Group invest significantly in MindDrift and create new media ventures around it. After that, you¡¯ll be in charge of everything.¡±

 Tried 228

    Carmen was stunned and said softly, ¡°Dad, as long as it means you have less to worry about, nothing else matters to me.¡±

    A glimmer of satisfaction danced in Ronald¡¯s eyes. No matter how capable Aubree was, she could never offer him the samefort that an obedient daughter like Carmen could.

    With urgent matters umting, Ronald excused himself. That left only three of them-Carmen, Alice, and Daxton-at home.

    Alice quickly called a doctor to treat Carmen¡¯s wounds. Gently cradling Carmen¡¯s face, she murmured, ¡°Oh, you silly girl- when your dad tried to hit you, why didn¡¯t you try to dodge? Did you stand there and take it?¡±

    Carmen snuggled into Alice¡¯s arms with a pout, whining, ¡°Mom, it hurts so bad.¡± Her pitiful whimper immediately broke both Alice and Daxton¡¯s hearts.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes darted nervously as her voice trembled. ¡°Daxton, Mom, I don¡¯t want to do what Dad says. I know I¡¯m not as good as Aubree. I¡¯m not your real daughter, and I¡¯m scared you might not want me anymore. I want to help with the family business to secure my ce.¡± Her tears fell like burning droplets, piercing their hearts.

    Alice softly brushed Carmen¡¯s hair and reassured her, ¡°Hush now, sweetie. How could I ever leave you? You¡¯re my precious daughter.¡±

    Daxton quickly reassured her, ¡°Carmen, as long as I¡¯m part of this family, you will always have a ce here.¡±

    However, Daxton still wanted Carmen to adhere to Ronald¡¯s n. While he didn¡¯t fully grasp the intricacies of the business world, one thing was sure¡ªthis situation needed to be resolved promptly. Although Ronald¡¯s n may not have been perfect, it was undoubtedly the most practical solution for the time being.

    ¡°Carmen,¡± Daxton said with hesitation, ¡°regarding MindDrift, perhaps you should follow Dad¡¯s advice.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°Is there truly no other way?¡± she asked, her voice trembling.

    Alice gritted her teeth. ¡®I can¡¯t let Aubree keep gloating. Most importantly, she already knows a bit about what happened back then. What if she uncovers even more?¡¯

    The more Alice thought about it, the angrier she became. She seethed inwardly, ¡®Damn it! Aubree is a ticking time bomb. Why didn¡¯t I cover my tracks better back then to ensure she could never return to the Wilson family?¡¯

    Alice seethed internally, a clever glint flickering in her eyes. ¡°Carmen,¡± she said, ¡°the root of all this MindDrift trouble is that death. That streamer, Nick, is the source. We should investigate him and see if we can silence his family.

    ¡°Everyone loves money, and we have more than enough to spare. Let¡¯s pay off those online troublemakers and turn the tables on Aubree-get them to testify that it was Aubree who bribed them to defame MindDrift.¡±

    As rivals, that scenario had been entirely possible; it only required those self-identified victims to alter their narrative.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight, but she quickly concealed it with a look of uncertain concern. Pretending to be innocent, she asked, ¡°Do we have to do this? Won¡¯t it hurt Aubree?¡±

    Upon hearing this, Daxton nodded in agreement. ¡°Carmen, you¡¯re too kind for your good. The business world is ruthless- you¡¯re preupied with Aubree¡¯s well-being, but has she ever shown concern for you?¡±

    ¡°Fine¡­ I suppose,¡± Carmen said with a hint of insincerity.

    ¡°I¡¯ll look into that streamer¡¯s family for you,¡± Alice said.

    ¡°You¡¯re the best, Mom,¡± Carmen said with a bright smile as she nestled into Alice¡¯s embrace.

    With MindDrift now facing the consequences of the scandal, yzy¡¯s issues hardly received any attention. Aubree managed the situation with unexpected calmness. This moment wasn¡¯t just about the events-it was Aubree stepping into her growth.

    Aubree¡¯s investigators had already found some leads regarding Arthur¡¯s family. Lynn was pregnant and already well along in her pregnancy.

    The family had carefully crafted an image of ideal parents, iming their only concern was their child¡¯s well-being and refusing any financial help. This facade left yzy defenseless when the scandal broke. The issue wasn¡¯t the pregnancy itself, but the more profound implications it revealed.

    Aubree smirked at the collected materials. Just as I suspected,¡¯ she thought.

 Tried 229

    The Morgan family was highly traditional, with exceptionally high expectations for their children. While they believed they were doing what was best for Arthur, it was always on their terms-his true desires never seemed to matter to them.

    At the height of his rebellion, Arthur discovered live streaming-it felt like a dam bursting, releasing all of his pent-up emotions. He began to defy his parents¡¯ wishes and developed a strong dislike for school. Whatever his parents prohibited, he would do the exact opposite to spite them.

    Arthur¡¯s rebellion pushed his parents to the brink, yet they couldn¡¯t abandon the son they had poured so much love into. Around that time, Lynn discovered she was pregnant. With limited resources, raising two sons felt impossible, especially when their eldest was defiant, unmotivated, and constantly went against their wishes.

    Stanley and Lynn faced a painful dilemma-whether to keep trying to reform their rebellious eldest son or ce all their hopes on the unborn child. With limited resources, they could only afford to raise one child at a time.

    Aubree gradually opened her eyes. Just as the Morgan family reached a pivotal moment, Ronald made his entrance. Somehow, Ronald managed to persuade the Morgan family-no one knew what leverage he employed-to abandon Arthur. Their objective was clear: follow Ronald¡¯s directions and make Aubree¡¯s life unbearable.

    Aubree rubbed her forehead, thinking that rules, not warmth, shaped the Morgans. Lynn and Stanley didn¡¯t care who their son was-only that he conformed. Arthur slipped the leash, so now they¡¯re eyeing the next one, hoping to get it right this

    time.

    Now that Aubree understood everything, the following steps would be much easier. All that remained was to discover exactly what had happened to Arthur.

    A series of knocks sounded on the office door. ¡°Ms. Miller, Mr. Turner is here to see you,¡± Vincent announced.

    Before Vincent could even finish his sentence, the office door swung open. Bowen strolled in casually, making himself right at home as if he owned the ce. Aubree¡¯s mouth twitched in exasperation. ¡®Maybe it¡¯s time to enhance the office security, she thought.

    ¡°You may go now,¡± Aubree told Vincent. As he left, Vincent thoughtfully closed the door behind him for her.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at Bowen, both exasperated and amused. ¡°What brings you here?¡±

    Since returning from Shiyvania, this was the first time they met and honestly, she¡¯d been going out of her way to avoid him. Just because they hadn¡¯t met in person didn¡¯t mean Bowen would behave himself-he was still blowing up her phone. with texts and calls, as persistent as ever.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but wonder if their trip to Shiyvania had flipped some hidden switch in Bowen. ¡®How can anyone be this outrageously flirtatious?¡¯ she thought, exasperated. ¡®He¡¯s not even pretending anymore,¡¯

    Aubree still couldn¡¯t get over the fact that Bowen forgot their kiss after sobering up. That time at the bar didn¡¯t even count¨D this was considered her first real kiss. And he had forgotten it.

    The more Aubree dwelled on it, the angrier she became. She narrowed her eyes at Bowen, her gaze nowced with resentment and me, and she nowhere to vent it out.

    Bowen was utterly baffled by Aubree¡¯s re. ¡®What did I do this time? I haven¡¯t even done anything yet,¡¯ he thought.

    ¡°How about being my date for the g? Turner Group is bidding on a development project in the East District. The bidding g¡¯s tomorrow night-would you do me the honor and be my date, Bree?¡± He gave her his most charming smile, batting his eyes in an apparent attempt to win her over.

    Aubree was no longer the overlooked daughter of the Wilson family; she had be a shining star in the new media industry. Unbeknownst to her, a multitude of admiring gazes followed her everywhere¡ªeach one fueling Bowen¡¯s growing

    restlessness.

 Tried 230

    33

    At a recent business g, one of Bowen¡¯s associates-having somehow caught wind of his close ties with Bree-referred to him as someone who¡¯d always looked out for her. The man then subtly hinted that his younger son, just two years older than Aubree, was quite taken with her and hoped Bowen would y matchmaker.

    Bowen struggled to maintain hisposure. ¡®Guardian? Me?¡¯ he fumed inwardly. If he were going to stand by her side, it would be like the one who rightfully belonged there.

    Bowen didn¡¯t want to hold Aubree back-she deserved every chance to be her best self. But stripped of his status, he was nothing more than another face in the crowd, watching from the sidelines with all the rest. There was nothing he could do.

    But Bowen couldn¡¯t simply stand by and watch as those admirers inched closer to her. He needed to make it clear to everyone that he was anything but a shrewd investor-or some guardian figure.

    Aubree eximed inwardly, ¡®Was Bowen acting all sweet with me?¡¯

    Aubree¡¯s expression froze for a split second before morphing into sheer horror. ¡®Holy crap, that¡¯s terrifying! Is he up to no good again?¡¯ she thought.

    Aubree¡¯s expression grew wary. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m quite busy,¡± she replied.

    ¡°The g¡¯s tomorrow night. You don¡¯t have any evening sses, do you? I¡¯ll pick you up at the school gate after yourst one, and once the bidding ends, I¡¯ll bring you straight back. I promise it won¡¯t take long,¡± Bowen said.

    Aubree was about to refuse when something clicked. ¡°Wait-the East District project? Is it about developing the East District¡¯smercial hub?¡±

    Rithol City, the capital, was a bustling metropolis where every inch ofnd was prized. Yet the East District remained untouched, upied for years by holdout residents. After lengthy negotiations, they finally agreed to relocate. Now open for bidding, the area was set to be a modernmercial hub.

    Bowen nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the one.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Aubree said decisively.

    Bowen had no idea why Aubree had suddenly changed her mind, but he was pleased to have gotten what he wanted-and that was all that truly mattered. His spirits brightened instantly.

    The online controversy surrounding MindDrift continued to escte. Following Alice¡¯s advice, Carmen issued a public apology statement online while also reaching out to Nick¡¯s family.

    Ronald wanted Carmen to apologize and take full responsibility for the entire incident. However, Carmen carefully chose her words-she acknowledged that the events had indeed urred but skillfully avoided cing any me on yzy. What seemed like an apology on the surface was, in fact, a stubborn refusal to ept fault.

    Ronald had no idea. He was too caught up plotting with the Lawsons against Bowen and juggling the yzy situation. Neither was going anywhere, and the longer it all dragged out, the more anxious he became-afraid it might all spiral further out of control, leaving him in an even worse spot than before.

    The online bacsh against Carmen intensified after her apology statement, but she remained indifferent. That apology was solely for Ronald¡¯s benefit. Her immediate priority now was to reach out to the family and persuade them to scapegoat

    Aubree.

    200

    Carmen thought, ¡®As long as I can sort things out, Dad won¡¯t question how I do it. And once I seed, all I¡¯ll get is praise and greater authority!¡¯ Brimming with confidence, Carmen noted that Nick¡¯s family didn¡¯t immediately turn down her proposition. Soon enough, Carmen¡¯s message was forwarded straight to Aubree¡¯s phone.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, just as you predicted, Carmen has reached out to us,¡± someone reported.

    ¡°Agree to meet her and send me the address,¡± Aubree instructed, already nning how to arrange a gift for Carmen. Aubree checked her phone between sses and smirked. ¡®Well, I knew Carmen always had something up her sleeve, she thought.

    Aubree knew that if Ronald were in charge, he¡¯d be quick to assume full responsibility. With yzy under heavy scrutiny, even a slight misstep could unravel all the traps he¡¯did. A more strategic move, she figured, would be to shield MindDrift while continuing to apply pressure on yzy-maintaining leverage on both sides without overreaching.

    Aubree thought, ¡®He will force Carmen to admit she was wrong. But Carmen is far too proud for that-she sees apologizing as akin to admitting defeat. A sly smile crept onto Aubree¡¯s lips. ¡®If Carmen is too proud to concede, then I¡¯ll ensure she falls even harder!¡¯

 Tried 231

    <b>Chapter </b><b>231 </b>

    Nigel, better known as Nick, was an only child. Born with a fragile condition, he moved to thol City with his parents, who faced and sig while seeking medical treatment. With his attractive appearance, he quickly became one of the pioneen turn the early days of the be dring

    boom in Rithol City.

    With his striking looks and charming personality, Nigel initially attracted a following on yty

    viewership stagnated, leading him to transition to MindDrift eventually

    He aspired to improve himself and create a better life for his parents. He dedicated hemody to lind, uning goby mo before. However, circumstances changed.

    Carmen arranged to meet Levi and Leia at a chain hotel backed by the Wilson Group. This time, she came prepared, having learned from partners. Before arriving, she ordered the venue cleared, sent trusted staff to ready the private room, and ensued all arince cameras avere out of

    Upon arrival, their electronic devices were seized. The couple submitted quietly to Carmer¡¯s team, showing no resistance. Their eyes, dull and fees, resembled stagnant water. With their son gone, nothing else mattered to them. Their only remaining purpose was to see find¨Ct had taken their son¨Cdestroyed, along with its owner.

    Levi¡¯s voice was rough and strained, as if his vocal cords had been scraped raw with coarse sandpaper. ¡°Before you take my phone, can send re message?¡± he pleaded. Since Carmen needed their cooperation, her bodyguards were Eareful not to overstep and agreed to his requer

    Levi sent a text message to Aubree exining their current situation, which took Aubree by surprise. Looks like Carmen is ale doesn¡¯t matter.¡®

    Aubree thought. But

    Aubree nced down, her fingers sliding across the screen. A photo appeared on her phone, showing Levi and Leia being escorted into the hotel by a MindDrift executive. Her initial n was to have reporters secretly document the entire process and, ideally, leak their conversations to the public i didn¡¯t matter¨Cthis photo and the Mansells were all she needed.

    Aubree texted: [After you finish talking with Carmen, report exactly what she said.]

    After responding to the message, Aubree sent Vincent another text: [Send our people to this location, but keep their distance due t bodyguards. Once Carmen appears, instruct them to move in.]

    Inside the private room, ¡°Good afternoon,¡± Carmen said with a practiced smile, a bank card ced conspicuously in front of her ¡± are unnecessary.¡±

    Leia stared silently at Carmen, her eyes filled with intense hatred. It¡¯s you,<i>¡® </i>she thought bitterly. ¡°You killed Nige

    presence of

    After Nigel¡¯s death, Levi¡¯s hair turned gray overnight. His weary, vacant eyes only flickered with a trace of emotion when they fell upon Carmen Wilson,¡± he greeted.

    ¡°I won¡¯t waste time¨CI¡¯m truly sorry about what happened to Nick. That was never our intention,¡± Carmen said, ber expression carefully contraded. The tform has its ws, but problems reveal where we need to improve. Ideally, it would have been perfect from the start.¡±

    After a round of hollow pleasantries, Carmen finally cut to the chase, ¡°What¡¯s done is done. I hope you can find some peace.¡± She spoke und her voice grew hoarse, but the couple remained unmoved, expressionless, silent, and staring at her with cold, unblinking eyes.

    Carmen grew increasingly uneasy under their piercing stares. If not for her people in the room, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to stay. She frowned- done her homework. The Mansells had poured everything into Nigel¡¯s treatment, leaving behind nothing but bare walls. Even hister earni straight back into medical bills.

    ¡®Surely they wouldn¡¯t be so stubborn as to refuse the money?¡® Carmen wondered.

    She gave her assistant a subtle nod. With calm, the assistant slid a bank card across the table and said, ¡°Miss Wilson hopes you understand¨Cabile the ident was tragic, life goes on. This card holds 1.5 million dors¨Cenough to return home, buy a car, rebuild, and even hea live in caregiver. It should be more than enough to get you back on your feet.¡±

 Tried 232

    <b>Chapter </b><b>232 </b>

    Carmen remarked calmly, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Mansell, let¡¯s be realistic. You can¡¯t bring the dead back to life. However, money is something tangible you can possess, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡°,

    Leia struggled to hold back her anger as she red at Carmen. ¡®How can she smile after taking my son¡¯s life? Who cares about her filthy money?<i>¡± </i>she seethed internally.

    Under the table, Levi tightly sped Leia¡¯s hand. Unlike Leia, who openly expressed her hatred, he maintained a calm exterior. He understood all too well that Carmen held significant power in Rithol City¨Cthey stood little chance against her. ¡®I had to do as Ms. Miller instructed, Levi thought.

    ¡°Miss Wilson, I have a question,¡± Levi said, his voice hoarse but steady. ¡°Before Nigel¡¯s ident, he ended a livestream early due to health issues and was fined 300 thousand dors. Heter submitted a hospital report, but the tform rejected his appeal without exnation. Were you aware of this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Carmen paused, recalling only after her assistant¡¯s gentle reminder. She had established the policy of evading punishment herself, officially. Only intentional evasion would incur penalties, but in practice, anyone reported would inevitably face consequences.

    Carmen didn¡¯t care whether it was intentional or not. Every evasion meant profit, kept the streamers hooked, and gave the tform free publicity¨Ca triple win. She would, of course, take full advantage of it.

    Nigel¡¯s report, escted to Carmen due to his particr health circumstances, barely registered with her¨Cshe didn¡¯t even nce at it. She instructed her subordinates to handle it as they usually would. Carmen responded tly, ¡°I¡¯m vaguely aware of it.¡±

    Levi managed a grim smile for the first time since they¡¯d met. ¡°Because of that previous fine,¡± he said tly, ¡°the next time Nigel felt unwell and the opposing streamer threatened to report him, he gritted his teeth and forced himself toplete the punishment challenge.¡±

    Carmen couldn¡¯t understand why he brought this up. ¡®I treat everyone equally¨Cwhat¡¯s wrong with that?¡® she thought with disdain. ¡®Am I supposed to bend the rules just for Nigel?¡®

    ¡°We¡¯ll take the money. Thank you, Miss Wilson,¡± Levi said with a forced smile as he tucked the bank card into his pocket- sharply with the coldness in his eyes.

    e demeanor contrasting

    Carmen was indifferent to how he felt; as long as he epted the money, everything would proceed without issue. ¡°Now that¡¯s settled,¡± she said coldly, ¡°I need both of you to revise your statements. im that Nigel died of natural causes and that Aubree manipted you into tarnishing my reputation.¡±

    Leia¡¯s expression darkened, her eyes burning with rage. ¡®How can this woman have the audacity to distort the truth like this? If the tform hadn¡¯t threatened to ban Nigel for notpleting the punishment, would he have pushed himself to the brink, to lighten our load¨Cuntil it ultimately took his

    life?¡® she fumed inwardly.

    Levi, restraining Leia, said with chilling deliberation, ¡°We understand.¡±

    Carmen smiled smugly. <i>No </i>one could resist the lure of money¨Cand if they did, it only meant the price hadn¡¯t been high enough for Aubree¡¯s influence. A mere 1.5 million dors, and her people had already caved.

    The untouched dishes remained on the table as Carmen got up. She neither had the time nor <b>the </b>patience to dine <b>with </b>people of modest means<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Help yourselves,¡± she said with a fa?ade of politeness. ¡°I have more important matters to attend to.¡±

    ¡°Have <b>a </b>good day,¡± Leviremarked with a thin<b>, </b>cold smile. He and Leia watched Carmen leave, their eyes dark <b>with </b>barely concealed hatred.

    The phones were returned to them. Levi noticed a message from Aubree and gently patted Leia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°<b>Let¡¯s </b>follow Ms. <b>Miller¡¯s </b>lead Carmen Wilson¡¯s time is up.¡±

    <b>Vincent¡¯s </b>car was idling outside the hotel entrarice. As soon as he spotted Carmening <b>out</b><b>, </b><b>he </b><b>immediately </b><b>sent </b><b>out </b><b>an </b>alert<b>. </b><b>Before </b>Carmen cou fully exit the hotel<b>, </b><b>a </b>crowd <b>surged </b>toward her from a <b>distance</b>¨C<b>camera </b>crews, grieving families carrying <b>mourning </b><b>wreaths </b><b>and </b><b>protest </b><b>banners</b>, even patients still in hospital gowns¨Call rushing in her direction,

    ¡°MindDrift <b>kills</b><b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>Carmen </b><b>Wilson</b><b>, </b><b>pay </b><b>with </b><b>your </b><b>life</b><b>!</b><b>¡°</b>:

    08:10 Thu, 17 Jul <b>1 </b>

    ¡°Moneyundering is a crime! Shut down MindDrift!¡±

    The crowd¡¯s relentless shouting quickly drew the attention of passersby, many stopping to watch. Carmen¡¯s face went pale. Her itinerary was <b>meant </b><b>to </b>be foolproof, yet somehow, they had tracked her down.

    18

 Tried 233

    ¡°What¡¯re you watching?¡± In a ssroom at Rithol High School, Matilda leaned over to peek at Aubree¡¯s phone and asked.

    The live footage on the screen made her gasp. ¡®Isn¡¯t that Carmen?¡® she thought.

    Aubree smirked and said, ¡°Vincent is sharing with me a live feed of Carmen¡¯s current situation.¡±

    Carmen barely walked out of the hotel before the crowd surrounded her. Her assistant stepped forward, attempting to pacify them, but to no avail. Then, out of nowhere, someone picked up a stone and threw it at her.

    In an instant, as if inspired, the crowd began throwing whatever they could grab, and a barrage of objects fell mercilessly. Carmen scrambled for cover, clutching her head, and frantically dodging under the protection of her bodyguards.

    The crowd was massive, but the Wilson family¡¯s bodyguards were not pushovers. With the help of hotel security and staff, they finally brought the situation under control.

    Carmen tidied up her appearance and thought to herself, ¡®Everything will be fine as long as I shift the me to Aubree. I¡¯ve bribed the Mansell family, so the timing is just perfect.¡®

    She gave her assistant a meaningful nce, signaling him to usher Nigel¡¯s parents out of the private room, and turned to face the press.

    ¡°I¡¯m truly heartbroken by what has happened. However, our investigation has uncovered some new developments. I¡¯ve arranged to meet with Nigel¡¯s parents here today. Why don¡¯t we invite them out to address your questions?¡± Carmen said.

    The area was crowded with reporters and onlookers. As soon as Carmen spoke, her words were instantly broadcast across major online tforms.

    When Ronald, having just finalized a deal with the Lawson family, saw this, his blood boiled. ¡°This idiot!¡± he cursed.

    She¡¯d barely stepped out of the hotel when they ambushed her. Can¡¯t she tell that someone must have been wa they¡¯ve set a trap and are just waiting for her to fall in,¡® he thought.

    her? They let her speak because

    ¡°Bring people over here,¡± Ronald told his secretary while dialing Carmen¡¯s number. His eyes remained glued to the live stream online.

    Seeing Ronald¡¯s calling in, Carmen hesitated briefly before declining the call.

    ¡®She hung up on me? Yes, she did!¡® Ronald thought, his chest heaved with rage. ¡°Idiot! Didn¡¯t I tell her to stay home andy low after apologizing? Does she have a brain?¡± Ronald cursed.

    ¡®What the hell is she thinking?¡® Ronald fumed thinking about this.

    Meanwhile, Carmen was brimming with confidence. The reporters were excited when they heard her say Nigel¡¯s parents were present.

    After publicly confirming the incident when it first broke out, Nigel¡¯s parents had since refused all interviews with the media. If anyone could interview them and uncover something new, the front page would be theirs.

    Time ticked by, and everyone was eagerly waiting. Some began to grow impatient and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t she say Nigel¡¯s parents are here? Why haven¡¯t we seen them yet after so long?¡±

    Once somebody started making a fuss, others quickly joined in. Carmen started to panic. ¡®Where are they?¡® she thought.

    Just as Carmen was struggling to keep the situation under control, her assistant rushed out, pale¨Cfaced. ¡®Miss Wilson, Mr. Lawson and the others are not

    here.¡±

    ¡®What does it mean by they¡¯re not here?¡± she thought, anxiety spiking. ¡®Weren¡¯t they just in the private room when left?¡±

    ¡°All the hotel staff were mobilized to handle the chaos at the entrance. No one noticed when they lef,¡± the assistant said<b>, </b>

    <b>1/2 </b>

    08.11 Inu,

    The assistant¡¯s words were loud and clear; everyone heard it but no one believed. To them, it was just Carmen¡¯s anotherme excuse

    Anger and hostility surged simultaneously and needed only a single spark to explode. ¡°Look at the phone!¡± someone suddenly shouted, ¡°Nigal¡¯s parents just posted a video on social media!¡±

    Carmen instinctively looked at it, her hands shaking uncontrobly. ¡®What the hell is going on? she thought anxiously. ¡°Didn¡¯t they already ept the money? What game are they ying?¡® she thought.

    In the video, Nigel¡¯s parents were expressionless, speaking in a mechanical tone as they described how Carmen had bribed them and asked them to use Aubree. The bnce on the bank card Carmen had given them was the best evidence.

    <b><i>AD </i></b>

 Tried 234

    Moreover, Carmen had also just admitted meeting Nigel¡¯s parents. The scene erupted into chaos again, and the situation waspletely out of control. In the chaos, Carmen took several hard ps to the face.

    Ronald closed his eyes wearily. ¡°Forget it. Just send some bodyguards to bring her back alive.¡±

    ¡®Carmen¡­ Ronald sighed, a wave of resignation washing over him.

    Ronald pondered, ¡°The Wilson family has raised her for so many years. Now her studies are ruined, she¡¯s useless in other areas, and she¡¯s even started to defy me. It¡¯s better to marry her off; at least she¡¯ll have some value that way.

    Aubree switched off the video and thought, ¡®Carmen¡¯s doomed.¡¯

    ¡°This time, I want to make sure Carmen never gets back on her feet again,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°Got it, Miss Miller. Leave it to me,¡± her assistant said..

    After Carmen bribed Nigel¡¯s parents to smear Aubree, negative news about Carmen and MindDrift began to surface on the inte.

    The Wilson Group tried to suppress it, but to no avail. The family members of the victims looked utterly pitiful in interviews. The more tragic their stories, the more they resonated with the public.

    The incident in which Carmen bribed Nigel¡¯s parents significantly impacted Mind Drift while providing Aubree with a considerable advantage. This led people to question if Arthur¡¯s family had also been bribed to set up Aubree.

    In the days that followed, Carmen was overwhelmed and exhausted, while Aubree attended her sses in peace. It was a good day.

    Ronald¡¯s bodyguards rushed to Carmen¡¯s rescue, but amidst the crowd¡¯s rage, Carmen still ended up hospitalized. She was struck on the forehead with a stone and lost consciousness on the spot.

    The situation escted to the extent that the relevant authorities ordered MindDrift to cease operations and remove all its apps from app stores. They also issued a penalty notice demanding billions inpensation.

    That wasn¡¯t all. When Carmen woke up, multiplewsuits were awaiting her. Ronald couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch her to jail.

    Fortunately, Carmen wasn¡¯t the legal representative. After pulling some strings, Ronald managed to get her out of it and found a scapegoat to take the fall.

    go

    Carmen might have avoided imprisonment, but that didn¡¯t mean she was off the hook. Now, whenever she showed up, she would drown in public outrage. The money she made was nowhere near enough to cover the damages.

    The school¡¯s disciplinary action had also escted from a mandated suspension to outright expulsion.

    After school in the afternoon, Bowen¡¯s car was already waiting at the school gate.

    The winter uniform at Rithol High School was also very stylish. The girls had the freedom to choose between a skirt and pants. Of course, if any boys wanted to wear a skirt, that could be amodated too.

    Many fashionable students chose to wear skirts. Aubree, however, was afraid of the cold and wore pants. Even though there was a heater in the ssroom, she would still bring a long down coat to wear over her uniform when leaving school.

    V

    Tucking her chin into her cor and carrying her backpack, Aubree waspletely swallowed up by an oversized down jacket, looking adorably small and tender.

    Bowen sat in the car, his gaze openly greedy and unrestrained as he stared at Aubree. Only at moments like this could he reveal all his thoughts without holding back.

    As Aubree approached, he gradually suppressed the expression in his eyes, softening his gaze and lifting the corners of his lips into a gentle smile, transforming into the figure everyone praised as the refined gentleman.

    ¡°Cold?¡± Bowen asked as he got out of the car to greet her, instinctively reaching to touch Aubree¡¯s face.

    ¡°A little chilly,¡± Aubree replied.

    Aubree, not used to this kind of touch, instinctively tried to dodge. However, Bowen was quicker, gently enveloping her hand in his and said, ¡°It¡¯s warm in the car.¡±

    Wait, is this okay?¡¯ Aubree thought to herself. Her rational mind told her that she should break free, but the circumstances didn¡¯t allow it, as Bowen was holding on tightly.

    He walked so slowly as if dragging out the few dozen feet into an eternity. All eyes turned toward them, filled with various

    emotions.

    Aubree was considered a school celebrity. She was talented, sessful, and beautiful. Among all the words used to describe her, ¡°beautiful¡± was the most insignificant.

    In those gazes, there was more or less a trace of shock if Bowen was beside her?

 Tried 235

    Carmen was in the hospital, apanied by Alice and Daxton. Bryan had returned to the Wilson Group, busy dealing with the mess, while Ronald had gone to the bidding meeting with the Lawson family members.

    Trevor did call, but only to warn Carmen to behave herself. He said that if she couldn¡¯t solve problems, then she shouldn¡¯t create them. As a public figure, the repeated negative news surrounding the family had impacted his reputation. During this period, they had paid a significant amount of penalty fees.

    As a public figure, the repeated negative news surrounding the family had impacted his reputation. During this period, they had paid a significant amount of penalty fees.

    Bowen attended the bidding meeting for the East District development project with Aubree and Kelvin. As soon as they entered, Aubree noticed Ronald and was surprised.

    ¡®If I remember correctly, the Wilson Group isn¡¯t involved in this project,¡¯ she thought.

    In her previous life, the Turner Group once got into trouble with amercial development project. An ancient tomb was unearthed during construction near the project¡¯spletion.

    The government immediately ordered a halt, and as for the money that had poured in, they could only chalk it up to bad luck.

    The ancient tomb was massive. When the project eventually resumed, they had to refill the foundation and rebuild everything from scratch. The timeline dragged on, and the investment costs skyrocketed.

    After the project¡¯spletion, recovering the losses became a long and grueling process. It was the most unprofitable venture the Turner Group had ever undertaken; while not fatal, the inability to recover the working capital caused significant repercussions.

    In her previous life, the Wilson family seized this opportunity. Bryan made a series of strategic decisions that elevated the Wilson Group to a new level.

    However, what Bryan was unaware of was that Aubree had once stumbled upon his proposal drafts and quietly corrected some ws in them.

    The revised proposal drafts she worked on brought Bryan nothing but sess. By the time Bryan discovered the documents had been altered, Carmen had already taken all the credit for herself.

    Aubree bit her lip. She couldn¡¯t remember which project it was, except for the ambiguous interaction between Elizabeth, the CEO of the Lawson Group and the heiress of the Lawson family, and Bowen at the project bidding conference.

    That was why she agreed toe with Bowen, to see for herself whether this was the project. However, just as Aubree narrowed her eyes, she could already confirm it.

    Just as they walked in, Elizabeth¡¯s eyes lit up. She walked straight toward them,pletely stunned. Aubree noticed Ronald was standing by Elizabeth¡¯s side just as she entered.

    Their eyes met, sparks flying. Aubree sneered silently, thinking, ¡®So, Ronald, you¡¯re teaming up with the Lawson family to snatch this project from Bowen? Well then, you¡¯d better be prepared for what¡¯sing.¡¯

    ¡°Mr. Turner actually decided to grace us with his presence,¡± Elizabeth said. Her hurried steps slowed down as she approached Bowen.

    She was a dazzling beauty with thick red lips and wavy hair. Her suit jacket was casually draped over her shoulders, and her eyes were sharp andmanding. No wonder she could rise to the position of CEO in a prestigious, wealthy family.

    Elizabeth¡¯s voice snapped Aubree out of her thoughts. Bowen said with a reserved smile, ¡°It¡¯s a crucial project, and I¡¯m overseeing it personally.¡±

    Elizabeth smiled, too, poised and gracious. ¡°In that case, every one of us is on our own merits,¡± she said.

    Just then, Ronald joined them, and the three exchanged a few pleasantries. As if she had just noticed Aubree, Elizabeth turned to Bowen and asked, ¡°Mr. Turner, this is¡­ Care to introduce?¡±

    Ronald was standing right beside her, yet Elizabeth pretended not to know who Aubree was. Aubree¡¯s eyelid twitched, thinking, ¡®Well, I get it now. She¡¯s taken me as her love rival.¡¯

    The provocation in Elizabeth¡¯s gaze waspletely undisguised as if she were saying, ¡°See? After all this time, he still hasn¡¯t introduced you, not even once.¡±

    Aubree remained silent. She was a little eager to see how Bowen would respond.

    ¡°A young friend¡­ from home,¡± Bowen said, the words seemed to linger on the tip of his tongue before he finally spoke, his tone and demeanor ambiguous.

    Bowen smiled at Aubree, his gaze gentle and doting. Anyone with eyes could see she held a special ce in his heart.

    He turned to look at Aubree and said, ¡°This is Ms. Lawson, my business partner andpetitor. Who knows, you might work with her someday.¡± The distinction between closeness and distance was crystal clear.

 Tried 236

    Elizabeth had never seen anything wrong with how Bowen introduced her in the past. She used to take pride in being acknowledged as his business partner, the woman who stood closest to him in both professional and personal circles.

    Aubree¡¯s appearance made Elizabeth realize what true intimacy meant to Bowen. The business partner she used to take pride in was nothing more than a business associate.

    Elizabeth straightened up slightly and took a good look at Aubree. ¡®She¡¯s young, undeniably pretty, neatly dressed, still in a school uniform. She¡¯s the kind of student both parents and teachers like, ¡® she thought.

    She remained calm, wearing a polite smile and speaking in a friendly tone, ¡°I¡¯m Elizabeth. Nice to meet you.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes flickered. A silent battle began to brew. ¡®So, Elizabeth finally sees me as a real rival now?¡¯ she thought.

    ¡°Aubree,¡± she replied politely, not even ncing at Ronald standing by the side.

    Ronald was fuming. ¡®Are you blind? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m right here? You don¡¯t even say hello?¡¯ he thought.

    Ronald was seething inside, itching to put Aubree in her ce right then and there. But on the surface, he still wore a smile, revealing nothing.

    His eyes shifted slightly,nding on Bowen. ¡®Aren¡¯t you just riding on Bowen¡¯s backing? Let¡¯s see how long you can act smug when Bowen stops caring about you,¡¯ he thought.

    As the bidding meeting was still some time away, Aubree slipped off to the restroom.

    As everyone was aware, restrooms were notorious for randomly spawning important characters. Aubree stepped out, only to find Elizabeth waiting outside, clearly having been there for a while.

    Of all ces, can¡¯t she pick somewhere decent to sit down and talk? Why does she insist on blocking me at the restroom door? Doesn¡¯t she mind the smell?¡¯ Aubree thought.

    ¡°Aubree Miller, the founder of Bree Technology, the so-called leading figure in the new media livestreaming industry,¡± Elizabeth said with mockery, her meaning unclear.

    Elizabeth smirked, her eyes revealed disdain as if to say, ¡°Is that all?¡±

    Aubree shed an innocent grin, pretending not to catch her sarcasm, and said, ¡°How thoughtful of you to remember all this! Honestly, I almost forgot just how impressive I am.¡±

    Elizabeth choked on her words. ¡®Is this girl genuinely naive or just ying dumb?¡¯ she thought.

    Aubree¡¯s smile vanished, her eyes turning cold and sharp. ¡°Ms. Lawson, is there something?¡± she asked.

    ¡°If you¡¯re here to make friends and do business together in the future, I¡¯d be happy. But I¡¯m not someone you can push around if you¡¯re looking to create trouble,¡± she continued.

    Elizabeth¡¯s lips tightened slowly as she swept her gaze over Aubree. ¡°I never thought he¡¯d settle for some wet-behind-the- ears little girl like you,¡± she said.

    Aubree shrugged and said, ¡°Neither did I.¡±

    ¡°But what can I do? Even someone like me, just a kid, can make Bowen lower himself to pursue me,¡± she continued.

    ¡°What?¡± Elizabeth eximed. Bowen was close to Aubreetely was not a secret in their circle. Some spected that Aubree

    Shaper se

    was clinging to a powerful backer, while others believed Bowen simply recognized her potential and was making a preemptive investment.

    Elizabeth had agreed to the coboration with Ronald not long ago after his persuasion,rgely because she was told that Aubree had an unusually close rtionship with Bowen.

    However, she had assumed that Aubree was shamelessly clinging to Bowen. ¡®How could Bowen possibly be the one pursuing her? she thought.

    Aubree grinned at Elizabeth¡¯s shocked expression. ¡°Oh? You didn¡¯t know about that? Bowen is actually pursuing me.¡±

    She then, with a distressed expression, said, ¡°But I haven¡¯t said yes yet.¡±

    ¡°No way!¡± Elizabeth scoffed.

    Elizabeth couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°What makes you worthy of his pursuit? I wed my way up through so many people in the Lawson family to take control of the Lawson Group.

    ¡°Family background, looks, ability; I¡¯m not inferior to you in any of them. What makes you so special? What gives you the right?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Just because she¡¯s Aubree,¡± Bowen¡¯s voice cut in. He came without Kelvin by his side; he was alone.

    Bowen strode over to Aubree and casually put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. He had overheard their conversation, and yet far from denying anything, he took an unmistakable stand by Aubree¡¯s side.

    Elizabeth was heartbroken. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, her face a mask of bitter resentment.

    ¡°She¡¯s Aubree, and that¡¯s all that matters,¡± Bowen said. ¡®As long as it¡¯s her, nothing else matters. I¡¯ll always love her,¡¯ he thought to himself.

    ¡°You!¡± Elizabeth was overwhelmed with grief and anger. He¡¯s heard our conversation, yet not only did he show no sign of being upset, he¡¯s even admitted to it outright!¡¯ she thought to herself.

    Elizabeth was heartbroken, but she was used to being strong. Tears and tantrums are for the weak; I¡¯ll snatch him back gradually,¡¯ she thought.

    Elizabeth clenched her fist, nails digging deep into her palm as she regainedposure. ¡°The bidding is about to begin,¡± she said coldly. ¡°See youter.¡±

 Tried 237

    The bidding meetingmenced. It was a government-backed project with policy support. The winning bidder would be guaranteed a profit. It was also a good opportunity for image-building. Manypany leaders and CEOs attended.

    Rithol City was not short of well-known entrepreneurs, let alone the small yers. However, everyone present knew that, in the end, it woulde down to a showdown between the Tuner and Lawson families.

    Initially, they had no faith in the Lawson family, assuming the project was as good as in the bag for the Turner Group. But to their surprise, the Lawson family had teamed up with the Wilson family.

    Taking a closer look at the girl beside Bowen, ¡®Wait a minute, isn¡¯t that Aubree, the prodigy entrepreneur everyone¡¯s been buzzing abouttely?¡¯ they thought to themselves.

    Elizabeth¡¯s feelings for Bower weren¡¯t a secret in their circle. Aubree and Ronald were biologically father and daughter. As for Aubree and Bowen, they were the subject of many rumorstely. Tonight was bound to be full of drama.

    Soon, the bidding meeting started. Most people knew they were just there to make up the numbers, but still, what if they

    won?

    One by one, thepanies took the stage to present their proposals, each pulling out all the stops. Aubree found herself genuinely entertained by the spectacle.

    It¡¯s a rare experience. I should learn everything I can. Who knows, maybe I¡¯ll be the one up there making a bid in the future, Aubree thought to herself.

    The panel of representatives and experts remained poker-faced, seemingly unimpressed. Everyone knew the real show had yet toe.

    The showdown featured the representatives of the Lawson Group and the Turner Group. While the earlier proposals were impressive, they were dwarfed by these two industry titans. They were at different levels.

    Elizabeth was seated next to Bowen. ¡°Mr. Turner, do you think Turner Group will acquire the project this time?¡± she asked.

    Bowen, sping his hands over his abdomen, said, ¡°Every one of us is on our own merits.¡± He maintained a polite but nomittal smile, offering no definitive answer.

    Bowen casually looked toward Ronald. His team had already conducted a preliminary assessment of the Lawson Group¡¯s finances. Normally, the Turner Group¡¯s bid would surpass that of the Lawson Group. But now, with Ronald in the picture, that assessment had be irrelevant.

    Bowen¡¯s intervening fingers tapped rhythmically as he waited. After the presentations, there would be a grace period for bidders to finalize or modify their offers.

    The upper floors were reserved for the bidders. The soundproofing was impable, and one could even st music at full volume inside, and not a single sound would escape.

    ¡°Execute n B and raise our bid,¡± Bowen instructed, tapping his fingers decisively on the table.

    The Turner Group must secure this project at all costs,¡¯ he thought.

    When Bowen asked to ¡°raise the bid,¡± it wasn¡¯t just increasing the amount but doubling up. The funds the Wilson Group could offer the Lawson Group might exceed what they had initially set aside. Even with the bid doubled, Bowen was not confident of winning.

    Just as Bowen was weighing whether to raise the bid further, Aubree cut in sharply, ¡°Give up now.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Kelvin looked at her in shock. Thinking that Aubree didn¡¯t understand the stakes, he quickly exined, ¡°Miss Miller, when this project ispleted, the long-term returns will be enormous.

    ¡°Not justpanies in Rithol City, plenty of businesses from other states are eyeing this piece of the pie. We can¡¯t afford to give up.

    ¡°With the Lawson Group allied with the Wilson Group now, even raising our bid might not secure the project. Didn¡¯t we avoid n B from the start precisely because n A was the safest for the Turner Group?¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°Even if we win the bid, doubling the investment would put the Turner Group in a tough spot, wouldn¡¯t it? Who can guarantee this project will go smoothly? If we can¡¯t recoup the capital, even the Turner Group would take a heavy hit, right?¡± she continued.

    She had no idea how much Bowen meant by raising the bid, but just the amount invested in her previous life had been enough for the Wilson family to seize the opportunity and make a massive profit. This time, they would probably walk away

    even more smug.

    ¡®Regardless, it¡¯s for Bowen¡¯s sake or to make the Wilson family cry with regret in the future, Bowen can¡¯t take part in this bidding,¡¯ she thought.

 Tried 238

    Aubree couldn¡¯t just tell Bowen that something would go wrong with thisnd in the future. She hadn¡¯t conducted any investigation, and no way she could im to know in advance. ¡°That would be way too suspicious, she thought.

    She gripped Bowen¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Is this project a must for Turner Group?¡±

    Bowen¡¯s gaze met her earnest gaze, and he said, ¡°No.¡±

    ording to their estimates, this project was highly profitable. However, even if the Turner Group lost it, there would be no impact.¡±Trust me. Drop the bid,¡± Aubree said firmly.

    Bowen was slightly hesitant. ¡®Bree does have a point,¡¯ he thought. ¡°If any unforeseen issues were to arise during development, it would be a real headache for Turner Group.¡±

    Kelvin, by the side, was anxious. While he admitted Aubree¡¯s money-making ideas were truly ingenious, she clearlycked expertise in project investments. He was worried Bowen would agree to give up just to please Aubree.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, we can¡¯t just walk away. Many board members are eyeing this project,¡± Kelvin said.

    Aubree was silent, just watching Bowen as she waited for his final answer. If he still chose to bid, she wouldn¡¯t stop him again. ¡®It¡¯s really too much to ask him to give up the bid just because of a few words from me, without any evidence,¡¯ she thought.

    Bowen fell silent. ¡°Bree, are you¡­ Are you saying you know this project will run into troubleter?¡± he asked.

    Aubree froze. She didn¡¯t expect Bowen to be this sharp. He caught the true meaning behind her words right away. ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t have any evidence to prove it. Do you trust me?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Kelvin, drop the bid,¡± Bowen said.

    He trusts me!¡¯ Aubree thought to herself.

    Bowen¡¯s brown eyes met hers, unwavering. ¡°I trust you, Bree. I believe every word you say,¡± he said.

    Kelvin clutched his head in frustration. ¡®What the hell is this? No investigation, no evidence, and just one word from Miss Miller, and we¡¯re giving up?¡¯ he cursed deep down. ¡®Boss is blinded by love!¡¯

    Kelvinn could only weep silently.

    In reality, Bowen wasn¡¯t acting on mere emotion. This project would certainly benefit Turner Group¡¯s development, but only if it could bepleted smoothly, without any major setbacks along the way.

    Doubling the investment would pose substantial risks for Turner Group. The project timeline wasn¡¯t short, and if anything went wrong, they might not recoup the capital at all, or the payback period could be significantly extended.

    After weighing all angles, giving up seemed like a wise choice. ¡°Leave the board to me; I¡¯ll take full responsibility,¡± Bowen said.

    Kelvin could only swallow his remaining words. ¡®Forget it. As long as Boss is happy,¡¯ he thought resignedly.

    With the bidding about to begin, Kelvin rushed to inform the organizers that Turner Group was withdrawing from the bid.

    Back to her seat in the first-floor lobby, Elizabeth wore a look of absolute confidence. ¡°Mr. Turner said earlier that it woulde down to our abilities. Well, I¡¯m afraid this time¡­ I¡¯m just more capable,¡± she said.

    The sealed bids from all participating corporations had been delivered to the tendermittee. Everyone was now waiting

    for the final result.

    The Lawson Group or the Turner Group?¡¯ they wondered.

    Most people still believed the Turner Group had the better shot at winning. Some, eager to curry favor with Bowen, were already rushing to congratte him.

    ¡°Looks like this project will end up in the hands of the Turner Group after all. Mr. Turner is young, capable, and far-sighted. If my useless son were even half as impressive, I¡¯d be grinning in my sleep,¡± someone said.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, I wonder if I could have the honor of having a meal with you after you win the bid? I have a project on my end, but not sure if you¡¯ll be interested,¡± another person said.

    ¡°With Mr. Turner in the game, we can only tag along for a ride.¡±

    Bowen smiled mysteriously and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid the winner this time is likely Ms. Lawson. I¡¯ve withdrawn from the bidding.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± That was everyone¡¯s first reaction. Even Elizabeth froze in shock.

    Meanwhile, the tendermittee officially announced Lawson Group as the winning bidder.

    ¡°Why?¡± Elizabeth couldn¡¯t understand. ¡®Why did they just withdraw?¡¯

    A sense of humiliation surged in her heart. ¡®Did you look down on me?¡¯ she thought to herself. Winning the bid didn¡¯t bring her any joy at all. ¡®Bowen, am I so insignificant to you?¡¯

    Elizabeth red at Bowen, demanding an exnation. Bowen found it strange. ¡°Ms. Lawson, you should be happy,¡± he said.

    He checked his watch and said, ¡°I need to send my girl home. She has school tomorrow. Excuse me.¡±

    Elizabeth stared at the backs of the two as they walked away, eyes zing with fury.

 Tried 239

    At some point, Ronald walked up to Elizabeth¡¯s side and said, ¡°Looks like I was wrong when I said my dear daughter had

    ¡°Impressive! She actually managed to win Bowen¡¯s heart.¡±

    He seemed to sigh in contemtion, but his gaze never left Elizabeth¡¯s face. Her expression was terrifyingly grim. In Elizabeth¡¯s eyes, Bowen was the epitome of perfection-so exceptional he was almost untouchable.

    She had been chasing after him for as long as she could remember. Unlike the others who threw themselves at him just because they liked him, she believed that as long as she became outstanding enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, he would eventually notice her.

    ¡®But why? A clueless little girl, barely grown. What made her worthy?¡¯ Elizabeth thought, puzzled.

    Elizabethposed herself and said, ¡°Mr. Wilson, one should know where to draw the line.¡±

    Ronaldughed. He couldn¡¯t care less who Elizabeth liked; all he wanted was to rope in the Lawson Group to help him take down the Turner Group and Aubree.

    ¡®So far, the results have been pretty good, Ronald thought smugly. It was, in a way, one bit of good news that had managed to lift his spirits a little over the past few days.

    ¡°The project¡¯s now ours. Just as we agreed earlier, Wilson Group gets 40%, and Lawson gets 60%,¡± Ronald said.

    After all, Elizabeth was a seasoned businesswoman. She quickly masked her emotions and put on a strictly professional demeanor.

    ¡°Of course, this project is a juicy cut we snatched right from under Turner Group¡¯s nose. If it seeds, Elizabeth, your standing will soar far beyond what it was before. Only a blind person wouldn¡¯t see who¡¯s truly superior,¡± Ronald said.

    Ronald¡¯s words struck a chord with Elizabeth. She couldn¡¯t wait for Bowen to finally see her existence and realize who was truly the one most suited for him.

    ¡°I n to invest more to push the project forward faster,¡± she said.

    After snatching a project right out from under Bowen Turner¡¯s nose, Ronald was in high spirits the past two days. The East District project also helped him regain his footing at the Wilson Group after all the recent drama.

    Bryan had also returned to the Wilson Group, but Ronald still held the chairman¡¯s position while Bryan was the General Manager.

    As Ronald put it, he had to keep a close eye on Bryan now, as nobody knew what reckless actions he might take out of guilt toward Aubree.

    ¡°Have the Morgan family turn up the heat on Aubree,¡± Ronald ordered.

    Even before the uproar surrounding MindDrift had died down, yzy was already caught up in its own drama.

    A video of the entire Morgan family went viral on the inte. The setting was a hospital. In the video, Arthury silently in bed, his body hooked up to numerous medical devices.

    Behind the hospital bed stood various members of the Morgan family, each with different expressions but all sharing the

    same overwhelming grief on their faces.

    ¡°Are ordinary people¡¯s lives any less valuable?¡±

    ¡°If the life of that MindDrift¡¯s live streamer, Nick, matters, my son¡¯s doesn¡¯t. Is that so?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s just a teenager; his life¡¯s just begun!¡±

    ¡°Aubree, you and your team have gone too far! You keep investigating. Why didn¡¯t you give us any exnation?¡±

    The video reignited the public outrage that had just begun to subside. With Carmen¡¯s incident still fresh in everyone¡¯s minds, the condemnation of Aubree became even more relentless.

    A teenagery in a hospital bed, hooked up to various instruments, his deathly pale face visible, while his family stood behind him, weeping uncontrobly. Who wouldn¡¯t be moved by such a sight?

    The people rallied together, waving banners and demanding yzy¡¯s shutdown. Yet none realized that yzy and MindDrift were worlds apart.

    While MindDrift was notorious for pushing boundaries and exploiting its streamers for sensational content and quick profits, yzy enforced a strict zero-tolerance policy against any vitions.

    Aubree had Vincent keep close tabs on Arthur. Almost the moment the video went live, she received messages from Vincent.

    [Our people are keeping watch from a hidden spot in the hospital. Today, the entire Morgan family entered the ward through another hospital entrance, avoiding all the reporters. In line with our investigation, Arthur¡¯s mother is pregnant. Judging from her belly, she¡¯s probably six to seven months pregnant.]

    [The video must have just been shot and uploaded. They¡¯re still at the hospital now, with reporters swarming outside. There¡¯s no way they can leave anytime soon.]

 Tried 240

    It was the weekend, and Aubree was at Rithol High School for a self-study session.

    In the second semester of the senior year at Rithol High School, weekend self-study sessions were offered. A teacher was in the ssroom, and attendance was voluntary.

    Those who were willing to study could ask the teacher for help. Aubree attended the Odiondian self-study session as it was more efficient with a teacher avable for guidance.

    The moment Aubree received Vincent¡¯s message, she immediately packed up her things.

    As Aubree watched the video, she noticed Arthur¡¯s mother carefully avoided showing her abdomen. ¡®You¡¯re so scared?¡¯ she scoffed deep down.

    It looked like they had decided to give up on Arthur and were afraid that people would discover she was expecting a second child and criticize them.

    Aubree pondered for a while, ¡®If I were Ronald, and knowing that the Morgan family had prepared to give up what would I do?¡¯

    on Arthur,

    Suddenly, Aubree¡¯s expression turned grim. With no time to pack, she haphazardly shoved everything into her backpack and rushed out. ¡°Vincent, keep a close watch on the hospital¡­¡±

    ¡°Boss, I was about to call you. Arthur¡¯s been rushed to the ICU!¡± Vincent said on the phone.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Aubree couldn¡¯t help cursing. She had nned to deal with Carmen first before resolving yzy¡¯s matters. Once that was settled, she would take advantage of the newly released live streaming regtions tounch features like livestream sales and PK battles.

    Who would have thought Ronald would get so desperate from the pressure I put on him? And so soon he made reckless moves without hesitation!¡¯ Aubree thought to herself.

    As a discarded pawn, Arthur¡¯s only remaining value was in his death. If he died, public outrage would reach its peak, and yzy could never wash the blood off its hands, even if matters were resolvedter.

    All that Aubree could do now was race to the hospital, either to awaken some conscience in the Morgan family, or, if that failed, to expose the ugly truth.

    Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t have any concrete evidence yet. All that she could do was try to ease the situation as much as possible for now.

    She didn¡¯t expect Arthur¡¯s parents to be this ruthless. They were every bit as heartless as the Wilson family.

    Aubree rushed out of the ssroom in a frantic hurry,pletely missing Matilda¡¯s hesitant look.

    She had just rushed outside the school and was about to hail a cab heading to the hospital when she spotted a familiar license te. ¡®Isn¡¯t it Bowen¡¯s car?¡¯ she thought.

    The next second, her phone buzzed. ¡°Get in,¡± Bowenmanded.

    Aubree didn¡¯t dwell on how Bowen always seemed to know everything. She just slid into the car without hesitation.

    ¡°To the City Hospital,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°To the Military Hospital,¡± Bowen cut in before Aubree finished speaking.

    ¡°Arthur has already been transferred to the Military Hospital,¡± Bowen exined curtly.

    Aubree¡¯s mind went nk for a moment. ¡°You¡­¡± she stammered. ¡°Since when have you been keeping tabs on this too?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping tabs on everything about you,¡± Bowen said. He seemed to have guessed what she was about to say and spoke up a step ahead of her.

    Aubree stared at him for a long while. ¡®Come to think about it, whenever I¡¯m in a tough spot, he¡¯ll always show up and help me out in some way,¡¯ she realized.

    ¡°Sometimes, public opinion can be turned into a weapon against the outside world.¡± The car moved smoothly as Bowen spoke, his voice calm and unhurried. He was guiding her¡­

    ¡°I let those reporters into the hospital. Once the media found out that Arthur was being moved to the ICU and was about to be transferred to the military hospital, the Morgan family had no choice but to agree to the transfer in front of the cameras. He¡¯ll be fine,¡± Bowen exined.

    After hearing that, Aubree couldn¡¯t help but genuinely admire him. Those reporters were most likely nted by Ronald, ready to pounce for the first interview and put pressure on her if something happened to Arthur. ¡®

    Who would¡¯ve thought that pressure would end up turning back on him?¡¯ Aubree thought.

    Suddenly, Aubree¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Don¡¯t go to the Military Hospital; head to the City Hospital first. Arthur¡¯s mother must still be there!¡± Aubree said.

    With Arthur transferred to the Military Hospital and Lynn forced to stay out of sight, his father must have gone with him,¡¯ Aubree thought. ¡°This is my perfect chance to expose everything.¡¯

 Tried 241

    The car pulled up at the City Hospital downstairs. Before getting out, Aubree nced at Bowen. Aren¡¯t youing with me? she thought.

    Bowen smiled gently, his eyes full of doting affection, as if an iceberg had melted into a warm ocean. ¡°Go ahead. You can

    handle this.¡±

    His Breeze was smart, rational, and brave. She would grow step by step into an unshakable towering tree. What he would do was clear the unnecessary obstacles from her path.

    Stanley had apanied Arthur to the Military Hospital, leaving Lynn and Arthur¡¯s grandparents behind. Lynn hid in a ward, while the elderly couple desperately tried to block the reporters attempting to barge in for an interview.

    Ethan and Samson were leading a team of bodyguards clearing the path. The moment the reporters spotted Aubree, they lunged forward like a pack of starved wolves catching the scent of prey.

    Fortunately, Ethan and his team were around, stopping the frenzied reporters from getting anywhere near her.

    ¡°Would you please step aside? I need to speak with Mrs. Morgan,¡± Aubree said politely.

    Aubree was polite. The two elders recognized her and red at her with undisguised hatred, wishing they could tear her

    apart.

    ¡°You murderer! Is ruining my grandson not enough for you? And now you¡¯re after my daughter-inw, too? Get out!¡± the two shouted.

    At that moment, Ethan and his team had already pushed the reporters out into the hallway, while Samson and two bodyguards stayed to protect Aubree. Therefore, the two only snarled empty threats and did nothing.

    ¡°Without me here, those reporters would¡¯ve already barged in, right? Mrs. Morgan clearly doesn¡¯t want to be seen. Should I call them back?¡± Aubree¡¯s smile remained unchanged, yet it sent chills down the elderly couple¡¯s spines.

    We¡¯ve lived our whole lives, and yet we were frightened by this little brat? th

    ¡®But what exactly did she mean by those words?¡¯ they wondered.

    ight to themselves.

    The elderly couple exchanged uneasy nces. Without their son¡¯s presence, they were at a loss. ¡®But he did say that no one was allowed to be in, and the daughter-inw¡¯s pregnancy must be kept a secret, they thought.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t in a hurry; she was waiting. Themotion outside was loud enough for Lynn to hear from the room.

    True enough, her voice came from the ward. ¡°Miss Miller, talk to me if there¡¯s anything. Please don¡¯t make things difficult for my inws. They¡¯re elderly and can¡¯t take stress,¡± Lynn said.

    Interesting! They could stand up to bodyguards but crumble at my words?¡¯ Aubree thought, speechless for a moment. ¡®But none of that really matters; as long as I achieve my goal.

    Aubree stepped into the ward with Samson standing guard outside, and even Arthur¡¯s grandparents couldn¡¯t get close.

    Lynn sat by the window; her baby bump was prominent. Just by appearance alone, she looked thoughtful and intelligent. The Morgan family was indeed a well-educated household. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have ced such high expectations on

    their child.

    ¡°Miss Miller, what do you want to talk to me about? Let me make it clear. The Morgan family will not take back our words,¡± Lynn said. The unspoken meaning was clear; she had no intention of betraying Ronald.

    Aubree hummed in acknowledgment and took a seat. ¡°Mrs. Morgan, please don¡¯t get agitated. It¡¯s not good for the baby,¡± she said.

    Lynn instinctively shielded her pregnant belly with both hands. Seeing the scene, a pang of inexplicable sorrow welled up

    inside Aubree.

    ¡®Arthur¡¯s just a kid. He merely wants to break free from his parents¡¯ so-called ¡®good intentions. Yet they treat him as if he were disposable, tossing him aside without a second thought. Isn¡¯t that what happened to me in my previous life?¡¯ she thought.

    No, he was braver. He dared to fight back while in my previous life, I had only obeyed, Aubree thought.

    I¡¯d like to talk with you about how Arthur ended up in this vegetative state, relying on various life support systems to keep nis vital signs going,¡± Abree said.

    ynn¡¯s face darkened. She had made up her mind that no matter what Aubree said, she wouldn¡¯t listen to her.

    Aubree studied her expression and thought, ¡®So, you think the more you say, the more likely you¡¯ll slip up and refuse to tall o me? Still, your expression has answered many of my questions.¡¯

 Tried 242

    Seeing that Lynn was not responding, Aubree continued, ¡°As far as I understand, you, Mr. Morgan, and the elders at home are all extremely strict, especially when ites to your child.

    ¡°You mapped out Arthur¡¯s entire future, deciding exactly what he should be doing at every stage of his life, with everything expected to meet your standards.¡±

    Lynn¡¯s eyes flickered at Aubree¡¯s words, and her gaze snapped toward her.

    ¡°In junior high school, Arthur was expected to score well to get into Rithol High School. Coincidentally, that¡¯s the school I currently attend,¡± Aubree said, her tone rxed and casual as if chatting with a friend.

    Her words didn¡¯t leave Lynn rattled. ¡®Where on earth did this girl learn all this? These are strictly our family matters. How did an outsider possibly know them in such detail?¡¯ Lynn thought.

    In actual fact, Aubree was only guessing and piecing things together based on what she already knew. Families like the Morgans would always want their children to be the best.

    When it came to getting into high school, from junior high, Rithol High School was the top choice. That was obvious. Lynn¡¯s expression also confirmed what Aubree had said.

    ¡°He started to rebel, to slip out of your control. In your eyes, he was a wed program. If there was an error, it had to be corrected. If it couldn¡¯t be corrected, it had to be erased.

    ¡°The child you¡¯re carrying now gave you an opportunity, a choice,¡± Aubree said. Lynn held her belly protectively, her expression full of caution, hearing this.

    ¡°But you couldn¡¯t afford to raise both children, so you chose the second child, sacrificing Arthur. He spent years suffocating under that pressure; so what exactly did you do to him?

    ¡°Was it the constant pressure that drove Arthur to his breaking point?¡± Aubree pressed, studying every flicker of emotion on Lynn¡¯s face.

    Before Lynn could even catch her breath, Aubree cut in, ¡°No, Arthur¡¯s still a kid. Al life. Deep down, he still loved his parents.

    was to have a say in his own

    ¡°But when you realized you couldn¡¯t force him to jump on his own, you took matters into your own hands.¡±

    Lynn was stunned and broke down. ¡®Everyone believed Arthur had jumped on his own ord¡­¡¯ she thought.

    Aubree was shaken to her core. She thought this family had only pushed Arthur to his death; she never expected them toy hands on him. ¡®Parents like this¡­ How sad!¡¯ she thought.

    Aubree¡¯s voice, without her realizing it, wasced with fury. ¡°You pushed him off that building! Who did it? You? Or Mr. Morgan?

    ¡°Was it him? Even a vicious tiger won¡¯t eat its cubs. You guys are worse than animals!¡± Aubree gritted her teeth and spat out the words, her anger barely contained.

    The secret Lynn had buried deep in her heart was suddenlyid bare with such certainty. She waspletely stunned on the spot and trembled for a long moment, unable to utter a word.

    Aubree cut her off before she could say a word. ¡°Now, let me guess what exactly made you resort to such brutality,¡± she said. ¡°Right when you were hesitating over keeping your second child, Ronald appeared. What did he offer you-a pile of cash?¡±

    Aubree narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°No, that¡¯s not enough. In your n, your child has to be sessful. So, an executive position at the Wilson Group would fit your ambitions perfectly, right?¡± Lynn¡¯s face turned deathly pale, utterly speechless.

    ¡°Ronald gave you a hefty sum and promised your younger son an executive position at Wilson Group. You happily gave up Arthur for that. And as for today¡¯s sudden transfer to another hospital. I doubt it was really an emergency. Most likely, it was deliberately arranged.

    ¡°Still hoping your husband wille back in time to save you? Don¡¯t count on it; he won¡¯t be here anytime soon. As for Arthur, he¡¯s safe at the Military Hospital.¡±

    As Aubree spoke herst word, Lynnpletely broke down. ¡°You¡¯re lying! These are all just your wild guesses!¡± she shricked.

    Aubree shrugged nonchntly and said, ¡°You should exin that to the reporters.¡±

    The door was pushed open violently. Arthur¡¯s grandparents were gagged and restrained to the side as the reporters, having overheard the entire conversation, rushed in eagerly.

    The reporters¡¯ eyes lit up at the sight of Lynn¡¯s baby bump. sh erupted, and amid that stark white light, Lynn felt as if sh had fallen into an ice-cold abyss.

 Tried 243

    Outside City Hospital, Bowen received a call. ¡°Mr. Turner, as instructed, we¡¯ve anonymously reported the suspicious circumstances surrounding Arthur¡¯s fall to the police. They¡¯ve dispatched officers to the Military Hospital to investigate,¡± the

    caller said.

    Meanwhile, at the Military Hospital, Arthur was already out of danger. Before Stanley could put on his ¡°doting father¡± act for the media, several uniformed officers appeared and shed their badges at him.

    ¡°Sir, we¡¯re the city police. You¡¯re suspected of attempted murder. Pleasee with us,¡± an officer said.

    The news about Stanley¡¯s arrest by the police spread quickly. Simultaneously, the intense discussion between Lynn and Aubree went viral, instantly escting the incident.

    Arthur¡¯s grandparents were also taken away for investigation. Since Lynn was pregnant, she received special consideration. She wasn¡¯t allowed to leave Rithol City for the time being and was required to cooperate with the police at all times. Arthur was also ced under protective custody.

    When the news broke out, Ronald was livid. He never intended for this incident to directly take down yzy; he only wanted the Morgan family to stir up controversy online to prevent the truth from surfacing.

    ording to Ronald¡¯s n, yzy would be bogged down by this incident and take a massive hit. He would then seize the

    hance to prop up Carmen¡¯s MindDrift and crush yzy.

    He never expected Aubree, amidst her troubles, to sabotage MindDrift. But then again, Carmen was just a fool. She couldn¡¯t wait to jump right into the trap set for her.

    MindDrift was beyond salvation, but Ronald found somefort in the increasing public bacsh against live streaming.

    Since MindDrift is doomed, I might as well make Aubree suffer too. It would be even better if the Morgan family could stir ip more drama. If Arthur were dead and that sparked public outrage, it would lead to the best oue,¡¯ he thought.

    However, who would¡¯ve thought that in the end, the very fire Ronald started end

    With the Morgan family under investigation and Bowen discreetly passing message public attention online, causing the city police to remain vignt.

    urning him instead?

    Situation had garnered intense

    As for Ronald, he was uncertain if the authorities would uncover the truth. Justice had a long reach, and he no longer had time to focus on teaching Aubree a lesson. His top priority was to figure out how to distance himself from the entire situation.

    At this point, Aubree knew she didn¡¯t need to lift a finger; the situation would naturally ease by itself. In the end, the oue was as she had expected.

    Then came an unexpected twist: Arthur regained consciousness and revealed how his father had plotted to push him off the building.

    As a result, the entire Morgan family was convicted on varying degrees of charges. Lynn, overwhelmed, suffered a miscarriage. However, even after her recovery, there was no way for her to escape imprisonment.

    Upon his discharge from the hospital, Arthur was picked up by his maternal grandparents, who lived in another city. Unfortunately, Ronald managed to walk away unscathed.

    He had only reached an agreement with the Morgan family; he never explicitly told them what to do. He provided the money, and they handled the rest. Whatever methods the Morgan family used had nothing to do with him.

    Aubree remained undeterred. Her mission now was to dismantle the Wilson Group step by step. Once that colossal, towering tree finally toppled, it would mark the demise of the Wilson family.

    Controversial incidents rted to livestreaming kept cropping up one after another. Not long after, new regtions were introduced to tighten control over the industry. Seizing the opportunity, Aubreeunched two new livestreaming channels: product-based livestream sales and PK-style interactive battles.

    The official announcement specifically stated that the purpose of PK was to encourage mutual promotion and learning between streamers. If the tform detected any vitions or inappropriatenguage, the livestream would be immediately shut down, and in severe cases, the ount might be permanently terminated.

    Unlike MindDrift¡¯sck of boundaries, yzy¡¯s approach was more humane and regted. With theunch of these two new livestream formats, yzy experienced another surge in traffic. Of course, some streamers still tried to bend the rules and push the limits, but things remained within control.

 Tried 244

    After being busy for a while, Aubree thought to herself that it was about time to create some trouble for the Wilson family.

    Last time, Carmen was beaten up in front of a hotel and ended up in the hospital. Nobody could tell if she was seriously injured or just lying low to avoid the heat. However, it had been a while, and she still hadn¡¯te out of the Wilson family¡¯s private hospital.

    Alice had just returned from an overseas exhibition. The moment her nended, she went straight to the hospital to visit Carmen. Upon receiving the news, Aubree also rushed to the hospital without dy.

    Aubree was no stranger to this hospital. She used to be a regr here, so all the staff knew her. She walked straight to the front desk and asked for Carmen¡¯s room directly.

    The nurses wouldn¡¯t have entertained her if it had been anyone else. Regardless of what outsiders were saying about Carmen, she was still the boss in the eyes of those working at this private hospital as long as she still bore the family name ¡®Wilson.¡±

    But it was Aubree Miller who had approached them. That left them unsure of what to do. The two receptionists hesitated and said, ¡°Anyway, since Madam and Sir are here, why don¡¯t we ask them?¡±

    Hearing this, Aubrec¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡®Ronald is here too? What an unexpected bonus,¡¯ she thought.

    Soon, Aubree was led to Carmen¡¯s ward. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Alice asked, her face clouded with displeasure, though her eyes revealed a flicker of unease.

    What on earth is Aubree up to? Does she have something to say?¡¯ Alice wondered, feeling nervous.

    ¡®Aubree, are you here to make a fool out of me?¡± Carmen lowered her gaze with a wry, self-mocking smile, putting on a pitiful act. If Daxton were here, he would surely give Aubree an earful again.

    Unfortunately, the two people in the ward weren¡¯t in any position to intervene. Ronald hade only to tell her to get discharged, freshen up herself, and apany him to business banquets; all for the sake of promoting her.

    As for Alice, she was clearly unsettled by Aubree¡¯s arrival and was in no state to

    hanything else.

    Aubree nced at Carmen with disdain. ¡°To make a fool out of you? I wouldn¡¯t even want to waste my breath,¡± she scoffed.

    Carmen¡¯s facade crumbled as anger shed across her face. Just as she was about to retort, Ronald cut in impatiently, ¡°Enough! Stop this bickering.¡±

    When Ronald turned to look at Aubree, his demeanor visibly softened, a gentle smile appearing on his face. ¡°Aubree, what brings you here today?¡± he asked.

    The Wilsons are all born actors, Aubree thought wryly.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but suspect Trevor¡¯s acting skills weren¡¯t just talent, but something in the family¡¯s genes. Alice could fake being mentally ill, and Ronald was downright two-faced.

    ¡®Honestly, this whole family was practically the best actors and actresses,¡¯ she thought to herself.

    Don¡¯t be fooled by Ronald¡¯s warm smile, Aubree thought. ¡®He may look all friendly on the surface, but deep down, he¡¯s probably already plotting how to destroy me.¡¯

    That was exactly the case. Ronald somehow knew Aubree¡¯s visit meant trouble. However, he still held onto a sliver of hope. After all, he was her biological father. ¡®If I y the part well on the surface, maybe she¡¯ll change her mind,¡¯ he thought.

    ¡°Oh yes, I do have something.¡± Aubree said as she took out several documents. Everyone present instantly recognized the documents. These were the legally binding severance agreements she had previously demanded the Wilson family to sign, the ones that would officially sever all ties.

    Ronald¡¯s face instantly darkened, and Alice¡¯s heart leapt into her throat. She didn¡¯t even realize that she dug her nails hard into Carmen¡¯s arm. It wasn¡¯t until Carmen cried out in pain that Alice finally let go.

    Alice¡¯s heart pounded like a drum, her eyes fixed on Aubree. ¡®What on earth are you up to? What do you want to say?¡¯ she thought to herself.

    Unease gnawed at Alice, leaving her feeling powerless. She was desperate to do something to stop Aubree.

    ¡°p!¡± Alice suddenly pped Aubree¡¯s hand away, and the documents scattered on the floor. The back of Aubree¡¯s hand instantly reddened.

    Aubree smirked, and her gaze locked onto Alice. ¡°Why are you so worked up?¡± she asked.

    Ronald also looked over. ¡®Alice¡¯s overreacted,¡¯ he thought.

 Tried 245

    All eyes snapped at Alice, and she panicked, ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°Aubree, like I told youst time, no way I¡¯ll sign this. You¡¯re Wilson by blood, and you can¡¯t just walk away from this family!¡± Alice blurted out, scrambling for an excuse. Her eyes shed a warning re, clearly threatening Aubree not to say anything

    reckless.

    But that¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m here: to stir up trouble, Aubree thought.

    Aubree curled her lips, thinking, ¡®Ronald built his empire from scratch, but Alice didn¡¯t. Alice is the daughter of the Diamonde family in S¨¹dlichen Strand. In the business world of Lumanon, the saying goes: Turner in the North, Diamonde in the South.

    Although the Diamonde family has declined in recent years, a fallen titan is still a titan. Ronald has remained devoted to Alice even after reaching his current status because the Wilson family¡¯s sess has, to some extent, relied on the Diamonde Family.

    Back then, Ronald was already a rising star in business circles. The Diamonde family saw his potential and intended to marry Alice to him.

    They first believed Ronald had the potential to grow stronger, making the match fairly well-suited. Second, Ronald wouldn¡¯t outdo them and thus wouldn¡¯t dare mistreat Alice.

    Therefore, to take on the Wilson Group, confrontation with the Diamonde family is inevitable.

    I muste up with something to make Ronald and Alice turn on each other. Although I haven¡¯t found anything solid to park a real fight between them, the fact that Alice had known I was in the orphanage back then but still pretended not to know and insisted on bringing Carmen back to the Wilson family is already a perfect crack to exploit.

    Ronald is arrogant and paranoid; he¡¯ll definitely dig to the bottom of this. I don¡¯t even need to lift a finger, Ronald willy the truth bare all by himself.¡¯

    Aubree scoffed at Alice, ¡°Easy for you to say that. If not because Ronald was at happily, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±

    you would¡¯ve signed that document

    She lowered her gaze, sweeping a nce at the papers scattered across the floor, and smiled with sarcasm.

    ¡®Rumor has it that after the human traffickers abducted me, you were so distraught, couldn¡¯t eat or sleep, and even had a mental breakdown. That¡¯s why the Wilson family adopted Carmen. But now that I, the real daughter, have returned, why do you cast me aside like a worn-out shoe?¡± Aubree said, smiling.

    But to Alice, that smile was utterly terrifying. ¡®How dare she say these things?¡¯ she thought.

    Ronald was also present, and Alice was no fool. If she hastily interrupted Aubree now, Ronald would be suspicious and start questioning her. But if she let Aubree finish speaking, he would still end up investigating and asking questions anyway.

    ¡®In any case¡­ Alice thought, face ashen, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.

    Speaking of which, both Carmen and Ronald were puzzled. When Aubree first returned, Carmen had been on high alert, treating her arrival like a mortal enemy, mainly because everyone knew how much Alice loved her daughter, and nearly lost her mind with grief when the girl went missing.

    So naturally, everyone assumed that when Aubree came back, her mother would surely protect her like the apple of her eye.

    But no one would have expected that, out of everyone in the Wilson family, Alice was the harshest toward Aubree, unlike a

    mother and daughter, but more like sworn enemies.

    ¡°By the way, you¡¯re in the dark, aren¡¯t you?¡± Aubree gazed at Ronald with a sly smile. Despair filled Alice¡¯s eyes; she bit her lip so hard that it started to bleed, yet she seemedpletely oblivious.

    Ronald frowned in confusion. ¡°What are you getting at?¡± he asked.

    Aubree shot Alice a cold nce. ¡°Rightfully, I was abandoned twice.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ronald asked, his eyes filled with bewilderment. Alice shrieked, ¡°Enough! Stop it!¡±

    Alice¡¯s unusual outburst instantly drew Ronald¡¯s sharp, suspicious gaze. ¡°You knew what she was going to say?¡± he said.

    Faced with Ronald¡¯s interrogation, Alice panicked. Aubree gave a slow, mocking p and said, ¡°Why bother pressuring her? I¡¯ll just say it myself.¡±

    ¡°When I was five, I was kidnapped by traffickers. And when I was ten, Alice abandoned me in the orphanage,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°What?¡± Ronald¡¯s face paled instantly. Carmen froze, utterly bewildered. ¡®What does that mean?¡¯ she wondered.

    ¡°I¡¯ve given you a chance. It¡¯s been over a month since you first came to me. Did you think I just made empty threats when we met?¡± Aubree asked.

    Alice¡¯s face turned deathly pale. She couldn¡¯t imagine what Ronald would do when he found out the truth.

 Tried 246

    All this time, I¡¯ve been trying to secure Carmen¡¯s position in the Wilson family. But because of my schemes, not only has my n backfired spectacrly-now Aubree is going to expose everything!¡¯ Alice thought anxiously.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Ronald asked, his piercing gaze locking onto Alice with undisguised fury.

    Carmen was brought into the Wilson family three years after Aubree went missing, when Aubree was eight years old. At that time, Carmen wasn¡¯t even in Rithol City yet.

    Aubree continued, ¡°When I was five, I was abducted. I don¡¯t remember how I escaped the traffickers, but I just ended up in an orphanage, though not in Rithol City at first.

    ¡°When I was seven, the orphanage relocated here. Then, when I was ten, Alice came to the orphanage under the pretense of taking photos for a charity project. But in reality, she came to see me. So at the very least, when I was ten, Alice already knew my whereabouts.¡±

    Alice was silent, her body trembling and her face ashen.

    ¡°I was brought back to the Wilson family at fifteen; it¡¯s been three years since then. When I returned, Alice, you kept saying that I¡¯d grown up outside for fifteen years and I must be full of bad habits and vices. You used that as an excuse to ¡®educate¡¯ me, abusing me in all sorts of ways. You even turned a blind eye when Carmen framed me in front of Bryan and the others. No, you didn¡¯t just turn a blind eye. You fueled the fire.¡±

    ¡°You used that as an excuse to ¡®educate¡¯ me and abuse me in many ways. You even turned a blind eye when Carmen framed me in front of Bryan and the others. No, you didn¡¯t just turn a blind eye. You fueled the fire.

    ¡°By your logic, my character was already set at fifteen. So why didn¡¯t you bring me back to the Wilson family when I was ten? Wasn¡¯t I still malleable then?¡± Aubree asked.

    Ronald was too stunned to speak. ¡°Ten years old? How could it be?¡± He muttered to himself, then suddenly looked at Aubree and said, ¡°We only got news about you three years ago; that can¡¯t be wrong.¡±

    Aubree shot Ronald Wilson a look of utter contempt. ¡°You know jack shit,¡± she

    ¡®Not only did Alice conceal the fact that she¡¯d found me when I was ten, but herpletely fake!¡± Aubree said.

    led ¡®mental breakdown¡¯ was

    ¡®Ronald, you¡¯re not stupid. Think back; was adopting Carmen just because you were afraid Alice would lose her mind? Or did she have a hand in orchestrating it all?¡±

    Is Aubree implying that Alice, to adopt Carmen, not only turned a blind eye to the daughter she had lost for five years but also pretended to have a mental breakdown?¡¯ Ronald thought.

    Ronald¡¯s breathing quickened as he stared at Alice and asked word by word, ¡°You really did this? Eight years ago, you deliberately chose not to bring her home?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Alice protested desperately. ¡®Seeing Aubree was well-supported and doing fine in the orphanage, I just wanted to wait until Carmen¡¯s position in the Wilson family became more secure. Otherwise, if Aubree returned too soon, what should Carmen do if she were pushed aside?¡¯ she thought.

    Aubree crossed her arms with a cold sneer. ¡°Right, you didn¡¯t. You just happened to visit the orphanage and conveniently forgot who I was,¡± she said.

    Nheless, Aubree was Ronald¡¯s flesh and blood, his only daughter after having four sons. At least before she turned five, he truly doted on her as a father, showering her with all his love.

    After she went missing, Ronald indeed mobilized all resources to look for her. ¡®But what happened after that? Why did he change?¡¯ Aubree wondered.

    Ronald closed his eyes. After Carmen came into the family, he had stayed out of family affairs. He adopted Carmen, thinking that she could at least keep Alicepany. It might stop her from having those mental episodes.

    38

    Carmen was sweet and well-behaved. Alice would, whether intentionally or not, subtly influence Ronald by constantly praising Carmen. Gradually, he transferred the fatherly affection he once had for Aubree onto Carmen, growing to love her

    as his own.

    Eventually, Ronald fully epted Carmen as his daughter. He even told himself that if Aubree had truly died out there, then Carmen could rece her.

    fter Aubree was found, Ronald was consumed with guilt. He tried his best to make amends and made sure shecked othing. But by then, Aubree was already fifteen, and as her father, he found it hard to truly reconnect with her.

    Coreover, Alice was solely responsible for raising and disciplining the children; Ronald, at most, only asked about their hoolwork.

    ice constantly told Ronald how ill-behaved Aubree was, listing all her bad habits. All he knew was that her grades were rible, and byparison, Aubree was nothing but an embarrassment to him. Naturally, he favored the brilliant adopted ughter.

    Ronald followed Aubree¡¯s line of reasoning, his eyes suddenly froze in realization.

 Tried 247

    38

    Ronald carefully recalled the details of Carmen¡¯s adoption. In the first year, when Aubree went missing, Alice began showing signs of mental instability. At that time, Ronald was mainly focusing on finding his daughter. He had also arranged for Alice to see a psychologist.

    After some time of therapy, the psychologist suggested diverting Alice¡¯s attention. At first, Ronald never considered adoption, but whenever he took her out to help her rx, he noticed her gaze would always linger on little girls around six or seven years old.

    Once, he talked to the psychologist about adopting a girl. The psychologist advised that it would be fine as long as Alice didn¡¯t oppose it.

    For quite some time, Ronald kept subtly hinting to Alice about adopting a girl. As to why it was Carmen, it all started with a newspaper.

    A newspaper ended up in Alice¡¯s hands. It featured an orphanage, and the girl in the very center of the photo, with a toothy grin, was none other than Carmen. Believing Alice had taken a liking to her, Ronald soon arranged for them to meet.

    Surprisingly, Alice showed extraordinary patience and affection toward Carmen. He used to think it was all fate, but now, looking back¡­

    What a coincidence! Everything fell into ce so perfectly, almost too perfect as if it had all been orchestrated from the very beginning,¡¯ Ronald thought.

    ¡°That psychologist¡­ Was he one of your people?¡± Ronald asked slowly, enunciating every word.

    If everything happened as I suspected, I can no longer tell if Aubree being taken by human traffickers was an ident¡­.. or orchestrated,¡¯ he thought.

    What is the rtionship between Carmen and Alice? Why did she abandon her daughter, Aubree, to bring Carmen into our home and care for her?¡¯ Ronald wondered.

    Ronald¡¯s gaze darted suspiciously between the two women, finally settling on Ca

    Carmen trembled, her face growing even paler. She instantly grasped the gravity doubting her own identity.

    with piercing scrutiny.

    Situation and couldn¡¯t help but start

    Could it be that Alice is my mother?¡¯ she wondered. The thought was so terrifying that she didn¡¯t dare think any Compared to that kind of blood tie, she would rather be the Wilson family¡¯s adopted daughter.

    Alice, sitting there, ghostly pale, didn¡¯t utter a word, yet her whole body trembled uncontrobly.

    Aubree¡¯s mind raced. ¡°That psychologist¡­ Could he be Gordon?¡¯ she thought.

    ¡°Which psychologist? Was his name Gordon?¡± Aubree asked.

    Ronald looked over and asked, ¡°How did you know that?¡±

    further.

    So, it¡¯s him!¡¯ Aubree thought. ¡®It means Gordon isn¡¯t just some shady doctor Alice hired to fake medical reports. He must know way more than I imagined.

    However, the investigators Aubree had sent to Kroit City to track down Gordon still hadn¡¯t uncovered anything useful.

    Facing Ronald¡¯s question, Aubree shrugged. ¡°Since I even knew Alice was faking her breakdown, is it really that surprising I know about the psychologist too?¡±

    Chapter

    Ronald was momentarily speechless. ¡®Fair point,¡¯ he thought. ¡®Right now, I must know why Alice did all this!¡±

    Watching quietly as Ronald and Alice stood locked in a wordless standoff, Aubree let out a bitter chuckle and said, ¡°When I first came back to the Wilson family, I was so happy.

    ¡°I thought I finally had a mom and dad, a real family. But, it turns out the one who wanted me least was my dear mother.¡±

    Aubree sounded sarcastic when she said, ¡°Alice, for three years in the Wilson family, did I look utterly pathetic, bending to please you and Carmen? I looked like some doomed clown, oblivious to my fate, still desperately struggling to stand up.

    ¡°But you never imagined I would rise and be the very threat you¡¯ve been dying to crush.¡±

    Aubreeughed boldly. She used to be timid and submissive. But now, no matter what she said or did, and how much Alice disliked her, Alice had no choice but to grit her teeth and endure it.

    ¡°Alice, is this your idea of motherly love? How magnificent! You¡¯re willing to sacrifice your own flesh and blood to protect your precious adopted daughter!¡± Aubree sneered.

    Aubree, looking at Alice, whose face was ashen and on the verge of copsing,ughed wildly, full of unrestrained

    arrogance.

    Ronald¡¯s mind was in total disarray. ¡®What is Carmen, and what the hell have I done?¡¯ he wondered.

    If Carmen is¡­ Then what the hell have I done to my own daughter, Aubree, these past three years, for someone like her?¡¯ he thought bitterly.

    Ronald¡¯s lips trembled as he stared nkly at Aubree, a wave of despair washing over him.

 Tried 248

    ¡®If only I had brought her back and treated her well from the beginning, how proud and ted would I be now? My daughter, barely eighteen, already owns such a thriving empire and has even captivated Bowen¡¯s attention.

    No, this is just the beginning. Aubree¡¯s future achievements will be a hundred times more extraordinary than what she has now,¡¯ he thought.

    Ronald felt his heart bleed. Of all his children, the most talented and brilliant was his youngest daughter, Aubree, the very one who had turned against him and now wished him dead!

    Just thinking about it made Ronald feel like coughing up blood from sheer regret. In the past, he had always favored Carmen. Even if he had moments of guilt, he could stillfort himself by thinking Aubree was simply immature and unworthy.

    But now, with Carmen¡¯s identity in question, everything he had done was no longer a form of self-constion but one resounding p after another, alling back at this very moment to hit him square in the face.

    Aubree nudged the papers on the floor with her foot and said, ¡°Alice, you¡¯ve been dying to disown me, haven¡¯t you? That way, Carmen¡¯s ce in the Wilson family would bepletely secure.

    Now that Ronald knows everything, truths and lies alike. Why don¡¯t you sign the papers? It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s you or Ronald who signs; the oue¡¯s the same.¡±

    Aubree wore a cheerful smile on her face, while in stark contrast, Alice¡¯s expression was as lifeless as could be.

    Ronald red at Alice. ¡°Tell me, why?¡± he demanded.

    Alice bit her lip, her voice dry and strained, and said, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Ronald scoffed, thinking, ¡®Fine! Such a convenient reply!¡¯

    Veins throbbed at Ronald¡¯s temple in anger. ¡®I¡¯ll deal with this matter thoroughlyter,¡¯ he thought.

    After taking a few deep breaths, Ronald looked at Aubree, his voice trembling as he pleaded, ¡°Aubree, I truly didn¡¯t know all this in the past. I was a victim, too. Please forgive me. I promise I¡¯ll make it up to you from now on.¡±

    This apology was more sincere than anything he had ever made before. With tears welling in his eyes and a trembling voice, Ronald reached out his arms, longing to pull Aubree into a hug.

    But just as he was about to touch Aubree, she shoved his hand away without hesitation, her face contorted with revulsion. ¡®Don¡¯t touch me,¡± she spat. ¡°You make my skin crawl.¡±

    Ronald froze with his hand outstretched, as if struck by lightning. In the past, whatever Aubree spoke or did, all he felt was frustration at her immaturity.

    But now, all he felt was a deep, bitter sorrow because his daughter no longer wanted to acknowledge him as her father due to everything that had happened.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare call yourself my dad! You¡¯re not worthy of that title! I was an orphan before, and I¡¯ll always be one. My parents died a long time ago, when I was just five years old!¡± Aubree said.

    Ronald¡¯s eyes stung with unshed tears. ¡®Only when one truly realizes their own mistakes does regret be utterly unbearable,¡¯ he thought.

    Aubree never expected them to sign the document. The only thing she wanted was to drive a wedge between Ronald and

    Alice. Casting a cold nce around the ward, she sneered and said, ¡°Just let me know when you decide to sign.¡±

    As Aubree walked out, the real battle in the ward had just begun. Ronald kept pressing Alice for answers, but she stubbornly refused to say anything further.

    ¡°Are

    you

    dumb?¡± Ronald bellowed, grabbing the table in the VIP ward and violently flipping it over with a thunderous crash. Carmen flinched, trembling in fear, too terrified to say a word.

    Ronald was gasping with rage, his eyes fiery with menace as he red at the two women sitting on the bed. ¡°You think keeping quiet will stop me from finding out the truth?¡± he asked.

    He had initially hesitated about marrying Carmen off for a business alliance, but now¡­

    ¡°Carmen, you¡¯ve been expelled from school, and your MindDrift has been ordered to be shut down. You have caused the family a great deal of trouble. The Wilson family has raised you for all these years; it¡¯s time for you to give back,¡± he said.

    Carmen lifted her head, trembling. ¡°There¡¯s a high-society party next week. Many eligible young heirs from prominent and wealthy families will be there. You¡¯reing with me,¡± Ronald said.

    A sudden, crushing blow hit Carmen. Her vision whited out, her eyes widening in fury. ¡®How could you force me into a marriage arranged for business interests? None of those men is worthy of me! I want Alvin Turner!¡¯ she cried in her heart.

 Tried 249

    After leaving the ward, Ronald went to see the director.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, you want me to run a DNA test between your wife and Miss Wilson?¡± The hospital director¡¯s eyes widened in shock, thinking,. ¡®Carmen is your adopted daughter; why on earth do you need the test?¡¯

    ¡°That¡¯s right, go ahead and do it,¡± Ronald said, his eyes darkened. He needed to find out once and for all if Carmen was Alice¡¯s illegitimate child with some scumbag. When Aubree returned to the Wilson family, a DNA test was conducted to confirm that she was Ronald¡¯s biological daughter. Aside from that, he couldn¡¯t understand why Alice had abandoned her own daughter to bring Carmen into the family.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting right here for the results,¡± Ronald said. ¡°Once it¡¯s ready, deliver directly to me. You¡¯ll personally conduct the test; no one else is supposed to ess the information.¡±

    The hospital director sighed and thought to himself, ¡®Clearly, something serious has happened, but I¡¯m not in the position to ask.

    Meanwhile, in the ward, Carmen¡¯s face appeared deathly pale. Although her injuries had mostly healed, she now looked even more ghastly than when she was first rushed to the hospital.

    Carmen looked at Alice, who sat slumped dejectedly by the bedside, her voice quivering uncontrobly when she said, ¡°Mom¡­ Mom, I-I don¡¯t want to go through this arranged marriage.¡±

    There was a world of difference between voluntary and forced marriage alliances. Some heirs to family businesses, for the sake of thepany¡¯s growth, would choose to marry someone from a matching background. It was a union of strength and influence.

    But for those who were no longer useful to the family, their only worth was a pretty face, and they would be brought along to attend various functions. As long as both families approved, that became their sole value.

    Carmen had never imagined this would happen to her. ¡®Aren¡¯t those rich young men dragged to marriage alliances matchmaking having all kinds of bad habits? Some of them don¡¯t even make their sexual orientation clear!¡¯ she thought. ¡®If I have to go for this, I¡¯m doomed!¡¯

    ¡°I know. Carmen, don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Alice, gently stroking Carmen¡¯s hair, said. Her eyes darkened with resentment when she thought, ¡®Ever since Aubree was born, all she did was try to hurt me! Back then, it was, and it still is now. I shouldn¡¯t have brought that wretched girl into this world!¡¯

    *Carmen, listen to me,¡± Alice coaxed gently. ¡°Don¡¯t you have feelings for Alvin? In your father¡¯s eyes, ordinary wealthy young men can¡¯tpare to Alvin as a match. Convince your father; tell him you¡¯re willing to pursue Alvin and seek a marriage alliance with the Turner family.¡±

    As Carmen was listening to Alice, a glimmer of hope gradually lit up in her eyes. ¡®That worth, I can still turn this situation around. I still have Mom on my side!¡¯ she thought.

    As long as I can prove my

    Carmen clung tightly to Alice. After what had happened, she was at least sure of one thing. Even if everyone else in this family abandoned her, Alice would still stand by her side and always choose to help her.

    ¡°Mom, what Aubree¡¯s said¡­¡± Carmen probed cautiously,

    Alice¡¯s expression changed. ¡°It has nothing to do with you; stay out of it. I¡¯ll handle your father myself,¡± she said. Carmen held back her remaining words and nodded.

    News of Aubree¡¯s hospital visit soon reached the other members of the Wilson family. Daxton and Trevor caught wind of it but didn¡¯t give it much thought. ¡®With Mom there, there¡¯s no way Aubree could bully Carmen, they thought.

    Bryan knew a bit more than the others. When he heard that Ronald was nning to do a DNA test at the hospital, he rushed over immediately. He arrived just as the results came out.

    ¡°Dad, you¡­¡± Bryan¡¯s voice trailed off when he saw Ronald sitting in the chair with his head down, no longer the confident,manding CEO who once strategized with ease. Surrounded by a sense of defeat, Ronald¡¯s whole demeanor drained and spiritless.

    Ronald Wilson looked up, his gaze slightly unfocused when he called out, ¡°Bryan¡­¡±

    ¡°Dad, what exactly happened? I heard Aubree came to the hospital. What did you all talk about?¡± Bryan asked.

    The hospital director emerged with the report and handed it to Ronald. Seeing Bryan, he discreetly withdrew, allowing the father and son their privacy.

    ¡°Have a seat,¡± Ronald said, looking utterly drained, not physically, but mentally. Bryan took the seat next to him as told.

 Tried 250

    The test results were now in his hands, but Ronald suddenly hesitated to look. He had built his empire from scratch, and he had never encountered failure.

    While Alice¡¯s social standing had yed a part in their rtionship, the truth was, after all these years, he had remained faithful to her. It would be a lie to im there was no affection between them.

    He reflected on himself. As a person and as a father, he had fallen short in many ways. But as a husband, he had a clear

    conscience.

    Ronald looked at Bryan and said, ¡°Do you know what Aubree said?¡± Bryan keenly noticed the subtle shift in the way his father referred to Aubree.

    Ronald told Bryan everything Aubree had revealed. Bryan was stunned. ¡°No way! That can¡¯t be true!¡± he blurted out.

    ¡°So, Dad, you did the DNA test to see if Carmen is Mom¡¯s illegitimate daughter?¡± Bryan asked.

    Ronald didn¡¯t intend to keep this from Bryan. In fact, he wanted Bryan to investigate why Alice had done all this.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see the results,¡± Ronald said and flipped open the test report in his hand. As his gazended on the veryst line, the heavy weight that had been pressing on his heart finally lifted. Alice wasn¡¯t Carmen¡¯s biological mother.

    ¡®No matter what other reasons may be behind all this, at least the oue is still a good one, Ronald thought.

    Ronald let out a long sigh of relief and said, ¡°Since that¡¯s not the case, it¡¯s a good oue.¡±

    ¡®At least she didn¡¯t cheat on me, and I didn¡¯t dote on my wife¡¯s illegitimate daughter and raise her for over ten years, he thought.

    ¡°Bryan, please spend some time looking into why your mom has been treating Aubree this way.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Bryan said. ¡®Even if you didn¡¯t mention, I¡¯ll look into it,¡¯ he thought.

    Andtely, he kept thinking about the time when Aubree was abducted by human traffickers. After all these years, he thought he had mostly forgotten about it, but looking back now, that memory still haunted him.

    The indelible memory also made Bryan sense that something was off.

    When the traffickers abducted Aubree, he wasn¡¯t exactly a child anymore, but he still didn¡¯t have the strength to fight back. He was with Aubree at the time. The traffickers had snatched her right out of his hands by force.

    But if they were human traffickers, why didn¡¯t they take me away too? It was as if they were specifically targeting Aubree,¡¯ Bryan thought.

    A thoughtful look crossed Bryan¡¯s face. ¡®The traffickers back then have not been

    must find them, Bryan thought.

    After receiving the results, Ronald had no intention of speaking with Alice any further. She clearly won¡¯t reveal anything; there¡¯s no point. I might as well investigate it on my own and wait until I have something concrete,¡¯ Ronald thought.

    Carmen didn¡¯t dare stay in the hospital any longer. The following day, she was discharged and returned to the Wilson family residence. The first thing she did was discuss the marriage alliance with Ronald.

    ¡°Dad,¡± her voice trembled as she spoke. Seeing Ronald not show any sign of displeasure, she mustered her courage and

    continued.

    ¡°Dad, about the marriage alliance that you mentioned, I thought it through. It¡¯s the right thing to do. The family has raved me for so many years. I should at least be of some value.¡±

    Ronald stared at her coldly as if she were a stranger.

    Carmen¡¯s heart tightened, but she continued, ¡°Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t bring much benefit to the Wilson family at mas expelled from school, but all those years I spent studying art weren¡¯t for nothing.

    ¡°You can transfer me to another school so I can still take the college entrance exam. Alvin is going to apply to Katinil Art School. Even if I can¡¯t get into Rithol Art School, I can still get into a nearby school, right?

    ¡°I will do whatever it takes to secure a marriage alliance between the Wilson and Turner families?

    Ronald¡¯s eyes flickered. What he cared about wasn¡¯t the alliance between the two families, but if Carmen seeded in assed grant him another way to get closer to Aubree.

    This is yourst chance,¡± Ronald said. He then called his assistant to arrange Carmen¡¯s school transfer.

    There was one more thing. Back then, to appease Carmen, he had given her a portion of Wilson Group¡¯s shares and real estate that rightfully belonged to Aubree. ¡®I must find a way to get them back, Ronald thought to himself.

    Back then. Aubree was still a minor. The shares and properties hadn¡¯t been fully transferred to her yet, so Ronald could easily reassign them as he pleased.

    But now, since everything was legally registered under Carmen¡¯s name, getting them back will require some serious maneuvering, Ronald thought.

 Tried 251

    Chapter <b>251 </b>

    Aubree caused a stir at the hospital and <b>was </b>quite pleased with the oue. After discharge, Alice seemed to avoid Ronald deliberately. She didn¡¯t even go home, just took a ne and went <b>overseas</b>.

    Aubree also received unexpected news that Carmen¡¯s MindDrift initially made some profit butter lost it all. To make matters worse, Alice and Daxton covered the losses with their own money.

    Alice was loaded, but Daxton was an academic who spent most of his time in theb. As Wilson Group¡¯s dividends were managed by dedicated professionals, he didn¡¯t have much cash flow on hand.

    After MindDrift closed down, Vincent thoroughly investigated some of the early investments and concluded that Daxion had misappropriatedb funds.

    However, bringing this up now would not pose a threat. The Wilson family might have easily made up for the losses, and Daxton might have already rectified it.

    Aubree remembered that in her previous life, the drug that Daxton developed had a critical w. However, he only received heavy criticism after he got into trouble misappropriating theb funds.

    yzy was practically running by itself now. The two new features were raking in <b>cash </b>every day. The tform hadpletely stabilized now, and It had also set the perfect stage for Zappy, which she wouldunch soon.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t rushing Zappy¡¯s release, knowing SAT was approaching andunching Zappy would be a huge undertaking. Instead, she started to focus on her studies.

    It was probably the most peaceful period Aubree had experienced. There were no abrupt troubles and disturbances from the Wilson family.

    The summer heat kept rising, and it signaled that a turning point in life was approaching for many.

    While focusing on her studies, Aubree also had the people at Bree Technology use their yzy tform as a starting point to connect with other social and live¨Cstreaming tforms, bringing the concept of short videos into the public eye.

    Recently, many people noticed that while browsing livestreams or other social tforms, short videos ranging from a few seconds to several dozen seconds would pop up. They found it pretty entertaining.

    These short videos were filmed by inte celebrities and artists whom Aubree had arranged to be trained and nurtured by Peace Entertainment.

    At first, they appeared much like inserted ads, but eventually evolved into the dedicated short video category. The traffic generated by these short videos across tforms was quite impressive in the past few months.

    However, it was still considered small¨Cscale and barely stirred up major waves just yet. Aubree¡¯s team was starting to get anxious, urging her tounch Zappy as soon as possible. However, Aubree wasn¡¯t in a hurry as the explosive rise of short videos was inevitable.

    Time flew by, and June arrived. Aubree was assigned to take her exam at Silveke High School, in a different exam venue from Alvin and Matilda.

    Alvin had ranked first in the school for the art entrance exam<b>, </b><b>so </b>as long as his academic scores weren¡¯t too poor, getting into Rithol Art School wouldn¡¯t be a problem.

    Outside the main entrance of the exam hall, a dense crowd of people gathered, all parents there to see their children off for the college entrance exam. Aubree stood still for a moment, dazed by the sight.

    Many of the students were apanied by their parents. Regardless of whether they were nervous inside, they all appeared cheerful. Some parents were holding snacks and drinks, others clutched pencil cases, gently reminding their children to do their best and not to be nervous.

    To say she wasn¡¯t envious would be a lie. Aubree quickly pulled herself together and thought, ¡®Now isn¡¯t the time to feel sad. I have to focus on the exam ahead.

    Clutching her clear stationery pouch, Aubree double¨Cchecked her ID and admission ticket to make sure nothing was missing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Just do your best on the exam. Even if you don¡¯t do well, I¡¯ll take care of you,¡± Daxton said.

    ¡°You can do it, Carmen, Daxton cheered. ¡°Mom <b>is </b>still overseas, and you know how things have beentely¡­ But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m with you.<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Daxton. I¡¯ll do my <b>best</b>; it¡¯s for myself,¡± Carmen said with determination.

 Tried 252

    Chapter <b>252 </b>

    Fortunately, before being expelled from Rithol High School, she had taken the art entrance exam and did quite well. As long as she did well in academic subjects, even if she couldn¡¯t get into Rithol Art School, she could still get into the art academy next to it.

    Hearing that familiar voice amidst the crowd, Aubree looked up and saw Carmen and Daxton. Ronald and other family members were not present. ¡®Looks like what I said at the hospital did pack a punch,¡® Aubree mused.

    In her previous life, Carmen and Aubree took the SAT at the same time, but not at the same venue. The Wilson family didn¡¯t even bother to let the driver send her. She had to take the bus to the exam venue.

    And that day, the entire Wilson family cleared their schedules to apany Carmen through two days of exams. The moment the exams were over, they took her on a celebratory vacation. As for Aubree, she wasn¡¯t even important enough to be remembered.

    But now, Carmen only had Daxton by her side. Aubree sighed, not even ncing back as she turned <i>to </i>leave immediately.

    Aubree didn¡¯t want to run into Daxton and others. She was worried that the jerk would try to mess with her again. It was exam day, and she didn¡¯t want anyone to ruin her mood. She thus changed direction and headed for the back entrance of Silveke High School.

    ¡°Bree, why aren¡¯t you using the main entrance? Where are you sneaking off to?¡± A familiar,zy voice tinged with a chuckle came through. Aubree looked over; it was Bowen.

    Why isn¡¯t he apanying Alvin?¡® Aubree wondered.

    Standing behind Bowen, Ethan and Samson appeared to be holding something. Aubree didn¡¯t look at it closely; it seemed to be a rolled¨Cup red item.

    Seeing them, Aubree couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Just nning to sneak in through the back entrance,<b>¡± </b>she said.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you drop Alvin off for his exam?¡± Aubree asked, walking up to them.

    Bowen reached out and gave Aubree¡¯s cheek a yful squeeze<b>, </b>a gesture so familiar that it came naturally. He said, ¡°Yeah, I did. I dropped Alvin off first. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be thiste to <b>see </b>you off.

    ¡°All the other kids have their parents here to see them off, Bree, you deserve that too.¡± Bowen had a soft smile on his lips, his eyes brimming with doting warmth.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aubree replied.

    Ethan and Samson silently clicked their tongues and sighed, shedding a figurative tear for Alvin. At another exam venue, Alvin never would have imagined that his uncle could be so heartless to others, but utterly devoted to Aubree.

    Just so he could make it in time to send Aubree off to her exam, he dropped Alvin off at his exam venue two hours earlier, gave him a perfunctory reminder to do well, and then left him alone outside the exam hall.

    Yet Alvin was genuinely touched for a moment, thinking Bowen had squeezed in time to see him off for the SAT despite his busy work schedule.

    Bowen casually tucked his hands behind his back and made a subtle gesture. At Bowen¡¯s signal, Ethan and Samson snapped to attention and quickly unfurled what they were holding. It turned out to be a huge banner.

    Seeing the words on it, Aubree instantly blushed. ¡®Seriously? It¡¯s way too embarrassing!¡® she thought to herself.

    Bowen, who always looked so graceful and refined, somehow had a thing for this kind of drama. Not only did he unfurl the banner and draw a huge crowd¡¯s attention, but Ethan and Samson even cleared their throats and shouted out loud.

    ¡°Aubree, the prodigy; soar to the top in the SAT!¡±

    That shout was full of momentum. Aubree lowered her head, so embarrassed that her toes could almost dig a hole in the ground. She regretted it. ¡®I never should have stopped walking!¡® she thought.

    Bowen shed a confident grin and asked, ¡°Do you like it?¡±

    ¡°Like it¡­ my ass<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree cursed, her face flushed with embarrassment.

    Is he treating me like some cheesy <b>actress </b>or what<b>?</b>¡® Aubree cursed deep down. However, the sparkle in her eyes and the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her good mood.

    Bowen¡¯s eyes crinkled into a warm smile when he said, ¡°Do your best in the exam. I¡¯ll be waiting for you right outside the exam hall.¡±

    It seems that I finally have what everyone else has<b>, </b>Aubree thought to herself.

    She froze for a moment, looked at Bowen, and nodded firmly. <b>¡°</b>Wait for me?¡± she said.

    Tll be waiting, Bowen replied.

    With all themotion, Daxton cast a nce over. When he saw it was Aubree, he sneered and said, ¡°What a cheap stunt?¡±

 Tried 253

    <b>Chapter </b><b>253 </b>

    Daxton personally escorted Carmen into the exam hall. ¡°Aubree hasn¡¯t been studying for long. Carmen, your scores were solid¨Cyou¡¯ll surely do better than someone like her who¡¯s just looking for a shortcut,¡± he said.

    ¡°Mhm!¡± Carmen looked up at Daxton, her eyes sparkling with admiration and dependence¨Csomething Daxton clearly enjoyed.

    Carmen was undoubtedly sharp. She had a clear grasp of her situation. At first, she enjoyed the privileges of being the family favorite and acted without restraint. But now that the dynamics had shifted, she no longer knew whose side she needed to be on.

    So now<b>, </b>she was putting all her energy into winning over Daxton.

    Daxton relished Carmen¡¯s admiration. He knew that Ronald had ns to use Carmen in a marriage alliance, but what really got under Daxton¡¯s skin was the fact that Carmen had feelings for Alvin.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, Daxton said, ¡°Carmen, don¡¯t stress. Even if your results aren¡¯t great, I¡¯d never let them marry you off.¡±

    Carmen did not catch the storm of emotion in Daxton¡¯s <b>eyes</b>.

    She turned and walked into the exam hall.

    Aubree sat in silence, the heavy air of the exam room awakening long¨Cforgotten memories.

    Her mind drifted to ¡°Mr. Quinn,¡± the mysterious man funding her education. In her mind, ¡°Mr. Quinn¡± was a stern, sessful middle¨Caged man, the type who rarely smiled. Beyond the regr monthly funds and asional check¨Cins about school, they had hardly any interaction.

    All Aubree had ever wanted was to make it into college and thank Mr. Quinn in person. He might not expect anything in return, but a sincere thank you¨Cspoken face¨Cto¨Cface¨Cwas something Aubree felt he deserved.

    Aubree blinked, a trace of uncertainty passing through her eyes. Ever since she returned to the Wilson family, ¡°Mr. Quinn¡± had vanished without a trace¡ªas if he had disappeared from the face of the earth. Aubree had no idea if she would ever have the chance to meet him again.

    The exam papers were soon distributed. Aubree skimmed through the questions and immediately felt at ease.

    The first subject was Odiondian. It was not Aubree¡¯s strongest¨Cmath and science were her real strengths¨Cbut hernguage skills were not bad either.

    Aubree bent over the paper and started writing with focused determination. The essay topic was simple¡ªlife.

    The word struck something in her. For a second, Aubree froze, a flicker of emotion passing through her eyes. But without even needing to outline her thoughts, Aubree started writing.

    Aubree finished her paper with time to spare, reviewed her answers twice, and only left the exam hall when the final bell rang, joining the stream of students filing out.

    Aubree instinctively scanned the crowd of eager parents waiting at the school gates, hoping to catch a glimpse of Bowen.

    ¡°Aubree!¡± Bowen was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the people Aubree did not want to see made their presence known.

    Ronald stood not far away with Bryan, waving at her. Behind them, a long ck Lincoln limousine gleamed under the sun, drawing attention like a

    ma.

    Aubree could not help but frown. ¡®Ugh, so annoying!¡® she thought.

    Reporters were still gathered outside the exam venue, and Ronald and Bryan¡¯s luxurious outfits paired with a shy car instantly turned heads.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Do they really have to be so ostentatious? When Bowen had dropped me off in the morning, the most over¨Cthe¨Ctop thing he¡¯d done was hang a ridiculous banner. The car he drove, at least, had been perfectly modest!

    Aubree nced at the two, then averted her gaze and was about to leave when Carmen¡¯s crisp voice,ced with feigned surprise, called out, ¡°Dad, Bryan, are you guys here to pick me up?¡±

    Carmen had spotted them the second they called Aubree¡¯s name.

    Deep in Carmen¡¯s <b>eyes</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>seething jealousy burned. ¡®Why is it that no one shows up for me, while Aubree gets Dad and Bryan going out of their way just for her<b>?</b>¡® she fumed inwardly.

    Carmen knew full well that Ronald and Bryan <b>were </b>here for Aubree, but she was hell¨Cbent on making Aubree miserable.

    Carmen approached with a bright, <b>exaggerated </b>smile<b>, </b>while Ronald and Bryan <b>froze </b>in surprise<b>¨C</b>she had not even <b>crossed </b>their minds.

    Aubree sneered, then turned on her heel and walked away.

    Ronald and Bryan gave Carmen neither a nce nor a word¨Ctheir attention was entirely fixed on Aubree as they hurried after her.

 Tried 254

    e

    *

    ¡°Aubree, we¡¯re not here for Carmen. We came for you. Are you done with your exam? It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to drop you off this morning¨Cit just took me a while to track down which exam hall you were in,¡± Ronald said.

    He hesitated, reaching out slightly as if to pat Aubree¡¯s shoulder, then quickly withdrew his hand, clearly afraid of upsetting her.

    ¡°Aubree, your ce is pretty far from the exam hall, and you didn¡¯t even hire a driver. So Dad and I went ahead and booked you a presidential suite at the nearest hotel, and we¡¯ve arranged for our family driver to take you to all your exams over the next few days. Why don¡¯t you join us for lunch first, then head back to the hotel to get some <b>rest</b>?¡± Bryan said.

    Aubree was speechless. ¡®Sure, I didn¡¯t hire a private driver, but it¡¯s not like <b>I </b>can¡¯t afford a <b>car </b>service to get me to the exam hall for a few days. If this were my previous life, I¡¯d be thrilled to <b>see </b>them caring like this. But now? Please. I¡¯ve got my own money. I don¡¯t need their scraps.

    Aubree rolled her eyes and snapped, ¡°You guys are the only ones moved by what you¡¯re doing.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be real¨CI¡¯m no longer that miserable, penniless girl anymore. You think I¡¯d forget all the hurt just because you showed up with a kind word or two? What, do you think I can¡¯t afford to do these things myself?<b>¡± </b>

    Ronald and Bryan were left speechless by her words. They thought their attempts at reconciliation would win her over, but the truth was, Aubree did not need their kindness anymore.

    Ronald wrung his hands awkwardly. ¡°Aubree, it¡¯s your SAT today¨Cit¡¯s such a big day for you. Why don¡¯t we all have a meal together as a family?¡±

    Aubree snapped, ¡°No way!¡±

    Before she could <b>say </b>a word, Bowen stepped between them.

    He smiled at Ronald and said sharply, ¡°Mr. Wilson, there are plenty of people watching. <b>If </b>you make a scene now, it¡¯s the Wilson family that¡¯ll end up embarrassed.

    ¡°Then again¡­ given how much trouble your family¡¯s causedtely, maybe a little more won¡¯t make a difference.¡± Bowen chuckled mockingly.

    Ronald¡¯s expression turned ghostly, then burned red with shame.

    Bryan shot Bowen a venomous re¨Cnever had anyone grated on his nerves this badly.

    By now, to the Wilson family¨Cespecially Ronald¨CBowen had be absolutely loathsome.

    Ronald stared daggers at Bowen. In the past, he had only been <b>so </b>amodating to Bowen because he thought that as long as he could forge a connection with the Turner family, raising Aubree would not have been for nothing.

    However, right now, nothing mattered more to Ronald than getting Aubree back.

    Ronald absolutely refused to believe that someone like Bowen could genuinely fall for an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl. To Ronald, it could not have been more obvious¨CBowen had set his sights on Aubree, seeing her as young, talented, and easily influenced. Bowen was probably the reason Aubree started distancing herself from the family.

    Bowen was not bothered in the slightest by their res. If anything, their irritation only made him more smug. Three years ago, he had returned Aubree to them, but they did not appreciate her. Now that they realized her worth and wanted her back, Bowen had no intention of making the same mistake twice.

    Bowen pulled out the bouquet he had prepared in advance and handed it to Aubree. ¡°I got held up picking your flowers¨Chope you¡¯re not mad?

    ¡°Here¡¯s some fresh juice. Drink it if you¡¯re thirsty. I¡¯ve made a reservation at a private dining ce. The food should be to your liking. After lunch, get some rest. You still have the math examter today.¡±

    Aubree looked down at the flowers in her arms. They were beautiful¨Cat a nce, there had to be at least 10 different kinds.

    ¡°But I¡¯m not even done with exams yet. Isn¡¯t it a bit early for flowers?¡± she asked.

    Bowen gave a soft smile. ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b>prepared a bouquet for every subject. Every test you finish deserves to be celebrated.¡±

    Aubree pressed her lips together in a faint smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat.¡±

    The two of thempletely ignored Ronald and Bryan, treating them like they did not even <b>exist</b>.

    ¡°Save your breath, Ronald. What happened to Emery is exactly what I want for the rest of your family.¡± Aubree sneered. ¡°You want my forgiveness? Maybe, just maybe, I¡¯ll consider showing a shred of <b>mercy </b>when all of you are dead.¡±

    Left standing alone, Carmen shot them <b>a </b>venomous re. ¡®Why<b>? </b>All of this should have been mine! Just die <b>already</b>, Aubree Miller<b>!</b>¡® she seethed

 Tried 255

    Chapter <b>255 </b>

    e

    Aubree sat for the math exam in the afternoon, followed by science and Odiondian. Aside from Odiondian, which remained her weakest subject, the rest were a breeze for Aubree. She finished early and left the exam room ahead of time each day.

    After the first morning, Aubree did not see the Wilson family again. True to his word, Bowen was there after every exam, waiting outside the building with a bouquet of flowers to congratte her onpleting each subject.

    Unbeknownst to Aubree, Bowen had been even busier than the exam¨Ctakers these past two days. After Bowen dropped Alvin off at the exam venue, he would rush over to pick Aubree up, and after that, he would hurry back to fetch Alvin¨Cshuttling back and forth between the two like a full¨Ctime chauffeur.

    Even Ethan and Samson, who followed him around every day<b>, </b>could not help but grumble¨Cthese past two days, Bowen had practically turned himself into a full¨Ctime chauffeur for Alvin and Aubree.

    But truth be told, Bowen did not mind at all¨Cin <b>fact</b>, he <b>was </b>thoroughly enjoying every moment of it.

    With the <bst </b>exam behind her, Aubree allowed herself to finally unwind. Bowen said he would pick Aubree up after the final paper to celebrate the end of the grueling SAT¨Cfor both Alvin and her.

    But never in her wildest dreams did Aubree expect Bowen to take her to the Turner family residence.

    The moment Aubree stepped out of the car andid eyes on the sprawling estate before her<b>¨C</b>a <b>ssic </b>manor so vast that people drove around within its grounds her eyes widened in shock. <b>¡®Is </b>this for real?¡® she thought.

    ¡°My father wants you toe over for dinner. He hasn¡¯t <b>seen </b>you since Christmas<b>, </b>so he misses you,¡± Bowen said.

    Aubree was both ttered and a little overwhelmed¨Cshe never expected someone of Enrique¡¯s stature would actually remember her. ¡°I just hope I¡¯m not being a bother,¡± she said modestly.

    ¡°Nonsense, Aubree! My own son and grandson are always missing in action¨Cthey can¡¯t be bothered to spend time with an old man like me. You¡¯re the only one who still gives me the time of day.¡±

    Enrique beamed, his eyes crinkling with delight as he came out to greet them. Taking Aubree by the hand, he ushered her inside. ¡°The housekeeper¡¯s cooked up a feast<b>¨C</b>we¡¯ve all been waiting for you two to get back!¡±

    Dinner went smoothly, with Enrique in particrly high spirits that evening. He opened a bottle of wine and had Alvin and Bowen join him for quite a few drinks.

    ¡°Dad, you¡¯re drunk. Let me help you upstairs to rest,¡± Bowen offered, reaching out to support him.

    However, Enrique swatted his hand away dismissively. ¡°You¡¯ve had just as much to drink¨Cdon¡¯t go dropping me now. Aubree, dear,e give me your arm instead.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Aubree replied sweetly, nodding obediently.

    With a resigned smile, Bowen gave up trying to help and turned to Alvin instead. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s take a walk and have a little chat.¡±

    As the youngest member in the family, Alvin had no say whatsoever.

    Instead of having Aubree apany him to his room, Enrique led her to the study. He chatted with her about her future ns, casually steering the conversation. Then, with a faint smile, he took out a stack of photos from the drawer.

    ¡°What are these?¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°I spend my days at home with nothing to do but fish, y chess, and drink coffee. Meanwhile, I watch enviously as all my friends show off their adorable grandkids. Then I look at my own, and all I¡¯ve got is Alvin, who has such a bad temper I can¡¯t even bring him out.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been asking around, hoping to find a good match for Bowen¨Cso I can finally have an adorable grandchild to show off to my

    friends.¡±

    Aubree, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly perked up. Her eyes lit with interest¨Cthe memory of Bowen drunkenly kissing her in Shiyvania and denying it afterward was still fresh in her mind.

    As Enrique spoke, he watched Aubree¡¯s <b>expression </b>closely. Seeing her eager reaction, he grinned and slid the photos in front of her. ¡°Since you¡¯re here today<b>, </be help me pick one out.

 Tried 256

    Chapter <b>256 </b>

    ¡°That rascal Bowen¨Che¡¯s still young, but honestly, he acts even more rigid than I do! I try to set him up on blind dates, but he refuses to go. For a while, I even started to wonder if he might be asexual!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Aubree instantly blurted out. ¡°Bowen is perfectly normal!¡±

    ¡°Oh? Aubree, dear, how can you be so sure?<b>¡± </b>Enrique chuckled with a knowing smile.

    Aubree instantly flushed with embarrassment. ¡°Well<b>, </b>it¡¯s just a feeling, you know? Someone as impressive as Bowen¨Cthere¡¯s no way he could be¡­

    ¡°How could I possibly say I¡¯ve¡­ experienced it firsthand?¡± Aubree thought.

    A knowing twinkle danced in Enrique¡¯s <b>eyes</b>, but he did not press further. ¡°Come on, take a look at these photos and help me pick someone out.¡±

    Aubree lowered her <b>head </b>and began examining the photos seriously. There <b>were </b>seven or eight of them¨Call jaw¨Cdroppingly gorgeous. Bowen certainly was notcking in options.

    Enrique picked one out. ¡°How about this one? Comes from a family of schrs. I know her grandfather¨Che <b>is </b><b>a </b>calligrapher. The girl is well- mannered and talented.¡±

    The young woman in the photo had long, straight ck hair and wore silver¨Crimmed <b>sses</b>. Even through the picture, she radiated an air of quiet intelligence.

    ¡°She¡¯s really pretty,¡± Aubree agreed with a nod.

    Aubree picked out a photo of a woman who looked bright and cheerful.

    Enrique peered at Aubree with a knowing look. ¡°Oh? So you think Bowen would go for this type?¡±

    Before Aubree could answer, the study door swung open and Bowen strode in. ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± he asked, ncing between them with a raised eyebrow.

    Bowen stormed over in two or three quick steps, giving them no chance to hide what they were doing. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the photos spread messily across the desk.

    Enrique shed an even wider grin. ¡°Just picking out some potential matches for you.¡±

    Aubree nced back at him with a sugary smile. ¡°They¡¯re all gorgeous, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Bowen¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. A sneer tugged at his lips. This little minx is definitely doing it on purpose,¡¯ he thought.

    Aubree squirmed under Bowen¡¯s intense gaze, her confidence wavering. Meanwhile, Enrique watched with undisguised glee, clearly relishing the spectacle.

    ¡°Oh really? And just who did you two pick?¡± Bowen asked.

    Enrique eagerly held up two photos. ¡°This one¡¯s my choice. And this lovely youngdy here was Aubree¡¯s pick.¡±

    Aubree lowered her head, not daring to meet Bowen¡¯s eyes.

    With a faint smile, Bowen let his gaze linger on the photo Aubree had picked. ¡°This one¡¯s not bad,¡± he remarked.

    Enrique nced over, a knowing twinkle in his eyes. ¡°Well then, it¡¯s settled. I¡¯ll arrange a meeting for you guys to meet.¡± With that, Enrique stood up brisklypletely abandoning the wobbly¨Cdrunk act he had put on downstairs.

    Aubree quickly got to her feet as well. ¡°Let me walk you out.¡±

    Before Aubree could even take a step, Bowen caught her by the cor and pulled her back. ¡°Not so fast. Let¡¯s have a little chat first, shall we?¡±

    Before Aubree could so much as blink, Enrique had disappeared, leaving Aubree mid¨Creach, her hand dangling uselessly in the air. One would hardly believe Enrique was well into his 60s, given the swiftness with which he departed the study.

    Aubree let out a nervousugh. ¡°Uh, Bowen¡­ Bro¡­¡±

    Bowen stared at her with a piercing gaze<b>. </b>

    Bowen raised an eyebrow<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Bro<b>? </b>Now that¡¯s an interesting way to call me.<b>¡± </b>

    Bowen held up the photo Aubree had picked, waving it between them. ¡°Spot¨Con choice<b>.</b>¡±

    12:43 PM C

    ¡°Wait¡­?¡± Aubree blinked, her mind momentarily nking as she failed to process his words.

    ¡°Are you trying to tell me something?¡± Bowen asked.

    Aubree took a closer look. ¡®Oh wow! This has to be a coincidence. The woman in the photo¡­ She really does look like me. We¡¯ve got the same vibe, and it seems like she has a simr personality to me,¡® she thought.

    Bowen tugged Aubree down onto the sofa beside him, leaning in so close that she instinctively shrank back, crossing her arms protectively over her chest. ¡°I¨CI just picked one at random,¡± she stammered.

    ¡°You just picked this at random?¡± Bowen raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on his lips. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got great taste then. I actually do like this type. Or rather, the woman I like just happens to be this type.¡±

    Aubree swallowed hard, her fingers twisting the fabric of her shirt until they flushed red. She looked utterly defenseless.

    Bowen¡¯s gaze darkened.

 Tried 257

    Chapter <b>257 </b>

    Aubree¡¯s fingers clenched nervously, her back pressed tight against the sofa. Bowen leaned in, one arm resting on the back of the couch and the other braced beside her face¨Ceffectively trapping her.

    ¡°Such good taste,¡± Bowen said, his tone like velvet with a twist¨Ccharming, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.

    Aubree waspletely cornered, trapped in a space where escape felt impossible. ¡®What¡¯s his problem? All I did was try to set him up on a blind date. Previously, he kissed me and even pretended that it never happened. Unbelievable,¡¯ she fumed inwardly.

    The more she thought about it, the angrier Aubree became. In a sudden burst of fury, she gave Bowen a forceful shove. Caught off guard, Bowen actually ended up being pushed down by her.

    With a bold swing of her leg, Aubree firmly straddled Bowen¡¯s waist, pinning him down with decisive authority.

    Bowen let out a low, breathy groan, not the least bit displeased. His <b>eyes </b>locked onto Aubree¡¯s, burning with a heat so intense it was almost dangerous.

    In any other situation, Aubree¡¯s instincts would have screamed danger, and she would have run off. But right now, all Aubree could feel was the burn of humiliation and heartbreak. She jabbed a finger at Bowen and unleashed a torrent of scolding.

    JOh, I¡¯m sorry¨Cwas going on a date with a gorgeous woman too much of a burden for you? She¡¯s stunning. Count your blessings!¡± she snapped.

    Bowen looked up at Aubree, eyes full of exasperation. ¡®Blessings? Sure, the woman is beautiful¨Cbut she isn¡¯t the one <b>I </b>want, he thought.

    One of Bowen¡¯s hands was pinned under Aubree, the other resting gently at her waist to steady her, afraid she might fall.

    Unaware of his gesture, Aubree continued her rant, voice rising with indignation. ¡°You kissed me while you were drunk¨CI haven¡¯t even called you out for it yet! But you just woke up the next morning acting like it never happened!¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re still hung up on this, huh, Bree?¡± Bowen teased, a yful glint in his eyes.

    Aubree froze, reying his words in her head. A realization dawned.

    Aubree looked Bowen up and down, her eyes full of suspicion. ¡°You remember?¡±

    Bowen, who had identally let the cat out of the bag, showed not the slightest trace of guilt¨Chis knack for spinning stories was truly masterful. ¡°Honestly, when I first woke up, I had some vague memories and thought was just a dream. Later, when I sobered up, it all came back to me. I just didn¡¯t mention it <i>to </i>spare you the embarrassment. Who knew you¡¯d still be so hung up over it?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face flushed crimson in an instant.

    Hung up over it? Seriously? Don¡¯t I have every right to be upset about this?¡® Aubree fumed inwardly. ¡®Hold on¨Cwhat¡¯s he ying at by bringing this up now?¡®

    Aubree pursed her lips. ¡°You deliberately pretended to be drunk just to kiss me! You¡¯re absolutely shameless<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    Bowen smirked. ¡°Alright, then you can kiss me back now.¡±

    Bowen lounged back on the sofa, propping himself up just enough to watch her with azy, inviting smile¨Ca picture of utter invitation. The hand that had been resting on her waist began to wander, his grip slowly tightening, growing bolder with every passing second.

    Aubree stammered, flustered. ¡°Uh, I¨CI almost forgot¡­ It¡¯s gettingte, and I¡¯ve had two full days of exams¡­ I¡¯m really tired. I should go¡­.

    Suddenly, Aubree gasped.

    Without Aubree noticing, Bowen¡¯s hand that had been resting on her waist had wandered up her back to the nape of her neck. Then, with a sudden, forceful press downward, she tumbled straight into Bowen¡¯s arms.

    Bowen dropped all pretense, his eyes zing with raw, unmasked desire. Aubree¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡®Is he really nning to cross that line tonight?¡® she thought.

    Aubree was not clueless¨Cshe knew full well Bowen had feelings for her. Or rather, he was not even trying to hide it.

    Bowen pulled her deeper into his embrace, taking advantage of Aubree¡¯s position atop him. His lips found hers with perfect precision¨Cat first, just a gentle, unhurried press. Then, he deliberately drew out each moment, coaxing and provoking her bit by bit.

    Aubree struggled to get up, but clearly, Bowen had no intention of letting her go so easily. He nipped her lips yfully and murmured, his voiceced with mischief, ¡°Still feeling wronged? I¡¯m just letting you kiss me back now.¡±

    Aubree fumed inwardly, ¡°The nerve of this guy! Wait, am I the one taking advantage of him? But it does seem like he¡¯s enjoying it way too much.¡¯

 Tried 258

    Aubree did not get much time to debate it. The moment Bowen¡¯s lips touched hers, all thoughts evaporated. Bowen had finally cornered his prize, and he was not holding back.

    He drank in every trace of her kiss, and even when the softness beneath his lips had gone ck, he refused to let her go.

    Bowen used both hands to pin Aubree firmly against his chest. Adjusting their position, he flipped her beneath him, gripping her chin with one hand and forcing her lips to part, yielding to his invasion.

    Bowen clung to her lips, insistent and hungry, as if trying to savor everyst trace of her. Every movement was firm, unhurried, and impossibly focused.

    By the time Bowen finally let go of Aubree¡¯s lips, Aubree had gone totally limp.

    Aubree gasped for air, her lips kiss<b>¨C</b>swollen and glistening. As Bowen watched her, his gaze darkened with something dangerous and possessive, a primal instinct flickering to life and quickly slipping beyond his control.

    Aubree was pinned beneath Bowen, her face flickering with color¨Cpale one moment, flushed the next. Her lips trembled as she spat out, ¡°You shameless pervert!¡±

    Bowen doubled down on his shameless act without a trace of embarrassment. ¡°The woman I love is right here in my arms¨Cif I didn¡¯t react, now that would be the real problem,¡± he said.

    Bowen spoke as if it was perfectly reasonable, making her feel like she was overreacting.

    Aubree instinctively pressed her lips together, her face darkening in realization. ¡®He kissed me again¨Cand this time, he¡¯spletely sober!¡® she thought.

    Aubree¡¯s dark eyes bore into Bowen. ¡°So, you think I¡¯m a pushover?¡± she demanded.

    Bowen froze for a moment, then burst outughing, his deep, resonant chuckle ringing in her ears<b>, </b>which only made her more irritated. ¡®What¡¯s there tough about? The first time he kissed me, he pretended to be drunk and denied it. Now, the second time, he even¡­ He¡¯s shameless!¡® she thought.

    Bowen looked straight into her eyes and dered, ¡°I¡¯m in love with you.¡±

    Before Aubree could explode, Bowen¡¯s words stopped her dead in her tracks.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Wait, what? He said it just like that? With zero warning? How am I supposed to dodge that?

    ¡®Even if Bowen had no intention of restraining himself, I thought he¡¯d still start with some small talk. Howe he didn¡¯t even give me time toe up with an excuse to refuse<b>?</b>¡®

    Bowen had not nned on saying it, but now that he had kissed Aubree, it felt almost natural to admit it.

    Bowen sat up straight, pulling Aubree up with him. Looking into her eyes, he said, ¡°I love you. Don¡¯t be so quick to say no. I don¡¯t believe you have no feelings for me,¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®But seriously¨Cif some rich, capable man kept solving all my problems, throwing cash like confetti, even if his name was something in and ridiculous, I¡¯d probably develop feelings for him too.¡¯

    Aubree¡¯s gaze wavered, and she murmured, ¡°M¨Cmaybe a little.¡±

    Bowen knew exactly what was on Aubree¡¯s mind.

    ¡°I really did intend to treat you like a junior at first,¡± he said.

    Aubree nodded. ¡®Right¨Clike a junior at first. Then somehow, I turn into his wife. ssic move. I¡¯ve seen this one before, she thought.

    ¡°But feelings¡­ can¡¯t really be helped. Bree, you won¡¯t me me for finding you too charming, will you?¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°Of course<b>!</b>¡± Aubree tilted her chin up with a sassy smirk. ¡°It¡¯s only natural to like me.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. I¡¯m just a perfectly normal guy.¡± Bowen chuckled, his hand ruffling her hair. ¡°So, how about it¨Cgive me a chance to pursue you?¡±

    The scent of red wine still lingered faintly on Aubree¡¯s lips¨Cfrom him.

    They were so close that their breaths intertwined, the space between them almost nonexistent. Bowen¡¯s burning <b>gaze </b>was glued to her, never wavering.

    ¡°I¡­¡± The words caught in Aubree¡¯s throat.

    Bowen looked at Aubree and said, ¡°You want to turn me down, don¡¯t you? You don¡¯t believe someone would just be kind to you for no reason. You don¡¯t believe in love at first sight.¡± Bowen saw right through every one of Aubree¡¯s reservations.

    Bowen had been holding back all this time because he knew that even if Aubree did have feelings for him, she would almost certainly turn him down just to protect herself.

    Bowen had quite a few drinks tonight, and seeing Aubree talking with Enrique about setting him up on a blind date¨Cthat was what pushed him over the edge. Sure, <b>it </b>was impulsive, but he did not regret a thing.

    ¡®Once summer break is over, she¡¯d be off to college. Someone as outstanding as her would naturally attract eligible young men around her age- guys who would have more inmon with her than I do, Bowen thought. He could not help feeling a sense of insecurity about that.

    Bowen¡¯s eyes darkened.

 Tried 259

    Bowen kissed Aubree slowly, taking his time as he explored every part of her with quiet patience.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Aubree was left speechless. What Bowen had said was true.

    Having been granted a second chance at life, love <b>was </b>never something Aubree sought. Aubree could not bring herself to believe that anyone would be foolish¨Cor brave¨Cenough to stand by her without conditions.

    I¡¯d rather never have it at all than face possible separationter,¡¯ Aubree thought. ¡®After I¡¯ve had my revenge, whether through adoption or IVF, I¡¯ll raise an exceptional heir. I¡¯ll make sure my child knows that self¨Cworth matters more than anything else!

    Of all the things she nned for, love was never one of them.

    Bowen looked into her eyes and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t rush to reject me. Just give me a chance. Let me prove I¡¯m not the wrong choice.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s breathing remained steady, his hand still resting on the back of her head, his thumb gently caressing her temple. He said softly, ¡°Even if this doesn¡¯t work out, having an all¨Caround bodyguard at your side for a while¨Cdoesn¡¯t sound too bad, does it?

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind you taking advantage of me. On the contrary, I¡¯d be absolutely delighted if you did. Or, to put it more inly, to make full use of me.¡±

    Aubree was utterly stunned. She never expected Bowen to say something like that.

    Aubree was panicking, her mind nk. Whether it <b>was </b>Bowen¡¯s tempting offer or that dangerously persuasive look in his eyes, she could not tell. In the end, the only thing she remembered <b>was </b>that a quiet ¡°Okay¡± had slipped from her lips.

    Satisfied, Bowen did not push further. He gently pulled back and nted a kiss on Aubree¡¯s forehead. ¡°Get some rest,¡± he murmured.

    Aubree¡¯s face turned beet red. She sat frozen on the sofa, taking long moments to collect herself.

    As Alvin headed upstairs, he was greeted by the sight of Enrique in a most undignified pose¨Chis butt sticking out, pressed up against the study door as if eavesdropping.

    Alvin thought in disbelief, ¡®<b>Is </b>this really something Grandpa would do? Seriously, shouldn¡¯t Grandpa know better than anyone how soundproof this study is?¡®

    ¡°What are you doing, Grandpa?¡± Alvin blurted out.

    Getting caught eavesdropping by his own grandson, Enrique looked visibly awkward. Before he could even straighten up, the study door swung open. Bowen stared wordlessly at Enrique, who nearly fell into his arms. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re over 60, not 16,¡± Bowen said dryly.

    Alvin immediately understood what was going on. He shot a reproachful look at the two shameless men in front of him and muttered, ¡°Aubree must have had the worst luck in the world to end up with you two.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s lips curved into a smirk. ¡°I¡¯d be more than happy to take responsibility for her indefinitely.¡±

    The study door was not fully closed, and when Aubree overheard Bowen¡¯s words, the heat that had just started to fade from her cheeks came rushing back in an instant.

    1

    Bowen peeked into the room and saw Aubree doing her best ostrich impression¨Chead down, pretending she did not exist. Bowen chuckled under his breath. ¡®How can she be this cute?¡® he thought.

    After the SAT, the Wilson family tried everything to track Aubree down, but Aubree had already taken off on a solo trip abroad. In her previous life, she never had the chance to see the world properly¨Cnot even up to her death. Now that thepany was not too busy and the exams were over, Aubee booked herself a ticket to Mirea for a well¨Cearned vacation.

    Of course<b>, </b>every day she had to put up with Bowen¡¯s endless, whinyints over the phone. He was just like a pining, neglected lover.

    Aubree was ready tounch Zappy¨Cnot just domestically, but globally. The final stop of her journey took her to Odiond.

 Tried 260

    15

    Aidan knew Aubree wasing and had everything ready for her well in advance. yzy was a huge hit overseas, and Aidan had made a fortune from the streaming tform. In his eyes, Aubree showing up was nothing short of a godsend.

    Zappy <b>was </b>a project that had been agreed on earlier, andmunication between both sides had gone smoothly.

    Aubree said, ¡°Over the past few months, I¡¯ve been running pilot promotions for Zappy domestically. The results have been very promising.

    ¡°This time, I¡¯m nning tounch the tform both domestically and internationally. I¡¯ll still be partnering with you for the internationalunch, of course, but the international release wille about two months <b>after </b>the domestic one.¡±

    Aidan grinned and extended his hand. ¡°Then, here¡¯s to a sessful partnership!¡±

    Upon returning from Odiond, Aubree wasted no time switching <b>gears </b>from vacation mode and plunged headfirst into a new round of challenges.

    She integrated the Zappy project into the yzy team, cing them in charge of its full operations.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, the operational model for Zappy is quite simr to yzy,¡± someone pointed out. ¡°The only real innovation lies in its short, punchy videos ranging from a few seconds to <b>a </b>couple of minutes<b>¨C</b>mostlyedic content.¡±

    Aubree said, ¡°That¡¯s all we need. To put it simply, Zappy is a new media tform, and its <b>real </b>strength lies in these fast¨Cpaced short videos¨Cdidn¡¯t our beta testing already prove how effective they <b>are</b>? As for those live¨Cstreamingmerce tactics, that¡¯s just traffic mization.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to show people there¡¯s real business potential in short videos¨Cotherwise, why would anyone bother putting in the effort, right?¡±

    Aubree smiled. What she did not <b>say </b><b>was </b>that short video tforms could expand into countless industries¡ªmini¨Cdrama promotions, influencer marketing, and eventually even official government ounts would join in. That was when it truly became a nationwide media tform. Even some foreign leaders would not be able to resist joining the trend.

    Zappy would not only dominate domestic traffic, but also be a powerful tform for global cultural exchange!

    ¡°But will that alone really attract viewers<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>one of the team members questioned.

    Aubree smiled and replied, ¡°Well, that all depends on how well you deliver<b>. </b>If big data analytics can rmend videos tailored to each user¡¯s interests<b>, </b>isn¡¯t that the best way to keep them engaged?¡±

    Though Zappy and yzy <b>were </bunched around the same time, the time and funding that went into Zappy far surpassed what was spent on yzy.

    Aubree¡¯s strategic vision for Zappy was clear: leverage short¨Cform videos as a springboard, transition into long¨Cform content, and ultimately diversify into other industries.

    This was where the benefits of working with Peace Entertainment really started to show. As Aubree prepared tounch Zappy, she had already reached out to Sylvia, who got the influencer division at Peace Entertainment to nurture a new wave of content creators across different genres<b>. </b>

    When Zappy officially rolled out, it led with a clear, heartwarming message<b>: </b><b>¡°</b>Celebrate Life¡¯s Beautiful Moments.<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree poured serious money into the campaign. From metro screens to bus disys and app homepages, Zappy was absolutely everywhere.

    Not only that, Aubree also shelled out a fortune to bring in a lineup of A¨Clist celebrities to star in Zappy¡¯smercials.

    On top of that<b>, </b>she set up a generous incentive fund of 35 million dors. During Zappy¡¯s first month, all short¨Cvideo creators could sign up¨Cby producing high¨Cquality videos, they could earn cash rewards. The grand prize alone was in the six¨Cfigure range.

    Thanks to a massive marketing blitz and the lure of massive cash prizes, Zappy immediately attracted hordes of content creators as soon as itunched, many of whom had transitioned from live¨Cstreaming tforms.

    In just a matter of days, millions of creators had already flocked to Zappy¡¯s tform. The growth rate was phenomenal¨Ceclipsing even what yzy had achieved at its peak.

    After Zappy¡¯s sessfulunch and promotion, Aubree was met with a milestone of her own¨Cher SAT results were finally out.

 Tried 261

    Chapter <b>261 </b>

    0

    Maybe it was the pressure from Aubree, but Carmen did really well in her art exams. She had talent <b>all </b>along, and this time she performed beyond expectations. Carmen could have easily gotten into Rithol Art School on her own merit¨Cif she had not stirred up so much trouble before.

    But unfortunately, she had already been cklisted by Rithol Art School.

    Ever since Carmen made a solemn vow to Ronald, she had been working tirelessly¨Cfrom the moment she left the hospital right up until the SAT.

    Looking back on the SAT, Carmen thought confidently, ¡®My scores are definitely Rithol Art School material.

    Upon hearing the news, Alice <b>was </b>overjoyed. She rushed back from abroad overnight, feeling she finally had something to boast about

    Alice said with a proud smile, ¡°Aubree doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for her<b>¨C</b>she switched to academic subjects for a whole year. Even if she used to get good grades, there¡¯s no way she could¡¯ve scored higher than you, Carmen.

    ¡°If you really put your mind to it, Carmen, not even 10 Aubrees could hold a candle to you. I even asked around¨Cyour scores put you easily in the top 100 among all art students in Rithol City.¡±

    Bryan and Ronald could not care less about how Carmen did on her SAT. At most, Ronald would ask to be sure she could get into Ritho! City¡¯s art school. Even if not Rithol Art School, the cutoff scores at Rithol Academy nearby were no lesspetitive.

    Trevor smirked as he listened to Alice and Ronald Wilson taking turns praising Carmen. <b>He </b>thought, ¡®Did Mom and Daxton really forget that Aubree not only won the International Mathematics Competition, but that Carmen even got her award by giarizing Aubree¡¯s artwork for the

    contest?

    How could Carmen ever measure up to Aubree?¡®

    But Trevor did not <b>say </b>anything to ruin the moment. Deep down, though, he still hoped that Carmen could outshine Aubree.

    Carmen pursed her lips with a faint smile. ¡°I was wrong before. I was too impatient¡ªterrified you¡¯d think I wasn¡¯t as good as Aubree and would abandon me¡­¡± She lowered her eyes, her gaze turning somber. ¡°I did things I shouldn¡¯t have, even brought trouble to our family<i>. </i>But now I¡¯ve thought it through¨CMom will always be my mom, and my brothers, too. I don¡¯t need to be afraid anymore; I just need to keep moving forward, knowing you¡¯ll always be my unwavering support!¡±

    Alice and Daxton had always believed Aubree was in the wrong. In their eyes, letting Carmen suffer such humiliation only proved once again that Aubree did not know how to value the goodwill she had been shown.

    Carmen¡¯s sudden confession and self¨Cme moved them deeply.

    ¡®Clearly, it¡¯s <b>our </b>failure to give her enough security that made Carmen feel so anxious and scared,¡® they thought.

    ¡°Once your SAT results are out, Carmen, I will throw you the grandest celebration!¡± Alice dered proudly. Before she even returned home, Alice had already boasted to her circle of friends that Carmen would surely make a name for herself in Rithol City with her outstanding scores.

    She thought to herself, ¡®I¡¯ll make sure Aubree <b>sees </b>this¡ªleaving the Wilson family will be the biggest regret of her life!¡±

    Everyone who heard the news showered the Wilson family with praise<b>, </b>marveling at how well they raised their children. Their four sons had always been exceptional each more outstanding than thest¨C<b>so </b>everyone thought it must be in their genes. But to their surprise, even their adopted daughter, Carmen, turned out to be truly remarkable.

    ¡°If you ask me, Carmen¡¯s been smart since she was a kid,¡± someone remarked.

    ¡°Alice<i>, </i>you really are blessed. Having four sons who are the cream of the crop is impressive enough, but even your adopted daughter is miles ahead of everyone else¡¯s,¡± another chimed in.

    ¡°Carmen really is outstanding,¡± echoed someone else.

    Alice was practically glowing from all thepliments Carmen was getting. That¡¯s my daughter, after all¨Cof course, she¡¯s exceptional!¡® she thought.

    The SAT results were released soon after.

    Carmen held her breath as she typed her ID with trembling fingers into the webpage. In an instant, her scores popped up.

    She had scored 1200 on the SAT, apanied by an impressive 300 on her art exam.

    With these results, she was undoubtedly among the top art students in Rithol City. Forget the top 100¨Cshe was easily in the <b>top </b><b>50</b><b>! </b>

 Tried 262

    Even the usually indifferent Trevor could not help but look twice. ¡®<b>If </b>she had this kind of talent all along, why bother with those stunts before? he thought. ¡®Guess you never really know your potential until you¡¯re pushed.

    Carmen had not expected to score so high on the SAT<b>¨C</b>she cried out in excitement. Daxton imm¨¦diately swept her into a hug and eximed, ¡°Carmen, you¡¯re incredible!¡±

    Alice¡¯s face flushed with excitement. ¡°And that¡¯s with Carmen only putting in effort toward the end. If she¡¯d taken it seriously from the start, she might¡¯ve been this year¡¯s top art student!¡±

    Alice wasted no time spreading the good news to her social circle, expecting nothing but admiration and envy. But things did not go quite as she had imagined.

    ¡°Alice, this is your daughter, Aubree, right?¡±

    The person on the other end sent over a news link. Alice did not even have to open it¨Cthe headline alone was enough to sting her eyes.

    ¡°One¨CYear Stunning Comeback: Rithol High School prodigy Aubree Miller scores 1570 on the SAT and ranks 3rd in Rithol City¡¯s STEM standings.¡±

    Aubree was not valedictorian, but that headline drew more attention than the article about the actual valedictorian.

    Aubree¡¯s name <b>was </b>already well¨Cknown in Rithol City. At just 18, Aubree hadunched her own business and, in just one year, built a fortune worth tens of millions¨Ca staggering feat.

    With a near¨Cperfect SAT score, Aubree had added another remarkable achievement to her record. Considering she had only switched to full¨Ctime academics a year ago, even a score of 1200 would have beenmendable.

    Not only did Alice see the news on her phone<b>, </b>but the same notification popped up on Carmen¡¯sputer screen.

    The once joyous atmosphere evaporated in an instant, plunging the entire room into stunned silence.

    Carmen could not believe her eyes¨Cthird in the entire state! Aubree was not even the top scorer, yet she shone brighter than the one who was! ¡®Aubree only studied for a year¨Chow on earth did she do this?¡® Carmen thought in disbelief.

    Her expression grew tense <b>as </b>she hurriedly clicked open the article. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just someone with the same name,¡± she murmured, clinging to thatst bit of hope.

    As Carmen scrolled further down, her expression turned cold the moment she saw the photo¨CAubree standing outside the exam hall, radiant and carefree, beaming as she held a bouquet of flowers.

    Suddenly, more breaking news alerts popped up.

    ¡°Shocking! The third¨Chighest scorer is also the only high schooler in history to ce in the International Mathematics Competition!¡±

    ¡°From arts to academics in just one year¨CAubree Miller¡¯s stunningeback!¡±

    ¡°Perfect scores in Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology¨Cher only weakness, Odiondian, kept her from the valedictorian title.¡±

    ¡°The third¨Cce¡¯s perfect¨Cscore essay, A Fleeting Dream of a Lifetime, has been released. Experts praised it as a haunting glimpse into the soul of someone reborn from despair.¡±

    The four of them stood in the room, stunned into silence as they read the news. They could not believe their eyes¨Cthis was really Aubree!

    ¡®Had she started with academic subjects from the very beginning, just how astonishing would her achievements have been?¡® they thought.

    Even though Aubree ranked third, the valedictorian was only two points ahead of her. And to think she had only been studying for a year¨Cyet in that same year, she also founded Bree Technology!

    Gone were the days when Bree Technology had to beg for funding. Thepany now had a firm foothold in Rithol City¡¯s digital media industry¡ª and even nationwide. Plenty of people were lining up, throwing money Aubree¡¯s way just for a chance to work with her.

    Aubree was an extraordinary individual¨Cso remarkable that she seemed almost otherworldly.

    ¡°Aubree¡­ Having that kind of score?¡± Even Daxton was visibly shocked. He had always been an exceptional student himself, but back then, his SAT results had only ced him in the top five in the entire state. He was the top achiever in the family, yet here was Aubree<b>, </b>who had only studied for a single year, effortlessly outshining him.

    Trevor looked away awkwardly. <b>¡®</b><b>Is </b>Aubree really that capable?¡® he wondered.

    Alice¡¯s eyes widened in shock¨Cshe could not bring herself to ept that Aubree had actually achieved such outstanding SAT results.

    Carmen clenched her fists tightly, digging her nails into her palms to resist the urge to smash herptop. ¡°Aubree¡­ She actually scored that high?¡± she said.

    Beneath Carmen¡¯s envious facade, she was seething¨Cshe longed to rip Aubree apart. I already have such a high score, yet Aubree still manages to steal my thunder! Carmen fumed inwardly.

    Alice¡¯s phone started ringing off the hook¨Ceveryone was calling to confirm if the third¨Cce prodigy who had only studied for a year was really from their family.

 Tried 263

    Chapter <b>263 </b>

    ¡°Tsk, with scores like that, Dad and Bryan must be thrilled, huh?¡± Trevor said, more amused than anything else¨Che clearly enjoyed the drama.

    With such ster grades and an inspiringeback story, Aubree was bound to be swarmed by reporters. Rithol High School was destined to be the center of a media frenzy today.

    Alice¡¯s expression darkened. She had been counting on Carmen¡¯s ster exam results to help her regain some standing with Ronald¨Cthere was no way she would let Ronald marry Carmen off in an arranged marriage. But now, her own position in the Wilson family had be downright precarious.

    What Aubree said at the hospitalst time had clearly nted a seed of doubt in Ronald¡¯s heart. Alice had tried to dodge the issue afterward, but she still ended up having a conversation with Ronald about it.

    Alice¡¯s abandonment of Aubree was a fact, but whether her supposed breakdown had been real or just a cover, whether adopting Carmen had been coincidence <b>or </b>calction¨Cthose things could not be proven. Alice pushed the me for abandoning Aubree onto her PTSD. At least on the surface, Ronald had no choice but to ept that exnation.

    Alice had no idea that Ronald had secretly ordered a DNA test on her and Carmen. Now, things between Alice and Ronald were extremely delicate, every interactionced with unspoken tension.

    Trevor¡¯s right, Alice thought. ¡®Now that Ronald regrets how he treated Aubree, he¡¯ll no doubt be the first to rush to Rithol High School and act like the doting father.

    ¡°We should go to Rithol High School too!¡± Alice said through gritted teeth. She had to <b>see </b>it for herself¨Cthere was no way she would believe Aubree could outshine Carmen, whom she had spent decades carefully nurturing!

    Daxton¡¯s expression darkened, and he clenched his fists tightly. ¡°That bitch! Carmen had done so well¨Cthis was her chance to finally get Dad¡¯s attention. But she just had to outdo Carmen and steal all the limelight!¡® he thought furiously. ¡®Can¡¯t Aubree just let Carmen be happy for once?¡®

    ¡°Carmen, let¡¯s go see for ourselves<b>,</b>¡± he said.

    Trevor strolled along behind the others, slipping on sunsses and a baseball cap¨Che was not about to miss this spectacle.

    When the SAT scores came out, Aubree, Alvin, and Matilda agreed to check their results together. The three of them met at Alvin¡¯s ce in Forith Bay, in his gaming room where twoputers were set up. Aubree and Alvin checked their scores first while Matilda waited her turn, the room buzzing with anticipation.

    When Aubree¡¯s scores came out, even Alvin could not help but do a double¨Ctake. He had always prided himself on being sharp¨Cwitted, and until now, the only person who had ever truly earned his respect was his uncle, Bowen¨Cin Alvin¡¯s eyes, Bowen was practically inhuman, a real freak of

    nature.

    And now, there was yet another one¨CAubree!

    ¡°Sometimes I honestly wonder if you¡¯re even human. Where do you get all these creative ideas? And on top of that, you¡¯re way too smart,¡± Alvin said.

    Aubree chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t be too amazed. I¡¯m the legend you¡¯ll never catch up to.¡±

    Alvin rolled his eyes, speechless, and checked his own score¨Cit was just as impressive. Even as an art student, Carmen¡¯s results were already something to brag about, but Alvin¡¯s were a whole tier above hers.

    ¡°Wow,ing from the guy who¡¯s always asleep in ss and never touches a pen. Didn¡¯t think you had it in you, Alvin.¡± Aubree had expected Alvin¡¯s grades to be decent, but this was unreal. If the other students at Rithol High School found out, they would probably lose it.

    Alvin scoffed. ¡°Pfft, I mastered the school curriculum ages ago.¡±

    Alvin always had one¨Con¨Cone tutoring from renowned painting masters. ¡°The only exception was when Uncle Bowen lost his mind and got Aubree to tutor me,¡® he thought.

    Matilda was also thrilled about their excellent scores. ¡°Congrattions to you both! With results like these, getting into your dream colleges is pretty much guaranteed now,¡± she said.

    ¡°Matilda, aren¡¯t you going to check your SAT scores<b>?</b>¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pass¡­¡± Matilda managed a weak smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t take the SATS.¡±

    She had not told a single soul about this.

    Matilda was already over the age of 18 when she met Aubree. She had already signed a coaching contract with the esports club, so taking the SAT no

    longer held much relevance for her.

    Aubree frowned slightly. <b>Ever </b>since returning after Christmas, she had a nagging feeling that Matilda was hiding something from her. But with the SAT looming and <b>the </bpany about tounch a new project, she did not dwell on it.

    ¡°Matilda<b>¡­</b>¡± Aubree began.

    Just <b>as </b>she was about to ask more, Bowen entered with a fruit tter. Theputer screen was still disying their scores. He nced at it and remarked, ¡°Not bad <b>at </b>all¨Cyou¡¯ve made the Turner family proud.¡±

 Tried 264

    Chapter <b>264 </b>

    Before Alvin could feel proud of himself, Bowen startedying the most outrageous ttery on Aubree.

    Bowen said, ¡°Now that¡¯s our Bree! These scores are practically valedictorian¨Clevel¨Cjust a hair¡¯s breadth away! And to think you¡¯ve only been studying for a <b>year</b>. Honestly, this year¡¯s valedictorian should be thanking their lucky stars you didn¡¯t go all out sooner!¡±

    Alvin was speechless for a moment. ¡®No wonder they say love works miracles¨Chow could it not? It can turn a perfectly normal person into a total lovesick fool, he thought.

    Aubree¡¯s phone buzzed with a <b>text </b>from her homeroom teacher, summoning her back to Rithol High School.

    Aubree figured it was probably for some publicity interviews or something like that. Normally, only the valedictorian at Rithol High School would get this kind of treatment¨Cbut then again, she was no ordinary person.

    ¡°My homeroom teacher just texted me. She wants me back at Rithol High School,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you guys a ride there,¡± Bowen said.

    When the trio arrived <i>at </i>Rithol High School, they found the school gates swarmed by a massive crowd¨Cmostly reporters who had raced there at the news<b>, </b>with clusters of students¡® parents mixed in.

    Although there were plenty of reports about Aubree¡¯s SAT results, not a single interview with her had been published yet. Every media outlet was moring tond the first exclusive.

    No matter whatbel the newspapers assigned, it inevitably ignited a frenzy among readers, making the story a widespread sensation.

    As Aubree got closer, she noticed a crimson banner already hanging above the entrance of Rithol High School. This was nothing out of the ordinary¡ªevery year, after the SAT results were released the school would proudly disy the achievements of their top¨Cscoring student. But this time, it waspletely different.

    Matilda nudged Aubree with her elbow. ¡°Well, well, look at you, Aubree! For the first time ever, Rithol High School is hanging a banner for third ce instead of the valedictorian!¡±

    Hanging high at the school entrance was arge banner that could not be missed: ¡°Congrattions to our student Aubree Miller for her sessful entrepreneurship and achieving third ce in the state after just one year of academic study.¡± The banner was hung conspicuously high, as if Rithol High School wanted to make absolutely sure no one could miss it.

    With the front gate crowded, Aubree and Alvin exchanged a quick nce and, without hesitation, slipped in through the back entrance. Behind them, the shouts of reporters echoed as they made their way inside.

    ¡°Aubree<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Aubree, you legend!¡±

    ¡°Just one year of prep, and you¡¯re only two points behind the valedictorian!¡±

    Alvin headed to his ssroom while Aubree and Matilda headed to theirs. The moment Aubree and Matilda walked in, the ss instantly erupted into a boisterous uproar, with cheers and excited chatter filling the air.

    Aubree became the center of every envious nce<b>, </b>each oneced with silent resentment. Aubree had studied for merely a year and already achieved third ce in the state. To those who had spent years burning the midnight oil, their efforts suddenly felt meaningless¨Cnothing more than proof that they had endurance.

    Aubree gave them a friendly smile. Her homeroom teacher beamed with pride as she looked at Aubree and said, ¡°Switching back from art to academics was the best decision you ever made.¡±

    When Aubree first decided to pursue art, her homeroom teacher was so distraught she nearly burst into tears on the spot.

    ¡°You should¡¯ve seen the teachers¡® lounge,¡± the homeroom teacher said. ¡°The moment your results hit, jaws dropped. ss One¡¯s homeroom teacher -who¡¯s always so smug about their star pupil¨Cwas speechless. That student only scored two points more than you. The look on that teacher¡¯s face? Absolutely priceless.

    ¡°Not only did you excel academically, but you also built a sessful startup this year! Now, the school leadership and education bureau officials all want to meet you. Oh, and did you see all those reporters swarming outside the school gates when you came in? The school wants to gather them in the auditorium for a formal press conference with you.

    ¡°When the timees, be sure to highlight how you managed to achieve both academic excellence and entrepreneurial sess in just one year. I read your essay, too, Aubree. My goodness! Who would¡¯ve thought someone your age could write with such depth and insight?¡±

    Aubree smiled inwardly. <b>That </b><b>essay </b>distilled the wisdom of her two lifetimes.

    Aubree thought to herself, They want to interview me?¡®

    Aubree had a pensive expression on her face, wondering how Alice and the others were reacting. Carmen had made a point of bragging to her during exams¨Ciming she had done exceptionally well this time. Now, Aubree was genuinely looking forward to seeing their reactions.

    How well could she have possibly done? Aubree thought. She shed a sardonic smile. I¡¯m suddenly curious to see the look on Carmen¡¯s face when she finds out I¡¯ve stolen the spotlight.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do the interview,¡± Aubree said.

 Tried 265

    Chapter <b>265 </b>

    <b>* </b>

    In the grand auditorium, Aubree stood at center stage. The front row was packed with school and education officials. <i>Of </i>course, Bowen, whose exceptionally dazzling smile stood out.

    Aubree¡¯s gaze swept past Bowen, and she shed him a toothy, defiant grin.

    With a slight lift of her gaze, Aubree took in the scene. Aside from the officials, the rest of the attendees included students¡® parents, the press corps, and, of course, the entire Wilson family.

    Every single member of the Wilson family was present, except for Emery, who was serving time. Even Trevor had shown up, fully disguised and tucked away in the farthest corner.

    Aubree coldly thought, ¡®Perfect. They¡¯re all here.¡®

    A cold glint shed in Aubree¡¯s eyes as she thought again, ¡®Since they¡¯re so eager to hear, I¡¯ll make sure they get an earful!¡®

    The moment Aubree took the mic, the reporters below couldn¡¯t hold back. They asked questions one after another.

    Entrepreneur, genius¨Cthese identities were already old news. Compared to those, Aubree had an even more attention¨Cgrabbing identity: the disowned heiress of the Wilson family.

    Aubree answered without a hint of hesitation. ¡°Compared to thatbel,¡± she said coldly, ¡°I¡¯d much rather be an orphan.¡±

    The audience erupted in shocked murmurs.

    Wasn¡¯t she cursing the Wilson family?

    Aubree shrugged and said, ¡°I¡¯m sure most of you know the Wilson family and I are sworn enemies. When I first started my business, they attacked me both openly and behind the scenes. I gave as good as <b>I </b>got. So I despise any identity linked to the Wilson family, and I certainly don¡¯t see myself as one of them. I went missing at five and didn¡¯t return to the Wilson family until I was fifteen. For three years, I endured countless brutal beatings and punishments. Any debt of gratitude has long been repaid. Now, all that¡¯s left is nothing but hatred.

    ¡°My so¨Ccalled family was wiped out by the time <b>I </b>was five. After they were all gone, I grew up in an orphanage. It was Mr. Quinn who sponsored me so <i>that </i><b>I </b>could eat, have clothes to <b>wear</b>, and have books to read. That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m alive today. The only person I¡¯ll ever thank is Mr. Quinn, the benefactor, whose appearance I do not know.

    ¡°So, I¡¯d appreciate it if you, the media<b>, </b>could do me this favor: from now on, in any stories about me, please leave the Wilson family out of it entirely.¡±

    Aubree smiled, her toneced with just the right amount of youthful mischief.

    Upon hearing her words, the crowd erupted into an uproar.

    Though her tone remained outwardly calm, every word dripped with seething hatred.

    Aubree never bothered hiding her utter loathing for the Wilson family. That nonsense about ¡°leaving each other alone¡°? Bullshit. She was the avenging fury returned to im their lives. What she wanted was theplete ruin of the Wilson family, to see everyst one of them reap what they¡¯d sown. The best oue? Their total extinction.

    i

    The reporters instantly grasped the subtext. Aubree was drawing a clear line. She had no connection to the Wilson family, and for better or worse, neither side was to exploit the other.

    The reporters didn¡¯t dwell on it. Laughing it off, they decided to do her the favor and quickly moved on to other questions.

    Some asked about her essays, others about her journey so far. Aubree, with a bright, unppable smile, answered every question with ease.

    Seated in the audience, Bowen gazed at Aubree on stage with such tenderness in his eyes it could have flooded the entire auditorium¨Cenough to make onlookers¡® skin crawl.

    On the other side of the crowd, Bryan buried his face in his hands, tears streaming down as short, choked sobs escaped his throat.

    Tears rolled down Bryan¡¯s face¨Cmere droplets, but for a man of his stoic nature, it was nothing short of extraordinary. ¡®Aubree¡­ my little sister!¡® thought Quinn.

    Ever since Bryan learned that Alice had deliberately abandoned Aubree, Bryan¡¯s guilt and regret had reached unbearable levels. He could never forget standing by Aubree¡¯s crib when she was born, silently vowing, ¡°I¡¯ll protect my baby sister no matter what.¡±

    However, what had he done?

    When Aubree first came back, I meant to make it up to her¡­. But how did everything go so wrong? Bryan thought, his heart heavy with regret.

 Tried 266

    Every time he saw her face or heard her defiance, Bryan couldn¡¯t help but feel she was ming him for failing to protect her all those years ago¡­ That creeping fear only fueled his desperate need to make her submit to his will.

    That was when his actions started getting out of hand.

    However, no one paid any attention to Bryan, who was weeping. Trevor, meanwhile, kept his eyes fixed on Aubree, his mind racing with cold calctions. He thought, With how much she hates us now, she¡¯ll relentlessly target us in the future. She¡¯s building her empire, and with Bowen backing her, if we let her grow any stronger, aren¡¯t we raising a dagger to hang over our heads?¡®

    ¡°Dad¡­¡± Trevor turned to look at Ronald, only to see Ronald¡¯s face drained of all hope, ashen, utterly lifeless, and defeated.

    Ronald¡¯sst hope was shattered. For Aubree to say such things before the entire media, it meant she had utterly disowned him as her father.

    Trevor could hardly believe his eyes. His father, the man who had always seemed like a master strategist, now looked utterly defeated.

    Trevor quickly nced at the others. Sure enough, every single one of them wore the same grim expression.

    Alice¡¯s face darkened, her eyes zing with fury. She thought, ¡®Even though I¡¯ve always favored Carmen, I never said I didn¡¯t recognize Aubree as my daughter! Aubree¡¯s words aren¡¯t just leaving uspletely humiliated. Once the news gets out, who knows what vile things people will say about Carmen?

    Aubree Miller, the ungrateful wretch! She¡¯s tantly cursing us to die!¡®

    Alice said, ¡°She¡¯spletely out of line!¡±

    Daxton, however, was consumed with worry. Aubree was growing more formidable by the day. He thought, ¡®Back when she was powerless in the Wilson family, she still managed to torment Carmen. If this keeps up, won¡¯t she end up driving Carmen to her death?¡®

    ¡°Dad, are you going to turn a blind eye to Aubree?¡± Daxton said. ¡°If you keep letting her run wild like this, she¡¯ll destroy the Wilson family sooner or

    ¡°Daxton, she¡¯s your sister!¡± Bryan gasped in shock. He couldn¡¯t fathom it. Even at the critical juncture, how could Daxton still be so utterly blind to what truly mattered?

    Daxton sneered. ¡°Carmen is my only sister. Since you¡¯re all too

    Oft¨Chearted to act, I¡¯ll dly take care of it myself.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Ronald roared, his face twisted with fury.

    Daxton didn¡¯t mince words. ¡°Dad, Aubree hates you just as much.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? You were the one who forced her to drag her battered, pain¨Cwracked body to the hospital ward to apologize to Carmen. You were the first to p her the moment she stepped inside. You forced her to surrender her inheritance rights. And you refused to let her take the Wilson name or be added to the family registry!¡±

    Daxton¡¯s words cut through all pretense like the sharpest de, leaving no mercy in their wake.

    Ronald choked on his words, utterly defenseless against Daxton¡¯s usations.

    Trevor¡¯s eyes gleamed with cold calction. He thought, ¡®I can¡¯t let Aubree ruin my career. Since my father and Bryan can¡¯t be relied on, I¡¯ll have to ally with anyone willing to take Aubree down.

    Aubree was still being interviewed. Some reporters, clearly fixated on her ¡°orphan¡± background, relentlessly hounded her with questions, refusing to drop the subject.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t have cared less if everyone below heard every word of her bitter tirade.

    Aubree met their gaze coldly, ¡°Yeah. Everyst one¡¯s dead.

    ¡°How did they die?¡± Aubree scoffed. ¡°Who knows? Maybe they did so much evil that lightning finally struck them dead. Wouldn¡¯t surprise me.

    ¡°I owe them. Without their ¡°help,¡± I wouldn¡¯t be where I am today. But that sure doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t be looking forward to the day I can personally dance on their graves<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alice and the others arrived simmering with barely contained anger, only to leave practically choking on their fury.

    Even Ronald couldn¡¯t stomach her words any longer and followed the others out.

    12:45 PM

    Only Bryan remained, crying like an idiot in the corner.

    Back then, Aubree used to say I was the one she looked up to most¡­ Bryan thought bitterly.

    He remembereding home from work one evening to find Aubree waiting for him in the living room, her eyes brimming with concern. She said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll study business and help you run thepany when I grow up. That way, you won¡¯t have to work sote anymore¡±

    Bryan thought bitterly. ¡°But what the hell was I doing all that time? We¡¯re the ones who destroyed her with our hands.

 Tried 267

    Aubree¡¯s interview was finally wrapping up.

    Honestly, every single one of her achievements could be an inspirational story. For quite some time toe, Rithol City would likely be buzzing with Aubree¡¯s name.

    After the interview, Aubree nned to leave with Bowen to pick up Alvin from school.

    Bowen whispered in her ear, ¡°No matter what you do or who you go up against, I¡¯ll be the sharpest de in your hand. Aubree¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze.

    Aubree smiled confidently. ¡°I will.¡±

    The entrance was still swarming with parents and reporters, so Aubree pulled Bowen toward the auditorium¡¯s back exit, nning to slip out unnoticed.

    ¡°Looks like someone just couldn¡¯t wait any longer,¡± Bowen murmured, tightening his grip on Aubree¡¯s hand as his eyes narrowed <i>at </i>the figure blocking the back exit.

    It was Bryan.

    Aubree stopped dead in her tracks. Seeing her pause, Bryan cautiously approached her, his face etched with hesitation. ¡°Aubree,¡± he pleaded softly, ¡°Can we just talk for a moment?¡±

    His tone was humble, his expression pleading.

    Aubree sneered inwardly and thought. ¡®Well, isn¡¯t this <b>a </b>surprise.

    ¡®If someone had told me that the almighty Bryan would one day humble himself and beg me just for a civil conversation, I wouldn¡¯t have believed it, not even in my wildest dreams.

    Upon seeing Bryan looking utterly distraught, Aubree curled her lips into a sneer. ¡°You are seriouslyughable,¡± she scoffed. ¡°Or is being this shameless just in your blood?

    ¡°Back when I was bending over backwards to please you, all I got were insults and beatings. Now that I¡¯ve turned the tables, you¡¯re all crawling back to lick my boots. If I¡¯d known this was your style two years ago, I would¡¯ve given each of you a good, hard p across the face the very first day I came back <i>to </i>the Wilson family!¡±

    When Bryan heard Aubree¡¯s words, <b>a </b>searing pain surged from his heart, radiating through every fiber of his being. It was unbearable.

    One never knows what one has got till it¡¯s gone,¡® Bryan thought bitterly. When Aubree first returned to the Wilson family, her clear eyes had looked up at him with such pure admiration. Now, every time he remembered that look, a sharp pang of regret twisted in his chest.

    If only he hadn¡¯t been so blind and heartless back then, he could¡¯ve had an extraordinary little sister¨CAubree¨Cwho looked up to him with pure admiration shining in her eyes.

    ¡°Aubree, I came to tell you that Dad and I are already investigating what happened back then,¡± Bryan said softly. ¡°As your brother, I swear I¡¯ll uncover the truth about your abduction¡­¡± He trailed off, as if there was more he wanted to say.

    Aubree had heard enough. She rolled her eyes and scoffed, ¡°Does it even matter? Just being an adopted daughter was enough for you to treat me like dirt. Even if I hadn¡¯t been abducted, my life would¡¯ve been just as miserable. Maybe I should thank those traffickers for taking me away. Otherwise, who knows, I might¡¯ve ended up like Carmen.¡±

    Aubree fixed Bryan with a cold stare. ¡°You must have heard what I said in the auditorium earlier, right? Did you think I was just making empty threats? Every single word I said was deadly serious. Bryan, I crawled back from hell just to make you pay.¡±

    ¡°Aubree!¡± Bryan was stunned. The face¨Cto¨Cface confrontationid bare Aubree¡¯s hatred for them, which was raw, intense, and utterly unhidden.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± Bryan pleaded desperately. ¡°I just want you to know. We truly regret what we did, and we¡¯re changing. Could you give us another chance, please?¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± Aubree cut through Bryan¡¯s self¨Cpitying act. ¡°Even if you really regret it now, so what? Surely you haven¡¯t forgotten what all my pleading apologies ever got me before.¡±

    Bryan¡¯s face suddenly drained of color. How could he possibly forget? He was, after all, one of her tormentors.

    The first year after Aubree returned to the Wilson family was <b>a </b>rtively peaceful period. But after that, a series of <b>so</b><b>¨C</b>called idents began to ur. The incidents that somehow always ended up being pinned on her.

 Tried 268

    The image of Aubree, tearfully apologizing in utter confusion and helplessness, shed before Bryan¡¯s eyes. His face grew even paler as he recalled his own actions, standing by indifferently, hurling cruel words at her, or, worse, evenying hands on her himself.

    Aubree pped her hands and burst outughing as she looked at him. ¡°Bryan Wilson, current CEO of the Wilson Group, eldest son of the Wilson family. You used to be the envy of everyone. Who didn¡¯t praise you as a young prodigy, or respectfully address you as Mr. Wilson? Yet even someone like you could stoop so low¨Cbullying and framing your utterly powerless sister.

    ¡°Even the cruelest caretaker at the orphanage wasn¡¯t half the monster you are!

    ¡°Did it make you feel powerful, watching me struggle like that? Every time I dared to defy your orders, you made sure I suffered worse than death 1, the poor wretch, had to grovel at your feet just to gasp for air.

    ¡°Bryan, karma¡¯s a bitch. You treated me like dirt back then, and now you expect forgiveness with just a few hollow words? Don¡¯t you find thatughable?¡±

    Bryan¡¯s heart lurched violently. Though he had sought out Aubree many times before, this was the first time her hatred struck him with such crystal rity.

    They thought a simple apology could erase the past<b>, </b>but the <b>scars </b>they carved into her heart would never heal.

    The light in Bryan¡¯s eyes slowly dimmed. ¡®Right,¡® he thought, ¡®how could I possibly have the nerve toe here and beg Aubree for forgiveness?¡±

    Bowen had been listening intently, his loathing for the Wilson family reaching a new peak. ¡®If only I¡¯d known sooner, he thought bitterly, ¡®I would¡¯ve done whatever it took to pull her out of that hellhole.¡®

    Bowen¡¯s big, warm hand enveloped Aubree¡¯s. She startled slightly, then looked up to meet his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, her voice firm.

    She couldn¡¯t bring herself to say she¡¯d let go of the past, because she hadn¡¯t. She was hell¨Cbent on revenge. But honestly, she didn¡¯t even care that much anymore. She just wanted to twist the knife into Bryan¡¯s wounds. ¡®Well, you want to repent?¡® she thought<i>. </i>¡®I¡¯ll remind you, over and over, just how despicable you are.

    Aubree put to good use the remainder of her summer break by signing up for driving lessons. While getting by without a car was manageable in high school, she knew she¡¯d need her own wheels once college started.

    Aubree thoroughly enjoyed her summer break. With Aidan overseeing the simultaneousunch of Zappy¡¯s overseas version, the tform received rave reviews both domestically and abroad. Thanks to her partnership with Peace Entertainment and the strategic promotion by their cultivated artists and influencers, Zappy quickly gained solid traction.

    Aubree said, ¡°Next, we can explore partnerships with existing e<b>¨C</bmerce tforms.

    ¡°It¡¯s such a hassle for influencers to search for products on other tforms every time they run ads. Why not just build our own Zappy Marketce with one¨Cclick redirect? That way, it¡¯s a win¨Cwin for both sides.

    ¡°Charging a deposit for merchant onboarding is another way to expand our marketce business.

    ¡°Actually, existing emerce tforms like ChumBuy and JinnCee haven¡¯t fully dominated the market yet. There¡¯s still a huge slice of the pie up for grabs in the emerce sector.¡±

    tforms like ChumBuy marketed themselves <b>as </b>affordable and consumer¨Cfriendly, but in reality, they were far from genuine bargains.

    The Zappy operations manager chimed in, ¡°So, are we building an emerce section right into Zappy, then?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Aubree said, ¡°Zappy¡¯s current emerce mainly links in¨Cvideo ads. That¡¯s just a small part. My n is to build an entirely new emerce model from scratch.¡±

    Even when Zappyunched, Aubree already had future ns brewing. There was still plenty of room for Zappy to grow, but the timing just wasn¡¯t right yet. As for gaming, with studios like Marlin Studios, Randall¡¯s team spearheading otome games, she didn¡¯t need to worry at all. She¡¯d brought together the very same talents she¡¯d hand¨Cpicked from her past life. They knew the drill.

    At most, she merely needed to keep an eye on things to steer clear of the pitfalls she¡¯d faced in her past life. With all that extra time, she naturally focused on developing new ventures.

 Tried 269

    Chapter <b>269 </b>

    Aubree only briefly mentioned her emerce concept at the meeting. She nned to establish a new subsidiary dedicated to the sector and would transfer some personnel from Bree Technology to support it when the time came.

    Vincent asked, ¡°Ms. Miller, I don¡¯t mean to rain on your parade, but isn¡¯t the emerce sector already oversaturated?¡±

    Currently, thergest emerce tform was owned by Turner Group, which dominates the mid¨Cto¨Chigh¨Cend market. Even if there were any gaps, other emergingpetitors could only scramble for whatever was left.

    Even the lower¨Ctier wholesale market segment was firmly under Turner Group¡¯s control.

    For the first time, Birgitte voiced her doubts to Aubree. ¡°Aubree, isn¡¯t it going to be incredibly tough for us to pull this off?¡±

    Aubree replied firmly, ¡°No. We can do it. Theck of market is only in the mid¨Cto¨Chigh¨Cend emerce sector. We should focus on the lower¨Ctier

    markets.¡±

    Aubree noticed their lingering skepticism and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll understand once we get things rolling. Birgitte, there¡¯s something else. Staying in your current position with me doesn¡¯t do justice to your talents<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree¡¯s chief assistant was Vincent. Birgitte was the highest¨Cranking assistant under Vincent, also overseeing HR matters, but she could never surpass Vincent¡¯s position.

    Birgitte immediately became flustered and blurted out, ¡°Ms. Miller, I¡¯m more than happy working with you!¡±

    Aubree chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m letting you go. I¡¯m setting up a subsidiary for the new emerce tform, and I want you to be its general manager. You¡¯ll be in charge over there. You¡¯re the only one I trust.¡±

    Birgitte was a top graduate with outstanding academic records. From the moment she joined thepany, Aubree noticed her potential. She started as a junior executive assistant in the President¡¯s office, but Aubree soon rotated her through various departments and found that she excelled in every role she was given.

    Aubree had intended to promote Birgitte to general manager when expanding into new business ventures.

    ¡°Me? Am I qualified for this?¡± Birgitte asked, barely containing her astonishment.

    ¡°Of course!¡± Aubree said firmly. ¡°<b>If </b>you trust my eye for investments, shouldn¡¯t you also trust my judgment of character?¡±

    Vincent couldn¡¯t help but offer his congrattions with a tinge of envy, but nothing more.

    Vincent was genuinely pleased with his current position as chief assistant. Those days, whenever people mentioned Aubree, didn¡¯t they all say he was just as indispensable as Kelvin, Bowen¡¯s right¨Chand man?

    Vincent would always swell with pride every time he heard such remarks.

    ¡°Birgitte,¡± Aubree said, ¡°if we nail this project, we could seriously challenge Turner Group¡¯s emerce tform.¡±

    What Aubree wanted to do was exactly what GrabCheap, a group¨Cbuying tform, had done. When GrabCheap firstunched, it was met with widespread skepticism. People wondered, ¡°With prices that low, could it be profitable? Wouldn¡¯t buyers question the quality?¡±

    However, as time went on, everyone who had doubted GrabCheap ended up eating their words. The tform took off at lightning speed and quickly cornered the lower¨Ctier emerce market.

    Aubree said, ¡°But don¡¯t rush to say yes yet. I¡¯m nning to set up a subsidiary in S¨¹dlichen Strand, which means you¡¯ll have to leave Rithol City and relocate. Think it over.¡±

    Alice was the daughter of the Diamonde family in S¨¹dlichen Strand. The Diamonde family built their immense wealth through the jewelry business and was one of the most influential families in S¨¹dlichen Strand¡¯s business circles. If anyone ever pushed Alice, the highly favored eldest daughter of the Diamonde family, <i>too </i>far, there was no way the Diamonde family would just stand by and do nothing.

    Aubree thought, ¡®I need to get ahead of this.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where I go,¡± Birgitte replied without hesitation, her voice firm. She was determined not to let Aubree down!

    In the scorching September heat of Rithol City, the new school year was beginning. Over the summer, Aubree had lived up to everyone¡¯s expectations and earned her driver¡¯s <b>license</b>.

    Aubree didn¡¯t take Bowen¡¯s pursuit seriously. Whether she agreed or not made no difference. She knew she couldn¡¯t sway Bowen¡¯s decisions once he¡¯d made up his mind.

    12:45 PM d

    ¡£

    The day she got her driver¡¯s license, Bowen, without a second thought, gifted her a Porsche 911 in Frozen Berry Metallic, with an on¨Cthe¨Croad price of over 600 thousand dors<b>, </b>a sum that was mere pocket change for both of them.

 Tried 270

    Chapter <b>270 </b>

    Aubree epted the gift without a second thought. On the first day of school, eager to show off her new wheels, she drove Bowen and Alvin to Rithol University to register for the <b>new </b>semester.

    Notably, Alvin had also applied to Rithol University. While Rithol University had its own Fine Arts School, it was still not quite on par with the renowned Rithol Art School.

    Today <b>was </b>registration day for all departments at Rithol University. Before Aubree could even reach the main gate, her car gotpletely gridlocked, leaving her no choice but to park nearby and walk the rest of the way.

    ¡°Bad call. We should¡¯ve just taken a cab,¡± Aubree said, a little annoyed. She¡¯d originally nned to park on campus.

    ¡°All the same. Just here to register<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Before the trio reached the university gates<b>, </b>they spotted red wee banners strung up across the entrance<b>. </b>Upperssmen volunteers were stationed at the gate, assisting the steady stream of freshmen and their parents as they slowly navigated the crowd, armsden with suitcases and bags of all sizes.

    ¡°Fine Art School is in the other direction. I can go by myself,¡± Alvin said. The sign showed that the registration points for the Fine Art School and the Finance Department of Economics School were in opposite directions.

    Aubree, Bowen, and Alvin hadn¡¯t arrived particrly early, so by the time they got there, most of the new students had checked in. A few volunteers in red vests were lounging under a pop¨Cup tent, chatting and taking a break from the morning rush.

    Spotting Aubree and Bowen, someone nudged their friends and called out, ¡°Hey, hey, check out that good¨Clooking pair!¡±

    One of the students murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t these two look familiar?¡±

    ¡°Oh my god! Isn¡¯t that the big shot from Turner Group?¡±

    Another eximed, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that Aubree Miller?¡±

    ¡°The guy next to her. Is that Bowen Turner?<b>¡± </b>

    All of them were from Economics School, so they weren¡¯t just familiar with Aubree and Bowen. They practically idolized them. Unbeknownst to Aubree, many students at Economics Shool of Rithol University had quietly begun to see her as their role model.

    Many graduating seniors couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Bree Technology hadn¡¯t shown up for the fall campus recruitment.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t she rank third in the SAT? No way she¡¯s actually joining our department, right?¡±

    ¡°With academic achievements like hers, does she even need to study here? I bet even her professors can¡¯t match her ster record!¡±

    As they looked around, they spotted Aubree walking over. She asked, ¡°Hi, is this the registration point for the Finance Department?¡±

    The students eagerly responded, ¡°Yes, the Finance Department at Rithol University is right here!¡±

    Aubree, in a spaghetti¨Cstrap mini dress, was absolutely stunning in the sweltering heat. When she offered a coy smile, even the upperssman volunteers guiding them were instantly captivated, left momentarily dazed.

    The guys couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°Wow, she is gorgeous!¡±

    Especially the guys. If they weren¡¯t trying to figure out whether she was Aubree Miller, they¡¯d probably be scrambling to get her attention now.

    Amassing a nine¨Cfigure fortune by starting her own business at eighteen was worlds apart from being a trust fund baby with the same worth. Thetter might be enviable, but it was the self¨Cmade sess that truly inspires those young people in their prime.

    ¡°Well, are you Aubree Miller?¡± one of the male students asked hesitantly.

    Aubree signed her name with a faint smile and replied, ¡°If it¡¯s that Aubree Miller you have in mind, then yes.¡±

    ¡°Wow<b>! </b>You¡¯re my idol! Let me take you to dorm registration!¡±

    The guy¡¯s eyes lit <b>up</b>, and he practically tripped over himself in his eagerness to help.

    ¡°No, thanks. Please point me in the right direction,¡± Aubree replied. Bowen, who had been standing nonchntly aside, instantly dropped his rxed demeanor. In two quick strides, he stepped forward and blocked the guy with his arm, his eyes suddenly sharp and full <b>of </b>warning.

    Surrounded by vibrant young university students, Bowen couldn¡¯t help but feel like he was in a <b>sea </b>of potential rivals.

    12:45 PM

    Before Bowen¡¯s guarded expression could fully form, the guy suddenly turned to him, eyes zing with excitement. ¡°Wait, are you Bowen Turner? The Bowen Turner from Turner Group?¡±

    Bowen nodded hesitantly. The guy¡¯s reaction instantly escted. ¡°Oh my god! It¡¯s Bowen Turner, in the flesh!¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as she watched Bowen¡¯s expression gradually stiffen. ¡°This is Economics School, she thought, amused. ¡®Did he misunderstand how his entrepreneurial fame would be received here?¡®

 Tried 271

    After declining several photo requests, Aubree and Bowen finally managed to break free and locate their dormitory. They retrieved their meal cards and keys from the dorm supervisor, scanned QR codes to fill out forms and join a few group chats, and only then wrapped up the entire registration process.

    ¡°College registration¡¯s quite an experience,¡± Bowen remarked as he tagged along the whole time. ¡°Never expected there¡¯d be so much hassle just for signing up.¡±

    Aubree grinned, ¡°You studied abroad, didn¡¯t you? Consider this me giving you the full college experience.¡±

    Since leaving the Wilson family and building her own business, Aubree had transformed, not just in appearance, but in her entire being.

    Fresh out of the Wilson family, she had been shrouded in gloom, taciturn and cautious with everyone and everything, like a wary wolf cub. Now, she was radiant, her eyes sparkling with confidence.

    Bowen looked at her and smiled. ¡®How wonderful, he thought. ¡®May Bree always shine this brightly!

    ¡°Well, thanks for showing me the ropes, Aubree,¡± Bowen said with a grin. Today, dressed in a crisp white shirt and pants with his hair casually down, he blended right in on campus. One would never guess he wasn¡¯t just another upperssman.

    As Ethan and Samson joked this morning when Bowen stepped out, Bowen was trying to pass off an old dog as a fresh pup today.

    Honestly, he was probably worried that apanying Aubree to college registration would make him look old next to all those young, handsome students on campus.

    Bowen¡¯s words carried an inexplicable flirtatious undertone that made Aubree <b>feel </b>her ears burn. She shot back, ¡°Still calling me that? You¡¯ve got

    some nerve!¡±

    Bowen grinned and shot back, ¡°How else am I supposed to pursue a girlfriend if I¡¯m not the bold type?¡±

    They chatted andughed as they reached the dorm entrance. It was a quad with loft¨Cstyle beds and desks underneath. The beds were firste, first¨Cserved. Aubree didn¡¯t care which one she got. After all, just because she was staying in the dorm now didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d be living there forever.

    In her previous life, Aubree and Carmen attended the same university and shared a dorm, but Aubree hadpletely lost herself. She was nothing more than Carmen¡¯s maid andckey, always trailing behind her. Now<b>, </b>with the second chance at life, she was determined to live for herself and finally experience genuine college dorm life.

    Otherwise, she could have easily applied to live off campus.

    The moment she pushed open the door, lively chatter greeted her from inside.

    ¡°Karlie, you read the group chat? Aubree Miller¡¯s in our department?¡± a girl asked, and her words were tinged with a regional ent.

    ¡°No kidding! The volunteer upperssmen have been spamming the group chat about it! It turns out the rumors online were true. That man from the Turner Group and Aubree are more than just friends.

    ¡°We¡¯re still missing one roommate¡­ Could it <b>be</b>¡­ Aubree Miller<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Just as she finished her words, the door burst open. They looked over. There stood none other than the very person they¡¯d just been gossiping about!

    A slender girl with dyed red hair gasped in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. She could hardly believe the campus¡¯s most talked¨Cabout young entrepreneur was actually going to be her roommate.

    The other was a round¨Cfaced girl dressed inly, who stood there transfixed, staring at Bowen. He was ridiculously handsome, even more so than any celebrity she¡¯d ever seen on TV.

    Aubree introduced herself with a friendly smile, ¡°Hi, everyone. I¡¯m Aubree Miller, your new roommate from now on.¡±

    The red¨Chaired girl snapped out of her daze and blurted, ¡°Hi! I¡¯m Karlie Bader from Nadio.

    ¡°Your other roommate, Natalie Stefanik, is also a local like you. She checked in and left.¡±

    ¡°My name¡¯s Sally Fowler. I¡¯m just from a small town¡­¡±

    Aubree greeted both of them in turn.

    As Aubree greeted them, Bowen<b>, </b>so proactive<b>, </b>borrowed a cloth from Sally, the round¨Cfaced girl, and started wiping down Aubree¡¯s bunk. ¡°You should pack your things tonight,¡± he said. ¡°Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll have Carol help you get everything sorted.¡±

    12:45 PM

    15

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be too much trouble for Carol?¡± said Aubree.

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Bowen chuckled. ¡°Carol said she hadn¡¯t seen you in ages. No one¡¯s been around topliment her cookingtely.¡±

    Aubree and Bowen bantered back and forth,pletely ignoring the other two. Karlie, the social butterfly, slung an arm around Sally¡¯s shoulders with a knowing smirk and whispered gleefully, ¡°The rumors don¡¯t lie!¡±

    Sally kept her head down, staying silent.

    While Bowen <b>was </b>cleaning and letting Aubree sit, the moment he stepped out to rinse the cloth, Karlie immediately leaned in. ¡°Aubree, the inte¡¯s buzzing that you and that big shot, Bowen Turner, are a pair. Is it true?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°No, we¡¯re not,¡± Aubree replied.

    ¡°Maybe not now, but it¡¯s only a matter of time,¡± Karlie said with a knowing chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m a great judge of character. Bowen is totally after you.¡±

    Aubree just smiled and said nothing, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

    They didn¡¯t get to chat long before Bowen returned. With the dorm tidied up, Aubree and Bowen decided to head out. After all, the semester hadn¡¯t officially started yet, so there was no need to stay overnight.

    Just before leaving, Aubree swapped contact details with her two new roommates.

    Just

    They picked up Alvin, and the trio headed straight for the Turner family residence.

    Ever since that dinner at the Turner residence after her SATS, Aubree had been receiving regr invitations from Enrique toe over. And, as expected, eight times out of ten Bowen was there, and the other two times, he was just on his way.

    When they met, Enrique took a jab at Bowen. ¡°Do you think just because you dress like a greenhorn, you actually are one?¡±

    Enrique said it loud and clear for everyone to hear.

    Alvin shot his grandfather an approving look, while the family butler stood by, struggling to keep a straight face.

    Aubree also couldn¡¯t help but giggle.

    Bowen cocked an eyebrow with a smirk. ¡°I am young, okay?¡±

    When it came to sheer audacity, Enrique had to admit defeat to his son. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to acknowledge the shameless fellow, whose nerve seemed to have outlived even himself, as his son.

    So, Enrique simply turned to Aubree and asked how her college registration had gone that day.

    ¡°Pretty good. I met my two roommates, and they both seem easy to get along with.¡±

    ¡°If you can¡¯t get used to dorm life, don¡¯t force yourself,¡± said Enrique. ¡°Money¡¯s not an issue for us. Just have Bowen arrange an apartment for you near campus. And if he can¡¯t even handle that, you might as well stop wasting your time on him.¡±

    Even if Enrique genuinely felt that way, Aubree wouldn¡¯t agree outright. She replied pragmatically, ¡°<b>If </b><b>I </b>can¡¯t get along with them, I¡¯ll move out. No point making life difficult for myself.¡±

    ¡°My son? All he¡¯s got going for him is a bit of money.¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®A bit of money? That¡¯s the understatement of the century!

    Aubree readily agreed to everything.

    Bowen quipped, ¡°Come on, Dad, not even letting me take a sip of water? What is this, an interrogation?¡±

    After dinner, Enrique kept finding excuses to make Aubree stay and chat with him. Even though he was clearly tired and kept yawning, he stubbornly refused <i>to </i>let her go. It wasn¡¯t until around nine or ten o¡¯clock that he finally insisted, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just spend the night here<b>, </b>Aubree?¡±

    Well, Aubree had to stay the night when Enrique put his foot down.

    Alvin had figured out what his grandpa was up to. Not wanting to y along with his schemes, he slipped away to his room right after dinner.

    In the guest bedroom on the second floor.

    Aubree was glued to herputer screen,pletely oblivious <b>as </b>Bowen slipped into the room.

    Bowen quietly ced a ss of milk by Aubree¡¯s hand.

 Tried 272

    Aubree¡¯s face went utterly nk with shock, her breath hitching in her throat as her entire body began to tense.

    +15

    12:46 PM <b>J </b>

    <b>Chapter </b><b>273 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>When did you get here?¡± Aubree blurted out.

    ¡°Right when you <b>were </bining about S¨¹dlichen Strand¡¯s exclusivity,¡± Bowen said, lowering his head slightly, his gaze locking onto her face. She <b>was </b>no longer as gaunt as when they first met. Her cheeks had filled out, making her look endearingly cute.

    His eyes shimmered with starlight, burning bright, brimming with untold depths of tenderness and adoration.

    Aubree was in no mood to notice how smooth¨Cskinned and good¨Clooking Bowen was. His warm breath brushed against her ear, making her ears burn red.

    She <b>was </b>stillpletely stunned, feeling all the blood in her body rushing in reverse, surging to her head and flushing her face bright red.

    Bowen pulled her fully into his arms from behind. If he¡¯d left her a little space to react at first, he would push his luck now, holding her tighter and giving her no room to escape.

    His unique woody fragrance, tinged with that cool, crisp note so distinctly his, permeated every inch of her. Her body, drawn by his nearness, molded instinctively to his,. By her ear, she could hear his quickening, uneven breaths and the powerful pounding of his heart.

    God, he¡¯s making my knees go weak!¡® Aubree thought, overwhelmed by his closeness.

    Bowen said, ¡°So this is GrabCheap, the emerce model, you mentioned before?

    ¡°When you first described it, I thought the project was viable. But now<b>, </b>seeing your actual blueprint, the venture has staggering potential.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face flushed crimson, her hands going limp as Bowen¡¯srge palm enveloped hers. Helplessly, she followed wherever his hand guided.

    Aubree stared nkly at the screen. Even though the proposal disyed was something she knew like the back of her hand, she couldn¡¯t process a single word.

    Bowen said, ¡°Look, here, and here. These areas still have considerable room for optimization. The strategies you¡¯ve used would certainly deliver good results, but the initial investment is too high. If you adjust it like this, you can achieve the same oues while significantly reducing costs.¡±

    Aubree said, ¡°In S¨¹dlichen Strand¡¯s business scene, the Diamonde family reigns supreme. They made their fortune in jewelry, andter expanded by marrying their eldest daughter to Ronald, forming a powerful alliance. The Diamonde family operate unscrupulously, colluding with other industry leaders to monopolize the local market. Any outsidepany hoping to gain a foothold in S¨¹dlichen Strand usually ends up as one of their junior partners<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Breaking into that market is crucial. I might not be good at much else, but the Turner Group does have some pull in S¨¹dlichen Strand. If you¡¯re nning to send someone over, let me know. I¡¯ll pave the way for you.¡±

    From the moment Bowen began helping her revise and enhance the business proposal, Aubree waspletely captivated. All her earlier fluttery, romantic thoughts vanished without a trace, her eyes growing brighter with every word. When Bowen offered to help her break into that market, the joy in her eyes was simply uncontainable.

    Aubree smiled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you up on that. <b>I¡¯ll </b>send Birgitte over and handle things remotely from my end.¡±

    ¡°When the timees, <b>I¡¯ll </b>introduce you to the person in charge of Turner Group in S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes were alight with pure delight.

    Bowen¡¯s gaze lingered on her face<b>, </b>then slowly drifted down to her soft, rosy lips. The barely contained desire in his eyes was veiled beneath ayer of tender affection.

    Bowen shed her a teasing smile. ¡°<i>So</i>, Bree, after all the help I just gave you, don¡¯t you think you owe me a little thank you?¡±

    He spoke so gently that Aubree almost thought she¡¯d imagined it.

    While Aubree was still in a daze, Bowen reached out, gently tilted her head toward him, then leaned down, his lips iming hers<b>¡­ </b>

    He¡¯d only intended to give her a brief kiss, but Bowen had sorely overestimated his self¨Ccontrol. The moment their lips met, the seemingly impregnable walls around his heartpletely crumbled.

    All reason flew out the window.

    Bowen¡¯s lips imed her luscious red ones, savoring every curve and crevice with a hungry, relentless ardor. His breathing grew ragged. Pinned tightly against his chest, Aubree instinctively began to squirm, but her resistance only made Bowen tighten his hold, pulling her even closer.

    ¡®Not enough. <b>Never </b>enough<b>, </b>Bowen thought, his hunger growing with every touch.

    12:47 PM d d

    Bowen was no longer content with mere fleeting kisses. Her sweet scent enveloped him, more intoxicating than any aphrodisiac. Gently coaxing her soft lips open. he deepened the kiss, his voice rough with urgency as he murmured against her mouth. ¡°Open for me¡±

    Bowen¡¯s voice was thick with urgency, and the churning heat in his eyes threatened to scorch everything in its path.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t sure whether it was Bowen¡¯s intense gaze that intimidated her, or his sudden shift from gentle to demanding that startled her. Against her better judgment, she found herself obediently parting her lips.

    The moment her defenses slipped, Bowenunched his full assault. The wet sounds of their kiss filled the air. Anyone with experience could tell the room was thick with amorous tension.

    ¡°That¡¯s my good girl, Bowen murmured softly.

    Aubree¡¯s face burned crimson, and when they finally broke apart, she looked like a lobster fresh out of boiling water. ¡°You¡­¡± she stammered.pletely flustered.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t hate it, did you?¡± Bowen¡¯s voice came out rough and husky with desire.

    Aubree instinctively pressed her lips together, but the moment she felt the lingering dampness, she flinched away as if shocked. Her lips parted slightly, caught in hesitation, unable to move forward or retreat.

    She shot him a re, her cheeks burning with indignant embarrassment.

    ¡°You shameless jerk!¡± Aubree spat out, her face burning with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

    ¡°Yeah, I admit it,¡± Bowen grinned like a fox who¡¯d just made off with a prize. Aubree swung a fist at him, but it was like punching a pillow, all force. no satisfaction, leaving her even more frustrated.

    ¡°So, Bree, do me a favor and make us official?¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®He¡¯s always the type to take a mile when given an inch. I should¡¯ve seen thising. But I never imagined Bowen could be this shameless! I¡¯m the one who got kissed out of nowhere, and before I can even say a word, the brazen guy is already trying to make things ¡®official¡®?

    Who does that?

    ¡®Seriously, has anyone ever been this shameless about getting what they want? Bowen really takes the cake!¡®

    Lowering hier gaze, Aubree¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil. Last time, I only agreed to give Bowen a chance. Honestly, I like him, so saying yes didn¡¯t seem like a big deal. But now, even though it hasn¡¯t been long, I can tell that his feelings for me are real.

    <b>But </b>how long will thisst?¡® Aubree wondered.

    Bowen watched as Bree tried to retreat into her shell again, his gaze hardening. Now that she was in college, just walking around campus with her today, he¡¯d seen plenty of attractive young men casting admiring nces her way, not to mention those bold enough to ask for her contact information

    He wouldn¡¯t risk it, and he couldn¡¯t afford to lose her.

    Bowen leaned forward and pulled Aubree tightly into his arms, leaving no space between them.

    Panicked, Aubree blurted out, ¡°Uncle Bowen¡­¡±

    ¡°Call me Bowen. We¡¯re not even rted. What¡¯s with ¡®Uncle Bowen¡® nonsense? I¡¯ve told you to drop it ages ago. Still can¡¯t get used to it?¡±

    Aubree was rendered speechless. She thought, ¡®Wasn¡¯t it you who said that since I¡¯m Alvin¡¯s ssmate, I should just call you Uncle Bowen, too?

    ¡°You shameless jerk!¡± Aubree spat through gritted teeth.

    Bowen simply beamed, taking it all in stride as he leaned even closer. ¡®So, why don¡¯t you want to be my girlfriend? Did you hate it when I kissed you? Was it gross?¡±

    <b>Truth </b>be told, Bowen wasn¡¯t entirely confident he could hold onto the girl in his arms. After all, he still hadn¡¯t dared to tell her the truth that he was ¡°Mr. Quinn.¡±

    Originally, she saw him more as a benefactor and elder figure than a lover. If she ever discovered he was actually ¡°Mr. Quinn¡± from all those years ago, not to mention whether she¡¯d simply see him as someone to be grateful to Her defenses would shoot up instantly, and she¡¯d be convinced he harbored ulterior motives. She¡¯d want to flee as far away from him as possible.

    ¡®No.¡® Aubree said. Not hate, not disgust. If anything, she even kind of liked it

    ¡°Then you do like me, don¡¯t you? Bowen¡¯s voice was low and deeply seductive,ced with a teasing undertone.

    Aubree gritted her teeth and firmly mped her mouth shut

 Tried 273

    <b>Chapter </b><b>273 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>When did you get here?¡± Aubree blurted out.

    ¡°Right when you <b>were </bining about S¨¹dlichen Strand¡¯s exclusivity,¡± Bowen said, lowering his head slightly, his gaze locking onto her face. She <b>was </b>no longer as gaunt as when they first met. Her cheeks had filled out, making her look endearingly cute.

    His eyes shimmered with starlight, burning bright, brimming with untold depths of tenderness and adoration.

    Aubree was in no mood to notice how smooth¨Cskinned and good¨Clooking Bowen was. His warm breath brushed against her ear, making her ears burn red.

    She <b>was </b>stillpletely stunned, feeling all the blood in her body rushing in reverse, surging to her head and flushing her face bright red.

    Bowen pulled her fully into his arms from behind. If he¡¯d left her a little space to react at first, he would push his luck now, holding her tighter and giving her no room to escape.

    His unique woody fragrance, tinged with that cool, crisp note so distinctly his, permeated every inch of her. Her body, drawn by his nearness, molded instinctively to his,. By her ear, she could hear his quickening, uneven breaths and the powerful pounding of his heart.

    God, he¡¯s making my knees go weak!¡® Aubree thought, overwhelmed by his closeness.

    Bowen said, ¡°So this is GrabCheap, the emerce model, you mentioned before?

    ¡°When you first described it, I thought the project was viable. But now<b>, </b>seeing your actual blueprint, the venture has staggering potential.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face flushed crimson, her hands going limp as Bowen¡¯srge palm enveloped hers. Helplessly, she followed wherever his hand guided.

    Aubree stared nkly at the screen. Even though the proposal disyed was something she knew like the back of her hand, she couldn¡¯t process a single word.

    Bowen said, ¡°Look, here, and here. These areas still have considerable room for optimization. The strategies you¡¯ve used would certainly deliver good results, but the initial investment is too high. If you adjust it like this, you can achieve the same oues while significantly reducing costs.¡±

    Aubree said, ¡°In S¨¹dlichen Strand¡¯s business scene, the Diamonde family reigns supreme. They made their fortune in jewelry, andter expanded by marrying their eldest daughter to Ronald, forming a powerful alliance. The Diamonde family operate unscrupulously, colluding with other industry leaders to monopolize the local market. Any outsidepany hoping to gain a foothold in S¨¹dlichen Strand usually ends up as one of their junior partners<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Breaking into that market is crucial. I might not be good at much else, but the Turner Group does have some pull in S¨¹dlichen Strand. If you¡¯re nning to send someone over, let me know. I¡¯ll pave the way for you.¡±

    From the moment Bowen began helping her revise and enhance the business proposal, Aubree waspletely captivated. All her earlier fluttery, romantic thoughts vanished without a trace, her eyes growing brighter with every word. When Bowen offered to help her break into that market, the joy in her eyes was simply uncontainable.

    Aubree smiled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you up on that. <b>I¡¯ll </b>send Birgitte over and handle things remotely from my end.¡±

    ¡°When the timees, <b>I¡¯ll </b>introduce you to the person in charge of Turner Group in S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes were alight with pure delight.

    Bowen¡¯s gaze lingered on her face<b>, </b>then slowly drifted down to her soft, rosy lips. The barely contained desire in his eyes was veiled beneath ayer of tender affection.

    Bowen shed her a teasing smile. ¡°<i>So</i>, Bree, after all the help I just gave you, don¡¯t you think you owe me a little thank you?¡±

    He spoke so gently that Aubree almost thought she¡¯d imagined it.

    While Aubree was still in a daze, Bowen reached out, gently tilted her head toward him, then leaned down, his lips iming hers<b>¡­ </b>

    He¡¯d only intended to give her a brief kiss, but Bowen had sorely overestimated his self¨Ccontrol. The moment their lips met, the seemingly impregnable walls around his heartpletely crumbled.

    All reason flew out the window.

    Bowen¡¯s lips imed her luscious red ones, savoring every curve and crevice with a hungry, relentless ardor. His breathing grew ragged. Pinned tightly against his chest, Aubree instinctively began to squirm, but her resistance only made Bowen tighten his hold, pulling her even closer.

    ¡®Not enough. <b>Never </b>enough<b>, </b>Bowen thought, his hunger growing with every touch.

    12:47 PM d d

    Bowen was no longer content with mere fleeting kisses. Her sweet scent enveloped him, more intoxicating than any aphrodisiac. Gently coaxing her soft lips open. he deepened the kiss, his voice rough with urgency as he murmured against her mouth. ¡°Open for me¡±

    Bowen¡¯s voice was thick with urgency, and the churning heat in his eyes threatened to scorch everything in its path.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t sure whether it was Bowen¡¯s intense gaze that intimidated her, or his sudden shift from gentle to demanding that startled her. Against her better judgment, she found herself obediently parting her lips.

    The moment her defenses slipped, Bowenunched his full assault. The wet sounds of their kiss filled the air. Anyone with experience could tell the room was thick with amorous tension.

    ¡°That¡¯s my good girl, Bowen murmured softly.

    Aubree¡¯s face burned crimson, and when they finally broke apart, she looked like a lobster fresh out of boiling water. ¡°You¡­¡± she stammered.pletely flustered.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t hate it, did you?¡± Bowen¡¯s voice came out rough and husky with desire.

    Aubree instinctively pressed her lips together, but the moment she felt the lingering dampness, she flinched away as if shocked. Her lips parted slightly, caught in hesitation, unable to move forward or retreat.

    She shot him a re, her cheeks burning with indignant embarrassment.

    ¡°You shameless jerk!¡± Aubree spat out, her face burning with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

    ¡°Yeah, I admit it,¡± Bowen grinned like a fox who¡¯d just made off with a prize. Aubree swung a fist at him, but it was like punching a pillow, all force. no satisfaction, leaving her even more frustrated.

    ¡°So, Bree, do me a favor and make us official?¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®He¡¯s always the type to take a mile when given an inch. I should¡¯ve seen thising. But I never imagined Bowen could be this shameless! I¡¯m the one who got kissed out of nowhere, and before I can even say a word, the brazen guy is already trying to make things ¡®official¡®?

    Who does that?

    ¡®Seriously, has anyone ever been this shameless about getting what they want? Bowen really takes the cake!¡®

    Lowering hier gaze, Aubree¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil. Last time, I only agreed to give Bowen a chance. Honestly, I like him, so saying yes didn¡¯t seem like a big deal. But now, even though it hasn¡¯t been long, I can tell that his feelings for me are real.

    <b>But </b>how long will thisst?¡® Aubree wondered.

    Bowen watched as Bree tried to retreat into her shell again, his gaze hardening. Now that she was in college, just walking around campus with her today, he¡¯d seen plenty of attractive young men casting admiring nces her way, not to mention those bold enough to ask for her contact information

    He wouldn¡¯t risk it, and he couldn¡¯t afford to lose her.

    Bowen leaned forward and pulled Aubree tightly into his arms, leaving no space between them.

    Panicked, Aubree blurted out, ¡°Uncle Bowen¡­¡±

    ¡°Call me Bowen. We¡¯re not even rted. What¡¯s with ¡®Uncle Bowen¡® nonsense? I¡¯ve told you to drop it ages ago. Still can¡¯t get used to it?¡±

    Aubree was rendered speechless. She thought, ¡®Wasn¡¯t it you who said that since I¡¯m Alvin¡¯s ssmate, I should just call you Uncle Bowen, too?

    ¡°You shameless jerk!¡± Aubree spat through gritted teeth.

    Bowen simply beamed, taking it all in stride as he leaned even closer. ¡®So, why don¡¯t you want to be my girlfriend? Did you hate it when I kissed you? Was it gross?¡±

    <b>Truth </b>be told, Bowen wasn¡¯t entirely confident he could hold onto the girl in his arms. After all, he still hadn¡¯t dared to tell her the truth that he was ¡°Mr. Quinn.¡±

    Originally, she saw him more as a benefactor and elder figure than a lover. If she ever discovered he was actually ¡°Mr. Quinn¡± from all those years ago, not to mention whether she¡¯d simply see him as someone to be grateful to Her defenses would shoot up instantly, and she¡¯d be convinced he harbored ulterior motives. She¡¯d want to flee as far away from him as possible.

    ¡®No.¡® Aubree said. Not hate, not disgust. If anything, she even kind of liked it

    ¡°Then you do like me, don¡¯t you? Bowen¡¯s voice was low and deeply seductive,ced with a teasing undertone.

    Aubree gritted her teeth and firmly mped her mouth shut

    Bowen felt a surge of confidence.

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    0

    Bowen rested his chin on her shoulder, his warm breath caressing her skin like a breeze fanning embers, setting her whole body aze with delicious, tingling, scorching heat.

    Aubree stiffened, not daring to move. She stammered, ¡°Un¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Bowen huffed, his voiceced with displeasure.

    ¡°Bowen,¡± Aubree stammered.

    Now satisfied, he murmured, ¡°Good girl. Will you say yes? Be my girlfriend?¡±

    Bowen grinned and added, ¡°You don¡¯t hate me, so you must like me. If you like me, why hesitate? <b>If </b>you ever stop liking me, you can just kick me, the old bachelor, to the curb. Fair enough?¡±

    Aubree felt a shameful flutter in her chest. What she feared most <b>was </b>investing her heart only to have it broken.

    She thought, ¡®In myst life, I died because of that pathetic excuse for family. This time, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m throwing myself away for love again.¡±

    However, Aubree forgot. In her past life, she was always forced to go along with things. Now, even if she said yes to Bowen, she might actually be the one calling the shots.

    Bowen said softly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to carry any burdens when you¡¯re with me.

    ¡°All you need to know is that I¡¯m in love with you. That¡¯s enough.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s voice,nguid and enticing, yet imbued with an unwavering firmness, slowly chiseled its way into her heart, burrowing deep within.

    ¡°Then¡­ How about we give it a try?¡± Aubree tentatively raised her head, and her eyes locked with his.

    That one look was all it took to reignite Bowen¡¯s barely banked desire. ¡°Absolutely!¡±

    A closer listen would reveal the tremor in Bowen¡¯s voice as he spoke that single word. Even he himself had no idea how much restraint it took not to pull Aubree, who barely noticed him, into his arms and make her a part of him, body and soul.

    Bowen held her in a carefully restrained embrace, then gently kissed Aubree¡¯s forehead. ¡°Good night, my little girlfriend,¡± he whispered.

    Aubree watched Bowen¡¯s retreating figure, <b>a </b>smile ying at the corners of her lips as she silently thought, ¡®Good night, my brand¨Cnew boyfriend.

    Bowen left Aubree¡¯s room. His good mood written all over his face,pletely oblivious to Alvin, who was leaning against the wall with his arms

    crossed, waiting for him.

    Alvin suddenly spoke up, his tone teasing, ¡°Last I checked, it¡¯s summer, not spring fever season.¡± Bowen, caught off guard, nearly jumped. He hadn¡¯t even noticed Alvin standing there.

    Bowen grinned, too ted to take offense at Alvin¡¯s teasing. ¡°With enough effort,¡± he quipped, ¡°any season can feel like spring.¡±

    Bowen patted Alvin, his nephew, on the shoulder with a grin. ¡°Time to start practicing now. You¡¯ll need to get used to calling her Auntie Bree.¡±

    ¡°Auntie¡­ Auntie Bree?¡± Alvin¡¯s icy expression cracked, his eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°Just now¡­?¡±

    ¡°Guess what, Alvin? I, your uncle<b>, </b>just got myself a girlfriend, literally just now!¡±

    Watching Bowen¡¯s face light up with barely¨Ccontained delight, Alvin¡¯s conviction only deepened. Bowen was a shameless old rogue without an ounce of dignity.

    Then, recalling something, Alvin¡¯s expression suddenly turned serious, his usual cold demeanor returning. ¡°I went to your room earlier to look for you.¡±

    Finding the room empty, he¡¯de 10 ambush Bowen outside Aubree¡¯s door.

    Bowen¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°What is it?¡±

    <i>¡°</i>Originally, I just wanted to <b>ask </b>about Mark¡¯s investigation. He told me he¡¯d found some promising leads, but it¡¯s been ages with no updates from him. At first, he said he was swamped with year¨Cend business and my case would have to wait. But how long is this supposed to take? Uncle Bowen, I need you to give him a nudge.¡±

    Alvin had waited <b>over </b>a decade, and now, with a glimmer of hope finally in sight, any pretense of patience was just a pretense. He ached to wake up

    one morning and see his parents¡® killers.

    As for the matter¡­. Alvin would never get the full truth if all went ording to n. At most, he might hear that those who murdered Bryan and his wife had finally been brought to justice, thought Alvin.

 Tried 275

    Chapter <b>275 </b>

    4

    Bowen¡¯s gaze grew somber as he looked at Alvin, unable to help but feel a pang of guilt. Alvin was just clever. If given too many details about the matter, he would surely trace it back to Bree. All Bowen could do was keep the truth from him and only share the oue.

    ¡°Alvin, I¡¯ll handle this for you and let you know the oue. For now, just focus on your studies and pursue what makes you happy

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not enough,¡± Alvin insisted, his gaze locked on Bowen. ¡°I want the whole truth about what happened that year, and I want every single person involved to answer to what they did to my parents!¡±

    Bowen¡¯s heart clenched. Before he could respond, Alvin, reining in his anger, pulled a stack of photos from his pocket and thrust them at Bowen. ¡°I wasn¡¯t snooping on purpose. Your drawer <b>was </b>ajar, and the photos were right there. I just saw them.¡±

    Bowen looked over to see Alvin holding about five or <b>six </b>photos, all featuring the same girl, from when she was eight or nine with twin braids, to fifteen or sixteen in a school uniform with her hair in a high ponytail.

    ¡°This is Aubree,¡± Alvin stated, his gaze fixed on him.

    ¡°I remember when you were sixteen, something got into you and you told Grandpa you wanted to sponsor a child from an orphanage. You were precocious and intelligent, having skipped grades to study in Odiond. You had Grandpa send a few hundred dors to the orphanage every month, and the orphanage would send a letter back every year.

    There are so many orphans in the world, and there are a lot of orphanages in Rithol City. I never connected the dots before, but now it¡¯s clear. Mary Quinn¡¯s surname is Quinn, so Mr. Quinn must be you, right?¡±

    Every year on Aubree¡¯s birthday, the orphanage would ask her to write a letter and enclose a photo to send to Bowen. When Bowen was abroad, the butler at the family residence would carefully collect the letters and photos and ce them in Bowen¡¯s room.

    Bowen had just taken the photos out to look at them again, lost in thought and unaware that he¡¯d left the drawer open.

    Mary, whom Alvin mentioned, was Bowen¡¯s birth mother. He¡¯d taken her surname back then, not out of any special attachment to his mother, but simply because it was handy.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell her,¡± Bowen said, rubbing his temples.

    So it was true!¡® Alvin thought. With Bowen¡¯s confirmation, he finally pieced it all together. No wonder Bowen had been so taken with Aubree from their first meeting.

    ¡°I¡¯m not that idle,¡± Alvin said coolly. He was here to confirm things. He had no intention of blindly meddling in their rtionship. But since he considered Aubree a friend, if she and Bowen truly felt the same way about each other, he¡¯d be happy for them.

    Alvin said coolly, ¡°Keep me posted if there¡¯s any news.¡±

    Bowen didn¡¯t give a second thought to Alvin discovering he was Mr. Quinn. With his dream finallying true, he was too exhrated to sleep that night. The first thing he did was grab his phone and call Mark.

    It was sote. Mark, roused from a deep sleep, assumed it must be urgent. He quickly answered, his voice thick with sleep, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got a girlfriend now,¡± said Bowen.

    Mark processed it slowly, a silent question mark forming in his mind. ¡°Bowen Turner, go and see a doctor if you¡¯re crazy!¡±

    The call was hung up on him, but Bowen simply chalked it up to Mark¡¯s jealousy. With a smirk, he thought, ¡®Guess he¡¯s just envious. Then he wasted no time dialing Ollie¡¯s number.

    At that hour, the night was just getting started for Ollie.

    ¡°Well, well, look who¡¯s calling! Mr. Big Shot gracing me with a call thiste. Don¡¯t tell me you got your heart broken and need a drinking buddy to drown your sorrows<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I haven¡¯t even said anything yet. How did you know Bree said yes?<b>¡± </b>

    Ollie said, ¡°Wait, what?¡±

    Ollie was stunned. ¡°No <b>way</b>, Aubree said <b>yes</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡®Damn, that was <b>fast</b>! Bowen¡¯s got game!¡® thought Ollie.

    Bowen got exactly the reaction he wanted. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re at a bar?¡± he teased. ¡°Too bad I can¡¯t join you for a drink. I¡¯m officially off the market

    12:47 PM d

    now.¡±

    Ollie snorted, ¡°Get lost!¡±

    Bowen felt great.

    ¨â

    Over the moon, Bowen sent a generous cash bonus to Ethan and the guys¡® group chat, then called finance to announce apany¨Cwide bonus of one month¡¯s sry for everyone.

 Tried 276

    Chapter <b>276 </b>

    The next day, Bowen took Aubree and Alvin to Rithol University to get them registered for the new semester.

    15

    Alvin wasn¡¯t staying in the dorms, and Aubree had quite a bit of luggage. Bowen, keenly aware of his dual role as both the boss and an elder, wasted no time directing Ethan, Samson, and Alvin to haul everything.

    Ethan had just returned from Yastraria. He¡¯d never been tanned to begin with, but now the sun in Yastraria had roasted him to a crisp.

    Anyone registering at Rithol University <b>was </b>greeted by an unforgettable sight: a sun¨Cdarkened, burly man hauling two ultra¨Cgirly pink duvets, while another burly guy and a cool, aloof young man beside him were also loaded down with equally pastel¨Ccolored items.

    The scene? Absolutely priceless.

    Samson hung his head low, his voice full of disgust. ¡°Ethan, I gotta stay away from you. This is just humiliating.¡±

    Ethan¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°You think hugging that pink stuffed cat makes you look any better? I haven¡¯t even called you a sissy yet.¡±

    Aubree carried her backpack and trailed behind, grinning from ear to ear with her pearly whites on full disy. ¡®I¡¯ve got <i>to </i>snap a pic of this for the memories,¡® she thought, pulling out her phone.

    With sses starting tomorrow, all of Aubree¡¯s roommates arrived today.

    Besides Karlie and Sally huddled together, there was another girl who was stylishly dressed and exuding elegance. One leg crossed as she chatted away on her phone. Aubree figured she must be Natalie, the roommate Aubree hadn¡¯t met before.

    The door swung open, and all three girls looked over as one, their eyes doing a double¨Ctake, first in surprise, then with growing delight.

    Natalie already knew from Karlie that theirst roommate was Aubree.

    Natalie¡¯s eyes instantly lit up when she spotted Aubree with the younger Alvin and the elder Bowen by her side.

    Natalie was the first to greet them, but before she could even finish a sentence with Aubree, she immediately shed a dazzling smile at Bowen and Alvin.

    Alvin gave a brief nod in greeting, while Bowen resumed his practiced facade of polite detachment, responding with a courteous smile.

    Leaning against Karlie, Sally kept her head lowered, her eyes darting nervously. Each time she dared to nce up, her gaze would invariablynd on Bowen.

    Before leaving, Bowen treated Aubree¡¯s roommates to a meal. With practiced ease, he casually asked them to ¡°look out for Aubree a bit¡°, while conveniently adding all three to his contacts. ¡°Just report directly to me if anythinges up,¡± he added.

    Aubree rolled her eyes <b>as </b>she listened from the side. ¡®He makes it sound like they should go to him if anythinges up, but let¡¯s be real. He just wants them to keep tabs on me at school,¡® she thought.

    Military training at Rithol University started in the second week of the semester. Aubree was staying in the dorms, though her three roommates each had distinct personalities. They got along surprisingly well overall.

    Sally came from modest means and was rather introverted and insecure.

    Although Karlie wasn¡¯t a local, her family wasfortably well¨Coff. She was outgoing and made friends easily.

    Natalie was the heiress to a mid¨Csized enterprise in Rithol City, her every gesture exuding an air of superiority. In the dorm, only Aubree was deemed worthy of her inner circle. The other two, especially Sally, could barely be bothered by her.

    On the first day of the semester, Aubree went straight to her counselor to exin her situation. ¡°Mypany is still in its growth phase, so business trips are inevitable for me,¡± she exined. ¡°Constantly requesting leave would be too much trouble.¡±

    She thought to herself, ¡®It would be a hassle to keep asking for time off.

    The counselor readily assured her, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to your professors. As long as you don¡¯t fail any finals, you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    With Bowen¡¯s backing, Aubree found it a breeze to establish a firm foothold for GrabCheap in S¨¹dlichen Strand. Breaking into the local market was no big deal.

    In the very first week of the semester, Aubree went straight to school and requested an entire week off.

    Her counselor, who had just told her she could take <b>leave </b>whenever she wanted, was beside himself. ¡°No one told me she¡¯d take it this far!¡± he

    12:47 PM

    groaned.

    Blissfully unaware of her counselor¡¯s meltdown, Aubree had flown to S¨¹dlichen Strand with Birgitte, who had arrived early to scout out the local market, reported proudly. ¡°Ms. Miller, I¡¯ve secured the entire office building for us.¡±

 Tried 277

    @

    ¡£

    Dead center at the reception, the sign for the S¨¹dlichen Strand Branch of Bree Technology stood out prominently. A smile flickered in Aubree¡¯s eyes. If someone had told me three years ago, when I¡¯d just returned to the Wilson family, that I¡¯d one day cut ties with them, strike out on my own, not only build a sessful business but even open a branch office, I would¡¯ve said they were out of their mind, she thought.

    Yet here she was, living out what once seemed like pure fantasy. The impossible now was real before her eyes.

    ¡°Prime location,¡± Aubree remarked with a smile.

    S¨¹dlichen Strand¡¯s thriving economy attracted waves of migrant workers. While the elite indulged invish lifestyles, most residents were just ordinary workers struggling to make ends meet.

    That made it the perfectunchpad for her GrabCheap tform. Its focus on rock¨Cbottom prices aligned perfectly with the city¡¯s working¨Css majority in S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    Aubree spent a week in S¨¹dlichen Strand, where she and Birgitteworked with numerous wholesale and emerce entrepreneurs under the guidance of Turner Group¡¯s local representative.

    September was harvest season. The fresh produce was flooding the markets everywhere. For Aubree, it was the perfect time to kick off her GrabCheap project.

    After Aubree established all the necessary connections, she partnered with other <b>e</b>merce tforms using a group¨Cbuying model, primarily focusing on selling fresh fruits through group purchases. Profits earned were split 3:7 between her and the partner tforms.

    Havingid the groundwork, it was time to let the project grow. Aubree needed to return to Rithol University for military training, so she left the rest in Birgitte¡¯s capable hands.

    Aubree¡¯s flight touched down in Rithol Cityte that evening. She decided to head straight to her ce. She could just go to school to report the next morning.

    After starting university, Aubree hired her chauffeur and bodyguards, though they couldn¡¯t measure up to the elite, handpicked staff that old- money families like the Turner family cultivated.

    Aubree was surprised to see Bowen at the airport. ¡°Why <b>are </b>you here? I thought I told the chauffeur to pick me up.¡±

    Bowen arched an eyebrow, a smug smile on his lips. ¡°What kind of boyfriend would send a chauffeur to pick up his girlfriend after a business trip? Of course, I had toe myself.¡±

    Bowen was downright smug about being Aubree¡¯s boyfriend. In those days, he couldn¡¯t stop mentioning that he was ¡°a taken man.¡±

    Even when Ollie and the others invited him out at night, he¡¯d just brush them off with, ¡°I¡¯m spoken for now. How could I go out carousing at night?¡± His sappiness made everyone¡¯s teeth ache.

    Mark said that Bowen always had a few screws loose. It was like his brain finally turned to mush. Hepletely lost it.

    Aubree slid into the passenger seat of Bowen¡¯s car.

    Bowen asked, ¡°So, how was the trip <i>to </i>S¨¹dlichen Strand this time?¡±

    ¡°Not bad. I didn¡¯t run into members of the Diamonde family,¡± Aubree replied. ¡°Looks like Alice hasn¡¯t told them about what happened in Rithol City yet.¡± Honestly, Aubree had expected the Diamonde family to try to make things difficult for her on the trip.

    Exactly. Targeting her.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t exactly a stranger to the Diamonde family. Shortly after she¡¯d been brought back to the Wilson family, the Diamonde family sent someone to Rithol City to fetch her, Carmen, and Alice back with them.

    As old memories surfaced, a frosty glint shed in Aubree¡¯s eyes. <b>¡®</b>I thought my grandparents and uncles wanted to see me,¡® she thought bitterly. ¡®But when I arrived at the Diamonde family, I realized it was just another Wilson family all over again!

    The Diamonde family had three sons. Alice was the eldest daughter, with two younger brothers. The Diamonde family were even colder than the Wilson family. Her so¨Ccalled maternal grandparents¡® marriage was purely a family alliance. After the wedding, they kept up appearances in public Their illegitimate children were never allowed home. Each led their own private lives. In their old age, they livedpletely apart.

    The two elders spared what little affection they had for Alice, their eldest daughter, though ¡°little¡± was indeed the operative word.

    Alice¡¯s marriage? Just a bargaining chip <i>to </i>bag Ronald, their golden ticket.

    The one who went to Rithol City to fetch them was the second son of the Diamonde family. He saw the positions that Aubree and Carmen held in the Wilson family. For the Diamonde family, interests always came first. Bringing them back served two purposes. Firstly, to warn Alice not to be blinded by so¨Ccalled family ties. Children were a dime a dozen, but interests were not. Secondly, to back Carmen up and remind Aubree to know

    her ce.

 Tried 278

    e

    ¡£

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m not afraid even if they try toe after me,¡± Aubree said. Ever since she severed ties with the Wilson family, it was destined that she would stand against Wilson family and all their allies.

    Besides, the two sons of the Diamonde family in this generation weren¡¯t particrly capable. They were great at scrambling for power among themselves, but they turned into paper tigers when it came to outsiders. The Diamonde family had been declining steadily. Back then, they used to be on equal footing with the Turner family, but now, even the Wilson family made them think twice.

    If it weren¡¯t for the Diamonde family¡¯s Phoenyra Jewelry, a time¨Chonored brand in S¨¹dlichen Strand catering to elite clientele with extensive connections, the family would have gone under long ago.

    Aubree asked, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the status of that joint venture the Lawson and Wilson families secured at the bidding conference?¡±

    Bowen said, ¡°I was just about to bring that up.¡± As he spoke, the car pulled up in front of Aubree¡¯s apartment building.

    Bowen unbuckled his seatbelt, turned to face her with a probing gaze. ¡°Bree, did you know all along that they¡¯d unearth an ancient tomb at the East District site?¡±

    The East District Project was nearingpletion when workers unexpectedly unearthed an ancient tomb of immense archaeological significance. In recent days, the Wilson and Lawson families have been running themselves ragged and talking themselves hoarse trying <i>to </i>resolve the situation. But given the tomb¡¯s exceptional historical value, the authorities refused to budge and issued a mandatory suspension order.

    As for when work could resume, that depended entirely on when the archaeological team finished excavating that tomb.

    After all, both the Wilson and Lawson families had high hopes for that project. As it nearedpletion, they poured massive amounts into publicity, generating massive hype and sky¨Chigh expectations. Only for the sudden discovery of an ancient tomb to bring everything to a grinding halt.

    Suddenly, all that publicity money went straight down the drain.

    If the tomb was small, that was manageable. But if it was a major site that takes years, even a decade or more, to excavate, they¡¯d be in for a world of trouble. All the money invested in the project would go down the drain.

    Even the Lawson and Wilson families took a heavy hit from that.

    Aubree met his gaze with a knowing smile. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    Actually, Bowen already had the answer. Ever since she stopped him, it had been staring him in the face.

    Bowen thought, ¡®But I investigated thoroughly. Before I invited Bree to the bidding conference, she hadn¡¯t shown the slightest interest in the East District Project. So, how on earth did she know about it? irvoyant?¡®

    Bowen couldn¡¯t fathom it. Not being in control made him anxious, so he dug his nails into his palm, forcing himself to calm down. A myriad of emotions flickered in his eyes, but in the end, all that remained was pure affection. With a soft chuckle, he said, ¡°My brilliant Bree, only you could have known this. If it weren¡¯t for you, my amazing girlfriend, I¡¯d be the one running around like a headless chicken right now.¡±

    He didn¡¯t even ask?¡® Aubree thought, stealing a few more nces at Bowen. She had braced herself for his interrogation.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes softened instantly. ¡°After all you¡¯ve done for me, how could I just stand by and not stop you when I knew something bad was about to happen?¡±

    ¡°So, as my reward, how about letting me share your bed tonight, Bree?¡± Bowen leaned in until their noses almost touched, a yful smile in his

    eyes.

    Aubree was momentarily dazed by Bowen¡¯s handsome face, and her mind went nk for a second. But as soon as his words registered, her cheeks flushed. She quickly shoved him away and scrambled out of the car. ¡°Ugh! Bowen Turner, have you no shame? We¡¯ve only been dating for a few days, and you¡¯re already trying to move in?¡±

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of regret.

    Back at Rithol University the next day, Aubree went with her roommates to collect their military training uniforms. Their training would officially start tomorrow, but the subpar¨Cquality uniforms already reeked right out of the package.

 Tried 279

    Karlie said, ¡°I asked around, and all the seniors said the school¡¯s military training uniforms are trash quality. They told us we¡¯d better wash them before wearing, because in previous years, some people with sensitive skin broke out in rashes, and sweat even made the colors bleed onto their

    skin.¡±

    Karlie grabbed the uniform andined, ¡°Even a top school like Rithol University gives out such crappy military training uniforms?<b>¡± </b>

    Sally said enviously, ¡°Karlic, it¡¯s only the beginning of the semester and you¡¯ve gotten to know some upperssmen.¡±

    Right after Sally finished her words, Natalie flung two pieces of clothing at her head without even looking up from her phone. ¡°Wash these for me. I¡¯ve transferred you 30 dors for your trouble,¡± she said, her tone casual and dismissive.

    Sally¡¯s face went pale, but in the end she said nothing, silently clutching the clothes to her chest.

    Aubree sighed inwardly. ¡®Looks like a lot must have gone down in the dorm during my seven¨Cday leave. Judging by Sally¡¯s and Natalie¡¯s behavior, this definitely isn¡¯t their first time.¡®

    Karlie red at Sally, exasperated by herck of backbone. ¡°Why can¡¯t you stand up for yourself? You just let her boss you around like you¡¯re her damn maid or something?<b>¡± </b>

    Sally bit her lip, thinking, ¡®But 30 dors is already a fifth of my monthly allowance!¡®

    Natalie rolled her eyes at Karlie. ¡°Don¡¯t act all high and mighty. Am I her ve driver? She gets 30 dors just for washing two pieces of clothing. I only let her do it because we¡¯re roommates. Otherwise, if I just say the word, there¡¯d be plenty of people lining up.¡±

    ¡°Seven days into the semester, and every single day you¡¯re either making Sally wash your clothes, pick up your packages<b>, </b>or fetch your meals. And you still have the nerve!¡± Karlie shot back indignantly, righteously standing up for Sally.

    Natalie snorted. ¡°Every time she gets my meals, she uses my meal card, so I even pay for hers. And when she picks up my packages or does myundry, when have I ever not paid her for her trouble? I pay, she works. Isn¡¯t that perfectly normal?¡±

    ¡°Go on, ask her. Does she feel humiliated?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Karlie, it¡¯s fine, really,¡± Sally said hurriedly, tugging at Karlie¡¯s sleeve.

    Karlie yanked her sleeve away in frustration and eximed, ¡°I¡¯m just trying to stand up for you! Fine, I¡¯m done with you!¡± Then, she grabbed Aubree and dragged her toward theundry area.

    ¡°Aubree, you should keep your distance from Natalie. She always has her nose in the air, looking down on everyone as <b>if </b>she¡¯s the only one with money. Hello? You¡¯re a billionaire CEO yourself!¡±

    Aubree frowned slightly. ¡®Honestly, I¡¯m not even that close to Karlie, yet she has lumped me in with her crowd,¡¯ she thought.

    Upon seeing that, Natalie rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t think Natalie did anything wrong,¡± Aubree said. ¡°It¡¯s a willing deal. No one is forcing anyone. It¡¯s just like me paying someone to do a job.¡±

    Karlie waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Let¡¯s drop it. The Freshman Wee Party is on thest night of military training, and auditions are this afternoon. Aubree, youing?

    ¡°Natalie is definitely going. I heard you¡¯re a youngdy from the Wilson family. You must be super talented, too, right?¡±

    Aubree was filling the sink to do herundry when she said tly, ¡°I¡¯m not going. And just to be clear, I have nothing to do with the Wilson family.¡±

    Karlie finally took the hint and dropped the subject.

    Little did Aubree know, someone had snapped photos of her during registration. In the seven days she was away, the finance majors had already crowned her the hottest freshman of the year, not just a pretty face, but also seriously impressive!

    If anyone manages to get close to her, wouldn¡¯t that be like securing an early job offer from Bree Technology?

    Rihol University didn¡¯t have evening self¨Cstudy sessions. That night, Aubree first had a long phone call with Bowen out on the balcony. When she got back to bed and was about to sleep, she finally checked the campus forum to see if anything noteworthy had happened.

    Well, there actually was something.

    Aubree clicked in the forum to find a dance video featuring Natalie. As a privileged youngdy, she was somewhat haughty, but her striking elegance and beauty were undeniable. On the dance floor, she was absolutely mesmerizing.

    Not only that, Aubree also spotted Karlie in the video. Unlike Natalie, who was stealing the spotlight, Karlie stood in a corner of the frame, identally caught on camera.

    She was wearing a numbered tag, the kind only students auditioning for the Freshman Wee Party would wear.

    Aubree arched an eyebrow. That¡¯s odd, she thought. Karlie wasn¡¯t on the official selection list.

 Tried 280

    September¡¯s heat was relentless. Though the military training at Rithol University wasn¡¯t particrly strict, standing at attention under the zing sun all morning had everyone groaning in misery.

    After a full day of military training that ended in the afternoon, Aubree was drenched in sweat. Like everyone else, her first instinct was to rush back to the dorm for a much¨Cneeded shower.

    Aubree juste out of the bathroom when she saw Bowen had texted her.

    He was waiting for her at the quieter back gate of campus.

    ¡°Hey, Aubree, wanna grab some food?¡± Karlie asked with a grin.

    Toozy to move, Natalie had Sally fetch her a meal.

    ¡°No, you go ahead. Got something to do,¡± Aubree waved, grabbing her phone and heading out.

    Karlie¡¯s eyes flickered.

    Aubree jogged all the way to the back gate. Bowen had an extensive collection of cars, from shy to discreet, but his usual choice was an elegant and understated ck Maybach worth hundreds of thousands.

    Parked in a quiet corner with few people around, it wasn¡¯t particrly conspicuous, unless one was looking for it, one¡¯d hardly notice it <i>at </i>all.

    Aubree jogged over, and by the time she opened the car door, her forehead was already glistening with sweat.

    ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Bowen chuckled, reaching out to gently wipe the <b>sweat </b>from her brow. Up front, Ethan and Samson had tactfully gotten out and were now crouched under a nearby tree, keeping watch on the surroundings.

    Bowen said, ¡°I brought you some juice from home. Carol just made it. Have a taste.¡±

    The juice, kept in a thermos, was ice¨Ccold to the touch. One sip, and it was pure bliss.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes curved into a smile. ¡°So good.¡±

    Aubree had just showered, but the walkover made her break out in another sweat, her sweat¨Cdamp clothes clinging to her now fuller figure. A far cry from the frail girl she once was.

    Her curves were faintly visible through the damp fabric.

    Still catching her breath, she didn¡¯t notice Bowen avert his gaze. Being ufortable suddenly, his throat went dry and itchy.

    Bowen asked, ¡°Was military training tough today?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°Not too bad.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s the juice?¡±

    The blend Carol had made was sweetly fragrant and perfectly bnced. After a long, exhausting day, Aubree didn¡¯t have much of an appetite, but one ss of juice left herpletely satisfied.

    ¡°Delicious. Carol¡¯s perfected her craft,¡± Aubree replied, rxing as the cool air chased away the heat. It was sofortable that she didn¡¯t even notice Bowen¡¯s voice growing deeper and huskier.

    Bowen watched as Aubree finished her juice, then leaned in, drawing her into their own private world, trapping her in his arms.

    Aubree didn¡¯t hesitate. She capped the cup, set it aside, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed close with a contented sigh.

    Amused by her yful vixen look, Bowen lifted her chin and lowered his head to kiss her.

    He lingered and savored her lips, then deepened the kiss, tasting the sweet fruitiness.

    ¡°So sweet,¡± Bowen murmured.

    ¡°It¡¯s the juice,¡± Aubree replied, a little breathless.

    Bowen grinned teasingly. ¡°I was talking about juice, Bree. What did you think I meant?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s cheeks flushed as she shot him a yful re.

    12:48 PM d

    Bowen tried to hold himself back, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t resist. He cupped her waist and kissed her again. The car¡¯s AC was no match for the heat between them. Swept up by his intensity, Aubree found herself responding, her kisses growing bolder as she slowly took the lead.

    Their lingering, breathless kiss finally broke apart.

    Aubree suddenly remembered and asked, ¡°What brings you to campus?¡±

    ¡°Missed my girlfriend, so here I am,¡± Bowen replied.

    Aubree rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Smooth talker.¡±

    Bowen let out a couple of muffledughs. ¡°Just afraid someone might steal my girl away, so I came to check.¡±

    At that, Aubree gave a sheepish, slightly guiltyugh. ¡°So you know?¡±

    Bowen arched an eyebrow. ¡°Know what?¡±

    During today¡¯s toon sing¨Coff at military training, a guy from their toon serenaded Aubree with a love song. Normally, it wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal, but since he actually used her name in the lyrics, it drew a lot of attention.

 Tried 281

    <b>Chapter </b><b>281 </b>

    ¡£

    O

    Even Alvin from the Fine Arts School came over during the break to ask her about it. Aubree hadn¡¯t expected the news to spread so far.

    ¡°What could I do? It¡¯s not like I could gag him,¡± Aubree mumbled, though privately she wondered, Even if it caused a stir, how did Bowen end up hearing about it?

    With that thought, she decided to ask him directly.

    Bowen showed her his phone. ¡°Your roommate told me.¡±

    <b>It </b>was Sally.

    She¡¯d filmed it and sent it straight to Bowen.

    [Mr. Turner, a boy confessed to Aubree during military training today.]

    [Is it a good idea to be dating right after starting university?]

    Bowen simply replied: [Noted.]

    On the very first day of school, Bowen treated her roommates to dinner, with Alvin in tow, deliberately positioning himself in an avuncr role.

    Sally¡¯s words weren¡¯t exactly wrong, but¡­ they did leave a bad taste in Aubree¡¯s mouth.

    Bowen wasn¡¯t even her real guardian, and even if he were, it still felt like tattling.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind them,¡± Aubree said dismissively.

    ¡°I never nned to get close to them anyway. I¡¯m moving out right after military training.¡±

    Aubree ran her tongue over her lips, a movement Bowen caught. His gaze darkened with unmistakable intensity.

    Bowen offered to walk her back to the dorm, clearly wanting to publicly stake his im on her. But Aubree knew that having a high¨Cprofile figure like him showing up in the dorm would cause a stir. Even if he kept his identity under wraps, his striking looks alone would attract plenty of trouble. So she turned him down.

    Bowen sulked like a scorned lover. He grabbed Aubree and stole several deep kisses before finally letting her go.

    As Aubree stepped out of the car, she spotted Ethan and Samson crouched under the big tree, serving as mosquito bait. They looked so bored that they¡¯d practically ripped up every de of grass around them.

    None of them noticed the figure lurking in the shadows, eyes fixed on them.

    The watcher didn¡¯t know who was in the car, but she recognized whose bodyguards were crouched nearby.

    She thought, ¡®A guy and a girl alone in a car¡­ What could they be up to?

    When Aubree stepped out, were her lips a little red?¡®

    She quickly pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of the scene.

    Bowen¡¯s gaze lingered on Aubree until her figure faded into the distance. Only when she hadpletely disappeared from view did he finally look away, start the engine, and drive off.

    When Aubree returned to her dorm room, she found only Natalie there. She¡¯d just broken out in another sweat, her clothes clinging ufortably to her skin, so she took another quick shower.

    When Aubree came out, the other two roommates had also returned. Sally kept her head down, looking flustered and uneasy, while Karlie was humming a tune, clearly in good spirits.

    Military training at Rithol Universitysted two weeks. Each day followed the same routine: standing at attention, marching drills, and toon sing¨Coffs.

    Bowen didn¡¯t visit Aubree every day, but when he couldn¡¯t make it, he¡¯d send Alvin with some cool drinks and snacks to help her beat the heat.

    Every day, Aubree was so exhausted that she could barely lift her arms. The only time she had the energy to chat with Bowen was briefly before

    bed.

    12:48 PM

    During military training, the campus forum was a hotbed of gossip. After the Freshers¡® Wee Party, Natalie from their dorm skyrocketed to the top of the trending topics.

    ¡°Wow, didn¡¯t know you were this good. Your ssical dance was amazing!¡± Karlie eximed.

    On the way back to the dorm, Karlie showered Natalie with praise, as if she¡¯dpletely forgotten their earlier argument.

    Natalie smirked at her. ¡°What, did you expect anything less from me? I¡¯ve been dancing since I was little. If my family hadn¡¯t wanted me to study finance for thepany, <b>I </b>would¡¯ve been a professional dancer.¡±

    Karlie curled her lips and thought, ¡®Who does she think she is?¡®

    Karlie was scrolling through her phone when she suddenly gasped, ¡°Aubree, isn¡¯t this you?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aubree looked up from checking thetest GrabCheap tform updates Birgitte had sent her.

    ¡°Look! Someone posted photos of you and Alvin on the forum! They¡¯re saying the heartthrob of Fine Arts school is after you. Some people even think you two are already a couple!¡±

    ¡°What kind of nonsense is this?¡± Aubree muttered, exasperated.

 Tried 282

    The photo captured Alvin bringing food to Aubree.

    The post was going viral, mainly because the protagonists were impossible to ignore. At Rithol University, the undisputed talk of the campus among freshmen was undoubtedly Aubree and Alvin.

    One was a rising young entrepreneur, and the other was the scion of the Turner family. They even knew each other.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Honestly, the post is so detailed and believable that I would¡¯ve even fallen for it if I weren¡¯t the main character:

    The post started by analyzing how Alvin brought Aubree food, then delved into their past as esports teammates, and even mentioned her business coborations with the Turner Group during her entrepreneurial journey. After this long¨Cwinded ¡°investigative report,¡± it concluded with insinuations about an ambiguous rtionship between Aubree and Alvin.

    So, why weren¡¯t they officially dating?

    Naturally, since they looked like close friends who preferred to keep things discreet, the outsiders could not help but assume there was some kind of shady deal or transactional rtionship going on behind the scenes.

    Although the post went viral, judging from thements, not many people actually bought it. With Alvin¡¯s looks and status, and Aubree being just as impressive, who could even tell who was pursuing whom there?

    Even if it were true, who wouldn¡¯t jump at the chance? Hooking up with a hottie and bing a billionaire CEO, that was like hitting the jackpot with a two¨Cfor¨Cone deal! Why couldn¡¯t they ever get that lucky?

    Deep down, Aubree was no naive eighteen¨Cyear¨Cold. She found these petty<b>, </b>clumsy attemptsughably amateurish. She nced at the post, a chuckle escaping her lips. ¡°The photo¡¯s actually pretty good,¡± she mused.

    Karlie¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Aubree, aren¡¯t you even the slightest bit upset?¡±

    Karlie looked like she was the one gossiped about, fuming with indignation. ¡°Seriously, who do these people think they are? Spreading baseless rumors without knowing anything. Can¡¯t you and Alvin just be friends?¡±

    Aubree shrugged it off. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯ll fade away in a couple of days.¡±

    Aubree shut down herptop and packed a couple of outfits. With military training finally over and a two¨Cday break ahead, Bowen was picking her up first thing tomorrow morning. Honestly,pared to all the campus forum dramas, a holiday date with her boyfriend was way more important.

    But little did Aubree know, things had taken a drastic turn by the next morning.

    No sooner had Aubree settled into Bowen¡¯s car with her backpack than her phone started blowing up with notifications.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡±

    Aubree nced at her phone, surprised and a little puzzled to see a message from Natalie. In the dorm, Natalie always kept to herself, at most just bossing Sally around to do chores for her.

    Whenever they happened to cross paths, their interaction was usually limited to a nod and a brief greeting. Nothing more.

    [Did you check the forum? You¡¯re getting dragged.]

    [Did you ever go out to meet someone during military training? You were caught on camera.]

    [Did you get into a luxury car just now? That was also caught on camera.]

    What the hell?¡® Aubree thought.

    Aubree frowned and immediately clicked on the forum link Natalie had sent her. It was still the same ount that had posted about her and Alvin yesterday, but the newly updated post now featured apletely different protagonist.

    Given Aubree ¡®s current worth, a few photos of her riding in a luxury car wouldn¡¯t normally raise eyebrows. But when it was dug up that the car actually belonged to Bowen, that¡¯s when the real gossip started.

    In universities, there was no shortage of drama¨Cloving spectators. The OP¡¯s so¨Ccalled investigative reasoning, piecing together past and present, had practically fabricated Aubree¡¯s entire life story.

    Aubree read with amusement. ¡°What a waste the person isn¡¯t writing screenys!¡±

    Bowen leaned over to look, his brow furrowing at the content. ¡°Let me handle this,¡± he said firmly.

    12:48 PM

    ¡°No need,¡± Aubree said confidently

    The post was cut from the same cloth asst night¡¯s, which had dug into her rtionship with Alvin. It questioned how Aubree, an orphan who supposedly had no means of survival after leaving the Wilson family, could miraculously win an esports championship and secure investment to start her ownpany all within just a few short months.

    How could a mere eighteen¨Cyear¨Cold girl possibly pull all that off?

    In other words, if she truly had the ability, would the Wilson family in Rithol City be that stupid? Who in their right mind would kick out a golden goose instead of keeping her around?

 Tried 283

    Chapter <b>283 </b>

    Clearly, Aubree slept her way up the Turner familydder, using nothing but her pretty face to make both heirs fall head over heels andvishing her with money and connections. How else could she pull that off?

    Honestly, it even had a ring of truth to it.

    Honestly, who wouldn¡¯t be jealous hearing about Aubree¡¯s past? Once envy takes root, even the flimsiest excuse could be weaponized against her.

    Just like that, the ¡°genius entrepreneur<b>¡± </b>was recast as a scheming gold¨Cdigger, at least in the eyes of the rumor mill.

    Aubree dialed a number. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s about this. It¡¯s causing problems. Have the admin take the post off and get me the poster¡¯s IP address. I want to find out who¡¯s behind it. That¡¯s all.

    ¡°Come on, if I can¡¯t handle something this minor myself, what have I been doing all year, twiddling my thumbs?¡±

    Bowen gently squeezed Aubree¡¯s hand. ¡°Oh, right, I forgot. You¡¯re not that helpless little thing everyone used to push around anymore.¡±

    ¡®That¡¯s good, Bowen thought. ¡®Now my Bree won¡¯t be pushed around so easily anymore!

    Aubree said, ¡°Before I even enrolled, I donated a building to the university under mypany¡¯s name as a contingency for future favors. Honestly,

    never thought I¡¯d end up cashing in that chip so soon.¡±

    Aubree smirked coldly. Honestly, when that post about her and Alvin surfacedst night, she could¡¯ve tracked down and exposed that annoying rat.

    Aubree thought, ¡®I didn¡¯t even bother responding, but the more I ignored the rat, the more the rat doubled down.¡¯

    However, Aubree barely gave it a second thought now.

    Aubree said, ¡°Since the rat went to such great lengths, stalking me, taking sneaky photos, and even putting together an illustrated biography of my life, I might as well let the rat have fun for a couple of days, right?¡±

    Aubree lowered her head with a knowing smirk, forwarding the IP address from the university to her tech team. ¡°Trace this location,¡± she instructed.

    That was it.

    Aubree smirked, ¡°<b>If </b>I¡¯m even bothering with this, the rat has won.¡±

    Bowen wasn¡¯t about to hold back. Worried that Aubree would be exhausted from military training, he¡¯d only managed to see her twice in the past fortnight, aside from the very first day. The rest of the time, he had to make do with photos on his phone to ease his longing.

    He drove straight to Ellis Heights.

    After two weeks of military training, even with her usual workouts, Aubree¡¯s legs were aching so badly that she could barely move. Too tired to do anything, she let Bowen half¨Ccarry, half¨Csupport her all the way back to their room as soon as they got out of the car.

    Bowen asked gently, ¡°Would you prefer to eat out or stay in for lunch?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Let¡¯s eat in. I¡¯m craving Carol¡¯s cooking.¡±

    ¡°Sure thing.¡±

    The moment the door swung open, Bowen swept Aub

    inside, kicking it shut before pinning her against it.

    His room was decorated in cool, muted tones. The curtains drawn so that only the faintest slivers of light filtered through.

    Bowen leaned in, his voice low and teasing, ¡°Miss me?¡±

    Before Aubree could answer, Bowen had buried his face in her neck and murmured, ¡°I miss you. Every single day. You¡¯re in all my dreams.¡±

    Bowen above her greedily drank in her scent. His ragged breaths sent waves of heat washing over her, each teasing breath making her heart race wildly.

    ¡°Bree, my baby. Come on, give me a kiss, won¡¯t you?¡±

    His voice grew huskier, dropping lower like a siren¡¯s call¨Cdangerously seductive, impossible to resist.

    Aubree¡¯s breath caught. She thought ¡®God, how can a man be this seductive? He¡¯s like a male fox spirit, just staring at me with those red¨Crimmed

    12:48 PM

    eyes.

    ¡®Honestly, if anyone could resist this, they must be made of stone.

    ¡®As if I could ever resist him!

    ¡£

    Aubree wrapped her arms around Bowen¡¯s waist and, with a powerful surge of strength, reversed their positions and pinned him against the door. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her flush against him, lowered his head, and murmured, ¡°Bree.¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Aubree murmured, tilting her head up to nip at his Adam¡¯s apple.

    Bowen let out a low, utterly irresistible moan, making Aubree¡¯s eyes flutter shut in pleasure as she traced slow kisses up his neck. Bowen arched his head back, baring his throat to herpletely.

    On her tiptoes, Aubree pressed her lips against Bowen¡¯s,pletely in control. Bowen¡¯s eyes fluttered half¨Cshut, a blush spreading across his face.

    ¡°Bowen, has anyone ever told you how sexy you are?¡± Aubree murmured.

    ¡°It¡¯s first time I¡¯ve heard this, but I¡¯m honored you think so,¡± Bowen replied with a smile.

 Tried 284

    ¡°You¡¯re a quick learner,¡± Bowen chuckled under his breath. He thought, The first time, Bree has been so docile, letting me have my way. Now, she has turned into a feisty little wolf cub

    Aubree pinned Bowen down, grinning smugly. ¡°Well, I guess I had the best teacher- you.¡±

    Bowen leaned in with a teasing smile. ¡°So, Bree, want some more?¡±

    Bowen lowered his gaze, only to meet Aubree¡¯s mock¨Cscolding look. He chuckled. ¡°What I meant was¡­ you could do whatever else you want with<ol><li>mc.</li></ol>

    ¡°Of course, if you want¡­ Bree, I¡¯m not saying no.¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®When ites to being shameless, I¡¯m still no match for Bowen.¡® She put on a calm front and said, ¡°Well, since you offered, don¡¯t me me for taking full advantage.¡±

    ¡°Consider me all yours,¡± Bowen murmured, his arm draped around her waist as he leaned against the door in an utterlynguid pose, eyes half- lidded. Their earlier activities had left his hair deliciously tousled, disrupting his usuallyposed demeanor. That hint of disorder, paired with his exquisite features, only made Aubree want to ruin hisposure even further.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Honestly, I¡¯m totally hooked on this guy¡¯s body in the most literal sense!

    Aubree slid her hand under his clothes at the waist, lifting and exploring upward, not just feasting her eyes but also indulging her touch.

    The central AC was no match for the heat between them. Both Bowen and Aubree <b>were </b>drenched in sweat.

    Aubree gritted her teeth. ¡®If Bowen ever set foot in a club with his <b>face</b>, his body, and his undeniable charisma, he¡¯d be the undisputed headliner. And yet, I just touched him twice, and he¡¯s groaning like I¡¯ve done so much more.¡¯

    They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. For Bowen, that couldn¡¯t be more true. Mindful of her fatigue, he¡¯d kept their previous two meetings quiet chats in the car. But now, the calm facade he always wore had shattered, and his deep, dark eyes burnt with startling possessiveness and raw desire.

    ¡°Finished? My turn now,¡± Bowen murmured.

    Bowen carried Aubree to bed. One hand braced beside her face while the other gently cupped her chin. His lips imed hers in a slow, deliberate kiss, teasing, tasting, savoring every delicate curve as if memorizing her.

    Bowen was uncharacteristically patient this time, as if he determined to savor everyst nuance of her, slowly, thoroughly.

    Pressed close together, even after the AC had been blowing for ages, the heat refused to fade. If anything, it only stoked the heat between them.

    Bowen held her lips captive, dictating the entire pace.

    Aubree had to admit she was still no match for him when it came to that. With a yful glint in her eye, she teased, ¡°So, Bowen, how many girls did it take for you to get this good?¡±

    Aubree kneaded the fabric over his chest, with the air of someone about to say, ¡°Let¡¯s have a little chat about your ex¨Cgirlfriends.¡±

    Bowen said with a smirk, ¡°Well, when I get to practice with a certain little minx every night in my dreams, it¡¯s only natural I¡¯ve be this good.¡±

    His words wereced with innuendo, and Aubree¡¯s ears turned red. She shot back yfully, ¡°Compared to you, no one deserves the title of ¡®minx¡®

    more.¡±

    Bowen smirked, ¡°So, has this minx hooked you?<b>¡± </b>

    Finally, Aubree, her legs wobbly and face flushed, staggered into the bathroom for a shower. Drenched in sweat, she couldn¡¯t stand it any longer.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Back during military training at Rithol University, four of us had to share a single bathroom in the dorm, always scrambling for a turn in the shower. Now, soaking in this luxurious bathroom, I must have been a little crazy about leaving a mansion to squeeze into a dorm. But then again, students had to stay in the dorms during training even day, so it didn¡¯t make a difference!

    After her shower, Aubree came downstairs to find the dining table alreadyden with a feast. On the first day she and Bowen got together, Bowen had made it known to everyone. Carol and Hugh had prepared lunch and then discreetly left the main residence, giving the young couple some privacy.

 Tried 285

    Chapter <b>285 </b>

    ¡°Mmm, it smells so good! Carol made all my favorites, Aubree said as she walked over in a spaghetti¨Cstrap sundress.

    Bowen said, ¡°Carol knew you wereing today, so she went out at dawn to get the freshest ingredients for you.¡±

    Bowen added, ¡°There¡¯s also some pre¨Ccut fruit in the fridge. Let¡¯s eat first, then have some after the meal.¡±

    Aubree savored every bite of the meal. Compared to the nd cafeteria food at school, Carol¡¯s cooking was simply out of the world. After finishing lunch, she flopped onto the sofa and called Birgitte.

    Bowen took the fruit he¡¯d chilled earlier from the fridge, settled beside Aubree, and began feeding her with a fork.

    Aubree said, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve gone through all the reports you sent me. Not bad. Pretty much what I expected.¡±

    To put it simply, GrabCheap¡¯s business model was volume¨Cdriven. Right now, it was still in the early stages, just building market awareness and testing the waters. Operations were still small¨Cscale, so expecting big profits now would be premature.

    However, when Birgittepared her project to Aubree¡¯s previous investments¨Ceven those two game studios Aubree had casually thrown money at were already turning better profits than hers¨Cshe couldn¡¯t help but feel discouraged and me herself.

    Birgitte asked hesitantly, ¡°Ms. Miller, am I still falling short somewhere?¡±

    Aubree smiled and said, ¡°I gave you the project because I have full confidence in you. Don¡¯t be so quick to doubt yourself. The profits willeter, and I¡¯m sure it will grow into an emerce tform that can rival even the Turner Group.¡±

    Bowen raised an eyebrow as he fed Aubree another piece of fruit. ¡®Was she saying that right before me, the CEO of Turner Group?¡® thought Bowen.

    ¡°Just keep doing what you¡¯re doing,¡± Aubree said. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed everything. No issues. I¡¯ll fly to S¨¹dlichen Strand during the National Day holidays.¡± With Turner Group¡¯s support, GrabCheap was developing even faster than she¡¯d anticipated. One month was enough for it to make its mark in the market.

    Bowen asked, ¡°So¡­ You¡¯re heading to S¨¹dlichen Strand during the National Day holidays?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Yes. If the project goes well, that¡¯ll be the time to kick off the next phase. I¡¯ll need to be there,¡± Aubree said, avoiding Bowen¡¯s gaze with a pang of guilt. If she went to S¨¹dlichen Strand, it meant he¡¯d have to spend the National Day holidays alone.

    Aubree thought, ¡®With school andpany work eating up all my time, I barely have any left to actually be Bowen¡¯s girlfriend. Honestly, it¡¯s pathetic how little I can spare.

    Luckily, since Bowen is a boss himself, he totally understands me!

    ¡°Mm¨Chmm,¡± Bowen replied, saying nothing more.

    Aubree flopped onto the sofa, cradling a bowl of fruit. Bowen gently pulled her legs onto hisp and began to massage her calves.

    Aubree grabbed the remote and started flipping through the channels. ¡°Huh? Since when do they broadcast League of Legends matches on TV?¡±

    Ever since Aubree acquired Apex Squad, she¡¯d barely managed the club. After the SATs, Alvin retired from the team, making way for a new rookie <i>to </i>take his ce.

    Bowen exined, ¡°After the Olympics, League of Legends tournaments will be broadcast on TV. It¡¯s a form of indirect support for the growth of esports.¡±

    So it wasst night¡¯s match.

    Realizing it was her own club¡¯s match, Aubree lingered a while longer to watch.

    As Aubree kept watching, she sensed something was off. ¡°Did Matilda just mess up the BP?¡±

    Bowen didn¡¯t understand the game¡¯s intricacies, but he nced up at the screen. While the match strategies eluded him, reading people was his forte. Even through the broadcast, he could tell Matilda¡¯s expression was off.

    ¡°Bree,¡± Bowen asked, ¡°has your friend Matilda been acting strangelytely?¡±

    ¡°Strange? Not really. She was there when we checked our SAT scoresst time. Oh, right, she actually decided to skip the SAT entirely. But honestly, that¡¯s not all that surprising for her. Matilda never has much talent for academics. She signed with the club ages ago and went straight to work with the team right after graduation.¡±

    On screen, Apex Squad quickly lost ground.

    12:48 PM

    Aubree frowned. ¡°Apex Squad is going to lose this match.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s departure for college was anticipated well in advance, and his recement had plenty of time to integrate with the team. Their in¨Cgame performance wasn¡¯t an issue. The real problem <b>was </b>in the selection of personnel and BP.

 Tried 286

    Chapter <b>286 </b>

    Aubree¡¯s ¡°lost¡± wasn¡¯t just about a single round. It meant the whole match.

    *

    Even though Aubree wasn¡¯t actively managing the club anymore, she knew their track record was consistently ster. They had won numerous championships and had never finished below the semifinals. Under normal circumstances, there was simply no way they should have lost this

    match.

    Bowen nced at the screen again. On the TV, Matilda sat with her head lowered, seemingly lost in thought. She was distracted.

    Bowen advised, ¡°Look into her. Even if you two are close, sometimes, circumstances force people¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let this affect the uing matches.¡±

    Aubree took the matter to heart. Checking the club¡¯s official social media ount, she found it flooded with scathing criticism of both the yers and the coaching staff. That¡¯s when she realized that their only win in the match hade when the midsolo ignored Matilda¡¯s instructions, picked a different APC, and won purely on skill.

    The team¡¯s conflictms were leaked.

    She trusted Matilda, but there were still some leeches in her family that hadn¡¯t been dealt with yet.

    With a sinking heart, Aubree texted Alvin about the situation. Fortunately, as a major shareholder of the club, he had been following the issue and immediately stepped in to take care of it.

    The two¨Cday break flew by. Aubree had spent the past two days at Ellis Heights, and early this morning, she was heading back to Rithol University.

    Her off¨Ccampus living application was still under review. It wouldn¡¯t be approved until Wednesday at the earliest.

    ¡°Bowen, mind if I borrow Zachary for <i>a </i>while?¡± asked Aubree.

    Bowen looked <i>at </i>her and said with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°How thoughtful of you to still remember Zachary. Did you dislike the person I assigned you that much? When I said I wanted him back, you didn¡¯t even try to keep him around?¡±

    Honestly, when Bowen asked Zachary toe back, Aubree agreed without hesitation. Her total nonchnce utterly infuriated him. How desperately did she want to avoid him?

    Aubree pouted. ¡°He¡¯s your guy. You were set on taking him back. What was <b>I </b>supposed to do, stop you?¡±

    After those two scandalous posts, Aubree had be utterly notorious at Rithol University. When she stepped out of the car with Zachary, they were met with a barrage of scrutinizing gazes. But Aubree couldn¡¯t care less. She already had all the evidence she needed. Today, she was there to settle the score.

    Aubree had tipped off the dorm supervisor. With Zachary in tow and a crowd hungry for drama trailing behind, she strode up and delivered a decisive kick, forcing the dorm room door wide open.

    ¡°Oh my god! Aubree, you¡¯re back! You scared the hell out of me!¡± Karlie clutched her chest dramatically, still visibly shaken. She froze as she took in the fury on Aubree¡¯s face. ¡°Aubree¡­ What¡¯s all this about?¡±

    The other three roommates were all present. Natalie looked straight at her and asked, ¡°Is this about the forum?¡±

    Aubree still had a fairly good impression of her. At least she wasn¡¯t causing trouble. She nodded sharply and said, ¡°Spreading rumors about me? And with such cheap tactics. Do you think I got to where I am today by sleeping my way to the top?¡±

    Her eyes were dark and menacing, radiating an intensity far beyond her years. Every word she spoke was blunt and to the point.

    Sally had been cowering with her head bowed from the start, now trembling visibly.

    Karlie¡¯s eyes darted nervously, her smile stiffening into something forced.

    ¡°I had someone check. The post was sent from our dorm¡¯s IP address. But it looks like you don¡¯t need that info anymore,¡± Natalie stated bluntly, hoping to help Aubree out and maybe earn herself a favor in return.

    Aubree didn¡¯t know whether tough or <b>cry</b>. ¡®Seriously? She just says it out loud like that? Isn¡¯t she worried she¡¯ll piss me off?¡® thought Aubree.

    <b>A </b>crowd had gathered outside, <b>eager </b>for drama, but Aubree paid them no mind. She wanted to use today¡¯s incident to send a clear message: think twice before messing with her. Her studies alone consumed enough of her time. She had no energy to waste on these childish games.

    Natalie sighed and looked at Sally. ¡°I always thought you were poor, but at least you had some decency. You¡¯d better admit it now. Otherwise, you

    could end up in jail for a few days for spreading rumors.¡±

    Sally¡¯s face went ashen as she stammered, ¡°No, no. It wasn¡¯t me! The one on the forum wasn¡¯t me.¡±

    Ìï

 Tried 287

    ¡°My goodness! So it was you, Sally. No wonder I¡¯ve seen you with a new phone and all those designer clothes these past couple of days. Your monthly allowance is only a few hundred bucks. Even with the errand money from Natalie, there¡¯s no way you could afford all that!¡± Karlie covered her mouth in exaggerated shock as she presented more ¡°evidence.¡±

    Aubree watched, a faint smile ying on her lips.

    Sally grew even more panicked, giving Aubree a desperate, pleading look. ¡°Aubree, I swear. It wasn¡¯t me! My money has nothing to do with any of this¡­ I mean it!¡±

    Karlie feigned exasperation. ¡°We¡¯re roommates. How could you do something like this? Don¡¯t we all know exactly what¡¯s going on between Bowen and Aubree? What were you thinking, spreading that nonsense?¡±

    The moment those words were spoken, the onlookers¡® eyes flickered with spection. Whispered murmurs spread through the crowd. ¡°So there is something going on? Could those rumors actually be true?¡±

    Karlie pressed Sally, urging her to apologize to Aubree. With feigned concern, she said, ¡°Aubree, don¡¯t be upset. Maybe Sally was just put up to it by someone else. Why not just forgive her?¡±

    Aubree finally spoke up, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll forgive her. She hasn¡¯t done anything, has she? Why would I even bother making trouble for her?¡±

    Karlie froze. ¡°Aubree, what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Exactly what it sounds like,¡± Aubree said. Without another word, she swung andnded a sharp p across Karlie¡¯s face. The resounding crack sent a collective shudder through the gawking crowd outside the dorm.

    Honestly, to those sheltered undergrads, dorm conflicts rarely went beyond shouting matches. Reporting to their counselor was considered the nuclear option.

    Who had ever seen someone like Aubree storm in with a bodyguard and immediately start throwing punches?

    Karlie exploded with rage, but before she could strike, Zachary stepped in, grabbed her hands, and pinned them behind her back.

    Aubree stepped closer, grabbed Karlie by the cor, despite the girl¡¯s considerable size, hauled her clean off her feet. Zachary released his grip at the right moment. Aubree snarled, ¡°Who gave you the nerve to pull these dirty tricks?

    ¡°Stalking me? Secretly photographing me? Spreading rumors about me? And now framing me, too? Quite the impressive repertoire you¡¯ve got

    there.¡±

    Natalie waspletely stunned by the sudden turn of events. ¡°So it was Karlie all along?¡±

    ¡°Sally isn¡¯t the only one in this dorm, you know,¡± Aubree said, her tone deceptively light. Karlie¡¯s face instantly drained of color.

    Her feet dangled helplessly in the air. No matter how hard she struggled, she just couldn¡¯t break free from Aubree¡¯s grip.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that gullible, or just naive enough to let this slide?¡± Aubree pressed close, her lips nearly touching as she hissed for their ears only, ¡°Why did you do it? Jealousy? <i>Or </i>is there someone you¡¯re after?¡±

    Karlie¡¯s face was a mask of sheer terror.

    Aubree smirked. ¡°So you¡¯re the one who took those photos, huh? Saw something interesting that night? Or is it Bowen you¡¯ve got your eyes on?¡±

    Aubree let her go and sneered, ¡°You¡¯re not just stupid. Your methods are downright pathetic. I built my empire in digital media. Did you think you could pull this amateurish stunt on me and my team would just sit around doing nothing? Tracing an IP address and pulling up security footage, which is child¡¯s y for us<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree added, ¡°I¡¯ve handed all the evidence over to the university. They¡¯ll deal with you.¡± In fact, Aubree already knew that Rithol University was going to give Karlie a permanent disciplinary record, a ck mark that would haunt her and affect everything she did in the future.

    Karlie finally dropped all pretense<b>, </b>ring at Aubree with venom in her eyes. ¡°You think I actually want to suck up to you? Stop acting all high and mighty! <b>If </b><b>it </b>weren¡¯t for the Turner Group backing you, do you think you¡¯re some kind of genius?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re actually right<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree said. ¡°If the Turner Group hadn¡¯t invested in me from the start, I wouldn¡¯t have achieved what I have now<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree¡¯s blunt admission only fueled Karlie¡¯s fury, making her eyes ze.

    She downright hated Aubree. They <b>were </b><b>the </b>same <b>age</b><b>. </b>How could Aubree achieve so much, be the center of attention, and even have someone like Bowen by her side? Of course<b>, </b>she loathed Natalie<b>, </b>too. Why should she get to steal her spotlight and shine so brilliantly among the freshmen?

    There were people like that. They saw themselves as the main character and just couldn¡¯t stand to see anyone else doing better than them.

    Karlie was exactly that kind of person.

 Tried 288

    Karlie was led away by the counselor who rushed over after hearing themotion, and the onlookers quickly dispersed.

    Sally¡¯s legs turned to jelly, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet Aubree¡¯s gaze.

    Aubree looked down at her condescendingly and said, ¡°I haven¡¯te after you, not that I don¡¯t know what you did, but I can¡¯t be bothered wasting my breath on such petty things.¡±

    Aubree looked straight in her eyes and warned, ¡°Don¡¯t let today¡¯s messnd on you.¡±

    Sally¡¯s sudden wealth that Karlie mentioned was highly suspicious, and her demeanor made it obvious she was up to something. Aubree had no interest in getting involved as long as Sally kept to herself and didn¡¯t cause trouble. That was enough for her.

    Aubree didn¡¯t care to analyze her feelings when Sally texted Bowen about the incident. It was the first andst time she would ever do something like that.

    Terrified by Aubree¡¯s piercing gaze, Sally couldn¡¯t stop trembling.

    ¡®It¡¯s fine, Sally reassured herself. ¡®I only sent a few messages. Besides<b>, </b>that powerful person promised she would solve it if anything went wrong¡­

    Sally knew her. She was from a powerful family.

    In thetter half of the month, Aubree enjoyed a much quieter time. The incident with Karlie had been caught on camera, and word quickly spread around school. Everyone now knew Aubree was in a different league from the rest.

    Suddenly, there were far fewer people either causing trouble for Aubree or expressing their admiration.

    Vincent had booked her a flight for the 30th. When Aubreended at S¨¹dlichen Strand airport, Birgitte was there to meet her.

    In just one month, Aubree partnered with emerce wholesale markets and, through group buying fresh produce, forcefully carved out her own space in the online shopping sector.

    Centered in S¨¹dlichen Strand, GrabCheap¡¯s group¨Cbuying model quickly gained remarkable poprity and expanded outward. As a rapidly developing economic hub, S¨¹dlichen Strand boasted an abundance of working¨Css consumers, making it an ideal market for GrabCheap¡¯s growth.

    For those workers, getting fresh fruits and vegetables at prices way below the market rate was a total steal.

    But in the end, it was <b>all </b>just small potatoes, not making much of a ssh, and nowhere near the sensation caused by Aubree¡¯s interviews at yzy and Zappy.

    The project had only been incubating for a month. Aubree had initially estimated it would take around three months, but thanks to the Turner Group¡¯s influence in the emerce market, the timeline was drastically cut short.

    From the very beginning, Birgitte spearheaded GrabCheap¡¯s operations by hand¨Cpicking two key colleagues from Bree Technology to help herunch the venture. Once local operations were established, they quickly expanded the team by recruiting a new batch of local staff.

    Birgitte exined, ¡°Our model targets lower¨Ctier emerce markets, with group buying as our core feature. The more people join, the bigger the discounts.

    ¡°In just one month, we¡¯ve made our mark in the market with this model. Now, it¡¯s time for the next step.¡±

    The next step was naturally <i>to </i>officiallyunch their own emerce tform, GrabCheap.

    Birgitte reported, ¡°Ms. Miller, the software has been developed ording to your requirements. During this period, we¡¯ve established partnerships with various merchants, ensuring that once our emerce tformunches, numerous fresh produce wholesalers and fruit growers will be signing up.

    ¡°Not only that, Ms. Miller, as you requested, I¡¯ve also sessfully secured a partnership with Manchotech. They¡¯ve agreed to let our emerce tform integrate with WhatsApp uponunch.¡±

    ¡°Good, but group buying alone isn¡¯t enough,¡± Aubree said. ¡°Relying solely on WhatsApp Moments connections is limiting. There¡¯s always a ceiling Every person in Lumanon who hasn¡¯t used GrabCheap yet is a potential customer. Besides group buying, we¡¯re alsounching a Group¨CBargaining feature.¡±

    Aubree announced, leaving the other executives exchanging puzzled nces.

    Birgitte frowned. ¡°Is it like getting people to help bargaining?¡±

 Tried 289

    <b>Chapter </b><b>289 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Exactly<b>. </b>It¡¯s basically <b>a </b>referral<b>¨C</b>based price<b>¨C</b>shing model. If one invites enough people to help, one could even score the item for free. And new users get even bigger discounts.¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t this approach too <b>risky</b><b>?</b>¡± Birgitte voiced her concern. She thought, ¡®An emerce tform thrives on building <b>a </b>mutually beneficial rtionship between merchants and customers. To put it simply, we¡¯re an intermediary tform. Our job is to bnce both parties¡® interests and incentivize both sides to participate.

    ¡®If merchants can¡¯t make a profit, why would they ever join us? But if the tform has to burn through cash on subsidies, when we¡¯re already positioning ourselves <b>as </b>high¨Cquality yet affordable, where¡¯s the profit margin in that?¡®

    Even Birgitte thought Aubree was being <b>a </b>bit naive. ¡°Sure, this model might attract a wave of users,¡± she mused, ¡°but what then?¡±

    Birgitte didn¡¯t hold back, voicing all her concerns.

    Aubree smiled at her. ¡°Of course, but don¡¯t we control how much gets shed and what discounts are given?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead, you exin,¡± Aubree said, turning her gaze to a programmer she¡¯d brought from Bree Technology.

    Birgitte led the project operations, while the programmer Aubree had brought over from Bree Technology handled the technical side.

    The programmer exined, ¡°Ms. Miller had me implement some algorithmic enhancements during development. Whether it¡¯s group buying or group bargaining, our tform keeps <b>costs </b>low. Getting an item for free or at a steep discount would require an unusually high number of user

    referrals.¡±

    Aubree nodded. ¡°A product that sales for three dors can bring us dozens of new users. Even if we give it away for free, we¡¯re still the ones profiting in the end.¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®If a million people each invite a hundred others to sh the price of a product of 30 dors, that¡¯s a hundred million users. Even if I give away all those products for free <b>as </b>an investment, as long as I make just 30 cents from each <b>user</b>, I¡¯ll break even.

    Birgitte¡¯s eyes lit up as she finally understood.

    Aubree said confidently, ¡°So there¡¯s no need to worry about a shortage of merchants or suffering losses. As long as we have customers, even if we don¡¯t actively help merchants make a profit, they¡¯ll find their way to mize.¡±

    Birgitte shook her head in admiration and eximed again, ¡°Ms. Miller, you¡¯re truly a natural¨Cborn businesswoman!¡±

    Online shopping was convenient, but it had an obvious drawback. While tforms and merchants might offer coupons and discounts, one couldn¡¯t haggle over prices like one could in a physical store.

    Group bargaining and group buying models ingeniously address the gap left by the inability to haggle online. Even better, this approach creates a win¨Cwin¨Cwin scenario: tforms gain massive traffic<b>, </b>customers score great deals, and merchants enjoy a flood of shoppers.

    ¡°Don¡¯t just bask in joy. Let¡¯s make National Day holidays a real celebration for our project.¡±

    Aubree made the call. ¡°Pour everyst cent of our remaining startup funds into promotion.¡±

    Aubree was utterly confident. Once the project took off, it would definitely carve out a whole new space in today¡¯s emerce market.

    During the National Day holidays, an emerce tform called GrabCheap stormed into the already saturated online shopping market with lightning speed, sinking its teeth into thepetition and seizing a hefty slice of the pie almost overnight.

    Aubree had incubated the GrabCheap project a month ahead of schedule, establishing its reputation through strategic partnerships. Now, with Zappy and yzy, the two major traffic powerhouses, at her fingertips, promotion was practically child¡¯s y for her.

    With Manchotech¡¯s partnership, GrabCheap¡¯s promotions weren¡¯t just limited to these media tforms. They were popping up everywhere in WhatsApp Moments, <i>too</i>.

    GrabCheap¡¯s two core models went viral, sweeping across the market like wildfire.

    After the National holidays, seeing GrabCheap¡¯s steady progress, Aubree temporarily returned to campus to resume her studies.

    Birgitte lived up to Aubree¡¯s <b>expectations</b>.

    By the end of November<b>, </b>GrabCheap had firmly established its foothold in the e<b>¨C</bmerce market and was showing <b>clear </b>signs of evolving into an industry giant.

 Tried 290

    <b>Chapter </b>290

    GrabCheap stormed the online shopping market at lightning speed, pioneering a new wave. By leveraging existing users to attract new ones, the GrabCheap app rocketed to the top of the app store download charts within <b>just </b><b>a </b>month or two. Its momentum was even more unprecedented than <b>yzy¡¯s </bunch. Every day<b>, </b>the tform weed hundreds <b>of </b>thousands of new users.

    However<b>, </b><b>as </b>GrabCheap soared in poprity, it naturally began to attract envy<b>. </b>

    GrabCheap focused on <b>the </b>fresh produce market from the very beginning, and after the appunched, it quickly became its best<b>¨C</b>selling category. But that was where the trouble began. With perishable goods, any shipping or storage mishap could easily lead to <b>quality </b>issues.

    Some merchants offeredpensation to protect their reputation, while others were stubbornly difficult, shamelessly leveraging the tform¡¯s <b>massive </b><b>user </b><b>base </b>with a couldn¡¯t¨Ccare¨Cless attitude, as if they had nothing to lose.

    As a <b>result</b><b>, </b>the tform¡¯s negative <b>review </b>rate skyrocketed.

    Aubree called an online meeting to address that.

    In the early stages of GrabCheap¡¯s development, there were many tasks to handle, and the customer servicepensation system wasn¡¯t fully optimized. Even so, ording to Aubree¡¯s initial projections, she never expected the number of negative reviews to get this out of hand.

    It was clearly a targeted attack, born of jealousy.

    Aubree said, ¡°Our main focus right now is on fresh produce, which does tend to generate morepensation disputes. Birgitte, set up a dedicated customer service team specifically for fresh produce ims. Whenever a customer files a qualityint and our team verifies the issue, issue an

    instant refund.

    ¡°In e<b>¨C</bmerce<b>, </b>the customer base is everything. Without shoppers, no merchant would bother selling on your tform. But once you¡¯ve got the customers, even with the strictest rules, sellers will stille flocking.¡±

    Naturally, customers and merchants are not on ¨¦qual footing. Those who spend money alwayse first.

    One will always find people unwilling to spend, but never anyone unwilling to earn.

    With those measures in ce, GrabCheap¡¯s positive feedback rate rebounded. Within just two months of itsunch, its user base exploded past twelve million, easily eclipsing most established emerce tforms in the market.

    Aubree¡¯s GrabCheap emerce tform had achieved its initial <b>sess</b>.

    When those figures came <b>out</b><b>, </b>even top executives like Birgitte were blown away. As key participants, they had always expected the project to seed, but never dreamed it would be this huge!

    Moreover<b>, </b>under the model, not only did low¨Cie groups enjoy convenience and savings, but many greenhouse farmers also saw significant gains. With no middlemen driving down prices, they could now sell directly to consumers and keep all the profits.

    During the online meeting, Birgitte¡¯s cheeks flushed with excitement as entire social feed is flooded with those group bargaining links these days<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    stammered, ¡°Ms. Miller, this is insane! It¡¯s gonepletely viral. My

    <b>Her </b>friends even messaged her to ask <b>if </b>she was a new <b>user</b>, hoping she could help them ¡°sh¡± prices<b>. </b>

    Birgitte thought, ¡®If someone had told me before that I had actually pulled off a project like this, I would¡¯ve scoffed in their face. <b>Yet </b><b>here </b><b>I </b>am. I did

    <b>it</b><b>!</b><b>¡® </b>

    Who would <b>believe </b><b>that </b>all this came from a girl barely out of her teens<b>? </b>

    ¡°That¡¯s not even <b>half </b><b>of </b>it! It¡¯s not just <b>you </b>women who love online shopping. Even we <b>guys </b>can¡¯t <b>resist </b>this model. <b>I¡¯ve </b><b>gotten </b><b>all </b>my friends hooked,

    <b>too</b>.¡±

    <b>Birgitte </b>couldn¡¯t help but <b>ask </b>excitedly<b>, </b>¡°Ms. Miller, <b>we¡¯re </b>doing so well right now. Does this mean <b>we¡¯ve </b>made it?¡±

    Aubree <b>crossed </b><b>her </b><b>legs </b>and propped her chin with both hands. ¡°We¡¯re <b>just </b>getting <b>started</b>. Right now<b>, </b><b>fresh </b>produce still makes up the bulk of our <b>tform¡¯s </b>revenue<b>. </b><b>Are </b><b>you </b><b>satisfied </b>with <b>just </b>this one category?¡±

    ¡°<b>Of </b><b>course </b>not<b>!</b>¡± <b>Birgitte </b><b>eximed</b>. ¡°Who would <b>be </b><b>satisfied </b>with <b>just </b><b>that</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

 Tried 291

    <b>Chapter </b><b>291 </b>

    ¡®We¡¯ve all been given equity shares in thepany. The more it earns, the more we take home. After all, who would ever say no to more money?¡® thought Birgitte.

    Aubree grinned. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Just fresh produce alone wouldn¡¯t satisfy any of us, including me. Once we¡¯ve thoroughly dominated the luxury skincare market<b>, </b><b>we¡¯ll </b>expand into other sectors. S¨¹dlichen Strand is a promising market. Birgitte, you can conquer it, can¡¯t you?¡±

    Birgitte sprang up from her seat as if entrusted with a critical mission. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Miller. You¡¯ll see my results in the next financial report.

    As GrabCheap continued its explosive growth, Aubree also made significant waves. Those with an agenda began digging into her background. What they uncovered left them stunned.

    That <b>was </b>Aubree¡¯s doing, too?

    Aubree¡¯s name had be well¨Cknown in major business circles. At just eighteen, she first started her fortune with an esports club, then went on tounch yzy, a groundbreaking new media tform that revolutionized live streaming.

    They thought, ¡®Has she done with new media already? Now jumping into emerce?

    ¡®Fine, go ahead and make your money. Everyone wins now and then. But do you have to dominate every single industry you set foot in? Come on, isn¡¯t that a bit much?

    At first, people could rationalize her earlier sess. She was just a smart girl who found an untapped niche, so she made some money. But now? The emerce market was already packed to the brim, and she still managed to break through? That was ridiculous!

    ¡°Is Aubree a superwoman? How is her mind wired like that?¡±

    ¡°Even those so¨Ccalled heirs groomed by elite families are nowhere near as capable as her, are they?¡±

    ¡°An orphanage¨Craised girl who endured constant abuse even after returning to her so¨Ccalled family. Instead of ending up mentally twisted orpletely ruined, she actually¡­ Well, the Wilson family must be blind as bats.¡±

    While some marveled at Aubree¡¯s brilliance, there were naturally others who dismissed her outright.

    Outsiders saw the show, and insiders understood the game.

    Mocked for their poor judgment after the ill¨Cfated East City project left their funds tied up, the Wilson family were scrambling to recover their investment. Yet even amid the chaos, they never stopped keeping close tabs on Aubree.

    The Wilson family had left Aubree alone for months, but when Ronald learned she was venturing into emerce, he immediately frowned in disapproval. ¡°This is sheer recklessness<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    Ronald scoffed, ¡°She¡¯s still a kid. Even with her past <b>sesses</b>, how can she be this reckless? <b>If </b>she doesn¡¯t understand the saturated emerce market, surely Bowen does!¡±

    The emerce market was initially led by the Turner Group, with the Wilson family joining inter to carve out their share. In the end, however, it was apany from S¨¹dlichen Strand that took the lion¡¯s share.

    The emerce market was already a triopoly, and since Ronald had a stake in it, he had zero faith in Aubree¡¯s project.

    Ronald scoffed, ¡°Just as I suspected! Bowen, the fox<b>, </b>was up to no good from the start when he approached Aubree. Was he eyeing her project all along? All his borate schemes were just to win her trust?

    ¡°So, he¡¯s finally showing his true colors, huh?¡± Ronald was practically certain the whole project was Aubree¡¯s idea, with Bowen swooping in to provide the investment and make things easy for her.

    Ronald thought, ¡®<b>As </b><b>a </b>fellow businessman, how could I not know what Bowen is thinking?

    With GrabCheap pouring in such massive subsidies, if the tform fails, the losses will be staggering. I¡¯m sure Bowen already holds shares in Bree Technology. He schemes to oust Aubree and seamlessly absorb Bree Technology into the Turner Group.¡®

    The more Ronald thought about it, the more restless he became. Unable to sit still any longer, he had his assistant <b>get </b>him a <b>new </b>phone number and immediately <b>called </b><b>Aubree</b>.

    ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>Aubree </b><b>answered</b>.

    <b>¡°</b><b>Aubree</b>, this is <b>your </b>father.¡±

 Tried 292

    D

    Aubree had been in high spiritstely as GrabCheap¡¯s development had exceeded expectations. When Ronald called, she was even amused enough

    to humor his nonsense for a while.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, you¡¯ve got it wrong. Everyone knows I¡¯m an orphan now. Where exactly did the ¡®father¡® of minee from?

    ¡°I know you have a habit of taking people under your wing, Mr. Wilson, but you can¡¯t just expect everyone to call you ¡®Dad, can you?¡± Aubree quipped

    That was a thinly veiled jab at Ronald.

    Ronald felt a pang in his chest. Lately, he and Bryan had been swamped with the East District Project, which had slowed down their investigation into the past. But he¡¯d just uncovered a disturbing truth. Alice had never wanted to marry him. Her family had forced her into it against her will.

    His rtionship with Alice <b>was </b>nowhere near what it once was. Though neither spoke of it, they were merely going through the motions, a couple in name only.

    ¡°Aubree, I didn¡¯t call to argue about these things today,¡± Ronald said, bone¨Cweary. Carmen had been a gue, tearing apart what was once his happy

    home.

    Whatever,¡± Aubree replied dismissively.

    Ronald fought the urge to scream in frustration and offered some fatherly advice. ¡°Aubree, about that e<b>¨C</bmerce tform you¡¯ve been working on. Listen to me and quit while you¡¯re ahead.¡±

    Aubree arched an eyebrow. ¡°Done with yzy already? Now you¡¯ve set your sights on my GrabCheap? Wanna give it a shot?¡±

    Her words made Ronald painfully aware of his past actions, stirring up guilt and unease within him. ¡®Maybe I deserve that, he admitted to himself, ¡®but I truly want what¡¯s best for her this time!¡®

    ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re too young to get it. Emerce is a sinking ship these days. You haven¡¯t even made back what you put in, have you? There <i>are </i>so many other things you could do, so why insist on this? Bree Technology¡¯s fortune alone could sustain you for a lifetime. Don¡¯t go gambling away everything you have now.¡±

    With fatherly concern, Ronald pressed on. ¡°Aubree<b>, </b>is Bowen the one behind this project of yours?

    ¡°He¡¯s no saint! Did he give you free rein to do this? The market in S¨¹dlichen Strand isn¡¯t easy to crack. Is it him helping you behind the scenes?¡±

    Ronald still had sharp business instincts. It wasn¡¯t hard for him to figure out who was pulling the strings behind GrabCheap¡¯s rapid rise. But it only fueled his fury <i>at </i>Bowen¡¯s utterck of decency. ¡®To scheme so meticulously against a mere teenager, he thought, ¡®how utterly ruthless!¡®

    Meanwhile, Aubree was utterly convinced that Ronald must havepletely lost his mind.

    What¡¯s my rtionship with Ronald? And what about Bowen?¡® Aubree thought. ¡®How brain¨Cdead would I have to be to trust my sworn enemy, only to stab Bowen, the very person who¡¯s been paving the way for me all along?¡®

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Aubree replied coldly.

    Ronald was momentarily stunned into silence. He knew Aubree wasn¡¯t foolish. Even with her prejudice against him, she should at least reconsider

    his words.

    A bitter ache surged in his heart. ¡®How could I, her father, mean less than some outsider? thought Ronald.

    Aubree ignored him. ¡°Ronald,¡± she dered, her voiceced with cold defiance, ¡°just watch. Watch me rise, step by step, and then watch as I drag you down, piece by piece.¡±

    After hanging up, Ronald gasped for breath and copsed onto the sofa, staring nkly around him. Once, the ce had been filled with the thoughtful advice of his gentle, devoted wife, his mischievous daughter bouncing on his knee, and the pride he felt for his son, whom he often praised. Now, looking at the emptiness around him, it seemed he had nothing left.

    It wasn¡¯t just Ronald. Many otherpanies and investors were eagerly waiting to see Aubree overreach and embarrass herself.

    On the surface<b>, </b>GrabCheap¡¯s numbers looked impressive right now, but at the end of the day, turning a profit was what mattered. Aubree hadn¡¯t even recouped her initial investment yet, had she?

    Knowing the market <b>was </b>already oversaturated, yet she still insisted on forcing her way in. What kind of idiot did that?

 Tried 293

    <b>Chapter </b><b>293 </b>

    ¡°Oh, <b>she </b>made a killing on those first two new media projects. She¡¯s burning cash to enjoy the ssh.¡±

    ¡°But for <b>her </b>to hear <b>a </b>ssh, <b>she¡¯d </b><b>have </b><b>to </b>actually make one. Just a fearless novice. That girl is still

    ¡°So much for the so¨Ccalled ¡®genius.¡±

    so green.

    ¡°Utterly idiotic<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    Scathing remarks from so¨Ccalled industry experts began flooding various social media tforms.

    Carmen was ecstatic when she heard the news<b>. </b>She thought, ¡°This is a golden opportunity. Aubre practically handed it to me on a silver tter.

    Carmen <b>always </b>aimed high. When she firstunched the MindDrift project, she refused to believe she was any less capable than Aubree. She crammed financial knowledge like crazy With Ronald personally coaching her, she actually learned quite a lot during that time.

    ¡°Aubree haspletely lost her mind, actually trying to break into e<b>¨C</bmerce<b>!</b>¡± Carmen scoffed.

    Those

    <b>past </b>few months had been absolute hell for Carmen. At the Wilson family, only Daxton and her mom were still willing to stand by her. Trevor¡¯s attitude <b>was </b>unpredictable, and everyone else treated her worse with each passing day.

    The stark contrast to her past was enough to drive Carmen mad.

    Carmen <b>was </b>desperate for a chance¨Cany chance¨Cto turn things around!

    After the SAT, Carmen got into an art college near Rithol Art School as she wished. But to <b>her </b>shock, Alvin didn¡¯t apply to Rithol Art School. Instead, he went to the Fine Arts School of Rithol University. The two schools were on opposite ends of Rithol City. It would take considerable time to get from one to the other by taxi.

    Carmen was livid. ¡®I¡¯d looked into this. Alvin¡¯s dream school is Rithol Art School. His sudden decision to apply to Rithol University? It had to be because of Aubree,¡® thought Carmen.

    However, she had plenty of tricks up her sleeve. After all, Alvin still applied to the Art School, and her school had partnerships with both Rithol Art School and Rithol University.

    She had people nted at Rithol University to keep Aubree and Alvin apart. And of course<b>, </b>when necessary, she¡¯d pull some strings to turn the Turner family against Aubree.

    Right, Carmen thought with disdain, ¡®Aubree <b>is </b>no different from me in my eyes. What¡¯s she got to be so smug about? <b>If </b>I¡¯m riding on the Wilson family¡¯s coattails<b>, </b>isn¡¯t she just leeching off the Turners? Who knows what shady tricks she¡¯s using?

    ¡®Who¡¯s really any better than the other, anyway?¡±

    In Carmen¡¯s eyes, Aubree¡¯s so¨Ccalled achievements <b>were </b>nothing but dumb luck. ¡®<b>It¡¯s </b>still early days,¡® she thought scornfully. ¡®Who knows who¡¯lle out on top in the end?

    If Aubree¡¯s venture flops, Bree Technology will surely take a hit. Then, with Daxton and Mom¡¯s help, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to make Aubree taste what it¡¯s like to fall from <b>grace</b>.

    Once Aubree loses everything and I manage to win Alvin over<b>, </b>won¡¯t the Wilson family be within my grasp?¡®

    Aubree couldn¡¯t <b>care </b>less about what outsiders thought of her. ¡°The louder theyugh now, she thought, ¡®the harder the p in the face will beter.¡¯

    Besides, Aubree had more pressing matters to attend totely.

    Earlier, when Aubree discovered Alice had deliberately abandoned her, she was determined to uncover the truth and sent investigators to Kroit City to find Gordon Bender, the psychologist<b>. </b>They finally tracked him down.

    After all, Kroit City <b>was </b>big. With so many years gone by and barely any leads, trying to find someone there was nearly impossible.

    Upon <b>receiving </b>the news, Aubree felt she was finally on the <b>verge </b>of uncovering a piece of the truth from those years ago.

    ¡°Ms. Miller<b>, </b>Vincent reported, ¡°Gordon is hyper<b>¨C</b>vignt. He bes extremely alert whenever new people or situations appear around him, and he¡¯s <b>been </b><b>closely </b>monitoring activities in Rithol City. We were almost discovered.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s <b>gaze </b>sharpened. There was no way to be sure <b>that </b>Gordon and Alice <b>weren¡¯t </b>still in contact.

    12:53 PM

    She flipped through her schedule. ¡°Vincent,¡± she asked, ¡°wasn¡¯t Mr. Carr from Kroit City looking to coborate with us before?¡±

    Vincent hesitated. ¡°About that. Didn¡¯t you say Mr. Carr <b>wasn¡¯t </b>genuinely interested in cooperation? Weren¡¯t you nning to turn h¨¬m down?¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>I¡¯ve </b>changed my mind. Book me a flight to Rithol City. I¡¯ll go meet him myself.¡±

 Tried 294

    <b>Chapter </b><b>294 </b>

    Gordon <b>was </b>extremely cautious. <b>ording </b>to the investigators, it took them so long to track him down because, upon his initial return to Kroit City, he had moved his family <b>around </b><b>extensively</b>, relocating across multiple cities before finally settling back in his hometown in Kroit City.

    <b>It </b>was evident he <b>was </b><b>desperate </b><b>to </b><b>avoid </b>being found.

    Aubree <b>sat </b>on the ne bound for Kroit City, poring <b>over </b>the documents handed to her.

    Gordon ran a <b>flower </b>shop with his wife in their hometown, raising their daughter. Money wasn¡¯t an issue for him. After all, he helped Alice pull off a <b>major </b>deception, <b>so </b>Alice certainly wouldn¡¯t shortchange him.

    The investigation unearthed even more intriguing details. Gordon and Alice had known each other long before he became her psychologist. Gordon, <b>a </b>psychology graduate from Rithol University<b>, </b>studied in Fandia, the very country where Alice¡¯s fashion brand primarily targeted its market.

    They met during Gordon¡¯s study abroad years in Fandia.

    No matter what happened between them, it all came down to the oldest story in the book. Gordon was clearly smitten with Alice. After bing her psychologist, he went to extreme lengths to help her. Even after taking his payment and disappearing, he painstakingly covered for her, meticulously hiding his tracks to avoid being found.

    Aubree picked up another document. <b>It </b>concerned her coboration with the aforementioned Mr. Carr, whom she had mentioned earlier.

    Kurtis Carr <b>was </b>a major figure in Kroit City¡¯s entertainment industry, with aprehensive business portfolio. When he first approached Aubree for coboration, she was delighted for quite some time. Now that her Zappy short video tform was running smoothly, she was ready to branch out into novel promotions and short drama productions.

    Not only could these two ventures generate profits, but they¡¯d also help her establish valuable connections in the entertainment industry.

    Now that Aubree had Emery taken down, among the remaining members of the Wilson family, Trevor was by far the most exposed He was a walking liability. As a public figure, he essentially served as the family¡¯s public face, and his ws were impossible to hide.

    Aubree could never forget the humiliation of her previous life, publicly shamed and utterly disgraced, with Trevor shamelessly stoking the mes with his celebrity status. ¡®He made sure I was abandoned by everyone. Now it¡¯s his turn to know exactly how that feels,¡® she thought coldly.

    Kurtis <b>was </b>the undisputed leader in these industries. Working with him could save a lot of time and money.

    After Aubree transferred Birgitte to S¨¹dlichen Strand, she promoted a young woman from thepany named Dorcas Schmitt. Though Dorcas and Birgitte had different personalities, they shared one key trait. Both were diligent, highly capable, and stubborn as mules.

    Dorcas, with her gentle nature, had been the one dealing with Kurtis before. Aubree had assumed that since Kurtis was the one who sought out the partnership, the negotiations would be a mere formality. But to her shock, Kurtis practically treated Dorcas like a puppet on a string.

    Dorcas <b>was </b>constantly flying back and forth between Kroit City and Rithol City. Just when she thought she was about to seal the deal, Kurtis would conjure up a new issue shortly after she got back, forcing their team to dispatch someone again.

    With Aubree preupied with affairs in S¨¹dlichen Strand, Dorcas was almost always the one handling negotiations. After several such rounds, Kurtis finally dropped the pretense and bluntly dered, ¡°If you want to work together, Aubree needs toe in person.¡±

    Aubree had secured a partnership with Peace Entertainment, one of the top talent agencies in the country, and their recent coboration had been productive. Working with Kurtis wasn¡¯t essential. Since Aubree disliked his style, she was ready to turn him down.

    If Gordon weren¡¯t so cautious, and if I didn¡¯t have a proper pretext, just showing up in Kroit City would probably spook him. Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t even bother discussing this partnership with Kurtis if I didn¡¯t have to, Aubree thought.

    The ne touched down.

    Dorcas threw herself into Aubree ¡®s arms, tears streaming down her face. <b>¡°</b>Ms. Miller,¡± she sobbed, ¡°I¡¯m useless. I couldn¡¯t secure the deal.¡±

 Tried 295

    <b>Chapter </b><b>295 </b>

    ¡®Sure enough, I¡¯m still no match for Birgitte. Even after <b>all </b>this time, I couldn¡¯t close the deal<b>, </b>and ended up making Ms. Millere all the way here <b>herself</b><b>, </b>thought Dorcas.

    0

    Aubree looked at Dorcas¡¯s noticeably thinner face with concern and gently patted her back. ¡°I told you before, if you can¡¯t close the deal, don¡¯t push <b>yourself</b>. Kurtis was the one who approached us for the partnership, but now he¡¯s just stringing us along. It¡¯s obvious he has ulterior motives. He probably never intended to cooperate in good faith from the start.¡±

    Of course<b>, </b>I¡¯m not really here to discuss business<b>,</b><b>¡® </b>Aubree mused.

    Gordon¡¯s <b>flower </b>shop only restocked once a month. Seriously, what was his deal? It was weird enough for a psychologist, who was definitely not short on <b>cash</b>, to run <b>a </b>flower shop, but <b>every </b>month he still insisted on hauling himself downtown to buy fresh flowers.

    The monthly flower supply run <b>was </bing up soon. ¡®I¡¯m going to find out exactly what dirty little secrets Gordon and Alice are hiding!¡® Aubree thought.

    Aubreeposed her expression, her gaze turning calm. <b>¡°</b>Take me to Kurtis first<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she instructed.

    Anticipating Aubree¡¯s visit, Kurtis had reserved a private spot at an exclusive golf club early that morning and was awaiting her arrival.

    When Aubree arrived with Dorcas in tow, Kurtis had just sunk a putt. One of his agency¡¯s artists was fawning over him with exaggerated admiration. Aubree <b>cast </b><b>a </b>cool nce at the scene before greeting, ¡°Mr. Carr. Pleasure to meet you.¡±

    Kurtis¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw her. With a dismissive wave at his entourage, he shed a charming smile. ¡°Ms. Miller, I¡¯ve heard a great deal about you<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    He offered his hand first. Aubree responded with a brief<b>, </b>perfunctory handshake before quickly withdrawing.

    Kurtis was every inch a yboy. Put him next to Ollie, and Ollie seemed a paragon of propriety byparison.

    Yet, despite his yboy looks and matching personality, he managed to build such a massive empire from scratch¨Ca rare disy of true ambition and business acumen that almost made his rakish charm forgivable.

    ¡°Getting an audience with you <b>is </b>no <b>easy </b>feat, Ms. Miller,¡± Kurtis chuckled, his smile turning roguish.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been tied up with business in S¨¹dlichen Strandtely. Mr. Carr, since you took the initiative to <b>seek </b>cooperation, I thought reaching an agreement wouldn¡¯t be difficult¡­¡± Aubree paused, <b>her </b>tone full of implication. ¡°But now it seems I was overthinking it. You don¡¯t seem very interested in cooperating after all.¡±

    ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ve made it clear I want to work with you from the start<b>, </b>Ms. Miller,¡± he said, ncing at Dorcas. ¡°But you keep trying to fob me off with your secretary, hardly a convincing show of sincerity, is it?¡±

    He shed an overtly suggestive grin.

    Aubree¡¯s expression flickered oddly for a moment. ¡®Wait, <b>is </b>this guy actually after me?¡®

    If that was the <b>case</b>, Aubree felt not even a shred of pleasure at being admired. Seriously, Kurtis was pushing forty. Sure, he had that dashing yboy look, but if he¡¯d been a bit wilder in his youth, he could practically be her father.

    Aubree subtly put some distance between them. ¡°So, now that we¡¯ve finally met, Mr. Carr, can we sign the contract?¡±

    ¡°No rush. I¡¯m hosting a yacht party tonight. It¡¯s shame I¡¯m short a femalepanion.¡±

    ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Aubree started to refuse without hesitation.

    Kurtis chuckled, ¡°<b>Your </b>people have been in Kroit City for quite some time, Ms. Miller. Seems they¡¯ve been looking for someone. Have you found them yet?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree¡¯s brows knitted sharply. ¡°What exactly do you know?¡± she demanded.

    ¡°So, about tonight¡¯s <b>party</b>?¡± Kurtis <b>extended </b>his hand with a sly, inviting smile.

    The <b>Carr </b>family was <b>a </b>major <b>yer </b>in the entertainment industry, which meant theirwork of connections ran deep. For Kurtis, digging up any information he wanted, <b>especially </b>in Kroit City<b>, </b><b>was </b>child¡¯s y.

    Aubree let out <b>a </b>controlled breath. She <b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>sure </b>what Kurtis <b>was </b><b>after</b><b>, </b><b>but </b>one thing <b>was </b>certain. He¡¯d had his <b>eyes </b>on her for a while now.

    <b>Suppressing </b><b>her </b>revulsion, <b>Aubree </b>reluctantly <b>ced </b>her hand in his. ¡°<b>I </b><b>ept</b>,¡± she said coldly.

    Her eyes shed with unmistakable menace. ¡°But Mr. Carr, if this trip doesn¡¯t yield the results I¡¯m after, Aubree warned, ¡°you should know I¡¯m not

    someone you want to cross<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Kurtis chuckled, unfazed.

 Tried 296

    As she was heading to the party. Aubree left the golf course and went to a stylist in Kroit City for aplete makeover. It was midway through her styling that she received a message from Alvin.

    In thest match, after Matilda made a critical mistake, Alvin returned to take charge and made an on¨Cthe¨Cspot decision to bench her, sending in

    the assistant coach instead.

    Alvin said, ¡°Matilda hasn¡¯t said a word. She just keeps asking me to fire her.

    ¡°I had someone look into Matilda¡¯s family recently. Apparently, her brother, Drake Diaz, hasn¡¯t been seen around much.

    ¡°It has been a while since thest match, and by now<b>, </b>we¡¯ve pretty much uncovered everything there is to know about Matilda¡¯s family.¡±

    Alvin probably found it too tedious to exin everything piece by piece<b>, </b>so he simply sent Aubree a document to read for herself.

    As Aubree read on, her heart sank. Her worst fears hade true.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Matilda¡¯s brother, Drake, is such a disaster! Gamblers can never control themselves. If he had any self¨Ccontrol, he wouldn¡¯t be in this mess now<b>.</b>¡®

    After Matilda started earning money for her family, the Diaz family¡¯s living conditions improved dramatically. Not only did they pay off all their debts, but they also upgraded to a bigger house and bought a new car. Their lives kept getting better and better.

    However, it was where real trouble began. At first, the whole family put on a perfect act in front of Matilda. Truman and Shirley loved their daughter, but clearly favored their son. Just when Matilda thought Drake had changed, Shirley tricked Matilda into surrendering her payroll card under the pretense that she <b>was </b>¡°too young to handle so much money.¡±

    Matilda felt she became <b>a </b>coach purely out of passion. Money was just for her family. So she handed over her sry card without a second thought.

    The rest was predictable. With money in hand, Drakepletely let loose. When the family was poor, he¡¯d at least kept his vices in check. But now he sneaked off abroad behind his family¡¯s back to gamble, only to be set up by people with ulterior motives. He was still stuck there.

    Alvin hadn¡¯t yet uncovered who was targeting Matilda, but one thing was certain. The Wilson family was involved.

    Aubree wondered, ¡®Carmen? Alice? Or someone else?¡®

    Aubree¡¯s styling was nearlyplete. She texted Alvin back, [Can you get Drake out of there?]

    [I mean, ask Matilda, and find out who made her throw the match, then let her go¡­]

    Aubree thought, ¡®None of this would have happened if not for me.

    ¡®I should¡¯ve realized that once I pushed the Wilson family too far, they¡¯d inevitably look for any weakness to exploit. After Drake went missing, Truman and Shirley finally snapped out of their blind love for their son. But Drake had gambled away all the family¡¯s money by then. Now, he is being held captive.¡¯

    ¡®The casino called with a threat. Pay up, or Drake would lose both his hands.

    ¡®By the time Matilda found out, it was already toote. Her parents were on their knees, begging her to save Drake. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to stand by and do nothing.

    ¡®That¡¯s what sets everything in motion.

    Alvin replied promptly. [Sure, but I can¡¯t guarantee he¡¯lle out unscathed. I asked Mark to help.]

    Aubree Miller: [So you¡¯re not going to keep her?]

    Aubree Miller: <b>[</b><b>I </b>can¡¯t keep her. She¡¯s under fire from fans right now. If I let her stay, it would be hard to justify both the club and the fanbase.]

    [Besides, maybe they¡¯re just hoping I¡¯ll keep Matilda around out of old feelings.<b>] </b>Aubree thought, ¡®Losing a few matches isn¡¯t a big deal. What team hasn¡¯t lost before?¡®

    On this one, she fell short.

    Aubree Miller: <b>[</b>Find them. I¡¯ll <b>see </b>who¡¯s pulling the strings.]

    Kurtis¡¯s <b>car </b>arrived punctually at the hotel where Aubree was staying to pick her up.

    12:53 PM

    Kurtis grinned and said, ¡°Darling, you look stunning.¡±

    Aubree smiled. ¡°You clean up nicely, you rogue.¡±

    6

 Tried 297

    <b>Chapter </b><b>297 </b>

    Kurtis chuckled and ushered her into the <b>car</b>, running his tongue along his mrs with a sly grin, appreciating her quick wit

    Kurtis had been surprisingly well. He behaved during the ride, not saying or doing anything out of line. Just as they were nearing their destination, Aubree suddenly heard him say, ¡°I heard tonight¡¯s party will have a special guest.

    ¡°He¡¯s from Rithol City. Ms. Miller<b>, </b>I¡¯m sure you know him. His name is Bowen Turner.¡±

    That name <b>was </b>sensitive. Aubree¡¯s head snapped up. She thought, ¡®Bowen is here, too?¡®

    Kurtis looked at Aubree and said, ¡°You know<b>, </b>you don¡¯t need to be so on guard with me. I¡¯m dead serious about this partnership.¡±

    Kurtis suddenly reached out as if he wanted to touch Aubree¡¯s face, but she swiftly dodged. ¡°Mr. Carr,¡± she said coolly, ¡°if you give me what I want, we may have more chances to work together, but as for anything more, sorry, I¡¯m neither willing nor able to offer.¡±

    Kurtis¡¯s hand hung in the air for a moment before he withdrew it with a sheepish smile. ¡°Ms. Miller, I merely wanted yourpany at the party. Nothing more,¡± he said.

    The car soon pulled to a stop. Kurtis offered his hand, inviting her to alight, but Aubree made her utter disgust clear. Gathering her skirt, she stepped out on her own. ¡®Maybe this entire scheme wasid out for me from the moment I first sought out Gordon, she thought.

    Kurtis lingered two¨Csteps behind, his gaze fixing on Aubree¡¯s retreating figure. The driver, unable to resist<b>, </b>turned his head and stole another nce at her.

    Kurtis murmured, ¡°She¡¯s the spitting image, isn¡¯t she? Even more so than her mother was in her prime.¡±

    The driver gave an involuntary shiver, his skin prickling with unease.

    The cruise ship was a world unto itself¨Cextravagant, resplendent, and utterly intoxicating. No adjective seemed too much to capture its splendor. The ce buzzed with energy and lively chatter.

    Aubree trailed a few steps behind Kurtis as he guided her through the party¡¯s social circuit.

    Always adaptable, Aubree figured she might as well go with the flow since she didn¡¯t know what Kurtis was up to. With so many high¨Cprofile guests at the party, it was an opportunity she couldn¡¯t pass up. With practical ease<b>, </b>she worked the room, winess in hand.

    Her business standing was nothing to scoff at among this crowd. Moreover, the projects she was handling had limitless potential, making many eager towork with her. After working the room, she¡¯dpletely left Kurtis in the dust.

    Kurtis couldn¡¯t help butugh in exasperation as he watched Aubree in her element. ¡®Of course,¡® he thought, ¡®anyone who could break free from the Wilson family¡¯s control and build such a vast business empire was never going to be some docile little thing¡®

    ¡°Mr. Turner is here.<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Mr. Turner, what do you think about the coboration we discussedst time?¡±

    The entrance to the party hall suddenly buzzed with excitement. Instinctively, Aubree looked over. Across the crowd, her gaze locked precisely with Bowen¡¯s. Trailing behind him, Kelvin was utterly bbergasted. ¡®Wait¡­ Miss Miller? What¡¯s she doing here?¡® thought Kelvin.

    Kurtis¡¯s hand shot out, gripping Aubree¡¯s wrist as he pulled her over to Bowen. With a smirk, he greeted, ¡°Long time no see, Mr. Turner.¡±

    Kurtis nudged Aubree closer to Bowen with a knowing smirk. ¡°Mr. Turner, do you recognize Ms. Miller? Doesn¡¯t her face strike you as familiar?¡±

    Bowen shot Kurtis a look of utter disdain. ¡®Of course, I recognize her. She¡¯s my girlfriend,¡® he thought.

    Under Bowen¡¯s intense gaze, Aubree suddenly felt a pang of self¨Cconsciousness. At the same time, she wondered, ¡®What is it about my face?¡®

    At Kurtis¡¯s words, the people around seemed to piece things together. Their eyes locked onto Aubree¡¯s face, and one by one, expressions of dawning recognition spread across their features.

    Kurtis grinned even wider as Bowen kept staring at Aubree in silence. ¡°Mr. Turner,¡± he prodded with amusement, ¡°care for a chat?¡±

    Bowen shot Aubree a look that said, ¡°You¡¯re so getting itter,¡± then he said, ¡°Private room.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes darted between the two. ¡®Do these two have some history?¡® she wondered.

 Tried 298

    @

    0

    Once they were gone, the party hall erupted into a flurry of heated discussions.

    A guest said, ¡°I thought Ms. Miller looked familiar before, but after what Mr. Carr said¡­ she does resemble her¡­¡±

    Another guest scoffed, ¡°Resembles who? Aubree¡¯s way prettier than that woman. If anything, it¡¯s that woman who looks like her.¡±

    A guest whispered, ¡°Wait, so Bowen and Kurtis had a falling out over a woman back then?¡±

    Another guest chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s not how it was. I heard they were just business partners. As for Cordelia Vought, wasn¡¯t it all just a one¨Csided crush on her part?¡±

    ¡°Oh, who cares what kind of status Cordelia had? She was Mr. Carr¡¯s sweetheart. Does anything else even matter? Haven¡¯t you noticed? Over the past few years, anyone who even slightly resembles her has been given a big break.¡±

    Aubree trailed behind, her mind racing. From what Kurtis had just said, it wasn¡¯t hard to figure out she resembled someone, and that person seemed to be at the center of a falling¨Cout between Bowen and Kurtis.

    So¡­

    Aubree narrowed her eyes. Was Bowen¡¯s inexplicable kindness to me from the beginning because of this?¡®

    ¡°The ssic stand¨Cin trope?¡±

    A cold, mockingugh echoed in her mind as her gaze on Bowen¡¯s back turned sharp and dangerous. ¡®You¡¯d better not be ying this game with me, Bowen. Otherwise¡­ just try me!

    Bowen¡¯s eyelid twitched inexplicably, a wave of unease washing over him.

    ¡°Word around Rithol City is that Ms. Miller¡¯s sess is all thanks to you, Mr. Turner, the most sessful investor. Am I wrong?¡± said Kurtis.

    Kurtis shed a smile. Had it not been for the biting sarcasmcing his words, one might almost think he was genuinely praising them both.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got great taste,¡± Bowen replied with a confident grin, epting thepliment without hesitation.

    Aubree rolled her eyes. ¡®Please, that was all me.¡¯

    They entered the private room. As the door closed, Bowen paused mid¨Cstep. ¡°Oh, right, I haven¡¯t properly introduced you to Mr. Carr yet.¡±

    ¡°This is Aubree Miller, founder of Bree Technology and my girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°So, to answer your first question today. She¡¯s not just familiar. She¡¯s etched permanently in my memory.¡±

    Then, he reached out and pulled Aubree, who had been standing just behind Kurtis, firmly into his embrace. Locking eyes with Kurtis in a silent battle of wills, Bowen was unmistakably staking his im.

    Kurtis¡¯s mask of civility began to crack. He thought, ¡®Girlfriend?! Alice never told me that.

    ¡®No way. How could Bowen possibly have a girlfriend?¡®

    The smile slid off Kurtis¡¯s face, his eyes glinting with menace. He seized Bowen by the cor and snarled, ¡°You¡¯re dating? How dare you? What gives you the right?

    ¡°Cordelia died for you! You belong to her!¡±

    Aubree was utterly bewildered. ¡®What the hell is going on here?¡® she thought.

    Bowen looked genuinely confused and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s Cordelia?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree shrugged Bowen¡¯s hand off. ¡°Who else? Your old me, obviously,¡± she scoffed.

    She crossed her arms and stepped aside. ¡°Mr. Carr, could you calm down for a moment?

    ¡°Sort out your old grudges yourselves. Honestly, I don¡¯t even care why you dragged me to this party. But give me Gordon¡¯s information.

    ¡°As for us,¡± she shot Bowen a re, ¡°we¡¯ll settle thister!¡±

    Thatst line was for Bowen, who raised his hands in mock surrender. ¡°As you wish, my girlfriend.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s nose twitched. ¡®Did someone spray perfume in here? It smells so sweet¡­ Almost too sweet, she wondered.

    12:54 PM

    Kurtis finally released Bowen, his eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°You don¡¯t remember her? How could you not remember Cordelia? She died because of you!¡±

    His fists clenched, knuckles white with anger, as he continued, ¡°When you were expanding your business in Kroit City, you stayed for two years. You were kidnapped. It <b>was </b>because of her that you walked away unscathed!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I was targeted for kidnapping,¡± Bowen said. ¡°But do you think the people I¡¯ve got on my payroll are just sitting around doing nothing? I got tipped off carly and deliberately avoided the route those kidnappers were staking out.¡±

    ¡°Then why did you leave Kroit City the very next day?¡± Kurtis demanded, his voice sharp with usation.

 Tried 299

    Bowen let out a derisiveugh, shooting Turner a look as if he were aplete idiot. ¡°I¡¯d wrapped up my business here. Knowing someone was after me, should I have just stuck around and waited to die?¡±

    At that time, the Turner Group¡¯s operations were primarily concentrated in Rithol City. Upon seeing the promising potential gradually developing market in Kroit City, Bowen established a branch office there and stayed for two years.

    Kurtis¡¯s face twisted in bitter agony, as if he¡¯d swallowed the bitterest herb imaginable. He could never forget the sight of Cordelia in her brutalized state¨Cdying in his arms, whispering that she had no regrets, because she had saved the man she loved most.

    Even after sending everyone responsible to hell to atone for Cordelia, his hatred for Bowen only deepened. ¡°A real man doesn¡¯t let a woman take the fall for him!¡± he seethed.

    Aubree casually took a seat, quietly settling in for the show.

    Bowen rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this is why you¡¯ve been relentlessly targeting Turner Group¡¯s businesses in Kroit City ever since I left?¡± He thought, ¡°Ever since Bryan and his wife passed away, I¡¯ve barely had time for anything besides my studies and family. Whatever energy I had left all went to Alvin. The idea of having a girlfriend wasn¡¯t even on my radar.

    Bowen pulled out his phone and fired off a message to Kelvin. [Dig up everything on that ambush¨Ckidnapping from years ago. I need it now.]

    Kurtis appeared to realize there might be some hidden truth about the incident years ago.

    From their conversation, Aubree had pieced together some of the story. In short, Kurtis had been in love with a girl named Cordelia Vought, who coincidentally bore a striking resemnce to her.

    Bowen had once been set up and nearly kidnapped, but for reasons no one could quite exin. It was Cordelia who ended up dead. It fueled Kurtis¡¯s burning hatred toward Bowen, and he began relentlessly targeting Bowen. But Turner Group was no easy target. Over the years, it only grew stronger with its Rithol City branch rising to dominance.

    Kurtis had no choice but to bide his time, seeking an opportunity. Aubree¡¯s appearance was exactly the chance he¡¯d been waiting for.

    As for why he targeted Aubree, it had something to do with Alice. Kurtis deliberately avoided borating. Right now, all he cared about was uncovering the truth about that incident.

    Kurtis said, ¡°I¡¯m not someone who can¡¯t tell right from wrong. If it¡¯s confirmed that you had nothing to do with what happened back then, I won¡¯te after you anymore. In fact, I¡¯ll even work with you. Whatever information or people you¡¯re looking for, I can help you track them down and get you the answers you want.¡±

    Kurtis slowly sank back onto the sofa, his sped hands resting heavily between his knees. He hunched forward, his face etching with a grim expression.

    Aubree shook her head slightly and thought, ¡®So Alice knew I¡¯d be looking into Gordon. She came to Kurtis first. I wonder how she managed to convince him¡­ But Alice wouldn¡¯t make things this simple, would she? Just have Kurtis bring me to Bowen so I¡¯d start suspecting I¡¯m just a stand¨Cin?

    The n is way too basic. Is it worth going to such lengths?¡® thought Aubree.

    Aubree was still trying to figure out the ins and outs of the situation when her head suddenly spun. If it was not for Bowen¡¯s quick reflexes beside her, she would have copsed right onto the floor.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Aubree opened her mouth, but her throat was painfully dry, and her voice came out hoarse and raspy.

    Bowen frowned and reached out to check her temperature. ¡°You¡¯re burning up. Do you have a fever?¡±

    Aubree flinched as if burned and quickly pulled away. ¡°Your hand¡¯s burning hot, too.¡±

    Bowen froze, suddenly realizing something was off with himself as well.

    Before Bowen could figure out what was going on, a hand shot out from the side and grabbed him. He turned sharply, only to meet Kurtis¡¯s bloodshot eyes, wild with unmistakable desire.

    Without thinking, Bowenshed out with a forceful kick. ¡°Have you lost your damn mind?¡± he shouted.

    The pain jolted Kurtis back to his senses for a moment. He sprawled onto his back on the floor and stammered, ¡°I¡­¡±

 Tried 300

    Kurtis¡¯s business covers all sorts of things, so aphrodisiacs were nothing new to him. He instantly realized, ¡°Someone has spiked this room with a love potion.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this your turf?¡± Bowen retorted. He was no stranger to such schemes. He¡¯d taken counteragents before. While they couldn¡¯tpletely block the effects, at least they kept him from losing his mind entirely.

    It clearly wasn¡¯t Kurtis¡¯s first time dealing with a setup like this. Bowen¡¯s kick jolted him back to his senses, and without hesitation, he bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, using the sharp pain to snap himself awake.

    However, Aubree was different. No matter how much she¡¯d endured in her past life, her current body was still too delicate,pletely defenseless against such a potent drug.

    With herst shred of sanity, Aubree huddled into a tight ball, gritting her teeth fiercely to keep herself from lunging at anyone nearby.

    Under the influence of the aphrodisiac, desire clouded all reason. It was impossible to tell who was who, or even whether they were male or female. Otherwise, Kurtis wouldn¡¯t have lunged at Bowen in the first ce.

    All three of them were now in grave danger here.

    It is my ce,¡± Kurtis admitted with a sigh, ¡°but I never expected someone could get their hands in here.¡± Since it was a party dinner, many of his artists were on board the cruise ship to set the mood. Naturally, every detail in the private room¨Cthe lighting, the scents¨Chad been carefully designed for the asion.

    That¡¯s why Kurtis didn¡¯t notice anything amiss when he entered the private room.

    Bowen suddenly cut in, his voice tense. ¡°Wait, the footsteps.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve been set up,¡± Bowen said tersely. There was no time for arguments now. If their current situation got exposed, it would hurt all of them. For Aubree, a young woman, the fallout would be d¨¦vastating.

    Bowen scooped Aubree up in his arms. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ll take Bree to hide in the restroom. You hold them off out here.¡±

    Kurtis let out a wry smile and thought, ¡®The guy really thinks highly of me. I was never a saint to begin with, and now, in this state¡­ Anyway, Kurtis said, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±

    The instant the bathroom door shut, Kurtis snatched the wine ss from the table, dousing himself with half its contents before smashing the remainder, ss and all, onto the floor.

    He crossed his legs tightly, desperately trying to conceal the surging desire coursing through him. He ripped off his tie and, gritting his teeth, even punched himself square in the face.

    The door burst open. Kurtis red at them, his eyes bloodshot with rage. ¡°Get the hell out!¡±

    He looked every bit like a man driven to fury by an untimely interruption, a usible exnation for his current disheveled state.

    A pack of reporters barged in.

    Those people were nothing but rabid dogs in human guise. Once they caught the scent of a story, they would sink their teeth in and never let go.

    The group of people visibly hesitated, thrown off by the unexpected scene before them.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t this supposed <i>to </i>be a juicy scandal with two guys and a girl? Why does it look more like a brawl just broke out instead of, well¡­ that kind of thing?¡® they thought.

    Kurtis muttered, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t a passionate affair count as a fight?¡±

    Among these reporters were Alice¡¯s nts. While most journalists of Kroit City still held some fear toward Kurtis, Alice¡¯s people had no such reservations. They were there specifically to stir up trouble.

    A reporter squeezed forward, voice sharp and eager. ¡°Mr. Carr, rumor has it you were seen in the main hall getting along famously with Ms. Aubree and Mr. Turner from Rithol City. Is it true the three of you are nning a powerful alliance to shake up the business world?¡±

    ¡°Are you fucking blind, you idiot? Which eye of yours saw me getting all chummy with Bowen? Mocking someone counts as a friendly chat now?¡± Kurtis snarled. His public image was already less than ster, but it was rare for him to curse so openly in front of the media.

    Honestly, just keeping hisposure to y along with this charade was already pushing him to his limit. Expecting him to put on a polite front on top of that was downright cruel.

    Kurtis snarled, ¡°Get the hell out already!¡±

    <b>12:54 </b>

    Acting as if he hadn¡¯t heard <b>a </b>word, the lead reporter pressed on, ¡°Mr. Carr, was there some sort of conflict?¡±

 Tried 301

    <b>Chapter </b><b>301 </b>

    Kurtis snapped, ¡°Yeah, we fought. So what? Everyone in Kroit city knows I can¡¯t stand Bowen. Got a problem with that?¡± He bit down on his tongue, but the pain barely registered anymore. ¡®Where the hell are my bodyguards? Are they all dead? How did these damn reporters even get in here?¡® thought Kroit.

    Camera shes erupted in the cramped private room. Kurtis had never been so humiliated. He froze, terrified of revealing his true predicament.

    The lead reporter perfectly exemplified what it meant to be willfully oblivious, his eyes pointedly gesturing toward the bathroom to hispanions. Immediately<b>, </b>another reporter stepped forward and pressed, ¡°Mr. Carr, rumors are swirling that Carr Group and Turner Group are set to coborate. The party is specifically arranged as a wee reception for Turner Group. Care toment?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Carr, by bringing Ms. Miller here, are you signaling to Turner Group that you¡¯re switching alliances to Bree Technology?¡±

    Questions hammered at Kurtis relentlessly<b>, </b>making his head swim. ¡®Goddammit, he thought, fuming<b>, </b>¡®if these damn vultures don¡¯t clear out soon, whatever happens <b>next </b>will be entirely their own damn fault!¡®

    ¡°Is someone in the restroom? Howe you¡¯re the only one here in the private room, Mr. Carr<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    The lead reporter¡¯s voice suddenly rang out. He spun around and went straight for the restroom door.

    Inside the restroom, Bowen and Aubree were struggling just <b>as </b><b>much</b>.

    Aubree¡¯s consciousness <b>was </b>already slipping <b>as </b>she instinctively nuzzled into Bowen¡¯s embrace. She knew it was him, and it was precisely that recognition that made her let her guard <b>down</b>.

    Bowen clenched his jaw. The aphrodisiac barely affected him, but when it came to Aubree<b>, </b>all his defenses crumbled.

    Like handling a burning ember, Bowen carefully <b>ced </b>Aubree on the cold tiles, hoping the chill would snap <b>her </b><b>back </b>to reality. ¡°Bree,¡± he urged, ¡°don¡¯t do anything you¡¯ll <b>regret</b><b>.¡± </b>

    A faint flush spread <b>across </b><b>Bowen¡¯s </b>skin. Though the drug was taking its toll on him, too, he absolutely must not touch her<b>! </b>

    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Bowen <b>soaked </b>his suit <b>jacket </b>in cold <b>water </b>and threw it over <b>Aubree </b><b>¡®</b><b>s </b>head. ¡°Snap out of it, he urged, his voice

    tense.

    The cold water drenched Aubree, making <b>her </b><b>shiver</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Bowen,¡± <b>she </b>urged,¡± Kurtis can¡¯t handle them alone. <b>You </b><b>have </b><b>to </b><b>get </b>out <b>there</b><b>. </b>

    ¡°I can handle myself.¡±

    Without another word, Aubree sank her teeth into <b>her </b>arm. She heard themotion <b>outside</b><b>. </b><b>Precisely </b><b>because </b>of that<b>, </b>she couldn¡¯t let the schemers behind this seed.

    Aubree thought, ¡®If photos of me, Bowen<b>, </b>and Kurtis in such <b>a </bpromising <b>state </b><b>get </b>out, <b>Bree </b>Technology will <b>be </b>a huge hit.

    ¡®Alice, you¡¯re absolutely ruthless!

    ¡®I¡¯ll make sure to uncover whatever secrets <b>Alice </b>is hiding.

    She bit down hard. Blood instantly welled up from her lips. Sometimes<b>, </b><b>pain </b><b>was </b><b>a </b>blessing.

    Aubree showed herself absolutely no mercy.

    Bowen¡¯s heart clenched in anguish. Yet, he couldn¡¯t stop her, ¡®If letting her bite me is what it takes <b>to </b><b>keep </b>Bree lucid, I¡¯d rather bear the pain myself, he thought.

    Without uttering a word, Bowen snatched up his suit jacket<b>, </b>draped it over <b>his </b>arm to conceal his lower body, and the instant the bathroom door cracked open, he reached out without hesitation and flung the nearest reporter out.

    Bowen seized the equipment and smashed it without hesitation, the violent sound of shattering objects echoing through the restroom.

    Bowen smashed every piece of equipment within reach, then swiftly mmed the bathroom door shut behind him.

    Bowen nced coolly at the stunned reporters. ¡°Gentlemen, is there a problem?¡±

    The lead reporter, still sprawled on the ground, gaped in shock at Bowen, who lookedpletely unfazed. ¡°This isn¡¯t what the employer promised at all! he thought wildly.

    I was sure I¡¯d find Bowen and Aubree in there¡­

    Other than his clothes being slightly damp, the guy lookspletely normal.

    12:55 PM <b>d </b>

    Anothermotion erupted outside the door. Kelvin, sensing something amiss, had rushed <b>over </b>with his bodyguards.

    Kelvin said coolly, <b>¡°</b>If Mr. <b>Carr¡¯s </b>influence isn¡¯t enough, perhaps the Turner family can tip the scales. And if you reporters choose to ignore my advice, my associates are quite skilled <b>at</b>¡­ persuading people to reconsider.¡±

    Kelvin moved like lightning, grabbing the reporter nearest the door and shoving him out. ¡°Leave your cameras and phones, and get the hell out! If you don¡¯t, next time it won¡¯t just be your equipment getting smashed!¡±

    On the cruise ship¡¯s deck, Alice adjusted her oversized sunsses and nced to the side at herpanion. ¡°The money and ne tickets are ready. You¡¯re leaving tonight.¡±

    ¡°Once this night is over, they¡¯ll have plenty of their own mess to deal with.¡±

    The man standing beside her looked at her with concern in his eyes. ¡°Alice¡­¡±

    I¡¯m fine. Is that couple hidden away safely?¡±

    ¡°Not good. Someone with government ties has been digging around. We <b>can¡¯t </b>keep them hidden much longer.¡±

    ¡°Move the couple to Rithol City. I have <b>a </b>vi in the suburbspletely off the grid.¡±

 Tried 302

    <b>Chapter </b><b>302 </b>

    Pain and desire intertwined within Aubree. <b>By </b>the time Bowen carried Aubree out of the bathroom, she had passed out.

    Kurtis nced over, and in that instant, his eyes widened in shock. <b>¡®</b>Damn, that¡¯s brutal, he couldn¡¯t help but think.

    Aubree¡¯s arm hung limply at her sides, as <i>if </i>it had just been pulled from a bloodbath. Crisscrossed with bite marks and old scars, it was mottled with bruises and blunt¨Cforce injuries, still dripping with blood.

    Kurtis clicked his tongue, regarding Aubree with newfound respect. ¡®She¡¯s only eighteen?¡® he thought. ¡°To have achieved something like Bree Technology at her age. She¡¯s no ordinary girl!

    If it were him, he¡¯d never let himself get pushed this far. In a situation like this, if he was driven to the edge, he wouldn¡¯t care if it was a guy or a girl. He¡¯d just take them out first, no questions asked.

    Kurtis exined. ¡°I never meant to hurt her. About two or three months ago, Alice approached me, iming to be Aubree¡¯s mother and proposing a partnership. Aubree bears a striking resemnce to Cordelia and Alice told me you were close to her. Honestly, I just wanted to use Aubree to make you feel the pain of losing someone you love. Parading her in front of you tonight was just to confirm your feelings for her.<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Alice gave me some intel on Gordon,¡± he added. ¡°The deal was<b>, </b>once the job was done, I¡¯d help her hide Gordon in Kroit City. In return, she¡¯d bring both the Wilson and the Diamonde families to help me take you down.¡±

    The chance to torment Bowen both mentally and in his daily life was simply irresistible. Kurtis agreed right away. Hiding someone in Kroit City was child¡¯s y for him. It was <b>a </b>surefire win with zero downside.

    Upon hearing Kurtis admit he had nned to <b>use </b><b>Aubree </b>against him, Bowen¡¯s eyes darkened with menace. He ordered, ¡°Those reporters must be Alice¡¯s doing. Find Gordon immediately. And get me the ship¡¯s <b>doctor</b>.¡±

    Kurtis knew he was wrong and didn¡¯t argue with Bowen¡¯s <b>orders</b><b>. </b><b>His </b><b>face </b>contorted for a moment, but with Aubree, the only woman present, already unconscious, he brazenly shifted his <b>legs </b><b>aside</b>, not caring about <b>appearances</b><b>. </b>¡°Come on<b>, </b>Mr. Turner,¡± he pleaded, ¡°with your iron will, that aphrodisiac barely affected you. <b>Besides</b><b>, </b>you <b>two </b>are <b>already </b>in a rtionship<b>. </b>Honestly<b>, </b>wouldn¡¯t the doctor be more useful for me?¡±

    ¡®If the aphrodisiac¡¯s effects hadn¡¯t faded a bit by now<b>,</b>¡® Kurtis thought wryly<b>, </b>¡®<b>I </b><b>probably </b><b>would¡¯ve </b>jumped on anyone in sight¡®

    Bowen shot Kurtis a re, and Kurtis immediately backed down. ¡°Fine<b>, </b>fine<b>, </b>take the doctor<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    He called for the doctor, then instructed his assistant to investigate the reporters¡® <b>backgrounds </b>and check <b>if </b>anyone had sneaked aboard the ship. Most importantly, he demanded that someone <b>be </b>sent <b>over </b>to him immediately.

    *****

    12

    ##

    V

    4949

    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Bowen <b>asked </b>softly.

    Aubree groggily opened her eyes and turned to <b>see </b>Bowen beside <b>her</b>. <b>¡°</b>Did you stay up all night?<b>¡± </b>she <b>asked</b>, her <b>voice </b>still a little hoarse.

    ¡°Just dozed off leaning here for a bit. <b>How </b><b>are </b>you <b>feeling</b>?¡± <b>Bowen </b><b>asked </b>gently.

    Her arm was already bandaged, and she felt no major difort <b>elsewhere</b>. ¡°I¡¯m fine<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree said.

    Bowen let out a sigh of relief. He still had no idea what <b>was </b>in that incense from <bst </b>night or what side effects it might have<b>. </b>The cruise ship wouldn¡¯t dock until this afternoon, and with limited <b>medical </b><b>resources </b>on board¡­ He was genuinely afraid.

    Never before had Bowen felt such crushing helplessness, keeping vigil by Aubree¡¯s bedside, watching her battered body, powerless to help.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get you something to eat first,¡± Bowen said gently. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ll tell you everything you want to know, <b>step </b>by <b>step</b>.<b>¡± </b>

    Bowen recounted to Aubree everything that had happened after she passed outst night.

    Aubree lowered her gaze, her grip on the spoon tightening. ¡°What <b>a </b>wonderful foster daughter she has<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she said bitterly, ¡°So eager to see me dead.¡±

    Aubree scoffed. ¡®Seriously, what kind of mother is Alice supposed to be? How could someone like her even exist?

    ¡°Why the hell did she even bother giving birth to me?

    ¡®Wouldn¡¯t she be better off without me?¡¯

 Tried 303

    Chapter <b>303 </b>

    ¡°<i>By </i>the <b>way</b><b>, </b>why <b>was </b>Kurtis <b>so </b>convinced <b>you </b>killed his beloved<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree hesitated <b>over </b>thosest three words. Honestly, she despised Kurtis. ¡®Say he¡¯s <b>devoted</b><b>? </b>He <b>went </b><b>all </b>out with <b>stand</b>¨Cins<b>. </b><b>Say </b>he¡¯s <b>not</b><b>? </b>Then why has he been shing with the Turner Group all these years for his <b>so</b>¨Ccalled <b>lover</b><b>?</b><b>¡® </b>thought <b>Aubree</b><b>. </b>

    ¡°To be honest, <b>I </b>wasn¡¯t entirely clear myself<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>Bowen </b>admitted. ¡°I only learned the detailsst <b>night </b>after reviewing the documents Kelvin hadpiled.

    <b>¡°</b><b>Back </b><b>then</b>, I was targeted. Afterwards, all I <b>knew </b>was that the kidnappers identally injured a woman, who happened to be <b>a </b>junior assistant at mypany. I figured they <b>were </b>venting <b>their </b>frustration for <b>not </b>catching me, so <b>1 </b>had Kelvin arrange <b>a </b>sum of money <b>as </bpensation for the victim¡¯s family. I never gave <b>it </b>another thought after <b>that</b>.¡±

    Aubree asked, ¡°<b>So</b><b>, </b>that assistant was Kurtis¡¯s beloved?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Yeah<b>, </b>ording to what Kurtis said<b>, </b>the first <b>day </b><b>I </b>arrived in Kroit City<b>, </b>Cordelia had a thing for me and applied to be my assistant. But with Kelvin handling everything <b>for </b>me <b>at </b>the time, I <b>never </b><b>interacted </b>with <b>her</b><b>.¡± </b>Thatst part sounded suspiciously like Bowen trying to clear his own name.

    ¡°Oh, Mr. Turner,¡± Aubree <b>teased</b>, <b>¡°</b>you must¡¯ve <b>been </b>quite the heartthrob at eighteen. No wonder everyone was drawn to you.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t eighteen <b>back </b>then,¡± <b>Bowen </b>muttered weakly in his own defense.

    Bowen exined, ¡°Anyway, in Kurtis¡¯s <b>version </b>of events, it became that I didn¡¯t care for Cordelia, but used her as a human shield and then fled the scene. Thepensation I <b>offered </b><b>was </b>twisted into <b>proof </b>of my guilty <b>conscience</b>. That¡¯s why Kurtis¡¯s been at odds with me ever since.¡±

    Bowen rubbed his temples in frustration. All this time, he had assumed Kurtis <b>was </b>simply opposing him over businesspetition. He¡¯d had no idea there was such personal history behind it.

    He didn¡¯t even know <b>what </b>Cordelia looked like. <b>How </b>could he possibly <b>y </b>out the whole stand¨Cin trope with Aubree?

    Bowen thought, ¡®Even if I had something with Cordelia, <b>I </b>would never do something so despicable! Just the thought of it is an insult to both her and

    Bree.¡®

    ¡°What about Gordon then?¡± Aubree asked.

    Bowen said gently, ¡°Kurtis is tracking Gordon¡¯s location. We¡¯ll go after him once the ship docks. Get some rest for now.¡±

    After eating a bit, Aubree was still exhausted. With a weary nod, shey back down.

    By the time the cruise ship docked at 3 p.m., Kurtis had tapped into his extensiveworks in Kroit City. ¡°I¡¯ve located Gordon,¡± he reported. ¡°He¡¯ll be at a flower supply warehouse on Horizon Road today to purchase floral materials.

    ¡°Some of the reportersst night were Alice¡¯s people, while the rest were local journalists in Kroit City. They were misled into thinking they¡¯dnd a huge scoop about me.<b>¡± </b>

    Kurtis scoffed mockingly. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve been too soft on them these past few years. Now they¡¯ve got the nerve <b>to </b>stake me out.¡±

    Back when he first started hispany, he was constantly hounded by reporters and paparazzi staking him out. It had been ages since he had felt that way.

    The cruise ship docked, and their chauffeur was already waiting.

    Just as the three were about to disembark, Kurtis¡¯s phone red with urgent insistence<b>. </b>A panicked voice reported, ¡°Mr. <b>Carr</b><b>, </b>the dock is swarming with reporters. It¡¯s a mob scene out here!¡±

    Aubree and Bowen also overheard that. Aubree frowned and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t <b>we </b>already deal with <b>all </b>the footage fromst night?¡±

    ¡°There are just too many of them, and when they smell a big story, <b>there¡¯s </b><b>no </b>way <b>to </bpletely shut <b>it </b>down,¡± he said with a sigh.

    Even without <b>any </b>photos of the three of them, with reporters spinning the <b>story</b>, fiction could <b>easily </b>be <b>fact</b>. And <b>since </b><b>it </b>was Alice¡¯s setup from the start, it <b>was </b>clear she <b>was </b>targeting Aubree.

    Aubree frowned anxiously. ¡°Isn¡¯t there any other <b>way </b>to <b>get </b><b>out </b>of here<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Honestly, there was no other <b>way </b>out.

    Kurtis was also at his wits end. He honestly couldn¡¯t remember thest time he¡¯d been in such a <b>sticky </b>situation.

    Before the trio could even decide what to do, a barrage of <b>¡®</b>BREAKING<b>¡® </b>news alerts popped up, instantly seizing their attention.

    SHOCKING! Kurtis of Starwise Entertainment Caught in <b>a </b>Scandalous Threesome!

    How Prodigy Aubree Miller <b>Rose </b><b>to </b>Fame<b>! </b>

    Rithol City and <b>Kroit </b>City¡¯s Business Circles Rocked. The Trio¡¯s Scandalous <b>Secrets</b><b>! </b>

    The headlines <b>were </b>pure <b>clickbait</b>, <b>each </b><b>more </b>sensational than thest. Aubree didn¡¯t even need <b>to </b>read them to know <b>exactly </b><b>what </b>kind of trash they¡¯d contain.

    What do we do now<b>?</b>¡® Aubree thought anxiously<b>. </b>

 Tried 304

    Chapter <b>304 </b>

    ¡°Mr. Carr<b>, </b>have you seen those online rumors<b>? </b><b>Any </bments?¡± asked one of the reporters.

    ¡°What, that¡¯s what you lead with? Try some decency<b>, </b>Kurtis said, one hand casually in his pocket as his bodyguards cleared the way. He seemed itching for a fight.

    The reporter¡¯s lip curled. Every journalist in Kroit <b>City </b>knew Kurtis¡¯s reputation¨Che <b>was </b>a notorious yboy in his youth, and honestly, not much had changed.

    ¡°We were just talking business. What kind of business? That¡¯s confidential. Not like you¡¯d bail us out if we lost money, right?<i>¡± </i>he continued.

    ¡°Business meeting in a private room like that? Mr. Carr, your story just doesn¡¯t hold water.¡±

    <b>¡°</b>We couldn¡¯t agree, so we threw down.¡± Kurtis suddenly leaned in, aggressive. ¡°Who <b>says </b>you have to believe me?¡±

    His defiance only fueled those reporters¡® enthusiasm.

    In a high¨Crise restaurant by the waterfront, Alice anxiously scanned the crowd. She wondered, ¡°Why is Kurtis the only one here? Where¡¯s Aubree?

    Alice¡¯s stomach turned. Something felt off. But it was already toote. The reporters finally realized that after all their questions, Aubree and Bowen still hadn¡¯t shown up.

    They got so caught up grilling Kurtis, they didn¡¯t even notice the real story <b>slip </b>right past them.

    By the time the reporters figured it out, Aubree and Bowen were already on their way to the flower market with the address provided by Kurtis.

    ¡°Whatever. They¡¯re already gone. Let them dig. They won¡¯t find a thing. Besides¡­<b>¡°</b>Alice paused, pulling out her phone. A sly smile crossed her face as she scrolled through the flood of rumors about <b>Aubree </b>and the two men.

    ¡°The more you chase the spotlight,¡± she muttered, ¡°the more <b>they¡¯ll </b><b>tear </b>you <b>apart </b>under a damn microscope. My sweet girl. You sure you¡¯re walking away clean this time?¡±

    *****

    ¡°This is it,¡± Kelvin said, double¨Cchecking the address <b>before </b>pulling the <b>car </b><b>over</b>.

    Aubree nced at the entrance. ¡°The door¡¯s shut.¡±

    No one moved. ¡°We¡¯re toote,¡± she <b>muttered</b>, <b>eyes fixed </b>on the door<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Alice must¡¯ve known I <b>was </bing for Gordon. Probably had him moved already.¡±

    She let out a sigh, ming herself for not being more <b>careful</b>. ¡°Let¡¯s <b>go</b>. We¡¯ll ask Kurtis <bter </b><b>if </b><b>he </b>has any <b>other </b>leads. We¡¯ve already tipped our hand; finding Gordon now is next to impossible<b>.¡± </b>

    Aubree thought bitterly, ¡®Whole damn world! How <b>the </b>hell are we <b>supposed </b>to find one <b>person </b>in all of it?<b>¡± </b>

    However, Alice¡¯s actions <b>only </b>confirmed that <b>there </b><b>was </b>more to Carmen¡¯s <b>background </b>than met the eye. With the Gordon lead gone, Aubree could still dig into Alice¡¯s past or look into Carmen. Either <b>way</b>, Aubree might stumble onto something unexpected.

    ¡°So,¡± Kelvin said, ¡°what¡¯s your n for handling all that <b>crap </b>online?¡± They all knew how this kind of thing yed out¨Cit always came down harder

    on women.

    ¡°I¡¯m not wasting my breath on it,<b>¡± </b>she answered with <b>a </b>smirk. ¡°If people <b>are </b>still obsessed with my private life, that just means I¡¯m not powerful enough yet. Tell me, Mr. Turner, have you ever lost sleep over tabloid gossip about yourself?<b>¡± </b>

    Things were different for Kurtis. He¡¯d been tangled <b>up </b>in <b>scandal </b>for years, but when he chased <b>a </b>lookalike<b>, </b>people called him ¡°loyal¡°.

    ¡°They¡¯re tearing into me because they think I got where I am because of you, and I¡¯ve cheated and cut corners,¡± she said. ¡°They doubt me. Maybe they¡¯re just bitter. Either way, they¡¯re just waiting for me to crash and burn.¡±

    Bowen stared into her eyes, stunned by the fire in them. For a second, it actually made his heart <b>skip</b>. ¡°Then let them see for themselves¡ªyou¡¯ve never cut corners.¡±

 Tried 305

    <b>Chapter </b><b>305 </b>

    Aubree smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve never denied <b>your </b><b>help</b><b>, </b><b>Bowen</b><b>. </b><b>Honestly</b><b>, </b><b>getting </b><b>you </b><b>on </b>board? That¡¯s a <b>skill</b><b>, </b><b>too</b><b>, </b>and I <b>own </b>that. <b>They </b>don¡¯t buy my whole e-merce thing? Fine. I¡¯ll show <b>them</b><b>. </b><b>I¡¯m </b><b>still </b>gonna build something <b>real </b>my <b>way</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Still<b>, </b>bad <b>press </b>could <b>have </b>some <b>impact</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>Kelvin </b>cautioned.

    <b>They </b><b>were </b>businesspeople, <b>not </b>celebrities <b>living </b>under the spotlight. And most <b>of </b>the time, sticking <b>to </b>basic <b>integrity </b>was enough <b>to </b>stay on steady ground. But that didn¡¯t mean they <b>could </b>brush off every minor scandal. Even <b>the </b>small stuff could still stir up trouble.

    Aubree <b>wasn¡¯t </b>fazed. ¡°Then <b>we¡¯ll </b>just make our rtionship public.¡±

    The reporters could so <b>easily </b>stir up the rumors <b>for </b><b>two </b>main reasons. First<b>, </b>many <b>were </b>eager to see Aubree fall. And second, there had already been tabloid talk that something <b>was going </b>on between her and Bowen.

    By openly announcing their rtionship, she could put an end to most of the trouble. And once GrabCheap took off and proved the naysayers wrong, all of this would just <b>be </b>one more <b>badge </b><b>of </b>honor on the road to making it.

    Aubree moved <b>fast</b><b>. </b>She arranged <b>for </b>reporters <b>to </b><b>take </b>photos of her and Bowen together, and both PR teams promptly announced their rtionship.

    The online rumors became old news <b>before </b>long.

    Feeling guilty for dragging them into the mess, Kurtis offered an olive branch¨Che pitched a partnership on Aubree¡¯s Zappy project. Easy money was hard to turn down, and Aubree agreed. So Carr Group and Bree Technology <b>were </b>officially in business together.

    Then Kurtis handed <b>over </b><b>a </b>photo. <b>¡°</b>When Alice came to me about working together, I figured I shouldn¡¯t just take her word for it, so I had my people run a background check on Gordon.

    ¡°They found this couple. They¡¯ve been supplying him with flowers at the market for years. You said you <b>were </b>out of leads over there, right? Sure, Gordon might run, but if this couple were just regr vendors, why would they need to vanish too?¡±

    The couple in the photo looked to be in their sixties <b>or </b>seventies, but their eyes didn¡¯t look that age; they <b>were </b>sharp, glinting with a cold, chilling light.

    ¡°So familiar¡­¡± Aubree murmured, her <b>gaze </b>fixed intently on the photo as she searched for any clue that might jog her memory.

    She wondered, ¡®Why does this feel <b>so </b>familiar? Like I¡¯ve seen it before, but not in a good way. It turns my stomach a little and kind of scares me.

    Bowen asked, ¡°Do you mind if I <b>take </b>this photo with me?¡±

    ¡°Be my guest.¡± Kurtis waved it off. That photo wasn¡¯t any use to him; he <b>was </b>just passing it along as a favor.

    Bowen¡¯s first move was to snap a photo of it and send it to Mark. ¡°I¡¯ll have Mark look into this.¡±

    Mark replied right away: [<b>Wait</b>.]

    Mark: [You¡¯ve been looking into them too?]

    Bowen: [What do you mean?]

    Mark: [This couple. They¡¯re the human traffickers from back then.]

    Bowen¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and his muscles tensed up. He thought, ¡®Are they the human <b>traffickers </b>who kidnapped Bree and caused the deaths of Bryan and his wife?¡±

    Aubree nced over, curiosity in her eyes. ¡°What did he say?¡± He quickly flipped his phone <b>face </b>down<b>, </b>not wanting her to see the messages.

    ¡°Nothing Bowen replied, keeping his voice even. <b>¡°</b>Mark said he¡¯d look into it.

    She didn¡¯t suspect <b>a </b>thing. Looking <b>at </b>her<b>, </b>he asked, ¡°Bree<b>, </b><b>are </b><b>you </b><b>sure </b>they just seem familiar to <b>you</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Yeah? <b>What¡¯s </b>up<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>she said.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Bowen replied, looking <b>away</b><b>. </b>Then he thought, This <b>doesn¡¯t </b>make <b>sense</b><b>. </b>How could Bree <b>just </b>find them <b>vaguely </b>familiar? Those faces should be burned into her memory. Anyone else would be haunted for life.

    He asked cautiously, ¡°Bree, <b>how </b>much <b>do </b>you still remember about the kidnapping years ago?¡±

    Aubree gave a wry smile. <b>¡°</b>Honestly, I <b>was </b>so shaken up back then, and with the fever, <b>I </b>just forgot everything.¡±

    15

    Kit a secrstid, her answer cased his mind. Then the doubt crept back in¨Cmaybe forgetting was a blessing alter

 Tried 306

    <b>Chapter </b><b>306 </b>

    The <b>news </b><b>of </b><b>Carr </b>Group and <b>Bree </b>Technology <b>left </b>Alice seething<b>. </b>She <b>thought</b><b>, </b><b>¡®</b><b>Aubree¡¯s </b><b>really </b>something<b>. </b>Handled Bowen<b>, </b>smothered the scandal, and now <b>she¡¯s </b>struck a <b>deal </b>with Kurtis? I seriously underestimated <b>her</b>.<b>¡® </b>

    <b>No </b><b>one </b>would <b>believe </b>that <b>Bowen </b>would just <b>sit </b><b>back </b>and let himself be cuckolded, making all those <b>rumors </b><b>utterly </b>pointless. Thankfully, Alice had already sent Gordon away.

    ??? ?? <

    <b>As </b>long as no one uncovered <b>who </b>Carmen <b>really </b>was, she could keep her <b>ce </b>in the Wilson family. Next<b>, </b>she needed to figure out how to help Carmen cement her <b>ce </b>in the family.

    Alice hurried back to Rithol City<b>. </b><b>After </b>starting college, Carmen came to realize <b>a </b>hard truth: in the Wilson family<b>, </b>she didn¡¯t have the advantage of blood. The only thing she could <b>rely </b>on was <b>their </b>goodwill.

    Carmen thought to herself, ¡®Before<b>, </b>getting rid of Aubree would¡¯ve been easy. In this family<b>, </b>she was <b>practically </b>uselesspared to me and was even called malicious. But now<b>, </b><b>everything¡¯s </b>changed.

    ¡®Now that she¡¯s basically swimming in money<b>, </b><b>iny </b>father and brothers suddenly think she¡¯s worth something. Luckily, this whole situation is not working against me.

    With Emery behind bars, Mom and Daxton firmly <b>have </b>my <b>back</b>. <b>Trevor </b>still sides with me over Aubree, and Bryan won¡¯t stir up trouble. Dad¡¯s not happy with what I¡¯ve done, only <b>because </b>he thinks I <b>haven¡¯t </b>contributed enough to the family.

    But Aubree is handing me the <b>perfect </b>opportunity, right?¡±

    The failure of the Wilson¨CLawson deal put the Wilson family in a <b>tight </b><b>spot</b>. They needed fresh capital to keep theirtest ventures running. It wasn¡¯t a total disaster, but it <b>was </b>definitely a mess to deal with.

    With Ronald and Bryan both tied up with business <b>engagements </btely, Carmen began to wonder if <b>it </b><b>was </b>up to her to pull the Wilson family out of

    this mess<b>. </b>

    Alice called right after shended. ¡°Mom, just like you said, Trevor chipped in some money, but he¡¯s got that studio to keep afloat<b>, </b><i>so </i>it¡¯s barely a drop in the bucket. Are you not going to help?¡± Carmen asked.

    ¡°Sweetheart, if I help now, how will you stand out? This is your shot to show your father that you¡¯re more valuable than Aubree<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Alice replied.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes flickered with thought. She recalled the <b>task </b>Alice had given her before leaving Rithol City: to <b>get </b>close to her ssmate Irvin Krueger. Irvin was an only child¨Cspoiled and a little too trusting by nature.

    More importantly, his family held the second¨C

    <b>stake </b>in the Diamonde family¡¯s Phoenyra Jewelry. They <b>were </b><b>also </b>known for their deep pockets in S¨¹dlichen Strand, with investments spread <b>across </b><b>a </b>wide range of local <b>businesses</b><b>. </b>

    ¡°Mom, just as you <b>suggested</b>, <b>I¡¯ve </b>already befriended Irvin. And guess <b>what</b>? Bonus prize¨Che and Alvin are tight. There¡¯s <b>a </b>college mixering up with Rithol University¡¯s Art Academy, and Irvin invited Alvin to team up. Perfect chance for me to get close.¡±

    Alice smiled approvingly and said, ¡°Carmen, you¡¯ve done a good job.

    *

    A

    ht

    ¡°You have your own strengths. There¡¯s no need to <b>go </b>head¨Cto¨Chead with Aubree. So what if <b>she¡¯s </b>made it in business? To families like ours, that¡¯s hardly impressive.

    ¡°She thinks she¡¯s made it big in emerce here in S¨¹dlichen Strand? Looks like she¡¯s forgotten who <b>calls </b>the shots in this city.¡±

    Alice¡¯s voice was steady, brimming with confidence and self¨Csatisfaction. Carmen <b>never </b>spoke ill of Aubree<b>¨C</b>not out loud.

    Remembering the real reason she called, Alice continued, ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b>had <b>your </b>uncle <b>in </b>S¨¹dlichen Strand <b>prepare </b>everything. You just need to go there.

    <b>¡°</b>With your connection to Irvin, getting his family to <b>invest </b>in the Wilson family will be <b>easy</b>. Then <b>your </b><b>father </b>will finally <b>see </b>who has the power to help this family.¡±

    With Alice leveraging the Diamonde family¡¯s connections to <b>pave </b>the <b>way</b><b>, </b>things <b>went </b>smoothly for Carmen.

    When Carmen arrived in S¨¹dlichen Strand, they weed her and brought <b>her </b>to the <b>Krueger </b>family <b>party</b>. There<b>, </b>she charmed her way through the event, and by using the bond with Irvin, she <b>persuaded </b>his family to bail out the Wilson family.

    When Ronald received the money, <b>a </b><b>wave </b><b>of </b>guilt hit him. He¡¯d <b>once </b><b>resented </b>Carmen<b>, </b>convinced she might be Alice¡¯s illegitimate daughter. And now, she <b>was </b>the one saving them.

    Daxton said, ¡°Dad, Carmen never did anything <b>to </b>Aubree. If anything<b>, </b><b>we </b>misunderstood her and ended up doing some things we shouldn¡¯t have. But Aubree kept ming and setting Carmen up<b>, </b>and you believed it.¡±

    He tried to win his father¡¯s favor for Carmen.

    The <b>Krueger </b><b>family¡¯s </b><b>money </b><b>helped </b>the Wilson <b>family </b><b>weather </b><b>this </b><b>crisis</b><b>. </b><b>Meanwhile</b>, Elizabeth found herself under <b>fire</b>, pressured by both the board and <b>her </b>half¨C<b>brother </b><b>to </b>step down <b>as </b>chairwoman.

    Ronald nodded. ¡°My anger <b>got </b>the <b>better </b><b>of </b>me then.<b>¡± </b>

    Now <b>that </b>Carmen wasn¡¯t an illegitimate <b>child</b><b>, </b>and with no <b>evidence </b>linking Alice <b>to </b>Aubree¡¯s disappearance, maybe <b>it </b>had all been <b>a </b>misunderstanding.

    Daxton pressed on, ¡°Carmen¡¯s been <b>working </b>hard to bring honor to our family. She handled this perfectly, right? Dad, you shouldn¡¯t stop thinking about marrying her off for an <b>alliance</b>. I know <b>you </b>want Aubree back<b>. </b><b>And </b>maybe there¡¯s <b>still </b>a chance.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Bowen the one pulling strings <b>here</b><b>? </b>The <b>way </b><b>I </b>see it, the only reason Aubree¡¯s refusing <b>to </be home is because of the Turner family. But honestly, are <b>we </b>any less than the Turners<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Ronald caught the hint in his words. After a brief silence, he replied, ¡°Let me think it <b>over</b><b>.¡± </b>

    Daxton <b>was </b>agitated. The reason Ronald wanted to marry off Carmen was troubling enough, but learning she might be his maternal half¨Csister made it harder to process.

 Tried 307

    Chapter <b>307 </b>

    Ronald thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Carmen¡¯s got real talent. Let her truly settle down and devote herself to her studies. With the family¡¯s support, it won¡¯t be difficult for her to be a rising star in the art world.

    <b>¡°</b><b>As </b>for the Turner family, they¡¯re not to be trifled with so easily. Aubree¡­¡±

    Just saying her name left a bitter taste in his mouth. He sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s <b>try </b>to get her to forgive us.¡±

    Daxton knew when to back off. After all, it was enough if Ronald had the intention to deal with the Turner family.

    Meanwhile, Aubree and Bowen had left Kroit City together<b>, </b>with one returning to Rithol City and the other to S¨¹dlichen Strand. Uponnding, Bowen went straight to <b>see </b>Alvin and told him about the two human traffickers.

    ¡°Now that we¡¯ve identified them, once Mark finds <b>them</b>, <b>it¡¯ll </b>all be <b>over</b>. <b>You </b><b>can </b>focus on your studies with peace of mind. If you wanna join thepany, I¡¯ll make <b>the </b>arrangements. If <b>not</b><b>, </b><b>just </b><b>go </b>and <b>be </b><b>a </b>renowned <b>artist</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Okay,¡± Alvin replied. This time<b>, </b>he didn¡¯t argue further with Bowen.

    After Bowen left, Alvin picked up the photo<b>, </b><b>his </b><b>gaze </b>lingering on Gordon.

    Alvin thought to himself, ¡®I¡¯m not an idiot. can <b>tell </b><b>Bowen </b>is hiding something about <b>this</b>¨Csomething he doesn¡¯t want me to know.

    ¡®I know Mark is only helping me out <b>of </b><b>respect </b>for him. But I <b>can¡¯t </b><b>just </b>take everything <b>at face </b><b>value</b><b>, </b><b>can </b><b>I</b><b>?</b>¡®

    Then he sent out the photo with a <b>text</b><b>: </b>[Dig into this guy.]

    Upon arriving in S¨¹dlichen Strand, Aubree focused onpany affairs<b>. </b>GrabCheap¡¯s <b>business </b>model <b>was </b>running smoothly, with user growth holding steady beyond the initialunch. Still, that alone <b>wasn¡¯t </b>enough to <b>secure </b>a foothold in thepetitive <b>e</b><b>¨C</bmerce <b>market</b>.

    Just having an idea wasn¡¯t enough for <b>sess</b>. And truthfully, without <b>the </b>backing of the Turner <b>Group </b>from the <b>start</b>, she wouldn¡¯t havee this far so easily.

    The skepticism surrounding <b>her </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b>entirely unfounded. The <b>e</b><b>¨C</bmerce tform market <b>was </b>indeed saturated at the moment. The market was saturated, and although she had gained a temporary <b>edge </b>through innovative moves, she <b>knew </b>it would take more to stay ahead.

    With the peak season for fresh produce behind them<b>, </b><b>GrabCheap¡¯s </b><b>group</b>¨Cbuying revenue began to <b>dip</b>. But with attention shifting away from fresh goods, it was the perfect opportunity to promote other product categories.

    The tech teampleted <b>system </b>upgrades <b>to </b>support Aubree¡¯s full<b>¨C</b><b>category </b><b>expansion </b><b>strategy</b>. With <b>a </b>solid <b>user </b><b>base </b><b>now</b>, she began weighing her options for external funding.

    Aubree thought, ¡®If it were <b>just </b>about money, <b>I </b>could <b>cover </b><b>that </b>myself. But fundraising <b>isn¡¯t </b>just about bringing in cash.¡®

    She thought of yzy. In its early <b>days</b>, <b>it </bnded investments from both <b>the </b>Turner Group and the Matthews family¨Ca move that keptpetitors from acting rashly. The <b>real </b>value of <b>fundraising </b><b>was </b>finding strong partners <b>to </b>share the risk.

    Aubree had already invested heavily in GrabCheap. If she sought funding, minor investors were out <b>of </b>the question. Only three major yers stood out: ChumBuy under Turner Group<b>, </b>JinnCee under Wilson Group<b>, </b>and Tengu Gruppe, the local <b>giant </b><b>in </b>S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    Naturally, Aubree crossed JinnCee off her list right away. Going <b>to </b>Bowen for <b>a </b><b>deal </b>with Tengu Gruppe would¡¯ve been the easiest move, but easy didn¡¯t mean smart.

    She thought, ¡°Turner Group already owns 30<i>% </i>of Bree Technology. Whether I stay partnered with them or not, they¡¯re not just going to let us crash and burn.

    ¡®I can¡¯t let the business rely too much on them. I won¡¯t be in a position where they can shut things down. It¡¯s time to branch out, bring in new partners, and figure out how to buy back the shares Bowen¡¯s <b>still </b>holding.

    Besides Tengu Gruppe<b>, </b>Aubree also had her <b>eye </b>on Manchotech, a former coborator,

 Tried 308

    <b>Chapter </b><b>308 </b>

    She thought, ¡®One brings in traffic, the other leads the industry. Together, they¡¯re the strongest strategic partners I could ask for. If Ind both, GrabCheap¡¯s growth should be smooth sailing from here.

    Aubree then reached out to bothpanies. She would need to stay in S¨¹dlichen Strand a few more <b>days</b><b>, </b>at least until the deals with them were finalized. That evening, the management team workedte, and Aubree stayed with them.

    By the time they wrapped up, it was past ten. Someone said that since she was in town, they should make the most of it and hit <i>a </i>bar to blow off

    some steam.

    Aubree thought everyone had been working hard with all the recent overtime, and a little rxation would do them good. She smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s all go together. The tab is on me.¡±

    One of the team members cheered, ¡°Our boss <b>is </b><b>so </b>generous<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    Bars weren¡¯t new to Aubree. In this life, <b>she </b><b>had </b>only been once, to get Matilda out <b>of </b>trouble. In her <b>past </b>life, though, she was a regr.

    Trevor was a bit of a party animal, but he knew <b>his </b>limits<b>¨C</b>he <b>only </b>hit <b>up </b>his usual spots when back in Rithol City. Whenever the paparazzi staked him out, he¡¯d summon Aubree to help divert their attention.

    Over time, the media painted her <b>as </b>Trevor¡¯s <b>¡°</b>secret girlfriend.¡± <b>He </b>kept <b>using </b>her <b>to </b><b>cover </b>for his real one, and misled fans wouldn¡¯t leave her alone ¨Csome even crossed the line and <b>got </b>physical.

    But Trevor never once cleared things up publicly. <b>Instead</b>, <b>he </b><b>acted </b><b>as </b><b>if </b>it <b>were </b>her honor <b>to </b>clean up his messes.

    Aubree gave <b>a </b>wry, self¨Cmocking smile. Looking <b>back</b><b>, </b>she couldn¡¯t <b>believe </b>how <b>naive </b>she had <b>been </b>in her <bst </b>life, thinking his need meant she mattered.

    As memories of the past resurfaced, especially those of Matilda<b>, </b>she <b>let </b>out a quiet sigh. <b>After </b>the <bst </b>incident, Drake <b>was </b>rescued by Alvin. Whether Alvin had meant to or not remained unclear, but in the end, Drake lost his hand.

    Matilda had already left the club and taken <b>her </b>family abroad. Aubree <b>knew </b>they would probably <b>never </b><b>see </b>each <b>other </b>again.

    The upscale bar buzzed with vibrant <b>energy</b><b>. </b><b>A </b><b>crowd </b>of men and women swayed to the music on the <b>packed </b><b>dance </b>floor, letting off steam.

    Small groups of friends <b>were </b><b>scattered </b>around, ying drinking games and clinking <b>sses</b>.

    The bar¡¯s vibe <b>was </b>what matiered most<b>, </b><b>so </b>Aubree and the <b>team </b>skipped the private room and joined the crowd out in the main area.

    By the time they left the bar, it was <b>well </b>past midnight.

    Íû

    Aubree, with a mix of amusement and helplessness<b>, </b><b>called </b>out, ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b><b>called </b>a driver. Let¡¯s <b>wait </b>a bit.¡± <b>Most </b>of them had been drinking, and some were already a bit out of it.

    She figured it was time to set <b>a </b>new rule for <b>situations </b>like <b>this</b><b>. </b>There <b>was </b>no <b>way </b>anyone would make it to work tomorrow. Smiling, she said, ¡°You¡¯ve all been working hardtely. Since we had <b>such </b>a <b>great </b>time tonight, <b>take </b>tomorrow off!¡±

    ¡°Woohoo! You¡¯re the best, Ms. Miller!¡± they eximed.

    Amid the lively cheers<b>, </b><b>a </b>menacing voice from a nearby alley suddenly cut sharply through the noise<b>. </b>¡°Do you even know who I am? Now scram!¡±

    ¡°Whoa, Mr. Big Shot, we¡¯ve been waiting out here just for you. You think we don¡¯t know who you are?¡± another voice replied.

    Aubree¡¯s brow twitched as she thought, <b>¡®</b>A celebrity? What are the odds?¡®

    This was one of the most upscale bars in S¨¹dlichen Strand, and plenty of celebrities came here for fun. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®But would Trevor have a performance <b>in </b>town thiste<b>?</b>¡®

    Aubree followed the sound and looked over, spotting a mboyantly dressed man cornered by three burly guys against the wall. His cheeks were flushed crimson¨Cclearly, he¡¯d had way too much to drink.

    Suddenly, he seemed <i>to </i>notice Aubree and the others. He cried out, ¡°Help me!¡±

    Unable to make out his face<b>, </b>she hesitated for a moment but then decided to step in. She turned to Birgitte and said, <b>¡°</b>Start recording<b>.¡± </b>

 Tried 309

    <b>Chapter 309 </b>

    0

    Aubree marched up with her team and demanded, ¡°<b>Hey</b><b>, </b>you guys! What the hell are you up to<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    The three burly men turned their heads, only to see a group of people. After a brief moment of hesitation, one of them warned, ¡°Stay out of this if you know what¡¯s good for you. We¡¯re with the Yurchenko family.¡±

    The Yurchenko family? Never heard of them, Aubree thought to herself.

    Birgitte Cherniavsky stepped forward and exined softly, ¡°The Yurchenko family from S¨¹dlichen Strand used to be involved in some shady business, but over the <b>years </b>they¡¯ve gradually cleaned <b>up </b>their operations. The one in charge now is the family¡¯s eldest young son, Quantavius Yurchenko.¡±

    A name immediately popped up in Aubree¡¯s mind. She asked the men, ¡°What¡¯s your connection with Milena Yurchenko?<b>¡± </b>

    One of the men replied, ¡°She¡¯s the Yurchenko <b>family¡¯s </b>eldest daughter<b>.¡± </b>

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Aubree gave <b>a </b>scornful snort. That meant the <b>person </b>inside must be Trevor Wilson. <b>It </b>seemed <b>that </b>Aubree had no choice but to get involved.

    Trevor Wilson was a notorious yboy who treated his many girlfriends as <b>seasonal </b>outfits. In the previous life in S¨¹dlichen Strand, he had met his hemesis when he messed with the wrong woman, namely Milena Yurchenko.

    Milena was one of Trevor¡¯s die¨Chard fans who constantly hounded him. Trevor had no idea who she <b>was</b><b>, </b>and during this trip to S¨¹dlichen Strand, he dated her. But he cycled through girlfriends at a dizzying <b>pace</b>, and Milena <b>was </b>the pampered, willful daughter doted on by her family. <b>It </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b>long before he got fed up with that control <b>freak¡¯s </b><b>possessiveness</b>, and he simply dumped her.

    Notwithstanding the other <b>areas</b>, <b>here </b>in S¨¹dlichen Strand, it <b>was </b>quite <b>easy </b>for the Yurchenko family to <b>teach </b>someone a lesson.

    Milena simply sent her men to abduct Trevor back to the Yurchenko family¡¯s <b>vi </b>estate.

    Aubree remembered Milena Yurchenko vividly <b>because </b>that woman broke her leg in her previous life.

    After Trevor was abducted to the Yurchenko family¡¯s vi <b>estate</b>, he was pressured into getting married. Given the Yurchenko family¡¯s somewhat shady background and the fear that the whole scandalous affair would get publicized and seriously damage his acting <b>career</b>, Trevor had no choice but to im he already had a fianc¨¦e to buy himself some time.

    The Wilson family joined hands with the Diamonde family in S¨¹dlichen Strand and used Aubree as <b>a </b>scapegoat. Milena, driven by insane jealousy, showed no mercy. In the end, Trevor managed to escape from the Yurchenko family and <b>even </b>hit back at them. However, Aubree didn¡¯t manage to receive treatment in time and one of her legs <b>was </b>permanently crippled.

    Those three men thought that they could intimidate Aubree by name¨Cdropping the Yurchenko family. To their surprise<b>, </b>she simply grabbed something from the street and hurled it at them. Aubree then yelled, ¡°So the Yurchenko family thinks <b>they¡¯re </b>above thew in S¨¹dlichen Strand? Let him go now, or I¡¯m calling the <b>cops</b>!¡±

    Outnumbered, the three men became hesitant. In the end, <b>they </b>chose to <b>leave</b><b>, </b>but not <b>before </b>taking <b>a </b>good look at Aubree¡¯s <b>face</b>.

    The victim sat huddled with his head hung low, his <b>disheveled </b>hair obscuring half his <b>face</b>. When he finally looked up, his bleary eyes were filled with confusion. It <b>was </b>clear he <b>had </b>been drinking heavily.

    Aubree immediately recognized the man <b>as </b><b>Trevor </b>Wilson. She motioned for Birgitte <b>to </b>stay and dismissed the <b>rest</b><b>. </b><b>As </b>long <b>as </b>Aubree didn¡¯t indicate otherwise, the recording continued. ¡°Keep me <b>out </b>of the shots,<b>¡± </b><b>she </b>instructed Birgitte<b>. </b>

    Birgitte nodded in acknowledgment.

    The two stepped closer for a <b>better </b>look<b>, </b>and Birgitte suddenly <b>recognized </b>the man too. ¡°<b>Hey</b><b>, </b><b>isn¡¯t </b>that your¡­ isn¡¯t that Trevor Wilson?<b>¡± </b>

    Trevor turned his head weakly to the noise and <b>stared </b><b>at </b>them with bleary <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>¡°Thanks for saving me. <b>Leave </b>your contact details. I¡¯ll get in touch with you guyster,

    Aubree remained silent as she <b>watched </b><b>Trevor </b>slumped against the wall. Suddenly, she <b>delivered </b>a stinging p across his face. ¡°Trevor Wilson, sober up!¡±

    Trevor was stunned. He wasn¡¯t expecting to be <b>pped </b>after getting rescued. <b>He </b>stared nkly at Aubree<b>, </bpletely dumbfounded.

    Aubree smirked and <b>gave </b>him another backhanded p. ¡°What? You don¡¯t recognize me? Let me help you <b>sober </b>up. Don¡¯t you know that getting drunk only leads to trouble? Trevor Wilson<b>, </b><b>you </b>are a public figure. <b>How </b>can you not grasp something so <b>basic</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

 Tried 310

    <b>Chapter </b><b>310 </b>

    ¡°Aubree<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Trevor finally snapped out of his drunken haze. At this hour, there <b>were </b>hardly any passersby. <b>It </b>was even less likely anyone would notice what was happening in this dimly <b>lit </b><b>alleyway</b><b>. </b>

    He clutched his stinging <b>face</b><b>. </b>He still looked dazed, but his <b>eyes </b>were glinting with rage. ¡°How dare you hit me?¡±

    In Aubree¡¯s previous life, aside from Carmen Wilson, Daxton and <b>Trevor </b>Wilson were the biggest scumbags in the whole Wilson family. Normally, she could never get a chance to meet this <b>so</b><b>¨C</b><b>called </b>superstar up close and personal. Now that a golden opportunity had presented itself, she would only be letting herself down <b>if </b>she didn¡¯t rough him <b>up </b><b>a </b>bit.

    ¡°Why not? Take that!¡± With that<b>, </b>Aubree kicked him, and the man fell down into a heap again. She then clicked her tongue disdainfully as she watched him.

    Aubree rubbed her chin thoughtfully<b>. </b><b>¡®</b><b>No </b>wonder Bowen likes kicking people so much. Feels damn good.

    Clutching his stomach, Trevor doubled over in <b>a </b>fit <b>of </b>violent coughing and then suddenly retched, spewing out the alcohol he had just downed. He then struggled to get up. ¡°You¡­¡±

    Aubree thought <b>Trevor </b><b>wanted </b>to give her some bullshit, but instead, his eyes rolled back and he passed out.

    How pathetic. Aubree rolled her eyes, then turned to Birgitte. ¡°Did you get all that on camera?*

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Birgitte nodded.

    Aubree felt very pleased. To think that an A<b>¨C</b><b>list </b>superstar like Trevor Wilson was caught sneaking into a bar at night and then cornered by a bunch of unknown thugs, all because of some torrid love affair. She hadn¡¯t nned on getting even with him yet, but the man had already presented himself to her on <b>a </b>silver tter. He was such a great brother¡­.

    After giving Trevor a thorough beating, Aubree stalked off with Birgitte. She simply left the unconscious Trevor lying there.

    In the end, it was Trevor¡¯s agent who finally came and took him <b>away</b>.

    Birgitte made sure Aubree got home safely first. Only then did she return to her own apartment with ease of mind.

    Since Aubree had toe to S¨¹dlichen Strand often, she had bought herself a luxury waterfront vi there. She had a good night¡¯s sleep and didn¡¯t wake up until noon the next day.

    Bowen Turner called her afterward and generally just asked about her.

    Aubree chatted with him for a while before telling him about the financing <b>matter</b>. ¡°I¡¯ll probably need to stay here a bit longer.¡±

    Bowen didn¡¯t ask Aubree why she didn¡¯t approach him about investing. He knew she had her own way of doing things. Setting aside their

    rtionship and background, Bowen had to acknowledge the fact that he and Aubree were still business rivals.

    ¡°Sure. Things are a little busy at the office now. When I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll go to S¨¹dlichen Strand and fetch you.¡±

    After ending the phone call, Aubree grabbed herptop and started working.

    She had to be fast in securing funding. Both Tengu Gruppe and Manchotech were industry giants. Her previous achievements were just a stepping stone, which was still not enough to convince these giants to invest directly.

    Aubree was going over thetest data for GrabCheap. She knew <i>that </i>results were all that mattered,

    It was already a major breakthrough that both corporations were willing to meet with her. Just as she expected, GrabCheap had been making wavestely, whether by grabbing market share from other emerce tforms or grabbing eyeballs on social media.

    These corporations would never write Aubree off based on some rumors<b>. </b>After all, true entrepreneurs <b>had </b>sharp business acumen.

    Once a money¨Cmaking approach becamemon knowledge, it only meant that that strategy was no longer profitable.

    The chairman of Tengu Gruppe arrived at a private dining room in <b>a </b>five¨Cstar hotel in S¨¹dlichen Strand with his assistant in tow<i>. </i>

    ¡°Quirinus, what a pleasant surprise to see you here today! And this must be Alice, right? <b>Are </b>both of you back from Rithol City to visit family?¡±

    Sitting opposite the chairman of Tengu Gruppe were none other than Quirinus Diamonde, the current head of Phoenyra Jewelry owned by the Diamonde family, and Alice Diamonde.

    <b>12:56 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Dunn. I know you¡¯re <b>a </b>busy man, <b>so </b>I didn¡¯t want to impose on you. Actually, my sister Alice is here today to represent the Wilson family to discuss a potential coboration with your office<b>.¡± </b>

    Quirinus <b>was </b>well <b>aware </b>that the Diamonde family no longer <b>wield </b>as much influence now in S¨¹dlichen Strand. The moment he mentioned the Wilson family, Mr. Dunn became <b>interested</b>. ¡°<b>Oh</b>? You <b>have </b>my attention.¡±

 Tried 311

    <b>Chapter </b><b>311 </b>

    Alice smiled and got straight to the point. ¡°Mr. Dunn, if you are prepared to drop the deal with GrabCheap, then Wilson Group¡¯s JinnCee would be happy to establish a business partnership with your Tengu.¡±

    Indeed, Morhan Dunn was tempted. This wasn¡¯t just a chance to partner with the Wilson Group. It was also an opportunity to pull Phoenyra Jewelry to his side. A deal this lucrative was simply too good to pass up.

    Morhan looked at Alice and replied, ¡°Alice, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but can you really make the decision for the Wilson Group?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be bringing this up if I weren¡¯t prepared, Alice said confidently. With that, she produced a document already signed by Bryan Wilson.

    ¡°Mr. Dunn, this partnership agreement is yours if you agree. My only condition is that you string Aubree along until she¡¯s about to seal the deal. then turn her down.¡±

    Morhan smiled. GrabCheap was also seeking coboration with hispany. He held all the cards.

    Aubree Miller didn¡¯t only approach his office. She also reached out to Manchotech. Clearly, Alice¡¯s strategy was to make it difficult for GrabCheap to secure financing. If he kept stringing Aubree along, she would be stuck wasting her time on him and would have no time to pursue other investors.

    Morhan weighed the pros and cons. After all, Aubree was still a neer. Compared to the well¨Cestablished Wilson Group, she was clearly butmatched. He then said, ¡°<b>I </b>look forward to working with your office.¡±

    He epted the document without signing, and Alice smiled in satisfaction.

    This contract was perfectly legitimate. Ronald Wilson <b>gave </b>the green light, Bryan Wilson signed it, and Alice¡¯s reasoning was simple. Since Ronald believed Aubree had fallen into <b>Bowen </b>Turner¡¯s trap and <b>that </b>the GrabCheap project was destined to fail until it lost everything, they might as well ¡°help¡± Aubree¡¯s side end the project early.

    Once Bryan gave the green light, things <b>were </b>a lot <b>easier</b><b>. </b><b>At </b>the end of the <b>day</b><b>, </b>everyone only looked after their own interests.

    Bryan had visited Emery Wilson once<b>. </b>Emery <b>had </b>asked him then<b>, </b><b>¡°</b>Bryan<b>, </b>are you sure you already have firm control over the Wilson Group now?¡±

    Once the sibling affection fizzled <b>out</b><b>, </b>Bryan found himself wondering whether his <b>father </b>would <b>give </b>up on getting Aubree to join the Wilson Group if she really came back. The <b>answer </b><b>was </b>obvious. After <b>all</b><b>, </b><b>at </b><b>just </b>eighteen<b>, </b>Aubree had already achieved so much. <b>If </b>she joined thepany, no one could be sure who would be calling <b>the </b>shots in the future.

    He wanted Aubree toe <b>back</b><b>, </b><b>but </b>only <b>as </b>a harmless<b>, </b>pitiable little <b>sister</b><b>, </b>someone who <b>could </b><b>serve </b>as an outlet for his guilt.

    Thus, he did not voice any objections to the schemes being nned against Aubree.

    While she was in S¨¹dlichen Strand, Alice decided to visit Trevor. <b>That </b>boy <b>was </b>always swamped with <b>work </b>and rarely home. She wondered if all those business trips had made him lose <b>weight</b>.

    *****

    The doorbell rang just then. Without <b>even </b>ncing at the door, <b>Trevor </b>yelled ¡°Fuck off! I told you I¡¯m not seeing anyone this week.¡±

    His face was so swollen that he looked like he had been stung by <b>dozens </b>of bees. On <b>top </b>of that, he <b>was </b>kicked in the stomach as well. Every breath he took hurt like hell.

    Trevor immediately grimaced in pain after yelling<b>. </b>He had ruled the entertainment industry with his face. His fans imed that he looked perfect from every angle. But now, he was barely recognizable.

    ¡°Not even your own mother<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Alice responded.

    After inviting Alice in<b>, </b>Trevor dialed down his rage. ¡°Mom, what brings you to S¨¹dlichen Strand?¡±

    ¡°I had to settle some things in S¨¹dlichen Strand, so I thought I¡¯d check on you. What happened to your face<b>?</b>¡±

    Trevor became incensed once more, ¡°Last night when I went out drinking, I ran into Aubree. She took advantage of me while I was drunk and beat me up!¡±

    Alice¡¯s mind immediately thought of other implications. ¡°You went out drinking? Did any paparazzi catch you? Will Aubree try to use this against you?¡±

 Tried 312

    <b>Chapter </b><b>312 </b>

    Now <b>that </b>her fourth son Emery <b>was </b>already in trouble, Alice <b>couldn¡¯t </b>just stand by and let Aubree destroy her other three sons too.

    Trevor thought his mother was <b>overreacting</b>. ¡°I just had a few drinks. What¡¯s the worst that could <b>happen</b>?¡±

    He had totally forgotten thatst night <b>wasn¡¯t </b>just simply spending the night out drinking. He had gotten wasted, was cornered by three thugs, and Milena Yurchenko <b>was </b>involved as <b>well</b>.

    ¡°Alright, then. Did you get any medicine <b>for </b><b>your </b>injuries<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Alice asked with concern.

    ¡°Yeah, my agent picked me upst night and helped me with the medication.¡± Trevor held his swollen face, his eyes burning with resentment. ¡®Aubree¡¯s got some nerve. How <b>dare </b>she <by </b><b>a </b><b>finger </b>on me!¡®

    ¡°Mom, she¡¯s getting more and more out of hand! If Dad keeps going soft on her and doesn¡¯t put her in her ce, I swear she will end up walking all over us,¡± Trevor grumbled out loud.

    ¡°You think I don¡¯t want to deal with her? <b>Enough</b>. I know how to handle Aubree. If you want to do anything about her, talk it over with the family first. Don¡¯t end up like Emery.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright, I get it.¡± Trevor cut his mother off impatiently. <b>It </b>was clear he did not take her seriously.

    Meanwhile, Aubree also met up with Manchotech, who sent three representatives for a due diligence check. Anticipating <b>a </b>potential deal, she also prepared all the necessary materials.

    Before their representatives arrived, Aubree had already shared some internal statistics with them. Manchotech had previously coborated with her when GrabCheap was being set up due to the Turner Group pulling strings. Therefore, GrabCheap <b>was </b>already on Manchotech¡¯s radar. They knew full well that partnering with Aubree would only bring them benefits.

    Even though they were prepared, the statistics Aubree provided still blew them <b>away</b>. The figures clearly showed that GrabCheap was set to revolutionize the entire emerce industry, zing <b>a </b>groundbreaking new trail in the market.

    Therefore, Manchotech wasted no time in sending their team.

    This time, their primary objective was to gain a concrete understanding of GrabCheap¡¯s business model in order to assess its value.

    Aubree attached great importance to this coboration. Early in the morning, she brought Birgitte and several other senior executives to the entrance to greet Manchotech¡¯s delegation.

    The people at Manchotech knew Aubree Miller was a legend. At just eighteen, she had already amassed enough wealth tost several lifetimes. She was the driving force behind the hottest new media trends like live¨Cstreaming and short videos.

    In addition, she also invested in thetest trend in the gaming market, which <b>was </b>open¨Cworld games, She was <b>a </b>visionary young entrepreneur with remarkable business acumen.

    However, Manchotech¡¯s delegation <b>was </b>surprised to discover that Aubree¡¯s entire team was so young. No member appeared to be over thirty.

    ¡°Indeed, the future truly belongs to you young people,¡± one Manchotech representativemented.

    ¡°Ah, to be young and fearless! As they say, the young ones are fast learners,¡± added another.

    Aubree epted thepliments unabashedly. <b>¡°</b><b>We¡¯ve </b>got all the materials ready in the conference room for your review<b>.</b>¡±

    Manchotech¡¯s delegation followed her to the conference room.

    Birgitte gave the presentation, shing slide after slide on the screen. She <b>was </b>no longer the <b>naive </b>rookie she <b>once </b><b>was</b>. Dressed in a sharp business suit, she exuded poised confidence and effortless <b>grace</b><b>. </b>

    Our GrabCheap app started with the group¨Cbuying strategy. I trust <b>you¡¯ve </b>already received and reviewed the relevant <b>statistics </b>for this part.¡±

    The Manchotech representatives smiled and nodded. ¡°The <b>figures </b>look good!¡±

    The figures not only looked good, but <b>were </b>also staggering. The explosive growth in this segment left the <b>representatives </b>speechless. Aubree was truly capable. None of them had ever seen an emerce tform, not even the <b>current </b><b>top </b>three market leaders<b>, </b>achieve such phenomenal results!

    Our group¨Cbuying model has achieved remarkable <b>sess </b>in S¨¹dlichen Strand and the surrounding <b>areas </b>in the third quarter. Of course, this stems from our innovative approach, which delivers genuine discounts to users by leveraging bulk purchasing power. This is the core philosophy behind GrabCheap. We put our customers first, adopting <b>a </b><b>value</b>¨Cdriven approach, and providing affordable, high¨Cquality products.¡± Birgitte ended

 Tried 313

    <b>Chapter </b><b>313 </b>

    Aubree took over at this point. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all aware of GrabCheap¡¯s target demographic. We¡¯re focused on the underserved, price¨Csensitive segments <b>of </b>the emerce market, prioritizing affordability and convenience. In today¡¯s saturated emercendscape, there¡¯s no room for us in the established spaces. Therefore, we¡¯re aggressively carving out our niche in those overlooked and untapped areas.

    ¡°For us, the users are our top priority. Everything else is secondary. Our model can only truly thrive with arge user base, and current statistics show we¡¯re excelling at this. Even now, our user base continues to grow by tens of thousands. With users on our side, everything else will naturally follow<b>. </b>

    ¡°It has only been a few months from our inception to full operation, yet in that short span, we have already delivered these impressive results. This is the strongest validation we can present to investors.<b>¡± </b>

    The three representatives from Manchotech looked pleased as they exchanged knowing looks.

    ¡°But as far as we know, even with your seemingly substantial user base, yourpany is <b>still </b>operating <b>at </b>a loss, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Aubree admitted frankly. ¡°Unfortunately, <b>yes</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    The Manchotech executives <b>were </b>surprised by Aubree¡¯s candor. <b>This </b>admission would not work to GrabCheap¡¯s advantage.

    Aubree continued confidently, <b>¡°</b>Nothing <b>is </b>absolutely perfect. <b>In </b>the <b>early </b><b>stages</b>, investments may not <b>give </b>immediate returns. I¡¯ll be honest upfront. We¡¯re losing money now, and we¡¯ll keep losing money in the short term. But I believe that¡¯s nothing to worry about. Think of it as constructing a building. When you invest in quality foundation <b>materials </b>and make the foundation very strong, you will be able to build a tall, stable building that can withstand any winds of change<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    The Manchotech executives exchanged approving <b>nces</b><b>. </b><b>Had </b><b>Aubree </b>shown <b>even </b><b>the </b><b>slightest </b>hint of evasiveness, defensiveness, or nervousness in response to their point, they would <b>have </b><b>to </b>reconsider the partnership.

    If Aubree herself wasn¡¯t confident in her own <b>project</b>, how could she possibly <b>convince </b><b>investors </b>to pour money into <b>it</b><b>? </b>

    Aubree added, ¡°As our former coborator, I¡¯m <b>sure </b>your <b>data </b>corroborated our <b>explosive </b><b>growth</b>. And that was <b>purely </b>the result of our unteral early¨Cstage investments. With Manchotech <b>as </b>the vanguard of <b>social </b><b>media</b><b>, </b>our coboration will only amplify these statistics exponentially.

    ¡°Right now, our marketing is all online. But <b>after </b>this round of funding, you¡¯ll <b>see </b>our ads <b>everywhere</b><b>, </b>on TV<b>, </b><b>buses</b><b>, </b>and subways.¡±

    Aubree presented her strategy eloquently. While she had capital<b>, </b><b>there </b><b>was </b>no <b>shortage </b>of <b>deep</b>¨C<b>pocketed </bpetitors. She knew that going solo wouldn¡¯t be enough for GrabCheap to <b>secure </b>a significant share of the <b>e</b><b>¨C</bmerce market.

    Birgitte then switched to the next slide.

    Aubree gestured to the screen and said, ¡°Take a look. These are our <btest </b>figures<b>. </b><b>Our </b><b>user </b><b>base </b><b>is </b>doubling almost <b>daily</b>, and both our order cement and fulfillment rates <b>are </b>remarkably high. These <b>are </b>confidential <b>statistics </b>that have <b>never been </b>shared publicly<b>. </b>Aside from our internal team, you¡¯re the very first to see it. I believe this demonstrates our <b>sincerity </b>in this partnership.

    ¡°You have the capital, the extensive reach<b>, </b>and the talent. We bring <b>innovative </b><b>ideas </b>and a disruptive business model. If <b>we </b>join forces, it¡¯s a win¨Cwin

    scenario.¡±

    The Manchotech executives <b>were </b>taken aback <b>at </b><b>what </b><b>was </b>shown on the <b>screen</b>. They had <b>severely </b>underestimated GrabCheap. If this coboration were to go ahead, calling it <b>a </b>multi¨Cbillion¨Cdor <b>venture </b>would be a <b>gross </b>understatement.

    ¡°Are these numbers for <b>real</b><b>?</b>¡± one of the Manchotech <b>executives </b>asked skeptically.

    The Manchotech executives expressed their skepticism <b>as </b><b>such </b><b>results </b>were unprecedented.

    Aubree reassured them, ¡°Every single figure we presented is 100% authentic! Who in his right mind would show his hand for others to scrutinize at will? The outside world wasn¡¯t optimistic about her project due to its controversial nature.

    Therefore, all eyes were on her<b>, </b><b>just </b>waiting for her to fall from grace and eager to have a goodugh at her expense.

    Aubree then handed over a report detailing GrabCheap¡¯stest data and updated strategic ns.

 Tried 314

    <b>Chapter </b>314

    By now, Aubree could tell that the Manchotech executives were almost convinced by her sales pitch.

    She was confident that once they had reviewed this final report, they would be won over, unless they were buffoons<b>. </b>

    The Manchotech executives pored <b>over </b>the new report in their hands solemnly. If all the ambitious ns outlined within truly came to fruition, this would undoubtedly be an immensely profitable partnership for them.

    The leading executive, Dmytro <b>Svystun</b>, <b>was </b>the head of Manchotech¡¯s investment division. The fact that Manchotech sent this fellow was an indication of how seriously <b>they </b><b>regarded </b>this potential partnership with GrabCheap. In fact, their management had already agreed internally to proceed with the coboration prior to this. The <b>only </b>question was the investment amount, which hinged on Aubree¡¯s overall presentation.

    At this point, it <b>was </b>clear that they could confidently <b>proceed </b>to <b>offer </b>Aubree their full support.

    Aubree waited quictly for their response<b>. </b><b>ording </b><b>to </b><b>her </b><b>sources</b>, Manchotech had set a limit of a billion dors for her project. However, how much they would offer her eventually hinged entirely on <b>this </b><b>meeting</b>.

    She estimated that if she could <b>secure </b><b>at </b>least <b>500 </b>million for this round, the <b>next </b>phase of GrabCheap¡¯s development could kick into high gear. Her team could thenunch a full¨Cscale marketing blitz <b>across </b>all channels. This <b>will </b>catapult GrabCheap to unprecedented sess!

    Ms. Miller, by approaching Manchotech <b>for </b><b>a </b>coboration, <b>you </b>must be <b>aware </b>that <b>we </b>prioritize long¨Cterm, mutually beneficial cooperation. The initial investment does not mean future funding <b>is </b><b>assured</b>,¡± Dmytro exined.

    He had finished reading the report. To be honest, from his <b>perspective</b>, he initially thought GrabCheap had some potential but not enough to eclipse the established emerce giants. After all<b>, </b>there had been other opportunistic ventures like this in the <b>past</b>. Not long ago, there was one that focused on women users but which had since sunk into oblivion.

    Besides, it was only because Aubree had the backing of the Turner Group that they <b>were </b>willing to <b>consider </b>working with her.

    The one billion budget they had earmarked <b>was </b>just for show initially. Based on Dmytro¡¯s initial analysis, he would have invested no more than two

    hundred million.

    But after seeing these numbers, Dmytropletely changed his mind. He thought, ¡°Anyone who doesn¡¯t invest in this project is an absolute fool!¡±

    ¡°This is a remarkable project. I find it hard to believe it originated from an 18¨Cyear¨Cold,¡± Dmytro said sincerely.

    ¡°You young people already have such vision at your age. You will aplish great things! And in the future, when people talk about this, they¡¯ll say 1, Dmytro Svystun, have <b>a </b>pretty sharp eye for investments myself!¡±

    He thenughed heartily. As an investor, he always found backing promising talent far more fulfilling than simply pouring money into projects<b>. </b>

    How did Bowen Turner achieve so much <b>at </b>such a young age? It <b>was </b>the same reason. He invested in projects which he regarded <b>as </b>having good prospects, no matter <b>what </b>others think, and nearly every one of them had seeded. Many of the talents he invested in came from humble beginnings.

    Finally, Dmytro announced, ¡°One billion. That¡¯s the first round of investment.

    ¡°The terms of the contract need to be revised. If your project continues to deliver <b>results </b><b>as </b>outstanding <b>as </b>those outlined in your proposal, Manchotech will inject 2 billion in the second round!¡±

    Dmytro <b>was </b>only authorized <b>to </b>approve investments amounting to one billion. The subsequent two billion would <b>require </b>approval from the upper management. Nevertheless, he was confident that once he brought this report back, his superiors would <b>agree </b>with his decision.

    Aubree beamed knowingly. She could tell that Manchotech¡¯s offer <b>for </b>the second round was a hint to <b>her </b>to give Manchotech first dibs on all her future projects.

    However, this <b>was </b>not necessarily a bad thing for her<b>. </b>

    ¡°Mr. Svystun, while <b>I </b>appreciate your faith in us, I¡¯m afraid I can only offer you <b>a </b>10% equity <b>stake</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree rified.

    The expressions on the Manchotech executives froze<b>. </b>

 Tried 315

    <b>Chapter </b><b>315 </b>

    Everyone except Dmytro Svystun grew hesitant. One of them objected, ¡°Mr. Svystun, one billion for only 10% of the shares¡­ I¡¯m afraid this is not in line with what the boss instructed¡­¡±

    They were authorized to invest one billion for at <b>least </b><b>15</b>% equity.

    Dmytro, however, held his ground. ¡°We¡¯ll take it even if it is only 10%.¡±

    Aubree wasn¡¯t short on money. What she trulycked were connections and influence. Every one of her streaming tforms and short video apps <b>was </b>a cash cow. Dmytro knew she wasn¡¯t someone who could be constrained by investment amounts. That was why he moved quickly to secure the deal once he ascertained GrabCheap¡¯s future potential.¡±

    In other words, Aubree had no shortage of potential partners if Manchotech <b>were </b>to walk away from the negotiating table.

    Aubree approached Manchotech because their two gship social media tforms dominated the social mediandscape with an unrivaled presence.

    ¡°Let me give Mr. Marchuk <b>a </b>call first<b>,¡± </b>Dmytro proposed.

    He was referring to Tryfon Marchuk, <b>CEO </b><b>of </b>Manchotech. Aubree demurred<b>, </b>¡°Sure<b>. </b>One billion is <b>no </b>small sum<b>, </b>after all. There¡¯s no need to rush. Please take your time to discuss before making <b>a </b><b>decision</b>. But our offer remains unchanged. One hundred million for one percent.¡±

    Dmytro stepped outside the room briefly. When he returned, he said with a beaming <b>face</b>, ¡°<b>Ms. </b>Miller<b>, </b><b>all </b>the terms we proposed earlier still stand, but we have one additional requirement to add to the contract. <b>If </b><b>you¡¯re </b>okay with this, <b>we </b>can <b>sign </b>right <b>away</b>.

    ¡°We want to include a use of Right <b>of </b>First Refusal in all <b>of </b>your future projects,¡± Dmytro stated.

    One billion to invest in Aubree, this potential <b>star</b>. That¡¯s why Tryfon Marchuk is the boss¡­¡® Dmytro sighed inwardly. His boss simply gave the green light straightaway to sign the contract with the <b>revised </b>terms.

    For Aubree, adding this additional use <b>was </b>to her advantage. With Manchotech holding two powerhouse tforms<b>, even </b>if other tforms went under, Manchotech would remain standing. Thus, she affirmed with <b>a </b>smile, ¡°It¡¯s our pleasure to work with you.¡±

    After securing Manchotech¡¯s investment, Aubree¡¯s entire team <b>was </b>abuzz with excitement. What <b>excited </b>them wasn¡¯t the one billion, but the fact that they had established a rtionship with the tech giant.

    Though they did coborate previously, it <b>was </b>due to the Turner Group pulling strings. <b>Back </b>then, they could only meet a mid¨Clevel executive. They would never get a chance to meet someone of Dmytro Svystun¡¯s <b>level</b>.

    But now, they not only secured Manchotech¡¯s coboration based on their own merits, but the tech <b>giant </b><b>was </b>also vying <b>to </b>work with them.

    The contract was swiftly revised, and both parties inked the deal.

    As soon as the Manchotech representatives left<b>, </b><b>a </b>staff member from the Bree Technology team <b>gave </b><b>a </b>whoop.

    ¡°Does this mean we can finallyunch <b>our </b>offline marketing campaign?¡±

    Another cried excitedly, ¡°We <b>can </b>push out more promotions <b>to </b><b>attract </b>more merchants<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    Birgitte began muttering, ¡°In that <b>case</b><b>, </b>we really <b>have </b>our hands full. I¡¯d <b>better </b>get the nning team started on drafting a new proposal¡­¡± She was itching to get started <b>on </b>the next phase <b>as </b>well.

    However, Aubree said calmly, ¡°Hold on. We still <b>have </b>Tengu <b>to </b>consider. <b>Nestor</b>, what¡¯s the word from their end?¡±

    Nestor, who <b>was </b>in charge of external investmentmunications, said, ¡°Tengu Gruppe still <b>seems </b>to be undecided, but they¡¯re open to meeting with us.¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°It¡¯s understandable they¡¯re hesitant<b>. </b><b>After </b><b>all</b><b>, </b><b>we¡¯re </b>in the same business, and they¡¯re worried we might outrival them. But as long as we show sufficient sincerity, coboration shouldn¡¯t be <b>a </b>problem.¡±

    She quickly split her team into two groups. One group would keep up the pressure on Tengu Gruppe while the other would n the next steps for GrabCheap.

 Tried 316

    <b>Chapter </b><b>316 </b>

    They had to keep the news about Manchotech¡¯s investment under wraps for now. If the news were to leak out prematurely, it would inevitably attract unwanted attention at a stage when GrabCheap needed more time to develop.

    Afternding Manchotech¡¯s investment, Birgitte and her team werepletely fired up. Aubree couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how motivated her team was. Then a thought popped into her head. ¡°Maybe 1 should give them a chance <i>to </i>shine?¡±

    Thus, Aubree decided to take a well¨Cdeserved break.

    Coincidentally, Bowen Turner had also just wrapped up his work in Rithol City and was nning to visit her. He gave her a video call.

    ¡°Not at home?¡± Aubree asked, taking advantage of the free time now to revise her undergrad coursework. Her phone was propped up beside her. On the screen, Bowen <b>was </b>leaning against what looked like a <b>balcony </b>railing in casual clothes.

    ¡°Mm¨Chmm. Mark¡¯s brother is getting engaged today<b>, </b>so I¡¯m here for the engagement party.*

    Mark King hailed from the prominent King family in Rithol City with powerful connections to the political elite and the military. Mark himself served in the military. His eldest brother and youngest brother both entered politics<b>, </b>while his youngest sister joined a theater group affiliated with the ruling political party.

    One could say the whole family was practically on the government payroll.

    ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ming to S¨¹dlichen Strand. I miss you.¡± Bowen¡¯s <b>unexpected </b><b>confession </b>made Aubree¡¯s <b>ears </b>flush pink. In reality, she was starting to miss him too.

    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I¡¯ve <b>secured </b>investment from Manchotech for the GrabCheap <b>project</b><b>. </b>My n is <b>to </b>partner with both Manchotech and Tengu, though Tengu still seems undecided.¡± Aubree sounded <b>frustrated</b>.

    In truth, things had always been smooth sailing for her. This <b>was </b>the first time she had run into such a thorny situation with <b>a </b>potential business partner like the Tengu Gruppe.

    ¡°Bree, if Manchotech was able to ink the deal with <b>you </b><b>so </b>quickly<b>, </b>maybe you should approach Tengu Gruppe¡¯s matter from a different angle.¡±

    Having spent years in the business world, Bowen could <b>easily </b><b>discern </b>what <b>was </b>really going on from Aubree¡¯s <b>casual </b>grumbles. <b>There </b>were only two possibilities. Either Tengu Gruppe wanted to <b>gauge </b>Aubree¡¯s sincerity more thoroughly, <b>or </b>something <b>else </b>was going on¡­.

    For the first possibility, it was perfectly normal to be cautious in business. But if it <b>were </b>the second possibility¡­

    Bowen kept his suspicions to himself. He knew that depending on others <b>was </b>no substitute for depending on oneself. Being strong on one¡¯s own terms was the best strategy.

    If Aubree couldn¡¯t see through the subtle game here<b>, </b>maybe a minor setback <b>was </b>just the lesson she needed.

    Bowen¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°Not everything will be smooth sailing in every endeavor.¡±

    Aubree mulled over Bowen¡¯s words, her eyes narrowing slightly. ¡®Maybe <b>it¡¯s </b>time <b>to </b>push Tengu Gruppe a little and see what they¡¯re really up to,¡¯ she thought.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not dwell on this now, I know you can handle it. But, I hope you¡¯ll save the next few days just for me, Bree.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s expression softened into a smile, ¡°You bet.¡±

    They exchanged a few more words before ending the call.

    Before Bowen had time to put his phone away, Ollie Lane sidled up with a sly grin and mimicked sarcastically, ¡°I miss you¡­¡±

    Bowen only looked back at Ollie calmly. ¡°What<b>? </b>Are you jealous I¡¯ve got a girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°Pfft! Don¡¯t tter yourself. She¡¯s just your girlfriend for now, got it? The kind who can up and leave you anytime,¡± Ollie scoffed.

    Bowen shot him a smug look that implied, ¡°You¡¯re just jealous.¡± Ollie simply rolled his eyes dramatically in response.

    ¡°You have been working your ass off these few days. You must have <b>made </b>ns for the next few days, haven¡¯t you?¡± Ollie asked usingly.

    Bowen raised an eyebrow without confirming or denying.

    Mark King <b>was </b>puzzled. ¡°<i>So </i>what if he has made ns?<b>¡± </b>

    6

    e

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn anything fromst <b>year¡¯s </b>cold shoulder? Or have you forgotten what special day ising up in just a few days?¡± Ollic red ominously.

    The realization hit Mark <b>at </b>once. Aubree¡¯s birthday <b>was </bing up.

    12:57 PM

 Tried 317

    Chapter <b>317 </b>

    Bowen chuckled and said, ¡°You still remembered.¡±

    Inwardly, he sighed with resignation. He could tell that Aubree had probably forgotten it herself.

    ¡°Damn it! You¡¯ve got some nerve back <b>then</b>! You¡¯re the kind of backstabbing jerk who¡¯d ditch your bros the second a girl shows up. Go freeze your ass off by the river all night and see if you will remember!¡± Ollie ranted. What really pissed him off was that he had dressed up to the nines, had gotten a ne with a massive diamond pendant as <b>a </b>gift, and was <b>all </b>set to attend Aubree¡¯s birthday bash. In the end, he lost out to a crummy leaf given by Bowen!

    He had nned to one¨Cup Bowen with his gift, but that jerk simply banned him from the event. Ollie did not even have a chance to make an

    entrance.

    Ollie¡¯s eyes glinted with mischief. <b>¡°</b><b>No </b><b>way </b>am I missing out on the fun this time,<b>¡± </b>he thought.

    ¡°Now that Bree¡¯s with you, you should introduce her to the <b>rest </b><b>of </b>us, shouldn¡¯t you? I¡¯ve got a hot <b>spring </b>resort <b>in </b>S¨¹dlichen Strand. If you¡¯re up for it, I can arrange everything.

    You can consider this my wee gift to Bree,¡± Ollie cajoled.

    Bowen thought for a while. Within <b>their </b>group, Ollie had <b>always </b><b>been </b>the one nning all <b>their </b><b>get</b><b>¨C</b><b>togethers</b><b>. </b><b>If </b>anyone could pull this off<b>, </b>it was him. And Ollie <b>was </b>right. It was time to bring Aubree into his social circle.

    ¡°Mark, you cane along too,¡± Bowen said.

    ¡°Then you bring Nina along,¡± Mark blurted out at once<b>. </b>

    ¡°Fine¡­¡± Bowen grumbled.

    *****

    After Bowen arrived in S¨¹dlichen Strand, he and <b>Aubree </b>spent two <b>days </b><b>together </b><b>having </b>fun.

    Meanwhile, Trevor had almost fully <b>recovered </b>from his injuries<b>. </b><b>As </b>a high¨Cprofile celebrity constantly under public scrutiny, he couldn¡¯t risk stepping outside his home when his <b>face </b><b>was </b><b>still </b>swollen. He almost went nuts from the <b>constant </b>harassment over the <b>past </b>two <b>days</b>.

    That pest, Milena Yurchenko, somehow found out it <b>was a </b>woman who <b>saved </b><b>Trevor </b>that <b>day</b>. Convinced <b>that </b>it was <b>his </b><b>ex</b><b>, </b>she <b>had </b>been bugging him nonstop these <b>past </b>two days, short <b>of </b>summoning people to break down his door.

    Trevor feared that too muchmotion might <b>draw </b>the <b>reporters</b>.

    With new grudges piling on old, <b>Trevor </b><b>was </b><b>practically </b>gnashing his teeth <b>at </b><b>Aubree</b>. The moment <b>his </b>injuries healed, he immediately began plotting his revenge. Furthermore<b>, </b>she hit him<b>. </b>She would <b>pay </b>for that.

    Trevor¡¯s phone sounded at this moment. <b>It </b>was a message from his assistant, Joey Reed,

    [Mr. Wilson, I found it. Aubree Miller and Bowen Turner <b>are </b>heading to <b>Star </b><b>Lake </b>Hot Spring Resort together tomorrow.]

    Trevor finally felt satisfied. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. <b>The </b>call <b>was </b><b>picked </b>up almost immediately. On the other end, Milena¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Trevor, you¡¯ve finally decided to talk to me! I don¡¯t like using such pressure tactics on you. You know I just can¡¯t stand seeing you with other women.¡±

    Sweet¨Ctalking women came <b>naturally </b>to Trevor. <b>He </b>said smoothly, ¡°Sweetheart<b>, </b>you know that given your exalted status, there¡¯s just no way I can give you what you¡¯re asking for. Being with you makes me <b>feel </b>so suffocated. Deep down, <b>I </b>actually,¡±

    The moment he said that<b>, </b>no more needed to be said. Milena instantly filled in the nks herself. ¡°I¡¯ll change<b>, </b>Trevor. <b>I¡¯ve </b>thought things over, and I know I¡¯ve made mistakes too. I should be more understanding. Do you think¡­ is there any chance we could get back together<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>she pleaded.

    Trevor made no promises but kept his tone deceptively gentle. ¡°Sweetheart, I heard the Star Lake Hot Spring Resort in S¨¹dlichen Strand is quite nice. Why don¡¯t we go there together tomorrow?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Great!¡± After the <b>call </b>ended, Milena <b>still </b>couldn¡¯t <b>wipe </b>the excitement off her <b>face</b>. ¡®What could it mean<b>? </b>Trevor invited me to the hot spring resort?¡® The more she thought about <b>it</b><b>, </b>the redder her cheeks <b>grew</b>. She dove into her closet<b>, </b>rejecting <b>one </b>swimsuit after another. ¡°This one¡¯s not sexy enough, that one¡¯s too shy<b>, </b>and this innocuous one is just too in¡­

    In the end, Milena decided she would just <b>go </b><b>out </b><b>with </b>her <b>bestie </b>and buy a <b>new </b><b>set</b>.

 Tried 318

    Chapter <b>318 </b>

    As for Aubree, she was heading to the hot spring resort with Bowen, but her wardrobe waspletely devoid of swimsuits. She had no choice bur to go out and buy one set too.

    Bowen had something to settle today, but he told her beforehand that he woulde and pick her up to go to Star Lake the next day.

    Aubree went to the sportswear shop alone and by sheer coincidence, ran into Milena. Aubree didn¡¯t know her, but Milena lunged at Aubree the moment she saw her, ranting and raving like some lunatic.

    ¡°You! You here to buy a swimsuit?¡± Milena shricked.

    Aubree turned to her. She didn¡¯t recognize Milena, and she <b>couldn¡¯t </b>be bothered with her either. Without a second thought, she grabbed the first swimsuit that seemed decent and headed straight for the checkout.

    ¡°I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Milena yelled, furious <b>at </b>being ignored. She grabbed Aubree¡¯s shoulder and yanked her back brusquely.

    Aubree became mad as she red at the raving lunatic.

    She then shoved Milena <b>away </b>and demanded, ¡°Who the hell <b>are </b><b>you</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    You don¡¯t know me?<b>¡± </b>Milena froze for a moment, then let out another piercing shriek.

    In Milena¡¯s mind, she was the rightful girlfriend, and Aubree <b>was </b><b>just </b>some pretender trying <b>to </b><b>steal </b>her <b>man</b>. She had assumed Aubree would know her too, since she was eyeing her man.

    Fortunately, Milena¡¯s friend was more level¨Cheaded, and she pulled Milena <b>away</b>. ¡°Sorry about that. We may <b>have </b>mistaken you for someone else.¡±

    Aubree stared at the two briefly before walking <b>away </b>without another word.

    ¡°Why did you stop me?¡± Milena snapped.

    ¡°Did you check her background?¡± her friend <b>asked</b>.

    Milena was caught off guard. It <b>was </b><b>just </b>some young slut who thought <b>she </b>could steal her man. Surely <b>there </b><b>was </b>no need <b>to </b>check up on such a

    character.

    When Milena found out that <b>her </b>men had been <b>chased </b>off by some young woman, all she <b>cared </b>about was the girl¡¯s looks. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to check her background.

    ¡°She seems to be the CEO of Bree Technology. <b>I </b>came <b>across </b><b>a </b><b>write</b>¨Cup on <b>her </b>in my dad¡¯s study before,¡± her friend exined.

    Milena gave a scornful snort. ¡°Who <b>cares </b>what she is CEO of? Some nobody from <b>out </b><b>of </b>town thinks she can <b>steal </b>my man? Didn¡¯t you see her buying a swimsuit just now? She¡¯s probably scheming to seduce Trevor at <b>Star </b>Lake Hot Spring Resort!¡±

    Thinking of Aubree¡¯s undeniably pretty <b>face</b><b>, </b>Milena puffed out her chest and proimed, ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b><b>got </b>to pick a really good suit. With that washboard figure of hers, she doesn¡¯t stand a chance against me,¡±

    If Aubree had heard that, she might have lost her cool. <b>Because </b>of her past malnutrition, all she gained <b>was </b>some extra height, no matter how she tried to make up for it subsequently. There was little else to show for her effort,

    True to its name, Star Lake Hot Spring Resort was a breathtaking spectacle at night. The sky was dotted with thousands of stars, and their reflections were scattered across theke like diamonds. In a way, it was the ultimate spot for impressing girls. Privileged young men from S¨¹dlichen Strand often bring the girls they fancy here,

    Firstly, the hot springs themselves offered abundant opportunities. Secondly, the picturesque scenery made it the perfect backdrop for romantic confessions.

    Bowen and Aubree reached <b>Star </b>Lake Hot Spring Resort by mid¨Cafternoon.

    ¡°Ollic owns this ce. He found out it¡¯s your birthday today and insisted on throwing you a birthday bash. And it¡¯s not just Ollie here. Mark and Alvin are here too. Ollie and Mark <b>are </b>my closest buddies, so I want to introduce you to them formally,¡±

    ¡°We can join them for some activities before dinner, and after that, it¡¯ll just be the two <i>of </i>us,¡± Bowen borated. He was concerned that Aubree might feel ufortable in their presence<b>. </b>

    Aubree didn¡¯t doubt for a second that if she so much as shook her head, Bowen would immediately take her away. ¡°Sounds great! I¡¯d love to meet your friends.¡±

    12:57 PM

    ¦¯

    OP

    Bowen leaned across and gave her a gentle peck on the lips. ¡°They¡¯re all nice chaps.

    No sooner had Bowen and Aubree stepped into the resort than Milena Yurchenko arrived, arm in arm with Trevor Wilson. When she saw Aubree ahead of her<b>, </b>Milena froze. ¡®Aubree Miller? <b>If </b><b>that¡¯s </b>really her, then who¡¯s that <b>guy </b>with her?¡®

 Tried 319

    <b>Chapter </b><b>319 </b>

    In a private room at the hot spring resort, most of the group members had already gathered before Bowen and Aubree arrived.

    Ollie Lane was the first to arrive as he had to get things ready. Alvin Turner and Mark King arrived togetherter that morning.

    ¡°You¡¯re early! Didn¡¯t Ninae with you?¡±

    ¡°We came on the same flight. She went to pick up the cake Bowen ordered.¡± Ollie was sprawledzily on the sofa, snacking on a fruit tter and bantering with the rest.

    Momentster, Nina Pryor arrived carrying the cake Bowen had ordered.

    Ollie looked around the room. There were four of them, just right for a game of bridge. Thus, he took out a deck of cards and they yed a few rounds. Soon, he received a message on his phone. <b>¡°</b>They¡¯re here. Bowen just texted to say they are at the entrance.¡±

    Mark nodded dumbly.

    Ollie suddenly asked Alvin in a quizzical manner, ¡°<b>Hey</b><b>! </b><b>Doesn¡¯t </b>that <b>mean </b>Aubree <b>is </b>your <b>aunt</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alvin froze for a second. He realized he had <b>never </b><b>really </b>considered <b>that </b>question <b>before</b>.

    Aubree was actually a few months younger than him. <b>To </b>think that he had to <b>acknowledge </b><b>someone younger </b>than him <b>as </b><b>¡°</b>Aunt¡± henceforth¡­

    Alvin¡¯s eyelid twitched a <b>few </b>times before he gave <b>a </b>nonmittal grunt.

    This cracked Ollie up. <b>¡°</b>Alvin, <b>if </b>you <b>ask </b>me, you should straighten <b>your </b><b>Uncle </b><b>Bowen </b>out! We <b>can¡¯t </b>let that old <b>weasel </b><b>step </b>all over us like this!¡±

    Mark produced a trump suit at this <b>juncture </b>and won the game. Ollie <b>wailed</b>, ¡°<b>No </b><b>way</b>! <b>I </b><b>was </b><b>just </b>chatting and <b>wasn¡¯t </b>paying attention. That doesn¡¯t count!¡±

    Mark scoffed, ¡°Who <b>cares</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Ollie got angry and shoved the cards <b>aside</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b>I¡¯m not ying anymore!<b>¡± </b>He then noticed Nina <b>still </b>standing quietly in one <b>corner</b>, so <b>he </b>beckoned to her. ¡°Come sit down, Nina. No need to be <b>so </b>formal. <b>We¡¯re </b>all friends <b>here</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Not wanting to stand out too much, Nina took <b>a </b><b>seat </b><b>next </b>to Mark hesitantly.

    Mark turned to Ollie, ¡°You got here <b>yesterday</b>? What <b>were </b>you up toing <b>so </b><b>early</b>?¡±

    Ollie grinned wickedly and replied, ¡°Out of the three of <b>us</b>, only <b>Bowen </b><b>is </b>still a cherry boy<b>. </b><b>As </b>his bro<b>, </b>shouldn¡¯t I help him a little?¡±

    ¡°Hey<i>, </i>Ollie, <b>easy </b>now. Don¡¯t piss off my uncle.¡±

    Ollie said with relish, ¡°Ho! Just wait and see<b>. </b>After tonight, Bowen Turner will be kissing my shoes and thanking me!

    ¡°Back then, Aubree wasn¡¯t officially his girl <b>yet</b>. But now it¡¯s the first time <b>he¡¯s </b>celebrating her birthday after they got together. Did you guys see Bowen prepare any gift for her? I bet he¡¯s scheming to gift himself to her!¡±

    Mark wasn¡¯t optimistic about the sess rate. He chuckled as he <b>recalled</b>, ¡°When they <b>were </b>in Kroit City, the two of them got drugged, but Bowen summoned a doctor for Aubree while he himself just toughed it out.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Turner is almost thirty and still¡­? And after identally swallowing an aphrodisiac, he still didn¡¯t do anything with Ms. Miller¡­¡± Nina was incredulous,

    Strictly speaking, as bodyguards, they shouldn¡¯t pry too much into the employer¡¯s private affairs. However, Nina¡¯s curiosity overcame her and she asked timidly, ¡°Surely Mr. Turner isn¡¯t really¡­ unable<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Cough, cough¡­<i>¡± </i>Ollie choked on his drink. Nina was too frank.

    She lookedpletely serious, which <b>made </b>Mark burst outughing. ¡°Yeah, Bowen¡¯s really not up to it.¡±

    Alvin couldn¡¯t resist smiling in spite of himself.

    The door swung open at this point<b>, </b>and Bowen walked in with Aubree, who wasughing uncontrobly. ¡°If I still don¡¯t show up, who knows what kind of rumors I¡¯d be hearing about myself tomorrow!¡±

    Aubree thought to herself that she could perhaps vouch for Bowen that he was actually quite capable in this <b>aspect</b>.

    ¡°Haha! Huh? What<b>? </b><b>Ah</b><b>, </b><b>we¡¯ve </b>been <b>waiting </b>for you guys <b>forever</b><b>!</b>¡± Ollieughed ingratiatingly. Nina, <b>however</b>, <b>kept </b>her <b>head </b>lowered sheepishly.

    12:57 PM

    &

    Bowen wasn¡¯t actually angry. After all, if he could make Breeugh like that, it <b>was </b>all worth it.

    Now that everyone had arrived, Ollie herded the group to the dinner table. All of them weren¡¯t exactly chatty, except for Ollie. Thus, it was up to him to keep the conversation lively <b>at </b>the table.

 Tried 320

    Chapter <b>320 </b>

    Of course, no birthday celebration would beplete without presents.

    Ollie got the ball rolling by hauling out an exquisitely wrapped, rather sizable gift box. Grinning, he said, ¡®Bree, every single item in here was handpicked by yours truly. Make sure you take your time to go through them when you return to your room.¡±

    He practically purred thest few words, which were heavy with innuendo.

    Bowen shot a look at the gift box, one eyebrow arching ever so slightly.

    Nina gave Aubree a bracelet from a niche brand. ¡°I bought this at the official store. I think it really suits your style, Ms. Miller<i>, </i>she said earnestly.

    It was a blue and purple bracelet. Aubree <b>was </b>quite taken with <b>it </b>and put it on right away.

    Alvin¡¯s gift <b>was </b>as straightforward <b>as </b><b>it </b>could <b>be</b>. <b>He </b>simply gave her a gift card. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what you¡¯d like. Just buy whatever you want.¡±

    Likewise, his words were concise and to the point. Aubree <b>epted </b>the <b>gift </b><b>card </b>with a grin. ¡°Now <b>that¡¯s </b>a practical gift.¡±

    The most unexpected gift <b>came </b>from Mark. She assumed it would be <b>some </b><b>jewelry </b><b>or luxury </b>itemn<b>, </b>but instead, he gave her a in brown envelope.

    I heard that yourmand of Odiondian was <b>somewhat </b><b>shaky</b><b>. </b>And <b>you </b>still <b>have </b><b>to </b><b>cram </b>for thosenguage exams.

    Aubree¡¯s heart sank at this point.

    ¡°Here are some study materials I prepared <b>for </b><b>you</b>. I <b>have </b>checked them. <b>They¡¯re </b>from renowned <b>teachers </b>and <be </b>highly rmended,¡± Mark

    said.

    Mark <b>was </b>very¡­ thoughtful indeed.

    Aubree smiled awkwardly. ¡°Thank <b>you </b>so much.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. If you still <b>feel </b>that¡¯s not quite enough, I can <b>even </b>arrange private tutors <b>or </b>extra <b>sses </b>for <b>you</b>.¡±

    ¡°No¡­ that¡¯s fine. I should be able to handle those exams <b>myself</b><b>,</b>¡± Aubree politely declined.

    Mark continued earnestly, ¡°I can even help <b>you </b>prepare for the Business Grade <b>Test </b><b>Series</b><b>.¡± </b>

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®You <b>can¡¯t </b>be serious<b>¡­</b>¡®

    Her eyelid twitched a few times as she nced at Nina. Apparently, <b>Mark </b>had <b>been </b>pursuing Nina for <b>years</b><b>, </b>yet he had never once held her hand.

    ¡°Well, the reason is clear now<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree thought.

    Aubree forced a smile as she epted Mark¡¯s <b>¡°</b>gift.¡±

    Nina kept her head lowered and tried not tough. She <b>recalled </b>that unexpected night she spent with <b>Mark</b>. She still couldn¡¯t tell if he was simply stubborn or just in dense. He had insisted on ¡°taking responsibility<b>¡± </b>and just wouldn¡¯t <b>leave </b>her alone<b>, </b><b>even </b>though she wanted no part of it.

    After dinner, it was time to hit the hot spring pools.

    Star Lake Hot Spring Resort offered a luxury <b>spa </b>experience with excellent privacy. The group split up and headed for the separate men¡¯s and women¡¯s pools, respectively,

    Ollie nced left and right at Mark and Bowen with a look of mock disbelief. ¡°<b>I </b>can¡¯t believe you two aren¡¯t going to make a move!¡±

    Mark chuckled wickedly. ¡°You think I went out of my way to <b>ask </b>Nina along just to look at her?¡±

    Ollie¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡®Gosh! Even this blockhead is finally getting smart!¡±

    The story between Mark and Nina went back a number of years. Nina was highly skilled in martial arts. After the Turner family¡¯s eldest son had an ident, it was the senior Mr. Turner who stepped in to hold the fort. Later, when Bowen Turner took over the Turner Group, there were plenty of people just waiting to bring him down.

    For security and convenience, Bowen always had Nina apany him to dinner <b>events</b>.

    Mark and Nina first met when they got into a fight because of a misunderstanding<b>. </b>That brawl turned out to be the proverbial Cupid¡¯s arrow that shot into his heart.

    <b>12:57 </b>PM

    The second time they met, Nina took a drink meant for Bowen and ended up getting drugged, which led to an idental night with Mark. However, Nina had zero interest in spoiled rich brats like him who <b>were </b>all phndering profligates.

    No matter how hard Mark tried to get her attention, Nina just acted like he didn¡¯t exist. And this continued until now.

    Bowen gave Ollie a cryptic smirk. Haven¡¯t you already set everything up for me?<b>¡± </b>

    Ollie shuddered. ¡®Damn this bro!¡®

    In the women¡¯s changing room<b>, </b>Aubree was changing out of her clothes.

    22

 Tried 321

    Chapter <b>321 </b>

    Nina Pryor had already changed. Aubree gazed at her with envy. Nina¡¯s figure was very alluring. Years of rigorous training had sculpted her toned midsection until the rectus abdominis was well¨Cdefined. Her long, shapely legs were enough to make anyone¡¯s mouth water. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of extra fat on her athletic frame.

    ¡°Envious?¡± Nina shot Aubree a teasing look.

    Aubree nodded so hard that she resembled a bobble¨Chead doll. <b>¡°</b>Can I touch them?¡±

    Nina chuckled and then grabbed Aubree¡¯s hand and pressed it against her abs. ¡°Go ahead¡±

    ¡°But I bet Mr. Turner¡¯s abs are even more impressive than mine,¡± she added with <b>a </b>yful wink. She was clearly teasing Aubree.

    Aubree¡¯s ears reddened slightly though she tried to y <b>it </b>cool. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll find out tonight.¡±

    Nina burst outughing. <b>¡°</b>Alright, you go <b>get </b>changed. I¡¯m heading to the pool first.¡±

    Once Nina had left, Aubree finally began to put on her swimsuit.

    Aubree hadn¡¯t given much thought to the swimsuit she had brought. But after witnessing Nina¡¯s stunning physique in her swimsuit, she suddenly felt her own swimwear <b>was </b>embarrassingly immature.

    Aubree looked at herself and sighed deeply. Truly, one should <b>start </b>nurturing <b>certain </b>body <b>parts </b>from an <b>early </b><b>age</b>.

    The outdoor hot spring pool <by </b>beneath the <b>darkened </b>night <b>sky</b><b>, </b>and the suspended <bnterns </b><b>cast </b><b>a </b>warm glow that perfectlyplemented the serene surroundings. The paths <b>were </b>paved with <b>cobblestones</b><b>, </b>and wisps <b>of </b>white <b>steam </b>curled into the cool night <b>air </b>from the gently bubbling springs.

    After soaking in the pool for a while, Nina felt <b>thirsty</b><b>. </b>She put on a bathrobe and went out to get two bottles of water<b>. </b>As she turned <b>a </b>corner, a hand suddenly shot out from the side, seized her arm in a <b>vice</b><b>¨C</b>like grip, and yanked her into the shadows<b>. </b>

    Her robe slipped off, and Nina instinctivelyshed out with a swift kick.

    The assant¡¯s body felt very warm, and his hands grabbed her thigh expertly. ¡°It¡¯s me¡­¡±

    ¡°Mark King! Are you nuts? You think it¡¯s fun to frighten people?<b>¡± </b>Nina snapped.

    Upon hearing the familiar voice, the tension in <b>Nina¡¯s </b>body <b>eased</b>. Without ceremony, she yanked her arm <b>free </b>and shoved her elbow hard into Mark¡¯s chest in retaliation.

    Mark grunted in pain but refused to yield. His hand <b>was </b>still maintaining a firm grip on Nina¡¯s thigh. It <b>was </b>clear he had no intention of letting go.

    It only btedly dawned on Nina <b>just </b>howpromising her situation appeared. She <b>was </b>pinned against the <b>door </b>by Mark with one leg still firmly held in his hands. She was only wearing her swimsuit<b>, </b>and her body was pressed against his¡­ <b>It </b>could <b>give </b>rise to misunderstandings.

    The room was pitch ck, but with her good night vision, she could clearly make out those cold, dark eyes glinting with a dangerously captivating light in the shadows.

    Mark¡¯s hands, calloused from years of handling guns, slowly <b>caressed </b>Nina¡¯s thigh. Nina bit down hard on her lower lip. If it had been anyone else, she would haveshed out already. But this <b>was </b>Mark. Her body instinctively responded to his touch in spite of herself.

    1

    ¡°Are you done?<i>¡± </i>Nina asked in a deliberately stern voice, but a tinge of coyness could be detected,

    Mark finally released her and reached out to turn on the room light. He knew Nina¡¯s bathrobe had slipped off during their tussle. But now, seeing her body in its <b>full </b>glory, his eyes nearly popped out despite being mentally prepared. He swallowed hard a few times.

    Nina was highly amused. She yfully hooked a finger into Mark¡¯s belt and pulled him closer. The gesture loosened his robe, revealing a broad expanse of taut, well¨Cdefined muscles from her vantage point.

    ¡°Mr. King, true to your military background, your physique puts all those gymn rats to shame.¡± She even gave a cheeky wolf whistle.

    Mark lowered his head. ¡°Be my girlfriend, and you <b>can </b><b>see </b><b>this </b><b>every </b>day.¡±

    Nina raised an eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t know when to give up, do you?

    ¡°My answer is still the <b>same</b>. Casual dating is fine, but bing your girlfriend is out of the question,¡± Nina said. Truth be told, though she had always turned Mark down over the <b>years</b>, she had to admit that he was in a league of his own among all the men she had ever met, in terms of physique and stamina.

 Tried 322

    <b>Chapter </b><b>322 </b>

    Mark gritted his teeth as he struggled with a range of emotions. He brushed Nina¡¯s hand away. ¡°Then forget it.¡±

    Nina was surprised by his response. Then sheughed suddenly. After all these years, she couldn¡¯t say she never had any feelings for Mark. ¡°Mark, I¡¯m three years older than you.¡±

    ¡°So?¡± came the gruff reply.

    ¡°And I¡¯ll be thirty next year,¡± Nina continued. Mark suddenly remembered something. Like Nina, the Turner family¡¯s bodyguards were all orphan¡¯s and raised and trained from childhood. Compared to ordinary people, they simply received extra physical training.

    The Turner family also had an unwritten rule. <b>When </b>their bodyguards turned thirty, they could choose to start a new life elsewhere or remain with the family.

    ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. I¡¯m not staying with the Turner family<b>. </b>I¡¯m going to open a dessert shop. At that point, you can pursue me, Nina said with a smile.

    The Turner family had raised her, giving her the finest living standards and <b>educational </b>resources. Before she turned thirty, she belonged to the Turner family. <b>If </b>she got involved with Mark, it would not be <b>fair </b>to him.

    However, after thirty<b>, </b>she belonged to herself.

    Mark was so excited that his hands <b>were </b>trembling. <b>Just </b>moments ago, he had been acting all righteous<b>, </b>but now he pressed Nina¡¯s hand against his belt. He growled, voice dripping with desire, ¡°Can you <b>answer </b>my earlier question again? Will you be my girlfriend?¡±

    Nina decided to let her actions do the talking.

    In the changing room, Aubree finished changing. She wrapped <b>herself </b>in her bathrobe and headed toward the hot spring pool.

    Before she could step out, the changing room door swung open.

    ¡°Well, well, well! So it really <b>was </b>you <b>I </b><b>saw </b><b>at </b>the entrance!¡±

    Great. It¡¯s that lunatic I ran into at the swimsuit shop <b>earlier</b>. <b>Aubree </b>rolled her <b>eyes </b>and turned to walk <b>away</b>. Surprisingly, that lunatic didn¡¯t try to stop her.

    ¡°I¡¯m Milena Yurchenko.¡± Before Aubree exited, that lunatic called out and introduced <b>herself</b>.

    Milena Yurchenko?¡® Aubree whipped her head around. Although <b>Milena¡¯s </b>men broke <b>her </b><b>leg </b>in her previous life, Milena herself never showed her face. She onlymunicated through phone <b>calls </b>and <b>messages</b>. Though <b>Trevor </b>Wilson made Aubree the scapegoat to save his skin, ironically, Aubree didn¡¯t even know what Milena looked like.

    Thereafter, to retaliate against the Yurchenko family, the Wilson family allied <b>itself </b>with the Yurchenko family¡¯s enemies. Once Trevor was rescued, they gathered incriminating evidence of the Yurchenko family¡¯s illegal <b>activities </b>and brought the entire family <b>down </b>in one fell swoop.

    ¡°So you¡¯re Milena Yurchenko,¡± Aubree gave <b>a </b>wry smile. She hardly thought about Milena<b>, </b><b>yet </b>Milena chose to mess with her.

    Milena puffed out her chest and dered proudly, ¡°That¡¯s right! I¡¯m Trevor Wilson¡¯s current girlfriend, Milena Yurchenko!¡±

    ¡°Current girlfriend? Didn¡¯t he dump you already?<b>¡± </b>Aubree <b>gave </b>a disdainfulugh.

    Thatment struck a raw nerve with Milena<b>. </b>How did this woman know? She instantly exploded, her <b>eyes </b>wide in shock.

    It also strengthened Milena¡¯s suspicions that there <b>was </b>something between Trevor and Aubree.

    She held back her temper and forced herself to smile. ¡°So what? Trevor and I will end up together sooner or <bter</b><b>.¡± </b>

    ¡°Good for you then<b>, </b>came the indifferent reply.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t be bothered with her anymore and walked away for good.

    Milena¡¯s eyes shed with <b>malice</b><b>. </b>¡°That bitch<b>! </b>Who does she think she is?¡®

    Milena had no intention of making a move on Aubree here. There were too many <b>eyes</b><b>, </b>and too many people would talk. <b>Besides</b>, she relished tormenting people through slow<b>, </b>mental torture.

    Milena narrowed her eyes dangerously<b>. </b><b>She </b>would make sure Aubree suffer a slow and agonizing end!

    12

    12:58 PM

    C

    G

    With her mind made up, she suddenly felt much better. She quickly changed out of her clothes before returning to Trevor.

    ¡°Trevor, do you know Aubree Miller?<b>¡± </b>Milena asked innocuously.

    Trevor immediately put on <b>an </b>annoyed look. <b>¡°</b>Yeah, I know her. Nothing but trouble<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Milena¡¯s smirk widened into <b>a </b>malicious grin. ¡°<b>I </b><b>just </b>ran into her. She¡¯s staying here too.¡±

    ¡°She must have been stalking me,¡± Trevor said with deliberate smugness.

    <i>Å® </i>

    As he spoke, Trevor kept a close eye on Milena¡¯s expression. When he caught a fleeting glimpse of malice in her eyes, he knew the bait had been

    taken.

    He didn¡¯t make explicit his rtionship with Aubree, but he wasn¡¯t wrong to say that Aubree <b>was </b>nothing but trouble to him. Whatever else Milena imagined was entirely her business and had nothing to do with him.

    Comment

 Tried 323

    At the hot spring pool, Aubree didn¡¯t see Nina. She figured Nina must have gone to grab something, so she didn¡¯t give it much thought. She rested the water and then eased herself into the pool.

    The water was at the perfect temperature, and steam was billowing up all around. Coupled with the effect of the dinner wine she had earlier, the snak left Aubree feeling pleasantly drowsy. She simplyy on her belly against the edge of the pool and closed her eyes to rest.

    After receiving Mark¡¯s message, Bowen ditched Ollie and Alvin without a second thought and rushed to this side where Aubree was. When he arrived, this was the scene that greeted him.

    The steamy fog lingering over the pool made the girl Bowen adored look even more ethereal and lovely in his eyes.

    This was the first time Bowen had seen Aubree in a swimsuit. As she perched against the edge of the pool, her delicate face was flushed pink from the steam. Her bare back was exposed, and the swimsuit straps left faint red marks on her shoulders. <b>Her </b>overall rosy skin looked downright alluring.

    water<b>. </b>

    Bowen¡¯s fingers began twitching by his side. His <b>eyes </b>darkened momentarily. Next, he stripped off his clothes and slipped into the wa

    The Star Lake Hot Spring Resort was very <b>exclusive</b>. There <b>were </b>attendants stationed outside every pool, so Aubree was not worried about intruders. She simply assumed it <b>was </b>Nina returning.

    Aubree opened her eyes, wiping the <b>beads </b><b>of </b><b>sweat </b>from her <b>face</b><b>. </b>As she turned around, she could feel the water rippling. That meant someone was approaching.

    Before Aubree could see who <b>it </b><b>was</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>warm and damp body pressed against her <b>back</b><b>, </b>enveloping her <b>in </b><b>a </b>tight embrace.

    A familiar scent enveloped her. Aubree knew <b>exactly </b>who it <b>was </b>without even turning around. Her tensed¨Cup body instantly rxed, and she even leaned back against him. ¡°Why <b>are </b><b>you </b>here<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    She could feel Bowen¡¯s hot breath behind her neck. In the next second, she <b>was </b>bombarded by hot, passionate kisses.

    ¡°Mark took Nina <b>away</b><b>, </b>so I came to im my girl.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s fervent kisses rained down <b>as </b>his <b>face </b>burrowed into her body<b>, </b>fanning the mes <b>of desire </b><b>to </b>unbearable heights. Aubree was finding it increasingly hard to resist. With <b>their </b>almost naked bodies pressed against each other<b>, </b><b>just </b>one careless move and sparks would fly.

    Aubree turned around and pressed her palms <b>against </b>Bowen¡¯s <b>chest </b>to gently push him <b>back</b>. ¡°<b>Hey</b>, <b>you </b><b>can¡¯t </b><b>just </b>barge in like this!¡±

    Bowen already had a soak in the pool beforeing <b>here</b><b>. </b>His damp hair <b>was </b><b>stered </b>to his forehead, and <b>water </b>droplets <b>were </b>trickling down his face. He wore nothing but a pair <b>of </b>swim shorts.

    Aubree suddenly remembered <b>what </b>Nina said <b>earlier</b><b>. </b>¡°I bet Mr. Turner¡¯s abs are <b>even </b>more <b>impressive </b>than mine<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    She subconsciously looked further down from Bowen¡¯s <b>face</b>.

    That gesture sparked a dangerous misunderstanding. Bowen<b>, </b>already burning with desire pinned Aubree against the pool edge. ¡°What are you looking at? You¡¯re driving me wild.¡±

    He rubbed his body against Aubree for her to have a good feel. Her face froze in embarrassment. ¡°I only wanted to see your abs¡­¡±

    Bowen held her chin up and, without another word, nted his lips squarely on hers. Intense<b>, </b>passionate kissing followed, leaving Aubree utterly breathless.

    ¡°Mmph! Not here,¡± Aubree protested softly. Although no strangers would enter this ce, Nina might walk in any minute.

    Bowen¡¯s voice had turned Hoarse. ¡°Alright. Then let¡¯s head back to our room. You want to see my abs? I¡¯ll not only let you look, but also let you touch to your heart¡¯s content¡±

    He then continued kissing her as if he couldn¡¯t bear to be apart from her for even a second.

    Bowen suddenly picked Aubree up and carried her up the steps. Nestled in his arms, Aubree could look over his shoulder and down his back. His back muscles were also <b>taut </b>and sculpted. In addition, his butt was pretty perky too.

    His leg muscles were strong and supple, Aubree thought, ¡®If Bowen ever entered some manhuntpetition, he¡¯d probably take home a trophy.¡±

    Ollie had anticipated this and booked four suites. Naturally, Aubree and Bowen were assigned to share one.

    At the door, Bowen finally put Aubree down. He opened the room door with the <b>key </b>card and turned on the lights. What greeted them made their

    15

    12:58 PM <b>d </b>

    eyes pop out.

    Comment

 Tried 324

    <b>Chapter </b><b>324 </b>

    At first nce, it looked as <b>if </b>someone had spilled a bucket of red paint all over the room. Blinding red filled every corner. A thickyer of rose petals carpeted <b>the </b>entire floor. In the center <by </b>the tackiest gesture of all, <b>in </b>the form of a giant heart shape meticulously arranged from whole

    roses.

    There were also scented red candles and ambient mood lighting. Not a single d¨¦tail <b>was </b>spared.

    This room would put even the most extravagant honeymoon suite to shame. Aubree¡¯s heart shuddered as she recalled how Ollie had repeatedly urged her toe back and open his gift <b>here</b>.

    ¡°No way Ollie did all this?¡± Aubree whispered.

    Bowen¡¯s face clouded over. He told Ollie to make the room romantic but not turn it into some sleazy, over¨Cthe¨Ctop bordello! And the whole thing was <b>so </b>tasteless too<b>! </b>

    He wondered how Ollie managed to <b>stay </b>in the jewelry business with such bad taste¡­

    He closed his <b>eyes </b>briefly. Changing room was definitely out of the question now. They would just have to make do with this room.

    ¡°Ollie¡¯s taste is truly special. Stay away from him in <b>the </b>future,¡± Bowen advised.

    ¡°Have a rest first. <b>I¡¯ll </b><b>go </b>shower,¡± he added.

    Bowen headed for the bathroom. The moment he opened the door<b>, </b><b>neon </b>lights flickered <b>to </b>life like some cheap nightclub, and some unmistakably¡­ suggestive music started ring.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± A vein bulged on Bowen¡¯s temple <b>as </b>he <b>cursed </b>under his <b>breath</b>.

    Although she tensed up somewhat <b>earlier</b>, Aubree <b>felt </b>totally at ease now <b>as </b><b>she </b>copsed onto the bed and doubled over withughter. ¡°This is absolutely brilliant!¡± <b>she </b>yelled.

    ¡°Too bad Ollie never opened a love motel<b>. </b>He¡¯d be rolling in cash!¡± <b>she </b>added.

    Bowen dismissed the <b>idea </b>scornfully. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t even <bst </b><b>three </b>months before <b>closing </b>down<b>.¡± </b>

    Despite the ridiculous setup in the bathroom, Bowen gritted his teeth and stepped <b>inside anyway</b><b>. </b>

    Aubree¡¯sughter finally subsided, and she sat up. As <b>she </b><b>hugged </b>a <b>pillow </b>to her <b>chest</b>, her <b>ears </b>began <b>turning </b>red. She <b>was </b>nervous but also looking forward to what wasing next.

    Her gazended on the gift boxes on the <b>coffee </b><b>table</b><b>, </b>in particr <b>the </b>

    one from Ollie. Curiosity <b>got </b><b>the </b>better of her, and she decided to open it for a good look inside¡­

    She turned red from head to toe in an instant. She gingerly picked <b>up </b>the <b>so</b><b>¨C</b>called ¡°<b>outfit</b><b>¡± </b>inside with her thumb and index finger.

    It was a racy lingerie set. Notwithstanding the <b>fact </b><b>that </b><b>there </b><b>was </b>barely any fabric, <b>it </b>even had strategic cutouts in all the critical ces. Was this what they meant by ¡°Ready¨Cto¨Ceat?¡±

    There was more. Underneath the lingerie were <b>several </b>¡°<b>toys</b>.¡± <b>She </b>stood <b>frozen </b>in shock. Ollie had always seemed a bit lewd, but she never imagined he could be so debauched!

    Aubree hastily flung the outfit back as if her fingers <b>had </b>been burned. <b>She </b><b>then </b>gulped down some cold water to steady herself.

    ¡°Bree, you wanna shower?¡± Bowen called out from the bathroom.

    Aubree answered absent¨Cmindedly, ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡±

    ¡°Bree, I forgot my bathrobe. Can you get it for me?¡±

    Aubree selected a bathrobe from the wardrobe. As the sound of water in the bathroom stopped, she knocked on the bathroom door to hand over the bathrobe without thinking too much. Little did she know, Bowen didn¡¯t close the door securely when he went in. The moment her knuckles touched the door, it swung open.

    Her <b>gaze </b>instinctively swept to a certain spot, and her cheeks turned bright red. She hurriedly thrust the bathrobe at him. <b>¡°</b>Why didn¡¯t you lock the door?¡± she protested.

    ¡°Nothing wrong with <b>that</b><b>, </b>he <b>called </b>out.

    Before Aubree could figure out what he meant, Bowen suddenly grabbed her wrist. <b>As </b>water sshed forth from the shower head, she found herselfpletely drenched. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to shower too? Join me then.¡±

    <b>1/2 </b>

    <b>Bowen¡¯s </b><b>eyes </b><b>were </b>twinkling, and his breath <b>felt </b>hot against Aubree¡¯s <b>check </b>and <b>neck</b><b>. </b><b>She </b>couldn¡¯t even tell <b>if </b>the drops sliding down his chiseled <b>jaw </b><b>were </b>water or sweat.

    This guy <b>was </b>utterly bewitching¡­

    When they finally stepped out <b>of </b><b>the </b>bathroom<b>, </b><b>Aubree¡¯s </b>hands were shaking. Bowen had his arm around her with a very satisfied look.

    He led her to the bed. <b>¡°</b><b>Wait </b>for me<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    He then walked to the coffee table. Aubree<b>, still </b>lost in thought, suddenly remembered something. She had forgotten to close the gift box, and that scandalous outfit was <b>still </b>lying out in the open!

 Tried 325

    <b>Chapter </b><b>325 </b>

    ¡°Did Ollie give you this?¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°Mm¨Chmm¡­¡± Aubree¡¯s <b>face </b>was all red <b>as </b><b>she </b>shrank back. She dared not watch his reaction.

    Bowen gave a scornful snort. ¡°What awful <b>taste</b>.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face turned redder. ¡°<b>I </b>had no idea Ollie would give me this.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just like him,¡± Bowen said dismissively.

    He tossed the outfit back into the gift box and closed the lid. ¡°We¡¯ll send it back to himter. Let him enjoy it on his own.¡±

    +16

    Following this, he retrieved a rectangr box from the pile of presents. The sleek charcoal gray packaging perfectly matched his sophisticated style. As Aubree watched, he said, ¡°Happy birthday.¡±

    Aubree took the box and opened it. ¡°Huh?¡± Inside was <b>a </b>pair of bespoke crystal high heels, engraved with both their initials.

    Aubree still remembered how, in her previous life, Carmen had received a pair of bespoke high heels from Alice on her 18th birthday. She recalled vividly how envious she had felt then.

    It seemed that every girl dreamed of receiving a pair of high heels meant only for her when she grew up. It was as if owning them marked her passage into womanhood.

    Even thoughter, Aubree bought herself countless pairs of high heels, none could ever replicate the special feeling brought by that pair of heels at that moment.

    But now, everything was different. Someone hade into her life, someone who was slowly but surely making up for every regret she had ever felt.

    ¡°I had these custom¨Cmade to fit your height. Want to try them on?¡± Bowen smiled.

    Aubree nodded in anticipation.

    Bowen dropped to one knee and held up one heel in his hand. With the other, he pulled Aubree¡¯s foot to himself and slid the high heel on gently.

    From her perspective, Aubree could clearly see the top of Bowen¡¯s head as he knelt before her. He looked like a knight pledging his loyalty to his princess. That thought made her giggle. ¡°Bowen, you look like you¡¯re proposing right now.¡±

    ¡°Too bad I didn¡¯t bring a ring,¡± Bowen replied as he raised his head. His eyes were shimmering like a gxy, overflowing with adoration.

    Aubree¡¯s heart fluttered, but she put on an air of haughtiness. ¡°You think you can simply marry me as well with a mere birthday present? Dream on!¡±

    Bowen simply smiled.

    After putting on both shoes, they fit her perfectly.

    Aubree sprang eagerly to her feet and took a few steps, her back straight as a rod. Even in her nightgown, slipping on those sparkling heels made her feel as if she were gliding through a grand ballroom, adorned in an exquisite, luxurious gown. She twirled one round, her heart bursting with indescribable happiness.

    Bowen stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Aubree¡¯s waist from behind before pulling her into his embrace. ¡°You like the shoes <b>I </b>gave you?¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>Yes</b>, I love them!¡± Aubree gushed.

    ¡°Then stay with me by my side always?¡± he whispered.

    The mood was perfectst night. Though Bowen held back from going all the way, he still managed <b>to </b>enjoy every bit of intimacy he wanted.

    Back at the office, the investment funds from Manchotech had already been received.

    The next step was to start pouring money into massive marketing and advertising campaigns.

    However, Aubree mulled over Tengu¡¯s ambiguous attitude. Birgitte had grumbled countless times that Tengu was just stringing them along. Everything would seem to be settled, but as soon as it was time to sign the contract, they would suddenly raise one objection after another.

    ¡°Let¡¯s put Tengu aside for now. Since Manchotech¡¯s funds are already in, Tengu¡¯s participation isn¡¯t so critical.¡± From the start, she had chosen these two partners for their respective strengths: Manchotech¡¯s social media ecosystem and Tengu¡¯s distributionwork and connections.

    If Tengu was ying hard to get, they were not the only emerce yer in the market. Besides the Turner Group and Wilson Group, there were plenty of second¨Ctier options avable. Tengu was not a must¨C<b>have</b>.

    After Bowen gave her a hint, Aubree investigated and discovered that Tengu had never truly intended to partner with them. They had long since teamed up with the Wilson Group.

 Tried 326

    Chapter <b>326 </b>

    ¡°But we¡¯ve worked so hard for so long.¡± Birgittemented. Their team had spent a lot of time and effort pursuing Tengu. Though the other party was tough to negotiate with, she felt there was still a remote chance of sess.

    ¡°Just give up on them. They never had the intention to work with us at all. Alice came to S¨¹dlichen Strand with her family to meet Tengu¡¯s CEO Morhan Dunn. Tengu has already signed with the Wilson Group.¡±

    Anyone in this business could find out, with very little effort, that there was bad blood between Aubree Miller and the Wilson Group. All of Aubree¡¯s business partners did not associate with the Wilsons, at least on the surface. Since Morhan Dunn had already partnered with the Wilson Group, it meant he had been stringing Aubree¡¯s team along from the very beginning.

    ¡°Let¡¯s continue with the otherpanies that have expressed interest. We¡¯re done with Tengu, Aubree dered. To y safe, she had also shortlisted a few other potential partners after initially selecting Manchotech and Tengu.

    Birgitte finally gave up and cursed, ¡°Damn Dunn!¡±

    If there was any dy in securing their funding, the whole project would be dyed, but that was not their main concern. They were already in the red, and every day of dy meant bleeding more money.

    However, things were moreplicated than simply losing money. If Aubree¡¯s team were unable to deliver results, Manchotech might regret investing in them.

    If that were to happen, Aubree¡¯spany and reputation would take a massive hit, and it would be nearly impossible to secure subsequent funding.

    ¡°Ditch them. Once our project takes off, Morhan Dunn will regret it.¡± Aubree was determined to make Tengu Gruppe realize that choosing to partner with the Wilson Group would be the worst decision they had ever made.

    Birgitte wasted no time. Ads for GrabCheap popped up everywhere. They were on subways, buses, and major TVworks. After signing the contract, Manchotech also aggressively promoted GrabCheap on its two social media tforms. That was not all. Aubree also hired numerous celebrities and TV hosts as brand ambassadors, sparing no expense.

    The result was immensely gratifying. In just over ten days, GrabCheap once again surged in poprity. Its explosive growth left onlookers utterly astonished.

    Birgitte swiftlypiled the statistics and sent the report to Manchotech, which immediately responded with an additional two billion investment.

    When Aubree received the exciting news, she was already back on campus.

    She realized a lot had happened during her absence. The School of Art at Rithol University had coborated with Carmen Wilson¡¯s school to organize a countypetition. It was hosted by Carmen¡¯s school and organized by Rithol¡¯s School of Art, and students were free to form their own teams.

    Carmen had teamed up with the Krueger family¡¯s Irvin Krueger. Irvin then roped his buddy Alvin Turner in. In the end, Alvin unwittingly ended up joining Carmen¡¯s team.

    Although Carmen didn¡¯t drag them down and they even won the second prize, when Aubree brought up this matter, Alvin¡¯s face still clouded over.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t helpughing at thisical turn of events. Alvin shot her a dirty look. ¡°You can mock, but Carmen is having thestugh. She managed to salvage her reputation through thispetition. Turns out she does have some talent. The renowned painting master Percival Xaver has taken her in as his prot¨¦g¨¦ for personal coaching. She even has a solo exhibitioning up soon.¡±

    ¡°Oh? So she has be smart,¡± Aubree mused.

    Carmen was no slouch in painting. Before Aubree¡¯s appearance, she was ranked among the best in high school. So now, instead of following others blindly to go against Aubree, she had learned to leverage her own strengths to build up her street

    cred.

    ¡°Do you have any of her paintings? Show me.¡± Aubree was very curious.

    Alvin showed her a photo on his phone. Aubree raised an eyebrow, thinking, ¡®Have I provoked her into some kind of breakthrough? If Carmen Wilson had this kind of talent in my previous life, she wouldn¡¯t have needed me to achieve sess

    12/2

    at all.

    Indeed, Carmen had made tremendous progress.

    At this moment, Aubree¡¯s phone buzzed. It was a text message from, of all people, Carmen herself.

    And she wanted to invite Aubree to her solo exhibition

 Tried 327

    <b>Chapter </b><b>327 </b>

    Aubree showed Alvin the invitation message she had received.

    ¡°She¡¯s definitely up to no good,¡± Alvin said <b>at </b>once.

    ¡°She invited you too?¡±

    ¡°I got the invitation <b>ages </b>ago. Carmen¡¯s <b>pretty </b>sneaky. She made use of Irvin to invite me.¡± Alvin frowned at the recollection. Irvin seemed so decent. <b>He </b>couldn¡¯t understand how Irvin ended up hanging out with someone like Carmen. The more he thought, the angrier he <b>became</b>.

    Aubree <b>also </b>wondered out loud with knitted brows, ¡°What exactly is Carmen nning?¡±

    ¡°I <b>heard </b>the Wilson family and Percival Xaver organized this art exhibition for Carmen mainly to whitewash her giarism scandals. Otherwise, people would just keep bringing it up,¡± Alvin exined.

    Aubree <b>was </b>stupefied. ¡°<b>What</b>? Do they own a paint factory? They think they can just whitewash anything?¡± Even when the <b>offense </b>had been thoroughly investigated and verified, they still believed it could be whitewashed?

    Alvin shrugged. ¡°Who knows? She invited you, but she¡¯s probably just trying to capitalize on your clout. It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t <b>go</b>.¡±

    Aubree nced at the message again. Then she finally chuckled to herself. ¡°That only makes me want to check it out even more.¡± If need be, she might even stir up a little trouble for Carmen.

    She would never allow Carmen to achieve the same sess she had in Aubree¡¯s previous life. She did not deserve it.

    Aubree put away her phone. When Alvin saw that she was determined to go, he wondered whether he should tag along.

    ¡°By the way, weren¡¯t you still busy investigating that matter? Any progress? Need my help?¡± Aubree asked.

    Alvin smiled at her query. ¡°Almost there.¡±

    Previously, at the hot spring resort, Alvin found out from Mark King, who told him that the murderer of his parents was likely in Rithol City. Furthermore, Mark¡¯s men had also discovered that the little girl his parents saved had ended up in an orphanage, and that orphanage was also in Rithol City. And there was more.

    A chillingugh that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine escaped Alvin¡¯s lips. ¡°And coincidentally, all the suspects may be in Rithol City right now.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t know why, but under Alvin¡¯s piercing gaze, an inexplicable panic seized her. Forcing a smile, she managed to say, ¡°Well¡­congrattions then.¡±

    ¡°Once I get to the bottom of this, we can have a celebratory meal. My treat.¡± Alvin offered generously.

    ¡°Sure, thanks.¡±

    The two exchanged a knowing smile.

    Aubree didn¡¯t give much thought to Carmen¡¯s message. She might drop by just for the fun of it if she remembered. But if she was busy, she wouldn¡¯t go since it wasn¡¯t a priority anyway.

    When Aubree came into this life, she saw Carmen Wilson as her greatest enemy. Getting revenge on Carmen was the only thing that kept her going. Now that she had grown up and seen more of the world, her desire for revenge had not changed, but its priority had changed.

    Revenge <b>was </b>still a must, and everyone in the Wilson family would get what they deserved. But her life no longer revolved around vengeance.

    Now that <b>she </b><b>had </b>a thriving career, it was time for her to live the life she never had in her previous life and make up for her regrets<b>. </b>

    Due to the time spent in Kroit City and S¨¹dlichen Strand, Aubree had missed quite a few sses. She was determined to catch up. <b>After </b><b>all</b>, her professors already granted her certain exemptions. She had no excuse to fail her courses now.

    12

    However, Aubree didn¡¯t realize just how badly Carmen wanted her toe to her art exhibition.

    That afternoon, Carmen showed up at the entrance of Rithol University.

    <b>A </b>hunched¨Cback girl called Lilia Farnell ushered Carmen through the campus <b>gates </b>and murmured respectfully. ¡°Ms. Wilson, Aubree Miller is having lunch at Cafeteria A this afternoon.¡±

    Carmen hadn¡¯t heard back from Aubree. With no guarantee that Aubree would show up at her exhibition, she decided to <b>deliver </b>the invitation in person.

    Of course, Carmen knew full well how things stood between her and Aubree Miller. Even if she went in person and begged on her <b>knees</b>, Aubree might not agree to go.

    ¡°Have <b>you </b>found the <b>people </b><b>I </b>tasked you to find?¡± Carmen asked haughtily.

    272

 Tried 328

    <b>Chapter </b><b>328 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Yes, I found them. Ms. Wilson¡­ <b>are </b>you sure this won¡¯t be traced back to <b>me</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Lilia fiddled with her hands nervously.

    Carmen gave <b>a </b>scornfulugh. ¡°Well<b>, </b>that will depend on whether the fellows you found are any good, won¡¯t it?¡±

    <b>Lilia¡¯s </b><b>face </b>nched.

    Carmen watched Lilia¡¯s difit with relish before <b>a </b>strong sense of disgust overcame her. She couldn¡¯t understand how people like Lilia had the gall to entertain such vain hopes. Simply remembering why Lilia was so eager to obey her made Carmen¡¯s stomach churn.

    ¡°What about what you promised me before¡­?¡± Lilia asked tentatively.

    ¡°Once I have seeded with Alvin, getting you into the Turner Group will be a piece of cake, won¡¯t it?¡±

    Lilia¡¯s <b>eyes </b>sparkled with a twinkle of hope.

    Carmen then shooed Lilia away rudely and hummed a cheerful tune as she sauntered toward the cafeteria.

    +15

    Aubree <b>was </b>having lunch in the cafeteria. The Rithol University¡¯s cafeteria was surprisingly good. Some dishes were more tasty than those found in outside eateries, and the prices were affordable. Aubree actually quite enjoyed eating in the cafeteria.

    During peak lunch hour, the cafeteria was bustling with students. When a group of three or four guys walked in, no one took any notice of them. However, what made them stand out was that they did not proceed to buy food. They seemed <i>to </i>be looking for someone.

    Not surprisingly, their behavior caught Aubree¡¯s attention. The moment they saw Aubree, they came and sat right next to her, eyeing her menacingly. Aubree couldn¡¯t ignore them even if she wanted to.

    ¡®Troublemakers?¡® Aubree thought as she ate her meal unhurriedly. From the corner of her eye, she could tell they were undergrads too. They all had different physiques and did not seem to have undergone any formalbat training.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡°This should be easy.¡±

    However, they seemed to be undergrads here. Aubree herself was almost an absentee student, so who could be holding a grudge against her?

    Aubree still hadn¡¯t figured out when she finished her meal and returned her tray. When she left the cafeteria, that group also followed her. There were too many people in the cafeteria, which would exin why they didn¡¯t take action back then.

    As soon as Aubree turned a corner near the entrance, that group of undergrads blocked her way. One of them demanded, ¡°You¡¯re Aubree Miller, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Aubree looked at them quizzically. ¡°Yes?¡±

    They were just a bunch of undergrads after all. Their personalities were a little obnoxious, but they hadn¡¯t even stepped into society yet. Aubree, on the other hand, had lived two lives and now rubbed shoulders with industry titans. She was no longer the pushover in her previous life.

    By contrast, this group of boys was nowhere as confident as Aubree.

    The group exchanged nces before acting all bravado. One of them sneered, ¡°With all the things you¡¯ve done, you probably don¡¯t even know who you¡¯ve pissed off, do you?¡±

    ¡°Oh? So what are you gonna do?¡±

    ¡°What do you think we¡¯re gonna do? We¡¯re here to teach you a lesson!¡± One of them finally mustered sufficient courage to raise his hand threateningly.

    Aubree almost burst outughing as she wondered who sent these jokers. Their bunched¨Cup fists were practically trembling. At this point, she wasn¡¯t going to cut these clowns any ck. She instantlyshed out with a vicious kick, which sent one of them sprawling to the ground.

    That <b>first </b>victim still looked incredulous at being floored by a mere girl as hey there.

    Aubree had kept up her training and was no longer the frail, pitiful girl who first left the Wilson family. Even trained fighters

    4.26 PM

    might struggle to overpower her, let alone these wimps.

    Aubree generously gave the rest a demonstration of shoulder throws as they charged at her. They all ended up writhing on the ground. They <b>weren¡¯t </b>expecting Aubree to be so formidable!

    ¡°Are you guys students of Rithol University<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree asked icily.

    No one answered Aubree.

    Themotion was considerable, and soon a crowd of curious onlookers had gathered around them.

    ¡°Aubree<b>! </b>What happened? Are you hurt?¡± Carmen¡¯s voice suddenly rang out. She appeared from nowhere with the campus security guards in tow<b>. </b>

    In the end, she was flummoxed. Why wasn¡¯t Aubree the one lying on the ground?

    02/2

 Tried 329

    <b>Chapter </b><b>329 </b>

    Aubree <b>never </b>would have imagined that, despite Carmen¡¯s clear dislike for her, Carmen still respected her <b>character</b>.

    Carmen knew conventional methods wouldn¡¯t work on Aubree. But <b>she </b>remembered that Aubree was the type to <b>repay </b>kindness. So, her n was to <b>have </b>someone harass Aubree, then she¡¯d swoop in with her people to rescue Aubre¨¨.

    ¡®Aubree definitely wouldn¡¯t bother to look into this, and <b>even </b>if she did, she¡¯d never <b>trace </b>it back to me, Carmen thought to herself. ¡®No matter how disgusted or unwilling Aubree is, a favor owed is still a favor owed. When I invite her <i>to </i>my <b>art </b>exhibition, it¡¯ll just be a matter of course.<b>¡® </b>

    <b>At </b>first, Aubree hadn¡¯t suspected that Carmen was involved because it didn¡¯t seem like something Carmen would pull off. But Carmen¡¯s exaggerated expression <b>was </b><b>so </b>telling that Aubree couldn¡¯t help but connect the dots.

    Carmen hadn¡¯t <b>expected </b>Lilia to bring such a pathetic bunch. They couldn¡¯t even handle Aubree, a girl. Still, <b>as </b>someone good at pretenses, Carmen¡¯s <b>face </b>twisted for a split second before she instantly put on a look of surprise. ¡°Thank goodness you¡¯re alright, Aubree<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Aubree yed along <b>as </b>she tried to figure out what game Carmen was ying.

    ¡°I was helping my mentor deliver something to a friend at the art school. On the way, I heard you were having trouble at the cafeteria, so I called my bodyguards over. But it looks like you¡¯re fine, Aubree.¡±

    The troublemakers were quickly escorted away by campus security and handed over to the counselor.

    The onlookers dispersed once the spectacle was over.

    Aubree stared at Carmen with an icy expression. Carmen offered a fawning smile and said, ¡°Aubree, I know you dislike me-

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you get lost already?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s words left Carmen momentarily speechless, but she deliberately ignored them and continued, ¡°I¡¯vee to realize some of my past actions were wrong. I sincerely apologize to you.¡±

    With that, Carmen even bowed deeply. Aubree found it quite novel. In both timelines, this was the most sincere apology she¡¯d ever seen from Carmen:

    ¡°If you think my apology isn¡¯t sincere, Aubree, just hit me to vent your anger.¡±

    Aubree thought, ¡®A deal this sweet?¡®

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh. This was hands down the most sincere apology Carmen had ever given.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Carmen was just putting on a show. She figured with people still watching, Aubree would have to keep up appearances. Even if Aubree refused her apology, surely she wouldn¡¯ty a hand on her in public.

    Aubree¡¯s hand shot up, and shended a sharp, stinging p. ¡°Smack!¡±

    ¡°Who knew you¡¯d actually ask for something like this? As your good sister, of course, I¡¯m happy to oblige.¡±

    Carmen was stunned, rooted to the spot like a statue.

    The resounding pnded squarely across her face, leaving a searing pain. Half her cheek was ame with scorching agony.

    ¡°What?¡± Carmen stammered in disbelief, utterly stunned that Aubree had actually pped her.

    But <b>just </b><b>as </b>Aubree had pointed out, this was Carmen¡¯s own doing. No matter how much it stung or how furious she felt, she couldn¡¯t let it show. She had to grit her teeth and endure it. Worse still, she had to force a smile and ask if Aubree was appeased and willing to forgive her.

    Aubree felt much <b>better </b>after that p. ¡°Spit it out. What are you really after?¡±

    ¡°Did you get my <b>text</b><b>, </b>Aubree<b>?</b>¡± Carmen asked with puppy¨Cdog eyes. ¡°I¡¯d love for you toe to my art exhibition.¡±

    If Aubree hadn¡¯t known <b>better</b>, she might <b>have </b>believed Carmen was just a lovely girl, yearning for someone <b>special </b>to witness

    4.26 <b>PM </b>

    her big moment.

    Unfortunately, Carmen <b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>a </b>lovely girl, and Aubree wasn¡¯t the special <b>person </b>to Carmen.

    ¡°Well, about that¡­¡±

    Aubree deliberately drew out her words, then finally nodded her agreement under Carmen¡¯s anxious <b>gaze</b>.

    Aubree wanted <b>to </b><b>see </b>what tricks Carmen <b>was </b>up to this time.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not stand around here like circus freaks on disy,¡± Aubree said. Convinced that Carmen¡¯s art exhibition was anything but simple, <b>she </b>strode off without a backward nce.

 Tried 330

    <b>Chapter </b><b>330 </b>

    Carmen stood frozen in <b>ce</b><b>, </b><b>her </b>cheek still burning from the stinging <b>p</b><b>. </b>Her eyes glinted with malice, and her features <b>twisted </b>in fury. If she didn¡¯t need Aubree¡¯s help, she couldn¡¯t possibly have let Aubree humiliate her like this.

    Carmen seethed inwardly, thinking, <b>¡®</b>Just you wait, Aubree. Once the art exhibition is over and my reputation is restored, I¡¯ll make you pay with your <b>life</b><b>! </b>

    Those students were tight¨Clipped. Even though they failed, they didn¡¯t say who put them up to it. They just said they had a grudge against Aubree and wanted to <b>teach </b>her a lesson.

    Since Aubree hadn¡¯t suffered any actual physical harm, Rithol University downyed the incident, merely requiring the students involved to submit a written reflection, and the matter was quietly put to rest.

    The incident itself wasn¡¯t a big deal, but with Aubree¡¯s name attached, it still spread like wildfire.

    Those who paid attention to Aubree¨Cthe Wilson family and Bowen¨Clearned of the incident immediately. Bowen called to check on her right away, asking if she <b>was </b>hurt.

    The moment Carmen stepped into the Wilson family¡¯s residence, Bryan confronted her, ¡°Carmen, did you have anything to do with what happened at Rithol University?¡±

    Footage of the scene had surfaced, and Bryan spotted Carmen in it. He knew Carmen too well. If Carmen weren¡¯t involved, she would never have shown up at Rithol University.

    Although Bryan phrased it as a question, his tone left no room for doubt. He was clearly asking what mischief Carmen was brewing this time.

    ¡°Bryan,¡± Carmen asked indignantly, her eyes brimming with tears, ¡°do you really think I¡¯d go out of my way to have Aubree beaten up?¡±

    Bryan rubbed his nose. ¡°Then why were you at Rithol University?¡±

    ¡°I was just delivering something for my mentor to his friend at Rithol University. Is that not allowed now? Or am I supposed to avoid Aubree every time she shows up somewhere?

    ¡°Come on, Bryan, be reasonable. If Aubree doesn¡¯t want toe back to the Wilson family, is that really my fault? Was I the one who hurt her?<b>¡± </b>

    Under Carmen¡¯s questioning, Bryan was overwhelmed with guilt. Indeed, deep down, the whole family had shifted the me onto Carmen. Yet upon reflection, it was Carmen who had always stood up for Aubree and spoken in Aubree¡¯s defense whenever Aubree was being punished.

    ¡°On my way there, I overheard someone saying something had happened to Aubree, so I called campus security because I was worried about her. That¡¯s why I was there. I even invited Aubree to my art exhibition and begged her toe home.¡±

    As she spoke, Carmen deliberately tilted her face, revealing the swollen, reddened side where Aubree had struck her.

    Bryan instantly put two and two together. Given Aubree¡¯s current animosity toward their family, she must have struck Carmen.

    Guilt instantly washed over Bryan. ¡°Carmen, I¡¯m sorry. I was just too worried about Aubree, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Carmen shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Bryan. I know we¡¯ve wronged Aubree. As long as she¡¯s willing toe back, even if she still hates me, that¡¯s fine.¡±

    Bryan felt that he had misunderstood Carmen. He said, ¡°Carmen, how about Ie to your art exhibition and bring you a gift?¡±

    Carmen nodded, a smile spreading across her face. ¡°Thank you, Bryan.¡±

    After Bryan left, Carmen smirked triumphantly. She¡¯d been carefully lying low in the Wilson family, deliberately letting them me her, then artfully ying the innocent victim, all to make Ronald and the others drown in guilt.

    Guilt really was a handy tool. Her standing in the Wilson family still wasn¡¯t what it used to be, but at least she was no longer

    4.26 PM

    stuck in that powerless, <b>passive </b>state like <b>before</b>.

    Humming a tune, Carmen practically floated up the <b>stairs</b>. At thending, Trevor had been waiting for her for quite some

    time<b>. </b>

    ¡°Oh, Trevor<b>! </b>When did you <b>get </b>back?<b>¡± </b>Carmen jumped in surprise<b>, </b>panic shing in her eyes, afraid he¡¯d <b>see </b>through her carefully crafted <b>fa?ade</b>.

    <b>Trevor </b>said, ¡°Why <b>are </b>you <b>afraid</b>? I¡¯ve got your back.¡±

    <b>Trevor¡¯s </b><b>words </b><b>were </b><b>a </b>little too pointed, and Carmen looked away.

    Trevor <b>was </b>unfazed. ¡°When exactly is your art exhibition? Since you¡¯ve invited Aubree, can we keep her tied down that day?¡±

    ¡°The <b>art </b>exhibition is in three days. And since I¡¯ve invited Aubree, I¡¯m certainly hoping she¡¯ll stay with me right until the very end.¡±

    Trevor nodded, then swiftly messaged his assistant, Joey, with the art exhibition schedule and the news that Aubree would be tied up that day. He instructed Joey to leak this news to Milena.

 Tried 331

    <b>Chapter </b><b>331 </b>

    Before long, the <b>day </b>of Carmen¡¯s solo exhibition arrived.

    With the <b>Wilson </b>family¡¯s publicity efforts and <b>the </b>prestige of her mentor, <b>Percival</b><b>, </b>the top master of traditional painting in Lumanon, <b>her </b>solo exhibition turned out to be quite the event.

    Many industry leaders and <b>media </b>outlets showed up out of respect, but inevitably, some denounced Carmen for her past giarism <b>scandals</b>.

    Aubree had agreed toe, but punctuality was never her style. She took her sweet time enjoying a leisurely lunch before strolling to the exhibition at her own pace. In stark contrast, Carmen had specifically stationed herself at the entrance, waiting for her arrival.

    On such an important <b>day</b><b>, </b>the Wilson family naturally showed up in full force to show their support for Carmen. With Aubree personally promising to attend, every single family member was present.

    Carmen hurried forward to greet her. ¡°Aubree, you finally made it.¡±

    Aubree smoothly sidestepped Carmen¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°Quite the fanfare for me, huh?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s gaze swept over the Wilson family, her sarcastic tone making Ronald turn beet red. Back when Aubree was still with the Wilson family, he¡¯d always brushed off her matters, even though she was his daughter. Sometimes he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to send his secretary.

    Yet for Carmen, an adopted daughter, the whole family would mobilize even for the most trivial matters.

    Aubre thought to herself, ¡®Now the whole Wilson family is putting on this grand spectacle just to catch a glimpse of me and say a few words? The irony is almostughable.

    Ronald¡¯s face burned as if he¡¯d been pped a dozen times across the face.

    Ronald awkwardly said, ¡°Aubree, your mom, brothers, and I do care about you.¡±

    Aubree rolled her eyes, as if she was saying, ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡±

    Carmen was undoubtedly the center of attention at this exhibition. Wherever she went, all eyes followed.

    The onlookers were stunned to see Aubree show up, especially since rumors had long circted that all of Carmen¡¯s past achievements were actually thanks to Aubree.

    ¡°Aubree, my mentor will be here soon. He¡¯s keen to meet you. Let me show you around the exhibition first,¡± Carmen said. She instinctively reached out to take Aubree¡¯s hand, then hesitated, her hand hovering awkwardly in mid¨Cair, worried Aubree might not like being touched.

    Aubree came here just to <i>see </i>what tricks Carmen had up her sleeve. She was prepared for both scenarios, whether she showed up or not. Instead of waiting for Carmen to set a trap, she¡¯d rather take the initiative and be ready to counter whatever Carmen threw at her.

    Aubree thought, ¡®But then¡­

    Aubree¡¯s gaze swept over Daxton and Alice. She was surprised that they didn¡¯t show even a hint of dissatisfaction toward her.

    And then there was Trevor, watching her with an amused smile that practically screamed, ¡°I¡¯m up to no good.¡±

    Ronald and Bryan, however, looked at her with such eager anticipation that it almost seemed like they were truly looking forward to her arrival.

    ¡®Now this is getting interesting, Aubree thought.

    Aubree followed Carmen as Carmen led her around the exhibition. ¡°Thatment I made about Carmen getting smarter?¡® Aubree mused. ¡®Looks like I need to give it even more credit now.

    Before Aubree joined the Wilson family, Carmen excelled in traditional painting and watercolor painting. Aubree, in stark contrast, preferred bold, vibrant oil paintings.

    The former mentor who once taught both Aubree and Carmen praised Aubree¡¯s paintings as vibrant with life and rich with

    4:27 PM C

    emotion, saying she was destined for greatness. As for Carmen, while undeniably talented, her works <b>were </b>unfortunately rather rigid andcked that spark.

    46

    Those words drove Carmen <b>to </b><b>switch </b>to oil painting, <b>hell</b>¨Cbent on outshining Aubree<b>. </b>The more she felt overshadowed, the more <b>desperately </b>she sought the spotlight, until things <b>escted </b>to the point where she¡¯d resort to anything<b>¨C</b><b>even </b>theft¨Cjust to keep Aubree down.

    272

 Tried 332

    Chapter <b>332 </b>

    If Aubree knew what Carmen was thinking, she¡¯d surely find it hrious. After all, the mentor¡¯s final words back then were that if Carmen just kept at it, she¡¯d make something of herself someday.

    Now, Carmen seemed to have finally found her footing. She understood where her true strengthsy. With Percival as her mentor, even Aubree had to admit that Carmen¡¯s progress was remarkable. At this point, she genuinely had what it took to hold a solo exhibition.

    The showstopper of the entire exhibition was the centerpiece painting. It wasn¡¯t Carmen¡¯s work, but a priceless masterpiece by a renowned modern traditional painting master. Bryan had specially acquired it out of guilt after misunderstanding Carmen..

    Many were drawn here by this masterpiece alone.

    ¡°Do you like this painting, Aubree?¡± Carmen asked. ¡°Such a shame Bryan got it especially for me. Otherwise, I¡¯d give it to you. Even Stan, the former vice president and now president of the Art Association, ising specifically to see this masterpiece.¡±

    Aubree smirked and thought, ¡®Stan is willing toe? Has Carmen forgotten that her most humiliating moment was exposed by none other than Stan himself? Yet she still dares to invite him here?¡®

    Aubree was starting to piece together what Carmen was up to.

    ¡°Really? It seems you¡¯ve prepared quite thoroughly,¡± Aubree said with a smile.

    The underlying meaning in her words made Carmen slightly uneasy. She wondered if Aubree knew something.

    The thought shed through Carmen¡¯s mind, but she quickly regained her confidence. She thought, ¡®Who cares if Aubree knows or not? This is my carefullyid trap. Even if Aubree hadn¡¯t shown up, every part of my n would still go exactly as intended.

    ¡°Percival is here!¡±

    The exhibition hall suddenly erupted inmotion. Percival had arrived.

    While Carmen was showing Aubree around the exhibition, the rest of the Wilson family kept their distance. Some yed along with Carmen, while others were wary of upsetting Aubree.

    ¡°Carmen,¡± Alice hurried over and said, ¡°your mentor is here. Let¡¯s go greet him properly.¡±

    Carmen nodded and turned to Aubree. ¡°Aubree, let¡¯s go together. I told Mr. Xaver how exceptional your oil paintings are. He¡¯s been eager to meet you.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°Alright then.¡±

    Aubree followed Carmen into the main hall, where Percival stood with Ronald and Bryan. Both treated him with respect..

    At barely eighteen or neen, Carmen already possessed the talent to host her solo exhibition. Artistically, she was undeniably gifted. Out of respect for his young prot¨¦g¨¦, Percival showed the Wilson family every courtesy.

    Camera shes went off nonstop as Percival, not holding back his admiration, praised Carmen warmly, ¡°Carmen is incredibly gifted. Given time, her achievements might even surpass mine.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Xaver,¡± Carmen yfully pouted, having just overheard thepliment, ¡°if you keep praising me like this, I¡¯ll get a big head.¡± Her teasing sent Percival into a fit ofughter.

    Percival¡¯s gaze then fell upon Aubree. Picking up on his cue, Carmen introduced, ¡°Mr. Xaver, this is my sister, Aubree, the one I¡¯ve mentioned to you before.¡±

    ¡°Tch.¡± The instant Percival confirmed Aubree¡¯s identity, his attitude turned frosty.

    Aubree arched a brow. It seemed that Carmen must have said bad things about her.

    The crowd instantly picked up on the brewing drama.

    ¡°Mr. Xaver,¡± a reporter pressed, ¡°why did you choose Carmen as your prot¨¦g¨¦? Aren¡¯t you aware of her past giarism scandals? Many of the paintings that brought her recognition were either ghost¨Cpainted by her sister, Aubree, or outright giarized. Doesn¡¯t any of that bother you?¡±

    4.27 PM

    The reporter¡¯s question clearly struck a <b>nerve </b>with Percival, but this time, his fury <b>was </b>aimed squarely at Aubree.

    He said, ¡°Some <b>petty </b>schemers think they¡¯re <b>so </b><b>clever</b><b>, </b>and you actually fell for it?¡±

    Aubree <b>stared </b>him down. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    Percival didn¡¯t even try to hide his disgust. ¡°You¡¯re jealous of Carmen and deliberately framed her. Do I need to spell it out any <b>clearer</b>?¡±

 Tried 333

    <b>Chapter </b><b>333 </b>

    Aubree <b>was </b>stunned.

    Aubree let out a sardonic chuckle, crossing her arms. She thought, <b>¡®</b><b>So </b>much for this so¨Ccalled master of traditional painting. He can¡¯t even tell right from wrong.¡±

    ¡°Seriously<b>?</b>¡± Aubree retorted. ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one who exposed Carmen for hiring a ghost painter, cheating, and giarizing. Are you honestly trying to me me for all that undeniable proof?

    ¡°Did I force her to hire me as her ghost painter, or did I hold a gun to her head and make her submit my works in thepetitions as her own?¡±

    Carmen stepped in to mediate. ¡°Mr. Xaver, let¡¯s not dwell on the past. I admit I was at fault before, but that¡¯s <b>all </b>behind us now. After all, isn¡¯t today supposed to be a celebration of my solo exhibition? Mr. Xaver, why don¡¯t you take a look at my paintings and tell me what you think?¡±

    Carmen put on an act of not wanting to <b>cause </b>trouble, but the more she did so, the sorrier Percival felt for her.

    JCarmen, you¡¯re just too kind¨Chearted. You¡¯d rather suffer in silence than <b>see </b>others get hurt. Some people just think you¡¯re an easy target,¡± Daxton said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

    The crowd thought, ¡®What exactly does that mean?¡±

    The crowd exchanged nces. Carmen¡¯s past scandals were ancient history, and she¡¯d proven her talent now. After all, who hadn¡¯t made mistakes? Out of respect for the Wilson family and Percival, everyone tacitly agreed to let bygones be bygones and cut her some ck.

    However, they wondered if there was another plot twist, and they had misjudged Carmen from the start.

    Alice sighed deeply. ¡°Aubree, Carmen¡­¡± Her voice trailed off.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Silence really does speak volumes. They barely said a word, yet suddenly, everything is my fault!

    Percival red at Aubree. ¡°Carmen did use your paintings, and you ghost¨Cpainted for her in thosepetitions, but wasn¡¯t it all for your sake in the first ce?¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh. She thought, ¡®All for my sake? I can¡¯t believe Carmen actually dares to say that. When was it ever not the Wilson family forcing me to do that?

    ¡®Every time something went wrong, it was pinned on me, but whenever something good happened, Carmen was the prodigy. I¡¯m just a convenient scapegoat.

    Aubree just watched, wondering what other kind of bullshit Percival would say next.

    ¡°Carmen, I know you don¡¯t want <i>to </i>hurt the bond between sisters, but as your mentor, I can¡¯t just stand by and watch you get ndered like this,¡± Percival dered firmly.

    The onlookers were left utterly bewildered. They wondered if Carmen really had been hiding something.

    ¡°Everyone, look at this exhibition. All the paintings here are traditional watercolor works,¡± Percival said. ¡°Yet every problematic piece linked to my student, Carmen, whether from pastpetitions or those exposed on social media, was entirely in the oil painting style.

    ¡°Who in their right mind would enterpetitions or assessments using a style they¡¯re not even proficient in?¡±

    The crowd felt that it actually made some sense.

    Percival continued, ¡°As far as I know, Aubree, isn¡¯t oil painting your specialty?¡±

    Aubree watched the whole charade unfold with a mocking smirk. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m good at oil painting. So what? Doesn¡¯t that prove all of Carmen¡¯s past paintings were done by me?¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Percival never expected that even now, Aubree would remain so brazenly defiant.

    He thought, ¡®Does she really think her schemes would go unnoticed?¡±

    ?

    427 PM D

    He <b>was </b>determined to <b>reveal </b>Aubree¡¯s true colors.

    15

    Percival red. ¡°You <b>were </b>unfavored in the <b>Wilson </b>family and craved for attention. That¡¯s why you begged Carmen to let youpete. You didn¡¯t care about rankings, you just wanted the Wilson family to notice you.

    <b>¡°</b>You fed <b>Carmen these </b>lies<b>, </b>and kind¨Chearted <b>as </b>she is, she went along with it. But you <b>never </b>expected that your parents and brothers didn¡¯t care about your <b>paintings </b>at all. Instead, they med you for ruining Carmen¡¯s reputation.

    ¡°Since Carmen isn¡¯t good at oil painting, she had no choice but to let you keep painting for her, and that became leverage you could hold over her.

 Tried 334

    <b>Chapter </b><b>334 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Carmen never wanted to use your paintings in thepetitions. But <b>to </b>prove yourself, you left the Wilson family to get attention. You might be clever and talented, both in your studies and in art, but your heart is rotten to the core. You¡¯re jealous of your sister and want nothing more than to destroy her.¡±

    <b>A </b>stunned silence fell over the crowd. They thought, ¡®Could what Mr. Xaver said really be the truth?¡¯

    Percival¡¯s version of events suddenly seemed surprisingly usible.

    Carmen¡¯s solo exhibition featured exclusively traditional watercolor paintings. It was <b>a </b>fact that spoke volumes, especially considering she <b>was </b>taken as a prot¨¦g¨¦ by Percival, a renowned master of traditional painting.

    Most importantly, the Wilson family¡¯s deafening silence spoke volumes.

    The crowd wondered if their silence meant consent.

    Bryan wanted to stand up for Aubree, but he knew full well the consequences of helping her.

    One onlooker said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve always wanted to say this. When I first learned about Carmen, she made a name for herself with her watercolor paintings. So when she waster publicly shamed for giarism, I was truly baffled. Why would someone skilled in watercolor paintings be used of giarizing vividly colored oil paintings?¡±

    The situation now seemed almost one¨Csided.

    A flicker of joy gleamed deep in Carmen¡¯s eyes as heated debates erupted all around her. Everyone was now questioning if Aubree had set Carmen up. If that were the case, it would be terribly unfair to Carmen.

    ¡®Exactly, that¡¯s it!¡® Carmen exulted inwardly, barely containing her glee. ¡®Serves her right! Aubree deserves to be scorned and condemned by everyone.

    ¡®What right does Aubree, an orphan bastard from the orphanage, have topete with me? Since she left the Wilson family, she should have died out there long ago. Why did she have toe back?

    ¡®It¡¯s bad enough that she came back. But why can¡¯t she just know her ce and stay under my thumb? Why must she fight back and steal <i>my </i>thunder? Aubree should just drop dead.

    ¡°Hold it!¡±

    Before Aubree could say a word, a middle¨Caged man¡¯s voice sharply cut in.

    An onlooker eximed, ¡°It¡¯s Stan, the president of the Art Association!¡±

    Stan was known for his integrity andmanded immense respect in the art world thanks to his prominent status. He was the first to expose Carmen¡¯s tant giarism during apetition, and given his sterling reputation, his testimony at the time had practically sealed Carmen¡¯s fate.

    If Carmen¡¯s mentor hadn¡¯t been Percival, any imsing straight from her today would have carried far less credibility.

    Stan hade for the paintings, but never expected the organizer of the exhibition to be Carmen, the very girl he had personally exposed for giarism. Had he known, he might not havee.

    But now, he was actually d he¡¯de.

    Stan had kept the painting Carmen once used to mislead everyone, hoping to track down its true creator, but his search had alwayse up empty.

    After hearing everything just now, Stan realized that the girl in front of him, Aubree, fit every characteristic. He pulled out his phone, disying a photo of the painting. ¡°Is this your work?¡±

    Aubree looked over and thought, ¡®Oh, it¡¯s that painting.

    This was a painting she created in a moment of overwhelming grief and anger. The experiences it embodied were too painful to revisit, so when she left the Wilson family, she left it behind.

    ¡°It¡¯s mine,¡± Aubree replied. ¡°Mr. Frazier, I suppose you still have this painting. When you get back, take a sketching pencil and trace over the lower right corner on the back. You¡¯ll find my signature there<b>.¡± </b>

    11/2

    <b>Stan¡¯s </b>excitement <b>was </b>palpable. ¡°Don¡¯t <b>worry</b>, <b>I </b>stand by you in this matter today.¡±

    Aubree <b>was </b>somewhat taken aback. This was an unexpected stroke <b>of </b>luck.

    Stan stood firmly beside Aubree<b>, </b>his piercing gaze locked on Carmen. ¡°I find no credibility in someone who giarized another¡¯s work in apetition.

    ¡°You all imed that Aubree begged you to submit her paintings for thepetitions just to get her family¡¯s attention. That¡¯s utterly <b>baseless</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Stan¡¯s words rang out with <b>undeniable </b>authority.

    The onlookers had seen enough drama. They wondered if there could be another twist.

 Tried 335

    <b>Chapter </b><b>335 </b>

    Carmen invited Stan to <b>the </b>art exhibition with the <b>real </b>aim of making him see that the wholepetition incident had just been a misunderstanding. <b>Given </b>Stan¡¯s character and Percival¡¯s influence, once <b>the </b>media covered the story, Stan would have no choice but to speak up for her.

    By then, with the two titans of the art world backing her, Carmen knew no one would dare bring up her past scandals again.

    Character before craft¨Creputation was everything in the art world.

    Although she never showed it, Carmen was well aware that during her recent visits to those masters with Percival, most of them looked down on her, and even their students disdained to associate with her.

    Without clearing her name, Carmen knew she would never reach the pinnacle of the art world.

    What Carmen never expected was that Stan could still be so hung up on that painting even now. Furthermore, from their earlier conversation, he had even deduced that the creator was most likely Aubree.

    When Stan caught her red¨Chanded for giarism, he questioned her about the original creator of that painting. Of course, she couldn¡¯t tell him. But she never expected that even after a whole year, he¡¯d still be hung up on it.

    Carmen subtly lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions in her eyes. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter,¡¯ she mused. ¡®Even with Stan here, Aubree won¡¯t escape my carefullyid trap this time!

    Carmen took a steadying breath, and met Stan¡¯s gaze firmly. ¡°Mr. Frazier, I know you¡¯re prejudiced against me, but everything should be based on evidence.

    ¡°I hadn¡¯t wanted to bring up the past. After all, I¡¯ve already¡­ There¡¯s no need for Aubree to suffer along with me. But I can¡¯t let my mentor be misunderstood, so, Aubree¡­¡± She cast a look of mock apology at Aubree.

    She looked quite convincing in her act.

    Stan was furious. He fumed, ¡®Does Carmen take everyone here for fools?¡®

    Of course, Carmen wasn¡¯t taking everyone for fools. She knew perfectly well that at her art exhibition, whether people came for Percival¡¯s sake, the Wilson family¡¯s reputation, or a genuine appreciation for her art, everyone present was already inclined to take her side from the very beginning.

    Her pompous pronouncements, when echoed by Percival, carried the weight of a master¡¯s authority and the allure of idol worship. As a result, even the flimsiest arguments were readily epted without scrutiny.

    Once something had already been judged subjectively, wouldn¡¯t it inevitably take on a whole new meaning as word spread?

    ¡°Regardless of how things unfolded, what¡¯s done is done. I admit my fault in indulging Aubree. So today, in front of the press, my mentor, and my family, I want to formally apologize for everything I¡¯ve done.¡±

    Carmen stood poised and dignified, boldly acknowledging her mistakes. This instantly won over many in the crowd.

    Stan¡¯s eyes zed with fury. Approaching sixty, he had devoted his entire life to art and had no wife or children. He would never tolerate anyone exploiting painting for personal gain and framing others right before his eyes.

    ¡°What utter nonsense! I vouch on my honor, judging by the level of that painting I saw, Aubree is absolutely destined for the pinnacle of the art world. And it¡¯s not just me. I dare say no one in the entire country can surpass her.

    ¡°For someone as talented as Aubree to need to resort to such underhanded tactics just to get noticed¨Cthat¡¯s simplyughable. She wouldn¡¯t even need to enter anypetitions; just taking the SAT as usual would be more than enough for the entire art world to recognize her.

 Tried 336

    <b>Chapter </b><b>336 </b>

    0

    ¡°<b>If </b>Aubree truly had to resort to those <b>so</b><b>¨C</b><b>called </b>tactics <b>you </b>use her of <b>just </b>to gain your family¡¯s recognition, then this <b>is </b>nothing short of tragic. You¡¯re destroying a rising <b>star </b>in the art world. <b>Just </b>how blind must your entire family be to mistake a priceless pearl for <b>a </b>worthless stone<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    As he spoke, Stan¡¯s anguish <b>was </b>palpable. He was truly sad. He¡¯d heard of Aubree, a brilliant entrepreneur with remarkable achievements. Given all her current <b>sess</b>, he knew she¡¯d never pursue painting again.

    ¡®<b>If </b>only I¡¯d met Aubree sooner, Stanmented inwardly.

    This only intensified Stan¡¯s growing disgust for unscrupulous individuals like Carmen. The Wilson family, who blindly took her side, earned his utter disdain.

    Stan¡¯s words <b>caused </b>the crowd¡¯s expressions to shift repeatedly.

    Stan was the president of the Art Association, renowned for his fairness and obsession with art. Anyone who got a single word of praise from him <b>was </b>destined for greatness. And now, he was actually praising Aubree to the skies.

    Then again, true talent spoke for itself. If Aubree could earn such high praise with just one painting, would she really need those underhanded tricks Carmen mentioned to get noticed?

    Besides, if Aubree really cared that much about the Wilson family, why would she have left and switched to regr academic studies? That just didn¡¯t add up.

    Suspicious gazes drifted over Carmen, even causing Percival¡¯s authority to waver. After all, Percival was Carmen¡¯s mentor. Surely he would side with his prot¨¦g¨¦.

    Seeing the tide turning, Alice scoffed and said, ¡°Mr. Frazier, you might be a master in the art world, but I doubt you really understand the minds of young girls.

    ¡°Aubree is my biological daughter. She lived in an orphanage, and aftering home, she grew jealous of the way my adopted daughter, Carmen, was doted on by the family. Naturally, she wanted to seek attention.

    ¡°People will stop at nothing to get what they want. Knowing we¡¯d never forsake Carmen just because Aubree is our biological daughter, when Aubree couldn¡¯t chase Carmen out, she resorted to every spiteful act imaginable to make us hate Carmen.

    ¡°She¡¯s utterly scheming, Mr. Frazier. Don¡¯t let yourself be manipted by her.¡±

    Alice leveraged her status as Aubree¡¯s mother. In the eyes of others, a mother¡¯s words would always carry significant credibility, regardless of how fractured their actual rtionship was.

    The standoff continued, neither side willing to yield.

    Carmen pretended to be put on the spot.

    Stan¡¯s eyes widened in shock at Alice¡¯s words. He was appalled that such parents existed. They couldn¡¯t even tell right from

    wrong.

    Even as an outsider, Stan could see that Carmen was rotten to the core. Yet, Alice stood there in front of everyone, adamantly dering her biological daughter, Aubree, to be a scheming viin.

    The rest of the crowd remained silent, too.

    Aubree reached out and gently tugged on Stan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mr. Frazier, thank you for speaking up for me.¡±

    Aubree lifted her face and beamed with a radiant smile. Stan¡¯s heart ached for her. He thought, ¡®What a wonderful girl she is.

    Then, Aubree turned to Ronald. ¡°Mr. Wilson, don¡¯t any of you have something to say?¡±

    Ronald hung his head in shame. He couldn¡¯t speak up. If he did, the Wilson family¡¯s reputation would be damaged. He hadn¡¯t realized this was exactly what Alice had in mind when she called them here.

    Their silence served as an implicit endorsement for Carmen.

    Bryan, for his part, wanted to speak, but seeing Ronald¡¯s silence, he too had no choice but to hold his tongue. He could only convey his apology through his eyes alone.

    J2

    Aubreeughed. ¡°You¡¯re all truly sickening. Wasn¡¯t it just a short while ago you were begging for me toe back, pleading for my forgiveness? And this is how you expect to earn it?

    ¡°You all know perfectly well that Ms. Diamonde is ndering me, yet not a single one of you speaks up. Every action you take only reinforces my conviction that leaving the Wilson family is the best decision <b>I¡¯ve </b>ever made.¡±

    Ronald¡¯s face drained of all color as he thought, ¡®I didn¡¯t mean for this to happen. Why can¡¯t Aubree try to see things from my perspective?

 Tried 337

    <b>Chapter </b><b>337 </b>

    Aubree ignored the pained look in Ronald¡¯s eyes. One more look at that face<b>, </b>and she might just puke.

    Aubree ignored Alice¡¯s words. She just sneered. ¡°You¡¯re the <bst </b>person who deserves to be called a mother.¡±

    ¡®After all her scheming against her own daughter, how dare she even call herself a mother?¡® Aubree thought.

    With that, Aubree turned her attack directly toward Carmen. ¡°At this point, you¡¯re sticking to your story, and I¡¯m sticking to mine. Both sides seem to have their points.<ol start="15"><li>15.</li></ol>

    ¡°You¡¯ve talked so much. Carmen, but where¡¯s your evidence? Since you made the usation, you should provide proof. If you can¡¯t prove I coerced you into those giarism incidents, I¡¯ll be filing a nderwsuit against you.¡±

    Aubree tilted her head slightly, a sweet smile ying on her lips.

    Carmen thought, ¡®How am I supposed to produce any proof when I fabricated the whole thing?¡®

    A dark glint shed in Carmen¡¯s eyes, but she showed no sign of panic. Instead, there was a hint of triumphant satisfaction.

    Aubree frowned slightly. ¡®What¡¯s she scheming now?¡® she wondered.

    Percival sneered. ¡°Who in their right mind carries a voice recorder around every day? You¡¯re asking for the impossible.

    ¡°Even surveince footage isn¡¯t kept for that long. Isn¡¯t the testimony from your brothers and parents enough for you?¡±

    Just as his words faded, an approaching voice called out in confusion, ¡°Carmen, what¡¯s going on here?¡±

    The voice cut in suddenly, making the crowd instinctively part to form a path. Three figures appeared. While the speaker¡¯s identity was unclear, the other two were so well¨Cknown that even those who didn¡¯t recognize them at first would have a look of surprise and recognition sh across their faces after a hint from the people around them.

    Carmen replied, ¡°Irvin, it¡¯s nothing. Mr. Xaver and Aubree just had a bit of a disagreement. Why are you here?¡±

    The arrivals were Irvin, Alvin, and Bowen, who had stubbornly insisted oning along.

    Alvin had been worried about Irvin getting too close to Carmen. And now that Aubree was also attending the exhibition, he figured he might as well tag along to keep an eye on things.

    As for Bowen, he put it bluntly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid my girlfriend will get picked on.¡±

    Alvin rolled his eyes. ¡®If Aubree isn¡¯t out there picking on someone, that person¡¯s having a lucky day. How could she possibly get picked on?¡® he thought.

    Despite all his grumbling, Alvin still obligingly brought Bowen along.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re Aubree.¡± Irvin looked at Aubree, his eyes instantly darkening with undisguised disdain.

    Bowen and Alvin were already standing beside Aubree, drawing a clear battle line.

    ¡°Carmen, Irvin asked, ¡°did she give you trouble again?¡±

    Carmen forced a weak smile. ¡°Not really,¡± she said, then exined what <b>had </b>happened. But the calcting glint that briefly shed in her eyes didn¡¯t escape Aubree¡¯s notice.

    Aubree wondered if Carmen was deliberately waiting for Irvin to arrive.

    Indeed, Carmen had invited Irvin, and through him, Alvin too. As she had calcted, both of them would show up because Irvin would inevitably pester Alvin intoing, just so she wouldn¡¯t be upset. And she also knew they would arrive deliberatelyte.

    Carmen curled her lips into a vicious smirk, and her gaze locked on Aubree as she thought, ¡°This time, I¡¯ll make sure everyone knows that I¡¯ll crush you beneath my feet.

    Her gaze shifted to Bowen, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He was an unexpected variable, but she didn¡¯t think his appearance could derail her ns.

    427 PM

    When Irvin saw the woebegone look in Carmen¡¯s eyes, his heart instantly ached for her.

    <b>0:90 </b>

    He said. ¡°What¡¯s <b>so </b>hard about that? Since both sides are sticking to their own stories, let¡¯s settle this with a live painting session. Each of you shall use your signature style.

    ¡°Everyone present can judge which piece is better. After all, there¡¯s <b>no </b>way the better artist would ever need to giarize from someone less skilled.¡±

 Tried 338

    <b>Chapter </b><b>338 </b>

    The crowd agreed. It sounded like a fair solution.

    Since Carmen excelled in traditional painting, if her work surpassed Aubree¡¯s oil painting, it would demonstrate her strength and prove she could have achieved thosepetition <b>results </b>without Aubree¡¯s ghost¨Cpainting <b>or </b>using Aubree¡¯s works.

    On the other hand, if Aubree¡¯s painting proved better, it would confirm that Carmen had been trying to pass off Aubree¡¯s works as her own.

    ¡°Well¡­ Carmen feigned hesitation, though her eager tone and expression betrayed her as she asked, ¡°Aubree, are you willing?¡±

    ¡®So this is what she¡¯s nning. Aubree couldn¡¯t help but scoff inwardly.

    Aubree hadn¡¯t picked up a paintbrush in over a year. Painting required the feel, vision, and talent, all of which were indispensable. Carmen had both talent and vision, and she¡¯d been sharpening her skills all year. It simply seemed unfair to Aubree.

    To the uninitiated, it all seemed above board, but anyone with real expertise could instantly see the tricks at y.

    Stan frowned, about to retort, but Pervival cut him off, ¡°Mr. Frazier, this is just an artistic duel between the younger generation. We old¨Ctimers should stay out of it.¡±

    Alvin grabbed Aubree¡¯s arm and shook his head slightly.

    Aubree kept her face nk, but inwardly, she was practically grinning. She had to admit that Carmen had set up a brilliant trap with every step perfectly interlocked.

    If she were still the old Aubree, with a year out of practice, there was no way she could outmaneuver Carmen. Carmen¡¯s n would have worked like a charm.

    Then, after this incident, Aubree would be the one left in disgrace.

    But no matter how carefully Carmen schemed, she could never have guessed that Aubree had a second chance <i>at </i>life.

    Her painting skills, artistic vision, and emotional depth had long surpassed her past standard. Even after more than a year without touching a brush, she was still light¨Cyears ahead of Carmen.

    ¡°Bring it on.¡± Aubree smiled and agreed without hesitation.

    Stan let out a helpless sigh. ¡°You¡¯re too impulsive.¡± Aubree might be exceptionally talented, but after not touching a brush for over a year, how could she possiblypete with Carmen, who¡¯d been training nonstop under a master?

    This was clearly a trap set specifically for Aubree.

    Had Aubree refused, his clout would at least have kept the scales from tipping so heavily against her.

    Now, Stan knew he had to figure out how to minimize the fallout afterward. Worried, Stan was already mentally reviewing hiswork, trying to decide which connections he could leverage.

    Alvin¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Uncle Bowen, this puts Aubree at a serious disadvantage. She hasn¡¯t painted in ages. There¡¯s no guarantee she can win. Also, most of the crowd came specifically for Carmen, so they were biased in the first ce.¡±

    ¡®Even if Aubree¡¯s painting is as good as Carmen¡¯s, or even a tad better, she¡¯ll still likely lose, unless shepletely crushes Carmen. But is that even possible?¡® Alvin thought.

    Even Alvin didn¡¯t dare to fully support Aubree.

    Bowen chuckled lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯ll win. She¡¯s Aubree. She¡¯ll never allow herself to lose to anyone from the Wilson family.

    ¡°Right now, it¡¯s not Bree who should worry, but the others.¡±

    Bowen certainly hadn¡¯t forgotten how the Wilson family had distorted the truth when he walked in. Like any good boyfriend would, if Bree wanted to sue, he¡¯d assemble a top¨Ctier legal team for her.

    Bowen¡¯s gaze lingered on Alice. If Bree decided to sue the Wilson family for abandonment now, he already had all the

    11/2

    evidence needed to win the case and permanently sever her ties with them.

    Bree said they should wait a bit longer. Bowen didn¡¯t quite understand why, but he respected her wishes.

    Alice and Daxton exchanged knowing grins. ¡®Soon, Aubree will be dragged through the mud, they thought. After all the suffering she¡¯s inflicted on Carmen, it¡¯s finally her turn to get a taste of her own medicine.

    With canvases, paints, and all the supplies ready, Aubree and Carmen each took their ce at their easel.

    272

 Tried 339

    <b>Chapter </b><b>339 </b>

    ¡°Here <b>we </b>go, <b>here </b>we go.¡± The crowd kept growing. This drama <b>was </b>getting juicier by the minute.

    The big shots just kepting!

    Getting into the zone was everything for painting. Carmen had been bottling up this fire inside her for so long. Now, finally seizing the chance to turn the tables on Aubree, a rush of exhration surged through her. She¡¯d never felt so perfectly in tune before.

    As for Aubree, her painting skills, honed through the countless trials in her past life, <b>far </b>surpassed anything her eighteen¨Cyear- old self could have achieved. Even before her brush touched the canvas, the entire painting had already been formed in her mind.

    She thought. ¡®Didn¡¯t Carmen crave the Wilson family¡¯s affection? Didn¡¯t she challenge me to this painting contest just to prove she¡¯s the worthy one? Well then, <b>as </b>her sister, I might <b>as </b>well let her have her wish.

    Both Carmen and Aubree moved their brushes <b>at </b>lightning speed, bold colors and sharp lines springing to life on their

    canvases<b>. </b>

    Irvin, only just realizing that Alvin hade for Aubree while Carmen was busy painting, blurted out, ¡°Alvin, how could you be with someone like Aubree?¡±

    His gaze was clear as ever. Alvin used to think it was rare for someone from a wealthy family to remain so genuinely sheltered and pure. But now, he saw only pure, unadulterated foolishness, an utter inability to tell right from wrong.

    ¡°What kind of person is Aubree?¡± Alvin¡¯s gaze remained impassive as he looked back.

    Irvin was stunned. ¡®Why do I feel like Alvin¡¯s angry?¡® he wondered.

    But Irvin bit the bullet and said, ¡°Aubree <b>is </b><b>so </b>maniptive. She¡¯s always been jealous of Carmen and has been bullying her¡­¡±

    Irvin rattled off every insult imaginable about Aubree. Alvin listened, then shot back, ¡°Given what happened today, do you really think a powerless girl like her could have schemed against Carmen when her father and brothers favored and protected Carmen?

    ¡°She could barely even survive.¡±

    Irvin froze. He¡¯d genuinely never considered this before. Judging by today¡¯s events alone, it seemed Carmen¡¯s family hadn¡¯t cared much for Aubree at all.

    Alvin said, ¡°I¡¯ve warned you for ages that Carmen is bad news. Keep your distance from her. If you insist on ignoring me, then consider my duty fulfilled regarding your father¡¯s request to look after you.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s tone sounded as calm as ever, but Irvin could tell that he was furious.

    After all, Alvin had never spoken to him so decisively before.

    How could Alvin not be furious? Once he connected the dots, he realized Irvin was just being used as Carmen¡¯s pawn. He wanted tosh out, but what frustrated him most was that Irvin was actually enjoying every minute of it.

    Alvin had always turned a blind eye when Irvin pulled strings for Carmen in the past, but today¡¯s incident crossed his red line.

    If Aubree won, that would be fine. But if she lost, Alvin dreaded to imagine the media storm and public condemnation that would engulf her.

    As a semi¨Cpublic figure, if things escted, it could even indirectly impact Bree Technology. And with the GrabCheap project having just secured funding and entering a critical development phase, any negative press at this point would be disastrous.

    Irvin shut his mouth meekly. His gut warned him that if he so much as admitted to getting his parents to invest in Wilson Group, Alvin would probably cut him offpletely.

    Irvin thought, ¡®But Carmen is genuinely a good girl. Why is Alvin so prejudiced against her?¡®

    As time ticked by, both paintings were nearingpletion.

    1272

    L

    Carmen was the first to finish. She turned her painting to face the audience.

    ¡°Bravo, Carmen! You¡¯ve made progress again. You¡¯ve maintained and surpassed your usual standard under such challenging circumstances. I¡¯m proud to call you my student,¡± Percival praised.

    ¡°Wow!¡± A wave of astonished gasps swept through the crowd.

 Tried 340

    <b>Chapter </b><b>340 </b>

    Even the untrained eye could see that the painting was remarkable, while experts immediately recognized its collector¡¯s value. And notably, the artist was only eighteen.

    ¡°I¡¯ll bid 30 thousand dors. Might I have the honor of acquiring Miss Wilson¡¯s masterpiece?<b>¡± </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>35 </b>thousand dors<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    The bidding war had already begun.

    To build up hype for Carmen, the Wilson family spared no expense, inviting a host of business elites and rising socialites. Whether they genuinely admired Carmen¡¯s painting or <b>were </b>simply currying favor with the Wilson family, their spontaneous bidding undoubtedly stroked Carmen¡¯s ego to no end.

    Percival beamed with pride. ¡°Carmen, your mastery of traditional painting is destined to stand in a ss of its own.¡±

    The brushwork andposition of the painting were remarkably expressive and impressionistic. It absolutely outssed anything else in her age group.

    Carmen felt that victory was practically hers. She eyed Aubree, who was still painting, and thought, ¡®You must be getting anxious, right? Hearing all this praise for me must be terrifying, huh? Aubree, this time you lose.¡¯

    Her eyes brimmed with triumph, and a smug smile yed on her lips. ¡°Thank you all for your kind words, but I¡¯d like to dedicate this painting to my mom.¡±

    The painting featured vibrant tulips in full bloom. They were Alice¡¯s favorite flowers.

    Perhaps it was having Aubree as her opponent that fully ignited Carmen¡¯spetitive drive. The tulips in her painting bloomed with exceptional vibrancy and splendor, so lifelike they seemed ready to leap off the canvas.

    ¡°Carmen, you¡¯ve grown up.¡± Alice¡¯s face was filled with emotion, and her eyes brimmed with tears. She thought, ¡°This is my daughter, my child with that man.¡®

    Alice reached out to embrace Carmen, while the crowd murmured in admiration, showering the Wilson family with effusive praise for raising such an exemry daughter.

    It seemed everyone was convinced Carmen had this in the bag,pletely overlooking Aubree.

    ¡°This¨Cthis is pure artistry!¡± Stan¡¯s exmation cut through the murmuring crowd.

    From the moment Aubree started painting, he had been utterly transfixed. When the finished piece was revealed, he could no longer contain his exhration.

    Stan thought, ¡°This painting is exhibition¨Cworthy all on its own.¡±

    Aubree looked up from her work, a faint smile ying on her lips. ¡°What a coincidence, I also want to dedicate this painting to Ms. Diamonde.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s brow twitched with rm. She thought, ¡®Is Aubree trying to y the sympathy card to guilt¨Ctrip Mom too?¡±

    Alice rolled her eyes in disdain. She didn¡¯t care about Aubree¡¯s painting at all.

    ¡®If Aubree really thinks a single painting could make me turn against Carmen, she¡¯spletely delusional, Alice thought.

    Aubree said, ¡°I call this painting A New Life.¡±

    In stark contrast to the hollow praise Carmen had received, when Aubree flipped her canvas around, the crowd erupted in a chorus of astonished gasps.

    Everyone whoid eyes on the painting was utterly stunned, rendered speechless by its sheer brilliance.

    Even Percival flushed crimson with shock. He thought, ¡®How could this be?

    ¡®Even I would struggle to match this level, not to mention Carmen. Stan is right. For someone of Aubree¡¯s caliber to need underhanded tactics just to gain recognition isn¡¯t her fault, but a tragedy of the art world!

    11/2

    <b>4:28 </b>PM

    <b>0</b><b>:</b><b>0 </b>

    In the painting, an exhausted girl stood before a woman. The woman¡¯s eyes brimmed with feignedpassion, yet her lips curved into <b>a </b>smile<b>¨C</b><b>a </b><b>stark </b>contradiction that revealed her inner delight, a chilling portrait <b>of </b>pure hypocrisy.

    Behind the girl stretched an invisible path of thorns, her bare feet bloodied and bruised. Though her posture spoke of exhaustion, her eyes burned with unsettling brilliance. To all who watched, it seemed as if she was about to throw herself into the woman¡¯s embrace.

    Someone eximed, ¡°She¡¯s got a dagger hidden behind her back!¡±

    Only then did everyone realize that the look in the girl¡¯s eyes wasn¡¯t the joy of running into her mother¡¯s arms, but the savage thrill of a predator about to tear apart its prey.

    Alice¡¯s <b>face </b>went from pale to livid. She thought, ¡®Aubree has returned for revenge! She¡¯s such a little monster! How dare she want to kill me?¡®

    212

 Tried 341

    Alvin, who <b>was </b>worried, let out a slow sigh of relief, and a faint smile graced his lips.

    Bowen¡¯s eyes crinkled with delight as he thought, ¡®Well done!¡±

    Aubree smiled at Alice<b>. </b>Instinctively. <b>Alice </b>stumbled back two steps. <b>To </b>her, it was as if the Grim Reaper himself had smiled at her, scythe in hand, ready to im her life.

    Alice broke out in a cold sweat.

    Carmen¡¯s <b>face </b>turned deathly pale. No one had announced the results, but she knew beyond doubt that she had lost.

    Stan¡¯s words were truly an understatement. Aubree¡¯s painting wasn¡¯t just exhibition¨Cworthy; it was more than qualified to be put up for auction.

    Percival¡¯s lips trembled as <b>he </b>thought, ¡®Did she really paint this? An eighteen¨Cyear¨Cold girl? <b>If </b>she can create such a masterpiece at her age, then what does my decades¨Clong career amount to?¡®

    Aubree smiled as she held out the painting. ¡°Ms. Diamonde, do you like this painting that I gave you?¡±

    Alice thought, ¡®D6 I like it?¡®

    Alice¡¯s hands trembled as she took the painting, smearing wet paint across her fingers. Sharp¨Ceyed onlookers gasped in dismay -this was sheer sacrilege of a masterpiece!

    Meeting Aubree¡¯s gleaming, confident gaze, Alice shuddered violently. With a sudden, forceful rip, she tore the painting to shreds. ¡°You won¡¯t get what you want!¡±

    The onlookers winced in shared agony. She shouldn¡¯t have torn it. If she didn¡¯t want it, she could have given it to them. They¡¯d treasure it.

    Stan nearly cried out. If it weren¡¯t for the setting, he would have physically intervened to stop such a masterpiece from being destroyed. Yet even in his dismay, his gaze toward Aubree burned with even greater admiration.

    Bowen thought to himself, ¡®If <b>I </b>didn¡¯t know Stan¡¯s admiration for Aubree is just about her talent, I¡¯d be itching to hit him.¡¯

    Alice tore up the painting, but Aubree just shrugged, saying nonchntly, ¡°The facts speak for themselves. I¡¯ve already won.¡±

    And not just this round, she thought.

    ¡°Alice, remember what happened to Emery? He ended up in jail, his hands ruined for life. Just wait, I¡¯ll make sure every one of you pays the price, especially that precious daughter you cherish above all.¡±

    With each deepening of Aubree¡¯s smile, Alice¡¯s face grew a shade paler. Aubree leaned in and whispered the chilling words right in Alice¡¯s ear, just for the two of them to hear.

    ¡°Care to guess who¡¯s next? Daxton? Trevor? Bryan? Your precious daughter, Carmen? Or maybe even you?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Alice¡¯s eyes suddenly darkened with venom as she red at Aubree, her hatred so intense it looked like she wanted to tear Aubree limb from limb. ¡°Why did you have toe back? Why didn¡¯t you just die in that orphanage?¡±

    The crowd was shocked. They wondered, ¡®Is Alice really Aubree¡¯s mother and not an enemy? Didn¡¯t the Wilson family supposedly go <i>to </i>great lengths to find this biological daughter?¡®

    Before Alice could say more, Ronald quickly stepped forward and pulled her away. ¡°Bryan, your mother is having an episode. Take her to rest.¡±

    Realization dawned on the crowd as they thought, ¡®Oh, right, Alice has a mental illness. Looks like she still hasn¡¯t fully recovered.

    ¡®But judging by Alice¡¯s final attitude toward Aubree, those so¨Ccalled testimonies from the Wilson family earlier must have been full of lies.

    ¡®How unbelievable! Carmen would stoop to anything to save herself. And the Wilson family members are like brainless fools, helping an adopted daughter instead of a biological one.¡±

    4.28 PM

    0

    Somepany executives <b>were </b>already considering whether they should still maintain business ties with Wilson Group.

    ¡°About today¡¯s incident¡­¡± Ronald tried to exin, but <b>was </b>at a loss for how to continue spinning the story.

    Aubree said, ¡°I believe today¡¯s events have made everything crystal clear. I didn¡¯t need to resort to any underhanded tactics, nor were Carmen and Percival¡¯s usations true. I think it¡¯s only fair that I receive an apology, right?

    ¡°Mr. Xaver, as a respected senior, youshed out at me without even hearing my side¨Cand in front of everyone, no less. Don¡¯t you think you owe me an apology?¡±

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 Tried 342

    Chapter <b>342 </b>

    Percival <b>was </b>insufferably arrogant and self¨Crighteous. For someone like him, admitting he was wrong was worse than death itself. Aubree simply loved making those she despised, no matter how mad they were, bow their heads, apologize<b>, </b>and beg her for forgiveness.

    Aubree¡¯s lips curved into <b>a </b>smile, poised in quiet anticipation.

    Despite Percival¡¯s overwhelming pride, he knew that if he refused to apologize in front of so many people, his reputation would be irreparably damaged.

    Reluctantly, his <b>face </b>dark with suppressed anger, Percival apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have wronged you.¡±

    A kaleidoscope of expressions shed across Carmen¡¯s face. What a spectacle. Now that Percival had apologized, that was tantamount to admitting the whole thing was <b>her </b>fabrication.

    She could already picture the inte exploding with hate once today¡¯s incident went public.

    Carmen dug her nails into her palm. She thought, ¡®If I apologize to Aubree now, maybe I can still salvage something. She just got lucky this time. Who would¡¯ve thought she could paint like that after not touching a brush for over a year?¡®

    Just as Carmen was about to reluctantly apologize, Aubree nced at her. ¡°Spare me your apology. I¡¯ve heard enough empty words from you. Mywyer¡¯s letter is already prepared for you.¡±

    Bowen perfectly exemplified what it meant to be in sync with his girlfriend. ¡°Turner Group¡¯s legal department is ready to file awsuit at any time, Miss Wilson. I wonder if Wilson Group¡¯s legal team is good <i>at </i>handlingwsuits?¡±

    Carmen was stunned. ¡®Why isn¡¯t Aubree demanding an apology from me?¡® she thought.

    If Aubree knew what Carmen was thinking, she¡¯d surely scoff. Carmen¡¯s apology wasn¡¯t worth a thing.

    Who in Rithol City didn¡¯t know Turner Group had the most formidable legal team? Their reputation wasn¡¯t just for show.

    Just Caesar alone would be more than enough to give them a real headache.

    Carmen¡¯s face drained of all color, turning utterly ashen. Since the situation was firmly in her control, Aubree couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste another minute here<b>. </b>Her phone had been buzzing repeatedly, but she hadn¡¯t checked the caller ID.

    Aubree got into Bowen¡¯s car and left the art exhibition. After some hesitation, Irvin decided to stay behind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carmen. I¡¯ll help you. I trust you. Just because she paints well doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s a good person.¡±

    Daxton quickly stepped forward to console Carmen. ¡°The priority now is handling the press outside.¡±

    Fortunately, they had an ace up their sleeve. All the reporters on site were handpicked by them, ensuring they could.pletely control the narrative.

    Reminded by Daxton, Carmen snapped back to reality and managed a smile at Irvin. ¡°Thank you, Irvin, but I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m in no state to entertain you right now.¡±

    With things having escted to this point, the art exhibition had to be called off.

    The venue was swiftly cleared of all non¨Cessential personnel. Ronald was utterly drained. ¡°Daxton, take care of this mess<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    As someone in the entertainment industry, Trevor quickly suggested, ¡°Mr. Xaver, would you be willing to cover for Carmen?¡±

    To put it nicely, Percival was a master<b>; </b>to be blunt, he had nothing but an empty reputation. He took Carmen as his student and even helped her frame Aubree, not just because he genuinely admired Carmen¡¯s talent, but also because he wanted to curry favor with the Wilson family.

    ¡°If you take responsibility for today¡¯s incident, the Wilson family will make sure you¡¯re handsomely rewarded,¡± Trevor said. ¡°As a renowned master in the art world, we can simply im it as a misunderstanding, driven by your admiration for Carmen¡¯s talent. The damage to your reputation will be minimal.¡±

    Percival¡¯s face darkened as he weighed the pros and cons. Carmen¡¯s talent was truly exceptional, and with the powerful Wilson family backing her, she was bound to achieve fame. As her mentor, he stood to benefit from her sess.

    Carmen must be protected at all costs, and if the matter were handled just as Trevor suggested, the damage to his reputation

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    428 PM &

    probably wouldn¡¯t be too severe.

    ¡°Fine. Percival finally nodded.

    Trevor turned to Daxton and said, ¡°We need to get ahead of this and control the narrative. As for what to say, leave that to my studio¡¯s PR team.¡±

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    Comment

 Tried 343

    <b>Chapter </b><b>343 </b>

    0

    190

    Aubree finally had a moment to check her phone after getting in the car and noticed that Birgitte had called her three times in a row. <b>¡°</b>Why did Birgitte call me so many times?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree frowned. ¡°Did something happen <b>over </b>in S¨¹dlichen Strand? But I haven¡¯t heard anything.¡±

    Even as she spoke, Aubree was already hitting redial. The line rang twice.

    An automatic voice sounded. ¡°The number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try againter<b>.¡± </b>

    Aubree¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Something must have happened over there.¡±

    Aubree immediately called Vincent, asking him to book her the earliest flight to S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bowen said. ¡°I¡¯m calling my subordinate in S¨¹dlichen Strand.¡±

    Bowen kept one hand on the wheel while already calling the head of Turner Group¡¯s S¨¹dlichen Strand branch with the other.

    Before Bowen could get any updates, Aubree¡¯s phone suddenly rang. It was Josiah Reynolds, Birgitte¡¯s assistant. She answered, ¡°Hello?¡±

    Josiah said, ¡°Ms. Miller, Ms. Cherniavsky has gone missing.¡±

    Aubree pressed her fingers hard against her brow, forcing herself to stay calm. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Here¡¯s what happened. A couple of days ago, Tengu Gruppe suddenly sent over a cooperation invitation. Ms. Cherniavsky figured that since she¡¯d been working <b>so </b>hard, she¡¯d make onest attempt. If their attitude was still as half¨Chearted as before, she nned to drop itpletely.

    ¡°Anyway, she figured there was nothing to lose by going and epted their invitation early this morning. Tengu Gruppe didn¡¯t allow me to apany her, so I could only wait outside.¡±

    The meeting was set at an upscale private club in S¨¹dlichen Strand¨Ca favorite spot for local executives, fully equipped with all the dining and entertainment one could want. Knowing how the Tengu Gruppe liked to drag things out over a meal, Josiah was certain nothing would be settled until well after lunch.

    Birgitte figured she could handle Tengu Gruppe on her own. They couldn¡¯t possibly do anything to her, anyway. She told Josiah to take care of his tasks and pick her up in the afternoon.

    However, when Josiah arrived to pick her up, the people from Tengu Gruppe had already left, and Birgitte was nowhere to be found. It wasn¡¯t until he got back to thepany and learned she hadn¡¯t returned at all that it finally dawned on him that something might have happened to her.

    A wave of guilt swept over Aubree. Those three calls from Birgitte had been desperate cries for help, and she hadn¡¯t answered a single one.

    The call was on speakerphone, so Bowen and the others heard everything. Without even ncing at her, Bowen knew Aubree was surely berating herself for not answering those calls.

    Bowen said, ¡°Bree, now¡¯s not the time for self¨Cme. What matters most is finding her.¡±

    ¡°Yes, we need to find her.¡± Aubree steadied herself, then told Josiah, ¡°Call the police first. Keep a close watch on Tengu Gruppe¡¯s movements. Figure out a way to make them talk and find out where Birgitte is. <b>I¡¯ll </b>get there as quickly as I can.¡±

    Aubree murmured under her breath, ¡°Tengu Gruppe¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t believe they dared to do this.

    Just like Birgitte, Aubree couldn¡¯t for the life of her figure out how Tengu Gruppe would dare to pull off something as brazen as kidnapping.

    Bowen frowned slightly. ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m heading straight to the airport. Can you drive back yourself?¡±

    Alvin replied, ¡°Sure<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alvin had no objections. After today¡¯s events, he felt that he needed to have a serious talk with Irvin. In addition, the Wilson family had just suffered a major blow. They certainly wouldn¡¯t let this slide.

    Alvin assured them, ¡°Uncle Bowen, you guys can focus on S¨¹dlichen Strand. I¡¯ll take care of things here.¡±

    Although Aubree rushed to S¨¹dlichen Strand, by the time she arrived, it <b>was </b>already around six or seven in the evening. Waiting at the airport were Josiah and Harris Brooks, the head of Turner Group¡¯s local branch.

    Harris reported, ¡°Mr. Turner, as you instructed, we¡¯ve been closely monitoring Tengu Gruppe, but there¡¯s no suspicious activity on their end.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Ms. Miller, Josiah reported. ¡°With Turner Group¡¯s assistance, after we contacted the police, the officers apanied us to Tengu Gruppe for questioning.

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    ¡°Everyone there stuck to the same story. After the deal fell through, they went their separate ways. They knew nothing about Ms. Cherniavsky¡¯s whereabouts and denied any involvement. The private club¡¯s surveince footage also clearly showed that Tengu Gruppe¡¯s people left first.¡±

    Birgitte had gone missing at the private club.

    Aubree seized on this lead. ¡°<b>Has </b>anyone checked who owns the club?¡±

    This really hadn¡¯t crossed Josiah and Harris¡¯s minds. After all, that club was one of the most prestigious establishments in S¨¹dlichen Strand. Surely they wouldn¡¯t stoop to something so shady. That¡¯d just be shooting themselves in the foot.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Josiah said, shaking his head.

    Aubree ordered, ¡°Look into it.¡±

    Harris nodded hurriedly.

    A sudden thought struck Aubree. ¡°Josiah, recall all the men monitoring Tengu Gruppe and let them monitor Milena.¡±

    ¡°Milena?¡± Josiah said.

    ¡°Yes, Milena, the heiress of the Yurchenko family.¡±

    A cold glint appeared in Aubree¡¯s eyes. Tengu Gruppe wouldn¡¯t stoop to kidnapping Birgitte, but that didn¡¯t mean they wouldn¡¯t help someone else do it.

    Tengu Gruppe had already partnered with Wilson Group. They were in this together now. Anything that made Aubree¡¯s life harder was a good thing for them.

    So when Milena came seeking help under the banner of the Wilson family, Morhan barely hesitated before agreeing. With no risk to himself and clear benefits at stake, it was an easy decision.

    Just as Aubree spected, Milena was behind it.

    After learning from Joey, Trevor¡¯s assistant, that Aubree would be tied up all day, Milena instinctively knew this was the perfect moment to strike.

    She¡¯d always known Aubree was a formidable opponent, so from the very beginning, she¡¯d set her sights on Birgitte instead, and had already conducted a thorough investigation into her.

    Simply put, Birgitte was an unfavored daughter born in a remote mountainous area. As the eldest child in an impoverished household, she was resented by her parents for being a girl. She was frequently beaten and scolded, and often went hungry.

    Thankfully, the vige chief was a kind man. He gave her food, warned her parents, and even made sure she went to school. Without his help, she might not have even survived childhood.

    Later, her parents had a son. Seeing her strong academic performance, her parents thought that if she became sessful, she could help support the family and bring honor. As a result, their resistance to her schooling lessened, and things started to look up for her.

    Birgitte was clear¨Ceyed. She knew that if she couldn¡¯t break free from her family, they¡¯d leech off her for the rest of her life. Determined to be independent, after the SAT, she told her parents she¡¯d attend a university in their home province, but secretly applied to the school farthest from home.

    From that moment on, Birgitte¡¯s parents lost all contact with her.

    The Cherniavsky family had long given up searching for Birgitte. But now that their precious son hade of age and was desperate to marry, the Cherniavsky couple suddenly remembered their daughter.

    A wealthy old man in their vige was looking for a bride. What better way to fund their son¡¯s wedding than by selling off their daughter<b>? </b>

    Milena probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to find out any of this. After all, so much time had passed, and Birgitte¡¯s hometown was so remote it barely had electricity.

    11/2 A

    429 PM

    0

    But Birgitte had changed her name once<b>. </b>She used to be called Birdie Cherniavsky. That one clue was all Milena needed to connect the dots and <b>uncover </b>her entire past<b>. </b>

    Milena first brought Birgitte¡¯s parents to S¨¹dlichen Strand. Then, in collusion with Tengu Gruppe<b>, </b>she lured Birgitte out. Her people then ambushed and abducted Birgitte at the private club, taking her back to the Cherniavsky family¡¯s home.

    Aubree paced anxiously around Bree Technology¡¯s branch office, waiting for news. The longer the wait dragged on, the more restless and guilt¨Cridden she became. Truth <b>was</b>, anyone could see that even if she had answered that call, it likely wouldn¡¯t have made any <b>difference</b><b>. </b>

    Whether Aubree rushed <b>over </b>or Bowen sent help, it would still take time. S¨¹dlichen Strand was the Yurchenko family¡¯s turf. Even though they¡¯d gone legitimate, with their organized crime roots, dealing with a defenseless young woman would still be child¡¯s y <b>for </b>them.

    <b>¡®</b><b>If </b>anything happened to Birgitte, I¡¯d never forgive myself, Aubree thought. Why couldn¡¯t I have been more vignt when I knew Milena <b>was </b><b>crazy</b>?¡±

    <b>Josiah </b>reported, ¡°Ms. Miller<b>, </b><b>we¡¯ve </b>traced the club¡¯s ownership to the Yurchenko family.¡±

    Bowen held Aubree¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ve already contacted Mark. He¡¯s used his connections to get the local police Anvolved in the search.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s head to the Yurchenko family¡¯s ce now,¡± Aubree said.

 Tried 345

    Perhaps Milena had nned this all along. Despite it being the dead of night, she was the only one there when they arrived at the Yurchenko family¡¯s residence.

    ¡°My parents are out of town, and my brother¡¯s tied up with work at the office, so he didn¡¯te home. I trust you don¡¯t mind that I¡¯m here all by myself?¡± Milena said with a smile, sitting in the living room in her bathrobe.

    She didn¡¯t reveal the slightest surprise at Aubree¡¯s arrival.

    Aubree fumed, ¡®It¡¯s obvious it was her doing

    Aubree¡¯s anger red up instantly. She lunged forward and grabbed Milena. ¡°Where¡¯s Birgitte?¡±

    ¡°Birgitte? Who?¡± Milena asked, feigning innocence.

    Aubree ground her teeth. It had been nearly twelve hours since Birgitte disappeared. Of course, she was frantic. All rationality vanished. Her other hand clenched into a fist, ready to swing, but Bowen caught her just in time.

    JEasy now. The team is almost in position,¡± Bowen whispered in her ear.

    If theyid a hand on Milena now, they¡¯d be handing her the perfect weapon against them. If they got held back again, things would really get difficult.

    Aubree steadied herself. She vowed that the Yurchenko family would pay for this.

    Milena watched Aubree¡¯s helpless fury with smug satisfaction,ughing until tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Oh, aren¡¯t you the impressive one? You managed to pry Trevor away from me, so why don¡¯t you work your magic to find Birgitte?

    ¡°Oh, it suddenly urred to me. Yourpany¡¯s CEO is called Birgitte, right? Since I¡¯m older, let me y the elder sister for <i>a </i>moment and give you some advice. Next time, do your homework before hiring anyone. Her name isn¡¯t Birgitte but Birdie.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes burned crimson, streaked with furious, bloodshot veins, making her look utterly terrifying.

    Aubree had her people track the Cherniavsky family¡¯s movements the moment she realized something was wrong, but Milena had concealed Birgitte far too well. Normally, she could afford to be patient, but not now. Every passing minute meant greater danger for Birgitte.

    Aubree closed her eyes briefly. ¡°Proceed with the standard questioning.¡±

    The apanying police officers began questioning Milena as per procedure. She crossed her legs and retorted, ¡°How would I know?

    ¡°Davin Waldron owns the club. You should ask him. With hundreds of peopleing and going every single day, who knows who she might have crossed?¡±

    Milena was sure Aubree had no solid evidence and merely brought the police here to intimidate her.

    Aubree chewed on her finger nervously, ncing over at Bowen. He was engrossed in his phone. When he looked up, he gave her a nod to let her know they¡¯d pulled it off.

    Aubree felt a heavy weight lifted from her chest. Momentster, the roar of an engine and the screech of tires pierced the air outside, followed by rapid, pounding footsteps. A voice sounded. ¡°Where¡¯s Milena?¡±

    Before the housekeeper could respond, Quantavius stormed up to Milena and, without warning, pped her hard across the face. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Quantavius?¡± Milena was utterly dazed as the p sent her sprawling to the floor. ¡°Why did you hit me?¡±

    Quantavius let out an angryugh. ¡°Why did I hit you? Do you want to take a look at our family¡¯stest stock performance?¡±

    It dawned on Milena that she¡¯d crossed Aubree, and she knew Bowen had Aubree¡¯s back.

    However, Milena had it all nned out. With Birgitte in her hands, she had the upper hand. When she had revelled enough in watching Aubree humiliate herself, she¡¯d make Aubree beg her before she¡¯d tell them where Birgitte was.

    After all, Birgitte was just some hired help. There was no way Aubree would go all out for her. Worst case, they¡¯d have a falling

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    out, but that was hardly a big deal.

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 Tried 346

    <b>Chapter </b><b>346 </b>

    Anyway<b>, </b>she could always ally with the Wilson family. Once she married Trevor, the Wilson and Yurchenko families would be bound by marriage. Aubree <b>was </b>no one to be feared.

    Milena asked, ¡°What did you guys do?¡±

    Mimicking Milena¡¯s earlier attitude, Aubree said, ¡°Nothing much. I just shorted your family¡¯s stocks, that¡¯s all.¡±

    They didn¡¯t do much, just poured a fortune into snapping up Yurchenko Group¡¯s shares at sky¨Chigh prices, only to dump them at rock bottom.

    Normally, people wouldn¡¯t do this. First, one would need deep pockets<b>; </b>second, if it didn¡¯t work, one would be spending the money in vain.

    Unfortunately, the Yurchenko family¡¯s dominance in S¨¹dlichen Strand relied entirely on their old connections and shady businesses. Theycked any real strength of their own. Whereas for Aubree and Bowen, they were never short of money.

    Milena¡¯s <b>face </b>drained of all color, her previouslyposed demeanorpletely shattered. ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡±

    Milena couldn¡¯t believe Aubree would go to all this trouble for some mere employee.

    Aubree demanded, ¡°I¡¯ll ask you onest time. Where¡¯s Birgitte?<b>¡± </b>

    Quantavius was also growing impatient. ¡°Out with it!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not telling. Quantavius, how could you side with outsiders against me?¡± Milena shouted with tears in her eyes, her resentment overwhelming any sense of reason. ¡°Don¡¯t you know Aubree stole Trevor from me?¡±

    Quantavius was at his wits¡® end with Milena. He knew she could be extreme, but this was downright brainless.

    He thought, ¡®What the hell is this? If she likes Trevor, just go ahead. No one¡¯s stopping her. But iming Aubree stole him? What does that even mean?¡®

    ¡°Are you out of your mind? Aubree and Trevor are biological siblings. Why on earth would she steal him? To put on a show for her?¡±

    ¡°Wh¨Cwhat?¡± Milena was in disbelief. She thought, ¡®They¡¯re real siblings?¡®

    She had never bothered to thoroughly investigate Aubree,rgely because whenever she openly showed her hostility toward Aubree in front of Trevor, he never once rified things. Instead, he subtly yed along with her assumptions, letting her believe whatever she wanted.

    ¡°Why did you ever think Trevor was a good guy?¡± Aubree¡¯s eyes wereced with pity. ¡°He never outright admitted our rtionship to you, but then again, you never asked, did you? And he never denied it either, did he?¡±

    Now that Aubree had spelled it out <i>so </i>clearly, even someone as dense as Milena couldn¡¯t miss the fact that she¡¯d been manipted by Trevor.¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± Milena looked up at the uniformed officers, her mind racing. She thought, ¡®What should I say now? If I say anything, won¡¯t that just mean I¡¯m admitting I¡¯m involved? Kidnapping means jail time.¡®

    As Milena¡¯s brother, Quantavius could read her like an open book. ¡°If you know where she is, telling the police now would help them with their investigation.¡±

    A glint of realization shed in Milena¡¯s eyes. She wasn¡¯t the one who actually did it. And after all this time, they must have finished by now. Her goal had already been achieved. If she kept dragging this out, theirpany would be in danger.

    Milena said, ¡°Birgitte is at¡­¡±

    Now that she had the address, Aubree had no time to dwell on the Yurchenko siblings¡® petty schemes. Milena might be a bit thick¨Cheaded at times, but she knew how to cover her tracks.

    Aubree was certain there was no way she could pin anything on Milena for this.

    Aubree thought, ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve got plenty of ways to make Milena pay.

    After Aubree left, Milena <b>was </b>also taken <b>away </b>by the police for questioning.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, we¡¯re here,¡± Josiah announced.

    Josiah <b>was </b>behind the wheel, with a bodyguard riding shotgun. Bowen and Aubree sat in the back. When Aubree saw the living conditions, which were even messier than when she¡¯d first moved out of the Wilson family¡¯s ce, her heart tightened with worry.

    No wonder Aubree couldn¡¯t find a single trace of the Cherniavsky family. Milena was cunning as hell. Living in a dump like this, it <b>was </b>almost impossible to find any information.

    Aubree ordered, ¡°Get out of the car and kick the door down.¡±

 Tried 347

    <b>Chapter </b>347

    The bodyguard strode up to the door and, without even knocking, kicked it open.

    Before the door was kicked open<b>, </b>the three men in the living room were still shamelessly boasting.

    ¡°Howard, you raised one hell of a daughter. What a figure she¡¯s got! She¡¯s got such a fiery temper, too. Just look at these scratches <b>she </b><b>gave </b>me. If you and Edwin hadn¡¯te in to help pin her down, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to handle her,¡± one of the men said.

    Howard Cherniavsky took a drag from his cigarette and scoffed disdainfully, ¡°Oh, women, that¡¯s just how they are. She¡¯s yours now. Just rough her up for a couple more days, and she¡¯lle around. If you¡¯re lucky and she gets knocked up, she¡¯ll have to settle down with you.¡±

    Edwin Cherniavsky couldn¡¯t care less about what happened to his sister. Rubbing his hands together greedily, his face alight with anticipation, he asked, ¡°Mr. Dunn, what about the 60 thousand dors we agreed on?¡±

    ¡°Once <b>we </b>get her back to the vige, I swear you¡¯ll get everyst cent of that money,¡± Felix Dunn replied.

    The old, rusty lock didn¡¯t stand a chance. Two swift kicks and the door flew open.

    With a thunderous crash, the door burst open, startling Ruth Cherniavsky, who had been in the room trying to pressure Birgitte, into rushing out.

    ¡°God damn it! What¡¯s happening now? You goddamn son of a-¡± The curse choked off in Ruth¡¯s throat as she gaped at the four intruders, her voice cutting out like a stalled engine.

    ¡°Who are you people?¡± Howard asked.

    It was obvious these four were no ordinary people.

    Every vile word those men just said was heard loud and clear. Aubree, as a woman, was absolutely livid. And even Josiah¡¯s jaw dropped. He¡¯d always thought Aubree¡¯s family took the cake for being the most messed¨Cup parents he¡¯d ever seen.

    Who would¡¯ve thought Birgitte¡¯s parents could be even more shameless?

    ¡¯60 thousand dors?¡® Josiah thought. He couldn¡¯t help but stare. ¡®Do they not know that¡¯s less than a month¡¯s pay for Ms. Cherniavsky?¡®

    The Cherniavsky family knew full well how sessful Birgitte was now, but what good was all her <b>sess </b>and glory to them? They couldn¡¯t control her, and none of that money would ever touch their pockets.

    The Cherniavsky couple figured it was better to just sell her off for their son to get a bride. After all, that 60 thousand dors. was cash they could get their hands on.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Birgitte?¡± Aubree demanded.

    Of course, Howard and his family knew Birgitte had changed her name, but he said, ¡°Birgitte? I don¡¯t know who she is.

    ¡°There¡¯s no Birgitte here, just that fucking-¡± Before he could spit out thest word, Aubree snatched a beer bottle from the table and smashed it straight across Howard¡¯s head.

    ¡°Where is she?¡± Blood sttered across Aubree¡¯s cheek; with her eyes burning with a murderous re, she looked every inch like an avenging demon that had risen straight from hell.

    Howard, who always boasted about his worldly experience, found his legs turning to jelly when faced with Aubree, who was merely eighteen years old.

    ¡°You little bitch! How dare you hit him?¡± Edwin snarled, putting up like an aggressive rooster. Spoiled rotten by his family and used to getting his way, he eyed the four city folks with contempt. They were probably too pampered to throw a real punch.

    Bowen, who had been watching from the side, instantly snapped. He delivered a vicious kick, sending the arrogantly shouting Edwin flying onto the coffee table, where he clutched his stomach and howled in agony.

    ¡°You little bastard,¡± Bowen snarled. ¡°I don¡¯t like that filthy mouth of yours.¡±

    Seeing their son getting beaten, Howard and Ruth charged forward like madmen.

    Felix took one look and thought, ¡®If they lost this fight, wouldn¡¯t the woman I¡¯d paid for slip right through my fingers?¡®

    Hence, he hastily joined in the fight.

    ¡°Thud!¡± A devastating blownded.

    ¡°Thwack!¡± Another vicious blownded.

    Minutester, Howard, Ruth, and Felix were sprawled on the floor, battered and bruised, groaning in pain.

    The bodyguard straightened his slightly rumpled clothes. He had been dying to beat the crap out of these people, whose mouths were filthier than a sewer.

 Tried 348

    <b>Chapter </b>348

    15

    ¡°W¨C<b>what </b><b>are </b>you trying to do?¡± Edwin stammered, <b>still </b>struggling to get <b>up </b>after Bowen¡¯s kick. <b>Panic </b>seized him <b>as </b>he watched Aubree stride menacingly toward him with <b>a </b>jagged, broken beer bottle in her hand.

    Aubree said, ¡°I¡¯m not doing anything. You like to run that filthy mouth, don¡¯t you? Let¡¯s see how much it <b>can </b><b>really </b>handle.

    ¡°Your parents talk tough, too. Let¡¯s <b>see </b>which is tougher<b>, </b>their mouths, or this broken bottle in my hand.¡±

    Edwin¡¯s pupils dted in terror <b>as </b>he scrambled to his feet, desperate to escape. But Bowen was faster. His hand mped down on Edwin¡¯s shoulder, a chilling smile ying on his lips. ¡°Going somewhere?¡±

    Josiah also silentlytched onto Edwin¡¯s legs. He wasn¡¯t much of a fighter, but he sure knew how to make himself useful.

    <b>¡®</b>Monsters! They¡¯re all monsters!¡® Edwin thought in terror.

    ¡°Dad, Mom! Help me! Hurry, save me!¡± Edwin howled shrilly.

    Themotion was deafening, yet no one dared toe out and gawk. The moment those cars pulled up outside, everyone nearby could tell these people were not to be trifled with.

    Aubree gripped Edwin¡¯s face with one hand, brandishing the jagged, broken ss bottle in a reverse grip with the other, poised to ram it straight into his mouth.

    Edwin thrashed wildly, his muffled cries stifled by Bowen¡¯s iron grip that rendered him utterly powerless.

    Ruth, seeing her precious son in peril, blurted out hastily, ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk! Th¨Cthat bitch¨CI mean, Birgitte is in the room. The key¡¯s here. I¡¯ll give it to you. Just let my son go. Don¡¯t hurt him.¡±

    Felix spat furiously and snarled, ¡°You goddamn bitch! Now that you¡¯ve spilled the beans and they¡¯ve taken her away, you won¡¯t get a single cent.¡±

    ¡°You goddamn pock¨Cfaced bastard, Felix! If anything happens to my son, I¡¯ll fucking kill you first!¡± Ruth shouted back.

    Aubree had no patience for their bickering. The moment she got the information, she snatched the key from Ruth and stormed inside.

    Bowen and the others had <i>a </i>grim idea of what awaited inside. With a silent understanding, they stayed behind in the living room, keeping watch over the four culprits.

    The door creaked open, and Aubree¡¯s eyes red crimson with rage. In the corner, Birgitte sat disheveled and battered, her hands and feet tightly bound. At her feet was nothing but a meager bowl of watery gruel.

    Even in this dire situation, Birgitte refused to yield. Her eyes zed with resolve as she fought against the ropes, determined to seize any chance <i>to </i>escape.

    ¡°Ms. Miller!¡± Birgitte¡¯s face lit up with a joyous smile. ¡°I just knew you¡¯de to rescue me.¡±

    She didn¡¯t have a shred of me for Aubree, only overwhelming relief and joy at being saved.

    Of course, she wouldn¡¯t me Aubree. She¡¯d already prepared herself for the calls to go unanswered. In fact, Birgitte knew perfectly well that even if Aubree had picked up, immediate rescue would have been impossible, and what was meant to happen would still happen.

    All she could do was ry <b>as </b>much information as possible. Thank goodness Aubree came.

    Birgitte¡¯s eyes shone with bright hope, sending a sharp, suffocating ache through Aubree¡¯s heart. With trembling hands, she untied the ropes, tore off a strip of the bedsheet, dipped it in the water left on the floor, and gently wiped Birgitte down.

    Birgitte gently grasped Aubree¡¯s wrist. ¡°No need, Ms. Miller. I need to preserve this evidence for the medical report. It¡¯s fine. Just think of it <b>as </b>a dog bite. None of this can break me.¡±

    ¡°Birgitte, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Tears streamed down Aubree¡¯s face uncontrobly as she threw her arms around Birgitte. ¡°This is all my fault. You wouldn¡¯t have been targeted by Milena if not for me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, none of <b>this </b>is your fault. The me lies with those who did this. We¡¯ll make them pay.¡±

    Aubree agreed that they¡¯d make them pay.

    Rage zed in Aubree¡¯s eyes <b>as </b>she rose to her feet, shrugged off her coat, and draped it over Birgitte¡¯s shoulders<b>. </b>Then she grabbed the nket from the bed and wrapped it tightly around Birgitte.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get you to the <b>hospital</b>. I¡¯ll hire the best <bwyers </b>for you. Those four scumbags will rot in prison for what <b>they¡¯ve </b>done.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Birgitte said, taking Aubree¡¯s hand and walking out with her.

    Unbowed, she paused for just <b>a </b>second <b>as </b>she passed Felix. Then, without the slightest hesitation, she drove her foot straight into his groin.

    Felix howled in pain.

    At Bowen¡¯s cue, the police arrived btedly and carted off all four culprits in cuffs, armed with rock¨Csolid evidence.

 Tried 349

    <b>Chapter </b><b>349 </b>

    Birgitte <b>was </b>taken to the hospital, where medical examination and forensic identification provided crucial evidence.

    +15

    At first, the four culprits assumed that <b>since </b>Milena had called them over, she would help them and hirewyers for them.

    The Cherniavsky couple kept making a scene, insisting that Birgitte was their daughter, and it was their right to marry her off. Hence, anything that happened between an engaged couple wasn¡¯t considered illegal.

    Aubree didn¡¯t hold back. She immediately spared no expense to hire the bestwyer in S¨¹dlichen Strand to represent Birgitte. With both witness testimony and physical evidence in hand, winning the case was inevitable. But for Aubree, she wanted them to be punished severely.

    Fortunately, these <b>people </b>weren¡¯t <b>exactly </b><b>the </b>sharpest tools in the shed. Even after being taken to the police station, they kept spewing threats, as if eager to prove just how appalling their attitudes <b>were</b>.

    Ruth, frantic over her son being detained, actuallyshed out at an officer, instantly earning herself an extra charge for assaulting a police officer.

    As for Milena, having barely managed to extricate herself from the mess<b>, </b>she couldn¡¯t care less whether the Cherniavsky family lived or died.

    After discovering the rtionship between Aubree and Trevor, Milena was horrified <i>to </i>realize she¡¯d been manipted. She felt disgusted that she gave her heart to such a scumbag.

    She had sorely underestimated Aubree. As a result of this whole debacle, the Yurchenko family¡¯spany saw its capital shrink by more than half. Her parents rushed back overnight and tore into her mercilessly. She was too busy praying that Birgitte would be fine to care whether anyone else in the Cherniavsky family lived or died.

    *****

    ¡°Ms. Miller.¡± Quantavius appeared at the hospital ward door, apanied by Milena and carrying gifts, an ingratiating smile stered across his face.

    Aubree returned with a lunchbox, nced at the gifts in Quantavius¡¯s hands, and sneered. ¡°Well, well, look who came bearing gifts.¡±

    Quantavius¡¯s carefully prepared speech died on his lips before he could even begin. ¡®Does Aubree always have to be this blunt?¡± he thought.

    Milena¡¯s arrogance clearly ran in the family.

    Quantavius brought Milena over to apologize, under the assumption that Birgitte was a mere employee, and Aubree was simply upset about her wounded pride. He figured that by showing up with an apology and offering her a way to save her pride, both sides would quietly let the matter slide.

    Aubree watched with icy detachment. She had already found Birgitte and had indeed stopped targeting Yurchenko Group¡¯s shares. But her subordinate had been hurt, and that was a debt she fully intended to collect.

    Yurchenko Group had really been going through a rough timetely.

    In S¨¹dlichen Strand, Bree Technology wasn¡¯t exactly a major yer, but Aubree did have a partnership with Manchotech. In a show of support for her, Manchotech, the Yurchenko Group¡¯srgest investor, immediately severed all business ties with Yurchenko Group.

    Quantavius said, ¡°Ms. Miller, this was all just a misunderstanding. My sister was too foolish to recognize her stupidity and acted without understanding the situation. Ms. Cherniavsky suffered because of it, and whateverpensation she wants, we¡¯ll

    pay.

    <b>¡°</b><b>As </b>for everything else, we beg you to show us mercy. Could you at least help arrange a meeting with Mr. Marchuk from Manchotech<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    What Quantavius really wanted was to ask Aubree to do them a favor and help persuade Manchotech to resume their partnership.

    But Aubree¡¯s attitude made him think twice about acting presumptuous.

    <b>¡®</b>Guess I¡¯ll have to settle for whatever I can get,¡¯ Quantavius thought.

    Quantavius shoved Milena forward, sparing no <b>mercy</b>. ¡°Bow deeply. Apologize to <b>Ms. </b>Miller and Ms. Cherniavsky.¡±

    As if prearranged, Milena no longer appeared resentful and obediently bowed before Aubree. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it was all my fault. I apologize. <b>Please </b>let <b>my </b>family off.¡±

    When Aubree didn¡¯t respond, Milena thought that Aubree might have been swayed and quickly pressed her advantage. ¡°The <b>real </b>mastermind behind this is Trevor. Why don¡¯t we team up and make him pay?¡±

    At the mention of going after Trevor, Milena¡¯s eyes flickered with unmistakable distress.

 Tried 350

    <b>Chapter </b><b>350 </b>

    Even though she knew Trevor was just using her, <b>she </b>still couldn¡¯t bring herself to walk <b>away</b>. In fact, a secret thrill ran through her. Since Trevor was willing to use her, it meant she was different from everyone else. At <b>least</b><b>, </b>to him, she <b>had </b>value.

    Aubree caught that fleeting flicker of concern in Milena¡¯s eyes<b>. </b>

    Aubree finally broke her silence, a cold scoff escaping her lips.

    Aubree sneered. ¡°Since you know you¡¯re stupid, keep yourself in check. If you can¡¯t, don¡¯t me others for teaching you a

    lesson.

    ¡°An apology? Do you think bowing makes you sincere? One should value one¡¯s dignity and not bow down. But your dignity isn¡¯t worth a thing. Do you even realize how humiliating that kind of vition is for a woman?

    ¡°An eye for an eye. For everything you¡¯ve done, why don¡¯t you suffer it all yourself, twice over? Then I might consider forgiving you. How about that?¡±

    Milena finally understood. Aubree never meant to forgive them. There was no way Milena would put herself through all that.

    mes <b>of </b><b>rage </b>burned in Milena¡¯s eyes as she straightened her back and thought, ¡®Aubree is such a bitch. She must have been gloating, watching me bow before her just now.¡®

    Milena dug her nails deep into her palms. Never in her life had she felt such utter humiliation.

    ¡®How infuriating!¡® Milena fumed.

    ¡°No way! In your dreams!¡± Milena snapped.

    The hospital ward door suddenly swung open, revealing Birgitte¡¯s pale face as she stepped out. She dered, ¡°Right back at you. Forgiveness is impossible. Dream on!¡±

    Quantavius¡¯s expression changed in an instant, forcing a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Ms. Miller, I¡¯ll admit you¡¯re young and aplished, but the Yurchenko family has been deeply rooted in S¨¹dlichen Strand for years and has considerable influence. Don¡¯t you think pushing things this far might be unwise?

    ¡°If I recall correctly, you¡¯re sworn enemies with the Wilson family in Rithol City. By the same token, you¡¯re not exactly on good terms with the Diamonde family here in S¨¹dlichen Strand, are you?¡±

    That was a threat.

    However, threats were thest thing that fazed Aubree. She smirked. ¡°Let¡¯s see whoes out on top, then, Mr. Yurchenko. I just hope I won¡¯t have to see you wailing and groveling at my feet again.¡±

    Quantavius¡¯s face darkened. He¡¯d arrived full of schemes, but stormed off seething with rage.

    Only after the Yurchenko siblings had left did a trace of concern flicker across Birgitte¡¯s face. ¡°Ms. Miller, won¡¯t this seriously antagonize them?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree replied, ¡°The bad blood between us was sealed the moment Milena fell for Trevor. Besides, I never nned to let the Yurchenko family off the hook in the first ce.

    ¡°That day at the meal gathering, after Trevor was rescued, I realized Milena had alreadytched onto him. That¡¯s when I started having people monitor the Yurchenko family.¡±

    Whether it was the hatred from her past life or her long¨Cstanding premonition that Milena would eventuallye after her, Aubree was determined not to let Milena off the hook.

    <b>The </b>agony of her shattered leg¨CAubree had never intended to forgive or forget.

    Now, with old grudges and new grievancesbined, she was determined to settle every score.

    Aubree looked at Birgitte and took her hand firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll make them pay for every hurt you suffered today.¡±

    At first, Birgitte hadn¡¯t fully <b>grasped </b>the <b>weight </b>of Aubree¡¯s promise. It wasn¡¯t until after she was discharged from the hospital and the Cherniavsky family had all been sentenced that she received <b>a </b>package. Inside were nothing but photos of her family members and Felix behind <b>bars</b>.

    4.30 PM D

    The beatings they endured <b>were </b>the least of their worries. Felix, already having been castrated, became a constant target of mockery and humiliation from other inmates because of his condition.

    Out of morbid curiosity, the leader among the inmates forcibly performed a second castration on him. Although Felix survived the ordeal, what <b>awaited </b>him <b>back </b>in his cell was far worse degradation.

    Howard and Edwin fared no better. Judging from Birgitte¡¯s looks, good looks clearly ran in the family. <b>In </b>a men¡¯s prison, good looks <b>were </b>more of a curse than <b>a </b>blessing.

    <b>As </b>for Ruth, her fate <b>was </b>even <b>worse</b>. Once word got out about what she¡¯d done, there were plenty of people lining up to make her life a living hell.

    But that <b>was </b>a story for another time.

    At the hospital, after the Yurchenko family left, Aubree finally had a moment to herself. Only then did she have the energy to check what happened after the art exhibition incident.

 Tried 351

    <b>Chapter </b><b>351 </b>

    Carmen and her people moved fast. When Aubree entered a few keywords and casually scrolled through some posts, they all contained more or less the same narrative.

    Roughly speaking, it imed that Percival had acted out of concern for his student and misunderstood the past between her and Carmen, assuming that Aubree had set up a trap to frame Carmen. The incident darnaged Aubree¡¯s reputation at the art. exhibition.

    However, the post blurred the actual sequence of events. It didn¡¯t rify how Percival had misunderstood things. It certainly didn¡¯t mention how Aubree had been cornered and pressured by several people on¨Csite.

    Percival himself had promptly posted an apology on social media regarding the matter.

    Aubree let out a sarcasticugh. As expected.

    It <b>was </b>Carmen¡¯s exhibition, after all. She had definitely gotten smarter than before. She knew how to use others as weapons, and this time she had even been careful enough to ensure all the media and reporters present were handpicked by her.

    Even if something unfavorable had happened, she could still dominate the narrative.

    15)

    She deliberately erased key information. From the surface¨Clevel details avable now, the me all seemed to fall on Percival. But he was also somewhat excusable. <b>He </b>just cared too much for his student. Meanwhile, Aubree came off as an uninvolved, innocent party.

    Moreover, to outsiders unfamiliar with the whole truth, the situation would inevitably wonder why this was connected to that earlier incident.

    Perhaps the giarism usations against Carmen had another side to the story. She might be innocent.

    People¡¯s imaginations were boundless. Carmen didn¡¯t even need to do much. She could just post some vague, ambiguous messages on social media, y the victim a bit, speak kindly of her teacher, and all the filth that had once clung to her was now halfway washed clean.

    Aubree continued searching. Alvin had exined the situation at the scene in detail, and Stan had also been publicly defending her. But public opinion was overwhelming. Most people who had been at the exhibition sided with Carmen, and some even began to question whether Alvin and Stan were exaggerating things due to personal bias.

    After everything she had been through, Aubree learned that arguing online would never truly hurt her enemy.

    Even after winning so many battles in public opinion, the damage she had dealt to the Wilson family was only a brief moment of frustration for them!

    Even Carmen, who had been relentlessly scolded before, was now practically ¡°reborn.¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to the online chatter. Instead, she contacted Caesar to ask how thewsuit preparations were going for defamation and false usations against Carmen, Alice, and Percival.

    Caesar said, ¡°It¡¯s already been filed with the court. Now we just wait for it to be epted and for the summons to be issued.¡±

    Aubree posted a screenshot of her conversation with Caesar on X. It was captioned: [No forgiveness, no argument. See you in court.]

    The moment the post went up,izens who were still heatedly debating were dumbfounded. Aubree was really going this hard.

    The typical process was supposed to involve both parties arguing online first, leading to either reconciliation or aplete falling out. However, Aubree went straight to legal action.

    [Wait, Carmen, Alice, Daxton¡­ Aubree¡¯s suing practically the whole Wilson family, along with Percival!]

    [Looking at it this way, what Stan and Alvin said seems much more credible now.]

    [Wasn¡¯t it Stan who originally called out Carmen¡¯s giarism? What if he and Aubree had a deal from the beginning?]

    The online discussion exploded. Even Carmen herself was stunned when she saw Aubree¡¯s response.

    13/2

    This wasn¡¯t how she¡¯d imagined things at all.

    12/2

 Tried 352

    <b>Chapter </b><b>352 </b>

    Her paidmenters were all prepped, ready for Aubree to start throwing usations so that she could y the victim and shift public opinion. Even if people didn¡¯t fully believe her, it would at least cast doubt on the giarism ims.

    But Aubree said nothing.

    A court summons was undeniably the most powerful counterattack. It left Carmenpletely caught off guard. Even Trevor, who had initiallye up with the n so casually, was now at a loss.

    After posting, Aubree didn¡¯t check her phone again.

    She started thinking about her next steps. All the tools were now in her hands. She wanted to find the most painful way to make them pay.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, she messaged Bowen: [I¡¯m going to Rithol City. We still need people here in S¨¹dlichen Strand.]

    Bowen replied almost instantly: [Go all in. I¡¯ll always have your back.]

    The screen lit up. Aubrce¡¯s eyes softened, and she smiled. Thankfully, she still had him.

    Aubree had initially agreed to Bowen¡¯s tempting line about using him because she didn¡¯t dislike him and figured she could walk away if it didn¡¯t work. But now, her mindset hadpletely changed.

    And that was exactly the slow¨Cburn n of the cunning Bowen.

    It was just as Mark and the others had described him, just as Alvin had repeatedly warned that Bowen was never a good man. He gave her everything, only to lock her tightly by his side so she¡¯d never leave.

    After arranging the follow¨Cup matters with Birgitte, Aubree returned to Rithol City.

    Ever since that post, her phone hadn¡¯t stopped ringing, all from unfamiliar numbers registered in Rithol City.

    Aubree didn¡¯t answer a single one. She knew exactly who was calling. She unblocked a WhatsApp contact that had been on her cklist for a long time.

    She typed: [Stop calling. I won¡¯t take a single step back. If you have something to say, see me in court.]

    [The more you act like this, the more disgusted I feel. Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d do anything if I forgave you? So what happened at the exhibition? Why were you all suddenly mute?]

    [Or is your ¡®do anything¡® just about saying a few nice words? You think sweet talk can solve everything?]

    [The summons will be in your hands soon. Just wait.]

    After sending several messages in a row, Aubree blocked the contact again.

    Holding his phone, Ronald was speechless as he read those messages. He wondered if he had done it wrongly. But in that situation, if he had helped Aubree, it would¡¯ve dragged down the Wilson family¡¯s reputation.

    He didn¡¯t care what happened to Carmen, but he couldn¡¯t risk harming to the Wilson family or theirpany.

    Besides, his decision was ultimately for Aubree¡¯s sake. As long as the Wilson family stayed strong, if she ever chose toe back to the family, she¡¯d have a good life waiting for her.

    From his perspective, Ronald had only rationalized his self¨Cinterest as concern for Aubree and believed it without a doubt.

    When he tried to exin himself to her, the message only had one tick. She blocked him again.

    In a burst of rage, he mmed his phone to the ground, smashing it into pieces.

    Breathing heavily, Ronald¡¯s eyes burned with rare resentment toward Aubree. She kept humiliating him, over and over. He was her father. He had alreadypromised so much, yet she was still not satisfied.

    Even with all his guilt, he still had his pride.

    Ronald remembered what Daxton had said before.

    ¡°I know you want to win Aubree back, and maybe this situation still has <b>a </b>turning point. Didn¡¯t you suspect <b>Bowen </b>of interfering? I also think Aubree won¡¯te home because of the Turner family. Are we really that much worse than them?¡±

    Aubree still refused to forgive them and return home because she believed Bowen had her back, and that was enough for her to live well. But what if that support disappeared?

    Ronald¡¯s expression darkened. ¡®Aubree<b>, </b>don¡¯t me your father for being ruthless. You¡¯ve just been too disobedient.

    12/2

 Tried 353

    <b>Chapter </b><b>353 </b>

    Regarding the art exhibition incident, Aubree filedwsuits against Carmen and her group at lightning speed.

    The Wilson family had been prepared for this. After stumbling so many times at Aubree¡¯s hands, they hade to understand that <b>she </b>was no longer someone they could underestimate. None of them dared to treat her lightly.

    She had said on the day of the incident that she would sue Carmen for defamation and nder, and no one dared treat those <b>words </b><b>as </b><b>a </b>bluff. What surprised everyone, however, was that Aubree didn¡¯t just sue Carmen. She practically went after every single one of them.

    [Miss Miller, this offense isn¡¯t particrly serious. You should be ready for the possibility that thewsuit might not bring much of <b>a </b>result.]

    [Based on the avable evidence, as long as the Wilson family ys <b>it </b>smart and shifts the me to Percival, they could walk away from this clean.]

    [Percival already made a public apology, and the harshest penalty he¡¯ll likely face is probation.]

    Just before the hearing, Caesar sent a few messages to let Aubree know what to expect.

    She replied: [It¡¯s fine. All I want is to make an example of them.] She had never expected such a simple nder case to bring down the Wilson family. After all, they had been pulling this kind of stunt for years.

    And indeed, just as Caesar predicted, Percival followed the Wilson family¡¯s lead and issued a public apology beforehand. In

    doing so, he effectively admitted to defaming and ndering Aubree.

    He couldn¡¯t go against a powerful family like the Wilsons. At this point, the best oue for him was to have the Wilson family owe him a favor by taking all the me and epting the consequences. In the end, he was sentenced to three months of probation.

    After the verdict was announced, public opinion shifted dramatically in Aubree¡¯s favor. The damage to Bree Technology¡¯s reputation also vanished.

    With the court ruling made public, it became obvious that Aubree had been innocent all along. No one dared to take sides with the Wilson family and risk ndering her anymore. They were afraid that one day they might wake up to find a court summons from her in their inbox.

    The punishment might not have been severe, but it was humiliating.

    Once their reputation was ruined, no one in the business world would dare to work with them. Nobody would want to buy from them.

    More importantly, Aubree had shown everyone who was waiting to see her fall how ruthless she was. Anyone who crossed her would get bitten, even if she had to suffer too.

    But of course, that still wasn¡¯t enough.

    Aubree tapped her phone, and a video appeared on the screen.

    ¡°<b>I </b>advise you <i>to </i>stay out of this. Miss Milena Yurchenko has her eyes on this man.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. That Yurchenko family. Be smart and get lost.¡±

    The chaotic audio yed from her phone. The camera zoomed in to reveal Trevor¡¯s face. His gaze was unfocused, and his clothes were messy<b>. </b>He was clearly drunk.

    Women,te at night, a bar, a top celebrity¡­ Those keywords didn¡¯t add up to anything good.

    And that wasn¡¯t all. With another tap of her finger, Aubree pulled up a photo. If Sylvia were here, she would¡¯ve recognized the woman in the image instantly. The woman was Trevor¡¯s girlfriend at the time when Aubree had partnered with Sylvia topete on yzy.

    Her name was Sophia Hunt, a former third- or fourth¨Ctier actress. She wasn¡¯t well known, but her stunning looks had caught Trevor¡¯s attention. With his backing, she¡¯d climbed to second¨Ctier status.

    Aubree had been keeping tabs on Sophia because she was pregnant.

    11/2

    <b>4:31 </b>PM

    Sophia¡¯s goal was to marry into the <b>Wilson </b>family through her pregnancy. For that, she had canceled all her work engagements. Even after warnings from her agency, she refused to <b>get </b>an abortion.

    12/2

 Tried 354

    <b>Chapter </b><b>354 </b>

    She had such a beautiful dream. Aubree, being such a helpful person, had to lend a hand.

    She narrowed her eyes and smiled, then sent the video to a paparazzo. <b>[</b>Top star gossip. Use it well.]

    Many entertainmentpanies had some form of partnership with paparazzi. The one Aubree contacted had been introduced to her by Kurtis. They were highly capable.

    The Wilson family had barely begun to feel relief from offloading all the rne in court when, that very night, a news story exploded onto X¡¯s trending topics.

    Paparazzo ¡°Sniffy¡± posted: [Guess what I caught on camera this time? Can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised. He is a top star, after all. I recently took a trip to S¨¹dlichen Strand. After a long day of work, I visited a well¨Cknown local bar. And guess who I ran into? Trevor Wilson.]

    The name Trevor alone was enough to grab attention, and it was tied to a bar fight. Even without a video, that would¡¯ve been explosive. But now there was video evidence.

    Within just one hour, the post racked up over eight million likes and shares. Trevor¡¯s studio immediately tried to delete the trending tags and take down the video. But for every post they deleted, Sniffy uploaded another one. Eventually, he was even banned. But that didn¡¯t matter. The video had already been saved by countless people.

    [Trevor¡¯s scandal. Who is Milena Yurchenko?]

    [The inside scoop on a top star and a fan club leader.]

    [Late¨Cnight blockade. Trevor cornered in the alley behind the bar.]

    [Trevor and Milena.]

    To Trevor¡¯s fans, Milena was no stranger. She was one of the major leaders of his official fan club. Always unting her status and her so¨Ccalled love for him, she had long been idolized by smaller fan ounts. Now, all that admiration hadpletely backfired.

    Her personal info was quickly dug up, including her family background. The Yurchenko family had ties to shady business dealings in the past, and none of that was left untouched. Fans, of course, didn¡¯t me their idol. Instead, they directed all their rage at Milena.

    The video clearly showed that Milena¡¯s people had cornered Trevor and tried to do something to him.

    And with Milena¡¯s background now exposed, it became even more obvious that she wasn¡¯t exactly innocent.

    Public outrage erupted immediately.

    [You sent people to trap Trevor? What were you nning to do?]

    [How is your family still roaming freely? You belong in prison.]

    [Don¡¯t go anywhere. Go check out Milena¡¯stest scandal. Even if there¡¯s no smoking gun, who would believe she¡¯s innocent?]

    This was exactly why Aubree had chosen someone trustworthy and capable.

    When Birgitte saw the post, she immediately knew Aubree had been behind it. Due to her background and the threatening behavior shown in the video, Milena got hit with massive bacsh. Of course Trevor¡¯s reputation suffered as well. Birgitte decided to fan the mes.

    She asked Bowen to help her make her experience public.

    ¡°Are you sure? Bree probably wouldn¡¯t want you to help her this way,¡± Bowen said, not immediately agreeing.

    Birgitte replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m the one involved. I don¡¯t care. Compared to some so¨Ccalled chastity, I care more about making sure Milena suffers. If she¡¯s hurting, then it¡¯s worth it to me.¡±

    She added, ¡°Don¡¯t tell Ms. Miller. Just say I begged you to help once it¡¯s all done.¡±

    Bowen didn¡¯t care whether Birgitte truly didn¡¯t mind. He only cared whether this would help Aubree, and Birgitte was doing

    431 PM

    this of her own free will.

    He said, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll arrange for a reporter to pose as a whistleblower and release your story. I¡¯ll also hire inte trolls to dig up evidence and confirm the ims¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Birgitte replied.

    Bowen moved quickly. Before Trevor could even fully handle the video scandal, another revtion broke. Milena had a history of using her family connections to kidnap and assault people, and now new usations had surfaced.

    12/2

 Tried 355

    <b>Chapter </b><b>355 </b>

    By the time Aubree found out, it <b>was </b>already toote.

    She had just sent Sniffy the <b>gossip </b>video of Trevor. Sniffy was one of the most influential <b>paparazzi </b>in the entertainment industry. Nine times out of ten, his scoops turned out to be true. And for the tenth, he¡¯d deny no matter what.

    With Kurtis backing him, he wasn¡¯t afraid of offending anyone.

    +15

    With the entire inte already paying close attention to the unfolding drama, Birgitte¡¯s situation was like tossing a bomb into an already boiling pot. Itpletely blew everything up.

    Bowen had found a reporter to help her. The reporter imed he had been assigned <i>to </i>cover a scandalous story about parents who kidnapped their daughter in order to obtain money. However, the reporter unexpectedly discovered the Yurchenko family¡¯s involvement and decided to share his findings.

    This kind <b>of </b><b>vague </b>and mysterious post only made people more desperate to know what had really happened.

    Soon enough, someone dug up solid proof verifying the reporter¡¯s story. The victim was confirmed to be Birgitte, CEO of Bree Technology¡¯s S¨¹dlichen Strand branch. Those involved had already been handed over to the court. As for Milena, she had reportedly been taken in for questioning but was eventually released without consequence.

    It seemed, on the surface, that Milena had nothing to do with the matter.

    But Milena had a shady family background. Someone else must¡¯ve taken the fall for her. There was no way she¡¯d allow herself to be implicated.

    She definitely pulled some strings with the Yurchenko family to get herself off the hook.

    The general public, especially Trevor¡¯s fans, pounced on this with a vengeance. They were eager to clear Trevor¡¯s name and paint him as the victim. Grabbing onto this story, they refused to let go of Milena.

    [Trevor is innocent! He¡¯s so outstanding, and everyone knows Milena is one of his crazed fans. What if she tracked his location and tried to use her family power to force herself on him?]

    [Disgusting woman. Why don¡¯t you just die and leave Trevor alone?]

    [Having a fan like you is a tragedy for Trevor.]

    [Let¡¯s protect Trevor. We don¡¯t need anyone else.]

    [Check the studio¡¯stest statement! I knew it! Trevor would never be involved with a woman like her. He¡¯s from a powerful family, has the looks and the talent. How could he be involved with Milena?

    Trevor didn¡¯t know what had happened during his sleep.

    He was jolted awake by a barrage of urgent phone calls from his manager. The fans might not have known, but his manager did. Trevor did have a real rtionship with Milena.

    Trevor said, ¡°What now<i>? </i>Haven¡¯t the fans alreadye up with a perfect excuse for me? Milena is just a crazy fan. I was under a lot of stress and went to the bar <i>to </i>rx. She found out where I was and sent people to trap me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just a victim too.¡± Trevor¡¯s slow, deliberate tone sent chills down his manager¡¯s spine.

    He had been with Trevor since his debut. Given Trevor¡¯s background, the manager had no real authority in front of him. So if Trevor said this was how things would go, all he could do was nod andply.

    The studio hadn¡¯tunched PR immediately because they were unsure of how to handle it, knowing full well the connection between Trevor and Milena.

    But soon, the <b>statement </b>was released. It dered that Trevor and Milena were just friends and nothing more. The man in the video was indeed Trevor, who had gone to the bar to rx after work, only to be followed and harassed on his way out.

    They also attached evidence of him buying medicine after being assaulted by Aubree previously.

    This statement became the fans¡® ultimate lifeline<b>. </b>It was like injecting them with adrenaline. Their fighting spirit skyrocketed.

    <b>1/3 </b>

    <b>4.33 </b>PM

    Anyone who said anything negative was instantly mobbed by <b>Trevor¡¯s </b>fans.

    [Trevor is a victim too!]

    <b>[</b>Boys need to protect themselves out there<b>!</b>]

    [Milena, please, just go die. You hurt <b>Trevor</b>? No wonder he hasn¡¯t been working or attending eventstely.]

    Milena, <b>as </b>one of Trevor¡¯s <b>biggest </b>fan club leaders, had plenty of followers. But in the past two days, her follower count skyrocketed. They <b>were </b>all there to hurl abuse.

    The next day<b>, </b>when Aubree <b>saw </b>the news about Birgitte spreading online, she hadn¡¯t even had time to question Bowen before- Birgitte came to her, willingly taking the me. As angry as Aubree was, she could only ept Birgitte¡¯s sincere gesture.

    Meanwhile, at the Yurchenko family home in S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    ¡°Trevor, how could you do this to me?¡± Milena screamed. She hadn¡¯t cared about the earlier schemes. Those were just Aubree¡¯s moves. She had been ready for retaliation after targeting Birgitte.

    However, Trevor just denied their rtionship.

    Biting her lip and crying, Milena muttered, ¡°I did it for you, to go after Aubree. I didn¡¯t even me you for lying to me. How could you deny our rtionship?¡±

    She frantically typed a message, but Trevor had blocked her. It shattered herpletely.

    With a loud crash, her phone mmed into the door.

    She snapped, ¡°Trevor! You used me, fine. But now you¡¯re abandoning me too?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Milena¡¯s hair was disheveled, her eyes filled with both rage and confusion. ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s not Trevor¡¯s fault. He was forced. Right, he had no choice. He¡¯s a public figure. If he didn¡¯t do this, he would¡¯ve been attacked instead.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all Aubree¡¯s fault! Her! She¡¯s the one who saved Trevor that night. She must¡¯ve taken the video. She¡¯s the one who leaked it.¡± In just a few minutes, Milena convinced herself again.

    She med everything on Aubree.

    Picking up her backup phone, Milena called Quantavius. ¡°Quantavius, have you seen what¡¯s happening online?¡±

    She continued, ¡°No! It has nothing to do with Trevor. He¡¯s a public figure. He had no choice. Please, help me.¡±

    Milena, spoiled since birth, always turned to her family when trouble struck.

    Quantavius was furious when he got her call. If Trevor had even cared a little, he wouldn¡¯t have thrown her under the bus. Even just denying the bodyguards in the video were hers, or ming a setup, would¡¯ve been better than this.

    ¡°Your biggest problem now is still the Birgitte situation.¡± Quantavius was at a loss. If this wasn¡¯t dealt with, the Yurchenko Group could take a hit.

    He said, ¡°From what I know, reporters have already started interviewing Birgitte. She¡¯s being protected by Bowen. I can¡¯t get involved. I haven¡¯t found a solution yet. You better stay quiet for now.¡±

    There was a knock at the office door. ¡°Mr. Yurchenko, someone from the Diamonde Group is here to see you.¡±

    After hanging up, Milena began cursing Aubree for being petty, making such a fuss over a mere employee.

    At the same time, in a vi in Rithol City, a pregnant woman sat staring at her phone screen, her eyes red with fury. ¡°Trevor, you¡¯re heartless!¡±

    The studio had issued a statement saying he had nothing to do with Milena. But knowing him, she was sure there was something between them.

    ¡®What should I do now?¡® she thought, panic rising in her chest.

    She held her belly. Trevor didn¡¯t care about her at all. She wasn¡¯t sure if her n could seed anymore.

    12/8

    As anxiety consumed her, her phone suddenly lit up. It was an iing <b>call</b>.

 Tried 356

    <b>Chapter </b><b>356 </b>

    ¡°Is it Sophia<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Sophia¡¯s grip on her phone tightened. It <b>was </b><b>a </b>young woman¡¯s voice. She thought it was Milena.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Sophia <b>was </b>extremely nervous. Being found at a time like this was anything but good news.

    A soft chuckle came from the other end. I¡¯m Aubree Miller.

    Sophia froze. Of course she <b>was </b>familiar with that name. On the contrary, it was etched in her memory.

    That girl who had once shown up on set to discuss a coboration with Sylvia had now be a household name, the youngest entrepreneurial sess story in the country.

    Back then. Sophia had even been jealous of Aubree.

    She instinctively touched her belly. Her throat <b>was </b>dry from anxiety. ¡°Why are you calling me? What <i>do </i>you want?¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t answer directly. ¡°How have you beentely? Is the baby doing well?¡±

    Sophia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her phone nearly slipped from her hand. She didn¡¯t expect Aubree to know about the baby.

    Her pregnancy wasn¡¯t that far along, only four months. She had nned to approach Trevor at around seven or eight months. She hadn¡¯t gone out muchtely. However, Aubree knew about it.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Sophia¡¯s voice rose uncontrobly. Aubree didn¡¯t get along with Trevor. She was afraid Aubree wanted to harm the baby.

    ¡°Don¡¯t panic. I don¡¯t intend to do anything to the baby. Technically speaking, that child is <i>my </i>nephew, isn¡¯t he?¡± Aubree sounded as if she saw right through her.

    She continued, ¡°You saw the news online, didn¡¯t you? It must¡¯ve been hard. Actually<i>, </i>if I can find out your pregnancy, Trevor certainly can too. The truth is, he just doesn¡¯t care about you.¡±

    She added, ¡°Just like in this current situation. He can abandon Milena at any time, and he can just as easily throw you away.¡±

    Sophia fell silent. She had been counting on her child as her ticket to status, but that didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t care about Trevor. Deep down, she still loved him.

    Of course, she resented how heartless he had been, discarding her so easily.

    Aubree¡¯s words made Sophia alert. She had been too optimistic about everything. She hadn¡¯t considered the possibility that Trevor might deny the child. Or worse, that the Wilson family might choose to keep the baby but not her.

    Trevor wasn¡¯t just a celebrity actor. He was the heir of a powerful family.

    But even if that were true, Sophia didn¡¯t know if helping Aubree could guarantee her sess. Sophia felt torn. And in her hesitation, the TV in the room suddenly broadcast a news interview.

    ¡°I¡¯m Birgitte Cherniavsky. The online rumors are true. Why would I joke about something like that? Yes, I really was¡­ No, those people aren¡¯t worthy of being called my family.¡±

    ¡°What does it have to do with Milena? Do you know how I was kidnapped that day? I went to a club for a business meeting, and it was there that I was abducted. The ones who took me were my so¨Ccalled father and brother.¡±

    ¡°Do you really think they could¡¯ve entered the club and known my whereabouts without help? And it just so happens the club¡¯s management has deep ties to the Yurchenko family.¡±

    Sophia listened to the interview, her mind aplete nk. When she first saw the trending topic, she had pitied Birgitte. But if what she was saying was true, and Milena was behind it all¡­

    The interview continued. Birgitte¡¯s voice still came from the TV.

    ¡°Why would she do this to me? Actually, I don¡¯t even know Milena personally, but she¡¯s in love with Trevor.¡±

    ¡°My boss, Aubree Miller, is Trevor Wilson¡¯s sister. Milena misunderstood their rtionship. Unable to deal with Aubree

    directly, <b>she </b>targeted me instead. Even if <b>there¡¯s </b>no hard evidence against her, everything I suffered. I won¡¯t let any of it go.¡±

    Birgitte¡¯s goal was clearly to keep putting <b>pressure </b>on Milena by publicizing her story. Reporters wanted to interview her, and she dly epted.

    15

 Tried 357

    <b>Chapter </b>357

    She recounted her entire experience to the media without holding back.

    She even openly admitted, ¡°I¡¯m sharing my <b>story </b>because <b>I </b>want to kick her while she¡¯s down.¡±

    Sophia trembled all over. A simple misunderstanding had driven Milena to this extent. If Milena found out Sophia was pregnant with <b>Trevor¡¯s </b>child¡­

    Sophia had already <b>severed </b>ties with herpany. Her only remaining card was the child. But if the Wilson family refused to acknowledge it, and Milena got wind of it, she¡¯d be doomed for sure.

    ¡°What do you want me to do? And what can you offer me in return?¡± After a moment of silence, Sophia gave in. She needed someone to back her up.

    Sophia was very aware that Aubree reaching out meant she wanted to use her pregnancy somehow. The online chaos was likely Aubree¡¯s doing too. As long as what Aubree offered was good enough, Sophia would do anything to get what she wanted.

    Aubree replied, ¡°I can help you marry Trevor.¡±

    The temptation was simply too great. Sophia couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Why should I trust you?¡±

    Aubree chuckled again. ¡°Do you really have a choice right now? I probably understand the Wilson family better than most. If you listen to me, getting into that family won¡¯t be hard.¡±

    She just wasn¡¯t making any promises about how Sophia would get in, or what Trevor would still be like <i>by </i>then.

    Sophia could only agree. ¡°What do I need to do?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Has your baby reached the stage where you can do amniocentesis?¡±

    ¡°Not yet.¡± Sophia immediately understood what Aubree wanted. She wanted to do a DNA test and confirm the baby¡¯s paternity.

    Aubree said, ¡°Then contact me when the results are out.¡±

    She hung up the phone. The online storm had already been handled by Trevor. Now, the inte was filled with criticism of

    Milena.

    To be fair, Trevor really wasn¡¯t much of a man. When they were dating, he could say the sweetest things. But the moment he didn¡¯t need someone anymore, he¡¯d toss them aside faster than anyone.

    Men who toyed with women would face consequences sooner orter.

    Aubree gave a cold chuckle and stopped concerning herself with the rest. She would let the Yurchenko family deal with the mess. The more they tried to clean it up, the more mistakes they¡¯d make. And once she got hold of those, they¡¯d never recover.

    But her satisfaction didn¡¯tst long. ncing at the documents in her hand, Aubree¡¯s expression soured again. She hade back not only to deal with all this chaos, but also for something extremely important. It was the final exam.

    After surviving two weeks of finals, Aubree finally made it through her first semester of college without flunking a single ss.

    Now she just had to wait for Sophia¡¯s DNA results. Meanwhile, Birgitte no longer needed Bowen¡¯s care in S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    Aubree had just received word. Bowen¡¯s flight was tonight, and he¡¯d arrive in Rithol City by dawn.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes narrowed. She wasn¡¯t mad at Birgitte, but that didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d forgotten how Bowen had indulged Birgitte in calling the press.

    Just a few days ago, she received an invitation from Manchotech Group to the Inte Innovation Conference.

    The Inte Innovation Conference was a major event led by the government, co¨Chosted by themercial zones of Rithol City, S¨¹dlichen Strand, and Nadio. It aimed to promote coboration and learning between enterprises.

    Aubree¡¯s livestream model and short video <b>app </b>had made a huge ssh on the market. She was the first to pioneer both formats. <b>After </b>her ¡®GrabCheap¡® tform received investment from Manchotech, its numbers exploded, and the new <b>group- </b>buying emerce model quickly gained traction.

    12

    As one of the conference¡¯s co¨Corganizers, Manchotech Group had extended invitations to its key partners.

    And Aubree was now absolutely worthy of attending the event.

    Unfortunately, the conference was scheduled for tomorrow.

    Aubree narrowed her eyes. What a pity. Her boyfriend was justing back, and she already had to dive into work.

 Tried 358

    Chapter <b>358 </b>

    Aubree brought Vincent and a few trusted senior executives from thepany to Nadio to attend the Inte Innovation Conference

    She exined. ¡°The Inte Innovation Conference usually gathers almost everyrge and small enterprise in Lumanon involved in the new media and inte industry.¡±

    0

    ¡°Many promising neers will try everything to get into the conference. If they¡¯re lucky, their project might get spotted by a big boss and shoot to the top overnight.¡±

    Even though this was only a domestic conference, not just anyone could participate.

    For them, as <b>a </b>startuppany not even two years old, receiving a VIP invitation was a major sign of their strength.

    Aubree smiled. ¡°The main goal this time is to connect and learn.¡± In in terms, she meant towork with top executives and expand their connections.

    After a sessful round of funding, they had rapidly attracted a huge number of users. The user base of GrabCheap was growing like crazy, followed closely by arge influx of merchants.

    GrabCheap had more users than any other emerce tform on the market, and that number was still climbing.

    It wasn¡¯t just more users. The tform¡¯s transaction volume was rising too, and money was beginning to cycle back in. At this pace, breaking even was only a matter of time.

    And this was only their first round of funding. Their original n had been to secure two rounds of investment.

    Of course, not everything was perfect. With more users and merchants came the inevitable problem of a mixed¨Cquality environment. Some low¨Cquality merchants used misleading pictures and sold inferior products at cheap prices. Negative reviews on GrabCheap had begun increasing sharply.

    This was an unavoidable issue.

    All Aubree could do was remain customer¨Cfocused and safeguard consumer rights as much as possible. For example, by offering unconditional refunds.

    So far, their progress had been groundbreaking. But it still wasn¡¯t enough.

    Aubree thought about the Tengu Gruppe coboration, which was nowpletely out of the question. She had another potential partner in mind. Once the current situation settled down, she¡¯d begin preparing.

    Once the second partnership seeded, GrabCheap would truly be a phenomenal tform.

    Not only was the emerce side in S¨¹dlichen Strand preparing for the next phase of development, but the ¡°Zappy¡± short video tform was now working with Kurtis¡¯s entertainmentpany to promote various novels through short ads.

    The short novel ad format had incredible results. Even Kurtis himself was surprised. On most tforms, long¨Cform novels dominated the market. Short fiction barely made a ripple, and few even knew it existed.

    But after coborating with Aubree tounch the ad¨Cdriven model, short novels suddenly caught fire, and Kurtis¡¯s tform revenue multiplied several times over.

    And so far, no one else had noticed this quiet breakthrough.

    Meanwhile, back at the Wilson family home in Rithol City. Trevor had been lying low, taking a break from his other projects to avoid any unwanted attention.

    Hearing footsteps downstairs, he looked up. ¡°Mom, are you heading out?¡±

    Alice replied, ¡°Yeah. Your dad and Bryan are going to Nadio for the Inte Innovation Conference. Your uncle and the others are going too. I¡¯m tagging along.¡±

    As for what she¡¯d be doing there, of course, she was going to act as a middleman, pulling the Wilson and Diamonde families together to deal with Aubree<b>. </b>Her growth had been far too fast. If they didn¡¯t act soon, Aubree would eventually slip out of

    their control entirely.

    Thinking of this, Alice felt even more confident that her decision at the art exhibition had been right.

    Even if they¡¯d suffered a minor loss, it wasn¡¯t anything serious.

 Tried 359

    <b>Chapter </b><b>359 </b>

    Ronald hade to her personally and subtly suggested that if Aubree could be brought back to the Wilson family, by any means necessary, then they could still salvage the situation. If Aubree were left unchecked, she would eventually bring ruin to the family.

    A small smile appeared on Alice¡¯s face. Selfish people were always selfish.

    Alice said, ¡°By the way, the Yurchenko family reached out to your uncle¡¯s side for help.

    Trevor¡¯s brows twitched. ¡°So what¡¯s Uncle¡¯s stance<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alice replied, ¡°What do you think? You stirred up trouble with Milena and then used the Yurchenko family. If Milena weren¡¯t such a clueless idiot, Quantavius would¡¯ve made your life hell even at the cost of his own.¡±

    She added, ¡°Even if it¡¯s for your sake. your uncle still had to agree to help them.¡±

    Trevor gave a cating smile<b>. </b>¡°Yeah, I went too far this time. Sorry to trouble you and Uncle.¡±

    You¡¯d better rein yourself in. Don¡¯t let me clean up an even bigger mess next time.¡± Alice knew her son well enough.

    Luckily, Milena was a fool. Otherwise, if it hade to mutual destruction, even Trevor would¡¯ve had a rough time.

    Though he agreed verbally and promised to behave, Trevor didn¡¯t take any of it seriously. He had always been cautious. Milena was just an ident.

    What could possibly go wrong?¡® he thought.

    Aubree arrived in Nadio and checked into the hotel arranged by Manchotech Group for VIP attendees, along with Vincent and the others.

    The conference would begin the next day. Today was theirs to spend freely.

    Aubree approved a round of bonuses so the team could rx and enjoy themselves in Nadio.

    Back at the hotel, Aubree returned a call she¡¯d missed while on the ne.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, we found it!¡±

    ¡°Before Alice married Ronald, she had a boyfriend named Xander Freeman. His family background was ordinary, and he was an artist.¡±

    ¡°When the Diamonde family pressured her to marry Ronald, Alice ran off with Xander. But not long after, she was brought back by the Diamonde family. By then, she¡¯d already given birth to a daughter.¡±

    ¡°Xander had a congenital heart condition. After being separated from Alice, he struggled. His paintings didn¡¯t sell, and raising a child alone was too much. He died from a heart attack. Only after learning of his death did Alice give in and agree to marry Ronald.¡±

    After Gordon disappeared, Aubree hadn¡¯t stopped digging into Carmen and Alice.

    She changed strategies and started investigating Alice. The way she protected Carmen so fiercely meant there had to be more between them.

    With help from Kurtis, she finally made some progress.

    As Aubree listened to the report, her brows lifted slightly. ¡®Xander? And he died of a heart condition?¡®

    She found it very interesting. Carmen might be Alice¡¯s daughter, but that wasn¡¯t certain.

    Ronald wouldn¡¯t have ignored the things she¡¯d said at the hospital. He would¡¯ve tested the DNA for sure.

    And since he had no reaction, it meant Carmen definitely wasn¡¯t Alice¡¯s illegitimate daughter.

    She asked, ¡°Do you have a photo of Xander?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± came the reply.

    4:34 PM

    She ordered, ¡°Send it to me. Keep digging. I¡¯m sure Alice and Xander¡¯s story doesn¡¯t end there<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    After hanging up, Aubree broke into a grin. It <b>was </b>a pleasant surprise.

    0

    She had been wondering how to deal with Ronald and Alice. They¡¯d been married for so many years. Ronald didn¡¯t even have a taste for women, and the <b>two </b>families¡® partnership was tightly knit. It was hard to split or manipte.

    She hadn¡¯t <b>expected </b>a weak spot to fall right into herp so soon.

    The photo of Xander arrived quickly. It <b>was </b><b>a </b>college graduation picture. The man in academic dress looked refined and <b>delicate</b><b>. </b>Standing next to Alice, they gave off the aura of a gentle nobleman and a proud heiress.

    Aubree saved the photo. A n <b>was </b>already forming in her mind. Whether it worked or not would depend on just how deeply Alice still loved Xander.

 Tried 360

    <b>Chapter </b><b>360 </b>

    After receiving such good <b>news</b>, Aubree was in quite a good mood. She even had <b>a </b>little wine during dinner.

    When she returned to her room and swiped the keycard to open the door, her sixth sense immediately kicked in.

    A dark figure shed past. She was pulled into the room with a hand covering her mouth, pinned against the door.

    <b>She </b>couldn¡¯t see who it was, but judging from the build, it was a man. He was strong. Her arms were twisted behind her back, and her legs were pressed against the door. She couldn¡¯t move.

    She panicked. ¡®A robber? Or someone here to kill me?¡®

    Countless thoughts shed through Aubree¡¯s mind. She tried to stay calm. ¡°Who are you? What do you want? If it¡¯s money, there¡¯s a card in my bag. It should have 700 thousand dors on it. You can take it, I¡¯ll give you the password too.¡±

    Aubree quickly added, ¡°All guests in this hotel are registered. If something happens <i>to </i>me, they¡¯ll find out quickly.¡±

    She didn¡¯t know what this person wanted, but it <b>was </b><b>clear </b>he was very experienced. From the moment she opened the door to beingpletely restrained, it all happened in one smooth motion. The only thing she could do now was negotiate.

    The man deliberately lowered his voice and let out a mockingugh.

    Aubree froze. After hearing that voice, her panic instantly turned into fury. She struggled hard and managed to turn around. Just as she suspected, the man seemed afraid of hurting her and let go easily.

    Fueled by anger, she instinctively kicked. ¡°Bowen! You bastard! How could you scare me like that? Do you think it¡¯s funny?¡±

    Bowen raised his brows and quickly caught her ankle. With a smooth tug, he pulled her back into his arms. ¡°You little heartless thing, where are you trying to kick?¡±

    Aubree pursed her lips and shot him a death re.

    With a flick, the lights came on.

    Bowen had a rareyer of stubble on his chin and red veins in his eyes. It was clear he hadn¡¯t rested in a long time.

    Aubree¡¯s heart softened Based on the time he gave her, he must¡¯ve justnded in Rithol City and found out she wasn¡¯t there. He¡¯d rushed straight to Nadio.

    ¡°Are you mad at me? Don¡¯t want to see me?¡± Bowen hugged her tightly and buried his head in her neck. ¡°But I¡¯ve been in S¨¹dlichen Strand for so long without seeing you¡­ I missed you.¡±

    ¡°You still shouldn¡¯t have agreed to help Birgitte¡­¡± Aubree¡¯s anger had already faded.

    Feeling the softness of the woman he loved in his arms, Bowen finally rxed a little. After returning to Rithol City, the first thing he did was go to Aubree¡¯s ce, but she¡¯d already left. She didn¡¯t respond to his messages. He could only ask Vincent where she went.

    Only then did it hit him. Her silence wasn¡¯t indifference. She was just waiting to settle the scoreter.

    Aubree came to Nadio to attend the Inte Innovation Conference. The Turner Group, as a leading enterprise in Rithol City, had previously co¨Chosted the event. But unless it was held in Rithol City, Bowen usually sent someone else on his behalf.

    This time, his wife hade. Naturally, he had to show up too.

    He said, ¡°Bree, if Birgitte made that decision, then she¡¯s already epted all the consequences and benefits thate with it. The protection you think she needs might not be what she wants.¡±

    He continued, ¡°To her, if something she doesn¡¯t care about can make her enemy suffer, then I think she¡¯d dly pay that price<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Bowen knew Aubree valued friendships. It was a good thing, but not always.

 Tried 361

    <b>Chapter </b><b>361 </b>

    He added, ¡°There¡¯s no need to draw everyone into your protection circle. They <b>have </b>their own judgment and agency too.¡±

    He hugged her even tighter. Only with her in his arms did his heart finally begin to settle. In front of Aubree, all his usual confidence and master ns <b>fell </b>apart.

    Like <b>a </b>skyscraper, one touch and it all copsed.

    Her sudden trip to Nadio had terrified Bowen. He was afraid that Aubree would find out he¡¯d hidden his identity as the investor. <b>He </b>wasn¡¯t sure what would happen. Best case scenario, she¡¯d see it as a gesture of affection and fall deeper for him.

    Worst case scenario, she would see it as a betrayal and run away from him for good.

    Just like this time, disappearing to a ce where he could no longer find her.

    Without even realizing it, his grip tightened <b>a </b>bit more.

    ¡°Ouch, Aubree gasped softly. Bowen snapped out of it and quickly loosened his grip.

    Aubree didn¡¯t think much of it. She just assumed he was nervous that she was still mad about the Birgitte situation.

    What he said wasn¡¯t wrong. This was Birgitte¡¯s own choice. And Aubree wasn¡¯t someone who couldn¡¯t tell right from wrong.

    Aubree said, ¡°You¡¯re right. This was Birgitte¡¯s decision. She¡¯s ready to face the consequences. What I need to do is not let her down.¡±

    She smiled at Bowen. ¡°I¡¯m not that mad at you.¡± She was more upset with herself for not being capable enough.

    ¡°It¡¯s reallyte. You haven¡¯t gotten much rest, have you?¡± Aubree said softly.

    Bowen said, ¡°I¡¯m going to wash up.¡±

    Only when he had Aubree in his arms again did Bowen feel at ease. No matter what happened next, she was with him now. That was enough. He finally had a good night¡¯s sleep.

    The next morning, Aubree woke up. She immediately sensed a gaze fixed on her, not exactly warm.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Bowen¡¯s voice cut through the silence.

    She cracked her eyes open to see Bowen sitting at the edge of the bed, smiling. But the smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. It was full of subtle interrogation.

    Her eyes drifted to his hand. He was holding a photo.

    It looked really familiar. One she¡¯d just recently developed of Xander.

    Bowen asked, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice it yesterday. You specially ced this photo by your bed? Are you changing your taste now? Into guys like this?¡±

    Aubree felt guilty, even though she had absolutely nothing going on with the man in the picture.

    ¡°No way,¡± she muttered. Her taste had always been consistent. If someone was outrageously handsome, of course she¡¯d look twice.

    Bowen raised an eyebrow.

    Aubree coughed awkwardly and sat up with the nket in her arms. ¡°That¡¯s Alice¡¯s first love, Xander. He¡¯s probably Carmen¡¯s biological father. I was just about to ask you for help. Can you find someone who looks 70-80% like him?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not hard,¡± Bowen replied. Even if they couldn¡¯t find someone, they could always make someone look like that.

    He asked, ¡°You n to make Xander¡¯s return and stage aeback of Alice¡¯s lost love?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree exined, ¡°The bond between the Wilson and Diamonde families needs to be broken. Alice treats even his daughter

    43/2

    so kindly. If a young man who looks just like her long¨Clost love appears in front of her, she will react

    She shrugged. T¡¯m just putting someone in front of her. What she does with it is up to her.

    ¡°Smart move.¡± Bowen nodded.

    Her n was like a small investment but potentially with a massive return.

    He twirled the photo between his fingers before slipping it into his pocket. ¡°Leave it to me.¡±

    He continued. ¡°It¡¯s time to get up now. Vincent has alreadye to call you once. The conference is starting. Ronald, Alice. and the Yurchenko family are all here too.¡±

    212

 Tried 362

    <b>Chapter </b><b>362 </b>

    0

    With the rise of the inte, the Wilson Group began expanding its business footprint in this sector. Many of the inte- rted projects they had invested in <b>recent </b><b>years </b>were discovered at this very conference.

    Ronald took it seriously enough to bring Bryan along to represent the Wilson Group.

    Alice¡¯s fashion brand was also aiming to open up online sales channels, so she came as well. With the Wilson family¡¯s influence behind her, all kinds of connections and resources practically threw themselves at her feet for her to pick and choose from.

    On the other side, Aubree came with herpany staff alongside Bowen.

    Her main goal this time <b>was </b>to expand herwork. As a rising <b>star </b>in the business world with a dazzling list of achievements and with a powerhouse like Bowen by her side, she instantly attracted a lot of attention the moment she entered.

    They took their seats as arranged.

    The conferencested for three days. The first day <b>was </b>mostly for opening ceremonies, keynote speeches, and award presentations. It was not particrly exciting. The second day featured various meetings and panel discussions covering different topics.

    But the third day was the real highlight. In the afternoon, aworking event would be held. It was essentially arge¨Cscale business mixer.

    Most attendees were there for the third¨Cday event.

    Veteran business figures would maintain and expand rtionships, while neers to the industry would have a rare chance to meet nearly all the major yers, so they were more than eager to prove themselves.

    The night before the third day¡¯sworking event, Bowen brought Aubree a surprise.

    ¡°Wait a second¡­¡± Aubree opened the door and saw a face that looked like it had stepped out of the photo.

    ¡°You found someone this fast?¡± she said in shock. The man before her looked almost exactly like Xander. If not identical, then at least an 80 to 90% match.

    To an ¡°outsider¡± like her, who didn¡¯t know the original person very well, they might as well be twins.

    ¡°Got lucky,¡± Bowen said with a smile.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just luck. In order to find the person Aubree wanted as quickly as possible, he had mobilized significant resources. He even asked Mark for help.

    Bowen added, ¡°His name is Kyler Bradley. He¡¯s a little¨Cknown actor.¡±

    a cold

    ¡°Hello, Miss Miller,¡± Kyler greeted nervously, hands sped together. ¡°Mr. Turner told me you need someone to y a role. I can do it, as long as I get paid.¡±

    He wanted money.

    Kyler had nothing going for him except his face. He had stumbled into the entertainment industry thinking he could climb. the socialdder, but it turned out that in an industry full of beautiful people, he couldn¡¯t even cut it as a pretty face.

    He was filled with frustration.

    He had even been preparing to lower his standards and cater to some disgusting industry bosses, until this golden opportunity dropped from the sky.

    His eyes sparkled with desire for money as he looked at Aubree. ¡°I can do it. No matter what it takes.¡±

    Aubree was very satisfied. People like Kyler were often easier to control. As long as the money was right, everything else was negotiable.

    She said, ¡°Just stick with me today. Don¡¯t speak, don¡¯t try to do anything. Just act like a pure, artistic soul who¡¯s detached from the material world.¡±

    Kyler couldn¡¯t just have the right face for Alice¡¯s old lover. It had toe with the right vibe.

    434 PM <b>da </b>

    0

    Originally, she had nned to train Kyler for a while before sending him to Alice. But now that Bowen had delivered so quickly, she had a new idea.

    She smiled slightly. Letting Alice catch a glimpse now would keep her mind lingering on it. By the time real contact happened, the impact would be even stronger.

    Kyler quickly nodded in agreement.

    Aubree had Vincent buy Kyler a new outfit.

    12/2

 Tried 363

    <b>Chapter </b><b>363 </b>

    As soon <b>as </b>she arrived at the venue, Aubree bumped into Dmytro.

    Although theirpany had reached a cooperation deal with Manchotech Group, Dmytro was still their main point of contact. Now that things were quieter on the third day, he finally had time to personally introduce her around.

    Bowen, as chairman of the Turner Group and a well¨Cknown young tycoon, immediately attracted a swarm of people trying to connect with him <b>as </b>soon as he arrived with Aubree<b>. </b>

    Aubree decisively ditched her ¡°third wheel and took the people from Bree Technology to work the room.

    It had been a while since Dmytro had seen them, and he was clearly happy, shaking hands with each of them.

    Dmytro said, ¡°Tryfon is also here at the conference<b>. </b>The past couple of days have been too hectic, otherwise I¡¯d have introduced you sooner.¡±

    Looking around the group, Dmytro realized he didn¡¯t recognize most of them. ¡°Howe I don¡¯t see Ms. Cherniavsky?¡±

    The S¨¹dlichen Strand branch is just <b>a </b>subsidiary. We can¡¯t spare her. Birgitte and the others didn¡¯te. These are all from our Rithol City team. This is Vincent, my executive assistant, and these folks are¡­¡± Aubree exined and introduced everyone to him.

    Dmytro replied, ¡°I see now. Ms. Miller, you really are young and capable.¡± After their investment, GrabCheap¡¯s performance metrics had grown exponentially.

    Tryfon himself had mentioned several times that he wanted to meet Aubree, but the timing never worked out until now.

    Dmytro brought Aubree¡¯s group to meet Tryfon Marchuk.

    Tryfon remarked, ¡°So you¡¯re the CEO of Bree Technology? Truly impressive. You¡¯re so young and so sessful!¡±

    ¡°Not at all. We really have to thank you for believing in us and making thatrge investment. Without that, GrabCheap wouldn¡¯t have grown the way it has.¡± Aubree smiled and gracefully deflected thepliment back onto Tryfon.

    After all, everyone loved ttery.

    Tryfon chuckled. ¡°Then you should really thank Dmytro. If he hadn¡¯t given me his word that you¡¯d get top¨Ctier results, I might¡¯ve hesitated.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s previous live¨Cstreaming tform had been quite sessful, but arge part of that sess came from being a first mover. What she was doing now with GrabCheap was an entirely different challenge.

    Emerce was a saturated market, and while her model was innovative, that didn¡¯t guarantee sess.

    If not for Dmytro¡¯s strong rmendation, Tryfon might have passed.

    ¡°GrabCheap? That¡¯s the new emerce tform that started in S¨¹dlichen Strand, right?¡± The question came from Sheldon Kader, head of a well¨Cknown investment firm based in Nadio.

    He was a prominent figure in Nadio¡¯s businessmunity, and his tone made it clear he was quite interested in Aubree.

    Aubree maintained a polite andposed smile. ¡°It¡¯s just a small venture.¡±

    Sheldon said, ¡°Well, that kind of ¡®small venture¡® is exactly what everyone wants a piece of.¡±

    As an investor, Sheldon had already been keeping an eye on GrabCheap. His team had analyzed all publicly avable data and assessed the investment potential.

    He was aware that GrabCheap was currently seeking funding and had already secured investment from Manchotech Group.

    Not even bothering to be subtle, and relying on his rapport with Tryfon, he said, ¡°Tryfon, would you mind if I got in on this too?¡®

    Tryfonughed. ¡°That¡¯s not for me to decide.¡±

    Under normal circumstances, Aubree would¡¯ve weed Sheldon¡¯s investment. But GrabCheap was different. She wasn¡¯t just

    11/2

    looking for money. She was looking for strategic partners and market positioning.

    She said, ¡°It would be an honor to <b>receive </b>your investment, Mr. Kader. But unfortunately, we already have existing partners in ce. Hopefully, we¡¯ll have a chance to work together on the next project.¡±

    Sheldon expressed regret but didn¡¯t mind joining in on their conversation. Aubree began discussing tformint issues with Tryfon.

    ¡°Dad, is that Aubree over there?¡± Bryan asked.

    Following his gaze, Ronald looked in the same direction.

    Alice also turned to look. The moment she saw the man standing half a step behind Aubree, she froze.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out,¡± Ronald said.

 Tried 364

    <b>Chapter </b>364

    ¡®<b>Is </b>he back<b>?</b>¡® Alice thought to herself.

    <b>Alice </b>stared nkly at Kyler, <b>her </b><b>eyes </b>welling up with <b>tears</b><b>. </b>The surrounding noise was deafening, but in her eyes, there was only him.

    Rationality told her that this <b>was </b>just someone who looked very much like Xander. But even so, she couldn¡¯t help but steal a <b>few </b>more nces.

    Fortunately, Ronald and the others were focused on Aubree and didn¡¯t notice her abnormal behavior.

    Thinking Alice had always disliked Aubree, Bryan said, ¡°Mom, Dad and I are nning to go see Aubree. Are youing with us, or<b>¡­</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alice finally came back to her senses, <b>hastily </b>pulling her gaze away. ¡°She¡¯s <b>still </b>my daughter. I might not like how she constantly targets Carmen, but we can¡¯t <b>stay </b>estranged forever.¡±

    She said the words, but her thoughts were already drifting back to Kyler. ¡®Who is he? What¡¯s his name? Why is he by Aubree¡¯s side?¡®

    Alice thought of many things, but never imagined this man was someone Aubree had intentionally brought in. After the incident at the hospital, she <b>was </b>sure Ronald would investigate. Her calmness then stemmed from confidence. After Xander passed away, the Diamonde family had wiped <b>away </b>every <b>trace </b>of him.

    Partly, it was to keep Alice from clinging to <b>a </b><b>dead </b>man, and partly, <b>it </b><b>was </b><b>to </b><b>make </b><b>sure </b>nothing would blow up in her face if Ronald ever got desperate and startedshing out.

    Bryan actually felt a bit relieved. At least there <b>was </b>still hope that his mom and Aubree could finally bury the hatchet.

    When Tryfon saw Ronald and the othersing over, he beamed and started introducing them to Aubree. ¡°Ms. Miller, let me introduce you. This is Bryan Wilson<b>, </b>current chairman of Rithol City Wilson Group. And this <b>is </b>Mr. Ronald Wilson, the man who built Wilson Group from scratch.¡±

    He continued, ¡°This is Mrs. Alice Wilson. She founded a fashion brand with considerable international fame and is also the eldest daughter of the Diamonde family in S¨¹dlichen Strand.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s identity was no <b>secret </b>in Rithol City, but outside of <b>it</b>, <b>few </b>paid attention. Tryfon only knew she was an orphan, and with the surname Miller, it never crossed his mind that she might <b>have </b>any connection to the Wilson family.

    Tryfon continued, ¡°You¡¯ve probably crossed paths doing business in Rithol City and S¨¹dlichen Strand. Actually, JinnCee is one of Wilson Group¡¯s emerce tforms. Who knows<b>, </b>maybe you two could coborate.¡±

    Tryfon smiled warmly, introducing them for Aubree¡¯s benefit.

    Aubree smiled slightly. ¡°Thanks for the introduction, Mr. Marchuk, but there¡¯s really no need for us to get acquainted.¡±

    Her gaze swept the room,nding briefly on Alice. ¡°Mr. Marchuk, I <b>have </b><b>other </b><b>matters </b><b>to </b>attend to. If you¡¯re ever in Rithol City, dinner¡¯s on me.¡±

    Aubree left behind Vincent and also kept Kyler<b>. </b>

    She didn¡¯t go far, heading instead to the second floor where she found the perfect viewing spot. From there, she had a clear view of the Wilson family downstairs.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± Tryfon sensed the tension and <b>suspected </b>something more <b>was </b>going on.

    Dmytro quickly whispered in his boss¡¯s <b>ear</b>, ¡°Ms. Miller is Mr. Ronald Wilson¡¯s daughter<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Ronald forced a smile. ¡°Aubree is my¡­ daughter.¡±

    Tryfon wasn¡¯t stupid. Knowing the surname mismatch and the family tension, he immediately shut up and gave a dryugh. ¡°Well, what a coincidence.¡±

    The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

    Tryfon then said, ¡°Your daughter <b>is </b>quite the achiever. So young<b>, </b>and already she¡¯s pioneered livestreammerce on yzy,

    1173

    Chojnes N

    Trylon¡¯spliments finally drew a genuine emile from Rota As a father, Hearing such praise for his daughter experially from someone like Tryfon, made him feel proud

    1: was his daughter, achieving so much at such a young age

    Ronald replied, ¡°You tter her. She¡¯s just dabbling in a few things

    If this is just dabbling, then the rest of us might as well give up A fewplimentster, the atmosphere lightener! considerably

    Ronald kept smiling, choosing to ignore the fact that Aubree had no intention of acknowledging him as her father ¡°She¡¯s got her own ideas. We can¡¯t control her. 1 didn¡¯t expect her to be here either

    Tryfon suddenly understood, thinking of Aubree as an entric gets. No wonder she could stand out in a ce like Rithol City at such a young age, and now she was expanding into S¨¹dlichen Strand. It turned out she was from the Wilson family.

    Having good ideas wasn¡¯t enough in business. Without a strong background, no one wouldst.

    Tryfon and Ronald continued exchanging praise, both very pleased. Tryfon felt his earlier investment in Aubree, on Dmytro¡¯s advice, was the best deal he ever made.

    The Wilson family¡¯s daughter was remarkable indeed.

    Vincent rolled his eyes the entire time, praying the Wilson family would stay far away from Aubree.

    Vincent still didn¡¯t understand why she had kept him and that man. He couldn¡¯t recall the man¡¯s name. No one even knew where he came from.

    ¡°Aubree¡­¡± Bryan stood beside Ronald, murmuring to himself as he looked in the direction Aubree had gone, his gaze not wavering

    She hadn¡¯t acted cold or hostile like before. Usually, she would avoid them with visible disgust. But this time, nothing. No closeness, but no rejection either,

    A spark lit up in Bryan¡¯s eyes.

    As for Alice, her eyes never left Kyler. She couldn¡¯t believe how two people could look so alike.

    Even someone as blind as Ronald should have noticed her odd behavior by now. He nced at her out of the corner of his eye, his face darkening immediately. ¡®What is Alice ying at?¡±

    From the second floor, Aubree watched it all unfold with a faint<b>, </b>cold smile. She thought, ¡°What a touching love story. After <b>all </b>these years, and she¡¯s still not over him?¡®

    ¡°Alice!¡± Suddenly, a warning call cut through the air.

    Alice snapped out of her daze, realizing everyone was staring at her. She quickly lowered her eyes.

    ¡°Ernesto,¡± she called softly.

    The neer was Ernesto. He was Alice¡¯s brother and current head of the Diamonde family. Behind him stood Quantavius.

    These days, the most talked¨Cabout gossip in S¨¹dlichen Strand¡¯s business circle was about the Yurchenko family. Specifically, Milena, who¡¯d foolishly gotten involved with Trevor. She got yed, gained nothing, and ended up offending both Bree Technology and the Turner Group. Now the Yurchenko family was barely hanging on

    Tryfon assumed the Yurchenko family was here to confront the Wilson family and quickly excused himself.

    On the second floor, Aubree saw that Kyler had already caught Alice¡¯s attention and sent Vincent a message to take everyone

    away.

    ¡°What were you just looking at?¡± Ronald asked Alice, his gaze sharp.

    Alice¡¯s expression faltered for a second. ¡°Nothing. I was just scanning for potential coborators.¡± Her voice was calm. Since

    +278

    Ronald didn¡¯t know about Xander<b>, </b><b>he </b>wouldn¡¯t be able to dig up much.

    With Ernesto still there, he could only let it go for now.

    Ernesto introduced himself. ¡°Mr. Wilson, I¡¯m Quantavius, from the Yurchenko family in S¨¹dlichen Strand.¡±

    Ìï

 Tried 365

    <b>Chapter </b><b>365 </b>

    Ronald recalled the recent online scandal involving Trevor and that girl. <b>His </b>brow furrowed, and the look he cast toward Quantavius turned noticeably colder<b>. </b>

    He had heard about Birgitte¡¯s situation. If it hadn¡¯t been her, those same tactics would likely have been used on Aubree.

    Even if Trevor had a hand in it, Ronald still saw the Yurchenko family as bringing disaster upon themselves. Quarrels among siblings could be handled with a parent¡¯s warning, but when outsiders got involved, it was an affront to the Wilson family¡¯s dignity.

    That was Ronald¡¯s stance.

    ¡°What business do you have?¡± he <b>asked </b>coldly.

    Beforeing. Ernesto had already mentioned some of the Wilson family¡¯s current situation to Quantavius, hinting subtly that Ronald hadplicated feelings about his daughter. Quantavius had expected this chilly reception.

    ¡°I¡¯m here today to apologize, Mr. Wilson,¡± Quantavius said, bowing his head humbly.

    Trevor¡¯s influence was immense. The Yurchenko family had already suffered a major blow from thebined force of Turner Group and Bree Technology. Now, with Trevor¡¯s fans boycotting them<b>, </b><b>the </b>Yurchenko family was on the brink of copse.

    Quantavius said, ¡°My sister did something that upset your daughter<b>. </b>But in the end, she didn¡¯t suffer any real loss. I hope you can offer us a helping hand.¡±

    Ernesto stepped in. ¡°Ronald, just consider it a favor for me. Help the Yurchenko family out.¡±

    Quantavius quickly said. ¡°I know you¡¯re concerned about your daughter being influenced by Bowen and refusing toe. home. Right now, the easiest target is her ¡®GrabCheap¡® project. I won¡¯t lie, the Yurchenko family may be down, but in S¨¹dlichen Strand, we can still handle a few dirty tricks<b>.¡± </b>

    He added, ¡°If there are things that would be inconvenient for you to do, let us take <b>care </b>of them.¡±

    Alice tried to suppress her racing heart <b>after </b>seeing Kyler. She understood now wasn¡¯t the time to <b>get </b>distracted. She said, ¡°Weren¡¯t you worried earlier about where <b>to </b>strike? Bree Technology has Turner Group¡¯s support in Rithol City. Their core businesses are well protected.¡±

    She continued, ¡°In S¨¹dlichen Strand, Wilson Group¡¯s influence doesn¡¯t reach <b>as </b>far. We need to <b>seize </b>this chance. Only when Aubree is put in a difficult position, when she <b>sees </b>through Bowen<b>, </b><b>will </b>she <b>realize </b>who truly has her best interests at heart.¡±

    Ronald wasn¡¯t just moved. He was ready to <b>act</b>. ¡°You <b>expect </b>me to invest <b>just </b><b>based </b>on words? That might be a little unrealistic.¡±

    He needed to confirm what value the Yurchenko family could bring. <b>There </b><b>was </b><b>a </b>big difference between an ally and a liability.

    Quantavius noticed the opening and exchanged a nce with Ernesto. <b>¡°</b><b>It¡¯s </b>too public here. Mr. Wilson, may I invite you to dinner tonight?¡±

    Ronald nodded.

    Watching all this unfold, Bryan was torn. He worried this would <b>just </b>make Aubree <b>hate </b>them even more.

    This whole exchange was clearly seen by Aubree from upstairs. ¡°The Wilson and Yurchenko families? They¡¯re getting involved together?¡®

    No doubt their target was her ¡°GrabCheap¡± project. Aubree decided it was time <b>to </b>speed things up with Sophia.

    Because of this distraction, Ronald forgot about Alice¡¯s strange reaction when <b>she </b>saw Kyler earlier,

    Aubree and Ronald both looked into Carmen, but the Wilsons found nothing because Alice had the Diamonde family intervene. Ernesto had blocked the investigation from behind the scenes. Also, the Wilson family had been overwhelmed with other troublestely and had little energy to spare on Carmen.

    Meanwhile, Aubree had local help. Kurtis was her key, and it was thanks to him that she managed to trace things back to Xander.

    Ronald might have forgotten about Alice¡¯s reaction, but Ernesto had not. From the moment he saw Kyler, his heart was in

    <b>3 </b>

    turmoil<b>. </b>

    ¡®He¡¯s alive<b>? </b>No, he¡¯s <b>dead</b>. It¡¯s just that Xander looks <b>so </b>much like him,¡¯ Ernesto tried to convince himself.

    Finding an <b>excuse</b>, he pulled <b>Alice aside</b><b>. </b>

    Alice <b>was </b>visibly <b>uneasy </b>under her brother¡¯s intense gaze. ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°Alice<b>, </b>you need to remember. Xander is already dead. That man isn¡¯t him,¡± Ernesto said firmly. Alice felt her chest tighten.

    Of course she knew. They just looked too simr.

    ¡°Right now<b>, </b>our family depends on the <b>Wilson </b>family¡¯s investment. You need to know where you stand.¡± Ernesto continued pressuring her. He loved his sister, but he couldn¡¯t give up their <b>wealth </b>either.

    Ernesto said, ¡°You¡¯ve had five children with your husband. <b>He¡¯s </b><b>never </b>messed around outside. Regardless of where your heart <b>was </b>in the past, now it¡¯s time to let it <b>go</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>assume you wouldn¡¯t want your husband finding out about Carmen<b>, </b><b>would </b>you?¡± <b>Ernesto </b>added. He was a master at mixing threats with <b>sweet </b>talk.

    Alice¡¯s eyes were filled with pain. ¡®Carmen¡­¡®

    Without the Wilson family and Diamonde family backing, she couldn¡¯t give Carmen the best life.

    ¡°I know,¡± Alice said softly. Xander <b>was </b>gone. <b>Her </b>top priority now <b>was </b>protecting Carmen.

    Ernesto knew his sister well, and he also knew her <b>weakness</b><b>. </b>His tone softened slightly. ¡°Your husband is already starting to lose patience. You really need to be more <b>careful </b>going forward.¡±

    Alice fell silent, nodding. But in her heart, that man¡¯s image still lingered. She wondered if he was Aubree¡¯s man.

    Once theworking event ended, Aubree returned to the hotel.

    Kyler stood nervously before her. For him, the earlier conference had <b>been </b><b>a </b><b>test</b>. Now came judgment.

    He knew this might be his only shot at turning <b>his </b>life around.

    Aubree sat on the couch. Bowen sat beside her. <b>¡°</b>Well? What do you think? If he won¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll find someone else.¡±

    If no one looked like Xander, they could <b>always </b><b>have </b>someone undergo stic surgery. There were more methods than problems.

    ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± Aubree said with a faint smile. ¡°The lethal charm of a first love lookalike is irresistible,¡® <b>she </b>thought to herself.

    Aubree smirked faintly. The event <b>wasn¡¯t </b>even over, and Vincent had already told her <b>Alice </b><b>was </b>trying to contact him.

    The motive was obvious.

    ¡°You want me to get close to that richdy, right?¡± Kyler asked.

    ¡°No rush. I¡¯ll have you trained. Once you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll <b>arrange </b>it.¡± <b>Just </b><b>a </b><b>face </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b>enough. Carmen¡¯s <b>case </b>had proven that Alice¡¯s love for Xander ran deep.

    Kyler¡¯s resemnce to Xander alone wasn¡¯t enough.

    At first sight, a simr face might entrance Alice<b>. </b>But a <b>face </b>alone wouldn¡¯t cut it in the long <b>term</b>.

    Aubree had someone take Kyler <b>away</b>. Then, as <b>if </b>remembering something, she said, ¡°<b>I </b><b>saw </b>the Yurchenko family reach out to the Wilson family. They¡¯re probably nning to go after GrabCheap.¡±

    She continued, ¡°I¡¯ve already gathered quite <b>a </b>bit on the Yurchenko family¡¯s dirtyundry. When do you think is the best time to strike?¡±

    Bowen brushed through her hair. ¡°Let¡¯s go big.¡±

    The alliance of the Wilson, Diamonde, and Yurchenko families created too many unpredictable variables.

    6

    But one thing was clear. If Quantavius <b>really </b>convinced Ronald to support him, the Wilson family would definitely need to make some sort of public move. At the very least, they¡¯d invest money.

    Bowen said, ¡°Wait until they¡¯ve officially tied together. That¡¯s when the profit will be the biggest. But of course, you¡¯ll need to be ready to handle the storm thates with taking on two major families<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    He added, ¡°We¡¯ve already paid the price<b>. </b>Naturally<b>, </b><b>we¡¯ll </b>take the biggest reward.¡±

    Aubree pressed her lips together. She had confidence. She could handle whatever storm followed.

 Tried 366

    <b>Chapter </b><b>366 </b>

    Inside the hotel¡¯s private room.

    Quantavius respectfully raised his <b>ss </b>toward Ronald. ¡°Mr. Wilson, I came here with full sincerity.¡±

    Ronald appeared interested in hearing more.

    Quantavius said, ¡°<b>These </b><b>are </b>some records <b>we¡¯ve </b>gathered regarding GrabCheap¡¯s recent transactions. The number of negative <b>reviews </b><b>has </b>surged recently. This <b>is </b>a breakthrough point.¡±

    He continued, ¡°Low¨Cquality products can easily lead <b>to </b>all kinds ofplications. And the customer base of GrabCheap mostly consists of people who are more easily influenced.¡±

    He added, ¡°At that point, we just need to nt a few shills to stir things <b>up</b>, then nudge some real customers who¡¯ve had bad experiences. We won¡¯t even need to do much, and Aubree will naturally be bogged down by endless trouble.¡±

    Quantavius was full of confidence. Ronald <b>listened</b>, thinking that <b>it </b>sounded <b>feasible</b>. If GrabCheap got into trouble, the branch office that Aubree had established in S¨¹dlichen Strand would <b>inevitably </b>be unsustainable. If the impact was serious enough, it might even affect their operations in Rithol City.

    Not only that, the project had recently secured investment from Manchotech Group. If GrabCheap failed, it would deal at major blow to Aubree¡¯s credibility. Future partnerships with <b>big </b>corporations would be hard toe by.

    By then, her only choice would be the Turner family or the Wilson family.

    Ronald was confident Bowen wouldn¡¯t genuinely care for a little girl like Aubree. Once his mask came off, as her father, he would step in, and Aubree would realize who her <b>real </b>family <b>was</b>, who she could truly rely on.

    He could already envision her standing in front of him<b>, </b>tearfully admitting her mistakes and obediently returning home to be his good daughter again.

    And at that time, he would give her everything she deserved as his daughter.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Ronald¡¯s brow softened into a faint smile. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ll have Trevor help you deal with the online bacsh.¡±

    Quantavius cursed internally. The online chaos <b>was </b><b>caused </b>by Trevor in the <b>first </b><b>ce</b>. But he could only smile and thank him on the surface.

    To be fair, Ronald did keep his word. As soon as Quantavius returned to S¨¹dlichen Strand from Nadio, Trevor made a public

    statement.

    The drama had already been ongoing for a while<b>, </b>and public outrage had started to cool. Fans who¡¯d been venting their anger at Milena had mostly moved on. That <b>was </b>why Trevor <b>agreed </b>to step in and help <b>ease </b>the public pressure on the Yurchenko family.

    Trevor¡¯s studio posted a ¡°damage control¡± <b>message</b>, saying that Milena had admittedly <b>caused </b>some distress to Trevor, but her actions were understandable. She had already apologized privately, and Trevor had chosen to forgive her. He urged his fans to focus more on his work and not cling to the <b>past</b>.

    Milena followed suit and issued an apology. She said she had let <b>her </b>feelings <b>get </b><b>the </b><b>best </b>of her and promised to stay in control from now on. As a gesture of remorse, she pledged to donate supplies <b>to </b>children in impoverished mountain areas in Trevor¡¯s name.

    Trevor forgave Milena. Since Milena had long been known as a devoted fan who did a lot for Trevor, the rest of the fanbase quickly forgave her too.

    [Trevor is just too handsome. You onlymitted the mistake all women would.]

    [You¡¯re sincere, so I¡¯ll let <b>it </b>go this time.]

    [If Trevor¡¯s forgiven you, <i>so </i>will I.]

    The public opinion flipped overnight.

    Privately, Trevor still didn¡¯t want <i>to </i>lose Milena. She was too useful a pawn. He messaged her briefly, offering some casual

    reassurance.

    172

    4:48 <b>PM </b>C

    Milena was instantly overwhelmed with emotion. She knew it. Trevor must have his own difficulties.

    Aubree received word immediately.

 Tried 367

    <b>Chapter </b><b>367 </b>

    C

    4

    C

    She sneered. Just <b>a </b>few meaningless words from Trevor, and the Yurchenko family was already acting like they¡¯d been handed a gift from heaven. <b>They </b>were <b>too </b><b>easy </b>to manipte.

    She wasn¡¯t in a hurry. Calmly, <b>she </b>showed the matter to Sophia. <b>¡°</b>Trevor really is the dream of every girl. Look how he¡¯s still standing up for his <b>ex</b>. Storm passes<b>, </b>and <b>he¡¯s </b>right there cleaning up the mess<b>.¡± </b>

    When Aubree said it, the whole thing took on <b>a </b>different tone.

    Sophia couldn¡¯t help but <b>feel </b>jealous. Compared to Milena, she felt utterly inferior.

    Sophia said, ¡°My baby can do the amniotic fluid test now. Once <b>it¡¯s </b>confirmed, how do you want to handle it?¡±

    Aubree thought for a moment. ¡°Well, the bigger the scene<b>, </b>the better.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Golden Flower Award ceremonying up for Trevor? <b>I¡¯ll </b>arrange for you <i>to </i>attend. Cause <b>a </b>scene. Let¡¯s see how he handles it.¡± She smiled slyly.

    Since she already knew that the Yurchenko and Wilson families <b>had </b>joined forces to target GrabCheap, Aubree gave Birgitte a heads¨Cup. Any unusual signs should be <b>treated </b>with caution.

    The Yurchenko family, which had been on its <bst </b>legs, suddenly <b>recovered</b>. Online bacsh faded, the Wilson family invested, and the Diamonde family helped open doors. Everyone had thought offending <b>Bree </b>Technology and the Turner Group would mean the Yurchenko family <b>was </b>done for<b>, </b>but to everyone¡¯s surprise<b>, </b>they¡¯d managed to find a way out.

    While others were waiting for Aubree¡¯s next move<b>, </b>nothing happened.

    Even Quantavius was a little surprised. He <b>had </b>assumed that teaming up with the Wilson family would provoke Aubree. At the very least, she¡¯d show some sort of reaction. But she didn¡¯t do anything.

    Even Birgitte continued showing up for work like nothing was wrong.

    The Yurchenko family had caught its breath and stabilized. For now, they weren¡¯t making any new moves.

    Aubree maintained <i>a </i>¡°no action unless provoked¡± strategy while staying vignt.

    Meanwhile, GrabCheap¡¯s performance <b>was </b>skyrocketing. The data exploded by several hundred times. Not only were there ads on every major tform, but they <b>were </b>all over subways and public <b>spaces </b>too. Moreover, Zappy was saturated with ads.

    As a partner, Manchotech gave them full support. Their social media posts <b>were </b>flooded with GrabCheap ads.

    The campaign had gone viral. It <b>was </b>a full¨Con marketing blitz.

    The folks over at Manchotech <b>were </b>the most hyped about this. The <b>team </b>at <b>Bree </b>Technology was surprised by the results, but it was pretty much what they expected. The Manchotech <b>crew</b><b>, </b>on the other hand, <b>was </b>absolutely floored by the numbers Bree Technology brought to the table.

    No one was more thrilled than Dmytro. This <b>was </b>his project<b>. </b>The <b>better </b><b>it </b>performed, the more impressive his resume, and the bigger his bonus.

    ¡°How did you do it? Just through ad spending<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>he <b>asked </b>Aubree over the phone.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Aubree replied confidently. ¡°Weunched a ¡®Billion Dors Subsidy¡® campaign. We say it¡¯s a billion dors, but the real investment is far less<b>. </b><b>At </b><b>least</b><b>, </b>for now.¡±

    The subsidy campaign was designed to <bst </b><b>a </b>long time<b>. </b>And if things kept going at this <b>pace</b><b>, </b>actually investing a full billion dors wouldn¡¯t be impossible in the <b>future</b><b>. </b>

    Dmytro was stunned. ¡®Damn<b>, </b>she¡¯s got some guts<b>!</b>¡®

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried you won¡¯t get that money back<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>he asked.

    ¡°If you¡¯re afraid of everything in business, how can you ever make money?¡± Aubree shot back.

    Dmytro had to agree. Regardless of worries, the data spoke for itself. Aubree was winning. A few billion dors in investment had bought them a massive user base. GrabCheap¡¯s registered users had surpassed 100 million, possibly long before this.

    172

    Sure, volume wasn¡¯t everything. But with a base this huge, even a 10% retention rate would be terrifying.

    And clearly, GrabCheap <b>was </b>just getting started.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to need more investment down the line,¡± Aubree said.

    Dmytro immediately understood. She <b>was </b>asking for more funds.

 Tried 368

    <b>Chapter </b><b>368 </b>

    µç

    Aubree brought up the second round of investment. ¡°When Ist met with Mr. Marchuk, I had already decided to partner with Poison.¡±

    Dmytro asked, ¡°Poison? They¡¯re an emerce tform that started around the same time as you. Can they even invest in you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s a partnership,¡± Aubree exined.

    She mentioned this to Dmytro deliberately, with a little scheme of her own.

    Poison specialized in trendy streetwear, targeting mostly the younger demographic. Though the ¡°low¨Cprice tag seems directed at middle¨Caged and lower¨Cie groups, it appealed to young people too. For example, college students.

    Aubree had done market research on college students. Compared to expensive<b>, </b>shy products, most college students prefer something cost¨Ceffective and budget¨Cfriendly.

    Partnering with Poison would beplementary for both sides.

    Hearing that it <b>was </b>a partnership, Dmytro¡¯s interest <b>was </b>piqued. Judging from the current data of GrabCheap, the business was profitable, and not just by a little.

    He asked, ¡°You guys<b>¡­ </b>still need more investment?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°<b>Yes</b><b>. </b>We estimate that we¡¯ll need billions of dors, maybe <b>even </b>over tens of billions of dors in further investment.¡± That amount wasn¡¯t small, even for a giant like Manchotech Group.

    Dmytro hesitated slightly. ¡°We want to continue investing, but that¡¯s not <b>a </b>small number<b>. </b>I¡¯ll need to discuss with Mr. Marchuk. I¡¯ll give you an answer by tomorrow at the <btest</b>.¡±

    Although he said that, Dmytro <b>was </b>confident. With the current data from GrabCheap, talking to Tryfon would just be <i>a </i>formality. He¡¯d definitely approve it.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Aubree agreed readily.

    After hanging up, Aubree calcted silently and smiled. The GrabCheap project had more or less matured. Everything she¡¯d prepared beforehand was leading up to this moment.

    She had indeed sunk and lost quite a bit of money along the way, but that <b>was </b>all part of the <b>process</b>.

    Once the partnership was confirmed and Manchotech¡¯s moneynded, it would mark yet another leap for Bree Technology.

    Time flew by, and soon it was the day Trevor <b>received </b>his award. He had be the youngest <b>Best </b>Actor. The Golden Flower Award was a prestigious domestic film award, and winning it positioned him to pursue international opportunities.

    The awards ceremony was <b>star</b>¨Cstudded. Everyone on the <b>red </b>carpet looked polished and morous.

    Trevor walked the red carpet alongside a <b>well</b><b>¨C</b><b>established </b><b>veteran </b>actor. Though not <b>as </b>popr as Trevor, the senior¡¯s credentials were undisputed.

    Soon, it was time for Trevor to take the <b>stage</b>,

    After the host announced his name, the program followed <b>its </b><b>process </b>by showing a highlight reel of his award¨Cwinning performance.

    The screen cked out momentarily, with the lighting dimming to match. Then, <b>the </b>unexpected happened. When the lights came back on, everyone saw that someone had suddenly appeared in the center <b>of </b>the stage.

    Some recognized her, others were stunned. All eyes turned to Trevor.

    When Trevor recognized the person who had appeared on stage, his expression instantly darkened.

    ¡°Look at her belly!¡± someone gasped. Trevor, sitting close by, heard it and nced over. His face went from stormy to pale.

    Even though the woman on stage was wearing loose clothes, her baby bump was obvious. She was clearly over four months along.

    11/3

    The reporters and <b>the </b>live <b>broadcast </b><b>team </b>didn¡¯t care who might be embarrassed by this. They only knew this was big <b>news</b>. With the event being broadcast live, the audience at home <b>saw </b>everything clearly too.

    <b>¡°</b>Isn¡¯t that Sophia Hunt? She¡¯s pregnant?<b>¡± </b>someone blurted out.

    Trevor clenched his <b>jaw</b><b>, </b>quickly calcting the odds that the baby could be his. The math wasn¡¯t in his favor. The likelihood was very high.

    The only other slim chance <b>was </b>that after they broke up, Sophia had hooked up with some other guy, gotten herself pregnant, and <b>was </b>now trying to set him up.

    Trevor hoped it was the <btter</b><b>, </b>even if it meant he¡¯d been cheated on.

    On stage, Sophia <b>rested </b>her hand on her belly, her <b>face </b>lightly made¨Cup with just a hint <b>of </b>vulnerability. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant,¡± she

    said.

    There <b>was </b>a microphone on <b>stage</b>. The organizers knew this was a breaking <b>news </b>moment and intentionally didn¡¯t cut her mic<b>. </b>

    Her simple sentence dropped like a bomb<b>, </b>sending shockwaves through the venue.

    The crowd began murmuring. Some of Trevor¡¯s <b>closer </b>acquaintances leaned in, whispering, <b>¡°</b>Could it be yours<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Trevor¡¯s face was grim, his expression unreadable. ¡°We broke up a while ago.¡± He <b>was </b>denying it.

    But what he said didn¡¯t matter. What Sophia would <b>say </b>next did. ¡°Trevor, are you really going to abandon your child?¡±

    The entire awards hall erupted.

    It was a live broadcast. Not only <b>was </b>the audience at the venue stunned, but onlinement sections were in uproar.

    [What¡¯s going on? Sophia and <b>Trevor</b>?]

    [There were rumors about them before, but didn¡¯t his studio deny it?]

    [Sophia hasn¡¯t shown up in a while, it was because she <b>was </b>pregnant!]

    [Wait, how did she get in here?<b>] </b>

    Trevor¡¯s face darkened further. The camera cut to him, so he forced himself to adjust his expression. ¡°Sophia, maybe there¡¯s some misunderstanding? Come down first. Let¡¯s <b>talk </b>after the ceremony, alright?¡±

    Sophia looked at him directly. ¡°The baby <b>is </b>yours. I didn¡¯t want to bother you. I was ready to leave the industry and raise the child on my own. But why did you treat me like this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    She continued, ¡°I <b>saw </b><b>what¡¯s </b>going on between you and Milena online. <b>Based </b>on the timeline, you got with her right after we broke up, didn¡¯t you? Did you ever love me?¡±

    As if on cue, the screen that had been showing highlights from Trevor¡¯s award¨Cwinning performance suddenly switched to a medical report. It clearly stated that Trevor <b>was </b>the biological father of Sophia¡¯s baby.

    Sophia said, ¡°I had it tested. If I <b>wasn¡¯t </b>sure <b>it </b><b>was </b>yours, I wouldn¡¯t have shown up like this<b>.¡± </b>

    [Damn! Sophia is savage!]

    [Could she be telling the truth? This <b>is </b>wild.]

    [Wasn¡¯t Milena that obsessive fan who stalked Trevor?]

    [Judging by Trevor¡¯s face, there¡¯s definitely more to the story.]

    Trevor was panicking inside. But no matter how flustered he <b>was</b><b>, </b>he didn¡¯t show it. He had to manage the situation.

    ¡°Sophia, we broke up on good terms. I had no idea you were pregnant, and I¡¯m not sure what you want bying here now. But no matter what, the baby is innocent. Why don¡¯t you step off the stage for now? Let¡¯s talk after the ceremony, alright?¡± he said, keeping his voice as gentle as possible.

    But Sophia¡¯s sudden appearance raised eyebrows. Trevor¡¯s admission that they had been in a rtionship only added to the

    buzz. Given his high¨Cprofile status, it made people question her intentions.

    Seeing the security guards moving in, Sophia knew not to push her luck. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll talk after this,¡± she said.

    The host breathed a sigh of <b>relief </b>and quickly had <b>staff </b>escort her off the <b>stage</b>.

    But no matter what, Sophia had already achieved her <b>goal</b>. Wh

 Tried 369

    <b>Chapter </b><b>369 </b>

    The phone kept ringing.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, may I ask¡­¡± a reporter¡¯s voice came through the phone.

    Trevor sat in the back of the car. His phone hadn¡¯t stopped ringing since he received the award. Outside, the reporters were like a pack of wild dogs. If the award ceremony organizers hadn¡¯t anticipated the chaos and dispatched extra bodyguards in advance, he might not have made it out.

    His agent, Skyler, was drenched in sweat. Sophia had disappeared right after she stepped off the stage. He didn¡¯t even get the chance to talk things through. ¡°The online sentiment isn¡¯t good for you right now.¡±

    Not to mention the whole pregnancy thing with Sophia, Trevor¡¯s <b>past </b>with Milena was being dragged up too. Some bloggers were specting that Trevor and Milena had most likely dated. Then, he¡¯d dumped her, which exined that viral video.

    After all that analysis, Trevor <b>was </b>basically getting nailed to the scumbag cross<b>. </b>That alone wouldn¡¯t have been too bad. Most of his fans were loyal to his acting skills or were rational supporters. A normal rtionship scandal might cost him <i>a </i>few followers and some public favor, but that <b>was </b>all. He <b>never </b>banked on <b>a </b>¡°pure¡± image anyway.

    But the real issue <b>was </b>Sophia¡¯s pregnancy.

    Trevor had to give an exnation. Otherwise, this wouldn¡¯t just <b>be </b>about whether he was <b>a </b>jerk or not.

    ¡°If the online sentiment¡¯s <b>so </b>bad, why haven¡¯t you handled PR? What am I even paying you for if I have to clean up every mess myself?¡± Trevor snapped. He had never imagined Sophia would actually be pregnant.

    He said, ¡°Make her get rid of it. Whatever <b>it </b><b>costs</b>.<b>¡± </b>

    Skyler went silent. If this had happened privately, it might¡¯ve been handled quietly. But now<b>, </b>with all eyes on Sophia, the moment he contacted her <b>to </b><b>suggest </b>an abortion, she could post the <b>messages </b>online the next second.

    ¡°Money can¡¯t fix this anymore.¡± Skyler sighed. ¡°The <b>best </b>option now <b>is </b>to negotiate with Sophia. Take responsibility as the father. Ideally, marry her.¡±

    ¡°No way!¡± Trevor shot back without even thinking.

    Sophia was just a nobody from a normal background. He¡¯d given her a shot, and that <b>was </b>how she climbed up to the B¨Clist. However, he would never marry her.

    Trevor sneered with disgust. ¡®Did she think just anyone could enter the Wilson family?¡®

    Trevor¡¯s face twisted in disgust<b>. </b>He would only marry someone from a proper, powerful family. These women from the entertainment industry were just ythings. <b>However</b>, Sophia seriously thought she was something special.

    Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Trevor rubbed his temples. It <b>was </b>obvious. Sophia was aiming to be his wife, hoping to use the baby as her ticket to the top.

    And unfortunately, the child probably was his.

    <i>¡°</i>Get in touch with Sophia and negotiate with her. Keep her under control. Don¡¯t let <b>her </b>stir up any more trouble,¡± Trevor said, his tone cold and decisive.

    He added, ¡°Also, investigate who she¡¯s been in contact with. There¡¯s no way she pulled this off on her own. No way she just appeared on stage with a paternity test on the big screen without help<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    And beyond that, he needed a PR n to salvage his reputation.

    After thinking it over, Trevor said, ¡°I want Milena to issue a statement saying we were never in a rtionship, that she was just stalking me. Have the studio only acknowledge that I dated Sophia. I have chat logs from the breakup. Leak them.¡±

    He knew he was a yer<b>, </b><b>so </b>after <b>every </b>breakup, he always kept some evidence that could protect him, just in case any of these women tried to bite back or stir up trouble for him.

    Skyler nodded quickly. ¡°I already told the PR team. I don¡¯t think we should try to suppress the trending topics. We probably couldn¡¯t anyway. Better not to look guilty.¡±

    4:48 PM

    Trevor nodded, telling him to go ahead. But the mess was far from over.

    Trevor lowered his gaze to the phone in his hand. He could ignore the calls, but when it came to the Wilson family group chat, he had no choice but to reply.

 Tried 370

    <b>Chapter </b><b>370 </b>

    As a public figure, he¡¯d always been open about his family ties. To the Wilson family. Trevor was the face they showed to the world, and thanks to his fame, he¡¯d brought the family plenty of perks over the years.

    But now that his image was tarnished, the Wilson Group would take a hit.

    In the group chat, his parents and brother were demanding answers. Trevor carefully crafted his response.

    Trevor: [I didn¡¯t know she was pregnant. It was an iderit. It¡¯s not a big deal. As long as Sophia cooperates, we¡¯ll just pretend in front of the public for a while. Worst case, we raise the child.]

    He¡¯d already thought it through. If it really came down to it, he¡¯d give Sophia <b><i>a </i></b>sum of money and raise the kid himself. The Wilson family could afford to raise a child.

    This wouldn¡¯t really affect him much. He couldy <b>low </b>for a bit, do some charity work, and buy some positive trending topics. And eventually, everyone would forget this mess.

    Alice: [That¡¯s easy for you to <b>say</b>. Sophia nned this. Otherwise<b>, </b><b>why </b>wait until her fourth month to show up?]

    Bryan: [You said yourself you need Sophia to cooperate. What if she doesn¡¯t y along?]

    Ronald: [First, calm Sophia down. Then find out who¡¯s behind this. Someone¡¯s <b>targeting </b>the Wilson family. Trevor, keep a low profile for now.]

    Trevor: [I¡¯m already handling it.]

    Meanwhile, in a van near the award venue, Sophia <b>was </b>anxiously peeking out <b>the </b>window<b>, </b>waiting for <b>the </b>reporters and fans to leave.

    ¡°Why won¡¯t you let me go out?¡± Sophia grumbled.

    This was the peak of the scandal, but Aubree didn¡¯t <b>let </b>Sophia show <b>herself </b>in public. <b>If </b>she stepped out now and yed the victim, maybe Trevor woulde crawling back<b>, </b>begging to marry her<b>. </b>

    Aubree saw through her thoughts and <b>gave </b>her a cold <b>nce</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>You </b>think Trevor is that <b>easy </b>to deal with? Do you think the Wilson family are pushovers?¡±

    Sophia suddenly felt a pang of anxiety.

    ¡°After you just pulled this stunt, what do you think the Wilson family wants most right now<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree asked.

    Sophia was momentarily stunned.

    ¡°They want to find you,¡± Aubree said tly.

    She continued, ¡°If you fall into Trevor¡¯s hands, he might give you some money and have you publicly clean up his image. Once the child is born, he¡¯ll y the loving father. As for you, the scheming woman who tried to climb into wealth with a baby, do you think the public will care?<b>¡± </b>

    Sophia broke into a cold sweat. Aubree had orchestrated the whole thing. It had gone so smoothly. Sophia had started to forget that the Wilson family was not someone she could mess with.

    Aubree shot her a cold look and continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t cooperate, the Wilson family has plenty of other ways to deal with you. If they¡¯re cornered, they¡¯ll let Trevor marry you, but once you¡¯re on the operating table, what kind of ¡®ident¡® happens is all up to Trevor,¡±

    She added, ¡°And if he cries in front of the media, people will just say you were unlucky and pity you.¡±

    Sophia turned pale. The worst oue she¡¯d imagined was getting money and fading away. She hadn¡¯t even considered the possibility of losing her life.

    Still, she tried to hold on to hope. ¡°Would they really go that far? Kill me?¡±

    Right now, Trevor was probably panicking. Maybe he was already sending messages, begging her for forgiveness.

    11/2

    4:48 PM

    0

    Sophia was busy daydreaming about how things would go her way, convinced that Trevor would be messaging her any minute

    now<b>. </b>

    Aubree let out a coldugh and tossed the phone to her. ¡°See for yourself.¡±

    When she unlocked the phone, there <b>were </b>plenty of messages, but they were all from Skyler.

    There were no apologies. No <b>sweet </b>talk. Just pure threats.

    Skyler: [Seen what¡¯s blowing up online, <b>haven¡¯t </b>you?]

    Skyler: [Take my advice<b>, </b>cooperate<b>. </b>Take the money and be grateful. Otherwise<b>, </b><b>we </b>have plenty of ways to deal with you.]

    Sophia sat there frozen, clutching her phone. <b>Her </b><b>face </b><b>grew </b>even paler. For the first time, she felt grateful she had listened to Aubree and left the venue early.

 Tried 371

    <b>Chapter </b><b>371 </b>

    Ê¹

    Trevor¡¯s PR team wasn¡¯t just sitting around either. He had already given them the n, and they moved fast.

    Just as he left the award ceremony and hadn¡¯t even arrived at the Wilson family residence yet, his studio had already released

    <b>a </b>statement.

    Skyler first contacted Milena, asking her to cooperate in rifying that she had nothing going on with Trevor.

    Milena <b>saw </b>the news about Sophia¡¯s pregnancy and <b>felt </b>like her heart had shattered into pieces. Then Skyler¡¯s message came in, saying it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to <b>say </b>Trevor had stirred her heart into mush with a knife.

    Skyler knew that when it came to Milena, who <b>was </b>obsessed with Trevor, she <b>was </b>the only one who could be useful. Still, he gave her a fewforting words. ¡°Miss Yurchenko, don¡¯t be upset. Trevor nned to get back together with you once this blows over. No one expected this <b>mess </b>with Sophia to pop up.¡±

    Skyler added. ¡°You¡¯ll have to <b>bear </b>with it. <b>There¡¯s </b>something <b>fishy </b>about Sophia¡¯s situation. She doesn¡¯t have the ability to pull this off on her own.¡±

    Of course, Trevor never actually said any of this<b>, </b>but Milena <b>believed </b>it.

    Now that the Yurchenko family relied on the Wilson family<b>, </b><b>even </b>if there hadn¡¯t <b>been </b>sweet talk, Milena would¡¯ve done it begrudgingly. But with these lies, her mindset totally changed.

    She cursed inwardly. ¡°That bitch Sophia! How <b>dare </b>she get pregnant with <b>Trevor¡¯s </b>child! I can¡¯t let her get a chance to make a move!¡®

    Milena¡¯s eyes were filled with venom. Since Skyler said someone <b>was </b>pulling strings behind Sophia<b>, </b>she was 80% sure it was Aubree again.

    Whether or not it <b>was </b>really Aubree didn¡¯t matter. Milena <b>still </b>hated her.

    ¡°I get it. I¡¯ll help Trevor, don¡¯t worry,¡± Milena replied.

    Milena posted her denial before the studio made their official PR move. She tly denied Sophia¡¯s ims that Trevor had jumped from one rtionship to another.

    She said the video merely showed her tracking <b>Trevor¡¯s </b>whereabouts.

    Back then, they had just broken up, and she really had hired someone to investigate him. Milena <b>was </b>so desperate for Trevor that she even posted her tracking proof on X.

    As expected, she got roasted online, but people stopped calling <b>Trevor </b><b>a </b>scumbag <b>as </b>much.

    Milena took it all willingly. She even secretly rejoiced that <b>she </b>could help Trevor.

    With her stepping out first<b>, </b>the PR team¡¯s <b>statement </b>about <b>their </b>breakup suddenly became much more convincing.

    From the studio¡¯s version, it now looked like Trevor had sincerely liked Sophia. The two had dated willingly. As a movie star from a wealthy family, Trevor certainly hadn¡¯t treated his girlfriend badly. He even <b>sent </b>her good resources.

    Trevor was always cautious. He had been nning the breakup for a while. On the surface, it always looked like the other person was at fault. Sophia was no exception.

    The released chat logs implied that Sophia wanted a role in a big¨Cname director¡¯s new movie, but Trevor felt she wasn¡¯t ready. He told her to refine her craft first,

    Sophia started making a scene, and when Trevor couldn¡¯t take it anymore, he broke up with her.

    After the studio¡¯s post, Trevor also tweeted: [What I once loved was your innocence and purity. I never imagined my identity would make you into this.]

    Thatpletely enraged Trevor¡¯s fans.

    Sophia¡¯s social media ounts were all doxxed and flooded.

    [What a shameless bitch! You¡¯re just some C¨Clist actress who got lucky being liked by Trevor, Got boosted to B¨Clist and you¡¯re

    1372

    still not satisfied? You tried to trap him with a pregnancy?]

    <b>[</b>Can she just disappear already? Even if she doesn¡¯t own a mirror, doesn¡¯t she pee? How does she not see her zero¨Ctalent acting and still want Director Sparks¡¯s film?]

    [Trevor is the victim here. He just wanted to date someone, and now he¡¯s got dragged into this mess with such trash!]

    Public opinion shifted dramatically. Of course, not everyone bought it. Some still believed Sophia.

    Sophia <b>saw </b>it all. She <b>sat </b>in the car, tears streaming nonstop.

    ¡°Trevor is so ruthless<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>she choked out.

 Tried 372

    <b>Chapter </b><b>372 </b>

    e<ul><li></li></ul>

    ¡°This isn¡¯t how it happened! He <b>was </b>the one who brought it up. He hinted that he¡¯d get me that role, help me lock in a first¨Ctier spot, then pick out a good script so I could win an award.¡± Sophia sobbed.

    She thought he was going to make her his equal, to go public with their rtionship.

    She added, ¡°The evidence he posted was just me getting anxious and pushing him, worried about scheduling conflicts. But he <b>never </b>gave me a clear answer, and that dyed my work.¡±

    Sophia didn¡¯t need to finish. Aubree understood the rest<b>. </b>Trevor <b>had </b>used that as the excuse to break up and had even saved evidence.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t keep any proof.¡± Sophia hadn¡¯t <b>realized </b>Trevor was nning to dump her and frame her in the process<b>! </b>

    Aubree¡¯s face remained calm. ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>fine. If he does nothing, <b>that¡¯s </b>when we should worry. The fact that he¡¯s doing all this means he¡¯s scared.¡±

    All that online noise didn¡¯t matter<b>. </b>Sophia <b>wasn¡¯t </b>nning to stay in the industry anyway. No matter how hard they bashed her, it didn¡¯t affect her.

    She gently touched her belly, increasingly thankful to <b>have </b>met Aubree<b>. </b><b>As </b>long <b>as </b>she could get into the Wilson family, she was willing to do anything.

    That night, Trevor managed to temporarily stabilize the situation. But he couldn¡¯t truly <b>rest </b>until everything was resolved.

    The Wilson family had already traced the incident back to Aubree. They confirmed she <b>was </b>helping Sophia. That made Trevor feel like a sword was constantly hanging over his head. He had no idea what Aubree would do next.

    He wasn¡¯t the only one troubled. Alice had been deeply anxious too. She couldn¡¯t find that man. After thinking back carefully, she started suspecting that Aubree might have deliberately arranged for someone who looked <b>like </b>Xander to mess with her.

    So she waited. Waited for that man to show up <b>so </b>she could figure out what Aubree was really plotting.

    But to Alice¡¯s shock, not only did Aubree remain quiet<b>, </b>but that man had also vanished into thin air. She even sent people to S¨¹dlichen Strand to investigate, and still found nothing.

    She didn¡¯t dare make any bold moves<b>. </b>She <b>was </b>terrified that Ronald would find out. Or <b>worse</b><b>, </b>Ernesto would realize she was still hung up on the past<b>. </b>

    Now, both Trevor and Alice wanted to find someone. And both of them <b>were </b>somehow tied to Aubree.

    Trevor didn¡¯t know how, but he caught wind that Ronald and the Yurchenko family were working together to target Aubree. He went to persuade Alice. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m in hot water right now. If Dad and the others are nning anything, they¡¯d better move quickly. It¡¯ll help ease the pressure on me<b>.¡± </b>

    He added, ¡°I can¡¯t find Sophia<i>. </i>Once <b>Aubree </b><b>gets </b>overwhelmed, she¡¯ll slip. Then <b>I¡¯ll </b>be able to track her down too, right?¡±

    Alice agreed. It made sense. She¡¯d <b>also </b><b>be </b>able to find that man once Aubree <b>was </b><b>busy</b>.

    She nodded and mentioned it to Ronald.

    Ronald was frustrated that Trevor couldn¡¯t control himself and had been manipted by a woman. He was angry, but at the end of the day<i>, </i>it <b>was </b>still his son. He couldn¡¯t <b>just </b>stand by.

    Alice brought it up, and everything <b>was </b><b>already </b>in motion. Aubree had shown no <b>mercy</b><b>, </b>going straight for Trevor. Ronald had thought about giving her a chance to <b>back </b>down, but now it was clear. The rebellious kid needed a firm hand to set her straight.

    With that thought, Ronald called Quantavius. ¡°How¡¯s <b>the </b>preparation for that thing we discussed?¡±

    Quantavius replied, ¡°Mr. Wilson, you underestimate the Yurchenko family. In S¨¹dlichen Strand, finding a few people is nothing.¡±

    That meant it was all set.

    Ronald said, ¡°Then go ahead. Make it big. Trevor¡¯s in a mess. We need the noise to drown out the headlines.¡±

    4:49 <b>PM </b>

    Quantavius agreed, but cursed inwardly. <b>¡®</b>Your son caused all this trouble, and now you¡¯re dragging my sister into it?¡®

    If it weren¡¯t for needing help, he would¡¯ve dly mocked the Wilson family. If Trevor hadn¡¯t seduced his sister, the Yurchenko family wouldn¡¯t even be involved in this fight with Aubree.

    But for now, Quantavius could only keep those thoughts to himself.

 Tried 373

    <b>Chapter </b><b>373 </b>

    Birgitte headed to work <b>as </b>usual.

    <b>As </b>she pulled up to Bree Technology <b>that </b>morning, she nced out the window and suddenly stopped. Realizing something <b>was </b>wrong<b>, </b><b>she </b>quickly got out of the car to investigate.

    Someone <b>had </b>put up a

    <b>banner </b>in front of their office building. A crowd had gathered. She immediately sensed trouble.

    Grossing the <b>street</b>, she noticed it <b>wasn¡¯t </b>just banners<b>. </b>Some people were holding pictures, wearing ck<b>, </b>and many media. reporters were already on site.

    ¡°Bree Technology is <b>evil</b>! Why are all those merchants allowed on the tform?¡±

    ¡°My poor child! So young and already seriously ill. I might as <b>well </b>die with him!¡±

    ¡°Bree Technology, give my child¡¯s life back!¡±

    Birgitte furrowed her brows and <b>grabbed </b>someone in the crowd to ask, ¡°What happened here?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°You don¡¯t know<b>?</b>¡± The onlooker, <b>a </b>rather helpful bystander<b>, </b>began to exin, ¡°After a round of financing, Bree Technology allowed all sorts <b>of </b>shady merchants onto their tform <b>just </b>to boost <b>profits</b>. A lot <b>of </b>their products are problematic. Many people got sick because of them.¡±

    Birgitte thought, ¡®Impossible! Who would actually dare <b>sell </b>something lethal?¡®

    Birgitte¡¯s face turned cold. The attack came swiftly and without warning. She immediately thought of the Wilson and Yurchenko families. This had to be their n.

    And she had to admit, it was <b>a </b>clever one.

    Recently, the tform had seen a spike in negative <b>reviews </b>about product quality. The budget¨Cshopping section had faced the most criticism, offering cheap goods with no quality assurance. <b>If </b>something <b>were </b>to <b>go </b>wrong, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising.

    ¡°Bree Technology¡¯s pretty much destroyed itself this time,¡± the bystandermented.

    No matter what business<b>, </b>once their reputation <b>was </b>ruined, it <b>was </b>game <b>over</b>.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not!¡± Birgitte¡¯s voice was firm. <b>As </b>long <b>as </b>she <b>was </b>around, she wouldn¡¯t let GrabCheap fall victim to such schemes.

    The person was startled by her tone, gave her a closer look. Then, he found that Birgitte looked familiar. ¡°Wait, aren¡¯t you the CEO of Bree Technology? What¡¯s your name again?¡±

    Her highly publicized fallout with the Cherniavsky family had made her <b>face </b><b>widely </b>recognizable. Once the words were spoken, others in the crowd took notice too.

    ¡°Birgitte? She¡¯s the boss of this heartlesspany!¡± And <b>just </b>like that<b>, </b>she <b>was </b>surrounded.

    Even if all this were true, the ones they should be <b>after </b><b>are </b>those shady sellers<b>. </b>But <b>once </b>those sellers shut down their ounts, it would be hard to find them.

    Under provocation, these <b>¡°</b>victims¡± decided to <b>go </b>straight to Bree Technology.

    Before Birgitte arrived, security had already been holding people <b>back</b><b>. </b>Management tried to calm the crowd, but with little

    sess.

    Now, with the boss herself appearing, the <b>rage </b><b>was </b>instantly reignited.

    ¡°Go to hell!¡± someone shouted, throwing a <b>piece </b>of lettuce <b>at </b><b>her</b>, Immediately, it <b>was </b><b>like </b><b>a </b>switch had been flipped. People began hurling anything they had in their hands.

    Birgitte had no choice but to shield her head and dodge. ¡°Everyone<b>, </b>calm down! We¡¯ll investigate the matter thoroughly!¡± she shouted. But no one was listening.

    Once the crowd got riled up, all reason went out the window.

    Thepany¡¯s security couldn¡¯t hold back so many people. But with their CEO under attack, they couldn¡¯t just stand by.

    473

    Other employees rushed to <b>help</b>, but the more they tried, the angrier the crowd grew.

    Suddenly, <b>a </b><b>bang </b>sounded.

    ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky!¡±

    A loud ringing filled Birgitte¡¯s ears. <b>Her </b>vision went white before slowly clearing.

    Suddenly, the surroundings <b>fell </b>silent.

    Warm liquid trickled down her forehead. She reached up in a daze. Her hand came away covered in blood.

    Someone had thrown a rock. Her head was bleeding.

    She swayed but managed to <b>steady </b>herself. <b>¡°</b>Had enough?¡±

    Her voice <b>was </b>weak,cking its former strength, <b>yet </b><b>it </b>silenced everyone.

    Half her face was smeared with blood. They <b>were </b>all suddenly afraid this might actually turn deadly.

    J¡¯Call the police!¡± she said coldly. The <b>head </b><b>of </b>security quickly answered, ¡°Already done.¡±

    Just as he finished speaking, the sound of sirens red through the air. The rioters panicked.

    ¡°What are you afraid of? This heartlesspany killed people<b>. </b>An <b>eye </b><b>for </b>an eye!¡±

    ¡°Exactly! An eye for an eye!¡±

    ¡°Who did I kill? Do you have any proof? You only cause trouble here. Why don¡¯t you call the police<b>?</b>¡± With those questions, Birgitte fixed her piercing eyes on the ringleader. Her <b>icy </b>stare made him instinctively shrink back.

    ¡®Damn, how could a woman be this scary?, the ringleader thought.

    Birgitte asked, ¡°Since the police are here, how about <b>we </b>all go down to the station and talk this out properly?¡±

    With that, the crowdpletely lost its nerve.

    Not far away, in a luxury car, Quantavius sighed regretfully. If only that mob had broken into Bree Technology, that would¡¯ve been ideal. Still, seeing Birgitte injured was satisfying. A good lesson for her<b>, </b>and a nice release of all the frustration he¡¯d built up from being suppressed by Bree Technology for so long.

    After a brief hospital visit to treat her head wound, Birgitte didn¡¯t <b>rest</b>. The moment the wound <b>was </b>stitched and bandaged, she returned to the office for an emergency meeting.

    The people behind this attack didn¡¯t <b>care </b><b>if </b>she had the strength to deal with it. They¡¯d keep pressing forward.

    ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky, after this morning¡¯s incident, there¡¯s been a surge of negative press about us online.¡± The head of PR handed her a report.

    Birgitte had no doubt the Yurchenko family was behind this. It was clearly premeditated.

    Overnight, a wave of supposed victims <b>appeared </b>online<b>, </b>iming to have <b>gotten </b>sick from fake products. They even presentedb test results. Their posts stirred panic. Even <b>users </b>who weren¡¯t affected began to doubt the products.

    People started ming every recent health issue on their purchases from GrabCheap.

    The morning protestors were interviewed by the media too. They <b>were </b>sobbing, angry, and dramatic.

    ¡°We¡¯re just ordinary people. We wanted <b>cheap </b>goods, but some things are cheap because they¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    ¡°We were healthy, then suddenly we <b>copsed</b>. The doctors traced it <b>back </b>to what we bought online! Anyone selling that stuff is inhuman!¡±

    ¡°Find the sellers? How? They vanished the moment things got bad!¡± These were working¨Css people. Their words struck a powerful emotional chord.

    Birgitte¡¯s face darkened as she reviewed the data. They were currently negotiating a second round of financing with Manchotech Group. This scandal could seriously jeopardize that.

    273

    4:49 PM

    She asked, ¡°<b>Have </b>you looked into those problematic sellers?<b>¡± </b>

    Someone answered, ¡°We did. Their ounts <b>were </b>registered long ago. But oddly enough, just before this all started, they all deactivated their ounts.<b>¡± </b>

    Birgitte frowned.

    A worker reported, ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky, we¡¯re also seeing a sharp rise in returns, refunds<b>, </b>and order cancetions.¡±

    But Birgitte showed no panic. If anything, the more pressure she faced, the steadier she became. ¡°Report the situation to Ms. Miller immediately. PR, step up your response<b>. </b>Security<b>, </b>tighten up. Do not allow <b>a </b>single unauthorized person inside. Postpone or decline all media interviews<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

 Tried 374

    Aubree received the news earlier than when Birgitte came to inform her. The incident had blown up. It concerned public safety. Even in Rithol City, people had been incited to gather downstairs <b>at </b>Bree Technology, demanding to see her.

    <b>After </b>receiving <b>the </b>full report from S¨¹dlichen Strand, Aubree finally understood the entire picture.

    <b>She </b>muttered, ¡°The Yurchenko family really has some tricks up their sleeve.

    They had somehow managed to get merchants to sell problematic goods and even brought in terminally ill patients to stir up trouble.

    In less than a day, the inte was flooded with news using Bree Technology of selling harmful products to expand its market and make dirty money. With both witnesses and physical evidence presented, the situation seemed genuinely difficult to handle.

    Aubree rubbed her forehead. On top of that, the trending buzz around GrabCheap hadn¡¯t died down, and even Trevor¡¯s tabloid gossip was getting overshadowed.

    JMs. Miller, someone from Manchotech Group is here. They¡¯re in the meeting room.¡± Vincent knocked on the door.

    Probably here because of all the buzz online.

    ¡°Mr. Svystun.¡± Aubree shook hands with Dmytro.

    They were quite familiar with <b>each </b>other, having worked together several times. Dmytro got straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯m sure Ms. Miller has some idea why I¡¯m here today.¡±

    He continued, ¡°About the additional investment we <b>discussed </b><bst </b>time, Mr. Marchuk originally had no issue with it. He was willing to offer another five percent in shares and invest three billion dors more<b>, </b>but¡­¡±

    Dmytro¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°With the current public outcry, the situation <b>has </b>seriously impacted GrabCheap¡¯s reputation. If you can¡¯t handle this matter well, our cooperation might fall through.¡±

    Product quality scandals were fatal in business. While Tryfon believed in Aubree¡¯s capabilities, he couldn¡¯t afford to gamble at this scale. The previous investments <b>were </b>within his tolerance, but this next one <b>was </b>massive<b>. </b>He needed to think it through.

    Dmytro added, ¡°Of course, Mr. Marchuk isn¡¯t nning to just sit back and watch. If <b>there¡¯s </b>anything we can do to help, feel free to ask. I¡¯ll be staying in Rithol City for a while<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Even though Dmytro held Aubree in high regard, business was still business. He looked at her apologetically.

    Aubree didn¡¯t seem angry. The Yurchenko family had made their move, treating her as prey. Little did they know they had stepped into her trap instead.

    She smiled. ¡°Thank you for your trust, Mr. Svystun. Since you offered, I won¡¯t <b>be </b>shy. I¡¯d like to ask for your help in making this GrabCheap incident even bigger.¡±

    Dmytro was stunned. ¡°What?¡±

    He had expected her to ask them to suppress the news. However<b>, </b>she wanted to amplify the chaos.

    ¡®Does she think there aren¡¯t enough people making a fuss already?¡® he wondered.

    Aubree exined, ¡°This was Quantavius¡¯s doing, likely with the Wilson family involved <b>as </b>well. They¡¯re trying to take down the tform with product safety issues. I can¡¯t find those merchants. No one will admit to it, so the public¡¯s anger naturallynds on the tform.¡±

    She continued, ¡°They probably assumed I¡¯d rush to suppress the negative press and issue a public rification. But whether we apologize or exin that it¡¯s not the tform¡¯s fault, it¡¯ll alle off as guilty. In this business<b>, </b>especially emerce, once credibility is lost, it¡¯s like cutting off your own lifeline,¡±

    She added, ¡°Even if GrabCheap makes it through this, our reputation will be tarnished.¡± That was why she never intended to suppress it.

    To survive, she needed to first put herself in a desperate position. It might turn into the spark that burned down the Yurchenko family.

    Dmytro asked, ¡°You want the situation to escte, so people realize someone¡¯s behind it all?¡±

    Aubree smiled. In the beginning, the incident would stir public fear. But if it dragged on too long and the same narratives <b>were </b>repeated endlessly, people would <b>see </b>through it.

 Tried 375

    <b>Chapter </b><b>375 </b>

    GrabCheap <b>was </b>being targeted. Someone clearly wanted to take her down.

    (415)

    When that narrative took hold, the tform could step in, present hard evidence, and shift public opinion<i>. </i>Only then would people understand the tform <b>wasn¡¯t </b>at fault. Someone else was ying dirty out of envy.

    Dmytro thought about it and agreed this could work. <b>¡°</b>But we still need to gather solid evidence during this time. If it really <b>esctes </b>and <b>we </b>can¡¯t control it, you¡¯ll be the one who gets hurt.¡±

    Aubree nodded. She wouldn¡¯t <b>have </b>taken such a risky route if she weren¡¯t confident.

    Ever since she <b>suspected </b>the Wilson and Yurchenko families might join forces<b>, </b>she¡¯d been watching both sides. She had some evidence in hand.

    For example, the Yurchenko family¡¯s transfer records for those terminally ill individuals.

    Of course<b>, </b>if those were revealed now, Quantavius could <b>easily </b>spin it. He <b>could </b>say he only <b>gave </b>them money out of sympathy, trying to help those poor souls <b>after </b>seeing <b>GrabCheap¡¯s </b>¡°immoral business <b>practices</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    After seeing Dmytro off, Aubree <b>gave </b>Birgitte a <b>heads</b>¨Cup<b>, </b>telling her not to panic. She should still do some interviews, give vague but eptable responses<b>. </b><b>It </b>wouldn¡¯t look good to <b>go </bpletely silent.

    Since the GrabCheap incident broke out, Ronald and Quantavius had assumed Aubree would act quickly to minimize the damage. After all, this <b>was </b>the critical <b>stage </b>of GrabCheap¡¯s expansion. Every <b>day </b>of dy meant huge <b>losses</b>.

    But oddly, the issue only kept growing, and Aubree hadn¡¯t made a single move.

    Even Birgitte was just spouting harmless, empty statements in interviews.

    ¡°Aubree wouldn¡¯t be hiding some big counterattack<b>, </b>would she?¡± Quantavius <b>was </b><b>a </b>bit <b>uneasy</b>.

    He hadn¡¯t dealt with Aubree much, but she <b>was </b>a young girl who had oncepletely flipped his ns upside down. As annoyed as he was, he remained highly cautious.

    He didn¡¯t want to fall into her trap again. Once might be an ident, but twice<b>? </b>That would make both him and the Yurchenko family aughingstock in the S¨¹dlichen Strand business world.

    Compared to his careful wariness, Ronald <b>was </b><b>far </b>more rxed. ¡°She¡¯s <b>just </b>a kid. She barely learned any real business skills. She had some smarts and got lucky getting noticed by Bowen. That¡¯s the only <b>reason </b><b>she¡¯s </b>where she <b>is </b>now. When things go south, she¡¯ll probably go crying to Bowen for help.¡±

    Ronald knew exactly how capable his daughter <b>was</b>.

    Aubree was smart, arguably the smartest in the Wilson family. But shecked experience<b>. </b>Given time, she might be truly formidable.

    If she hade back home, he would <b>have </b>been happy to <b>pave </b>the road for her. Whether she started her ownpany or helped her brother manage the family business<b>, </b>it would¡¯ve been <b>great</b>.

    Unfortunately, the kid <b>was </b>rebellious. She <b>had </b>to suffer some <b>setbacks </b>before <b>she¡¯d </be <b>back </b>willingly.

    Ronald said, ¡°It¡¯s been many <b>days</b>. Bree Technology <b>hasn¡¯t </b>said <b>a </b>word. Bowen <b>hasn¡¯t </b>stepped in either. That confirms what we suspected. He¡¯s probably enjoying watching Bree Technology fall apart so he can swoop in and buy it all.¡±

    Ronald had been monitoring <b>GrabCheap¡¯s </b>situation. <b>He </b><b>was </b><b>very </b><b>satisfied</b>. The longer <b>the </b>scandal dragged on, the better. He¡¯d even heard that Manchotech Group <b>had </b><b>paused </b>their additional investment, waiting <b>to </b><b>see </b>how the situation yed out.

    He smiled. ¡°This is working out <b>great</b><b>. </b>Let them <b>keep </b>stirring the pot.¡±

    Quantavius swallowed what he was about to <b>say</b><b>. </b>Something felt off. Things were getting out of control, and the buzz was far more intense than he¡¯d expected.

    And Aubree¡¯sck of response¡­

    Quantavius hesitated, then said, ¡°Ronald¡­¡±

    4:49 <b>PM </b>

    ¡°Enough.¡± Ronald interrupted impatiently. ¡°<b>Just </b>stick to the n. <b>I¡¯ve </b>got other things to deal with.¡± In his eyes, GrabCheap was already <b>a </b>dying beast.

    Aubree¡¯s attempt to use the project to gain a foothold in the S¨¹dlichen Strand market had failed. She¡¯d have to crawl back to Rithol City in disgrace.

    And after that, she¡¯d have <b>to </b><be </b>crawling back to him, begging for forgiveness.

    Ìï

 Tried 376

    <b>Chapter </b><b>376 </b>

    <b>Quantavius </b>and Ronald had everything nned out, but Aubree just refused to <b>y </b>by the book.

    Not only did she show zero <b>signs </b><b>of </b>panic, but reporters <b>also </b>caught her out shopping for Christmas goods with Bowen.

    It was not that Bowen didn¡¯t want to <b>help </b>her¨C<b>he </b>just didn¡¯t <b>step </b>in because Aubree never brought it up.

    Aubree hired some paid posters and low¨Cfollower marketing ounts <b>to </b>stir up discussion, having thern analyze the GrabCheap incident from a bystander¡¯s point of view. They pointed out that the whole thing came out of nowhere. It was almost like someone had been plotting it for <b>ages</b>.

    In just a short time, the buzz stayed hot, and <b>even </b><b>the </b><b>evidence </b>they put together looked airtight.

    A personmented online: [Doesn¡¯t <b>it </b>seem like someone¡¯s jealous and trying to take down GrabCheap?]

    Another person wrote: [I¡¯ve been shopping <b>there </b>all the time. I bought food, <b>daily </b><b>stuff</b><b>, </b>and never had any problems.]

    A third person wrote: [Honestly<b>, </b><b>is </b>this really all the tform¡¯s fault? With <b>so </b>many sellers, a few bad ones slipping through isn¡¯t all on them, right?]

    Someone else said: [All those shops just closed up out of nowhere. That makes them look super suspicious.]

    These voices started to surface, but in the <b>face </b><b>of </b>the relentless onught from the <b>masses </b>and paid posters, they seemed barely noticeable.

    Quantavius didn¡¯t take these voices seriously either<b>. </b>In his <b>eyes</b>, they <b>were </b>just clutching <b>at </b><b>straws</b>.

    Bree Technology¡¯sck of action <b>these </b><b>days </b>had made him drop his guard. Just like Ronald said, Bowen was just waiting for Aubree to mess up and had no intention <b>of </b>stepping in. Aubree <b>was </b>out of options and could only watch things fall apart.

    All of GrabCheap¡¯s financing and partnership deals <b>were </b>dead in the water<b>, </b><b>user </b>downloads nosedived, uninstalls multiplied exponentially, and its valuation kept sinking.

    Quantavius sneered, ¡°So that¡¯s all they¡¯ve <b>got</b>?¡±

    He had barely lifted a finger, and GrabCheap <b>was </b>already teetering on the <b>edge </b>of copse.

    Watching the stock prices swing, he was grinning from ear <b>to </b><b>ear</b><b>. </b>The crisis at GrabCheap <b>was </b>even dragging down Bree Technology¡¯s stock price. It <b>was </b>a nice little bonus he hadn¡¯t <b>expected</b>.

    ¡°Let¡¯s turn up the heat,¡± Quantavius said, his <b>eyes </b>dark and cold. This <b>still </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b>enough.

    Aubree had dragged the Yurchenko family through hell<b>, </b>and now his <b>sister </b>was too afraid to even step outside. He wanted Aubree to end up like a rat in the street, with everyone out to get her.

    ¡°Pull some strings and get someone higher up to look into Bree Technology. Apany that big is bound to have shady business,¡± he said.

    He refused to believe that after this, Bree Technology could possibly survive.

    Honestly, Quantavius was out of options. He could only fabricate rumors and weaponize public opinion against Aubree. If those people actually had the guts, they would¡¯ve <b>already </b>taken them to court and demandedpensation.

    They were not the ones actually selling the stuff, so no matter how big things <b>got</b>, if the authorities came knocking, all they could really check <b>was </b>their <b>taxes</b>.

    Quantavius had assumed that with <b>a </bpany <b>as </b><b>massive </b><b>as </b><b>Bree </b>Technology<b>, </b>there had to be some dirt to dig up. But to his surprise, this move <b>actually </b>ended up restoring quite a bit of <b>Bree </b>Technology¡¯s reputation.

    When the results of the investigation were <b>made </b>public, it actually made some people waver and start to have second thoughts.

    A personmented online<b>: </b>[Is apany like this some heartless business that would do anything for money, even if it means hurting people?]

    Another person wrote: [I don¡¯t care what anyone else says. Every time I had a problem with something I bought, GrabCheap

    72

    <b>always </b>gave me a refund, no questions asked.]

    Someone else said: [Same here. I <b>was </b>arguing with a seller, and customer service just jumped in and refunded me on the spot, no hassle at all.]

    This made Quantavius so mad he could practically spit blood. Ronald kept pushing him, ¡°Come on, push harder¨Cmake sure Bree Technology goes down before Christmas.

    ¡°It¡¯s almost Christmas. Our family deserves to be together again.¡±

    Quantavius threw all caution to the wind. <b>¡°</b><b>Get </b>those patients to block the entrance of <b>Bree </b>Technology. Aren¡¯t some of them in critical condition, about to die? <b>Pay </b>their families to bring the bodies <b>over </b>and stage a protest.¡±

    J

    He just couldn¡¯t believe that with <b>chaos </b>like this, Aubree would still be able to clean up the mess.

    Aubree had been waiting for Quantavius <b>to </b>finally snap and make his move.

    As soon as she found out that Quantavius had sent his assistant to contact those troublemaking patients again, she immediately headed to S¨¹dlichen Strand.

 Tried 377

    <b>Chapter </b>377

    <b>Bree </b>Technology put out <b>a </b>statement<b>. </b>They were holding a press conference <b>to </b>talk about the whole GrabCheap selling shoddy goods mess.

    *****

    This <b>was </b>the first time <b>since </b>the GrabCheap <b>scandal </b>broke out that <b>Bree </b>Technology <b>was </b>stepping up to face the press directly.

    In an instant, every <b>reporter </b>who¡¯d been eyeing this <b>story </b>went absolutely nuts. If they couldnd an exclusive scoop, that meant money in the bank.

    At the moment, the two hottest stories around were Bree Technology and thetest rumors swirling about Trevor.

    Compared to the entertainment <b>gossip </b>that <b>was </b>just <b>a </b>bit of fun, the Bree Technology scandal¨Cwhere actual lives were at stake <b>-was </b>way more attention¨Cgrabbing.

    To make things even juicier, Aubree, Bree Technology¡¯s biggest shareholder and chairwoman, just happened to be Trevor¡¯s

    sister.

    So even if the reporters couldn¡¯t get the inside scoop on GrabCheap, digging for dirt on Trevor was still a scoop worth cashing

    in on.

    Before Quantavius¡¯s people could even <b>act</b><b>, </b>they got invitations from <b>Bree </b>Technology to attend the press conference.

    When Quantavius heard the news, he burst outughing. ¡°Does Aubree really think <b>she¡¯s </b>all that? Does she <b>see </b>herself as some kind of savior now?<b>¡± </b>

    He thought, ¡®Inviting the very people I¡¯ve already bought off? She must have a death wish.

    ¡°If Aubree¡¯s <b>so </b>eager to dig her own grave, who am I to stop her?¡± Quantavius sneered. Not only did he let those people ept the invitation, but he also nned to show up to <b>see </b>what kind of <b>spectacle </b>Aubree thought she could pull off.

    He was genuinely curious to see what tricks this <b>so</b><b>¨C</b>called young startup genius had up her <b>sleeve</b>.

    With everyone eager to see the drama unfold, Bree Technology¡¯s <b>press </b>conference <b>was </b>packed to the rafters. All the major media outlets in S¨¹dlichen Strand showed up, and even the smaller ones that didn¡¯t get an invite were scrambling for any way to sneak inside.

    Aubree had booked the biggest hotel in S¨¹dlichen Strand, but even that wasn¡¯t enough. There wasn¡¯t a single empty seat, and there was barely any room to stand.

    When the hotel doors swung open, camera shes exploded everywhere, lighting up the entire venue brighter than a summer sunrise¨Cthe overhead lights werepletely drowned out.

    The bodyguard opened the car door, and Aubree led the way. She wore a dark red <b>coat </b>and knee¨Chigh boots, her face lightly made up. She might have only been a little over five <b>feet </b>four, but she carried <b>herself </b>with the <b>presence </b><b>of </b>someone twice her height.

    Birgitte followed close behind, dressed in <b>a </b>sharp business <b>suit </b>and high <b>heels</b><b>, </b>her aura every bit asmanding as Aubree¡¯s.

    Vincent Sloan, suited up and wearing <b>sses</b><b>, </b>walked on the other side. Unlike the two women¡¯s sharp presence, he wore a sly, fox¨Clike smile.

    A group of top executives trailed behind them.

    The people closest to the aisle weren¡¯t the reporters with their cameras, but a group of ¡°victims¡± <b>dressed </b>in mourning clothes. Every single one of them had a mourning band tied around their <b>head</b>, their <b>tear</b>¨Cfilled <b>eyes </b>locked on Aubree as she walked

    past.

    They¡¯d even brought a stretcher<b>, </b>draped with a white sheet. Anyone could tell at a nce that <b>there </b>was a body underneath.

    One of them said, ¡°Aubree, you heartless witch!¡±

    Another said, ¡°Give me back my loved one¡¯s life<b>!</b>¡±

    Someone else said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just die already?¡±

    4.50 PM

    Aubree¡¯s face didn¡¯t <b>even </b>twitch. She suddenly turned back to them with <b>a </b>smile. ¡°I¡¯m alive and kicking. Why should I be the one to <b>die</b>?

    ¡°Don¡¯t go dumping all your dirt on me. Are you seriously telling me you don¡¯t know how this person died?

    ¡°Even if you really don¡¯t remember, that¡¯s fine. <b>I¡¯ll </b>help jog your memory in a bit.¡±

    She <b>was </b>totally fearless, acting like she had nothing to worry about at all.

    The reporters exchanged confused nces. They¡¯d all assured Aubree was holding this press conference to make a public apology and do some damage control, but from the looks of it, that wasn¡¯t the <b>case </b><b>at </b>all.

    The one who was yelling the loudest froze when Aubree locked eyes with her. She forgot to cry, tears brimming in her eyes, a flicker of guilt shing across her face before she quickly put on that mask of resentment again.

    She spat, ¡°My brother was killed by you, you cold¨Chearted woman.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your tform, where you only care about making money and don¡¯t give a damn about product quality, my brother wouldn¡¯t have eaten that tainted stuff and lost his life.

    We¡¯re just poor folks, working our fingers to the bone, thinking maybe some kind¨Chearted soul would finally notice us. Who knew you were just a heartless woman<b>, </b>even eyeing the few pennies we have left in our pockets<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

 Tried 378

    <b>Chapter </b><b>378 </b>

    Aubree smirked coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your tears now, or you might find you can¡¯t cry when you really want to,¡± she said, her tone icy.

    After saying that, Aubree led her group up onto the stage.

    Quantavius sat quietly in the front corner, watching everything unfold. He wondered to himself, What kind of trump card could she possibly have?

    Is she nning to dig into the backgrounds of those guys causing trouble? But everyone I hired actually used those products. so even if she investigates, I¡¯m not worried.

    He¡¯d paid them all through off¨Cthe¨Cbooks ounts, and he didn¡¯t believe Aubree had any way to trace it back to him. Aubree Miller

    Quantavius¡¯s gaze darkened as he ran through countless scenarios in his mind, but he was certain Aubree had no way to turn the tables.

    Aubree ignored the stares and stepped into the spotlight. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Aubree Miller, the Chairwoman of Bree Technology. Today, I¡¯m here to address some of the recent controversies and rify things on behalf of Bree Technology.¡±

    As she spoke, photos started appearing on the big screen behind her.

    After a few images had gone by, the reporters conducting <b>interviews </b>lookedpletely stunned, and the people in mourning

    clothes who had been putting on a show suddenly fell silent.

    ¡°Anyone here recognize these people?¡± Aubree asked.

    Everyone found those people in the images familiar.

    Some of them were present at the press conference while crying very hard.

    The images Aubree disyed were all of the same group who made trouble and hurt Birgitte at the entrance of Bree Technology on the very first day<b>. </b>Not only were there photos, but <b>their </b>medical records <b>were </b><b>also </b>shown right alongside them.

    ¡°These people already had medical conditions, yet they¡¯re <b>using </b>us of putting profit <b>over </b>human lives. Anyone care to exin that?¡± she asked.

    Aubree faced the cameras with a calm<b>, </b>confident smile<b>, </bpletely unfazed.

    The woman who¡¯d been wailing the loudest<b>¨C</b>apparently the <b>deceased¡¯s </b><b>sister</b><b>¨C</b>snatched a microphone from a nearby reporter. ¡°Yeah, my brother was sick before, but he still could¡¯ve <b>recovered</b>.

    ¡°It was only after he used the stuff from your tform that things got so bad there was no turning back!¡±

    Aubree nodded. ¡°Let me ask you something else<b>¨C</b>about how long did your brother <b>use </b>the stuff he got from our tform?¡±

    ¡°He stopped once he finished it, obviously,¡± the woman said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world,

    Aubree gave a slight smile. ¡°Let me break it down for you. ording to your brother¡¯s ount on our tform, he bought some of that supposedly problematic milk. Even if he drank one bottle a day, it would have taken him less than two months to finish it all.¡±

    Everyone in the audience looked puzzled. They wondered what this statement could prove.

    Aubree kept her smile as she yed a video. ¡°This is aption of interviews reporters did with the so¨Ccalled victims after the GrabCheap incident. We also ran our own follow¨Cup investigation on these people.

    ¡°Their situations are basically the same as this wol Prother¡¯s. They all had existing health issues and were already under medical care before ever using those low¨Cquality goods.

    ¡°Here are our tform records. As you can see, our data lines up with what these people have imed. There¡¯s simply no way we could have faked of this.¡±

    any

    After she finished speaking, Aubree gave Birgitte a nod.

    172

    The screen switched to another image¨Ctest reports showing that those products had been found to contain excessive and unauthorized chemicals.

    Birgitte led a medical expert in a white <b>coat </b>onto the stage.

    This expert was well¨Cknown in the industry; at Aubree¡¯s request, he <b>was </b>here to help rify the situation.

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>stake my professional reputation on the authenticity of these test reports,¡± he said, his voice steady.

    ¡°See? I told you. Bree Technology is a shameless, heartlesspany. Even the expert you brought in admits there¡¯s something wrong with what you¡¯re selling!¡± the woman started wailing again, cursing <b>as </b>she cried.

    The expert frowned slightly and looked over at her. ¡°I said the test reports are genuine. I never said what you described could actually happen in real life.¡±

    Everyone looked a bit stunned.

    The expert exined. ¡°I heard everything you just said. You im your brother¡¯s condition got worse after drinking two cases

    of milk.

 Tried 379

    <b>Chapter 379 </b>

    ¡°But based on the excessive chemical levels found in that milk, your brother would have needed to drink ten thousand bottles a day for <b>two </b>months to experience the kind <b>of </b>sudden deterioration you¡¯re <b>talking </b>about.

    ¡°Honestly<b>, </b>you might want to consider whether your brother was <b>really </b>poisoned, or if he just died from water intoxication.¡±

    The room <b>fell </b>silent. The once noisy auditorium was nowpletely quiet.

    Now everyone finally got what Aubree had been getting at. She got these supposed victims to admit how long they¡¯d actually used the products, so their answers backed up her im that the tform data was <b>legit </b>and untouched.

    Then she had a top expert break it down for everyone, making it clear that the amounts involved weren¡¯t even enough to make someone¡¯s condition worse, let alone kill them.

    The woman finally realized she¡¯d walked right into Aubree¡¯s trap. She opened her mouth, wanting <b>to </b>argue, but she¡¯d already boxed herself in with her own words¨Cthere was no way to talk her way out of it now.

    Trying to take it back at this point would only make her look even more suspicious.

    In the corner, Quantavius cursed under his breath. He¡¯d really underestimated Aubree. He thought, ¡®So that¡¯s why she¡¯s been lying low all this time. She <b>was </b>out there gathering evidence.

    Those idiots just answered whatever <b>she </b>asked, no filter at all. Couldn¡¯t they have at least tried to be a little less obvious?¡®

    Quantavius grumbled a couple more times, <b>then </b>the corners <b>of </b>his mouth lifted in a cold smirk. He thought, ¡®Even if she manages to prove she didn¡¯t kill anyone, <b>there¡¯s </b>no <b>way </b><b>she </b><b>can </b>dodge the me for selling crappy products. That stain¡¯s noting off.

    ¡®Nobody wants to worry that something they buy might kill them. <b>GrabCheap¡¯s </b>future is basically crippled now!¡®

    Quantavius was sure this <b>was </b><b>as </b>far <b>as </b>Aubree could go.

    As the expert was escorted off the stage<b>, </b>the reporters couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. They shoved their microphones forward as far as they could, and the camera shes went off one <b>after </b>another.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, does this mean this whole thing was a setup by someone?<b>¡± </b>one reporter <b>asked</b>.

    ¡°Rumor has ittely that GrabCheap is just getting targeted <b>because </b>people are jealous. What do you think about that, Ms. Miller?¡± another reporter chimed in.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was about to address <b>next</b>,¡± Aubree said while pursing <b>her </b>lips.

    She continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know how many people are watching this <b>press </b>conference right now<b>, </b>but I¡¯d like to ask you, Mr. Yurchenko, have I ever done anything to offend you?

    ¡°At first, because of some <b>baseless </b>misunderstanding, your <b>sister</b>, Milena, dealt with my employee. I already chose not to make a big deal out of it.

    ¡°But now you¡¯re teaming up with the Wilson family to <b>deliberately </b>spread rumors and nder Bree Technology. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s going a bit too far?¡±

    She knew Quantavius was right there in the audience<b>, </b>but no one <b>else </b>had a clue. <b>To </b>everyone <b>else</b><b>, </b>it just seemed like she was calling him out over the livestream.

    In the crowd, Quantavius¡¯s eyelids twitched <b>uneasily</b>. He thought, ¡®Does Aubree really know it was me?

    ¡°That is impossible!¡®

    But as soon as the thought popped up, he dismissed it. He felt that there was no way Aubree could pull that off.

    He¡¯d covered his tracks well. If Aubree hadn¡¯t time¨Ctraveled to this world, there was no way she could have traced his money flow.

    In her previous life, the Wilson family managed to dig up Quantavius¡¯s private ounts in order to bring him down. Most of the transactions in those ounts were anything but legal.

    Aubree <b>had </b><b>already </b>sent people to investigate them long before anyone <b>else </b>even thought to.

    With things getting to this point, Aubree <b>wasn¡¯t </b>about to y nice anymore. <b>She </b>projected the payment records the victims <b>had </b><b>received </b>right up on the big <b>screen </b>for everyone to see. ¡°<b>These </b>are the payments received by the people who stirred up trouble.

    ¡°The ounts might look different at <b>first</b><b>, </b>but after a professional investigation, it turns out all the money came from the same <b>overseas </b>ount. The ount holder is none other than the chief assistant to Mr. Yurchenko at Yurchenko Group.¡±

    Quantavius stared at the images shing <b>across </b><b>the </b>screen, his <b>eyes </b>practically popping <b>out </b>of his head. Nobody knew those records better than he did.

    Now he was finally panicking for real. ¡®How the hell did Aubree dig this <b>up</b>? What <b>else </b>does she know?¡® <b>he </b>thought.

 Tried 380

    Chapter <b>380 </b>

    ¡°Oh

    <b>my </b>God!¡± someone gasped.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, are you saying that all <b>of </b>this was orchestrated by the Yurchenko Group? And <b>that </b>the so¨Ccalled victims were just terminally <b>ill </b>people, paid to act out a role?<b>¡± </b>someone asked.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Of course! Most of these seriously ill patients are already buried in medical debt and arepletely broke. Then someotic shows up and <b>says</b>, ¡°<b>If </b>you¡¯re willing to stir up some trouble, I¡¯ll pay you.¡± Who wouldn¡¯t say yes to that?¡±

    Aubree said ambiguously, ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t really know the specifics myself.¡±

    <b>Just </b><b>as </b><b>she </b>finished speaking, the <b>doors to </b>the auditorium swung open, and several police officers in uniform walked in, their eyes scanning the room as if they were looking for someone.

    ¡°Wait, they¡¯re not here for Aubree<b>?</b>¡® someone thought.

    The moment the police showed up<b>, </b>everyone <b>just </b>assumed they were there to take Aubree away because of everything that had happenedtely.

    Quantavius caught a glimpse of them out of the <b>corner </b>of his eye and felt a wave of panic wash over him. He thought, ¡®Aubree has found out about my <b>ounts</b>. Does she know about other things too?

    ¡®What did she do? Did she bring the <b>cops </b><b>here</b><b>?</b>¡®

    The more he thought about it, the more Quantavius started <b>to </b>fidget in <b>his </b><b>seat</b>.

    The police conferred briefly with Aubree. ¡°We <b>have </b>reason to <b>believe </b>that <b>a </b>suspect in an ongoing case is present here. We need to look into it, so we¡¯ll need your cooperation.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes curved into crescents <b>as </b>she smiled. ¡°Of <b>course</b>. <b>It¡¯s </b>only right for me to cooperate with you in carrying out your duties.¡±

    Quantavius¡¯s face went from ghostly pale to ashen with dread. The cops <b>were </b>sweeping the ce, and he was tucked away in a corner. If they were after him, it was only a matter of time before he <b>got </b>busted.

    ¡®I need to get out of here!¡® he thought.

    If he could just slip away, maybe there <b>was </b>still <b>a </b>sliver of hope<b>. </b>But if <b>he </b><b>got </b>pinned down now<b>, </b>with everything he¡¯d done, he¡¯d be as good as dead!

    Quantavius¡¯s eyes shed with a cold glint. The moment <b>he </b><b>saw </b>the <b>cops </b>busy searching the other side, he suddenly sprang up and dashed for the exit.

    He didn¡¯t have a gun¨Cjust a military knife<b>. </b>But all the cops <b>were </b><b>clearly </b>packing <b>heat</b>. Still, he had no choice but to risk it all.

    His sudden outburst caused <b>a </b><b>stir</b>, and all eyes <b>were </b>instantly on him. <b>Aubree¡¯s </b><b>gaze </b>followed him too. Little did Quantavius know, Aubree had already anticipated he would show up today.

    ¡®Like I¡¯d ever let him slip away<b>, </b>she thought to <b>herself</b>.

    Just as he was one step away from escaping the <b>hall</b>, <b>two </b>people burst out from the doorway. Without a word, theyunched into a flurry of punches and kicks.

    Ethan Dird and Samson Dird had been <b>posted </b>at the door ahead of time<b>, </b>ready to jump into action the second Quantavius tried to make a run for it.

    Quantavius scrambled to fight back. <b>He </b><b>actually </b>had some skills. If it was just one guy, he could probably handle it. But up against two guys who knew how to throw a punch, he waspletely out of his depth.

    The moment the cold silver handcuffs snapped shut around his wrists, Quantavius froze. He whipped his head around, eyes burning into Aubree with disbelief and rage. ¡°You yed me, didn¡¯t you?

    ¡°You knew from the very beginning I¡¯d show up at this press conference?

    ¡°You knew all along I was the one behind all of this?¡±

    Quantavius demanded <b>answers</b>, but all he got was Aubree¡¯s faint, mocking smile.

    She mouthed <b>two </b>words at him. <b>¡°</b>You lost.¡±

    Quantavius let out a hollowugh and dropped his <b>head </b>in defeat. He still couldn¡¯t believe that he¡¯d actually lost to Aubree.

    The Yurchenko family came from <b>a </b>rough background. When <b>they </b>first tried to go legit, they couldn¡¯t help but use some of their old dirty methods.

    Quantavius got blood on his hands, but <b>always </b>paid his way out of murder charges. That ount was his fatal weakness.

    As Quantavius <b>was </b>being hauled <b>away</b><b>, </b>the <b>actors </b>he had hired to stir up trouble instantly fellpletely silent.

    They didn¡¯t even dare to make <b>a </b>sound, let alone cry or protest. It <b>was </b>as if they wished the earth would swallow them up so Aubree and her people wouldn¡¯t even notice them.

    Aubree honestly couldn¡¯t <b>care </b>less about them. With the Yurchenko family out of the way, the Wilson family was next on her list.

    Today¡¯s drama was just getting started.

    The cops hauled Quantavius <b>away</b>, and after three seconds of stunned silence, the whole ce exploded with noise all over again.

    ¡°Quiet, please!¡± Birgitte¡¯s voice cut through the chaos, her expression dead serious.

    The reporters were practically bursting with questions, but they held their tongues and barely dared to breathe. Everyone wanted to see what would happen next.

    Birgitte announced, ¡°As far <b>as </b>we know, the Wilson Group recently provided financial assistance to the Yurchenko Group when it was on the brink of bankruptcy.

 Tried 381

    <b>Chapter </b><b>381 </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>Given </b>the longstanding grudge in the <b>past</b>, we <b>have </b><b>every </b><b>reason </b>to <b>believe </b><b>that </b>the Wilson Group was also involved in the scheme <b>to </b>smear and frame us.

    ¡°Bree Technology¡¯s <b>legal </b>department <b>will</b><b>, </b>in ordance with thew, file <b>formal </b>charges against both the Yurchenko Group and the Wilson Group for their actions<b>.¡± </b>

    <b>Bree </b>Technology¡¯s <bwyer </b>stepped forward and produced <b>a </b>legal letter, officially announcing that Bree Technology was filing <b>charges </b>against the Yurchenko Group and the Wilson Group for colluding <b>to </b><b>smear </b>and frame Bree Technology.

    Nobody expected the <b>tables </b><b>to </b>turn this quickly.

    The people who¡¯d been waiting to see <b>Aubree </b>grovel and beg for forgiveness all turned beet red, like they¡¯d just been pped silly.

    ¡°Next<b>, </b>if anyone <b>has </b>questions for us, <b>please </b><b>go </b><b>ahead</b>¨C<b>as </b>long <b>as </b><b>it¡¯s </b>something we¡¯re able <b>to </b><b>answer</b>,¡± Birgitte said.

    The reporters were left utterly <b>speechless</b><b>. </b>All the questions they¡¯d prepared died before they could even be asked.

    Nobody saw this kind of plot <b>twist </bing¨Cthe Bree Technology that everyone had been pointing fingers at was not only totally fine, but Aubree had even sent Quantavius packing right in front of everyone.

    No one would ever imagine that this would be the oue.

    After a few moments of stunned silence<b>, </b>one reporter finally <b>raised </b>her hand.

    Aubree turned to her and gave her a nod, signaling for her to go ahead.

    The reporter said, ¡°I¡¯m a reporter from the S¨¹dlichen Strand Evening News. Back when GrabCheap firstunched in S¨¹dlichen Strand, we interviewed you, Ms. Miller.

    ¡°At the time, we were genuinely grateful that apany was finally paying attention to the needs of ordinary folks. So ever since all this trouble started, I¡¯ve always been on your side.

    ¡°My question is, Ms. Miller<b>, </b>can you guarantee the quality of the products sold on your tform from now on?¡±

    She voiced the question that <b>was </b>on the minds of millions glued to their <b>screens</b>, watching the press conference unfold.

    For people who struggled just to get by, GrabCheap¡¯s affordable and <b>reliable </b>products had been a <b>real </b>blessing. More than anyone, they desperately wanted GrabCheap to stick around.

    Aubree replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t promise that. I don¡¯t want to lie to anyone who puts their trust in me. We¡¯ve already looked into all the products that <b>had </b>quality <b>issues </b>

    ¡°It turns out that Quantavius <b>was </b>behind it. He had people buy up ounts and <b>sell </b>those faulty goods, but we¡¯ve already taken everything down. Still, I can¡¯t promise that this will never happen again.

    ¡°With hundreds of millions of <b>users </b>and countless merchants<b>, </b><b>it¡¯s </b>just not possible to <b>keep </b>an eye on every single transaction. All we can do is try our best to protect our customers.

    ¡°And honestly, product quality <b>issues </b><b>aren¡¯t </b>just a problem for <b>us</b><b>. </b>They happen on every <b>e</b><b>¨C</bmerce tform out there.

    ¡°We might not be able to stop these things from happeningpletely, but what we can do is offer no¨Cquestions¨Casked refunds to our users.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s words rang out with conviction, and the reporter <b>realized </b>maybe this question was a bit too harsh. After all, even in malls, people couldn¡¯t expect everything they buy to <b>be </b><b>wless</b>.

    A person thought, ¡®No¨Cquestions<b>¨C</b>asked refunds? Damn, Aubree¡¯s really <b>got </b>guts<b>. </b><b>Is </b>she not afraid of bleeding money?¡®

    But whatever anyone else thought, the moment Aubree made that promise<b>, </b>the crowd was instantly won over. The ce erupted in thunderous apuse.

    Once the first question was out, the rest of the reporters couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, They all started shouting over each other, desperate to get their questions answered.

    ¡°Ms. <b>Miller</b><b>, </b><b>there¡¯s </b><b>always </b>been talk <b>out </b><b>there </b><b>that </b>all your achievements are really just thanks to Mr. Bowen Turner from the Turner Group. What do you have <b>to </b>say about <b>that</b>?<b>¡± </b>one reporter asked.

    Aubree touched <b>her </b><b>face</b><b>, </b>thinking, ¡°What do I think? Honestly, I¡¯m just lucky I managed to catch Bowen¡¯s interest. Thanks to him, <b>I </b>basically struck gold right from the start and <b>had </b>a mountain <b>of </b><b>capital </b>to y with.

    She said, ¡°I can¡¯t deny that my <b>sess </b>is thanks inrge part to the Turner Group¡¯s investment. It¡¯s like that old saying¨Cevery talented person needs someone who recognizes their worth.

    <b>¡°</b><b>I¡¯ve </b><b>never </b>tried to downy how much Bowen helped me. In <b>fact</b>, I¡¯m genuinely grateful he believed in me and had my back when <b>I </b><b>was </b><b>at </b>rock bottom.

    ¡°Ande on, if someone handed you the Turner Group¡¯s support, wouldn¡¯t you jump at the chance too?¡±

    The reporter who asked the question <b>gave </b>an awkward smile. Honestly, everyone was eyeing Turner Group¡¯s support.

    Another reporter asked, ¡°I¡¯d like to ask Ms. Cherniavsky something. You¡¯ve gone through some tough times in the past, but in public, you¡¯ve always acted like nothing could <b>get </b>to you.

    ¡°A lot of women see you as a role model<b>, </b>wanting to live as independently <b>as </b>you do. But after seeing Bree Technology strike back at the Yurchenko Group today<b>, </b>it looks like you actually do care.¡±

    That was a pretty loaded question.

    Whether or not Birgitte cared, it <b>was </b>still a stain on her record. Bringing it up in front of everyone <b>was </b>basically twisting the knife. The reporter <b>was </b>clearly just looking to cause trouble.

 Tried 382

    Chapter <b>382 </b>

    Birgitte said while lifting her eyelids to give the reporter a <bzy </b>nce, ¡°I¡¯m easygoing, not a saint.

    <b>¡°</b><b>If </b><b>I </b>pped you right now and then rallied everyone to praise you for being <b>so </b>generous and forgiving, would you really just let it <b>slide</b>?<b>¡± </b>

    The reporter forced a smile, but he <b>still </b>wouldn¡¯t let it go.

    He asked, ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky<b>, </b>you only got dragged into that mess because of Ms. Miller¡¯s personal issues. Are you honestly not bothered at all?¡±

    Birgitte looked at him for a couple of seconds. ¡°Nope.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re openly falling out with the Yurchenko family like this. Aren¡¯t you afraid they¡¯ll retaliate?¡±

    ¡°That all depends on whether Quantavius can <b>stay </b>in prison.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know what exactly Quantavius did, so let¡¯s not get into that. But the Yurchenko family isn¡¯t just him. What if the same kind of trouble happens again?¡±

    ¡°Then you cane <b>ask </b>me again when it does<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    The reporter was left at a loss for words<b>, </b>stumbling over his own questions.

    He thought, ¡®Is Birgitte even a woman? How does she manage to <b>answer </b>all <b>these </b>questions like a machine, not showing a single hint of emotion?¡®

    Resigned, he gave up trying to throw any more tough questions her way.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask Ms. Miller, what¡¯s your take on the recent pregnancy rumors about Trevor? Even though you and the Wilson Group aren¡¯t exactly on good terms, technically, Trevor <b>is </b>still your brother,¡± he said.

    Aubree frowned. ¡°First of all, I don¡¯t have a brother.

    ¡°Secondly, as it happens, on my way from Rithol City, I ran into someone. Maybe you should <b>go </b>ask her about it instead.¡±

    As soon as she finished speaking, the doors <b>to </b>the auditorium <b>were </b>pushed open once more.

    A collective gasp filled the room.

    Standing at the entrance, head down and <b>dressed </b>in baggy clothes<b>, </b>was none other than Sophia Hunt¨Cthe very person every entertainment reporter would kill to get an interview with.

    She was led in by bodyguards.

    Aubree reached out and took Sophia¡¯s hand. ¡°If you have something to say, <b>just </b>say it. The reporters here will have your back.¡±

    Sophia finally lifted her head, her eyes already red and puffy. ¡°<b>Please</b><b>, </b>help me. I don¡¯t want to lose my baby.¡±

    A reporter thought, ¡®Holy crap, what is even happening right now?

    ¡®We had onlye hoping to get the scoop on Aubree¡¯s fallout with the Wilson family. Who could¡¯ve guessed we¡¯d end upnding an exclusive with Sophia<b>? </b>

    ¡°This is a bombshell the moment she opens her mouth!¡®

    ¡°I ran into Sophia at the airport on my way to S¨¹dlichen Strand. She seemed like she was trying to avoid someone,¡± Aubree said, gently patting Sophia¡¯s shoulder as if tofort her<b>. </b>

    Sophia¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°I really appreciate Ms. Miller stepping in to help me. Trevor doesn¡¯t want to take responsibility, and his manager<b>, </b>Skyler Huber, threatened me through texts. He said if I didn¡¯t cooperate and help Trevor smooth things over with the public, then¡­¡±

    She broke down into sobs, unable to continue.

    After all, she was once a public figure. She knew exactly how to tug at people¡¯s heartstrings.

    15

    4.51 PM

    ¡°Ms. Hunt<b>, </b>do you <b>have </b>any <b>evidence </b><b>for </b>what you just said?<b>¡± </b><b>a </b>reporter asked.

    Sophia <b>hesitated</b>.

    <b>¡°</b><b>If </b><b>you </b>can¡¯t show any proof, isn¡¯t it fair to wonder if, like the rumors say, you¡¯re just trying to use the baby as your ticket into <b>the </b><b>Wilson </b>family<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>another reporter pressed.

    Sophia¡¯s <b>hesitation </b>just made her an <b>even </b><b>easier target </b>for the reporters. No matter what, Trevor still had the Wilson family backing him, so they wouldn¡¯t dare go too far with him. But Sophia was a different story.

    <b>As </b>the other main person in all this, and with no powerful connections, <b>they </b>went all out with the sharpest questions they coulde up with.

    A reporter asked, ¡°Sophia, was this whole pregnancy <b>just </b><b>a </b>setup from the very beginning to get at Trevor?¡±

    Another asked, ¡°You vanished from the spotlight after the awards show. Aren¡¯t you afraid to show your face now? Or is it that you¡¯ve finally found someone powerful to back you up, so you think you can <b>act </b>without fear?¡±

 Tried 383

    <b>Chapter </b><b>383 </b>

    One question after another <b>was </b>hurled <b>at </b>Sophia, threatening to drown her in the <b>barrage</b>.

    ¡°I have proof,¡± Sophia said softly, her words floating out amidst the <b>chaos</b>.

    What sounded so light suddenly <bnded </b>like <b>a </b>bombshell<b>, </b>crushing every other <b>voice </b>in the room.

    ¡°I <b>have </b><b>the </b>chat <b>records</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Sophia <b>added</b>.

    She never <b>expected </b>Skyler to let his <b>guard </b><b>down </b>like that¨Che just called her up out of the blue, totally off guard.

    The moment she answered, Sophia hit <b>record</b>. Skyler hadn¡¯t spelled things out, but now <b>that </b>she was pregnant, it didn¡¯t matter what she¡¯d done¨Cthe baby <b>was </b>innocent. Anything <b>Trevor </b>did wrong would get blown up in the media.

    A staff member of Bree Technology pulled something up on theputer<b>, </b>and the <b>next </b>thing everyone heard was a conversation ying over the speakers<b>. </b>

    Skr said, ¡°You can name your price<b>, </b><b>just </b><b>as </b>long <b>as </b><b>you </b><b>cooperate</b>.

    ¡°Trevor isn¡¯t just some regr celebrity. <b>He¡¯s </b>part of the Wilson family. You really need <b>to </b>think about what you¡¯re getting yourself into and what the consequences could be.

    ¡°Even if, by some miracle<b>, </b>you manage to marry into the Wilson family <b>because </b>of this baby, so what? Trevor doesn¡¯t care, and

    like do you really think anyone in the Wilson family will <b>ever </b>treat you

    matter? you

    Sophia repied, ¡°I don¡¯t care about any of that. All I want is for my child to be recognized by his father.¡±

    Compared to Skyler switching between threats and persuasion, Sophia¡¯s response<b>¨C</b>whether she meant it or not¨Cat least sounded way more selfless.

    As the recording yed, the air went <b>dead </b>silent for a <b>few </b>seconds.

    Sophia picked up the microphone. ¡°Say I¡¯m just trying to get attention, <b>say </b>I brought this on myself if you want¨Cbut the baby is innocent.

    ¡°I just want him to have a chance to <b>see </b><b>the </b>world. Trevor pressured me to put <b>on </b><b>a </b>show for the media, to act like we were some loving couple, and then nned to <b>use </b>an ¡®ident¡® <b>as </b>an <b>excuse </b>to get rid of the baby.

    ¡°He promised me money afterward, but I refused. If I <b>were </b>really after money<b>, </b>I could¡¯ve just stayed hidden until the baby was born, or agreed to Trevor¡¯s terms, taken the <b>cash</b><b>, </b>and disappeared.

    ¡°I just want my baby to have a family, to have <b>a </b>father.¡±

    *****

    Meanwhile, at the Wilson family home in Rithol City<b>, </b>several family members had gathered in front of the TV.

    As the time for the press conference approached, they turned on the <b>live </b>stream.

    On the screen, the press conference <b>was </b>just getting started as Aubree walked in with a group of Bree Technology executives.

    Despite their different motives, there <b>was </b><b>a </b>hint <b>of </b>excitement in all their <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>

    Even though Bryan Wilson always said they shouldn¡¯t force Aubree <b>to </be <b>back </b>like this<b>, </b>he <b>never </b>actually tried to stop it.

    In fact, deep down, he <b>was </b>hoping their father would crush Aubree financially and force her into bankruptcy<b>, </b><b>so </b>she¡¯d have no choice but <b>to </b>return home.

    That way, she¡¯d just be his harmless little sister who posed no threat to him at all.

    At first, everything <b>was </b>going ording to their n. But when Quantavius <b>got </b><b>arrested</b>, everyone in the Wilson family looked utterly stunned.

    How could this happen?¡® they all thought in disbelief.

    ¡°What the hell is Quantavius doing?¡± Ronald snapped. During this time, not only had GrabCheap¡¯s partnership with multiple

    451 PM C

    ¡°The Yurchenko family really can¡¯t be trusted,¡± Ronald spat.

    <b>He </b>gritted his teeth<b>, </b>thinking, ¡°This <b>was </b><b>such </b>a rare opportunity¨Cwho knows when we¡¯ll get another chance like this?

    <b>¡®</b>Once Aubree develops further, she¡¯ll only get harder and harder to handle<b>. </b>

    <b>Alice¡¯s </b>grip on Carmen¡¯s hand suddenly tightened. ¡®Aubree dodged another bullet¡­ she thought.

    *Mom<b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>Carmen whispered softly.

    Alice snapped back to herself. ¡°It¡¯s fine<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Carmen¡¯s eyes clouded with frustration. ¡®Why can¡¯t Aubree just have some bad luck for once?¡® she thought.

    ¡°Mom, what if Aubree <b>really </b>does make it big, and shees after us for revenge<b>, </b>will <b>we </b>really be okay then?¡± Carmen asked, worry written <b>all </b>over her face.

    Her question made everyone else in the room tense up.

 Tried 384

    <b>Chapter </b><b>384 </b>

    Ronald <b>had </b>never considered such a problem <b>before</b><b>. </b>

    He had <b>already </b>publicly severed ties with the Turner Group. The Wilson Group, in alliance with the Lawson Group, had essentially cut <b>off </b>all cooperation with the Turner Group in the business circles of Rithol City.

    With the Turner Group already <b>as </b>an enemy, if another rival like Bree Technology emerged, that would be a nightmare.

    A flicker <b>of </b>panic <b>crossed </b>Ronald¡¯s eyes, but he said, ¡°I don¡¯t buy that she¡¯d just forget everything we had.¡±

    Even if there <b>was </b>no old affection left, Aubree was still a member of the Wilson family by blood. Ronald felt that there was no <b>way </b>she didn¡¯t want a piece of the Wilson Group.

    Just for that reason, he figured Aubree wouldn¡¯t really want to go <b>down </b>in mes with them.

    The moment Ronald¡¯s confident words left his mouth, Sophia appeared on the TV.

    At that very moment, <b>every </b>eye in the room <b>was </b>on Trevor.

    The instant Trevor saw Sophia, his previouslyid¨Cback, unconcerned attitude vanished. His heart started pounding. He kept telling himself that even if Sophia <b>was </b>here, there <b>was </b>no way a <b>few </b>words from her could really hurt him.

    But then, the phone recording yed, and itpletely crushed <b>Trevor¡¯s </b><bst </b>shred of wishful thinking.

    Ronald stared at him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you <b>say </b>you took care of everything<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Carmen spoke up timidly. ¡°Has Sophia always been with Aubree?<b>¡± </b>

    Trevor hurled the ss in his hand at the TV that was broadcasting the press conference. The <b>ss </b>shattered, and the TV screen cracked.

    ¡°Sophia and Aubree!¡± he growled through clenched teeth. Carmen¡¯s words had just made him realize what was going on. At first, he thought it was just some enemy from his <b>circle </b>who had gotten to Sophia and <b>set </b>him up.

    After all, Aubree wasn¡¯t even part of their world, and she didn¡¯t know Sophia at all. <b>He </b><b>felt </b>that they couldn¡¯t have possibly teamed up. Besides, he hadn¡¯t known Sophia was pregnant, but somehow Aubree did.

    ¡®Damn you, Sophia. I can¡¯t believe you yed me like this<b>!</b><b>¡® </b>Trevor thought bitterly.

    Trevor racked his brain, trying to remember. He felt that the only time Aubree and Sophia could¡¯ve met <b>was </b>back on that film

    set.

    ¡®Aubree, I really underestimated you. I bet you and Sophia <b>were </b>already in cahoots back then,¡® he thought bitterly.

    ¡°I never expected Sophia to go to S¨¹dlichen Strand. I thought she didn¡¯t <b>have </b>the guts to y these little tricks on me. That was my mistake,¡± Trevor muttered, lowering his head. That phone recording was turning into a real <b>mess </b>for him.

    Trevor <b>was </b>in a total disaster.

    ¡°I¡¯ll figure out a way to fix this,¡± Trevor promised Ronald, his head hanging low.

    ¡°Fix it, and don¡¯t let <b>it </b>affect the Wilson family,¡± Ronald said, his <b>gaze </b><b>icy</b><b>. </b>

    Trevor shuddered. The meaning <b>was </b><b>crystal </b><b>clear</b>¨Cif he brought trouble to the Wilson Group, he¡¯d be abandoned without a second thought, <b>just </b>like Emery had been.

    He had to make <b>sure </b>Sophia <b>lost </b>the <b>baby</b><b>, </b>and it couldn¡¯t <b>be </b><b>traced </b>back to him.

    Trevor narrowed his eyes. Instantly<b>, </b>someone came to mind.

    The Yurchenko family <b>was </b>finished, but it <b>was </b>Quantavius who took the fall. Milena had nothing to do with any of it.

    Quantavius <b>was </b>taken in for questioning, and with all the evidence Aubree provided, he was convicted on multiple charges and sentenced to life in prison.

    4:51 PM

    It wasn¡¯t just Quantavius. <b>There </b>wasn¡¯t a single innocent soul left in the Yurchenko family. Thanks to Quantavius¡¯s private ounts, his parents <b>were </b>taken out and <b>executed</b>.

    Whatever conscience the Yurchenko family had was reserved for Milena. They never let her get involved in the family

    business.

    The Yurchenko family¡¯s assets were seized, and Milena <b>was </b>thrown out of her mansion.

    She had to make do with the little money left on her card and checked into a hotel.

    NO

 Tried 385

    e

    C

    The Yurchenko family¡¯s stunt didn¡¯t hurt GrabCheap at all. In fact, it ended up giving them a wave of free publicity.

    10

    Not only did previous users reinstall the GrabCheap app, but a whole bunch of new users also flocked to it.

    Aubree¡¯s firm stance at the press conference about protecting user interests, along with the tform¡¯s policy of refund, quickly spread by word of mouth. In no time, the number of positive reviews for GrabCheap shot up.

    To celebrate their victory, Aubree treated the executives who had worked hard during this period to a meal and handed out bonuses to the employees.

    Manchotech¡¯s second round of investmentnded right on time, and the partnership with Poison was sealed without a single hup.

    With the rest of the operations barely needing her attention anymore, Aubree started putting her energy into Zappy.

    The novel promotion had been a huge <b>sess</b><b>. </b><b>Last </b>time <b>she </b>talked to Kurtis, she¡¯d asked him to find a director to check out some scripts¨Cthe kind of web novels that were <b>ready </b>to be turned into mini dramas.

    Most TV dramas these days were still <b>based </b>on original <b>scripts</b><b>, </b>and it <b>was </b>rare for a web novel to get adapted for television. Even after novel adaptations becamemon in the booming entertainment industry, there were still plenty of hit novels that just didn¡¯t trante well to TV.

    Mini dramas, however, filled that gap perfectly.

    Most mini dramas got a bad rap for having a stupid script, but there was no denying they were making serious money.

    They were dumb but addictive. People could just zone out and watch them.

    Actors who starred in mini dramas could even brag about their view counts on their resumes. Mini drama stars were even getting to walk the red carpet.

    up

    Kurtis moved fast. After the <b>sess </b>of the promotion, he no longer doubted Aubree¡¯s vision. Anyone who could rack win after win at her age clearly had a rare kind of vision.

    Soon, Kurtis had handpicked a <b>few </b>scripts and sent them over to her.

    Aubree took a look. They were all adaptations of the hottest <b>web </b>novels right now, packed with drama and lightning¨Cfast pacing.

    Everything looked good. They could start filming soon.

    Mini dramas were cheap to make, <b><i>so </i></b>she could just drop them on Zappy first. Later, with Kurtis¡¯s connections, they couldnd deals with other streaming tforms.

    Most importantly, she could even build a dedicated app just for mini dramas<b>, </b>using Zappy to funnel in <b>users</b>, and kickstarting a whole new industry in the process.

    Aubree made it clear that the mini drama should have a hundred episodes<b>, </b><b>each </b><b>just </b>a few minutes long, and every episode had to end on a cliffhanger that would keep viewers binge¨Cwatching.

    Of course<b>, </b>all of this had to be done step by <b>step</b>. For the moment, the most important thing was still GrabCheap.

    After the Yurchenko family faded from the scene, with Manchotech leading the way and watching their back, Birgitte handed Aubree a ster year¨Cend report.

    Aubree rewarded every employee with a <b>generous </b>year¨Cend bonus.

    Aubree spent Christmas with the Turner family. Things were pretty uneventful for her, but over at the Wilson family, things got really lively.

    After Sophia¡¯s move <b>at </b>the press conference<b>, </b>under pressure, Trevor had no choice but to make a public statement that he and Sophia still needed time to work on their rtionship. As a father, he imed that he would take responsibility for his child.

    In other words, once Sophia had the baby, she would have nothing more to do with him.

    After all, Trevor was the entertainment industry¡¯s Grand m Best Actor. He had the acting chops, the looks, and all the resources anyone could want.

    For a scandal like this, <b>as </b>long as he was willing to take responsibility, his fans were still pretty forgiving.

    He hadn¡¯t broken anyws, nor had he done anything truly outrageous. He¡¯d just been in a rtionship, and his ex¨Cgirlfriend had gotten pregnant by ident.

    As she had always hoped, Sophia finally got her foot in the door with the Wilson family. She spent Christmas with the Wilson family.

 Tried 386

    ¡°Ronald, Alice, try this.¡± Sophia said, looking especially pleased with herself.

    She was probably the most smug person at the whole table.

    She put on a bright smile and cheerfully picked up food for the two sitting at the head of the table. Trevor¡¯s expression was sour. With the media watching<i>, </i>he had to put on a show of taking great care of Sophia in public.

    In private, he still couldn¡¯t do anything to her, or she¡¯d just cry and he¡¯d be swarmed byizens.

    Carmen sat next to Daxton, her eyes wandering around the room. No one could tell what she was thinking.

    Daxton seemedpletely unfazed, just quietly eating his meal.

    Every so often, he would serve Carmen some of her favorite dishes. ¡°Just focus on eating,¡± he told her.

    ¡°Okay, Daxton,¡± Carmen said, lifting her te, her eyes shing with a calcting light.

    Sophia was basically a walking time bomb. Anyone who messed with her would get dogpiled by everyone.

    Carmen could more or less guess that all of this <b>was </b>Aubree¡¯s scheme targeting Trevor. Trevor wasn¡¯t really on anyone¡¯s side. He just hated Aubree more than he disliked Carmen.

    Aubree had publicly denied ever helping Sophia.

    Carmen thought, ¡®If Sophia blew up while <b>she </b><b>was </b>with Aubree, there¡¯d be no way for Aubree to talk her way out of it.

    ¡®If that happened, not only would Trevor finally be free of this <b>mess</b><b>, </b>he might <b>even </b>see me in a new light. I¡¯d get to give Aubree a taste of her own medicine!¡®

    She still hadn¡¯t forgotten about that art exhibition <b>fiasco</b><b>. </b>Just thinking about it now made her <b>so </b>mad that she could hit

    someone.

    She¡¯d been very close to clearing her name<b>, </b>but thanks to Aubree¡¯s meddling, her teacher¡¯s reputation took a hit, and she came under even more suspicion.

    Luckily, she apologized quickly. The people on the inte <b>never </b>remembered one incident for very long. Once the drama blew over and with the Wilson family pulling strings behind the scenes<b>, </b>she <b>still </b>managed to be a rising star in the art world.

    The power of capital was absolutely undeniable.

    It only took a little time for Carmen to get marketed <b>as </b><b>a </b>gorgeous<b>, </b>gifted painter<b>. </b>Since she couldn¡¯t make it as some highbrow art master, she just went all¨Cin on themercial route. In this world, she believed that the real big shots would be the ones who sold the most paintings.

    Ronald¡¯s face was tense. ¡°Let¡¯s just eat,¡± he said.

    No one was enjoying this meal. It was the holiday season, and Trevor still had to put on a show with Sophia for the media. No matter how much he hated it, he still forced a smile for her.

    Ronald watched, his anger rising. After just a couple of bites, he mmed his fork down and stood up from the table. ¡°Come to my study after you¡¯re done eating,¡±

    He was talking to Trevor, who nodded.

    After dinner, Trevor had Sophia pose for some photos. Sophia knew how to act up, but she wasn¡¯t dumb. She understood when to stop and yed along obediently.

    Trevor snapped plenty of shots of Sophia looking perfectly content and well cared for during her pregnancy at the Wilson family. He posted them to his X, and only after a flood ofpliments did his expression finally ease up a bit.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about anything else. Just have the baby, and I¡¯ll give you a sum of money,¡± he said, his voice icy cold.

    In reality, he¡¯d never actually nned to let Sophia carry the baby to term.

    4:52 PM D

    @

    He thought, ¡®Did she really think she could cross me and walk away unscathed?¡®

    ¡®She is just carrying a bastard. I am such <b>a </b>big star. If I want a kid, there are plenty of women out there lining up to have my baby!¡®

    With that warning. Trevor turned and headed to the study.

    As soon as he stepped inside, a document came flying straight at his <b>face</b>.

    The sharp edge sliced across his <b>forehead</b><b>, </b>and with a soft thud, the document hit the floor.

    ¡°I always thought you were the one I <b>never </b>had to worry about,¡± Ronald said while trying to keep his voice down, but the anger was in as day.

    Out of all his sons, Trevor was the most calcting. He always kept a low profile, but when he made a move, he left his brothers in the dust. However<b>, </b>now he¡¯d even managed to get someone pregnant.

 Tried 387

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re actually thinking of bringing that woman into the Wilson family!¡± Ronald snapped.

    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Trevor shot back without a second thought.

    Blood trickled down from the cut on his forehead, sliding down the bridge of his nose. Trevor was easily the best¨Clooking of the Wilson family, and with half his face smeared in blood, he looked even more dangerously alluring. There was a strange, haunting beauty to him.

    ¡°The baby in her womb won¡¯tst long.¡± Trevor said coldly.

    ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Ronald asked.

    ¡°The Yurchenko family is gone, but Milena is still around. I¡¯ve already had someone reach out to her. Milena is a very obedient pawn.¡± Trevor sneered, his lips curling into a cold smile.

    He thought, ¡®She is a pawn that would attack whoever I point to.

    Seeing that Trevor had a n, Ronald¡¯s expression <b>finally </b>eased. ¡°If you need people or resources, just ask. But make sure you handle things cleanly. Don¡¯t leave behind any evidence.

    ¡°You¡¯ve already aplished enough in the entertainment industry. <b>It¡¯s </b>time to start putting more of your attention on the family. Help out more, and make sure you attend those business parties when you can.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Trevor replied.

    ¡°Go see the family doctor and get that <b>cut </b>taken care of,¡± Ronald said.

    *****

    In a shabby rental apartment in S¨¹dlichen Strand, Milena <b>sat </b>alone.

    ¡°Miss Yurchenko, Mr. Trevor Wilson sent us to bring you to Rithol City<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>a man said.

    ¡°Bring me to Rithol City? What a joke.¡± Milena¡¯s <b>face </b><b>was </b><b>dark </b>and cold. She was dressed in cheap clothes from a thrift store, her face gaunt and her hair a mess. There <b>was </b>nothing left of the Yurchenko heiress she used to be.

    She asked, ¡°The Wilson family used my family, and now <b>that </b><b>some </b>are <b>dead </b>and some are locked up, they suddenly remember me? Do they think I¡¯m still useful to them?¡±

    Milena let out a self¨Cmockingugh. Deep down, she knew that the asional favors Trevor showed her were just a way to use her. She¡¯d just been lying to herself all along.

    What she really hated was how pathetic she was. Even though the Wilson family had ruined her perfect life, even though it was all Trevor¡¯s fault, she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to hate him.

    Milena¡¯s hands trembled slightly. When Trevor¡¯s subordinate finally found her, she actually felt a rush of excitement.

    Just knowing he still remembered her made her heart race.

    The man said, ¡°Miss Yurchenko, you¡¯ve misunderstood. Mr. Wilson actually regrets having used you in the past. It¡¯s just that he really can¡¯t stand Aubree,

    ¡°You don¡¯t know what Aubree did back when she was living with the Wilson family. She made Mr. Wilson absolutely sick. You know better than anyone what he is like.

    ¡°Ever since Aubree came back from the orphanage, she¡¯s been staring at him with these clingy, gross eyes.¡±

    Milena¡¯s gaze flickered for a moment.

    The man was secretly pleased, but put on a face like he¡¯d said too much. ¡°Why am I telling you all this? Mr. Wilson doesn¡¯t want you to know. He just told me that once I found you, I should give him a call.¡±

    On the other end of the line, Trevor said something. As Milena listened, the numbness in her eyes slowly faded, reced by a spark of excitement. By the time the man hung up, her whole demeanor had changed. She looked at the man and said, ¡°I¡¯ming with you to Rithol City.¡±

    After Sophia enjoyed herself in the Wilson family for a few days, Carmen finally managed to get a moment alone with Sophia.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seriously think you¡¯re going to <b>safely </b>give birth to that baby, do you?<b>¡± </b>Carmen said, her voiceced with mockery.

    Sophia was having coffee in the Wilson family¡¯s backyard when a mocking <b>voice </b>sounded from behind her.

    She reached out and touched her belly<b>, </b><b>a </b>smug smile on her <b>face</b><b>. </b>¡°Well, so far, that¡¯s exactly what¡¯s happening, Miss Wilson,

    ¡°Sorry<b>, </b>I almost forgot that you¡¯re not the only daughter of the Wilson family<b>. </b>You¡¯re just the adopted daughter.¡±

    If this had happened before, Carmen would¡¯ve lost <b>her </b>cool right away<b>. </b>Being called the adopted daughter <b>was </b>the thing she hated most.

    She thought, ¡®Adopted <b>daughter</b><b>? </b>I¡¯m Carmen <b>Wilson</b>. I¡¯m the one and only daughter of the Wilson family!¡±

    But now, after everything she¡¯d been through<b>, </b>she <b>kept </b>her feelings buried even deeper.

    Carmen gave a cold, fake smile<b>, </b>arms crossed. ¡°Once that baby in your belly is gone, you¡¯re nothing.¡±

    AD

 Tried 388

    Hearing this, Sophia instinctively shielded her belly and stumbled back a few steps, her face full of wariness as she put some distance between them. ¡°What are you trying to do to my baby?

    ¡°Let me tell you, the baby in my belly is now under the spotlight. Everyone online is watching. If anything happens to him and it has anything to do with the Wilson family, Trevor will be drowned in public outrage!¡±

    Carmenughed even harder. ¡°Of course, I know that.¡±

    She came to Sophia precisely because she knew that the bastard in Sophia¡¯s belly was now tied to the Wilson family.

    Sophia was right. If anything happened to the baby and it got linked to the Wilson family, no matter what the truth was, people would definitely spin it as some scheme by the Wilsons to help Trevor get off the hook.

    But there was one person who didn¡¯t fit that rule.

    It was Aubree.

    If the baby¡¯s death had anything to do with Aubree<b>, </b>everyone would just <b>say </b>it was her way of getting back at the Wilson family.

    The Wilsons would be seen as pitiful and heartbroken. <b>No </b>one would <b>me </b>them then.

    Carmen lowered her gaze, a sly smile flickering in her <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>¡°That¡¯s <b>true</b><b>, </b><b>but </b><b>aren¡¯t </b><b>you </b>underestimating Trevor a bit? Even if you think he can¡¯t pull it off, what about the Wilson family?

    ¡°We have all kinds of <b>ways </b>to make sure that thing in your belly ends up <b>dead</b>, and no one will ever trace it back to the Wilson family.¡±

    She stepped forward, stopping just out of arm¡¯s <b>reach </b>from Sophia<b>, </b>then bent down and brought her lips close to Sophia¡¯s ear. ¡°Want to test me and see what happens<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Sophia¡¯s eyes flew wide in terror, and she almost lost her bnce, barely managing <b>to </b><b>steady </b><b>herself </b>as she bit down hard on her lip.

    ¡°Besides, living every day on edge like this can¡¯t be good for your pregnancy, right?<b>¡± </b>Carmen kept her smile sweet.

    She looked so warm and caring, just like the kind, thoughtful girl <b>next </b>door.

    Sophia just stared at Carmen, not saying a word.

    Carmen felt the timing was just right. ¡°Why don¡¯t we work together<b>? </b>

    ¡°Help us out, and you can either make youreback in showbiz and <b>rise </b>to the <b>very </b>top, or spend the rest of your life never worrying about money. Take your pick.

    ¡°What do you think?

    ¡°Any smart person knows what the right choice is. I know you want to marry Trevor, but you need to realize that even if you pull it off and have the baby, it¡¯s not unusual for things to fall apart after a few years and end in divorce. When that happens, you¡¯ll be left with nothing.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s words could very well be reality.

    The only way a woman could rise in status because of her child was if the father actually cared about her. It was obvious Trevor didn¡¯t care about her <b>at </b>all.

    Sophia gently cradled her belly, her eyes wary. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±

    ¡°I need to check first,¡± Carmen replied.

    Carmen had learned her lesson the hard way. She was extra careful now. Only after making sure there were no recording devices hidden anywhere did she finally reveal her real purpose.

    Carmen asked, ¡°I know you¡¯ve been in touch with Aubree. She¡¯s the mastermind behind you, isn¡¯t she?¡±

    Carman continued as she shed her finger <b>across </b>Sophia¡¯s belly. ¡°If you can get Aubree to show up and make sure the baby dies by her hand, then everything I promised will be yours.

    ¡°Trading a kid who <b>was </b>just a pawn anyway for a lifetime of riches andfort. It¡¯s worth it, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Sophia smiled <b>as </b>well. <b>¡°</b><b>It¡¯s </b>definitely a good deal. You¡¯re right¨Cpower, fame, money¨Cthat¡¯s all I ever wanted. Doesn¡¯t matter how I get them.¡±

    Carmen left with <b>a </b>satisfied smile, having gotten exactly what she came for.

    Once Carmen was gone, Sophia gently stroked <b>her </b>belly. <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re <b>really </b>worth <b>a </b>fortune, aren¡¯t you? So many people are after you.¡±

    04

    B

 Tried 389

    Chapter <b>389 </b>

    After saying that, she tilted her head to <b>the </b>side, ncing <b>at </b>a worker not <b>far </b><b>away </b>who was busy weeding the garden.

    Once the Christmas holiday was over, Aubree held a meeting at the Rithol City headquarters.

    Birgitte brought the main team from S¨¹dlichen Strand over to Rithol City.

    Thanks to the new round of financing and partnerships, GrabCheap¡¯s promotion was a huge sess<b>. </b>User numbers were exploding.

    Birgitte kept a close eye on the data, and when she <b>saw </b>how <b>great </b>the results were, she got so excited she even footed the bill herself to take the whole project team on a trip.

    Today¡¯s main agenda was to figure out their next move.

    ¡°We still need to look for more funding,¡± Aubree said.

    GrabCheap still hadn¡¯t gone public <b>yet</b><b>, </b>and if they wanted to really make <b>a </b>ssh, they¡¯d need another round of investment.

    Aubree said, ¡°For this round, I¡¯m estimating we¡¯ll need <b>15 </b>billion. If we <b>can </b>pull that off, we¡¯ll be ready to go public. Once we¡¯re listed, GrabCheap will truly have a foothold.

    ¡°And Bree Technology will finally have <b>a </b>slice of the S¨¹dlichen Strand market too!<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree¡¯s team was mostly young. Young blood meant tons of drive. The moment they heard this, everyone burst out in excitement.

    ¡°The good news <b>is</b>, we really have the Yurchenko family to thank for helping us get the word outst time<b>. </b>GrabCheap has really made a name for itself now,¡± Aubree said.

    Last time, they fought back beautifully. Not only did the projecte out unscathed, but they also pulled off an epiceback. Even those who were just watching from the sidelines could see that this project had serious potential, and the team behind it looked even more impressive.

    Aubree turned her gaze to Birgitte.

    Birgitte got the hint, nodded, and stood up. ¡°Right now, we¡¯ve had more than a dozenpanies<b>¨C</b>big and small¡ªreach out, all wanting a piece of the action.

    ¡°But this third round is on a whole new <b>level</b>, and <b>Ms. </b>Miller and I both agree that we¡¯re only considering investors who can match Manchotech in scale.

    ¡°One more thing, Ms. Miller¨Cjust recently, someone from the Tengu Gruppe reached out to us.¡±

    Aubree raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡±

    Back then, the first people they went to for investment <b>were </b>the Tengu Gruppe. ording to Aubree¡¯s original n, the first two rounds would be with Tengu<b>, </b>and this round <b>was </b><b>supposed </b>to be Manchotech¡¯s turn.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t they reject us before<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree scoffed.

    Birgitteughed. ¡°Their project investor and their <b>boss</b><b>, </b>Morhan Dunn, both showed up at my office. They were acting so humble that they were almost in <b>tears</b>, begging me to <b>let </b>them invest.<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°We¡¯re not just going to make them <b>regret </b>what they did. Once GrabCheap really takes off, we¡¯re going to eat into their market, Aubree said, <b>a </b>sly grin tugging <b>at </b>her lips.

    17

    Aubree thought, ¡®Going up against one of the Tengu Gruppe¡¯s emerce giants isn¡¯t something we could pull off alone.

    ¡®But who says I <b>have </b>to do it <b>all </b>by myself? My boyfriend¡¯spany has a killer emerce tform too.

    ¡®Guess a little business partnership <b>is </b>all it takes!

    As GrabCheap kept expanding, a brand¨Cnew business model burst into the public eye, shaking up the entire online shopping

    172

    23

    4:53

    scene. People who¡¯d just been watching for fun suddenly realized that GrabCheap wasn¡¯t just talk or hype after all.

    No one would¡¯ve thought a model <b>that </b>looked like a money¨Closer could actually pull this off.

    It <b>was </b>a <b>real </b>eye¨Copener.

    Those cashback <b>deals </b>for good <b>reviews</b>, shopping rebates, and small things actually got people so hooked.

    Aubree¡¯s move really opened everyone¡¯s <b>eyes</b>. Getting the biggest returns for the tiniest investment was a genius move.

    Those who <b>used </b>tough at her were now beating their chests in regret. They thought, ¡®Damn, who was it that said Aubree only got lucky before? She¡¯s just smart. Honestly, isn¡¯t luck a kind of skill too?¡®

    Now everyone was scrambling to get a <b>piece </b>of the action, falling over themselves to partner up with her.

    Aubree said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve got someone in mind. Want to hear it?

    ¡°Sheldon Kader from Nadio.¡±

    Ìï

 Tried 390

    <b>Chapter </b>390

    Before Aubree could even find <b>a </b>chance to <b>reach </b>out to Sheldon, he beat her to it and extended an olive branch first.

    Sheldon took the initiative <b>to </b>contact Aubree<b>, </b>dropping hints that he wanted in <b>on </b>the GrabCheap project as an investor.

    He¡¯d actually noticed her back at thest Inte Innovation Conference, when Tryfon Marchuk couldn¡¯t stop singing her praises.

    ¡°Once I wrap things up on my end, I¡¯ll bring my team <b>over </b>to Rithol City to talk partnership with you, Ms. Miller,¡± Sheldon said.

    The two of them hit it off right away.

    *****

    (23

    With a <b>few </b>days of vacation left after Christmas<b>, </b>Aubree <b>got </b><b>a </b><b>call </b>from Alvin.

    He said, ¡°Aubree, remember that thing I told you I was looking into<b>? </b><b>I¡¯ve </b><b>traced </b>it back <b>to </b>an orphanage, and it turns out it¡¯s the one you used to live in.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know Ethel, so I <b>was </b>hoping you could help me make <b>the </b>connection ande with me to check it out.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that thing? Sure, I haven¡¯t been back to <b>see </b>Ethel in a while. How about this afternoon?¡± Aubree agreed without hesitation.

    That afternoon, Alvin picked her up, and Aubree brought some health supplements to the orphanage. Thest time she visited, Ethel Yahya hadn¡¯t been in the <b>best </b>health. The doctor had advised her to <b>rest</b><b>, </b><b>eat </b>nutritious food, and keep her stress levels down.

    When they arrived at the orphanage, it wasn¡¯t Ethel who <b>greeted </b>them.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m Ethel¡¯s niece. My name is Ang Yahya. She can¡¯t overexert herself these days, so I¡¯m here to help out,¡± Ang exined.

    Aubree¡¯s heart sank. Ethel had never married or <b>had </b>children of her own. She¡¯d opened the orphanage and treated all the kids like her own.

    Now that she¡¯d asked Ang to help out, Aubree guessed Ethel was preparing for the worst and nning to let Ang take over the orphanage after she was gone.

    ¡°I¡¯m Aubree Miller, one of the kids who grew up here. <b>We¡¯re </b>here <b>to </b><b>see </b>Ethel,¡± Aubree introduced herself.

    ¡°I know who you are. My aunt mentions you all the time. Actually<b>, </b>someone <b>else </b><b>just </b>came to <b>see </b>her right before you, so let me check if it¡¯s a good time for you to <b>go </b>in,¡± Ang said.

    They made their way to Ethel¡¯s room.

    But before Ang could even <b>step </b>inside to <b>ask</b><b>, </b>the door opened from the inside. The person who walked out left both Aubree and Alvin wide¨Ceyed in shock.

    ¡°Bowen?¡± Aubree blurted out.

    ¡°Uncle Bowen!¡± Alvin eximed.

    ¡°What are you doing here<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree blurted out<b>, </b>still reeling from the surprise<b>. </b>

    Bowen didn¡¯t look the <b>least </b><b>bit </b>surprised to see them. His <b>gaze </b>swept over Alvin before he turned to Aubree with a smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t youin <bst </b>time <b>that </b>Ethel <b>wasn¡¯t </b>doing <b>well</b>? I brought in a <b>top</b><b>¨C</b>notch traditional doctor to check on her and help her recover.

    ¡°And what brings you two here?¡±

    Alvin instinctively didn¡¯t want Bowen to know his real reason foring. His <b>eyes </b>flickered with something unreadable, but his face stayed as cool as <b>ever</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Aubree came to visit Ethel. I¡¯m just tagging along,¡± <b>he </b>replied.

    ¡°Got it. The doctor¡¯s still inside with her, so you¡¯ll have to wait a bit,¡± Bowen said with a smile.

    Then, shameless as ever, Bowen sidled right up to Aubree, naturally slipping his arm around her and resting his head on her shoulder. ¡°My girlfriend finally gets some time off, and she doesn¡¯t even think to spend it with me?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty.

    ¡°Use me and toss me away, huh?¡± Bowen teased.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± Aubree mumbled.

    ¡°I helped you get Sophia to S¨¹dlichen Strand, and what do you do, you little heartless thing? You just left me all alone at the hotel and ran off by yourself.¡± Bowen went on, pretending to be hurt.

    Aubree rubbed her nose, feeling a little sheepish. At thest press conference, she¡¯d been so swamped that she¡¯d asked Bowen to help sneak Sophia out from under the Wilson family¡¯s noses and bring her to S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    To avoid any unnecessary drama, Bowen had waited for her at the hotel, and they¡¯d even nned to grab dinner together.

    But as soon as the reporters started swarming her and Manchotech called about a partnership, she totally spaced on Bowen and left him hanging.

 Tried 391

    <b>Chapter </b>391

    Just then, the doctor came out. ¡°It¡¯s just old age catching up with her. I¡¯ve written a prescription¨Cjust have her take it as directed. It can only help her feel better, but it won¡¯t cure herpletely.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, doctor. I think we¡¯ll go in and see her now, Aubree said.

    Aubree quickly shoved Bowen aside and almost bolted inside.

    Alvin and Bowen stood outside, neither moving, just staring at each other for a moment.

    Bowen¡¯s eyes were smiling, while Alvin¡¯s expression was as cool as ever, though his eyes were clouded with thoughts.

    He couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Did Uncle Bowen really juste here to bring a doctor for Ethel?

    ¡®If it is anyone else. I¡¯d never believe Bowen was the type to be so caring or have that much free time. But if it is about Aubree. maybe it isn¡¯t so impossible after all.¡®

    Alvin looked at Bowen, and Bowen just met his gaze. <b>Alvin </b>said, ¡°I¡¯m going in too. I¡¯m thinking of painting something about the orphanage for apetition. I figured I¡¯d look for some inspiration.¡±

    Bowen didn¡¯t suspect a thing.

    But as soon as Bowen turned around, Alvin¡¯s <b>face </b><b>fell</b><b>. </b>¡®Uncle <b>Bowen</b><b>, </b><b>what </b><b>are </b><b>you </b><b>really </b>after?¡® he thought.

    The traffickers responsible for his parents¡® deaths had vanished without <b>a </b><b>trace </b>in Rithol City. Someone had hidden them away. All Alvin had managed to uncover <b>was </b>that the little girl who¡¯d <b>been </b><b>rescued </b><b>back </b>then had somehow ended up <i>at </i>this orphanage.

    Inside the room, Ethel was holding Aubree¡¯s hand. When <b>she </b><b>saw </b>Alvine in, her smile faded a bit. ¡°<b>So </b>this is Alvin?¡±

    Aubree nodded, then turned to him. ¡°Alvin, <b>I¡¯ve </b>already told Ethel about you. <b>If </b><b>you </b><b>have </b>anything you want to ask, now¡¯s your chance.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Aubree, could you step out and help me <b>distract </b>Uncle Bowen for a bit? <b>I </b><b>really </b>don¡¯t want him to know why I¡¯m here,¡± Alvin said.

    Aubree was a bit surprised. ¡®What exactly <b>is </b>Alvin looking into that he can¡¯t <b>let </b>Bowen find out?¡® she wondered.

    But she didn¡¯t ask any questions.

    Bowen didn¡¯t seem like he wanted to get involved either. <b>He </b>just hung out with Aubree outside, watching the kids at the orphanage.

    *****

    Inside the room, Ethel looked at Alvin with a gentle smile.

    Alvin asked, ¡°Ethel, was this orphanage located in Chontan of Telmaur before it moved <b>here</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Ethel exined, ¡°Yes, it was in Chontan. Things were rough there. Kids were abandoned all the time because their families just

    couldn¡¯t take care of them.

    ¡°So I started this orphanage and took those children in myself. I never expected we¡¯d get government support and be able to move to Rithol City, where even more kind people could help us.¡±

    As she talked about it, her face grew even softer. She was truly grateful for that stroke of luck. Otherwise<b>, </b>she really didn¡¯t know if those kids back in Chontan would¡¯ve made it.

    A

    ¡°So, thirteen years ago, did you ever take in any orphans who escaped from traffickers? Or maybe kids whose backgrounds were a total mystery?¡± Alvin asked.

    ¡°Thirteen years ago?¡± Ethel paused to think, then smiled. ¡°Oh Alvin, you¡¯re funny. Honestly, aren¡¯t all the kids here from unknown backgrounds?

    ¡°As for any who actually <b>escaped </b>from traffickers, I don¡¯t think we ever had anyone like that.¡±

    Alvin pressed, not willing to let it go. ¡°So<b>, </b>who <b>were </b><b>the </b>kids that came here thirteen years ago?¡±

    ¡°There were quite <b>a </b><b>few</b>,¡± Ethel replied, ¡°There¡¯s a photo album in the drawer. Can you get it for me<b>?</b>¡±

    When Alvin opened the album, Ethel pointed to a picture. ¡°These are the kids <b>we </b>took in from thirteen years ago.¡±

    There <b>were </b>nine kids in the photo<b>¨C</b><b>six </b>girls and three boys. ¡°Do you have any information on these six girls?¡± Alvin asked.

    ¡°<b>I¡¯ll </b>see if I can find something, but I can¡¯t promise anything.¡± Ethel said.

    If Aubree had been there, she would¡¯ve <b>realized </b>with a jolt <b>that </b>she <b>wasn¡¯t </b>in the photo <b>at </b>all.

    Yet<b>, </b>she was also one of the kids who arrived <b>at </b>the orphanage thirteen years ago.

    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± Alvin said, his grip on the photo <b>so </b>tight that <b>the </b><b>veins </b><b>on </b>the back <b>of </b>his hand popped out.

    He thought, ¡®This photo might not <b>just </b>help me <b>track </b>down that little girl. <b>Maybe</b>, through her, <b>I </b>can finally uncover who those traffickers really are.

    Ìï

 Tried 392

    <b>Chapter </b><b>392 </b>

    When Alvin left the orphanage, he was in a <b>pretty </b>good mood. Bowen <b>had </b>told Aubree to head back <b>to </b>Ellis Heights <b>that </b>evening. He wouldn¡¯t be going <b>back </b>with the <b>two </b>of them.

    <b>As </b>the sun began to set, Ethel<b>, </b>who had been lying in bed, sat up straight. Her bed faced a window <b>that </b>overlooked the yground where the kids loved to y.

    <b>Just </b><b>a </b>little while ago, Aubree <b>had </b>been out there, ying with the kids<b>. </b>She <b>was </b>almost twenty, but she still acted like a kid. Noticing a figure at the door, Ethel said, ¡°<b>I </b><b>gave </b>him a photo. It <b>was </b>taken before Aubree came to the orphanage.

    ¡°<b>I¡¯ll </b>sort out the information on the people in the photo, and you can do your thing with it.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for your help,¡± Bowen replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m not helping you. I¡¯m helping Aubree<b>. </b><b>If </b>what you said is true, I don¡¯t want her life to be disrupted again. That child has already suffered enough,¡± Ethel said.

    Bowen chuckled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s strong now. She¡¯s <b>capable</b>.¡±

    ¡°I hope so,¡± Ethel replied.

    ¡°Once you¡¯ve finished settling everything at the orphanage<b>, </b>I¡¯ll <b>have </b>someone <b>take </b>you to the nursing home<b>. </b>I¡¯ve already arranged the best medical team for you there,¡± Bowen said. For <b>once</b><b>, </b>he <b>was </b><b>speaking </b>with genuine respect.

    He had been sponsoring Aubree for <b>years</b><b>, </b>and he <b>knew </b><b>exactly </b>what kind of person Ethel <b>was</b>.

    It was honestly surprising to him that there really <b>were </b>still truly <b>selfless </b>people like her in this world.

    ¡°Sorry for the trouble,¡± Bowen <b>offered </b>a few more words wishing her well before finally turning to <b>leave</b>.

    Once he got in the car, Bowen leaned back in his <b>seat </b>and closed his <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>The whole thing about calling a doctor was just <i>a </i>front. He¡¯d actually had the guy tailing Alvin send him an update.

    Alvin had already tracked things down to the orphanage. Bowen thought, ¡®With how sharp Alvin is<b>, </b>if he gets even the tiniest clue about Aubree, he¡¯ll definitely connect the dots and <b>realize </b><b>it¡¯s </b>her.

    *****

    Aubree had been feeling a bit guilty for not spending much time with Bowentely, so she stuck around Ellis Heights with him for a few days. Just before the <b>new </b><b>semester </b><b>started</b>, Birgitte <b>was </b>about to <b>head </b>back to S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    Before leaving, she sent Aubree a <b>message</b>.

    ¡°Going shopping? For what, Paintings<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree replied.

    ¡°Yeah, nning to gift some to people<b>,¡± </b>Birgitte said.

    Aubree had studied painting before, and since Birgitte didn¡¯t know much about it<b>, </b><b>she </b>asked Aubree to help her pick something out.

    ¡°Sure, who are you giving them to<i>? </i>Do they <b>have </b>any favorite <b>styles</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree <b>asked</b>.

    ¡°It¡¯s for an older couple. They¡¯re really into antiques and traditional paintings,¡± Birgitte replied.

    Aubree chatted with Birgitte on the phone for a <b>bit</b><b>, </b><b>got </b>the <b>gist </b><b>of </b>what she wanted, and agreed right away. ¡°Alright, your flight to S¨¹dlichen Strand is the day after tomorrow, right? <b>Let¡¯s </b><b>go </b>check out some paintings tomorrow.¡±

    Even though Aubree knew a thing or two about paintings, she didn¡¯t really know anyone in the art world. After hanging up, she thought for a moment and decided to reach out to Stan Frazier. They exchanged contact info after thest art exhibition.

    Stan had tried more <b>than </b>once to <b>persuade </b>her to start painting again. Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh at the thought. She¡¯d always firmly turned down his good intentions, but <b>even </b><b>so</b><b>, </b>the two of them had somehow be friends.

    When Aubree mentioned buying a painting<b>, </b>Stan immediately agreed and told her about an old friend who was hosting an exhibition. His style was exactly what Aubree needed.

    5923)

    They <b>set </b>a time<b>, </b>and Birgitte came to <b>pick </b>Aubree up.

    Even <b>at </b>an art exhibition, finding <b>a </b>painting that felt right was no <b>easy </b><b>task</b>.

    Since <b>the </b>show <b>was </b><b>put </b>on by <b>a </b>famous <b>old</b><b>¨C</b>school artist<b>, </b>the <b>ce </b>was packed. A lot <b>of </b>people were there to buy.

    After making <b>a </b><b>few </b>rounds of the <b>ce</b><b>, </b>Aubree spotted <b>a </bndscape painting tucked away in a corner. She nudged Birgitte and asked, ¡°What do you think of this <b>one</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

 Tried 393

    <b>Chapter </b><b>393 </b>

    The painting <b>was </b>simple and <b>tasteful</b><b>, </b>with a bold<b>, </b>spirited <b>vibe </b>and confident brushwork<b>. </b><b>It </b><b>really </b>matched <b>the </b><b>taste </b><b>of </b>the <b>older </b>couple <b>Birgitte </b><b>had </b>in mind.

    Birgitte didn¡¯t know much about <b>art</b><b>, </b>but <b>she </b>instantly fell for <b>the </b>vibe <b>it </b>gave off the moment sheid eyes on it.

    ¡°Well, <b>well</b>, <b>isn¡¯t </b>that Ms. Cherniavsky? <b>What </b><b>a </b><b>coincidence</b>!¡± Just <b>as </b><b>Birgitte </b><b>was </b>about to <b>step </b>closer <b>to </b>the painting, a rather shrill <b>female </b><b>voice </b>suddenly rang out.

    <b>Aubree </b>turned at the sound. The <b>woman </b>looked familiar. Aubree <b>was </b>pretty <b>sure </b><b>she¡¯d </b><b>seen </b>her <b>hosting </b>on TV before.

    The girl with her looked <b>even </b>more familiar. Aubree <b>realized </b>that she <b>was </b>Elizabeth Lawson.

    Elizabeth was a bit <b>taken </b><b>aback </b><b>to </b><b>see </b>Aubree, but her <b>face </b>quickly turned frosty, like she was <b>seeing </b>her arch¨Cnemesis.

    She¡¯d had a thing for Bowen for years. <b>Just </b>to <b>be </b>worthy of him<b>, </b><b>she¡¯d </b>forced <b>herself </b>to study finance and management, took over the family business<b>, </b>and became the kind of <b>female </b>CEO everyone <b>praised</b>.

    Elizabeth clenched her fists<b>. </b>¡®Still, why won¡¯t Bowen <b>even </b><b>spare </b>me a nce? Why is he with that snot¨Cnosed little brat instead?¡®

    Birgitte recognized the voice instantly. She thought, ¡®How did I even run into her here in Rithol City? Well<b>, </b>she is originally from here, after all. She <b>just </b>works <b>over </b>in S¨¹dlichen Strand now.¡®

    ¡°Here to buy a painting? Seriously, does Ms. <b>Cherniavsky </b>even know anything <b>about </b>art? You <b>are </b><b>just </b>some farm girl who lucked out and-¡°The woman <b>gave </b>Birgitte <b>a </b>mocking <b>once</b><b>¨C</b><b>over</b><b>, </b><b>her </b>tone dripping with <b>sarcasm</b>. ¡°Don¡¯t <b>go </b>tainting this ce, or that painting.¡±

    Elizabeth scold her, ¡°Grace<b>, </b>what are you talking about? Ms. Cherniavsky¡¯s status <b>speaks </b>for <b>itself</b>. Even <b>if </b>she doesn¡¯t know art, Ms. Miller actually studied fine arts<b>.¡± </b>

    Grace Lawson replied, ¡°Oh <b>please</b>, Elizabeth, you know that she studied fine arts<b>. </b>There are tons of art students out there, but how many actually know anything?

    ¡°Some people think just <b>because </b>they know <b>a </b>little, they¡¯re suddenly experts. <b>Isn¡¯t </b>that shameless? She just got lucky, and now she thinks she can be a <b>big</b><b>¨C</b>shot businesswoman in Rithol City like you?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree could tell right <b>away </b><b>these </b><b>two </b><b>came </b><b>to </b>stir up trouble<b>. </b><b>Grace </b><b>was </b>Elizabeth¡¯s cousin. The <b>worst </b>part was that Elizabeth and Aubree didn¡¯t get along with <b>each </b>other.

    Birgitte didn¡¯t even bother with Grace<b>. </b>She just pointed at the painting and asked the <b>staff </b>member <b>nearby</b>, <b>¡°</b><b>I¡¯d </b>like to buy this

    one.<b>¡± </b>

    The staff member, not wanting <b>to </b>get on anyone¡¯s <b>bad </b>side, quickly replied, ¡°Of <b>course</b>, please <b>wait </b>a moment.¡±

    She checked the price and said, ¡°This painting is <b>listed </b><b>at </b>600 thousand <b>dors</b><b>.</b>¡±

    600 thousand dors <b>was </b>definitely within Birgitte¡¯s budget. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take <b>it</b><b>,¡± </b>she said.

    Just as the <b>staff </b>member <b>was </b><b>about </b>to take the painting down<b>, </b><b>Grace </b>suddenly cut in, stepped forward, and took the painting. ¡°Not bad. Elizabeth, let¡¯s <b>go </b>with this <b>one</b>. We can <b>give </b>it to Ricky for his birthday <b>next </b>month.¡±

    The staff member looked a bit awkward. ¡°Well¡­¡±

    ¡°Am I not allowed to buy it? Whoever <b>pays </b>more <b>gets </b>it, right? <b>I¡¯ll </b>add another 60 thousand dors. Sell it to me<b>.¡± </b>

    Elizabeth put on a polite smile. ¡°Ms. Miller, my cousin is <b>a </b>bit spoiled. She¡¯s buying this painting <b>as </b><b>a </b>gift for an elder. Would you mind letting us <b>have </b>it?¡±

    Elizabeth felt that Aubree should at <b>least </bpromise somewhat.

    However, Aubree didn¡¯t even nce at them. She just pulled out her <b>card </b>and handed it to the staff member. ¡°Go ahead and swipe the card.¡±

    She said, ¡°Ms. Lawson, there <b>is </b><b>a </b>saying¨Cfirste<b>, </b>first served. And another one¨Ca decent person doesn¡¯t snatch what others have their eye on. But if you¡¯re not that kind of person, just pretend I never said anything.¡±

    5.00 PM

    <b>Stan </b><b>had </b><b>personally </b>vouched <b>for </b>Aubree. The staff had <b>been </b><b>told </b>to <b>pay </b><b>special </b><b>attention </b>to her. <b>Plus</b><b>, </b><b>Aubree </b>and Birgitte had <b>clearly </b><b>arrived </b>first. After a moment¡¯s hesitation<b>, </b>the staff <b>member </b><b>epted her </b><b>card</b>.

    Grace <b>felt </b><bpletely </b><b>powerless </b>and humiliated. The frustration made <b>her </b><b>snap </b>on the <b>spot</b>.

    <b>She </b><b>said</b>, ¡°Birgitte, quit pretending<b>! </b><b>You¡¯re </b><b>just </b>some slut <b>who¡¯s </b>been with an old man. What¡¯s with <b>that </b>elegant act<b>? </b>Hugo only <b>feels </b><b>sorry </b><b>for </b>you. Do you <b>really </b>think you¡¯re all <b>that</b><b>?</b>¡±

    Ìï

 Tried 394

    <b>Chapter </b>394

    Elizabeth frowned slightly. <b>It </b><b>was </b>a sign of her disapproval at Grace¡¯sck of self¨Ccontrol in front of everyone. Still, she didn¡¯t <b>actually </b><b>say </b>anything.

    After <b>all</b>, Aubree was also on the receiving end of Grace¡¯s troublemaking.

    <b>Grace </b>sneered, ¡°A bug crawling out from some godforsaken corner really thinks she¡¯s something special. You really believe buying a painting can dress up that rotten <b>aura </b><b>of </b>yours?

    ¡°What are you even thinking?

    ¡°Hugo¡¯s family has always been spotless<b>. </b>You, on the other hand, are filthy to the core. Can¡¯t you have a little self¨Cawareness<b>? </b>Stoptching onto Hugo, will you?¡±

    Grace suddenly turned her gaze to Aubree, her <b>face </b>full of mockery. ¡°And you!

    ¡°Seriously, you two are <b>so </b>alike. <b>So </b>young and <b>already </b>crawling into Bowen¡¯s bed. How shameless can you get? Didn¡¯t your parents ever teach you how to behave<b>? </b>

    ¡°Oh, I forgot that the famous <b>Ms. </b>Miller <b>is </b>an orphan<b>, </b><b>so </b><b>of </b>course<b>, </b><b>she </b>doesn¡¯t <b>have </b>parents¡­¡±

    ¡®I can put up with her talking trash about me<b>, </b>but insulting Ms. Miller<b>? </b><b>That¡¯s </b>crossing the line, Birgitte thought.

    Birgitte raised her hand and pped Grace <b>across </b><b>the </b><b>face</b>.

    The sharp sound echoed through the room, and suddenly<b>, </b>everything went quiet.

    Grace was absolutely floored that Birgitte would <b>p </b>her. Elizabeth was <b>just </b><b>as </b><b>caught </b>off guard. She hadn¡¯t seen thising at all. With her standing right there<b>, </b>she thought no matter how upset they <b>were</b>, they wouldn¡¯t actually throw hands.

    Snapping back to her <b>senses</b><b>, </b>Grace shrieked, ¡°Birgitte!¡±

    She shouted as she raised her hand, ready to p back.

    But Aubree <b>was </b>faster. She grabbed <b>Grace¡¯s </b>wrist and flung it aside. Aubree <b>let </b>out a small smile. She had to admit, one thing Grace said did hit home. She <b>really </b><b>was </b>an orphan.

    Aubree said coolly, ¡°For someone with both parents<b>, </b><b>Ms. </b><b>Lawson</b>, you sure <b>have </b><b>less </b><b>ss </b>than an orphan like me.¡±

    Birgitte said, her tone cool and authoritative, <b>¡°</b><b>Grace</b><b>, </b>back in S¨¹dlichen Strand, I didn¡¯t bother with you not because I was afraid, but because I didn¡¯t want to <b>waste </b>my time on someone so pointless.

    ¡°But if you keep spouting nonsense<b>, </b>trust me, that p will be just the beginning.¡± She <b>was </b>a CEO now, and it showed in every word.

    Grace stumbled back two <b>steps</b>, realizing with embarrassment and anger that she¡¯d actually been scared off by Birgitte. Her face flushed with shame<b>. </b>

    ¡°First you try to stir up drama, then you throw yourself <b>at </b>someone <b>else¡¯s </b>man, and now you hit me. Birgitte, since when did you get so bold? Acting like a homewrecker and still ying tough<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>Grace </b>snapped.

    Birgitte looked at her, genuinely confused. ¡°Are you and Hugo even in a rtionship?

    ¡°Not to mention you and Hugo <b>aren¡¯t </b><b>even </b><b>together</b><b>, </b>but <b>even </b>if <b>you </b><b>were</b><b>, </b>nothing has ever happened between us beyond friendship.¡±

    ¡°Lies! You¡¯re showing <b>up </b>with gifts and <b>still </b><b>have </b><b>the </b><b>nerve </b><b>to </b>say <b>there¡¯s </b>nothing between you two?¡± Grace bit her lip, her voice shaking with anger.

    She and Hugo were childhood sweethearts, and their families <b>had </b>always nned for them to end up together. Ever since she was little, Grace had seen herself as Hugo¡¯s fianc¨¦e.

    However, she didn¡¯t expect Birgitte toe out of nowhere and mess everything up.

    Just thinking about how Hugo told her he only ever saw her <b>as </b>a little sister, and that he already liked someone else, made Grace¡¯s eyes grow even colder.

    4172

    <b>Grace </b>fumed inwardly, ¡®What <b>does </b>that slut Birgitte <b>have </b>that I don¡¯t<b>? </b><b>Just </b><b>because </b>she slept with some sugar daddy?

    ¡®<b>She¡¯s </b>nothing but Aubree¡¯s <b>sidekick</b>. Aubree¡¯s <b>a </b>bitch, too. She is <b>barely </b>out of school and already knows how to hook men!¡®

    After all, Bowen was her brother¨Cin<b>¨C</b><bw</b><b>. </b>

    From the conversation just now, Aubree picked up on <b>a </b>few things.

    Hugo <b>had </b>probably <b>helped </b>Birgitte out <b>before</b>, so the two <b>had </b>some connection. <b>Grace </b>clearly liked Hugo, but it looked like he <b>wasn¡¯t </b>interested in her<b>, </b>and <b>actually </b><b>had </b><b>a </b>better impression of Birgitte.

    Since this <b>was </b>Birgitte¡¯s personal matter<b>, </b>Aubree thought that she should <b>stay </b>out of it.

    ¡°You¡¯re nuts,¡± Birgitte scoffed, not wasting <b>another </b>second on Grace¡¯s drama.

 Tried 395

    <b>Chapter </b><b>395 </b>

    Hugo was the cop who handled her case. After they got to know each other<b>, </b>they <b>actually </b><b>got </b>along pretty well and eventually became friends. Birgitte didn¡¯t <b>deny </b>she liked him, but trying <b>to </b><b>exin </b><b>that </b>to Grace was pointless.

    ¡°<b>Ms. </b>Miller, let¡¯s go,¡± Birgitte said, turning <b>to </b>Aubree.

    <b>The </b>painting <b>was </b>already packed <b>up</b><b>, </b>and with her business done, Birgitte had zero interest in hanging around this ce any longer<b>. </b>

    Grace¡¯s face <b>was </b>already swelling from the <b>p</b>. She touched her check, her anger ring even hotter. Suddenly, she grabbed Birgitte. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Trying to run because <b>I </b>hit a sore spot?

    ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere. Unless you call Hugo right now and tell him you¡¯re cutting all ties with him, I won¡¯t let you go!¡±

    ¡°Grace!¡± Birgitte frowned, her patience wearing thin.

    She was worried that if Grace lost control, she might cause a scene. Birgitte didn¡¯t care about it, but she didn¡¯t want Aubree to get dragged into it.

    ¡°You have no right to interfere in my personal business<b>,</b>¡± Birgitte said firmly.

    Seeing that Grace <b>was </b>starting <b>to </b>go overboard and worried things might get <b>out </b>of hand, Elizabeth finally spoke up. ¡°Ms. Miller, she¡¯s just a kid. Is it really worth making such a big deal out of <b>this</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Ms. Lawson, let me set the record straight. Out of the four <b>of </b>us<b>, </b>I¡¯m <b>the </b>only one who¡¯s neen¨Cso if anyone here counts as a kid, it¡¯s me,¡± Aubree said with a faint smile.

    The implication obvious. Aubree <b>was </b><b>the </b><b>youngest </b>in the <b>group</b>, and <b>even </b><b>she </b><b>was </b>not ying the childish card. She didn¡¯t think Grace could <b>use </b>that <b>as </b>an <b>excuse</b><b>. </b>

    Elizabeth¡¯s face stiffened for a second. She hadn¡¯t <b>expected </b>Aubree <b>to </b><b>be </b>so direct.

    ¡°Since your cousin is <b>so </b>confident about everything<b>, </b>why not just call Hugo and clear things up? Maybe then <b>she¡¯ll </b>finally get <i>a </i>reality check,¡± Aubree added.

    Birgitte knew that if they didn¡¯t find a way to <b>deal </b>with <b>Grace</b><b>, </b>there was no way they¡¯d <b>be </b>able <b>to </b><b>leave </b>today. Without another word, she pulled out her phone. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ll <b>call </b>him.¡±

    For a brief moment, Grace¡¯s <b>face </b>shed with panic<b>. </b>She knew deep down that Hugo didn¡¯t actually like her. In fact, he was probably getting sick of her clinging to him.

    ¡®If I call him now, will he think I¡¯m being childish and end up hating me <b>even </b>more<b>?</b><b>¡® </b>she thought.

    Elizabeth shot her a reassuring nce. With her <b>presense</b><b>, </b><b>she </b><b>felt </b><b>that </b>Hugo would <b>have </b>to <b>be </b>polite for the Lawson family¡¯s sake.

    Grace caught the meaning in that look and <b>felt </b><b>a </b>bit more confident. That¡¯s right! Even if I¡¯m not better than Birgitte at anything, just having the Lawson name means I¡¯m <b>already </b><b>ahead </b>at the starting <b>line</b><b>, </b>she told <b>herself</b>.

    Grace crossed her arms and scoffed, ¡°Go <b>ahead</b>, <b>call </b>him. Who do you think you are? Hugo¡¯s mom and dad are both high up in the military. Do you really think someone like <b>you </b>could <b>ever </b><b>set </b>foot in their family?

    ¡°Hugo¡¯s just a nice guy; he only pities you. Don¡¯t take it <b>so </b>seriously, or you¡¯ll just end up making a fool of yourself.

    ¡°Why not just walk away with a little dignity? No need to throw yourself at him and beg for embarrassment.¡±

    Birgitte didn¡¯t even bother listening¨Cshe was already dialing <b>the </b>number.

    **

    The Moore family and the Turner family had been close for generations. The Turners were in business<b>, </b>and in this generation, Bowen¡¯s older brother had gone into government service. When he was still alive, the Moore family often looked out for him.

    Even though he <b>was </b>gone now, the bond between the two families remained strong.

    Today, Bowen was with Enrique<b>, </b>and the two families were having a small get¨Ctogether at a restaurant.

    Enrique was quite <b>a </b>bit older than Hugo¡¯s father, but <b>Bowen </b>and <b>Hugo </b>were about <b>the </b>same age. The two of them stood under <b>the </b>porch, watching the two <b>men </b>fishing not too far away.

    <b>¡°</b>Enrique is in <b>great </b><b>shape</b>,¡± Hugomented.

    Bowen rubbed his fingers together and grinned. <b>¡°</b><b>Yeah</b>, <b>he¡¯s </b>healthy. He is <b>always </bing up with new ways to keep everyone on their toes.

    ¡°Thanks again for helping me out with that <b>case </b>in S¨¹dlichen Strandst time.¡±

    Hugo smiled. ¡°Mark put in a word, <b>so </b><b>even </b>if it wasn¡¯t me, there would¡¯ve been plenty <b>of </b>people willing to help. Besides, Birgitte¡¯s a good kid. I¡¯m d I got to <b>be </b>the one to help her out.¡±

    Just as they were chatting, Hugo¡¯s phone started ringing.

    B

 Tried 396

    <b>Chapter </b><b>396 </b>

    Hugo didn¡¯t bother hiding the call from Bowen. ¡°Birgitte is calling me.¡±

    He added, ¡°I heard your girlfriend is pretty close with Birgitte. Maybe you could put in a good word for me sometime.¡±

    Hugo picked up.

    Birgitte, never one tosh out for no reason, asked, ¡°Hugo, are you busy?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. <b>What¡¯s </b>up?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in Rithol City right now, and 1 just ran into Grace. She seems to have some misunderstandings about our rtionship. Do you think you could talk to her and clear things up?¡±

    Birgitte had put the call on speakerphone.

    ¡®Grace?¡® Hugo wondered.

    Hugo¡¯s brow furrowed in recognition, but before he could <b>say </b>anything, Elizabeth¡¯s voice came through the speaker.

    She said. ¡°Hugo, it¡¯s Elizabeth. I¡¯m here with Grace <b>at </b>an art exhibition. We happened to run into Ms. Cherniavsky and Ms. Miller. Grace can be a bit impulsive<b>, </b>and there was a bit of a conflict.¡±

    Hugo swallowed the words that had been on the tip of <b>his </b>tongue<b>. </b><b>He </b>thought<b>, </b><b>¡®</b>Elizabeth is there too? I could ignore Grace¡¯s feelings, but with her cousin present, I can¡¯t <b>just </b>say <b>whatever </b><b>I </b><b>want</b>!¡¯

    Bowen¡¯s attention snapped to the phone at the mention of Aubree<b>. </b><b>He </b><b>asked</b>, ¡°<b>Bree</b><b>, </b>you¡¯re there too?¡±

    On the other end, Aubree was caught off guard by his <b>voice</b>. ¡®<b>Seriously</b>? What <b>are </b><b>the </b>odds<b>?</b><b>¡® </b><b>she </b>thought.

    ¡°Yeah, Birgitte and I came to buy some paintings<b>, </b>and we ran into a moron,¡± <b>Aubree </b>said before pausing, clear amusement in her voice.

    From the way she said it, it <b>was </b>obvious <b>she </b>hadn¡¯t been the one to <b>lose </b>out.

    Bowen¡¯s eyes softened in relief. ¡°Is it any trouble? Want us <b>to </be over<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Hugo felt that Grace¡¯s constat pestering <b>was </b>quite troublesome. He knew <b>exactly </b>how he felt about Birgitte<b>. </b>There was no way he¡¯d let her get hurt. Besides, with Birgitte¡¯s personality, if he <b>ever </b>started waffling, she¡¯d drop him in a heartbeat.

    ¡°Where are you? We¡¯lle over and check things out,¡± <b>Hugo </b>said.

    Hearing they wereing, Grace quickly <b>rattled </b>off the address<b>. </b><b>After </b>hanging up<b>, </b>she shot Birgitte a smug look. ¡°See? The moment Hugo heard I was in trouble, he¡¯s rushing right <b>over</b><b>.</b>¡±

    Birgitte didn¡¯t say a word, but Aubree just looked <b>at </b><b>Grace </b>like she was watching <b>a </b>circus <b>act</b>.

    ¡®Elizabeth seems perfectly normal. How did her cousin turn out like this? Did all the brains <b>skip </b><b>a </b>generation or something?¡± she thought.

    Elizabeth¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile <b>as </b>she nced at Grace¡¯s half¨Cswollen <b>face</b>. ¡®Didn¡¯t expect to get this kind of bonus bringing her out today. When Bowen shows <b>up</b><b>, </b>I¡¯ll make sure to put on my best performance,¡® she thought.

    Each of them was lost in their own thoughts.

    Bowen and Hugo showed up in no time. Before the four in the lounge had even finished a ss of water, the guys were already there.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing out to buy art?¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be with Enrique today? Besides, I¡¯m here with Birgitte. Why are you barging in on our girl time?¡± Ever since she started dating Bowen, Aubree had started addressing his dad in a different way.

    Bowen chuckled.

    Blued t

    Ever since Bowen walked in, all his attention Aubree. Elizabeth, whose face had been lit up with anticipation,

    instantly darkened.

    <b>Jealousy </b><b>raged </b>inside her like <b>a </b><b>rabid </b><b>cat </b>wing at her insides, <b>desperate </b>to break free and wreak havoc,

    ¡°I <b>was </b>just worried some clueless idiot might upset you,¡± Bowen said.

    That <b>was </b>definitely a pointed remark.

    Elizabeth¡¯s <b>face </b>paled slightly, but she quickly regained herposure. ¡°Mr. Turner and Ms. Miller really seem to have a great rtionship.

    ¡°But Mr. Turner, you¡¯re <b>a </b>reasonable guy. <b>My </b>cousin got hit. Shouldn¡¯t <b>we </b>at least get an exnation?

    ¡°Grace¡¯s been spoiled by our family, sure. She and Ms. Cherniavsky both wanted the same painting. It¡¯s one thing not to give it up, but actually throwing hands? <b>That¡¯s </b>just too much, isn¡¯t it?

    ¡°And Hugo, if I¡¯m not mistaken<b>, </b><b>there¡¯s </b>an engagement between the Lawson and Moore families. You can¡¯t really me Grace for getting emotional, <b>can </b>you?¡±

    She really managed to <b>say </b>everything all by herself.

    Aubree let out a coldugh. ¡°Looks like Ms. Lawson has <b>a </b>case of selective amnesia.¡±

 Tried 397

    <b>Chapter </b><b>397 </b>

    4.23

    That was <b>just </b>Aubree being <b>sarcastic</b>, but Birgitte was even more ruthless. Their styles were totally different. Aubree liked to set up a long game, draw people in, and <b>then </b>slowly grind them down.

    Birgitte, though, was <b>just </b>savage. She <b>was </b>hard on herself and even harder <b>on </b>others.

    She said, ¡°You really think you <b>can </b>get into <b>the </b>Moore family after sleeping with some old man? Take a good look at yourself. Can you stop hanging all over Hugo already?

    ¡°You¡¯re just a shameless homewrecker<b>, </b><b>always </b>trying toe between Hugo and me.¡±

    Those filthy words rolled off Birgitte¡¯s tongue in that <b>icy</b><b>, </b>almost creepy tone of hers. After <b>a </b>few lines, she paused and stared straight into Grace¡¯s panicked eyes. <b>¡°</b><b>If </b>you¡¯ve forgotten <b>what </b>you said, Miss Lawson, I <b>can </b>remind you.¡±

    Stuff like that would be a lifelong <b>scar </b>for <b>just </b>about anyone.

    Elizabeth finally <b>gave </b>Birgitte <b>a </b>real look. ¡®Damn, this girl is ruthless<b>. </b>She really doesn¡¯t <b>give </b>a damn,¡¯ she thought.

    Hugo¡¯s face turned stormy. ¡°Grace, I¡¯ve told you before. <b>I¡¯ve </b>only <b>ever </b>seen you <b>as </b><b>a </b>little <b>sister</b>. I don¡¯t have any feelings for you. Not now, not ever.

    ¡°Elizabeth, there¡¯s one thing you¡¯ve got wrong. That <b>so</b><b>¨C</b><b>called </b>engagement between our families was just our parents joking around.

    ¡°If the Lawson family actually took it seriously, you can <b>go </b><b>ask </b>my folks yourself and <b>see </b>if they¡¯ll even admit to it<b>.¡± </b>

    Hugo¡¯s parents would <b>never </b><b>set </b>their son up like <b>that</b><b>. </b>If he was on board, it¡¯d be a <b>great </b>story. But if he wasn¡¯t, they¡¯d justugh it off as a joke.

    ¡°Hugo¡­¡± Grace¡¯s voice trembled with disbelief<b>. </b>She <b>was </b>the one who <b>got </b>pped, yet she <b>was </b>stunned by Hugo¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°Stop calling me so intimately,¡± Hugo said coldly.

    Grace¡¯s eyes reddened instantly<b>, </b><b>tears </b>welling up as she <b>stared </b>at him in shock and hurt.

    Bowen lowered his gaze, not for a second believing that <b>Grace </b>had only mouthed off at Birgitte.

    His eyes went icy as he spoke. ¡°So, Ms. <b>Lawson</b>, you brought your cousin here thinking my girlfriend and her friend would be easy to push around.

    ¡°When you couldn¡¯t snatch the painting<b>, </b>you decided to <b>say </b>nasty things and got what wasing <b>to </b>you. Now you want to turn around and y the victim?¡±

    Elizabeth¡¯s polite smile faltered. ¡®Wait, this isn¡¯t how things <b>were </b>supposed to go,¡¯ she thought.

    She figured that since Grace got pped, even if they <b>were </b>totally in the wrong, at <b>least </b>they¡¯d gain sympathy. Elizabeth felt that Bowen should¡¯ve at <b>least </b>talk some <b>sense </b>into <b>Aubree </b>for the <b>sake </b><b>of </b><b>appearances</b>.

    Bowen let out <b>a </b>coldugh. ¡°Ms. Lawson, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I¡¯ve <b>never </b><b>been </b>the <b>reasonable </b>type. In fact, I¡¯m fiercely protective of my own.

    ¡°Even if Bree really <b>was </b>at fault <b>today</b>, if <b>you </b><b>made </b><b>her </b>upset<b>, </b><b>you¡¯ll </b><b>just </b><b>have </b>to <b>deal </b>with it. <b>If </b><b>you¡¯ve </b><b>got </b>a problem,e talk to me when you can actually put me under your thumb.¡±

    Elizabeth knew she¡¯d really <b>screwed </b>up this time and tried to <b>drag </b><b>Grace </b><b>away</b>.

    But the moment Grace <b>saw </b><b>Birgitte </b>being so proud, her temper exploded. The sting from that <b>p </b>on her <b>face </b><b>was </b>still burning, and no matter how hard Elizabeth pulled, she stood her ground, refusing <b>to </b><b>move </b>an inch.

    Since they refused to <b>leave</b><b>, </b><b>Bowen </b>didn¡¯t mind giving them <b>a </b>little <b>push</b>.

    He pulled out his phone and sent a quick <b>message </b>to Ethan and Samson, who <b>were </b>waiting outside. A <b>few </b>secondster, two huge guys in ck, wearing <b>earpieces</b>, walked into the lounge.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, who do you want us to toss out?¡± one of them asked.

    5.00 PM

    <b>With </b><b>a </b>slight nod of his chin, <b>Bowen </b>said, ¡°Escort Ms. Lawson and her cousin out.¡±

    ¡°<b>Bowen</b>!¡± Elizabeth <b>was </b>truly panicking now. If Bowen really had her thrown out of the art exhibition, she¡¯d be aughingstock on Rithol City Evening <b>News </b>tomorrow.

    Only then did <b>Grace </b><b>realize </b>the Lawson family couldn¡¯t protect her anymore. Frightened, she instinctively hid behind Elizabeth for protection.

    Ethan and Samson let out <b>a </b>sly chuckle<b>. </b>¡°You got it. Ms. Lawson, no hard feelings<b>.¡± </b><b>The </b><b>two </b><b>of </b>them moved to escort them out.

    Elizabeth muttered <b>a </b>curse under her breath, grabbed <b>Grace</b><b>, </b>and dragged her out, looking like there was <b>a </b>rabid dog chasing them from behind.

 Tried 398

    <b>Chapter </b><b>398 </b>

    After Grace <b>and </b>Elizabeth <b>left</b>, <b>Hugo </b><b>invited </b>Birgitte to go hang out <b>at </b><b>a </b>farmhouse together,

    Even though Birgitte acted like she didn¡¯t care about what had just happened, there was <b>still </b>a knot in her heart. She did like Ethan, but she really couldn¡¯t stand people who were involved inplicated rtionships with others.

    She replied, ¡°No, thanks. <b>I¡¯ll </b>visit you on your dad¡¯s birthday. Besides, <b>I¡¯ve </b>already booked my flight back to S¨¹dlichen Strand for tomorrow. I need to get things in order when I get back.¡±

    Hugo was totally clueless. He didn¡¯t notice anything off about Birgitte¡¯s mood <b>at </b>all. Cheerfully, he thought what happened earlier hadn¡¯t affected Birgitte one bit<b>, </b>and that she was just too busy to hang out.

    ¡°Alright then. I was hoping to introduce <b>you </b>to my parents. We¡¯ll catch up when <b>I </b>get back to S¨¹dlichen Strand,¡± Hugo said.

    Birgitte forced a smile. ¡®Meet his parents? On what grounds? What am I to him<b>?</b>¡® she thought.

    Aubree and Bowen had agreed that after she dropped Birgitte off<b>, </b>they¡¯d go have dinner with Enrique that evening.

    On the way back, Ethan was driving, with Bowen and Hugo sitting in the back <b>seat</b>.

    Bowen rubbed his wrist and asked, ¡°You really think Grace <b>is </b>gonna back off just because you told her to?¡±

    Hugo nced over. <b>¡°</b>I spelled it out for her<b>, </b>didn¡¯t I? I <b>mean</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>made it clear I don¡¯t like her. She should get it, right?¡±

    Bowen replied, ¡°Whether you like her or not <b>is </b><b>one </b>thing. Whether she likes you <b>is </b><b>a </b>whole different story.¡±

    Hugo, who was used to being blunt in <b>the </b>squad, was <b>totally </b>baffled. ¡®<b>I¡¯ve </b><b>already </b>turned her down. She¡¯d still keep pursuing me? Seriously?¡® he thought.

    ¡°If you¡¯re really nning to <b>go </b>after Miss Cherniavsky, you <b>better </b>start using <b>your </b>head,¡± Bowen advised.

    Bowen thought, ¡®Birgitte is <b>Bree¡¯s </b>friend. If she and Hugo really get together<b>, </b>that means Bree gets another solid connection.

    ¡°Honestly, Miss Cherniavsky got dragged into this mess <b>because </b>of you. She had her old wounds ripped open like that. Even if she acts like she doesn¡¯t care, you should at <b>least </b>show where you stand,¡± Bowen added.

    Ethan let out a low whistle. He hadn¡¯t even considered that. Now that Bowen mentioned it, he <b>realized </b>he¡¯d been a bit thoughtless earlier.

    His face darkened a little as he started to think things <b>over</b>.

    Bowen left it at that. He couldn¡¯t <b>care </b><b>less </b>about other people¡¯s love lives. If it weren¡¯t for Aubree, he wouldn¡¯t even bother with this kind of boring drama.

    However, if this drama took <b>ce </b><b>between </b>Aubree and him, he felt that it would be <b>a </b>whole different story.

    Bowen warned, ¡°Everyone from the Lawson family is <b>a </b>handful. Grace won¡¯t <b>give </b>up <b>so </b><b>easily</b>. You¡¯d better keep your eyes open¨Cespecially since she¡¯s got Elizabeth backing her up.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, they¡¯re not the type <b>to </b>let things <b>go</b>. They¡¯ll definitely try to make <b>a </beback<b>.¡± </b>

    Hugo nodded.

    Later that evening, Aubree drove to the address Bowen had given her. It had <b>been </b>a while since she¡¯d seen Enrique, and they had a great time catching up. Enrique introduced her to the Moore family.

    ¡°So you¡¯re the boss of Bree Technology? You¡¯re <b>really </b>impressive for your age,¡± Ricky Moore said.

    Laurel Moore said, ¡°Just call me Laurel. <b>I </b>absolutely love yourpany¡¯s <b>app</b>, Zappy. Our military unit uses it for all kinds of promotions<b>, </b>and it works wonders<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°That¡¯s right, and that GrabCheap app of yours has really helped a lot of folks who are struggling. You¡¯re a good kid.¡± Ricky

    chimed in.

    Ricky and Laurel couldn¡¯t stop praising Aubree. The more they talked, the more they liked her. A trace of regret appeared in their heart. If Aubree wasn¡¯t already Bowen¡¯s girlfriend, they¡¯d be dying to have Hugo date her.

    <i>1/2 </i>

    After the break<b>, </b>Aubree <b>was </b><b>back </b>at <b>school</b>.

    Birgitte headed back to S¨¹dlichen Strand to keep up with the follow¨Cup work for GrabCheap<b>, </b><b>and </b>Hugo hurried back to S¨¹dlichen Strand as soon as his vacation ended.

    The <b>real </b>hot topic, though, <b>was </b><b>Alice</b>.

    She¡¯d <b>seen </b>that man again.

 Tried 399

    <b>Chapter </b>399

    After a <b>few </b>months <b>of </b>training, Kyler Bradley became a pretty solid stand¨Cin. Thanks <b>to </b>his acting background, he slipped into <b>the </b>role in no time. Aubree <b>even </b>brought in people to coach him on how <b>to </b>carry himself and act the part.

    Just by looking <b>at </b>him, people would <b>totally </b>buy that he was a refined, gentle, almost schrly <b>guy</b>¨Cthe kind of gentleman who¡¯d catch anyone¡¯s <b>eye </b>at first nce.

    The scene <b>where </b><b>Alice </b>ran into <b>Kyler </b>again <b>was </b>all part of a carefully crafted setup.

    On the first <b>day </b>at the art academy, Alice was dropping Carmen off. The entrance <b>was </b><b>a </b>total mess with <b>cars </b>everywhere, and even though security guards and traffic cops were trying to keep things under control, something still went wrong.

    Kyler, sticking to the script Aubree had given him, jumped in right <b>as </b><b>a </b>little girl <b>was </b>about to get hit by a car. ¡°Where are your parents? There are way too many <b>cars </b>here. <b>Go </b>find your mom and dad. <b>It¡¯s </b>not safe to be out here alone,¡± he said.

    The sunlight was just right that day, and his gentle, understated smile appeared at the perfect moment.

    When Alice turned at themotion and <b>saw </b>this scene, her heart started pounding uncontrobly, like it was about to break free from her chest, whether she wanted it to or not.

    ¡°Xander¡­¡± she whispered. For a split second, it was like <b>she </b><b>was </b>watching her <b>past </b>self being pulled from under that car all over again.

    ¡°Mom, what are you looking at?¡± Carmen asked <b>as </b>she hurried back after finishing her registration.

    Alice quickly averted her gaze, flustered and <b>a </b>little panicked. She <b>discreetly </b>gestured to her bodyguards, signaling them to stop Kyler.

    ¡®No matter who this guy <b>is </b>or why he showed up in front of me, I¡¯m not letting him <b>slip </b><b>away</b><b>!</b>¡® Alice thought.

    Carmen followed Alice¡¯s gaze but only caught a glimpse of a man¡¯s <b>back</b>. She <b>felt </b>a bit curious, but didn¡¯t dwell on it.

    After dropping Carmen off at school, Alice did not dwell on saying goodbye to <b>her</b><b>. </b>She <b>was </b><b>so </b>anxious to <b>leave</b>, it <b>was </b>like she wished she could grow <b>a </b>second pair of <b>legs </b>just to <b>get </b><b>away </b>faster.

    Carmen noticed how off Alice seemed and wondered, ¡®Why <b>is </b>she in such a hurry? <b>Is </b>it <b>because </b>of that man from earlier?

    ¡®Maybe I should go <b>see </b>what makes that guy <b>so </b><b>special</b>.

    *****

    Meanwhile, Aubree¡¯s n was a total <b>sess</b><b>. </b>She knew that <b>Alice </b>liked men with an <b>ethereal</b>, untouched¨Cby¨Cthe<b>¨C</b>world vibe. Kyler¡¯s appearance was, in a <b>way</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>perfect reenactment of Alice¡¯s very first encounter with her Xander Freeman.

    Alice¡¯s bodyguards had already brought Kyler to <b>a </b><b>caf¨¦ </b><b>near </b>the university district.

    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t know any of you. Could you <b>please </b>let me <b>go</b>?¡± Kyler said.

    Kyler frowned slightly, but even though he¡¯d been half¨Cforced there by strangers<b>, </b>he <b>still </b>kept his manners and asked to leave in a calm, polite tone.

    When Alice walked in and <b>saw </b>this <b>scene</b>, her <b>heart </b>started pounding wildly again<b>, </bpletely out of <b>her </b>control.

    She thought, ¡®He looks <b>just </b>like him. How can two people in the world <b>be </b>this alike?

    ¡®From his aura to his <b>face</b><b>, </b>he <b>is </b>the spitting image of Xander from all those years <b>ago</b>!¡®

    Alice, unable to contain her <b>excitement</b><b>, </b><b>stepped </b>forward. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m <b>Alice</b>.¡±

    Kyler knew who she was, but still put on <b>a </b>slightly confused look. ¡°Hi, is <b>there </b>something you need from me?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± For a moment, Alice didn¡¯t know what to say. <b>She </b>wanted to blurt out that she wanted to keep him as <b>a </b>sugar baby, but was afraid she¡¯de off way too abruptly.

    Staring at his face, just as young as in her memories, she suddenly felt awkward. ¡®He¡¯s still so young, and I¡¯m already in my fifties¡­ she thought.

    <b>She </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>young </b>anymore, and <b>even </b>just starting a conversation <b>with </b>him felt <b>a </b><b>bit </b>presumptuous.

    <b>She </b>asked, ¡°I¡¯m the <b>owner </b>and chief <b>designer </b><b>of </b>Cloud <b>Design</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>fashion design brand. Your look and temperament fit. perfectly with the <b>theme </b><b>of </b>my <b>new </b><b>collection</b>. Would you be interested in being my model<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Kyler looked genuinely surprised. ¡°Sorry, I might not be able to give <b>you </b>an answer right now<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°That¡¯s alright. We <b>can </b><b>exchange </b><b>contact </b>info,¡± <b>Alice </b>said.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± Kyler looked a little hesitant.

    ¡°Here¡¯s my business card. If you¡¯re notfortable<b>, </b>you can alwayse to thepany to find me. Cloud Design has a studio in Rithol City, Alice added.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Kyler gave a faint, <b>gentle </b>smile. ¡°Let¡¯s keep in touch.¡±

 Tried 400

    <b>Chapter </b><b>400 </b>

    On the desk at Cloud Design, all of Kyler¡¯s information was neatly arranged.

    ¡°I hope you <b>have </b>nothing to do with Aubree,¡± Alice murmured.

    At the Inte Conference<b>, </b>Kyler had shown up right by Aubree¡¯s side, and Alice hadn¡¯t forgotten <b>that</b>.

    Meeting someone who looked and <b>even </b>carried themselves almost <b>exactly </b>like her lost beloved was certainly a joy, but no matter how happy she felt, she <b>still </b>had to be wary.

    She wondered if this <b>was </b><b>just </b>someone <b>else¡¯s </b>trap.

    Aubree knew that once Alice <b>saw </b>Kyler<b>, </b>she would definitely <b>start </b>digging into his background. If he turned out to be squeaky clean, that would be just <b>as </b>suspicious.

    Bringing Kyler in front of Alice was both a <b>way </b>to <b>test </b>her attitude and to intentionally leave <b>a </b>w for her to notice.

    ¡°An actor?¡± Alice was genuinely surprised to learn that Kyler <b>actually </b><b>came </b>from an acting background.

    so he went to thest Inte Conference with Birgitte,<b>¡± </b>Alice muttered. Kyler mainly worked in S¨¹dlichen Strand, where Birgitte was a rising star. She needed someone to boost her image <b>at </b>the event, and <b>Kyler¡¯s </b>agent had volunteered him for the job.

    Alice thought, <b>¡®</b><b>As </b>long <b>as </b>he has nothing to do with Aubree, it¡¯s fine. If <b>possible</b><b>, </b>I wish I could <b>have </b><b>a </b><b>¡°</b>Xander¡± who belonges to me alone.¡¯

    ¡°He was cklisted,¡± Alice murmured, her finger tapping on that part of the report. For her<b>, </b>this <b>was </b>good news.

    Over the next few weeks, Alice <b>used </b><b>her </b>personal ount to <b>reach </b>out to Kyler from time to time<b>, </b>asking if he was avable to model for her.

    Kyler turned her down every time, <b>just </b><b>as </b><b>Aubree </b>had instructed him to.

    *****

    Wilson Group, CEO¡¯s Office.

    Bryan pushed open the door and immediately <b>saw </b>Ronald sitting in his chair. ¡°<b>Dad</b>, what <b>are </b>you doing here<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Take a look at this,¡± Ronald said, gesturing to the report on the <b>desk</b>. It <b>was </b>a market research report on GrabCheap that he had asked the investment department to <b>prepare</b><b>. </b>

    What he had once had little faith in <b>had </b>now be a sensation in the entire <b>e</b><b>¨C</b><bmerce </b>market.

    ¡°This is the report on GrabCheap. Right now, <b>there </b><b>are </b>countless <b>investors</b><b>, </b><b>big </b>and small, watching its progress, hoping to profit from it,¡± Ronald said.

    He had also heard that GrabCheap <b>was </b><b>already </b>preparing <b>to </b><b>go </b>public.

    Thinking about all this, Ronald <b>felt </b>a <b>heavy </b><b>weight </b><b>settle </b>in his <b>chest</b><b>. </b>He thought, ¡®How long has Aubree been working on GrabCheap?

    ¡®From setting up a branch in S¨¹dlichen Strand,unching the project<b>, </b>and capturing the market<b>, </b>it has only been a little over a

    year.

    ¡®In such a short time, she <b>has </b><b>managed </b><b>to </b><b>create </b>an e<b>¨C</bmerce tform that took the whole industry by storm¨Cand now it is already about to go public.

    Bryan read through the report, <b>just </b><b>as </b>shocked. He¡¯d always thought of himself <b>as </b><b>a </b>business prodigy. Among his peers, the only one he¡¯d ever truly respected <b>was </b>Bowen. But now, looking <b>at </b>Aubree<b>, </b>he realized her abilities <b>were </b>way beyond his.

    He even thought, ¡®Aubree is still so young<b>, </b>and unlike us, she didn¡¯t rely on the family¡¯s foundation for her achievements. Maybe she¡¯s even more impressive than Bowen.

    ¡®If only we¡¯d treated Aubree better back then, maybe the Wilson family would have already surpassed the Turner family and be number one in Rithol City.¡¯

    <b>5:01 </b>PM

    <b>¡°</b>If only all <b>these </b>projects in Aubree¡¯s hands belonged to the <b>Wilson </b>Group,¡± Bryan murmured wistfully.

    Ronald felt a stab of regret at Bryan¡¯s words. Aubree <b>was </b>supposed to be his daughter and his pride.

    Ronald muttered bitterly, ¡°No point talking about it now. The <b>better </b>she does, the worse it is for us.

    ¡°We¡¯re teaming up with the Lawson Group<b>, </b>and <b>we¡¯ve </b>already messed with <b>a </b><b>few </b>of the Turner Group¡¯s projects. Bowen holds 30% of Bree Technology, making him <b>the </b>second¨Cbiggest shareholder. With stakes like that, we¡¯re bound to be rivals.¡±

    Bryan nodded.

    ¡°Let¡¯s throw <b>a </b>wrench in their ns. <b>No </b><b>way </b><b>we¡¯re </b>letting them have it so <b>easy</b><b>,</b>¡± Ronald said.

 Tried 401

    ¡°But Aubree¡¯s sharp¡­¡± <b>Bryan </b>frowned, thinking they might just end up shooting themselves in the foot if they weren¡¯t careful.

    Trevor¡¯s mess still wasn¡¯t sorted out, and if something else blew up for them at a time like this, they¡¯d be in even deeper trouble.

    <b>Ronald </b>let out a low chuckle. ¡°Who says trouble has to make a big <b>scene </b><b>to </b><b>count</b>? Who can really keep their hands clean, anyway?¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Bryan replied <b>with </b><b>a </b>nod.

    Not long after <b>the </b>new semester started, Aubree got a call from Nadio. It was from Sheldon. He said things on his end were almost wrapped up and asked when she¡¯d be avable to talk about the investment.

    Just let me know when your schedule¡¯s set, Mr. Kader. I¡¯m flexible, Aubree replied.

    Let¡¯s meet in S¨¹dlichen Strand. That¡¯s where the main GrabCheap team is, Kader suggested.

    ¡°<b>Sounds </b>good. See you then,¡± Aubree said before hanging <b>up</b>.

    <b>Just </b>as she hung up, another call came through.

    Aubree <b>arched </b>an eyebrow at the number. Thest time Sophia had called her, it was to say that Carmen wanted her to set up a meeting <b>and </b>find a way to frame Aubree for the baby.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Aubree answered.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, the Wilson family is starting to get impatient,¡± Sophia said.

    <b>Sophia </b><b>had </b><b>known </b>from the very beginning that there <b>was </b>almost no chance she¡¯d be able to keep the baby. The Wilson family would never ept her child in this condition, and the only thing this baby could bring her was money.

    She wanted more than just that.

    Ever since she set foot in the Wilson family, she¡¯d been stirring up trouble exactly as Aubree had instructed.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been waiting for,¡± Aubree <b>said</b>.

    ¡°Let Trevor know you¡¯reing <b>to </b><b>see </b>me first. Then take the medicine <b>and </b>make sure you get the timing right. As for the paparazzi, Trevor will <b>have </b>everything arranged,¡± Aubree <b>said</b>.

    <b>Sophia </b>replied, ¡°Okay.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, I¡¯ve kept <b>records </b>of everything between us. If I lose the baby and <b>don¡¯t </b>get what I want, then it mutually assured destruction. If I go down, I¡¯m taking <b>you </b>with me<b>,¡± </b>

    Aubree <b>raised </b><b>an </b>eyebrow. ¡°Sophia<b>, </b>I¡¯m <b>just </b>a businesswoman. You¡¯re the one making the <b>choices </b>here,

    ¡°Trust me, even if you try to expose me, <b>I¡¯ll </b>stille out just fine.¡±

    After everything that <b>had </b>happened, Sophia knew Aubree had plenty of tricks up her sleeve<b>, </b>and with Bowen backing her, Sophia didn¡¯t want to go head¨Cto¨Chead with her unless she absolutely had to.

    ¡°As <b>long </b>as I can marry <b>Trevor</b>, everyone will be happy,¡± <b>Sophia </b><b>said</b>.

    Tean only promise to help you marry Trevor, Aubree said. Whatever happened after the wedding <b>was </b>not her concern.

    ¡°I know,¡± Sophia replied.

    After hanging up, Aubree nced at her watch. ¡°Trevor, I hope you like the gift l¡¯in sending your way<b>, </b><b>she </b><b>thought </b>with a faint

    smile.

    Just <b>as </b><b>Aubree </b>had predicted, when Trevor found out Sophia was going to meet with Aubree, he became visibly <b>eager</b>.

    <b>8:22 </b>PM

    Determined to make it look like he had nothing to do with any of this, he even managed to <b>give </b>Sophia a rare friendly <b>smile </b><b>and </b>volunteered to go along with her.

    Sophia shed <b>a </b>sweet smile. While Trevor was distracted by his phone, she picked up the ss of water from the coffee table <b>and </b><b>swallowed </b>the pill hidden inside.

    Trevor didn¡¯t just reach out to the paparazzi. He also sent a message to someone else.

    Trevor texted: [Sophia¡¯s going to see Aubree today<b>. </b>Just in case, you shoulde <b>too</b>.

    [Once the baby¡¯s gone and the media pressure dies down, I can be with you again. I¡¯ll make sure Aubree takes the me, and <b>you </b><b>stay </b>out of it.

    [You¡¯ll help me, right?]

    Once everything was in <b>ce</b>, Trevor didn¡¯t even bother bringing a driver. He drove Sophia to the meeting spot, his excitement <b>practically </b>written all over his face.

    ¡®Carmen finally did something right for <b>once</b>!¡® Trevor thought <b>to </b>himself.

    He waspletely oblivious to the <b>venomous </b>re Sophia shot him from the back seat. Trevor, <b>I </b>used to love you so much, but look at what you¡¯ve done to me, she thought bitterly.

    0

 Tried 402

    Aubree had picked <b>a </b>high¨Cend dessert shop for their meeting, choosing a seat by the window<b>. </b>

    Trevor came in with his arm around Sophia, and before they <b>arrived</b>, Aubree had already scoped out the <b>ce</b>.

    There weren¡¯t many people inside¨Cmostly executives from nearbypanies having a snack. Of course, there were also <b>a </b>few people who were clearly nted there on purpose.

    For example, <b>two </b><b>paparazzi </b>were sitting diagonally in front of Aubree, sneaking nces her way every <b>so </b>often. In addition, a woman in a mask and sunsses <b>was </b>sitting behind her.

    The hatred in that woman¡¯s eyes was <b>so </b>obvious that even the sunsses couldn¡¯t hide it. It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out who she

    <b>was</b>.

    Aubree smirked to herself and thought, ¡®Funny how that hatred suddenly switched targets the moment Trevor walked in.

    ¡®Guess Trevor let her out before making sure she was under control.

    What do you want to eat?¡± Trevor asked.

    ¡°Just a ss of juice, please. I¡¯m pregnant, so there are some things I can¡¯t eat,¡± Sophia replied.

    Aubree nodded understandingly.

    ¡°Just say it. what do you want from me? Why did <b>you </b>ask me out?¡± Aubree said bluntly.

    ¡°Come on, Aubree, don¡¯t be so frosty. After all, we¡¯re basically your brother and sister¨Cinw now,¡± Trevor said with azy grin.

    Honestly, with a face like his, even a random expression would <b>look </b>like a magazine cover.

    Sophia said sincerely. ¡°Ms. Miller, Trevor told me you <b>were </b>the <b>one </b>who helped me before. I wanted to meet you today to <b>thank </b>you in person.

    ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for you, I probably would¡¯ve already decided to get rid of this baby.¡±

    Trevor <b>gave </b><b>a </b>smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Yeah, if it weren¡¯t for you, my sweet little sister, I wouldn¡¯t even know I <b>was </b>going to be a dad.

    Aubree frowned, making it clear she wasn¡¯t here to y nice. ¡°Seriously, Trevor, are you putting on <b>a </b>show <b>for </b>us <b>now</b>?

    ¡°Or is it just impossible for you to stop acting, even off¨Cset? You know better <b>than </b><b>anyone </b>whether you actually <b>want </b>to thank <b>mne </b>or just wish I¡¯d drop dead.¡±

    Trevor said, looking sincerely grateful, ¡°Come on, Aubree, you¡¯re really breaking my heart here. No matter what, we¡¯re family.

    ¡°After spending time with Sophia, I finally get what it feels like to have a real home. I mean it. I really do want to thank you.¡±

    He looked genuinely <b>thankful</b>.

    Trevor knew exactly what annoyed Aubree the most. Sure enough, <b>she </b><b>stood </b>up, just <b>as </b><b>impatient </b>as he expected.

    <b>She </b>snapped, ¡°<b>What </b><b>a </b>waste of time!

    ¡°If modern medicine could pull it off, I¡¯d <b>swap </b>out all my blood in a heartbeat. You really think I want to <b>share </b><b>the </b><b>same </b>parents as you?¡°

    As Aubree made to leave, Trevor immediately stood up and stepped in front of her, blocking her way

    Sophia, who had been sitting beside him, quickly followed suit, reaching out to try and hold Aubree back. ¡°Ms. Miller, please don¡¯t be upsel¡­

    As they had nned, Aubree <b>would </b>pull her hand away from Sophia, and right at that moment¨Ceven if <b>Sophia </b>didn¡¯t want it

    -Milena would <b>rush </b>over and bump into Aubree, <b>causing </b>Sophia to be shoved into the edge of the table.

    And just like Trevor had predicted, everything unfolded exactly <b>as </b>nned.

    Aubree yanked her <b>hand </b>free from Sophia¡¯s grip, but in that instant, a woman suddenly burst out from diagonally behind her, lunging straight at Trevor,

    ¡°Go to hell, Trevor. You destroyed my family. I must¡¯ve been fucking blind to ever fall for your¡± the woman screamed,

    Milena, now without her sses and mask, <b>red </b>at Trevor with venomous hatred,

    Caught off guard, Trevor stumbled into Sophia. He was so close that when they collided, Sophia took the <b>full </b>brunt of the impact right to her stomach.

    Blood appeared instantly between her legs.

    ¡°My stomach. It hurts so much!¡± Sophia clutched her stomach, sweat beading on her forehead as she copsed to the floor, <b>her </b>face pale as a ghost.

    Milena froze for a split second at the scene, then burst outughing like a maniac. ¡°This is all karma! Trevor, you just killed your child with your <b>own </b>hands.¡±

    Milena¡¯s words snapped Trevor back to reality, and his face instantly went ghostly pale. He thought, ¡®I hit Sophia? She lost the baby?

 Tried 403

    Chapter <b>403 </b>

    For a moment, his mind just short¨Ccircuited. He <b>stood </b>there in <b>a </b>daze, staring at Milena,pletely unable to process how the woman who always did whatever he wanted could suddenly stab him in the back like this.

    Sophia¡¯s pain <b>was </b>all too real. ¡°It hurts. Get me to the hospital now!¡±

    Trevor couldn¡¯t care about anything else at this point. All he could think about <b>was </b><b>saving </b>the baby. This was supposed to be his chance to pin everything on Aubree, but now it looked like he was the one getting screwed over.

    He thought he <b>had </b>everything under control. To make sure Aubree couldn¡¯t pull any tricks, he¡¯d arranged for paparazzi to stream the whole thing live.

    ¡°I¡¯ll <b>drive </b>you to the hospital, Aubree offered, a look of sympathy flickering <b>across </b>her face as she nced at Sophia.

    Trevor didn¡¯t hesitate. He just picked Sophia up and got into the car<b>. </b>

    As for <b>Milena</b>, she was long gone the moment she saw no one was watching her. <b>She </b>wasn¡¯t dumb, with <b>Sophia¡¯s </b>miscarriage tied to her, if Trevor decided to go after her, she could easily end up in jail.

    She <b>had </b>nothing left now, <b>so </b><b>she </b>was determined to make sure Trevor suffered right along with her.

    Meanwhile, the viewers watching the live stream werepletely stunned.

    They¡¯d been drawn in by the headline about Trevor being spotted at a dessert shop with Sophia.

    Ever since Sophiast made an appearance in the public eye, the only glimpses they¡¯d gotten of her were the asional photos Trevor posted on his <b>social </b>media. But they had no <b>idea </b>what <b>was </b>really going on behind the scenes.

    They thought they¡¯d get to <b>see </b>what Trevor and Sophia were really like together in private, but instead, they just witnessed Sophia have a miscarriage <b>live</b>, on <b>camera</b>.

    Everyone was freaking out as they wondered what was going <b>on</b>.

    A personmented in the <b>chat</b>: [Something¡¯s really weird about all <b>this</b>.]

    Another wrote: <b>[</b>Whoa, wait! Wasn¡¯t <b>that </b><b>woman </b>Milena from the Yurchenko family? That whole family is a walking disaster. Even with only her left, she still has toe out and mess things up?]

    Someone elsemented: [Sophia got it so rough. So she just lost her baby like that?]

    A person wrote: [Is it just me<b>, </b>or is Trevor acting super weird? He doesn¡¯t look sad about <b>the </b>baby at all. He just looks terrified.]

    Someone else wrote: [Come on, get <b>a </b>grip. Did you not see the way Trevor was looking at Sophia just now? He was totally looking forward to this baby, okay?

    (Can we <b>stop </b>with the <b>conspiracy </b>theories <b>about </b>my boy! His kid¡¯s gone¨Cof course, he¡¯s <b>scared</b>! Does he have to bawl his eyes out for you to believe it¡¯s <b>real</b>?)

    The live chat was <b>instantly </b>taken over by Trevor¡¯s fans. Anyone who dared to question him got <b>absolutely </b>dragged and med by the fandom.

    Trevor, who had just arrived at the hospital, <b>had </b>no idea what was happening online, and he didn¡¯t have the time to care.

    Sophia had already passed <b>out </b>from the pain in his arms<b>. </b>All he could think about now <b>was </b>how to shift the <b>me </b>for this whole mess onto someone else.

    As he calmed down, his mind started to clear. Losing the baby wasn¡¯t <b>necessarily </b>a bad thing. Even if it <b>was </b>somehow his <b>fault</b>, he could still y the victim.

    Plus, this <b>was </b>the perfect <b>chance </b>to get rid of <b>Sophia </b>for good. He just felt too <b>bad </b>that he hadn¡¯t managed to get Aubree in trouble.

    8:22 PM d

    Sophia was rushed into the operating room, and Trevor slumped onto <b>a </b>bench outside, while Aubree stood nearby, keeping her distance.

    Trevor pulled out his phone to check, and sure enough, the inte was blowing up with news about Sophia¡¯s iniscarriage.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the patient¡¯s family?¡± a doctor called

    ¡°I¡¯m the baby¡¯s father¡­ <b>Trevor </b>said while getting to his feet

    The doctor shot <b>him </b>a <b>quick</b>, surprised look. ¡°The baby couldn¡¯t be saved. We need to do a procedure to clear her uterus. Please sign <b>here</b>.

    ¡°Also, we detected traces of abortion drugs in her system. Did you know about this?¡±

    Trevor¡¯s mind, which had just started to clear, was thrown into chaos again. He thought, ¡®Abortion drugs?

    ¡°What the hell does that <b>even </b>mean?

    He signed the papers in a daze, then suddenly<b>, </b><b>a </b>realization hit him hard. He spun around and shot Aubree a murderous re ¡°You and that fucking bitch Sophia set me up, <b>didn¡¯t </b>you?¡±

    What are you even talking about, Trevor? I really don¡¯t get what you mean.¡± Aubree just gave him <b>a </b>calm, knowing smile.

    <b>AD </b>

    Comment

 Tried 404

    Trevor was so angry he could practically cough up blood. If that medical report about the abortion pills got leaked, he knew that <b>no </b>one would ever believe <b>Sophia </b><b>took </b>them willingly

    He thought, ¡®Damn it, I have crushed into her <b>just </b>now, and now it would look like I didn¡¯t want the baby and had pressured Sophia into taking the abortion pills.

    <b>¡®</b><b>Aubree </b>definitely wouldn¡¯t let this opportunity slip by. She¡¯d for sure pay to have the media drag my name through the mud.

    ¡®No wonder Sophia agreed so quickly to betray Aubree. Turns out, she was ying me from the start, using my moves against

    <b>mel</b><b>¡® </b>

    Trevor red at Aubree, his eyes full of malice. ¡°<b>What </b>did you promise Sophia? What could possibly make her <b>willing </b>to go through an abortion just to <b>side </b>with you?¡±

    I have no i

    idea

    <b>a </b>what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Aubree said, putting on an innocent face.

    Trevor gritted his teeth and thought, ¡®Does Aubree really think she¡¯s won? She probably never expected Milena to show up. Lucky for me that woman¡¯s still around!¡±

    <b>Just </b>thinking about Milena betraying him made his blood boil. Since she imed she loved him so much, Trevor decided to have her take the me for this whole mess.

    He <b>said</b>, ¡°Aubree, don¡¯t think you can take me down with this. We¡¯ll see whoes out on top.

    He <b>thought</b>, ¡®Who <b>does </b><b>she </b><b>think </b>I am<b>? </b>I¡¯m Trevor Wilson, the uncrowned king of showbiz. If she <b>thinks </b>these cheap tricks can bring me down, she¡¯s just delusional.

    He wasn¡¯t <b>about </b>to let Aubree or Sophia off the hook.

    Trevor couldn¡¯t hide <b>his </b>irritation, but with Sophia still in surgery, he had no choice but to stay put. The hospital was probably crawling with reporters camped outside, waiting for any news.

    Aubree let out <b>a </b>careless snort. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s see just how impressive your skills really are

    Trevor had to face the reporters and, even if it was all for show, stick around the hospital with Sophia. But Aubree didn¡¯t have to bother with any <b>of </b>that.

    As for her, she could just eat, sleep, and go about her day as nothing happened.

    Aubree let a sly smile <b>tug </b>at her lips. She really hadn¡¯t expected Milena to show up out of the blue. She knew that Milena was probably set up by Trevor, and at first, she was probably after Aubree.

    But in the end, Milena actually targeted Trevor instead. Aubree couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit amused at the twist.

    <b>Guys </b>like Trevor, <b>who </b>yed <b>with </b>women<b>, </b>always had to pay the price. He didn¡¯t understand women <b>at </b>all, but Aubree knew there was no way <b>a </b><b>woman </b>with nothing left to lose would stop after simply <b>running </b>into <b>him</b>.

    <b>As </b><b>soon </b><b>as </b>Aubree stepped out of the hospital, <b>she </b>was instantly surrounded by paparazzi.

    ¡°Are <b>you </b>Aubree Miller? <b>Miss </b>Miller<b>, </b>is it <b>true </b>that Sophia had a <b>miscarriage</b><b>?</b>¡± one of them called out.

    Another reporter asked, ¡°Miss <b>Miller</b>, what¡¯s the situation inside the hospital right now? Earlier at the dessert <b>shop</b>, it looked like <b>you </b>and Trevor <b>had </b>some kind of argument.

    ¡°<b>You </b>seemned to end up dragging Sophia into ft. Do you have anything to say about that?¡±

    ¡°Do <b>you </b>think, like people are saying online, that Trevor set this up on purpose?¡± a third chimed in.

    <b>Aubree </b>was directly involved in <b>Sophia¡¯s </b>sudden miscarriage. Since Trevor <b>was </b>already on the losing side, <b>Aubree </b>decided <b>that </b>there was no point in <b>saying </b>anything to the reporters. She had more tricks up her sleeve. She felt that the more she said, the more likely she was going to slip up.

    <b>She </b>kept a polite smile on her face. ¡°Sorry<b>, </b>I <b>really </b>don¡¯t know what you¡¯re <b>talking </b>about. I <b>was </b>just ying the <b>good </b><b>Samaritan</b>,

    0-2 PM

    <b>giving </b>someone a ride to the hospital.

    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve got things to do. My boyfriend¡¯s here to pick me up.¡±

    Bowen <b>had </b>already arrived and parked his car in a shadowy corner. When he <b>saw </b>Aubree surrounded by reporters, he got out with Ethan and Samson.

    ¡°Ready to go?¡± he asked, shooting a nce at the reporters. Every reporter in <b>Rithol </b>City knew exactly who he was.

    The reporters let out a few awkward sighs and hurried to clear a path.

    They knew perfectly well who they could mess with and who was way out of their league.

    ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°All good, just like we nned, Aubree replied with a casual shrug.

    ¡°This alone isn¡¯t enough to take Trevor down, is it?¡± Bowen asked, tilting his head to look at her.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she smiled like a sly fox, a glint of calction shing in her gaze.

    Bowen¡¯s <b>Adam¡¯s </b>apple bobbed as he swallowed. He <b>was </b>absolutely smitten with how clever she looked <b>right </b>now.

    <b>AD </b>

 Tried 405

    Aubree said, ¡°Obviously, this isn¡¯t the only thing I¡¯ve <b>got </b>nned. Oh, by the way, I¡¯ve got a ss reunioning up in a few <b>days</b>.

    She didn¡¯t <b>really </b><b>hang </b>out with her ssmates much, but since they were all from Rithol University, it never hurt to build

    more connections

    Maybe one of them would end up as her trusted right¨Chand or even a business <b>partner </b>someday

    Ever since her birthday, she¡¯d basically been living at Ellis Heights. If Bowen was out of town on business <b>and </b>she was toozy

    go back there alone, she¡¯d just <b>crash </b>at her own apartment instead.

    ¡°Alright, just give me <b>a </b>call when it¡¯s time, and I¡¯lle pick you up,¡± Bowen said.

    Trevor was surprisingly patient. Instead of rushing to clear his name, he <b>stayed </b>by Sophia¡¯s side the whole time.

    He got caught on camera.

    The reporters camped out at the hospital entrance snapped pictures of him looking rough. He was unshaven, with bloodshot eyes that clearly showed he hadn¡¯t been sleeping well.

    A personmented online: [Oh my god, is that really Trevor? He looks so worn out!]

    Another person wrote: [<b>Those </b>trolls online are really too much. Trevor¡¯s just as heartbroken about losing the baby as anyone else!]

    A third personmented: [I live near the hospital, and for the past few days, I¡¯ve seen Trevoring out to buy food that¡¯s supposed to be good for women recovering from a miscarriage. He¡¯s really looking <b>after </b><b>her</b>.]

    Someone else wrote: [Damn, my heart aches for <b>you</b>, man!]

    No matter what, good¨Clooking people would always look good in any condition Trevor wasn¡¯t even really a mess. He was just putting on a sad act, but he still looked every bit the star he was supposed to be.

    His whole ¡°<b>ying </b>the victim¡± move totally worked. The online hate against him flipped almost instantly.

    Then, Trevor¡¯s studio released a statement saying that, due to some personal issues, he was putting all business activities on hold for now. Still, out of consideration for his fans and the media, he <b>would </b><b>agree </b>to do a single interview.

    Aubree thought to herself, ¡®Pretty <b>clever</b>,

    ¡°Retreat to advance, <b>huh</b>? Trevor really <b>knows </b><b>how </b>to pull <b>a </b>slick move.

    She nced at thetest news, a cold smile tugging at her <b>lips</b>,

    On camera, Trevor had tidied himself up a little, but the bloodshot eyes <b>and </b>dark circles <b>under </b>them were still painfully obvious. The reporters interviewing him couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of <b>sympathy</b>.

    ¡°<b>Trevor</b>, sometimes you <b>just </b><b>have </b>to let things go,¡± one of them <b>said </b>softly.

    He <b>gave </b>a <b>faint</b>, bitter smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. <b>Ask </b>me <b>anything </b>you want.¡±

    The reporters<b>, </b>who¡¯de hoping for an <b>exclusive </b>scoop, suddenly hesitated. Any question they asked now would just be twisting the knife in Trevor¡¯s wounds. They felt that someone as perfect <b>as </b><b>him </b>shouldn¡¯t have to go through <b>this</b>.

    Thevor said, ¡°Not going to <b>ask </b>anything? Guess I¡¯ll <b>just </b><b>say </b>a few words myself, then.

    ¡°I <b>know </b>what the inte¡¯s <b>saying </b>right now¨Cpeople <b>are </b>specting that I set up Sophia¡¯s miscarriage on purpose, that 1 dragged her to meet Aubree even though everyone knows Aubree and I don¡¯t get along.

    ¡°<b>Since </b>Milena likes me, people suspect <b>that </b>it must¡¯ve been me who arranged for her to show up <b>too</b>.

    ¡°Yeah, bute on- -do you really think I¡¯m that dumb? It was Sophia who wanted to meet Aubree in the first ce. I only tagged along because I know Aubree isn¡¯t exactly my biggest <b>fan</b>.

    ¡°I was worried something might go wrong. Besides, Aubree¡¯s still my sister. She¡¯s the baby¡¯s aunt, after all.¡±

    He paused for a moment and let out a long sigh. ¡°Milena was honestly thest person I expected to turn on me.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t know the Yurchenko family would end up like that. Our families did have some connections¨Cyou could tell from our previous investments.

    <b>¡°</b><b>But </b>we never expected them to turn out like that. As for Milena, I really think she¡¯s innocent. She¡¯s always been a fan of mine, <b>so </b>I just tried to <b>help </b>her out and brought <b>her </b>over to Rithol City to look after her

    Online, people were saying Milena was someone Trevor had <b>nted </b>himself. The main reason for that rumor was that Milcha <b>was </b>supposed to be in S¨¹dlichen Strand. It was unknown how she suddenly showed up in Rithol City <b>and </b>knew exactly where Trevor was.

    He was basically clearing that up now.

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b><b>never </b>saw thising, I really didn¡¯t¡­ Trevor¡¯s voice was choked with emotion, and the reporter from earlier looked <b>at </b>him, eyes brimming with sympathy and heartache.

    Just when Trevor thought <b>the </b>interview was about to wrap up smoothly, a sudden voice broke the <b>silence</b>.

    ¡°Trevor, how do you exin the fact that it was actually abortion pills that <b>caused </b>Sophia¡¯s miscarriage?¡± the voice demanded.

    22

 Tried 406

    ¡°Trevor, how do you exin the fact that Sophia took an abortion drug?¡± The words exploded in the room.

    The words exploded in the room.

    Trevor froze for a second before thinking. ¡®Haven¡¯t I already buried this news? Besides, everyone here today have <i>b </i>

    prepped

    ¡°Trevor, can you answer my question?¡± the reporter pressed <b>again</b>.

    ¡°1¡­¡± Trevor forced himself to stay calm. He felt lucky that he¡¯d been looking so haggardtely to y the victim. No one could see through <b>him </b>at <b>that </b>moment.

    ¡°All I can say is, I didn¡¯t know anything about this at first. I¡¯m looking into it now, <b>and </b>I¡¯ll let everyone know as soon as I find out anything,¡± he said.

    The reporter who¡¯d brought up the abortion drug clearly wasn¡¯t going to let him off the hook. ¡°Really? Well, I hope you¡¯re not trying to cover anything up, Trevor. We¡¯re all pretty concerned about this.¡±

    Trevor¡¯s expression darkened as he nced at the reporter¡¯s badge. He let <b>out </b>a bitterugh. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out like <b>this</b>. <b>Maybe </b>Sophia¡­

    He trailed off, and his assistant, Joey Reed, stepped <b>in </b>at just the right moment. Trevor, Sophia¡¯s about to <b>go </b>in for her check- up.

    Trevor looked at the reporters apologetically, ¡°Sorry, but we¡¯ll have to wrap this up here.¡±

    Once the reporters were gone, Trevor¡¯s face turned stormy. ¡°Who let in ¡®FunBuzz Entertainment?¡±

    ¡°FunBuzz Entertainment? Never heard of them,¡± Joey replied.

    Trevor frowned. He¡¯d thought it was <b>just </b>some random tabloid trying to dig up dirt, or maybe someone got bribedst. minute. He never expected someone had just crashed the event

    ¡°Find out who they are, Trevor ordered. His mind immediately jumped to Aubree.

    Only the hospital, Trevor, Sophia, and Aubree knew about the abortion drug. The hospital would never leak a patient¡¯s privacy, and <b>Sophia </b>was stuck in bed all day. He¡¯d confiscated all her devices and even had someone watching her. There was no way it could be her.

    So Trevor felt that it could only be Aubree.

    Trevor¡¯s eyes flickered. So this is the card she kept up her sleeve?

    He¡¯d been suspicious before, but now Trevor was certain that Sophia had already taken the abortion drug before she even went to see <b>Aubree</b>.

    Damn, she really went for the jugr. Sophia¡¯s <b>such </b><b>a </b>fool to trust Aubree that much. Without the baby, what makes her <b>think </b>I¡¯ll still spoil her? he thought.

    He had no <b>intention </b>of finding out how Sophia ended up taking the abortion drug. Even if he couldn¡¯t figure it out, it didn¡¯t matter. The important <b>thing </b>was <b>making </b>sure the me <b>didn¡¯t </bnd on him.

    Trevor lowered his gaze to his phone, staring at the chat with Milena. She hadn¡¯t replied to any of his messages since that day.

    <b>¡°</b>So you¡¯re just going to ignore me, huh?¡® he thought while smirking.

    Meanwhile, the reporter who grilled Trevor <b>about </b><b>Sophia¡¯s </b>abortion drug pulled his baseball <b>cap </b>low <b>and </b>walked over to a car.

    The window rolled down, revealing Aubree¡¯s face.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, I did exactly <b>what </b>you told me to do,¡± the reporter said.

    ¡°Nice work. The money¡¯s in your ount. You <b>know </b><b>what </b>to do when the interview goes public, right?¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°Of course. We¡¯re pros, the reporter replied confidently.

    The <b>interview </b>dropped the <b>question </b>that night, FunBuzz Entertainment, bankrolled by Carr Group and based in Rithol City, <b>was </b>famous for <b>asking </b><b>the </b>wildest <b>questions </b><b>and </b>never being afraid of getting into trouble.

    If things ever got too messy, they¡¯d just rebrand ande back from the dead. After all, their boss was loaded, and with all the hot gossip they broke, they never lost out on a scoop.

    The news <b>that </b><b>Sophia </b>had miscarried because of an abortion drug set off <b>an </b>absolute shitstorm.

    A person wrote online: [No way, is there <b>really </b><b>another </b>plot twist?

    Another person asked: I thought it was either Trevor scheming or Milena being jealous. Who would¡¯ve thought Sophia took, the abortion drug? <b>What </b>on <b>earth </b><b>was </b><b>she </b>thinking?l

    A <b>third</b>¨Cpersonmented: [it¡¯s <b>not </b>like Sophia took the drug willingly, right?

    Someone else asked. [Who can really say what goes on in <b>those </b>rich families? For all we know, Trevor could¡¯ve made Sophia take the drug just to frame Aubree.]

    Thement section was at each other¡¯s throats again

    AD

 Tried 407

    Trevor had been ready for this. As <b>soon </b>as the interview dropped, he released a statement

    He didn¡¯t mention the abortion drug at all. Instead, he just said that Milena was now suspected of intentionally trying to harm Sophia, and that he couldn¡¯t reach her anymore.

    On the surface, he wasn¡¯t <b>ming </b>anyone, but it was obvious he was subtly hinting that Milena had gone on the run out of guilt.

    There were things Trevor couldn¡¯t say himself, but that didn¡¯t mean his fans couldn¡¯t do the talking for him

    Joey had already reached out to a few top fan leaders behind the scenes to get the ball rolling.

    As soon as Trevor and his studio put out their statement, those <b>fan </b>leaders rallied everyone in the group chats to flood thement sections, steering the conversation so all the me for Sophia¡¯s <b>miscarriage </bnded squarely on Milena

    Given <b>everything </b>that <b>had </b>happened before, it wasn¡¯t hard for people to believe Milena could do something like this. The: onlookers bought it without a second thought

    Aubree didn¡¯t lose any sleep over it. Pinning everything on Milena was the fastest way for Trevor to get himself out of this mess. Milena did push Sophia, and her intention to make her miscarry was just too obvious. There was no way to clear her

    name.

    She was curious to see what <b>Milena </b>would do next.

    She felt <b>that </b>the more Trevor tried to y the innocent victim now, the juicier the plot twist would be when the truth finally

    came out

    For now, she wasn¡¯t paying much attention to the drama online. Soon enough, it was time for the ss reunion. This was their first group gathering. When Aubree walked into the private room, all four round tables were nearly full. She only recognized a

    few ssmates.

    ¡°Hey, Aubree¡¯s here!¡± someone suddenly called out.

    She heard her name and looked over in the direction of the voice.

    Gresham Roffe was waving her over.

    They¡¯d even saved her a seat.

    Aubree <b>wasn¡¯t </b>just an ordinary person. She was the CEO of Bree Technology. Everyone here was from the finance department, <b>and </b>in their <b>eyes</b>, she was basically a walking gold mine. Getting on her good side was definitely <b>a </b>smart move.

    She got roped into drinking way more <b>than </b>she wanted. With so many finance guys around, the table was a nonstop blur of <b>toasts </b><b>and </b>clinking sses. Aubree <b>was </b>starting to feel like she couldn¡¯t keep up.

    By the second half of the dinner, her head <b>was </b><b>already </b>spinning. Not everyone there <b>was </b>loaded<b>, </b><b>so </b>the ce they¡¯d picked <b>was </b><b>just </b><b>mediocre</b>, and the booze was the cheap kind that would get people drunk very soon.

    She braced herself on the table and stood up, nning to step out <b>for </b><b>some </b><b>air</b>.

    ¡°Hey, Aubree, where are <b>you </b><b>going</b><b>?</b>¡® <b>Gresham </b>reached out, <b>blocking </b>her path.

    He had nned this dinner, and he¡¯d put a lot of effort into the seating arrangements.

    <b>Everyone </b>at Aubree¡¯s table was close to him. In his mind, there was nothing that couldn¡¯t be sorted out over a meal.

    He¡¯d recently started a project with a few <b>ssmates </b>and was <b>hoping </b>to use this chance to rope Aubree into investing. He <b>hadn¡¯t </b>even gotten to pitch it yet, and now <b>she </b><b>was </b><b>about </b>to <b>leave</b>.

    ¡°I¡¯m feeling dizzy. I need to go outside <b>and </b>sober up a bit,¡± Aubree <b>said</b>.

    022 PM <b>? </b>?

    With that, she ignored Gresham¡¯s attempt to stop her, brushed past him, and left the private room.

    She wasn¡¯t clueless. Gresham had been the ringleader pushing drinks her way, and he kept bringing up some project he wanted her to take <b>a </b>look at.

    He said it was just for her <b>opinion</b>, but she could see right through him. What he really wanted was to get her tipsy enough to say yes to investing before she even knew <b>what </b>hit <b>her</b><b>. </b>

    Aubree grimaced at the bitter taste in her mouth and stuck out her tongue. The <b>crowd </b>inside was already pretty hammered, and it didn¡¯t look like they¡¯d be slowing down anytime soon. If she didn¡¯t slip out now, she¡¯d end up getting totally wasted right along with them.

    She pulled out her phone as she walked. It was gettingte, and Bowen had a dinner party tonight.

    She called Vincent.

    ¡°Hey, yeah. Can youe pick me up?<b>¡± </b>Aubree said into the phone.

    Aubree¡¯s vision doubled for a <b>second</b>. As she carefully sidestepped people passing by, she suddenly crashed right into

    someone¡¯s arms.

    E

    <b>AD </b>

 Tried 408

    Aubree¡¯s vision swam with double images. She couldn¡¯t even tell who she¡¯d bumped into. Instinctively, she staggered back, trying to dodge away.

    But a pair of warm, big hands reached out and pulled her straight into a broad embrace.

    ¡°How much <b>did </b>you <b>drink</b>? You¡¯re totally wasted. <b>You </b>reek of alcohol and smell awful now,¡± Bowen teased,

    Aubree had to attend business socials <b>these </b>days, and she could usually hold her liquor pretty well.

    Bowen rarely saw her <b>this </b><b>drunk</b>. He lowered his voice, speaking right by her ear, his tone soft <b>and </b>lingering¨Clike <b>a </b>feather brushing across her heart, making her feel all fluttery and ticklish inside.

    Aubree hummed softly, forcing her eyes open to focus on the person in front of her. Then, she suddenly <b>broke </b>into <b>a </b>wide grin. ¡°What are you doing here? Didn¡¯t you say you had a dinner party tonight?¡±

    ¡°Dinner party? <b>Please</b>, <b>nothing¡¯s </b>more important than <b>picking </b>up my girlfriend,¡± Bowen replied with a grin.

    Bowen snorted inwardly. As far as he was concerned, ss reunion sounded like code for <b>a </b>singles mixer packed with outstanding young people all trying to <b>hit </b>on his <b>smart</b>, gorgeous girlfriend.

    Aubree had no idea what was going on in <b>his </b><b>mind</b>. She¨Ctilted her face up, letting herself snuggle against him without <b>a </b>care.

    Her cheeks were <b>tinged </b>with an unnatural blush under the lights, <b>and </b>she wore a goofy, happy smile, blinking up at him with pure, innocent eyes.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, you¡¯re really the best, aren¡¯t you?¡± she slurred sweetly.

    She was really driving him crazy.

    Bowen gritted his teeth, thinking, ¡°How does she look so cute? She¡¯s just <b>so </b>adorable!

    He narrowed his eyes, unable to hold back. Leaning down<b>, </b>he pressed a kiss to her lips, the spicy tang of alcohol on her <b>breath</b><b>. </b>transferring right to <b>him</b>.

    ¡°I¡¯m only this good to you,¡± he whispered.

    ¡°Keady to go home?¡± Bowen gently gathered her into his arms, holding her close like a dragon who had finally found his one and only treasure.

    He carefully tucked her under <b>his </b>ws to take her back to hisir<b>, </b>where he could keep her safe and cherished

    Ethan and Samson stood <b>not </b>far away, watching as Bowen¡¯s face turned so <b>soft </b>and mushy it was almost enough to give them a toothache.

    They couldn¡¯t help but roll their eyes, <b>thinking</b>, ¡°Wasn¡¯t this the <b>same </b>guy who swore he <b>was </b>just looking after Aubree like she was his sister? He even said there was <b>no </b>way he¡¯d ever make a move on a sweet girl like her. Yeah, right

    Honestly, Alvin really did have foresight. He <b>always </b>knew Bowen, just didn¡¯t know how <b>to </b>act like a normal person.

    <b>Aubree </b>reached up and gave his <b>face </b><b>a </b>good squish, pinching and kneading Bowen¡¯s handsome features however she liked. Only after thoroughly messing up his face with her fingers did she finally confirm it was really <b>him</b>.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s Bowen. Then I¡¯ll go home with you, she mumbled, sounding both <b>silly </b>andpletely <b>trusting</b>.

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help but <bugh </b>and <b>shake </b>his head. ¡®She¡¯s just <b>too </b>cute. Even <b>drunk </b>like this, she still has to <b>make </b><b>sure </b>it¡¯s really me he <b>thought </b>

    His heart skipped a beat<b>. </b>Unable to hold <b>back </b><b>any </b>longer, he swept her up into his <b>arms </b><b>and </b>hurried away, Ethan and <b>Samson </b>scrambled to <b>catch </b>up.

    <b>None </b>of them noticed that, not far away<b>, </b>a pair of eyes was fixated on their every <b>move</b>, <b>staring </b>daggers <b>at </b>the <b>couple</b>.

    Why does Aubree get to be so lucky? Lilia Farnell seethed inwardly, a sh of jealousy and bitterness flickering in her eyes.

    <b>1/2 </b>

    Ìï

 Tried 409

    ¡°Of course, I do. Aubree replied. She liked how good Bowen <b>was </b>to her, how he always took her side no matter what, never caring about right or wrong as long as it concerned <b>her</b>. She liked <b>how </b>handsome he was<b>, </b>and how great his body was.

    For some reason, she suddenly let out a silly little giggle, tilting her face up with a bright grin. ¡°Bowen, I like you.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s heart turned to mush

    ¡°How about a kiss?¡± he asked in a low, teasing voice. They were both always busy, <b>and </b>even though they¡¯d been together for a while, Bowen could feel that he was always the one putting in more effort. Bree just let him love her<b>, </b>never really taking the initiative herself.

    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t like him. Compared to how much he liked her, it never felt quite enough.

    Bowen was greedy by nature. Once he got a taste, he only wanted more. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t dare push his luck, but tonight, she was drunk.

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help but grin. Every single time Bree got drunk, she always got ridiculously bold.

    This time was no exception.

    Aubree shifted her arms from his waist to around his neck, sitting <b>up </b>and whining sweetly, ¡°Lower your head for me, I can¡¯t reach

    Bowen chuckled softly <b>and </b>obediently leaned down toward her.

    Maybe it was the alcohol, but Aubree¡¯s mouth felt parched. Before she could kiss him, she leaned in and, just like a kittenpping at water, softly licked the corner of Bowen¡¯s lips repeatedly.

    Bowen had just meant to tease her a little, thinking at most she¡¯d give him a couple of quick pecks. He never saw this <bing- </b>His throat went dry, and the wild beast inside <b>him</b>, already straining at its cage, finally broke free.

    Who taught you to kiss me like that?¡± Bowen murmured, <b>his </b>voice low and rough as he cupped the back of her head and broke the kiss, his eyes going dark.

    Aubree blinked up at him, confusion written all over her face. ¡°Did it not feel good?¡±

    Bowen didn¡¯t bother answering with words. He showed her exactly how <b>good </b>it felt with his actions.

    The car¡¯s partition <b>had </b>been raised already. By the time they pulled up to Ellis Heights, Ethan and Samson hadn¡¯t even had at chance to get out and open the door for Bowen when they heard a low, rough voice from inside. ¡°Get out.¡±

    Their spines tingled at the tone<b>, </b><b>and </b>they quickly scrambled out of the car,

    They <b>had </b>no idea how long they¡¯d been <b>waiting </b>when the back door of the car finally opened. The first thing they saw was <b>pair </b>of long legs <b>in </b>sharp <b>suit </b>pants stepping out. Ethan and Samson couldn¡¯t help but <b>sneak </b>a look.

    What they saw nearly made their eyes pop out. Bowen was carrying Aubree iyt of the <b>car</b>. In the moonlight, her face <b>was </b>bright red, Bowen¡¯s jacket <b>draped </b>around her waist, her arms and legs limp as she curled up tightly in his arms.

    A cold, cutting re <b>from </b>Bowen swept over them, and the two immediately dropped their heads.

    ¡®Holy crap, what the hell did Bowen <b>do </b>in there?¡± they both thought, their imaginations running wild.

    <b>Even </b>Bowen¡¯s usually pristine <b>suit </b>was now a total mess.

    At Ellis Heights, Alvin opened the door and was greeted by the sight of Bowen carrying Aubree, who looked totally wasted. Both of them were a mess, their <b>clothes </b>all rumpled and out of ce.

    Alvin hade by to check on his grandfather today. Since his <b>ce </b>was <b>a </b>bit far, he figured he might as well crash at Ellis Heights for the night.

    <b>1/2 </b>

    <b>8:22 </b>PM ? ?

    His expression instantly turned odd. ¡°Damn, Uncle Bowen, <b>you </b>really don¡¯t hold back, do you?¡±

    Alvin thought, ¡°Did he seriously get her drunk just to bring her home?

    Wasn¡¯t Uncle Bowen actually a decent guy before? How did he turn into such a shameless flirt after getting a girlfriend?¡±

    Bowen <b>felt </b><b>a </b>headache <bing </b>on. ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything, okay?

    ¡°She just <b>had </b>too much to <b>drink </b>at her ss reunion. Go make some hangover drink <b>and </b>bring it to my room.¡±

    With that, he walked right past <b>Alvin</b>, carrying Aubree back to his room.

    <b>Alvin </b>stood there, feeling confused. He thought, ¡°What am I now, <b>that </b>shameless old bastard¡¯s personal servant?¡±

    Still, even as heined in <b>his </b>head, he just epted his fate and headed to the kitchen.

    When <b>Alvin </b>came in with the hangover drink, Bowen was in the middle of wiping Aubree¡¯s face for her.

    After feeding her the drink, Bowen didn¡¯t even bother to look as he handed the cup off to Alvin. He treated him like a totally disposable helper.

    ¡°Go to bed,¡± Bowen said,

    Alvin just gave a couple of sarcastic chuckles, thinking, What did I ever do to deserve being this bastard¡¯s nephew?¡±

    Çú

 Tried 410

    Aubreey on the bed, her long hair spilling out like a waterfall, her cheeks tinged with a rosy flush. Bowen watched her for a moment, then <b>sighed </b>and resigned himself to taking care of her<b>. </b>

    He reached out to help her take off her shoes, knowing that reasoning with a drunk person was a lost cause.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes were misty, her brows furrowed in clear displeasure as she kicked out at him.

    Bowen was caught off guard and loosened <b>his </b>grip, so he missed her foot. Shended a kick right in a rather awkward spot. His expression shifted, but the kick <b>was </b>so light it didn¡¯t really hurt. It was just embarrassing.

    The real problem was that Aubree seemed to find it amusing. After that first kick, she didn¡¯t pull her foot back. Instead, she rubbed it against <b>him </b><b>a </b>couple of times, like she was ying around.

    Bowen¡¯s neck muscles tensed, veins standing out as he shot her a smoldering look.

    She¡¯d gone all out for the ss reunion tonight, wearing a long coat over a deep red knit dress that reached her ankles. Now, with her movements, the hem slid up, revealing her calves and thighs. Her skin was luminous like jewelry under the light. It was impossibly alluring.

    Bowen was still holding her foot, his fingertips gliding over her exposed skin, lingering on the top of her foot as he gently rubbed it a couple of times.

    ¡°That <b>tickles</b>, Aubreeined, trying to <b>pull </b>her foot back, but Bowen wouldn¡¯t let her go.

    Aubree burrowed under the covers. The alcohol made her feel miserable. She let out soft, coquettish whimpers

    If Bowen could hold himself back now, he¡¯d never be able to call himself a man,

    He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

    ¡®Is she really this much of a handful when she¡¯s drunk? Bowen thought<b>, </b>feeling <b>even </b>more stifled by the fact that Aubree was doing all this unconsciously.

    He kissed her hard before finally pulling away. ¡°You little troublemaker, using your drunkenness as an excuse to light a fire under me, huh?¡±

    Aubree blinked, her mind sluggish and clouded by alcohol. She could barely process what Bowen was mumbling about.

    She couldn¡¯t make sense of it, and she didn¡¯t care about it.

    She <b>suddenly </b>swung her hand <b>and </b>gave Bowen <b>a </b><b>p</b>. ¡°Shut up!¡±

    Bowen was stunned by her attitude, then let out a helpless, exasperatedugh.

    There was nothing he <b>could </b><b>do </b><b>since </b>she <b>was </b><b>his </b>girlfriend. He felt <b>that </b>spoiling her was his job. Even if she left him burning. <b>up </b>with frustration, in the end, he could only resign himself and head to the bathroom to cool off.

    The next morning, all Aubree felt was a splitting headache.

    ¡®Drinking <b>always </b>gets me into trouble, she thought. Remembering that Bowen <b>had </be to pick her upst night, she let out a long <b>sigh </b>of relief.

    If he <b>hadn¡¯t </b>shown up, she probably wouldn¡¯t <b>have </b>made it home at all. They¡¯d forced way <b>too </b>much alcohol <b>on </b>her.

    Rubbing her temples as she got out of bed, she spotted <b>a </b>sticky note from Bowen on the nightstand. He¡¯d already left for work

    <b>As </b>she headed downstairs, <b>the </b>smell of <b>Carol¡¯s </b><b>breakfast </b><b>was </b><b>so </b>good it made her mouth water. After all that drinking <bst </b>night, her stomach was practically growling from emptiness.

    ¡°Alvin, aren¡¯t you <b>supposed </b>to be in ss?¡± she asked, surprised to see him sitting at the table.

    8.22 PM c d

    ¡°I took the day off to look into something.¡± Alvin replied.

    ¡°Is it about what happened at the orphanagest time?¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°Yeah,<b>¡± </b><b>Alvin </b>said. After getting the list, he¡¯d already tracked down where most of those <b>people </b><b>were </b>now. A faint smile appeared on his usually expressionless face. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he found all <b>those </b>people from back then.

    ¡°Well, congrats!¡± Aubree said, ¡°Hey, I took a <b>day </b>off from school too. My flight to S¨¹dlichen Strand is this afternoon.

    ¡°Hope <b>this </b>round of financing goes off without <b>a </b>hitch.¡±

    At the Bree Technology office in S¨¹dlichen Strand, Aubree sat in her office chair, pressing a hand to her forehead

    The hangover still hadn¡¯t fully faded. Tomorrow, Sheldon <b>would </b>be arriving in S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    At that moment, she watched in silence as the fire department <b>guys </b>bustled around nearby, doing their routine inspection.

    The inspection wasn¡¯t strange, but the way they were picking at every little thing was definitely suspicious.

    They¡¯d gone over the entire building, inside and out, not missing a single corner.

    <b>2/2 </b>

 Tried 411

    These inspections weren¡¯t <b>anything </b>new. <b>Usually</b>, Birgitte would handle them. She¡¯d hand out some cigarettes and offer them. some snacks. If there were any minor issues, a casual heads¨Cup would be enough to settle them. Honestly, it was all just for

    show.

    But this time<b>, </b>they were strictly by <b>the </b><b>book</b>.

    An official said, ¡°The fire extinguishers <b>are </b>expired, the wiring is a bit old and poses <b>a </b>safety risk, and the fire rm system isn¡¯t up to

    standard.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to fix these issues. This inspection is marked as failed. Here¡¯s the fine. If you have no objections, please sign here

    He handed a document over to Aubree..

    Aubree nced at it, didn¡¯t say a word<b>, </b>and signed her name without hesitation.

    Once they saw her sign, the fire department didn¡¯t hassle her any further. They just packed up and left.

    She¡¯d only been in S¨¹dlichen Strand for <b>a </b>short while, and already, three different groups <b>had </be by. Aubree watched their retreating backs.

    Birgitte frowned. ¡°Something¡¯s off these past couple of days.

    ¡°The business bureau, the tax department, and every regtory agency seem to be coordinating their surprise inspections. They show up every other day.¡±

    Luckily, they¡¯d always followed Aubree¡¯s advice and never crossed any red lines<b>, </b>so nothing major had been found.

    Even though they were quite cooperative<b>, </b>all these government inspections kept popping up. Any partner would start having second thoughts if they saw this kind of thing going on.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Aubree said, ¡°Mr. Kader¡¯s bringing his team over tomorrow to talk business. Let¡¯s just lock in the investment and ignore these people.¡±

    Aubree knew exactly <b>what </b>was going on. The Wilson and Diamonde families were getting antsy.

    Sheldon¡¯s investment wasn¡¯t just his own; he¡¯d also brought in a major yer from Nadio, Windward Group, which had made its fortune in logistics and supply chain management. That was the real reason Aubree had agreed <b>to </b>work with him.

    But what happened today was a good reminder.

    The Diamonde family <b>had </b>deep connections all over S¨¹dlichen Strand. Phonyra Jewelry was a heritage brand with over a hundred years of history.

    Rumor had it they used to supply the royal family. Even Manchotech would have a hard time holding the Diamonde family

    back.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just be extra careful with the little <b>things </b>for now. Once we lock in the funding and go public, everything will get a lot easier, Aubree said<b>. </b>

    <b>No </b>matter what agency it <b>was</b>, at the end of the day, money could satisfy them.

    Once <b>GrabCheap </b>really took off and started making an irreceable contribution to S¨¹dlichen Strand¨Cor even the whole country¨Cthen no matter what the Diamonde family tried to do, it would appear harmless to Aubree.

    ¡°We¡¯re probably going to be seeing a lot more of these inspections from <b>now </b>on,¡± Aubree said.

    Birgitte just nodded.

    Aubree kept getting headaches. She¡¯d managed to catch a <b>nap </b>on the ne, and <b>just </b><b>as </b>she was starting to feel a little better, all <b>this </b>annoying stuff had to happen.

    She <b>said</b>. ¡°Everyone¡¯s exhausted today. Let¡¯s all head home early. The real fight is tomorrow.¡±

    Aubree crashed at her ce in S¨¹dlichen Strand to get some rest. Sheldon wouldn¡¯t arrive until tomorrow afternoon, but the next morning. Aubree received an unexpected invitation.

    ¡°This breakfast joint in S¨¹dlichen Strand is a real old¨Cschool favorite. You¡¯ve got good taste, shemented.

    She found an uninvited guest seated at her breakfast table.

    Aubree finished herst bite of <b>sandwich </b>and said, ¡°Did the Diamonde family go broke? Mr. Diamonde, are you so broke that you <b>have </b>to share a <b>table </b>with me and fight for breakfast?¡±

    Her words were blunt and cutting, but Ernesto Diamonde was a seasoned veteran. He wasn¡¯t about to get riled up over <b>a </b>couple of jabs. He just smiled and said, ¡°Come on, I¡¯m your uncle. We¡¯re family. No need to be so on edge, right?¡±

    ¡°Uncle?¡± Aubree gave a shortugh. ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve forgotten what you said to me the first time I came to S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    ¡°I¡¯ll never forget the look of disdain you gave me for the rest of my life.¡±

    She¡¯d never forget the first time Alice brought her and Carmen to the Diamonde <b>family</b>, Ernesto picked Carmen up, and had a katisfied smile.

    When he turned to her, it was like he¡¯d just seen <b>a </b>disgusting bug. He then warnred her not to even dream of challenging Carmen¡¯s ce in the <b>family</b>.

    Aubree said, ¡°So let me remind you, if I don¡¯t even have a mother, how could I possibly have an uncle?*

    É«

 Tried 412

    Ernesto froze for a moment. This was his <b>first </b>time facing Aubree directly. Previously, when the Wilson family talked about her, he hadn¡¯t taken it seriously at all.

    He¡¯d just thought Aubree was like <b>a </b>kid who couldn¡¯t get what she wanted, making a fuss just to get noticed. Strictly speaking. this was the first time they were dealing with each other face¨Cto¨Cface.

    Aubree¡¯s bluntness made him realize she was even harder to handle than he¡¯d imagined. ¡®Does she really not care about anything anymore? he wondered.

    Ernesto said, ¡°But no matter how much you try to deny it, the blood running through your veins is always reminding you that you¡¯re both a Wilson and a Diamonde. Like it or not, we¡¯re your family.

    ¡°You¡¯re <b>not </b>a kid anymore. <b>What¡¯s </b>the point of cutting ties? Thew doesn¡¯t care <b>about </b>that. When your parents get old, you¡¯ll still be legally <b>responsible </b>for them, right?¡±

    Aubree let out a sharpugh, like she¡¯d just heard the funniest joke. ¡°Let me remind you of something. My legal surname isn¡¯t even Wilson. I was adopted by Patricia from the orphanage. She¡¯s the only family I have.

    As for the Diamonde and Wilson families, don¡¯t you already have Carmen? Why? You don¡¯t want to acknowledge her as family anymore?¡±

    Ernesto frowned. He hadn¡¯t expected Aubree to be this stubborn. Since being tough wasn¡¯t working, he softened his tone a bit. Is it really worth it? Things haven¡¯t been going well for yourpany in S¨¹dlichen Strandtely, have they?

    ¡°If you¡¯re willing toe back to us and admit you made a mistake, both the Diamonde and Wilson families will have your back<b>.</b>¡±

    ¡°Wow, what a tempting deal, Aubree thought mockingly.

    <b>A </b>mocking smile tugged at Aubree¡¯s lips. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me. Ever since I left the Wilson family, I¡¯ve been ready to fight with you all. Bring it on. If I so <b>much </b><b>as </b>flinch, you can call me a coward.

    ¡°Honestly, I never nned to go after the Diamonde family. My beef <b>has </b>always been <b>with </b>the Wilson family and Alice. But if you really want to pick a fight, I won¡¯t mind dragging you all down with them.¡±

    Ernesto thought, Insane! She¡¯s absolutely insane!¡®

    He¡¯d tried every trick in the book¨Cnice words, harsh ones¨Cand she still turned the tables on him. Ernesto, who was used to getting his way in S¨¹dlichen Strand, was livid. With a loud bang, he shot to his feet, knocking his chair over in the process.

    ¡°Fine! So the Wilson and Diamonde families ended up with someone as gutsy <b>as </b>you. I can¡¯t wait to see youe <b>crawling </b>back on your knees, begging for forgiveness,¡±

    Ernesto gritted his teeth<b>, </b>and Aubree stood up as well, waving him toward <b>the </b>door. ¡°¡®See yourself out. I won¡¯t bother.¡±

    When Ernesto left, his face was thunderous. He thought he¡¯d tried everything¨Cthreats, ttery, even putting the squeeze on Bree Technology earlier. He figured Aubree would at least get a little <b>scared </b>and perhaps say something nice to smooth things over. Who could¡¯ve guessed she¡¯d be this unyielding?

    That afternoon, as promised, Sheldon showed up with the folks from Windward Group to talk about a potential partnership. <b>Aubree </bid everything on the table. She waspletely upfront about being targeted in S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    In <b>fact</b>, even if she hadn¡¯t said anything. Sheldon and the others already knew. They were nning to work with Aubree, so of course, they¡¯d looked into her thoroughly.

    Aubree¡¯s honesty left them with a genuinely good impression.

    Having a trustworthy person <b>as </b>a partner was definitely worth it.

    The Windward Group team was led by their <b>vice </b>president, Lydia Armstrong. As a fellow woman<b>, </b><b>she </b>truly admired Aubree, who was <b>so </b>young, yet already so aplished. ¡°No worries. Once we seal this partnership, just treat this little issue as <b>our </b>wee gift to you.¡±

    Clips 15

    Windward Consup won the unliquand gore the gas inung woh tuon got barking that were as which

    Adbon duden ertou at all. In the end How Technologs work a deal with burit parties.

    C

 Tried 413

    Chapter 413 Chapter 413

    Sheldon invested 1.5 billion dors, and Windward Group put in 3.5 billion dors, taking five percent <b>and </b>ten¨Cpercent of the shares, respectively.

    The news of this partnership spread like wildfire. After securing a 3.5¨Cbillion¨Cdor investment from Manchotech<b>, </b>GrabCheap once again secured <b>a </b>massive five¨Cbillion¨Cdor investment.

    Aubree¡¯s name was making headlines across the media once more. Now, not only in Rithol City, but even in Nadio <b>and </b>S¨¹dlichen Strand, her name was bing firmly etched into everyone¡¯s mind.

    ¡°We nailed this round of financing. Next up, we can kick off the IPO process, Aubree said.

    However, there was still one problem. After all her <b>hard </b>work, she definitely <b>didn¡¯t </b>want to lose control of GrabCheap down the road.

    One of the reasons she set up a branch in S¨¹dlichen Strand for this project was because of her initial investment agreement with Bowen. ording to that deal, she had to give him thirty <b>percent </b>of the shares in all her projects.

    But back then, she¡¯d also pulled a little trick. The projects under Bree Technology¡¯s name in Rithol City were the ones covered by that agreement. Bowen didn¡¯t have any shares in GrabCheap

    But Manchotech and the others together had already taken thirty percent of the <b>shares</b>. Birgitte held five percent, <b>and </b>with <b>all </b>the <b>shares </b>Aubree had handed out during the startup phase, Aubree was left with only 24 percent of the <b>shares </b>in her own hands.

    If Manchotech and the others ever decided to team <b>up </b>against her, she¡¯d be in a tough spot.

    She needed to make sure she held absolute control over GrabCheap¡¯s key decisions.

    ¡°Birgitte,e here for a second,¡± Aubree said.

    She trusted Birgittepletely.

    After sharing what was on her mind, Aubree asked, ¡®Birgitte, what do you think?¡±

    ¡°What about veto power?¡± Birgitte suggested. ¡°For any <b>major </b>decision, Ms. Miller, as thergest shareholder, you would have

    veto power.

    Aubree thought that was <b>a </b><b>great </b>suggestion. <b>She </b>had to <b>guard </b>against losing control if <b>her </b>shares became too diluted. Back in Rithol City, since Bowen held thirty percent of the shares<b>, </b>she¡¯d always been careful to keep the stock spread in check and deliberately avoided bringing in too many outside investors.

    She made sure her own stake always stayed just above Bowen¡¯s.

    This way, she <b>could </b>keep the Wilson and Diamonde families from ever setting her up through the stock. As long as she held absolute decision¨Cmaking power, GrabCheap would always stay firmly under her control,

    Not only did Aubree go with Birgitte¡¯s idea of having veto power, but she also set up a brand new investmentpany and publicly transferred all her <b>shares </b>in GrabCheap to it. <b>That </b>way, even though the shares were no longer in her name<b>, </b>she could still maintain control over GrabCheap through her fully¨Cowned investmentpany.

    Once she pulled off this move, it stirred up another wave of buzz.

    Even those who¡¯d been watching GrabCheap from the sidelines had to admit that she was a real genius.

    Teaming up with giants like Windward Group and Manchotech, and <b>still </b>managing to snatch a <b>chunk </b>for herself? <b>That </b>takes real guts and brains<b>, </b>someone marveled.

    <b>¡°</b>Indirect control, <b>leaving </b>all the risks behind, and still securing the controlling stake¨C<b>Aubree </b><b>really </b><b>is </b><b>a </b>genius, another person eximed.

    ¡°If I were Ronald, I¡¯d be curled up under the covers bawling my eyes out right now,¡± someone joked.

    When the news reached <b>Rithol </b>City, Ronald pped his thigh in admiration. ¡°That¡¯s my girl. She¡¯s got a mind like lightning

    This <b>only </b>made Ronald even more determined to bring Aubree back. Once she returned and started running things at Wilson Group, everyst one of their rivals, including the Turner family, <b>would </b>be groveling at the Wilsons¡® feet.

    Bryan nced over and said helplessly, ¡°But Dad, Aubree is our enemy now!¡±

    He thought, ¡®If she performs better, isn¡¯t that actually bad news for us?¡®

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened. ¡°<b>This </b>is all your mother¡¯s fault. She just had to adopt Carmen¡±

    ¡°Speaking of that, Dad, when we tried to look into Carmen¡¯s background, the trail just went <b>dead</b><b>. </b>All we could find was that after her parents died, she was sent to an orphanage. There¡¯s no other information at all. We can¡¯t even find out who took her there,¡± Bryan said.

    ¡°If you can¡¯t find anything, that just means something¡¯s off. Keep digging¡±

    <b>2/2 </b>

 Tried 414

    ¡°I¡¯m so pissed off! She doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for her,¡± Ernesto cursed, <b>his </b>anger boiling <b>over</b>.

    ¡°Ernesto, is this about Aubree?¡± Stuart Diamonde, Alice¡¯s younger brother and the third child in the Diamonde family, asked as he lounged with his legs crossed.

    Phoenyra Jewelry, the Diamonde family business, was mainly inherited by Ernesto, while Stuart and Alice each held a stake. Stuart wasn¡¯t interested in thepany; he preferred trading stones and ran his own <b>natural </b>stone business.

    Sometimes, when he came across top¨Cquality stones, he¡¯d bring them home <b>as </b><b>a </b>favor, gifting them to some big shots on behalf of the family.

    Just the mention of <b>Aubree¡¯s </b><b>name </b>made Ernesto¡¯s blood pressure spike. ¡°<b>She¡¯s </b>really a tough nut to crack.¡±

    Not only was she tough, but Aubree even managed to <bnd </b>a partnership with Windward Group. With Windward Group, and Manchotech joining forces, even with Ernesto¡¯s <b>reputation</b>, it was not easy to find anyone willing to help him mess with her.

    ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, you need to keep someone obedient close by. Looks like we were right to treat her the way we did from the start. As for Carmen, since we raised her from childhood, being good to her might make <b>Alice </b>easier to <b>handle</b>,¡± Stuart said.

    <b>¡°</b>Speaking of <b>that</b>, Alice has been acting weirdtely. Word from Rithol City is, she¡¯s got her eye on some guy.¡±

    Stuart shrugged it off. ¡°So what? It¡¯s normal for Alice to have her own needs¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Ernesto was too busy scherming against Aubree to spare any time or attention worrying about what Alice was <b>up </b>to in Rithol City

    ¡°I should find some time to talk <b>to </b>Carmen,¡± he added.

    Outside the Cloud Design studio building in Rithol City, a man stood alone.

    As instructed by Aubree, Kyler finally agreed to be Alice¡¯s fashion model after Alice backed him into a corner.

    His agency had terminated his contract and cklisted him, so he could only scrape by with small roles to make a living. But now, with Alice meddling, even those were out of reach.

    After <b>months </b>of training by Aubree, he could now truly step into the shoes of Xander, bing the characterpletely.

    Standing at the studio entrance, he clenched his fists, hesitation and uncertainty written all over his face. Ultimately, all <b>that </b>doubt faded into helpless resignation to the realities of life, and he slowly walked inside.

    ¡°Remember, <b>from </b>the moment you show up in front of Alice, you¡¯re no longer Kyler. You¡¯re Xander. Even if no one¡¯s watching, <b>you </b>have to live and breathe as <b>Xander</b><b>, </b>Aubree had told him.

    Alice¡¯s <b>assistant </b><b>was </b><b>already </b><b>waiting </b>for him at the door.

    ¡°Mr. Bradley, you¡¯re finally here. Ms. Diamonde <b>has </b>been waiting for <b>you </b>for quite a while, the <b>assistant </b><b>said</b>.

    Kyler managed a polite smile. ¡°Sorry for the <b>trouble</b>.¡±

    <b>Alice </b>stood by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window in her office, taking in every detail of his earlier performance. Her eyes <b>sparkled </b>with excitement and <b>longing- </b>

    That¡¯s my <b>Xander</b><b>, </b>she thought. ¡°Xander has finallye back <b>for </b>me:

    The <b>assistant </b>led Kyler into the office and then left. Alice¡¯s office didn¡¯t <b>look </b><b>any </b>special. <b>Design </b>sketches covered the desk, <b>and </b>mannequins <b>and </b>sketches of sample outfits were scattered <b>around </b>the room.

    ¡°Ms. Diamonde, I honestly don¡¯t get it. Why are you so set on <b>making </b>me your model?¡± Kyler <b>was </b>the <b>first </b>to <b>break </b>the silence.

    Even though he knew he was being singled out, there <b>wasn¡¯t </b>a hint of anger in his voice. That calm <b>attitude</b>, paired with his killer looks, made Alice¡¯s cheeks <b>flush </b>with excitement.

    823 PM <b>? </b><b>? </b>

    <b>Chapter </b><b>414 </b>

    ¡°I told you. I want you to be my model,¡± Alice said. A model just for <b>me</b>, and me alone,¡® she added inwardly.

    Alice¡¯s gaze was so heated that it made Kyler uneasy. He quickly looked away. ¡°Well, I just hope that after you get your inspiration from me today, you¡¯ll let me go. <b>I¡¯m </b>just an ordinary guy. I can¡¯t afford to cross you. I just want to keep my distance.

    <b>¡®</b>Keep your distance? No way! <b>Alice </b>thought to herself. Tve already lost you once. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting that happen <b>again</b>.¡±

    ?

 Tried 415

    ¡°Take your clothes off,¡± Alice ordered.

    Alice forced herself to stayposed. She <b>wasn¡¯t </b>that nalve, carefree girl anymore. She knew exactly how to get Kyler to listen to her, and she wasn¡¯t about to waste any time.

    <b>Self</b><b>¨C</b>interest <b>was </b>always the first rule when it came to dealing with people.

    Kyler froze, clearly not expecting her toe out with that right off the bat. ¡°Take everything off?¡±

    Alice caught <b>the </b>way his cars turned red and felt a little delight, though she kept her face perfectly serious. ¡°Of course. You¡¯ve been an actor and done some <bmercials</b>. I need to see exactly what I¡¯m working with so I can design something <b>that </b>fits you perfectly,¡±

    Is that really what this is about? Kyler thought to himself.

    Fingering his cor, Kyler hesitated for a long moment. After thinking it over several times, he bowed slightly. I¡¯m sorry. Ms. Diamonde, but I really can¡¯t do that. If <b>you </b>just need a model, can¡¯t I just put on <b>the </b>clothes once they¡¯re finished <b>and </b>model them at the show?

    ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t <b>think </b>we can work together.¡±

    Just as he was about to leave, Alice dropped the pretense. The moment sheid eyes on him, she knew she wasn¡¯t going to let him walk away. She¡¯d wanted to y it subtle, but Kyler was just as stubborn as Xander.

    He wouldn¡¯t give in unless he was truly cornered.

    <b>Alice </b>grabbed his wrist<b>, </b>radiating amanding <b>aura</b>. ¡°You seem smart, so let me be blunt. Right <b>now</b>, you¡¯ve got nothing. From what I¡¯ve found out, you¡¯re desperate for cash. Your family needs it, <b>and </b>so <b>do </b>you. Be with rue, and I¡¯ll pay <b>you </b>1.5 million dors a month. What do you say?¡±

    Kyler¡¯s eyes flew wide, his <b>pupils </b>shrinking. It wasn¡¯t the 15 million dors that got to him, but the sheer insult of it.

    ¡°Sorry, Ms. Diamonde, but I¡¯m not the guy for this <b>job</b>,¡± he said, <b>his </b>voice tight with barely concealed anger.

    <b>After </b>storming out of Cloud Design, Kyler finally let a trace of <b>pain </b>show on his face. 1.5 million dors! Alice¡¯s looks and figure could easily put her at the top of the sugar mama <b>rankings </b>in showbiz, he thought.

    If someone had offered to be his <b>sugar </b>mama back in the day, he would have agreed in a heartbeat.

    But now, he <b>just </b>curled his lip. Too bad. Ms. Miller¡¯s offer is even better, he thought.

    <b>Kyler </b>quickly collected himself and sent an email to Aubree, giving <b>her </b>a full rundown of what had just <b>transpired</b>.

    To make sure Alice never suspected he was sent by Aubree, the two of them had no direct contact, not even any phone numbers. Theymunicated only through emails, <b>and </b>each message was deleted right after it <b>was </b>sent.

    Aubree replied: [You don¡¯t have to do anything for now, Just let Alice back you into a corner, Soon, the sick mother and gambling¨Caddict father I¡¯ve arranged for you will show up, so be ready.]

    Kyler¡¯s lips twitched. He did have a gambling father <b>and </b><b>a </b>sick mother, but the difference was, they genuinely cared about him and never gave him any grief.

    However, they would trouble his older sister, who¡¯d been sent to live with rtives when he <b>was </b><b>a </b>kid.

    Everything after that yed out exactly as Aubree had nned.

    Alter Kyler¡¯s parents showed up, Kyler, who had been <b>resisting </b>Alice all <b>this </b>time, ended up giving her exactly the leverage she

    needed over him.

    With his mother seriously ill and his father drowning in <b>gambling </b>debts, the weight of it all crushed Kyler. In the end, he cuved and reached out to Alice himself.

    <b>Alice </b>got exactly <b>what </b>she wanted. Kyler, molded just for her by months of training, <b>was </b>the very image of Xander she¡¯d always

    dreamed of. He had her utterly obsessed.

    She was so taken with him that Carmen, usually the apple <b>of </b>her eye, was all but forgotten, tossed to the back of her mind.

    After being brushed off by Alice yet again, Carmen couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What has Mom been so busy withtely?¡± She frowned. ¡°Could it be <b>that </b>guy fromst time?¡±

    0

 Tried 416

    Carmen noticed Alice¡¯s strange behaviortely, and her gut told her it <b>had </b>something to do with that man from the other day.

    Right now, her biggest support in the Wilson family was Alice. Nothing must happen to Alice.

    Carmen went to Daxton, not saying exactly what she needed, just <b>that </b>she had something to check and needed some help.. Daxton never said no to her requests, especially something this small, so he readily lent her some people.

    Before she <b>could </b>find out the identity of that man from the other day, she received a message from Ernesto.

    Ernesto hadpletely given up on Aubree, <b>realizing </b>she was <b>a </b>dead <b>end</b>. He didn¡¯t have Ronald¡¯s kind of foolish, oblivious persistence, thinking that being <b>a </b>father entitled him to get whatever he wanted. With the way Ronald had treated Aubree all those years ago, why would she evere back to help him?

    Uncle Ernesto wants to talk to me? Carmen wondered, feeling puzzled about what Ernesto could want from her.

    They met near Carmen¡¯s school

    Have a seat,¡± Ernesto said.

    ¡°Uncle Ernesto, what did you want <b>to </b>see me about? Carmen asked. She hadn¡¯t really interacted much with the Diamonde family, but from what she remembered, they weren¡¯t exactly close, yet they weren¡¯t unfriendly either. When it came to her and Aubree, they <b>always </b>seemed to take her side <b>just </b><b>a </b>little more.

    ¡°Carmen, do you want to get kicked <b>out </b>of the Wilson family? Or do you want your dad to treat you like some disposable pawn, marrying you off to whatever rich heir he chooses just to boost the family¡¯s status?¡± Ernesto got straight to the point.

    Carmen¡¯s expression shifted ever so slightly. Of course, <b>she </b>didn¡¯t want <b>that</b>, but with Ernesto¡¯s motives still unclear, there was no way she was about to let her guard down or show her true feelings.

    ¡°So what exactly are you getting <b>at</b>, Uncle Ernesto?¡±

    Ernesto smiled. I¡¯m your uncle. In ancient times, an uncle was the one a prince trusted most when fighting for the throne. So you really don¡¯t have to be so on guard against me.

    ¡°The Diamonde and Wilson families have always had <b>a </b>mutually beneficial rtionship, but <b>now</b>, some things need to change.¡±

    The bond between the two families used to depend <b>on </b>theck of conflict between <b>Alice </b>and Ronald<b>. </b>But <b>now </b>peace had been broken, and Ronald¡¯s mind was entirely on Aubree.

    In the worst <b>scenario </b>where Aubree never reconciled with the Wilson family, the Wilson family would have <b>made </b>powerful enemies like Bree Technology <b>and </b>Turner Group, and the Diamonde family would eventually be dragged down with them.

    <b>And </b>if <b>Aubree </b>did reconcile with the Wilson <b>family</b>, <b>the </b><b>Wilson </b>family¡¯s <b>control </b>might end up in her hands. Thest time Emesto negotiated <b>with </b>Aubree, it was obvious she hated Ronald and hated <b>Alice </b>even <b>more</b>,

    He <b>didn¡¯t </b>believe that if Aubree <b>ever </b><b>took </b>control of the Wilson family, she would be willing to work <b>with </b>them.

    After weighing <b>all </b>the options, having the Wilson family fall into the hands <b>of </b>someone the Diamonde family could control was clearly the best oue.

    Alice had shares in Wilson <b>Group</b>, <b>too</b>, but she wasn¡¯t someone they <b>could </b><b>easily </b><b>control</b>.

    From this perspective, Carmen, who held <b>shares </b>and <b>was </b>adopted, had an awkward <b>position </b>in the Wilson family. This made her the most <b>suitable </b>candidate.

    Carmen <b>was </b>stunned, hardly believing <b>what </b><b>she¡¯d </b><b>just </b>heard. ¡°You <b>want </b><b>me </b>to <b>inherit </b>Wilson <b>Group</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°That¡¯s right. As an adopted daughter, you have the same legal rights to inheritance <b>as </b>Bryan <b>and </b>the others. From <b>what </b>I <b>know</b>, <b>you </b>already hold some shares, <b>and </b>Daxton, who has no interest in Wilson Group, <b>is </b>unconditionally on your side.¡±

    With the support of Daxton, Alice, and the Diamonde family, Carmen might actually have a <b>chance</b><b>. </b>

    8:23 <b>PM </b><b>ct </b>ct

    Among the second generation of the Wilson family, aside from Aubree, the other five each held five percent of the <b>shares</b>. <b>Alice </b>had seven percent, which Ronald had given her as a wedding gift. Of course, the shares Carmen held had originally belonged to Aubree<b>. </b>

    As thergest shareholder, Ronald only held fifteen percent, and the Diamonde family also held three percent of Wilson Group¡¯s shares,

    E

 Tried 417

    So, doing the math, if something happened to Ronald and his shares didn¡¯t all end up with Bryan, Carmen would have a genuine chance to contest for control.

    *Aubree first sent Emery to prison, and now she¡¯s targeting Trevor. Instead of just watching the Wilson family fall apart, why not go for it?¡± Ernesto said.

    ¡®Go for it? Take control of the Wilson family? Carmen thought. I want to. Of course I want to.

    Carmen <b>was </b>so <b>excited </b>and nervous that her hands gripped the edge of the table tightly. She¡¯d actually wondered before if she <b>could </b>be the one to inherit Wilson Group.

    <b>Back </b>when MindDrift was just getting started<b>, </b>she never <b>thought </b>she was any less capable <b>than </b>Bryan or the others. She just never really put her mind to it before.

    Carmen was indeed a smart woman. One <b>could </b>see it in her art. Even after Aubree kept knocking her down, she <b>still </b>managed to keep her cool and do what needed to be done. That was <b>a </b>skill in itself.

    MindDrift had <b>a </b>solid <b>vision </b>from the start. If she hadn¡¯t been so confident and brushed off everyone else¡¯s advice, there was a good chance MindDrift could have taken off.

    ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it before, she said, her voice low but every word clear as day. ¡°If Aubree can do it, why can¡¯t I?

    ¡°Last semester, I double¨Cmajored in finance and management, and by the end, I was getting better grades than the people who only focused on one. So why can¡¯t I do it?¡±

    The more Carmen spoke, the more confident she felt. Her voice grew stronger with every word. She looked right at Ernesto Uncle Ernesto is handing me this opportunity on <b>a </b>silver tter. Why shouldn¡¯t I seize it? Why not <b>me</b>?¡± she thought.

    <b>¡°</b>Good, that¡¯s the spirit. Ernesto gave her shoulder an encouraging pat. ¡°If you want it, then go for it.

    ¡°You <b>never </b>had a chance before. Aubree had Bowen backing her up, but now you¡¯ve got me in your corner.

    Those words hit Carmen right in her sore spot. She never thought Aubree was capable. Aubree just had Bowen in her corner. She felt that if she had someone like that backing her up, she could pull it off, too.

    <b>And </b>now, her opportunity had finally arrived.

    ¡°Great!¡± Carmen¡¯s eyes zed with determination as she thought, I¡¯m a Wilson, too. Why can¡¯t I fight for what¡¯s mine?¡±

    The Wilsons¡® affection could be snatched away at any time. She wasn¡¯t going to

    back from now on

    Ernesto nodded, clearly pleased.

    settle for that anymore. She¡¯d have her own

    ¡°By the <b>way</b>. <b>Mom¡¯s </b>been acting weirdtely,¡± Carmen said, recalling Alice¡¯s odd behavior. She recounted <b>what </b>happened on <b>the </b>first day of school<b>. </b>

    ¡°I didn¡¯t see <b>that </b><b>man¡¯s </b>face, but it was the first time I¡¯d ever seen Mom so rattled. When we were registering, she was in such a rush to do something else that she didn¡¯t even stay to have lunch with me before leaving.¡±

    ¡°A man?¡± Ernesto instantly thought of the guy he¡¯d seen at thest inte conference, the one who looked almost exactly like Xander.

    ¡°Nothing <b>must </b><b>go </b>wrong with Alice. At <b>least</b>, not now, he mused.

    Ronald was already investigating Carmen, but since Ernesto had covered up everything about <b>Xander</b>, there were still no leads<b>. </b>That man just <b>looked </b>way too much like Xander.

    If¡­.if Ronald ever recognized <b>that </b>face¡­ <b>Ernesto </b><b>thought</b>.

    Ernesto couldn¡¯t risk it. At a time like this, <b>nothing </b><b>must </b>go wrong with Carmen or with <b>Alice</b>.

    ¡°Call your people <b>back</b>. <b>You </b>can¡¯t look into <b>this </b>anymore. If your mom finds out, she¡¯ll get mad at you,¡± Ernesto said.

    8.23 PM c

    Chapter <b>417 </b>

    Carmen was taken aback. ¡®She¡¯d get mad at me? Over some stranger? Just what is so special about that man?¡± she wondered.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take <b>care </b>of this. What you need to do now is focus on learning how to manage <b>a </bpany. <b>Find </b><b>an </b>opportunity to join Wilson Group, or prove yourself with some real results.¡±

    Carmen replied, ¡°Okay.¡±

    Ernesto didn¡¯t stick around any longer. He¡¯d only squeezed in this trip to Rithol City as it was<b>, </b>and now he had to investigate this new issue involving Alice. Every minute counted.

    AD

 Tried 418

    ¡°Milena didn¡¯t do anything? Trevor <b>thought</b>.

    Several days went by, and there was still no further news <b>about </b>Sophia¡¯s miscarriage. Trevor couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit uneasy.

    He <b>had </b>Sophia watched closely in her hospital room, but she didn¡¯t seem particrly nervous or worried at all.

    His brows furrowed subconsciously. He still had no idea what Aubree and Milena had up their sleeves, so he didn¡¯t dare make any reckless moves.

    For now, he¡¯d put all his business activities on <b>hold </b>and acquired a ton of negative press about other celebrities to bury the trending topic. It was working. The buzz about the miscarriage had died down a lot over the <b>past </b>few days.

    Yet, why did he <b>still </b>feel so uneasy?

    Trevor <b>wasn¡¯t </b>the only one getting antsy. Aubree was <b>also </b>surprised that Milena hadn¡¯t made a move or contacted anyone else after all this time. That was unexpected.

    She figured Milena would either try to get back at Trevor or <b>ckmail </b>him for something, but it didn¡¯t seem like either was happening

    Just when Aubree thought she might have miscalcted and was <b>about </b>to reach out to someone to leak the information herself, her phone rang with an unknown number.

    ¡°Hello, this is Milena.¡± Milena¡¯s voice came through on the other <b>end</b>. ¡°I know you and Trevor have both been trying to reach me. Sophia takes orders from you, doesn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°Finally, she called, Aubree thought.

    Aubree smiled. ¡°Yeah¡±

    Tm <b>going </b>after Trevor. If you¡¯re going to do something, make it big. I¡¯ve lost everything, so I don¡¯t care what else I lose. All I want is to see Trevor knocked off his pedestal.

    ¡°He¡¯s nothing but <b>a </b>scumbag and a total hypocrite. He doesn¡¯t deserve my love, <b>and </b>he¡¯s not worthy of the love his fans <b>give </b>

    him.¡±

    Milena gritted her teeth, her words so full of hatred it <b>was </b><b>as </b>if she wanted to tear into Trevor¡¯s flesh alive.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help <b>but </b><b>sigh</b>. In the other timeline, Milena had been willing to <b>go </b>up against the Wilson family to lock someone up just for Trevor. But now, she was putting herself on the line, all just to make Trevor miserable.

    The Wilson family had already filed charges against Milena, and <b>what </b>she did to Sophia was straight¨Cup premeditated attempted murder. If Milena dared to show her <b>face</b><b>, </b>the <b>only </b>thing <b>waiting </b>for her was imprisonment.

    Maybe back when the Wilson family crushed the Yurchenko family in the other timeline, Milena hated Trevor just as much. But <b>back </b>then<b>, </b>she <b>was </b>powerless to do anything about it.

    ¡°<b>Don¡¯t </b>worry, <b>I </b>will,¡± Aubree said. ¡°It¡¯s <b>not </b><b>just </b>you who hates <b>him</b>; I <b>hate </b>him too.¡± <b>Aubree </b>also resented/Milena for breaking her leg in the other timeline without any reason.

    <b>But </b>now that she¡¯d <b>brought </b><b>down </b>the Yurchenko family, <b>and </b>Milena was doomed to spend the rest of her days in prison, Aubree figured their score was finally settled.

    Milena didn¡¯t waste any time. Once she was sure Auliree wasn¡¯t going to let Trevor off the hook, she made a public appearance on social media.

    <b>Tin </b>Milena,¡± she said. ¡°I bet you¡¯ve all been <b>dying </b>to see me, right? Of course, maybe some of <b>you </b><b>just </b><b>wish </b>I¡¯d die already. Well, a lot of your guesses are right. I waited at <b>that </b>shop <b>on </b>purpose to hit Trevor. I wanted Sophia to <b>have </b><b>a </b>miscarriage.

    ¡°As for what happens to ine after this, I don¡¯t care anymore. My brother got life in prison, and my parents are dead. Even if 1 die, it doesn¡¯t matter anymore.

    <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>want to know why, don¡¯t <b>you</b>! Why?¡±

    23 PM d

    Milena let out a coldugh. ¡°Trevor is the reason my whole family was ruined. Why else? If Sophia miscarried, Trevor would be finished<b>. </b><b>And </b>besides, that baby was his. If the baby died, I¡¯d be d.

    E

 Tried 419

    ¡°From the very beginning. Trevor has never told a single truth. That video where I had people block his way? That was after he dumped me, and I was so furious I sent my family¡¯s bodyguards to try and drag him back.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t I say anything before? It¡¯s because Trevor denied everything, and the Wilson family was too powerful. He used me to get on Aubree¡¯s bad side, and my <b>family </b>couldn¡¯t fight back. The only <b>thing </b>we could do was take all the me for Trevor and hope for <b>help </b>from the Wilson Group.

    ¡°After Aubree took her revenge, my family was never the <b>same</b>. In order to get the Wilson Group¡¯s investment, we had to prove our loyalty by targeting GrabCheap. After that, Aubree struck back, and some of my family ended up dead, others in prison.

    ¡°I hate Trevor, <b>and </b>I hate myself for being so blind. It was Trevor who arranged for me to show up in Rithol City<b>, </b><b>and </b>at that dessert shop. I don¡¯t have any proof, so whether you believe it or not L up <b>to </b>you.

    ¡°Even without me, Trevor hadn¡¯t wanted Sophia¡¯s baby to be born either.¡±

    And with that, the livestream ended. In <b>just </b>a few minutes, the amount of dirt she spilled was insane.

    Milena sat in her rented apartment, staring at the now¨C<b>dark </bputer screen. The livestream <b>was </b>over, and it wouldn¡¯t take long for her location to be exposed.

    However<b>, </b><b>she </b>didn¡¯t care. She hadn¡¯t nned on living much longer anyway. Ever since her <b>parents </b>died, and <b>she </b>was kicked out of the vi and left on the street like <b>a </b>stray dog, the only thing keeping her going was the hope of getting <b>revenge </b>on Trevor.

    Now, she¡¯d finally gotten her chance, and she¡¯d made it count.

    <b>Milena </b>grabbed the rat poison she¡¯d <b>stashed </b>away and took <b>it </b>all in one go. She <b>thought</b>, ¡®Mom, Dad, if I had <b>another </b><b>chance</b>, I swear I¡¯d never fall for that bastard Trevor again.

    She had calcted everything, and <b>even </b>her death was part of the n.

    After her call with Milena, Aubree figured Milena would air all the dirty <bundry</b>, even expose how Trevor had pressured her to cause Sophia¡¯s miscarriage. However, Aubree never expected Milena¡¯s ultimate trump card to be her own death.

    When the police and reporters swarmed into <b>Milena¡¯s </b>rented apartment, what greeted them was her <b>corpse</b>, <b>blood </b>oozing from every opening on her face

    Some drama¨Chungry reporters wasted no time leaking the photos online. Even though the photos were removed almost immediately, <b>this </b>was the hottest topic in the country, after all. No matter how fast the censors acted,izens were even faster with their screenshots.

    [I¡¯m Trevor¡¯s fan, and at first I didn¡¯t believe a thing Milena said. But after seeing those photos of her corpse, now I¡¯m not so sure.]

    [She wasn¡¯t even scared of dying. Just how much did she hate Trevor?]

    [Anyone still feeling <b>sorry </b>for <b>Milena </b>can die too. Didn¡¯t the Yurchenko family totally have iting? How could Milena me Trevor<b>?</b>]

    [Exactly. Trevor¡¯s biggest mistake was ever getting involved with a psycho like her.]

    [Isn¡¯t everyone missing the point here? The real issue is that <b>Milena </b><b>said </b>Trevor never wanted Sophia to have the <b>baby </b>from the <b>start</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>he even <b>had </b><b>Milena </b>try to cause her miscarriage.]

    [This logic just doesn¡¯t add <b>up</b>. If Trevor really <b>wanted </b>Sophia to miscarry, why did he make it a public scene? <b>And </b>if Milena <b>hadn¡¯t </b>hit Trevor, <b>what </b>was her original n supposed to be?]

    Milena¡¯s confession just opened up a whole new can of worms.

    <b>Aubree </b><b>didn¡¯t </b>feel much pity for Milena. In her <b>eyes</b>, this ending might not be a bad thing for Milena. Now, it was Aubree¡¯s

    turn to make <b>a </b>move.

    ¡°Do it,¡± she said.

    8:23 PM <b>c </b>d

    Chapter 419.

    Before the buzz about Milena¡¯s death could die down, a new post popped up on Twitter.

    [Major <b>gossip</b>! Check out A Random Person¡¯s tweet for the <b>details</b><b>.</b><b>] </b>

    <b>[</b><b>Hey</b>, the <b>questions </b>someone asked previously? We¡¯ve got answers <b>now</b>.]

    [Is <b>this </b>what rich families are like? How scary. Who knew even a pregnancy could be part of their schemes?]

    [No wonder you wanted to meet up with Aubree, Trevor. You¡¯re honestly disgusting.]

    The post was from a gardener who worked for the Wilson family.

    <b>2/2 </b>

 Tried 420

    The post imed that while working in the backyard, the author overheard a conversation between Carmen and Sophia about using Sophia¡¯s pregnancy to frame Aubree.

    The author admitted to being a regr guy who, upon hearing such juicy gossip, considered making he¡¯d snuck into a corner and recorded the conversation.

    some money off it. So,

    He¡¯d kept quiet while still working for the Wilson family, but after getting paid <b>and </b>leaving a few days ago, the Wilson family, couldn¡¯t find him anymore. He¡¯d figured he could ckmail them, but that was before Milena died.

    Her death scared him badly, and he decided toe clean, feeling guilty about keeping the secret.

    The post included the recording, which was a bit muffled but clear enough to make out the key points.

    Carmen had done this back then to please Trevor<b>, </b>and when negotiating with Sophia, she often used Trevor¡¯s name and the Wilson family¡¯s reputation to back herself up.

    Most people already didn¡¯t think much of Trevor, and after this recording came out, even his rational fans started unfollowing <b>him</b>.

    They <b>could </b><b>ept </b>their idol dating, getting married, or even having a kid, as long as he was willing to take responsibility.

    They knew celebrities were just normal people, and they never expected much from Trevor <b>anyway</b>. However, they were disappointed that he dodged responsibility and acted like a human life meant nothing to him.

    Trevor¡¯s rational fans were leaving in droves, and so were the girlfriend <b>fans</b>. Even when Trevor went public with his rtionships, he always kept up the act of <b>being </b>a loyal, devoted boyfriend.

    Now, he turned out to be a total scumbag, someone who would exploit anyone for his own gain, always wearing a fake smile when he needed something. What girlfriend fan could tolerate that?

    The only ones still sticking by him were the truly devoted fans waiting for <b>a </b>dramatic twist, or the blindly loyal stans who refused to give up.

    Now, everyone online was putting pressure on his agency, demanding that Trevore out and clear things <b>up</b><b>. </b>

    But what could Trevor <b>possibly </b>say? The recording was already out there<b>, </b>and no matter what <b>he </b>said, he <b>was </b>done for. What really left him helpless was that Milena was dead. With her gone, everything she¡¯d said, whether it was true or not, was now taken as fact.

    At the Wilson family¡¯s residence, a ss cup crashed to the floor at Carmen¡¯s feet, making her flinch. Before she could react<b>, </b><b>a </b>p came flying at her with a whoosh.

    ¡°You idiot! This is all your fault foring up with that <b>stupid </b><b>n </b>to make Sophia miscarry and frame Aubree. Look at the mess we¡¯re in now!¡± Trevor red <b>at </b>Carmen, <b>his </b>eyes <b>zing </b>with anger.

    If it hadn¡¯t been <b>for </b>Carmen¡¯s stupid idea, he could have waited for Sophia to have the baby and then kicked her out. As for the kid, he could have dumped him on a nanny for a few years before sending him overseas.

    He would just act like the kid never existed.

    But now<b>, </b><b>Sophia </b>had miscarried<b>, </b><b>and </b>not only did Aubree <be </b>out smelling like roses, she even got praised for <b>taking </b>Sophia to the hospital

    Trevor <b>was </b><b>absolutely </b>livid, and he took it all out <b>on </b>Carmen.

    <b>As </b>for whether the <b>baby </b><b>could </b>be <b>safe </b>if these didn¡¯t happen and <b>Sophia </b>and Aubree <b>had </b>worked together, none of that <b>crossed </b>his mind. As far <b>as </b>he was concerned, this whole mess was caused by Carmen¡¯s stupid idea.

    Carmen <b>covered </b>her <b>face </b><b>and </b>hung her head, her eyes burning with resentment. She thought<b>, </b>He¡¯s ming me? What gives him the right <b>to </b><b>pin </b><b>this </b>on me?

    0:23 PM <b>d </b>

    It¡¯s not like I¡¯m the one who got Sophia pregnant. If he could have just kept it in his pants, none of this would have happened. Wasn¡¯t he fully aware when I suggested the <b>n</b>? Why is he acting so exasperated now?

    Uncle Ernesto is right. I¡¯m nobody <b>in </b>the Wilson <b>family</b>. When they¡¯re happy. I¡¯m their precious daughter and sister. But the second they¡¯re upset, I¡¯m just some worthless idiot.

    Trevor didn¡¯t care that Carmen didn¡¯t answer. ¡°You¡¯re going to tell everyone <b>that </b>everything in that recording was your idea. <b>and </b>I had nothing to do <b>with </b>it. <b>And </b>as for your reason? You¡¯re the adopted daughter of the Wilson family, desperate to please

    me.¡±

 Tried 421

    <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

    0

    823 PM c d¡¤

    sweet¨Ctalk 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¨Ccalled <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¨Cof¨C<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.

    É«

 Tried 422

    Chapter <b>422 </b>

    Sophia aimed to marry into the Wilson family and be rich. How could she say no when Trevor asked for her hand?

    She agreed without hesitation when Trevor asked for her help to clear his name.

    To marry into the Wilson family, she had joined hands with Aubree. Since her goal was achieved, she <b>was </b>anxious to please Trevor instead of her old teammate.

    In her opinion, she had done nothing against <b>Trevor</b>, except <b>that </b>she had urged him into a marriage in public.

    With a wless smile, Sophia said, ¡°The recording of my conversation with Carmen <b>was </b>edited. The trap for Aubree is nonsense. Aubree helped me, so why should I set her up?¡±

    If she were simple, she couldn¡¯t have beaten other women to be Trevor¡¯s girlfriend<b>. </b>

    Trevor was quite satisfied with this exnation, so he spared Sophia a smiling face. ¡°You are right. Aubree is <b>my </b>little sister, so there is no <b>reason </b>for me to hurt her. I owe her who took care of you <b>when </b>I <b>was </b>ignorant of your pregnancy.¡±

    He ruffled Sophia¡¯s hair, his lips curving into <b>a </b>perfect smile. Sophia was instantly charmed and blushed, <b>though </b>she knew Trevor¡¯s temper,

    A few dayster, Trevor went to the city hall with Sophia for their marriage license. He didn¡¯t disguise himself on that trip, so <b>his </b>marriage soon became <b>a </b><b>trending </b>topic on <b>social </b>media tforms.

    He even showed off his marriage license on his personal social media ounts.

    Trevor: [Not a rumor. We are married as we <b>are </b>supposed to be.]

    His marriage license became a breakthrough for his fans.

    [<b>Look</b>! Isn¡¯t Trevor <b>reliable</b>?]

    Il feel a bit sad, but I still wish Trevor happiness.]

    [Unreliable? There is their marriage license.]

    Then, Sophia issued a statement saying that the recording was <b>a </b>misunderstanding and <b>that </b>she had been down because Trevor had kept the farce online from her for her sake.

    Sophia imed that the recording had been edited, but some people insisted that it was authentic andplete. Trevor¡¯s fans blindly <b>sided </b>with their icon.

    Aubree had foreseen that Trevor <b>got </b>married with Sophia and that Sophia shifted her stance.

    Trevor <b>had </b>been popr for years. He had many fans and was influential at home and abroad, Therefore<b>, </b>Aubree knew that she couldn¡¯t ruin Trevor with just one blow,

    After the <b>farce</b>, Aubree shifted her attention from the Wilson family to GrabCheap, which would soon go public.

    Time flew by, and April was here. After a thorough investigation and analysis, Aubree realized that there would be obstacles from Tengu Gruppe, the Wilson Group, <b>and </b><b>the </b>otherpetitors if GrabCheap went <b>public </b>at home.

    GrabCheap had an unstoppable rise, so it would greatly threaten its rivals.

    Besides, Aubree was afraid that Bowen wouldn¡¯t approve of her decision. In other words, the <b>Turner </b>Group might take action to prevent GrabCheap from going public.

    <b>Bowen </b>was the leader of the Turner Group, but his decisions needed the approval of the board. The Turner Group wasn¡¯t an investor of GrabCheap, <b>so </b>its high market share in emerce would be affected by GrabCheap <b>for </b>sure.

    Aubree talked things over with her shareholders, and they decided to go public abroad.

    8:23 PM

    There would be obstacles and an uncertain future if GrabCheap went public at home. Aubree preferred an easy way and spared Bowen trouble and embarrassment.

    She believed that the business model of GrabCheap would be popr in the foreign market as well. Besides, she was thrilled to <b>earn </b>money from foreigners.

    <b>Aubree </b>visited Ollie for something private though <b>she </b><b>was </b>busy.

    ¡°Wow, what a surprise your visit is!¡± Ollie <b>teased </b><b>at </b>the sight of Aubree, and his eyebrows were raised high. He wore a suit with his cor wide open.

    Aubree didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Ollie, I came to ask about Bowen¡¯s birthday.¡±

    As a girlfriend, she was attentive to <b>everything </b>rted to Bowen, but she failed to find out his birthday. It was <b>difficult </b>finding the time to talk with Ollie during the start of her business and her fight against <b>the </b>Wilson family.

    Bowen had thrown two birthday parties for Aubree, <b>so </b>Aubree wanted to do something in return.

    Looking back, Aubree found <b>that </b><b>she </b>hadn¡¯t celebrated his birthday with him for once.

    Well¡­ Ollie sat up a bit straight<b>, </b>looking <b>hesitant</b>. ¡°Bowen doesn¡¯t celebrate his birthday after he turned thirteen.¡±

    ¡°<b>Thirteen</b><b>? </b>Bryan¡­¡± Aubree thought.

    ¡°Bowen¡¯s birthday is May 25th. Every year, he goes to the cemetery that day¡­¡±

    Ollie said no more, and Aubree understood <b>him</b>.

    Thanks, Ollie. I will buy you dinner some other day,¡± Aubree promised..

    After saying goodbye to Ollie, Aubree was hesitant about whether to celebrate Bowen¡¯s birthday.

    She thought, <b>¡°</b>It is a sad day for him, and I may make it worse with celebration.¡±

    At the same time, she didn¡¯t want Bowen to live with sadness and regret forever.

    After deliberation, Aubree couldn¡¯te up a solution and decided to put the problem aside for the time being.

    In April, GrabCheap was busy with the preparations for going public.

    As expected, Tengu Gruppe colluded with the Wilson Group and otherpetitors to cause trouble for GrabCheap.

    Thanks to Birgitte, those problems were solved one by one, and all the paperwork to go public was ready at the end of April.

    After several funding rounds, the market valuation of GrabCheap reached 67 billion dors.

    This figure was shocking to everyone, and people began <b>to </b>say that Bree Technology might be argepany like the Turner Group.

    As expected, GrabCheap caused a stir, so the Turner Group held a board meeting.

    Most of the board members demanded a n against Aubree and GrabCheap¡¯s going public.

    ¡°Use your brains, <b>guys</b>. I have 30% of Bree Technology¡¯s shares. Our emerce business may be affected by GrabCheap, but it won¡¯t be severe. Is it worthwhile to fall out with a good ally?¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°<b>You </b>made it sound good. Don¡¯t you <b>have </b>your ulterior motive?¡± A <b>board </b>member <bined</b>.

    Bowenughed. ¡°Of course I do. How <b>can </b>I target my girlfriend? Isn¡¯t it <b>absurd</b>? Now, why don¡¯t we shift our attention from Bree Technology to these?¡± Speaking, he flung several documents onto the desk.

 Tried 423

    The documents were the evidence of several board members¡® embezzlement.

    ¡°You guys do consider thispany yours,¡± Bowen ridiculed. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy on Bree Technology, and think about how to exin to the police officers¡±

    The door swung open, and Kelvin appeared with several police officers. A few board members were quickly escorted away

    Bowen resumed his seat in the conference room, raised his <b>hand</b>, and asked, ¡°My friends, any thoughts about GrabCheap¡¯s going public?¡±

    Any thoughts? The survivors forced a <b>smile</b>. Because Bowen kept a low profile in the past years, people almost forgot that he <b>was </b>ruthless.

    ¡°You are

    the boss.¡±

    ¡°I side with you, Mr. Turner.¡±

    The board members <b>finally </b>realized their blunder. Satisfied, Bowen <b>said</b>, ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day then.¡±

    With a lingering fear, the board members left the conference room.

    When Bowen was alone in the room, Kelvin showed up and reported, ¡°<b>Mr. </b>Turner, I found the man you want, and he already settled down. You can meet him whenever <b>you </b>want,¡± Howen nodded.

    Elizabeth had defied Bowen and targeted Aubree many times, and the Lawson Group and the Wilson Group entered into a partnership. <b>Therefore</b>, Bowen decided to teach the Lawson family a good lesson.

    The Lawson family <b>in </b><b>Rithol </b>City seemed harmonious and peaceful, but that wasn¡¯t the truth.

    Elizabeth was now the head of the Lawson family, but her father, Jerry Lawson, was a pushover.

    The lucky Jerry had gotten married to a <b>woman </b><b>from </b>a prestigious family in Kiamy, and that woman was the real reason for his prosperity.

    Elizabeth¡¯s mother, Daisy Lawson, helped Jerry¡¯get the Lawson Group, and she <b>was </b>strict with him.

    Jerry didn¡¯t <b>have </b><b>the </b>guts to go against his wife in public. After Elizabeth <b>was </b>born, Daisy discreetly <b>trained </b>her daughter to be the future leader of the Lawson <b>Group</b>.

    When the time <b>was </b>ripe, Elizabeth took thepany over from her father.

    As a <b>man</b><b>, </b>Jerry <b>lived </b><b>with </b>bitterness because he had suffered a lot of humiliation from his wife and his daughter. He lived off Elizabeth and had to cut ties with all his mistresses after Daisy died.

    Bowen let Kelvin find Jerry¡¯s illegitimate child. Jerry could cut ties with his mistresses, but could he do <b>the </b><b>same </b>to his only

    son?

    After Elizabeth was <b>born</b>, <b>Daisy </b>was too weak to bear another child. Back then, Jerry had talked about surrogacy for a son.

    Now <b>that </b>Daisy was gone, <b>what </b>change would Jerry¡¯s illegitimate child bring to the Lawson family? Nobody knew.

    ¡°Get him trained up. Send him to Jerry when he is ready. The Lawson family needs a good surprise after all these peaceful days,¡± Bowen said.

    Kelvin chuckled. Peace would leave the Lawson family the moment Elizabeth saw her half¨C<b>brother</b>, <b>given </b>her temper. ¡°Gol you,¡± Kelvin replied.

    During the preparations for GrabCheap¡¯s going public, Birgitte <b>asked </b>for leave. ¡°Ms. Miller, I need a day off to attend the birthday party held by the Moore family¡±

    Aubree remembered the Moore family because the previous farce was quite impressive to her.

    8:24 <b>PM </b>c c

    Without hesitation, she gave her agreement to Birgitte. In <b>fact</b>, she would attend that birthday party too.

    The Turner family was close with the Moore family, so she got invited as Bowen¡¯s girlfriend.

    ¦°

    The Moore family was engaged in politics. Their party wasn¡¯t as luxurious as those held by businessmen, and their guests were either politicians or their good friends.

    ¡°How <b>dare </b>that bitche here!¡± Grace stared at Birgitte who was chatting with the Moore couple.

    The Moore couple knew that their son liked Birgitte very much, and they felt <b>that </b>Birgitte was a good girl. They had seen the word, so they sympathized with Birgitte.

    When Laurel held Birgitte¡¯s hand, Grace gritted her teeth with fury. Upon her arrival with her parents, Grace exined to the Moore <b>couple </b>that Hugo had misunderstood her.

    The response she got was that the engagement mentioned <b>was </b>just a joke. The Moore couple even said that they saw her as their daughter all the time.

    The problem was <b>that </b><b>Grace </b>didn¡¯t want to <b>be </b>their daughter <b>at </b>all.

    With conspicuous anger in her eyes, Grace heard a voice <b>ask</b>, ¡°Mad?¡±

    Elizabeth appeared with a ss of wine. ¡°The Moore family is engaged in politics, so their reputation matters. Sometimes, you just have to go get it. Then, she shed Grace a smile.

    Something struck Grace, and her eyes quickly lit up. Thanks, Elizabeth!¡±

    Soon after the party was over, Birgitte hurried back to S¨¹dlichen Strand <b>and </b><b>didn¡¯t </b><b>give </b>Hugo a chance to tter her. To Birgitte, <b>work </b>always came first.

    Along with the sess of GrabCheap, both Aubree and Birgitte became famous.

    Birgitte was interviewed, and her inspirational story helped make her an icon for many people.

    Before GrabCheap went public, Birgitte became well¨Cknown in S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    ¡°ording to our exclusive interview with the most popr emcee, Grace Lawson, we learned that her rtionship is in danger because of a sessful woman whose story was inspirational. We started our investigation and got a lot. However, it is a pity that we failed to interview the woman in question<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>This </b>news instantly attracted the attention of Birgitte who listened to the news as usual.

    ¡°An inspirational story? Grace?¡± Birgitte thought. She raised her head and looked at the TV set not far away.

    ¡°Our investigation confirmed that <b>the </b>woman in question has dated Grace¡¯s boyfriend many times and that they seem intimate. When she was in trouble, he helped her more <b>than </b><b>a </b>friend should. We¡¯re curious about your opinions about this affair, my friends,¡±

    Birgitte¡¯s face <b>had </b>been blurred in the <b>photos</b>, but it <b>was </b>easy for people to figure out who the woman in question was.

    Birgitte tapped her finger on the desk, <b>and </b>her first thought <b>was </b>that she was targeted because GrabCheap would go public

    However, Hugo was involved<b>, </b><b>and </b><b>few </b>people would <b>mess </b>with the Moore family to plot against Birgitte¡­

    ¡°Unl

    they

    C

 Tried 424

    Pretty, rich, and witty, <b>Grace </b>had many fans. After she was elected as the most beautiful emcee in S¨¹dlichen Strand, she an exclusive interview to <b>a </b>mediapany

    Thanks to Elizabeth¡¯s advice<b>, </b>she tried to cken Birgitte¡¯s name with tricks.

    She had <b>a </b>good reason to call Birgitte the other woman in her rtionship with Hugo.

    gave

    Before Birgitte appeared, the Moore couple <b>hadn¡¯t </b>denied Grace as their future daughter¨Cin¨C<bw </b>in public. Besides, Hugo had <b>intimate </b>interactions with Grace from time to time.

    <b>In </b>the eyes of the <b>public</b>, <b>Grace </b>and Hugo were lovers though never had they admitted that openly.

    That was <b>why </b>Grace was confident about her first trick. Her hint in the interview was subtle. She would excuse herself with a broken heart if the Moore couple questioned her.

    She could shift the me to the interviewer who craved attention. In short, she was innocent

    When the news started circting on social media tforms, Hugo hadn¡¯t left Rithol City yet. The whole thing smelled <b>fishy </b>

    to him.

    Hugo contacted Birgitte and gave his exnation before the whole thing got out of control.

    Birgitte didn¡¯t me Hugo, and shemented, ¡°The bad people seize every chance to cause trouble.¡±

    Birgitte sought help from her technical staff, and Hugo made <b>good </b>use of his influence. Therefore, the news was deleted before it could make a ssh.

    Both Hugo and Birgitte moved fast, so all the <b>information </b><b>about </b>the <b>scandal </b>was wiped out quickly. <b>In </b>other words, Grace¡¯s trick failed.

    <b>Grace </b>was stunned. Not long <b>ago</b>, she was expecting Birgitte to be cursed by the public and the <b>Moore </b>family to acknowledge her as Hugo¡¯s girlfriend.

    She had thought that her n was wless. She hired online trolls, got help from Elizabeth, and bribed the mediapany to spread the rumor.

    <b>However</b>, all her trolls <b>couldn¡¯t </b>spread the rumor orment on it now.

    The task wasn¡¯t finished, but some <b>unkind </b>trolls refused to refund Grace and cklisted her phone number<b>. </b>

    ¡°Is Birgitte <b>so </b>powerful?¡± Grace wondered.

    In fact, Bowen should take credit for that. Hugo didn¡¯t want to bother his parents with this trifle, so he asked Bowen for help.

    With doubt about Birgitte¡¯s ability and Hugo¡¯s, Grace asked, ¡°Who is the boss <b>behind </b>the scenes?¡±

    The rumor <b>had </b>been wiped out so quickly that Grace felt restless.

    <b>¡°</b>Elizabeth, the news is gone,¡± Grace said.

    ¡°So quick?¡± Elizabeth answered the video call from Grace <b>and </b>was surprised by the update. ¡°The Moore family?¡±

    ¡°No, even the Moore family <b>couldn¡¯t </b>pull this off so <b>fast</b>, Elizabeth thought.

    Then, a game popped up in her mind. ¡°It made sense if Bowen was the boss behind the scenes.

    ¡°The Turner family?¡± Grace thought. Her heart skipped a beat. She believed that the worst consequence would be a lecture if the Moore couple found out the truth. However, the Turner family got involved¡­

    A <b>chill </b>ran down her spine. <b>¡°</b><b>Even </b>Elizabeth doesn¡¯t dare to <b>mess </b>with the Turner <b>family</b>,¡± she <b>thought</b>.

    ¡°Birgitte <b>is </b>on the same boat as Aubree. Didn¡¯t you foresee the intervention from the Turner Group before <b>you </b>plotted against Birgitte?¡± There came an unfamiliar <b>voice</b><b>. </b>

    3.24 PM <b>c </b>c

    Aghast, Grace thought, ¡°Elizabeth has a friend there! Who is she? Why did Elizabeth let her join this conversation?¡±

    ¡°The Moore family is powerful, and there are Bree Technology and the Turner Group. You should feel lucky that the rumor could appear on the news,¡± the unfamiliar voice ridiculed.

    Grace couldn¡¯t recognize the voice, and she was irritated. ¡°Hugo is so protective of Birgitte. How shameless Birgitte is to say that Hugo is just her friend,¡± she thought.

    At the same time, Grace was mad at Hugo. ¡°Did Hugo dump me because Birgitte is an easy girl? Why did he move so fast <b>this </b>time if he isn¡¯t interested in her?¡± she wondered.

    ¡°What should I do now? I have a lot of evidence to convict them. Shouldn¡¯t Birgitte pay the price for what she did?¡® Grace already saw Birgitte as the <b>other </b>woman in her rtionship with Hugo.

    Elizabeth looked at the person sitting on the couch opposite her. ¡°What¡¯s your advice?¡±

    ¡°Does it mean cooperation?¡± the female voice sounded again.

    ¡°We are friends when we have amon enemy, Elizabeth replied.

    A low chuckle sounded, and Grace heard that woman say, ¡°The news can be deleted from the Inte, but can they <b>hush </b>people in reality? Don¡¯t the celebrities have radical fans?¡±

    After Grace¡¯s first trick failed, Birgitte shifted her attention <b>back </b>to her <b>work</b>.

    In the middle of <b>May</b>, GrabCheap went public abroad at 51 dors per share, and its market value instantly increased to 78 billion dors..

    When the news reached the business circle of S¨¹dlichen Strand, people were stunned.

    What <b>a </b>record! Wasn¡¯t Aubree a genius?

    Together with the Wilson Group, Tengu Gruppe had caused a lot of trouble for GrabCheap, but it failed to prevent GrabCheap from going public anyway.

    The good news excited the employees of GrabCheap. The employees would get fancy bonuses, and several of them might be billionaires.

    The investors of GrabCheap called Aubree and gave their congrattions in excited tones.

    In an instant, Aubree became a legendary businesswoman.

    The Wilson Group and Tengu Gruppe spared no effort to cause trouble for GrabCheap since its establishment, but GrabCheap still prospered under Aubree¡¯s leadership.

    With its unique business model, GrabCheap <b>had </b>a bright future, and its sess couldn¡¯t be replicated,

    Aubree quickly became well known throughout the world.

 Tried 425

    ¡°Forget about emerce apps, I¡¯ve never seen anypanyunch software that goes viral like GrabCheap,¡± someone said.

    ¡°Aubree is just insane, another person chimed in. ¡°<b>She </b>already shook up the live¨Cstreaming <b>and </b>short video industries before, and TOW <b>she¡¯s </b>

    ¡®s managed to carve <b>out </b>a whole new world in the emerce market, which everyone thought was a dead end. Is she a superwoman?¡±

    ¡°The real joke is Tengu <b>Gruppe</b><b>, </b>right?¡± someone else added. ¡°<b>Back </b>when Bree Technology was raising their first round for GrabCheap, they wanted to team up with Tengu Gruppe to break into the market. However, Morhan didn¡¯t want to take sides with the Wilson Group, so Bree Technology ultimately partnered with Poison <b>instead</b>. Now, Poison¡¯s profits have increased by a few points thanks to the GrabCheap boom. I¡¯d feel like dying if I were <b>Morhan</b>.¡±

    Morhan was so frustrated that he honestly wanted to bang his head against the wall. He <b>didn¡¯t </b>even dare to calcte how much profit he would¡¯ve made if he¡¯d invested in GrabCheap.

    Because of his decision¨C<b>making </b>blunder, thepany¡¯s top management had started to question him, and there were even whispers about recing him.

    He was grinding his teeth so hard he thought they might crack.

    However, that wasn¡¯t even the worst of it. He¡¯d shed with <b>Aubree </b>so many times that he¡¯dpletely alienated everyone in Bree Technology. Now, Aubree and he were mortal <b>enemies</b>. Neither of them would back down until one of them was finished.

    As soon as GrabCheap went public, their first move was to muscle in on Tengu Gruppe¡¯s turf. Unlike the Wilson Group, which had its hands in all sorts of industries and could make up losses elsewhere, Tengu Gruppe¡¯s entire business empire was built. around e<b>¨C</bmerce. If <b>they </b>got pushed out of the market, <b>the </b>consequences would be catastrophic.

    Morhan was livid with frustration as he finally got Ronald in line after calling several times. ¡°Ronald, I followed your <b>lead </b>and teamed up with you to go after Bree Technology, but they came out unscathed and went public just fine. Is this how the Wilson Group handles things?¡±

    Ronald hadn¡¯t expected Aubree to be so capable and forward¨Cthinking. Right from the start, Aubree¡¯d set her sights on the overseas <b>market </b>and decisively chose to take thepany public abroad. No matter how much power he <b>had</b>, there was no <b>way </b>his influence could reach <b>that </b>far topletely block Aubree¡¯s listing.

    Getting them to wrap up the whole listing process by <b>mid</b>¨CMay was already the absolute limit of <b>what </b>he could pull off.

    ¡°None of us thought she¡¯d <b>have </b>that kind of guts, <b>Ronald </b>admitted.

    ¡°<b>That¡¯s </b>not what I want to hear,¡± Morhan snapped. ¡°All I <b>care </b>about is what you¡¯re

    e to do <b>about </b>my losses!¡±

    <b>Ronald</b>, who was usually <b>calm </b>as a rock, was getting fired up now. ¡°Business is always a gamble, isn¡¯t it? You only teamed up <b>with </b>us because you thought the Wilson Group could give you more than Aubree ever could. So why are you crying foul now? <b>Don¡¯t </b>act all high and mighty. Nobody¡¯s buying it, Mr. Dunn!¡±

    Morhan <b>was </b>fuming. If the <b>Wilson </b>Group hadn¡¯t butted in back then, he would¡¯ve teamed up with GrabCheap, and he¡¯d be counting his money with the rest of them <b>right </b>now. Of course, he med Wilson Group, Who else was he supposed to

    me<b>? </b>

    It <b>was </b>all because <b>Ronald </b>was <b>so </b>useless. He couldn¡¯t even keep his daughter in check!

    ¡°Well, if you think I brought this on myself, Mr. Wilson, maybe you <b>shouldn¡¯t </b>have been so desperate to beg me for help in the first ce<b>. </b>

    The Wilson <b>Group </b>might be powerful, but Tengu Gruppe <b>is </b>still a force to be reckoned with in S¨¹dlichen Strand¡¯s <b>business </b>world. If we went to war, it wouldn¡¯t be a <b>walk </b><b>in </b><b>the </b>park for the Wilson Group either, thought Morhan.

    Ronald forced himself to calm down. At a time like that, making an enemy out of Tengu Gruppe wasn¡¯t worth it.

    He cased his tone. ¡°This <b>isn¡¯t </b>the <b>oue </b>we wanted, but I¡¯ll get <b>back </b>to you. We¡¯ve started making moves against Aubree.¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>The </b>Wilson Group <b>has </b>no intention of letting a rival rise up, Ronald added.

 Tried 426

    <b>Morhan¡¯s </b>expression finally eased up a bit. What he feared most was <b>the </b>family tie between the Wilsons and Aubree, which was hard to break. Who knows if Aubree might lose her head for a moment one day and let the Wilsons sweet¨Ctalk her back into the fold? If <b>that </b>happened, who would he even have left toin to?

    Ronald¡¯s promise was the reassurance Morhan needed. It was like <b>a </b>shot of adrenaline. Morhan said, ¡°GrabCheap is already public, and for all we know, Aubree¡¯s next move could being straight for Tengu Gruppe. When that timees, I hope you won¡¯t be stingy with your support, Mr. Wilson.¡±

    ¡°No need to be so polite, Mr. Dunn. We¡¯re partners, after all, Ronald replied smoothly.

    From the tense showdown at the start of the call to the <b>two </b>of them buttering each other up now, their ability to switch faces was honestly impressive.

    At the Wilson family in <b>Rithol </b>City, <b>Ronald </b>put down the phone in the study, looking troubled.

    Bryan stood

    ident.

    across from him while Trevor was nearby, still keeping a low profile at home after the recent miscarriage.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe GrabCheap has this much potential!¡± said Bryan<b>, </b>who couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue in disbelief.

    Bryan¡¯d done his homework on the emerce market, and he¡¯d made a <b>quick </b>estimate when GrabCheap went public. Back <b>then</b><b>, </b><b>he </b>thought even if it got listed, there was no way it couldpete with Wilson Group¡¯s emerce tforms. It was just a small potato.

    All its buzz before was mostly thanks to their heavy marketing. Underneath the <b>shy </b>exterior, Bryan figured there was nothing but an empty shell.

    However¡­ Who would¡¯ve thought it?

    GrabCheap¡¯s market value skyrocketed to more than double its original worth

    Bryan¡¯s eyes were full of <b>shock</b><b>, </b>and for the first time, a hint <b>of </b>wariness shed through him. If Aubree were still with the <b>Wilson </b>family¡­ would I be the one to inherit the Wilson Group in the end?¡® he couldn¡¯t help but wonder.

    Trevor didn¡¯t get all the business details, but he could understand what the experts were saying and recognized what those numbers meant. The person he used to look down on the most, Aubree, actually pulled this off. He never thought she had it <b>in </b>her.

    Now, there <b>was </b>even talk going around that CrabCheap might overtake the three <b>giants </b>of the emerce world one day.

    And those were the Wilson Group, the Turner Group, <b>and </b>Tengu Gruppe.

    Back at home, he used to <b>think </b>she was beneath even <b>being </b><b>a </b>dog¡¯s ything, yet she¡¯d managed to pull off something like that. He¡¯d seriously underestimated her.

    ¡°<b>She¡¯s </b>truly got my blood in her veins,¡± Ronald said with aplicated mix of pride and emotion.

    Honestly, just looking at how Aubree took GrabCheap from <b>an </b>idea to a sessful IPO, <b>she </b>was nothing short of a business prodigy.

    ¡°As long <b>as </b><b>she¡¯s </b>willing toe back<b>, </b><b>she </b>could lead the Wilson Group to an even more glorious future!¡± said Ronald.

    Ronald came from humble beginnings. His parents died young, and he¡¯d poured his whole life into the Wilson Group. If the Wilson <b>Group </b>could ever surpass the <b>Turner </b>Group, he¡¯d die happily even if he died <b>someday</b>.

    ¡°Whether it was her pioneering work in live¨Cstreaming or the revolutionary GrabCheap model, she¡¯s always been unprecedented<b>, </b><b>zing </b><b>trails </b><b>and </b>opening up brand new markets. With <b>that </b><b>kind </b><b>of </b><b>vision </b><b>and </b><b>skill</b>, <b>Bryan</b>, we have to bring your sister back home,¡± Ronald added.

    Ronald grew more <b>and </b>more worked up. Even if Aubree refused toe back, he¡¯d make sure she had no choice.

    8:24 PM d

    Bryan lowered his gaze. When he wanted Aubree toe back previously, he was in a ce of superiority. He saw himself as the one on top, and <b>Aubree </b>was just a little sister he felt sorry for and wanted to make amends to.

    However, Aubree was <b>now </b>a formidable rival.

    Those were two different things.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Bryan <b>said</b>. ¡°Dad, like you said before, the only way to get Aubree back now is to strip away all her backing. But honestly, that¡¯s not exactly <b>easy </b>at this point<b>. </b>

    Ronald¡¯s excitement faded <b>a </b>little. It was a tough nut to crack.

    ¡°If we can¡¯t make a move from the outside, why not try from the inside?¡± Trevor offered his suggestion.

    ¡°It¡¯s <b>hard </b>to get to Aubree directly, but Bree Technology is such a massivepany. There¡¯s bound to be a crack somewhere we can slip through, right?¡± said Trevor, giving a small, knowing <b>smile </b>

    Bryan nodded in agreement. He was thinking, ¡®If Aubree lost everything and ended up back with the Wilson family, would she still have that same drive she has now? Would she still be as unstoppable <b>as </b>she <b>is </b>today?¡±

    É«

 Tried 427

    ¡°Congrattions on going public, prominent entrepreneur.¡±

    Aubree stood by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, <b>looking </b>down at the city as night fell. The streets below bustled with cars and people, every kind of life on disy.

    Bowen¡¯s words of congrattions echoed softly in her ear.

    How <b>could </b>she even describe the feeling? It <b>was </b>like a <b>beautiful </b><b>dream </b>she¡¯d had right before dying in her <b>previous </b>life.

    ¡°Well, I, the prominent entrepreneur, <b>will </b><b>dly </b>ept congrattions <b>from </b>you, the prominent CEO,¡± <b>said </b>Aubree, letting out a softugh. Dream or <b>not</b>, she was happy right now, and that was all that mattered.

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help butugh<b>, </b>too. Even though he couldn¡¯t see her, just hearing her voice made his expression soften in a way that was almost ridiculous, <b>his </b>gaze impossibly tender. When are youing back?¡±

    ¡°In a couple of days. I still have some interviews andworking to do here,¡± Aubree replied. By the time she got back <b>to </b>Rithol City, it would probably be close to his birthday.

    *Will <b>you </b>spend a whole day with me when I get back?¡± she asked.

    ¡°<b>Will </b>one <b>day </b>be enough? Bowen asked<b>. </b>

    ¡°It has to be. Mr. Turner, you¡¯re the big boss. Your people are practically fighting each other to do your work for you. I¡¯m a hardworking person. I have to go to school and work, and I also have to take care of the employees from time to time,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Bowen replied.

    After hanging up, a clever glint shed in Aubree¡¯s eyes. She¡¯d just figured out how she wanted to celebrate Bowen¡¯s birthday.

    Since Bowen couldn¡¯t let go of that day, she¡¯d get <b>him </b>to try doing something else at it.

    If he could move on, that would be the best oue. If <b>not</b>, that would be fine, too. At least from now <b>on</b>, she¡¯d be there with him on that day.

    After staying <b>in </b>S¨¹dlichen Strand for <b>a </b>while, Aubree deliberately timed her return to <b>Rithol </b>City to be close to Bowen¡¯s birthday.

    Aubree Miller: [Can

    you save tomorrow

    for me? It is the 25th tomorrow.]

    Bowen <b>had </b>thought Aubree would be back by the 25th at thetest, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to show up right on the 25th itself.

    However, it was the first time Aubree <b>had </b>ever taken the initiative to invite him out, and honestly, he just <b>couldn¡¯t </b>say no to her.

    After a fierce battle with himself, Bowen <b>finally </b>replied with a simple [Okay.]

    Aubree breathed <b>a </b>huge <b>sigh </b>of relief when <b>she </b><b>saw </b>his <b>message</b>. She thought, ¡®Ollie told me Bowen went to the cemetery to apany his brother and sister¨Cin<b>¨C</bw on his birthdays every year. He couldn¡¯t let go of the pain of <b>losing </b>his family and would probably turn me down.

    Aubree¡¯d even thought it all <b>through</b><b>. </b>If he did <b>say </b>no, she¡¯d juste <b>clean </b>and offer to go with him to visit his brother at the cemetery tomorrow.

    <b>Luckily</b>, things hadn¡¯t turned <b>out </b>nearly <b>as bad </b><b>as </b>she¡¯d <b>imagined</b>.

    The next day, when Aubree arrived at the spot <b>she </b>and Bowen <b>had </b><b>agreed </b>on, she spotted him from afar. He was standing <b>tall </b>and straight under a canopy of ancient, leafy trees, dressed in a sleek ck shirt <b>that </b>showed off his long, lean frame. With his <b>hands </b><b>casually </b>tucked into his pockets, he lookedpletely at ease. His head slightly bowed and his eyes soft and thoughtful, <b>the </b><b>very </b>picture of quiet elegance,

    Usually, his hair would be slicked back with gel at work, but it was left loose today, falling naturally over his forehead. The breeze ruffled it just enough to make him look effortlessly cool and a little wild as he didn¡¯t have <b>a </b>care in the world.

    It was weekend, and not far away, a few young girls, probably students, were blushing and pointing at him, giggling <b>among </b>themselves. Every so often, one of them would squeal, ¡°He¡¯s so handsome! Is he that celebrity?¡±

    Aubree had to bite <b>back </b>augh<b>. </b>If Bowen ever tried his luck in showbiz, just his face alone would be enough to make him go viral, even if he was just ying the role of a pretty boy with no real acting chops.

    As if sensing her presence. Bowen nced over at her out of the corner of his eye. When he spotted her, his brows lifted with <b>a </b>hint of devilish, roguish charm, making him look even more irresistibly attractive.

    ¡°My boyfriend is so punctual¨Chere so early?¡± Aubree teased, her tone half¨Cjoking, half¨Csweet. Strictly speaking, it was their first formal date, and Aubree¡¯d put extra effort into her appearance since today was special.

    É«

 Tried 428

    hapter 128

    She¡¯d gotten up at the crack of dawn to wash and style her hair. After all, it¡¯s said that the highest courtesy for a girl meeting someone is to show <b>up </b>with freshly washed <b>hair</b>. She had to <b>admit</b>, there was some truth to that.

    Aubree¡¯s makeup was <b>light</b>. She was <b>a </b>ssic natural beauty, her delicate features striking even <b>without </b>any help. With just a touch of light makeup, her face looked even more refined.

    She tilted her head up to gaze at Bowen, who lowered <b>his </b>head slightly, sunlight filtering through the leaves <b>and </b>scattering little flecks of gold across her face. Her voice was soft and a little coy, with a yful, almost spoiled lilt that made his throat go dry. ¡°I just got here,¡± he replied.

    However, that wasn¡¯t really the <b>case</b>. He¡¯d had to politely turn down quite a few people <b>who </b>came up to ask for his phone number.

    The group of girls watching from nearby got even more excited when Aubree showed up. It <b>wasn¡¯t </b>that they recognized either of them, but seeing such a gorgeous guy and a stunning girl together was just pure eye candy.

    Someone even snapped a photo of Bowen and Aubree and posted it online, and the shot actually blew up a bit on social media.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go

    <b>then</b>. The exhibition <b>is </b>about to start, Aubree said.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bowen replied.

    <b>The </b>exhibition was only about a ten¨Cminute walk away. As they walked side by side, Bowen nced at Aubree, who had braided her hair today and wore a white dress with sandals, giving off a fresh, youthful vibe that suited her perfectly.

    With the way Bowen was dressed, they looked like a couple out on a date.

    Bowen¡¯s gaze dropped to Aubree¡¯s <b>hand </b>hanging by her side. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, his fingers brushed lightly against hers, skin touching <b>skin</b>. When she didn¡¯t react, he raised an eyebrow, then, not holding back anymore, tentatively took her

    hand in his

    On the surface, he looked cool and unbothered, but inside, his heart was pounding like crazy.

    Whenever they were together before, any little bit of intimacy just happened naturally. But on this official date today, walking side by side like this¡­ the feeling was hard to put into words. It was almost refreshingly innocent. Every time he wanted to do something, there was <b>a </b>shyness to it that felt almost out of character for someone his age.

    He felt like a clueless teenage boy, suddenly all flustered and out of his depth.

    However, Aubree, noticing his move, took charge instead. Her fingers twitched, brushed against his warm, dry <b>palm</b>. Then, she flipped her hand toce their fingers together, locking them tight.

    The moment their fingers intertwined, Bowen honestly felt a tingling rush all the way up his scalp.

    He thought, ¡°Who knew <b>that </b>just holding hands in the right moment could feel electric?

    It was such a strange sensation. His <b>palm </b>was burning, and it felt like every nerve <b>in </b>his body was focused right where their hands met. It was nothing like any of the other intimate moments they¡¯d shared before<b>. </b>

    Even the slightest movement of her fingers, just a gentle brush, sent a tingling itch from where their fingers were intertwined straight to his brain<b>. </b>

    It wasn¡¯t until they stepped into the cool, air¨Cconditioned exhibition hall that some of that restless energy finally faded away.

    They kept holding hands the whole time, never letting go. Aubree pressed her lips together, trying not tough. She never expected Bowen to have such an adorably innocent side.

    The exhibition wasn¡¯trge, so when they finished walking through it, it was just the perfect time to grab <b>a </b>bite to eat.

    ¡°Wanna go see a movieter?¡± Bowen asked. Their ns <b>today </b>were just like any regr couple, checking out an exhibition, hitting the movies, <b>and </b>then wandering around town.

    ¡°Yeah. I already got the tickets,¡± Aubree replied.

    ¡°Which movie are we <b>watching</b>?¡± Bowen asked. Since Aubree had insisted on nning everything for today, he hadn¡¯t even. bothered to ask before.

    Aubree honestly had no idea which movies were good to watch. She¡¯d just picked one from a list of date¨Cnight rmendations <b>online</b>. She pulled out her phone, found the info, and showed it to him. ¡°This one. It¡¯s a foreign film, and the reviews <b>online </b>are good.¡±

    Bowen nced at the screen, his expression a bit amused. ¡°Bree, did you notice this movie is age¨Crestricted?¡±

    Some movies were age¨Crestricted because of stuff like violence or scary scenes. Aubree hadn¡¯t noticed when she bought the tickets, and now that Bowen pointed it out, she said, ¡°The reviews looked great though. Want me to pick something else?¡±

    ¡°No, let¡¯s go with this one. Bowen replied.

    He took a sip of water, using the ss to hide the quick, <b>teasing </b>smile tugging at his lips.

 Tried 429

    When Aubree and Bowen got to the movie theater, a long line had formed even though there was still plenty of time before the ticket check started. It was the weekend, and the movie was apparently pretty hyped. They¡¯d bought couple¡¯s tickets, and everyone else in line seemed to be paired up, too.

    ¡°You get in line. I¡¯ll go and <b>buy </b>the popcorn,¡± Aubree said, her excitement showing. Back when she was in the orphanage, going to the movies <b>was </b><b>a </b>luxury she could never afford. Even after Mr. Quinn started supporting her, she never wanted to spend money on something as seemingly pointless <b>as </bing to the theater to watch a movie.

    She¡¯d been back a couple of times after returning to the Wilson family, but her mood and feelings were never quite the same.

    <b>A </b>smile flickered in Bowen¡¯s eyes as he <b>nodded</b><b>, </b><b>ying </b>along. ¡°At your service, Boss Aubree.¡±

    Looking at the long line, he thought, I wonder how long Bree can hold out once the movie starts.

    The couple¡¯s theater <b>had </b>been <b>specially </b>decorated. Even though there was <b>a </b><b>bit </b>of space between them, Aubree couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart fluttering. Maybe it was just the atmosphere.

    Aubree pressed a hand to her chest, noticing that some couples were already making out.

    She lifted her eyelids and nced at Bowen <b>out </b>of the corner of her eye. He lookedpletely at ease, <b>sitting </b>casually with his arm draped over the armrest, his long, elegant hand hanging down. Somehow, he made the theater seat feel like <b>a </b>boardroom

    throne.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, turning his head and catching her red¨Chanded as she snuck a peek.

    ¡°N¡­ Nothing. The movie¡¯s about to start,¡± she said.

    Aubree sat up straight, hoping the movie would be as exciting as everyone online <b>said</b>. She <b>had </b>no idea just how wrong <b>she </b>was. By the time she walked <b>out </b>of the theater, she <b>was </b>kicking herself for her choice. Exciting? it was way too exciting!

    The movie officially started as the lights dimmed.

    The movie was known as a must¨Csee for couples. It was a ssic romance about a man and a woman falling in love.

    It was a Hollywood film, and it didn¡¯t take long for Aubree to realize why there <b>was </b><b>an </b><b>age </b>restriction. The scenes were a lot spicier than she expected.

    However, everyone there was an adult, <b>so </b>a few suggestive scenes were no big deal.

    Aubree hugged the popcorn bucket <b>and </b><b>shoved </b><b>a </b><b>piece </b>into her mouth. Hope 1 can actually handle this,¡¯ she told herself, a little uncertain.

    With the movie heating up and that meaningful look Bowen had given her <b>earlier</b>, Aubree could pretty much guess what was happening around them. She wasn¡¯t sure about the couples behind her, but in front, it was obvious even with the dim lights. Some people weren¡¯t just kissing, they were already getting handsy.

    Aubree <b>quickly </b>ducked her head, forcing herself to <b>focus </b>on the screen, <b>munching </b>on popcorn that suddenly tasted like nothing at all.

    Bowen let <b>out </b><b>a </b>low chuckle and shifted a bit, leaning <b>so </b>close that their arms brushed together. ¡°Bree, how are you liking the movie so far?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not bad,¡± <b>she </b>stammered, trying <b>to </b>sound <b>casual</b>. ¡°It¡¯s actually pretty good if you just <b>look </b><b>at </b>the story.¡±

    Aubree forced herself to act calm, but the scenes <b>were </b>getting steamier and steamier¡­ Even if they didn¡¯t <b>actually </b>show anything private, the breathy moans and all those suggestive moves made it pretty obvious to anyone with half a brain what the leads were up to.

    She <b>wanted </b><b>to </b><b>sink </b><b>into </b>her seat <b>and </b>disappear. ¡®Oh god, I picked this movie. What if <b>Bowen </b>thinks I brought him here on purpose?¡® thought <b>Aubree</b>.

    Desperate to distract herself from the awkwardness, Aubree shoved another <b>piece </b>of popcorn into her mouth. ¡°Hey, do you <b>think </b>this movie is <b>kind </b>of<b>¡­ </b>not your style? Maybe we could just¡­ leave?<b>¡± </b>

    8:24 PM <b>c </b>

    ¡°I think it¡¯s pretty great<b>,</b>¡± Bowen said, turning toward her, fixing her with a heated stare.

    E

    Comment

 Tried 430

    Aubree¡¯s heart gave a jolt, and she swallowed the rest <b>of </b>her words, Even worse, she could feel¡­

    It wasn¡¯t just the characters on screen who were breathing heavily. She was pretty sure Aubree right next to her was also¡­.

    ¡°No wonder the movie¡¯s ratings are through the <b>roof</b>, Aubree thought, her mind spinning. ¡®How could it not be? It¡¯s got all the thrills, and <b>it¡¯s </b>actually a solid film. With both body and <b>mind </b>satisfied, <b>who </b>in their right mind would rate it low?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ let¡¯s just keep watching, Aubree said, her voice <b>shaking</b>. She was flustered.

    Bowen was looking at her with a gaze that felt downright predatory.

    He didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, his eyes drifted down to the popcorn in her arms. ¡°Is it good?¡±

    <b>¡®</b>Good? What¡¯s good? Aubree¡¯s mind was totally scrambled.

    She sat there in a daze for a moment before it finally clicked. ¡®Oh, he was talking about popcorn, thought Aubree.

    It¡¯s¡­ pretty good. Still warm. Want to try some?¡± Aubree picked up a piece and held it out to him.

    She still remembered how, back when she was upset over <b>Alice</b>, Bowen had shown up with a little cake tofort her, and only he ended up eating it off himself.

    She¡¯d honestly thought he¡¯d bought it just to cheer her up at that time.

    Yep, he is a sweet¨Ctoothed president, she thought.

    Bowen¡¯s lips curled into a yful smile. The moment Aubree held out the popcorn, he leaned in. Without any hesitation, he lowered his head and bit right into the piece she <b>was </b>holding between her fingers.

    The popcorn was tiny, barely the <b>size </b>of her thumb. As his mouth closed around it, his lips inevitably brushed against her fingers. There was no way he could¡¯ve missed them.

    Her fingertips felt like they¡¯d been set on <b>fire</b><b>, </b>a warm and soft sensation sliding right over her skin, leaving her nerves tingling

    <b>in </b>its <b>wake</b>.

    Her scalp tingled. If the theater hadn¡¯t been so dim, Bowen would have seen her ears turning so red. The heat spread from her earlobes and raced across her face <b>like </b>wild vines, taking over her whole expression in seconds.

    Her heart wentpletely out of control, thumping madly in her chest. It was way faster than after running half a mile. Honestly, it <b>was </b><b>almost </b>ridiculous how hard it <b>was </b>pounding.

    She couldn¡¯t tell if he was doing <b>it </b>on purpose, but <b>as </b>he bit down on the popcorn at her fingertips, his eyes never left hers, <b>his </b>lips <b>brushing </b><b>against </b>her skin, his teeth grazing lightly over her finger. It onlysted a few seconds, but it reyed in slow motion <b>in </b>her mind, stretching out for <b>what </b>felt like a lifetime.

    By the time Aubree snapped back to herself, Bowen was already chewing the popcorn. She could <b>hear </b>every crisp crunch, loud.

    and clear.

    His gaze <b>was </b>still fixed <b>on </b>her, with a look that was anything but innocent. ¡°Mmm, Sweet, fragrant, and¡­ <b>delicious</b>.¡±

    In that instant, Aubree felt like steam was practically shooting out of her ears.

    If Bowen had just kissed her outright, it wouldn¡¯t have been nearly as electrifying <b>as </b>the kind of teasing. It was like he <b>wasn¡¯t </b>eating popcorn at all. He was savoring her, as if she was the <b>real </b>treat.

    The <b>movie </b><b>was </b>long, and they didn¡¯t even finish it, <b>not </b>because Aubree couldn¡¯t handle it, but the male lead started showing off way too much skin. Bowen was definitely not generous enough to let his girlfriend sit there and admire some other guy¡¯s

    bare butt!

    After leaving the theater, they strolled hand in <b>hand </b>across the Riverview Bridge.

    As night fell, the streetlights on the bridge flickered to life.

    8:24 PM ? <b>? </b>

    A little girl ran up to them. ¡°Prettydy, buy a bouquet for the handsome guy.¡±

    Bowen found it pretty amusing. Usually, <b>when </b>people <b>sell </b>flowers to a couple, they go for the girl¡¯s boyfriend, hoping the boyfriend buys some for his girlfriend.

    Besides, the bouquet didn¡¯t look like something that one got from a normal flower stand.

    Bowen raised an eyebrow, thinking, ¡®So, the little girl knew it is my birthday and picked today to <b>ask </b>me out, huh?¡±

    É«

 Tried 431

    It was all <b>part </b>of the n. Aubree quickly paid for the flowers and turned to hand them to Bowen. ¡°Hey, flowers<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    pretty boy, want so

    <b>some </b>

    Bowen, the so¨C<b>called </b>¡®pretty boy¡°, was momentarily stunned. He looked at the carefully arranged bouquet before him, finding it rather novel. He reached out to take it ¡®Call me that again?*

    Aubree realized he <b>was </b>talking about the ¡°pretty boy¡± part.

    ¡°Call you what? Pretty boy¡­ Aubree yed along with a grin, her voice lilting and sweet, full of yful charm.

    Even <b>though </b>she was obviously putting on <b>an </b>act to tease him, Bowen found it quite amusing. He grinned. ¡°How¡¯d you know I like being called that?¡±

    He never told her about his birthday, and one couldn¡¯t even find it online.

    ¡°I asked Ollie, Aubree admitted.

    JShould¡¯ve known,¡± Bowen chuckled.

    He gave

    her a smile, watching Aubree stand there a little nervously. With <b>a </b>sigh<b>, </b>he held the bouquet in one hand and pulled her tightly into his arms with the other, like he wanted to hold her so close she¡¯d be a part of him.

    Bowen said, I¡¯m not mad or me you. I just don¡¯t celebrate my birthday. I used to have a hard time letting go, but it¡¯s been <b>so </b>long now, I¡¯m not a kid anymore. I¡¯ve moved on. I just don¡¯t want my brother to be alone on this day, so I go to the cemetery to spend some time with him, like I always do.

    ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not a kid anymore. Birthdays, for me, are just business events in disguise. There¡¯s no need.¡±

    Aubree popped her head out of his embrace, beaming up at <b>him</b>. ¡°Well, your birthdays won¡¯t be about business anymore from

    now on

    ¡°If your brother were still here, I bet he¡¯d want to see <b>you </b>actually enjoy every single birthday,¡± she said softly.

    Bowen¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°So, you¡¯ll take charge of my birthdays from now on.¡±

    ¡°Deal,¡± Aubree replied, wrapping her arms around his neck, rising up on tiptoe, and kissing him.

    At that moment, fireworks burst into bloom behind them, painting the night with dazzling colors.

    Not far away, a cameraman caught the whole scene in film.

    Aubree threw herself back into <b>work </b>and school after Bowen¡¯s birthday. Meanwhile, after Trevor and Sophia got their marriage licenses, Sophia finally married into the Wilson family. But as soon <b>as </b>she got what she wanted, she showed Aubree exactly what it meant to be used and tossed <b>aside</b><b>. </b>

    Sophia <b>sent </b>Aubree a message saying their partnership was <b>over</b>, then blocked and deleted her in one go.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t <b>care </b>less. Sophia was no longer of any use to her. Honestly, if they¡¯d stayed allies, Aubree might¡¯ve even felt a little bad when it came time to <b>make </b>her move against Trevor.

    With Trevor and Sophia¡¯s marriage, the online drama around Trevor had finally died down. The whole mess hadn¡¯t hit him hard. Sure<b>, </b>he had to cough up a <b>ton </b>in breach¨Cof¨Ccontract fees, lost <b>a </b>bunch of high¨Cend endorsements. He could kiss this <b>year¡¯s </b>Best Actor award goodbye, but that was about it.

    Afterying low for a while, once the storm hadpletely passed, Trevor made hiseback by showing up on a variety show.

    <b>As </b>long <b>as </b>Trevor kept his handsome face and didn¡¯t make any major mistakes, his <b>fans </b>would <b>always </b>have his back. Looks were everything in this business, after all.

    A real scandal, huh¡­ Aubree mused, <b>a </b><b>faint </b>smile tugging at her lips.

    <b>Chapter </b>411

    Trevor and Sophia getting married <b>has </b>its ups and downs, she thought. It might have solved Trevor¡¯s crisis for now, but it also <b>meant </b>the two would be publicly tied together until they divorced.

    ¡°Trevor can keep himself out of trouble, but can he keep Sophia from stirring up a scandal of her own?

    The abortion pill Aubree gave Sophia was imported from <b>overseas</b>. It was safe and wouldn¡¯t cause any extra harm to pregnant. women. Sophia even had it checked by a doctor before taking it.

    However, what Aubree didn¡¯t mention was that when Sophia went for her medical tests during pregnancy, Aubree had Sophia reports reviewed by a specialist. If Sophia lost the baby, it¡¯d be nearly impossible for her to get pregnant again.

    E

 Tried 432

    Trevor already found Sophia unbearable. With his flirtatious nature, how long could <b>a </b>marriage with zero emotional ties keep him in check? Once Trevor¡¯s true colors showed <b>again</b>, Sophia would be the one panicking.

    It was obvious what Sophia was counting <b>on </b>to keep her ce in the Wilson family.

    However, what if Trevor managed to keep himself in check just because he was a public figure? No big deal. Aubree would just set up the perfect <b>trap </b>for <b>him</b>. After all, a leopard <b>can¡¯t </b><b>change </b>its spots, <b>and </b>guys like Trevor were always way too sure <b>of </b>

    themselves.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t rush things with Trevor just yet. For now, Aubree had to get Kurtis to hook him up with some pro paparazzi to tail him, hoping to dig up even more dirt she could <b>use </b>against Trevor,

    Now that GrabCheap was up and running, and with Birgitte steering the <b>ship</b>, Aubree had nothing to worry about there. It was time to step on the gas with Zappy.

    Zappy¡¯s short videos received widespread acim as soon <b>as </b>it wasunched. With Aubree teaming up with Peace Entertainment and getting <b>a </b>head start by grooming influencers to ze new trails, the tform¡¯s growth elerated like crazy. Zappy¡¯s downloads soared past a hundred million, but <b>that </b><b>still </b>wasn¡¯t enough for Aubree.

    The domestic market alone couldn¡¯t satisfy Aubree¡¯s ambitions. Aubree was determined to break into the global market next.

    It was time to put the entertainment projects she¡¯d nned with Kurtis on the agenda. The web novel market was basically saturated, <b>but </b>the mini drama market was exploding like never before. Kurtis had made a fortune. When Aubree made a suggestion, he agreed without <b>a </b>second thought.

    Honestly, just the recent sess of GrabCheap was enough for him to trust Aubreepletely. He¡¯d blindly follow her lead wherever she went.

    Now, whenever Kurtis remembered <b>how </b>he once <b>thought </b>Aubree was just <b>a </b><b>stand</b><b>¨C</b>in for Bowen, he felt downright embarrassed. Thinking <b>that </b>way <b>was </b>honestly an <b>insult </b>to <b>Aubree</b>. To be fair, Aubree was a hundred, no, <b>a </b>thousand times. better than Cordelia.

    Seriously, Bowen¡¯d have to be blind if he actually liked Cordelia over Aubree.

    When it came to the mini drama track Aubree had brought up, Kurtis had a diverse lineup of mini dramas all set and ready tounch.

    With the scripts locked in, casting and filming wrapped up<b>, </b>and everything officially approved, they were all set to <b>hit </b>the market.

    Aubree said, ¡°First, we need to build strong partnerships with those streaming tforms, and make sure the dedicated free tform for mini dramas <b>I </b>asked you to prepare is ready.

    ¡°We¡¯llunch the first batch on Zappy. The first twenty episodes will be free, but after that, viewers will have to pay <b>to </b><b>unlock </b>the rest<b>. </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Once the first batch finishes its <b>run </b>on Zappy, we¡¯ll leverage the viewership numbers to sell the streaming rights to other tforms. As for the third batch, we¡¯ll release it directly on our own free tform.¡±

    Kurtis couldn¡¯t help <b>but </b>whistle in admiration. Aubree knew how to squeeze everyst bit of profit out of <b>a </b>single thing.

    She wasn¡¯t even letting the stingiest users off the hook.

    ¡°Don¡¯t want to pay? Fine, then spend your time watching ads. I¡¯ll let you watch for free, Kurtis thought, <b>shaking </b>his head with a grin

    ¡°Whatever you say,¡± Kurtis replied.

    Meanwhile, Alice <b>was </b>a bundle of nerves in the Wilson family.

    She couldn¡¯t sit still, and only when Daxton finally walked in did she lose it. ¡°A worth of hundreds of millions! We¡¯re talking

    hundreds of millions here, Daxton.

    ¡°How <b>could </b>Aubree possibly deserve all that? What makes <b>her </b>worthy of it<b>? </b>

    ¡°Daxton, I overheard your dad and Bryan plotting to bring Aubree <b>back </b>by any means necessary.

    ¡°Aubree¡¯s so sessful now. What about Carmen if shees back? She absolutely <b>hates </b>Carmen. If she returns, she¡¯ll <b>find </b>every way she can to bully her<b>.¡± </b>

    Daxton wasn¡¯t in a good mood either. He hadn¡¯t expected Aubree to be that capable. I know, Mom. I do.¡±

    However, knowing was one thing, but doing something about it was <b>hard</b>.

    ¡°Mom, let¡¯s not panic. We can¡¯t lose our cool. We need to <b>find </b>out where Dad stands in Carmen right now,¡± Daxton said.

    Alice took <b>a </b>deep breath, trying to <b>calm </b>her nerves. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll try to sound him out tonight.¡±

 Tried 433

    ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve found someone for the n Trevor suggested, but the issue is who we should approach,¡± Bryan said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go with Birgitte. Bree Technology has a lot of execs, but Birgitte and Vincent are the ones who know what¡¯s going on. Aubree isn¡¯t someone we can take lightly anymore. If we mess <b>this </b>up, all we¡¯ll get is her brutal <b>payback</b>,¡± Ronald replied.

    <b>Ronald </b>tapped his fingers on the table. After shing <b>with </b>Aubree a few times, he couldn¡¯t look down on her anymore. <b>She¡¯s </b>be a force to be <b>reckoned </b>with, he thought. ¡®My daughter is strong enough to stand against me.¡±

    Ronald felt a bittersweet mix of pride and regret. He thought, ¡®Aubree would have been my most trusted right hand if I hadn¡¯t made that one wrong move and misjudged her

    Thinking of Carmen, Ronald frowned and said, ¡°Carmen¡¯s another issue we need to deal with.¡±

    Even though Ronald had always doted on Carmen, with four sons ahead of her in line, he never nned to let Carmen, an outsider, into thepany or put her in his will. He just nned to leave her enough money to live out her days infort. Besides, as long as Daxton <b>was </b>around, nothing would ever happen to Carmen, even <b>if </b><b>she </b><b>didn¡¯t </b>get any shares.

    No matter how much he disliked Aubree, she always had her share of the stocks. <b>Ronald </b>always kept things <b>clear</b>¨Ccut when it

    came to that

    It was that birthday when Aubree ¡°pushed¡± Carmen down the stairs. Ronald felt guilty for missing her inheritance party, and Aubree¡¯s attitude just made him even angrier. In a moment of clouded judgment, he ended up giving Carmen the shares that were supposed to go to Aubree.

    Bryan knew that, too. The shares were already in Carmen¡¯s hands, and getting them back now would be no easy task.

    ¡°We can sound her out first. If she¡¯s willing to hand them over on her own, that¡¯s the best oue. But if she refuses, we can¡¯t be med for taking some measures,¡± Bryan said.

    ¡°I¡¯m just worried the Diamonde family might get involved,¡± Ronald said.

    Alice was carrying a tray of coffee and had just started to open the study door when she overheard every single word of their

    conversation.

    Her hand trembled, and the cup on the tray hit the floor with a sharp crash.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Ronald asked.

    Panic shed across Alice¡¯s face. She instinctively turned and hurried away.

    The study door was yanked open. Ronald leaned out, scanning the hallway. He caught a glimpse of someone¡¯s back and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Alice?¡±

    ¡°Mom?¡± Bryan asked, stepping up behind him.

    The study was off¨Climits to the housekeepers and maids. Even cleaning was usually done by Alice or by themselves.

    Bryan stared at the steaming puddle on the floor. <b>¡®</b><b>It¡¯s </bte, and the only one who would bring us water at this hour is probably Mom<b>, </b>he thought.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ronald said, frowning. ¡°What was she doing here? How much did she overhear? Did <b>she </b>drop the cup because she was feeling guilty?¡® he wondered.

    Alice rushed back to her room, barely catching her breath when her phone rang. It was Ernesto, her brother.

    She <b>took </b>a moment topose herself before answering. ¡°Hello<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Alice, I need to talk to you. Let¡¯s meet up tomorrow,¡± Ernesto said. Alice didn¡¯t <b>ask </b>any questions and thought, ¡®No matter what<b>, </b>Ernesto is <b>still </b>a Diamonde. He¡¯ll always be on my side <b>when </b>ites to the big picture.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Where should we meet?¡± asked Alice.

    <b>8:25 </b>PM c c

    ¡°Let¡¯s meet at the Rose Apartment on Green Street. I remember you have a property there, right?¡± Ernesto said.

    Ernesto drew out hisst word, his voice slow and heavy with meaning<b>. </b>

    Alice felt <b>as </b>if she¡¯d been dropped into a frozenke. Her mouth hung open, but not a single sound escaped like a swari with its neck caught <b>in </b>a vice. She couldn¡¯t even <b>manage </b><b>a </b>plea for help.

    ¡°Rose Apartment¡­ That¡¯s where I settled Kyler, Alice thought, panic rising in her chest.

    ¡®Does Ernesto know about it?¡® <b>she </b>wondered, her heart pounding.

    ¡°You¡­ You know about everything?¡± Alice finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Çú

 Tried 434

    Chapter <b>434 </b>

    She <b>was </b>still reeling from the shock, and now Ernesto¡¯s wordsnded like another heavy blow. Alice stared nkly, her eyes wide with disbelief, her face so ashen and drained of color it <b>was </b>as if all life had been sucked out of her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I won¡¯t do anything to you. Things aren¡¯t like they used to be,¡± Ernesto said, his tone softer than before.

    Ernesto¡¯s reminder twisted the knife in her heart. It had been just another ordinary day until the members of the Diamonde family suddenly showed up and dragged her away, leaving her powerless to resist.

    She had lost Xander once before. She absolutely couldn¡¯t let it happen <b>a </b>second time.

    No matter what, she was going to protect Kyler this time.

    ¡°Okay, see you tomorrow, Alice replied<b>, </b>knowing Ernesto all too well. If he didn¡¯t say <b>what </b>he wanted, it meant he¡¯d never <b>spill </b>a thing no matter how much she pressed him.

    After <b>hanging </b>up. Alice never imagined it <b>was </b><b>Carmen </b>who had exposed Kyler¡¯s existence. Alice assumed Ernesto had noticed. her odd behavior at that inte conference and <b>had </b>been watching Kyler ever since.

    Her grip on the edge of the bed tightened. ¡®I should have been more <b>careful</b><b>, </b>she thought.

    Taking a moment while watering the flowers, Kyler texted Aubree. [Ernesto¡¯s found out about me.]

    Kyler actedpletely <b>clueless</b><b>, </b>quietly tending to the nts, looking like a secret lover who¡¯d been caught by the sugar daddy¡¯s brother and now had to y it cool.

    In fact, Ernesto hadn¡¯t left the apartment after he found Kylerst night.

    A harsh screech of <b>brakes </b>echoed outside. Ernesto put down his coffee and looked <b>toward </b>the door<b>. </b>

    A woman in a crisp suit <b>walked </b>in with no¨Cnonsense air. The first thing she did <b>was </b>check on Kyler, making sure <b>he </b>was alright. Only after seeing him was safe did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

    Emesto took it all in and said, ¡°I told you, I won¡¯ty a finger on him. Things are different this <b>time</b>.¡±

    Last time, Xander was an obstacle and had to be dealt with. But Kyler is a useful threat now. I n to make the most of him,¡± thought Ernesto,

    ¡°Go back to what you were doing,¡± Alice said, not wanting Kyler to know anything about her past.

    Kyler wasn¡¯t the nosy type, not on the surface at least. He just gave <b>a </b>slight nod and walked out.

    ¡°Alright, just say it. What do you <b>want</b>?¡± Alice straightened up, her face all business.

    Ernesto gave a helpless smile and spread his hands, saying, ¡°Alice<b>, </b>I¡¯m not lying to you this time. I am here to help.

    ¡°You know as well as I do that the rtionship between the Wilson and Diamonde families is on shaky ground. <b>Ronald </b>can¡¯t be <b>trusted </b>anymore. There¡¯s nothing more secure than having things in our hands,¡±

    Alice¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°You want me to fight for control of Wilson Group? Are you crazy?¡±

    Even though Alice held more <b>shares </b>in the Wilson family than anyone except Ronald, Ronald would never let her get involved in thepany¡¯s <b>affairs</b>. Otherwise, she would have taken a <b>position </b>at Wilson Group instead of starting Cloud Design on her

    OWIL

    Even if, for <b>argument¡¯s </b><b>sake</b>, she never loved Ronald, she gave birth to her <b>kids</b><b>. </b>She¡¯d have to be crazy to fight her sons for power.

    ¡°As long as I¡¯m still married to Ronald, the Wilsons and the <b>Diamonde </b>family will keep working together, Alice <b>said</b>. ¡°Even if we got divorced, it doesn¡¯t mean the two families would just cut ties.¡±

    8:25 PM c c

    Ernesto understood all that, but it wasn¡¯t enough for him. He wanted to keep all the power for himself.

    ¡°No. Letting the Wilson Group call the shots isn¡¯t what I¡¯m after. Rx, I know you¡¯re not the one for that job. There are others who are close to the Diamonde family and have influence in the Wilson family besides you,¡± Ernesto said.

    ¡°You mean Carmen?¡± Alice asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

    Carmen now held 5% of the shares, and Daxton was so biased toward her that he¡¯d even go against the rest of the Wilson family for her. <b>With </b>him around, it was impossible to tell whose side he¡¯d end up on. If Alice threw her support behind Carmen, things would get even messier,

    She remembered what she¡¯d overheardst night. Ronald and Bryan were willing to do whatever it <b>took </b>to get those shares. from Carmen. Carmen is my daughter with Daxton. There¡¯s no way I could just watch her get hurt, Alice thought, her heart tightening. This seems like my best shot at <b>turning </b>the tables.

 Tried 435

    However¡­ Could I trust Carmen? thought <b>Alice</b>.

    Alice¡¯s eyes grew red <b>as </b>she thought about everything that had happened<b>. </b>

    <b>Back </b>then, the Diamonde family forced her to break <b>up </b>with Xander to win over Ronald and shamelessly pushed her into Ronald¡¯s bed. She ended up being pregnant with Bryan before she even married Ronald.

    Alice refused to give in, but the Diamonde family gave up all pretense and sent her straight to Ronald¡¯s ce. She had to keep living with <b>Ronald </b><b>as </b>long <b>as </b>she wouldn¡¯t agree to marry him. They hoped Alice and Ronald would develop feelings for each other.

    No matter what, they already had a son together by then, and Ronald¡­ <b>was </b>a good man. Even though she said all kinds of harsh <b>things </b>to Ronald, Ronald still took care of her selflessly during that time, never onceining.

    Then<b>, </b>one night when they were both drunk, they ended up together again. That was how Daxton was born. Alice finally gave in after Daxton grew a bit older.

    She thought it was just how her life would go until showed up on her wedding day, turning everything upside down.

    It was like her heart, which had been numb for so long, suddenly started beating <b>again</b>. Looking back, Alice felt like she used up all the courage she had in her whole life just to run away from that wedding. She¡¯d given Ronald two sons. That was the only way she knew how to repay his love.

    However, she <b>never </b>expected what came after: being dragged back to the Diamonde family, losing the man she loved, and her daughter ending up all alone in an orphanage.

    Alice needed <b>a </b>daughter for Carmen to rightfully return to her side. That was how Aubree was born. With the Diamonde. family¡¯s help, Carmen, with her age altered, returned to Alice as her adopted daughter.

    Alice had made up her mind. Instead of passively waiting for Ronald to run out of patience, it was better for them to take the initiative.

    Carmen and Bryan were <b>half</b>¨Csiblings, sharing the same mother. Once Carmen took control of the Wilson family, Alice would tell them the truth. Given their blood rtionship, she believed they could ept it.

    ¡°This won¡¯t be an easy road even if Daxton is on Carmen¡¯s side,¡± <b>said </b>Alice.

    The first hurdle in their way was Aubree. If Carmen had Aubree¡¯s skills and could build a business empire worth hundreds of millions, Ronald would be over the moon to let Carmen <b>into </b>thepany. Alice wouldn¡¯t even have to say <b>a </b>word.

    If Carmen couldn¡¯t get into thepany, nothing else would matter.

    ¡°With Aubree standing in the way, Ronald isn¡¯t going to pay any attention to Carmen,¡± added Alice.

    ¡°If Aubree is in the way, make her <b>disappear</b>,¡± Ernesto <b>said</b>, as if he were just chatting about the weather but talking about taking someone¡¯s life.

    Alice was horrified. Sure, Aubree¡¯s birth had been part of a scheme from the very beginning, but Aubree was still her flesh and blood, the child she carried for <b>nine </b>months and brought into the world. Even when she¡¯d heartlessly abandoned Aubree back. then, she¡¯d never once thought about <b>actually </b>ending her life.

    ¡°No!¡± Alice blurted out.

    Ernesto let out a cold chuckle. <b>Back </b>then, he was the first to help their parents scheme and send Alice to Ronald. Now, couldn¡¯t care less about <b>Aubree</b>, who waspletely useless to him.

    He sneered, ¡°So, you¡¯re picking <b>Aubree </b>between your two daughters?

    he

    ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll go <b>and </b>tell Ronald his adopted daughter who he¡¯s cherished all these years is his wife¡¯s illegitimate child with another man. Who <b>knows</b><b>? </b>Maybe once he finds out, he¡¯ll do something about Carmen to get Aubree <b>back</b>. When the truthes out, I¡¯ll be the uncle who exposed everything. Aubree may even thank me for it.¡±

    ¡°No, you can¡¯t!¡± Alice¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Leave Carmen out of this. I sacrificed myself for the family back then. Why can¡¯t you

    8:25 PM <b>& </b>d

    just let my daughter go?¡±

    ¡°How have I not let Carmen go? Didn¡¯t I give her the chance to fight for the Wilson Group? If she pulls it off, she¡¯ll be at the top. <b>Am </b>I <b>not </b>treating her well enough?¡± Ernesto retorted, <b>sounding </b><b>so </b>sure of himself.

    There was a subtle, almost mocking pity in the way Ernesto looked at Alice. That bastard child she had with Xander died of illness years <b>ago</b>, and only she was dumb enough to ever believe Xander was some kind of good guy.

    <b>AD </b>

 Tried 436

    If he was that great, howe the Diamonde family found her so fast after she¡¯d been hiding for years?

    ¡°Take your pick, Ernesto said coldly.

    ¡®Carmen only has me left, Alice thought, covering <b>her </b>face. ¡®Aubree¡­ Aubree, your birth was destined for Carmen, so don¡¯t me me for being cruel. I¡¯ll clear the way for Carmen onest time.

    ¡°I moved that couple to Rithol City a while back. I¡¯ll find a chance to meet them. It¡¯s better to have them do it than else,¡± Alice said.

    Ernesto smiled, clearly pleased. ¡°I knew you had a n, Alice.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s still <b>not </b>enough. I¡¯ll get Ronald to help, too,¡± Alice said. Her voice calm <b>and </b>steady.

    She¡¯d made her decision. I have to make sure nothing can go wrong if I¡¯m going to do this, Alice told herself.

    <b>anyone </b>

    Her eyes grew distant for a moment as <b>a </b>sudden <b>thought </b>crossed her mind. ¡®If I hadn¡¯t gone soft back then and let that couple kill Aubree, would any of this have happened?¡®

    ¡°No, Alice reminded herself, I only told them to send Aubree far away back then. Aubree got lucky and was rescued, eventually ending up in <b>an </b>orphanage. Maybe this is just how fate works!

    On the other hand, Carmen also heard the news <b>GrabCheap </b><b>had </b>gone public and raked in assets worth over hundreds of millions. She panicked, her heart pounding with doubt. ¡®<b>Can </b>I go head¨Cto¨Chead with Aubree? she wondered.

    ¡®Right now, unless Dad has lost his mind, there is no way he¡¯ll ignore his own daughter, who could pull off a project worth hundreds of millions, just to let me, his adopted daughter, who failed a project and almost got myself in trouble, into the

    Then, Carmen forced herself to <b>calm </b>down after freaking out for a bit. She thought, ¡°No. Why should I be scared of Aubree? I¡¯ve got people backing me like the Diamonde family, Mom, and Daxton. They¡¯re all on my side. I started out ahead of <b>her</b>. If she can do it<b>, </b><b>so </b>can 1. Uncle Ernesto is definitely going to make a move once this news gets out!

    Carmen hurriedly texted Ernesto.

    Ernesto Diamonde: [Rx, I get Aubree handled. What you need to focus on now is getting a project off the ground.<b>] </b>

    Ernesto Diamonde: [Don¡¯t let your dad find out you¡¯re behind this project until it¡¯s a hit. Once it takes off and the timing¡¯s right, it¡¯ll be your ticket straight into Wilson <b>Group¡¯s </b>upper management.<b>] </b>

    Ernesto was thinking that once Aubree was out of the picture and Ronald was reeling, Carmen could step up, carrying that same aura <b>and </b><b>determination </b>as Aubree. Ronald would see her in a new light.

    Ernesto Diamonde: [You¡¯ve got an edge over Aubree, which is your reputation in the art world earned you a solidwork. You don¡¯t have to worry about startup funds at all. You¡¯re starting way ahead of where Aubree was, and the risks are way lower for you.]

    Carmen knew she desperately needed something impressive to show for herself, but that was easier said <b>than </b>done.

    Carmen Wilson: [Honestly, <b>I </b>have no idea <b>what </b><b>kind </b>of project I could even pull off right <b>now</b>.)

    Anyone could start <b>a </b>project, buting up with something groundbreaking like Aubree <b>had </b><b>done</b>? That was a whole different story.

    Ernesto Diamonde: [Start a bike¨Csharing business.]

    ¡®Can that really <b>work?</b>¡® Carmen wondered, full of doubt.

    Bike¨Csharing was already everywhere, and the <b>market </b>was saturated. Most people who tried it lost money, and the ones who made a profit had cashed in. There was basically no room left for neers.

    It wasn¡¯t like an emerce tform. There was no untapped lower¨Ctier <b>market </b>to go after.

    Ernesto Diamonde: [All the bike¨Csharingpanies out there <b>use </b>regr bikes. We¡¯ll go with electric bikes instead. Same idea, but way more convenient. Honestly, who wouldn¡¯t pick the <b>easier </b>option? This is a project Diamonde Group has been nning for a while, and I¡¯m handing it to you specifically. Don¡¯t let me down.]

    Everything he said was true. Over the years, Diamonde Group had been searching for breakthroughs. Besides their jewelry <b>business</b>, they¡¯d been leveraging the Wilson Group to expand into new <b>areas</b><b>, </b>and the shared e¨Cbike project had been one of their main prioritiestely.

    By giving the project to Carmen, Ernesto was investing heavily to back Carmen.

    However, he <b>was </b>only giving Carmen this one shot. If she couldn¡¯t get into the Wilson Group, he¡¯d just use her as a pawn to clear the way.

    Carmen had no idea what Ernesto was nning, but her face was full of excitement after hearing what he said.

 Tried 437

    Alice sat in the living room <b>until </b>Ronald came home at night. With all the socializing and dinnerstely, he¡¯d been getting backte every night.

    ¡°Why¡¯d you drink so much?¡± Alice asked, stepping forward to steady Ronald, who was a bit wobbly on his feet

    Ronald turned to look at Alice. Time had been kind to her. From their youth to now, <b>Ronald¡¯d </b>lost the <b>shine </b>of his younger days, but for Alice, it was just a few more wrinkles <b>and </b>a little less sticity in her skin, nothing more.

    The years <b>had </b>smoothed away Alice¡¯s youthful naivety and given her a different, more refined kind of charm.

    However, Ronald and Alice hardly ever sat down for a peaceful talk ever since their blow¨Cup at the hospital. For Alice to wait for Ronaldte tonight, Ronald honestly never thought he¡¯d see the day.

    Ronald pulled his hand away and said coldly. ¡°Do you need something?¡±

    He was <b>just </b>a poor kid from a small mountain vige. When he first saw Alice, the girl so graceful, pampered<b>, </b><b>and </b><b>adored</b>, at the Diamonde family, it would¡¯ve been a lie to say he wasn¡¯t moved. Anyone would be, and he was no exception.

    He had liked her from their youth until now, at least. His feelings had never changed.

    Their first time together had been orchestrated by the Diamonde family. After <b>that</b><b>, </b>it was all about responsibility. He liked her. Even though he knew exactly what the Diamonde family was up to, he just went along with it. Because of the <b>guilt</b>, he never held it against her and still stayed by her side after she ran away from their <b>wedding</b>.

    A wave of bitterness welled up in Ronald¡¯s heart. It had been doomed from the start<b>, </b><b>and </b>they might just keep things civil

    from now on

    Alice <b>froze</b>, clearly not expecting Ronald to react like that.

    ¡°L¡­¡± She hesitated, unsure how to start. How <b>could </b>she tell him she wanted to kidnap her daughter<b>? </b>

    Ronald figured she was bringing up what happened outside the studyst time. ¡°I knew it was you outside the study. You must¡¯ve heard what I said about Carmen, right?¡±

    ¡°I know you care about and favor Carmen, but if you¡¯re just here to win me over because of that, there¡¯s really no need. As long as she gives back what doesn¡¯t belong to her, I¡¯m not going to drive her into a corner because I¡¯ve raised her all these years<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    He was wary of the shares in Carmen¡¯s hands, especially whenbined with the ones Alice held. It could be troublesome if the Diamonde family wanted to <b>make </b>a move.

    He couldn¡¯t afford to leave himself with such a big problem.

    Recently, Ronald had been so busy dealing with Aubree that he¡¯d shoved the whole issue of Carmen¡¯s shares to the side.

    Alice quietly clenched her fists. Her earlier hesitation now reced by a steely resolve.

    What does he mean by ¡°what doesn¡¯t belong to Carmen¡°? Why shouldn¡¯t Carmen have <b>those </b>shares? She grew up in the Wilson family. She¡¯s my daughter and carries the Wilson name. She¡¯s one of the Wilson family, Alice thought. ¡®If anything, it¡¯s Aubree <b>who </b>snatched <b>away </b><b>what </b><b>should¡¯ve </b>been Carmen¡¯s!¡®

    Alice said, ¡°No, <b>that¡¯s </b>not it. I overheard what you said outside the <b>study </bst time. I was just too nervous then.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not get into that. The shares Carmen holds belong to the Wilson family, <b>so </b>I have no objections there. What I wanted to talk to <b>you </b>about is <b>Aubree</b>.¡±

    <b>Ronald¡¯s </b>face grew solemn at the mention of Aubree¡¯s name.

    Alice added, ¡°<b>You </b>and Bryan are getting serious about this<b>, </b>huh? With a market cap of hundreds of billions, it¡¯s not small pressure even for the Wilson Group, is it?

    ¡°And what¡¯s even scarier is, she¡¯s <b>still </b>young, and on the rise. She¡¯s got the Turner Group backing her up.

    8:25 <b>PM </b><b>dd </b>

    Every word Alice said struck right at Ronald¡¯s sorest spot.

    ¡°I can help you,¡± Alice <b>said</b>.

    Her words hung in the air, and there was a heavy silence for a moment.

    After being together for twenty years, Alice could read Ronald like a book just by looking at <b>his </b>face. She continued, ¡°Bree Technology <b>has </b>grown into a towering giant now. A few small moves won¡¯t make a dent in it. If we¡¯re going to act, we have to go for the kill, no holding back!

    <b>2/2 </b>

 Tried 438

    Chapter <b>438 </b>

    ¡°<b>Aubree </b>set Emery up and got him thrown in jail first. Now she¡¯sing after Trevor, forcing him to marry that woman. Who knows if she¡¯s nning to push Trevor over the edge next, or if Daxton and Bryan are her next targets, or maybe even us.

    ¡°If you want to take down a crew, you go for the boss first. Bree Technology will be thrown into <b>chaos </b>if something happens to Aubree. And if we hit them from the outside at the same time, Bree Technology¡¯s going to be in real trouble. Even Bowen, <b>with </b>his 30% stake, won¡¯t be tempted by such a huge profit?¡±

    Whether Bowen was tempted or not, Ronald definitely was.

    Every word Alice said struck right at the heart of his worries. He was afraid Aubree was growing too fast, and sooner orter, she¡¯d make <b>him </b>her next target.

    ¡°So what¡¯s the n?¡± Ronald asked.

    ¡°Kidnapping, I can get people for the job. I guarantee we¡¯ll seed in one strike when the time is right!¡± Alice said, her eyes narrowing with determination<b>. </b>

    <b>Alice¡¯s </b>eyes were resolute, and Ronald was seriously weighing how doable it was. Saying yes to her n didn¡¯t sh with his original idea of taking down Bree Technology from the inside. If anything,bining both approaches might give them the <b>edge </b>they needed.

    It¡¯s just a kidnapping. We¡¯re not actually going to hurt Aubree, so what¡¯s the harm? Ronald reassured himself.

    Besides, he¡¯d been watching Aubree like a hawk ever since the GrabCheap deal, <b>waiting </b>for a chance to make his move. After GrabCheap¡¯s <b>sess</b>, Aubree hadn¡¯t done anything drastic. Buttely, she seemed to be shifting her attention back to Zappy.

    Aubree was <b>also </b>actively reaching out to people outside, and Ronald had no clue what Aubree was nning. Still, he knew he had to make <b>things </b>difficult for her. He couldn¡¯t just let Aubree do whatever she wanted.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ve got an opportunity on my side, too. I¡¯ll give you a heads¨Cup when the timees,¡± Ronald said.

    ¡°Alright. It¡¯ste. Get some rest,¡± Alice said.

    With her goal achieved, Alice felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her. Kidnapping Aubree? That was never the real n. What she truly wanted was that Aubrey should die.

    Since Alice was the one who brought Aubree into the world, taking Aubree¡¯s life back <b>now </b>didn¡¯t make her feel the least bit guilty. She owed Aubree nothing.

    Meanwhile, Aubree <b>had </b>been busy reaching out for new deals.

    Thanks to Kurtis¡¯s connections, she¡¯d been talking with the three other major video tforms owned by Manchotech aside from Manchotech Video itself. After hearing her pitch for the mini drama project, they all seemed pretty interested.

    Aubree set up a meeting to bring one of her mini dramas over for their execs to check out. If it was as good as she imed, they¡¯d be down to <b>work </b>with her.

    Of <b>course</b><b>, </b>everything would depend on how well the mini drama performed once it was released on Zappy.

    <b>Aubree¡¯s </b>arrangement with all three tforms was the <b>same</b>; they¡¯d preview the mini drama first, then sign a contract. If <b>it </b><b>hit </b>the agreed<b>¨C</b>upon view count, they¡¯d buy the rights and stream and promote the mini drama. If it didn¡¯t, the deal would be off.

    Now, all she needed <b>to </b>do was bring the finished mini drama to the threepanies and negotiate initial coborations.

    <b>Two </b>of the <bpanies </b>were right there in Rithol <b>City</b>, while the third was in <b>Urggate </b>City. <b>To </b>help out, Kurtis had made a special trip to Rithol City to run around with Aubree for these meetings.

    *I¡¯ve watched all these mini dramas,¡± Kurtis <b>said</b>, ¡°and everyone who previewed them told me the same thing. The plot seems brainless at first nce, but it¡¯s <b>magically </b>addictive, <b>making </b>one <b>want </b>to watch the next <b>episode </b>after finishing one, like being

    addicted.

    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought the longest it would take to shoot one of these mini dramas is half a month? And even the costumes, props, and effects are just the best <b>you </b>can get for the lowest budget.¡±

    Kurtis was full of confidence. Honestly, he was totally blown away by Aubree. The cost of making a mini drama wasn¡¯t high at all. Having <b>good</b>¨Clooking actors helped, but it was just a bonus. It didn¡¯t matter if they had that typical influencer look or something unique. Anyone could y the part as long as they fit the vibe of the main character.

    The acting requirements weren¡¯t high either. Anyone who¡¯d done some extra work or had a bit of training from a drama school could handle it.

    However, even though those mini dramas look low¨Cbudget and pdash, they were weirdly addictive.

    ¡°One must be blind if <b>one </b>can¡¯t appreciate these, Kurtis said.

    Aubree chuckled wryly. ¡°Who knows? Nothing¡¯s ever set in stone.¡±

    <b>2/2 </b>

 Tried 439

    Aubree couldn¡¯t guarantee every single thing would be a hundred percent sessful, but she had absolute confidence in everything she did.

    She was sure those threepanies wouldn¡¯t refuse to work with her.

    ¦°

    ¡°Ms. Miller, Mr. Carr, we¡¯ve watched the mini dramas. Honestly, we have to admit there¡¯s something kind of addictive about it. It keeps people watching. But about this partnership..

    <b>The </b>executives across from them exchanged nces.

    ¡°We still think we should hold off on this coboration. Each episode is two or three minutes long. We¡¯ve never seen <b>anything </b>produced like that before. The actors are all pretty much unknown, and <b>the </b>costumes, sets, and special effects are nothing to write home about. Mr. Carr, you probably know more about these than we do.

    ¡°We don¡¯t see a product like this bringing any game¨Cchanging profits to our tform. Honestly, it¡¯s not just about money. We¡¯re worried about risking our tform¡¯s reputation, you know?¡±

    No! You¡­ Kurtis shot up from his seat, furious. These people acted all friendly when they watched the video together. Now they were showing their true colors.

    And it was already the secondpany to turn them down.

    ¡°Mr. Carr!¡± Aubree reached out and gently pressed down on Kurtis¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Everyone has their own considerations. Even if we can¡¯t work together this time, there¡¯s no hard feelings. We¡¯re <b>still </b>on good terms.¡±

    Aubree smiled at the executives across the table. ¡°Looks like my project didn¡¯t win you over. I guess I need to <b>work </b><b>harder</b>. It doesn¡¯t matter if we can¡¯t cooperate. I¡¯ll treat you all to a meal when there¡¯s a chance in the future.¡±

    After exchanging a couple of polite words, Aubree simply led Kurtis out of <b>the </b>room without saying <b>anything </b>more.

    Once <b>they </b>were back in the car, Kurtis still couldn¡¯t wrap his head around how things <b>had </b>turned out this way.

    ¡°Are those people blind or <b>what</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>he burst out. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything back there?¡±

    ¡°Aubree fought for it just like I did at the firstpany, even though it didn¡¯t work out. However, <b>Aubree </b>didn¡¯t time. How could Aubree just let it go with the second one?¡¯ thought Kurtis.

    even try

    <b>this </b>

    Aubree gave a small smile. ¡°There¡¯s no need to get all worked up if they don¡¯t want to work with us. We¡¯ve still got a thirdpany to visit, don¡¯t we? Besides, missing our flight would be a real pain.¡±

    Her voice was steady, not a trace of annoyance or frustration on her face as if the rejection didn¡¯t bother her in the slightest.

    Kurtis stared at her in disbelief. <b>¡°You </b>don¡¯t care at all? If none of these deals work out, <b>won¡¯t </b>it mess up your ns, at least a

    little?¡±

    There was no way they could pull it off just by <b>making </b>those mini dramas themselves.

    Selling the rights wasn¡¯t just about a simple licensing fee. It was about getting the mini <b>dramas </b>out there. After the first wave of hype, all the major video tforms would start streaming them, <b>making </b>the mini¨C<b>dramas </b>look like the next big thing.

    Wherever there¡¯s money to be made, people will jump in. Soon, there¡¯d be plenty of others making mini dramas, too, putting them on Zappy and that free tform of theirs. With all those ripple effects, the biggest winners <b>would </b>still be them, eventually.

    However, if even one step was missing, it¡¯d be hard to hit their <b>targets </b><b>as </b><b>fast </b><b>as </b>they wanted.

    Aubree shrugged <b>and </b>said, ¡°If they don¡¯t want to work with us, it¡¯s not like we can hold a gun to their head and force them, right?

    ¡°No point wasting our time on something that leads nowhere. Let¡¯s do something <b>that </b>matters. Let¡¯s check on how things <b>are </b><b>going </b>in Urggate City before we decide our next move.¡±

    ¡®She¡¯s really <b>this </b><b>chill</b>? <b>Kurtis </b>thought, watching her.

    825 PM c c ¡¤

    However, he started to feel a little more at ease as he looked at Aubree. She must have had this all nned out, thought Kurtis.

    Aubree <b>and </b>Kurtis made <b>a </b>beeline for their next destination when their ne touched down in Urggate City. Sure enough, they got rejected yet again, though it <b>was </b>both unexpected and somehow exactly what they¡¯d anticipated.

    As they reached thepany entrance, Kurtis shot a re at the secretary who¡¯d walked them out. He said, ¡°Are these threepanies in cahoots or what? Seriously, they¡¯re <b>all </b>giving us the sameme excusel

    ¡°We told them the mini drama wasn¡¯t some fancy production long ago, didn¡¯t we? They didn¡¯t care before, but now everyone has suddenly got a problem with it. This isn¡¯t how people do business, right?¡±

    Aubree pressed her lips into a thin line. ¡°It¡¯s not that they don¡¯t want to work with us. It¡¯s that someone beat us to the punch.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Kurtis blurted out,pletely shocked. As far as he knew, they were the only <b>ones </b>doing mini dramas <b>right </b>now. He thought, ¡®If it weren¡¯t for Aubree, even if someone had told me about this, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d have thrown money at something

    like this.

    ¡°If Aubree hadn¡¯t let me get a taste of sess with those mini dramas, and I hadn¡¯t taken <b>a </b><b>gamble </b>with her, I never would¡¯ve believed in the mini drama thing. I thought it was burning cash for nothing when I first heard about it.

 Tried 440

    <b>Chapter </b>440

    ¦°

    ¡®No famous actors, no top¨Cnotch directors, the costumes <b>and </b>sets were all so¨Cso. Put all those together, it just looked like¡­ total junk. Who <b>in </b>their right mind would spend money on this stuff?¡±

    However, Kurtis had to admit he¡¯d been totally wrong after they actually made it. With low cost and big profits, it was absolutely going to kick off a whole new wave.

    ¡°When I say someone beat us to the punch, I don¡¯t mean someone else jumped in and started making mini dramas before us,¡± Aubree exined. ¡°I mean someone sweetened the deal for them by giving them some other benefits, so they¡¯d turn down our partnership.

    Aubree had sensed something <b>was </b>off from the secondpany, but she wasn¡¯t sure. After the trip to Urggate City, she was certain someone <b>had </b>their eyes

    on her. They might not <b>know </b>exactly what she was nning, but they wanted to block her

    from making any deals.

    As for who <b>it </b>was¡­.

    Aubree turned around, as if sensing something. The elevator doors across from the entrance slid open, and the executive who had coldly rejected her was now grinning obsequiously at the tall man beside <b>him</b>.

    The man noticed her, too, lifting his head as <b>their </b>eyes met

    ¡°Bryan<b>,</b>¡± said Aubree, smiling.

    As saw Bryan, too, and his face instantly fell. Seriously? It¡¯s the Wilson family messing with us?¡® he thought, shocked.

    Bryan¡¯s expression remained calm as he nodded to the executive. ¡°You can see me off here¡±

    The executive hadn¡¯t expected Aubree <b>to </b>still be there. Not wanting to get involved in whatever was going on between Bryan and Aubree, he stayed inside the elevator and let the doors close, making a quick exit..

    Bryan walked up to Aubree, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°Long time no see, Aubree

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯d rather not see you if I <b>could </b>help it, Aubree said with a cheerful grin, her tonepletely at odds with her words. ¡°Something bad happens every time I <b>run </b>into you. Maybe seeing you itself is bad luck.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re <b>still </b><b>as </b>disrespectful <b>as </b>ever, Bryan said, his smile never wavering.

    Aubree just gave a nomittal hum<b>. </b>She thought, ¡®Why should I bother showing some respect to a bastard like you?¡±

    Bryan let out a smallugh. ¡°Getting rejected stings, doesn¡¯t it? See, a little interference from us and you¡¯re already in big trouble. Aubree, you¡¯re not strong enough to stand on your own yet. Why not juste back and be the daughter of the Wilson family? Wouldn¡¯t that be so much easier?¡±

    ¡°Shameless scoundrel!¡± <b>Kurtis </b>snapped, his voice thick with fury.

    ¡°Just a few petty tricks, that¡¯s all,¡± Bryan replied nonchntly, ¡°Getting all riled up over this, Mr. Carr?¡±

    Kurtis had rarely <b>seen </b>anyone so brazen<b>¨C</b><b>caught </b>scheming right to their face and still not the least bit ashamed. His fists clenched tight in anger.

    Aubree lifted her eyes and fixed Bryan with a mocking look. <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>want me to obediently go back and y the good daughter? Bryan, I bet you¡¯d be thest person to celebrate if I crawled back now, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±

    Bryan¡¯s smile faded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t act so smug. <b>It¡¯s </b>not over yet. How can you be so sure you¡¯ll be the one who wins in the end?¡± said Bryan.

    ¡°Let me guess. You¡¯re actually afraid of meing back deep down, aren¡¯t you? If I did, I¡¯d probably end up joining Wilson Group even if I didn¡¯t want to, right?

    ¡°<b>Ronald </b><b>is </b>so fond of me now and eager for my forgiveness, I¡¯d probably <b>get </b>a share of thepany, right? The same as yours like five percent? With <b>that</b><b>, </b>I¡¯d be a shareholder, <b>and </b>I could pull off all kinds of projects that would shock everyone. Moreover, with Bree Technology on my <b>side</b>, <b>who </b>do you think would have the upper hand if I went <b>back </b>andpeted with

    8:25 PM c <b>c </b>

    you for Wilson Group?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s every single word was a sore spot for Bryan, and his face wentpletely dark.

    Aubree¡¯s grin grew even wider. ¡®Bryan, you¡¯re such a hypocrite. You act all noble and righteous, <b>but </b>you¡¯re even worse than a two¨Cfaced scumbag!

    *<b>Back </b>when I was no threat to you, you were practically on your knees begging me toe back. But now that I¡¯m a threat, no matter how sweet you talk, deep down you wish I¡¯d <b>stay </b>far, <b>far </b>away from the Wilson family forever. <b>And </b>if I dide back. you¡¯d want to see me groveling like a kicked stray, never able to stand up again!¡±

    Bryan met her gaze, <b>and </b><b>all </b><b>he </b>saw was pure mockery like she wasughing at how fake he was, and at the fear he had of her deep down.

    His face twisted with anger, <b>humiliation </b>burning in his eyes. ¡°You sure know how to talk big. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯re actually as good at fixing problems as <b>you </b>are at <b>running </b>your mouth!

    <b>¡°</b><b>Think </b>whatever you want, but I¡¯ll make sure you understand. I, Bryan, will always be your big brother. You¡¯ll never be able to surpass me.¡±

    Aubree let out a mock gasp. ¡°Really? I, who built a business empire worth hundreds of millions from scratch, should¡¯ve left you in the dust, Bryan!¡±

    Bryan¡¯s expression changed <b>dramatically</b>. He turned on his heel, hurrying away like he couldn¡¯t get out of there fast enough as if he <b>was </b>fleeing <b>the </b>scene.

    To his disbelief, he couldn¡¯t even <b>find </b>a single word to refute Aubree.

 Tried 441

    <b>Chapter </b>441

    <b>¡°</b><b>My </b>businesses operate in this field as well, but to be honest<b>, </b>they don¡¯tpare to the top three. The traffic on my tforms is significantly lower <b>than </b>theirs,¡± Aubree said.

    *If the top three options aren¡¯t yielding results, should <b>we </b>consider reaching out to some of the mid¨Ctier tforms instead?¡± suggested Kurtis. <b>¡°</b>Wilson Group employs ruthless tactics<b>. </b><b>I </b>understand their decision to take over the twopanies in Rithol City; after all, that¡¯s their domain, and Wilson Group has <b>a </b>significant presence in the entertainment industry, whichmands respect,¡± Kurtis added.

    The Wilson family had Trevor, whose movies and TV shows consistently became hits. Those who managed to <b>get </b>on Wilson Group¡¯s good side might <b>even </b>secure <b>exclusive </b>rights <b>to </b><b>a </b>few more of his dramas.

    Kurtis pondered, ¡®But for us to reach Urggate City? Now that¡¯s <b>just </b><b>excessive</b>. Thepany in Urggate City was different from the other <b>two</b>. This one had the support of the <b>local </b>TV station, which made it difficult for most investors to exert influence. The Wilson Group does possess significant power.

    Kurtis <b>was </b>so anxious he nearly paced in circles. It wasn¡¯t that he doubted Aubree¡¯s ability¨Che knew everyone had their limits. Even if the Turner Group showed up now<b>, </b>it wouldn¡¯t make much <i>of </i>a difference. In the entertainment industry, aside from purely business¨Cfocusedpanies, the Wilson Group held significant influence<b>. </b>After all, not every family had someone like Trevor¨Cthat kind of advantage just wasn¡¯t fair.

    Before Aubree could say anything, her phone rang. She chuckled softly and remarked, ¡°The person who¡¯s here to help us has arrived.¡±

    Kurtis nced at the screen; the contact name disyed was ¡°Mr. Svystun.¡±

    ¡°Alongside those three video tforms, there¡¯s also Manchotech,¡± Aubree noted.

    Kurtis paused for a moment, then his <b>face </b>lit up with a broad smile. ¡®Oh my! How could I have forgotten about Manchotech?¡® he thought, feeling a <b>wave </b>of relief wash over him.

    Aubree had coborated with Manchotech Group numerous times before¨Cthis was a challenge she could easily handle. ¡°I always believed that having more connections is beneficial, so I prioritized the other three tforms first. I hadn¡¯t even intended to work with Manchotech, but then the Wilson Group intervened. Ultimately, everything turned out well,¡± <b>she </b>said with a smile.

    She hadn¡¯t built all those connections to leave them unused. Aubree had already pulled off an impressive coboration with Manchotech on GrabCheap, so when it came to something as minor as acquiring the rights to a mini drama, a single word from her was enough¨CDmytro could approve it himself without even checking with his superior.

    In other words, spending <i>a </i>few hundred thousand dors to keep Aubree happy was worth it. The other three tforms were trying to invest the same amount in a minor deal to gain favor with the Wilson family. Anyone with a modicum ofmon sense would know exactly who to choose.

    Aubree¡¯s partnership with Manchotech was smooth as silk¨Cthey didn¡¯t even need to meet face¨Cto¨Cface. Dmytro trusted her so much that he skipped any product checks and had the person in charge of Manchotech Video connect with Aubree. They sealed the deal with a quick online

    contract.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, if you have any exciting projectsing up, don¡¯t forget your friend here!¡± Dmytro said with a broad smile. To him, Aubree was like a lucky charm. Thanks to his keen insight and strong advocacy for the GrabCheap partnership with her, he earned a promotion and a raise¨Che was

    now a manager.

    ¡°Of course, Mr. Svystun, <b>you </b>can count on me,¡± Aubree replied. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¨Ceven if this project looks small, I¡¯ll make sure you get some surprises out of it,¡± she added with a confident smile.

    Dmytro justughed it off, thinking it was the kind of bold talk only young surprise.¡±

    Things turned out a bit differently than expected, but they stilled t

    ready tounch whenever you want,¡± Aubree said, nodding at Kurtis.

    Kurtis rubbed his forehead. ¡°<b>Now </b><b>it¡¯s </b>just a matter of when weunch it.¡±

    ¡°Right now<b>,¡± </b>Aubree replied.

    people were capable of. ¡°Alright then, Ms. Miller, I¡¯ll be waiting for your

    to wrap up the final step. ¡°The free mini¨Cdramas tform is all set up and

 Tried 442

    <b>Chapter </b><b>442 </b>

    The mini dramas were officiallyunched, first appearing on Zappy. At first, nobody cared¨Ceven if they scrolled <b>past </b>it, they just treated it like a random <b>two- </b>or three¨Cminute clip<b>, </b>watched it, and then forgot about it.

    But then<b>, </b>something felt off. The show was highly addictive¨Cviewers often moved straight from one episode to the next. The most frustrating part came around episode 20 or 30, when it abruptly cut off. To continue, they had to pay a few dors <b>per </b>episode. With 20 to 30 new episodes released weekly, the cost added up to just a couple of dors a day, and naturally, people paid,

    <b>¡°</b>Great news<b>! </b>Zappy¡¯s data shows that users are increasingly engaged with mini dramas these days,<b>¡± </b>one of the team members reported.

    ¡°Rted searches have surged to the top position,pletely outpacing the second¨Cce keyword,¡± another person excitedly noted.

    ¡°It seems that mini dramas are about to spark a whole new trend,¡± added someone <b>else</b>.

    <b>¡°</b>Zappy¡¯stest <b>revenue </b>report is here<b>¨C</b>earnings from mini dramas<b>, </b>which include both in¨Capp purchases and ads, have already outdone every other category on the tform, ranking just below the shopping section!¡± someone eximed.

    The revenue from mini dramas <b>wasn¡¯t </b>impressive yet, but the market was still in its early stages of development. For now, <b>it </b>was mainly Kurtis and Aubree driving things forward, with only a <b>few </b><b>savvy </b>early adopters joining in. Overall, the market remained small.

    Even in its early days, mini dramas had already risen to the number two spot on the tform, surpassing <b>every </b>other category. That alone was <b>a </b>clear sign of tremendous potential.

    Aubree suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s boost traffic for mini dramas and <b>start </b>editing some of the best scenes into promotional clips for advertising.¡±

    Also, it¡¯s time to start prepping our free mini drama tform, GemX,¡± she added. Aubree had seen iting all along¨Cshe knew this wasn¡¯t even the peak. The real explosion, she believed, was still toe.

    [Shocking! The surge of mini dramas<b>¨C</b>An actor reveals he started as an extra, but after appearing in one mini drama, he drove away in a Porsche.]

    [A mini drama director shares insights: With a budget of only a few hundred thousand dors<b>, </b>each episode can generate millions of dors in daily revenue.]

    [Experts suggest that mini dramas could be the next significant trend in the entertainment industry.]

    News about mini dramas <b>was </b>creating a significant buzz in the industry, and more people were beginning to recognize the substantial profits to be made¨Cserious money, and plenty of it.

    An increasing number of entertainment tforms had begun openly requesting mini¨Cdrama scripts. At the same time, a wave of studios and websites had emerged, focused on analyzing mini dramas and mentoring new writers in the industry. As mini dramas grew in poprity, Kurtis, recognized as the pioneer of the trend, was interviewed by reporters.

    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t the one who initiated it. I was merely assisting,¡± Kurtis responded.

    ¡°Who was it? I think everyone knows her name¨CAubree Miller,¡± he said.

    ¡°Certainly, we faced challenges. When we approached video tforms to negotiate rights sales, all of them rejected us¨Cevery single one. Ultimately, the only agreement we reached was with Manchotech,¡± Kurtis exined.

    <b>¡°</b>Are those news stories real or fake? They¡¯re real. The cost of a short drama usually does not exceed 300 thousand dors. Still, it¡¯smon to earn several million dors after it airs, sometimes even over 40 million dors,¡± he continued.

    Once again, Aubree¡¯s name was everywhere. Unlike GrabCheap, which was a massive project taking years to develop with top industry leaders coborating, and whose impressive profits were already noteworthy, what was even more remarkable was her ability to revitalize the entire industry.

    The mini¨Cdrama boom didn¡¯t just make waves on its own¨Cit energized the entire entertainment sector, injecting it with fresh vitality.

    After acquiring the rights to the mini drama, Manchotech Group was utterly astonished. What began as <b>a </b>casual purchase for a few hundred thousand dors ended up generating returns hundreds of times <b>greater</b>. Though the investment seemed modest at first<b>, </b>the gap between their initial ouy and the massive earnings <b>was </b>genuinely remarkable.

    As Dmytro listened to the head of Manchotech Video continue to praise Aubree without pause, he couldn¡¯t shake the thought, ¡®What a capable woman she <b>is</b>!¡®

    Meanwhile, Aubree wasn¡¯t just idly waiting. At a time when all mini dramas required a subscription advantage tounch the very <b>first </b>free mini drama tform¨CGemX.

    to

    watch, she utilized her exclusive copyright

    1/

 Tried 443

    <b>Chapter </b>443

    <b>No </b>one would pay for something they could get for free anyway. After theunch of GenX, Aubree raked in another fortune.

    On the other hand, at the Wilson family estate, Bryan quickly realized what Aubree was doing with those video tforms as soon as he received thetest news<b>. </b>¡°So it was mini dramas <b>all </b>along,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°Seriously¡­¡± he muttered, his eyes reflecting more jealousy than admiration. He thought bitterly. ¡®Spending just a few hundred thousand dors and reaping hundreds of millions<b>? </b>That¡¯s practically free money!

    Bryan clenched his fists, <b>a </b>cold glint in his eyes<b>. </b>¡®Aubree Miller, she¡¯s my biggest threat now!

    At first, he felt guilty for how they had treated her during those three years. But now, he felt a mix of anger and grim satisfaction. If Aubree had stayed loyal to the Wilson family and brought them these lucrative projects, there might not have been any <b>ce </b>for him in the group.

    He exhaled slowly. Honestly, being enemies had probably been the best oue for both of them. He thought, ¡®Don¡¯t worry, Aubree. Once you crash and burn, that¡¯s when <b>I¡¯ll </b>finally step up <b>as </b>your brother.

    For now, he needed to take action. After a long period of hesitation, Bryan finally made up his mind. He picked up his phone and dialed. A woman¡¯s voice answered on the other end. ¡°Let¡¯s talk,¡± she said.

    Bryan wasn¡¯t the only one left in shock; the entire Wilson family <b>was </b>astonished, pondering just how many more surprises Aubree had ready for

    them.

    Alice felt deeply threatened. She kept praying that Ronald would arrive soon. <b>Daxton </b>sighed inwardly. Aubree had already be a menace<b>, </b>and if she ever returned to the Wilson family, he was determined to do whatever it took to prevent her from bullying Carmen.

    Ronald, however, <b>was </b>thrilled. Previously, he had merely admired Aubree¡¯s distinctive creativity, but now he was genuinely impressed by her keen business instincts. Recognizing a new opportunity in an already saturated market was not just a stroke of luck¨Cit exemplified the kind of foresight that every true entrepreneur should possess.

    He was <b>eager </b>for Aubree to return to the Wilson family and rejoin the Wilson Group. ¡®I need to pick up the pace,¡® he thought.

    Meanwhile, Carmen had alreadyunched her shared e¨Cbike venture. She invested 3 million dors of her own money to establish thepany and began deploying bikes in Rithol City and S¨¹dlichen Strand.

    As the adopted daughter of the Wilson family, she had lived with them for over a decade and had managed to <b>save </b>a substantial amount of money. After starting college, she utilized her painting skills by holding art exhibitions and selling several pieces, which provided her with additional funds to invest in her project.

    But that wasn¡¯t all¨CCarmen also drew confidence from the Diamonde family. Though the project was assigned to her, Ernesto wasn¡¯t just watching from the sidelines. Backed by the Diamonde Group, he invested 6 million dors for a 20 percent stake. This time, Carmen had to seed¨Conly then could the Diamonde family hope to gain control of the Wilson Group.

    ¡°This project builds on the foundationid by those who came before us, aiming to improve it further. Remember the excitement surrounding shared e¨Cbikes when they first took off? Well, shared e¨Cbikes are even more convenient and faster. Overall, e¨Cbikes have the advantage,¡± Carmen stated confidently.

    ¡°This time, it¡¯spletely different from MindDrift¨CI have the support of the Diamonde family. Aubree, I was just one move behindst time and lost to you, but this time, I¡¯m determined to join the Wilson Group before you do!

    ¡°The Wilson family will be mine, and you¡¯ll always <b>be </b>the one I step on. Just like those three years<b>, </b>I¡¯m going to keep you beneath my heel!¡±

    Carmen was brimming with confidence. She wasn¡¯t foolish; on the contrary, she was astute and had a genuine instinct for business. If Aubree hadn¡¯t been <i>so </i>captivating, Carmen would have truly stood out in her own right,

    IM

 Tried 444

    <b>Chapter </b>444

    After herst setback<b>, </b>she learned to be cautious. Backed by the Diamonde Group, she carefully researched the market and identified shared <b>e- </b>bikes as the next big opportunity. If executed <b>well</b>, <b>it </b>could rival Aubree¡¯s <b>sess</b>. This time, she was determined to win.

    Meanwhile, Trevor, who was preparing to film on set, dismissed all of this with <b>a </b><b>sneer</b>. ¡°Are people online really this <b>crazy</b><b>? </b>They believe this poorly made, hastily thrown¨Ctogether content is better than <b>real </b>TV dramas<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>he scoffed, rolling his <b>eyes </b>in disbelief <b>as </b>he read thements.

    No matter how poor a TV show became, it still maintained specific standards. These mini dramas <b>were </b>filmed on minimal budgets andpleted in just a <b>few </b>days, offering <b>very </b>little in return. While they did excel at quickly engaging <b>viewers </bpared to longer series, theycked depth beyond that.

    Skyler, his agent, had a different <b>perspective</b><b>. </b>He believed that anything gaining traction online had its <b>reasons </b>and <b>felt </b>it was unfair to dismiss them outright. In his view, many TV dramas at the time weren¡¯t <b>as </b>engaging as mini dramas.

    He enjoyed watching them in private. However, it was clear that Trevor had an issue with them solely because Aubree was involved¨Che was being contrary for her sake.

    ¡°This has nothing to do with us, so let¡¯s simply watch the drama unfold. What truly matters is delivering a great show¨Cit¡¯s your first project since youreback<b>, </b>so concentrate and do it well<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Skyler said, suppressing what he wanted to express.

    He <b>was </b>about to tell <b>Trevor </b>not to cause trouble again, but changed his mind. Managing Trevor had its benefits¨Che brought in significant revenue ¨Cbut the downsides were clear. Skyler¡¯s opinions were often ignored, and even when he <b>sensed </b>trouble ahead, speaking up made little difference. In the end, it was Skyler who bore the consequences when things went wrong.

    However, Trevor dismissed him. The show was a fantasy epic with a strong male lead and a solid plot¨Chis looks and acting made sess almost inevitable. ¡°How is this not my business<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>he said. ¡°Aubree was never involved in entertainment<b>, </b>but now she¡¯s using mini dramas as her way into showbiz<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Trevor pondered, ¡®If she manages to get a foothold in the entertainment circle, there¡¯s no doubt I¡¯ll be the next one shees <b>after</b>. Trevor rubbed his chin. ¡°I need to figure out a way to put a stop to this mini drama craze.¡±

    ¬F

    Mini dramas had been rapidly gaining poprity, which was hardly surprising. The film and TV industry had long been stuck in a rut, recycling plots and deliveringckluster performances. At least with short dramas, viewers would find the content entertaining. Though the actors weren¡¯t superstars, they fit their roles well and gave their best effort.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to challenge Aubree to a showdown,¡± Trevor said, inspiration lighting up his eyes. ¡®I¡¯ll prove to everyone that these haphazard, second- rate mini dramas can neverpete with real film and TV productions, he thought.

    ¡°What?¡± Skyler stared at him in disbelief. ¡®Has he lost his mind?¡® he thought.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want to shoot a mini drama too?¡± he blurted out, his voice rising in pitch. ¡®Is he thinking of making a high¨Cquality mini drama?¡® Skyler wondered, his mind racing.

    Trevor looked appalled. ¡°Me? Shoot that kind of nonsense? Please, I¡¯m not about topromise my standards like that. Isn¡¯t this show based on a novel as well? Let¡¯s discuss airing episodes <b>as </b>we film them with the director,¡± he said casually.

    This script had been chosen explicitly for Trevor, who was thergest investor. If he requested something, the director had no choice but toply, regardless of his reluctance.

    Skyler felt numb; he truly believed Trevor had lost touch with reality. Fantasy dramas relied heavily on special <b>effects</b>, and when episodes aired while still in production, post¨Cproduction couldn¡¯t possibly meet expectations. With Trevor¡¯s attitude, it was difficult to predict what kind of <b>disaster </b>might follow.

    Skyler tried to talk him out of it, but Trevor didn¡¯t even bother listening. ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen? Are you doubting my acting skills?¡±

    Skyler <b>was </b><b>at </b><b>a </b>loss for words. ¡®It¡¯s impossible to reason with a stubborn fool, he thought. ¡®Let him do what he wants. Perhaps it¡¯s time for me to start looking for a new artist to manage.

 Tried 445

    <b>Chapter </b>445

    The news that <b>Trevor¡¯s </b><b>new </b>drama would be filming while airing <b>spread </b>quickly. The <b>premiere </b><b>is </b>set for next week, and while some people <b>are </b>excited, others are puzzled as to why he would suddenly choose this approach when everything seemed to be going well.

    Typically, this method was employed only when production funds were <b>low</b>¨Cthey would air the initial episodes to generate revenue before they could afford to shoot the remainder. However, Trevor wasn¡¯t experiencing that issue.

    +20

    Some marketing ounts began to stir up controversy<b>, </b>iming that mini¨Cdramas are currently all the rage. Numerous popr shows were beingpared and critiqued, with <b>viewers </b><b>suggesting </b>that even the most popr <b>series </b>are less entertaining than these mini dramas. Some even bluntly spected that <b>Trevor </b><b>was </b>merely trying to make a point.

    Regardless of Trevor¡¯s true intentions, his new drama <b>was </b><b>set </b>to be released, and the excitement was unavoidable. Some marketing ounts were already eager, preparing <b>to </bpare his show to the popr mini dramas currently trending.

    Aubree didn¡¯t <b>care </b>what Trevor <b>was </b>up to; she thought he was being foolish. She was the mastermind behind the mini dramas but was not involved in filming, so no me was attributed to her. Trevor, front and center in his show, would bear all the criticism if it failed.

    She had no time for his childish antics. Aubree wasn¡¯t simply trying to steal his attention for a moment¨Cshe aimed to ensure Trevor would remain stuck in the mud for good. At that moment, she <b>was </b>engrossed in Bree Technology¡¯stest financial reports. All of her investments <b>were </b>finally beginning <b>to </b>yield returns.

    Smaller projects were put aside; the gaming division alone was generating substantial profits. Randall¡¯s emphasis on female¨Coriented games had created an entirely new niche in the market. The studio¡¯s gship ¡°Warm Love Series¡± had garnered a massive yer base from the moment itunched, and the merchandise tie¨Cins proved quite profitable.

    But the <b>real </b>money¨Cmaker was Marlin Studios. Their unique open¨Cworld exploration game had hit the market like a bomb, quickly rivaling the poprity of League of Legends and raking in fistfuls of profits. All the other smaller projects were adding up as well, bringing in a nice chunk of change.

    As time progressed, the gaming aspect began to lose momentum. Aubree had already resolved to support only Randall¡¯s Paper Dreams Studio and Marlin Studios, withdrawing her investments from all other game projects and reallocating those funds into some innovative industries instead.

    Aside from everything else, the top priority had been Zappy¡¯s international business. With Aidan¡¯s support, Zappyunched in Odiond and quickly expanded, already showing remarkable influence.

    Aubree was determined to expand Zappy globally and secure international funding. While the Matthews family in Odiond was <b>a </b>solid starting point, it wasn¡¯t sufficient on its own¨Cshe needed additional corporate capital to seed. That was the only way to achieve significant growth.

    Conducting business abroad was undeniably challenging. Despite different passports, the same brutal tactics were applied¨Cbusinesspeople everywhere yed hardball. Once foreign investors saw the potential of short videos, without strong support, she would have been the first pioneer pushed out. She was determined to keep growing and getting stronger.

    While Aubree was making progress, Carmen was not idle either. She quickly reached out to manufacturers to begin mass¨Cproducing electric bikes tailored to her specifications.

    After starting college<b>, </b>Carmen double¨Cmajored in finance and management in addition to her primary field of study. While her university may not have the same educational resources as Rithol University, its overall quality was impressive. Describing her as a top student was certainly justified.

    Carmen was intelligent and had a genuine talent for business¨Ceven Aubree had to acknowledge that she excelled in that field. If she received the proper training, she could potentially be as capable as Bryan.

    When Ernesto assigned this project to Carmen, it initially appeared to be a goldmine, but the risks were equally substantial. Learning from the MindDrift debacle, Carmen approached this opportunity with extra caution.

 Tried 446

    <b>Chapter </b>446

    She maintained a firm grip on <b>every </b>detail. Last time, she failed due to ack <b>of </b>experience. But now, with both experience and skill on her side, <b>there </b><b>was </b>no reason for her to lose again.

    1420

    Leveraging the connections of the Diamonde Group, Carinen quickly established herpany arid got operations underway. Once the first batch <b>of </b>shared e¨Cbikes <b>was </bunched<b>, </b>she initiated an extensive promotional campaign aimed at capturing <b>a </b>significant market share for the bikes.

    Each electric bike had cost <b>over </b>300 dors to produce, and that hadn¡¯t even included all thebor and management fees that followed. With costs that high, they couldn¡¯t afford to lose a single bike, so everyone had been equipped with GPS tracking and a license te.

    None of this was in the Diamonde Group¡¯s original project n. Initially, they wanted to replicate the shared bike model and set a high deposit to <b>cover </b>any potential losses. But Carmen thought that just wasn¡¯t realistic.

    Those who could afford the deposit didn¡¯t need shared bikes, while those who needed them couldn¡¯t afford the deposit. Therefore, Carmen decided <b>it </b>was more effective to focus on reducing costs and improving management. The deposit will remain the same <b>as </b>for regr bikes<b>, </b>but the price for each ride on electric bikes will be slightly higher.

    After a meeting to discuss her idea, Ernesto endorsed it wholeheartedly. The more he observed, the more he became convinced that investing in Carmen was the right choice. Not only did sheunch the project in record time, but she also identified <b>issues </b>and proposed solutions¨Ctruly a rising star in his eyes.

    ¡°That means the <b>average </b><b>cost </b>for each electric bike just went up,¡± Ernesto said. <b>It </b>would be challenging for the Diamonde Group to manage all those expenses independently.

    However, Carmen didn¡¯t seem worried at all. ¡°Ernesto, remember, our true objective <b>is </b><b>to </b><b>use </b>this project as a gateway into the Wilson Group. <b>As </b>long as we deliver results and have the support of the Wilson Group, money will be the least of our concerns,¡± she said.

    Ernestoughed, realizing he¡¯d been overthinking it. ¡°Carmen, just go for it.¡±

    With Ernesto¡¯s approval, Carmen initiated the first ride in the shared e¨Cbike program. Once they invested heavily in advertising, the results became apparent quickly. The deposit was identical to that of regr bikes. While the electric ones <b>cost </b><i>a </i>few dors per ride, they <b>were </b>significantly more convenient and easier to use. Unsurprisingly, most people began flocking to e¨Cbikes.

    Moreover<b>, </b>while regr shared bikes were limited to one rider, the shared e¨Cbikes¨Cdesigned for individual use¨Chad enough room to amodate a second riderfortably if desired. This slight advantage significantly boosted the usage rates of e¨Cbikes.

    ¡°Ms. Carmen, our <b>user </b>numbers are soaring! We¡¯ve ced the first batch of e¨Cbikes around the office buildings and college campuses in Rithol City, and we¡¯re seeing thousands of new users signing up every single day,¡± one of her team members reported.

    ¡°If this continues, it won¡¯t be long before we add ten thousand new users a day,¡± another person remarked.

    Carmen had always disliked being referred to by herst name at work. Everything she had aplished thus <b>far </b>was purely the result of her efforts, distinctly separate from the Wilson family. While she did carry the Wilson surname<b>, </b>like Aubree, <b>she </b>believed she could forge her path without depending on her family¡¯s name.

    the forg data y

    Everyone in thepany referred to her by name. ¡°Please increase production for the second batch,¡± Carmen instructed. ¡°Let¡¯s <b>use </b>the data from the first round to determine <b>where </b>to deploy them, and also reach out to the manufacturers over in S¨¹dlichen Strand.¡±

    THE

    Initially, their target markets were S¨¹dlichen Strand and Rithol City, but Carmen was careful not to take on too much at once. She preferred to y it safe by starting with Rithol City <b>as </b>the pilot project, and if <b>it </b>seeded, she would replicate the entire approach in S¨¹dlichen Strand. By all ounts, Carmen achieved great sess.

    The shared e¨Cbikes had rapidly gained ground, overtaking much of the territory that had once been dominated by regr bikes and pushing shared bicycles out of the market.

    Aubree keenly observed the market shift, which came as a surprise to her. ¡°Whoever devised this project is no amateur,¡± she remarked. Unfortunately, the timing <b>wasn¡¯t </b>ideal.

 Tried 447

    <b>Chapter </b>447

    The mini dramas continued to grow in poprity, and with Trevor¡¯s new seriesunching, the excitement only increased Aubree suspected that Trevor was intentionally using marketing ounts topare the mini dramas to his TV series, thereby tinderinining its sess. She believed he had likely paid for some online influencers to stir up controversy.

    Since Trevor¡¯s new series had premiered, marketing ounts had been fueling drama between them. Initially, it hadn¡¯t been a problem Most of Trevor¡¯s series had been filmed before airing began, which ensured high quality and a solid plot With his looks and acting both strong, the show had received rave reviews and seemed poised for sucvESS,

    Aubree had never imagined that the mini dramas couldpete with anything Trevor created, and since it didn¡¯t concern her, she hadn¡¯t intended to get involved Yet, unexpectedly, Trevor ended up sabotaging himself.

    To keep up with the broadcast schedule, theter episodes began tog. The plot had to be altered, and the special effects no longer met the initial standards. <b>Fans </b>started calling it a scam, leading the show into an awkward transition period. Amid all this, mini dramas unexpectedly stole the spotlight, at least maintaining consistency throughout their duration.

    Aubree visited Royal Bay today. Alvin had been away for some time, tracking people from the list he obtained at the orphanage, but he had just returned, just in time to see her mini¨Cdrama project achieve great sess. Bowen took the initiative and invited her to join him for a meal to celebrate together.

    When she arrived, Alvin was lounging on the couch with a game controller in hand, immersed in <b>a </b>video game. ¡°<b>Hey</b>, you¡¯re here! Feel free to take a seat,¡± he said.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Bowen?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Uncle Bowen¡¯s in the kitchen,¡± Alvin replied.

    Aubree¡¯s smile <b>grew </b>stiff. <b>¡°</b><b>Is </b>Bowen cooking for us<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    *ording to Uncle Bowen, he¡¯s been learning to cooktely. <b>Says </b>he¡¯s gotten pretty good at it,¡± Alvin said.

    Aubree thought, <b>¡®</b>Yeah, right. Like I¡¯d ever believe that!

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just order some takeout instead?¡± she suggested.¡±

    In the kitchen, Bowen, busy with cooking, couldn¡¯t help but let out augh of exasperation. These two ungrateful kids. So many people would love to try my cooking, and here they are, turning their noses up at it, he thought.

    ¡°Even if you¡¯re going to talk smack about me behind my back, at least have the decency to do it out of earshot,¡± Bowen called out, waving a spat in one hand and an apron tied around his waist. ¡°Come in here and help me bring the food out,¡± he instructed Alvin.

    Soon, the food was on the table. Aubree looked around and smiled, though tears began to well up in her eyes. Once, all she ever wanted was to gather with family and share a simple home¨Ccooked meal like this. ¡°By the way, Alvin, how did everything go your end?¡± Aubree asked.

    At that, Alvin¡¯s hand twitched slightly, but his expression stayed calm. ¡°Everything went smoothly. I found the little girl my parents saved all those years ago. She apologized to me. She lives far from Rithol City now, so unless something unexpected happens, we probably won¡¯t cross paths again.¡±

    Bowen kept a close eye on Alvin¡¯s expression but didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary. The bodyguard who apanied Alvin was one of his own and would intervene if necessary. He wanted to protect Aubree, but that didn¡¯t mean he would allow unrted people to get hurt for no

    reason<b>. </b>

    The people on the list he gave Alvin were indeed all from the orphanage, but he had chosen someone who lived the farthest from Rithol City and whose background <b>was </b>the best fit to stand in for Aubree.

    He recalled how, when Alvin had said he¡¯d found her, he¡¯d instructed him to ensure she never returned to his life. Concerned that Alvin might act on impulse, he had arranged for the bodyguard to keep watch. If Alvin lost control, the bodyguard was supposed to intervene. Maybe this would finally help Alvin untangle the knot in his heart.

    Bowen let out a quiet sigh of relief. ¡°Once we find those human traffickers, they won¡¯t get off easy.

    Alvin didn¡¯t doubt that for a second. ¡°That couple disappeared into thin air after they came to Rithol City. Someone must be helping them behind the scenes¡±

    ¡°As long as they don¡¯t vanish into thin air, we¡¯ll find them sooner orter,¡± Bowen said, cing some food on Aubree¡¯s te.

 Tried 448

    <b>Chapter 448 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Yeah, Uncle Bowen, thanks for <b>taking </b>care of me all these <b>years</b>. If Mom and Dad were still here. I bet they¡¯d be delighted too, right?¡± <b>Alvin </b>said, giving a rare, genuine smile

    Bowen froze for a second, then quickly looked <b>away</b>, a deep¨Cseated guilt flickering in his eyes.

    That night, Aubree returned to Ellis Heights with Bowen In the middle of the night, after Aubree had fallen into a deep sleep. Bowers sat up beside her. He turned to look at her serene face and gently brushed his fingers against her cheek. ¡°I¡¯ve let Alvin down, but I don¡¯t regret it. I just can¡¯t be sure how he would react if he ever found out the truth,¡± he muttered

    Bowen got up, changed into a different outfit, and drove <b>away </b>alone, heading towards the cemetery.

    At the entrance of the cemetery, Bowen walked in, dressed in ck. Not far away, concealed from sight, a ck car was parked. The car door opened, and a tall, slender man wearing a baseball cap stepped out. <b>He </b>lifted his head slightly, revealing a well¨Cdefined jawline¨Cit was Alvin

    Uncle Bowen, you better not be doing what <b>I </b>think <b>you </b>are, Alvin thought.

    Everything had gone surprisingly smoothly for Alvin this time, so much so that it almost raised suspicion. Whatever he set out to do seemed to fall into ce effortlessly, a <b>stark </b>contrast to the difficulties he¡¯d faced during earlier investigations. The difference <b>was </b>night and day.

    He had already begun to suspect <b>that </b>Bowen was hiding something <b>from </b>him, and this trip only confirmed those suspicions. The list seemed explicitly tailored for him, and every person he approached acted <b>as </b>if they were expecting him¨Cnone of them seemed surprised, almost as if they had known this day woulde all along.

    At dinner that day, he had deliberately mentioned his parents <b>to </b><b>see </b>if Bowen would show any sign of guilt. In his mind, he told himself that if Bowen had truly done something, he would havee to the cemetery to apologize to his parents.

    With a <b>serious </b>expression on his <b>face</b>, Alvin followed Bowen inside. So preupied <b>was </b>Bowen that he didn¡¯t even realize he was being followed.

    ¡°Brother¡­¡± Under the moonlight, <b>Bowen¡¯s </b><b>face </b>bore a seriousness that no one had ever seen before. His back, usually so straight, gradually bent as he sank to his knees. <b>After </b>a long moment, he finally stood back up.

    Alvin was hiding just far enough away that Bowen wouldn¡¯t spot him, but close enough that he could still catch bits <b>of </b>what Bowen was saying. ¡®Uncle Bowen, please don¡¯t let things be what I¡¯m thinking¡­ Alvin thought.

    He didn¡¯t <b>want </b>to end up on opposite sides with either Bowen or his best friend, Aubree.

    ¡°Brother, sister¨Cinw, I¡¯m sorry. I know I was biased in how I handled this,¡± Bowen said. ¡°I promised I¡¯d <b>take </b><b>care </b>of Alvin, but I kept something from him¨Csomething that¡¯s been weighing on his mind all these years.¡± Not only did he conceal the truth, but he also manipted events behind the scenes<b>. </b>

    Reflecting on the smile that Alvin had given him at dinner, Bowen felt a weight settle in his chest. Both Alvin and Aubree were the most significant people in his life, and he found himself unable to choose between them. The thought of either of them getting hurt was unbearable. All he could do was strive to prevent any potential conflict between them from ever arising.

    ¡°If you hold this against me, then¡­ When the timees, I¡¯ll seek forgiveness,¡± Bowen said.

    Though Bowen¡¯s words were a bit vague, someone as sharp as Alvin had no trouble connecting the dots; his heart turned cold, as if a bucket of ice water crashed through his body and poured straight into his chest. ¡®Could it be Aubree for real?¡® Alvin wondered.

    Alvin still wanted to struggle against the truth. ¡®What if, just maybe, I¡¯m wrong?¡® he thought desperately.

    ¡°Come to think of it, I should thank you both for saving Bree¡­¡± Bowen murmured at the grave.

    It felt as though something inside Alvin shatteredpletely, with the pieces scattering everywhere. He couldn¡¯t even recall how he had left the cemetery; all he knew was that he departed shortly after Bowen, his entire body rigid with tension. This feeling was reminiscent of the moment he first learned about his parents¡® deaths.

    The person he had always trusted had chosen someone else, and the one individual he had truly considered a friend turned out to be his enemy. Alvin lifted his head, blinked once<b>, </b>and felt his eyes welling up with tears.

    1/

 Tried 449

    <b>Chapter </b><b>449 </b>

    It was destined to be a sleepless night, and what Alvin should do weighed heavily on his mind. Was he going to take action against Aubree? He hesitated, closing his <b>eyes</b>. His first instinct had always been to force her to face his parents, beg for their forgiveness, and then disappear from his life for good.

    Aubree had a branch office in S¨¹dlichen Strand. If she were willing to leave Bowen and Rithol City behind and settle there on her own, Alvin could act as if she had never existed. The problem was figuring out how to make her leave Bowen.

    Alvin considered Bowen <b>as </b>her patron, but that still wasn¡¯t sufficient. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and Alvin fixated on the ceiling. He needed some help.

    ¡°That new BeeShare <b>is </b>really <b>taking </b>off?¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>wonder who¡¯s behind it. I heard they¡¯re pretty young, but they¡¯re mysterious.<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I bet it¡¯s some rich kid trying to make <b>a </b>name for themselves. The way it¡¯s growing, they must have some serious backing. It started in Rithol City, and now my friend in S¨¹dlichen Strand says they¡¯ve got it there too.¡±

    <b>It¡¯s </b>not just S¨¹dlichen Strand. Rithol City and S¨¹dlichen Strand are just their main target markets¡ªnow you can spot those electric bikes in <b>all </b>the top¨Ctier and first¨Ctier cities.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s great, though. It¡¯s so much <b>easier </b>to get to work now. Before, I didn¡¯t want to bike or deal with the subway after a long day. Now <b>it¡¯s </b><i>so </i>convenient.¡±

    As Aubree left the office, she could hear her employees chatting about electric bikes everywhere. Stepping outside, she spotted those signature yellow BeeShare bikes lined up at the curb<b>. </b>

    ¡°That¡¯s pretty impressive,¡± she muttered. The person who pulled this off had a sharp business mind.

    Had they waited a few more <b>years </b>for better battery and tracking technology, profits could have been higher. At the time, shared e¨Cbikes carried safety risks. Yet if the person behind it had handled those issues well, BeeShare might have reced regr bike shares and taken over the market.

    Aubree took another nce at the bikes before looking away as Vincent arrived. ¡°Please take me to Rithol University,¡± she requested.

    There was an event at the university today, and Will had personally invited her as a guest. With her current status, even Will would have to show her some respect now. After the event, Aubree wandered around the campus. ¡°These shared e¨Cbikes are blowing up right now,¡± she muttered.

    Even at a top university like Rithol University, those eye¨Ccatching yellow bikes were everywhere, not to mention all the other schools. ¡°They zeroed in on their target users from the very beginning,¡± she muttered, feeling <b>a </b>flicker of curiosity about whoever was behind the project.

    Whoever it was had some serious connections; not only did they manage to convince Rithol University¡¯s administration to bring the e¨Cbikes onto campus, but they even got the school to set up dedicated facilities just for BeeShare. ¡°Over here<b>, </b>easy does it! Fill up this whole row!¡± The shout drew Aubree¡¯s attention.

    She looked over and saw a truck parked nearby. Workers in BeeShare uniforms were unloading <b>e</b>¨Cbikes, and standing off to the side, directing everything, was Carmen. ¡®Carmen?¡® Aubree¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    Aubree froze for a second, then it all made sense. ¡®So it was Carmen all along. Yeah, that exined everything, she thought.

    When she was expanding Bree Technology¡¯s territory into S¨¹dlichen Strand, she¡¯d done some digging on the Diamonde family. Back then, the info said they¡¯d recently gotten interested in bike¨Csharing, but she hadn¡¯t paid it much mind.

    Ultimately, the bike¨Csharing market had already been saturated, and she honestly hadn¡¯t been able to imagine what the Diamonde family could have achieved in that space. But now, everything finally made sense.

    The Diamonde family was going for the upgraded version. ¡®But why would the Diamonde family let Carmen run the project?¡® she thought

 Tried 450

    <b>Chapter </b>450

    Aubree stared at Carmen, and suddenly, an idea shed in her mind¨Cone she had never considered before. ¡°The Wilson family¡­ Wilson Group¡® Unconsciously, her fingers curled, and she allowed a small, almost imperceptible smile to form, ¡®Carmen is bolder than I thought, she reflected.

    Aubree didn¡¯t bother hiding <b>her </b>gaze, and <b>it </b>wasn¡¯t long before Carmen noticed her. ¡°Aubree,¡± Carmen called out, still wearing that gentle, <b>easygoing </b>smile, like all the drama between them had never <b>even </b>happened.

    ¡°Are you the one behind this?<b>¡± </b>Aubree asked<b>, </b>surprisingly holding back from walking away with her usual cold demeanor.

    Carmen realized that Aubree might be feeling <b>a </b>bit threatened by her now. BeeShare was everywhere in Rithol City¨Cthose bright yellow e¨Cbikes were lined up on <b>every </b>street, and they had already earned a fortune.

    She stood up straighter<b>, </b>beaming with pride. Since Aubree had already seen it, there was no point pretending otherwise¨CAubree could easily dig up the truth if she wanted. ¡°Yeah, Aubree. My project¡¯s not any worse than yours, right<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Ernesto had instructed her to keep her involvement in the project confidential for now, allowing her to transition more smoothly into the Wilson Groupter. On the surface<b>, </b>everyone believed it was merely an investment from the Diamonde Group.

    Now, Ronald was investigating who was truly behind BeeShare. ording to the n that Carmen and Ernesto devised, she intended to reveal herself as the mastermind during the uing round <b>of </b>external financing.

    all she h She needed to ensure that Ronald did not discover her true intentions. When he finally approached her to discuss <b>it</b><b>, </b>all she had to do was pretend she had been coerced and ce the me entirely on her uncle.

    ¡°Yeah, not bad,¡± Aubree replied, giving a faint smile and a nod.

    To anyone watching, the two of them appeared to be old friends casually discussing life after a long separation. Carmen¡¯s expression darkened; her carlier good mood evaporated. ¡®Why is she so calm? Shouldn¡¯t Aubree show at least a bit of shock? At the very least, shouldn¡¯t she feel somewhat threatened by me?

    <b>¡®</b>Isn¡¯t she worried that if I blow this project up, I¡¯ll end up bing a serious rival to her? Or does Aubree not see me aspetitive at all?¡®

    The thought momentarily clouded Carmen¡¯s expression, but she quickly reverted to a smile. ¡°When I firstunched the e¨Cbike project, I could only introduce the bikes outside of universities. Most schools were concerned about safety and wouldn¡¯t allow me to bring the bikes onto campus.¡±

    Aubree just looked <i>at </i>her. Carmen¡¯s smile grew even brighter. ¡°I figured if Rithol University¨Cthe top school in Lumanon¨Cagreed, it¡¯d open doors with the other schools too. However, I¡¯m not a student at Rithol University, and I don¡¯t know anyone there, so I didn¡¯t have any connections. Luckily, Alvin helped me out.

    ¡°Aubree, I remember that you and Alvin are good friends. Do you think he helped me because of you? I suppose I owe you a thank you, then.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying¨CAlvin was indeed the one who assisted her in bringing BeeShare to Rithol University¡¯s campus.

    Carmen closely observed Aubree¡¯s expression, and atst, she received the reaction she had eagerly anticipated. Shock and disbelief flickered across Aubree¡¯s face <b>as </b>she struggled to grasp what she was hearing. Alvin helped Carmen?¡® The thought sent her mind reeling.

    She could hardly believe what she heard. Her heart sank, and she didn¡¯t even think to question Carmen¡¯s words. Aubree knew that Carmen wouldn¡¯t dare say something like that unless it was true about Alvin. ¡®If Carmen is saying it, then it must be true, but why?¡® Aubree couldn¡¯t make sense of it.

    Aubree swallowed her surprise, her expression smoothing out. ¡°Well, since you¡¯ve already shared so much, I suppose I can¡¯t refuse your thanks<b>, </b>can I? It¡¯s not like I¡¯mcking anything, though. How about this¨Cif you want to show your appreciation, why not give me a share of BeeShare¡¯s stock? After all, ording to your reasoning, my connections did help propel BeeShare¡¯s sess, right?¡±

    ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Carmen stared <i>at </i>Aubree as if she had lost her sanity. Not only did Aubree not question her or leave in embarrassment or anger, but now she was eyeing Carmen¡¯s profits.

    ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Carmen snapped, spinning around and rushing off, nearly tripping over herself as if she genuinely feared Aubree might seize her

    shares<b>. </b>

 Tried 451

    <b>Chapter </b>451

    The smile on Aubree¡¯s face vanishedpletely<b>. </b><b>Alvin</b>¡­ Her lips pressed into a straight line. ¡°Why would Alvin help Carmen? <b>The </b>only reason <b>I </b>could think of <b>is </b>that after <b>Alvin </b><b>was </b>hit <b>by </b><b>a </b><b>car </b>when he went out, he was fine physically, but mentally impaired, she thought.

    The <b>fingers </b>that hung on the side of her body twitched slightly. <b>¡°</b>Should I go find him?¡± she hesitated.

    Suddenly<b>, </b>something shed through her mind, and Aubree¡¯s gaze froze for a moment. Why do I feel like I¡¯ve forgotten something¡± she thought.

    Just as she <b>was </b>thinking whether she should <b>go </b>find Alvin and ask him directly, Bowen called. He mainly wanted to ask her how it <b>was </b><b>being </b>invited <b>back </b>to the school <b>as </b><b>a </b>guest this time.

    ¡°Nothing except I ran into Carmen <b>at </b>school<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she <b>said </b>hesitantly<b>, </b>but still told Bowen about <b>Alvin </b>helping Carmen.

    ¡°Alvin¡­. Why<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Bowen asked, puzzled.

    Her feud with the Wilson family was irreconcble and made known. Even putting aside the <b>fact </b>that she and Alvin <b>were </b>close and <b>that </b>he had never shown any favor toward the Wilson family, just considering her connection with <b>Bowen</b>, there <b>was </b>no <b>way </b>Alvin would help Carmen with anything.

    Furthermore, isn¡¯t Alvin disgusted by Carmen¡¯s feelings for him and <b>eager </b>to avoid her?¡® she thought.

    ¡°Maybe Alvin has something of his own to deal with,¡± Bowen said. Aubree heard breathing on the other end of the line <b>grow </b>heavy for a few moments, followed by <b>Bowen¡¯s </b>forcedly calm words offort, as if nothing had happened.

    A soft <bugh </b>spilled out. ¡°You¡¯ve <b>got </b>so much time to worry about what others are doing. Why not spare <b>a </b>thought about how your boyfriend¡¯s been doingtely?¡± <b>Bowen </b>said.

    With Bowen¡¯s interruption, Aubree ended up forgetting to press further<b>. </b>¡®Perhaps just like Bowen said, Alvin does <b>have </b>something of his own to take care of, and that¡¯s <b>why </b>he <b>gave </b>Carmen a hand this time?¡® Aubree thought.

    ¡°Who could make things difficult for you, <b>Mr. </b>Turner<b>?</b>¡± Aubree joked lightly, then hung up the phone<b>. </b>

    Aubree decided to let it be for now. Whatever Alvin <b>was </b>nning to do, it would all reveal sooner orter anyway.

    Bowen put down his hand holding the phone, his expression reflecting more than just ugly. ¡®How could I not understand the child? I watched him

    grow up.

    Whatever things he might have, even if they were monumental, he couldn¡¯t possibly help Carmen. Everyone knew Carmen and Bree <b>were </b>at each other¡¯s throats. How could he assist a friend¡¯s enemy?

    <i>¡®</i>Perhaps there <b>was </b>only one thing that would make Alvin act that <i>way</i>. He knew? But how did he find out?¡® Bowen thought.

    Bowen thought that he had done it wlessly. He propped his forehead andughed bitterly. ¡®In the end, it¡¯s still a miscalction¨Csomething being wless usually means there¡¯s something fishy going on. I¡¯ve underestimated Alvin, he thought.

    He tapped his finger on the screen and sent a message. [Are you free tonight? Let¡¯s have dinner together.]

    [Are you free tonight? Let¡¯s have dinner together.<b>] </b>Alvin nced down as the message popped up. ¡®So, he knew it now, he thought.

    ¡®Looks like I need to speed up. Carmen alone isn¡¯t enough to take down Aubree, who¡¯s grown into a force that can¡¯t be easily defeated. On top of that, she has Uncle Bowen backing her up.

    <b>¡®</b>As long as Uncle Bowen still cares about her and Turner Group remains standing, no matter how badly Aubree does, she¡¯ll never hit rock bottom.

    <i>¡®</i>For now, it¡¯s just letting Uncle Bowen take a break for a while. Once I finish with what I need to do, things will be fine, Alvin thought.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Who¡¯s texting you?¡± Enrique nced over at Alvin.

    ¡°Nothing, just Uncle Bowen asking if I¡¯m free for dinner tonight,¡± Alvin replied, pouring Enrique a cup of coffee.

    ¡°Grandpa, I meant everything I said earlier; I want to join thepany,¡± Alvin said.

    Enrique never expected his eldest grandson toe to him one day, asking to join Turner Group.

    Alvin was smart. Enrique had certainly considered grooming him <b>as </b>a sessor. After all, thepany was sorge.

    Back when Enrique¡¯s health was still good, he could at least lend Bowen a hand in managing things. Now that he had stepped down, having another person to help was certainly better than Bowen fighting alone.

 Tried 452

    <b>Chapter </b>452

    However, Alvin was determined then to follow in his mother¡¯s footsteps and pursue a career as an artist.

    ¡°Dad¡¯s <b>a </b>politician, <b>always </b>busy with work. Mom loves to travel and see the world, but she <b>gives </b><b>up </b>her freedom for Dad. So, she uses her paintbrush <b>to </b>capture the world she dreams of,¡± he said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go into business <b>or </b>politics<b>; </b><b>I </b>want to be the eyes for my parents and <b>see </b>the world on their behalf,¡± he added. <b>That </b><b>was </b>Alvin¡¯s initial thought when he pursued painting.

    ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t you say <b>you </b>didn¡¯t want to when I asked previously?¡± Enrique asked, genuinely curious.

    Alvin pursed his lips, thinking. Turner Group is massive<b>. </b>The biggest shareholder is Uncle Bowen, who holds <b>20</b>% of the shares. Next are Grandpa

    and I.

    <b>My </b>shares,bined with those from Mom and Dad, amount to 13%. Grandpa previously transferred part of his shares to Uncle Bowen, and he now holds 10%. If I join thepany, <b>there¡¯s </b>a chance I can rival Uncle Bowen.

    ¡°Now that I¡¯m grown, <b>as </b><b>a </b>Turner, I¡¯ve enjoyed all the privileges this family has <b>given </b>me. I can¡¯t let Uncle Bowen handle everything on his own while I sit back and enjoy,¡± Alvin said.

    It¡¯s a perfectly reasonable excuse; the kind of thing Alvin woulde up with. Enrique thought.

    Enrique said, waving his hand, ¡°<b>If </b>you want to join thepany, all it takes is a sentence. You¡¯re smart and always have a knack for this kind of thing, not to mention you¡¯re the secondrgest shareholder.

    ¡°How about this? You take on a double major in finance this semester, and if your final grades are among the top, I¡¯ll personally approve you joining thepany. But you¡¯ll have to start from the bottom.<b>¡± </b>

    Alvin smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make it happen, Grandpa. But before I join thepany, please don¡¯t tell Uncle Bowen. I want to give him a surprise.¡±

    ¡®Uncle Bowen has been running thepany for years and is known for his tough methods. If I parachute straight into a high¨Clevel position, it might not benefit me. Starting from the bottom fits perfectly with my n, Alvin thought.

    Enrique chuckled and scolded, ¡°You always mess around with pointless things.¡±

    Alvin just smiled without saying a word, fidgeting with his fingers. ¡®Uncle Bowen is asking me out for dinner; he must have already known something. If he knows I¡¯m nning to join thepany, he¡¯ll most likely try to stop it, Alvin thought.

    Alvin went for dinner that night. They popped open two bottles of wine at the table. Bowen offered Alvin a toast, saying, ¡°Alvin, you¡¯ve grown up.¡±

    Alvin kept <b>a </b>straight face. ¡°Uncle Bowen, you shouldn¡¯t have kept this from me,¡± he said.

    They both knew what Alvin was referring to. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that I managed to keep it from you anyway, did I? Bowen said.

    ¡°I still remember, back when I first got together with Bree, you told me that even if you¡¯re my uncle, you won¡¯t be on my side if I ever do her wrong,¡± Alvin said..

    ¡°Alvin, you¡¯ve always been a bit aloof, and with our family background, most people who tried to get close to you since you were young just wanted something from you. Honestly, Bree was your first real friend. She was an innocent victim of everything that happened back then,¡± Bowen said.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good thing if only the ones who truly deserve it get punished?¡± Bowen added.

    Bowen still held onto a bit of hope. To Alvin, Bree wasn¡¯t a stranger, nor was she just a possible future aunt. She was also his only true friend. Alvin lowered his head; it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

    ¡°In fact¡­ You might¡¯ve already figured it out. Bree no longer remembers what happened back then.

    ¡°After your parents rescued her, she was in and out of a fever, and ended up forgetting everything that happened that night. She only remembers being abducted and then ending up in the orphanage,¡± Bowen said.

    ¡®Forgotten?¡® Alvin felt a surge of anger rise. What right did she have to forget? How could she so easily and guiltlessly forget?¡® he thought.

    Bowen¡¯s original intention was to have Alvin let go of the matter out of consideration for their past rtionship. However, the more he showed he cared, the angrier Alvin became.

 Tried 453

    <b>Chapter </b>453

    Bowen talked <b>a </b>lot, but he couldn¡¯t read the expression on Alvin¡¯s face. He had no idea what he was thinking-

    <b>¡°</b><b>What </b>am <b>I </b>thinking<b>? </b>Alvin felt likeughing. He did, but it was a cold, mockingugh.

    <b>¡®</b><b>Back </b>when Mom and Dad passed <b>away</b>, Uncle Bowen <b>was </b><b>just </b>as heartbroken as I was. And when <b>I </b>showed hostility toward the one who was saved. <b>didn¡¯t </b>Uncle Bowen always let it be?

    ¡°Why is he suddenly <b>so </b><b>anxious </b>when it¡¯s about Aubree? If he could, would he want to deal with Aubree? The truth is he couldn¡¯t let go of it!¡® Alvin thought to himself.

    ¡°Uncle Bowen, you should break up with Aubree<b>. </b>After all, you both have only been together for a short while<b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>Alvin said.

    As soon as he said that, Alvin could tell Bowen was getting angry.

    ¡°Moreover, I don¡¯t think Aubree really likes you that much. Maybe it¡¯s just that you¡¯re the only one around right now<b>. </b>You¡¯ve helped her out of difficult situations many times<b>, </b><i>so </i>she feels grateful to you. When you confessed your feelings<b>, </b>she didn¡¯t outright reject them. That¡¯s about it.

    ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>not like she¡¯s someone you can¡¯t live without. <b>Just </b>break up with her, and then you <b>can </b>watch me kick her <b>out </b>of Rithol City. That way, I¡¯ll be done with her for good,¡± Alvin said, his <b>gaze </b>deep and unwavering, <b>every </b>word he spoke full of conviction.

    ¡°Right now, this <b>is </b>what¡¯s best for both me and her<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Alvin added.

    He stared straight at Bowen, their eyes meeting in a silent sh. It was an unspoken battle.

    What Alvin didn¡¯t <b>say </b><b>was </b>that even if Bowen insisted on protecting Aubree, he still had ways <b>to </b>split them.

    He hadn¡¯t told Aubree yet that Uncle Bowen was the benefactor. Aubree hated being lied to. With her whole heart and mind, she just wanted to find the person who helped her back then and repay him.

    <b>¡®</b>If she ever found out it <b>was </b>Uncle Bowen, she would definitely think he had ulterior motives all along¨Cthat every time he got close, every kind <b>gesture</b>, every bit of help, was never <b>a </b>coincidence, but all part of his n.

    ¡®Maybe Uncle Bowen could smooth things over with a few sweet words, but that was the best¨Ccase scenario. What if something else happens between them?¡® Alvin thought. He had thought it all through, every step carefully calcted.

    <b>¡°</b>No way!¡± Bowen snapped. ¡°I admit that if it weren¡¯t for Aubree, I¡¯d probably just let you do whatever you want, as long as you don¡¯t go too far,¡± Bowen said, his voice firm.

    ¡°I have my own selfish reasons, and that¡¯s normal. But if Aubree really were the one responsible back then, I wouldn¡¯t stand in your way even if I liked her. She was just a kid back then; she didn¡¯t have a choice.

    ¡°Your parents risked their lives to save her. In a way, isn¡¯t she <b>a </b>continuation of their lives?¡± Bowen said.

    Alvinughed heartily, saying, ¡°If Mom and Dad hadn¡¯t gotten involved with her back then, I have no idea <b>if </b>she¡¯d be alive or dead. But I do know this¨Cmy parents would still be alive and well<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    The two parted on bad terms. Alvin finished the ss <b>of </b>wine in front of him and left. Bowen stared at the empty ss, his chest feeling as if it were weighed down by a heavy stone, tight and suffocating. ¡®So, it¡¯se to this after all, he thought.

    He had no idea what Alvin would do next. All that he could do now was prepare for anything.

    Aubree was unaware of the hidden tensions within the Turner family. The only thing that seemed unusual to her was that Bowen had been much busiertely. However<b>, </b>that wasn¡¯t something out of the ordinary. If Bowen ever stopped being busy, that would raise real concerns.

    She didn¡¯t have time to overthink because Zappy had made a tremendous breakthrough in the overseas market.

    Aubree flew to <b>New </b>York, and with the Matthews family¡¯s help, she managed to secure investments from some major yers in Novara. They set up Zappy¡¯s <b>overseas </b>branch and nned to get the international version of Zappy listed on the Novara stock market.

 Tried 454

    <b>Chapter </b>454

    When the news traveled back home, it stirred up quite amotion. Zappy¡¯s potential had already been proven in the domestic market. At this point, calling Zappy a must¨Chave app on par with WhatsApp wasn¡¯t exaggerating at all.

    Many official public ounts joined Zappy, using it to share updates and broadcast information in real time.

    <b>It </b>wasn¡¯t surprising that Zappy would gain traction overseas, but what truly shocking was could this thing actually be addictive? It was insanely popr in the country, and now it went viral globally the moment itunched abroad.

    Rumor had it that <b>even </b>the President of Novara registered an ount on Zappy and publicly stated how much he enjoyed the app. With the President taking the lead, <b>it </b>was no wonder the public followed suit.

    Some capital forces tried to attack Zappy, using it of leaking user data, and even attempted to pressure the government to shut it down. But unexpectedly, users on international tforms openly shared their personal information and strongly opposed the ban on Zappy¡¯s short videos.

    ¡®Are they all crazy? Bryan thought.

    The Wilson family naturally <b>saw </b>the news as well. <b>Bryan </b>was in his room, feeling deeply unsettled.

    Everypliment Ronald had given Aubree now felt like the sharpest de, carving into Bryan¡¯s heart, leaving him uneasy and fearful.

    ¡°Knock, knock, knock..¡± The door rattled with the knocks, and Bryan said softly, ¡°Come in.¡±

    ¡°Bryan,¡± Daxton greeted as he stepped inside. He looked like he had just returned from theb, with <b>clearly </b>seen exhaustion under his eyes.

    Daxton didn¡¯t really care about family matters, neither did he care about thepany. To him, the biggest benefit of being part of the Wilson family was that it gave him a steady stream of funding for his research.

    <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re back? How¡¯s everything going at theb?¡± Bryan asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ve cracked the hardest part. <b>It¡¯s </b>just clinical trials left now,¡± Daxton replied briefly. Right now, everyone was talking about Aubree. It <b>was </b>impossible even if Daxton wanted to ignore it.

    ¡®Dad¡¯s probably dreaming every night about Aubreeing back, isn¡¯t he?¡® Daxton thought. ¡®But if Aubreees back, will there still be a ce for Carmen in this family?

    Daxton didn¡¯t hesitate for even a second¨Che didn¡¯t even stop to rest before rushing over to see Byan. If Carmen were back, the only person in this family who would still be on her side would be Bryan.

    The more Aubree demonstrates her business acumen, the more unsettled Bryan would feel, Daxton thought.

    ¡°Bryan, if Aubreees back, what are you going to do?¡± Daxton asked, getting straight to the point.

    Bryan was at a loss for words. He didn¡¯t expect his seemingly aloof younger brother toe to him about this matter.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be frank, Bryan. I don¡¯t want Aubree toe back. If she does, Carmen¡¯s going to have a hard time. And I¡¯m guessing you feel the same way, because she¡¯ll threaten your position in thepany,¡± Daxton said bluntly.

    Bryan fell silent; his silence spoke louder than any words. ¡°I understand. As long as Carmen isn¡¯t hurt, I¡¯ll back you up.¡± Daxton said. ¡°If you need me,¡± he added.

    Daxton was about to leave, his hand on the doorknob, when Bryan spoke up behind him. ¡°One way to resolve this is to knock Aubree off her pedestal. The other is to make sure anyone who wants her back is incapable of doing it.¡±

    ¡®Who would want Aubree toe back? The only person in the whole Wilson family would be Ronald. In other words, Bryan is saying he wants to seize Ronald¡¯s authority.

    ¡®If they couldn¡¯t deal with Aubree, then Bryan would just take over Wilson Group himself. That way<b>, </b>even if Aubreees back, she¡¯ll be no threat to him at all, Daxton thought.

    Daxton nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ll back you up. The next shareholders¡® meeting might be a good opportunity.¡±

    Akhough Bryan was handling pretty much everything at the Wilson Group these days, having Ronald looming over him was an undeniable fact. If Ronald wanted, he could call a board meeting and kick Bryan out whenever he felt like it.

    ¡°No rush. We still have some time. We need <i>to </i>scheme this out step by step,¡± Bryan said. Having Daxton backing him up was definitely good news.

    ¡®But it¡¯s still not enough, Bryan thought, flexing his fingers. ¡®It¡¯s been a while since myst talk with Elizabeth. She should¡¯ve made up her mind by

    now.

    [Set up a meeting with Ms. Lawson for tomorrow.] ¡®It¡¯s time for a decision, he thought as he texted his secretary.

 Tried 455

    <b>Chapter </b><b>455 </b>

    The mini drama had <b>caused </b>Trevor a terrible mood. If his TV series had aired <b>as </b>nned, there wouldn¡¯t be any issues<b>. </b><b>The </b>problem was that he suddenly switched <b>to </b><b>a </b><b>live </b><b>broadcast </b>model<b>, </b>which inevitably made people suspect he was trying to steal the spotlight from the trending mini dramas.

    People, normally, wouldn¡¯t think much of it if it were in the past. But mini dramas <b>were </b>now at their peak in poprity, and were tied to Aubree. <b>Even </b>those who weren¡¯t Trevor¡¯s fans knew that, regardless <b>of </b>what he said, deep down, he <b>was </b>unhappy with Aubree.

    Competing <b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>an </b><b>issue</b>; what mattered was the embarrassment of losing. And with rushed post¨Cproduction due to time constraints, Trevor ended up in embarrassment.

    Many marketing ounts jumped on it for traffic, turning his new series into a meme. They joked that even a master of the entertainment circle like him could <b>have </b>a disastrous flop.

    If Trevor had just let it <b>go</b>, the fuss would have died down. However, he couldn¡¯t swallow his pride. Whether it was hiring trolls or rallying his fans, whenever a marketing ount hyped this up, they would be attacked.

    But people had a rebellious <b>streak</b>, <b>so </b>after <b>a </b><b>few </b>rounds of this, Trevor became the <b>target </b>of widespread mockery.

    Such an oue surprised Aubree. ¡®So, Trevor has been feeling pretty stifledtely<b>?</b>¡® she thought. <b>¡®</b><b>It¡¯s </b><b>a </b>good thing!¡±

    The situation with Sophia remained unresolved. Trevor, with his personality, could maintain control and avoid mistakes when rational. However, with all his pent¨Cup frustration, he now needed a way to vent.

    Aubree grinned slyly. ¡®As his dear younger sister, of course, I couldn¡¯t bear to see my good brother stewing in anger<b>, </b>she thought.

    There were people in Trevor¡¯s <b>crew </b>who were under her arrangement. So she had someone find a way to invite Trevor out for a drink or a gathering.

    After making arrangements about Trevor¡¯s situation, Aubree received a message from Birgitte.

    ording to her, GrabCheap in S¨¹dlichen Strand had recentlye under malicious attack. Nothing serious had happened thus far, but the attacks on GrabCheap¡¯s servers were clearly organized and nned, which was probably just a test run. Aubree figured she had better head over there herself.

    In the reception room of the Lawson Group, Bryan sat there, watching the steam swirling over his coffee, waiting patiently for Elizabeth.

    ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting,¡± Elizabeth, dressed in a professional business suit, pushed open the door and said. The crisp click of her heels on the floor echoed through the room just like her, decisive and energetic.

    ¡°Ms. Lawson, have you thought about what we talked aboutst time?¡± Bryan asked.

    ¡°Thest time Bryan came to me¡­ Elizabeth thought for a moment and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. She was surprised that Bryan woulde to her with an alliance marriage proposal between the Wilson and Lawson families, between Bryan and her.

    Of course, this marriage was nothing but a facade. The only man she truly cared about was Bowen, and no one else.

    Bryan¡¯s reasoning was simple. He wanted to deal with Aubree, and she wanted to win over Bowen, which meant she had to go against Aubree.

    So why didn¡¯t they join forces? Once Aubree was out of the picture, the Turner family would also be thrown into a predicament. By then, Bowen would probably end up being tied down by her. It sounded like a pretty good n.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, don¡¯t mind me being straightforward. Our families have long been in a cooperative rtionship. A marriage alliance seems somewhat unnecessary, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Elizabeth said.

    ¡°Business partnerships <b>are </b>inherently fragile. Only amunity of shared interests bound together is the most reliable rtionship. Moreover, it¡¯s my father who coborates with you, not me,¡± Bryan replied.

    Elizabeth had already made up her mind before she arrived. Saying this was merely to test Bryan¡¯s attitude further.

    <b>She </b>picked up her cup and clinked it against Bryan¡¯s with a crisp sound, a prelude to sealing the deal.

    ¡°I agree. Now that we are the closest allies, may I know your ns moving forward?¡± Elizabeth said, smiling.

 Tried 456

    Bryan nodded and said, ¡°We¡¯re nning to ce someone in Bree Technology.¡±

    ¡°Is it so simple?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Of course not. We¡¯ve contacted a team of tech specialists to target GrabCheap¡¯s servers, and the insider <b>we¡¯re </b>nting <b>is </b>a real <b>pro </b><b>at </b>this garne,¡± Bryan replied.

    Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Nice move.¡±

    If I were Aubree, I¡¯d definitely make use of this person. Once she does, the entire backend <b>server </b>of GrabCheap would be exposed right under the Wilson family¡¯s nose. By then<b>, </b>whatever they want to do to GrabCheap is a piece of cake, Elizabeth thought.

    <b>I¡¯ve </b>got a n too, but it¡¯s aimed at Aubree¡¯spdog, Birgitte. Maybe we could team up and make it even more effective,¡± Elizabeth said.

    Bryan had chosen to work with Elizabeth, not merely because they shared the same goal. It wasn¡¯t that the Lawson family <b>was </b>very capable of doing business, and to be honest, Bryan didn¡¯t think much of them in that regard.

    The reason the Lawson family managed to stay afloat in Rithol City and still received so much respect was mainly due to the strong military and political background of Elizabeth¡¯s father.

    The main Lawson family wasn¡¯t based in Rithol City. Elizabeth¡¯s branch could be considered the most legitimate financial arm of the family. They would never let anything happen to the Lawson Group.

    Taking down Aubree would require more than just clever business tactics<b>; </b>strength in other areas was also necessary.

    Both she and Bryan were pragmatic individuals, and their rtionship was one of mutual benefits to begin with. After they agreed to the coboration, there was no need for any formalities. They publicly announced their marriage alliance the very next day after informing their elders.

    By the time Aubree saw the news, she was already in S¨¹dlichen Strand. She was somewhat surprised that Bryan had a marriage alliance with Elizabeth, which never happened in her previous life.

    She remembered that after the Lawson family¡¯s biggest backer copsed, the Lawson family soon disappeared over time. Elizabeth married a wealthy businessman <b>as </b>his second wife in a desperate attempt to salvage the Lawson Group, but it was futile.

    In his previous life, Bryan had chosen to marry a youngdy whose family background was strong enough to rival the Wilson family¡¯s, and who had loved him wholeheartedly.

    Aubree propped her chin on her hand. ¡®Looks like what happened in Urggate City really rattled him, that he eagerly approached Elizabeth for a

    the ear marriage alliance.

    ¡®But that¡¯s not a bad thing. <b>Now </b>that they¡¯re tied together, Bryan won¡¯t be able to wash his hands of it if the Lawson family gets into trouble, she thought.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, here¡¯s the detailed report on the attacks we receivedtely,¡± Birgitte said after knocking anding in. She ced the documents in front of Aubree and waited for her to run them through.

    ¡°Our tech team can only do their best to defend and rebuild the firewalls, but these attacks are aggressive. Whenever they discover a vulnerability, they hit us just enough to cause some damage and then retreat.

    ¡°They¡¯re very cunning. Till now, we still have no clue who¡¯s behind it,¡± Birgitte said, expression grim, clearly pissed off.

    No one liked mosquitoes buzzing annoyingly around their ears. They were even more irritating when they bit. On top of that, you would be worried whether they transmitted a severe disease.

    ¡°If we can¡¯t track them down, so be it. No point stressing over it now as they¡¯re bound to make a move sooner orter,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°What matters most is that we need to headhunt some real pros in this area to keep ourselves safe. The enemy¡¯s lurking in the shadows, so we have to fortify our defenses to the max,¡± she added without hesitation.

    ¡°We had searched for talents ever since the first attack. A promising candidate applied, and he¡¯s yed a key role in defending against these recent attacks,¡± Birgitte said.

    Aubree was surprised to hear Birgitte praise someone. It made her even more curious about this person. ¡®Since it¡¯s already after work, I¡¯ll meet him next time, she thought,

    ¡°Alright, we¡¯re done for the day. Let¡¯s go for a meal,¡± Aubree said.

 Tried 457

    <b>Chapter </b><b>457 </b>

    Aubree and Birgitte were not only superior and subordinate, but also friends. Outside <b>of </b>work, they would asionally joke around with each other.

    <b>¡°</b><b>So</b>, how¡¯s <b>it </b>going with you and Hugo after the Moore family¡¯s birthday <b>party </b>in Rithol City?¡± Aubree asked, a teasing glint in her eye.

    Birgitte paused for a moment before replying, ¡°Well, both Hugo and Grace returned to S¨¹dlichen Strand and continued working, Grace remained the same <b>as </b>ever. I thought after everything Hugo had done, he¡¯d finally be more decisive with her<b>.¡±</b>Birgitte Cherniavsky

    Aubree¡¯s yful expression faded. ¡°He still can¡¯t turn Grace down,¡± she said.

    ¡°Turn down<b>¡± </b>here referred to how Grace had constantly found excuses and reasons to plead for Hugo¡¯s help. Even though he knew perfectly well that these were likely just <b>excuses </b>for her to get close to him, he still found it hard to say no and ended up leaving everything behind to go to her

    It has nothing to do with love; he simply can¡¯t let go of his sense of responsibility, Birgitte thought.

    ¡°He has a tremendous sense of responsibility,¡± Birgitte said. ¡®I don¡¯t me him. Everyone has their own personality. Wasn¡¯t it that very same sense of responsibility that first drew me to hirn<b>?</b><b>¡® </b>she thought.

    Birgitte smiled with relief and said, ¡°Let it be<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    As they chatted and walked toward the restaurant, something unexpected happened just as they were about to enter.

    ¡°Bitch, go to hell!¡± A middle¨Caged man, fully armed and with bloodshot <b>eyes</b>, hurled a bottle straight at Birgitte¡¯s <b>face </b>and shouted. Aubree and Birgitte, caught off guard, didn¡¯t even have time to react.

    ¡°Watch out!¡± At that critical moment, someone rushed in from the side and shouted, shielding Birgitte in his arms and simultaneously pushing Aubree <b>away</b>, saving her from an unexpected disaster.

    A pungent, corrosive smell filled the air.¡°Patrick Steward!¡± Birgitte cried out.

    ¡°Ahhh!¡± A scream burst from Patrick¡¯s mouth. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his entire body trembled from the pain. Yet he held Birgitte tightly, shielding her from danger.

    Arge portion of his back corroded, and blood soaked through his clothes. ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky, are you okay?¡± Patrick forced out through gritted teeth, his words, despite the pain, still full of concern for Birgitte.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine! Call 911, quick!¡± Birgitte shouted.

    Aubree snapped out of it and kicked the middle¨Caged man to the ground. She <b>was </b>no longer that scrawny, helpless girl everyone used to pick on.

    1

    After all the dangers she had been through and the professional training she had received, taking down an untrained grown man was a piece of cake for her now.

    She pinned him to the ground, her face icy cold. ¡°Who sent you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No one sent me! I just can¡¯t stand that bitch, Birgitte. Who is she that can steal Hugo from our Grace? What a slut! She¡¯s got herself a new guy to y hero for her so soon?¡± the middle¨Caged man replied.

    His bloodshot eyes were wild, his face twisted with rage, his voicepletely deranged. He was clearly out of his mind.

    Aubree <b>was </b>caught off guard, and the man broke free from her grasp. Fortunately, the police arrived just in time and subdued him. The sharp wail of sirens rang out as the ambnce followed closely behind, rushing Patrick <i>to </i>the hospital for treatment.

    Birgitte went with him to the hospital, while Aubree stayed behind to assist with the investigation. With all the key figures of the incident gone, the crowd finally erupted into <b>a </b>flurry of heated discussion.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t they from Bree Technology, Ms. Cherniavsky and Ms. Miller? What the heck just happened?¡± someone said.

    ¡°I heard that guy mention someone by the name of Grace. Is he talking about Grace Lawson?¡± Another chipped in.

    ¡°Who¡¯s Grace Lawson? What¡¯s she got to do with all this?¡± someone asked.

    ¡°You seriously don¡¯t know? Well, it makes sense. It was covered up real soon when it first broke out. Rumor has it that Grace, the TV station¡¯s most gorgeous host, her beloved is Hugo¡­¡±

    Whether the people involved wanted it or not, a serious incident like this <b>was </b>bound to make the news.

    After Aubree was done with the investigation, she was sent to the hospital by none other than Hugo.

    ¡°<b>Birgitte¡¯s </b>okay, right?¡± Hugo asked.

    <b>¡°</b>She¡¯s fine. Someone stepped in and saved us<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree replied.

    <b>¡°</b>This should <b>have </b>something to do with Grace. What do you think?<b>¡± </b>Aubree looked at him and asked.

    272

 Tried 458

    <b>Chapter </b><b>458 </b>

    <b>Hugo </b>looked a bit hesitant. After all, the two families had always been on good terms. Back <i>at </i>his father¡¯s birthday party, his family joked about the childhood engagement between them. It thus <b>inevitably </b><b>came </b>across as them letting Grace¡¯s family down.

    ¡°I¡¯ll <b>get </b><b>to </b>the bottom of this, <b>Hugo </b>said.

    <b>Aubree </b>couldn¡¯t help but get <b>angry</b>. ¡®Do <b>you </b>still need to <b>investigate</b>? Isn¡¯t it obvious right before your eyes, she thought.

    <b>¡°</b><b>Weren¡¯t </b>you there during the questioning just now<b>? </b><b>He¡¯s </b>mentally ill and a fan <b>of </b><b>Grace</b><b>. </b>You don¡¯t <b>seriously </b>think just because you talked to <b>Grace</b><b>, </b>and she would step back to being the sweet girl¨Cnext¨Cdoor, do you?

    ¡°Now<b>, </b><b>I </b>finally understand why<b>, </b><b>after </b>all this time, your rtionship with Birgitte <b>never </b>moves <b>forward </b>but <b>regresses </b>instead,¡± <b>Aubree </b>said.

    The two knew each other because of Bowen. <b>On </b>top of that, <b>since </b>Hugo liked Birgitte, he had often sought advice from Aubree, and it made them fairly familiar with each other.

    ¡°If <b>I </b><b>were </b>you, I¡¯d go straight to Grace right now and get her to exin to Birgitte. At the very least<b>, </b>Grace should <b>face </b>the consequences for what she¡¯s done,¡± Aubree said firmly.

    Hugo avoided Aubree¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°Let¡¯s <b>just </b><b>go </b>see Birgitte at the hospital first.¡±

    Aubree was speechless. ¡°You and Bowen get along pretty well. If he had your personality, I would¡¯ve broken up with him on the <b>spot</b>.¡±

    Hugo just said calmly, <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ll get to the bottom of it.¡± Aubree sneered without making anyment.

    At the hospital, Aubree couldn¡¯t be bothered to look at Hugo¡¯s hesitant expression any longer and went to check on Patrick, the man who had saved them.

    Coincidentally, Patrick was the very same skilled new tech recruit that Birgitte had praised earlier. She had even regretted not getting to meet him before the end of the workday, and little did she <b>expect </b>their first meeting would happen like this.

    Outside the ward, at the corner of the hallway, Birgitte looked pale. The liquid that man threw <b>was </b>concentrated sulfuric acid. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t aim urately, and Patrick shielded her with his back.

    The injury was on the lower part of Patrick¡¯s right shoulder, and after emergency treatment, it wasn¡¯t too severe.

    Birgitte didn¡¯t dare imagine. ¡®If Patrick didn¡¯t show up, not only would I be disfigured, but Aubree would be hurt as well, she thought.

    ¡°Birgitte, you¡­¡± Hugo had so much to say, but seeing her like this, he couldn¡¯t utter a word.

    ¡®What¡¯s the point of talking all this now? I¡¯m so powerless, he thought.

    Birgitte looked straight at him. ¡°No matter how much Grace was involved, or whether she nned it or not, I won¡¯t let her get away with this,¡± Birgitte said.

    Hugo <b>was </b>at a loss. ¡°Can you let me investigate first<b>?</b>¡± he asked. Birgitte¡¯s eyes were full of disappointment, just as he had expected.

    ¡°Hugo, I¡¯ve wanted to talk to you for a while, but never got the chance. Let¡¯sy it all out today,¡± Birgitte said.

    Hugo¡¯s heart dropped; he knew whatever she was about to say would send him straight into hell, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. He clenched his fists weakly, bracing himself for her final verdict

    ¡°Whenever <b>we </b>go out or just spend time together, Grace will always look for you. Sometimes you turn her down, and not sometimes. I know you usually ask for my opinion, and I¡¯ve always said yes, but that doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t bother me.

    ¡°I kept waiting for the day you¡¯d finally say no to Grace, but I don¡¯t think that day will evere.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s your family background, or maybe it¡¯s your profession, but you have a strong sense of responsibility.

    Grace is the daughter of a close family friend. She¡¯s working alone at S¨¹dlichen Strand, and whether out of courtesy <b>as </b>an older brother or due to the longstanding bond between your families, you just can¡¯t bring yourself to ignore her.

    ¡°So let¡¯s end this here. I don¡¯t me you, and you don¡¯t have to worry about how I feel anymore. Take care of yourself,¡± Birgitte said.

    With that, Birgitte turned and walked away. Hugo reached out, but she was already gone. His hand grasped nothing but empty air.

    He slowly withdrew his fingers into a fist, closing them around nothing. Staring after Birgitte¡¯s retreating figure, Hugo¡¯s eyes were full of confusion and loss. Is everything I did¡­ wrong?¡® he wondered.

    Birgitte took a deep breath to steady herself, then made her <b>way </b>to Patrick¡¯s ward. As she pushed open the door, the first thing she saw was Aubree¡¯s

    Chapter <b>458 </b>

    worried, caring <b>eyes </b>

    ¡°Where¡¯s Hugo?¡± Aubree asked.

    Birgitte shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s gone,¡± she said.

    The two fell silent. Patrick, lying face¨Cdown on the bed, listened to their brief exchange, his <b>eyes </b>shifting slightly.

    <b>AD </b>

 Tried 459

    <b>Chapter </b>459

    <b>At </b><b>Turner </b>Group, Bowen had just finished going through a document when he noticed Hugo¡¯s name shing <b>on </b>his phone, a bit surprised by the unexpected call

    <b>¡°</b>Bowen, did I do something wrong<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>Hugo </b>sounded lost and frustrated after <b>his </b>falling out with Birgitte.

    He knew he still cared about Grace, but in his heart<b>, </b>she was <b>just </b><b>like </b>a little sister to him. He never thought he¡¯d made Birgitte suffer because of her.

    Hugo couldn¡¯t figure it out. He¡¯d gotten to the bottom of things and tried to make things right for Birgitte. He thought it was the right thing to do Since he <b>was </b>helpless, he thought <b>Bowen </b><b>was </b>the only person he could think of to turn to.

    <b>Bowen </b>listened quietly, then let out a softugh. ¡°You did the right thing, but did it help<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡®Did it help?<b>¡® </b>Hugo was stunned. He couldn¡¯t figure out how those two things even belonged in the same sentence.

    ¡°Let me put it another way, <b>Bowen </b><b>said</b>. ¡°Does it matter if Grace <b>lives </b>or dies? The person you love and want to be with <b>is </b>Birgitte, not Grace.¡±

    <b>It </b>hit Hugo like a ton of bricks. All at once, <b>Hugo </b>realized the <b>root </b>of the conflict between him and Birgitte.

    It wasn¡¯t about so<b>¨C</b>called fairness. What Birgitte wanted was for him to take a firm stand by her side when it mattered, and he had <b>never </b>shown that kind of resolve.

    ¡°Bowen, I get it now<b>.</b>¡± Hugo nodded.

    ¡°So, how¡¯s it going?<b>¡± </b>Birgitte asked.

    ¡°Hard to say,¡± Aubree replied, taking the water Birgitte handed <b>her</b>. ¡°He¡¯s mentally ill, and he won¡¯t be held criminally responsible. At most, they¡¯ll send him to a psychiatric hospital<b>.¡± </b>

    They stood outside the hospital room, murmuring.

    ¡°I know <b>Grace </b>orchestrated this mess,¡± Birgitte said, her eyes shing with

    <b>anger</b>.

    ¡°So what if he¡¯s mentally ill?¡± Birgitte said through gritted teeth. ¡°Even if they send him to a psych ward, <b>we </b>still have ways to deal with him!¡±

    Patrick was just a regr employee. However, he risked his life to save Birgitte. She was grateful, and that was why she couldn¡¯t let him take the fall for nothing.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for him, we¡¯d both be screwed,¡± Aubree admitted, still shaken. ¡°No matter how capable I am, I couldn¡¯t have handled that situation alone.

    ¡°If we want to bring Grace to justice, we need solid evidence that shows she was behind all this!¡± Birgitte said.

    ¡°There¡¯s no rushing this,¡± Aubree replied. ¡°You¡¯ve been at the hospital all day looking after Patrick. I¡¯ve already arranged for a care worker to take over, so go home and get some rest. This whole thing is going to blow up online, and there¡¯ll be plenty of trouble to deal withter<b>. </b>Don¡¯t let yourself get exhausted.¡± Aubree patted Birgitte on the shoulder.

    ¡°I know,¡± Birgitte said. ¡°I¡¯ll stay a bit longer to make sure the care worker is thorough enough. After that, I¡¯ll leave.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t insist, just told her not <i>to </i>wear herself out.

    At S¨¹dlichen Strand, Hugo¡¯charged through the pulle

    said, frantically blocking his way.

    halls<b>, </bpletely ignoring the staff who tried to stop

    him. ¡°Sir, you

    can¡¯t go

    in there!¡± an assistant

    added.

    ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of recording a show. <b>If </b>you rush in now, you¡¯ll disrupt <b>k</b><b>!</b>¡± the assistant now

    As a bit of reason finally returned to him. Hugo stopped in his tracks. ¡°Is <b>Grace </b>in there<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>he asked.

    <b>¡°</b><b>yes</b><b>, </b>she is, Sir,¡± the assistant replied. ¡°<b>If </b>you¡¯re here to see her, you can wait in the lounge. Once <b>Grace </b>finishes recording, we¡¯ll let her know you¡¯re

    here.

    The assistant took a good look at Hugo. He <b>was </b>well¨Cdressed and good¨Clooking,

    ¡°I¡¯ll wait here then,¡± Hugo said.

    but <b>she </b>cou

    couldn¡¯t quite figure out who he was<b>. </b>

    About an hourter, the show¡¯s shooting finally wrapped. When Grace stepped out, she spotted Hugo leaning against the wall. Her eyes sparkled with surprise and delight. ¡°Hugo! Are you here to pick me up after work?

    ¡°Thad ate shift today. You must have been <b>waiting </b>for a while Grace approached

    Hugo had just finished smoking a cigarette, his voice hoarse ¡°Yeah, I guess so. <b>Are </b>you done for the day?¡±

    154

 Tried 460

    <b>Chapter </b>460

    Grace didn¡¯t notice anything was off<b>. </b>She walked up to him happily, reaching out to hook his arm. ¡°I¡¯m done now. It¡¯s not toote yet. How about we grab somete¨Cnight snacks<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>Hugo </b>pulled his arm without hesitation. ¡°Since you¡¯re done, we need to talk<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Grace froze, finally realizing that something <b>was </b>seriously wrong. Why is Hugo looking at me like that?¡® Grace wondered, her heart pounding with

    confusion.

    <b>Hugo¡¯s </b><b>eyes </b>looked as <b>if </b>someone had deeply offended him. His <b>eyes </b>were so dark and bottomless, she couldn¡¯t see through them at all or figure out what he was feeling. It sent a <b>wave </b>of panic and fear rushing through her.

    <b>¡°</b>Babe, what¡¯s wrong?<b>¡± </b>Grace stammered.

    <b>I¡¯ve </b>told you so many times, just call me by my name,¡± Hugo said, his voice unexpectedly calm, all the earlier anger gone.

    ¡°Have you watched today¡¯s <b>news</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Hugo asked. People filmed the acid attack outside the restaurant and stered it all over social media.

    <b>¡°</b>What?¡± Grace¡¯s smile froze. She¡¯d been so happy, she¡¯d nearly forgotten all about it. She tried to <b>keep </b><b>her </b>cool, feigning ignorance. ¡°<b>News</b>? What <b>news</b>?<b>¡± </b>

    She¡¯d forgotten that Hugo was <b>a </b>pro <b>at </b>seeing lies. Any act she put on was <b>useless</b>. He could <b>see </b>right through her. ¡®Maybe this whole thing <b>was </b>her doing. Hugo thought<b>, </b>suspicion and anger churning inside him.

    With <b>a </b>cold, mockingugh, Hugo loosened his grip. Then<b>, </b>suddenly mmed his fist into the wall right next to <b>Grace¡¯s </b>face. <b>Grace </b>instinctively covered her head. ¡°Ah!<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Grace, I never should¡¯ve protected you just because of our families. Someone like you doesn¡¯t deserve it!¡± Hugo said coldly.

    Hugo couldn¡¯t believe how foolish he¡¯d been, thinking <b>Grace </b><b>was </b>confused, mistaking her dependence, and that everything could be fixed throughmunication and mutual understanding.

    Hugo¡¯s chest rose and fell violently, and Bowen¡¯s words echoed in his mind. His sentences cut right to the bone. ¡®If <b>I </b>can¡¯t even take her side, what right do I have to <b>say </b>I love her?¡® Hugo thought bitterly, the truth stinging more than he¡¯d <b>expected</b>.

    <b>¡°</b>You better pray you had nothing to do with what happened to Birgitte!¡± Hugo warned, his voice cold and sharp. ¡°<b>If </b>I find out you did, you¡¯re finished.¡±

    The <bst </b>look Hugo gave her made <b>Grace¡¯s </b>body go cold. She stood in a daze<b>, </b>still reeling long after he was gone.

    ¡°Miss Lawson!¡± the assistant called out softly, jolting her back to her senses.

    Grace suddenly turned to her. ¡°Did any of the security or other staff see Hugoe over to see me just now?¡±

    The assistant had picked up from their conversation that the guy who barged in was the one Grace had been thinking about all this time. She figured Grace was worried that Hugo showing up out of the blue at the TV station might get out and bring some unwanted attention.

    ¡°They probably did,¡± the assistant said. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go talk to them and make sure nothing gets-¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Grace cut her off. ¡°Let it spread. I want everyone to know that Hugo Moore flew into a rage for my sake.¡±

    At first, Grace thought that since she never showed her face in this matter, there was no way anyone would connect her with the case. Even if Hugo started digging, he probably wouldn¡¯t suspect her, especially with the ties between their families. She figured she¡¯d be untouchable.

    At worst, perhaps some crazy fans of hers would get med. But Grace never expected Hugo to lock onto her as the prime suspect right from the start. She knew better than to risk her life betting against Hugo¡¯s professional instincts.

    Since things had developed to this, the only way was to drag Hugo down with her. If he got caught up in this too, she¡¯d have some leverage, and it¡¯d be much easier to handle him.

    The assistant didn¡¯t quite understand. However, her fate was with Grace<b>. </b>¡°Got it, Miss Lawson. I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡±

    Meanwhile, Hugo wasn¡¯t wasting any time. As he stepped out of the TV station, he called up a colleague. ¡°Hey, about that acid attack <b>case </b>the cops are handling today¡­ Can you check these ounts for me?¡± The ounts he rattled off were all Grace¡¯s social media profiles.

    ¡°Huh? Hugo, we can¡¯t just look into ounts without going through the proper channels,¡± his colleague protested.

    ¡°Just do it for me this once!¡± Hugo urged. ¡°If anything happens<b>, </b><b>I¡¯ll </b>take the me.¡±

    Given Hugo¡¯s connections, his colleague agreed. ¡°Alright, but the soonest <b>I </b>can get you results is tomorrow.¡±

    <b>Birgitte </b>woke up and realized something big had happened <b>overnight</b>,

    Because <b>of </b>the acid attack by <b>one </b>of <b>Grace¡¯s </b>crazed fans, Birgitte already had some old drama tied to her name. With insiders spreading the details, everyone online <b>was </b>waiting for the <b>next </b>juicy update.

    Before Birgitte could even respond, <b>news </b>broke that Hugo had snuck into the TV station in the middle of the night. Then<b>, </b>Hugo and <b>Grace¡¯s </b>conversation leaked online.

    <b>Grace¡¯s </b>fans started <b>speaking </b>up for her: [What does this have to do with Grace? <b>Is </b>it her job to control her fans<b>?</b><b>] </b>

    <b>[</b><b>And </b>he calls himself a public servant? The way he acted, I honestly thought he was about to kill someone!]

    [Honestly, what did <b>Grace </b>even do wrong? Hugo and Birgitte weren¡¯t <b>even </b>dating. <b>Is </b>it a crime to go after someone you like<b>?</b><b>] </b>

    <b>Hugo¡¯s </b>special <b>status </b>only made things messier. He barged into the TV station without a shred <b>of </b>evidence and thenid his hands on Grace during their confrontation. Even if he didn¡¯t hurt <b>Grace</b>, his behavior was just way too controversial.

    Birgitte, who should¡¯ve been the clear victim, suddenly found herself unable to defend her side. Thanks to all the chaos Hugo stirred up, the truth eventually got muddled.

    ¡°Look at this mess you¡¯ve made!¡± In the office, the chief mmed a thick stack of files down in front of Hugo. ¡°These are all reports filed <b>against </b>you!¡±

    Hugo stayed silent. Meanwhile, the chief was furning. Hugo <b>was </b>from the Moore family in Rithol City, and everyone knew he <b>was </b>supposed to be heading for a promotion sooner or <bter</b><b>. </b>¡°You were way too reckless this time<b>.¡± </b>

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. No matter how <b>you </b>look at it, Grace is the main suspect in this case,¡± Hugo finally argued.

    ¡°If she¡¯s <b>a </b>suspect, you should go through the proper channels!¡± the chief snapped. ¡°Who barges into someone¡¯s workce in the middle of the night like that? What were you trying to do? Threaten or coerce her?¡±

    Hugo moved his lips slightly. ¡°<b>I¡¯ll </b>take full responsibility.¡±

    ¡°Take full responsibility? And how do you n to do that?¡± the chief shot back.

    ¡°A transfer, or a demotion. Whatever is in line with the rules. Do it, Hugo said calmly. He saluted, then turned and walked out, ignoring the chief, who was so furious he looked like he might pass out.

    At that moment, Hugo only wanted to break <i>the </i>rules for once. After all, he got relevant evidence from a colleague.

    *****

    At the hospital, Birgitte brought Patrick breakfast. ¡°Birgitte, I saw all the stuff going on online,¡± Patrick said.

    His back was still injured, so moving around was tough. Birgitte wasn¡¯t the sentimental type. She knew the only reason she was safe and sound was because of what he¡¯d done. She carefully fed him one spoonful at a time.

    IN

    A

    4

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it. I¡¯ll take care of things,¡± Birgitte said.

    Patrick stared at her, his voice a little shaky. ¡°Birgitte, what I mean is<b>¡­ </b>

    ¡°I didn¡¯t save you just because I happened to be there. I did it because I like you!¡± he said, finally confessing.

    Patrick was a few years younger than her, with fresh, boyish good looks. He was the type who¡¯d be popr on any college campus.

    Birgitte was stunned. She never in a million years expected him to have feelings for her.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Patrick went on, ¡°back when I was in school, I already knew all about you. I looked up to you so much. After I graduated, all I wanted

    wade it in!¡± was to work at Bree Technology. I got so lucky, you were the one who interviewed me, and I

    His smile lit up his whole face, as if he¡¯d forgotten about the pain in his back. ¡°I feel lucky I could take that bottle of acid for you. If it had hit you instead, I¡¯d never forgive myself.¡±

    It felt as if something inside Birgitte just melted. She would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t moved. Birgitte found herself staring at Patrick, lost in thought. The memory of him holding her close that day, shielding her from even the slightest harm, reyed in her mind.

    ¡°I¡­¡± she spoke, but before she could <b>say </b>anything else, there was a nking sound.

    ¡°Seems like I picked the wrong time toe in,¡± Hugo said.

    Both of them turned to see Hugo standing at the doorframe.

    172

    The sound came from the fruit basket slipping out of his hands and hitting the floor. The fruit scattered everywhere, just like his mood, smashed into pieces.

    <i>T </i>

    272

 Tried 461

    <b>Birgitte </b>woke up and realized something big had happened <b>overnight</b>,

    Because <b>of </b>the acid attack by <b>one </b>of <b>Grace¡¯s </b>crazed fans, Birgitte already had some old drama tied to her name. With insiders spreading the details, everyone online <b>was </b>waiting for the <b>next </b>juicy update.

    Before Birgitte could even respond, <b>news </b>broke that Hugo had snuck into the TV station in the middle of the night. Then<b>, </b>Hugo and <b>Grace¡¯s </b>conversation leaked online.

    <b>Grace¡¯s </b>fans started <b>speaking </b>up for her: [What does this have to do with Grace? <b>Is </b>it her job to control her fans<b>?</b><b>] </b>

    <b>[</b><b>And </b>he calls himself a public servant? The way he acted, I honestly thought he was about to kill someone!]

    [Honestly, what did <b>Grace </b>even do wrong? Hugo and Birgitte weren¡¯t <b>even </b>dating. <b>Is </b>it a crime to go after someone you like<b>?</b><b>] </b>

    <b>Hugo¡¯s </b>special <b>status </b>only made things messier. He barged into the TV station without a shred <b>of </b>evidence and thenid his hands on Grace during their confrontation. Even if he didn¡¯t hurt <b>Grace</b>, his behavior was just way too controversial.

    Birgitte, who should¡¯ve been the clear victim, suddenly found herself unable to defend her side. Thanks to all the chaos Hugo stirred up, the truth eventually got muddled.

    ¡°Look at this mess you¡¯ve made!¡± In the office, the chief mmed a thick stack of files down in front of Hugo. ¡°These are all reports filed <b>against </b>you!¡±

    Hugo stayed silent. Meanwhile, the chief was furning. Hugo <b>was </b>from the Moore family in Rithol City, and everyone knew he <b>was </b>supposed to be heading for a promotion sooner or <bter</b><b>. </b>¡°You were way too reckless this time<b>.¡± </b>

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. No matter how <b>you </b>look at it, Grace is the main suspect in this case,¡± Hugo finally argued.

    ¡°If she¡¯s <b>a </b>suspect, you should go through the proper channels!¡± the chief snapped. ¡°Who barges into someone¡¯s workce in the middle of the night like that? What were you trying to do? Threaten or coerce her?¡±

    Hugo moved his lips slightly. ¡°<b>I¡¯ll </b>take full responsibility.¡±

    ¡°Take full responsibility? And how do you n to do that?¡± the chief shot back.

    ¡°A transfer, or a demotion. Whatever is in line with the rules. Do it, Hugo said calmly. He saluted, then turned and walked out, ignoring the chief, who was so furious he looked like he might pass out.

    At that moment, Hugo only wanted to break <i>the </i>rules for once. After all, he got relevant evidence from a colleague.

    *****

    At the hospital, Birgitte brought Patrick breakfast. ¡°Birgitte, I saw all the stuff going on online,¡± Patrick said.

    His back was still injured, so moving around was tough. Birgitte wasn¡¯t the sentimental type. She knew the only reason she was safe and sound was because of what he¡¯d done. She carefully fed him one spoonful at a time.

    IN

    A

    4

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it. I¡¯ll take care of things,¡± Birgitte said.

    Patrick stared at her, his voice a little shaky. ¡°Birgitte, what I mean is<b>¡­ </b>

    ¡°I didn¡¯t save you just because I happened to be there. I did it because I like you!¡± he said, finally confessing.

    Patrick was a few years younger than her, with fresh, boyish good looks. He was the type who¡¯d be popr on any college campus.

    Birgitte was stunned. She never in a million years expected him to have feelings for her.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Patrick went on, ¡°back when I was in school, I already knew all about you. I looked up to you so much. After I graduated, all I wanted

    wade it in!¡± was to work at Bree Technology. I got so lucky, you were the one who interviewed me, and I

    His smile lit up his whole face, as if he¡¯d forgotten about the pain in his back. ¡°I feel lucky I could take that bottle of acid for you. If it had hit you instead, I¡¯d never forgive myself.¡±

    It felt as if something inside Birgitte just melted. She would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t moved. Birgitte found herself staring at Patrick, lost in thought. The memory of him holding her close that day, shielding her from even the slightest harm, reyed in her mind.

    ¡°I¡­¡± she spoke, but before she could <b>say </b>anything else, there was a nking sound.

    ¡°Seems like I picked the wrong time toe in,¡± Hugo said.

    Both of them turned to see Hugo standing at the doorframe.

    172

    The sound came from the fruit basket slipping out of his hands and hitting the floor. The fruit scattered everywhere, just like his mood, smashed into pieces.

    <i>T </i>

 Tried 462

    <b>Chapter </b>462

    <b>Birgitte </b>didn¡¯t move<b>. </b>She just met his gaze. ¡°<b>Do </b>you need something<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I came to bring you <b>this</b><b>¡­</b>¡± Hugo started, but <b>didn¡¯t </b>finish. And I want to make things <b>clear </b>with you, he thought.

    <b>Hugo </b>nced at Patrick, who was lying in bed and looking at him curiously. Bitterness welled up inside him. Compared to his hesitation<b>, </b>someone who could step up and protect her in a moment of danger <b>was </b>probably the kind <b>of </b>man she¡¯d want.

    <b>Hugo </b>swallowed back the words he wanted to <b>say</b><b>. </b>None <b>of </b>it mattered anymore<b>. </b>¡°This is the evidence I had someone look into. This <b>proves </b>Grace was hinting at and inciting her fans. This will help you out of this <b>mess</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>he said, handing Birgitte a folder<b>. </b>

    <b>¡°</b>And <b>what </b>about <b>you</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Birgitte asked concernedly. ¡°People online are all dragging your name through the mud. Aren¡¯t you going to get punished for what you did?<b>¡± </b>

    Seeing the <b>worry </b>in her <b>eyes</b>, Hugo felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Knowing she still cared was enough for him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. At most, they¡¯ll want me to rify,¡± he replied.

    Birgitte took the evidence. There <b>was </b>no need <b>to </b>make things difficult for herself. Still, she said softly to Hugo<b>, </b>¡°Thank you.¡± There was nothing else.

    Knowing it was time <b>to </b>go, Hugo quietly picked up the fruit <b>scattered </b>on the floor. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now<b>.¡± </b>Then, he added, ¡°And¡­ Birgitte, goodbye,¡±

    Will this be ourst meeting? This thought shed through both their minds. <b>¡®</b>Are we going to meet again in the future?¡®

    After Hugo left, Birgitte seemed <b>a </b>bit out of ce. Her mind <b>was </b>scattered.

    ¡°Birgitte, let the attendant take care of me,¡± Patrick said, his eyes sparkling with mischief and a grin that was almost too lively. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve got the evidence, take care of the important stuff. I¡¯ll be fine. Once I¡¯m discharged, I¡¯ll hurry back to thepany and work hard to be your right- hand man in no time<b>!</b>¡±

    Birgitte let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Alright.¡±

    With evidence from Hugo, Birgitte <b>was </b>able to handle the whole mess <b>way </b>more smoothly. She didn¡¯t even need Aubree¡¯s help. She handled it all by herself.

    Birgitte posted the evidence online. Since the police already had a file on the case, they immediately followed up once she uploaded it. It didn¡¯t take long before Grace was arrested for inciting her fans tomit assault.

    The online drama died quickly after that. No one was sticking up for Grace anymore. Instead, people started praising Hugo <b>for </b>having such sharp instincts and calling out Grace¡¯s tricks from the start.

    But none of that could change the fact that Hugo had broken the rules. He was transferred to a county police department. Rumor said it was the Moore family who made the call.

    The Moore family figured he was still too impulsive, so they wanted him to slow down for a couple of years before bringing him back up.

    As for Grace, the evidence against her was irond. Even with the Lawson family hiring the bestwyers money could buy, there was no way Grace was getting out of jail time.

    ¡°Elizabeth, help me. You said this wouldn¡¯t trace back to me!¡± Grace cried out. As soon as she was allowed a phone call, Grace dialed Elizabeth.

    ¡°How <b>was </b>I supposed to know you¡¯d be dumb enough to use your social media ount to contact people?¡± Elizabeth sneered, not even bothering to hide her contempt.

    Since Patrick had earned Birgitte¡¯s trust, Grace was of no use to her anymore. What happened to Grace had nothing to do with her at this point.

    ¡°Grace, you¡¯re not a child anymore. It¡¯s time you took responsibility for what you¡¯ve done,¡± Elizabeth said coldly.

    Grace was in utter disbelief. ¡°Where¡¯s Carmen? Wasn¡¯t this her idea in the first ce? Where is she?¡±

    Elizabeth listened to the furious shouting on the phone, curled her lip in annoyance, and nced sideways at Carmen sitting right next to her. ¡°She¡¯s calling your name.¡±

    Carmen shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s got nothing to do with me. Her fans did it, and she¡¯s the one who told them what to do.¡±

    Grace was utterly crushed. At that moment, she realized she was nothing but a pawn in someone¡¯s game.

    Her mind drifted back to how good things used to be between her and Hugo. If she hadn¡¯t been so extreme, she could¡¯ve been the good girl he always looked out for. If she hadn¡¯t gone after Birgitte like that, even if those two ended up together, she¡¯d have one more person in her life who cared about her. That wouldn¡¯t be so bad.

    Too bad sher only figured goal when it was already far toote

    A.5

 Tried 463

    <b>Chapter </b><b>463 </b>

    At the Lawson <b>Group</b><b>, </b>Carmen apuded. ¡°Ms. Lawson, you have guts. Running such a hugepany and still being able to let go <b>of </b>your <b>sister </b>like it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Elizabeth smiled sweetly. <b>¡°</b><b>What¡¯s </b>the point <b>of </b>keeping something that has no value?¡±

    <b>Carmen </b>agreed <b>with </b>that<b>. </b>She only bothered <b>to </b>please <b>people </b>who <b>were </b>worth her time<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>But honestly<b>, </b>Ms. Lawson<b>, </b><b>isn¡¯t </b>that a little shady?¡± Carmen asked.

    <b>You </b>said <b>you¡¯d </b>be on <b>my </b>side, but now <b>you¡¯re </b>announcing your engagement <b>to </b>my brother<b>, </b><b>Bryan</b><b>.</b>¡± She didn¡¯t know what this was all about.

    Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. <b>Her </b>good<b>¨C</b><b>for</b>¨Cnothing dad had somehow <b>dragged </b>home an illegitimate son, and that guy <b>was </b>always hanging around, sucking up and <b>ying </b>the fool. Looking at him annoyed <b>her</b><b>. </b>

    Her dad was also <b>a </b>troublemaker. He <b>transferred </b>his shares <b>to </b>his illegitimate son and <b>even </b>bribed manypany shareholders to put the illegitimate son into thepany.

    Hence<b>, </b>working with Carmen could make her a fortune if all went well, but she still feared that things would <b>go </b>south. Elizabeth would walk away with nothing. <b>Worse </b>yet, there <b>was </b>an extra threat. Everyone <b>was </b>watching <b>her </b><b>every </b><b>move</b><b>. </b>Failure wasn¡¯t an option, <b>so </b>she needed more than one safety. Hence<b>, </b>she had a fake engagement with Bryan. <b>It </b><b>was </b>her insurance policy.

    ¡°That¡¯s a whole different story. With you, it¡¯s all about how much of the Wilson Group <b>I </b><b>can </b><b>get </b>my hands on. <b>As </b>the thing with Bryan? That¡¯s just me ying my <b>cards </b>against Turner Group,¡± Elizabeth said with a <b>sly </b>smile.

    ¡°Then let me ask you, <b>if </b>one day my brother and I end up fighting for control<b>, </b>whose side <b>are </b><b>you </b>taking?¡± Carmen pressed.

    ¡°Simple. I¡¯ll always back whoever brings more to the table,¡± Elizabeth replied, tapping her fingers on the table. <b>¡°</b>You can¡¯t bet everything on just one horse<b>, </b>can you?¡±

    Carmen didn¡¯t say anything, but her smile faded. ¡®She¡¯s a yer<b>, </b>alright,¡® she thought. <b>¡°</b>Trying to <b>have </b>it both <b>ways</b>? <b>Not </b>afraid of biting off more than she can chew, huh?<b>¡± </b>

    It had been over a month since <b>Grace </b>incited a <b>crazy </b><b>fan </b>to throw acid. Patrick had mostly healed and was back to work.

    His skills were top¨Cnotch among the programmers at thepany, and since he¡¯d done Aubree and Birgitte a <b>great </b>favor, Aubree gave the green light, and Birgitte promoted him to <b>a </b>higher position.

    But <b>ever </b>since Patrick returned, Birgitte had been avoiding him, sometimes on purpose<b>, </b>sometimes not. She still hadn¡¯t fully processed his confession at the hospital<b>, </b>and after everything that happened with Hugo, she wasn¡¯t in the mood to start anything <b>new</b>.

    Better to throw herself into work, at <b>least </b>that <b>was </b>a future she could count on.

    Aubree had wrapped up her business in S¨¹dlichen Strand and rushed back for her finals. Since the results were out, she was relieved to see she hadn¡¯t failed <b>a </b>single ss.

    The interesting part was that she heard Alvin would be taking up a finance major next semester. That instantly reminded her of how Alvin had helped Carmen before<b>, </b>and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder<b>, </b>¡®Just what is Alvin nning?¡±

    But before she could think it through, she got caught up in something else.

    ¡°Ms. Miller<b>, </b>you¡¯re here.¡±

    When Aubree rushed to S¨¹dlichen Strand at night, the Bree Technology building was brightly lit, and everyone in the tech department worked

    overtime.

    ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡±

    ¡°This time it¡¯s serious. Our servers got mmed and crashed. Tons of people can¡¯t log into the backend right now,¡± one of the techs reported to Aubree.

    Birgitte¡¯s <b>face </b><b>was </b>grim. Meanwhile, Patrick, who¡¯d just been promoted to tech director, was leading the team, working around the clock to get things back online.

    ¡°How bad is it?<b>¡± </b>Aubree asked.

    This is the worst hacking attack we¡¯ve ever seen. They¡¯ve been probing us for a while and figured out exactly where we¡¯re weak. Even after we tried to shore things up, it didn¡¯t make a difference!¡± the tech replied. They broke through their firewall almost instantly, and the servers were exposed to

    attackers.

    2:30 <b>PM </b><b>d </b>

    ¡°There¡¯s already a buzz online. Many users can¡¯t log in Honestly, we might not be able to fix this anytime soon. The attacks haven¡¯t stopped, and we re scrambling to keep them from taking <b>over</b>. Moreover, we¡¯re trying to patch things up at the same time. We¡¯re stretched thin here.¡± The tech was overwhelmed

    B

 Tried 464

    <b>Chapter </b><b>464 </b>

    Aubree¡¯s <b>eyes </b>darkened as she made a snap decision. ¡°Issue an official announcement, reassure the users, offerpensation, and shut down all the

    servers<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    Getting the <b>servers </b>attacked was a deadly threat. What worried Aubree most <b>was </b>that the attackers might nt <b>a </b>virus to target users and steal their data. If that <b>happened</b>, herpany¡¯s reputation would fall, Shutting down the servers would also case the tech team¡¯s stress and help avoid further problems.

    ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll take care of it right <b>away</b>!¡± Birgitte said. She hurried off to rally the team and put out the fires online, while Aubree stayed in the tech department, keeping <b>a </b>close <b>eye </b>on the situation.

    The tech team wasn¡¯t <b>exactly </b>new to this kind of thing. Ever since thepany went public, cyberattacks have appeared from time to time. The only real difference was that earlier <b>attacks </b><b>were </b>mostly minor issues<b>. </b>They always handled them <b>fast</b>, and sometimes the hackers didn¡¯t even get past <b>the </b><b>firewall</b>.

    The PR team soon made an official statement. They offered a heftypensation package and quickly got things under control online.

    To make things even better<b>, </b>the tech team soon reported good news. They¡¯d managed to drive the <b>attackers </b>off, shore <b>up </b>the firewall, and get the <b>servers </b>back up and running. They kept at it all night until sunrise, and only then was everything finally sorted out.

    <b>We </b>couldn¡¯t have done it without Patrick. He¡¯s young, but he¡¯s got some serious skills!¡± one of the techs praised.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just me. Everyone pitched in,¡± Patrick replied modestly.

    Aubree and Birgitte watched the tech team celebrating. ¡°Looks like your new guy <b>is </b><b>a </b>real asset,¡± Aubree said. Patrick had barely settled into his new role <b>as </b>supervisor. However, he was able to lead the tech team out of a crisis.

    <b>¡°</b>Yeah, he¡¯s <b>got </b>some mad skills,¡± Birgitte replied. Her eyes looked satisfied.

    ¡°They¡¯ve been working all night without a break. Let¡¯s give them some time off,¡± Aubree suggested.

    Time off? That¡¯s not enough! These folks are our heroes. Everyone deserves a full month¡¯s bonus,¡± Birgitte chimed in.

    As soon as Aubree made the announcement, the whole team burst into cheers. People didn¡¯t mind working their tails off, as long as the boss wasn¡¯t a total cheapskate who¡¯d work them to death, never give them a break, and was too stingy to hand out bonuses.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it. Go get some <b>rest</b>, you deserve it,¡± Aubree said.

    Aubree left <b>first</b>, but this whole incident was a real wake¨Cup call. The tech team was shorthanded. What she needed were some next¨Clevel coding wizards<b>. </b>

    She couldn¡¯t just find talent like that whenever she wanted. Those people were nearly impossible to poach. ¡®Should I ask Bowen?¡® Aubree wondered to herself.

    Just as that thought crossed her mind, someone she never expected suddenly reached out to her. It was Alvin Turner, someone she hadn¡¯t seen in

    <b>ages</b>.

    <b>¡°</b>Aubree?<b>¡± </b>It <b>was </b>Alvin¡¯s voice on the line.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me,<b>¡± </b>Aubree answered.

    *I heard GrabCheap got hit by a cyber attack,¡± Alvin said, clearly well¨Cconnected. Aubree still trusted him, despite everything that had happenedtely. She just figured he was checking in out of concern. ¡®He always seems to know what¡¯s going on, she thought.

    ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s all been handled now,¡± Aubree replied.

    ¡°Still, I bet those people won¡¯t give up that easily. They¡¯ll probably be back for another round,¡± Alvin warned her.

    <b>¡°</b><b>If </b>only I had a badass coding wizard on my team,¡± Aubree grumbled.

    Alvin let out a soft chuckle on the other end. ¡°Who says you don¡¯t have one?

    ¡°Aubree, I don¡¯t think I ever told you. Remember that guy who made waves at thest world¨Css hackingpetition? That was me.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± It was a wild surprise. She wondered if Alvin¡¯s uncle knew of this fact. ¡°Really?¡± Aubree blurted out, still reeling from the shock.

    ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Alvin replied. ¡°But I¡¯ve got a few things to handle right now. Once I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll swing by S¨¹dlichen Strand and help you

    out.

    ¡°Thanks, Alvin!¡± Aubree eximed, feeling a wave of relief. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. It was one less thing to worry about.

    Meanwhile, over in Rithol City, Alvin narrowed his eyes. ording to the intel Carmen had gotten from Elizabeth, the Wilson group was the one

    272

    orchestrating the attack.

    By <b>now</b>, their guy should have already infiltrated Bree Technology, right?¡® Alvin thought. If that guy manages to take control of GrabCheap, it¡¯ll

    make things a whole lot easier for me, he mused.

    AD

 Tried 465

    <b>Chapter 465 </b>

    After Aubree left, Birgitte announced the uing holiday and bonus ns and was about to <b>leave</b><b>. </b>¡°Birgittel¡± <b>A </b>lively shout from behind made her stop in <b>her </b>tracks.

    Someone rushed <b>over </b>eagerly, just like a puppy spotting <b>its </b><b>owner</b><b>, </b>eyes full of anticipation. <b>¡°</b>Birgitte, why have you been avoiding me?¡± the person asked. That person looked just like a puppy with drooping ears, pitiful and dejected.

    Why does she <b>always </b>look so sad <b>when </b><b>I </b>ignore him?¡® Birgitte thought, feeling a bit helpless.

    ¡°No. I just haven¡¯t run into you at work, Birgitte replied, feeling a bit of an itch in her hands. She thought she admired strength, and her type was probably the calm, mature, and responsible kind of man.

    But at that moment, she suddenly understood why so many strong, independent career women liked dating guys with a younger vibe. They were energetic enough to bring a whole new kind of excitement into one¡¯s life.

    ¡°Oh yeah?¡± The person looked at her, eyes red from staring at theputer all night, but somehow <b>still </b>sparkling with energy.

    <b>¡°</b>Yeah, I haven¡¯t been avoiding you,¡± Birgitte replied. ¡®You know what? <b>I </b>admit that¡¯s a lie<b>,</b>¡® she added silently <b>to </b>herself. Of course, she kept that little confession locked away in her heart.

    You know, Ms. Miller <b>is </b>satisfied with your performance. I bet you¡¯ll be moving up again soon, Birgitte said, trying to steer the conversation away.

    Bree Technology¡¯s employees

    were mostly young people. Nobody cared about seniority. If someone were considered capable, they would get the higher spot. The better one¡¯s performance, the higher they could climb.

    But Patrick didn¡¯t <b>care </b>about climbing thedder. All he wanted was to see Birgitte. He stared at her, <b>eyes </b>earnest. ¡°Birgitte, <b>is </b><b>it </b>okay if I don¡¯t get promoted?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Huh? What do <b>you </b>mean?¡± Birgitte looked at him, a little surprised.

    ¡°Just give me a shot at winning you over,¡± Patrick said, his tone soft but brimming with resolve.

    Birgitte¡¯s heart gave a little jolt. Ever since she started working with Aubree, she¡¯d nevercked admirers. But after the whole Cherniavsky family incident, no matter what people said to her face, she could sense a bit of prejudice in their hearts. The number of half¨Chearted suitors and messy flings had dropped off a lot.

    But she¡¯d never met anyone like Patrick before<b>. </b>He was so genuine and brave. He threw himself at her without hesitation.

    Suddenly, she smiled. ¡°Well, that depends on your capability.¡±

    Patrick scratched the back of his head, giving her a goofy grin.

    <b>Over </b>a month, not only did Aubree finish her freshman year, but Trevor¡¯s new drama was also wrapping up filming. ¡°Trevor¡¯s wrapped filming!¡± someone shouted.

    ¡°Congrats, Dude!¡± another person chimed in.

    ¡°Trevor, now that you¡¯ve wrapped your film, aren¡¯t you going to treat us to dinner?¡± The one egging Trevor on was the third male lead, a newbie named Marc<b>. </b>He was also a nt that Aubree had put on set to keep an eye on things.

    <b>Trevor </b>had just managed to calm the online drama from a while back, and he had to keep up the image of a devoted family man in front of the media. On days when he wasn¡¯t filming, he¡¯d always head straight back to the apartment where Sophia was staying.

    Even when he <b>was </b>shooting, <b>as </b>soon as they called it a day, he¡¯d hurry back to his hotel. He always worried those sneaky paparazzi would catch him slipping up. Trevor had been cooped up for ages.

    Trevor frowned. It was his wrap day, and with the whole crew around, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to let loose a bit. ¡°Alright, my treat! <b>Let¡¯s </b>all go unwind,¡± he said.

    Marc let out <b>a </b>quiet sigh of relief. He¡¯d been cozying up to Trevor for a while<b>, </b>all in hopes of luring him out for a night of fun.

    People on the outside might be clueless, but everyone in the business knew exactly what Trevor was really like. No matter how good he acted, he couldn¡¯t hide those spoiled rich kid habits.

    He was always chasing a good time, never wanting to take responsibility. Honestly, it was impressive he¡¯d managed to keep himself in check for this long. <b>However</b><b>, </b>wrapping up filming was the perfect <b>excuse</b>.

    ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t we go to Jorja <b>Bar</b><b>? </b>I know some people there who can set us up right away. Marc suggested.

    ¡°Sounds good, Trevor agreed. He didn¡¯t care where they went.

    272

    <b>2:30 </b><b>PM </b>

    Jorja <b>Bar </b><b>was </b>an upscale private club in the area. <b>If </b><b>guests </b>wanted something a little extra, the staff could make it happen, and if they got tired from partying, they could rest there <b>for </b>the night.

 Tried 466

    <b>Chapter </b>466

    As the most high¨Cprofile and influential star in the whole crew, everyone wanted to cozy up to Trevor at din

    after drink

    ¡°Trevor, do you need to rest<b>? </b>I¡¯ll <b>set </b>a room. We can leave once everyone¡¯s done partying, Marc suggested.

    and he ended up downing drink

    Trevor nodded. After getting him settled into the prepared room, Marr finally pulled out his phone and sent a message: [All set]

    Early the next morning, Trevor <b>opened his </b>eyes and instantly felt that something <b>was </b>wrong. He¡¯d cked out from drinking. He remembered Marc, the third male lead<b>, </b>had taken him to a room. But after that? Nothing. It was all a nk.

    Trevor sat up, rubbing his forehead. He <b>was </bpletely naked. There was no obvious sign of what had happened, but he was certain he hadn¡¯t been nearly this drunk before Mare brought him here. His phone on the nightstand suddenly chimed.

    There were several pictures, along with a text from someone: [Did you enjoy yourselfst night?]

    The screen lit up, and the photos that greeted him made his <b>eyes </b>widen in disbelief. There were more than a dozen pictures. Some <b>were </b>just him, and some with a woman whose face <b>was </b>hidden. Every detail was <b>crystal </b>clear, leaving no room for doubt. Nothing was staged. The pictures seemed Jegit.

    Trevor¡¯s temples throbbed <b>as </b>he quickly typed back: [How much do you want?]

    [You¡¯re pretty sharp. Looks like I don¡¯t need to send these wild shots. One million and I¡¯m gone for good. Not a bad trade for you, right?]

    Trevor sighed helplessly and replied: [The money will hit your ount soon. But if these photos ended up in someone else¡¯s hands, you know who I am. It won¡¯t be hard for me to <b>track </b>you down.]

    [Rx, we¡¯re professionals. As long <b>as </b>you pay, that¡¯s all we care about.]

    The so¨Ccalled professional barely finished talking about her ¡°ethics<b>¡± </b>before she bundled up the photos and sent the whole batch off to another person. When she <b>saw </b>the extra cash in her ount, her grin was wide. In her line of work, professionalism meant one thing: whoever paid was God, and whatever God wanted, she delivered¨Cno questions asked.

    Aubree nced at the zip file she¡¯d just received. She didn¡¯t even bother opening it. She didn¡¯t want to scar her <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>Instead, she casually forwarded it to an ount she hadn¡¯t messaged in ages. ¡®Let this be thest time I help you. So, marrying into the Wilson family¨Cwas this really what you wanted?¡® she thought.

    The message ended up in Sophia¡¯s inbox. The moment Sophia opened the zip file, it felt <b>as </b>if her whole world copsed.

    She¡¯d betrayed Aubree at the veryst moment, just <b>as </b>she¡¯d nned. Once she married Trevor, he¡¯d have no choice but to put on a show and act like the doting husband for <b>a </b>while, even if it was all fake.

    With someone like Trevor, there was no way he could keep himself reined in for that long without slipping up. And honestly, even at her worst, Sophia still had the looks and the body to tempt any man. All she needed was to get pregnant during this period. After that, nothing else would

    matter.

    As long as her child could secure a share of the Wilson family fortune, she¡¯d have nothing to worry about. But there was one thing Sophia had never ounted for: after herst miscarriage, she¡¯d lost the ability to have children. Already on edge, seeing those photos was herst straw.

    She had given everything, only to end up with a fake, morous life as a wealthy wife. It felt like she only waited for Trevor to eventually send her back to where she started.

    ¡®No. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going back to square one!¡® With trembling hands, Sophia dialed a number. It rang twice but was hung up. Sophia called again, but still no answer.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Sophia screamed. She let out two piercing screams, then smashed her phone, flipped the table, and tore at her hair in a frenzy. ¡°Trevor, I have nothing left. You <b>can¡¯t </b>just throw me away like this!

    ¡°No matter what, I¡¯m your wife now. Even if you¡¯re pretending, at least let me keep a shred of dignity!¡± Zoe yelled, her voice cracking with desperation.

    Meanwhile, Trevor had just finished handling that whole mess with the woman when his phone buzzed with a message from his manager, Skyler Huber: [Hey, have you thought about trying out mini dramas? They¡¯re popr right now. We could invest in one ourselves, bump up the production value, and it¡¯d blow up.]

    It <b>was </b>also a perfect way to respond to all the online chatter about him losing to mini dramas.

    1/

 Tried 467

    <b>Chapter </b>467

    The news from <b>Karl </b>and the unexpected incident had Trevor on edge.

    What is this? Some kind of surrender to Aubree?¡® he thought.

    He had just typed out the rejection in the message box when Sophia¡¯s call popped up, and his frown only deepened. ¡®What does she want now? Bored out of her mind?¡®

    Without hesitation, <b>Trevor </b>declined the call. He deleted <b>two </b>words from his drafted message and sent a simple <b>¡°</b>Fine.¡±

    Compared to dealing with Sophia¡¯s theatrics, he¡¯d rather film some mini¨Cdramas.

    His agreement eased Karl¡¯s tension. [Oh, and here¡¯s the female lead for the mini drama.]

    A photo of the female lead popped up, and Trevor stared at it for <b>a </b><b>few </b>seconds, a little dazed. The girl in the picture looked so innocent and ethereal, dressed in a white dress<b>. </b>She was the very embodiment of a dream girl.

    Are there really girls so innocent out there?¡® he wondered.

    Suddenly, he wasn¡¯t so against the idea of this short drama anymore.

    Not even days after thest crisis, before Alvin could finish his work and head to S¨¹dlichen Strand to reinforce their firewall, GrabCheap was under attack again.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense. Last time, Irvin helped us rebuild a brand new defense wall, and we tested it. There¡¯s no way they should break through this easily.¡±

    ¡°Seriously, is this <b>ever </b>going to stop? Who¡¯s the bastard with nothing better to do than target us? Looks like we¡¯re pulling another all¨Cnighter!¡± another personined.

    ¡°Oh, probably another bluff likest time. They¡¯ll attack a couple rounds, fail, and bail.¡±

    The tech team joked among themselves, numb from the constant assaults.

    No one noticed Irvin¡¯s cold stare as the servers were breached, or the mocking smirk he wore at their dismissivements.

    Birgitte, assuming this was another scare tactic after thestrge¨Cscale attack, didn¡¯t alert Aubree. ¡°Irvin, can you trace who¡¯s behind it this time?¡±

    Irvin quickly schooled his expression into his usual smile. I¡¯ll try, Ms. Cherniavsky, but their skills are unpredictable. No guarantees.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Just do what you can.¡±

    Of course, he wouldn¡¯t trace it back. He¡¯d make things worse.

    ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky, we have a problem.¡±

    ¡°Users are flooding online, iming the attack leaked their private data. They¡¯re demanding an exnation.

    ¡°At first, it <b>was </b>just individual usersining, but now cybersecurity experts are stepping in, iming our servers are suspected of injecting malicious code into users¡® devices and leaking all their personal data.

    ¡°The worst part¡­¡± the assistant said, her voice trembling.

    Someone finished for her. ¡°We¡¯ve been fully breached. The servers are crashing. User data is at risk.¡±

    A privacy leak? Panic <b>was </b>inevitable.

    ¡°The media is hyping this up online, iming the attack harmed users, sellers, and the tform, with losses in the billions.¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>Ms. </b>Cherniavsky, Manchotech is on the line.¡±

    The servers, which had never copsed before<b>, </b>sent the <b>once</b><b>¨C</b>rxed tech team into a frenzy.

    Birgitte¡¯s expression hardened instantly. This <b>was </b>their real goal¨Cbreach the <b>servers</b>, leak data, incite panic, and crash the stock.

    GrabCheap faced its worst crisis<b>. </b><b>Users </b>couldn¡¯t <b>log </b><i>in</i>. It <b>was </b><b>a </b>death blow for a high¨Ctraffic tform. Every second of downtime meant millions lost. If repairs dragged on, the ¡°hundred¨Cbillion loss¡± rumors might be reality.

    ¡°How did they find a vulnerability so fast? The tech team just reinforced everything. It makes no sense!¡® Birgitte thought, baffled.

    By 8 PM. not a single person had left work<b>. </b>Six hours had passed since the <b>attack</b>, and Irvin¡¯s team still hadn¡¯t made any headway with the servers.

    Birgitte had already called Manchotech for backup, but the situation remained dire.

    Their tech support could only slow the <b>attack</b>, not stop it.

    Social media <b>was </b>flooded with posts about the GrabCheap attack, and some users were absolutely furious. Things were looking really bad for GrabCheap

    Ìï

 Tried 468

    Chapter <b>468 </b>

    The stock price started to drop.

    ¡°<b>Birgitte</b><b>, </b><b>we </b>can¡¯t <b>reach </b>Ms. Miller<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>someone said.

    Birgitte¡¯sst bit ofposurepletely shattered, and she screamed, ¡°What<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    For the whole team, Aubree <b>was </b>the anchor. But now, right when they needed her most, the anchor was suddenly missing, and all the other partners started piling on the pressure.

    But before Birgitte could act, the inte delivered the answer. Aubree, sensing the brewing storm, had tried to intervene.

    As for why no one could reach her? She had just arrived at the airport when the police detained her with an arrest warrant, on suspicion of information security vitions.

    She was taken away by force without <b>even </b>a chance to call awyer.

    The only silver lining was that Vincent had been with her. Even though he was taken in too, once the formalities were done, they¡¯d have to let Vincent go.

    At least someone could get the word out about her situation.

    When Aubree was brought to the police station, she looked worn out, not from fear, but from the ¡°rough handling¡± during transport. She could already feel plenty of bruises and aches all over her body.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve had me sitting here long enough. When are you going to start the questioning<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree shifted her cuffed hands; the chair in the interrogation room was ridiculously ufortable, making her feel even more stifled.

    She lowered her gaze, her tongue pressing against her back teeth. ¡®Is it the Wilson family? Maybe the Diamonde family? Or the Lawson Group?¡®

    Plenty of people would love to see her fall.

    She sneered. Fine<b>, </be on. Let¡¯s see whoes out on top, she thought.

    Just as Aubree expected, as soon as Vincent was released, he immediately contacted Bowen and then called Birgitte, telling her to keep things steady in S¨¹dlichen Strand. ¡°Ms. Miller is tied up with her problems right now. She can¡¯t spare the time.¡±

    In the detention center, Aubree encountered someone entirely unexpected.

    She¡¯d thought it would most likely be someone from the Wilson or Diamonde families, but to her surprise, it was actually someone from the main branch of the Lawson family.

    She recognized him. He <b>was </b>the most outstanding of the Lawson family¡¯s younger generation, Elizabeth¡¯s cousin by rtion, and held the same rank as Mark.

    <b>¡°</b>Oh? So the big boss behind the curtain finally decided to show up?¡± Aubree quipped.

    He frowned. ¡°You know who I am?¡±

    ¡°Of course I do, Mr. Lawson,¡± Aubree replied. He was the standout of the Lawson family¡¯s current generation. Mark was a year younger than Bowen and had made major thanks to his family connections, but Oliver was even younger than Mark.

    He was probably only twenty¨Cfour.

    He looked a bit surprised. ¡°Guess you¡¯re sharper than I thought.¡±

    Aubree licked her lips. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of the consequences?<b>¡± </b>

    She was referring to her arrest. The Lawsons had formidable backing, but they also had plenty of enemies.

    Aubree knew she wasn¡¯t just some nobody. If the Lawson family made a move against her, the repercussions would ripple far and wide.

    Oliver tilted his head. ¡°What consequences? Every procedure was followed to the letter. Besides, this isn¡¯t my case. I¡¯m just passing through on other business and thought I¡¯d see what the so¨Ccalled ¡®genius¡® was like.¡±

    ¡°Not that impressive, honestly,¡± he added.

    Elizabeth had gone out of her way to ask for their help in dealing with Aubree, but he thought she didn¡¯t seem like much of a threat. She¡¯d been taken down without any effort at all.

    ¡°Is that so<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree smiled.

    Cheaport MR

    0

    She had been here for burs now and a didn¡¯t seem like these people intended to interrogate her or build a case. It <b>felt </b>more like they were <b>jand </b>walling for time <b>keeping </b>her <b>out </b><b>of </b>the <b>game </b>and restricting her every move

    AD

 Tried 469

    <b>Chapter </b><b>469 </b>

    Carmen had been riding high <btely</b><b>. </b>

    Alvin, the man she had been pining for<b>, </b>not only reached out to her but also offered to help. She <b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>sure </b>why, but it was clear that Alvin and Aubree had fallen out. Not only would he refuse to help Aubree<b>, </b>but he also wanted herpletely out of Rithol City.

    The thought alone <b>was </b>enough to make Carmen <bugh </b>in her sleep.

    <b>For </b><b>years</b>, Alvin had only <b>ever </b>had <b>eyes </b><b>for </b>Aubree. But once Aubree was gone, and Carmen took control of <b>Wilson </b><b>Group</b>, how could he possibly <b>ignore </b>her then<b>? </b>

    With a <b>merger </b>between the Turner and Wilson families, her <b>name </b>would usher in a new era for Rithol!

    And as if that <b>weren¡¯t </b>enough, Aubree had finally gotten what she deserved. The news of her <b>arrest </b>had Carmen so giddy she <b>nearly </b><b>set </b>off fireworks <b>across </b>the city in celebration.

    On top of all that, good things <b>just </b>kept happening <b>to </b><b>her</b><b>. </b>

    Not long ago, her Bumblebee shared e<b>¨C</b>bike project had sessfully disrupted the traditional bike¨Csharing market, drawing attention from major corporations, most importantly, Wilson Group itself.

    Ronald had no idea who was behind the project. His connection with Quirinus <b>was </b>genuine, so he arranged a meeting, hinting that if it <b>was </b><b>a </b>Diamonde Group venture, they could coborate. If it <b>were </b>merely an outside investment, he wanted an introduction to the visionary behind it.

    Perfect.

    This <b>was </b><b>exactly </b>what Carmen and Quirinus had been waiting for.

    With Ernesto acting as the go¨Cbetween, Carmen and Ronald finally met.

    ¡°Carmen, you did this project?¡± Ronald waspletely floored. He¡¯d considered all sorts <i>of </i>people connected to the Diamonde Group, and even guessed that maybe the Diamonde Group had just spotted the potential and invested early on. But it never crossed his mind that the mastermind behind it all would be his adopted daughter!

    Carmen nodded shyly. <b>¡°</b>Yeah, it <b>was </b>me. But <b>I </b>couldn¡¯t have done it without Ernesto¡¯s support.¡±

    Ronald shot the two of them <b>a </b>skeptical look, clearly unsure what to make of the situation.

    Still, it wasn¡¯t a bad thing. Having connections always made things go smoother.

    ¡°Dad. I know you want to invest. Truthfully, <b>I </b>started BeeShare hoping <i>to </i>help you. I didn¡¯t <b>say </b>anything earlier because I didn¡¯t want another half- finished failure. I wanted to prove it could seed first. Dad, I¡¯m willing to merge the entirepany into Wilson Group.¡±

    Between partial dividends and outright ownership, the choice was obvious. Ronald¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really?¡±

    *Of course. But Ernesto holds 20%. He¡¯s the majority stakeholder. The final decision isn¡¯t mine alone. You¡¯ll need to discuss the details with him.¡±

    This had been their n all along. If Carmen had revealed herself too soon, Ronald¡¯s cautious nature would have raised red gs. Even if Ernesto stayed in the shadows, financial trails could expose the scheme.

    So, making Ernesto the biggest shareholder and the official spokesperson right from the start was the smartest y. That way, when it came time to negotiate the acquisition, Carmen could just y dumb and act like she knew nothing, letting all the scheming and plotting fall squarely on Ernesto¡¯s shoulders.

    With this setup, Ronald would definitely want to buy out BeeShare, but he¡¯d also demand to purchase all of Ernesto¡¯s shares, kicking the Diamonde Group out of the deal entirely.

    And that would be the perfect moment for Ernesto to <b>suggest </b>bringing Carmen into the Wilson Group.

    ¡°Ronald,¡± Ernesto said, <b>¡°</b>we¡¯re family, so let¡¯s speak frankly. I¡¯ll sell BeeShare at market price, but I keep my shares<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Ronald immediately refused. For years, he had deliberately kept Alice away from Wilson Group affairs to prevent this scheming fox from gaining influence.

    Letting him retain BeeShare shares? That¡¯d be handing him a key to the Wilson empire. Ronald wouldn¡¯t leave such a gaping vulnerability.

    But he needed this project.

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy all your shares <b>at </b>double the market price,¡± Ronald said.

    ¡°That won¡¯t do. Anyone with eyes can see BeeShare¡¯s future profitability. Countless firms are lining up to invest. Selling my shares to you would be a loss for me

    Ernesto didn¡¯t yield an inch.

    The negotiation <b>appeared </b>deadlocked.

    *Dad¡­ Ernesto, didn¡¯t we <b>agree </b>that once <b>Dad </b>was here, we¡¯d sell the project to Wilson Group? Ernesto, how could you¡­¡± Carinen immediately put on an anxious look, clearly speaking up for Ronald at every turn.

    Ronald¡¯s face softened. At <b>least </b>she is loyal, he thought.

    <b>¡°</b>Silly girl, I supported this project because I saw how Aubree¡¯s rising star has left you and your mother with dwindling influence in the Wilson family. <b>I </b>wanted to <b>secure </b>your position. <b>If </b><b>we </b>simply sell to the Wilsons outright, it won¡¯t achieve anything,¡± Ernesto said.

    A flicker <b>of </b>doubt in Ronald¡¯s eyes. Would he really be so selfless?¡® he wondered.

    Then again, it wasn¡¯t impossible. The Diamondes had always cared for Alice, except when their core interests were at stake.

    ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± Ronald seized the key point. Ernesto wasn¡¯t outright refusing to sell; he just had terms.

    ¡°I can <b>sell </b>my shares at cost <b>or </b>even below, <b>as </b>a personal favor. But in return, Carmen must join the Wilson Group and the board of directors.¡±

    ¡®So that is his game. Ernesto has been nning this from the start!¡® Ronald almost blurted out ¡°No way¡± until he recalled his board¡¯s directive: Secure BeeShare at all <b>costs</b>, barring outrageous terms.

    After the bike¨Csharing boom, there was no doubt that BeeShare would be <b>a </b>smash hit.

    Ronald nced at Carmen. She looked really anxious, like she wanted to say something but kept holding back.

    Suddenly, he smiled. ¡®<b>Even </b>if Ernesto ns to manipte the Wilsons through Carmen¡­ Does he really think a girl <b>I¡¯ve </b>raised for decades would betray me? No way would Carmen ever help him pull something like that. A board seat would be ceremonial anyway.

    Besides, Ronald had already nned to find a <b>way </b>to <b>get </b>Carmen to hand over her shares sooner orter.

    But having her actually work at Wilson Group¡­.

    After thinking it over, Ronald offered apromise. ¡°Carmen can join the board, and she can work at Wilson Group, but not at headquarters. Instead, she can go to Telmaur <b>as </b>general manager. Only after she proves herself and gains the board¡¯s approval can she be transferred back to the headquarters.¡±

    Ernesto shot a nce at Carmen. ¡°Alright.¡±

    Both sides had broughtwyers, and the contract had been prepared in advance; only minor revisions were needed now. Once they confirmed there were no issues, they signed the agreement.

    The shared e¨Cbike project, BeeShare, was sold to the Wilson Group for 500 million dors, with Carmen and Ernesto selling all their shares to the Wilsons.

    However, BeeShare¡¯s operations were still entrusted to Aubree.

    500 million might not seem like much, but it¡¯s worth noting that BeeShare was still in its early stages, with minimal initial investment.

    The sale price was already several times the original value.

    When the news broke, it stunned many. ¡®Carmen is the one behind BeeShare? The Wilsons<b>¡­ </b>truly a force to be reckoned with.¡±

    In the detention center, Aubree and Oliver locked eyes.

    She looked terrible, her body wracked with pain. She was barely holding on.

 Tried 470

    <b>Chapter </b>470

    The journey to the detention center had been rough. Aubree¡¯s wrists ached from the <b>tight </b>cuffs, and the throbbing pain from the ¡°special¡± treatment¡± she¡¯d received during transport made every movement excruciating.

    <b>¡°</b>What¡¯s wrong <b>with </b>you?¡± Oliver noticed how unnaturally pale Aubree¡¯s <b>face </b><b>was</b><b>. </b>

    She let out a bitterugh. <b>¡°</b>Spare me the act, Mr. Lawson. <b>You </b>know exactly what¡¯s wrong. <b>Your </b>men made sure of that.¡±

    She figured it <b>was </b>all Oliver¡¯s doing.

    Oliver understood instantly. The <b>arrest </b>had been carried out under hismand, and the people carrying it out probably thought she¡¯d pissed him off. To them, she was <b>just </b><b>a </b>businesswoman, <b>so </b>they likely tried to curry favor with him by making things extra tough for her behind his <b>back</b>.

    ¡°What <b>are </b>you doing?<b>¡± </b>Aubree snapped.

    She <b>was </b>startled as Oliver suddenly grabbed the hem of her shirt. ¡®All I did was throw a bit of <b>sarcasm </b>at him. Is he really going to take it this <b>far</b><b>?</b>¡®

    ¡°No<b>, </b>wait¡­¡± The fabric slid up slightly, revealing mottled bruises along her ribs.

    ¡°Even under <b>arrest</b>, this kind of interrogation¡® is a vition of protocol!¡± Aubree said. ¡°I want mywyer.¡±

    Oliver jerked his hand back<b>, </b>guilt shing in his <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>¡°I didn¡¯t order this. I was just checking your injuries.<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree had been here for quite some time now, and it was almost midnight. Despite GrabCheap¡¯s efforts, the online controversy still raged unchecked. Oliver unlocked <b>her </b>handcuffs<b>. </b><b>You </b>can sitfortably, but I can¡¯t release you yet.¡±

    ¡®It wasn¡¯t him?¡® Aubree thought, surprised.

    She studied him. ¡®So, Oliver wasn¡¯t cut from the same cloth as his cousin, Elizabeth. Interesting.

    ¡°Thanks, but I don¡¯t need your permission to leave<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she said, stretchingzily. ¡°You¡¯ve released my assistant, right? They should be here any minute.¡±

    What does that mean?¡® Oliver wondered.

    As far as Oliver knew, Aubree was just a promising neer. He¡¯d only just been transferred to Rithol City, and Elizabeth hade to him for help to keep Aubree under control.

    So, where did this unshakable confidencee from?

    ¡°You really don¡¯t take the Lawson family seriously, do you?¡± Oliver said coldly. He was determined to keep Aubree in custody. He wanted to see who could let her go.

    Oliver watched <b>as </b><b>a </b>smirk tugged at Aubree¡¯s lips, her whole attitude screaming defiance like she had nothing to fear. For some reason, that really ticked him off.

    ¡®How dare she dismiss me like this? I¡¯m a major. Does she really think she can <b>just </b>treat me like I¡¯m nobody?¡® Oliver thought.

    Wherever he went, whether on official business or facilitating matters for the Lawson Group, people showed him respect.

    The Lawson name could crush even billion¨Cdor corporations without strong backing. It was only a matter of resources.

    If not for Elizabeth insisting they wait for the Wilsons to intervene, he would¡¯ve¡­

    ¡°The Lawsons?¡± Aubree chuckled. ¡°In Rithol, they¡¯re hardly the powerhouse you think. You should worry more about exining those interrogation ¡®techniques¡® to the press. I¡¯ll be getting a full medical examination the moment I¡¯m out.¡±

    Oliver¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°You¡¯re threatening me right now? Aren¡¯t you afraid of what I might do to you?¡±

    ¡°My, what an impressive disy of authority, Major Lawson!¡±

    <b>¡°</b>Aubree!¡±

    Just as <b>Oliver¡¯s </b>warning left his mouth, suddenly several voices called out,ing straight toward the interrogation room.

    Next came a rush of hurried footsteps.

    The door to the interrogation room was thrown open, and Oliver turned to see two younger guys supporting an old man with gray hair but still full of energy, with a middle¨Caged man in military uniform following behind.

    ¡°Who are you? How dare you barge into the interrogation room?¡± Oliver snapped.

    Lawson boy, huh? The old man, supported by Bowen and Mark, gently pushed them aside and leaned on his cane. His sharp gazended directly on Oliver, making him involuntarily shiver

 Tried 471

    <b>Chapter </b>471

    Oliver¡¯s eyes widened in recognition as he took a second look. ¡°Mr. King<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    It was Michael<b>, </b>the retired four¨C<b>star </b>general<b>, </b>who remained the Kings¡® most formidable asset. Officially retired, but his web of connections still dominated military <b>and </b>political circles.

    <b>¡®</b><b>So</b>¡­. Oliver thought.

    Oliver¡¯s eyes shifted to the middle¨Caged man behind them. This must be the one calling the shots for the King family now, Vice Admiral Samuel.\ the current head of the family¡¯s influence.

    <b>So </b>the Kings <b>were </b>involved.

    <b>His </b>stare swung back to Aubree with unconcealed shock. ¡®She actually has connections with the King family<b>? </b><b>Seriously</b><b>?</b>¡®

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh. <b>¡°</b>Guess you never really bothered to dig into my background, huh?¡±

    Truth was, the Lawsons had dismissed her as insignificant<b>¨C</b>just an orphaned businesswoman <b>the </b>Wilsons had <b>cast </b>aside, per Elizabeth¡¯s offhand <b>remarks</b>.

    <b>At </b>least my wrinkled face still rings a bell for your generation,¡± Michael said as Bowen produced a key, releasing Aubree¡¯s restraints.

    The moment she stood, her knees buckled. Bowen caught her against his chest <b>as </b>she hissed in pain.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Bowen asked, having noticed her pale <b>face </b><b>as </b>soon as he walked in. He¡¯d just assumed it <b>was </b>from being locked up too long.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t the type to swallow her <b>grievances</b>. ¡°Enhanced interrogation,<b>¡± </b>she said.

    Everyone¡¯s <b>faces </b>changed.

    Bowen was furious. The Wilsons and Lawsons teaming up like this hadpletely blindsided him. He¡¯d been so caught up with thepany and Alvintely that he hadn¡¯t noticed all the dirty tricks going on behind the scenes.

    The three from the King family all looked grim. <b>For </b>soldiers like them, such abuses under their watch were unconscionable, a fundamental betrayal of duty.

    Oliver <b>was </b>embarrassed. Even if he hadn¡¯t given the order, he <b>was </b>still involved.

    <b>¡°</b>Mr. King¡­¡± Oliver began, hesitating.

    Michael struck his cane against the ground. ¡°Since I¡¯ve stumbled upon this, <b>I </b>won¡¯t turn blind eye! You roughed people up without following the rules. What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±

    Oliver forced himself to stay calm as he exined, ¡°It was just an ident during the arrest, sir. Nobody used violence. I¡¯ll take full responsibility for this<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°It really wasn¡¯t his doing. It <b>was </b>the officers who arrested me,¡± Aubree rified.

    He had extended her some courtesy, and she wasn¡¯t about to bite the hand that fed her<b>. </b>

    The mey with those who¡¯d actually roughed her up, not Oliver. Aubree had no intention of dragging him down for something he didn¡¯t do.

    Aubree¡¯s exnation eased the tension in the room a little. Oliver nced at her in <b>surprise</b><b>. </b>¡®Is she really not going to use this chance to get back at me<b>?</b><b>¡® </b>

    This whole thing could be blown way out of proportion, and with the King family on her side, getting him demoted wouldn¡¯t be out of the question.

    Aubree turned her face away. ¡°I¡¯m not some petty, unreasonable person.¡±

    She might y fair, but Oliver sure didn¡¯t.

    Bowen let out <b>a </b>coldugh, holding Aubree steady in his arms. ¡°Let¡¯s not even talk about the rough treatment. How long has she been locked up here, Mr. Lawson? <b>Care </b>to share <b>if </b>your so¨Ccalled investigation has turned up anything at all?¡±

    How could Oliver possibly conjure up an investigation report out of thin air?

    The charge of ¡°suspected vition of information security¡± had always been flimsy, only pushed through due to the Lawson family¡¯s influence. Oliver never thought anyone could get her out of his <b>grasp</b>.

    Once the detention period ended, he could¡¯ve released her and dictated the oue of the interrogation however he pleased.

    2.32 PM

    But he never expected the King family to show up out of the blue and throw a wrench in his ns.

    ¡°So if there¡¯s still no investigation result, should I take it that you¡¯ve just been abusing your power and keeping her locked up for no reason. Mr. Lawson Michael pressed. ¡°I believe mywyer would love to have a chat with you about this!¡±

    22

 Tried 472

    <b>Chapter </b><b>472 </b>

    Mark¡¯s gaze bore down on Oliver as well, making it clear that if Oliver couldn¡¯t give a reasonable exnation, he wouldn¡¯t let this go.

    Bowen held Aubree in his arms, feeling her body tremble slightly. A surge of self¨Creproach burned in his chest. If only I¡¯d been faster.

    But it <b>wasn¡¯t </b>really his fault.

    It wasn¡¯t that Bowen hadn¡¯t moved swiftly. The moment Vincent was released after processing, he¡¯d immediately alerted Bowen.

    The Turner <b>family¡¯s </b>influence <b>was </b><b>vast</b>, but after Chris¡® departure, their political and military leverage had undeniably weakened. With the Lawson family involved. Bowen knew this had I¡¯s fingerprints all over it. Ordinary pressure wouldn¡¯t have sufficed, so he¡¯d cashed in a monumental favor with Mark King, calling in the most formidable members of the King family.

    But that wasn¡¯t enough. He needed to get Aubree out unscathed and dismantle the charges against her.

    The Lawson family pinned the me on Aubree, using her of leaking information security based on the fact that GrabCheap¡¯s servers had crashed after <b>a </b>hacker attack. They imed she was working with foreign entities, injecting malicious code into users¡® phones, forcibly essing their data, and sending it <b>overseas</b>.

    Bowen moved fast and used some <b>special </b>means to get his hands on the evidence. It turned out GrabCheap¡¯s servers really had been hacked, which Jed to the customer data leak.

    This could be framed <b>as </b>corporate sabotage<b>¡­ </b><b>or</b>, if escted, a deliberate assault on national data security.

    He called in a lot of favors and made a big fuss, so the government stepped in and managed to stabilize the situation at GrabCheap for the time being.

    Oliver was sweating bullets. ¡°The investigation is still ongoing.<b>¡± </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Seems to me you shouldn¡¯t bother investigating at all.¡± Ronald¡¯s voice <b>was </b>calm, but the authority in it was undeniable.

    He added, ¡°<b>We¡¯ve </b>already confirmed GrabCheap was <b>attacked </b>by a foreign hacker syndicate. This <b>was </b>premeditated, an attack on national data security. And yet, as a military officer, instead of mitigating the damage, you detained the very person who could¡¯ve contained the fallout,

    ¡°Oliver, this negligence falls squarely on you.¡±

    Oliver was starting to crack under the pressure, unable to get a word out. But he wasn¡¯t overly concerned. With the Lawson family¡¯s backing, the <b>worst </b>he¡¯d face was a p on the wrist.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aubree. This was my mistake,¡± he said.

    Just when he thought the whole thing was finally over<b>, </b>a suddenmotion erupted again.

    ¡°Where is she? What kind of operation <b>are </b>you running here?¡± someone barked.

    All eyes turned <b>as </b>a middle¨Caged man in uniform strode in, nked by officers.

    ¡°Ricky, what brings you here<b>?</b>¡± Bowen asked, clearly surprised.

    It was Hugo¡¯s father, Ricky.

    Ricky nced around, immediately assessing that everything had already been taken care of. ¡°Oh, Bowen, Hugo asked me toe check on things<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    But anyone could tell he <b>was </b>ready to pull some strings if needed.

    Oliver recognized Ricky <i>too</i>, and felt an even bigger headacheing on.

    ¡®First the Kings, now the Moores?¡® he thought helplessly.

    In Rithol¡¯s political¨Cmilitaryndscape, two families were untouchable: the Kings and the Moores. The Kings had deep¨Crooted power, while the Moores¡® strengthy in their sprawling connections. They might not have a singr towering figure like the King family, but their rtives were everywhere in the system.

    No outstanding leaders, but every gatekeeper.

    Just how extensive are her ties?¡® Oliver thought to himself,

    ¡°You didn¡¯t call the Moores<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree murmured, noting Bowen¡¯s equally stunned expression.

    ¡°Nope, I just asked Mark for help,¡± he replied.

    1/21

    <b>Ricky </b>waved his hand and chuckled. <b>Hugo </b>heard you were in trouble and asked me toe help. That boy just can¡¯t stop thinking abour char Birgitte <b>gul </b>who works for you¡±

    Of course <b>as </b>a dad, he¡¯d help has son get whatever advantages he could

    AD

 Tried 473

    <b>Chapter </b>473

    ¡°So it¡¯s Michael. Guess there¡¯s nothing left for me to do here,¡± Ricky said with a grin.

    Mark snorted. ¡°Well, you¡¯re the one in charge around here. You¡¯d better keep things under control.¡±

    Every officer in the room paled. Nobody wanted the higher¨Cups to really start digging into things.

    ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Ricky agreed amiably before turning to Oliver. ¡°Young man, you¡¯d better have a damn good exnation for today

    Oliver was utterly shocked. ¡°The Moores are here because of Aubree¡¯s subordinate? Since when does she have this much pull?

    He was still at a loss when someone else walked in.

    <b>¡°</b><b>My </b>daughter¡¯s <b>always </b>been a bit unruly. <b>Sorry </b>for all the trouble. I¡¯ll take her home now. Please¡­¡± Alice said.

    The fake pleasantries died in her throat.

    Alice stared, dumbfounded, at the <b>scene </b>before her. It <b>was </b>nothing like what she¡¯d imagined.

    Where <b>was </b>the broken, defeated Aubree she¡¯d imagined whisking <b>away </b>with a mother¡¯s righteous concern?

    ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Alice blurted out.

    Bryan, who¡¯de along with her, kept his cool. He realized things hadn¡¯t gone their <b>way </b>again, but he never thought Bowen would act this fast.

    He and Elizabeth had made a deal, but Elizabeth had <b>also </b>said that Oliver<b>, </b>being the Lawson family¡¯s golden boy, couldn¡¯t risk any scandals, at least not on the <b>surface</b>. So there was no way they¡¯d actually <by </b>a hand on Aubree.

    The n had been simple¨Cbreak her spirit through confinement. That¡¯s why they¡¯d arrived sote.

    ¡°Who <b>are </b>you?¡± The question cut through the room.

    Every head snapped in her direction. These <b>were </b><b>all </b>the <b>real </b>big shots. Alice felt her knees almost buckle.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m Aubree¡¯s mom,¡± Alice managed, her voice trembling.

    ¡°Mom? You¡¯re her mom? You look downright pleased to see your daughter suffering. And now that she¡¯s unharmed, you seem¡­ disappointed?¡± Michael never cared for all the twisted games of the rich and powerful.

    Alice waspletely at a loss for words.

    ¡°Someone like you doesn¡¯t <b>even </b>deserve to be called a mother!¡± Michael had always been blunt, and he didn¡¯t hold back at all when it came to Alice.

    Aubreeughed. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Michael. She doesn¡¯t deserve to be called my mom. She¡¯s just a <b>faker </b>trying to stir up drama.¡±

    Bryan took Alice by the arin. ¡°We are family. Of course, we¡¯re relieved she¡¯s safe. Aubree<b>, </b>since you¡¯re okay, Alice and I will head out now. Aubree, if you ever want toe home, just call.¡±

    Seeing the situation <b>wasn¡¯t </b>in their favor, Bryan <b>was </b>about to leave.

    No one tried to stop them.

    Right at that moment<b>, </b>another suddenmotion broke out outside.

    The neers brushed right past Bryan and Alice <b>as </b>they were leaving.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the Lawson family? This is outrageous!¡±

    ¡°Arresting someone without evidence? Who the hell do you think you are?¡±

    The police officers went pale. ¡®All we did was arrest a businesswoman. How did this blow up so much that even the national research institute is getting involved?¡®

    Aubree¡¯s eyes curved into a yful smile. ¡°Now these are my connections.<b>¡± </b>

    Bowen was amused by her cheeky confidence. ¡°Impressive<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡®Can the Lawson family really get me out of this unscathed?¡® Oliver couldn¡¯t help but wonder to himself.

    Unbeknownst to many, Aubree had been quietly redirecting funds into cutting¨Cedge research, with substantial investments in the national institute

    Those folks <b>at </b>the institute might not have had any other tricks up their sleeves, but with the government at their back, nobody dared mess with

    <b>232 </b>PM <b>d </b>

    them<b>. </b>

    Mark grinned, clearly amused. ¡°Bowen, your girlfriend¡¯s got some real tricks up her sleeve. She¡¯s every bit as slick as you <b>were </b>back in the day. Honestly, even if we hadn¡¯t shown up, she would¡¯ve handled it all on her own.¡±

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help but <b>feel </b>proud. ¡°She¡¯s more impressive than I ever <b>was</b><b>.¡± </b>

    272

    Ìï

 Tried 474

    <b>Chapter </b>474

    <b>Bryan </b>and Alice slunk <b>away </b>from the police station in defeat.

    While Bowen¡¯s intervention had <b>been </b>within their expectations, the sudden appearance of the national research institute¡¯s personnel hadpletely blindsided them.

    ¡°Thank <b>god </b>this <b>was </b>officially spearheaded by the Lawsons<b>. </b>No one can trace it back <b>to </b><b>us</b><b>, </b><b>or </b>we¡¯d be in <b>real </b>trouble,¡± Bryan muttered as their car pulled up to the Wilson estate.

    Alice gritted her teeth. ¡°Aubree <b>is </b>really something <b>else</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Bryan let <b>out </b>a sigh, his eyes full ofplicated emotions. Who could¡¯ve imagined that the poor girl everyone in the Wilson family used to trample on would turn into someone nobody dares to <b>mess </b>with now?

    Even saying she¡¯d been reborn didn¡¯te close to describing how much she¡¯d changed.

    Bryan rubbed his temples<b>. </b>Their troubles <b>weren¡¯t </b>over. They¡¯d failed to bring Aubree back.

    The moment they stepped through the doors, Ronald Wilson eagerly looked past them, <b>his </b><b>face </b>falling when he didn¡¯t see the person he¡¯d been waiting for. ¡°Where¡¯s Aubree<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Here came the second <b>wave </b>of trouble.

    Bryan had made a deal with Elizabeth. First, they¡¯d have Aubree detained and broken, making it easy for him and Alice to retrieve her. Once she was back in the Wilson family, whether she¡¯d <b>ever </b>leave again would be their decision.

    And with their blood ties<b>, </b>even if Bowen and his whole messy <b>crew </b>came, the Wilsons would still hold the moral high ground.

    He¡¯d been so confident in this n that he¡¯d even boasted about it to Ronald in advance, hoping to earn some praise. But now<b>¡­ </b>

    Bryan let out a helpless sigh. ¡°Dad, Bowen got in the way again.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ronald exploded in anger.

    ¡®Bowen again? What is the Turner family after this time? Aubree is my daughter. She belongs to the Wilson family, not the Turners!¡® he fumed inwardly.

    Bryan went on, ¡°By the time Mom and I arrived, Bowen had already brought the Moores and the Kings with him.¡±

    Ronald frowned. ¡°Even with the Moores and Kings there, you had Lucas on your side. How did you still fail to bring her back?¡±

    If they¡¯d just been a bit tougher, maybe it could¡¯ve worked out.

    Alice¡¯s face darkened as she shook her head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just them. The old bastards from the national research institute showed up too.¡±

    ¡°Them? Why <b>are </b>they involved?¡± Ronald was stunned. Those people represented the state. If they were backing Aubree, even the Lawson family would have no choice but to back down.

    ¡°The Turner family would really bother the research institute over something this minor?¡± Ronald muttered. ¡®Sure, the Turners have connections with those people, but to call in such a huge favor just for Aubree?¡®

    Ronald was just dumbfounded.

    Before he could process how highly Bowen must value Aubree, Bryan hit him with something that nearly made his jaw drop.

    ¡°The institute people didn¡¯t seem to be here for Bowen. They came specifically for Aubree,¡± Bryan said.

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Ronald blurted out.

    The room fell into stunned silence<b>. </b>They actually came just for Aubree? Since when did she <b>get </b>that kind of influence?¡® he thought in disbelief.

    Even the Kings and Moores had been taken aback at the scene.

    Bryan added, ¡°I heard Aubree invested in the research institute.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ronald blurted out, totally baffled. ¡°That can¡¯t be the whole story,¡® he thought.

    If the research institute wanted investors, there¡¯d be a whole crowd of people fighting to throw their money at them.

    He¡¯d tried before <i>to </i>buy his <b>way </b>into their circles, but they¡¯d shut him out. In all of Rithol, the only ones who could get close to the institute were those with pre¨Cexisting ties, usually through family connections.

    12:33 <b>PM </b>

    In other words, those the institute allowed to invest were, by extension, those they¡¯d protect.

    Aubree hadn¡¯t gotten her foot in the door just by being rich. She¡¯d leveraged knowledge from her past life¨Ctechnologies and research directions that wouldn¡¯t be mainstream for years. She didn¡¯t understand the specifics, but pointing the institute toward proven paths had saved them countless dead ends.

    ¡ª

 Tried 475

    <b>Chapter </b>475

    <b>As </b><b>Bryan </b>recounted the scene in detail, Ronald was leftpletely dumbfounded. ¡®Is this really still Aubree? he wondered

    He¡¯d known she¡¯d changed, but this? At her age? Given a few more years, would she surpass him?

    The thought sent an unexpected thrill through him.

    Fear flickered, but it was drowned out by sheer hunger. Ronald couldn¡¯t help but imagine, ¡®If Aubree reallyes back to our Wilson family, with everything <b>she¡¯s </b>got now, what¡¯s stopping us from dominating all of Rithol City? <b>By </b>then, <b>the </b>Turner family, the King family¨Ceveryone will have to step aside for us<b>!</b>¡®

    <b>¡°</b>Aubree muste back to our Wilson family! Even <b>if </b>she dies, she¡¯ll do it <b>as </b>a Wilson!¡± Ronald dered, his voice steely with resolve.

    Bryan¡¯s hands clenched into fists. How could he let that happen? If Aubree came back, where would that leave him?

    His eyes grew darker. The more impressive she became, the more threatened he felt.

    Alice felt just as unsettled. ¡®Looks like Bryan was right. We can¡¯t give Aubree any chances<b>. </b>If she <b>ever </b>decides to forgive Ronald for all these years andes back to the Wilson family, Carmen wouldn¡¯t stand a chance in this house,<b>¡® </b>she thought.

    Sheposed herself. ¡°So, about what <b>we </b>discussed earlier<b>¡­ </b><b>is </b>it time to<b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>

    The n to kidnap Aubree and make her disappear for good needed to be put into action soon.

    ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit longer,¡± Ronald said. ¡°Now¡¯s just not the right time.¡±

    He had just taken over the BeeShare shared <b>e</b><b>¨C</b>scooter project, and things were only just getting off the ground. If they made a move against Aubree and everything went off without a hitch, that¡¯d be fine. But if anything went sideways and messed with BeeShare¡¯s development, it just wouldn¡¯t be worth it.

    Reluctantly, Alice let the matter drop.

    Meanwhile, Aubree had left with Bowen.

    <b>¡°</b>Are you sure you don¡¯t want to go to the hospital?¡± Bowen asked, his voice full of concern as he looked at her.

    He had just given her a quick once¨Cover, but couldn¡¯t see any visible injuries. Those interrogators had been professionals, targeting pain points that wouldn¡¯t leave marks.

    ¡°It¡¯s better now. <b>Just </b>some bruises. They didn¡¯t dare <b>go </b>too far, Aubree said. ¡°How¡¯s everything going with GrabCheap?¡±

    She¡¯d been about to head to S¨¹dlichen Strand to oversee operations when she was arrested.

    ¡°Birgitte isn¡¯t some pushover. Even without you there, she handled everything and kept the losses to a minimum. Later, the higher¨Cups stepped in and took care of the rest. The hackers who attacked your servers have all been driven off. They were all using overseas IPs, so there¡¯s basically no way to track them down,¡± Bowen said.

    ¡°The authorities issued a statement rifying that GrabCheap didn¡¯t leak user data. That helped calm the public down,¡± he added. ¡°Everything¡¯s pretty much under control now, but the losses we¡¯ve already suffered are gone for good. The servers will need rebuilding.¡±

    Aubree nodded. ¡°Even if we can¡¯t trace them, it¡¯s not hard to figure out who¡¯s pulling the strings. The Wilsons, the Diamondes, and the Lawsons are definitely involved.¡±

    ¡°By the way<b>, </b>Alvin reached out to me before. He said he could help reinforce our servers. I had no idea he had that kind of expertise. Pity the attack came before he could step in,¡± she added.

    ¡®If only Alvin had helped us out first, maybe those guys wouldn¡¯t have gotten in so easily, Aubree thought, a hint of regret flickering in her eyes.

    Bowen paused for a moment, honestly surprised that Alvin was still in touch with her and even offered to help.

    ¡°Alvin does have a knack for this kind of thing, and he¡¯s interested. He even went out of his way to find a teacher to learn from. But if he¡¯s going to help you¡­ Well, servers are pretty important. No matter what, Alvin¡¯s not part of thepany. Just keep your guard up,¡± Bowen reminded her.

    He couldn¡¯t quite figure out what Alvin was up to, but after all these years, his instincts told him there was something off. It was inappropriate to tell Aubree to watch out for Alvin, so he could only drop a subtle warning.

    1/

 Tried 476

    <b>Chapter </b>476

    Aubree thought, Is he telling me to be wary <b>of </b>Alvin<b>! </b>I trust Alvin, and by all rights, I should be the one on guard about him. <b>As </b>Alvin¡¯s uncle, it¡¯s surprising to hear him say this about Alvin.

    ¡®Come to think of it, Alvin has been acting pretty strangelytely. First, he helped Carmen, then he started keeping his distance from me. Later, he <b>went </b>off to study finance, and now he has <b>even </b>taken the initiative to offer me help.

    ¡®<b>I </b><b>can¡¯t </b>shake the feeling that there¡¯s something important I¡¯m missing here.

    <b>¡®</b>Still, <b>I </b>should be <b>careful</b>.

    ¡®Don¡¯t <b>worry</b>, I will,¡± <b>she </b>said.

    ¡°Okay,¡± she replied.

    Bowen thought of the group from the research institute who had shown upter. ¡°Bree, how did you manage to <b>get </b>in touch with those people?<b>¡± </b>

    That was a tough one to <b>answer </b>for Aubree.

    She couldn¡¯t exactly tell him it <b>was </b>because she¡¯d time¨Ctraveled and had dropped some hints about the projects the institute was working on. Besides, when she first met those people, they nearly mistook her for <b>a </b>spy and tried to arrest her.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bit hard to exin. It was kind of a lucky break, <b>really</b>. Anyway, I¡¯ve invested a lot of money in the institute now,¡± she said, glossing <b>over </b>the details and only mentioning the investment.

    Bowen didn¡¯t press her further. ¡°You did well.

    ¡°Bree, do you know why the Turner family has been able to maintain its position in Rithol City for so many <b>years</b><b>? </b>

    ¡°In Rithol City, there are plenty of business owners, and there are always new up<b>¨C</b>anders, but no one has ever been able to truly surpass or rece the Turner family.¡±

    Aubree was genuinely curious about it. Even the Wilson family, which was already a giant in Rithol City, had never been able to surpass the Turner family.

    No matter how hard Ronald tried, it was <b>as </b>if an invisible chasm separated the Turner family from other businesses.

    She seemed to have a vague idea of the reason.

    ¡°Is it because of their connections<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>she asked.

    Bowen replied with a slight smile, ¡°You could say that.

    ¡°In the main branch of the Turner family, every generation starts out in business before moving into the military or government.

    ¡°If there¡¯s only one biological son, he inherits the family business. If there are several, one is chosen as the sessor, and the rest are usually arranged to enter the military or government.

    ¡°Just knowing a bunch of CEOs or business owners doesn¡¯t really mean much. What¡¯s truly important is securing a good position in power.

    ¡°Alvin is an exception. ording to our father¡¯s original n, he was supposed to follow the same path as my brother. It was only because I promised our father that the Turner family wouldn¡¯t decline as long as I was around that Alvin was allowed to study art.¡±

    ¡®No wonder¡­ Aubree thought.

    The Turner family was rumored to have been around for a hundred years. For as long as Aubree could remember, there had always been a Turner family in Rithol City¨Cone that nobody in their right mind would ever dare cross.

    She didn¡¯t know if the whole ¡°century¨Cold family¡± thing was true, but seeing how Bowen could so easily get the entire King family to back him up today just showed how scary the Turner family¡¯swork really was.

    In other words, even if the Turners ever met with a disaster, there¡¯d always be powerful people behind the scenes pulling strings to keep them safe.

    ¡°So, Bree, do you get it now?¡± Bowen asked, meeting Aubree¡¯s eyes. She looked back at him and felt a little puzzled.

    Bowen let out a low chuckle and reached over to ruffle her hair. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no way you could just copy the Turner family¡¯s path. After all, it¡¯s not like you can clone yourself and go take a position in the government.

    ¡°Just look at what happened today¨CBree Technology is already a powerhouse in the business world, on par with any majorpany out there. You¡¯ve already maxed out your expansion sideways; what matters most now is breaking through to the next level.

    ¡°Your connection with the research institute is your golden ticket to smash through those barriers<b>.¡± </b>

    Aubree got it now He <b>was </b><b>telling </b>her to cozy up to those mysterious big shots <b>at </b>the top. She¡¯d already reached <b>a </b>level that most family businesses could only dream of even <b>after </b>years of hard work.

    Ìï

 Tried 477

    <b>Chapter </b>477

    ¡°<b>Aren¡¯t </b>you worried that Bree Technology might one day take the Turner family¡¯s ce<b>?</b>¡± she asked.

    <b>¡°</b>If that day everes, I¡¯ll just have to admit you¡¯re better than me. All I can hope is that when it happens, you will be kind enough to take me in,¡° Bowen joked

    He cocked an eyebrow in that roguish, devil¨Cmay¨Ccare way of his, oozing effortless charm.

    Aubreeughed, reached out, and pinched his chin, giving him a mock¨Cserious orice¨Cover. ¡°Well then, Mr. Turner, you¡¯d better take good care of that pretty little face of yours. After all, as long as you¡¯ve got that face, your empire¡¯s safe.¡±

    ¡°Is my face really all it <b>takes</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Bowen teased.

    Regarding being shameless<b>, </b>he was definitely the master<b>. </b>

    Being <b>a </b>few years older meant that he got an even thicker skin.

    Bowen didn¡¯t pull away when her hand touched his face. Instead, he caught her wrist, letting her get a good feel of his features.

    His other hand wasn¡¯t idle either. He grabbed Aubree¡¯s hand that was resting on the seat, guiding it under the hem of his shirt so she could explore his waist and abs.

    ¡°And what about my body? Not a fan anymore?¡± he teased.

    ¡°Or maybe¡­¡± His gaze was dripping with honey, seductive and almost too sweet to resist.

    Aubree¡¯s cheeks burned. ¡°This guy really is a sly old fox. He <b>is </b>not just cunning, but just <b>as </b>shameless¡­ she thought.

    He gave her hand a yful spin, hinting, ¡°Or maybe somewhere else?¡±

    Aubree jerked her hand back like she¡¯d touched a live wire. Seriously, this guy!¡® she fumed.

    Seeing her face turn as red as a tomato, Bowen finally let go. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stop messing with you. We¡¯re almost at Ellis Heights. The doctor¡¯s already there. Let¡¯s have you checked out first, then you can get some rest, okay?¡±

    Aubree froze for a second, only now realizing he¡¯d just been teasing her to take her mind off things.

    ¡°Okay,¡± she replied.

    After getting out of the detention center, Aubree immediately contacted Alvin. Once she confirmed he was free, she took him to S¨¹dlichen Strand to reinforce the servers<b>. </b>

    ¡°Now GrabCheap¡¯s <b>servers </b>won¡¯t be so easily attacked,¡± she said.

    The people Aubree brought in to test the system were stunned. The <b>tech </b>team stared at the brand¨Cnew firewall like they¡¯d justid eyes on a goddess. Their eyes didn¡¯t just light up, they practically caught fire with excitement.

    ¡®So this is what counts as romance for programmers<b>?</b>¡® Aubree mused.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, where on earth did you find this tech wizard? He¡¯s insane!¡± one of the tech guys blurted out.

    ¡°He¡¯s so young! At first, I thought he was just some kid. Who would¡¯ve guessed he was this much of a genius?<b>¡± </b>another one eximed.

    ¡°Guess this is what they mean when they say badasses only hang out with other badasses,¡± someone else joked.

    Aubree was both amused and exasperated. ¡°They¡¯re allpletely floored by your skills.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. Suddenly, he said, ¡°Aubree, S¨¹dlichen Strand¡¯s actually pretty nice, isn¡¯t it?

    ¡°It¡¯s just as good as Rithol City.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t really get what he was getting at, but she agreed, ¡°S¨¹dlichen Strand and Rithol City are both top business districts. The only thing is, S¨¹dlichen Strand just doesn¡¯t have the kind of history Rithol City does.¡±

    Alvin smiled. She hardly ever saw him smile, and now that she did, she realized he actually looked really good when he did. He suddenly seemed so much more like a <b>real </b>person, full of the youthful energy someone his age should have.

    ¡°It¡¯s enough that you don¡¯t dislike S¨¹dlichen Strand,¡± he murmured under his breath.

    ¡°What<b>?</b>¡± Aubree blinked, not quite catching what he said.

    2:33 <b>PM </b>

    ¡°Nothing Alvin just smiled.

    Ever since Alvin helped Aubree reinforce the firewall, there hadn¡¯t been any more attacks that brought the <b>servers </b>crashing down. Aubree checked. with the tech team, and they said the firewall was rock solid.

    If there <b>was </b>any problem at all, it was that now there <b>was </b>a single, fatal w. If someone managed to exploit it, not only would the servers crash, but the entire tform¡¯s data could be wiped out.

    But that wasn¡¯t really <b>a </b>problem, since it couldn¡¯t be attacked from the outside¨Conly someone on the inside could take it down.

    Unless there was a mole among them, it was basically nothing to worry about.

    Aubree kept that in mind.

    ¡®Did he do it on purpose? Or was there really no other way?¡± Aubree wondered.

    That question lingered in her mind.

    Just like that, summer break flew by, and Aubree found herself stepping into her sophomore year of college.

    212

 Tried 478

    <b>Chapter </b><b>478 </b>

    Since Wilson Group acquired BeeShare<b>, </b>Carmen¡¯s name had once againe into the spotlight.

    <b>Back </b>when her MindDrift streaming tform failed, all she got was ridicule. But now, people were telling a different story.

    She had be the next big name in young entrepreneurship after Aubree.

    A personmented, ¡°I knew she <b>was </b>something <b>special </b><b>ever </b>since MindDrift! <b>Back </b>then, everyone was just copying each other with their streaming tforms, but only MindDrift dared to break out of yzy¡¯s old form and try something fresh.

    *Sure<b>, </b>there <b>were </b>some hups with managementter, but her idea was spot on! Didn¡¯t you notice how even yzy started following her lead afterward?<b>¡± </b>

    Another person replied, ¡°The Wilson family really <b>is </b>something else. First there was Aubree, now there¡¯s Carmen.

    ¡°Tons of people probably wanted to get in on the shared e¨Cbike project, but only she had the guts and intelligence to pull it off. She even thought ahead to <b>fix </b><b>all </b>those hidden risks.¡±

    Someone else said, ¡°Carmen¡¯s already got one foot in the door at Wilson Group, and she¡¯s even got shares in thepany. <b>For </b>an adopted daughter to make it this far, that¡¯s seriously impressive!¡±

    All those old scandals had be nothing more than milestones on her path, and now praise was flooding in from <b>every </b>direction.

    Universities <b>were </b>scrambling to invite Carman to speak at their orientation events, hoping her story would inspire the iing <b>students</b>.

    The key point was that not only was Carmen so sessful, but she had obtained that sess as such a young <b>age</b>.

    On Aubree¡¯s very first <i>day </i>back at campus, she happened to catch Rithol University inviting Carmen to give a speech. For someone her age to have achieved so much, all while double¨Cmajoring in finance, her story was honestly a huge inspiration.

    Aubree had given speeches before, but her attitude toward them was different from Carmen¡¯s.

    To outsiders, Aubree¡¯s sess always seemed smooth and inevitable, <b>as </b>if everything she did was destined to <b>seed</b>. But Carmen was different. Her achievements were built upon setbacks and failures, making her story feel more rtable and genuine.

    When Carmen gave her speech, Aubree went to watch.

    On stage, Carmen shared her experiences. Even though she tried her best to hide it, the pride in her eyes was impossible to conceal.

    Aubree let out a wry littleugh. Carmen was still young and fresh. In the future, though, Carmen would be unbreakable.

    She could shove someone down the stairs one moment and, in the next breath, act like nothing ever happened, never leaving a single crack for anyone to find.

    Giving this speech was definitely a win for Carmen. She¡¯d sold BeeShare to Wilson Group, but she was still the one running it.

    If the project took off, all the credit would go straight to her, which would make it way easier for her to get a solid footing at Wilson Group down the line. The speech was just another way to hype herself up. She was more than happy to brag about her sess.

    Carmen said, ¡°Failure isn¡¯t scary¨CI¡¯ve picked myself up from the dirt.

    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ve failed, been looked down on, and spent time in the dark with no hope in sight. But I still came out on top.

    ¡°We¡¯re still young! We¡¯ve got the chance to mess up, to try new things, to chase after what¡¯s next.¡±

    Her words fired up the new students. After all, everyone at Rithol believed that they were geniuses. If she could make it, they felt that they could <b>as </b>well.

    Aubree smiled and thought, ¡®Sure, being young means you can afford to make mistakes, but can they really handle the fallout when things go wrong?

    Nothing really stood out to her, so Aubree decided to leave.

    Just as she was about to slip away from the back of the crowd, a voice stopped her in her tracks. ¡°Aubree, what are you doing here?¡±

    That was a ridiculous question. Aubree thought, ¡°This <b>is </b>my school. If Carmen can be here, then I have every right to be around.

    ¡°Daxion, that was a really stupid thing to say,¡± Aubree rolled her eyes.

 Tried 479

    <b>Chapter </b>479

    Daxton Wilson realized how silly his <b>words </b>sounded. He opened his mouth to <b>say </b>something, then just closed it again. He didn¡¯t have much going on today, <b>so </b>he¡¯d juste along with Carmen for her speech.

    Of course, <b>that </b><b>was </b>just secondary. The main reason he was here was to keep certain people from giving Carmen a hard time, such <b>as </b>Aubree.

    With the new semester starting, there <b>was </b>no guarantee Carmen wouldn¡¯t run into Aubree. And sure enough, he ran into her.

    <b>¡°</b>Why are you here listening to the <b>speech</b>? Are you here to mess with Carmen or something?¡± Daxton demanded.

    Aubree retorted, ¡°<b>Physicians </b>can¡¯t heal themselves, but that doesn¡¯t mean they should pretend nothing¡¯s wrong.

    ¡°Daxton, if you¡¯ve <b>got </b>a hole in your head, go get it checked out. I¡¯m a student here. Of course<b>, </b><b>I </b>can attend any speech I want. And seriously, what about Carmen is even worth my time to target<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Even if it were Ronald standing there, he would still be polite to Aubree, no matter what grudges they had.

    Aubree would not bother keeping tabs on someone <b>so </b>insignificant. All she wanted was to watch Carmen take a brutal fall from <b>grace </b>and stay buried in the mud for good.

    People were starting to notice their argument.

    Daxton¡¯s face turned stormy. Ignoring Aubree¡¯s protests, he grabbed her and dragged her off to somewhere more secluded.

    Themotion caught Carmen¡¯s attention. ¡®Wait, Aubree and Daxton?¡® she thought, and picked up the pace with her speech.

    <b>As </b>soon as Daxton let go, Aubree pped him hard across the face without a hint of mercy. ¡°Daxton, who gave you the guts toy a hand on me?

    ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m still that pathetic loser you all used to walk all over a few years ago?¡±

    The <b>p </b>caught himpletely off guard, and he just stood there, stunned, for a long moment before he finally snapped back to reality.

    ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± Daxton roared,pletely losing it. He forgot all about the whole ¡°don¡¯t hit girls¡± rule and swung his hand right back <i>at </i>her.

    But Aubree was <b>ready </b>for him. Without missing a beat, she flipped him right over her shoulder.

    ¡®Damn it. I¡¯ve been wanting to beat Daxton up for ages!¡® she thought.

    These days, Aubree never went anywhere without her bodyguards, even on campus.

    Right after her scuffle with Daxton, the bodyguards hurried over. Daxton looked like he¡¯d beenpletely wrecked, clutching his waist and groaning in pain<b>. </b>¡°Aubree, you¡¯ve got some serious guts. How dare you hit me?¡±

    ¡°Hit you? Please. I¡¯ve alreadyid hands on Emery, Trevor, and Bryan. Why should you be the exception?¡± Aubree sneered.

    She even threw in a couple of extra kicks for good measure.

    She did not pull any fancy moves and just did it with passion.

    ¡°Aubree, what <i>are </i>you doing? How could you treat Daxton like that?¡± Carmen rushed over, her voice sharp and piercing, like a strangled chicken.

    ¡®So noisy¡­ Aubree thought.

    Aubree was speechless. ¡°Heyd his hands on me, so I kicked him. Fair enough.¡±

    Daxton¡¯s <b>face </b>darkened even more. ¡®Great, now Carmen¡¯s seen me like this. That bitch Aubree!¡® he thought.

    Carmen helped Daxton up. ¡°I saw you just now, Aubree.

    ¡°Are you mad because <b>I </b>stole your spotlight?¡±

    Aubree was quite confused by that question.

    She nked out for a second, and Carmen immediately took her silence <b>as </b>a yes.

    Carmen felt a surge of pride. ¡®Aubree¡¯s just upset because I made BeeShare a hit, got showered with praise, and now everyone¡¯s calling me the next rising star.

    She¡¯s scared I¡¯ll steal her thunder again, just like before, and leave her with nothing.¡±

    As for what just happened with Daxton, Carmen was sure that Aubree couldn¡¯t stand that Daxton only had eyes for her, <b>so </b>she was just taking it out

    ?

    <b>on </b>him

    Carmen said. ¡°Aubree, if you¡¯ve got a problem with me, just bring it to me directly. I¡¯m not afraid of you, and <b>I </b>won¡¯t let you do anything to hurt the Wilson family just because my brothers and dad feel guilty about you.

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>won¡¯t let Emery¡¯s tragedy happen again<b>. </b>

    ¡°Now that I¡¯m part of Wilson Group, I¡¯ll protect my family from here on out!¡±

    Daxton <b>was </b>deeply moved by her words. Why is my Carmen so kind and brave?¡® he thought.

    Aubree quirked <b>a </b>strange smile. She could practically taste the ambition in Carmen¡¯s words.

    Ìï

 Tried 480

    <b>Chapter </b>480

    So that¡¯s how it is¡­ Aubree thought.

    She hadn¡¯t known that Carmen was behind the shared e¨Cbike project. When she found out, she was puzzled as to why the Diamonde family would help Carmen with her business.

    <b>As </b>far as Aubree knew<b>, </b>Carmen was doing well. She was pretty well¨Cknown in the art school at her university. Plus, she had stepped over her teacher to get ahead, making her a rising star in the art world.

    Without any outside interference, it was only a matter of time before she reached the same level of sess as in her previous life. There was really no need for her to jump into the business world and make things harder for herself.

    Now, Aubree understood.

    Carmen had big ambitions. She said that she joined Wilson Group to help the Wilson family deal with Aubree, but in reality, she got her eyes on Wilson Group. Her real goal was to kick Bryan out and take his ce.

    Aubree let out a mockingugh. The Diamonde family had definitely been pulling strings behind the scenes, and Ethan¡¯s ambition clearly hadn¡¯t died. He was always scheming for a way into the Wilson family.

    Aubree thought, ¡°Those two really are thick as thieves. They are using the shared e¨Cbike project as a stepping stone.

    The Wilson family is practically handing me an opportunity on a silver tter.¡¯ Aubree could barely hold back herughter.

    Aubree looked at Carmen, her smileyered with meaning. ¡°Protect your family?¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯d better make sure you do.¡±

    Carmen felt goosebumps rise under Aubree¡¯s stare. She frowned, thinking, ¡®Is she actually nning something against me?

    ¡®Even if Aubree really wants to mess with me, I¡¯m not scared. Now that my interests arepletely tied to the Wilson family, and with my uncle backing me up, Aubree will have to think twice before making a move.

    Now that BeeShare had taken its first step and was firmly on track, Carmen set her sights on the next stage of development. She wanted to expand BeeShare¡¯s reach and bring it to third- and fourth¨Ctier cities as well.

    She needed money. BeeShare needed financing.

    Lately, Trevor had finally started to feel like things were going his way.

    The short drama that Skyler Huber had taken on was being funded with their own money. With the current craze for short dramas and their production quality setting them apart from the rest, it was sure to be a hit.

    Filming had already begun.

    Trevor had joined the cast. He finally felt like he was getting back that feeling from before the whole Sophia incident. Everyone was fawning over him and treating him with respect and envy.

    There weren¡¯t many recognizable actors in the whole crew. The female lead was a total neer, and the rest of the supporting cast were all nobodies in the entertainment industry. In this ce, Trevor was the biggest star.

    Even the director had to watch Trevor¡¯s mood and take his cues from him.

    With Trevor¡¯s fame, the lead actress, extras, and other staff were practically lining up every day just to get on his good side.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, how about we shoot that intimate scene with you and Kate from scene ten next?¡± the director suggested.

    ¡®Scene ten?¡® Trevor thought, his expression shifting.

    He remembered that this was the scene where the male and female leads first started catching feelings for each other. It was a kiss scene.

    Short dramas had way looser rules, so as long as the chemistry was there, they could really go for it with the intimate scenes.

    He and the female lead couldn¡¯t just fake it with camera tricks. Of course, whether it <b>was </b>a real kiss or just a stage kiss would alle down to what he wanted.

    Trevor thought, <b>¡®</b><b>As </b>for this female lead, Kate Robertson¡­

    Trevor lifted his gaze to the girl sitting up ahead on a little folding chair, fanning herself with her hand in a white dress. He¡¯d never seen a girl so innocent and untouched by the industry.

    She really caught his interest.

    ¡°Sure, but <b>will </b>Kate be able to handle it? She¡¯s still a neer, after all,¡± Trevor said with a polite smile.

    His gentlemanly concern for the rookie actress only made him seem even more charming.

 Tried 481

    <b>Chapter </b>481

    Kate looked up at the sound of his voice and gave him a gentle smile ¡°Mr Wilson, I can do it Being able to act with you be truly a sure in a lifetime honor for me!

    Her eyes shone with pure admiration for brim, sparkling <i>like </i>stars

    Trevor rubbed his fingers together, feeling a restless itch in his heart. If it weren¡¯t for Sophia getting in the way, I would¡¯ve had her eating out of my hand by now, he thought

    Now that he was technically married, he had to switch up his old tricks

    Without missing a beat, he withdrew his gaze. ¡°Alright,e sit next to me. I¡¯ll <b>walk </b>you through the scene.¡±

    Kate clearly hadn¡¯t expected to receive this kind of special treatment. Overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, she hurried over in small deps, her checks flushed. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Wilson*

    Trevor¡¯s smile grew even wider. He found her quite adorable.

    As he exined the scene to her. Trevor kept finding all sorts of ¡°reasonable¡± excuses to lean in close, teasing her until her fare turned as red <b>as </b><b>a </b>

    Jomato

    It felt that good¨Clooking people could pull off anything. Watching him and Kate act out that kiss scene had everyone on setpletely entranced. like they couldn¡¯t look <b>away</b><b>. </b>

    Some of the young girls in the crew were so hyped that they clung to their friends arms, squealing, ¡°Seeing Mr. Wilson act in a kiss scene is unreal<b>! </b>Look at his eyes.

    ¡°That kissing sound is making me blush so hard.¡±

    If just watching was enough to make the bystanders lose it, it would make sense that Kate was feeling even more excited since she was acting with Trevor

    ¡°Is this your first time shooting a kiss scene?¡± Trevor asked casually.

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m still a student, so strictly speaking, this is my very first project, Kate replied softly.

    ¡°I see.¡± Trevor¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°You have a real spark about you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll stand out uniquely someday.

    ¡°By the way, dinner¡¯s on me tonight. As the female lead, you won¡¯t turn me down and embarrass <b>me</b>, will you?¡±

    Kate was a little surprised. ¡®With Trevor¡¯s status, he¡¯s the one treating? Usually, it¡¯s everyone else trying to curry favor with him,¡® she thought.

    She quickly hid her surprise and lowered her head. ¡°I think I¡¯ll skip dinner. I have something to take care of tonight¡±

    Trevor¡¯s eyes dimmed a little. ¡°Really? That¡¯s a shame.¡±

    She actually turned me down? Trevor thought, both surprised and even more intrigued. The urge to win over Kate, who was so <b>innocent</b>, was a thrill he¡¯d never experienced before.

    He couldn¡¯t wait.

    Since he¡¯d already said he¡¯d treat, Trevor had the patience to <b>see </b>it through. He yed the perfect host, had a few drinks, and aside from leaving a bit carlier than expected, there was nothing anyone could fault him for

    Stepping out of the venue, he found himself on a lively bar street, neon lights shing everywhere. Normally, he might <b>have </b><b>been </b>interested u <b>grabbing </b>a drink or <b>two</b>, maybe seeing if he could get lucky. But now that he had his eyes set on new prey, nothing else even registered.

    Trevor pulled on a mask and sent his location to the driver

    ¡°Let go. If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯ll call for help!¡± a woman¡¯s voice suddenly rang out

    ¡°Oh,e on, pretty girl, why so serious? You work at a bar selling drinks, right? Isn¡¯t it all about the money? Just name your price. We¡¯re <b>not </b>short on cash,¡± one of the men jeered

    Scenes like this were somon that Trevor didn¡¯t even bother to look over

    Suddenly, the girl being hassled¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Mr. Wilson, is that you?¡±

    ¡°Kate?¡± Trevor finally recognized the girl.

    He strode over, pulled her to his side, and shot the two drunks a cold re. ¡°Get lost!¡±

    ¡°Whas the hell are you, premy boyt <b>Hiding </b>behind a mask and talking <b>big </b>to us? You <b>got </b>a death wish or something one of the drunks sneered

    Dealing with two drunks was a peror of cake for Trevor He flexed <b>his </b><b>wrists </b>and took them down in <b>a </b>sh.

    ¡°What are you waiting for Get lost!¡± he snapped

    Sering he was no pushover, the two drunks scrambled up, faces pale <b>with </b>fear, muttering curses about their bad luck as they hurried away

    ¡°<b>You</b>.¡± Kate choked out

    Trevor was <b>just </b>about to <bfort </b>her when all of <b>a </b>sudden, she threw herself <b>right </b>into his arms

    ¡°Mr. Wilson.¡± she whimpered, her voice thick with tears, sounding more pitiful than ever

    Trevor¡¯s heart stirred. What a golden opportunity How could I let this ship by? he thought.

    Ìï

 Tried 482

    <b>Chapter </b><b>482 </b>

    Trevor had <b>a </b>ce near the filming location where he¡¯d been staying these days. He brought Kate back with him.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t go to the party because<b>¡­</b>¡± Trevor kept up his wless gentlemanly facade.

    He handed her a cup of water. ¡°Of course<b>, </b>if you feel I¡¯m overstepping, you don¡¯t have to answer.<b>¡± </b>

    <b>A </b>faint smile yed at the corners of Trevor¡¯s lips, making it hard for anyone not to warm up to him.

    <b>Kate </b>lowered her gaze<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>My </b>family¡¯s not <b>well</b>¨Coff, and they¡¯re still paying for my education. The main reason I¡¯m acting is for the paycheck. <b>I </b>also <b>have </b>other part¨Ctime jobs, <b>like </b>working as <b>a </b>bartender <b>at </b>a bar.

    <b>As </b>if remembering something, her tone <b>grew </b><b>a </b>bit more urgent. ¡°But <b>it¡¯s </b>nothing shady. I¡¯m just working as a bartender and earningmission,

    that¡¯s all.¡±

    Trevor reached out and gently patted her head. ¡°I know.¡±

    She looked up at him, her <b>eyes </b>brimming with gratitude.

    He could see the admiration in her <b>gaze</b><b>, </b>something he was all too familiar with. His smile deepened. ¡°There¡¯s nothing shameful about earning money through your own hard work.

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m d I picked that ce for dinner tonight. Otherwise<b>, </b>my leadingdy might¡¯ve gotten into trouble.¡±

    His words were only half¨Cjoking, half<b>¨C</b>serious. He really was relieved. Otherwise<b>, </b>the girl he had his eye on might have ended up with someone <b>else</b>.

    His teasing lightened the mood, and Kate¡¯s cheeks flushed a little. ¡°Mr. Wilson, do you <b>have </b>any wine here?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± he replied.

    After that, everything just seemed to fall into ce<b>, </b><b>so </b>smoothly that even Trevor was surprised by how well things went.

    Once Kate asked for a drink, Trevor naturally kept herpany. She rambled on about her life, and Trevor<b>, </b>careful not to drink too much, became the perfect listener.

    ¡°You¡¯re drunk,¡± Trevor said gently.

    This <b>was </b>where it all began.

    The next morning. Kate slowly opened her eyes, feeling his arm draped around her waist. There was no trace of panic or shyness in her gaze¨Conly pure thrill and delight.

    She thougt, ¡®I have finally done it. I have taken the first step and gotten close to him atst.

    Trevor, just you wait. I¡¯m here to get my revenge!

    Feeling the movement behind her, Kate quickly masked the hatred in her eyes. She let out a startled cry, clutching the nket to her chest as if in panic. ¡°Mr. Wilson, this is all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have asked you for a drink.¡±

    She sniffled softly, pretending to cry.

    Trevor¡¯s heart melted. He remembered how innocent and sweet she¡¯d lookedst night while she was beneath him.

    He¡¯d met plenty of women who tried to act pure and innocent just to please him, but nothingpared to someone who was genuinely like that¡ª <b>it </b><b>was </b>so much more satisfying than any act.

    He reached out and pulled her into his arms. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡±

    Kate kept on crying, her voice trembling as she whispered, ¡°What we did was wrong. You¡¯re already married.

    ¡°How could I have done something like this? Mr. Wilson, I¡¯ll go tell the director <b>I </b>can¡¯t do this short drama anymore. I¡¯ll stay far away from you. I won¡¯t show up and mess up your life.¡±

    Trevor felt both pity and affection for her. All those other women he¡¯d met would have done anything to use this connection for their own gain, but not her. She <b>was </b>so naive and pitiful. She actually thought about leaving him.

    Trevor said, ¡°As for my wife¨CSophia¨Cyou probably know a bit about what¡¯s going on between us. But honestly, I never wanted to marry her. I was set up.¡±

    ¡°Of course, saying all this now, I wouldn¡¯t me you if you didn¡¯t believe me.¡± He gave a bitter, helplessugh.

    <b>Kate </b>squeezed his hand, her voice unwavering. ¡°I believe you!¡±

    <b>2:35 </b>PM <b>d </b>

    She looked at him with absolute conviction. ¡°I believe you. If it¡¯s you saying it, I¡¯ll believe anything.¡±

    If before Trevor had only been interested in Kate as a challenge, now there was a trace of real feeling in his heart. If only I¡¯d met her sooner, he thought with a silent sigh.

    Ìï

 Tried 483

    <b>Chapter </b><b>483 </b>

    Trevor exined. ¡°Sophia and my sister¨Cthe one who got kicked out of the family¨Cteamed up to get back at me. They used the media to force the into marrying her.

    ¡°It won¡¯t be long before I divorce her and end this marriage.

    ¡°I don¡¯t love her. She only got close to me for her own benefit. Honestly, our whole rtionship was a mistake from the very beginning. Kate, I hope you get what I¡¯m trying to <b>say</b>.¡±

    Trevor¡¯s words were deliberately vague, but the way he gazed at her was <b>so </b>tender and full of meaning.

    Honestly, he could shoot that same soulful look at <b>a </b>stray dog on the street. It was the skill of being an actor.

    Kate, being an actress herself, shot back a look <b>so </b>moved it was almost <b>over </b>the top. ¡°I get it!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯vee into contact.¡± Aubree¡¯s gaze lingered on the text message on her screen.

    Just then, a knock sounded <b>at </b>her office door.

    <b>¡°</b>Come in,¡± Aubree said.

    It <b>was </b>Vincent Sloan.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, you have an invitation from the Angel Investors¡® Summit. <b>It¡¯s </b>for tonight<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>he said.

    The Angel Investors¡® Summit sounded like an opportunity for Rithol City¡¯s elite to help young entrepreneurs chase their dreams, but in reality, <b>it </b><b>was </b>just a glossy front for businessworking and self¨Cpromotion.

    ¡°The key thing is, Carmen will be there too, trying to secure investment for her shared e¨Cbike project,¡± Vincent added.

    ¡°Really?¡± Aubree raised an eyebrow, instantly interested.

    She hadn¡¯t been exaggerating when she said now <b>was </b>the right time for a shared e¨Cbike project. Shared bikes had been around for quite a while, and plenty of people had consideredunching e¨Cscooters, but the production costs were just too high.

    If the rental price was set too high, users wouldn¡¯t go for it. If it was set too low, thepany might never even break even.

    On top of that, they had to watch out for cheap bikes starting price wars to grab market share¨Cit would end up being a losing game.

    These days, thanks to advances across all kinds of industries, the cost of making e¨Cscooters has dropped a lot, though they¡¯re still not exactly cheap.

    If the funding fell through, it would be a disaster for Carmen.

    Aubree narrowed her eyes with a sly smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go join the fun.¡±

    That evening, the party was filled with Rithol City¡¯s most well¨Cknown investors and entrepreneurs. Aubree even spotted Kelvin Malone there.

    Aubree nced around. ¡°Bowen¡¯s not here?¡±

    Kelvin almost called her ¡°Mrs. Turner¡°, but he caught himself just in time. He greeted, ¡°Ms. Miller, Mr. Turner¡¯s been busy withpany affairstely, so he sent me to represent him.¡±

    That really was unusual. No matter how busy Turner Group got, there were always others to handle the daily grind. As the big boss, Bowen was the one making the final calls on major projects.

    Kelvin hesitated for a moment, then leaned in and whispered, ¡°Ms. Miller, did you know that Alvin started studying finance this semester?¡±

    ¡°I know about that<b>,¡± </b>Aubree replied.

    ¡°Alvin actually taught himself a bunch of courses over the break. Just a couple of months into the new semester, he got the old man to pull some strings so he could take the subject tests early¨Cand he aced them. Now word is, he¡¯s about to join Turner Group.

    ¡°Before, Mr. Turner called all the shots at thepany. But now that Mr. Alvin¡¯sing in, some shady people are starting to see an opportunity.

    ¡°Honestly, those guys <b>are </b>just iling around. Mr. Alvin and Mr. Turner <b>are </b>family. Do they really think he¡¯d turn on his uncle and help them take down Mr. Turner<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree gave a small smile, but it barely touched her lips. Her eyes, though, were all business.

    You can¡¯t really say that for sure, she thought.

    2:35 PM

    It was pretty weird for Alvin to suddenly get into finance and want to join thepany. It was not like he couldn¡¯t, but he¡¯d never shown the slightest interest before. Now, out of nowhere, he started working hard on this aspect.

    If he really wanted to join thepany, all he had to do was ask Bowen. It <b>was </b>not like Bowen would ever say no. But instead. Alvin went straight to Enrique, making it obvious he didn¡¯t want Bowen to know ahead of time.

    What is Alvin really after<b>? </b>Aubree wondered.

 Tried 484

    <b>Chapter </b><b>484 </b>

    Aubree decided to put Alvin¡¯s drama aside for the moment as the party was starting.

    Aubree had been pulling back her fundstely, focusing on cuting¨Cedge industries like chips, <b>Al</b>, and semiconductors. But that didn¡¯t mean she <b>was </b>looking down on other sectors.

    Even the smallest opportunities would add up to a fortune. If a project looked promising, she¡¯d still consider investing

    She stood out among all the CEOs and execs¨Calmost everyone knew her, and plenty of people came looking for her investment.

    If Aubree spotted a promising project, she was always up for a chat.

    This time, the Angel Investors<b>¡® </b>Summit even set up a pitch session¨Cany young entrepreneur looking for funding could sign up and take the stage to pitch in the order they <b>registered</b>.

    Just then, Aubree spotted Carmen walking up to the stage with her business n in hand, her chin slightly raised and looking totally self¨Cassured.

    But <b>deep </b><b>down</b>, Carmen couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit anxious. No matter what angle she tried, her BeeShare project was destined to sh with the bike¨Csharingpanies for market share<b>. </b><b>There </b><b>was </b>no way those guys would just sit back and let her take over their turf.

    After some early wins, she doubled down and expanded fast. But she never expected the bike¨Csharingpanies to kick off a price war by waiving

    deposits entirely. <b>As </b>long <b>as </b>the customers¡® credit was good, they could ride with <b>zero </b>deposit.

    The growth of her <b>e</b><b>¨C</b><b>scooter </b>users started to stall, and cash flow dried up. To make things worse, the first batch of <b>e</b>¨Cscooter batteries started wearing out and needed recing, which would be another big expense.

    <b>If </b>she wanted to turn things around, she¡¯d have to copy the bike¨Csharingpanies and waive deposits too. But that would just mean burning cash in a bottomless pit.

    She had tond investment fast, with enough money to oust the bike¨Csharingpanies until they finally gave up.

    Aubree quietly watched Carmen up on stage, then took <b>a </b>careful look around. She spotted quite a few familiar faces.

    Carmen wasn¡¯t the only one from the Wilson family. Bryan was there too. The Lawson family had people attend as well. Elizabeth Lawson was there, along with Oliver Lawson, whom Aubree encountered before.

    She¡¯d had her team keep a close watch on BeeSharetely and collected a bunch of data. Aside from the initial novelty¨Cwhere Carmen got a taste of sess<b>¨C</b>everything else went just like she¡¯d guessed. Trouble kept piling up.

    Carmen was at her wits¡® end.

    But this time, she¡¯d gotten smarter and brought the problems to the rest of the Wilson family to tackle together. All in all, things were still under control.

    Carmen pulled out the data she¡¯d prepared ahead of time and started pitching the bright future <b>of </b><b>e</b><b>¨C</b>scooter sharing.

    She said confidently, ¡°Our project follows in the footsteps of bike¨Csharing. With the groundwork alreadyid, it¡¯s easy to see the kind of returns we could get.

    ¡°Plus, right now, e¨Cscooters are clearly what people actually want¡­

    She spoke with ir, and everyone in the room gave her their full attention. From Aubree¡¯s perspective, she could already tell that quite a few folks were seriously considering investing.

    The project did look promising. With Wilson Group backing it, even if people weren¡¯t in it for the money, investing for the sake of Wilson Group was basically a sure bet.

    When Carmen finished her pitch, the apuse was thunderous.

    Plenty of people started showing interest on the spot.

    <b>¡°</b>Since Ms. Wilson is from the Wilson family, I¡¯m curious what Ms. Miller, who is also a member of the Wilson family, thinks about this project. After all, you¡¯re recognized as the leading young entrepreneur these days,¡± someone joked, bringing Aubree into the spotlight.

    Aubree didn¡¯t mind being dragged into the drama with Carmen. In fact, she¡¯d been looking for a chance to make things awkward for her. ¡°If Mr. Hart hadn¡¯t brought up the Wilson family, I think I¡¯d have liked yourment a lot more,¡± Aubree replied with a smirk.

    The onlookers whispered among themselves, realizing that the rumors about Aubree and the Wilson family being at each other¡¯s throats were definitely true.

    Simon Hart quickly corrected himself. ¡°That was my mistake. But it seems Ms. Miller has something to <b>say </b>about this project.¡±

    Aubree nodded. ¡°I do have <b>a </b>few thoughts¡±

 Tried 485

    <b>Chapter </b><b>485 </b>

    Now everyone <b>was </b>even more fired up. They were genuinely curious to hear Aubree¡¯s vision for the project. Back in the day, people used to knock her for being so young, but after she single¨Chandedly built GrabCheap into a billion¨Cdor empire, her age just made her shine even brighter.

    <b>¡°</b>When this project first hit the scene. <b>I </b><b>was </b>honestly pretty interested. To tell the truth, before I even knew who was behind it, the thought of teaming up definitely crossed my mind, Aubree said with a smile.

    Everyone started getting excited. If <b>even </b>Aubree was talking about teaming up, it meant that this project was a real money¨Cmaker.

    Carmen¡¯s expression tightened with a hint of nerves<b>. </b><b>¡®</b>Is Aubree actually trying to help me? What <b>is </b>she really up to?¡± she wondered, frowning in

    confusion.

    Someone with sharp <b>eyes </b>handed Aubree a mic right away, and her voice rang out across the room. Aubree chuckled quietly and continued, ¡°So. <b>I¡¯ve </b>done quite a bit of research on BeeShare project and gathered some <b>data</b><b>¡­</b>¡±

    She deliberately left her sentence unfinished<b>, </b>keeping everyone in <b>suspense</b>.

    The crowd was on the <b>edge </b>of their seats, practically begging for more.

    <b>¡°</b><b>Ms. </b>Miller, don¡¯t stop there! What did you find out? Is this project actually worth our money or not?¡± someone called out, unable to hold <b>back </b>any Jonger.

    Aubree¡¯s achievements <b>gave </b>her serious pull in the investment world, and whatever she said could have a big impact on whether Carmen managed to secure funding or not.

    Meanwhile, Oliver <b>was </b>watching her closely.

    After thest incident, he¡¯d been punished and told to reflect on his actions. Only then did he really <b>start </b>looking into Aubree. He found out that she <b>was </b><b>a </b>real powerhouse and way beyond what he¡¯d expected.

    Now, seeing her here again, Lucas absentmindedly twirled his fingers.

    Suddenly, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit jealous <i>of </i>Bowen. ¡®How did he manage tond such a treasure?¡® he thought.

    ¡°Yeah, Ms. Miller, what did you find out? So, is this project worth it or not?¡± someone else chimed in, eager for answers.

    Aubree took her time, letting her gaze sweep across the room before she finally spoke, her tone unhurried and a little teasing. ¡°You know<b>, </b>after looking into it, <b>I¡¯ve </b>realized there are still quite a few problems with e¨Cscooter sharing.¡±

    As soon as she heard that, Carmen couldn¡¯t stay quiet any longer. She straightened her back, her tone righteous and unyielding. ¡°Aubree, I know you don¡¯t like me, but you can¡¯t just stand in my way like this, can you?

    ¡°No project is perfect, but just because you have influence doesn¡¯t mean you can badmouth my project for no reason.¡±

    Everyone¡¯s gaze kept bouncing between the two of them. People wondered if the project was actually a flop, or if Aubree was just there to stir up some drama for Carmen.

    Aubree just shrugged. ¡°Carmen, you¡¯ve been talking up this project nonstop, but let me ask you¡ªhow much of your investment have you actually gotten back so far?¡±

    She paused for a moment, then added, ¡°Or to put it another way. Right now, is BeeShare really seeing any real growth?¡±

    The mood in the room shifted in an instant.

    Carmen¡¯s face fell, her expression changing dramatically.

    At this point, getting her investment back was the least of her worries. She wasn¡¯t even sure if she could get out of this whole mess unscathed.

    With problems piling up left and right, all Carmen could do was keep throwing money at the project, desperately trying to buy more market share and users. She was betting everything on onest shot at survival.

    She¡¯d deliberately glossed over these problems during her pitch just moments ago.

    Aubree said, ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, bike¨Csharingpanies are now offering zero¨Cdeposit rides. When ites to grabbing market share, BeeShare just isn¡¯t ahead anymore

    ¡°No new users, no frequent riders¨Cso with e<b>¨C</b>scooters costing way more than bikes, how are you supposed to turn a profit?

    ¡°If you¡¯re not making money, how do you expect this to go anywhere?

    ¡°This so¨Ccalled grand vision of yours is just about pulling in more investment to fight a price war. But e¨Cscooters have been at <b>a </b>cost disadvantage from day one. Can you really promise all that money won¡¯t just go down the drain?¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t sugarcoat a thing. She burst the pretty bubble and put all the real problems out in the open.

    Faced with Aubree¡¯s pointed questions, Carmen couldn¡¯t get a single word out.

    Aubree said, her voice unwavering. ¡°This is just a money grab. Nobody¡¯s moneyes easy. Why should I risk my cash on something this shaky with you?

    ¡°If it were up to me, <b>I </b>wouldn¡¯t put a dime into this project right now<b>.¡± </b>

    Ìï

 Tried 486

    <b>Chapter </b><b>486 </b>

    <b>Carmen </b>clenched her fists <b>tightly </b>and thought, Damn it. Does Aubree really have to go out of her <b>way </b>to mess with me?

    What project doesn¡¯t have risks? Is <b>she </b>really <b>so </b>scared I¡¯ll get the funding that she has to blow BeeShare¡¯s ws way out of proportion?

    At an event like this, Aubree, the young entrepreneur who <b>always </b>seemed to seed at whatever she did, had real influence. In the investment world at the moment, even if Bowen showed up, his words might not carry as much weight as hers.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t just making baseless ims. She had hard data and solid analysis to back her up. Every question she threw out was a real issue that BeeShare was struggling with, and Garmen couldn¡¯t answer a single one.

    Carmen¡¯s heart raced with panic. The slow <b>user </b>growth of BeeShare <b>was </b>the <b>biggest </b>problem right now.

    She¡¯d tried <b>every </b>marketing channel she could think of, but no matter how good her pitch <b>was</b>, it couldn¡¯tpete with real discounts. In the end, her only option was to seek funding and use the money to solve current issues.

    She¡¯d deliberately kept these <b>ws </b>under wraps during her presentation, just to make the project look more appealing to investors.

    But now, Aubree had cruelly dragged all those rotten <b>ws </b>out into the sunlight, letting their stench fill the <b>air </b>and making everyone <b>want </b>to stay far

    away.

    Aubree watched her with a faint, leisurely smile, her gaze a clear provocation. Carmen¡¯s mind went nk as anger surged straight to her head. She snatched up the microphone, ready to fire back.

    ¡°Carmen!¡± Just <b>as </b>she was about <b>to </b>speak, Bryan¡¯s <b>low</b>,manding voice cut through the <b>air </b>from the audience.

    Carmen snapped back to her <b>senses</b>.

    Bryan locked eyes with Aubree. ¡°Ms. Miller, the issues you¡¯ve raised are exactly what our project team is working hard to address.

    ¡°No sess happens overnight, and every investmentes with its risks<b>. </b>You¡¯ve pointed out all the downsides, so why not look at the potential if this project seeds<b>? </b>

    ¡°It¡¯s undeniable that when the discounts are the same, most people tend to choose electric bikes. In this market, electric bikes have <b>a </b><b>real </bpetitive advantage.

    ¡°To be upfront, in response to the price¨Ccutting tactics from bike¨Csharingpanies, Wilson Group already has some preliminary solutions.

    ¡°If any investors want to take a deeper look at our project, feel free to talk to us after the event. For now, let¡¯s give the <b>stage </b>back to the other young dreamers<b>.¡± </b>

    Bryan really was experienced in the business world. He knew exactly what to say to turn the tide, helping those who¡¯d been shaken by Aubree¡¯s words regain their confidence.

    Still, most people sided with Aubree. BeeShare looked like it was hanging by <i>a </i>thread.

    Carmen stepped down from the stage, her expression uneasy.

    ¡°Bryan, I¡­¡± she started.

    ¡°Keep your cool,¡± Bryan cut her off, not interested in hearing any exnations. He shot her a warning nce<b>. </b>

    Carmen bit her lip. She¡¯d almost lost control and started arguing with Aubree. If Bryan hadn¡¯t cut her off, she would have yed right into Aubree¡¯s hands and ended up looking like <b>a </b>scammer just making excuses.

    ¡®She¡¯s totallying after me, Carmen thought.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes <b>grew </b>heavy. She wondered if Aubree was scared of her potential.

    ¡°Oliver, what are you staring at?¡± Elizabeth gave Oliver a puzzled look.

    Only then did Oliver finally drag his eyes away from Aubree. In a ce like this, she was so radiant it was almost blinding, like she could outshine everyone in the room.

    She was so calm and collected, looking like she had the whole game in her hands. It was enough to make Carmen lose her cool and even forced Bryan to step in just to keep things from spiraling out of control.

    Oliver thought, <b>¡®</b>Aubree, huh?

    ¡®Rithol City really is more interesting than I expected:

    ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>nothing,¡± he said indifferently<b>, </b>casting a brief nce at Elizabeth.

    2:35 PM

    ¡°Carmen¡¯s having trouble securing investment right now. That must be affecting your ns, right?¡± Oliver asked.

    Elizabeth let out a helpless sigh. ¡°Of course.

    I¡¯ve decided to invest in Carmen¡¯s project under the Lawson Group¡¯s name. That should help bring in some other investors as well¡±

    Oliver nodded.

    After the dinner ended. Vincent had to leave suddenly for an emergency. Aubree told her driver to take him, so she stayed behind to wait for a bit.

    She¡¯d nned to just grab a <b>taxi </b>home, but totally overlooked the fact that everyone at this event had their own car. No <b>taxis </b>would evere out this <b>way </b>

    It was alreadyte, and it would take a while for her driver to circle back and pick her up.

    She lowered her head and sent a message to Bowen.

    She sent an emoji of a pitiful kitten.

    Bowen: [Where¡¯d this scruffy little kittene from?<b>] </b>

    Aubree: [Looks like I¡¯m about to be a stray cat.]

    Ìï

 Tried 487

    She gave Bowen a quick rundown of her situation.

    Bowen: [I¡¯m just nearby for a meeting. I¡¯lle pick you up¨Cbe good and wait for me.]

    Now that she was taken care of, Aubree messaged her driver to let him know he didn¡¯t need toe back for her.

    Just then, a sharp honk made her look up.

    The ring horn forced her to nce up, and as the car window rolled down, she <b>was </b>surprised to see it was Oliver behind the wheel.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a ride home,¡± he said.

    20

    Aubree blinked, wondering if she¡¯d just heard him right. Her gaze drifted instinctively to the back seat. She thought, ¡®Wait, wasn¡¯t he supposed to be with Elizabeth?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Elizabeth isn¡¯t here. She took another car,¡± Oliver said.

    ¡®Doesn¡¯t matter if Elizabeth is here or not, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d get in a car with him, Aubree thought.

    She took a half¨Cstep back. ¡°Thank you for the offer, Mr. Lawson, but I¡¯ll pass. Besides<b>, </b>it really wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for us to ride together.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡± Oliver arched an eyebrow, stepping out of the car with a casual <b>ease</b>.

    With that military background of his<b>, </b>he could make <b>even </b>the inest suit look sharp andmanding. There was just something about the way he wore it that set him apart from everyone else.

    He looked at her, a hint of a smirk on his lips. ¡°So, what kind of rtionship do you think we have, Miss Miller?¡±

    Aubree stood her ground. ¡°I¡¯d say we¡¯re on opposite sides. At the very least, I wouldn¡¯t get in a car with my enemy.¡°a

    Oliver let out a smallugh. ¡°Why not just take this as my way of making it up to you for being rudest time, Miss Miller?¡±

    He nodded toward the car. ¡°Come on, your driver already left. You won¡¯t find a taxi out here, and it¡¯s sote. Are you really nning to stand around for the next hour or two?¡±

    Oliver was used <i>to </i>taking charge. Before Aubree could protest, he just reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward the car without giving her a chance to argue.

    ¡°No, really, I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Aubree tried to shake him off. She could usually handle most guys, but up against someone like Oliver, with his military background, she didn¡¯t stand a chance.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to do anything to you¡­¡± Oliver couldn¡¯t understand why Aubree was making such a fuss. It was just a convenient ride, and with so many people around, he would not do anything to her.

    Just as he was about to speak, a hand shot out from the side. Its long fingers mped tightly around his wrist and wrenched it away with force.

    Bowen pulled Aubree straight into his arms, dering his im, ¡°Mr. Lawson, she¡¯s my girlfriend. You don¡¯t need to worry about her.¡±

    The warm, soft feeling in his hand disappeared all of a sudden. Oliver subconsciously curled his empty palm, and for some reason, he found himself really annoyed with Bowen.

    Beforeing to Rithol City, Oliver had already heard a lot about Bowen. He used to have some respect for him, but at that moment, he honestly couldn¡¯t stand the sight of him.

    ¡®Girlfriend?¡® Oliver¡¯s eyes swept over the two of them as he thought.

    He¡¯d always thought there was nothing between them but business. After all, Bowen hadn¡¯t even bothered to show up tonight.

    Watching how Aubree leaned on Bowen without a second thought, Oliver <b>gave </b>a short, mockingugh. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry, Mr. Turner? I was just being nice, that¡¯s all.

    ¡°Since Miss Miller doesn¡¯t need my help, I won¡¯t butt in,¡± Oliver said with a shrug.

    He didn¡¯t argue further<b>, </b>just shrugged and turned to leave

    ¡®She¡¯s just his girlfriend, so what<b>?</b>¡® Oliver scoffed to himself.

    Bowen narrowed his eyes, feeling seriously irritated. He thought, ¡®I step away for just a moment, and already those sketchy guys are eyeing my <b>Bree</b>?

    ¡®Damin, that¡¯s enough to piss me off!¡®

    <b>2.37 </b>PM

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s just head home,¡± Aubree said. She really didn¡¯t want to stick around and be gawked at <b>like </b>some sideshow.

    ¡°Kelvin told me Alvin¡¯s joined the Turner Group?¡± Aubree asked.

    <b>¡°</b>Yeah, he¡¯s just starting out at the bottom for now<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>Bowen </b>replied.

    ¡°He¡­ Aubree started to ask, but then stopped herself. After all, this was the Turner family¡¯s private affairs. It wasn¡¯t really her ce to get involved.

    Bowen offered <b>a </b>reassuring smile. ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>all right. Alvin just wants to <b>get </b>some <b>real</b><b>¨C</b>world experience, and that¡¯s not a bad thing at all.

    ¡°Actually, Turner Group is nning to roll out an early internship program soon. It¡¯ll be open to college freshmen and sophomores, and those who perform well can join Turner Group directly after they finish their upperssman courses.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a great idea<b>,</b>¡± Aubree replied. By bringing in promising talent early, even if some of them didn¡¯t end up joining Turner Group, <b>it </b>still gave thepany a head start and <b>a </b>strongerpetitive edge.

 Tried 488

    <b>Chapter </b><b>488 </b>

    Aubree¡¯s words really made a difference<b>. </b><b>After </b>the Angel Investors¡® Summit, <b>big </b>investors who were originally interested in BeeShare <b>all </b>lost interest.

    They didn¡¯t need to suck up to the Wilson Group and <b>were </b><b>smart </b>enough to do their own <b>digging</b>. <b>Once </b><b>they </b>checked things out the way Aubree suggested, <b>they </b>quickly saw what kind of mess BeeShare was actually <b>in</b>.

    <b>As </b>for the smaller and mid<b>¨C</b>sized investments, they were just a drop in the <b>ocean </b>for BeeShare. They were <b>barely </b>enough to keep things afloat, <b>but </b><b>still </b>better than nothing.

    Now that things hade to this, they couldn¡¯t <b>just </b>stand by and watch the project¡¯s cash flow copse.

    In the end, with the Lawson family stepping in to take the lead, BeeShare managed to pull in some investment after all. The way it happened was totally unexpected, and the result <b>was </b>theplete opposite of what everyone had predicted.

    At the Wilson family.

    Carmen filled Ronald in on what had happened at the investment meeting. ¡°Aubree¡¯s definitely out to get us!¡±

    She put on a show of being angry and confused. ¡°Our project and Aubree¡¯spany have nothing to do with each other<b>. </b><b>Isn¡¯t </b>she obviously targeting us?<b>¡± </b>

    Carmen thought, ¡°Targeting <b>us</b>? Who exactly? Me or the Wilson family?¡®

    Bryan chimed in, ¡°Aubree really crossed the line this time. Things didn¡¯t go the way we nned at all. They wentpletely off the rails.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Elizabeth stepping in and getting the Lawson Group to lead the way with some investment, BeeShare would¡¯ve been dead in the

    water<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    20

    They both thought Ronald would blow up after hearing all this. But to their surprise, he just burst outughing.

    ¡°Well done, that¡¯s real skill!¡± he eximed.

    He¡¯d always thought Aubree <b>was </b>smart, sharp¨Ceyed, and unppable in a <b>crisis</b><b>. </b>But this time, he saw another side of Aubree.

    She had the ability to make the most of what she had and defeat <b>her </b>enemies without even lifting a finger<b>. </b>It might look unremarkable, but Ronald knew that in the business world, this <b>was </b>no small feat.

    Even his pride and <b>joy</b>, Bryan and Carmen, had both suffered a loss at her hands.

    ¡°That¡¯s my daughter<b>, </b>alright. She¡¯s incredible<b>!</b>¡± Ronald said.

    Bryan and Carmen exchanged nces. They wondered if Ronad had gone off insane from experiencing everything<b>. </b>

    ¡°Dad, you still treat Aubree like she¡¯s your daughter, but she doesn¡¯t see herself that way anymore,¡± Bryan said quietly, reminding Ronald that Aubree <b>was </b>their enemy <b>at </b>the moment.

    But Ronald <b>just </b>brushed it off. <b>As </b>far as he was concerned, his n with Alice was rock solid, and no matter what, he was still Aubree¡¯s real father.

    ¡®Aubree might hate the Wilson family, but would she really hate her

    own father?¡® he thought to himself.

    Thinking back over the past three years, Ronald admitted he had favored Carmen, but he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever really wronged Aubree.

    He¡¯d scolded or even hit Aubree sometimes, but he felt that all parent were like that. He felt that disciplining Aubree was just part of being a parent He only ever wanted what was best for her.

    Ronald said, ¡°It¡¯s normal for her to hold a grudge, but at the end of the day, I¡¯m still her father.

    ¡°Would she really go so far as to actuallyy a hand on her dad? If she needs to vent, then let her<b>¨C</b>just let her <b>get </b>it out of her system.¡±

    Bryan¡¯s expression darkened. He thought, ¡®What does he mean by letting her get it out of her system?

    her get Emery he

    ¡®Aubree went after Emery first. He¡¯s still stuck in jail. I visited him a couple of days ago¨Che was nothing like the proud Emery he used to be, just totally defeated.

    And not long ago, she set up Trevor. Let her get it out of her system? Does Dad want to line all four <b>of </b>us brothers up for her to take revenge on, one <b>after </b>another?¡®

    His <b>heart </b>sank, and the look he shot Ronald out of the corner of his eye turned dangerous.

    Meanwhile, Ronald <b>was </b>still lost in the joy of having such an amazing <b>daughter</b><b>, </bpletely oblivious <b>to </b>what was going on in Bryan¡¯s mind.

    Honestly<b>, </b>even if Ronald did feel a little guilty about Aubree, there was no way he¡¯d ever sacrifice <b>all </b>four of his sons for her.

 Tried 489

    In his mind, the whole mess between Aubree and the Wilson family happened because of Carmen/ He felt that Aubree was jealous that everyone in the family loved Carmen and ignored her. If she hated anyone, it was definitely Carmen

    Worst case, he could just <b>toss </b>Carmen to Aubree and let her deal with her however she wanted.

    After all, Carmen was just an adopted daughter. He¡¯d given her <b>a </b>good life for <b>over </b>ten <b>years</b>, so Ronald felt that it <b>was </b>about time for Carment to pay him back.

    He¡¯d actually thought about using Carmen <b>as </b>a peace offering to Aubree before, but Carmen had talked him out of it, saying she could win over Alvin instead.

    That was the only reason he held off. If she hadn¡¯t been doing well with her <b>recent </b>projects and finally gotten a bit closer to Alvin, he would¡¯ve sacrificed her without a second thought.

    ?Alright, the investment meeting is settled. Bryan. you handled the marriage alliance with the Lawson family well. It really made a difference when it mattered. <b>You </b>both can go get some rest now,¡± Ronald said.

    Bryan agreed, but the moment he turned away, his <b>face </b>wentpletely dark. ¡®So now my only value isnding a decent marriage alliance?¡® he thought.

    Carmen didn¡¯t feel the same sense of crisis <b>as </b>Bryan. All she could think about was how furious she was at Aubree for ruining her ns and making her lose face in front of Ronald.

    Bryan left the study with a grim look, his steps quick as he headed straight for his room. The moment he got inside, he called Elizabeth.

    ¡°Things aren¡¯t looking good right now,¡± he said.

    Their marriage alliance had its own purposes: One was Aubree, and the other was Bowen.

    But no matter what their personal motives were, they both wanted to take down Aubree and crush the Turner Group.

    ¡°My dad¡¯s acting like he¡¯s under some kind of spell. Even after all this, he can stillugh when ites to Aubree,¡± Bryan said.

    Elizabeth still had <i>a </i>partnership with Carmen. She learned from Carmen that Ronald was nning to make a move against Aubree. She could tell that Bryan probably had the wrong idea about Ronald.

    However, she rolled her eyes thoughtfully. She wasn¡¯t exactly <b>a </b>saint, and whether she ended up helping Bryan or Carmen, having Ronald out of the picture would be a win in her book.

    At that moment, it was obvious Bryan was starting to hold a grudge against Ronald.

    ¡°Bryan, have you ever considered that as long as Aubree¡¯s still around, your dad will never fully trust you again?¡± Elizabeth said.

    He said, ¡°You mean go after Aubree? We¡¯ve tried that before. She¡¯s not easy to deal with, and now she¡¯s got Bowen watching her back. You didn¡¯t see what happened at the detention centerst time

    ¡°Many big names showed up for her. If we make a move now, it¡¯s just going to blow up in our faces.¡±

    Elizabeth let out a softugh. ¡°If you can¡¯t deal with the person causing the problem, then just deal with the problem itself.¡±

    Bryan froze, and that fleeting thought he¡¯d had back in the study suddenly roared back to life.

    ¡°Alright, just don¡¯t forget about our partnership,¡± Bryan said.

    Elizabeth smiled. ¡°Of course not, my dear fianc¨¦. How could I ever forget about helping you take down Aubree?¡±

    The call ended, and Bryan¡¯s expression was impossible to read.

    After leaving the study, Carmen didn¡¯t rush to contact her partner as frantically as Bryan did, but honestly, she was almost just as anxious.

    Since Daxton was home today, she went straight to his room.

    When she walked in, Daxton was poring over thetestb results, his brows tightly knit and a cloud of worry hanging over him.

    <b>¡°</b>Daxton, is something bothering you?¡± Carmen asked with concern.

    Daxton replied. ¡°Carmen, it¡¯s nothing serious. It¡¯s just that there¡¯s always this one hurdle we can¡¯t get past with the new drug we¡¯re developing in theb. Just came from Dad¡¯s study? What brings you here sote?¡±

    Daxton, who was usually so distant with their parents, couldn¡¯t help but soften the moment he saw Carmen. His expression instantly turned gentle.

    <b>G </b>

    <b>It </b><b>was </b>like watching <b>ice </b>melt in the spring sun¨Chis coldness vanished, reced by <b>a </b>gentle warmth just for her.

    É«

 Tried 490

    <b>Chapter </b>490

    <b>As </b>soon as Carmen heard Daxton¡¯s question, she slipped into her usual facade. Her face immediately fell, looking every bit like someone who had been wronged but was too afraid to say anything.

    ¡°Daxton, it¡¯s fine. I just <b>haven¡¯t </b>seen you in a long time, so I came to check on you,<b>¡± </b><b>she </b>said, forcing

    It was <b>as </b>if she¡¯d been holding it in <b>for </b><b>ages</b>, but in the end, she just couldn¡¯t help herself an

    She asked, ¡°Daxton, do you think I¡¯m <b>useless</b><b>?</b>¡±

    Daxton¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Carmen, <b>how </b>can you say that about yourself<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    a smile.

    <b>finally </b>spoke up.

    Carmen lowered her head, her <b>eyes </b>turning red. ¡°<b>After </b>Aubree left home, she started her ownpany, teamed up with the Turner family, and went up against Dad and Bryan.

    ¡°I¡¯m scared that Aubree might actually <b>seed </b>and bring trouble to our family. I wanted to help, so Uncle helped me <b>start </b><b>a </b>project.

    ¡°I thought this project could really help our family, and Dad even aknowledge my efforts. I was finally making a name for myself at thepany. finally able to <b>do </b>something for the family, to prevent Aubree from making a move against <b>us</b>.

    But today, I realized that maybe, no matter what I do, Dad doesn¡¯t even <b>care</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Daxton¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Carmen, you¡¯re overthinking it. Dad and everyone else <b>notice </b>all that you do for the family.¡±

    Carmen shook her head, sniffing. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. At today¡¯s investment meeting, I failed to secure the investment.

    ¡°No matter what, I started BeeShare and I¡¯m still running <b>it</b>, but Dad wasn¡¯t even angry. He <b>was </b>actually pleased that Aubree had that kind of ability to attack me.

    ¡°In the end, he just doesn¡¯t care about me<b>. </b>

    ¡°Daxion, I wish I could <b>have </b><b>a </b><b>say </b>in the family and thepany like Bryan does<b>.</b>¡±

    Carmen¡¯s grumbling made a thought appear in Daxton¡¯s mind. The <b>real </b>reason he was so hostile toward Aubree and didn¡¯t want her <b>to </be back <b>was </b>that he <b>was </b>afraid that Carmen would lose her standing in the family if Aubree returned.

    He thought, ¡®Now that Carmen is already part of thepany and holds <b>some </b>shares, if only she can get <b>her </b>hands on a bit more¡­

    Daxton quickly pushed that thought away and steadied himself. ¡°Carmen, don¡¯t overthink it, How could Dad not value you? If he didn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t have let you join thepany or keep working on your project.¡±

    Carmen nodded, studying Daxton¡¯s face for any sign. She felt her n had worked perfectly.

    She knew exactly what she needed at the moment was <b>shares</b><b>. </b><b>As </b>long as she had those<b>, </b>the Wilson Group would fall into her hands sooner <b>or </bter.

    Her mother would definitely back her up. As for Daxton<b>, </b><b>she </b><b>was </b>confident she had him wrapped around her finger..

    However, <b>at </b>the end of the day, Daxton was still a member of the Wilson family. She could never bepletely sure. Her best bet was to strike while Daxton was stillpletely on her side and take his shares for herself.

    No matter if she had to lie or steal<b>, </b>as long as those sharesnded in her hands, nothing else mattered.

    Daxton had indeed been thinking about shares just now, but what was on his mind waspletely different from what Carmen was plotting.

    Carmen nodded obediently. ¡°You¡¯re right, Daxton. The most important thing for me now is to do my job well.¡±

    Daxton gently stroked her hair, his touch full of restrained affection. ¡°Go get some <b>rest</b>.¡±

    When Carmen turned and walked away, Daxton <b>felt </b><b>a </b>sudden surge of unfamiliar longing in his usually calm andposed eyes while watching Carmen¡¯s back.

    ¡®Why shouldn¡¯t I go for it? <b>It¡¯s </b>not like <b>we¡¯re </b>actually rted anyway, he thought.

    Meanwhile, Ronald was busy with his own ns.

    <b>Every </b>time Aubree <b>revealed </b>her talent, Ronald found it harder to <b>resist </b>the urge to bring her back to his side as his right¨Chand woman.

    He went to the butler and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s my wife<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    The butler <b>hesitated</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b>She hasn¡¯te back yet.¡±

    ¡®She hasn¡¯te back<b>?</b>¡® Ronald frowned, suspicion flickering in his mind.

    2:40 PM

    Ronald paused for a moment. ¡°I see.¡±

    <b>A </b>sudden suspicion shed through his mind. Alice had been out of the house a lottely<b>, </b>and from what he <b>remembered</b>, herpany, Cloud Design, wasn¡¯t even that busy these days.

    Comment

 Tried 491

    <b>Chapter </b><b>491 </b>

    He quickly brushed off that odd feeling. There were more important things for him to deal with at the momen

    Ronald picked up his phone and called Alice. ¡°About that <b>n </b>to kidnap Aubree we talked aboutst time¨Clet¡¯s get it started right <b>away</b>.

    ¡°As for the timing. I remember the Mansell family is hosting <b>a </b>party next month. From what I¡¯ve heard, Aubree is on the guest list, and she¡¯ll probably show up.

    ¡°Let¡¯s settle on that for now. <b>We¡¯ll </b>talk detailster.¡±

    It had been <b>half </b>a month since the investment meeting.

    Thest time <b>Bowen </b>came to pick Aubree up and ran into <b>Lucas</b>, he hadn¡¯t said anything about it afterward. Aubree hadn¡¯t thought much of it either.

    But for some reason, over the past <b>two </b>weeks, Lucas had been acting like a total lunatic<b>. </b>It <b>was </b>like he¡¯dpletely forgotten everything <b>that </b>happened at the detention centerst time<b>. </b>

    He just kept popping up wherever she went, <b>as </b>if by ¡°coincidence<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    That wasn¡¯t even the worst <b>part</b>. No matter how many times Aubree turned him down, he wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. He¡¯d even cornered her <b>at </b>the school and outside <b>her </b>office building more than once<b>. </b>

    Aubree <b>was </b>fed up, but there wasn¡¯t much she could do about <b>Lucas</b>. Bowen had been swamped with worktely because of Alvin¡¯s move into the

    . </b>

    She didn¡¯t want to bother him with this<b>. </b>So, she could only try to avoid Lucas as much as possible.

    She thought Bowen was <b>clueless </b>about all this, but honestly, when it came to anything about Aubree, there <b>was </b>no way he¡¯d miss a thing.

    Bowen had been keeping tabs on everything. He had been so jealoustely that everyone around him could clearly tell.

    Outside Rithol University.

    Aubree slipped out of campus cautiously. For the past few days, Lucas had been showing up to pick her up. Even though she never got in his <b>car</b>, she still ended up being the center of attention.

    It was honestly getting on her nerves. Since she couldn¡¯t do anything to Lucas, she felt that she could try to dodge him.

    She nced around, eyes darting everywhere like a little thief. Only after making sure that Lucas was nowhere to be seen did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

    Not far <b>away</b>, Bowen watched her with a smile tugging at his lips. She looked just like a little hamster poking her head out <b>of </b>its burrow, scanning the area, all cautious and twitchy.

    ¡°Hey, Bree,¡± he called out.

    ¡°Bowen! What brings <b>you </b>here?¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t busy today. I saw you had sses all the way till thest period, so I figured I¡¯de get you and take you over to Ellis Heights,¡± Bowen replied.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go right now,¡± Aubree/urged, anxious that maybe Lucas was just runningte today. If the two of them bumped into each other at the crowded university gate, she felt that she¡¯d probably be trending online by tomorrow.

    She grabbed Bowen¡¯s arm and ducked into the car with him.

    Bowen just raised an eyebrow, not bothering to ask what was up.

    <b>He </b>kept that gentle, doting smile on his face the whole time. Aubree couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit when she saw Bowen actingpletely normal, she finally let herself rx.

    The smile in Bowen¡¯s eyes slowly spread, <b>even </b>carrying a trace of excitement.

    Dinner <b>was </b>at his <b>ce </b>that night.

    ¡°Bree, want a drink<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Bowen asked.

    guilty. She sneaked nces at him several times, but

    He <b>had </b>an entire wall filled with his prized liquor collection<b>¨C</b>some bottles were worth more than an apartment.

    0

    Aubree was a little tempted. ¡°Maybe just a little.¡±

    Bowen smiled as he picked out a bottle from his collection. This one was smooth and easy at first, but it would sneak up on peopleter. The best part was that it would <b>get </b>people tipsy without a nasty hangover. They would wake up the next day feeling totally fine

    ¡°Let¡¯s go with this one,¡± he said.

    He poured a ss for Aubree first. ¡°Give it a try¡±

    Aubree knew she wasn¡¯t much of a drinker, so she just took a small sip. The moment it touched her lips, her eyes sparkled. ¡®Is this what money tastes like?¡® she thought.

    After finishing her ss, Aubree found herself wanting another taste.

    Bowen quickly topped her off, and before she realized it, she¡¯d ended up drinking most of the bottle all by herself.

    Her cheeks flushed a rosy red.

    Aubree huped, her eyes growing ssy. <b>¡°</b>I want more<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    f

 Tried 492

    <b>Chapter </b><b>492 </b>

    Bowen stared at Aubree<b>, </b>who was clutching her wine <b>ss </b>and refusing to let go. He curved his lips into a smile and set his ss <b>of </b>red wine aside. <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re drunk<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    When Aubree got drunk, she turned into <b>a </bpletely different person from her usual self.

    Normally, she <b>was </b>sharp and sensible, but once she had a few drinks, she became clingy<b>, </b>unreasonable, and all her intelligence just flew out the window.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not drunk,¡± Aubree mumbled, pursing her lips.

    <b>She </b>thought, ¡®Bowen is the absolute worst<b>. </b>He <b>is </b>smiling at me like that, but he <b>is </b>not letting me drink and still grinning. What¡¯s so funny? He is so annoying.

    Aubree smacked Bowen right <b>across </b>the <b>face</b>, ring at him fiercely. ¡°Don¡¯tugh!¡±

    <b>Bowen </b>was taken aback. The p <b>wasn¡¯t </b>hard enough to hurt, but he hadn¡¯t expected Aubree to be <b>so </b>cute when she was drunk.

    He let out a muffledugh, barely managing to <b>stop </b>himself under Aubree¡¯s ¡°threatening¡± re.

    Bree, do you want a drink?¡± Bowen coaxed softly.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Aubree answered right <b>away</b>.

    ¡°Only good girls <b>get </b>to drink,¡± Bowen said.

    Aubree instantly <b>sat </b>up straight, chin lifted, her whole face saying, ¡°I¡¯m being good!¡±

    ¡°Whether you¡¯re being good or not, that¡¯s for me to decide,¡± Bowen said while arching an eyebrow.

    The n he¡¯d been hiding <b>ever </b>since he picked up Bree was finally starting to show.

    Aubree¡¯s <b>few </b>remaining brain cells sparked for a moment <b>as </b>she wondered, ¡®Why does he get to decide?¡®

    But the thought vanished as quickly as <b>it </b>came. She answered sweetly, ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°So, first question,¡± Bowen said while his eyes darkened with a dangerous glint, ¡°Do you like Oliver or Bowen?¡±

    That night at the investment meeting, his dislike for Oliver had hit its peak. Then, in the days that followed, it was like everything was against him. Oliver openly flirted with Aubree while he was stuck dealing with one thing after another.

    He was so angry these past few days that he could probably set someone on <b>fire</b><b>. </b>

    Aubree¡¯s drunken mind was running slow. She had to think for a while before she could even remember what Oliver looked like.

    She wrinkled her nose. ¡°Oliver<b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>

    She mumbled something, and Bowen couldn¡¯t quite make it out. ¡°What?¡±

    Aubree scrunched up her brows, thinking this guy in front of her was just as annoying as <b>ever</b>. <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>said Oliver!¡±

    As soon as Aubree said Oliver¡¯s name, Bowen¡¯s <b>face </b>suddenly darkened. ¡®Oliver? Does she actually like Oliver more?¡® he thought, jealousy ring up inside him.

    ¡°Oliver is so annoying,¡± Aubree muttered, scrunching up her nose in disgust.

    Bowen¡¯s jealousy, which was about to erupt, was instantly smothered by her words.

    ¡°To put it bluntly, he¡¯s basically my nemesis. He just won¡¯t leave me alone. It¡¯s driving me crazy. Next time I see him, I¡¯m bringing extra bodyguards and telling them he¡¯s harassing me, so they can rough him up,¡± Aubree grumbled.

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    <b>¡°</b><b>And </b>what about Bowen<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Bowen asked.

    Aubree sniffled. ¡°He¡¯s <b>a </b><b>jerk</b>.

    <b>¡°</b><b>A </b><b>really </b>good¨Clooking jerk who¡¯s <b>actually </b>pretty nice.

    ¡°His girlfriend¡¯s about to <b>get </b><b>stolen</b>, and he never shows <b>up</b>. Is he trying to get himself single for life or what<b>?</b>¡±

    Before Aubree could even finish, <b>Bowen </b>couldn¡¯t hold himself <b>back </b>anymore and swooped in to kiss her.

    P

    <b>1/2 </b>

    2:40 <b>PM </b>

    His kiss was <b>fierce </b>and possessive as he tried to im her.

    No matter how gentle and refined Bowen looked on the outside, he couldn¡¯t deny that deep down, he was aggressive.

    If he wanted something¨Cor someone¨Che¡¯d get it by hook or by crook, whether that meant tricking or outright taking it for himself.

    Back then, Aubree was just someone everyoneughed at. Nobody even bothered to notice what was good about her.

    But now, she was on a whole different level from everyone her <b>age</b>. Even if those other guys had a crush on her, none of them dared to show it.

    But now<b>, </b>with Oliver suddenly in the picture, Bowen had to admit that judging by status<b>, </b>family background, and looks, Oliver was actually a formidable <b>rival</b>.

    He kissed her fiercely, pouring <b>all </b>his pent¨Cup desire into that kiss.

    He explored every inch of her lips, savoring her like he¡¯d never get enough.

    Aubree was left breathless,pletely swept away. He had always acted so aloof and restrained in the past, but he finally made his move and imed the prey he¡¯d coveted for so long

 Tried 493

    <b>Chapter </b><b>493 </b>

    As <b>Bowen </b>kissed her, he nipped <b>at </b>her lips, drinking in her taste. His hand on her waist roamed restlessly, fingers kneading her <b>gently</b>. When he felt her shiver in his arms, a low, satisfiedugh rumbled from his chest.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes grew <b>misty</b><b>, </b>her hands pressing <b>weakly </b>against his chest. ¡°No, <b>that¡¯s </b>enough¡­¡±

    But Bowen had been <b>craving </b>this for so long that wouldn¡¯t let go <b>so </b><b>easily</b>. He caught her hands without effort and deepened the kiss.

    He knew <b>every </b>sensitive spot on her body<b>, </b>and his hands moved with reckless abandon, tormenting her until Aubree¡¯s eyes turned red with emotion, her whole body going weak, as <b>if </b><b>all </b>her strength was <b>slowly </b>drained away. She was left utterly powerless <b>to </b>resist.

    The beast inside him was finally unleashed. He <b>greedily </b>marked Aubree with his own scent. It was <b>a </b>tant warning to any rivals that she <b>was </b>his

    prey.

    Her hair was a <b>mess</b><b>, </b>lips swollen and red, <b>tears </b>clinging to the corners of her eyes. Aubree looked so heartbreakingly vulnerable that it made Bowen want to scoop her up and never let go.

    Bowen lifted himself up as a soft and almost inaudibleugh rumbled from his chest. It was low, husky, and dangerously sexy<b>. </b>

    Aubree was gasping <b>for </b>breath, her mind already muddled from the alcohol and now even more of a mess. <b>Her </b>eyes curved into crescents, tears shimmering as she looked at him and used, ¡°You liar!

    <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>promised if <b>I </b><b>was </b>good, <b>you¡¯d </b>let me drink.¡±

    At this point, the only thing she could remember was that Bowen had promised her a drink if she behaved.

    Bowen chuckled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let you have it.¡±

    He picked up the wine bottle, tipped it back for a drink, holding the wine in his mouth. Then he leaned in close<b>, </b>just locking <b>eyes </b>with her.

    Aubree blinked, the wine so close she could almost smell its aroma.

    She inched forward, her lips brushing his <b>first</b><b>, </b>tasting the wine on him. Then, unable to hold back, she pressed in for a real kiss. Bowen finally got exactly what he¡¯d been waiting for.

    He held her by the <b>waist</b>, letting <b>her </b>straddle him and take <b>whatever </b>she wanted, giving her free rein to be <b>as </b>bold <b>as </b><b>she </b>pleased.

    Unfinished <b>red </b>wine slipped from the corner of her lips, sliding down her neck, tracing over her corbone, and finally vanishing beneath her clothes

    Aubree stared nkly at the scene before her and murmured, ¡°What a wicked temptation¡­¡±

    Bowen was dressed in a simple white shirt and ck pants at that moment. His hair was messy as he lounged back in the chair with Aubree, who was just as stunning, draped <b>over </b>him.

    The red wine looked just like blood, tracing a suggestive crimson line from the corner of his lips.

    Bowen had a teasing smile tugging <b>at </b>his lips. For a moment, it was impossible to tell who was the real tempter between the two. In a way, they both

    <b>were</b>.

    ¡°Still want more?¡± he askedzily.

    The two of them shared the rest of the half¨Cempty bottle, passing it <b>back </b>and forth and taking yful sips from it.

    Bowen could really hold his liquor. This wine couldn¡¯t even get him buzzed. After drinking, he coaxed Aubree, whispering all kinds <b>of </b><b>sweet </b>nothings to her.

    Only when he waspletely satisfied did he pull her into his arms and drift off into a blissful <b>sleep</b>.

    The next morning, when Aubree woke up<b>, </b>she let <b>out </b>a yawn.

    Then, she felt that something <b>was </b>off.

    <b>Her </b>sleepiness disappeared in a sh. The moment she opened her eyes, she <b>was </b>practically sted awake by <b>a </b><b>wave </b>of handsomeness. She waspletely wrapped up in Bowen¡¯s arms, his chin resting right on top of her head.

    However, that was not the most important thing to her at the moment.

    <b>As </b>memories <b>of </bst night came rushing <b>back</b>, Aubree realized with a jolt that Bowen had pulled all his tricks on her.

    He talked her into drinking, hit her with those <b>sneaky </b>questions while she was drunk, and even lured her into making the <b>first </b>move.

    2:40 PM C

    Aubree¡¯s expression <b>grew </b>stormier by the second. Finally, she just couldn¡¯t take it anymore. In one smooth motion, she pried Bowen¡¯s arm off. scooted herself a bit farther <b>away</b><b>, </b>then lifted her leg and kicked him right off the bed.

    Bowen<b>, </b>who sprawled on the floor clutching the nket<b>, </b>sat up looking utterly baffled.

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 Tried 494

    <b>Chapter </b><b>494 </b>

    Bowen <b>took </b>a <b>hard </b>fall, twisting his <b>back </b>in the process. As he got up, he winced, clutching his lower back, his face <b>a </b>picture of difort.

    <b>But </b>when he looked up and saw Aubree smiling <b>at </b>him with <b>a </b>gentle look, his expression softened, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile back.

    Bowen thought, <b>¡®</b>Alright, it¡¯s my <b>fault</b><b>, </b>so <b>I </b>guess <b>I </b><b>have </b><b>to </b>take the punishment. After <b>all</b>, I <b>have </b>fallen for her already!

    After a bit of yful chaos, the <b>two </b>settled back into their routines. Aubree needed to head off to school, and Bowen had to go <i>to </i><b>work</b>. They <b>sat </b><b>down </b>together for breakfast.

    But <b>as </b>Bowen made his way downstairs, still holding his <b>back</b>, the housekeepers and maids couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at him.

    Gossip spread like wildfire. Soon, everyone at Ellis Heights <b>was </b>whispering that Bowen¡¯s future wife had great skills in bed.

    Aubree casually mentioned to Bowen, ¡°Bree Technology¡¯s position in the inte sector is pretty solid now.

    ¡°The only thing left is to break into some <b>overseas </b>markets, but with Aidan helping out, everything¡¯s been going pretty smoothly,¡±

    <b>Bowen </b>

    <b>was </b>already in the loop since he still owned 30% of Bree Technology.

    Aubree said thoughtfully, ¡°But shifting our focus means connections are going to <b>be </b>a <b>real </b><b>issue</b><b>.</b>¡±

    Cutting¨Cedge industries were all <b>tied </b>up with the government. The top business families in the country <b>were </b><b>experts </b><b>at </b>working these circles.

    The Turner family specialized in artificial intelligence. Rumors had it that some of Turner Group¡¯s most advanced projects had already been brought under government control, but Aubree never asked Bowen for the details.

    ¡°That¡¯s not really a big deal,¡± Bowen said with a casual <b>wave</b>, ¡°With the kind of money you have now, even those big shots in the industry would be lining up to work with you.¡±

    Nobody liked it if people barged in and stole their market, but if they could work together and made money at the same time, no one would say no to that.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope so,¡± Aubree said, then suddenly remembered something. ¡°Oh, by the way, I got an invitation from the Mansell family.¡±

    ¡°The Mansell family? The ones in biotech and pharmaceuticals?¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s the one<b>,</b>¡± Aubree confirmed.

    ¡°We can go,¡± Bowen said, ¡°It¡¯s their youngest daughter¡¯s engagement party. I got an invitation too, and I¡¯m nning to attend.¡±

    Aubree remembered that the Mansell family seemed to have some business dealings with Daxton, so she¡¯d already been thinking about checking it

    out.

    Now that Bowen <b>was </b>nning to go <b>as </b>well, she was even more determined to attend.

    When the car pulled up to Rithol University, Aubree got out. She turned to Bowen and said<b>, </b>¡°I¡¯m heading to ss now. No matter how busy you get at work, don¡¯t forget to take <b>care </b>of yourself, alright?¡±

    She waved at him before heading inside.

    After a year at university, even though Aubree wasn¡¯t on campus that much, she was still a campus celebrity.

    Whenever she actually showed up for ss, there was always a crowd eager to chat her up. After a while, everyone in her ss recognized her face.

    She <b>wasn¡¯t </b>exactly close with anyone, but making small talk was never a problem.

    ¡°Hey, Aubree¡¯s here<b>!</b>¡± someone called out as soon <b>as </b>she walked in.

    ¡°Aubree, over <b>here</b><b>. </b>Sit here!¡± another voice chimed in.

    Someone even shifted over in the corner and waved her over.

    Aubree didn¡¯t refuse and took the <b>seat</b>.

    ¡°Aubree<b>, </b>have you heard thetest about Turner Group?¡± one of her ssmates asked, eyes practically sparkling with gossip.

    Aubree shook her <b>head </b>and said half¨Cjokingly, ¡°If I <b>start </b>poking my nose into someone else¡¯spany, the people at Turner Group might <b>start </b>getting suspicious about my intentions.¡±

    <b>2:42 </b>PM

    That only seemed to make the ssmate even more excited.

    <b>$ </b>

    She asked, ¡°<b>You </b>know Alvin<b>, </b>right<b>? </b>It¡¯s the man <b>from </b>the Turner family who¡¯s really close to you. He¡¯s majoring in finance this semester.

    ¡°At first<b>, </b><b>we </b>all <b>thought </b>he <b>was </b><b>just </b>some rich kid who didn¡¯t know what real life <b>was </b>like, but then he passed his final exams early andnded a job at Turner Group.

    <b>¡°</b>And that¡¯s <b>not </b><b>all</b>. I heard <b>he¡¯s </b><b>already taken </b>on <b>a </b>bunch of projects and worked his way up from a junior staffer to a project manager. Sure, his family <b>background </b><b>probably </b>helped, but still, he¡¯s <b>really </b>impressive<b>!</b>¡±

    AD

 Tried 495

    <b>Chapter </b>495

    The ssmate let out a sigh of admiration. ¡°Do all the Turners have some kind of super mem

    or something? <b>I </b>really wish I can be like them<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubreeughed, totally agreeing with that. She hadn¡¯t expected Alvin to be this impressive. She felt that the Turner family¡¯s genes were quite

    strong.

    The person sitting in front, who hadn¡¯t expected Aubree to actually be interested in this kind of gossip, turned around to join the conversation. ¡°And that¡¯s not all, Aubree. Have you heard about Turner Group¡¯stest project<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Is it the one for freshmen and sophomores at universities?¡± Aubree asked.

    <b>¡°</b>Yeah, that¡¯s the one,¡± the ssmate said, ¡°Remember that girl from your dorm¨Cthe one who was kind of in? Lilia Fowler? Turner Group hired her.¡±

    Rithol University <b>was </b>known for being pretty open¨Cminded. Turner Group¡¯s project firstunched as a pilot program there.

    The professors were happy to see students <b>get </b>a chance to get their foot in the door at Turner Group, and they actively encouraged everyone to take part in the program.

    Lilia¡¯s name hadn¡¯te up in ages. Aubree had almost forgotten she even existed.

    The only thing Aubree <b>really </b>remembered about her was how gutsy Lilia had been at the start of the semester. She actually dared to help others pull some petty tricks on her.

    Then again, if Lilia wasn¡¯t that bold, she wouldn¡¯t have set her sights on Bowen the moment she saw him.

    Aubree pursed her lips, thinking to herself, ¡®She¡¯s got quite the ambition.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s her talent,¡± Aubree remarked.

    The ssmate who brought up Lilia knew there had been some drama between her and Aubree.

    She was hoping to see some kind of reaction. But when she saw how calm and unfazed Aubree was, she just sighed and lost interest in stirring things up.

    Just then, the professor walked in, and the chatter in the room died down.

    Lately, Aubree had hardly gone to the office. She focused on her sses at school. Most of the news she heard these days <b>was </b>all about Alvin.

    At first, Aubree just thought Alvin was really impressive, but as time went on, she started to feel like something was off.

    When she put all the rumors about him together, it almost sounded like Alvin was making a move for power.

    Ever since Alvin joined thepany, Bowen had his hands even fuller than before.

    Aubree recalled their rtionship and felt that she was just reading too much into it.

    In the blink of an <b>eye</b>, it was already the day of the Mansell family party.

    Aubree was all dolled up at the styling studio, just waiting for Bowen to swing by and pick her up so they could head over together.

    They weren¡¯t the only ones heading out. Ethan Dird was driving the car, while another car followed behind, with Samson Dird at the wheel and Kelvin Malone and Nina Pryor riding with him.

    ¡°The Mansell family party is going to be full of all sorts of people. I just don¡¯t feelfortable letting you go by yourself,¡± Bowen said.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Are you just pretending Vincent in the other car doesn¡¯t exist<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°He¡¯s a guy. He can¡¯t keep an eye on you every second,¡± Bowen replied.

    He thought, ¡®Besides, he¡¯s just a secretary. Sure, he¡¯s decent at his job, but honestly, he can barely look after himself, let alone keep Bree safe.

    ¡°I specifically asked Nina toe along and protect you,¡± Bowen said.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Nina leave the Turner family after she turned thirty<b>?</b>¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡®Man, this guy really is <b>a </b>capitalist. <b>He </b><b>can </b>even pull someone back in after they¡¯ve left?¡® Aubree thought to herself.

    Bowen just <b>gave </b><b>a </b><b>casual </b>remark. ¡°She <b>agrees </b>to help me from time to time.¡±

    12:42

    Aubree joked, ¡°If I were Mark, I¡¯d probably show up waving a gun and demand an exnation.¡±

    Mark King had worked so hard to win Nina <b>over</b>, only for her to <b>get </b>roped back in by Bowen an hand, shooting Bowen a <b>teasing </b>look.

    put to work. Aubree propped her chin on her

    <b>Bowen </b>just shrugged, totally unconcerned. ¡°<b>They </b>already think I¡¯m shameless anyway, so what¡¯s <b>a </b>little more?¡±

    After all the teasing and banter, Aubree still kept his warning in mind.

    The fact that Bowen had Ninae along as her bodyguard meant there was <b>a </b><b>real </b><b>chance </b>something unexpected could go down at the Mansell family party.

    Aubree cast her <b>eyes </b>down, thinking, ¡°The Wilson family <b>has </b>been quiet for so long. Maybe they¡¯ve just been biding their time, waiting for this party.¡®

    ¨C

 Tried 496

    <b>Chapter 496 </b>

    The Walton <b>family¡¯s </b><b>engagement </b>banquet was held at a <b>private </b>estate. Aubree and Bowen arrived together. They were both <b>stunningly </b>charismatic. Their entrance alone overshadowed the <b>actual </b>hosts of the event.

    Trailing behind them was Nina in a striking red dress, <b>breathtakingly </b>beautiful. Her temporary escort, Kelvin<b>, </b>was also quite the sight. He was handsome and refined. The four of them together certainly captured more than a <b>few </b>eyes.

    <b>As </b>for <b>Vincent</b>, his delicate features made him seem in byparison, like the ugly duckling in a lineup of swans. He silently vowed that next time, he would avoid joining the main group for such an entrance.

    The Walton family <b>was </b>one of the most prominent in Rithol City. The engagement <b>was </b>with someone from a family steeped in academia<b>. </b><b>It </b>was <b>a </b>fitting match in terms <b>of </b>status. Unsurprisingly, the banquet <b>was </b>grand in scale.

    <b>Aubree </b>looked around the <b>estate </b>with interest<b>, </b>already toying with the idea of having one of her own. Bowen¡¯s Ellis Heights <b>was </b>essentially <b>a </b>private <b>estate </b>built across the entirety <b>of </b>Mount Ellis<b>, </b>shaped by the mountain¡¯s natural terrain and absurdly massive in <b>size</b>.

    She had long been itching to <b>have </b>her <b>own </b>estate, though Bowen¡¯s kindness <b>was </b>admittedly too extravagant. The Walton family¡¯s setup felt much <b>more </b>practical.

    Bowen and Kelvin <b>were </b>soon called <b>away </b>by others. Nina stayed close to Aubree<b>, </b>not leaving her side. Vincent followed as well, ready any business<b>¨C</b>rted interactions.

    Everything was going smoothly until Aubree <b>saw </b>Bryan, Daxton, and Carmen.

    <b>to </b><b>step </b>in for

    Currently, Bryan and Carmen <b>were </b>the public faces of the Wilson Group, handling most of the business dealings. Daxton¡¯s presence today spoke volumes about the Walton family¡¯s influence.

    Seeing them, especially Daxton<b>, </b>stirred up Aubree¡¯s memories of the Walton family.

    In the previous timeline, Daxton¡¯s biggest <b>research </b>partner had been the Walton family. This generation of the Waltons had two daughters and one son. The eldest daughter was already married, and today was the engagement party for the second daughter<b>. </b><b>As </b>for the youngest son, he lived a <b>carefree </b>life and wasn¡¯t considering marriage.

    Everyone thought the Walton family¡¯s youngest son, Casper Walton, was <b>useless </b>and spoiled. No one <b>knew </b>he was harboring a deep crush on Carmen, his true love.

    Daxton¡¯s anti¨Ccancer drug had gone terribly wrong in the past. Ignoring iplete clinical trial data, he used his status to push the drug into early use. However, the drug not only failed to kill cancer cells but actually <b>caused </b>them to multiply and metastasize, leading <b>to </b>catastrophic consequences<b>. </b>

    For a time, Daxton and the entire Wilson family <b>became </b>public enemies.

    For Carmen¡¯s sake, he had taken the <b>fall </b>and shifted all the me onto the Walton family. Thanks to him being manipted by Carmen, the Wilson family escaped unscathed while the Walton family was utterly ruined. In the pharmaceutical industry, losing public trust meant total copse.

    Carmen hadn¡¯t done all this out of love for Daxton or the Wilson family. Had the Wilson family gone down, she would¡¯ve suffered too.

    The irony was, Aubree had worked herself to the bone to help Daxton find the root <b>of </b>the drug issue. She endured ridicule and humiliation, begging <b>experts </b>to help.

    In the end, she identified the problem and helped him sessfully develop a corrected drug, only to be outmaneuvered by Carmen.

    Worse still, Carmen stole her research results, and when Daxton gave his sess speech, he only thanked Carmen. The clueless media, led by his words, credited Carmen with everything Aubree had done.

    Even now, Aubree still couldn¡¯t understand why Daxton favored Carmen to the point he disregarded everyone else in the Wilson family, <b>as </b>long as Carmen <b>remained </b>unharmed.

    When Aubree had first returned to the Wilson family, Daxton hadn¡¯t shown <b>such </b>bias. At most<b>, </b>his care for Carmen was <b>based </b>on a <b>few </b>more <b>years </b>of shared roof and sibling ties. <b>He </b>might¡¯ve looked out for her slightly more, but it wasn¡¯t this level of blind favoritism.

    Ironically, it was only after <b>Aubree </b>started genuinely caring for <b>Daxton </b>that his favoritism toward Carmen grew. Aubree <b>sneered </b>inwardly. <b>Her </b>kindness had only made him more disgusted with her.

    This time around, Aubree would <b>never </b>let Carmen bask in <b>sess </b><b>again</b>. She would <b>drive </b>a wedge between the Wilson and Walton families and <b>expose </b><b>Daxton </b>for the hypocrite he <b>truly </b>was.

    The moment Carmen <b>saw </b><b>her</b>, <b>she </b>smiled brightly.

    She could still smile like that.

    <b>212 </b>

    <b>2:42 </b><b>PM </b>

    Aubree¡¯s <b>expression </b>twisted slightly<b>, </b>hairs standing on end. <b>That </b>was creepy. She thought Carmen had gone crazy after being outmaneuvered at thest investor meeting.

    But Carmen wasn¡¯t crazy<b>. </b>She walked up with that bright, genuine smile and said, ¡°Aubree, it¡¯s been a while! You look absolutely stunning today<b>.</b>¡±

    That smile only <b>grew </b>brighter.

    Like a loyal guard, Daxton followed closely behind, his <b>face </b>full of wariness.

    <b>¡°</b>You too,¡± Aubree replied, her tone polite but her words anything but. ¡°Still just <b>as </b>annoying as ever.¡±

    Carmen had now learned to control <b>her </b><b>facial </b>expressions. She showed no sign of anger. ¡°I hope you can keep that smile till the <b>very </b>end.¡±

    ¡®Today <b>is </b>the <b>day </b>you <b>meet </b>your doom,¡® Carmen thought coldly.

    She raised her champagne ss toward Aubree<b>. </b>¡®Enjoy your smugness while you <b>still </b><b>can</b>¡®

    Carmen <b>was </b>practically bursting with <b>glee</b>. Today, she <b>was </b>in an incredibly good mood.

    Aubree frowned a little. ¡®What¡¯s her game this time?¡®

    Soon, the hosts of the event came <b>over </b>to exchange pleasantries. While Aubree had no obligation to give face to the Wilson family, she had to <b>respect </b>the Walton family.

    fech

    ¡°President of Bree Technology? Truly a young hero!¡± The <b>guest </b>of honor, Maeve Walton, arrived with <b>her </b>father<b>, </b>Darius Walton.

    <b>Darius </b>said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard so much about Ms. Miller¡¯s aplishments. Seeing you in person today makes me feel old indeed.¡±

    ¡°A billion¨Cdorpany¡­ Ms. Miller, your future is limitless,¡± he added. Aubree was young, but her wealth and power were undeniable.

    Nearly everyone here wanted to form ties with her, the Walton family included. Their invitation was clearly an attempt to build a connection.

    Aubree replied, ¡°Mr. Walton tters me. Your daughter is equally brilliant and beautiful.¡±

    Every parent loved hearing praise for their child? Dariusughed heartily. ¡°None of my kids are all that impressive. This daughter of mine is not particrly capable either<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Maeve pouted, clearly embodying the aloof eldest¨Cdaughter trope. ¡°Ms. Miller is amazing, but I¡¯m not too shabby either, okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, of course!¡± Darius quickly <b>agreed</b>.

    Only then did Darius seem to remember the others nearby. He gave a cursory nod toward Carmen, ¡°This must be the Wilson family¡¯s adopted daughter<b>? </b>Talented girl. Since I know Daxton well, I won¡¯t bother with formalities.¡±

    Daxton nodded, his frown deepening. He was displeased that Darius seemed to favor Aubree so much. ¡®Aubree? What¡¯s <b>so </b>great about her? She¡¯s stealing all of Carmen¡¯s spotlight!¡®

    Carmen¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve long admired Mr. Walton. As the younger generation<b>, </b>it¡¯s only right that I pay my respects.¡±

    In contrast<b>, </b>Carmen had clearly lost some ground.

    Carmen didn¡¯t mind. She would let Aubree <b>bask </b>a little longer. It wouldn¡¯tst past tonight.

    To Aubree¡¯s surprise, her encounter with the Wilson family didn¡¯t end there. When it was time to sit for the banquet, they ended up at the same table.

    Bowen<b>, </b>meanwhile, <b>was </b>seated elsewhere.

 Tried 497

    <b>Chapter </b>497

    Aubree took her seat with Nina and Vincent. Initially, she was a bit annoyed and disgusted to be seated at the same table <b>as </b>people she loathed. But the moment she saw <b>the </b>three members <b>of </b>the Wilson family across from her, ring at her, her mood improved dramatically.

    She loved seeing people who hated her, people who couldn¡¯t stand her, yet couldn¡¯t do a damn thing to her.

    Carmen <b>still </b>wore that strange smile. The other two, though, looked like they were about to explode.

    Especially Daxton. He looked like he was barely restraining himself from leaping across the table and tearing her <b>apart</b>, if not for the fact that this <b>was </b>someone <b>else¡¯s </b>engagement party.

    Aubree gave them a sweet little smile and mouthed, ¡°Dumbass<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    All three of their expressions changed instantly.

    With a bang, Daxton stood up. ¡°Aubree, what the hell is that supposed to mean?¡±

    Aubree looked up innocently. ¡°What did I do to you?<b>¡± </b>

    To everyone else at the table, all they saw was Aubree politely smiling at the trio, and then Daxton suddenly flipping out. The people around them Immediately began whispering.

    ¡°That is Aubree, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve never seen her in person before. She looked familiar, but I didn¡¯t <b>dare </b>assume.¡±

    ¡°The Walton family actually knows her? That¡¯s impressive. She¡¯s a big <b>deal</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Talk about bad luck, running into the Wilson family again.¡±

    Even if they didn¡¯t know Aubree personally, many had heard about her past entanglements with the Wilson family.

    ¡°What¡¯s up with Mr. Daxton Wilson? She didn¡¯t even do anything. Why¡¯s he so angry?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s known for being temperamental. Who knows<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Daxton¡¯s face was flushed with <b>rage</b><b>. </b>He knew he¡¯d lost control, but the surge of anger made it hard to stop himself. He wanted Aubree to pay.

    ¡°Enough, Daxion!¡± Bryan barked. Only then did Bryan sit down again, scowling.

    That outburst had exposed Aubree¡¯s identity. Some at the table didn¡¯t care about the drama, but they cared about Aubree.

    The others at the table quickly leaned in to make conversation. A few from other tables even came over, drinks in hand.

    ¡°You must be Ms. Miller, right? Your startup, GrabCheap really blew us away! I wonder if there¡¯s a chance to work with you someday?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Miller, let me introduce myself. I¡¯m with Longing Investments. Would you be open to having dinner sometime to discuss potential coboration?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°To build a billion¨Cdorpany from scratch at such a young age, you¡¯re absolutely extraordinary! If my kids were half as impressive as you, I¡¯d be smiling in my sleep<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    The dishes hadn¡¯t even fully arrived yet<b>, </b>and Aubree already had a thick stack of business cards handed to her. Wanting to keep things cordial, she passed them all to Vincent for safekeeping.

    Nina was grinning. ¡°Good thing Mr. Turner isn¡¯t here. Otherwise, seeing this, he¡¯d be drowning in jealousy.¡±

    The teasing reminded Aubree of that drunken night, and her cheeks flushed. ¡°This is all business.¡±

    <b>Just </b><b>as </b>she sat back down, she caught Daxton¡¯s cold stare. ¡°What are you so pleased about?¡± he asked, his voice icy.

    The Wilson family had <b>also </b>started getting approached by others, but most of the attention went to Bryan. Carmen, after being publicly called out

    by Aubree at the <bst </b>investment event and having her project <b>exposed </b>and fail to <b>get </b>funding, had lost a lot of her shine.

    In the business world, many people <b>were </b><b>clever </b>and capable. Compared to Aubree, Carmen simply didn¡¯t measure up. And with both Aubree and <b>Bryan </b>sitting right there<b>, </b><b>very </b><b>few </b><b>even </b>acknowledged her.

    Carmen <b>was </b>bitter<b>, </b>but hid <b>it </b><b>well</b>. <b>No </b>matter<b>. </b>Once she was back on <b>top</b>, both Aubree and Bryan would be beneath her <b>feet</b>.

    !

 Tried 498

    <b>Chapter </b>498

    She could bide <b>her </b>time. But Daxton couldn¡¯t tolerate this. He could ignore his big brother, but Aubree unting herself above his beloved Carmen<b>? </b>Unforgivable.

    The more he thought about <b>it</b>, the angrier he got. ¡°Showing off, huh? Careful. Don¡¯t get too cocky.¡±

    Aubree <b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>angry </b>at all. She <b>actually </bughed<b>, </b>shrugging <b>casually</b>. ¡°Starting <b>a </bpany at neen with a billion¨Cdor market cap. Shouldn¡¯t I be proud?¡±

    She nced meaningfully <b>at </b>Carmen. <b>¡°</b><b>At </b>least Carmen got national praise for a little million¨Cdor project. Compared to that, mine¡¯s not even that impressive<b>, </b>right?¡±

    Daxton¡¯s breath quickened with rage. He was pissed that Aubree mentioned Carmen. If it weren¡¯t for Aubree¡¯s scheming, Carmen¡¯s MindDrift would¡¯ve been the number one streaming tform in the country by now. Aubree¡¯s yzy wouldn¡¯t be a thing.

    In Daxton¡¯s eyes, Carmen was <b>wless</b><b>, </b>a hundred times better than Aubree<b>. </b>And whatever she did fall short on,

    ¡°Aubree, you¡¯ll <b>regret </b>this one day!¡± Daxton spat.

    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m just enjoying myself right now<b>,</b>¡± Aubree replied with a smirk.

    it was <b>all </b>Aubree¡¯s fault.

    She continued, ¡°Let¡¯s <b>be </b><b>real</b>. If you were actually capable of making me suffer, <b>we </b>wouldn¡¯t be sitting <b>here </b>trading insults, would we? Daxton, do <b>you </b>really think you¡¯re that powerful? Let me give you a warning. If <b>I </b>ever catch you slipping, your end will be ten times worse than Emery¡¯s.¡±

    She added, ¡°Your hand¡­ It¡¯s more valuable than Emery¡¯s, right?¡±

    Daxton¡¯s face went pale. Although Emery had been sentenced, the Wilson family had used their connections to ensure he¡¯d be safe inside. No one expected that as soon as he entered, his hands would be crippled.

    ¡°You even went that far against your own brother? Aubree! You¡¯ll die a miserable death!¡± Daxton¡¯s face was full of disdain.

    The fact that this heartless<b>, </b>venomous woman shared his blood disgusted him.

    Aubree only smiled wider. ¡°Before I die, I¡¯ll make <b>sure </b>each and every one <b>of </b>you ends up in hell.¡±

    Bryan had been restraining himself, his face shifting through several emotions. Finally, he snapped, ¡°Aubree<b>, </b>even <b>if </b>you hate us, even if you me us, there has to be a limit¡±

    He continued, ¡°Father and I <b>have </b>tolerated you storming out, going against the family¡­ but this again and again? Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve gone too far? Daxton is your second brother. Is that really how you talk to your elder brother?¡±

    Aubree found it amusing. Just recently, Bryan had been indifferent toward her. Now he was pulling the big brother <b>act</b>.

    What she didn¡¯t know <b>was </b>that ever since theirst conversation in the study, Bryan had started seeing her as the most dangerous threat to the Wilson family.

    Aubree retorted, ¡°Oh? Daxton is Carmen¡¯s second brother. What does that have to do with me? You said you were tolerating me? Then stop holding back. Let me see how powerful the Wilson family really is.¡±

    Bryan was briefly speechless. Because at this point, they did have to hold back.

    Seeing the tension spike, Carmen quickly stepped in to smooth things over between her two brothers. Aubree watched her performative act and rolled her <b>eyes</b>, too disgusted to even engage with the trio¡¯s madness.

    Fortunately, the food at the Walton family dinner really was delicious. Aubree enjoyed her meal thoroughly.

    Carmen¡¯s calming efforts helped soothe Daxton¡¯s mood. <b>He </b>gazed at her with tender affection, which only made <b>Aubree </b>roll her eyes again. <b>Nina</b><b>, </b>watching the situation y out, leaned in and whispered, ¡°Aubree<b>¡­ </b>your brother¡­ he¡¯s kind of¡­ something else<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree¡¯s <b>eyes </b>lit <b>up </b>slightly, giving <b>Daxton </b>and Carmen another nce.

    <b>After </b>the <b>meal</b><b>, </b>the <b>banquet </b>started winding down, and guests began to leave one after another.

    The Wilson family stayed behind. Daxton hade today <b>to </b>use his connections with the Walton family to <b>establish </b>a stronger <b>alliance </b><b>between </b>the two families. <b>Eventually</b>, the opportunity <b>arose</b>. <b>Casper </b><b>started </b>fluttering around Carmen <b>like </b>a <b>butterfly</b>, and <b>Daxton¡¯s </b><b>face </b><b>darkened </b>even

    <b>more</b>.

 Tried 499

    Chapter <b>499 </b>

    ¡°Nina, let¡¯s go. Bowen was asked to stay by the Walton family to discuss some personal matters. Kelvin just messaged me. Looks like they won¡¯t be done anytime soon,¡± Aubree said, looking down at her phone.

    She had interacted with Darius earlier, feigning interest in biotechnology and arranging to talk in more detailter.

    Nina agreed without hesitation. Her job was <b>to </b>protect Aubree, so wherever Aubree went, she was right behind.

    The two of them left the <b>Walton </b>family estate together.

    Carmen watched them go. She didn¡¯t recognize Nina and naturally assumed she was just one of Aubree¡¯s assistants or secretaries. Among Aubree¡¯s group, the only one with any real threat <b>was </b>Vincent. Aubree had already sent him away.

    Carmen couldn¡¯t help the joy bubbling inside her and broke into a smile. Aubree, oh Aubree¡­ You¡¯re digging your own grave:

    She had originally been thinking of how to get rid of Vincent to ensure nothing would go wrong, but Aubree had done it for her.

    ¡°Carmen¡­¡± Bryan appeared at her side without her noticing. Carmen quickly pulled herself together. ¡°Daxton, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Daxton frowned. ¡°Just¡­ do you know why Mom and Dad insisted I keep Bowen from leaving the Walton family estate?¡±

    Bowen had been held back by Darius to <b>discuss </b>business. A key <b>reason </b>was that he had mentioned the potential ofbining artificial intelligence with medical applications. The concept <b>had </b>greatly inspired Darius, who was now engrossed in conversation with him.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not really sure. Maybe they¡¯vee up with some n to talk Aubree into returning, and having Mr. Turner around makes it inconvenient.¡±

    Daxton nodded, reluctantly epting her exnation. He noticed Casper sneaking around nearby, clearly wanting toe <b>over</b>, and his face darkened. ¡°When are we leaving?¡±

    ¡°Later. Bryan still has some things to discuss with the Walton family,¡± Carmen replied.

    Seeing that Carmen wouldn¡¯t <b>leave</b>, Daxton changed the subject as he noticed Casper getting closer<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Carmen<b>, </b>what do you think of Casper<b>?</b>¡±

    Carmen was momentarily stunned. Of course<b>, </b>she knew <b>Casper </b>liked her. He was two years older, and <b>their </b>rtionship, honestly speaking, <b>was </b>just regr friends based on the <b>two </b>families¡® long¨Cstanding <b>ties</b>.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always seen him as a big brother who¡¯s very nice to me.¡± Carmen didn¡¯t understand Daxton¡¯s intentions, but she knew well enough how to choose between Casper and Daxton. She gave <b>a </b>safe answer.

    ¡°Besides, you know I like Alvin.¡± At the mention of Alvin, Carmen thought of how he had been actively reaching out to hertely, and her smile turned sweet.

    Daxion¡¯s gaze immediately darkened. He was satisfied with the first part, but the <b>rest</b><b>¡­ </b>

    He raised his hand and patted her on the head, ncing sideways. The <b>spot </b>where Casper had been trying to sneak closer was now empty.

    Aubree and Nina were nearing the Walton family¡¯s parking garage when Aubree suddenly stopped and felt around her body. ¡°I think I left my bracelet at the Walton family¡¯s ce.¡±

    ¡°Is it important?¡± Nina asked.

    ¡°Bowen gave it to me,¡± Aubree replied.

    Nina asked, ¡°Should I tell Mr. Turner and Mr. Malone to look for it when they leave?¡±

    Aubree shook her head. ¡°Nina, you go start the car. I¡¯ll go back and ask the cleaningdies if they¡¯ve seen it.¡±

    got snagged off.

    Everyone at this banquet was wealthy or powerful. Theft was unlikely. It was probably just crowded, and the bracelet

    Nina figured that by the time she got the car and drove to the estate gate, Aubree would be back. ¡°Alright.¡±

    The Walton family¡¯s private estate was mostly used for entertaining guests, with a specially built underground parking garage. Even with lights, it was quite dim

    Nina reached the car, just about to take the <b>keys</b>, when a sharp instinct made her suddenly alert. Her <b>eyes</b>, like a <b>hawk</b>, scanned the area <b>sharply</b><b>. </b>¡°Who¡¯s there<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    The couple hiding in the <b>dark </b>quickly ducked down. ¡°Is it that girl<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>2:42 </b>PM

    ¡°How would I <b>know</b><b>? </b>She <b>was </b>only five back then<b>, </b><b>a </b>tiny kid. Now she¡¯s <b>grown </b>up. How <b>could </b>I <b>recognize </b><b>her</b><b>? </b>But she does look like the woman in the photo<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    This little brat is pretty <b>sharp</b>. She <b>actually </b><b>noticed </b>us <b>just </b><b>now</b><b>. </b>The middle<b>¨C</b>aged man muttered.

    ¡°Enough with <b>the </b>crap. No <b>matter </b><b>how </b><b>sharp </b><b>she </b><b>is</b>, she¡¯s <b>just </b><b>one </b><b>person</b>. What <b>can </b>she do? <b>Plus</b>, Mrs. Diamonde arranged <b>people </b>for us. <b>Let¡¯s </b><b>get </b>this done quickly and be done with it<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Mrs. Diamonde said <b>once </b><b>we¡¯re </b>done with this job, <b>we¡¯ll </b>be sent <b>overseas</b><b>. </b>No more hiding <b>from </b>the police<b>.¡± </b>The <b>woman¡¯s </b><b>eyes </b><b>were </b><b>sinister </b>and

    cold.

    The man looked Nina up and down<b>, </b>a filthy idea taking <b>root</b>. Their employer said to <b>¡°</b><b>take </b>care of her anyway. Since she was going <b>to </b>die, he might <b>as </b>well enjoy her before that.

    <b>¡°</b>She¡¯s <b>just </b><b>a </b>little girl. I can handle her <b>myself</b>.¡± The man <b>sneered </b>and approached with a drug¨Csoaked cloth in hand.

    Suddenly<b>, </b>Nina spun around and kicked as he came closer. A beautiful spinning kicknded in his abdomen, almost making him cough up blood. <b>¡°</b>Who <b>are </b>you?¡±

    ¡°Damn, you¡¯ve <b>got </b>some fire!¡± The man¡¯s eyes turned vicious<b>. </b>¡°Don¡¯t remember me? We met when you <b>were </b>five.*

    He grinned, revealing <b>yellow </b><b>teeth</b>, and his smile <b>was </b>chilling.

    ¡®Five <b>years </b>old?¡® Nina quickly <b>processed </b>the information. She immediately thought of the kidnapping incident when Aubree was five. Given the <b>current </b>situation, it looked like this man had mistaken her <b>for </b>Aubree.

    The woman cursed when she saw the man <b>fail </b>and stepped out of the shadows with <b>other </b><b>ck</b>¨Cd bodyguards arranged <i>by </i>Alice. ¡°What are you babbling about?¡±

    Nina immediately assumed a defensive stance<b>. </b>Her mind <b>was </b>quick. She didn¡¯t know Aubree¡¯s current situation. It was better to y along. She was better able to protect herself than Aubree.

    ¡°So <b>it¡¯s </b>you filthy cockroaches. Been hiding all these years, and now you¡¯re done hiding?¡± Nina sneered, her face full of contempt.

    <b>¡°</b><b>You¡¯ve </b>got a sharp tongue!¡± The man stared intently at Nina¡¯s exposed skin. Since leaving the Turner family, she didn¡¯t have to do chores but kept up her training. Her perfectly proportioned and toned body was both strong and seductive.

    Nina frowned in disgust<b>, </b>quickly scanning the guards approaching her. These people were clearly trained. She couldn¡¯t take them all alone¡­

    She swiftly devised the best strategy in her mind. She was carrying a tracker. Even if she was captured<b>, </b>Bowen would find her. Better to conserve her strength forter. Besides, this couple was likely the same traffickers who had kidnapped Aubree all those years ago. There were clearly more people behind them.

    Nina pretended to resist and quickly feigned being overpowered.

    Nina smirked. ¡°A bunch of grown men bullying one woman. Shameless.<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Aww, Missy, you¡¯re not just any ordinary girl!¡± the manughed smugly<b>, </b>taking out the drug¨Csoaked cloth and pressing it over her nose and mouth.

    Nina knew this kind of drug well. She held her breath and pretended to pass out.

    <b>¡°</b>Alright<b>, </b>we¡¯ll take it from here<b>. </b>You guys leave,¡± the man said with a lecherous grin and reached out to grab her.

    The woman¡¯s <b>face </b>darkened, and she pped him. ¡°Get lost. I¡¯ll guard her. Timothy, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re nning.¡±

    Knowing he was in the wrong, Timothy <b>Greer </b>didn¡¯t dare argue.

    A ck Mercedes drove out of the Walton family¡¯s parking garage.

 Tried 500

    Chapter <b>500 </b>

    ¡°Ms. Miller, is this <b>the </b>bracelet <b>you </b><b>were </b>looking <b>for</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>the <b>staff </b>member asked.

    ¡°It was found near the dining table. Benji <b>saw </b><b>it </b>and left it <b>with </b>me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no need to thank me, <b>it¡¯s </b>my duty.¡±

    Aubree had asked the estate manager and <b>recovered </b>her bracelet.

    ¡°Bree<b>, </b><b>didn¡¯t </b>you <b>leave </b>with Nina earlier<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Just after finishing his talk with Darius anding down the <b>stairs</b><b>, </b>Bowen saw Aubree.

    She lifted her wrist. <b>¡°</b><b>It </b><b>was </b><b>crowded </b>just <b>now</b><b>, </b>and the bracelet fell off. I came back to look for it. Are you done with your business<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>Yeah</b>, all <b>wrapped </b>up. Let¡¯s <b>go </b><b>back </b>together.¡± Bowen naturally reached for her hand. ¡°Kelvin, drive yourself.¡±

    Kelvin thought, ¡®So <b>I¡¯ve </b><b>just </b><b>been </b>ruthlessly abandoned, huh?¡±

    Aubree stifled augh. ¡°I told Nina to bring the car around to the front. She should be almost there by now.¡±

    The Wilson family had already received news of the n¡¯s <b>¡°</b><b>sess</b>¡± before Aubree returned to the Walton family¡¯s estate, and had left first to avoid suspicion.

    The three of them walked out of the <b>estate</b>. The gate was deserted.

    ¡°<b>Is </b>Nina dyed?<b>¡± </b>Aubree murmured, pulling out her phone to call.

    The phone rang twice, then was hung up. When she tried calling again, it wouldn¡¯t go through.

    Bowen noticed her sudden change in expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°Nina didn¡¯t answer<b>¡­ </b>no, now it won¡¯t go through at all.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s brow furrowed sharply. The two exchanged a nce. Something had happened.

    ¡°The parking garage. That¡¯s where Ist saw her.¡± Aubree immediately let go of Bowen¡¯s hand and ran toward the garage.

    Kelvin was still trying to process what was happening.

    Bowen thought deeper than Aubree. If something happened to Nina right after she split up from Aubree, and hardly anyone here knew who Nina even was, it made no sense for someone to target her. She wasn¡¯t valuable enough to make a move against.

    Which meant this wasn¡¯t about Nina at all. She might¡¯ve been mistaken for someone else. The real target could¡¯ve been Aubree from the beginning.

    He said, ¡°Kelvin, contact Mark. Tell him Nina is in trouble. Get in touch with Mr. Walton and request surveince footage from the garage.¡±

    After giving instructions, Bowen quickly followed Aubree.

    When they reached the garage, they found only the car keys lying on the ground. There were no signs <b>of </b>a struggle.

    Nina had vanished¡­

    ¡°Was Nina kidnapped?¡± Aubree¡¯s expression shifted. She thought, ¡®Who would want to kidnap Nina? <b>If </b>anything. I¡¯m the one they¡¯d want to kidnap!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Nina has <b>a </b>tracker on her. And with her skills, if she was taken that easily, there must¡¯ve been unusual circumstances.¡± Bowen tried to

    calm her<b>. </b>

    Aubree had been through <b>a </b>lottely and matured significantly.

    ¡°Then hurry. <b>See </b>where Nina¡¯s signal is<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree grabbed his arm anxiously.

    <b>Her </b>mind <b>was </b><b>already </b>spinning. She <b>wasn¡¯t </b>sure who did it. Maybe it was the Wilson family or the Diamonde family. Or it might be someone else.

    <b>Aubree </b>clenched her fist<b>. </b>¡°I don¡¯t think the Wilson family is innocent in this.¡±

    <b>She </b>added, ¡°From the moment I ran into them today<b>, </b>Carmen¡¯s attitude was strange<b>. </b>No matter what <b>I </b>said or did, <b>she </b>didn¡¯t show any strong reaction. Of course, <b>it¡¯s </b>possible she¡¯s <b>just </b>gotten better at hiding her emotions<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    The Diamonde and Lawson families, <b>as </b><b>problematic </b><b>as </b>they might be, <b>likely </b>wouldn¡¯t <b>go </b><b>as </b><b>far </b>as kidnapping. The Wilson family <b>was </b>the most suspicious.

    Alice and Ronald likely wouldn¡¯t <b>act </b>directly. Trevor wasn¡¯t even in Rithol <b>City </b>right now. Carmen <b>and </b>the others had left the partyter than Aubree. And there <b>was </b>no point for them to kidnap Nina.

    2:42 PM

    Just as Aubree finished her thoughts, a blinding sh of white light suddenly burst in front of her. The re made her turn her face away instinctively. When her vision finally adjusted and the brightness dimmed, a sharp voice rang in her ears. ¡°Aubree! Why are you here?¡±

    That blinding light hade from the headlights of their car. Aubree¡¯s eyes watered reflexively. She squinted and saw. It was Carmen

    Bryan and Daxton got out of the car right after her. Well then, they¡¯d basically just confessed.

    If there had only been suspicions before, Carmen¡¯s outburst confirmed it. They had something to do with this.

    Bryan and Carmen clearly knew about the kidnapping. Daxton only had a rough idea. He knew something was supposed to happen to Aubree today

    ¡°Carinen!¡± Bryan¡¯s voice was low and warning.

    No matter what had just happened, Aubree was clearly fine. Now was not the time to talk carelessly.

    Carmen realized she had misspoken and tried to recover. ¡°Aubree, I thought you already left. Why are you still here?¡±

    Aubree had no more patience for their false politeness<b>. </b>¡°You better hope I don¡¯t find out this was your doing.¡±

    Bowen had already located Nina¡¯s position. ¡°She¡¯s been taken into the city, and from the route, they¡¯re deliberately circling around. I¡¯ve notified Mark. He¡¯s on his way. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Finding Nina was the priority. Aubree ignored Carmen and the others<b>, </b>got in Bowen¡¯s car, and left with him immediately.

    ¡°Bryan, Carmen, what the hell is going on?¡± Daxton frowned, confused. ¡°Mom and Dad¡­ what exactly are they nning?¡±

    Carmen knew it wasn¡¯t just a kidnapping. They wanted Aubree dead. But she couldn¡¯t say that. She bit her lip. ¡°Let Bryan exin.¡±

    Bryan had thought the n was to kidnap Aubree, cause turmoil in Bree Technology, and use that as leverage to force her back home. That was what he told Daxton too. ¡°So it was all arranged by Mom and Dad. The message earlier said the mission was aplished¡­ but why is Aubree fine?¡±

    Not only was Carmen stunned, but Bryan had nearly given himself away when he saw Aubree<b>. </b>

    Carmen also didn¡¯t understand. ¡°The people Mom arranged should¡¯ve been reliable¡­¡±

    Her murmured words were caught by Daxton, and his eyes flickered in surprise. It seemed Carmen was disappointed that Aubree wasn¡¯t kidnapped.

    Daxton subtly frowned. That wasn¡¯t like Carmen. She was supposed to oppose their parents doing things like this.

    But he quickly came up with an exnation. Bryan and their parents supported the n, and Carmen probably couldn¡¯t stop it. Plus, this was just an act. Aubree was never really in danger. The whole point was to make her return. Carmen was probably just happy that Aubree mighte back home.

    Daxton said, ¡°I remember Aubree was with another woman all day. Judging from the way she and Bowen acted just now, that woman is likely the one who¡¯s missing. Did you guys give the attackers a photo of Aubree?¡±

    Bryan looked awkward. ¡°We did¡­ it was a photo we quickly took at the banquet and sent over.¡±

    Daxton asked for the photo and, as he expected, it included both Aubree and Nina. ¡°Is it possible they mistook this woman for Aubree?¡±

    He pointed at Nina¡¯s face.

    Bryan was dumbfounded. He hadn¡¯t imagined such a stupid mistake would derail their entire n.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen this woman before¡­ around Mark.¡± Daxton narrowed his eyes. Nina looked familiar.

    ¡°Then this is going to be trouble¡­¡± Bryan furrowed his brow, looking increasingly agitated. The King family wasn¡¯t the kind of force you could provoke lightly. They were like a mad dog that would bite back viciously.

 Tried 501

    <b>Chapter </b>501

    <b>¡°</b>What? We got the wrong person?¡±

    With a screech and a violent jolt, the car came to a <b>stop</b>.

    Nina, who was tied up hand and foot and pretending to be unconscious, listened to the conversation up front.

    Timothy¡¯s rough voice sounded. ¡°How could that be? We grabbed the one that matched the photo our client sent.¡±

    ¡°There <b>were </b>two women<b>¡­ </b>it was two at the beginning<b>¡­ </b>So what now?¡±

    <b>¡°</b>Alright, alright. We¡¯re already out of the city. Stick to the original n? Sure, we¡¯ll go with whatever you say.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± the woman in the passenger seat asked impatiently.

    ¡°The client

    Timothy licked his lips nervously. ¡°The client says we got the wrong person. Go check if that woman in the back has a tracker on her. The client said she might be carrying one<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Upon hearing the word tracker, Marina Obrien¡¯s face darkened. Cursing under her breath, she got out of the <b>car</b>. ¡°You little wench<b>, </b>still ying tricks on us?<b>¡± </b>

    Nina <b>was </b>startled but kept up her act perfectly. When Marina searched her, she didn¡¯t suspect Nina was conscious.

    The tracker <b>was </b>hidden in her ne. These two were clearly experienced criminals<b>. </b>After a thorough search and finding nothing on her, they removed anything detachable from her body.

    Marina asked, ¡°What now?<b>¡± </b>

    Timothy replied, ¡°The client <b>says </b>this woman might be important. We can¡¯t afford to get caught. Wait for their next move.¡±

    Marina spat again. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, dumbass! Can¡¯t even grab the right person! Now we¡¯ve got a hot potato we can¡¯t even ditch!¡±

    Timothy didn¡¯t dare talk back. He restarted the car. ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s just lock her up first. As long as she¡¯s not found, nothing will happen.¡±

    Client¡­ that word hade up several times.

    Pretending to be unconscious<b>, </b>Nina quietly counted the minutes. Once the car started moving again, she ¡°woke up.¡±

    She pretended to be panicked. ¡°Where am I? Why did you kidnap me? Who sent you?¡±

    Timothy looked into the rearview mirror. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake fast, huh? Just bad luck<b>, </b>girl. Be good, and maybe you¡¯ll be sent home soon. But if you start acting up, we can¡¯t promise you won¡¯t lose an arm or a leg.¡±

    <b>A </b>sinister grin crept onto his face as his eyes leered over Nina¡¯s chest and legs. Nina looked like she had a great body. The client only said to keep her alive. Once they reached their hideout, she¡¯d be all his.

    Nina pretended to be frightened. ¡°Was it the Wilson family that sent you?¡±

    These two were tied to Aubree¡¯s kidnapping when she <b>was </b>five. Thinking along those lines, Nina recalled Alice visiting the orphanage where Aubree had grown up.

    No one would suspect biological parents of hiring traffickers to kidnap their own child. She was just testing the water.

    Ronald might not be capable of this, but Alice might be.

    Marina suddenly turned and red fiercely. ¡°One more word, and I¡¯ll rip your tongue out! Stop asking questions you shouldn¡¯t ask.¡±

    Nina lowered her eyes. Her suspicions leaned even more toward the Wilson family.

    Once Bowen arrived, she would definitely report her theory.

    If Alice <b>really </b>was behind this from the start, she would pay the price.

    Meanwhile<b>, </b>Aubree and the others had traced the signal out to the outskirts of the city.

    ¡°These are Nina¡¯s things<b>.</b>¡± Bowen picked up the <b>ne</b>. ¡°Looks like they found the tracker.¡±

    ¡°What now<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Mark frowned, <b>clearly </b>worried.

    He continued, ¡°I¡¯ll have people begin a search with this location as the center. The outskirts are huge. By the time we actually find her, it could be too <bte</b>.

    Bowen tightened his grip on the ne and shook his head. ¡°Nina¡¯s skills are solid. If she were captured, it¡¯s likely she allowed it. She probably made some discovery.¡±

    He added, ¡°Whoever did this clearly intended to target Aubree. Since they got the wrong person and want to avoid unnecessary trouble, they probably won¡¯t hurt her. That much<i>, </i>at least, you can rx about.¡±

    Mark clenched his fists. <b>He </b>understood the logic. But emotionally, he couldn¡¯t stay calm.

    ¡°This is partly my fault. <b>I </b>underestimated the enemy. I should¡¯ve sent more people.¡± Bowen offered Mark an apology.

    Mark replied, ¡°That¡¯s not important. What matters is how we find her now.¡±

    Aubree furrowed her brow. ¡°I have an idea. Check <b>if </b>anyone from the Wilson family or closely associated with them owns property out here. ces that are private and hidden.¡±

    She <b>was </b>sure this was linked to the Wilson family. The kidnappers were clearly their people, and they were most likely hiding her in one of their secluded properties.

    She added, ¡°Also, check any abandoned factories nearby. All border checkpoints are locked down. They¡¯re definitely still somewhere on the butskirts.¡±

    ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll arrange it now.<b>¡± </b>Mark was dead serious this time. He even mobilized armed personnel.

    At the same time, back at the Wilson family¡¯s ce, Bryan and the others rushed home. On the road, they had already told Alice and Ronald to get back quickly.

    He said, ¡°We already know. Timothy and the others grabbed the wrong person. They took a woman named Nina. She¡¯s Mark¡¯s girlfriend. Mark¡¯s now pulled strings in the King family and mobilized armed forces to find her.¡±

    Ronald, rarely so flustered, was visibly anxious. He was worried Timothy would be caught and spill everything. If that happened, the Wilson family would definitely be implicated.

    *Contact them immediately. Release her!¡± Ronald barked at Alice.

    Alice hadn¡¯t expected their ¡°foolproof¡± n to be ruined by two idiots mistaking their target.

    She was even more nervous. Timothy also held a secret of hers, one she couldn¡¯t afford to let out.

    But now <i>that </i>things had gone this far and there were no results, and with their people at risk, she was also unwilling to let it all go to waste.

    Alice stayed silent, not immediately responding.

    Bryan stepped up. ¡°Dad, I have an idea. Even though we got the wrong person, we still grabbed someone rted to Aubree.¡±

    Ronald frowned. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of using Nina <i>to </i>threaten Aubree, are you?¡±

    ¡°That would be way too stupid.¡± Bryan smiled coldly. ¡°That¡¯d be like handing her leverage on a silver tter. Instead, we lean into the mistake. Stick to the original n.¡±

    All eyes turned to Bryan as he smiled slightly. ¡°We can leak word that someone was kidnapped during the Walton family banquet. Don¡¯t specify who, but subtly lead people to believe it was Aubree. Reporters will swarm Darius for confirmation.¡±

    ¡°But Aubree can just rify it. Doesn¡¯t that ruin the n?¡± Carmen didn¡¯t see the point. Aubree¡¯s public statement could clear things up.

    Bryan renlied ¡°This is just setun for the next step. Whether she rifies it or not doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    Ìï

    AD

 Tried 502

    <b>Chapter </b><b>502 </b>

    Bryan nced <b>at </b>Carmen before continuing<b>. </b>¡°I got some <b>news</b>. Right now, Bowen doesn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of this. Not many people know Nina <b>was </b>kidnapped, and Darius definitely won¡¯t reveal who <b>was </b>taken.¡±

    He continued<b>, </b>¡°Aubree and the others are busy searching for Nina¡¯s whereabouts. By the time they react, the chaos will have already started. Even if she tries <b>to </b>rify itter, so what? Dad<b>, </b>you haven¡¯t forgotten about the pawn we nted in S¨¹dlichen Strand, <b>have </b><b>you</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    He added, ¡°It¡¯s time to act. Aubree definitely won¡¯t be able to handle all this<b>! </b>This time, GrabCheap is bound to take a heavy hit!¡±

    Ronald thought over Bryan¡¯s suggestion, weighed the pros and cons, and concluded it was the <b>best </b>move they <b>had </b>at the moment.

    If luck was on their side, they might even knock GrabCheap off its pedestal. A kidnapped friend, trouble in thepany, such <b>a </b>blow might just bring Aubree down. At that point, he, as a father, could step in to offer support. She might let go of her grudge.

    Timothy¡¯s group is <b>a </b>ticking time bomb.¡± Ronald¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°Make sure Nina <b>stays </b>alive, but letting her have a little ident might make Aubree feel even more guilt and pain.¡±

    Though it sounded like he <b>was </b>offering an opinion, it was clearly amand.

    Bryan responded, ¡°Just let Timothy¡¯s people stir up a bit of trouble. You¡¯re right, Dad. They can¡¯t stay around much longer<b>.</b>¡±

    He turned to Alice. ¡°Mom, if <b>I </b>remember correctly, Timothy¡¯s ce is remote and deserted. You usually arrange for people to deliver their supplies, right? It¡¯s been quite a while since thest delivery. They must be running low.¡±

    Alice¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°What are you nning?<b>¡± </b>

    Bryan replied, ¡°We¡¯llce their food with a slow¨Cacting poison. Make themmit suicide out of guilt.¡±

    Alice was severely tempted. This would also take care of <b>a </b>problem for her. After all, dead men tell no tales.

    Ronald looked at Bryan with satisfaction. Bryan <b>was </b>calm under pressure, able toe up with such a solid n. Bryan reminded him of himself in his younger days.

    Bryan said, ¡°Speaking of S¨¹dlichen Strand, that mole we ced there seems quite capable. Even managed to connect with Birgitte.¡±

    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Given Patrick¡¯s personality, I¡¯m not surprised. Women, no matter how strong, are all the same in the end.¡±

    He said this without the slightest regard for the fact <i>that </i>Carmen and Alice were present.

    Alice didn¡¯t react. Her mind was elsewhere<b>. </b>

    Carmen¡¯s brows lowered slightly as she let out a soft snort.

    ¡°Major King, we¡¯ve done an initial sweep as per <b>your </b>orders. Even though this is on the outskirts of the capital, you know how it is in Rithol City. Every square foot is valuable, even for building a public restroom. We need more time.¡± ¡¤

    <b>Mark </b>was on the phone, his expression neither particrly good nor bad. Hearing that Nina¡¯s life wasn¡¯t in danger had calmed him somewhat.

    He said, ¡°Keep searching. Run it concurrently to save time.¡±

    The other end responded, ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    Mark hung up. They had lost Nina¡¯s trail, and couldn¡¯t just run around like headless chickens. So they stayed at the spot where her tracker had been discarded.

    Mark said, ¡°The area¡¯s toorge. It¡¯ll take time to search. We probably won¡¯t get results tonight. I¡¯ll stay here. You all should go get some rest.¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>asked her for help. She agreed because of an old favor. Whether it¡¯s Nina or Aubree in danger, <b>I </b>couldn¡¯t walk away now.¡± Bowen rejected the <b>suggestion</b>. Even though he <b>was </b>fairly confident Nina wouldn¡¯t be harmed, she¡¯d gotten into trouble because of Aubree<b>. </b><b>If </b>she didn¡¯t return safe and sound, Aubree would surely hold a grudge<b>. </b>sound,

    Aubree had no ns to leave either. They all knew that ¡°not life¨Cthreatening¡± didn¡¯t mean ¡°not dangerous<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I¡­¡± She <b>was </b>just about to say she¡¯d stay too, when her phone interrupted.

    Bowen nced over. <b>It </b><b>was </b><b>a </b><b>call </b>from Vincent. ¡°Answer it. Maybe the people behind this are up to something new.¡±

    Aubree picked up and said, ¡°Hello? I was kidnapped? <b>Have </b>we tracked the <b>source </b>of that rumor?¡±

    2:32 <b>PM </b>

    She frowned. ¡°Reporters <b>are </b>swarming the Walton family<b>? </b>Got it. Keep an eye on the Wilson family<b>. </b>

    Meeting Bowen¡¯s inquisitive <b>gaze</b>, Aubree smiled faintly. ¡°Looks like <b>you </b><b>were </b>right. The ghosts hiding in the shadows <b>are </b>finally moving.¡±

    She continued. ¡°The only people who <b>knew </b>about the kidnapping <b>were </b>us, the Walton family, and the Wilson family. Vincent just called to <b>say </b>there¡¯s <b>a </b>rumor going around online that <b>I </b>was kidnapped at the Walton family banquet.¡±

    <b>*</b>Reporters <b>are </b>already blocking the Walton family estate. <b>It </b>won¡¯t be long before Darius asks <b>you </b>what <b>to </b>do<b>.¡± </b>Aubree looked <b>at </b>Bowen.

    Before they left the Walton family, he had specifically asked Darius to keep the matter quiet. Even if Darius didn¡¯t respect Bowen, he¡¯d at least want to avoid trouble for himself, so he¡¯d help keep things under <b>wraps</b>.

    <b>That </b>only left the Wilson family.

    Bowen nced at his phone again. Darius had just messaged, asking how <b>to </b>handle things.

    ¡°Bree<b>, </b><b>what </b>do you think<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Obviously, the <b>target </b>of all this was her.

    Aubree replied, ¡°It¡¯s about what I suspected from the beginning. I kept wondering why the Wilson family would want to kidnap me. Now it¡¯s clear. They wanted me to disappear and <b>stir </b>up panic. If Bree Technology suffers any setbacks, wouldn¡¯t <b>it </b>just be meat on the Wilson family¡¯s chopping block?<b>¡± </b>

    Bowen asked, <b>¡°</b>So¡­ should we <b>clear </b>up the rumors<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°No.¡± Aubree shook her head. ¡°If the Wilson family dared to release false info, they must¡¯ve prepared for me to rify it. I¡¯m going to help them instead. Let Mr. Walton acknowledge the kidnapping publicly.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Bowen didn¡¯t ask why. He just agreed.

    Mark didn¡¯t quite get the games yed in the business world. ¡°Isn¡¯t this something you can just exin? Whyplicate it?¡±

    Aubree had originally nned to stay and confirm Nina¡¯s safety, but trouble found her before she could make a move. ¡°Sorry, I have to leave and keep an eye on the Wilson family. If you get any updates, let me know right away.¡±

    It <b>was </b>already veryte. <b>Mark </b>arranged for someone to drive her back. On the way, Aubree called Birgitte.

    Birgitte eximed, ¡°Ms. Miller, you scared me to death! I thought something happened to you!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine,¡± Aubree reassured her.

    When Birgitte <b>saw </b>the kidnapping rumor online, she almost ran straight to Rithol City. Hearing Aubree¡¯s voice finally eased her nerves.

    She asked, ¡°What on earth happened?¡±

    Aubree gave her <b>a </b>rough rundown. ¡°I suspect it was the Wilson family

    Birgitte¡¯s tone became more serious. ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°Highly likely. After all those attacks on GrabCheap, I already suspected the Wilson family was behind it. At first, they couldn¡¯t even break through our systems. Then suddenly they could do so much damage¡­ I¡¯m convinced we have a mole in thepany.

    She added, ¡°This time they went to all this trouble to kidnap me. Even if they failed, they still spread the news. That means they don¡¯t want to waste this opportunity. Follow the n we discussed earlier.¡±

    Aubree suddenly thought of someone. ¡°Birgitte, are you and Patrick dating?¡±

    <b>¡°</b>Yeah,¡± Birgitte replied.

    Birgitte picked up on her implication. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Miller. No matter who it is, I won¡¯t go easy on them!¡±

 Tried 503

    <b>hapter </b><b>503 </b>

    Meanwhile, at Forth Bay.

    It was already <bte </b>at night. At a time when he should have been resting, Alvin was still typing away at hisputer. He had installed a special program on his phone that would send him forced alerts whenever there <b>was </b>news rted to Aubree,

    The special ringtone sounded. Alvin didn¡¯t feel the least bit irritated at being interrupted¡±

    <b>¡®</b>Aubree kidnapped? Alvin <b>was </b>startled at first, but then quickly dismissed the idea.

    immediately stopped what he was doing

    <b>If </b>Aubree had really been kidnapped, there <b>was </b>no way Bowen wouldn¡¯t have made a move. Knowing his uncle¡¯s personality, he would have stirred up a storm. He wouldn¡¯t have found out about something like this through a news notification.

    This matter¡­

    Alvin chuckled. He wanted to <b>see </b>what exactly Aubree was nning.

    <b>¡°</b>Get a car ready. I¡¯m heading out.¡± He then called Kelvin to ask about Bowen¡¯s whereabouts.

    Kelvin wasn¡¯t on guard against Alvin and, hearing that he just wanted to check on Aubree, revealed Bowen¡¯s location without hesitation.

    Kelvin even ¡°kindly reminded¡± Alvin.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, don¡¯t <b>worry</b>. Miss Miller is fine. The person who was kidnapped wasn¡¯t her. It was a mistake. The kidnappers grabbed Nina, the one protecting her<b>, </b>by ident.¡±

    Alvin frowned. ¡°Got it. Thanks<b>, </b>Mr. Malone. I just want to make sure everything¡¯s okay. With my uncle around, nothing serious will happen.¡±

    A vi in the outskirts of the capital.

    From the outside, it didn¡¯t look like anyone lived there. Overgrown weeds nearly as tall as a person filled the yard. The bronze gates of the vi <b>were </b>worn and scarred, making people wonder whether they would copse just from being pushed.

    But inside the building, <b>it </b><b>was </b>a different story.

    Compared to the outside, the interior was at least tidy and lived¨Cin.

    A middle¨Caged woman with a vicious look sat on the central sofa, her expression insincerely ttering. ¡°Yes. You¡¯ve spoken. We absolutely won¡¯t touch that woman. New supplies will be delivered tomorrow morning. We appreciate you thinking of us. So this means we¡¯re staying put for now?¡±

    Marina continued, ¡°Need to keep an eye on her? Okay¡­ alright. Mrs., you know we¡¯ve done plenty for you. You can¡¯t just abandon us. You¡¯re working on our visas? Good, good. I won¡¯t hold you up then.¡±

    Marina respectfully hung up the phone. On the side, Timothy had already run out of patience. He had been on edge all night, terrified that armed cops would burst in at any moment.

    Marian said, ¡°We still have to wait. But they¡¯re working on the visas. Once this is over, they¡¯ll send us abroad right away.¡±

    Timothy was suspicious. ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t think that client is lying to us, do you? Someone has to take the fall. What if¡­¡±

    Marina interrupted. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what happened over a decade ago? We helped kidnap her biological daughter and caused two people to die. You think she won¡¯t protect us? If we¡¯re caught, she¡¯s screwed too!¡±

    She added, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for those two dead people having such powerful backgrounds, would we have ended up listening to her all these years?¡±

    Thinking about it made Marina furious. She had no idea that the people they targeted, just driving an ordinary car and wearing non¨Cbranded clothes, turned out to have such high status.

    She said, ¡°Enough. There¡¯s still some food in the kitchen. Put some drugs in and take them up. She needs to behave.¡±

    Timothy agreed. After all, with such a major secret in their hands, the client wouldn¡¯t dare to silence them easily.

    Nina <b>was </b>locked in a guest room on the second floor, tied up. She leaned close to the floor, listening carefully to the sounds downstairs.

    The house seemed old and in disrepair. Despite the luxurious decoration, it was mostly rotting wood, with terrible soundproofing.

    Even upstairs, she could clearly hear the two talking below.

    She thought. Biological daughter? Kidnapping? <b>Two </b>people died!

    Nina¡¯s breathing hitched. She couldn¡¯t believe what she <b>was </b>hearing. If the kidnapped ¡°biological daughter¡± they mentioned was Aubree, then it <b>meant </b>Alice <b>was </b>behind the Wilson family¡¯s old case.

    And the two who died¡­

    Nina didn¡¯t dare continue the thought. At that moment, she heard footsteps. Timothy <b>was </b>probablying to deliver food.

    She sat upright at once.

    The food had drugs in it, likely sleeping pills to prevent her from escaping.

    Timothy said, ¡°Eat it.¡±

    Nina knew not cating would cause more trouble.

    She Nina sniffed the food. As a top bodyguard of the Turner family, she had undergone professional drug resistance training. Her body had built <i>a </i>tolerance against most tranquilizers.

    No noticeable smell. She guessed it was probably just a standard dose<b>. </b>

    If she ate it, the couple would drop their guard. She would wake earlier <i>and </i>be better able to act.

    Under Timothy¡¯s watch. Nina ate half a bowl. ¡°I¡¯m full.¡±

    Timothy hesitated. A girl escaping from here? Ridiculous.

    He took the bowl <b>away</b>. ¡°Behave and you¡¯ll have good food. Try escaping, and I¡¯ll break your legs!¡±

    Nina silently nodded.

    Early the next morning, Alice had more supplies delivered.

    ¡°No breakfast for her. Starving a couple of meals won¡¯t kill her. Just makes her too weak to run.¡± Marina tapped her spoon on her bowl with a sinister look.

    One night passed. Theizens were discussing the story of Aubree¡¯s kidnapping.

    [Who was kidnapped? For real? This isn¡¯t a joke?]

    [Terrifying. Aubree has aplished so much at such a young age. Clearly, she¡¯s stepped on the wrong toes.]

    ¡°It¡¯s been a whole night, and there¡¯s no updates. Did something happen to her?

    If something happened to Aubree, then what about Bree Technology?¡±

    The rumor that Aubree had been kidnapped spread like wildfire. By the time the stock market opened. Bree Technology¡¯s stock price plunged like a bungee jump.

    There were widespread whispers that without Aubree, Bree Technology was nothing but a pile of sand.

    The Wilson family didn¡¯t expect that Aubree didn¡¯t do anything at all. But they didn¡¯t overthink it, assuming she was too focused on Nina¡¯s disappearance to deal with the rest.

    The bigger the chaos, the better.

    When Ronald saw Bree Technology¡¯s stock falling fast that morning, he grinned so hard he couldn¡¯t close his mouth.

    He said, ¡°Aubree really thinks she¡¯s all grown up. She doesn¡¯t even take us seriously anymore. We caused all this mess, and she doesn¡¯t even bother to release a single statement? How arrogant!¡±

    He continued, ¡°Young people are too proud. Fall hard enough, and they¡¯ll be shattered. Tell the team in S¨¹dlichen Strand to hurry up.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s ¡°kidnapping caused a huge stir. Whether it was people wanting to see her fall or genuinely worried, everyone was waiting for Bree Technology¡¯s official response.

    But what no one expected was that instead of hearing from Aubree, they were greeted with another bombshell headline.

    [Shocking Billion¨Cdorpany GrabCheap used of leaking user data!]

    [Is this a public service tform, or something more sinister?]

    [Internal leak ident or premeditated?]

    One eye¨Ccatching headline after another exploded onto the front page of every news feed

 Tried 504

    [How hical I used to think GrabCheap was a reliable tform that prioritized user experience and had affordable prices. I often bought small things there. Never again¡°]

    Was this some kind of employee screw¨Cup? They¡¯re not even trying to hide it anymore?]

    I was wondering why I¡¯ve been <b>getting </b>so many scam calls and messagestely. Turns out this was the reason? This <b>is </b>no different from running around naked)

    Greedy capitalists! Go to hell]

    [Last time, they could still use the hacker excuse, but this time? No one attacked them, right? Their tech is crap, and their people are worse!]

    [Boycott GrabCheap! Take the app off the shelves¡®]

    As soon as the news broke, the inte was flooded with calls to boycott GrabCheap and Bree Technology. asionally, <b>a </b>few voices urged rationality and suggested waiting for an official exnation, but a sea of angryizens and inte trolls instantly drowned them out.

    After Aubree¡¯s kidnapping. Bree Technology¡¯s already plummeting stock price took another huge hit. The sharp drop made even those initially sympathetic and reassured about Aubree¡¯s condition panic.

    ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky, you said Ms. Miller is okay, but can we at least get a sign from her? We¡¯ve been calling, but her phone¡¯s off. And now this whole Grab Cheap scandal

    <b>¡°</b>We keep calling, but her phone¡¯s always off. And now with this whole GrabCheap fiasco¡­¡± another person chimed in, frustration clear in their

    Toice.

    Some more hot¨Ctempered investors even began spinning conspiracy theories. ¡°Birgitte, is it possible that Aubree knew something like this would happen, so she faked her kidnapping to escape the fallout?¡±

    Some investors, confident in their foresight, immediately pulled out, and many of Bree Technology¡¯s business projects were temporarily halted by partners who didn¡¯t want tomit unless Aubree could resolve the issue. Otherwise, they would demandpensation for breach of contract.

    Despite the growing pressure, Birgitte remained calm. ¡°If you trust me, and you trust Ms. Miller, then you should put your hearts at ease.¡±

    Of course, there were still a few partners more concerned about whether Bree Technology needed help, like Manchotech Group and Windward Group

    She reported the situation to Aubree. Despite rumors of hiding or even being dead, Aubree was very much alive and sitting on her couch, watching the news about the massive data leak from GrabCheap, Bree Technology¡¯s emerce tform.

    Aubree¡¯s gaze darkened, but she barely reacted to Birgitte¡¯s report. ¡°Let them be. In a crisis, those who can¡¯t stick with you are just opportunists. Once you stand high enough, people like them are a dime a dozen. And this is just part of our n. If something real had happened, their actions would have been nothing less than stabbing us in the back.¡±

    Birgitte replied, ¡°Of course, expecting loyalty in business isughable. Let them regret itter.¡±

    Aubree asked, ¡°Did we catch the mole?¡±

    Birgitte replied. ¡°We¡¯ve narrowed it down. Just need one final step.

    Aubree nodded. ¡°Good Handle it

    After thest hacking incident, Aubree <b>was </b>convinced that someone inside had been nted by the Wilson family. But with too many people involved and the mole hiding well, she had no way to catch them.

    Once the kidnapping happened, she guessed the Wilson family would make a move, and the mole would act.

    The data leak was real, but whether the leaked info was actual user data was another story.

    Aubree smiled slightly. When Alvin came to rebuild the servers for her, did they really think she¡¯d leave such a fatal vulnerability unattended?

    First, she borrowed people from Bowen to strengthen the internal defenses. Then she hired unrted tech specialists to add anotheryer modeled after Bowen¡¯s methods.

    Under normal operation, everything looked fine. But once attacked, the dualyer protection would show its worth.

    If the attacker came from within, they would only breach the outer defense and leak the decoy data. But they were just a bunch of fake information created by her people. To find the real data, you¡¯d have to break through bothyers.

    And these two protective systems were independent and constantly evolving.

    In other words, even if Alvin and Bowen joined forces, they might not be able to break through GrabCheap¡¯s current defenses.

    <b>As </b>Bowen once said, ¡°<b>Be </b>wary of everyone. Never let anyone hold a deadly weakness over you.¡±

    He said that to warn her about Alvin. She took that advice and used it against him as well.

    Aubree smiled to herself, feeling like she had just gotten away with something clever.

    The data leak scandal had barely caused <b>a </b><b>stir </b>for half a day before tech experts began analyzing the leaked screenshots and data.

    [Hey, don¡¯t you guys think this <b>so</b><b>¨C</b>called leaked data looks kinda¡­ weird?]

    [More than weird. Check out the verified <b>expert¡¯s </b>post on X.]

    A verified ount had just posted a blog breaking down the incident.

    [At first, I thought thepany had truly lost its mind. But after I analyzed it, I burst outughing. Someone clearly set this up to target Bree Technology, but didn¡¯t even know what they were doing. All the leaked data? Completely fake. Just made up.]

    To prove his point, the expert hacked into what was supposedly GrabCheap¡¯s ¡°hole¨Cridden and vulnerable server and pulled out a set of sequential user data.

    <b>[</b>When you line these user names up, the first characters of each name spell out, I, D, I, O, T.]

    The once¨Coutraged public collectively fell silent. It seemed like it was roasting them.

    [Seriously, GrabCheap isn¡¯t even trying to hide the joke now. Those trolls must feel like clowns. Can¡¯t even tell the leaked data is fake?]

    [What is this? One user ID is 10086, and the profile photo is my childhood idol.]

    [I¡¯m speechless. My childhood idol crawled out of the TV just to shop on GrabCheap?]

    The narrative flipped so fast it gave people whish. But more importantly, the public finally felt relieved. Nobody wants their personal data posted on some sketchy website.

    Bryan, who had been watching Bree Technology closely, stared in disbelief when he saw the new updates.

    ¡®Fake? How could that be?¡® Bryan¡¯s mind reeled.

    Patrick said that after Alvin rebuilt the servers, there was a vulnerability that. Once breached from the inside, it would leak everything. It shouldn¡¯t be fake.

    Even if he didn¡¯t trust Patrick, that was Alvin¡¯s own assessment. It shouldn¡¯t have gone wrong.

    Aubree trusted Alvin deeply. She shouldn¡¯t take precautions against him.

    Panic set in immediately. With Bree Technology in trouble, Bryan¡¯s father had been in a great mood and even seemed ready to hand thepany over to him. This couldn¡¯t fall apart now.

    He quickly called Patrick.

    At Bree Technology¡¯s S¨¹dlichen Strand branch conference room, Birgitte sat at the head of the table with her assistant, a few security guards at the door, and several members of the tech team present.

    Besides her, there were a few tech department employees in the room.

    Some looked calm, others confused, and a few were clearly nervous.

    With a cold face, Birgitte looked at the row of phones in front of her.

    ¡°Birgitte, did something happen?¡± Patrick asked with a smile.

 Tried 505

    <b>Chapter </b>505

    Patrick¡¯s slightly trembling fingertips betrayed that he wasn¡¯t as rxed as he pretended to be. He forced a chuckle. ¡°Calling all of us in <i>so </i>suddenly¡­

    He hesitated, <b>eyes </b>shifting toward the row of phonesid out on the table. They had been summoned abruptly and, upon entering the room, were ordered to hand over their devices.

    Patrick silently broke into a cold sweat. He thought he had been exposed.

    But then he reasoned. He hadn¡¯t done anything overtly suspicious. Neither Birgitte nor Aubree had shown any indication they suspected a mole in their midst. He¡¯d saved both of them, and he <b>was </b>even in a rtionship with Birgitte. If they knew something, surely he¡¯d be informed.

    That fleeting thought calmed him. Putting his trademark grin back on, he said cheerfully, ¡°Birgitte, <b>if </b>you want to check my phone, that¡¯s fine, but isn¡¯t it a bit much to take everyone¡¯s<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    He winked. ¡°Besides, what¡¯s this all about anyway?¡±

    Birgitte finally looked up, <b>eyes </b>sweeping across the room. ¡°Sit down.¡±

    Her expression was cold, her tone <b>stern</b>, showing no special treatment despite her rtionship with Patrick.

    Others in the room shifted uneasily. They didn¡¯t know what had happened. Birgitte even treated Patrick like that.

    Patrick <b>gave </b>a sheepish smile and obediently sat back down. As he lowered his head, a flicker of resentment passed through his eyes<b>. </b>But from the look of things, Birgitte wasn¡¯t here to check the phones. He would just let her y her game.

    Everyone present had been handpicked by Birgitte as top suspects. She¡¯d called them in first thing that morning, so none of them knew what was happening online yet.

    The sound of fingers tapping on the table made everyone tense and restless.

    Birgitte <b>crossed </b>her arms, tapping her fingers rhythmically. ¡°Unless something extraordinary happens, you¡¯ll all be free to leave after the end of the workday. If you¡¯re innocent, you¡¯ll get five times your normal pay aspensation.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± someone finally asked, unable to sit still. If they <b>were </b>going to be fired, they deserved an exnation.

    Others didn¡¯t care. ¡°So we¡¯re getting paid to sit here and do nothing? Can¡¯t use our phones, but whatever.¡±

    ¡°Five times the pay? I¡¯ll camp in this meeting room!¡±

    Some shrugged it off. Others got irritated and began demanding to leave. One hot¨Cheaded employee grabbed their phone from the table.¡°I¡¯m leaving! What<b>, </b>you gonna stop me<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Birgitte didn¡¯t move. She simply gestured toward the door.

    The moment the door opened, the ck¨Csuited bodyguards standing outside turned to look inside.

    ¡°What the hell is this? Are we prisoners<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Patrick, ying the concerned voice of reason, said, ¡°Birgitte, what are you doing? Just let everyone go.¡±

    He added, ¡°If there¡¯s an issue, let¡¯s deal with the issue. I know thepany¡¯s in a rough spottely, but we can¡¯t let ite to this. Ms. Miller¡¯s not here. You need to stay calm.¡±

    More people began to grumble.

    <b>¡°</b>If thepany¡¯s going under, then just dere bankruptcy. Why take it out on us<b>?</b>¡±

    ¡°What, are you saying we caused the mess? You trying to catch a mole or something?<b>¡± </b>

    Birgitte raised her eyebrows and looked directly at the speaker. ¡°Smart.¡±

    ¡°You can consider this <b>a </b>very special kind of meeting.¡± She stood up. For a moment, her <b>presence </b>filled the room, silencing everyone.

    She added, ¡°What I said earlier still stands. If you¡¯re clean, you¡¯ll walk out of here with extra pay. If not, expect prison time.¡±

    <b>Faces </b>went pale. ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky, what do you mean<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Birgitte replied, ¡°Exactly what it sounds like.<b>¡± </b>

    <b>2.32 </b><b>PM </b>

    Patrick went quiet. His internal mental preparations crumbled instantly. ¡®What did she mean? She knew? How could she know<b>? </b>Is she holding us here waiting for evidence?

    Hiding among the others. Patrick lowered his <b>face</b>, his usual mask cracking to reveal something venomous beneath. He had to <b>stir </b>the others into rebelling, push them out of this trap.

    But before he could act, a sudden ringtone broke the tension in the room.

    <b>It </b>was the sound <b>of </b>a phone ringing.

    Patrick recognized the ringtone instantly. His face fell.

    He asked, ¡°Birgitte, that might be my phone¡­ Can I answer it without leaving the room?<b>¡± </b>

    Birgitte had already nced at the caller ID. An unmarked number. <b>Her </b>brows lifted, and she smiled.

    Patrick saw her expression and rxed. He reached for the phone. If it <b>were </b>from Bryan, he would be doomed. And she answered¡­

    *Patrick, you¡­<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky!¡± His shrill voice interrupted the call, startling both ends of the line.

    You¡­ why are you answering my phone?¡± His protest halted abruptly, like <b>a </b>car driven off a cliff.

    ¡°You <b>were </b>just calling me by my first name earlier. What, changed your mind already?¡± Birgitte smiled, her voice calm, though her heart was heavy. She should¡¯ve known. When Aubree was arrested during the first incident, they¡¯d suspected an internal mole. The timing had been too perfect.

    But every trap they <b>set </b>afterward failed. At the time, she thought Aubree was just being paranoid. In hindsight, it was because she had treated Patrick too leniently. Even with the tiniest hints, he had guessed too much.

    This time, though, only she and Aubree knew the truth, and no one else. That was how he finally slipped up and showed his true colors.

    They had long suspected him, but she didn¡¯t want to believe it.

    She sighed, then answered the phone. ¡°Mr. Wilson? Long time no see. How have you been?¡±

    ¡­Birgitte?¡±

    ¡°d you still recognize my voice. Your mole has been exposed.¡±

    The line went dead.

    Birgitte looked up at Patrick. ¡°So, from the beginning, even the sulfuric acid attack was your doing?¡±

    Seeing that he <b>was </bpletely exposed, Patrick no longer bothered pretending. His lips curled into a wide grin, and his gaze was filled with malice.

    He said, ¡°Can¡¯t catch a big wolf without sacrificing a few sheep. A sharp woman like you, surrounded by suitors¡­ I had to think of something, right?*

    He shrugged, carefree. ¡°Honestly, you¡¯re a bit older, but you¡¯ve got a killer body. I won¡¯t lie, I¡¯ve had fun these past few months.¡±

    He added, ¡°Corporate espionage is serious. The maximum sentence is seven years. When I get out, you won¡¯t forget me, will you, Birgitte?¡±

    He smirked,pletely unafraid of the looming prison sentence. Worse, he had the audacity to verbally humiliate her.

    Patrick mocked, ¡°I remember the first guy you gave it up to was some old fart, right? Bet I was better than that limp¨Cdicked geezer.¡±

    A brutal pnded squarely on his face. Birgitte¡¯s eyes were as cold as ice. ¡°You? Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡±

    Chin slightly raised, she flexed her tingling hand. ¡°You think I¡¯ll lose it, or break down? Trash like you isn¡¯t even worth it. You better pray you don¡¯t bumr.

    The:

 Tried 506

    Him! 14 kandecent How could he love done this

    Afnend of mine was in the meeting room tore, said he was scared to death Didn¡¯t expect it was about catching a mole. You have no idea how disgusting that guy we When he got exposed, he totally lost 10 and started cursing, Ms Cherniavsky¡±

    Toneatly, what he said wasn¡¯t all wrong. He¡¯s good looking, younger than Me Cherniavsky too

    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re just jealous that a woman like Ms. Chervsky is your superior. I¡¯m going to tell her you said that

    When Patrick was escorted out of the elevator by the police, people in the lobby all stared and pointed, mostly in disbelief.

    Birgitte and Patrick¡¯s rtionship had never been deliberately hidden. Almost everyone at thepany knew about it. At first, they all admired their fairy¨Ctale romance. He even shielded her from suffuric acid They didn¡¯t expect it to be a scherpe

    I don¡¯t get it Patrick is pretty capable himself, and being with Ms. Cherniavsky isn¡¯t really a loss, right? Apart from that one scandal, Ms. Cherniavsky bus looks, talent, and connections. She¡¯s close friends with Ms. Miller from headquarters. Why would he be a mole?¡±

    ¡°Who knows what he was thinking? Maybe his brain¡¯s just not right?

    Inside the meeting room Hirgitte sat alone, she had let everyone else go

    Birgitte sal alone. She had let everyone else go

    Supporting her head, she suddenly felt a fat lost. It all turned out to be aplete deception.

    But she didn¡¯t have time to wallow in emotion. The secretary standing outside the door was still hesitating whether to go in andfort her boss or let her love a moment alone when the door suddenly opened

    ¡°M¨CMs. Cherniavsky!¡±

    Birgitte walked out with none of the fragility or confusion she showed earlier Her gaze was sharp She appeared to be calm and steady, ¡°Hand the collected evidener over to the police. File charges against Patrick for leaking ourpany¡¯s trade secrets¡±

    she added. Contact the 14 department. They can get started Companies that threatened us or withdrew their investments during this period should be contacted to cancel all contracts with them ording to Ms. Miller, there is no shortage of potential partners. We do not need thesepanies

    Bree Technology was no longer what it used to be. It had solid foundations thanks to its veteran livestreaming tforms. As long as people wanted to be influencers or watch live content. yzy would keep making money. Then there was Zappy. It was now fully established at home and abroad, and easily considered a national level app

    Zappy and the entertainment industry spun off by Kurtis had be a goldmine. On top of that, there was GrabCheap, apany with a market value in the billions of dors<b>. </b>

    In terms of legacy and strength. Bree Technology was <i>now </i>on par with the biggest names in the industry.

    The secretary pushed up his sses. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Chernlivsky. We won¡¯t let those who talked trash off the hook.¡±

    Birgitte nodded and dismissed him. Her tasks were mostly done. She made a call to update Aubree on the situation.

    The buzz online hadn¡¯t died down Even though it was now dear there had been no privacy breach, everyone was still curious about what was going on inside Bree Technology

    Spection grew wilder by the day

    Some theorized that Birgitte was fighting Aubree for control. Others said Bree Technology had made too many enemies, and someone was trying to sabotage them, only to be caught off guard by Bree Technology¡¯s preparedness. One person even imed their uncle worked at Bree Technology and said Aubree had recently asked Alvin for support.

    171

 Tried 507

    <b>Chapter </b>507

    Since Alvin was part of the Turner family and Bowen held shares in Bree Technology, it seemed that Bowen was trying to strike before Bree Technology became strong enough <b>to </b>pose a threat to the Turner Group.

    Everyone had their own theory.

    Following Aubree¡¯s instructions, Bree Technology¡¯s PR department moved fast. First, they a

    addressed the privacy <b>issue </b>head¨Con, stating clearly that a mole nted by a rivalpany had attacked their servers internally. Thanks to safeguards, no real data had been leaked. The released information <b>was </b>fake. Nothing for the public to worry about. Second, they published a dismissal notice for Patrick, head of the tech department,

    No names <b>were </b>mentioned directly, but given the timing, the implication was obvious. Patrick was the mole, and they had already dealt with him.

    Far away in Rithol City, Aubree finally rxed. The mole had been caught.

    She looked outside. She hadn¡¯t slept well the night before, worried about Nina and the mole situation. All morning, she¡¯d waited for Birgitte¡¯s update. It was nearly noon. She hadn¡¯t eaten, and her brain was running on fumes. Aubree forced herself to stay focused and called Bowen. ¡°Bowen, any updates on Nina?<b>¡± </b>

    Bowen replied, ¡°We¡¯ve confirmed her location. We¡¯re heading there now.¡±

    Aubree let out a breath of relief. At least she was safe.

    ¡°Send me the <b>address</b>. I¡¯ming too.¡±

    Bowen knew her well. If she didn¡¯t go, she wouldn¡¯t be at ease. She¡¯d work herself into a frenzy. ¡°Okay. But don¡¯t drive yourself.¡±

    He knew she hadn¡¯t rested and still hadpany matters to handle.

    Aubree smiled faintly. ¡°Got it.¡±

    Once she had the address, she asked Vincent to drive her there directly.

    Meanwhile, at Wilson Group.

    Bryan mmed down his phone. Patrick had been exposed.

    His face went pale. That meant all their ns had failed. Worse, if Patrick confessed it was all orchestrated by Wilson Group, they¡¯d be in deep trouble.

    Right then, his assistant came in. ¡°Mr. Wilson, here¡¯s thetest info on Bree Technology. Also, the chairman is furious. He wants you in his office immediately.

    Bryan was annoyed. He knew he¡¯d just get chewed out. ¡°Tell my dad I have other things to handle¡­¡±

    ¡°Handle what?<b>¡± </b>

    The office door burst open. Carmen followed Ronald into the room.

    Ronald immediately began yelling. He was enraged.

    The assistant, sensing danger, wisely slipped out and closed the door behind him. Ronald was about to chew out Bryan. It was best to give the guy a little dignity.

    Bryan said, ¡°Dad¡­<i>¡± </i>

    Ronald snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t call me dad! Look what a mess you made!¡±

    Aubree was enjoying the Wilson family¡¯s internal chaos. After catching Patrick, she dug Ronald¡¯s number out of her cklist. She told him that she only found the mole thanks to Bryan¡¯s phone call.

    First, it was to spite Bryan and give him a taste of defeat. Second, since Carmen wanted to take over Wilson Group, Aubree was more than happy to help her up thedder. Bryan was her main rival. The more mistakes he made, the smoother things would be for Carmen.

    Ronald asked, ¡°So it was you who called Patrick and got him exposed?¡±

    Faced with Ronald¡¯s interrogation, Bryan gritted his teeth and lowered his head. ¡°Yes¡­ When all those fake leaks came out online, I just¡­ wanted to ask him what was going on.¡±

    Carmen <b>said</b>. ¡°Bryan<b>, </b>you really shouldn¡¯t have. It¡¯s such a sensitive time: How could you contact Mr. Steward?¡±

    Carmen sighed theatrically We almost had Bree Technology <b>back </b>in our hands. But now Dad¡¯s been missing Aubree so much. Still, don t be too hard on Bryan He only did it because he cares.¡±

    Her tone sounded like she was mediating, but it was actually pouring fuel on the fire, constantly reminding Ronald that if it weren¡¯t for Bryan<b>. </b>they¡¯d already have reimed Bree Technology

    Ìï

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 Tried 508

    <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¨Cbike 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¨Ctied 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¨Chearted 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¨Clooking 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

 Tried 509

    <b>Chapter </b>509

    Early that morning, after finding out where Bowen was, Alvin drove over and joined <b>Bowen </b>and Mark as they entered the vi.

    On the second floor, Timothy was carried down, and the two <b>corpses </b>wereid out in the center of the living room<b>. </b>

    Bowen froze when he saw <b>their </b>faces. ¡°These two¡­.¡±

    Mark also looked incredulous<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Aren¡¯t these the couple?¡±

    He instinctively turned to look at Alvin.

    Even Alvin hadn¡¯t expected that after searching bitterly for so long, the <b>two </b>people he was looking for would appear in front of him under such circumstances. Staring at the two faces he could never forget, his eyes suddenly turned red<b>. </b>

    He covered his face and burst intoughter. Whileughing, <b>tears </b>poured through the gaps in his fingers. ¡°They¡¯re dead just like that? How could they die so easily?

    He slowly lowered his hands, his shoulders drooping in despair. Yet his bloodshot eyes locked onto the corpses with a chilling intensity.

    A nearby armed officer clicked his tongue and thought. What kind of grudge does this Turner family heir have with these kidnappers? That look in his eyes¡­ like he wants to tear them apart with his teeth.

    They remembered that it <b>was </b>supposed to be Mark¡¯s wife who got kidnapped. But it felt like Alvin was the one who had lost his spouse.

    Alvin tilted his head, still staring. Then, with a bright smile, he said, ¡°Mark, do you have a knife?¡±

    Mark frowned, not understanding. What do you want to do<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Alvin shot back.

    Mark didn¡¯t agree.

    Bowen furrowed his brows. Even though they were already dead. Alvin still had to vent his rage.

    Alvin Bowen started.

    As soon as Bowen spoke, Alvin turned to look at him. ¡°Are you going to stop me again?¡±

    Bowen <b>was </b>at a loss for words. ¡°Mark, let him.

    Mark red, but after thinking it over, reluctantly agreed.

    ¡°Male¡­ received thirteen knife wounds. Five in the abdomen, three in the chest¡­ fatal injury was a single stab through the throat¡±

    Female¡­ died tragically. Eight wounds¡­. both eyes gouged out¡­

    This was from the autopsy report in the past.

    Alvin remembered every single word. He took the army knife Mark handed him and returned every single wound.

    It was what his parents had suffered back then. Even in death, these people couldn¡¯t escape paying for it

    Alvin¡¯s expression <b>was </b>vicious. Bowen felt <i>both </i>sorrow and helplessness. This was his own nephew.

    After his brother and sister¨Cinw passed. Alvin seemed to grow up overnight, keeping all his pain hidden deep inside.

    Bowen used the back of his hand to cover his eyes, tilting his head back, unable to stop his tears.

    Mark turned his head away, unwilling to watch.

    Nina, still a little unclear on the situation, slowly pieced it together. These traffickers were¡­

    ¡°Just the eyes left¡­ Blood sttered all over him. Alvin didn¡¯t care. He pointed the knife at their eyes and thrust down hard.

    Right at that moment<b>, </b>Aubree rushed in.

    The horrifying scene inside the vi made her scream. The sound drew everyone¡¯s attention.

    Bowen¡¯s face turned pale. He had forgotten she wasing.

    15

    He shouted, ¡°Bree, close your <b>eyes</b><b>!</b>¡±

    Mark¡¯s heart sank. He turned quickly toward Alvin.

    Alvin froze briefly. With no hesitation, he gouged the eyes of the traffickers. Blood covered his face. He turned and gave Aubree a wide, bloody grin.

    The scene made it hard to tell who the <b>real </b>viin <b>was</b>.

    Aubree¡¯s vision <b>went </b>white as she stared nkly at the two corpses<b>. </b>Those faces<b>¡­. </b>She squatted down, clutching her head.

    Aubree stared nkly at the two bodies on the floor<b>, </b><b>as </b>if something deep inside her was about to break free. She clutched her head, dropped to a crouch, and couldn¡¯t move.

    ¡°It hurts¡­¡± she whispered.

    Even her fingertips <b>were </b>trembling. Eventually, her <b>eyes </b>rolled <b>back</b>, and she fainted.

    and coldly

    Alvin threw the knife aside and coldly watched Bowen pick up Aubree and walk away. ¡°Uncle Bowen, this isn¡¯t over.¡±

    Bowen paused. ¡°I won¡¯t let you hurt her.¡±

    <b>2/2 </b>

 Tried 510

    <b>Chapter </b>510

    Nina nced back at Alvin, then quickly followed Bowen. ¡°Mr. Turner<b>, </b>there¡¯s something I need to tell you. The one behind Aubree¡¯s kidnapping might be Alice.¡±

    I overheard those two traffickers <b>say </b>it themselves. A biological mother kidnapping her own daughter,¡± she said, her voice still tinged with disbelief.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Bowen¡¯s reply was curt,

    It <b>was </b><b>a </b>rainy night.

    She had been kidnapped. The traffickers had been instructed not to harm her. A beat¨Cup van sped down a mountain road. The girl¡¯s shrill cries <b>were </b>haunting.

    ¡°She¡¯s been crying the whole way. Shut her up already!¡±

    ¡°Her family doesn¡¯t want her anyway, Why not strangle her and bury her somewhere<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I agree. We¡¯ve already got the money.¡±

    Suddenly, the van screeched to a halt. A rough hand grabbed her neck.

    Just then, a ck Volkswagen mmed into the van.

    The car had been modified, so the impact wasn¡¯t too severe.

    ¡°Kid, run!¡± a voice shouted.

    She was pulled from the van.

    The traffickers chased after her. ¡°Run! Run forward!¡±

    She didn¡¯t know what happened afterward. The rain was heavy, and she kept running until she couldn¡¯t anymore.

    ¡°The patient copsed from mental exhaustion and intense shock. She¡¯ll be fine after <i>a </i>good rest.¡±

    She woke up.

    ¡°She¡¯s awake<b>. </b>Go call someone<b>!</b>¡±

    Crackling noises filled the room.

    Aubree frowned and slowly opened her eyes. ¡°Bree, how do you feel?¡±

    ¡°My¡­¡± Her voice was painfully hoarse.

    After sipping water, she clutched the cup. ¡°Bowen, I remember now. Everything that happened when I was kidnapped at five. A couple saved me. The man¡­ He looked a bit like you. Were they Alvin¡¯s parents?¡±

    Bowen paused. He hadn¡¯t expected her to recall everything like this.

    He said, ¡°Yes. But don¡¯t me yourself. My brother went into politics partly for the family¡¯s benefit, but also because he truly wanted to do good. If he <b>saw </b>any child in danger, he would¡¯ve intervened.¡±

    Aubree gave a bitter smile. ¡°So Alvin knows too, doesn¡¯t he?¡±

    She remembered the madness, the hatred in his eyes.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bowen said.

    <b>¡°</b>So he helped Carmen into thepany¡­ It <b>wasn¡¯t </b>a coincidence, right?¡± He wanted revenge, but when Bowen blocked him, he decided to drag him down too.

    Aubree suddenly felt exhausted. ¡°What do you think?<b>¡°</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. His heart is full of you.¡± The door opened. A cool young voice reced Bowen¡¯s.

    ¡°Alvin¡­<b>¡± </b>Aubree whispered.

    <b>2:33 </b>PM

    She could <b>see </b>hatred in Alvin¡¯s eyes.

    *1¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± she murmured.

    Alvin retorted, ¡°Sorry<b>? </b>Can that bring my parents back<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree remembered his blood¨Csoaked appearance and stopped speaking. Anything she said would be wrong.

    ¡°Aubree, answer me. Will you leave Rithol City? If you agree never to let me see you again, we¡¯re even.¡± Alvin¡¯s gaze was cold as ice.

    Bowen snapped, ¡°Alvin!¡±

    Alvin asked, ¡°Uncle Bowen, are you mad? Or just scared you can¡¯t make her stay?¡±

    The Turner family¡¯s roots were in Rithol City. Bowen couldn¡¯t leave<b>, </b>and if Aubree did, that meant separation.

    Aubree took a deep breath. Bowen had been right. What mattered wasn¡¯t guilt for surviving, but making her life meaningful in honor of those who saved her.

    She held his cold hand. ¡°We¡¯ve been together so long. Can¡¯t you trust me a little? You¡¯re Bowen¡¯s nephew.¡±

    She continued, ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m not leaving. If we can¡¯t be friends anymore, and you want revenge, go ahead. I¡¯ll fight back, but I won¡¯t hurt you.¡±

    Alvin sneered. ¡°As <b>if </b>L.care.¡±

    ¡°The firewall sabotage was your doing, right? Did you help the Wilson family on purpose?¡± Aubree asked the question that had haunted her.

    Alvin answered, ¡°Yeah. Too bad the Wilsons were useless.<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree went cold all over. He really had thought about killing her.

    She lowered her head. ¡°<b>I </b>see.¡±

    Alvin hade to the hospital just to check on her, and now that he knew she remembered everything, he made no effort to hide his intentions.

    It didn¡¯t matter. There was still time. This wasn¡¯t over.

    After Alvin left, Aubree gripped Bowen¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°I won¡¯t leave you because of this.¡±

    Bowen looked into her determined eyes, but a bitter feeling twisted in his chest.

 Tried 511

    <b>Chapter </b>511

    After breaking ties with Alvin, Aubree learned from Bowen that Turner Group¡¯s new internship program was now under Alvin¡¯s control. They would recruit <b>first- </b>and second¨C<b>year </b>university students. Using his privileged identity, he had essentially won over the hearts of thepany¡¯s fresh blood

    <b>Even </b>Bowen had to admit. ¡°<b>He </b>is truly a Turner. He was assigned to a grassroots position, and he went ahead and took control of the entire grassroots force.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll take your position one day?¡± Aubree gave him a sidelong nce.

    ¡°<b>If </b>he <b>does</b><b>, </b>I¡¯ll just be the boyfriend of thepany¡¯s president,¡± Bowen joked.

    Though he still had the heart to joke, Aubree couldn¡¯tugh. She had never imagined things with Alvin would turn out this way.

    But <b>life </b>had to <b>go </b>on. Alvin wanted her out of Rithol City, but she couldn¡¯t just <b>sit </b>around waiting.

    After a few <b>days </b><b>of </b>observation confirming no lingering health issues, she was discharged from the hospital.

    No sooner had she stepped out than the Walton family came to apologize.

    barius deeply apologized for the kidnapping incident that urred at the Walton family <b>estate </b>and invited her <b>to </b>a meal.

    There was more to this than just an apology.

    Darius <b>was </b>afraid Aubree and Bowen would bear <b>a </b>grudge, so he bowed his head first to express his stance and test Aubree¡¯s attitude. <b>If </b>she epted, there¡¯d still be room for cooperation.

    <b>As </b>a rising star with immense potential, Aubree had long been on Darius¡¯s radar. If he could work with her, it would undoubtedly bring <b>new </b>value to the Walton family.

    While Alvin needed watching, the Wilson family couldn¡¯t be taken lightly either. The opening Aubree saw <i>to </i>deal with Daxton was through the Walton family, and his anti¨Ccancer drug experiment.

    So the Walton family¡¯s invitation was one she had to ept.

    This time, to host Aubree, Darius pulled out all the stops. He chose a well¨Cknown farm¨Cto¨Ctable restaurant in Rithol City.

    This ce was strictly reservation¨Conly. They only served a hundred tables a day. Every dish was a <b>feast </b>for the senses, made with free<b>¨C</b>range ingredients, giving everything a fresh taste and firm, vorful texture.

    Even if one <b>was </b>loaded, they still had to show up in person to book a table, and the next day¡¯s slots only opened for reservation the day before.

    Darius said, ¡°I barely slept all night to get this reservation. Ms. Miller, you must try the food here.¡±

    Aubree smiled. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Walton. That matter really wasn¡¯t your fault. I should be the one thanking you for your help.¡±

    ¡°Not at all¡­¡± They exchanged pleasantries as they made their way to the restaurant.

    Since they arrived before mealtime, Darius led Aubree around to try some of the restaurant¡¯s specialty dishes.

    Up until the meal began, Darius never brought up business<b>. </b>

    He said, ¡°This lobster bisque is their signature. Please try some, Ms. Miller.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll raise a ss <b>to </b>you<b>, </b>and you can just enjoy the soup.¡± Darius downed a shot of liquor without blinking. It was easy to see how he¡¯d built such a sessful business<b>. </b>

    No matter what kind of business a person was in, they couldn¡¯t help but look at him with newfound respect.

    Aubree, like many others, <b>respected </b>that kind of character. She took a sip of soup in return. ¡°Mr. Walton, <b>I </b>assume today¡¯s meeting isn¡¯t just about an apology?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Miller, you may be young, but you¡¯re sharp!¡± Darius chuckled.

    He said, ¡°If Walton Pharmaceuticals could coborate with Bree Technology, it would be the perfect match.¡±

    Aubree smiled, ¡°I¡¯d be more than happy to work with you. To be honest, I heard you¡¯re investing in the development of an anti¨Ccancer drug¡±

    2.33 PM

    <b>Darius </b>nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± It <b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>a </b>secret that Walton Pharmaceuticals specialized in cancer treatment and had developed drugs that significantly suppressed cancer cells. <b>However</b><b>, </b>none had <b>ever </b>achieved a cure.

    Darius sighed. ¡°To be honest, this project is <b>a </b>coboration with Daxton Wilson, that medical genius. We provide the funding; hisb and our R&D team do the research. But after years of effort, we still haven¡¯t <b>seeded</b>.¡±

    ¡°I actually <b>have </b>some good news for you, Mr. Walton. Though I don¡¯t know <b>if </b>you¡¯ll believe it.¡± Aubree picked up a piece of fish with a serving spoon and ced it in his bowl. ¡°I know how <b>to </b>develop a truly effective anti¨Ccancer drug.¡±

    <b>¡°</b>Really?¡± Darius nearly dropped <b>his </b>spoon.

    The delicious food before him suddenly lost all appeal. He set down his spoon, <b>eyes </b>fixed on her.

    Aubree said, ¡°Would I dare bluff you about something this serious? What I mean is I know someone who can develop that drug.¡±

    In the previous timeline, after Daxton had a major ident, Aubree helped solve the research bottleneck and seeded in developing the drug, restoring her reputation.

    But she never tried to im all the credit. After Daxton¡¯sb was investigated and shut down, she risked her life <b>to </b>sneak in and recover a mass of scattered research materials.

    Among them, she discovered a highly feasible research proposal.

    Though shecked deep medical knowledge, she understood the underlying principle. She tracked down the person who had submitted that proposal and eventually convinced them to try again. They sought help from various medical experts and endured countless rejections.

    Unfortunately, their credit was stolen. That person¡¯s brilliance was buried by Daxton.

    The proposal was dismissed because Daxton refused to ept that someone else¡¯s idea might be better. Hisb was run like a dictatorship. He outright rejected the idea and warned that anyone who pursued it would be kicked out.

    That researcher <b>saw </b>through Daxton¡¯s obsession with fame and titles. They left theb.

    Timeline¨Cwise, that person should have already fallen out with Daxton.

    This time around, Aubree would rmend that person to Darius, urging him to establish a newb centered on this researcher.

    Darius said, ¡°Ms. Miller, tell me more.¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°The person I¡¯m talking about is a researcher recently dismissed from Daxton¡¯sb. If you trust me, go find him, agree to his terms, and establish a newb with him <b>as </b>the core.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll bet, based on current progress, he¡¯ll seed within three months<b>.</b>¡± Aubree spoke with conviction, and Darius was swayed.

    She was right. There was no reason <b>for </b>her to lie to him. And even if it turned out to be false, the Walton family <b>was </b>no pushover.

    Aubree continued, ¡°At worst, the loss is just the investment. I¡¯m confident in this. So if you agree to start theb, Bree Technology is willing to <b>co- </b>invest and split the risk with you. It¡¯s <b>a </b>win¨Cwin.¡±

    With the offerid out so clearly, Darius agreed.

    As Aubree said, if it seeded, he¡¯d profit massively. If it failed, they¡¯d share the loss.

    And she hadn¡¯t even asked him to sever ties with Daxton. He had little to lose.

    They clinked sses, not realizing they were being overheard.

    Coincidentally, Casper was also dining there that day. He had just finished a meal with some friends and came over to greet his father, only to overhear the conversation.

    His breath caught. Daxton had been struggling to develop that drug for years. If he brought this intel to him, wouldn¡¯t Carmen start seeing him more favorably?

    <b>Casper </b>acted immediately, texting his friends to say he was leaving early, and then drove straight to find Carmen.

    He told her everything he had <b>just </b>heard.

 Tried 512

    <b>Chapter </b><b>512 </b>

    ¡°Is everything you said true<b>?</b>¡± Carmen <b>was </b>so excited she nearly shouted.

    Casper hade directly to the Wilson Group to find her.

    Carmen looked around nervously, then went back and locked the office door before continuing to ask, ¡°You mean the key to Daxton¡¯s drug research lies <b>with </b>that researcher of his?<b>¡± </b>

    <b>Casper </b>replied, ¡°Yes! That¡¯s what Aubree said. All of Daxton¡¯sb research ns are archived, and there must be handwritten notes from that researcher.<b>¡± </b>

    ¡®Carmen, I could lie to anyone but never to you!¡±

    Indeed, Casper <b>was </b><b>a </b>fool, a <b>dog </b>she could summon or dismiss at will. There was no way he¡¯d lie to her.

    Carmen already believed about eighty percent of it. On the surface, she looked hesitant and said worriedly, ¡°Casper, <b>I </b>know you want to help me, and I appreciate you telling me this. But this is too important. Let¡¯s just pretend I <b>never </b>heard it.¡±

    Casper panicked. If Daxton hadn¡¯t disliked him, he wouldn¡¯t havee to tell Carmen in the first ce<b>. </b>And now Carmen wasn¡¯t even grateful.

    Carmen, <b>our </b>family and Daxton already coborate. You telling him would only strengthen the partnership. How would it harm our family? This <b>is </b>just preventing Aubree from reaping an unearned benefit.¡± He tried to persuade her.

    Carmen put on <b>a </b>conflicted look and, <b>after </b>hesitating for a while under his repeated persuasion, finally nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell Daxton. But I can¡¯t promise what he¡¯ll do with the information.¡±

    Casper breathed a sigh of relief. In his excitement, he stepped forward and grabbed her hands.

    A flicker of disgust shed in Carmen¡¯s eyes, but she quickly masked it with a shy smile as she pulled her hands away. ¡°Casper, you should go now. I¡¯m still at work.¡±

    Casper asked, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll pick you up for dinner tonight. How about that?¡±

    She replied, ¡°I have <b>to </b>see Daxton tonight¡­ maybe another time.¡±

    Although a bit disappointed, Casper cheered himself up again, thinking Carmen was just trying to be better for the future. ¡°Alright.¡±

    As soon as he left, Carmen went straight to tell Daxton. She was afraid his pride would make him ignore this, so she softened him up first. ¡°Daxton, I think no matter if it¡¯s true <i>or </i>not, it¡¯s worth a try. I mean, I don¡¯t want to see Aubree¡¯s efforts go to waste, but even more, I don¡¯t want to see all your hard work stolen by someone else<b>.¡± </b>

    Daxton initially sneered at the news. He knew exactly who they were talking about, a fledgling researcher who had rejected his design and was thrown out of theb.

    He assumed that this researcher was holding a grudge after being kicked out. He then found out that the Wilson family and Aubree had fallen out and went to Aubree for revenge. Aubree, being naive about these things, bought into it, and now Casper was treating it like some precious intel to please her.

    But hearing how worried his most beloved sister was, his heart softened. ¡°I know what you¡¯re saying, Carmen. I¡¯ll listen to you. I¡¯ll allocate some manpower and materials to run this experiment, okay?¡±

    Daxton added, ¡°But let¡¯s agree on this. If the n doesn¡¯t work and there are no results, you¡¯re not allowed to be mad at me?

    Carmenughed sweetly. ¡°How could I be mad <i>at </i>you? I¡¯m just afraid your hard work will go to waste. More options mean more chances. If you¡¯re willing to try, that¡¯s the best oue.¡±

    Neither Aubree nor Darius knew any of this. No matter how clever they were, they couldn¡¯t guard against a fool from within their own side.

    Darius never expected the restaurant he booked to be so private. Although the architecture meant poor soundproofing, each dining courtyard had <b>a </b>guard outside, preventing unregistered guests from approaching.

    Unfortunately, Casper had special connections with him, so the staff didn¡¯t stop him.

    Aubree was in a good mood after securing the partnership with Darius. But she had more to do.

    From Bowen, she¡¯d learned that the two human traffickers who abducted her back then <b>were </b><b>very </b>likely hired by <b>Alice</b>.

    Connecting this with Carmen¡¯s situation, she wasn¡¯t that surprised.

    <b>2.33 </b><b>PM </b>

    Her existence made it impossible for Alice¡¯s beloved ¡°daughter¡± Carmen toe back into the picture. So she simply arranged to have her abducted. It made sense now. She and Bryan were both kids back then, yet she was the only one taken, while Bryan was left alone.

    Aubree made a call to Kyler. ¡°Can you talk?¡±

    ¡°Sure. What¡¯s up now<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Kyler answered.

    ¡°I¡¯m nning to tell Ronald that his wife is keeping <b>a </b>lover<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree said.

    Kyler <b>was </bpletely stunned.

    He never saw thising. Ronald¡¯s wife was Alice, and the lover she was talking about was him.

    He asked, ¡°Wait, Ms. Miller<b>, </b>what are you trying to do?¡±

    Aubree replied, ¡°Rx. I¡¯m not going to hurt you. After all, you¡¯ve helped me so much. I¡¯m not the type to use someone and then dump them.¡±

    Kyler felt slightly relieved. Everyone in Rithol City had at least heard of Ronald, even if they didn¡¯t know him personally.

    If Ronald found out someone had been sleeping with his wife, he wouldn¡¯t let them off easily.

    Aubree said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you arge sum. Whether you stay in Rithol City afterward is up to you. I just need you to do onest thing.¡±

    She continued, ¡°Ronald cares about his reputation. Once I tell him that Alice is keeping a lover, he¡¯ll definitely break things off with her. After that, you go to him, get hush money. Then go to Alice and say I orchestrated the whole thing, including your approach to her.¡±

    Kyler <b>was </b>even more confused. Wouldn¡¯t Alicee after him if she knew Aubree was behind it?

    But none of that mattered to him. As long as he got the money, it was fine.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Kyler agreed.

    After the call ended, his bank ount received a deposit of 3 million dors. And that wasn¡¯t even the final payment. Once he finished the job, Aubree promised another 6 million dors.

    He thought Aubree was truly rich and willful.

    With Kyler¡¯s help from the inside, Aubree arranged for people to take pictures of him and Alice. Every photo was crystal clear and jaw¨Cdropping.

    She was very satisfied. She mailed them straight to the Wilson family¡¯s estate.

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, a letter for you.¡±

    ¡°A letter?¡± Ronald was puzzled. He thought, ¡®Who still sends letters in this day and age?¡®

    He took the envelope from the housekeeper and opened it in his study. Inside were photo after photo. There were two people in the photo, and Ronald knew that woman all too well.

    His face contorted with rage. With a loud bang, he flung the photos across the room.

    ¡°Alice!¡± <b>He </b>never imagined Alice would do something like this.

    He called the butler. <b>¡°</b>If you see Alicee home, send her to my study immediately.¡±

    No wonder she often left the house even when she wasn¡¯t busy. It turned out there was some seductive little man outside keeping her hooked!

    Ronald¡¯s chest heaved violently, almost triggering a heart attack.

    He <b>ci </b>

    By di

    Comment

    on his d

 Tried 513

    <b>Chapter </b>513

    The housekeeper dutifully informed Alice that Ronald <b>was </b>waiting for her in <b>the </b>study.

    Alice found it strange. After thinking for a moment, she figured it must be about the Timothy incident.

    Those two people were already dead and made the news. She had assumed that with them dead and the n failed, Ronald would let it go. She hadn¡¯t expected him to question her now<b>. </b>

    Alice sneered and headed to the study.

    She pushed the door open and found itpletely dark inside. ¡°Why is the light off?¡±

    The dim light from the hallway cast faint shadows into the room. She could vaguely make out Ronald sitting on the ground in a disheveled manner. Alice frowned. ¡®Had something happened?¡®

    <b>A </b>sense of unease crept into her chest.

    ¡°Close the door.¡± Ronald¡¯s voice was hoarse and frightening.

    Alice¡¯s heart immediately sank. She shut the door and felt along the wall for the light switch, flicking it on.

    The room lit up in an instant.

    And when she <b>saw </b>what was on the ground, Alice¡¯s face turned pale.

    Scattered across the wooden floor of the study were photographs and shards of a broken ss cup.

    Ronald was slumped on the floor, leaning against the desk.

    Alice¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Honey, let me exin.¡±

    Ronald shook his head. Even though he was on the floor looking up at her, it made her feel a chill from the bottom of her heart.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been keeping a man outside?¡± Ronald¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Alice, I built everything from nothing. Whether I once relied on your family or your family relies on me now, I¡¯ve always been loyal to you. I¡¯ve never had mistresses or illegitimate children. And this is how you repay me?¡±

    His heart was cold. Ronald admitted he might not be a great father, but he had always believed he was a good husband. Even when he found out that Alice had long known Aubree was in the orphanage, he didn¡¯t retaliate.

    Alice¡¯s face went pale, and she couldn¡¯t say a word.

    She was afraid <i>that </i>Ronald would find out about her lover, afraid he would divorce her. As the one at fault, she¡¯d walk away with nothing.

    Ronald looked deeply disappointed. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided how to deal with us yet, but for now, I don¡¯t want to see you.¡±

    Alice understood immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll move out.¡±

    Ronald added, <b>¡°</b>And cut him off. I won¡¯t be humiliated like this.¡±

    Alice cried pitifully, but she knew that if she tried to stay now, she¡¯d only push Ronald over the edge. So she agreed for now.

    When she walked out of the study, her steps were unsteady. She reached up and touched her neck. It was drenched in sweat.

    ¡®How did he find out? Who took those photos?¡® Her mind was a mess. She didn¡¯t dare stay in the house any longer and risk upsetting Ronald further.

    She pulled out a suitcase and hastily packed a few essentials.

    As she was leaving, she bumped into the housekeeper.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, you¡¯re<b>¡­</b>?

    Alice gave <b>a </b>bitter smile. She probably wouldn¡¯t be thedy of the house soon.

    Alice said, ¡°I¡¯m going to stay somewhere else for a while.¡±

    She didn¡¯t exin further and left in her car. She didn¡¯t go to Kyler¡¯s ce but instead went to a condo near herpany. In fact, even if she had gone to Kyler¡¯s, she would have found it empty. He was already gone.

    She dialed a number. ¡°Hello? Ernesto? Something happened. Kyler was found out by Ronald. I¡¯ve moved out. He didn¡¯t say what he¡¯ll do next.¡±

    2.33 <b>PM </b>

    Far <b>away </b>in Sadhichen Strand. Ernesto nearly exploded from anger Carmen¡¯s BeeShare project wasn¡¯t doing great, and he had been busy trying to keep it alive. Now Alice was making trouble too.

    They were going to kill ham at this <b>rate</b><b>. </b>

    He said. ¡°Til talk to Ronald¡±

    ?

    B

 Tried 514

    <b>Chapter </b>514

    <b>As </b>angry as Ernesto was, he still had to resolve the problem first. He called Ronald.

    Ronald knew clearly that the cooperation between Wilson Group and Diamonde Group couldn¡¯t break <b>down </b>just yet, so he couldn¡¯t divorce Alice for now.

    Ronald said, ¡°I won¡¯t divorce, but from now on, she and I <b>will </b><b>live </b><b>separate </b>lives. I won¡¯t interfere in what she does, but deal with that man.¡±

    He didn¡¯t know why, but even though he¡¯d <b>never </b>met the man in the photos, he instinctively disliked him.

    Back when Alice had run <b>away </b>from the wedding, Xander had pretended to be hotel <b>staff </b>and helped her <b>escape</b>. Plus, the Diamonde family had deliberately hidden Alice¡¯s past rtionship, so Ronald didn¡¯t even know Xander¡¯s name. He only vaguely knew Alice had <b>a </b>lover who supposedly died.

    What Ronald didn¡¯t expect <b>was </b>that before Alice could deal with the man who cuckolded him, that man showed up himself.

    The next morning, when Ronald arrived at thepany, the receptionist told him someone wanted to see him. He <b>was </b><b>a </b>handsome young <b>man</b>.

    Ronald instantly thought of the man in the photos.

    When the secretary led Kyler into the office, Ronald¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve showing up here.

    Compared to Ronald looking sternly in his executive chair, Kyler looked quite casual in his hoodie and jeans.

    Kyler said, ¡°I¡¯m here with a purpose, of course.¡±

    Ronald sneered. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid <b>I¡¯ll </b><b>have </b>you thrown out?¡±

    Kyler replied. ¡°If you wanted to beat me up, you wouldn¡¯t have agreed to meet me.¡±

    ¡°Besides<b>, </b>what I <b>have </b>to <b>say</b>¡­ you¡¯ll be d to hear it. Kyler smiled, showing his teeth.

    Ronald <b>was </b>so angry that his whole body shook. Just seeing Kyler made his blood boil.

    He said. ¡°Speak.¡±

    Kyler responded, ¡°I n to leave your wife¡±

    That did surprise Ronald. ¡°You¡¯re willing?¡±

    Kyler said, ¡°Of course I¡¯m not willing. That¡¯s why I came to you, Mr. Wilson.¡±

    Ronald understood now. ¡°You want money.

    Kyler nodded. ¡°Yes. If the hush money is good, my lips will be sealed. But if not¡­ Well, I wouldn¡¯t mind telling the world I stole Ronald¡¯s woman.¡±

    Ronald was on the verge of losing control. He wanted nothing more than to tear this man apart. 1.5 million dors.

    He even suspected that the photos had been sent by Kyler himself, just to make Ronald dump Alice and pay him off.

    However, Kyler said, ¡°3 million dors.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t push it!¡± Ronald snapped.

    <b>*</b>8 million dors for your reputation, Mr. Wilson. Isn¡¯t your good name worth that much?¡± Kyler shot back.

    Ronald clenched his fists. His back <b>was </b>ramrod straight like a beast ready to strike. ¡°2.5 million dors. If you don¡¯t take it, I don¡¯t care if the news gets out. Just don¡¯t be surprised if you end up dead in a ditch one day.¡±

    Ronald¡¯s eyes <b>were </b>deadly serious<b>. </b>

    Kyler knew when to quit. He nodded. ¡°Deal. As soon <b>as </b>the moneyes in, I¡¯ll vanish from her life.¡±

    As Kyler left the office, he brushed past Bryan. He didn¡¯t notice, but Bryan nced <i>at </i>him curiously<b>. </b>He didn¡¯t recognize the man.

    Ronald moved fast. He used his personal funds, and as soon as Kyler exited the Wilson Group building, he got the transfer notification.

    True to <b>his </b>word. Kyler returned to his apartment and quickly packed.

    <b>Just </b>as Alice was still stressing over how to exin things to Kyler, her phone chimed. It was a message.

    <b>2.34 </b>PM

    [Thank you, Mrs Wilson, for your care during this time. But I think we should end our rtionship here. I don¡¯t want to lie to you anymore. Actually, <b>I </b><b>was </b>sent by Ms. Miller to approach you. She¡¯s also the one who exposed our affair to your husband. I can¡¯t keep up the act.]

    After sending the text, Kyler yanked out the SIM card and tossed it.

 Tried 515

    <b>Chapter </b>515

    You have dialed <b>is </b>temporarily unavable, please try againter¡­<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°You <b>have </b>dialed¡­

    You¡­

    Alice clutched her phone, <b>eyes </b>filled with shattered despair. He left. He abandoned her again.

    <b>¡®</b>Aubree¡­

    Kyler¡¯s final words echoed in her mind. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lie to you anymore. I <b>was </b>sent by Ms. Miller to approach you.¡±

    Alice thought. Yes, he wouldn¡¯t leave me. He just doesn¡¯t want to keep lying to me.¡®

    She thought it was Aubree¡¯s fault. Aubree was malicious and wanted to humiliate her. Maybe even Ronald knowing about Kyler <b>was </b>also Aubree¡¯s doing.

    Alice clenched her hand tightly. There <b>was </b>still a chance. She knew where he might be.

    She had to go find Aubree.

    Outside the Bree Technology Building.

    Alice ignored the receptionist¡¯s obstruction. ¡°Get out of the way! I¡¯m Aubree¡¯s mother! She must see me! Tell Aubree toe down and see me!¡±

    Her hair was disheveled, her expression manic, visibly mentally unstable. She looked nothing like the dignifieddy of the Wilson family.

    The receptionist said, ¡°<b>Mrs. </b>Wilson, please calm down. You don¡¯t have an appointment. Ms. Miller is busy. Maybe you could wait a moment?¡±

    The receptionist had a splitting headache. She never imagined she¡¯d have to deal with such an unreasonable, crazy woman, and with a powerful background no less<b>. </b>She couldn¡¯t be too harsh, afraid she might get hurt.

    Security struggled to hold Alice back as curious employees stopped to watch the drama, whispering among themselves.

    At any other time, Alice would¡¯ve died from embarrassment in such a scene. But not now. Even if Ronald found out, she only nned to send someone out of Rithol City.

    She just wanted to see Aubree. Nothing else mattered.

    The receptionist had no choice but to send word to Vincent.

    He said, ¡°Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Miller. Mrs. Wilson is downstairs<b>, </b>causing a scene. She wants to <b>see </b>you.¡±

    Aubree, in the middle <b>of </b><b>a </b>meeting, had expected Alice toe looking for her, just not this quickly.

    ¡®She came straight <b>here as </b>soon as she got the news<b>?</b><b>¡® </b>Aubree thought.

    She smiled yfully. ¡°Take over for me. Record the minutes carefully. I¡¯ll go have a look.¡±

    ¡°By the <b>way</b>, Ms. Miller, Vincent said.

    He leaned in and whispered in her ear, ¡°Someone¡¯s tailing her.¡±

    ¡°Probably Ronald¡¯s people. Figures, Aubree thought.

    Given Ronald¡¯s character, no matter what he said out loud, it <b>was </b>certain he¡¯d be watching Alice.

    ¡°Get out of the <b>way</b>! Try touching me and see what happens<b>!</b>¡± Alice only regretted not bringing bodyguards. Otherwise, she would¡¯ve forced her way in<b>. </b>

    ¡°Let her through.¡± The elevator doors opened just <b>as </b>Aubree stepped out and saw the chaotic scene.

    The receptionist finally moved aside<b>, </b>allowing Alice to pass.

    Aubree looked at her and suddenly smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve <b>always </b>looked down on me, haven¡¯t <b>you</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>She </b>added, ¡°I¡¯ve cried in front <b>of </b><b>you</b><b>. </b>I begged and showed <b>you </b>every pitiful side of me. But it seems I¡¯ve rarely seen you in such a pitiful <b>state</b>.<b>¡± </b><ol start="15"><li>15.</li></ol>

    Alice red at her, <b>eyes </b>full of hatred. ¡°<b>It </b><b>was </b>you, wasn¡¯t <b>it</b><b>? </b>I know everything now. You did it on purpose. You wanted to see me humiliated!¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>As </b>a matter of fact<b>, </b>I did see you humiliated,¡± Aubree replied indifferently.

    Alice nearly passed out from rage. Aubree was just a tool, someone she gave birth to so Carmen could return to her side!

    Alice snapped, ¡°Your return to the Wilson family was a mistake from the beginning<b>!</b>¡±

    Aubree chuckled. ¡°What you really want to say is why am I still standing in front of you, right?¡±

    Alice froze. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Aubree stepped closer. Having grown up in an orphanage and often starved even after returning to the Wilson family, she was severely malnourished, shorter than Alice.

    But each step she took forward made Alice feel like her body was being controlled, unconsciously retreating.

    Alice could feel it clearly. She was intimidated by Aubree¡¯s aura.

    Even if her mind told her she was the mother, she should be in control, her legs acted on their own. Aubree stepped closer, and she stepped back.

    Among the onlookers, someone quietly pulled out their phone and pressed the record button. The guards, fearing the situation would escte, began dispersing the crowd and forbidding any recordings.

    Aubree didn¡¯t care. She <b>wasn¡¯t </b>the one who would be embarrassed. The Wilson family wouldn¡¯t allow the news to spread anyway.

    ¡°What do I mean?<b>¡± </b>Aubree smiled.

    She said, ¡°There was a rumor recently that I had been kidnapped. It waster rified that my friend took the hit for me. The kidnappers <b>were </b>initially ruled to havemitted suicide by poisoning.¡±

    She continued, ¡°Alice, there¡¯s something I didn¡¯t say. When I was kidnapped at <b>five</b>, the trauma was <b>so </b>severe that I lost all memory of the event. I only knew I had been kidnapped.¡±

    She added, ¡°Coincidentally, when I saw that kidnapper¡¯s facest time<b>, </b>everything came back to me.¡±

    By now, the crowd had mostly been dispersed, with only a few non¨CBree Technology outsiders lingering.

    Aubree continued, ¡°I also heard something from the kidnapper, something truly disgusting. He said, ¡®A biological mother actually arranged for her daughter to be kidnapped.¡±¡±

    She asked, ¡°Now tell me. Who do you think the mother and daughter are?¡±

    Alice turned pale. She had only dared to order those two to do <i>it </i>because Aubree had forgotten all the details, like what the kidnappers looked like, everything.

    After all, she and Timothy were already in the same boat. For such a serious crime, naturally, she used people she could ¡°trust.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± Alice¡¯s voice suddenly rose. People tended to raise their voices when nervous <b>or </b>guilty.

    Aubree smirked. It didn¡¯t matter if Alice didn¡¯t understand. Someone else would. Her eyes swept over those lingering <b>few </b>who still hadn¡¯t left.

    She had considered telling Ronald directly that Alice had hired someone to abduct her. She revealed the secret of Carmen¡¯s identity.

    But now the timing was just about right. If Ronald broke with Alice, the Diamonde family would desperately try to support Carmen, and the Wilson family would be torn apart.

    But knowing Ronald¡¯s personality, if she took the initiative to say it, he would suspect her, even if he knew it was true. He might think she forged the evidence or exaggerated the story. That would be counterproductive.

    Suspicious people only believe what they discover for themselves.

    Suspicious people like Ronald only <b>ever </b>trust what they uncover on their own.

    In orchestrating the Kyler incident, she was certain Ronald would monitor Alice. If Alice<b>, </b>emotionally disturbed, went to confront her, then Ronald could ¡°identally¡± learn the truth of the past.

    As Aubree smiled at her<b>, </b>Alice became <b>even </b>more terrified.

    She hadpletely forgotten why she came. She didn¡¯t expect Aubree to know about that.

    <b>2/3 </b>

    <b>2:34 </b>PM

    Alice backed away step by step. You¡¯re lying! I don¡¯t understand. I don¡¯t understand anything you¡¯re saying! You must be trying to trick me!¡±

    Alice shook her head, her hair a mess, her eyes bloodshot. She lookedpletely insane.

    She turned and hurried <b>away</b>. ¡°I have to get out of here. It¡¯s all Aubree¡¯s trap. She¡¯s trying to destroy me!¡±

 Tried 516

    <b>Chapter </b><b>516 </b>

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, this <b>is </b>what happened at the time.¡±

    Half of Ronald¡¯s face <b>was </b>shrouded in shadow. <b>The </b>person reporting to him kept their head down, not daring to look at his expression.

    Lubrec¡¯s

    <b>¡°</b>A biological mother kidnapping her own daughter<b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree¡¯s firm and powerful voice yed from the recording

    After a long silence, Ronald finally asked, ¡°Has this matter gone public?¡±

    The subordinate replied, ¡°No, it hasn¡¯t. <b>Bree </b>Technology¡¯s security managed to disperse the crowd.¡±

    Ronald ordered, ¡°Keep an eye on any online rumors. You may go now<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    The office door opened and closed again, but Ronald¡¯s mood hit rock bottom. He <b>never </b>once considered that his wife would be the one to instruct traffickers to abduct their youngest daughter.

    His heart sank. He pulled out a sheet of paper from a <b>drawer</b>. It clearly stated that Timothy and his aplice <b>were </b>murderers who had been on the run for years and were involved in child trafficking.

    Ronald sped his fingers together and supported his forehead. He had thought that Alice only hired such notorious criminals, not realizing she had been in league with them all along, possibly because she was already under their control.

    If it was truly Alice who orchestrated Aubree¡¯s abduction at five <b>years </b>old¡­ Then what exactly was Carmen? And what was Alice¡¯s ultimate <b>goal</b><b>? </b>

    Ronald¡¯s mind was a chaotic mess, like a tangled ball of yarn wed apart by <b>a </b><b>cat</b>, jumbled and impossible to straighten.

    ¡°Wait, was Kyler really just a boy toy she kept?¡® Ronald thought<b>, </b>a sudden realization shing through his mind.

    He believed Alice had feelings for Kyler. Given her personality, unless she had a verypelling <b>reason</b>, she would never have done something like this, not for her conscience, nor for the interests of the Wilson and Diamonde families.

    A blurry image of Kyler¡¯s face shed before his eyes. Was it the person she was keeping¡­ or was it the <b>face </b>she was keeping?

    Suddenly, it clicked. Ronald felt as if he¡¯d grasped a key piece.

    He hadn¡¯t considered this before because Carmen was not Alice¡¯s biological child. His subconscious had automatically ruled out certain possibilities. But he had forgotten. Aside from Alice, there was one more person who knew all about her past.

    That person <b>was </b>Ernesto.

    Alice¡¯s presumptions, paired with Ernesto¡¯s deliberate cover¨Cups, might very well be what created the current situation.

    With trembling hands, Ronald made a phone call. ¡°Investigate someone connected to Alice. Their appearance likely resembles this¡­ Start from her younger years. Check if the Diamonde family did anything shady in the past<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Meanwhile, far away from all this chaos, Trevor was having the time of his life.

    The short drama he had filmed became a hit on its tform. Not only did he win the heart of a beautiful woman, but his agent, Skyler, also used the opportunity to clear up past rumors. It was exined that the previous petition¡± incident had stemmed from the director¡¯s frustrations about the industry. It led to the premature airing of their TV series<b>, </b>creating all thatter drama.

    In short, Trevor was innocent. The me was ced squarely on the production team. After all, a top¨Ctier actor wouldn¡¯t ruin his own reputation.

    [Trevor is hardworking and respectful. He approaches all emerging art forms with humility and enthusiasm. Every form of performance deserves to be explored.]

    That statement was released to the public, and his long¨Cfrustrated fanbase finally rallied.

    [What? You say Trevor isn¡¯t dedicated? He¡¯s won so many awards, insists on performing stunts himself. How dare you!]

    [You say he looks down on lower¨Ctier actors? He just acted in a short drama himself!]

    [There¡¯s no debate for his acting and looks. Even the haters agree he¡¯s top¨Ctier.]

    To solidify this public image, Trevor also threw himself into charity work. He <b>even </b><b>went </b>to a remote region to film a public service video.

    One had to hand it to him. He was a master actor on and off¨Cscreen. Even in the mountains, he was full of resentment. However, he never showed it when cameras were around.

    In no time, the public sentiment shifted in his favor. Even the previously damning Sophia incident got flipped. Sophia became the one at fault, and Trevor turned into the poster child for responsible, kind¨Chearted men.

    <b>¡°</b>Skyler, I¡¯ve decided. I¡¯m divorcing Sophia.¡± At his apartment, Trevory across Kate¡¯sp, being fed fruit like <b>a </b>spoiled cat.

    Skyler said, ¡°Trevor, isn¡¯t it a bit too soon¡­ Your reputation just turned around. What if¡­

    In his heart, he wanted to curse. Trevor was a trouble. He had just managed to salvage his image. But here came anotherndmine.

    <b>¡°</b>What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Trevor shot back<b>. </b>

    He added, ¡°Right now, everyone says marrying Sophia was the worst decision of your life. Just manage the PR, hire some ghostwriters, and test public opinion a bit. She¡¯ll sign the papers<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    If <b>Trevor </b><b>were </b>the type to listen, he wouldn¡¯t be Trevor.

    He said all this like it was obvious. His tone was dripping with disdain.

    Skyler could tell he expected everything to go his way. He knew this would backfire. Sophia was the kind of woman who would rather die than bend. If she decided to <b>expose </b>everything, she had nothing to lose.

    Besides, Skyler knew Trevor hadn¡¯t changed one bit. He was back to his old habits again, cheating and womanizing.

    If this blew up, it would be obvious who the real viin was. But¡­

    Skyler nced at the documents he had already prepared. Trevor¡¯s eventual downfall was not his business. He just needed to follow orders.

    ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± Skyler said.

    Satisfied, Trevor hung up the phone, then turned to nestle into Kate¡¯sp, his breath warm against her skin. ¡°Trevor¡­ it tickles¡­¡±

    He chuckled lowly, clearly in a good mood. ¡°Silly, aren¡¯t you going to ask why I want a divorce?¡±

    Kate lowered her eyes to hide the ridicule in them, recing it with a look of nervous self¨Cme. ¡°I¡­ after what happened¡­ I trust your decisions. If I¡¯ve chosen <i>to </i>be with you, <b>I </b>ept everything. Even if Sophiaes to me one day, I¡¯ll ept the consequences.¡±

    He melted at that. ¡°You¡¯re so silly. I¡¯ve never met someone like you. You have no demands, no tantrums.¡±

    Kate smiled softly but said nothing. The guilt in her eyes only deepened. Her behavior made Trevor feel even more attached. He thought he had truly found someone pure.

    He said, ¡°I want a divorce so that one day, you can stand by my side openly.¡±

    He sat up and cupped her check. ¡°That night was my fault. You shouldn¡¯t have had to suffer like that.¡±

    The more he talked, the more annoyed he became with Sophia.

    Trevor had originally rmed to wait a little longer, but now he didn¡¯t want to wait at all. He was already thinking about calling hiswyer that very night to send the divorce papers.

    He was sure Sophia wouldn¡¯t dare say no. Even if she refused, that was nothing she could do.

    P

 Tried 517

    <b>Chapter </b><b>517 </b>

    Sophia couldn¡¯t get in touch with Trevor. He imed he was busy with workmitments, but she had already checked. He had just finished shooting a charity documentary, picked up an endorsement deal, and his next movie wouldn¡¯t start filming for a while.

    He didn¡¯t have any real work <b>at </b>all.

    Clutching her phone tightly, Sophia saw the call log. Every single outgoing call was to the same number, and without exception, either the call was rejected immediately or it <b>got </b>cut off after just a few seconds.

    Rapid breathing escaped from her nose. Panic and fear overwhelmed her. She thought Trevor <b>was </b>seeing someone else.

    If it <b>were </b>just a fling, he wouldn¡¯t even bother hiding it. That meant this woman must be someone he¡¯s truly smitten with.

    It felt like a chain was tightening around her neck, suffocating her <b>every </b>second.

    Sophia hadn¡¯t even gotten anything substantial from the Wilson family yet. She couldn¡¯t just sit around and wait!

    Just <b>as </b>Sophia was on the <b>verge </b>of a breakdown, an email arrived in her inbox. She opened it, and her pupils contracted. It was from Trevor¡¯s attorney.

    He wanted <b>a </b>divorce<b>. </b>They hadn¡¯t even been married for a <b>year</b>, and he already wanted out.

    The angrier she got, the clearer her mind became. She had never felt this calm before.

    Trevor was clearly in a rush to dump her, to make <b>space </b>for that slut outside. There had to be someone else.

    Right now, Sophia had nothing. The divorce agreement looked clean and fair on paper. At most, she¡¯d walk away with a bit of money. But it couldn¡¯t make up for her being unable to have children for life. It couldn¡¯tpensate for the way she had destroyed her own <b>ca </b>

    career<b>. </b>

    Staring coldly at her phone screen, Sophia sneered. ¡°Since you¡¯ve decided to be ruthless, don¡¯t me me for tearing your facade apart<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Meanwhile, in a luxurious house where Trevor was secretly keeping his lover. While Trevor was in the shower, Kate quickly checked his phone, pulled out her own, snapped a photo of a document, and sent it off.

    Kate: [Trevor ns to divorce. This is the agreement he sent to Sophia.]

    The reply came almost instantly: [Sophia won¡¯t let this go quietly. I¡¯m nning to expose you. Get ready.]

    Kate: [<b>As </b>long <b>as </b>Trevor suffers, I don¡¯t care.]

    Kate¡¯s expression had none of her usual softness. Her face was <b>as </b>cold as falling ice<b>, </b>chilling to the bone.

    News of Trevor keeping a mistress broke out fast. Sophia didn¡¯t even have time to gather evidence of his infidelity. The inte delivered it to her.

    It started with a photo of him and a woman entering and leaving a hotelte at night.

    Soon, someone tried to rify that the photo was from the time he was filming a short drama, and the woman was just the female lead. It wasn¡¯t a big deal.

    But the blogger who posted the photo ignored the rebuttals and immediately followed up with another image. It was Trevor and the same woman having a meal together. Their bodynguage was clearly intimate, far from just being friends.

    The blogger wasn¡¯t done. After letting the public chew on the first two photos for a couple of hours, they dropped the real bomb. It was a series of pictures from when Trevor went to do charity work. Kate was with him the whole time. The photos showed multiple moments of physical closeness.

    This time, the post came with a sarcastic caption: [Keep trying to spin it, I dare you.]

    Ar this point, even his fans couldn¡¯t say the pictures were fake, not even if they tossed their consciences away.

    Thement section exploded.

    The haters who were <b>always </b>getting shut down by Trevor Wilson¡¯s fans finally got their chance to gloat.

    [Wow<b>, </b><b>what </b><b>a </b>responsible man. At least he only dated another woman after marrying Sophia.]

    [Once a cheater, always a cheater. When the whole Zoe thing came out, it was obvious Trevor¡¯s just a yer, but his fans are so blind they thought he was some saintly, faithful heartthrob.]

    [First Milena, then Sophia. Each woman¡¯s ending is worse than thest. He wants serious partners when he¡¯s in trouble, and flings when he¡¯s not.]

    <b>[</b>Trevor Wilson¡¯s got no morals. Kick him out of showbiz!]

    The hashtag ¡°Trevor Wilson¡¯s cheating¡± shot to the top of trending searches, and no amount of deleting could stop it.

    <b>Just </b>as fans <b>were </b>rendered speechless, Trevor¡¯s PR team got to work.

    Skyler had already prepared backup ns when Trevor decided to bring Kate along for the charity event. Although the crew was full of their own people, rumors spread fastest when crowds gathered.

    The studio quickly issued a statement, saying Kate was a <b>newly </b>signed actress. Privately, theirmunication was purely professional because she would soon be ying a supporting role in Trevor¡¯s new film.

    Kate <b>was </b>a promising neer, and Trevor, as both boss and mentor, was naturally giving her extra guidance.

    This statement effectively denied any deep personal rtionship between them.

    Then, Skyler posted <i>a </i>follow¨Cup to exin the charity event photos.

    ¡°Yes, we did bring Kate along because she¡¯s new and needed a chance to earn some positive public perception. But whether it was genuine or for show, the charity effort itself was real. Katees from a modest background and even donated half of her pay from thest short drama to support the event.¡±

    They also released several video clips. When ced alongside the photos that had looked intimate, the context made those gestures seem like harmless<b>, </b>idental touches during normal conversation.

    The fans were instantly revived and pushed back hard.

    [Everyone knows Trevor¡¯s studio never had a strong female lead to match Trevor. Kate¡¯s leaks and short drama clips looked <b>great</b>. She¡¯s talented and beautiful. Promoting her makes perfect sense. People calling this a scandal are just ridiculous.]

    [Let¡¯s be real, gaining goodwill through charity is an open secret. But when I saw Kate¡¯s bank statement, I felt bad for her. Does she have to be this honest?]

    [Taking things out of context? Screw you!]

    This PR <b>wave </b>not only turned the tide in Trevor¡¯s favor. It gave Kate a poprity boost too.

    The scandal became nothing more than a ripple in the sea. It was barely a ssh.

    Some people online still tried to criticize Trevor, but his fans quickly drowned them out.

    [You¡¯re all screaming about cheating, but Sophia herself hasn¡¯t even said a word. Why are you jumping the gun?]

    As for Sophia, it wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to speak. It was that she couldn¡¯t.

    When Trevor sent her the divorce agreement, he also had someone keep her under surveince. She wasn¡¯t allowed to leave the house, and all her electronic devices were locked down. All she could do was read the news or watch videos. She had no way to send messages.

    He had sent a trusted aide to her. The condition was simple. She had to sign the divorce agreement and write a statement admitting she was the reason for the breakup. Only then could she leave.

    Clearly, Sophia wasn¡¯t going to surrender that easily.

    Staring at the news about Kate and Trevor, her teeth ground together in rage. ¡°That bitch!¡±

 Tried 518

    <b>Chapter </b>518

    <b>Skyler </b>handled the PR crisis swiftly, and Trevor didn¡¯t take it seriously at all. A few dayster, he took Kate to the film set.

    <b>It </b>was the <b>day </b>of the ceremony.

    <b>¡°</b>Where¡¯s Trevor? Go find him.<b>¡± </b>

    Backstage, Trevor answered a call. Even with his voice lowered, the anger in it was unmistakable. ¡°You¡¯re saying she escaped? With so many of you watching one woman<b>, </b>you still let her <b>get </b><b>away</b>?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Wilson, this really isn¡¯t our fault. Someone¡¯s helping her.<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°If it¡¯s not your fault, then whose is it? Mine? Find her, now<b>!</b>¡± Trevor <b>was </b>so furious he wanted to storm back and deal with those ipetent men himself.

    Sophia had escaped. But no one could have helped her.

    She¡¯d basically cut all her industry connections in order to marry into the Wilson family. Trevor thought, ¡®Who could she still rely on? Aubree?¡®

    Aubree and Sophia hadpletely fallen out. And Aubree¡¯s personality wasn¡¯t the type to help someone who betrayed her.

    Still¡­ Trevor felt like he¡¯d overlooked something important.

    He frowned, only ending the call when the stagehand came to fetch him. By the time he turned around, the earlier rage hadpletely disappeared. He was once again the dazzling star under the spotlight.

    He said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ming.¡±

    Overthinking wouldn¡¯t help. Sophia had no money. He was sure she couldn¡¯t survive on her own.

    The thought actually lightened his mood. If she died out there, it would save him a lot of trouble.

    Trevor smiled faintly, dismissing the matter from his mind.

    At that moment, Sophia was in a discreet ck sedan not far away.

    She was nervously picking at her nails. ¡°Aubree¡­ is Ms. Miller really willing to help me?¡±

    Even Sophia herself was shocked. She had tried everything and still couldn¡¯t escape. In utter desperation, she recalled the contact method Aubree once gave her. She tried it with zero expectations. To her surprise, Aubree responded. Even after Sophia betrayed her, even after standing by Trevor and helping him attack Aubree publicly, she was still willing to help.

    The driver, clearly one of Aubree¡¯s people, nced at her in the rearview mirror. ¡°Ms. Miller said this isn¡¯t about helping you.¡±

    Sophia let out a bitterugh. True. She wasn¡¯t being rescued. She was being weaponized. She was about to take Trevor down with her, and that was a win for Aubree<i>. </i>

    The car sped up.

    Meanwhile, the film crew¡¯s opening ceremony was nearing its end.

    ¡°And now, let¡¯s have Trevor cut the ribbon!¡± someone announced. Trevor smiled as he took the golden scissors, but just as he was about to snip the red silk, an unexpected guest burst onto the scene.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Sophia arrived. She was panting and out of breath, but just in time.

    Reporters, fans, and cameras were everywhere.

    ¡®Perfect, Sophia thought. ¡®Everything¡¯s in ce. Now it¡¯s time to tear off Trevor¡¯s mask.¡®

    Trevor¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡®How did she get here?¡®

    He hadn¡¯t believed his subordinates when they said someone helped her escape. He thought they were making <b>excuses </b>for their failure. But now, he realized someone really had interfered.

    Trevor discreetly signaled his bodyguards to remove her immediately.

    But Sophia wasn¡¯t here to talk about anything else. Trevor had kept her under lock and key. She learned the hard way. He waspletely heartless. Even if she schemed to get him, she had sacrificed for him, given up the chance to be a mother.

    <b>2:35 </b>

    And now he wanted <b>to </b>discard her like trash.

    <b>No </b>matter how <b>fast </b><b>Trevor¡¯s </b>men moved, they couldn¡¯t stop Sophia¡¯s words from cutting through the air. ¡°Trevor, you cheated on me, and now you want to force <b>a </b>divorce. Do you even have <b>a </b>conscience?<b>¡± </b>

    The entire crowd <b>gasped</b>.

    <b>¡°</b><b>So </b>the rumors online were true?*

    ¡°He really did cheat?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°That means Kate is the <b>mistress</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Look at her<b>. </b>She¡¯s gone pale!¡±

    Sophia really did look shaken, her face drained of color <b>as </b>she shot a nervous nce at Trevor. Trevor didn¡¯t look much better, but with all he¡¯d been through, he still managed to keep hisposure.

    ¡°You¡¯ve made your point<b>, </b>can you stop now?¡± Trevor tried to sound weary and helpless. ¡°What you¡¯re asking me to do¡­ I just can¡¯t agree to.¡±

    What exactly was she asking? The audience buzzed with curiosity.

    Some of Trevor¡¯s extreme fans. They were already hostile toward Sophia. They picked up stones and hurled them at her.

    *Slut! How long are you going to keep dragging Trevor down?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°What do you want now? Wilson family shares?¡±

    Sophia, struck by the objects, snapped. She surged forward, pushing through the guards, and leapt onto the stage. She grabbed Kate¡¯s hair and pped her hard. ¡°Bitch! You destroyed my family! Your parents teach you this is how to behave?¡±

    Trevor¡¯s instincts kicked in. Without thinking, he shoved Sophia to the ground hard.

    By the time he snapped out of it, Kate was already in his arms, shielded by him.

    As soon <b>as </b>he realized what he¡¯d done, Trevor felt a surge of regret. His move was basically telling everyone he had something going on with Kate.

    Luckily, Kate quickly stepped out of his embrace. ¡°Thanks for helping me, Trevor. I¡¯m okay.¡±

    Seeing this, Sophia was enraged. She whipped out her phone, pulled up the divorce agreement Trevor had sent her, and shoved it right in front of the camera. ¡°Look! Everyone, take a good look! This is what Trevor calls me ¡®making a scene¡®!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t believe a word he says! He¡¯s been having an affair with that Kate, and now he can¡¯t wait to kick me out just to make room for his new girl!¡± Sophia shouted.

    She continued, ¡°Trevor is a hypocrite! He changes girlfriends every month or two. Sure, he doesn¡¯t cheat, because he makes each one official. He¡¯s

    terrible!¡±

    The agreement was clearly caught on camera. Though no one could read the text right away, her words alone stirred up a storm.

    The director panicked. ¡°Miss Hunt, please calm down. Whatever it is, let¡¯s discuss it privately.¡±

    Trevor barely managed to keep his expression steady. He apologized to the crowd. ¡°Sorry, Sophia¡¯s been under a lot of emotional stress. Even before we married, her mental health wasn¡¯t very stable. Please escort my wife to <b>rest</b>.¡±

    At hismand, the Wilson family¡¯s bodyguards swiftly removed her. Despite Sophia¡¯s resistance, she was no match for trained professionals.

    Once she <b>was </b>dragged off, the reporters pounced with questions.

    ¡°Mr. Trevor<b>, </b>is what she said true? Are you getting divorced?¡±

    Trevor sighed with fake helplessness. ¡°The divorce document was because she made an unreasonable demand I couldn¡¯t agree to. She kept causing trouble¡­ I just wanted her to calm down.¡±

    Trevor¡¯s expression was full of resignation.

    His fans were heartbroken. ¡°Trevor<b>, </b>we believe in you!¡±

    Trevor said, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, everyone. This is the opening ceremony. <b>I¡¯ll </b>answer all questionster<b>, </b>okay?¡±

    He actedposed and dignified. Reporters backed off for now. But this incident was far from over.

    After the ceremony, the director made his stance clear. <b>If </b>Trevor and Kate couldn¡¯t resolve this mess soon, he¡¯d have no choice but to recast them before shooting even started.

 Tried 519

    <b>Chapter </b><b>519 </b>

    ¡°<b>Useless</b><b>! </b>You¡¯re all a bunch <b>of </b>useless trash<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    At <b>this </b>point, Trevor had be the center of public attention. Wherever he <b>went</b>, journalists followed like dogs chasing a bone. They <b>were </b>impossible to shake off.

    Since the <b>crew </b>still had filming to do, after some negotiation, Trevor and Kate were eventually <b>¡°</b>asked to leave¡± the <b>set</b>.

    Kate looked at him, worried as heshed out in frustration. Trevor, this whole thing is because of me¡­ Why don¡¯t I step up and <b>exin</b>? I don¡¯t really care about being a celebrity.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Trevor rejected her without <b>a </b>second thought.

    But when he faced her, his tone softened, almost dripping with tenderness. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. You want to admit that we¡¯re <b>really </b>together<b>? </b>That would just confirm all the rumors<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Kate lowered her head in guilt, but in truth, her <b>eyes </b><b>were </b>filled with mockery. These ¡°rumors¡± <b>were </b>actually true.

    Trevor, however, mistook her reaction <b>as </b>genuine concern. His heart softenedpletely. All the other women he¡¯d been with relied on him to <b>fix </b>everything. But here she was, stupid enough to try and sacrifice herself to help him solve this problem.

    <b>¡°</b>Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of everything,¡± he said with joy he couldn¡¯t quite hide, pulling her into his arms<b>. </b>¡°Trust me<b>, </b>everything will be fine.¡±

    Kate responded softly. But she thought, ¡®<b>No. </b>You¡¯ll be ruined.

    Sophia had now entered the public eye. Trevor¡¯s usual tactic, which was imprisoning Sophia and controlling the narrative, was no longer an option.

    Especially since<b>, </b><b>after </b>theunch event, Aubree had quietly arranged for Sophia to be taken away.

    The journalists did not disappoint. They quickly broke the story. Trevor had considered bribing the press, but Sophia was out of control now. This scandal couldn¡¯t be buried, and he didn¡¯t want to risk being caught trying.

    Sophia stuck to her im. Trevor cheated and forced her into a divorce.

    Trevor personally entered the <b>fray</b>, iming instead that Sophia was trying to steal his Wilson Group shares<b>. </b>He used her of greed and self- destruction.

    Each side told a different story. Without hard evidence from Sophia, Trevor¡¯s version sounded more <b>¡°</b>reasonable¡± to the public. He even dug up old dirt, like Sophia using pregnancy to pressure him into marriage. In this head¨Cto¨Chead, he still held the upper hand.

    For now, the crisis <b>was </b>more <b>or </b>less under control.

    Trevor finally breathed a little easier. But he still wasn¡¯t sure who helped Sophia.

    He¡¯d ruled out every possibility, except the one that now seemed most likely, Aubree<b>. </b>

    Trevor let out a long sigh. He had truly underestimated Aubree. To strike back at them<b>, </b>she was even willing to work with Sophia again.

    Meanwhile, Carmen¡¯s ¡°BeeShare¡± project was barely surviving even with support from the Lawson Group and the Diamonde family. But she wasn¡¯t totally ipetent. Even in this state, she still managed to create some buzz.

    For now, thepany was half¨Cdead, just hanging in there, but if the right opportunity came along, it might just make aeback.

    Still, Aubree wasn¡¯t about to give her any chance to recover.

    She¡¯d had her eye on Carmen¡¯s project for ages, and now it was finally time to cash in and make Carmen pay up.

    What she revealed at the previous investment meeting had only been the tip of the iceberg. Aubree knew just as much about this project as Carmen.

    She began leaking hidden risks and existing ws.

    ¡°BeeShare shared bikes <b>are </b><b>barely </b>holding on. It¡¯s a desperate struggle.¡±

    ¡°Trying to repeat the sess of shared bikes with e¨Cbikes is a fantasy. High costs make this model unsustainable,¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>Data </b>shows that over half of the e<b>¨C</b>bikes have been stolen, damaged, or abandoned. With such high production costs<b>, </b>can thepany really absorb this loss<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>Chapter </b><b>519 </b>

    ¡°<b>Useless</b><b>! </b>You¡¯re all a bunch <b>of </b>useless trash<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

    At <b>this </b>point, Trevor had be the center of public attention. Wherever he <b>went</b>, journalists followed like dogs chasing a bone. They <b>were </b>impossible to shake off.

    Since the <b>crew </b>still had filming to do, after some negotiation, Trevor and Kate were eventually <b>¡°</b>asked to leave¡± the <b>set</b>.

    Kate looked at him, worried as heshed out in frustration. Trevor, this whole thing is because of me¡­ Why don¡¯t I step up and <b>exin</b>? I don¡¯t really care about being a celebrity.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Trevor rejected her without <b>a </b>second thought.

    But when he faced her, his tone softened, almost dripping with tenderness. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. You want to admit that we¡¯re <b>really </b>together<b>? </b>That would just confirm all the rumors<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Kate lowered her head in guilt, but in truth, her <b>eyes </b><b>were </b>filled with mockery. These ¡°rumors¡± <b>were </b>actually true.

    Trevor, however, mistook her reaction <b>as </b>genuine concern. His heart softenedpletely. All the other women he¡¯d been with relied on him to <b>fix </b>everything. But here she was, stupid enough to try and sacrifice herself to help him solve this problem.

    <b>¡°</b>Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of everything,¡± he said with joy he couldn¡¯t quite hide, pulling her into his arms<b>. </b>¡°Trust me<b>, </b>everything will be fine.¡±

    Kate responded softly. But she thought, ¡®<b>No. </b>You¡¯ll be ruined.

    Sophia had now entered the public eye. Trevor¡¯s usual tactic, which was imprisoning Sophia and controlling the narrative, was no longer an option.

    Especially since<b>, </b><b>after </b>theunch event, Aubree had quietly arranged for Sophia to be taken away.

    The journalists did not disappoint. They quickly broke the story. Trevor had considered bribing the press, but Sophia was out of control now. This scandal couldn¡¯t be buried, and he didn¡¯t want to risk being caught trying.

    Sophia stuck to her im. Trevor cheated and forced her into a divorce.

    Trevor personally entered the <b>fray</b>, iming instead that Sophia was trying to steal his Wilson Group shares<b>. </b>He used her of greed and self- destruction.

    Each side told a different story. Without hard evidence from Sophia, Trevor¡¯s version sounded more <b>¡°</b>reasonable¡± to the public. He even dug up old dirt, like Sophia using pregnancy to pressure him into marriage. In this head¨Cto¨Chead, he still held the upper hand.

    For now, the crisis <b>was </b>more <b>or </b>less under control.

    Trevor finally breathed a little easier. But he still wasn¡¯t sure who helped Sophia.

    He¡¯d ruled out every possibility, except the one that now seemed most likely, Aubree<b>. </b>

    Trevor let out a long sigh. He had truly underestimated Aubree. To strike back at them<b>, </b>she was even willing to work with Sophia again.

    Meanwhile, Carmen¡¯s ¡°BeeShare¡± project was barely surviving even with support from the Lawson Group and the Diamonde family. But she wasn¡¯t totally ipetent. Even in this state, she still managed to create some buzz.

    For now, thepany was half¨Cdead, just hanging in there, but if the right opportunity came along, it might just make aeback.

    Still, Aubree wasn¡¯t about to give her any chance to recover.

    She¡¯d had her eye on Carmen¡¯s project for ages, and now it was finally time to cash in and make Carmen pay up.

    What she revealed at the previous investment meeting had only been the tip of the iceberg. Aubree knew just as much about this project as Carmen.

    She began leaking hidden risks and existing ws.

    ¡°BeeShare shared bikes <b>are </b><b>barely </b>holding on. It¡¯s a desperate struggle.¡±

    ¡°Trying to repeat the sess of shared bikes with e¨Cbikes is a fantasy. High costs make this model unsustainable,¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>Data </b>shows that over half of the e<b>¨C</b>bikes have been stolen, damaged, or abandoned. With such high production costs<b>, </b>can thepany really absorb this loss<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

 Tried 520

    <b>Chapter </b><b>520 </b>

    Carmen let out a furious yell in her office.

    Her <b>eyes </b>were red <b>with </b>rage<b>. </b>She couldn¡¯t understand why her father didn¡¯t even try to save the BeeShare project and instead went straight to dering it bankrupt.

    Even when she went to beg him, he didn¡¯t even let her see him.

    Esme, the assistant sent by Ernesto, waited for her to finish her outburst before saying, ¡°Miss Carmen Wilson<b>, </b><b>I </b>just found out something. Mrs. Wilson might have kept a lover, and Mr. Wilson found out.¡±

    Carmen froze<b>. </b>She immediately thought of Kyler and clenched her jaw. Why couldn¡¯t her mother be more careful? She¡¯d already noticed something <b>was </b>off, but now it had even reached her father¡¯s ears<b>! </b>

    She couldn¡¯t help but <b>feel </b>even more frustrated with Alice.

    Resentment toward Alice grew in her heart<b>. </b>She med her for dragging her down. Clenching <b>her </b>teeth, Carmen snapped, ¡°Help me contact my

    uncle!¡±

    Ernesto had anticipated her reaction. ¡°I know what you want to <b>ask</b>. As for the BeeShare project, listen to your father and drop it. He¡¯s right.¡±

    <b>¡°</b>Why?¡± Carmen was stunned. He was the one who gave her the project at first. And now, he wanted to abandon it.

    ¡°There are indeed many problems with this project that <b>are </b>currently unsolvable. Of course, if Aubree hadn¡¯t interfered, despite the obstacles,pleting it wouldn¡¯t have been an issue<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°But right now, there¡¯s no ¡®if. For both public and private reasons, Ronald won¡¯t continue to invest in this project. Without Wilson Group¡¯s support, the Lawson Group will naturally pull back as <b>well</b>. Diamonde Group couldn¡¯t afford to keep stalling.¡±

    Carmen understood. It <b>was </b>because of Alice that Ronald wouldn¡¯t give her any more money.

    And as it stood, the mess Aubree had caused truly couldn¡¯t be cleaned up.

    She bit her lip so hard it bled. The taste of blood only fueled her fury. She wished Aubree had died more than ten years ago!

    Ernesto also looked worried. There <b>was </b>something else he feared¨Cthe <b>secret </b>of Carmen¡¯s birth. Now that Kyler had been exposed, could Carmen¡¯s background still stay hidden?

    ¡°Then what <b>do </b>we do now?¡± Without Ronald¡¯s support, she wasn¡¯t even close to being a match for Bryan <i>at </i>Wilson Group.

    Carmen clenched her phone tightly, suddenly recalling that Kyler was likely Aubree¡¯s person. ¡°Uncle, we forgot something. Kyler is probably with Aubree. His sudden exposure<b>¡­ </b>could it have something to do with her<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Ernesto froze. He hadn¡¯t considered that. He thought it was just an ident.

    Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat. Something felt wrong.

    If Aubree was behind all of this, if it had all been part of her calctions¡­ what was she trying to do?

    A terrifying possibility came to mind. Ernesto broke into a cold sweat. Aubree could have known the truth about Carmen¡¯s parentage. She was guiding Ronald to investigate Carmen and Alice. That would be a disaster!

    ¡°Uncle? Uncle!¡± Carmen called out several times. She didn¡¯t know the truth about her rtionship with Alice. In her memory, she had been brought to the orphanage by someone and had lived there for two years before being adopted by the Wilson family.

    She thought it was Aubree¡¯s big move that had frightened her uncle, so she called out anxiously.

    Ernesto finally came back to his senses. ¡°Carmen, Aubree has to die, or we¡¯ll be in deep trouble.¡±

    Those human traffickers had also been exposed. Aubree probably already knew how she had been abducted back then. With the truth of Carmen¡¯s parentage added to that, if Ronald <b>ever </b>found out and believed it, they would lose everything.

    Ernesto couldn¡¯t imagine a father reacting kindly to learning that his real daughter had suffered while he had pampered the child of his enemy for

    so many years.

    Hearing his <b>grave </b>tone, Carmen¡¯s heart jumped to her throat. ¡°Uncle, what should we do?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Trevor in a scandal right now?<b>¡± </b>

    <b>At </b>the mention of this, Carmen frowned in disgust. ¡°Trevor never learns. Causing such a mess and dragging thepany down with him.¡±

    2:35 PM 5

    Trevor¡¯s cheating scandal was blowing up online. No matter how he tried to defend himself, the divorce agreement was real and had been handed ever to Sophia. His reputation was definitely taking a hit

    People were starting to boycott him. Ever since his debut, he¡¯d <b>always </b>used his connection with the Wilson family <b>as </b>a selling point, I boosted his fame, but now it was dragging everything <b>down </b><b>with </b>him. When he was popr, many Wilson Group industries saw increased profits. Now that he <b>was </b>in trouble, that same connection was backfiring hard

    m

    Carmen absent¨Cmindedly recalled a simr incident from before. How was it resolved? Oh night, Aubree. But Trevor had misunderstood and thought she was the one who helped him. During that time, he had actually shown her genume warmth and smiles,

    1 get it now. This current scandal of his is probably Aubree¡¯s doing too. I¡¯m sure he wants her dead even more than we do right now. Uncle, Ill persuade him.¡± Carmen smiled faintly

    Ernesto was also pleased. ¡°Right. And once Aubree is dealt with, don¡¯t worry too much about BeeShare. I¡¯ve got news of a new project in Mistmere 1 heard Bryan is also involved. I¡¯ll send you the information. Grab it first and use it to break into the shareholders¡® circle.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Carmen replied.

    Right now, she was just <b>a </b>project manager. Only by taking on more projects could she climb higher. Without entering the board, she¡¯d never have a real say in thepany.

    <b>Carmen </b>didn¡¯t waste another second. ¡°Help me locate Trevor¡±

    Meanwhile, after causing so much chaos for the Wilson family, Aubree had already moved on and thrown them to the back of her mind.

    She was already making progress on the n she¡¯d agreed on with Darius.

    Darius had found that researcher. He let the researcher set his own conditions. The man¡¯s name was Frederic Hewitt. Compared to Trevor, he was <b>far </b>more qualified to be called a doctor. He genuinely wanted to create medicine that could cure terminal illnesses and benefit humanity.

    Frederic made only one request. Within theb, he had the final say Neither Darius nor anyone else could interfere with his decisions.

    It wasn¡¯t an unreasonable demand. Darius added a use. Unless Frederic¡¯s actions crossed a major ethical line, he wouldn¡¯t step in. The two sides signed the contract without hesitation:

    Aubree invested half of the funds and with Danus, set up a researchb Relying on her experience, she built him an elite team. They had already begun research, and results were expected soon

    Meanwhile, over at the research institute, the academicians had used the clues Aubree provided to sessfully develop a long¨Cstalled chip. This chip had already entered production. As a major contributor, Aubree had been subtly told by many influential figures. ¡°If you ever run into trouble, juste to us.¡±

    They didn¡¯t believe the timing was coincidental Aubree clearly had deep knowledge of the problem¡¯s solution. Judging from her uncanny insight, they assumed she was secretly a top expert in the field, just not interested in a research career.

    Some of them had even thought of inviting her to join the institute until they remembered her worth.

    Someone worth billions of dors wouldn¡¯t willingly choose to suffer in academia

    What they could do now was hold onto her and, when needed, ask for a few small favors.¡±

 Tried 521

    <b>Carmen </b>wanted Aubree dead. The most reliable method she could think of was to <b>use </b>Trevor a

    as her <b>weapon</b>.

    Lately, Trevor hadn¡¯t <b>even </b>been able to return to the center of Rithol City.

    His movie had been filmed on the outskirts of Ramshorn. But on the <b>very </b>day of the opening ceremony, something happened. Not only was he kicked out of the production team, but a swarm of reporters, sharp <b>as </b>bloodhounds, immediately swarmed him.

    He didn¡¯t even <b>get </b>a chance to leave Ramshorn before getting cornered.

    Luckily, the Wilson family owned plenty of properties. He took refuge in a nearby vi. At that point, he had be the prime target of the paparazzi. He had Skyler send Kate away first.

    <b>There </b>was no one else in the vi, just Trevor and Skyler. During this period, Trevor relied entirely on Skyler for food and drink. The moment he stepped outside, the reporters would practically devour him.

    ¡°How much longer do I have to wait?¡± Trevor snapped at Skyler.

    If Skyler hadn¡¯t firmly insisted that using the family¡¯s bodyguards to forcefully remove the media would backfire badly, he would¡¯ve ordered them to clear out the reporters long ago.

    <b>Skyler </b>said, ¡°They won¡¯t let me chase the reporters away, and you won¡¯t let me go out and <b>face </b>them. Am I just supposed to stay locked up here forever<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    He looked exhausted. ¡°Can you guarantee that you won¡¯t say anything wrong?<b>¡± </b>

    Skyler added, ¡°Sophia is holding on tight. She¡¯s provided evidence that you and she have been separated for a long time. And there¡¯s proof that you had a gap in your schedule during which you were free. It¡¯s not direct evidence, but it still looks bad.¡±

    The worst part was that Trevor had actually done all of it. Even if they wanted to rify things now, there was nothing they could do.

    Then the media would easily dig up the fact that he¡¯d been spending that entire time with Kate in Rithol City.

    Just hearing Sophia¡¯s name annoyed Trevor now. He never imagined that someone he once treated as worthless could now cause him so much

    trouble.

    Grabbing his hair in frustration, he growled, ¡°If nothing works, then go find Sophia and fix this! All she wants <b>is </b>money, right? Just give it to her!¡±

    Skyler gave him a look. ¡°It¡¯s obvious Sophia has someone backing her. She doesn¡¯t want to show herself. We can¡¯t find her. And are you sure you can afford what she¡¯s asking for?¡±

    He had figured it out. Sophia wasn¡¯t short on ambition. Money alone wasn¡¯t going to make her disappear.

    ¡°So what, I¡¯m just supposed to sit here and wait?¡± Trevor slumped a little. He had <b>never </b>felt so much like <i>a </i>bird trapped in a cage.

    ¡°Not exactly. Your sister contacted me.¡± That was the main reason Skyler hade over today.

    He couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. Trevor might have the looks and talent, but as a person, he left much to be desired. Still, he had two pretty decent younger <b>sisters</b>. A few years ago, when Trevor got into trouble, it was Aubree who stepped in to help him, suffering terribly and ending up hospitalized.

    Now, Carmen <b>was </b>stepping up to help him too, even if she didn¡¯t seem nearly <b>as </b>sincere inparison.

    ¡°Carmen?¡± Trevor blinked in surprise. Since his scandal broke, only Bryan had called to ask if he needed help. His parents were fighting nonstop, and Daxton never got involved in family matters. He never expected that Carmen would be the one paying attention.

    He pressed his lips together. True, she had helped him once, years ago. His feelings toward her wereplicated.

    He knew Carmen wasn¡¯t as innocent as she looked. That was partly why he <b>was </b>willing to take her side over Aubree¡¯s. But that didn¡¯t mean he wanted to get close to her.

    Still¡­

    Trevor let out a long sigh. He really hadn¡¯t expected this. ¡°What does she n to do to help?¡±

    Skyler replied, ¡°Miss Carmen Wilson found someone with a simr build to you. I¡¯ll head out tonight¡­¡±

    They would switch ces. They could swap Trevor out to get him out of the vi. With no security there, it was only a matter of time before the reporters forced their way in.

    ¡°But we can¡¯t let our guard down,<b>¡± </b>Skyler warned. ¡°We don¡¯t know what they¡¯ll do next. I suggest you file for divorce immediately. Turn the tables and <b>say </b>she coerced you into marriage. And in the meantime, hide Kate well.¡±

    This would be thest time Skyler helped him out of old friendship, nothing more.

    Trevor didn¡¯t <b>say </b>if he agreed or not. He remained deep in thought even after Skyler

    His <b>eyes </b>turned cold. Only Aubree would help Sophia.

    So as long as Aubree was dealt with<b>, </b>Sophia wouldn¡¯t be able to stir up anything.

    Trevor was swiftly swapped out and taken away from the vi. As he and Skyler had predicted, their concerns weren¡¯t unfounded.

    Not long after he left, obsessive fans managed to sneak in. Reporters, who had been camping out for days, stormed the vi in desperation. They were so hungry for headlines that they no longer cared about offending the Wilson family. But they got nothing.

    By the time Trevor saw the news, he <b>was </b>already back at his own studio.

    ¡°Good thing you helped me out, Carmen,¡± Trevor said, watching the chaos unfold on the news. Obsessive fans acting deranged, reporters behaving like wolves. It was horrifying. He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    Carmen was sitting across from him.

    She said, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Trevor. You¡¯re my brother. Only I can help <b>you</b>.¡±

    Trevor sneered. ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. I¡¯ve got two sisters, and one of them is just waiting for me to fall.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s eyes glinted with amusement. The more Trevor despised Aubree, the more he leaned toward her side.

    She asked, ¡°So have you thought about how to handle this mess? If only Sophia had failed back then¡­¡±

    She sighed, looking hesitant and conflicted. ¡°No matter what, Aubree shouldn¡¯t treat her family like this¡­<b>¡± </b>

    Trevor¡¯s face darkened instantly. Her words reminded him that everything he was suffering now was because of Aubree.

    The thoughts he¡¯d been suppressing started to surge again. If only Aubree were gone¡­

    He remembered his parents¡® previous attempt to kidnap Aubree for a staged drama, but they hadn¡¯t been ruthless enough, and she had slipped

    away.

    If <i>they </i>were going to act, they might as well get rid of her once and for all.

    Without Aubree, everything would go back to normal.

    She no longer saw them as family. They shouldn¡¯t be lenient with her.

    ¡°Carmen,¡± he said slowly, eyes sharp as knives. ¡°What if Aubree died? Wouldn¡¯t all our problems be solved?¡±

    Trevor looked <i>at </i>Carmen coldly. Even though this was exactly the oue Carmen wanted, she still felt a chill when Trevor looked at her like that.

    She knew he understood her nature. In front of him, she didn¡¯t bother pretending quite as much. ¡°If Aubree really intends to destroy the Wilson family, then I don¡¯t want that either,¡± she said, as if steeling herself.

    She looked as if she¡¯d finally made up her mind. ¡°Trevor, I¡¯ve got a piece of information¡­¡±

    She continued, ¡°The night after tomorrow, Aubree and Sophia are meeting up. Their car will pass through¡­¡±

    Trevor chuckled coldly. It was <b>as </b>if the heavens themselves were helping him.

    Ìï

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    Comment

 Tried 522

    Chapter <b>522 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Ms. Miller<b>, </b>I¡¯ve done everything you asked, the man said.

    <b>¡°</b>But<b>¡­ </b>there¡¯s still no definitive evidence. I can¡¯t gain the upper hand. Now Trevor is also out of our sight. If he sues me¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Aubree hadn¡¯t even finished her sentence. Then, a blinding sh, followed by the screech of brakes tearing through the night. <b>Two </b>cars collided violently.

    ¡°There¡¯s been an ident! Call 911<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>someone shouted.

    ¡°Call an ambnce! Someone¡¯s been pulled out¡­ I don¡¯t think they¡¯re breathing!¡±

    ¡°So much blood¡­ Who <b>is </b>this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Breaking news. A traffic ident urred on Maple Road tonight, involving a collision between two vehicles. Four people <b>were </b>injured, two of whom died at the <b>scene</b>. The identities of the deceased are still under investigation¡­¡±

    Far away in the Wilson family home, Carmen smiled as she saw Aubree¡¯s <b>face </b>sh <b>across </b>the phone <b>screen</b>.

    Being carried out on a stretcher, <b>covered </b>in so much blood. Even <b>if </b>she¡¯s not dead, she¡¯s hanging by a thread, Carmen thought.

    She smirked. ¡®Aubree, Aubree, after all you did for Trevor, in the end, you ended up dying because of him. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure to take credit for all your good deeds. I won¡¯t let your hard work go to waste!¡®

    Meanwhile, Trevor was <b>so </b>happy when he saw the news that he popped open a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

    If only that crash had killed both Aubree and Sophia. He couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine how much trouble that would save.

    Meanwhile, at Turner Group, Bowen¡¯s office lights were still on. Recently, Alvin had gained his father¡¯s support and rallied many shareholders to the boardroom, causing him a lot of trouble.

    Bowen¡¯s hand slipped, his pen tearing through the paper. Suddenly, his chest ached sharply.

    Kelvin burst in, panicked. ¡°Mr. Turner, Miss Miller was in an ident, a car crash.

    ¡°What?¡± Bowen¡¯s vision went dark. He had to grab the desk to stay upright. ¡°Where is she now? Take me to her!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Turner, please don¡¯t panic. We don¡¯t have clear info yet. It might not be her¡­¡± Kelvin tried to calm him down while quickly arranging transportation.

    When Bowen arrived at the hospital, the medical staff were running back and forth. He grabbed one of them. ¡°The patients from the Maple Road ident. Where were they sent?¡±

    The nurse paused, nced at him curiously. ¡°The dead are being taken <i>to </i>the morgue. The injured are in surgery. Who are you looking for?¡±

    Bowen¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his face pale. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

    The nurse, a bit impatient, nced down at her clipboard. She looked up just in time to see a stretcher being pushed their way. She pointed, ¡°Two people died on Maple Road, a man and a woman. The man¡¯s already in the morgue. This is the woman.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s grip loosened. Trembling, he looked toward the stretcher being pushed closer. At the time of the crash, Aubree and Sophia were in the back seat. The driver and the other car¡¯s driver were both men. So this female body¡­

    Kelvin couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°Mr. Turner, just look for yourself.¡±

    Bowen replied, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    He took one shaky step after another toward the stretcher. His outstretched hand trembled like someone with Parkinson¡¯s<b>. </b>The nurse, thinking he was a family member, didn¡¯t stop him. ¡°My condolences<b>.¡± </b>

    ¡°Such a young girl, pretty too. What a shame.¡±

    ¡°So unfortunate.<b>¡± </b>

    Bowen lifted a corner of the white cloth, revealing a delicate hand beneath. A single tear fell. All of this happened so fast.

    Before he could fully lift the sheet<b>, </b><b>a </b>clear voice called out from behind him, ¡°Bowen, what are you doing?<b>¡± </b>

    He asked, ¡°You¡¯re okay<b>?</b>¡± All the strength drained from his body. He nearly copsed as he turned around. He saw the person he longed for standing there<b>, </b>safe and sound.

    And just like that, he cried harder. His <b>eyes </b>were like broken faucets, tears streaming uncontrobly.

    Kelvin also teared up, stunned and overwhelmed with relief. Just moments ago, Bowen looked like a widower. The grief <b>was </b><b>real </b>Kelvin also thought for sure that the body belonged to Aubree.

    <b>¡°</b>Well, I¡¯m notpletely fine.¡± Aubree joked, pointing at her crutch. ¡°Broke a leg.¡±

    She then tapped her head<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Mild concussion. Bowen, <b>are </b>you in shock? I clearly look <b>very </b>injured. Shouldn¡¯t be hard to tell!¡±

    Before she could finish teasing, Bowen pulled her into <b>a </b>tight embrace<b>. </b>The crutch ttered to the floor. Kelvin said emotionally, ¡°So d you¡¯re okay, Miss Miller.¡±

    <b>Bowen </b>didn¡¯t <b>say </b>a word. He just held her tightly, his body still trembling.

    Aubree froze, then <b>slowly </b>smiled and returned the hug. ¡°I¡¯m okay now, Bowen. <b>Maybe </b><b>I </b>lived such a miserable life that fate decided to cut me a break. The car hit the driver¡¯s side. I <b>was </b>sitting in the safest spot.¡±

    She continued. ¡°The two people who died <b>were </b>Sophia and the other driver. The driver chauffeur is still in surgery. I just broke a leg and got <b>a </b>

    concussion<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Then why did the news<b>¡­.</b><b>¡± </b>Kelvin was confused. The information they received had been vague.

    Aubree scratched her head. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think it was an ident. I don¡¯t know how many people <b>were </b>involved behind the scenes, but clearly, someone wanted me dead. So I didn¡¯t expect to scare you both before catching the culprit.¡±

    Bowen, finally calmer, released her from the hug and looked <i>at </i>her with a grim expression. From Aubree¡¯s angle, he looked not pleased.

    Bowen asked, ¡°A broken leg? How many legs do you have to spare that you can say it like it¡¯s nothing?¡±

    He flicked her forehead. She winced, eyes tearing up.

    He continued, ¡°Mild concussion? You think that¡¯s not serious? Why aren¡¯t you in a hospital room resting? Running around like this?¡±

    Aubree came to tell him she was okay, so he wouldn¡¯t panic. That was all.

    Aubree was about to fire back with a retort. But when she saw his tear¨Cstreaked face, she fell silent.

    She apologized, ¡°Sorry. I made you worry.¡±

    Bowen knew she was smart and strategic. She usually had everything under control. But no matter how capable she was, she was still human. idents happen.

    His heart grew heavy, and that impulse he¡¯d been suppressing finally broke through. He could help her deal with the Wilson family. She was already making enough waves as it was, But he was scared that one day, the Wilson family would strike back. He just wanted to keep her safe somewhere, somewhere that would finally put his mind at ease.

    Bowen¡¯s face went through a storm of emotions before he finally swept Aubree up into his arms. ¡°Which room is yours? Next time, don¡¯t make me worry like this again.¡±

    He added, ¡°I¡¯ll find out the truth behind this ident. If you want your condition kept secret, I¡¯ll make sure the public only hears that Aubree might have died in the crash.¡±

    Aubree smiled. ¡°I have a good idea who it was. Trevor must¡¯ve been pushed too far. Sophia¡¯s death will also be troublesome.¡±

    She wanted the public to think she was dead. Not only to catch the real mastermind, but also to keep Trevor from realizing Sophia was gone.

    This secrecy wouldn¡¯tst long<b>. </b>She needed to act fast. Time to consider making <b>a </b>move on Kate directly

 Tried 523

    <b>hapter </b><b>523 </b>

    In the hospital ward, Aubree frowned, visibly troubled. Seeing this, Bowen was intrigued. ¡°Rare to see you have something to worry about.¡±

    Aubreeyfortably on the hospital bed, openly epting Bowen¡¯s attentive care. ¡°Sophia¡¯s death was unexpected. She was a critical piece in my n. Originally, with Kate¡¯s help, it would¡¯ve been easy to expose Trevor¡¯s affair.¡±

    She said, ¡°I wanted Sophia to cling to Trevor, either ruin his careerpletely or force hina

    scandal. But now she¡¯s dead, and the dead can¡¯t testify.¡±

    to give up his shares in the Wilson family to <b>cover </b>the

    ¡°Even if Kate steps forward, the effect won¡¯t be as strong. Trevor could still make aeback after some time.¡±

    She added, ¡°At most, it¡¯ll just damage his image a bit, but the entertainment industry <b>is </b>a ce with a short memory. As long as the Wilson family stands, with their money and his acting skills, he¡¯ll return to the top eventually.¡±

    ¡°Who says making someone suffer must be about reputation or profit?¡± Bowen smiled slyly, clearly havinge up with another sinister idea.

    Aubree looked over at him, her eyes wide with curiosity, silently urging him to continue.

    Bowen¡¯s heart softened under her gaze. He said gently, ¡°Attack the heart. Trevor was willing to cut ties with Sophia for Kate. That shows Kate means something to him. If his lover, his friends, his family all turn away from him¡­ Do you think he won¡¯t break down?¡±

    He added, ¡°As far as I know, his agent, Skyler, has already written a resignation letter. He just hasn¡¯t sent it yet.¡±

    Bowen smiled. ¡°Bree, don¡¯t forget. You once helped him. Trevor is stupid enough to mistake the wrong person. It¡¯s time you set the record straight and let him know who truly cared about him.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes lit up. Trevor, proud and arrogant, had seen too much deceit and betrayal growing up. Deep down, he longed for pure, sincere emotional connections. Be it friendship or family, he craved true bonds.

    Ironically, he never offered any sincerity himself, yet expected it from others.

    But there really had been a fool in the past who gave him exactly that.

    Aubree clenched her fists. ¡°He¡¯ll copse<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    And when someone copsed emotionally, they would do irrational things.

    ¡°There¡¯s also the matter of your car ident.¡± Bowen tapped her injured right leg, his eyes shing darkly. ¡°If we can prove he was behind hiring someone to kill you, he won¡¯t get away.¡±

    Aubree sighed. ¡°We probably won¡¯t find any proof in the short term. Trevor wouldn¡¯t have dared unless he was thoroughly prepared.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s expression darkened. He¡¯d already sent Kelvin to investigate, but the driver behind the crash turned out to be squeaky clean. The only lead was that years ago, the man had been in a case where his wife and daughter were murdered. In the act of self¨Cdefense, he killed someone and was ultimately acquitted. But the case was old. Digging into its connections would take time.

    No one knew what methods Trevor had used to buy this man¡¯s loyalty.

    J

    Aubree hadn¡¯t even figured out how to¡°naturally¡± let Trevor learn the truth of the past when someone else conveniently did it for her.

    The news of her supposed death in the crash spread fast, and the Wilson family was in shock.

    <i>At </i>that moment, only Bryan and Ronald were there. Ronald¡¯s first reaction was that Alice must have done it.

    He had recently discovered some suspicious things, such as Alice¡¯s old college me looked strikingly like that young lover of hers, and that lover was somehow connected to Aubree.

    It all fit. Alice had mentioned kidnapping Aubree before. Then, the car crash happened. He wasn¡¯t even surprised anymore. It felt inevitable.

    ¡°It must¡¯ve been your mother!¡± Ronald roared at Bryan. ¡°She¡¯s my daughter, my biological daughter! It was because of her that things between us have fallen apart! And now she wants to kill my child?¡±

    As much as he wanted Aubree¡¯spany and talents back to help the business, his starting point was always she was his daughter.

    He doted on his four <b>sons</b><b>, </b>and of course he loved his daughter.

    Ronald¡¯s voice trembled with fury. Even when he agreed to Alice¡¯s n to kidnap Aubree, it was on the condition that she wouldn¡¯t be harmed.

    Bryan was also stunned. He only ever wanted Aubree to lose her ability topete for thepany. If she had agreed to just be the pampered youngdy of the Wilson family, he would¡¯ve spoiled her too. But she was dead.

    The thought hovered in his mind. His feelings wereplicated. But mostly, it hurt more than it pleased him. ¡°Let¡¯s ask Mom first,¡± Bryan said softly.

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened as he dialed Alice¡¯s number.

    Alice was at Daxton¡¯sb at the time. Worried about her shaky rtionship with Ronald, she was still trying to get Daxton to transfer his shares to

    Carmen.

    ¡°Mom, Carmen is my sister. No matter what happens or who¡¯s involved, I¡¯ll always stand by her, Daxton said.

    Alice was about to ask more, especially about the shares, when Ronald¡¯s call came through.

    ¡°Where are you right now<b>?</b>¡± he growled urgently.

    Alice replied, ¡°I¡¯m with Daxton. Why?¡±

    ¡°Bring him back immediately. I need to <b>ask </b>you something.¡± He wanted them home before talking further,

    Alice was dazed by the fury in his voice. She didn¡¯t know what had happened

    Without a word, she grabbed Daxton and headed back to the Wilson family residence. ¡°Daxton, something¡¯s happened.¡±

    baston asked, ¡°Dad called? He didn¡¯t say what happened?¡±

    Alice replied, ¡°No, but he sounded very urgent.¡±

    Daxton¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Mom¡­ did you hear the news about Aubree¡¯s car crash? Rumor has it¡­ she died.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Alice gasped. She¡¯d seen the news earlier but hadn¡¯t paid much attention.

    She couldn¡¯t believe it. She felt lost. ¡®Aubree is dead?¡®

    Her first reaction wasn¡¯t joy. She remembered Aubree as a baby. She was so small, so adorable.

    Alice had struggled with that decision too. But after everything she¡¯d suffered in the Wilson family, she couldn¡¯t bear to let her other daughter grow up parentless and alone.

    And now, Aubree was dead.

    <i>on </i><i>the </i>

    Daxton remained calm. Watching his mother teeter on the brink of copse, he said quietly, ¡°Mom, do you think Dad will suspect you had something to do with Aubree¡¯s ident?¡±

    Alice¡¯s <b>face </b>went pale. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Let¡¯s go back first.¡±

    It turned out, Daxton¡¯s guess was dead on.

    The moment they stepped through the doors, Ronald pped her across the <b>face</b>.

    He snapped, ¡°Alice, have you gone mad? You really tried to kill your own daughter! You¡¯re heartless! You killed Aubree! Is your next target me?¡±

 Tried 524

    <b>Chapter </b><b>524 </b>

    Ronald was truly furious this time.

    Even when he found out that Alice had cheated on him during their many years of marriage, he had <b>riever </bid a hand on her. But this was the first time he hit her.

    Alice <b>was </b>stunned, covering her <b>face</b><b>, </bpletely dazed. Ever <b>since </b><b>she </b>married into the Wilson family, this was the first time she had ever been pped.

    Ronald was angry. It seemed Aubree was dead.

    She opened her mouth, her voice trembling. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. This has nothing to do with me!¡±

    ¡°Not you?¡± Ronald sneered. He had just learned another piece of information that truly shocked him.

    He said, ¡°<b>I </b>just found out that the two people you sent to kidnap Aubree were actually the same traffickers who abducted her years ago. Why don¡¯t you exin how you even recognized those two people?<b>¡± </b>

    He continued, ¡°When you sent them after Aubree<b>, </b>were you really just following the n to <b>stage </b>a fake kidnapping, or were you actually trying to <b>use </b>the chance to kill her?<b>¡± </b>

    He added, ¡°Alice<b>, </b><b>even </b>if <b>I </b>don¡¯t have solid evidence <b>yet</b><b>, </b>I¡¯m now convinced that Aubree¡¯s disappearance back then had everything to do with you.¡±

    Alice¡¯s knees went weak, her body swayed, and all the courage she had gathered instantly vanished. She hadn¡¯t expected Ronald to learn the truth so quickly.

    He <b>was </b>burning with rage<b>, </b>staring at Alice with hatred. ¡°I never imagined the cruelest person of all was you.¡±

    His words shocked Daxton and Bryan. They looked at Alice in disbelief. ¡°Mom, is what Dad said true?¡±

    Bryan was especially emotional. Ever since he had witnessed his little sister being abducted as a child, that incident had be an obsession for him.

    And now, someone was telling him it wasn¡¯t an ident, but a premeditated act, and that it had nothing to do with him at all.

    He looked at Alice. ¡°Mom, were you the one who instructed those traffickers?<b>¡± </b>

    Alice¡¯s face turned even paler. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t know those two were the same traffickers from before.¡±

    She muttered, ¡°I didn¡¯t know anything. The car ident¡­ Aubree¡¯s car ident had nothing to do with me!¡±

    Ronald¡¯s gaze was ice¨Ccold. <b>If </b><b>I </b>find out you had anything to do with the car ident, we¡¯re getting a divorce.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t bear to sleep next to such a venomous woman anymore. He was afraid. Afraid that if she got angry one day, she might even try to kill

    him too.

    Bryan saw that his parents were on the verge of falling apart and tried to de¨Cescte. ¡°Dad, let¡¯s not talk about anything else for now. Mom said she didn¡¯t do it. Could this be a misunderstanding?¡±

    Daxton also didn¡¯t want to see their family fall apart like this<b>. </b>¡°And if something happens to Mom, Carmen would be devastated. Besides, there¡¯s someone else who might have had a reason to harm Aubree. Has Trevor been acting suspicioustely?¡±

    That one sentence instantly sobered Ronald up. Ever since he learned about the ident, he had been convinced it was Alice and forgot that Alice wasn¡¯t the only one who bore a grudge against Aubree.

    Given Trevor¡¯s personality, it wasn¡¯t impossible.

    Ronald¡¯s face darkened. Even if it wasn¡¯t Alice, he couldn¡¯t allow siblings to turn against each other like this.

    He could understand Aubree wanting revenge. They had wronged her deeply. But for Trevor to try to kill his sister over such petty grievances?

    Ronald asked, ¡°Where is he now?¡±

    None of them could answer.

    Finally, Bryan spoke. ¡°Ever since that scandal broke out, Trevor has been hounded by the paparazzi. He¡¯s been lying low.¡±

    Then what are you waiting for? Contact him!¡± Ronald waspletely enraged now. He had raised <b>a </b>pack of ungrateful monsters<b>, </b>

 Tried 525

    471

    And the angrier he got, the more he missed those three years when Aubree was living at home. Every time he came homete from work, there <b>was </b><b>always </b><b>a </b>little figure waiting for him, asking if he <b>was </b>tired, if he was okay.

    Trevor, who was now the center of the Wilson family¡¯s attention, wasn¡¯t having <b>a </b>great time himself. When rumors started to circte about Aubree dying in <b>a </b>car ident, Trevor had actually felt a surge of joy.

    He thought that now that Aubree <b>was </b>gone, <b>he </b>could finally deal with Sophia and openly be with Kate. But then Skyler threw another wrench into his ns.

    The resignation letter on the coffee table stung his eyes.

    He held it in as long as he could, but eventually lost control. He yanked Skyler up by the cor and punched him. ¡°You betrayed me?¡±

    <b>Skyler </b>didn¡¯t fight back. His <b>sses </b>fell to the floor, and he pushed Trevor¡¯s hand away. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s <b>a </b>ridiculous thing <b>to </b><b>say</b>?¡±

    He added, ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b>never done anything to hurt you. Even now, when you¡¯re in trouble, I¡¯ve been doing my best to help you clean it up.¡±

    Then why <b>are </b>you quitting?<b>¡± </b>Trevor didn¡¯t understand. In all of Lumanon¡¯s entertainment industry, he was number one.

    Skyler¡¯s <b>sry </b><b>was </b>sky¨Chigh. Trevor wasn¡¯t stingy, and he had plenty of money. Even his assistants earned far above the industry average.

    Skyler asked, ¡°Trevor, that <b>car </b>ident¡­ Aubree¡¯s <b>car </b>ident <b>was </b>your doing, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Trevor frowned in confusion. Why is he suddenly bringing this up?¡® he thought.

    Guilt gnawed at him, and he stayed silent.

    Skyler said, ¡°Trevor, you don¡¯t need me anymore. You can handle Sophia¡¯s issue on your own. When I first entered this business, I wanted to nurture real stars. But now, I can¡¯t find any meaning in what I¡¯m doing.

    He added, ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about quitting for a long time. I was just waiting for the right time.¡±

    He never imagined that Trevor would actually go so far <b>as </b>to try and kill Aubree. Skyler recalled that night when he <b>was </b>frantically trying to fix the situation, and it was a teenage Aubree who came to him and said, ¡°I have <b>a </b>way to help Trevor<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    His thoughts snapped back to the present. Now the rumors were spreading like wildfire, and while there was no official confirmation, Skyler believed Trevor had done it. Even if Aubree wasn¡¯t dead, she was probably in terrible shape.

    Skyler said, ¡°Trevor, after I leave, I hope you find a manager who fits you better. Also, tone down your attitude. You¡¯ve got talent and looks, youe from a powerful family, and you were born for this industry. But that doesn¡¯t mean your <b>sess </b>is guaranteed forever.¡±

    ¡°You went after Aubree. Forget about your family, Bowen won¡¯t let you off, Skyler warned Trevor gravely.

    But Trevor only sneered. ¡°Stop pretending to care. Just get out already. What, you think I can¡¯t make it without you?¡±

    Skyler hesitated, then said, ¡®Remember that incident a few years ago when you got trapped at that hotel¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you done yet? Are you leaving or not?¡± Trevor impatiently cut him off.

    What Skyler wanted to say was about the time when Trevor first broke into the A¨Clist, during the height of fan stalking and a secret romance scandal.

    But in the end, Skyler didn¡¯t say anything else. He turned and left.

    After he left, Kate, who had been hiding in the room, finally came out. ¡°Trevor.¡±

    Seeing her made Trevor¡¯s face soften a bit. ¡°Kate, don¡¯t ever betray me.¡±

    Because to him, Skyler¡¯s resignation <b>wasn¡¯t </b>just quitting, it was betrayal.

    Kate nestled gently into his arms, but her <b>eyes </b>were ice<b>¨C</b>cold. ¡®I came here to take your life. Betray you? Of course not. I just want you dead. People like you deserve to be abandoned by everyone!

 Tried 526

    Meanwhile<b>, </b>at the hospital.

    <b>¡°</b>You nearly <b>gave </b>me a heart <b>attack</b><b>!</b>¡± Birgitte finally let out a sigh of <b>relief </b>as she looked at Aubree lying on the hospital bed, leisurely eating grapes.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh. Ever since her <b>car </b>ident, her phone had almost exploded from all the calls. But to <b>keep </b>Trevor from finding out she was alive and well, she had only informed Vincent and Birgitte.

    She didn¡¯t <b>expect </b>Birgitte would insist oning all to Rithol City just <b>to </b>see her<b>. </b>

    Aubree said, ¡°I already told you I¡¯m fine. <b>If </b>you¡¯de <b>any </bter, I¡¯d already be discharged.¡±

    <b>It </b>was a <b>relief </b>that Aubree was okay. When Birgitte first heard about the ident, she¡¯d been <b>so </b>frightened her heart almost stopped.

    Birgitte said, ¡°Ms. Miller, how long are you nning to keep this a secret? Bree Technology just got established. Not long ago, most of the shareholders rose to <b>sess </b>alongside you, but those old foxes aren¡¯t so easily fooled.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s ident didn¡¯t just affect the Wilson family. On Bree Technology¡¯s side, plenty of people were already stirring.

    It had already been two days since news of the ident broke. There should have been an update now. No news usually meant the worst news. Most people had already assumed the woman who died in the ident was Aubree.

    Bree Technology had grown too fast. In just two years, it had be a giant. With Aubree holding the most shares and the second¨C

    shareholder, Bowen supporting her, thepany was practically under her solemand. Even if others had thoughts, they had to swallow them.

    But now, she¡¯d had <b>an </b>ident.

    Some thoughts <b>were </b>surfacing at the perfect time.

    Aubree said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. With Bowen backing me, they can¡¯t stir up much trouble. In fact, I¡¯ve been meaning to use this chance to clean house a little.¡±

    She had considered this long ago. Even if something had happened to her, she believed Bowen wouldn¡¯t let things spiral.

    Birgitte hesitated. ¡°Ms. Miller, aren¡¯t you afraid Bowen might take advantage of the situation?¡±

    She used to envy the rtionship between Aubree and Patrick. But after what happened with Patrick, she¡¯de to believe. In the face of profit, love was the most fragile thing.

    Patrick had even shielded her from acid to keep up the deception, let alone something like Bree Technology, now a billion¨Cdor empire. Could someone like Bowen really not be tempted?

    ¡°I trust him.¡± Aubree wouldn¡¯t argue whether Birgitte¡¯s perspective was right or wrong. Everyone had their own outlook. But she believed in her

    choice.

    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t lie to me, Aubree said firmly.

    Bowen, walking in with a lunchbox, heard thatst part. ¡°Rest assured, Ms. Cherniavsky. I would never make a move against Bree Technology.¡±

    J

    Caught gossiping behind his back, even Birgitte felt awkward. ¡°I hope you remember what you said today.¡±

    She nodded at him. ¡°I¡¯m not targeting you. But I¡¯ve received word that the Wilson family is trying to use their blood ties to fight you for Ms. Miller¡¯s shares in Bree Technology.¡±

    She added, ¡°If even blood rtives are like that, how much less should we trust an outsider?¡±

    Bowen calmly opened the boxes and set them in front of Aubree. ¡°I¡¯d neverpare myself to beasts.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Cherniavsky, have you eaten yet?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Turner, <b>I </b>already have.¡± Birgitte smirked coldly. ¡°Whether you¡¯re a friend or a foe, who¡¯s to say?¡±

    As the general manager of the S¨¹dlichen Strandzhou branch, Birgitte had eyes and ears everywhere. She knew plenty of minor shareholders had approached Bowen, pledging their support.

    On the surface, Bowen had sent them away, but the truth could be different.

    Aubree, holding her bowl, watched the two trade barbs and quickly tried to change the topic. ¡°Birgitte, didn¡¯t you say you had work at HQ too? I¡¯m really fine. Why don¡¯t you take care of that first<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Not wanting to make things more awkward for Aubree, Birgitte nodded stiffly. ¡°I¡¯ll visit againter.¡±

    Once she was gone, Aubree rolled her eyes at Rowen ¡°And you. You¡¯re the president of a massivepany. I already told you I love nurses here. I won¡¯t starve, Yet you¡¯re running back and forth. Aren¡¯t you tired?¡±

    Bowen replied. ¡°Tve handed things off to Alvin, I¡¯m pretty free right now.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Aubree <b>was </b>stunned. He gavepany matters to Alvin. That was like hamling a chicken leg to a hungry woll

    ¡°If he wants it, let him have it. Let¡¯s see what kind of waves he can stir up.¡± Bowen¡¯s eyes were calm, his face impassive.

    Rather than wait for Alvin to find a way to give him trouble, it was better to open the door and see what he was nning.

    This was an internal Turner family matter. Since Alvin hadn¡¯t yet touched Bree Technology, Aubree had no reason to interfere.

    Aubree sighed. ¡°I owe him.¡±

    Nowen said, ¡°What¡¯s the point of overthinking it? Eat.¡±

    While Aubree recoveredfortably in the hospital, waiting to see Trevor¡¯s next move, she assumed he¡¯d at least try to confirm whether she was really dead.

    Unexpectedly, he didn¡¯t even bother pretending.

    Before Skyler even finished handing over his resignation, Trevor had already mobilized his PR army tounch a smear campaign against Sophia,

    Trevor¡¯s thinking was simple. If Aubree really was dead, then only Sophia remained, and she was no threat. She had no money, no solid evidence. No one would believe her<b>. </b>

    If Aubree wasn¡¯t dead, and Sophia was, all the better.

    At the end of the day, this was a matter between him and Sophia. The dead couldn¡¯t speak, so he couldpletely control the narrative. And even if Aubree could speak, there was nothing she could do.

    He ordered his paid PR ounts to flood social media with nder against Sophia, saying her talk of divorce was just drama and it had nothing to do with Trevor cheating.

    They painted Kate as the innocent scapegoat<b>. </b>

    His fanbase joined the smear effort, even iming Sophia had cheated herself and was deflecting me.

    A lie repeated enough bes the truth.

    Then Trevor personally stepped in, publicly posting online.

    He shared a photo of Sophia¡¯s medical report. It stated that she couldn¡¯t have children.

    He wrote: [Out of responsibility, I married you. Even without love, I was ready to care for you for life. We could¡¯ve adopted if needed. I never minded. But you clearly didn¡¯t see it that way.]

    <b>[</b>At first, I thought your little tantrums were just that. Butter, I just couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Sorry. Let¡¯s part ways peacefully.l

    Finally, something real in this scandal.

    Trevor¡¯s post instantly topped all trending topics.

    [Shocking! The real truth behind the cheating scandal revealed!]

    [Sophia¡¯s medical report leaked. She can¡¯t conceive]

    [<b>Trey </b>

    [Falli

 Tried 527

    Chapter <b>527 </b>

    <b>[</b>All the people who said Trevor kept quiet because he was guilty, are you getting embarrassed now? He has had proof all along. He just kept it under wraps out of respect for Sophia. She just doesn¡¯t appreciate kindness.<b>] </b>

    [So the truth is this. Sophia can¡¯t have children. Since she can¡¯t secure her ce with a baby, she tried to grab some assets, failed, and is now trying to <b>take </b><b>a </b>slice of Trevor¡¯s fortune, right?<b>] </b>

    [<b>What </b>does Sophia actually want? Hard to <b>guess</b><b>!</b><b>] </b>

    [Making such a <b>scene</b>, she must want Trevor to hand over Wilson Group share

    [Wow<b>, </b>Sophia <b>is </b>disgusting. <b>I </b>actually spoke up for her before. Gross<b>.</b><b>] </b>

    <b>[</b><b>Why </b>can¡¯t it just be that Trevor got tired of <b>a </b>wife who can¡¯t <b>give </b>him kids? He never loved her anyway. Having an affair is normal, no?]

    [Honestly I <b>agree</b><b>¡­ </b>Sophia is already pitiful enough¡­]

    But as soon as any sympathetic voices for Sophia appeared, they were immediately drowned out by Trevor¡¯s fans and self¨Cproimed truth- knowers<b>. </b>

    You think Sophia is worthy of Trevor? <b>Please</b>. If I were her, I¡¯d thank my lucky stars for marrying someone like him. If he cheats, I¡¯d help cover it up!]

    [Come on, use your brain. From the start, Sophia¡¯s clinging to Trevor was nothing but a scheme. Trevor was <b>just </b>being too responsible<b>.</b><b>] </b>

    From the very beginning of Trevor¡¯s career, his fans had always beenbative. Their obsession was so intense.

    It wasn¡¯t untilter, when Trevor began gaining recognition through his work and his family background was revealed, that fans calmed down.

    Now, seeing public opinion overwhelmingly in his favor<b>, </b><b>a </b>smile returned to Trevor¡¯s face. Even Skyler¡¯s resignation didn¡¯t seem <i>to </i>bother him much anymore<b>. </b>

    Joey asked, ¡°Trevor, the new agents are here for interviews. Do you want to meet them?¡±

    Only then did he put away his phone. ¡°Let them wait in the lounge.¡±

    Most artists had to wait for agents to take them on, but someone like Trevor. Agents were lining up to work with him. Even if they only managed his career alone, the money wouldst them a lifetime.

    ¡°Oh, one more thing.¡± Joey pulled out a USB drive. ¡°We found this <b>at </b>Skyler¡¯s ce. I called and asked. He said it¡¯s for you.¡±

    Trevor was surprised that Skyler left something for him.

    ¡°Let me see,¡± he said.

    He plugged the USB drive into hisputer. It was a video.

    It started with a hotel room. Trevor frowned. It looked familiar. Seemed like a hotel, but all hotels looked kind of alike. It made sense to feel that

    way.

    Trevor thought it was probably footage Skyler bought from some paparazzi. ckmail material, maybe. At least Skyler hadn¡¯t tried to use it to extort him.

    The camera shifted and caught a person¡¯s shadow.

    Trevor¡¯s rxed expression froze in shock. It was Aubree.

    The video finally had sound.

    ¡°Why is it a girl?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Where¡¯s Trevor? Where¡¯s my idol?¡±

    Trevor¡¯s brain stalled. He remembered. This was back when he <b>just </b>debuted, while filming a drama. He got cornered in a hotel by fans.

    He never kept it a secret that he was from the Wilson family. From the moment he signed with hispany, Skyler had been his manager. When they formed a studio, Han followed him over.

    Trevor¡¯s eyes went distant. Back then, he had a girlfriend, not from the industry. She was a fan, kind of like Milena, but with an even more ordinary background.

    She came to visit him on set that day, but unfortunately, the fans ambushed the hotel. Worse<b>, </b>only Skyler was with him. He couldn¡¯t hold them off alone.

    If the fans burst in, they¡¯d find the girl. If news of their rtionship got out, even with the Wilson family behind him, it would still cause chaos.

    The hotel was surrounded, inside and out. Might as well pray no one found her in room.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. My brother¡¯s not back <b>yet</b>. I¡¯m here visiting him.¡±

    In the video, Aubree still looked young. This must¡¯ve been just after she returned to the Wilson family. Her <b>face </b>was innocent,pletely different from theposed strategist she had be.

    The <b>camera </b>shook. Aubree was violently shoved to the ground, crashing into the coffee table. A cup spilled, scalding water sshing all over her.

    ¡°Brother<b>? </b><b>You </b>think you¡¯re worthy of calling him that?¡±

    ¡°You stupid? This is Trevor¡¯s hotel room. What <b>else </b>could she be besides his girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°No, really. Trevor is my biological brother.¡±

    ¡°As if. <b>You¡¯re </b>so ugly. Trevor is god¨Ctier. At leaste up with a better <b>excuse</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Aubree

    <b>sat </b>dazed on the floor, struggling to exin, but no one would listen. Not only that, the fans thought she was being noisy and pped her.

    ¡°So what now<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°It¡¯s her fault we didn¡¯t <b>get </b>to see Trevor. Let¡¯s teach her a lesson.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, give her <b>a </b>lesson!¡±

    The footage that followed <b>was </b>too brutal for Joey to even look at directly.

    The fans didn¡¯t treat Aubree like a human being. They vented their rage on her like maniacs. Stripping her was just the start.

    Eventually, the police showed up, and the fans scattered.

    Joey thought, if the police hadn¡¯te, Aubree might¡¯ve been beaten to death.

    Even Trevor clenched his fists. ¡®How? How could it be Aubree?¡®

    He remembered that incident. He always thought it was Carmen who had stepped in. That she¡¯d offered to be seen in his ce<b>, </b>and since she was his sister, any rumors could be cleared up.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Carmen who happened to visit the set that day? Didn¡¯t she tell Skyler she¡¯d stay in the room, just in case someone saw her? We could just exin she¡¯s my sister, and it wouldn¡¯t matter?¡± Trevor¡¯s voice was hoarse.

    The fans were obviously prepared. If no one had been visible in the window, they would¡¯ve stormed in.

    Someone had to stay behind.

    Joey didn¡¯t know what to say. She had a vague idea what he was talking about, though she hadn¡¯t been his assistant back then.

    ¡°Trevor, the agents are still waiting¡­ Maybe we should¡­¡± Joey started.

    ¡°Right, the agent!¡± Trevor suddenly stood. The USB was from Skyler. He had to know what had really happened.

    Trevor said, ¡°Just interview them. Find someone with simr skills to Skyler. I¡¯ll confirmter. I need to find Skyler now.¡±

    Without giving Joey a chance to respond, he grabbed his keys and rushed out.

    As soon as he sat in the car, he froze. His fingers trembled on the steering wheel.

    Aubree stayed behind for him and nearly got beaten to death, all just to protect his rising career.

    What kind of person would risk their life for him?

    The situation was so dangerous. Everyone knew whoever stayed behind would be targeted. Even Skyler didn¡¯t dare to stay.

    ¡®Aubree¡­ Trevor¡¯s eyes welled up. <b>His </b>grip tightened on the wheel.

 Tried 528

    Trevor went to find Skyler.

    At <b>Skyler¡¯s </b>home, he was quite surprised by <b>Trevor¡¯s </b><b>visit</b>. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be celebrating your victory right now.¡±

    He had already resigned and didn¡¯t intend to hold on to old grudges. <b>He </b>even managed to smile at Trevor.

    Trevor sat on the couch, his hands sped nervously. ¡°That USB drive<b>¡­ </b>

    Skyler couldn¡¯t hide his surprise. <b>He </b>had thought someone like Trevor, who would <b>stop </b>at nothing to get what he wanted, wouldn¡¯t care about such <b>a </b>thing. <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>bought it from those fans back then.¡±

    Skyler continued, ¡°After we got out of the hotel safely, I called the police. I was the one who handled the aftermath at the station. I saw what had happened from the police evidence. That video was filmed by those fans. If it got out, it would¡¯ve hurt Aubree badly. I paid quite <b>a </b>sum to buy it.¡±

    ¡°What, <b>you </b>came all this <b>way </b>just to ask me about this?<b>¡± </b>Skyler let out augh, as if he found it ironic. When Trevor hired someone <b>to </b><b>crash </b>a <b>car</b>, he <b>clearly </b>didn¡¯t think about how Aubree had once helped him. Now, he suddenly <b>grew </b><b>a </b>conscience.

    <b>Trevor </b><b>felt </b><b>a </b>bit embarrassed too. He understood the implication behind Skyler¡¯s words. He opened his mouth, but in the end, it didn¡¯t really matter if he asked or not. It was <b>now </b><b>very </b>clear. The one who helped him that <b>year </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b>Carmen<b>, </b>but Aubree.

    He was extremely stupid to get something so important so wrong.

    His body <b>was </b>stiff. But Carmen did <b>visit </b>him on set that year.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t Carmen who helped me that time?<b>¡± </b>Trevor¡¯s voice <b>was </b><b>so </b>low that Skyler nearly thought he had misheard.

    ¡°What?¡± Skyler looked shocked. So all these years, Trevor had treated his biological sister like dirt because he thought Carmen had helped him.

    Skyler said, ¡°As <b>far </b>as <b>I </b>remember, your foster sister Carmen did go looking for you that day. But she never even went into the hotel. She saw the fans crowding around and called me to confirm. Then she said she wouldn¡¯t cause trouble and left.¡±

    Trevor¡¯s gaze was dazed, his emotions stirred. ¡°Then why¡­ why didn¡¯t you tell me afterward who exactly it was?¡±

    Back then, Skyler had done PR by just saying ¡°his <b>sister</b>¡± without naming names. When Trevor heard Carmen had gone to visit him, he naturally assumed she <b>was </b>the one who helped.

    ¡°Come on. Aubree was still just a kid. If it weren¡¯t for some blurry pictures the fans took, I wouldn¡¯t have let her get involved <b>at </b>all. Thankfully, her face wasn¡¯t visible. <b>I </b>asked Aubree about it. She didn¡¯t want to reveal her identity¡­¡± Skyler paused, recalling the look in Aubree¡¯s eyes when she told him just to say ¡°sister<b>¡± </b>and nothing more.

    Her eyes were dim, helpless, but tinged with hope.

    So, she already knew back then that Carmen might end up taking the credit.

    Skyler continued, ¡°I told the public it was your sister. I figured you had two, and it wouldn¡¯t be that <b>easy </b>to trace. What I didn¡¯t expect was¡­ your own family would mix it up.¡±

    There was a trace of mockery in his tone. Trevor¡¯s face flushed, embarrassed and increasingly shaken.

    The one he <b>always </b>assumed was scheming and maniptive was actually the one who had silently protected him.

    Then, Trevor became angry. Carmen imed credit all those <b>years </b><b>ago</b>.

    If Carmen hadn¡¯t imed it, he wouldn¡¯t have made the mistake.

    He <b>was </b>still lost in thought when his phone rang.

    ¡°You should take that.¡± Skyler stood and gave him space<b>. </b>

    <b>It </b>was Bryan calling.

    Trevor asked, ¡°Bryan, are you free right now?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Where <b>are </b>you right now?¡± Bryan replied.

    Trevor replied, ¡°Just handling something out. What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Can youe home?¡± Bryan¡¯s tone gave nothing away, but it didn¡¯t sound good.

    He added, ¡°Mom, Dad, and Daxton are all here. We¡¯re all waiting for you.¡±

    After Aubree¡¯s ident, their mom had insisted it wasn¡¯t her doing. And she didn¡¯t seem like suspect.

    But back then, Trevor <b>was </b>caught up in a storm of public opinion, and the family had

    either it <b>was </b>an ident or Trevor was involved.

    was lying. That made their third sibling the prime

    t dared to act rashly. They found nothing in private, so

    Now that he had weathered his PR disaster, the whole family had gathered at home<b>, </b>waiting to interrogate him.

    Trevor <b>asked</b><b>, </b>¡°Is Carmen home too?¡±

    Bryan replied, <b>¡°</b><b>Yeah</b>.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle now.¡± Trevor still wanted to hear what she had to <b>say</b>.

    <b>As </b>he left Skyler¡¯s ce, Trevor¡¯s <b>eyes </b>were still unfocused with confusion. Aubree didn¡¯t say anything about the truth at all.

    The thought had barely surfaced when heughed bitterly. Self¨Cmockery.

    Back then, if she had said anything, he probably would¡¯ve assumed she was just jealous of Carmen and trying to steal the credit.

    Trevor clenched his fingers. The truth <b>was</b>, nobody in the family ever really took Aubree seriously. Compared to a <b>foster </b>daughter they¡¯d raised for

    over a decade, the biological daughter who had been lost and returned was treated more like an outsider.

    Even if she had spoken up first, after knowing Carmen had also visited him that day, he probably still would¡¯ve believed Carmen.

    [He went to find Skyler. Not sure why.]

    A message popped up on the phone.

    ¡®Find Skyler?¡® Aubree thought for a moment. [Is he trying to persuade him <b>to </be back? That sounded like a joke.]

    She replied: [Ignore him. Is everything ready?]

    Kate: <b>[</b>I¡¯ve sorted it all. Ready anytime.]

    Trevor probably never imagined his lover would choose such a method to get revenge.

    Aubree: [You¡¯re <b>sure </b>about this? Once it¡¯s out there, you¡¯ll be done too.]

    Kate: [After what happened to my sister, I¡¯m already dead. Just make sure the report is ready. I don¡¯t want to kill him. I want Trevor to live the rest of his life in fear.]

    Aubree asked one more thing. [You¡¯re sure he won¡¯t double¨Ccheck the <b>facts</b><b>?</b><b>] </b>

    Kate: [He won¡¯t. People with pride that high would never ept being mocked publicly.]

    Since Kate was dead set on destroying herself along with Trevor, Aubree said nothing more.

    Back then, Aubree had nned to find someone to seduce Trevor and make him cheat. That was when Kate came to her.

    Kate wanted to be the knife. Any method would do, so long <b>as </b>Trevor suffered.

    Later, Aubree learned that Kate was an orphan, raised by her older <b>sister</b>. Her sister had entered the entertainment industry to support her with nothing but her looks. By misfortune, she caught Trevor¡¯s eye.

    Her sister had no interest in fame or fortune. She just wanted to make some money, find a normal job, and live a simple life. She refused Trevor.

    But young Trevor <b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>so </b>into ¡°mutual consent¡± back then. He used underhanded tactics to force her to be with him. He used photos and videos as threats<b>. </b>

    Eventually, she was driven to depression and took her own life.

    Kate only discovered the truth when sorting through her sister¡¯s belongings.

    Aubree opened her email and saw a zipped folder Kate had sent. Inside were photos and videos of her and Trevor in bed.

 Tried 529

    <b>¡°</b>Why all the fuss<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>Trevor </b>asked.

    Trevor was an <b>excellent </b>actor. On the <b>way </b>back, he had already adjusted his <b>expression</b>. When he returned to the Wilson family, the calm smile reappeared on his face, as if he had once again be that dazzling and untouchable superstar.

    Compared to the smile on his face, the people sitting or standing in the living room didn¡¯t even <b>have </b>a trace of a smile, let alone actualughter.

    Ronald got straight to the point. ¡°Does Aubree¡¯s <b>car </b>ident have anything to do with you?¡±

    The smile on Trevor¡¯s <b>face </b>faded. He misjudged the person. Over the <b>years</b>, he had helped Carmen bully Aubree more than once<b>, </b>and if that wasn¡¯t enough, he had even <b>personally</b>¡­

    But what was done <b>was </b>done. There was still no word about Aubree. If she turned out to be okay, he¡¯d find a way to make it up to her. But if something really <b>had </b>happened to her, then maybe this was just a little sister¡¯s final act for her brother.

    Trevor said, ¡°Dad, you can¡¯t possibly be suspecting me just because she <b>caused </b>me some trouble recently, can you? You don¡¯t really think I¡¯d go that far, do you?¡±

    But no one could really say for sure.

    <b>As </b>much as Ronald and Alice may have had some parental filters over their kids, the brothers <b>knew </b><b>all </b>too well what kind <i>of </i>people came out of the same womb as them.

    Bryan was proud and arrogant, full of male chauvinism. Daxton had the coldest temper<b>. </b><b>As </b>for Trevor, he <b>was </b>the most ruthless, the one with the deadliest hand.

    The only one who could be considered slightly better was Emery.

    In his heart, Bryan was almost certain Trevor had done it.

    Ronald looked at him suspiciously. ¡°Was it really not you?¡±

    Trevor replied, ¡°Dad, if <b>I </b>can¡¯t survive in the entertainment industry, I¡¯ll just quit ande back to inherit the family business. It¡¯s not like I rely on this for food. Would I really go to such extremes<b>?</b>¡±

    Hearing this, Ronald¡¯s suspicion eased a little. He figured it might really have been an ident.

    At that moment, Carmen suddenly eximed, ¡°Check your phones, something happened to Trevor!¡±

    Everyone in the room took out their phones. Trevor¡¯s face went pale instantly.

    It hadn¡¯t even been a full <b>day </b>since he posted that rification statement, and now Kate had released another one.

    And this time, she didn¡¯t im that they were innocent. She admitted it. They had slept together.

    Her <b>move </b>was baffling. Clearly, things between her and Trevor were on the verge of being rified. She could¡¯ve waited for the storm to pass and then gone public. By then, no one would have cared.

    But she admitted it now.

    [Did Kate get possessed or something?]

    [Was she threatened?]

    [Kate, if someone paid you; blink twice<b>.</b><b>] </b>

    As Trevor scrolled through thements, he felt slightly relieved. Thankfully, not many people believed it.

    But before he could rx, Kate updated again.

    This time, she said even less<b>: </b>[Evidence.<b>] </b>

    <b>Then </b>came a long string of photos and videos. Even though they were censored, everyone could still recognize who the people were.

    The content was <b>so </b>explicit that peoplemented she was truly a professional. Everything she shot looked stunning, regardless of the subject.

    Rage rushed straight to Trevor¡¯s head. ¡®How could Kate do this?¡®

    Before he could react, Ronald gave him a hard p. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? <b>If </b>you¡¯re going to y with women, at <b>least </b>be cautious!¡±

    <b>2.36 </b>PM

    0

    He continued. ¡°Do you have any idea how much thest cheating scandal cost thepany? And now you pull this? Do you want to rum the Wilson family¡¯s reputation?¡±

    1 Trevor stared at his phone, his mind nk. Even he couldn¡¯t understand why Kate would do this.

    With this move, she <b>was </b>destroying herself too.

    She didn¡¯t even bother with an excuse. She outright admitted to being the mistress.

 Tried 530

    <b>Chapter </b><b>530 </b>

    Ronald¡¯s assistant <b>had </b>already sent over the news about the falling stock prices.

    Furious, Ronald raised his hand and pped him again. ¡°Until this mess is cleaned up, you¡¯re not allowed to step a foot outside this house!¡±

    Trevor suddenly snapped back. ¡°Aubree<b>! </b>It must be Aubree who did this!¡±

    Bringing up Aubree only made Ronald even more furious. He kicked Trevor hard in the stomach. ¡°Shut your mouth! We don¡¯t even know if Aubree is alive or dead right now, and you still dare to talk like that?¡±

    Clearly, this mess was all his own fault. He got yed by a woman.

    Trevor said, ¡°<b>No</b>, she¡¯s definitely okay!¡±

    Clutching his stomach, Trevor struggled to his feet. His face bore two <b>clear </b>palm prints. <b>¡°</b>The woman who died wasn¡¯t Aubree. It was Sophia. She¡¯s definitely still alive!¡±

    He added, ¡°If she had really died, there¡¯s no way Bowen would be <b>so </b>calm. That¡¯s right, it <b>was </b>Sophia who died. Kate was nted beside me by her. Now that Sophia is dead, Kate <b>had </b>no choice but to blow things up!¡±

    Aubree¡¯s fine¡­ Trevor thought to himself.

    <b>Trevor </b>actually smiled. Just knowing that made him happy.

    He had always longed for someone who would treat him sincerely, without holding back. Turned out, that person had been around all along.

    Scenes from the past yed clearly in his mind.

    When he had night shoots, Aubree would send him texts checking in. Back then, he dismissed them. But to always remember his schedule and persistently send those <b>texts</b>, even their parents didn¡¯t do that. She did.

    After he returned home from a shoot, as long <b>as </b>she was home, she¡¯d always greet him with care. ¡°Trevor, you must be tired from work. Take a good

    <b>rest</b><b>. </b>

    Such an ordinary sentence. But when it¡¯s said consistently, it bes extraordinary.

    There were hangover soups <bte </b>at night, food saved from missed dinners. However, he took it for granted in the past.

    ¡®Why didn¡¯t I ever notice it before?¡® Trevor thought to himself.

    Trevor smiled, and then he cried. Now he understood why Bryan and Emery were like that. No one could experience that kind of care and lose it without regret.

    ¡°You say Aubree¡¯s fine? Then show me where she is!¡± Ronald roared.

    In his eyes, Trevor was already delusional from the shock. Whether Aubree was alive or not had nothing to do with Bowen. If anyone was going to demand justice, it should be him, the father.

    Trevor¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it¡­

    ¡°You¡¯ll take care of it? This is the result of you taking care of it!¡± Ronald red at him.

    Bryan spoke up. ¡°This can¡¯t be salvaged. <b>Have </b>Wilson Group¡¯s legal team press charges against Kate? Put her in jail.¡±

    Trevor should apologize and announce a temporary withdrawal from allmercial activities and quit the entertainment industry. Hire PR to shift the me to Sophia and Kate.¡±

    He added, ¡°im the rtionship with Sophia was forced, without an emotional connection. Say Kate seduced him intentionally. Maybe they had been colluding for a long time to retaliate against Trevor.¡±

    ¡°When the public calms down, let Trevor do some charity work, get ¡®identally¡® photographed, and slowly make aeback.¡±

    Ronald nodded. ¡°Do it exactly <b>as </b>he <b>says</b>.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ Trevor just started to speak when Bryan punched him across the <b>face</b>.

    Bryan snapped, ¡°I¡¯ve tolerated you long enough. You think your career was built on talent? Your first agency, your entire team, and every part of your path were paved by the Wilson family. You didn¡¯t cherish it. You caused trouble everywhere!¡±

    He continued, ¡°If you had just listened to your agent a little more, acted with more restraint, things would¡¯ve never gotten this bad! I¡¯ll temporarily

    take control of your studio. Your entire team will be reced. For now, you sit down and reflect.¡±

    Bryan flexed his wrist. He was the eldest brother, after all. When he got serious, Trevor immediately fell quiet

 Tried 531

    <b>Chapter </b><b>531 </b>

    Bryan moved quickly. He immediately contacted thepany¡¯s legal department and, in the name of the Wilson Group, filed awsuit against <b>Kate</b>. It <b>was </b>not just awyer¡¯s letter, but an actual court summons made public.

    [What does this mean? Are they outright admitting the photos and videos are real?]

    [This gossip just keeps getting juicier.]

    [I don¡¯t believe it! Those photos must be fake.]

    [Trevor, <b>we </b>believe in you. Please <b>give </b>us an exnation.]

    The moment the photos were released, Trevor¡¯s fans began dropping off inrge numbers. In <b>just </b><b>a </b>few hours, his follower count plummeted by <b>several </b>million.

    When Wilson Group¡¯s legal statement came out, it was taken <b>as </b><b>a </b><b>tacit </b>admission of the truth<b>, </b>causing the fan exodus <b>to </b><b>reach </b><b>a </b>new peak.

    [Trevor¡¯s fans, stop defending him. Your idol already admitted it.]

    Following closely behind the legal notice <b>was </b>Trevor¡¯s public apology. He admitted that he had indeed engaged in an inappropriate rtionship with Kate before his marriage to Sophia was officially ended. He fully confessed to the affair and stated he would suspend allmercial activities and temporarily quit the entertainment industry.

    Once the word ¡°quit¡± <b>was </b>out there. Considering this wasn¡¯t <b>a </b>criminal <b>case</b><b>, </b><b>just </b><b>a </b>personal moral scandal, it already paved the way for eventual forgiveness.

    In showbiz, <b>as </b>long <b>as </b>one still had their looks<b>, </b>they still got a <b>ce </b>at the top.

    Not to mention, Trevor¡¯s got <b>real </b>acting skills<b>, </b>came from a wealthy family, and was the youngest ever to win Best Actor. With all those halos stacked up, his fans <b>are </b>extra loyal and willing to forgive just about anything.

    [Please don¡¯t quit, Trevor!]

    [Sophia forced him into marrying her. There was no love to begin with. How can you me Trevor?]

    [Kate isn¡¯t innocent either. She filmed all that stuff. Who knows how she <b>was </b>plotting against Trevor?]

    [Honestly, didn¡¯t Trevor seem like a victim? He didn¡¯t do anything truly evil.]

    [Looks like it might¡¯ve been a setup from both women.]

    With hired bots steering the conversation<b>, </b>fans soon redirected all their anger toward Kate and Sophia.

    As these voices grew louder, even neutral observers began to think the scandal wasn¡¯t such a big deal. The photos and videos <b>were </b>pixted anyway. Andpared to some of Trevor¡¯s film scenes, they were mild.

    O

    Truth be told, Bryan¡¯s move <b>was </b>smart. If Trevor had kept denying everything, it might¡¯ve triggered more disgust among fans and the public. Instead, a direct confession, paired with an announcement to step away, won him some sympathy.

    Aubree <b>saw </b>the news on TV.

    She muttered, ¡°There¡¯s no way Trevor came up with this n himself.¡±

    Knowing his personality, Trevor would never admit fault unless forced into a corner. Clearly, the Wilson family had stepped in.

    Thanks to Trevor, Wilson Group¡¯s stock had dropped significantly. It wouldn¡¯t bounce back anytime soon. Even product sales under the group had taken <b>a </b>sharp dive.

    Although members of the Wilson family appeared separate on the surface<b>, </b>they were chained together. Emery¡¯s scandal had already cost thepany its share in the e¨Csports and gaming industry.

    Trevor, once the <b>face </b>of the corporation, <b>was </b>embroiled in scandal. The damage extended to the group¡¯s public image. The celebrity halo that used to benefit them <b>was </b>gone.

    No wonder the Wilson family panicked. If things continued this <i>way</i>, they would only get worse<b>. </b>Cutting their losses now was ruthless but necessary.

    Aubree thought, ¡®What a pity¡­

    Kate had given so much, and in the end, it still couldn¡¯t drag Trevor down.

    ¡°Hello, Kate, Aubree said.

    Kate said. ¡°Me Miller. I know<i>. </i>Wilson Group is suing <b>me</b><b>. </b><b>I¡¯m </b>at home right now, <b>and </b>honestly, I can already hear the police sirens. I think once this call ends, they¡¯ll take me in for questioning¡±

    Both of them knew the stakes. After what Kate had done, at best, she¡¯d escape abroad. At worst, she¡¯d be hunted endlessly by the Wilson Group

    Kate continued. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m satisfied with getting Trevor to quit the industry. Ms. Miller, I hope you¡¯ll give me something to smile about before I get out.¡±

    You will¡± Trevor wouldn¡¯t escape the burden of Sophia¡¯s death<b>. </b>

    Even if the police ruled it an ident for now, Aubree would eventually <b>dig </b>up evidence to bring criminal charges against him.

    Hiring someone to kill <b>was </b>an entirely different level from cheating in <b>marriage</b>.

    Now that she had ruined his public image, one day she¡¯d send him to hell <b>too</b><b>. </b>

    Perhaps sensing the weight in her words, Kate actually chuckled. ¡°The police <b>are </b>downstairs now. They¡¯ll probably find my medical report. What do you think Trevor¡¯s reaction will be when he sees it?

    Aubree said, ¡°Someone like him? If he thinks he¡¯s infected, he¡¯ll probably break down.¡±

    Aubree softened her expression. ¡°Thank you for helping me.¡±

    Kate replied. ¡°I¡¯m helping myself too.¡±

    The call ended with a burst of background noise.

    Aubree still held her phone. Looking out the window<b>, </b>she muttered, ¡°The Wilson family¡­¡±

    Just then, Bowen¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Why are you up already?¡±

    ¡°Why so early today?¡± Before she could finish turning around, her feet left the floor. Bowen had picked her up.

    She had been standing by the window. <b>As </b>soon as he walked in, he lifted her in his arms.

    Bowen said, ¡°Someone helped lighten my workload, so I got off early

    Aubree rested against his chest. ¡°The police closed the case on the <b>car </b>ident. Soon they¡¯ll release an official statement.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, everyone else is getting impatient too,¡± Bowen said as he gently set her back down on the bed.

    He added, ¡°I asked the doctor carlier. You¡¯re good to go. Time to check out and recover at home.¡±

    He then said, ¡°Some people at Bree Technology couldn¡¯t hold back and pushed for a board meeting to elect a new <b>chairman</b>. The vote passed yesterday, and the meeting is set for tomorrow. From what <b>I </b>know, Bryan¡¯s been courting small shareholders and <b>buying </b>shares.¡±

    ¡°He wants to take over the throne.¡± Bowen¡¯s tone darkened with impatience.

    Bree Technology belonged to Aubree. Those people were fools to think they could take it <b>over</b>.

    His gaze turned icy, shing with sarcasm.

    Aubreeughed. ¡°So, ording to your version, Bryan is the schemer trying to take over the throne. Then you, the regents with 30% of the shares, want to y the hero and save me?¡±

    Bowen raised a brow. ¡°Why <b>not</b>?¡±

    Aubree burst outughing. After a few jokes, she sobered a bit. ¡°They¡¯re really in a rush. They don¡¯t even know if I¡¯m dead or alive, yet they¡¯re already trying to take what¡¯s mine.¡±

    She continued. ¡°But I get it. Given their personalities, they probably assumed no news meant bad news. They think you¡¯re keeping things under wraps to merge Bree Technology into Turner Group before everything copses into chaos.¡±

    She really had a firm grasp on the Wilson family¡¯s character.

    Bryan and Ronald didn¡¯t believe Trevor¡¯s ims. They <b>were </b>convinced something had happened to Aubree and assumed it was all part of Bowen¡¯s n.

    Instead of wasting time confirming the truth, they decided to act and fight him for Bree Technology.

 Tried 532

    <b>Chapter </b><b>532 </b>

    The Wilson family¡¯swsuit against <b>Kate </b>was soon <b>ced </b>on the agenda. The implications <b>were </b>sensitive<b>, </b>and Aubree couldn¡¯t just letwyers from Turner Group or Bree Technology get involved openly. Otherwise, the Wilson Group could easily turn the tables and use them <b>of </b>scheming.

    As such, she had no choice but to hire <b>a </b>top<b>¨C</b>notch <bwyer </b>to defend Kate secretly.

    The evidence was rock solid, and Kate <b>was </b>sentenced to two <b>years </b>in prison.

    As Kate left the courtroom, Trevor blocked her path. Even though he¡¯d won the <b>case</b>, his eyes <b>were </b>filled with resentment as he asked, ¡°Why?¡±

    He couldn¡¯t understand. He¡¯d treated <b>her </b><b>so </b><b>well</b>, and had done everything he could to make her stand by his side openly. He¡¯d even put himself right in the <b>eye </b>of the storm for her. He wondered, ¡®<b>How </b>could she¡­ how could she dare do this to me?¡®

    Kate, her hands cuffed, looked up at him with a mocking gaze. ¡°Do you remember Katherine Robertson?¡±

    <b>Trevor </b>froze<b>, </b>confusion shing in his <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>¡®Katherine Robertson? Who¡¯s that?¡® he wondered.

    Kate<b>, </b>who had seen thising,ughed. She bent over, herughter wild and unrestrained as she spat, ¡°Trevor, oh Trevor, I can only say that this <b>is </b>just <b>so </b>like you. Honestly, I¡¯m not surprised at all.

    My sister, Katherine, gave up her education to raise me. She stepped into the entertainment industry to work. Who would¡¯ve thought her agent was a total scumbag, and you were even worse.

    ¡°Just because you said you were interested, she was practically thrown into your bed like some kind of offering. And even after that, you still wouldn¡¯t leave her alone. Do you have any idea what it was like for me, all these years after she killed herself by jumping off that building? Every single day, I¡¯ve thought about how to make you pay, even if it means killing you in your sleep.¡±

    Her voice <b>was </bced with pure hatred. If looks could kill, Trevor would have died countless deaths by now.

    ¡°Trevor, you¡¯ll get what¡¯sing to you sooner orter!¡± Kate eximed in disdain

    Her twisted expression made Trevor freeze, his gaze locking with hers <b>as </b>a long¨Cburied memory surged up. He remembered now¨CKatherine, the very first woman who ever dared defy him.

    She¡¯d actually had the nerve to try and go to the cops, using him of rape.

    ¡°You¡¯re Kristine Robertson?¡± he blurted out.

    Katherine¡¯s little <b>sister</b>, Kristine. He¡¯d used her <b>as </b>threat to keep Katherine¡¯s mouth shut back then.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I crawled up from hell just to settle the score with you, Trevor. And I¡¯ve got a little present with your name on it,¡± Kate dipped her head, shooting him a sidelong nce, her lips curling into a twisted, eerie smile.

    Before he could <b>say </b>another word, the cops were already leading her away, leaving Trevor standing there with lose and vacant eyes.

    He couldn¡¯t stop the flicker of sadness that showed in his eyes. He realized it had all been¡¯a lie. He¡¯d thought maybe she¡¯d just been bought off, and that way, he could still fool himself into thinking she loved him and that she¡¯d only done it because she was desperate for money.

    But no, it had all been a trap from the very beginning.

    Trevor hung his head, emotions flickering across his face. ¡®Why?¡® he wondered. ¡®Why did she have <i>to </i>do this to me?¡®

    After <b>a </b>long moment, he let out a bitter, self¨Cmockingugh as he thought, ¡®In the past, there was another fool who loved me unconditionally. And I drove her away with my own hands. Now she¡¯s gone, and I¡¯ll never get her back¡­

    The shareholders¡® meeting at Bree Technology went ahead as nned. With Aubree absent, Bowen, who held the secondrgest percentage of shares, took charge.

    Bryan had recently acquired 3% of Bree Technology¡¯s shares<b>, </b>just enough to secure a seat at the table. But even with that, his stake was still nowhere near as threatening as Birgitte¡¯s. <b>Yet</b>, for some <b>reason</b>, he acted like he already had the whole thing in the bag.

    Most of the shareholders who had already secretly sided with Bryan were practically itching with anticipation, as they thought Bree Technology was about to change hands any minute now.

    Birgitte was also at the meeting, watching the room full of people with their various agendas. She let out a mocking snort <b>as </b>she thought, ¡®They¡¯re all so sure of themselves. But we still don¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on with Ms. Miller.

 Tried 533

    <b>Chapter </b><b>533 </b>

    Currently, the shareholders are essentially divided into three camps. One group had already secretly thrown their support behind Bryan. After all, <b>given </b>Bryan¡¯s rtionship with Ms. Miller, it was obvious where things were headed. Regardless of what the Wilson Group might do, if something <b>were </b>to happen to Ms. Miller, there¡¯s no way those shares would ever end up with outsiders.

    ¡®Some people had wondered if there <b>was </b>already a will in ce.

    ¡®But, isn¡¯t that just nonsense? Who in their right mind makes a will at neen or twenty?

    Furthermore, the shareholders could see things a lot more clearly. Bowen might hold the majority of the shares, but he rarely got involved inpany decisions. The real reason? Ms. Miller had always, intentionally or not, kept him out of the loop.

    There <b>was </b><b>just </b>no <b>way </b>Ms. Miller¡¯s shares would <b>ever </b>end up in Bowen¡¯s hands and put Bryan <b>way </b>ahead of him.

    Of course<b>, </b>everyone wanted to pick the side with the best shot at winning.

    Then there <b>was </b>the small camp backing Bowen. There aren¡¯t many, as Bowen just <b>wasn¡¯t </b>the type to let people cozy up to him, but that didn¡¯t stop a few from trying to <b>suck </b>up anyway.

    And finally, there <b>were </b>the neutrals. <b>Most </b>of them had been with Aubree since day one, and they were still holding out for real news about her.

    ¡°Mr. Turner,¡± someone asked, ¡°since you currently hold thergest number of <b>shares</b>, do you really think victory <b>is </b>certain for you?¡±

    Bowen <b>gave </b><b>a </b>faint,posed smile in response, ¡°In theory, that¡¯s the <b>case</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Bryan let out a dismissive scoff, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

    Soon, the meeting began. The main agenda item was Aubree¡¯s ident, and the shareholders were to hold a new election for the chairman; anyone interested could volunteer to run.

    Bryan immediately put his name forward without hesitation. Bowen lowered his eyes before slowly raising his hand, stating, ¡°I¡¯m joining too, but not for myself. I¡¯m running on behalf of someone else.

    The <b>re</b>¨Celection of the chairman is <b>a </b>decision made by the shareholders¡® meeting. Anyone holding shares <b>is </b>eligible to participate, am I correct?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± someone replied.

    ¡°But who are you running for, Mr. Turner? And why isn¡¯t that person here?¡± another person asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s a bit tied up at the moment, but she¡¯ll be hereter,¡± Bowen replied with a light chuckle. There were plenty of people willing to let it slide for his sake, so this minor issue was quickly ignored.

    Even if Bryan managed to get elected as the new chairman, he might still end up working under Bowen.

    Bryan was the only one who frowned slightly <b>as </b>a sense of unease crept over him.

    ¡°Can I at least <b>ask </b>who this person is?¡± he asked, looking at Bowen.

    Bowen smiled in response, Does it really matter?

    ¡°Aren¡¯t <b>we </b>here to <b>re</b>¨Celect the chairman? Let¡¯s not waste time<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Bryan held back whatever else he wanted to say and agreed, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s get started.¡±

    This shareholders¡® meeting <b>was </b>clearly orchestrated from the start. Aside from those who had already picked <b>a </b>side, the only real wild card was the neutral camp. None of them abstained, and surprisingly, every single one threw their support behind Bryan.

    Headcount¨Cwise, Bryan definitely had the numbers. But when it came to actual shares, even with all his backersbined, they only just added up to what Bowen held by himself.

    ¡°Looks like Mr. Wilson¡¯s lost, huh?¡± someonemented from the crowd.

    Bowen raised an eyebrow slightly.

    Before Bryan could say anything, one of his supporters immediately spoke up, ¡°Mr. Turner, that¡¯s not quite right. Ms. Miller¡¯s shares haven¡¯t been counted yet.

    ¡°With Ms. Miller¡¯s situation still up in the air, her shares can¡¯t be dealt with for now. But everyone knows she¡¯s from the Wilson family, and her shares will probably end up with them eventually.

    <b>2:39 </b><b>PM </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>If </b>we add her <b>37</b>% to our side, <b>isn¡¯t </b>that more than enough for Mr. Wilson to be the new chairman?¡±

    Before Bowen could say anything, Birgitte let out a mockingugh, ¡°Who <b>says </b>Ms. Miller¡¯s shares are guaranteed to end up with the Wilson family? Come on, her situation¡¯s still up in the air. Even if something really did happen to her, she¡¯d probably donate those shares before <b>ever </b>handing them over to the Wilson family!¡±

    The guy who spoke up earlier just <b>gave </b>a sheepish grin as he replied, ¡°Hey, we just didn¡¯t have time to <b>get </b>everything sorted, that¡¯s all.¡±

    <b>Now </b>that was an interesting <b>excuse</b><b>. </b>

    Someone elsemented, ¡°Mr. Turner, you¡¯re not <b>just </b>against this because you and Ms. Miller are close but didn¡¯t get a piece of the pie, right?¡±

    Bowen just shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing <b>as </b>he responded, ¡°In a way, you could say that¡¯s true.¡±

    With a thick enough skin, people really can <b>say </b>anything, someone thought with a sneer.

 Tried 534

    <b>Chapter </b><b>534 </b>

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a vote. <b>Who </b><b>agrees </b>to count Ms. Miller¡¯s shares in this election <b>first</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Bryan said.

    ¡°Otherwise<b>, </b>we¡¯ll <b>have </b>to do it all <b>over </b>againter. That¡¯s a hassle, isn¡¯t it<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>he added.

    Bryan¡¯s side had the numbers, <b>so </b><b>this </b>vote was obviously going to work out in his favor.

    He waspletely at ease<b>, </b>knowing he had nothing to worry about.

    Everyone in Bryan¡¯s camp was sure the win was already in the bag<b>. </b>

    Out of nowhere, something totally unexpected happened. Everyone <b>stared </b>in shock as Bowen raised his hand <b>as </b>he stated, ¡°I agree too.¡±

    <b>¡°</b>Is <b>Bowen </b>out of his mind?<b>¡± </b>someone muttered.

    The attendees wondered, ¡®Wasn¡¯t he just handing the chairmanship to Bryan on a <b>silver </b>tter<b>?</b>¡®

    Everyone instinctively turned to look at Birgitte. Even though she didn¡¯t hold many <b>shares</b><b>, </b>everyone knew that if Aubree was the chairperson of Bree Technology, then Birgitte <b>was </b>her most loyal and trusted aide.

    Birgitte stood there with her arms crossed, not giving away the slightest hint of <b>her </b>opinion.

    ¡°Mr. Turner actually agreed to it,¡± someone whispered in disbelief.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bowen replied as <b>he </b>wondered, ¡®Why wouldn¡¯t I <b>agree</b><b>?</b>¡®

    Bryan frowned deeply as he probed, ¡°In that <b>case</b><b>,</b>Aubree¡¯s shares should be counted under the Wilson family. There¡¯s no objections, right?¡±

    He gestured to someone nearby, signaling to wrap things up quickly.

    ¡°Well then, the results of this shareholders¡® meeting are in. The new director <b>is</b><b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Why the rush?¡± <b>Just </b>then, the door to the conference room swung open, and Vincent walked in.

    ¡°Mr. Sloan? Didn¡¯t he <b>take </b>a <b>leave </b>of <b>absence</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>someone asked.

    Ever since Aubree¡¯s ident, aside from Bowen, the two most popr people in thepany were Vincent and Birgitte as they were Aubree¡¯s most trusted aides<b>. </b>

    Unlike Birgitte, Vincent had immediately taken a leave of absence<b>. </b>

    His direct supervisor was Aubree, and with her gone<b>, </b>he just approved his own leave<b>. </b>

    Bryan¡¯s unease hit an all¨Ctime high. He stared almost desperately at the <b>space </b>behind Vincent, his eyes full of longing as he thought, ¡®<b>Please</b>, let it

    not be what I think.¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Miller!<b>¡± </b>someone shouted. Another sharp¨Ceyed person had already spotted a figure in a wheelchair.

    Aubree was sitting in the wheelchair, her hands resting casually on <b>her </bp as a bodyguard pushed her in.

    Bowen quickly stepped forward, taking over from the bodyguard and pushing her to the head of the conference table. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, ¡°Returned to the rightful owner?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I <b>was </b>thrown out in the first ce, ¡°Aubree corrected him.

    Bowen let out augh. Standing beside Aubree, he nced at Bryan¡¯s stunned <b>face </b>with a smirk, ¡°Mr. Wilson, you don¡¯t really look like you want to <b>see </b>Bree right now.¡±

    Did he really not want to see her<b>? </b>That was not quite true.

    When Bryan saw Aubree sitting there safe and sound, his <b>first </b>reaction was that Bree Technology was now out of his reach. But right after that, he actually felt relieved <b>as </b>she was <b>at </b><b>least </b>okay.

    ¡°Would you really let <b>a </b>sure thing slip through your fingers?¡°Aubree shot Bowen a nce as shemented.

    Bowen shrugged with one hand in his pocket and responded, ¡°Well, that depends on who we¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°If I were in Mr. Wilson¡¯s shoes right now, I¡¯d be absolutely thrilled,¡± he added with <b>sarcasm </b>practically dripping from his voice, He might as well have had a neon sign shing, ¡°Look at me, I¡¯m totally sucking up.¡±

    2:40 <b>PM </b>

    The faces of the other shareholders were a mix of emotions. Those with guilty consciences looked downright terrified, already dreading what Aubree might do to them once this <b>was </b>all <b>over</b>.

    ¡°Howe nobody bothered to let me know about such an important meeting<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree rested her chin in her hand, ncing around at everyone in the room as she questioned.

    Everyone looked guilty and kept their mouths shut. ¡®Notify you? How the heck were we supposed to do that?¡® they collectively thought.

    Almost everyone had just assumed that Aubree really had been in an ident, and that Bowen was just using it as an <b>excuse </b>to grab power and keep everyone in the dark.

 Tried 535

    <b>Chapter 535 </b>

    But who would¡¯ve thought that in the ruthless world of business, someone could actually care <b>for </b>real? With such a huge opportunity right in front of him, Bowen <b>just </b>let that massive piece <b>of </b>cake sit there and didn¡¯t even make <b>a </b>move.

    <b>¡°</b>Are you alright?¡± Bryan asked as he stared at Aubree, trying to see right through her<b>, </b>as if he could spot something wrong by looking hard enough.

    ¡°Are you disappointed<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree asked, a <b>teasing </b>smile ying <b>at </b>her lips.

    <b>She </b>added, ¡°I bet seeing me <b>safe </b>and sound is a real letdown for you. After all, you were this close to getting your hands on a billion¨Cdor empire, only to have it slip <b>away </b>again.

    ¡°Bryan, you and the entire Wilson family really have some <b>nerve</b>. I¡¯m not even <b>dead </b><b>yet</b><b>, </b>and I¡¯ve said more than once that <b>I¡¯ve </b><bpletely </b><b>cut </b>ties with the Wilsons. So how do you have the shameless gall to say that if I die<b>, </b>my <b>shares </b>should go to your family?¡±

    Her words <b>were </b>brutally blunt, especially in front of everyone like this. Whatever excitement or hope had <b>just </b>shed <b>across </b>Bryan¡¯s <b>face </b><b>was </b>wiped out in an instant.

    His face darkened in response<b>, </b>¡°Aubree, what nonsense are you saying? Everyone at home has been <b>so </b><b>worried </b>about you. What¡¯s all this talk about cutting ties? No matter what, you¡¯ll always be part of the Wilson family.¡±

    Bowen burst outughing without holding back at all as he replied, ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b>heard plenty <b>of </b>people whisper that I¡¯m thick¨Cskinned in business, that only someone <b>as </b>shameless and sly <b>as </b>me could build apany this big.

    ¡°But honestly, those folks clearly never had the pleasure <b>of </b>meeting you, Mr. Wilson.

    ¡°You know that saying¨Conce you hit it big, even broke rtives from hundreds of miles away will show up at your door? Well, looks like we¡¯re getting a live¨Caction version of that right now.¡±

    Aubree smirked slyly as she and Bowen exchanged barbs, not shredding Bryan with no dignity.

    Bryan had never been put on st like this in front of everyone before and he was <b>so </b>furious, the <b>veins </b>on his forehead <b>were </b>popping out.

    ¡°Mr. Turner<b>, </b>isn¡¯t <b>it </b>a bit much for you to meddle in the Wilson family¡¯s private affairs<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Bryan snapped.

    Bowen rested his hand on Aubree¡¯s wheelchair and shot back with a mocking grin, ¡°Well, you¡¯d have actually to be family first, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±

    Aubree let out a coldugh, ¡°Family? You mean the kind of family that¡¯s out for your life<b>? </b>

    ¡°That¡¯s one thing <b>I </b>definitely don¡¯t want.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss anything else. During the three years <b>I </b>spent with the Wilson family, do you really think you treated me well? Be honest with yourself, Bryan. Can you honestly im, without any guilt, that my time with your family <b>was </b>anything other than hell?

    ¡°And as for that car ident, don¡¯t tell me you honestly have no clue who was behind it. Of all the people in the world, the Wilsons are the absolute <bst </b>ones qualified to talk about ¡®family¡®

    ¡°I just got lucky this time and made it out okay. Otherwise<b>, </b><b>I </b>would¡¯ve had to watch you all put on your crocodile tears for <b>a </b>few days, then gleefully snatch up everything that belonged to me.¡±

    The folks who had thrown their lot in with Bryan <b>were </b>already trembling. They¡¯d always thought, ¡®Hey, Aubree and the Wilsons are still family, right? No matter how bad things get, family ties can¡¯t just <b>be </b>cut off. Even if we <b>screw </b>up, <b>it </b>can¡¯t get that serious<b>, </b>can it?

    ¡®Plus, there were so many of us. There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll go after all of <b>us</b><b>, </b>right?¡®

    But now, all that confidence was gone. The fear <b>was </b>real, and they knew deep down that once Aubree was done with Bryan, she¡¯d being for

    them next.

    And the worst part was that even if they wanted to gang up and push back<b>, </b>with Bowen and Aubree holding over half the shares, they didn¡¯t stand a

    chance.

    The moment Aubree showed up, the oue of the chairman¡¯s <b>re</b>¨Celection was <b>set </b>in stone<b>. </b>

    Bryan <b>was </b>thest to leave the conference room, his <b>face </b>stony and expressionless.

    Aubree didn¡¯t say much. Her gaze swept <b>over </b>everyone who had backed Bryan. Birgitte had alreadypiled everything that happened during her absence into a document and sent it straight to her inbox. Now, Aubree knew exactly who had done what, and she was going to settle the score with <b>every </b>single one of them<b>, </b>one by one.

 Tried 536

    <b>Chapter </b><b>536 </b>

    The <b>news </b>that Aubree <b>was </b>safe spread quickly, and everyone soon knew about it.

    Carmen couldn¡¯t believe it. <b>She¡¯d </b>seen the photos from the crash site herself. The car <b>was </b>wrecked beyond recognition<b>, </b><b>and </b>yet Aubree had survived. Carmen thought in disbelief, ¡®low <b>is </b>she still alive?

    Can¡¯t believe she made it out alive!¡®

    Ronald and Alice didn¡¯t seem too bothered by the news. After finding out that Aubree was fine, Ronald just told Bryan to let go of any ns he had for Bree Technology<b>. </b>

    But the one who took it the hardest was Trevor.

    Trevor burst outughing, ¡°Ha! Aubree, I just knew nothing could take you down!¡±

    ¡°Man, how much do you <b>have </b>to hate me to even dig up someone like Kate just to <b>mess </b>with me?

    ¡°Do you hate me that much? Weren¡¯t you the one who would¡¯ve risked your life for me at the start<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Trevor felt a tangled mess <b>of </b>emotions; he felt resentful that Aubree could be <b>so </b>heartless<b>, </b><b>yet </b>relieved she <b>was </b>safe. The mix left him restless and on edge.

    <b>Just </b>then, Carmen knocked and walked in.

    She had no idea that Trevor already knew she¡¯d taken Aubree¡¯s ce.

    Trevor had been too busy with thewsuit against Kate to bother with Carmen, but now she¡¯de to him herself.

    Carmen¡¯s smile froze under Trevor¡¯s <b>stare</b><b>, </b>and she contemted, ¡®Why does Trevor look at me like that? Did I do something wrong?

    ¡®Yeah, makes sense. Of course, Trevor¡¯s in a bad mood¨CAubree¡¯s fine.¡®

    Carmen took a deep breath as she inwardly reasoned, ¡®Trevor is grounded at home and had been forced by Bryan to publicly announce his retirement from the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, Aubree, the one who started all this, <b>is </bpletely unharmed. I have to take advantage of this chance and get Trevor on my side.

    ¡°Trevor<b>, </b>Bryan said things are going really smoothly online,¡± Carmen said carefully, taking a <b>few </b><b>steps </b>closer.

    ¡°I was really startled when I heard Aubree is okay. I thought¡­ Well, anyway, it¡¯s good that she¡¯s alright,¡± Carmen added <b>as </b>she patted her chest, pretending to be relieved.

    Trevor suddenly spoke up, ¡°You were startled? Or were you just mad that Aubree didn¡¯t die?¡±

    Carmen froze momentarily, unsure how to answer. Before she could say anything, Trevor went on, ¡°Drop the <b>act</b>. Your little schemes aren¡¯t even as convincing as some nobody in showbiz.¡±

    That line was <b>a </b>p in the face for Carmen. Her cheeks turned red, though she couldn¡¯t tell <b>if </b>it was from shame or anger.

    ¡°I¡¯m not Emery, and I¡¯m definitely not Daxton. Even Bryan can see right through your tricks. So, what makes you think I can¡¯t<b>?</b>¡± Trevor said as he lit <b>a </b>cigarette and blew a puff of smoke right in her face.

    ¡°Trevor¡­¡± Carmen murmured as she forced a smile that <b>was </b>uglier than crying.

    She realized she¡¯d messed up¨CTrevor had seen every trick in the book, and her little games werepletely transparent to him.

    ¡°Trevor, since you¡¯re not in¡¯a good mood, I¡¯d better not bother you,¡± Carmen said, her instincts screaming at her to get out of there fast.

    ¡°What¡¯s the hurry?¡± Trevor said, holding his cigarette between his fingers and letting the ash <b>fall </b>to the floor without a second thought.

    His unkempt hair fell messily over his eyes <b>as </b>he lowered his head, looking down at Carmen. He coldly stated, ¡°I¡¯ve got a question for you. Think carefully before you answer.

    ¡°With that brain of yours, <b>you </b>should know I wouldn¡¯t be asking if I didn¡¯t have something on you.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s heart leapt into her throat <b>as </b>she wondered, ¡®Did Trevor find out something?¡®

    She tried to think, but there were just too many things she¡¯d done. She had no clue which one Trevor was talking about.

    ¡°Do you remember the time when I got cornered by an obsessive fan at a hotel when I¡¯d just entered the entertainment industry about five or six years ago?¡± Trevor said.

    Carmen¡¯s face went pale at his words, and she had no idea <b>why </b>Trevor <b>was </b>suddenly digging up that old mess. ¡®Did he find out she thought.

    No matter how much she wanted to deny it, Carmen knew perfectly well that <b>Trevor </b>wouldn¡¯t bring this up unless he¡¯d already figured out the truth.

 Tried 537

    Chapter <b>537 </b>

    <b>Chapter </b><b>537 </b>

    Carmen remained silent. Both she and Trevor understood that the only reason he ever intervened to help her, rather than simply watching from <b>the </b>sidelines, was that everyone believed <b>she </b>was the one who had assisted him that time.

    *I.. I remember that. I went to the hotel to see you,¡± Carmen said, her voice barely steady.

    <b>¡°</b><b>Yeah</b><b>, </b>you did. Trevor replied with a mocking smirk. <b>¡°</b>But you <b>weren¡¯t </b><b>the </b>only one who showed up, were you?

    <b>¡°</b>Aubree came too. If she hadn¡¯t been thinking about me and decided to <b>visit</b>, you probably wouldn¡¯t have even bothered unless you were worried. I¡¯d remember how good she <b>was </b>to me, right?¡±

    <b>¡®</b><b>Yeah</b>¡­ that¡¯s true,¡® Carmen admitted to <b>herself</b>.

    She moved her lips but <b>stayed </b>silent. <b>Back </b>then, it <b>was </b>Aubree who went to Bryan and said she wanted to check on <b>Trevor</b>. Carmen, who was worried Aubree was trying <b>to </b>score points with him, quickly <b>suggested </b>she¡¯d <b>tag </b>along too.

    The family driver took them <b>over</b>. But as soon as they pulled up to the hotel, Carmen spotted that mob of obsessive fans, and she knew exactly how nuts those people could get. She immediately told the driver to turn the <b>car </b>around and head back.

    But only Aubree <b>was </b>that clueless. The moment she heard Carmen talk about how <b>gross </b>those fans <b>were</b>, she didn¡¯t hesitate and jumped out of the car, running off to help Trevor.

    <b>¡®</b>Seriously, if that isn¡¯t stupidity<b>, </b>what <b>is</b><b>?</b>¡® Carmen thought.

    Aubree ended up in the hospital, beaten up and filmed. If the Wilson family hadn¡¯t pulled some strings, her whole future would¡¯ve been destroyed.

    Carmen still remembered how Ronald and Alice had no idea what <b>really </b>happened. They thought Aubree had gotten herself mixed up with some shady people and scolded her harshly for it.

    However, Aubree was unbelievably naive, and she was too afraid that if the truth about helping Trevor got out, Ronald would me him too. As such, she never exined that she¡¯d gone to help him.

    While Aubree <b>was </b>lying in the hospital, Trevor came back and asked Carmen if she¡¯d gone to the hotel to see him. Naturally, Carmen just went along with it and took the credit for that.

    ¡®I did go to the hotel to see him, didn¡¯t <b>I</b>? So what¡¯s the problem?¡® Carmen thought.

    Her expression flickered a few times before she finally looked up and let out a lightugh, ¡°Trevor, how can you say that? I¡¯m your sister. Of course, <b>I </b><b>care </b>about you. It¡¯s only natural I¡¯d want to check in on you and see how you were holding up at work.¡±

    ¡°I really don¡¯t get what you¡¯re trying to say. That time, I went to see you with Aubree.

    ¡°When you got back from the set, you asked if I¡¯d visited you, and I told you I had. So, why are you bringing this up now?¡±

    Carmen took a step closer <b>as </b>she added, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not just ming the wrong person here?¡±

    Either way, Trevor already knew the truth, and there was no point pretending anymore.

    Trevor red at her, fury surging inside. ¡®Yeah, maybe I <b>was </b>confused at first and assumed it was Carmen<b>, </b>but if she keeps denying it like this, what am I supposed to do?¡® he thought, disgusted by her shamelessness.

    He let out a coldugh in response, ¡°Now I finally get it. It¡¯s no wonder you carry the Wilson name, but you still can¡¯t measure up to Aubree. A fake heiress like you will never be the real deal. Do you honestly believe you belong in this family?

    ¡°Every single one of us in the Wilson family is aplished and outstanding. All you have are these pathetic little tricks that are barely enough to make <b>a </b>ssh anywhere

    ¡°Dad and the others have always wanted Aubree toe back. I used to keep quiet because I didn¡¯t want her here.

    ¡°But now I know who my <b>real </b>sister <b>is</b>.

    ¡°Tell me, if I made you suffer everything you ever did to Aubree, but a thousand times worse, do you really think she still wouldn¡¯te back?¡±

    Carmen flinched at his words, and she stumbled a couple of steps backwards. Only now did she realize just how reckless she¡¯d been.

    Trevor was different from everyone <b>else</b><b>, </b>and he was truly ruthless.

    jus he

    Suddenly, the half¨Copen door <b>was </b>shoved wide open from outside, and an angry voice roared, ¡°Trevor, what

 Tried 538

    <b>Chapter </b><b>538 </b>

    It <b>was </b>Daxton.

    His <b>eyes </b>were zing with anger <b>as </b><b>he </b>stared at Trevor with an expression that <b>was </b>anything but friendly.

    He had just passed by and happened to <b>hear </b>Carmen¡¯s <b>voice</b><b>. </b>He moved a little closer and caught <b>every </b>single word <b>Trevor </b>said.

    If Alice had heard this, she probably would¡¯ve <b>just </b>nagged a little and let the matter slide <b>as </b><b>Trevor </b><b>was </b>her own son.

    But <b>as </b><b>far </b>as Daxton was concerned, Carmen could do no wrong, and anyone who crossed her was automatically in the wrong.

    He asked with a darkened <b>face</b><b>, </b>¡°What did you <b>just </b>say?¡±

    Trevor knew exactly how short¨Ctempered Daxton could be. He <b>let </b>out a coldugh and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you <b>ask </b>what Carmen did first<b>?</b>¡±

    The moment Daxton turned his gaze to her, Carmen immediately dropped her eyes, putting on that helpless, pitiful look <b>as </b>she exined everything from start to finish. She sobbed, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. If I¡¯d just paid a little more attention back then, I would¡¯ve figured out <b>exactly </b>what Trevor wanted to ask, and none of this mess would¡¯ve happened.¡±

    Trevor couldn¡¯t believe that Carmen could still twist the truth right in front of Daxton! He was so mad he pointed right at Carmen¡¯s nose and snapped, ¡°How dare you say that? You <b>call </b>that not paying attention? You knew exactly what I was asking<b>! </b>You just realized that Aubree <b>wasn¡¯t </b>here and jumped at the chance to take all the credit!¡±

    Back when Aubree <b>was </b>still with the Wilson family, Trevor was one of those who unfairly took Carmen¡¯s side without caring about right or wrong, and he never thought Aubree had anything to feel wronged about.

    He didn¡¯t think she had any reason <i>to </i>feel sorry for herself.

    He believed that leaving the orphanage and being reunited with the Wilson family was the luckiest thing that could ever happen to her. Compared to all the wealth and privilege she got, a few harsh words were nothing toin about.

    If anything, Trevor felt that Aubree should¡¯ve been feeling grateful.

    He believed that Aubree <b>was </b>merely acting, always portraying herself as the victim to garner their attention and sympathy, attempting to evoke their pity.

    But now that he was the one in the hot seat, Trevor finally realized just how suffocating it felt.

    Carmen might¡¯ve been telling the truth, but she spun it in such a way that it meant something different. Trevor had no idea how to start arguing back, and it just made him look like he was making a fuss for no reason.

    That was precisely how Daxton perceived it.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Daxton snapped. ¡°You screwed up and went after the wrong person. Now that you finally realize Aubree¡¯s actually worth something, she doesn¡¯t even care about you anymore. So you¡¯re feeling all sorry for yourself and trying to dump the me on Carmen?¡±

    ¡°Trevor, and you call yourself an elder brother,¡± Daxton said, his voice thick with mockery.

    In a voice dripping with sarcasm, he added, ¡°You¡¯re truly impressive. You got yed, ended up in this sorry state, and instead of figuring out how to deal with it or fight back, <b>all </b>you can do is stand here and take it out on Carmen.¡±

    Daxton then stepped in front of Carmen, shielding her, and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here. How could this possibly be your fault? You didn¡¯t even know that¡¯s what he was asking about. You did go to the set, and it¡¯s not your fault said yes.¡±

    you

    Carmen hid the smugness in her eyes and murmured, ¡°If only I¡¯d figured it out back then. Then Trevor wouldn¡¯t have misunderstood Aubree for so long, and Aubree wouldn¡¯t have done all this, making things get so out of hand.¡±

    ¡°Trevor really can¡¯t handle anything. After all, he couldn¡¯t even deal with Aubree,¡± Daxton scoffed.

    They just kept talking over him and acted like Trevor didn¡¯t even matter.

    Trevor held back as long as he could, but finally let out a cold sneer, ¡°Yeah, maybe I¡¯m useless. And you? For all your big talk, have you ever actually gotten the better of her<b>? </b>If I remember right, you guys have all been yed by her plenty of times, too, haven¡¯t you?

    ¡°I¡¯m not even gonna get into the whole stalker mess. <b>I </b>know I had mistreated Aubree before, and she schemed and got her revenge on me. Fine, I¡¯ll admit it. But from now on<b>, </b><b>as </b>far as I¡¯m concerned, Aubree is the only one I¡¯ll call my sister. Anyone who dares mess with her will have to answer to

    me<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Daxton let out a mockingugh in response, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you do all this sooner?<b>¡± </b>

 Tried 539

    <b>Chapter </b><b>539 </b>

    He couldn¡¯t care less. He inwardly scoffed, ¡®Back when Aubree was good to them<b>, </b>none of them <b>gave </b>a damn. <b>Now </b>they¡¯re <b>all </b>tripping <b>over </b>themselves to win her favor. How shameless <b>can </b>they get?¡®

    ¡°<b>If </b>you¡¯ve <b>got </b><b>so </b>much time on your hands, why not figure out how to get Aubree to <b>even </b>spare you a nce<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>he mocked.

    With that, Daxton grabbed Carmen¡¯s hand and turned to <b>leave</b>.

    Trevor was sure there was <b>a </b><b>reason </b>why everyone used to side with Carmen. <b>However</b><b>, </b>he had no idea why Daxton was so stubborn about siding with Carmon, but he couldn¡¯t believe Aubree was really out of the picture.

    ¡°Daxton, you keep sticking up for her now, but don¡¯te crying when you realize you¡¯ve been raising a snake at your side¨Cand when the timees, it¡¯lle for your life,¡± <b>Trevor </b>sneered.

    Out of Daxton¡¯s sight, Carmen stiffened for <b>a </b>second, then quickly rxed. As long <b>as </b>she kept her mouth shut, there was no way Daxton would <b>ever </b>find out.

    As for the whole stalker <b>mess </b>with Trevor back then<b>, </b>other people besides herself and Aubree <b>were </b>aware of it. <b>As </b>such<b>, </b>it wasn¡¯t exactly surprising that Trevor would find out.

    As Carmen reflected on everything, she felt <i>a </i>bit more at ease. At that moment, the most important task was <b>to </b><b>seize </b>the opportunity while Bryan was upied with cleaning up the <b>mess </b>Trevor had caused and to make a positive impression on thepany¡¯s shareholders<b>. </b>

    Daxton, for his part, <b>was </b>sure he¡¯d never be <b>as </b>clueless <b>as </b>Trevor. He lowly murmured, ¡°<b>So </b>what? Carmen¡¯s been like a little <b>sister </b>to me since we were kids. No one knows her better than I do.¡±

    He pondered, ¡®Besides, a lot of the things Bryan and the others med on Carmen were also my doing. None of it <b>was </b>her fault; it was a result of me not thinking things through, and she ended up taking the fall for it.¡¯

    On the other hand, Trevor kept his thoughts to himself, waiting for the day Daxton would regret it.

    But Daxton was right about one thing. There was no way Aubree would even spare him a second nce now.

    Trevor let out a bitterugh. ¡®Isn¡¯t all of this just what I brought on myself?¡® he thought.

    As Trevor¡¯s leaked photo scandal finally wound down with Kate¡¯s sentencing, his die¨Chard fans were pping and cheering.

    Even after all that, Trevor still had nearly a hundred million followers on X.

    As he had already mentioned he was retiring from the industry, so whether he meant it or not, Trevor had to keep up the appearances. With Bryan pulling the strings, he held a press conference to officially announce his temporary retirement.

    His fans were bawling their eyes out, snot and tears streaming down their faces as they begged him not to leave.

    Aubree watched the live stream of his press conference.

    During the press conference, Trevor stated, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for letting everyone down. I admit I¡¯m not the self¨Cdisciplined, clean¨Ccut gentleman you imagined.

    ¡°For now, I¡¯ll be stepping away from the screen to work on myself, and hopefully, I¡¯ll be able to bring you even better projects in the future. Of

    there¡¯s <b>a </b>chance I might not get that chance.

    <b>course</b><b>, </b>

    ¡°Goodbye for now, to those who love me, and to those I love.¡±

    ¡®What a fake,¡® Aubree thought as she rolled her eyes.

    Sheter let out another scoff, ¡®A temporary retirement? Please, that¡¯s just for the idiots who actually buy it.¡®

    all

    Knowing how the Wilson family operated, Aubree was sure that in a month or two, they¡¯d be buying up trending topics and press releases to help everyone forget about Trevor¡¯s mess. Afterward, they¡¯d have him do some charity work, pay off reporters and influencer ounts to stage those so- called ¡°chance encounters¡± for some positive press.

    The whole ¡°gentleman¡± persona was shot, but a rich yboy who just lives for fun? That kind of image <b>was </b>still a hit with the public.

    By then, Trevor could swap girlfriends as often as he liked and wouldn¡¯t even have to hide it from the media. Everyone would know that¡¯s just who he was, and the fans who stuck around would all be in on it, and they wouldn¡¯t care one bit.

    By now, Kate had been sentenced, and the police had gone through her stuff. All that evidence should bending on Trevor¡¯s desk any time now.

    2:40 <b>PM </b>

    Kate¡¯s medical report <b>was </b>faked ahead of time. Aubree had arranged everything, making <b>sure </b>it included a bogus HIV diagnosis that Kate never actually had.

    When he returned to the Wilson family home after the press conference, Trevor <b>received </b>the <b>package</b>.

    The butler handed it over and said, ¡°The police found this while collecting evidence. Because of your connection with Kate, they made sure it got sent straight to you.¡±

 Tried 540

    <b>Chapter </b><b>540 </b>

    Trevor frowned as he wondered, ¡®What is it?

    The police had sent it over?

    It is Kate¡¯s belonging? Why did they deliver it to me?¡®

    Feeling like it was bad luck, he uttered, ¡°<b>Just </b>throw it away.¡±

    ¡°I think you should take a look before making any decisions, Mr. Wilson. The police <b>were </b><b>very </b>serious when they brought it up, and it might be something important,¡± the butler advised.

    Due to privacy reasons, the police didn¡¯t mention what it <b>was</b>.

    Trevor¡¯s imagination ran wild for <b>a </b>second as he thought, ¡®No way¡­ Could that woman, Kate<b>, </b><b>actually </b>be <b>pregnant</b>?¡®

    The moment that thought popped into his head, Trevor couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at himself.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll check it out,¡± he replied, taking the package and starting to open it as he walked away.

    There <b>was </b>only <b>a </b>single <b>sheet </b>of paper inside, and it appeared to be <b>a </b>medical report. The mocking smile on his <b>face </b>faded a bit <b>as </b>he thought, <b>¡®</b><b>No </b>way¡­ Could she be pregnant<b>?</b>¡®

    After what happened with Sophia<b>, </b>Trevor felt like he <b>was </b>getting PTSD from these kinds of <b>matters</b>.

    He pulled the report all the way out and looked it over line by line. <b>Trevor¡¯s </b>pupils contracted sharply, and his hands clenched tight <b>as </b>he wondered, ¡®How is this possible!¡®

    The butler, who hadn¡¯t left yet, noticed the change in his expression and asked, ¡°Mr. Wilson<b>, </b>is everything alright?¡±

    ¡°Arrange¡­¡± Trevor started to say, but suddenly cut himself off.

    If he went for a checkup, there was no <b>way </b>he could keep this under wraps. Right now, he <b>was </b>the only one who knew.

    ¡®But what¡¯s the point of getting checked now? It¡¯s been so long. If this is true, there¡¯s nothing <b>I </b>can do about it anymore, he silently reasoned.

    Trevor¡¯s hands tightened around the report, his <b>face </b>shifting for a split second before he quickly masked it. <b>He </b>tucked the report away without a change in expression and uttered, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.

    ¡°You can go now.

    ¡°Oh, and inform my parents on my behalf that I¡¯m not in a good mood these days, so I won¡¯t be staying at home. I¡¯ll move to the riverside vi for a

    while.¡±

    Under the butler¡¯s watchful gaze, Trevor stiffened his back and walked step by step back to his room.

    His mind <b>was </b>aplete mess, and he had no idea how he even made it back.

    <b>¡®</b>Is this karma?¡® Trevor inwardly sighed.

    He let out a smallugh and mused, ¡°I am really good¨Clooking¨Ceven Aubree couldn¡¯t deny that. She admitted that the two best¨Clooking guys she¡¯d ever met were Bowen and me<b>. </b>

    ¡®We aren¡¯t handsome in the same way, but neither one lost out to the other.

    <b>¡®</b>If my fans had been there to see that smile, their screams probably would¡¯ve shaken the sky.

    But as Trevor¡¯s smile spread, it twisted into something ugly on his face. He suddenly kicked over the low table in his room and yelled, ¡°Why me?¡±

    He couldn¡¯t even imagine how humiliating it would be if this matter <b>were </b>to <b>get </b>out.

    He couldn¡¯t afford to be embarrased like that.

    ¡®So what, am I just supposed to find a <b>ce </b>to hide and wait to die<b>?</b>¡® he thought bitterly.

    Trevor knew that with the Wilson family¡¯s wealth, they could easily keep himfortable for the rest of his life, but that would just be too humiliating.

    He left out a hollow, self¨Cdepreciatingugh before thinking bitterly, ¡®Knowing my dad, he¡¯d probably disown me rather than let me disgrace the Wilson family if he finds out I had this disease<b>. </b>

    <b>2:40 </b><b>PM </b>

    ¡®But, I am not ready to give up, not when I have not even had the chance to make things right with Aubree.¡¯

    even notice<b>. </b>

    Trevor¡¯s nails dug into his skin, and the blood dripped down, staining the pristine white carpet, but he didn¡¯t ev

    He didn¡¯t even dare to get checked.

    If he went to a public hospital¨Cnot that he was being full of himself¨Cbut with a face like his, who wouldn¡¯t recognize him?

    If he went to the family¡¯s private hospital, his dad and Bryan would know about it the second he walked in. They¡¯d probably see the test results before he even got them.

    The only thing he could do now <b>was </b>move out and find somewhere to hide himself away.

    This is just pathetic,¡¯ he thought, full of self¨Cmockery as he He sank into a wave of self¨Cdespair. ¡®Kate, you really did it. You¡¯ve made my life miserable.¡®

    Meanwhile, Carmen ended up receiving a lot of concern from Daxton after getting mocked and belittled by Trevor.

 Tried 541

    <b>Chapter </b>541

    Daxton exaggerated the whole incident when he told the others about it. None of them rushed to help Carmen, but everyone agreed that Trevor was out of line. ¡®It was <b>his </b>own mess, so <b>why </b>take it out on someone else<b>?</b><b>¡® </b><b>they </b>thought.

    ¡°Heading to the Mistmere?¡± Daxton asked.

    Even though Aubree was fine, Carmen couldn¡¯t afford to stop moving forward.

    <b>Every </b><b>step </b>she took now was for her future <b>self</b>, and she couldn¡¯t <b>stop </b>now. Everyone at thepany knew she and Bryan didn¡¯t get along.

    Aubree might still be holding something over her head, and this was a bomb that could go off at any time and send her crashing down. She had to get <b>what </b>she wanted, and fast.

    <b>¡°</b>Yeah, Uncle said there¡¯s a project over there, a coboration between the Diamonde Group and the Wilson Group. He <b>gave </b>me the information ahead of time, hoping <b>I </b>could snag it before Bryan does,¡± Carmen nodded <b>sweetly </b>in response. ¡°Daxton, do you think I¡¯m a traitor for going after the same project as Bryan?<b>¡± </b>

    Daxton looked surprised that she¡¯d even think that, and reassured, ¡°How could you say that? <b>It¡¯s </b><b>all </b>about who can do the job <b>better</b>.

    ¡°Bryan¡¯s already got the general manager position locked down. Once Dad <b>retires</b>, <b>he¡¯ll </b>be the <b>next </b>CEO. You¡¯re <b>just </b>trying to do more for the family. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re being selfish. If anything, he¡¯s the one being petty.

    ¡°I know you can do

    do ¨ªt, Carmen. If you need anything, just let me know.

    ¡°I looked into <b>it</b>, and the ce you¡¯re going to is pretty rough. It¡¯s not developed <b>yet</b>, and <b>even </b>though summer¡¯s <b>just </b>ended, it¡¯s <b>still </b>hot. <b>Make </b><b>sure </b>to watch out for mosquitoes and bugs. I¡¯lle visit you when <b>I </b>can.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s face lit up with gratitude and replied, ¡°Daxton, <b>it¡¯s </b>so nice to have you around.¡±

    ¡°I also heard that the Turner Group and Bree Technology might be interested in this project too<b>, </b>so keep an <i>eye </i>out,¡± Daxton added.

    ¡®The Turner Group?¡® Carmen wondered to herself.

    She hadn¡¯t heard about that, but she heard thattely, most things at the Turner Group <b>were </b>being handled by Alvin. ¡®So did that mean Alvin would be heading to Mistmere too?¡® she wondered.

    After he¡¯d unexpectedly helped her outst time, he¡¯d gone right back to ignoring her like before. This <b>is </b><b>a </b>golden opportunity for me!¡® Carmen thought.

    While her thoughts <b>were </b>already drifting far away, Carmen still shed Daxton a <b>sweet </b>smile<b>, </b>¡°I know. I¡¯ll be careful.¡±

    Meanwhile, Vincent was filling Aubree in on thetest news.

    ¡°Who¡¯s representing the Wilson Group for this project?¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°Rumor has it it¡¯s Carmen, but Bryan doesn¡¯t seem willing to let it <b>go </b>either,¡± Vincent replied.

    Aubree replied, ¡°Oh. Did you book the flight to the Mistmere?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s booked,¡± Vincent said, sounding a bit hesitant. ¡°But¡­ Mr. Turner asked me to get him a ticket too.

    ¡°Look, everyone knows about your rtionship with Mr. Turner, but this project is a big deal, and it even has some government connections. Are you sure it¡¯s appropriate for Mr. Turner to get involved?¡±

    Aubree smiled in response, ¡°Go ahead and book it. He¡¯s not going as Mr. Turner this time. He¡¯s going <b>as </b>a shareholder of Bree Technology.

    !

    ¡°The person in charge of this project for the Turner Group should be Alvin<b>, </b>right?¡±

    <b>¡°</b>Yeah, that¡¯s right,¡± Vincent replied.

    Aubree let out a sigh <b>as </b>she thought, ¡®So I really can¡¯t escape this after all!

    The board had discussed this project <b>was </b>the redevelopment n for Ridgehaven Town in Mistmere. The government had tried to handle it themselves at first, investing both money and effort, but the vigers were all holdouts and refused to cooperate. Ultimately, the government decided to open it up to the private <b>sector</b>, inviting <b>several </bpanies to bid for the project. Whoever could get the demolition consent forms signed first would win the project.

    Lately, thepany <b>was </b>looking to expand into new fields, and if they couldnd this project<b>, </b>it would be their ticket into the real estate industry, and not to mention, it would earn them some goodwill with the government. It <b>was </b>a win on all fronts.

    Bree Technology, <b>a </bpany with no background or experience in this industry, wasn¡¯t originally on the list of invitedpanies. But thanks to her connections at the research institute<b>, </b>Aubree got a tip¨Coff: Mistmere <b>was </b>about to be included in a major redevelopment n. If she could secure this project, all future redevelopment projects in Mistmere would basically be hers for the taking.

    That¡¯s exactly why big groups like the Wilson Group and the Turner Group <b>were </b>taking it so seriously.

 Tried 542

    <b>Chapter </b>542

    Mistmere was seen to be a province, but honestly, it wasn¡¯t <b>even </b>as developed as the outskirts of Rithol City. As soon as the ne touched down, Vincent couldn¡¯t help but <b>sigh</b>, ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>hard to believe that they managed to build an airport here.¡±

    There was only one flight from Rithol City to Mistmere.

    Once they disembarked, they arrived right in the city center. However, if no one had mentioned it, one would think they were in some backwater county under a second¨Ctier city.

    ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect there¡¯d still be a ce this undeveloped,¡± Vincent clicked his tongue in disbelief.

    Bowen loaded their luggage into the car that had been arranged to pick them up. ¡°Mistmere was already included in the development ns a couple of years ago. The idea <b>was </b>to start the renovation from the rural towns, but the people here are pretty tough, and Ridgehaven Town is the most notorious. The vige chief just tries to keep the <b>peace</b>, the vigers refuse to cooperate, and there are some residents who absolutely won¡¯t move no matter <b>what</b>. Since Ridgehaven <b>Town </b>can¡¯t be touched, somehow word got out that if you keep dragging things out, the government will raise thepensation for relocation. Now, all the other <b>viges </b><b>are </b>following their example, and that¡¯s why everything¡¯s been stalled.¡±

    ¡°So, it looks like Ridgehaven Town is the most crucial piece of the puzzle,¡± Aubree <b>said </b>as she pondered, ¡®But thepensation money definitely

    isn¡¯t the <b>real </b><b>reason</b>.

    Bowen exined, ¡°Exactly. If <b>we </b><b>can </b>sort out Ridgehaven Town, the rest of the viges will fall in line sooner orter.

    ¡°ording to thetest n, we need to <b>get </b>things done in Ridgehaven Town first<b>, </b>fix it up, and let everyone else see the benefits. Afterwards, convincing the others will be a lot <b>easier</b>.¡±

    Aubree suddenly fixed her gaze on Bowen andmented, ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been doing your homework.¡±

    Bowen let out a chuckle in response, ¡°Just because <b>I¡¯ve </b>let Alvin take chargetely doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not keeping an eye on things. I know he¡¯s been making some moves behind the scenes, and the Mistmere project is the biggest one. Young people need to get their hands dirty and face a few setbacks. This will be a good learning opportunity for him.¡±

    The three of them got into the <b>car</b><b>, </b>and Vincent asked, ¡°Ms. Miller, are we heading straight to Ridgehaven Town now?¡±

    ¡°No, let¡¯s find a clothing store first,¡± Aubree replied.

    Two hourster, three eye¨Ccatching figures stepped out of a clothing store that was tucked away in an old alley. The handsome one was Bowen, the pretty one was Aubree, and the other guy¨Cwell, that <b>was </b>Vincent. All three were rocking floral shirts and silk pants, and they looked like they just stepped out of a fashion magazine,

    The shop owner was grinning from ear to ear. She always said her clothes looked great, but seeing how good¨Clooking these three were in them- now that was real proof!

    ¡°Sweetheart, you walk out in that outfit and you¡¯ll be the best¨Clooking girl in all of Mistmere and the surrounding towns. And this young man is seriously handsome too! I¡¯ve been here for years and <b>never </b>seen a pair <b>as </b>good¨Clooking as you two<b>. </b>Honestly, you could <b>give </b>TV stars a run for their money,¡± the shop owner gushed.

    Vincent couldn¡¯t help but straighten his back with pride as he agreed, ¡°Honestly, <b>even </b>those celebrities can¡¯tpare to our boss<b>.¡± </b>

    The shop owner¡¯s grin got <b>even </b>wider as she asked, ¡°<b>I </b>can tell you folks are here for business. You¡¯re not from around here, are you?¡±

    Aubree nodded in response, ¡°We heard the fruit grown here in Mistmere is really great, so our boss came over to check it out.¡±

    Mistmere might be underdeveloped, but its fruits were famous for being especially tasty.

    It was prettymon to see fruit vendorsing by to buy up the local produce, so Aubree¡¯s exnation didn¡¯t surprise anyone.

    The shop owner beamed with pride, ¡°Then you¡¯vee to the right ce! The fruit here in Mistmere is top¨Cnotch!¡±

    As she spoke, she gave them a proud thumbs¨Cup.

    After chatting for a bit longer. Aubree finally led the two of them out.

    They switched to a in, unremarkable car, with Vincent behind the wheel. He asked. ¡°Ms. Miller, aren¡¯t we supposed to be here to talk about the relocationpensation? Why are we dressed up like this, anyway?<i>¡± </i>

    Aubree exined. ¡°The Ridgehaven Town project has been dragging on for ages and still hasn¡¯t been settled. Clearly, money isn¡¯t the real issue. We need to get inside the vige and see what¡¯s actually going on By now, I¡¯m sure plenty of bosses havee here to talk about relocation, but nothing¡¯s <b>ever </b>changed.

 Tried 543

    <b>Chapter </b><b>543 </b>

    ¡°Didn¡¯t <b>we </b>already <b>say </b>the folks here are pretty tough? If <b>we </b>showed up in our usual getup, the vigers would be <b>on </b>high alert. If we don¡¯t blend in, forget about getting any information. We¡¯d be lucky if we didn¡¯t get run out of town.¡±

    Vincent couldn¡¯t help but realize he¡¯d really underestimated howplicated this was.

    After all, the government has been discussing the Ridgehaven Town project for <b>ages</b><b>, </b>and with <b>so </b>many people eyeing this lucrative piece of the pie, the relocationpensation must have been quite generous.

    From now on, Bowen <b>is </b>the fruit vendor here to buy up the <b>harvest</b><b>, </b>I¡¯m his secretary, and Vincent, you¡¯re his business partner,¡± Aubree instructed.

    Bowen listened to Aubree¡¯s n and <b>let </b>out a low chuckle, ¡°You¡¯re going to be a secretary? <b>Isn¡¯t </b>that a bit beneath me?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree smacked him right on the <b>face </b>without hesitation as <b>she </b>chided, ¡°We¡¯re talking business here<b>, </b>cut it out.¡±

    He grabbed her hand <b>just </b><b>as </b>quickly and uttered, ¡°Alright, my<b>¡­ </b>secretary.¡±

    ¡®Secretary¡® <b>was </b>just a normal word, but somehow, when it came out of Bowen¡¯s mouth with all those <b>twists </b>and turns, it sounded anything but

    proper.

    Aubree shot him a re, but Bowen <b>just </b><b>epted </b>it with a grin<b>, </bpletely unfazed.

    Up front, Vincent kept his <b>eyes </b>glued to the road as he pretended that he <b>saw </b>and heard absolutely nothing. ¡®Nope, I am not getting involved in this, he thought.

    By the time they reached Ridgehaven Town, it <b>was </b>already mid¨Cafternoon. The trio parked the car right at the entrance.

    Mistmere may not seem remarkable now, but there¡¯s hope. As <b>a </b><b>coastal </b><b>area</b>, with the right development, it could have a promising future and possibly be part of a regional economic hub.

    That piece of information <b>was </b>genuine, <b>as </b>Aubree had <b>also </b>received it from the institute.

    Ridgehaven Town was the first pilot <b>site</b>. The vigers here had been growing fruit trees for generations, and there were quite a few major orchard owners in the vige.

    When the news first came out about thend acquisition, it was these fruit <b>growers </b>who put up the strongest resistance. However, they gradually gave in over time.

    But then, out of nowhere, everything changed overnight.

    Not only were the die¨Chard holdouts still refusing to budge, but even the fruit <b>growers </b>who had previously agreed suddenly changed their tune and began resisting.

    When asked why, they all expressed that they simply couldn¡¯t bear to <b>leave</b>. Their families had lived there for generations, and they were unwilling to abandon theirnd.

    Several groups hade to try and convince them, with some <b>even </b>bringing in negotiation experts to lead the discussions, but nothing worked. They <b>all </b>left looking defeated and empty¨Chanded.

    It was like the whole vige had been bewitched. Being nice didn¡¯t work, and if you tried to be tough, the vigers would just get even tougher.

    Nothing was off the table for these vigers, as they even went so far as to block roads with carts and set fires.

    With no other options left, the government had to reissue the bid. They had done so by privately reaching out to some of the top business groups topete for the project.

    As <b>Aubree </b>and the others reached the vige entrance, they happened to bump into another group.

    Those are the teams from the Wilson Group and Diamonde Group. Vincent said as he recognized them right away.

    He was the first to spot them.

    And leading the group was none other than Carmen herself.

    ¡°Hey, Aubree!¡± Carmen called out brightly when she spotted theming

    When she got a good look at their outfits. Carmen put on her best innocent smile and asked, ¡°Aubree, what¡¯s with the outfits! Trying to fit in with

    the locals, are <b>we</b>?¡®

    It might have sounded harmless, but Aubree knew all too <b>well </b>what Carmen was like. She was definitely throwing shade and calling their clothes

    41 <b>PM </b>

    country bumpkin style.

    Aubree let out a dryugh before shotting back, ¡°Yeah, we could never outshine your dazzling style.

    ¡°But honestly, no matter how fancy you dress, it can¡¯t cover up how clueless you are inside.

    Compared to Carmen¡¯s roundabout jabs, Aubree much preferred to just say things straight.

    Afterall, wouldn¡¯t it be even more annoying if the other party did not even get the sarcasm after using those roundabout words?

    Nothing beats just calling someone out to their face.

    Maintaining her cool, Carmen taunted, ¡°I¡¯m not as clever as you, Aubree. But seeing you go all out with this getup for the project, you must be feeling pretty sure of yourself, huh?¡±

    ¡°Way more sure than you, that¡¯s for sure,¡± Aubree shot back.

    Carmen was decked out in a tailored business suit, with a whole crew of people in equally formal suits trailing behind her. Each one dressed to impress, like they were desperate for everyone to know exactly why they were here.

 Tried 544

    Carmen¡¯s expression twitched as she shot back, ¡°It¡¯s a bit early to be saying all that. Aubree, you might be born with real talent, but you¡¯d better watch out¨Cdon¡¯t end up capsizing in the gutter and losing more than you gain. It¡¯s not worth the risk.¡±

    With that, she led her people toward the vige, determined to get in before Aubree.

    Just as she took a couple of steps, a big yellow dog that had been lying by the roadside suddenly arched its back, hackles raised, and started barking furiously <b>at </b>her.

    Ah! Carmen cried out <b>as </b>she saw the dog lunge at her right before her eyes, stumbling backward in panic.

    The vige roads were nothing but muddy tracks<b>. </b>They were narrow, slippery, and treacherous. What looked like a patch of grass could easily be hiding a nasty pit underneath, and right next to it ran a little ditch full of filthy, stinking water that reeked to high heaven.

    Stepping right into a pit of foul, sludgy mud was already enough to make Carmen scream in frustration. But, when luck¡¯s not on one¡¯s side, even the smallest thing turns into a disaster. What followed was a chain of disasters that left herpletely overwhelmed.

    Carmen lost her bnce and tumbled backward, and instinctively reached out to grab onto something.

    To make matters even worse, the only thing within reach was a locust tree that was jutting out by the embankment, its branches bristling with sharp thorns.

    Carmen¡¯s handnded right on those thorns, the pain so sharp she almost let out a curse. But that wasn¡¯t even the worst of it. Her grip slipped, and she went falling backward.

    As expected, shended smack dab in the stinking ditch by the side of the road.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh as she thought, ¡®Are those who have lousy character always get this unlucky?¡±

    ¡°Careful, don¡¯t end up capsizing in the gutter. I¡¯m just returning your words to you,¡± she shot back with a grin.

    B barely holding back hisughter, Vincent chuckled, ¡°Ms. Miller,

    ¡°Yeah, looks like a total wipeout to me,¡± Bowen quietly chimed<ol><li>in.</li></ol>

    qk G V W Y Z W

    15

    think you

    gol

    it wrong.

    Hasn¡¯t Ms. Wilson already capsized?¡±

    in

    front of Aubree made it worse. Furious, Carmen let out a sharp scream, It was bad enough to make <i>a </i>fool of herself, but for it to happenpletely dropping her aloof facade. She shrieked, ¡°Aubree, why didn¡¯t you catch me just now?¡®

    ¡®She was the <b>closest </b>to me. <b>If </b>she¡¯d just reached out, she could¡¯ve stopped me

    from

    falling,<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree shot her a look like she <b>was </b>out of her mind before sneering, <b>¡°</b>If there¡¯s something anything.¡±

    u oke

    Carmen

    thought bitterly.

    wrong

    with you,

    go

    get

    checked out.

    don¡¯t owe you

    Even the people Carmen brought along looked a little embarrassed. After <b>all</b><b>, </b>they¡¯re rivals, kicking you when you¡¯re down?

    They sure hadn¡¯t, that¡¯s for sure.

    and who¡¯s

    <b>ever </b>

    seen

    <b>2 </b>

    ¡°Well, well, looks like the vige entrance <b>is </b>buzzing today<b>!</b>¡± A burly guy in a tank top came striding <b>over</b>,

    ent.

    Aubree did a double take and inwardly gasped, ¡®Wwait, wasn¡¯t that Ethan?¡®

    Ethan shot her a wink, and Aubree instantly knew it was definitely him.

    his

    words rolling out

    with a thick local

    She shot Bowen a look, <b>as </b>if to <b>ask</b>, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Bowen just blinked at her<b>, </b>as if to <b>say</b>, ¡°I just had him<ul><li>ome check things out in advance, that¡¯s all.</li></ul>

    Ethan looked somewhat familiar to Carmen, but she couldn¡¯t recall where she <b>had </b><b>seen </b>him before<b>. </b>After all, she hadn¡¯t encountered him often. Furthermore, Ethan and Samson were Bowen¡¯s bodyguards, and they usually stayed out of sight.

    None of the others made the connection between him and Bowen either, and they all just assumed he was the vige.

    At this point, Carmen had already been <b>dragged </b>out of the stinky ditch.

    Bowen stepped forward, going along with the misunderstanding, and <b>asked</b><b>, </b>¡°Hey

    an, <b>are </b>you a local<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    2:41 PM <b>d </b>

    ¡°No, I am from another vige. I am doing some odd jobs for Mr. David Molina. He¡¯s the biggest fruit grower in this vige,¡± Ethan replied.

    Well, there¡¯s a reason good assistants are sharp as a tack.

    Vincent immediately picked up the cue andmented, ¡°You¡¯re a helper from fruit farms? That¡¯s perfect. Not gonna lie, brother¨Cwe came to Mistmere looking to source some fruit. We¡¯ve heard that the fruit from Ridgehaven Town was top quality, so we figured we¡¯d stop by and take a

    look.

    ¡°You said you work for the biggest fruit grower around. Any chance you could introduce us?¡±

 Tried 545

    <b>Chapter </b>545

    Ethan scratched the back of his head as he neatly pulled off that honest farmhand vibe.

    ¡°That¡¯s <b>easy</b>. Come, follow me,¡± he said after a moment¡¯s hesitation.

    The team that Carmen brought along stood there<b>, </b>dumbfounded as they watched Bowen and Aubree blend right in without any trouble at all.

    They collectively wondered, <b>¡®</b>Seriously, do they have no shame?

    Everyone else is being upfront about who they are, being transparent in sharing that they were here to talk to the vigers about the demolition, but these <b>two </b>think they¡¯re so clever to pull off this kind of stunt?¡®

    One of Carmen¡¯s men got anxious and blurted out, ¡°Hey, we¡¯re fruit buyers too! Let us tag along with you, will you?<b>¡± </b>

    Like Ethan would ever let them <b>tag </b>along. Not a chance.

    Ethan gave them a critical once¨Cover<b>, </b>sizing them up from head to <i>toe </i>before he spat, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m stupid? You¡¯re dressed like that, you¡¯re obviously here to discuss the demolition, right? I¡¯m not even from Ridgehaven Town¨Cif I take you in, we all get tossed out together, and that¡¯s on me<b>. </b><b>So</b>, there¡¯s absolutely no way.

    Move along now, will you? Nobody¡¯s selling theirnd here.¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t hold back augh as she thought, ¡®No wonder they said going up against Bowen in business was like bargaining with a tiger. If he wasn¡¯t on my side right now, just Ethan¡¯s act alone would¡¯ve been enough to catch anyonepletely off guard.¡¯

    Carmen finally understood why Aubree was dressed the way she was<b>. </b>

    Her face fell, and she snarked, ¡°So, you¡¯re trying to take shortcuts, huh?<b>¡± </b>

    Whether it <b>was </b><b>a </b>clever shortcut or not, as long <b>as </b>it got their foot in the door, it was a good move.

    The others kept quiet, wishing they could pull off a trick like that themselves.

    Some in the Wilson Group were already praying for Bryan to hurry up and wrap things up with Trevor.

    At this rate, how were they supposed topete with Bree Technology and the Turner Group?

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just go straight to the vige chief and seal the deal? Isn¡¯t that way better than messing around with all these schemes?¡± Carmen said impatiently.

    <b>Her </b>words instantly got everyone fired up as they collectively thought, ¡°The process did not matter as long <b>as </b>we achieve the result we want!¡¯

    The stink of muddy water <b>was </b>all over Carmen, and she couldn¡¯t stand it another second. She proposed, ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys go talk to the vige chief? I need <i>to </i>go change out of these filthy clothes.¡±

    The <b>rest </b>of the group agreed. <b>After </b><b>all</b><b>, </b>they understood her situation and didn¡¯t me her for it.

    Carmen¡¯s team had alsoe <b>prepared</b>. At the very <b>least</b>, they¡¯d already dug up everything there was to know about the vige chief.

    Ethan had been around long enough that he could greet just about everyone he passed by name.

    ¡°As soon as there was even a hint of this project<b>, </b>I had Ethane over and scope things out. He pretty much knows everything about the vige now, Bowen leaned in to exin to Aubree.

    Aubree hade into the vige posing <b>as </b>a fruit buyer<b>, </b>hoping to lower the locals¡® guard and dig up some information. But Bowen had already done <b>all </b>the groundwork. Honestly, it made her feel a bit foolish byparison.

    ¡®If you <b>were </b>my <b>rival</b>, that¡¯d be downright scary, Aubree thought, half¨Cjoking. She was confident she could keep Bowen from getting the better of

    her.

    But she wasn¡¯tpletely sure she could walk away unscathed every single time if she had to go up against him.

    ¡®Good thing he¡¯s not mypetitor<b><i>, </i></b>Aubree told herself.

    Bowen shook his head in response<b>, </b>¡°What I did doesn¡¯t hold a candle to your n. Just knowing what¡¯s going on and actually getting your foot in the door are two totally different things. <b>All </b><b>I </b>can do is have Ethan feed me some early info, but sooner orter, everyone else is going to catch on <b>anyway</b>. It¡¯s nothing to brag about.¡±

    Vincent let out a dramatic sigh, ¡°Alright, alright. You two are the real masterminds here, and I¡¯m just the dumb one<b>, </b>okay? Bute on, let¡¯s not act all modest when <b>we¡¯ve </b>already got the upper hand. If anyone else heard this, they¡¯d be fuming!¡±

    <b>1/2 </b>

    2:41 PM

    The vigers¡® homes were nothing like the run¨Cdown shacks people might imagine.

    Most families lived in <b>stylish </b><b>two</b><b>¨C</b>story houses, and the <b>well</b>¨Coff ones had even built themselves an entire countryside vi.

    Their homes had ceramic tiles on the outside, and most had a neat little fenced¨Cin yard right out front.

    t

 Tried 546

    <b>Chapter </b>546

    Many families in Ridgehaven Town who owned orchards <b>were </b>rtively <b>well</b>¨Coff. If they weren¡¯t, the government wouldn¡¯t <b>have </b>chosen this spot as the <b>first </b><b>ce </b><b>to </b>initiate the <b>process</b>.

    Whenever the big orchard owners <b>had </b>a good harvest, they¡¯d always hire some extra hands to help out.

    Ethan was arge man, and it <b>was </b>clear that he had trained his body and had plenty of strength to spare. He threw on a cheap <b>T</b>¨Cshirt and some ordinary long pants from a street stall, and with barely any effort,nded a job as a porter for the Molina family, the <b>biggest </b>orchard owners in Ridgehaven Town.

    The Molina family <b>was </b>hands down the wealthiest family in Ridgehaven Town. Their house was the nicest in the whole ce, and their family was small with just Mr. and Mrs. Molina, their eldest daughter, and a younger son who¡¯d just finished high school and was now loafing around at home with nothing to do.

    Ethan told them he <b>was </b>renting a tiny ce in the nearby town. The factory there hadn¡¯t paid its workers in ages, and he couldn¡¯t just sit around wasting <b>away</b>. When he heard the Molina family was looking for help, he came over to apply.

    When David Molina saw this big young man squeezed into a room barely bigger than a bathroom in town, running back and forth to the vige every day, he just told Ethan to move in and stay with their family instead.

    When Ethan brought Aubree and the others back, David was lounging in a chair in the yard, smoking a cigarette, while his wife, Jillian Molina, sat nearby, picking through the vegetables for dinner.

    The <b>two </b>of them were just chatting away.

    ¡°Lately, folks in town have been saying that Samuel Frager has been up to no good,¡± Jillian said.

    ¡°Samuel? We watched that kid grow up right under our noses. There¡¯s not a chance. People just love to talk,¡± David replied.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if any of it¡¯s true or not. All I know is, I won¡¯t let Millie get mistreated,¡± Jillian said firmly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so narrow¨Cminded. Samuel is <b>a </b>college kid, and he¡¯s the chief¡¯s son. Our boy didn¡¯t even get into college and justzes around at home all day. The chief said he¡¯d take him to town one of these days and see about getting him a job,¡± David said.

    Jillian had finished picking through the vegetables and curled her lip in disdain as shemented, ¡°How much money can you make ving away in town? If it weren¡¯t for the chief<b>¡­ </b>we¡¯d have taken the demolition payout and be living the good life by now<b>.¡± </b>

    Their <b>voices </b>carried loud and <b>clear</b>, and one could hear them from a distance, even before they got close to the courtyard.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes flickered with understanding <b>as </b>she pondered, ¡®It looks like folks in Ridgehaven Town aren¡¯t actually against taking the demolition <b>payout </b>after all.

    <b>¡®</b><b>Yeah</b>, that makes sense. With that kind of money, they could move somewhere way nicer. Who¡¯d want to spend their whole life growing fruit in a backwater like this<b>?</b><b>¡® </b>

    ¡°Hey, Ethan, you¡¯re back!¡± Jillian called out as she picked up the vegetables she¡¯d just finished sorting. She looked up and greeted him with a smile. David gave him a nod in response, ¡°You brought someone with you, Ethan?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°No, not really,¡± Ethan replied, and based on their interaction, one could tell that Ethan got along well with this family.

    He gave an honest, sheepish grin as he exined, ¡°I ran into them at the town¡¯s entrance. They said they¡¯re here to buy fruit. I remembered, Mr. Molina, you mentioned a while back that the <b>usual </b>buyer <b>wasn¡¯t </bing this year, so I thought I¡¯d bring them over for you to check out.¡±

    When David heard they were fruit buyers, he stood up<b>. </b>No matter what happened with the demolition payout, life had to go on, and this year¡¯s fruit harvest still needed to be sold.

    ¡°You¡¯re here to buy fruit?<b>¡± </b><b>David </b>asked, narrowing his eyes as he sized up the man and woman in front of him, when he realized they both looked <b>pretty </b><b>remarkable</b>.

    Vincent stepped forward and said, ¡°<b>Yes</b>, sir. My name¡¯s Vincent. This is my business partner, Ethan. His family¡¯s got money, and he¡¯s out here trying his hand at business, so <b>we </b>teamed up. I run a fruit gift box business, and withpetition intensifying over the past couple of years, I figured I¡¯d seek out top¨Cquality fruit <b>to </b><b>gain </b><b>a </bpetitive edge <b>in </b>the market. <b>I </b><b>heard </b>the fruit from around here is famous, so <b>we </b>came to check <b>it </b>out.¡±

    Noticing David¡¯s gaze lingered on Aubree<b>, </b>Vincent quickly exined, ¡°Oh, and this is¡­ <b>the </b>

 Tried 547

    <b>Chapter </b>547

    <b>¡°</b><b>She¡¯s </b>Ethan¡¯s secretary,¡± he rified, giving a quick wink.

    David caught on right <b>away</b><b>, </b>and with that, most of his doubts faded.

    With the government bringing up demolition againtely, various businessmen have been appearing in their town. From the moment he saw them, David figured that Vincent looked the most like a <b>real </b>fruit buyer out of the three<b>. </b>

    Now that he heard the exnation, it all checked out.

    David had witnessed many wealthy kids leaving to make their <b>way </b>in the world, always apanied by a pretty girl.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head inside and talk. <b>It¡¯s </b>too hot out here. Ethan, go grab some watermelon,¡± David said.

    Even though the three of them <b>were </b>just pretending to be fruit buyers<b>, </b>Vincent <b>was </b>sharp <b>as </b>ever. With his broad knowledge, he chatted with David without letting anything slip.

    Bowen, who just listened quietly and exchanged nces with Aubree every now and then, fit the <b>part </b>perfectly¨Che was <b>just </b>a wealthy kid who didn¡¯t really know the business but <b>was </b>tagging along for the ride.

    On the other hand, David <b>was </bpletely convinced by Vincent¡¯s story. Bowen and Aubree <b>were </b>both attractive and had charming personalities, addressing him <b>as </b>¡°Mr. Molina¡± right from the start. With Vincent¡¯s smooth and charismatic demeanor, he knew exactly how to tter people in just the right way.

    David¡¯s opinion of the three of them continued to <b>rise</b><b>. </b>As the sun started to set, he called out, ¡°Jillian, make some extra dishes tonight.¡±

    <b>¡°</b>It¡¯s gettingte, and I¡¯ll make the call. The three <b>of </b><b>you </b>stay for dinner, and I will show you the orchard and the fruits tomorrow,¡± he added.

    As the trio hade <b>here </b><b>to </b>gather more information, staying here was just what they wanted. After a round of polite refusals, they couldn¡¯t refuse David¡¯s hospitality and ended up staying for dinner.

    Meanwhile, Carmen had slipped out early to head back to the hotel and change. Armed with whatever intel they¡¯d picked up, the other junior managers from Wilson Group and the Diamonde Group made a beeline straight for the chief¡¯s house.

    Aubree had no idea what exactly went down <b>as </b>she was unwinding at the Molina family¡¯s ce, munching on fruit with the AC sting. She only heard about it from Vincentter.

    Vincent said, barely holding <b>back </b>hisughter, ¡°Ms. Miller, you won¡¯t believe this<b>! </b>The Wilson Group and the Diamonde Group embarrassed themselves. They marched straight over to the chief¡¯s ce to negotiate. But, guess what happened next?

    ¡°Not only did they all <b>get </b>kicked out, but some vigers who got wind of <b>it </b>showed up with buckets <b>of </b>manure and gave them a good dousing. I heard the stench <b>was </b><b>so </b>foul that one could smell it from miles away.

    ¡°If they drove back like that, those <b>cars </b><b>are </b>probably done for.

    ¡°But hey, Wilson Group and the Diamonde Group <b>are </b>filthy rich, and I bet they won¡¯t even blink at losing a couple of cars<b>.¡± </b>

    Vincent couldn¡¯t even bother to hide how much he was enjoying their misfortune.

    He thought, ¡®Back <b>at </b>the vige entrance, Carmen was making fun of you<b>, </b>Ms. Miller. Well, look at her now! I guess karma ?ame for her quick, huh? After <b>a </b>moment<b>, </b>Vincent put on <b>a </b>mock¨Cregretful <b>face </b><b>as </b>hemented, ¡°What <b>a </b>shame that Carmen left early, and she totally <b>dodged </b>a bullet. ¡°They stumbled out of the gate, but you <b>can </b>bet they¡¯ll switch up their <b>approach </b>soon. Plus, I heard that Bryan should be heading over from Rithol City.

    Now that the entire situation involving Trevor was basically resolved, Bryan didn¡¯t have to worry about the small details anymore. He had assistants and secretaries to handle all the follow¨Cup.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but smile. Seeing the Wilson and Diamonde families <b>get </b>knocked down a peg was pretty satisfying.

    Before long<b>, </b><b>it </b><b>was </b>time for dinner, and the Molina family hadid out a feast.

    <b>As </b>everyone sat down<b>, </b>Aubree took a look around the table. Ethan had mentioned the Molina family had both a son and <b>a </b>daughter.

    Noticing that the daughter was nowhere to be <b>seen</b>, Aubree nced at Bowen, and they exchanged <b>a </b>look.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Millie?<b>¡± </b>David asked with a frown.

    The Molina family was as traditional as theye, and as the <b>head </b>of the household, he <b>made </b>all the decisions. The <b>children</b><b>, </b><b>especially </b>Millic,

    2:41 <b>PM </b>O

    were expected to be by their <b>parents</b>¡® side. For a girl like her, not attending dinner without a valid reason was entirely out of the question.

    This was even more uneptable, especially when they had <b>guests </b>in the house<b>. </b>

    F2 5

    <b>*</b>Millie went out this afternoon. She said she <b>was </b>going <b>to </b><b>see </b>Samuel. Perhaps <b>she¡¯s </b>having dinner at the chief¡¯s <b>ce</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Jillian exined.

    Upon hearing this, David¡¯s face turned cold immediately.

 Tried 548

    <b>Chapter </b>548

    Noticing David¡¯s displeasure, Jillian thought her husband was making a fuss <b>over </b>nothing.

    They¡¯re already engaged. What¡¯s the harm in them seeing each other more often? You¡¯re just worrying too much,¡± she said.

    <b>Not </b>caring that there were guests present, David mmed his fork down and eximed, ¡°What do you mean, ¡®seeing <b>each </b>other more often<b>¡®</b><b>? </b>She¡¯s a young woman who always runs off to a man¡¯s house. What will people say if the word gets out?

    ¡°I don¡¯t care where she is. We <b>have </b>guests here<b>, </b>so go get her back for me, now<b>!</b>¡±

    Jason Molina, their son, <b>was </b>familiar with situations like this. He thought, ¡®Honestly, it¡¯s kind of strange. Dad had agreed to Millie marrying Samuel, but now he didn¡¯t want them to spend too much time together. I guess he just has nothing better to do.¡¯

    <b>As </b><b>a </b>young guy, Jason naturally had a soft spot for pretty girls like Aubree. He nudged Aubree and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t mind my dad, and don¡¯t be scared. He¡¯s always like this. He has a bad temper, but he¡¯ll cool off soon.¡±

    Aubree just smiled and nodded without saying anything. From the situation, it seems like there was definitely something going on with the vige chief¡¯s family.

    The group naturally didn¡¯tment on the family¡¯s matters. They remained quiet and tried to gather as much information as they could from the conversation.

    Jillian didn¡¯t like that her daughter was being criticized in front of guests<b>, </b>so she and David started bickering back and forth, and it looked like they were on the verge of having a full¨Cblown fight.

    Ethan quickly jumped in to smooth things over <b>as </b>he offered, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry. If Millie isn¡¯t back yet, I¡¯ll go get her and bring her home.¡±

    Just then, they heard someone at the courtyard gate, ¡°Dad, Mom!¡± That must be Millie back.

    Jason nced over and <b>was </b>shocked to see his sister. He asked in concern, ¡°Millie, what happened to you? Why are your eyes so puffy?¡±

    Millie¡¯s eyes were swollen red, and she kept wiping away her tears. She tried to stifle her sobs when she noticed they were guests in the house<b>, </b>but she just couldn¡¯t hold it in and blurted everything out, ¡°I went to see Samuel today! Josephine Walls, who lives near the end of the vige<b>, </b>is picking on me again!¡±

    *Watch your mouth!¡± David barked.

    Jillian, who had already brought up her daughter¡¯s marriage earlier when Aubree and the others arrived, now grew even more upset. She chided, ¡°Why can¡¯t she say it? You¡¯re her father, so how can you sit there and let someone walk all over your daughter?¡±

    Millie choked back her <b>tears </b><b>as </b>she exined, ¡°These days, everyone in the vige is gossiping that Samuel and Josephine are messing around behind my <b>back</b>. I went to confront him about it today, and the way he stammered and avoided my eyes. He is totally guilty, I can just tell from his behavior!¡±

    No one knows how the rumor started, but word is that one day after work in town, someone saw the vige chief¡¯s son, Samuel, and widower, Josepine, getting all handsy at the bus stop. It was sad that Samuel even chased her all the way back to her house<b>. </b>

    The rumors just kept spreading, and before long, it turned into everyone saying Samuel and Josephone had been hooking up for ages, and as Millie <b>was </b>just the one getting screwed over.

    Jillian knew all too well how the vigers loved to gossip, and that half of what they said was probably fabricated. She usually vented at home, since if she actually went to the <b>vige </b>chief¡¯s house to argue about something with no proof, she¡¯d have no real reason to back herself up.

    But now, hearing her daughter <b>say </b>all this, Jillian got anxious and eximed, ¡°Samuel always looked like such an honest guy. How could he do something like that?

    ¡°No way, I¡¯m going to the vige chief¡¯s house to get some answers<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    She wiped her hands on her apron, took it off<b>, </b>and grabbed Millie, <b>ready </b>to head out.

    David yelled as he mmed his hand on the table<b>, </b>¡°Stop right there<b>! </b>

    <b>¡°</b>What <b>are </b>you trying to do?

    ¡°This is <b>all </b><b>just </b>idle gossip. It¡¯s only because you gossipy women in town have nothing better to do than always keep <b>an </b>eye on other people that these rumors even get started.¡±

    Millie stomped her foot in frustration<b>, </b>calling out, ¡°<b>Dad</b>!

 Tried 549

    +23

    ¡°This <b>isn¡¯t </b>just some random gossip! I went to confront Samuel myself. <b>He¡¯s </b>never been able to lie, not since we were kids. With how he acted, you could tell he <b>was </b>hiding something. This <b>isn¡¯t </b>just some baseless rumor!<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± David snapped. ¡°We have guests here. Do you think this is how you should act?¡±

    Millie relectuantly gave in under her father¡¯s stern gaze, her head hanging low. ¡°Alright,¡± she sighed.

    David¡¯s tone softened as he reassured, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the vige chief about <b>this </b>when I get a chance.¡±

    That reassurance finally made Millie feel a little less upset.

    However, she didn¡¯t feel like eating at all. ncing at the dishes on the table, she stated, ¡°I¡¯ve no appetite so <b>I¡¯ll </b>just go upstairs<b>.¡± </b>

    For once, David didn¡¯t reprimand her for her manners<b>, </b>and he told Jillian to bring some food up to her room.

    ¡°Sorry you had to witness our family drama. I only have <b>these </b>two kids, and they¡¯re not exactly making me proud. I guess <b>I </b>just have to worry them a bit more,¡± David <b>said</b>.

    The meal <b>wasn¡¯t </b>exactly rxing.

    When it was time to <b>leave</b>, David personally walked them out. He stated, I¡¯ll treat you all to another meal after <b>we </b>finalize the fruit business.

    ¡°My apologies for not being a better host today.¡±

    Aubree smiled in response<b>, </b>¡°You¡¯re too polite. Jillian¡¯s cooking is wonderful and we really enjoyed the meal.

    ¡°It¡¯s not our ce toment on your family matters<b>, </b>but I hope everything works out for your family.¡±

    David just moved his lips, sighed, and left it at that.

    After leaving Ridgehaven Town, they headed straight back to the hotel.

    Bowen reflected, ¡°From what we learned today, it seems the vige chiefmands a lot of respect around here.¡±

    Aubree nodded in agreement, adding, ¡°Not only that, but thest failed demolition had a lot to do with the vige chief <b>as </b>well.¡±

    ¡°So, should we go meet the vige chief?<b>¡± </b>Vincent couldn¡¯t hide his excitement and asked.

    ¡®<b>If </b>we can just deal with the vige chief, doesn¡¯t that mean the project would be in the bag?¡® Vincent thought.

    Aubree nced at Bowen and shook her head, stating, ¡°No.

    ¡°If we go to the vige chief, we¡¯ll blow our cover.

    about

    ¡°We¡¯re not even sure we <b>can </b>talk him into it, and if we get found out, we¡¯ll end up just like the Wilson Group and the Diamonde Group¡ªthe same ones you wereughing at earlier today.¡±

    Thinking about what they¡¯d heard today about what happened to the people from the Diamonde Group and Wilson Group, Vincent couldn¡¯t help but shiver. ¡®Man, that was seriously messed up,¡® he thought.

    ¡°So, we¡¯re really going to buy fruit tomorrow?¡± Vincent asked, sounding a bit defeated.

    He thought, ¡®It¡¯s not like we can¡¯t afford it, but man, it just feels like we¡¯re throwing money away for nothing.

    ¡®And if <b>we </b>actually go through with the deal and buy the fruit, doesn¡¯t that mean we¡¯ll have no excuse to stick around anymore?¡®

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s business. Stalling is part of the game, isn¡¯t it?¡± Aubree joked.

    ¡°We can¡¯t do much about the vige chief for now, but we can start by visiting those holdouts and scoping out the vige. Once wend the project, we¡¯ll have to figure out how to develop thend anyway, so we might as well put that on our agenda,¡± Aubree said, her eyes gleaming with a look that said she was in it to win it.

    Vincent was a bit stunned. <b>¡®</b><b>Are </b><b>we </b>really nning for the future before we¡¯ve even secured thend?¡® he thought. However, seeing Aubree¡¯s confidence fired him up. They <b>were </b>already ahead of everyone else, and it felt as if they had essentially secured the project.

    Bowen tapped the table and added, ¡°This project has been on the table <b>for </b>a few <b>years </b>now. The reason they couldn¡¯t use any hardline <b>tactics </b>before is because there are descendants of martyrs living on thatnd<b>, </b>and the higher¨C<b>ups </b>don¡¯t want to <b>get </b>rough with them.

    ¡°There¡¯s just this one old man left, and he¡¯s stubborn as a mule. There¡¯s no way <b>he¡¯ll </b>move<b>, </b>no matter what you <b>say</b>.

    <b>2:41 </b>PM

    ¡°The guy¡¯s pretty old now. If you go bother him too much, he¡¯ll start swinging his cane at you. No one dares fight back <b>as </b>everyone¡¯s scared something might <b>go </b>wrong.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s another headache for us<b>. </b>

    ¡®Even if Aubree manages to win over the vige chief<b>, </b>this is still a problem we can¡¯t just ignore,¡® he thought.

    With that, Bowen chimed in with his thoughts<b>, </b>¡°We should keep tabs on those rumors about the vige chief¡¯s son and Josephine. Let¡¯s see if <b>we </b>can find a chance to get an inside scoop. For now, let¡¯s figure out what to do about that old guy.¡±

 Tried 550

    Tried 550

    <b>Chapter </b>550

    <b>Aubree</b>, <b>Bowen</b>, and Vincent had made their ns for the <b>next </b>day. Vincent would talk to David about buying fruit, while <b>Aubree </b>and Bowen would <b>pay </b><b>a </b>visit to the <bst </b>holdout in town.

    <b>As </b>they had gone straight to Ridgehaven Town right afternding, all three of them were exhausted.

    Aubree advised Vincent to <b>get </b>some <b>rest</b><b>, </b>and after she and Bowen washed up, theyy down on their beds right away.

    Although Mistmere <b>wasn¡¯t </b>as developed as Rithol City, its environment was far better. At night, from their hotel high above, <b>no </b>neon lights <b><i>or </i></b>bustling nightlife could be seen outside the window<b>; </b>it was just the silvery moonlight that was <b>as </b>gentle <b>as </b>water.

    <b>Bowen </b>hugged Aubree from behind and asked, ¡°Bree<b>, </b>have you been thinking about how to revamp Ridgehaven Town for a while now?¡±

    ¡°Mhm,<b>¡± </b>she answered softly.

    ¡°The fruit orchards in Ridgehaven Town are something special. There¡¯s no need to get rid of all of them and we <b>can </b>definitely keep some.

    ¡°The environment here is perfect for turning the entire vige into a vacation spot. And honestly, if there are people who don¡¯t want to <b>leave</b><b>, </b>we don¡¯t have to force them to,¡± she added.

    Right now, the folks in Ridgehaven Town basically fell into two camps. Some were just holding out for more money, sticking around and waiting for a better offer. The others truly cared about thisnd and simply didn¡¯t want to <b>leave</b>.

    Once, they identified what the real issue <b>was</b><b>, </b>finding a solution became a lot <b>easier</b>.

    Bowen¡¯s arms wrapped around Aubree from behind,pletely encircling her in his embrace.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree sensed something off in his tone and gently asked.

    Bowen said quietly, ¡°Alvin¡¯s in Mistmere<b>, </b>too.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t bring anyone with him, and he came here all by himself.¡±

    Aubree believed he was worried about her conflict with Alvin. After all, Bowen was Alvin¡¯s uncle, and given the tension between her and Bowen, it must have been difficult for him to be caught in the middle.

    ¡°I¡¯m not really going to make things hard for him, Bowen, but you have to understand that I¡¯m not someone who¡¯ll just let people push me around and keep quiet about it,¡± she said, her tone steady.

    ¡°I¡­ know<b>¡­</b>¡± Bowen replied, though that wasn¡¯t what he really wanted to <b>say</b>.

    Bowen hadn¡¯t forgotten that Alvin knew he was the one funding him.

    That <b>was </b>why he¡¯d never dared to push Alvin too hard. Instead, he gave him free rein as long as Alvin stayed within his line of sight.

    He <b>was </b>worried that if he pushed Alvin into <b>a </b>corner<b>, </b>Alvin would <b>reveal </b>the truth about everything.

    But as long as Alvin kept his mouth shut, Bowen just couldn¡¯t rx.

    He felt a sour bitterness in his mouth. In the end, it <b>all </b><b>came </b>down to this<b>: </b>either he¡¯d confess himself, or wait for Alvin to reveal everything, and ept whatever came next.

    ¡°1¡­¡± Bowen began, but the words caught in his throat,

    Aubree turned around in his arms, a hint of worry in her eyes. Sheforted, ¡°You don¡¯t have to push yourself, Bowen. If it really feels too hard, <b>you </b>can just let it go.¡±

    Meeting Aubree¡¯s gaze, Bowen didn¡¯t argue. He simply smiled and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you.

    Cuddled up in his arms, surrounded by his familiar scent, Aubree soon drifted off to sleep.

    <b>Bowen </b>lowered his head, gazing at her sleeping face, and whispered, ¡°Please¡­ never leave me.¡±

    Bright and early the next morning, the three of them split up as they¡¯d nned the night before.

    David looked a bit puzzled <b>when </b>he <b>saw </b>that only Vincent had shown up.

    ¡°My friend said he¡¯s never been to <b>a </b>ce like this before<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Vincent exined <b>with </b><b>a </b><b>grin</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>He </b>wanted to bring his <b>secretary </b>along <b>and </b>take <b>a </b><b>look </b>

    2:42 PM

    around the vige first.¡±

    David gave <b>a </b>knowing smile, showing he understood.

    ¡°From <b>what </b>I¡¯ve heard, that old holdout is stubborn and old¨Cfashioned. But that <b>just </b>means if we find the right angle<b>, </b>convincing him might actually be pretty <b>easy</b>,¡± Bowen shared.

    Strictly speaking, this was Aubree¡¯s first timepeting with others to run a project like this. Ever since they set foot in Mistmere, her enthusiasm had been through the roof.

    Bowen could see the eager anticipation in her eyes. Not wanting to dampen her spirits, he started giving himself a mental pep talk.

    <b>¡°</b>Even if we don¡¯t pull it off, it¡¯s no big deal,¡± he said softly. ¡°Somepanies have even brought in negotiation experts just to try and win him <b>over</b><b>.¡±</b><b>_ </b>

    <b>However</b>, he couldn¡¯t help but worry that Aubree might go in without knowing what to expect and get kicked out by the old man right away. Of course, that <b>was </b>the absolute worst¨C<b>case </b>scenario in his mind.

 Tried 551

    Bowen knew Aubree <b>wasn¡¯t </b>someone who got knocked down easily, but he still couldn¡¯t help worrying. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking, ¡®Man, I¡¯m really in deep with her. At the same time, he was already running through backup ns in his head in case Aubree¡¯s negotiation ended up falling t.

    The elderly man they <b>were </b>looking for lived at the far end of the vige, right next to Josephine, whom they¡¯d heard about the previous day.

    Ridgehaven Town was filled with <b>vast </b>fruit orchards. As they walked along the road, they could see fruit trees lining the roadside everywhere.

    Coincidentally, the far end of the vige was the most remote and spacious area, and that¡¯s where most of the orchards were clustered together.

    Aubree said in high spirits, ¡°Even if the negotiation falls through, we can still take the chance to check out the orchards.¡±

    Hearing that, Bowen realized he was probably overthinking things. Even if Aubree failed this time, she¡¯d just keep pushing forward like a weed growing through the cracks. After all, she <b>was </b>tough and relentless.

    They walked for a while, making their <b>way </b>from the busy town entrance all the way to the far, quieter end. As the people thinned out and they passed through a whole orchard, they finally found the home of the toughest holdout in the vige.

    The old man¡¯s front door was wide open. He <b>sat </b>alone at the entrance, leaning on <b>his </b>cane, quietly watching the world go by. Only when he noticed someone approaching did his cloudy eyes flicker with a hint of awareness.

    Aubree took the initiative and walked up with a friendly smile. ¡°Hi, Grandpa! We are here to buy fruits, and we havee <b>here </b>to explore the vige and see what kind of ce it <b>is </b>like. We were wandering around and ended up here.¡±

    She made sure to speak up, just in case the old man had trouble hearing.

    But to her surprise, the elderly man was full of energy and sharp <b>as </b>ever. He replied, ¡°You¡¯re looking to buy fruit? You¡¯vee to the right ce! The fruit from our vige is the tastiest you¡¯ll ever find.

    ¡°Back in the day, my kids and grandkids all loved eating the fruit we grew right here at home.¡±

    As he spoke, the aged man pointed at a fruit tree out front, motioning for Aubree to check it out.

    There was a tree there, but it <b>was </b><b>so </b>old and dead that it was impossible to determine what it had once been.

    Aubree felt like she was starting to piece things together. She crouched down so she was eye level with the old man, and asked, ¡°So, Grandpa, how old are your kids? Why aren¡¯t they here with you? Do theye back for Christmas<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    The old man sighed in response, ¡°I¡¯ve got a son and a daughter. My son left to work in the city and lives far away now. My daughter got married to someone from another ce that is even farther away. It¡¯s not easy for them toe back, and honestly, I never know when I¡¯ll see them again.¡±

    ¡°Is it really safe for you to live here all by yourself?¡± Aubree asked, genuine concern in her voice.

    Perhaps the older man didn¡¯t get muchpany because he didn¡¯t mind chatting with her at all. He justughed and said, ¡°Safe? Worried? About what? Who would bother messing with an old guy like me anyway?¡±

    He gave a bitter chuckle, the lines on his face deepening with sorrow as he continued, ¡°A few years back, they said the houses here would be torn down. I thought maybe my kids woulde back for a visit, but they were all too busy. All they did was ask where I¡¯d live if the house was gone¡­

    ¡°They¡­ they don¡¯t want the ce torn down. They just want to wait and <b>see</b><b>. </b>

    ¡°Now that there¡¯s talk of demolition again, they said they mighte back if they ever get the time. So I end up just sitting here at the door every day, waiting for them toe home.

    ¡°It¡¯s hot these days, so I put a watermelon in the well every day so if theye back, there¡¯ll be something cool for them to eat.¡±

    After a brief moment, the old man let out a sigh, ¡°Are you guys thirsty? Let me go slice up some watermelon for you.¡±

    With that, Aubree got the picture. The man¡¯s children didn¡¯t want him moving in with them, but they were still hoping for the demolition payout. As such, they just left him here as the holdout, probably figuring that if he passed away before the demolition, they wouldn¡¯t have to take care of him and could still get the money.

    She shared a nce with Bowen, and he immediately stepped up. ¡°There is no need to trouble yourself, Grandpa. Thank you for offering us some watermelon. Let me get it for us.¡±

    <b>3:39 </b>PM

    <b>Chapter </b><b>552 </b>

    After being chilled in the <b>well</b>, the watermelon was cool, and it quenched their thirst. Becau?¡­

    grown here <b>were </b><b>always </b><b>sweeter </b>than usual.

    <b>As </b>they chatted, they learned that the elder man was Pontus Nelson.

    of where Ridgehaven <b>Town </b>was located, the fruits

    Pontus seemed to genuinely like Aubree. He cut up the watermelon, grabbed a <b>spoon</b><b>, </b>and pushed half of it into her hands. He shared, ¡°The watermelon here <b>is </b>super <b>sweet </b>and tasty. Eat <b>as </b>much as you like.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t hold back. <b>As </b>she met Pontus¡¯s warm, gentle gaze, she scooped up a big piece and popped it into her mouth, <b>eximing</b>, ¡°<b>So </b>sweet!¡±

    Pontus¡¯s smile grew even warmer.

    After a <b>few </b>bites<b>, </b>Aubree winked at Bowen.

    Catching her cue, he asked, ¡°Mr. Nelson<b>, </b>you mentioned you don¡¯t want to move because you¡¯re worried you won¡¯t <b>get </b>to see your children again, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Pontus sighed. ¡°That¡¯s part of the reason.

    When you get <b>older</b>, you just don¡¯t want to move anymore. If I move in with my children, I can tell they don¡¯t <b>really </b>want me there with them. So I¡¯d rather just stay here. And¡­¡±

    Pontus¡¯s lips moved, but whatever he wanted to say next just trailed off.

    It seemed like Pontus¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t the only problem here, and there were other issues hiding beneath the surface.

    Aubree lowered her eyes<b>, </b>putting on an innocent look before asking, ¡°But what if those developers turned this ce into a farmstay resort, and preserved some of the vige¡¯s original character? If they let the elderly who really don¡¯t want to <b>leave </b>stay here, keep living their lives, and even have a job, would you be okay with the renovation then, Mr. Nelson<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Aubree, you really <b>are </b>young. The people who want thisnd? They¡¯re not looking to build a farmstay resort. They¡¯re businessmen<b>, </b>not here to do charity,¡± Pontus responded.

    Aubree just raised an eyebrow quizzically.

    ¡°If things were really like you said, I would be happy to agree,¡± he finally added.

    <b>¡®</b>If I can get some money and still stay here, why wouldn¡¯t I want <b>that</b><b>?</b>¡® Pontus thought.

    Just <b>as </b>Pontus was about <i>to </i>say something else, amotion sounded outside. Aubree nced over and spotted a white caring into view. It was not some fancy ride, just an ordinary<b>, </b>everyday car.

    Pontus noticed it too. He immediately leaned on his cane and, trembling, struggled to his feet. He stammered, ¡°Aubree, help me check. Does the license te say 5473?¡±

    ¡°<b>Yes</b>, it does,¡± Bowen said, confirming it.

    Pontus grew even more excited, his hands shaking <b>as </b>he moved forward, but every step was firm and full of purpose. ¡°That¡¯s my son¡¯s car,¡± he uttered.

    ¡®Pontus¡¯s son is back?¡® Aubree thought.

    This news should have made Aubree happy, but as the car came into clearer view, her unease grew.

    Aubree nced <b>at </b>Bowen as she thought, ¡®Is this <b>just </b>a coincidence?¡®

    Bowen shook his head, his slight frown showing that he was thinking the same thing as Aubree.

    Today, Alvin was on his way here.

    The car rolled to a stop<b>, </b>and the door opened. The first person to step out was from the passenger seat.

    As the figure came into view, Aubree¡¯s eyes suddenly widened in shock, ¡®Is that Alvin?¡® she thought.

    Alvin <b>saw </b>them too, but he lookedpletely indifferent. He just gave them a quick nce, his eyes cold and distant, as if they were total strangers.

    Right <b>after</b>, the driver¡¯s door opened, and a in¨Clooking middle¨Caged man stepped out.

    ¡°Dad¡± the middle¨Caged man called out.

 Tried 552

    <b>Chapter </b><b>552 </b>

    After being chilled in the <b>well</b>, the watermelon was cool, and it quenched their thirst. Becau?¡­

    grown here <b>were </b><b>always </b><b>sweeter </b>than usual.

    <b>As </b>they chatted, they learned that the elder man was Pontus Nelson.

    of where Ridgehaven <b>Town </b>was located, the fruits

    Pontus seemed to genuinely like Aubree. He cut up the watermelon, grabbed a <b>spoon</b><b>, </b>and pushed half of it into her hands. He shared, ¡°The watermelon here <b>is </b>super <b>sweet </b>and tasty. Eat <b>as </b>much as you like.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t hold back. <b>As </b>she met Pontus¡¯s warm, gentle gaze, she scooped up a big piece and popped it into her mouth, <b>eximing</b>, ¡°<b>So </b>sweet!¡±

    Pontus¡¯s smile grew even warmer.

    After a <b>few </b>bites<b>, </b>Aubree winked at Bowen.

    Catching her cue, he asked, ¡°Mr. Nelson<b>, </b>you mentioned you don¡¯t want to move because you¡¯re worried you won¡¯t <b>get </b>to see your children again, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Pontus sighed. ¡°That¡¯s part of the reason.

    When you get <b>older</b>, you just don¡¯t want to move anymore. If I move in with my children, I can tell they don¡¯t <b>really </b>want me there with them. So I¡¯d rather just stay here. And¡­¡±

    Pontus¡¯s lips moved, but whatever he wanted to say next just trailed off.

    It seemed like Pontus¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t the only problem here, and there were other issues hiding beneath the surface.

    Aubree lowered her eyes<b>, </b>putting on an innocent look before asking, ¡°But what if those developers turned this ce into a farmstay resort, and preserved some of the vige¡¯s original character? If they let the elderly who really don¡¯t want to <b>leave </b>stay here, keep living their lives, and even have a job, would you be okay with the renovation then, Mr. Nelson<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Aubree, you really <b>are </b>young. The people who want thisnd? They¡¯re not looking to build a farmstay resort. They¡¯re businessmen<b>, </b>not here to do charity,¡± Pontus responded.

    Aubree just raised an eyebrow quizzically.

    ¡°If things were really like you said, I would be happy to agree,¡± he finally added.

    <b>¡®</b>If I can get some money and still stay here, why wouldn¡¯t I want <b>that</b><b>?</b>¡® Pontus thought.

    Just <b>as </b>Pontus was about <i>to </i>say something else, amotion sounded outside. Aubree nced over and spotted a white caring into view. It was not some fancy ride, just an ordinary<b>, </b>everyday car.

    Pontus noticed it too. He immediately leaned on his cane and, trembling, struggled to his feet. He stammered, ¡°Aubree, help me check. Does the license te say 5473?¡±

    ¡°<b>Yes</b>, it does,¡± Bowen said, confirming it.

    Pontus grew even more excited, his hands shaking <b>as </b>he moved forward, but every step was firm and full of purpose. ¡°That¡¯s my son¡¯s car,¡± he uttered.

    ¡®Pontus¡¯s son is back?¡® Aubree thought.

    This news should have made Aubree happy, but as the car came into clearer view, her unease grew.

    Aubree nced <b>at </b>Bowen as she thought, ¡®Is this <b>just </b>a coincidence?¡®

    Bowen shook his head, his slight frown showing that he was thinking the same thing as Aubree.

    Today, Alvin was on his way here.

    The car rolled to a stop<b>, </b>and the door opened. The first person to step out was from the passenger seat.

    As the figure came into view, Aubree¡¯s eyes suddenly widened in shock, ¡®Is that Alvin?¡® she thought.

    Alvin <b>saw </b>them too, but he lookedpletely indifferent. He just gave them a quick nce, his eyes cold and distant, as if they were total strangers.

    Right <b>after</b>, the driver¡¯s door opened, and a in¨Clooking middle¨Caged man stepped out.

    ¡°Dad¡± the middle¨Caged man called out.

    Pontus replied, his voice full of excitement, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re back?

    ¡°Do you want some watermelon? We just cut some and it¡¯s right out in the yard.

    ¡°Come on in, get inside. <b>It¡¯s </b>hot out here.¡±

    Pontus ushered everyone into the house, where the cut watermelon was alreadyid out on the table.

    ¡°What brings you back today<b>? </b>And you brought someone with you¡­ Who¡¯s this kid?¡± Pontus asked.

    ¡°Kid? This <b>was </b>probably the first time anyone had ever called Alvin a kid in public. Aubree thought as she shot a nce at Alvin, a faint smirk ying at her lips.

 Tried 553

    Back in Rithol City, Alvin¡¯s name was basically a golden ticket and everyone who saw him would respectfully address him as ¡°Mr. Turner.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Grandpa. I¡¯m a college student. I met Mr. Nelson while conducting field research for my project. He mentioned <b>a </b>few things about Mistmere, and I thought this ce would be a great fit for my study, so I came along with him.¡±

    ¡°Oh. I sec.¡± Pontus responded, though he didn¡¯t really understand what that meant.

    Jacob exined, ¡°This young man is a top student. After talking with him, I realized¡­ Dad, I¡¯ve been wrong all these years. I didn¡¯t consider your feelings, and I hardly <b>ever </b>came back to visit you.¡±

    He held Pontus¡¯s hand <b>as </b>a few tears slipped down his <b>face</b>.

    Pontus¡¯s eyes turned red with emotion as he patted his son¡¯s hand,forting, ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>good that you¡¯re back, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re back.¡±

    ¡°And may I ask yourst name, young man?<b>¡± </b>Now that he knew his son hade back because of Alvin, Pontus looked at him with much more kindness<b>. </b>

    Alvin smiled in response, ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>Turner.¡±

    Something¡¯s definitely fishy here, Aubree thought. ¡®Like I¡¯d ever believe Alvin just happened to bump into Jacob by chance.

    ¡®No wonder they said people from Wilson Group and Turner Group showed up early, but all I saw was Carmen.

    Alvin probably looked into Pontus ahead of time. Just listening to Pontus talk, it¡¯s not hard to figure out what kind of guy Jacob is.

    Jacob wants money, and he thinks Pontus is a burden. But when the cash is big enough, even a ¡°little hassle¡± stops being a hassle.

    ¡®I¡¯ve gotta admit, Alvin really knows how to y his cards. He finds the weak spot, and even the trickiest problem can be solved with just a few words.

    When Pontus heard that Alvin¡¯sst name was Turner, too, he eximed, ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that a coincidence? You and this kid here share the samest

    <b>name</b>.

    ¡°You know, I feel like you two are really simr. You even look a bit alike.¡±

    ¡®Simr? Please. They don¡¯t just share ast name; they¡¯re literally family,¡® Aubree snarked to herself.

    Judging by the way things were going, Aubree figured Bowen and Alvin weren¡¯t about to admit they were rted.

    L

    ¡°Yeah, what a coincidence. He¡¯s my nephew,¡± Bowen said, admitting it outright before Aubree could even finish her thought.

    She shot him a surprised look. Lately, plenty of people hade to Ridgehaven Town to talk about the demolition, but none had seeded. Now, only the Wilsons, the Turners, and she were left. Everyone outside was waiting to see which family would ultimately win the project.

    The excuses they provided weren¡¯t unusual individually, butbined with their rtionship as uncle and nephew, they seemed rather suspicious.

    Alvin nced over, too, his eyes full of surprise.

    But it all happened in a split second.

    He nodded in response, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s my uncle.

    ¡°Honestly, when I first saw Uncle Bowen here, I was pretty surprised. I figured he was here for something, so I just kept quiet.¡±

    Compared to everyone else, Bowen looked much calmer, his facepletely unreadable.

    Aubree stuck around and chatted for a while. Pontus had always liked this sweet, pretty girl, and now that Alvin had brought his son back home, Pontus was so grateful he didn¡¯t even bother thinking about the connection between Bowen and Alvin.

    After a while, Pontus said, ¡°Looks like today¡¯s a real special day. Do me this old man a favor and stay for lunch, alright? Let me cook for you all.

    ¡°Not to brag, but my cooking is the best for miles around.¡±

    Jacob quickly added, ¡°My dad¡¯s food is amazing. You should all stay and have lunch with us.¡±

    If you looked closely, you¡¯d notice that when he spoke, he nced at Alvin with a bit of nervous caution in his eyes.

    Aubree was just about to turn down the invitation when she nced up and spotted a guy who looked to be in his twenties walking past the doorway, carrying something in his hands.

    3:40 PM

    Wait, he¡¯s heading this way¡­ Aubree thought as she immediately sat up straighter before gaving Bowen a quick kick with her foot under the table.

 Tried 554

    Bowen shot a quick nce upward.

    There was only one house in that direction, and it was Josephine¡¯s. The man, who looked to be in his twenties, was carrying something, and it was obvious that he was visiting someone.

    ¡®So who could this guy be? Bowen wondered.

    It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out. Other than the vige chief¡¯s son, who¡¯d been making headlinestely with Josephine, there really wasn¡¯t anyone else it could be

    Bowen shook his head slightly at Aubree before smiling at the Nelson family as he said, ¡°Thank you, and sorry for the trouble.¡±

    After lunch at the Nelson family¡¯s ce, they stepped out of the small courtyard. Pontus walked them part of the way. Once they were a bit farther off, Alvin finally spoke up, ¡°Fruit merchants? Since when did thepany expand into that business<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Bowen shot back, ¡°It¡¯s not like we can¡¯t expand into new arcas<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alvin spat, ¡°Well, Uncle Bowen, you are something. As the CEO, you¡¯re out here assisting anotherpany in securing a project that we¡¯re alsopeting for. I wonder what the shareholders would say if they found out.¡±

    He really hadn¡¯t expected Bowen to throw his hat in the ring for this project.

    At the shareholders¡® meeting, Alvin argued that since Bree Technology was involved and Bowen was close to Aubree<b>, </b>there was no guarantee he wouldn¡¯t act out of self¨Cinterest. As such, he sessfully took on the project himself.

    Bowen hadn¡¯t put up much of a fight and just handed the project over.

    Alvin figured Bowen was probably acting out of guilt toward his parents, and also wanted to avoid any appearance of favoritism, so he gave up the fight.

    Of course, Alvin had been fully prepared. Even if Bowen had wanted topete, he was confident he could still secure the project for himself.

    But what really caught Alvin off guard was that Bowen honestly didn¡¯t seem the least bit afraid of the shareholders turning against him. ¡®Has he always been this open about it?¡® he wondered.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t all the shareholders rooting for you these days? I¡¯m just someone with a title and nothing else, so isn¡¯t it perfectly normal for me to look after my own shares?¡± Bowen replied with a smile<b>, </bpletely unfazed by Alvin¡¯s threat.

    Alvin¡¯s hand clenched slightly at his side <b>as </b>he taunted, ¡°I gave you a chance, but you left me no choice.¡±

    To Alvin, it was not that he wanted to go up against Bowen, but he felt that Bowen had ended up siding with someone else.

    Alvin¡¯s gazended on Aubree, who was standing nearby. He thought, ¡®She¡¯s nothing but trouble. She got my parents killed, and now she¡¯s trying to drag Uncle Bowen down with her. Is she just going to keep targeting the Turner family until we¡¯re all ruined?¡®

    Alvin gave a mocking smile, ¡°I¡¯m not backing down, Whether it¡¯s this project or anything else, I won¡¯t <b>rest </b>until I get what I want.

    ¡°You¡¯re trying to get a foothold in Ridgehaven Town, too. You¡¯ve got your own methods and connections, and. I¡¯ve got my own ns. Let¡¯s not get in each other¡¯s way, and let¡¯s see who¡¯s really got what it takes<b>.¡± </b>

    ¡°Of course, Aubree said, stepping forward as she locked eyes with Alvin. She never thought she¡¯d one day end up standing on opposite sides with him like this.

    ¡°Revealing your real identity wouldn¡¯t do me any favors either,¡± she added.

    ¡°Good,¡± Alvin replied, making it clear he didn¡¯t want to talk any further.

    With a look that said he had no interest in continuing the conversation, Alvin turned and walked away.

    Watching him walk away, Aubree let out a sigh. ¡°This is only going to get moreplicated,¡± she murmured.

    Now with Alvin in the picture, and Carmen from the Wilson Group already off to a rough start, this was hardly good news. And soon, Bryan, the real tough opponent, would be joining the fray, making things even trickier.

    But that still wasn¡¯t the worst of it. Right now, the three families were rivals, but as the saying goes, ¡°The enemy¡¯s enemy is a friend.¡± With the other two likely to team up against her, Aubree realized she was about to face a two¨Cto¨Cone battle.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you follow that guy earlier?¡°Aubree asked, still feeling a bit confused about why Bowen had agreed to stay for lunch with Pontus.

    Wasn¡¯t Bowen a bit too rxed about this?¡® Aubree wondered, recalling how he had so easily agreed to Pontus¡¯s invitation to stay for lunch.

    That guy was probably the vige chief¡¯s son, Samuel. He¡¯s definitely heading to Josephine¡¯s ce. If we¡¯d followed him, maybe we could¡¯ve picked up something unexpected,¡± Aubree added.

 Tried 555

    Bowen said, shaking his head. ¡°It would¡¯ve been way too obvious what we were after

    My rtionship with Alvin wouldn¡¯t hold up under scrutiny. The Nelson family didn¡¯t think much of it just now, but if we suddenly left, they¡¯d definitely notice we were heading toward Josephine¡¯s ce. If we tipped them off, we¡¯d end up with nothing

    ¡°Besides, Alvin was there too. If we had made a move, he would have caught on

    ¡°At least now we can be sure there¡¯s something going on between Samuel and Josephine. For the Ridgehaven Town project, the Nelson family is a key yer, and so is the vige chief. This might just be our breakthrough.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right, Aubree said, realizing she¡¯d been a bit too hasty.

    She contemted, ¡®Compared to <b>us</b>. Alvin had got Jacob on his side. <b>As </b>such, we are already one step behind him when ites to the Nelson family

    With Jacob backing him up, all Alvin has to do is say the word and Pontus will agree to anything.

    If the vige chief ends up siding with him too¡­ then this whole project might really be in trouble.

    Let¡¯s not rush things. We¡¯ll have another chance to swing by Josephine¡¯s ceter,¡± Bowen said.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Aubree said, just as her phone buzzed. She nced at the screen. ¡°Vincent just messaged us. He went with David to check out the orchards. David says we¡¯ve pretty much finished touring the vige, and if we¡¯re nning to go through with the acquisition, he wants you toe over and take a look too. If everything looks good, we¡¯ll move forward with setting the price and arranging the harvest.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s head back then,¡± Bowen said.

    They were still ying the part of fruit merchants<b>, </b>so <i>they </i>had to keep up appearances and do their <b>¡°</b>real¡± job.

    When Aubree and Bowen arrived at David¡¯s ce, Vincent was still dragging things out as he couldn¡¯t just say yes and take the fruit on the spot.

    If he did, they¡¯d be packing their bags and kicked out in a couple of days.

    I¡¯ve pretty much wrapped things up on my end. Let¡¯s see what you two think before we make a final call,¡± Vincent said.

    When he saw the two of them return, Vincent finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was just here to do his job, and handling something this big with both bosses gone had really put him on the spot.

    Vincent made exaggerated faces at Aubree, as if to say, ¡°Ms. Miller, Mr. Turner, I¡¯ve stalled as much as I can. There¡¯s nothing else I can do, and it¡¯s all

    on you two now.

    Aubree picked up on his unspoken message and blinked back at him, thinking, ¡°What does this have to do with me? I¡¯m just the secretary. I don¡¯t get a say in any of this.

    But Bowen, the one calling the shots, didn¡¯t forget to y up his ¡°young heir who doesn¡¯t bother with the mundane world¡± act. After picking apart every little detail, he managed to make the whole price negotiation fall apart.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, you can¡¯t just throw out a price like that. If I agree to this, I¡¯ll lose everything,¡± Bowen blurted out. He was so anxious he didn¡¯t even bother calling Bowen by his first name.

    We¡¯re even pre¨Cordering the fruit that hasn¡¯t ripened yet, and you still can¡¯t give us a better deal? That¡¯s not exactly showing much sincerity, is it?¡± Bowen shot back.

    Even if you buy a ton, I can¡¯t just sell at a loss!¡± David thought.

    Just as David¡¯s face fell, Vincent quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

    ¡°Mr. Nelson, don¡¯t get upset. Let¡¯s keep things friendly. It¡¯s all about making money together, right? My friend here is new to this so let me talk to him.¡± Vincent said.

    ¡°Bowen, seriously, you¡¯re making things hard for Mr. Nelson with that price,¡± Vincent added.

    When Vincent was negotiating earlier, he actually offered a price that was above the market rate. As such, David was willing to give in to his request and go along with it.

    As Bowen said, if they were nning to buy up everything, whether ripe or not, and settle on a reasonable price, it would make things a lot easter for David, too.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s both take a step back. I can lower the price a little, but your price is just too low,¡± David said.

    Bowen lifted his chin a bit, putting on an obviously reluctant air, and uttered, ¡°I¡¯ll think it over¡±

    With no deal on the price, they were stuck at a standstill for now.

    David sighed, clearly frustrated as he said, ¡°You can ask around in the vige. No one¡¯s ever sold at a price like this.¡±

    That was exactly what Aubree had been waiting for. She immediately followed up, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll take another look around.¡±

    <b>* </b>

    Ìï

 Tried 556

    That evening, the top floor of the hotel booked by the Wilson Group was visited by an unexpected guest.

    Alvin came alone, knocking on Carmen¡¯s door as he asked, ¡°Wanna have a chat?¡±

    When Carmen opened the door and saw his face, her eyes were full of disbelief. She gasped, ¡°Alvin?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face was nk, but the slight furrow of his brow made it clear he didn¡¯t like the way Carmen addressed him. He shifted half a step to the side and said, ¡°Aubree is working with Uncle Bowen. Whether it¡¯s you, Bryan, or me, none of us stands to gain much by going up against those two. Besides¡­¡±

    He paused before continuing. ¡°You have to fight not just the outsiders, but Bryan too. So, what do you say about teaming up?¡±

    Carmen gripped the doorknob a little tighter before agreeing, ¡°Come on in.¡±

    She poured Alvin a ss of water.

    Knowing he was here to talk about teaming up, Carmen couldn¡¯t help but feel a little flutter of excitement inside. ¡®He could¡¯ve gone <i>to </i>Bryan, and wouldn¡¯t that have made it easier for him to deal with Aubree? But he came to me instead. Did that mean I actually meant something to Alvin?¡® she wondered.

    She sped her hands together and shed what she thought was her most perfect smile at Alvin and replied, ¡°Of <b>course</b>, I¡¯d never say no to teaming up with you.

    ¡°My team¡¯s already crunched the numbers for this project. Acquiring thend will <b>cost </b>us approximately $ 66 million, and afterward, we¡¯ll require a substantial amount of manpower and resources for cleanup, rebuilding the foundation, and establishing artificial drainage.

    ¡°We could keep some of the fruit trees as a special feature. The ones in the vige now are nothing special, butter on, we could bring in some rare fruit saplings to really draw people in. Once the resort is finished and open¡­¡±

    Carmen excitedly exined her renovation n to Alvin. This was a n she and the team her uncle assigned had spent ages discussing and revising before finally settling on this version.

    When she handed it over for her dad to review, he even gave her a couple ofpliments.

    Carmen was sure Alvin would <b>see </b>her n in a whole new light,

    Alvin was genuinely surprised, as he hadn¡¯t expected a conglomerate like the Wilson Group to actually pursue a resort project.

    He interrupted Carmen right away, ¡°You guys are nning to build a resort?<b>¡± </b>

    Carmen blinked in surprise as she asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what everyone else is nning?¡±

    Mostpanies would have agreed that building a resort was the obvious choice when they wanted to pursue a high¨Cend project.

    ¡°That¡¯s stupid,¡± Alvin said tly. ¡°Did none of you even think about the location or the surroundings?¡±

    He pondered, ¡®Due to its location, Mistmere was not fully essible to the public. Indeed, there were ns to transform the entire area into a special economic zone, but who could say for sure what would happen in the future<b>? </b>

    ¡°Even if that day everes, who knows how many years it¡¯ll take? Building a resort out in the middle of nowhere like this? Who in their right mind woulde all the way out here unless they were some rich idiot with money to burn?

    ¡®So what¡¯s the point?

    Is it because you can¡¯t get this fruit anywhere else, <i>or </i>because it¡¯s some so¨Ccalled untouched paradise that hasn¡¯t been spoiled by modern technology?

    ¡®You can¡¯t even use the bathroom without being swamped by insects.

    Alvin¡¯s real game was making Carmen his ally. Partnering with the Wilson Group was hands down the fastest and easiest way for him to take on Aubree and Bowen right now. And by working with Carmen specifically, he figured he could skim off even more of the profits for himself

    As for whatever cut the Wilson Group took, he could just dump all the me on Uncle Bowen and let the shareholders give him a headache instead.

    ¡°A farm stay or a theme park would be better than building a resort,¡± Alvin said.

    Alvin didn¡¯t n to lecture Carmen any further. The truth was, Ridgehaven Town <b>was </b>aiming to be an economic zone, and the best way to boost the local economy was to build schools there.

    11/2

    3:40 PM

    He¡¯d heard some buzz that a <b>few </b>universities were nning to set up campuses in the area.

 Tried 557

    It wasn¡¯t too far from Ridgehaven Town, and a theme park or a unique farm stay would definitely draw in the crowds.

    Carmen sobered up considerably and began seriously considering the whole resort idea after hearing Alvin out. Comparing their team¡¯s n to his suggestions, she felt that hers suddenly paled inparison.

    Since you can¡¯t get into the vige right now anyway, you might as well help me out with something else,¡± Alvin said.

    Early the next morning.Aubree and her group made another trip to the vige.

    Vincent had heard yesterday that Alvin hade to Ridgehaven Town, and figured that if Alvin could buy Jacob off, then so could they, as they certainly weren¡¯tcking in funds.

    Aubree didn¡¯t say much but just encouraged him to give it a try.

    As soon as they arrived, Vincent got the Nelson family¡¯s address from Aubree and swaggered off toward the far end of the vige, looking like he owned the ce.

    The vige felt especially lively today <b>as </b>all the gossip¨Cloving women had gathered under the big old tree in the center of the vige, gossiping about all thetest vige drama.

    One of thedies shared, ¡°I ran into Millie¡¯s mom yesterday, and she was acting all tough, swearing up and down that Samuel is an honest guy and there¡¯s no way he¡¯d have anything going on with that woman who lives at the edge of the vige. She sounded so sure about it.

    ¡°But, guess what?

    ¡°Last night I heard that Jacob, the Nelson family¡¯s son, <b>was </b>back, so I thought I¡¯d go take a look. And what do you know? I saw Samuel heading straight for Josephine¡¯s ce. She lives at the edge of the vige, and it waste at night. So, what on earth was he doing there if it wasn¡¯t for something fishy?<b>¡± </b>

    Another woman gasped, ¡°Oh my goodness! Millie hasn¡¯t even married him yet, and that man¡¯s already had his soul snatched by a widow? What a scandal!¡±

    ¡°If Millie can¡¯t keep her man from wandering, she¡¯s got no one to me but herself, right?¡± A third person chimed in.

    Even with the summer heat already bearing down early in the morning, these vige women didn¡¯t care <b>a </b>single bit. They crowded under the old tree, waving their fans, just to keep the gossip going.

    ¡°Samuel went therest night too<b>¡­</b><b>?</b>¡± Aubree murmured as she caught onto the key detail in their gossip.¡°It seems like we need to check it out ourselves.¡±

    Meanwhile, things weren¡¯t exactly peaceful at the Molina family¡¯s ce either.

    The vige was small, and the word about Samuel heading over to Josephine¡¯s cete at night spread in no time.

    Jillian, who was always quick¨Ctempered, was storming around the house<b>, </b>cursing and saying all kinds of nasty things. Her son, Jason, was lying back

    on the couch, ying video games with his legs up.

    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Josephine¡¯s good¨Clooking, and Millie is not as hot or as pretty as her. Isn¡¯t that just how it goes?¡± Jason saidzily.

    Jillian smacked him right away as she warned, ¡°Watch your mouth!¡±

    Millie wasn¡¯t downstairs with her family as she¡¯d already run off to her room to cry.

    David sat there smoking as he uttered, ¡°If the vige chief doesn¡¯t step up and do something about this, he¡¯s really doing our family wrong¡±

    Hearing that, Jillian¡¯s anger red up even more as something came to mind. She spat, ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve bringing that up. Didn¡¯t I say we should¡¯ve just taken the demolitionpensation and left? But no, you just had to chase after that little bit of extra benefit¡­ Now look at us. We could¡¯ve found a good match for Millie in the city, but instead, we¡¯ve be theughingstock of the whole town.¡±

    David shot back, ¡°Like you weren¡¯t tempted by it too?

    ¡°Alright, enough about that. Anyway, isn¡¯t Vincent and his people nning to buy our fruit this season? Once we¡¯ve sold off this harvest, I¡¯ll see if I can pull some strings to get Jason a decent job. Then we¡¯ll discuss this with the vige chief properly. If they don¡¯t provide a satisfactory exnation, we won¡¯t beg them for anything. Worst case, we¡¯ll call off the engagement.¡±

    3.40 PM

    Ethan, who had just finished his chores, happened to catch that conversation. Wait, what happened <b>back </b>then? Something about the demolition?¡± he wondered as he promptly informed Bowen about this <b>new </b>discovery.

 Tried 558

    pter 558

    <b>+23 </b>

    ¦°

    As <b>the </b>gossip <b>spread </b>rapidly through the <b>vige</b>, Samuel¡¯s family warned him to stop <b>causing </b><b>trouble</b>. They advised him to wait until after the <b>wedding</b>¨Che hadn¡¯t even introduced Millie <b>to </b>them <b>yet</b>. If he continued <b>to </b><b>stir </b><b>up </b>trouble, her <b>family </b><b>might </b><be </b>looking <b>for </b>him.

    He <b>understood </b>all <b>that</b>, but he <b>just </b>couldn¡¯t control himself.

    Every time he thought about <b>Josephine¡¯s </b>voluptuous body and the <b>way </b>she pretended to <b>resist </b><b>but </b>wanted him<b>, </b>he felt his desire <b>re </b>up<b>. </b>After all, what man could contain that <b>kind </b><b>of </b>temptation?

    The <b>vigers </b><b>were </b>right<b>, </b>and how <b>could </b>this <b>all </b>be my fault? I am <b>a </b>victim here<b>, </b>too,¡¯ he thought.

    He took a day off from the <b>factory </b>in town, bought some <b>meat</b>, pastries, candy, and milk. With the <b>bags </b>in hand, he headed toward the end of the

    town<b>. </b>

    He <b>was </b>being <b>clever </b>about it <b>today</b><b>, </b>and he deliberately took <b>a </b>side path that hardly anyone ever used. To be honest<b>, </b>almost nobody <b>ever </b>went to that far end of the <b>vige</b><b>. </b>

    Thinking about Josephine¡¯s <b>face</b><b>, </b>he felt a rush of heat in his chest, and before he knew it, he was walking faster and faster.

    Samuel also heard that <b>a </b>group of fruit buyers had recently visited David¡¯s ce. Word was that there was a woman with them who <b>was </b>supposedly even hotter than the celebrities on TV.

    He¡¯d heard she <b>was </b>some kind of <b>secretary</b>. Just another pretty young <b>secretary</b>, and nothing special. Samuel had decided to check her out when he had the time. If she really looked like an angel, wasn¡¯t it all about money anyway? His family had plenty to spare.

    He was almost at Josephine¡¯s house when he slipped into the shadows at the corner, peeking out to make sure no one was around.

    As he moved, Samuel waspletely unaware that a pair of eyes was watching him from behind.

    <b>¡°</b>Tsk, you really do have your ear to the ground,¡± Aubree muttered, hiding just out of Samuel¡¯s line of sight. She watched him poking his head out like a turtle peeking from its shell.

    She¡¯d originally nned to just stake out Josephine¡¯s ce and wait for Samuel to walk right into her trap, but who would¡¯ve thought Ethan had already figured out the wholeyout of Ridgehaven Town in no time?

    Tucked away in a narrow crevice between some rocks, Aubree and Bowen were crouched at the crossroads of the only two paths leading to Josephine¡¯s house<b>. </b>

    ¡°So, how are you <b>so </b>sure Samuel¡¯s gonna show up today?<b>¡± </b>she asked.

    Meeting her gaze, Bowen gave a meaningful smile, ¡°I just overheard it.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t those vigers chatting under the tree say they saw Samuel leaving Josephine¡¯s house right around dusk yesterday?

    ¡°A guy like him would only leave at the perfect time if he actually got what he wanted, right?

    ¡°Since he didn¡¯t, you can bet he¡¯ll be back.

    <b>¡°</b><b>If </b>you look at the timing, when we first arrived, that was just when Samuel and Josephine started hooking up. It¡¯s only been a few days, and he¡¯s already shameless enough to visit her in broad daylight and sneak out at night. With the way men are wired, there¡¯s no way he won¡¯t show up again today.¡±

    Bowen sounded absolutely certain.

    Aubree looked at him, her gaze shifting <b>as </b><b>a </b>teasing glint shed in her eyes. She asked, ¡°So it¡¯s not that you¡¯re some kind of mastermind¨Cit¡¯s just that you¡¯re a man too, huh?

    To her surprise, Bowen didn¡¯t dodge the subject at all. He lowered his head, locking eyes with her as he replied, ¡°Of course, Bree. I¡¯m no saint. I have desires too. When <b>it </bes to you, honestly, my thoughts aren¡¯t all that different from Samuel¡¯s dirty ones.<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree froze at his words, the tips of her exposed ears slowly turning red. ¡®Is he being a pervert right now?¡® she wondered.

    ¡°You..<b>¡± </b><b>she </b>stammered.

    ¡°Samuel¡¯s heading to Josephone¡¯s ce. We need to follow him,¡± Bowen said, cutting her off.

 Tried 559

    <b>Chapter </b><b>559 </b>

    <b>She </b><b>quickly </b>turned her <b>face </b><b>away</b><b>, </b>flustered. Whether <b>Bowen </b><b>was </b>sober or drunk<b>, </b>she¡¯d heard all kinds <b>of </b>sweet <b>talk </b>from him <b>before</b>, <b>so </b>she <b>just </b>chalked this up as <b>another </b><b>one </b>of his lines<b>¨C</b><b>even </b><b>if </b>this was <b>by </b><b>far </b>the most blunt thing he¡¯d <b>ever </b><b>said</b>.

    ¡°<b>Wow</b><b>, </b>he <b>really </b>just told <b>me </b>straight <b>up </b>that he¡¯s <b>totally </b>craving my body, Aubree thought, her heart <b>skipping </b><b>a </b><b>beat</b>.

    ¡°What¡¯s the <b>rush</b><b>? </b><b>If </b><b>we </b><b>go </b>now<b>, </b><b>we </b><b>won¡¯t </b><b>get </b>any useful information. <b>Just </b><b>wait </b><b>a </b>bit <b>longer</b><b>,¡± </b><b>Bowen </b>said.

    He added, ¡°Ethan just texted me. <b>He </b><b>said </b>there might have been some kind of deal between David¡¯s family and the <b>vige </b>chief¡¯s family regarding the demolition. Looks like this <b>vige¡¯s </b><b>got </b>a lot <b>of </b><b>secrets</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Mistmere <bgged </b><b>significantly </b>behind modernity<b>, </b><b>revealing </b><b>its </b>persistent issues. In this <b>vige</b>, the words of the local boss <b>or </b><b>vige </b>chief <b>were </b><b>absolute</b><b>¨C</b><b>even </b>the police held no authority.

    <b>People¡¯s </b>mindset here seemed quite outdated. In just a few days<b>, </b>Aubree noticed girls who were barely eighteen or neen <b>were </b>already pregnant and walking around the <b>vige</b>. When she inquired about it<b>, </b>she learned that most girls in this area were engaged and married shortly after finishing junior high or high school. Surprisingly, none of them considered this situation unusual.

    Stuff like <b>that </b><b>was </b>just <b>everyday </b>life to them, and no one even batted an <b>eye </b>at it.

    Meanwhile, Samuel walked up to Josephine¡¯s door with his <b>bags </b>and knocked.

    The <b>widow¡¯s </b>full name <b>was </b>Josephine Walls. She married into Ridgehaven Town from outside. Her husband worked in the mines but unfortunately died in an underground ident. After his death, Josephine receivedpensation money and has been raising their son on her own ever since.

    She was educated, good¨Clooking, and had a killer figure. Most days, she made ends meet by modeling for clothing shops in town or doing gigs for online <b>stores</b>. It was enough to keep her and her kid afloat.

    The vigers noticed how she always had new outfits and didn¡¯t need to do hardbor to make money. Soon enough, the gossip mill started churning out rumors about her.

    In a <b>ce </b>like Ridgehaven Town, it was natural for a woman, especially a pretty one, to get gossiped about or targeted by men.

    Regardless of whether it¡¯s true or not, the reputation of being ¡°easy¡± was pinned on her for good.

    Her ce was an old tile¨Croofed house with two doors¨Cone in the front, one in the back. The whole ce was split into three parts: the living room sat smack in the middle, with a bedroom on one side and the kitchen and bathroom on the other.

    Samuel knocked on the door, and before long<b>, </b>a well¨Ccared¨Cfor, fair¨Cskinned boy peeked out before eximing, ¡°Samuel!¡±

    The boy¡¯s eyes sparkled when he <b>saw </b>Samuel, as he had received many delicious treats from him during Samuel¡¯s visits to his mother.

    Like always, Samuel pulled a handful of snacks from his pocket and handed them over to Mattias, asking, ¡°Mattias, is your mom home?¡±

    <b>¡°</b>Yep, she¡¯s home!¡± the boy chirped cheerily.

    With that confirmation, Samuel stepped inside, ncing around like a thief before closing the door behind him.

    Mattias¡¯s eyes darted around, looking a little confused about what Samuel was up to.

    Samuel set the food and drinks on the table, then turned on the TV in the living room. He instructed, ¡°Mattias, you stay here and watch some TV, okay? I need to go talk to your mom for a bit.¡±

    Little children are always so innocent. Mattias nodded obediently, sat down on the couch, and even pointed out which room his mom was in.

    The door creaked open, and Josephine was lying on the bed, fast asleep.

    Clothes were still scattered across the floor, and her phone was left out on a stand, not fully put away.

    Samuel <b>stared </b>at the woman sleeping soundly on her side, her back was facing toward the door and desire surged in his eyes.

    Josephine had been uptest night doing <b>a </b>photo shoot, and for some reason, Mattias was gued by nightmares and kept fussing all night.

    She only got <b>a </b>chance to <b>rest </b>when it was almost dawn.

    Even in her sleep, she looked restless as her brows <b>were </b>tightly knit.

    Luck and she <b>were </bplete strangers. Now in her thirties, she felt as if she had never experienced a single moment <b>of </b><b>good </b>luck in her entire life.

 Tried 560

    <b>Chapter </b><b>560 </b>

    Before she got married, Josephine¡¯s family <b>was </b>the perfect example of what <b>a </b><b>mess </b>looks like. She had <b>a </b>gambling¨Caddicted dad, a little brother who was the golden boy, <b>a </b>mother who yed favorites, and her¨Cthe daughter who was always left hurt and picking up the pieces.

    She <b>was </b><b>once </b>a straight<b>¨C</b><b>A </b>student. Her teachers <b>were </b>sure she¡¯d be the one to make it out of Mistrere and into a good university, but she never got the chance. <b>Her </b>middle school teachers knew all about her family situation and tried to help her <b>stay </b>in school. They even <b>went </b>to her parents, telling them that if she earned <b>a </b>college degree, her value would increase.

    That <b>way</b><b>, </b>when she got married, she could fetch a higher bride price.

    But all that effort <b>was </b>wasted. After <b>just </b>one <b>year </b>of high school, her parents somehow got it into their heads <b>that </b>too much schooling would make a girl wild, that she¡¯d get ideas and wouldn¡¯t listen to them anymore. And right around then, there was a girl in the vige who was making a huge <b>scene</b>¨Cthreatening <b>to </b><b>do </b>something drastic¨Cbecause her parents wouldn¡¯t let her keep studying.

    Her parents forced her back home and kept her there, and she ended up stuck until her little brother was old enough <b>to </b>start chasing girls.

    After that, she <b>was </b>treated like nothing more than goods to be sold¨Cthe one who offered the most got to take her, and it didn¡¯t matter who they <b>were</b><b>. </b>As long <b>as </b>someone could cough up a good bride price, they could marry her.

    Every time Josephine thought back on her life, she couldn¡¯t help but feel like all the luck she ever had got used up on her marriage.

    The years after she married into Ridgehaven Town were honestly the best she¡¯d ever had. Her husband never cared whether she worked or not as he <b>was </b>the one keeping the family afloat anyway. But of course, nothing goodsts forever¡­.

    Josephine knew all too well that after her husband passed <b>away</b>, the vige was full of rumors about her. She¡¯d tried to exin that she always had new clothes <b>was </b>because online shops would send her outfits for free in exchange for photos, and that she didn¡¯t need to leave home for work since she could earn money right from her phone.

    But nobody cared <i>to </i>listen.

    It wasn¡¯t the truth they wanted. The vigers just needed something to liven up their dull lives, and her misfortune was the juiciest gossip for their idle chats over meals.

    She was a strong woman, capable of handling whatever life threw her way. However, each time she witnessed the vige kids bullying her son- calling him a bastard, taunting him about how no one even knew who his biological father was, and saying her husband had been so unfortunate that he had died simply from raising her¨Cit pierced her heart deeply. The taunts reminded her of the pain and the unfairness they had all faced, and it still hurt her to the <b>core</b>.

    That was when she made up her mind¨Conce she saved enough money and her son was a bit older, she¡¯d take him and leave Ridgehaven Town for good. She wanted to give him a better life, away from all this.

    But just <b>a </b>week ago, that dream ran smack into its biggest obstacle yet.

    That day, all the clothes she needed for her photoshoots arrived, so she headed into town to pick up her packages. That¡¯s when she bumped into Samuel, the vige chief¡¯s son, who worked as an ountant at the ughterhouse.

    Samuel <b>was </b>one of the few college graduates in the vige, and as the chief¡¯s son, everyone said he was a real straight arrow. But Josephine knew the truth. Every time she ran into him, he had that same look in his eyes as all the other men.

    At first, Josephine didn¡¯t think much of him. He was already engaged, and honestly, he wasn¡¯t so much honest as just a bit of a wimp.

    She picked up her packages and was about to leave when, out of nowhere, Samuel approached her, insisting on carrying her packages. No matter how many times she tried to decline his offer, he persisted. However, since he was the vige chief¡¯s son and she still needed <i>to </i>live in Ridgehaven Town, she couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. Ultimately, she had no choice but to ept Samuel¡¯s help

    And just like that, the vige gossip mill kicked into high gear, and people started whispering that something was going on between her and

    Samuel.

    She didn¡¯t bother with it as she was used to this kind of thing by now. Samuel was engaged, after all, so he¡¯d have to clear things up sooner orter. People would believe him over her any day.

 Tried 561

    <b>Chapter </b><b>561 </b>

    What she didn¡¯t <b>expect </b>was <b>that </b>instead <b>of </b>clearing things <b>up</b><b>, </b>Samuel <b>actually </b>showed <b>up </b><b>at </b>her house and said that <b>since </b><b>everyone </b><b>already </b><b>believed </b>the rumors, they might as <b>well </b>just let people think what they want. He even <b>had </b>the nerve to suggest <b>that </b>he could just step in and take care of <b>her </b>and Mattia from now on.

    Josephine inwardly scoffed, ¡®Like I¡¯d ever want that!

    ¡®Although Samuel may <b>have </b>been a coward, he was <b>still </b>a man. Mattias and <b>I </b>are just a mother and <b>son</b>, who are powerless against him. <b>If </b><b>it </b>truly came down to <b>a </b>confrontation, we wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. All I could do was try to keep him at a distance.

    <b>Yesterday</b><b>, </b>things had almost gone too far¡­ Luckily, Mr. Nelson from next door happened to be out for a walk, heard the noise, and shouted. That was enough to <b>scare </b>Samuel off.

    <b>Even </b>in her sleep, Josephine¡¯s brow was deeply furrowed, her fingers unconsciously clenching so hard they dug into her <b>palms</b>.

    She loathed Samuel, but it¡¯s not like she could give up on life¨CMattias was still so little. What would he do without her? She couldn¡¯t afford to cross Samuel, so all she could do was avoid him and try to find a way to leave Ridgehaven Town as soon as possible,

    <b>If </b>word got out, given her reputation around here, everyone in Ridgehaven Town would say she was trying to get her hooks into Samuel.

    After all, they all regarded her as just a widow with a kid, someone who was barely scraping by without a man to support her. <b>If </b>she managed to snag Samuel<b>, </b>at the very least, she could milk him for some cash.

    Josephine had no way to clear her name. She even had to keep Mattias cooped up at hometely, just in case.

    She absolutely hated everyone in this vige. In her eyes, they were nothing but heartless executioners.

    Just <b>as </b>Josephine was clenching her teeth in her nightmare, lost in a swirl of fear and helplessness<b>, </b>a pair of hands suddenly pulled open the bed curtain and reached for her.

    Samuel¡¯s <b>eyes </b>were locked onto her, burning with a wild intensity, and his face <b>so </b>agitated it was almost twisted out <b>of </b>shape.

    Josephine had always been on high alert. Over the years<b>, </b>she had experienced numerous attempted break¨Cins at her house during the night. Even after she rebuilt and raised the courtyard walls<b>, </b>she still felt unsafe. So, when she felt something touch her waist, she jolted awake. Her eyes flew open to meet that unforgettable face from her nightmares.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Josephine cried out, clutching the nket to her chest and shrinking back. She eximed, ¡°How did you get in <b>here</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    When he showed up yesterday, Samuel hadn¡¯t dared to set foot inside, and he¡¯d only hovered out in the yard.

    There was a deep, bone¨Cchilling fear in Josephine¡¯s eyes as she thought, ¡®Has Samuel lost his mind? Isn¡¯t he afraid that Millie¡¯s family will kick up a huge fuss<b>?</b><b>¡® </b>

    ¡°Rx, Josephine<b>,¡± </b>Samuel said, his voice low and greasy. ¡°I made sure no one¡¯s around <b>before </b><b>I </b>came in. That old <b>geezer </b>from the Nelson family ruined things yesterday, but tonight, nobody¡¯s gonna interrupt us. We can finish what we started.

    ¡°Just be with me, <b>okay</b>? <b>If </b>you stick with me, <b>I¡¯ll </b>treat you and Mattias real good. Yeah, I¡¯m supposed to marry Millie, but that woman¡¯s basically a man. She is hard and rough, and she¡¯s nothing like you. She¡¯s not half <b>as </b>pretty, not even close to your figure. You¡¯re the only one <b>I </b>want, Josephine. No one elsepares<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    As he spoke, Samuel couldn¡¯t hold himself back any longer, and he lunged at Josephine with his hands reaching out to grab her.

    Josephine fought him with everything she had, and she finally broke free from his grip. She eximed, ¡°Get lost! Aren¡¯t you ashamed to do this to Millie? Mattias and I want nothing to do with you!¡±

    Somehow, she found the courage tond a hard kick right between Samuel¡¯s legs, and he let out a pained cry, his grip instantly loosening.

    Seizing the moment, Josephine scrambled off the bed and made a desperate dash for the door. <b>As </b>long as she could get outside, she could be safe if anyone saw her.

    Samuel clutched his crotch, howling in pain as he cursed, ¡°You bitch! You fucking whore!¡±

    He was determined to teach this woman a lesson she¡¯d never forget.

    Josephine reached out, her fingers just brushing the doorknob.

    She was only a step away when suddenly, a big hand shot out of nowhere. A sharp pain stabbed through her scalp as Samuel ruthlessly yanked her backwards by the hair. The force sent her stumbling, and she toppled hard to the floor.

    All hope drained from Josephine¡¯s eyes, leaving them bleak and lifeless.

    Samuel didn¡¯t hesitate before he pped her hard <b>across </b>the <b>face</b><b>, </b>then started raining <b>punches </b>and kicks <b>down </b>on her<b>. </b>He <b>cursed</b>, <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>filthy bitch! You¡¯re <b>just </b><b>a </b><b>slut </b><b>every </b>man¡¯s had a turn with<b>, </b>and now <b>you </b>want to act <b>all </b>pure and <b>chaste</b><b>? </b><b>You </b>should <b>count </b>yourself <b>lucky </b><b>I </b><b>even </b>want <b>you</b><b>. </b>This is the best fortune you¡¯ll <b>ever </b><b>get </b>in your miserable life<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>

 Tried 562

    Outside the door<b>, </b><b>the </b><b>TV </b>was <b>sting </b><b>at </b>full volume. With <b>just </b><b>a </b>single door between them<b>, </b><b>it </b>felt like <b>two </b><bpletely </b>different worlds.

    After <b>seeing </b>Samuel enter Josephine¡¯s house<b>, </b>Aubree and Bowen followed him inside.

    <b>As </b>they drew <b>closer</b>, the <b>TV¡¯s </b>volume <b>was </b>suspiciously loud. Even with the ring noise, they could just <b>barely </b><b>make </b>out the shrill screams <b>of </b><b>a </b>woman from inside. If they <b>hadn¡¯t </b><b>been </b>listening carefully, they might have thought it was just their <b>imagination</b>.

    Aubree and <b>Bowen </b>exchanged <b>a </b><b>nce</b>, and in unison<b>, </b>stepped closer to the front door.

    <b>Bowen </b>gave the <b>door </b>a push, but the front door was deadbolted from the inside. Unless someone opened it from within, the only <b>way </b><b>in </b>would be to break it down by <b>force</b><b>. </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Stay here<b>. </b>I¡¯ll <b>get </b>in through the back door,¡± Bowen told her.

    Aubree looked up at the windows and noticed they were built unusually high up. Most people wouldn¡¯t be able to get in without using <b>some </b>equipment.

    Bowen picked a good spot to <b>get </b>some leverage, took a running start, pushed off the wall with both feet, and hoisted himself <b>up </b>with his <b>arms</b><b>. </b>The whole move <b>was </b>smooth and effortless.

    Inside the house, the vige chief¡¯s son had lost <b>it</b>. He had Josephine pinned to the floor, beating and kicking her. While he <b>was </b>the <b>vige </b>chief¡¯s son, he was not the only one. Samuel had two older brothers who were more impressive than him. People described him <b>as </b>being ¡°honest<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>but that <b>was </b>just because he had nothing else going for him. All he could do was put on a fake <b>act </b>of being the good guy.

    With Josephine, he finally got to feel the twisted pride of being a ¡°man.¡±

    He yelled, ¡°You bitch! You whore! I¡¯ve given you so many opportunities, and now who <b>are </b>you trying to seduce here?

    ¡°Listen up, from now on, you¡¯re my woman. Stop unting yourself around all the time!

    ¡°That day at the delivery station, you were sticking your ass out like you wanted me to notice. And now you¡¯re pretending to be some chaste little saint?¡±

    Josephine stretched her hand forward, trying to catch her son¡¯s attention. She could hear the TV ring outside, and she knew her boy was out there. She <b>was </b>desperately hoping he¡¯d notice her and run to get Pontus from next door.

    Samuel was <b>a </b>total coward; the moment there was even a hint of danger, he¡¯d chicken out.

    But nothing happened. The TV was too loud, and her son had no idea what was really happening inside.

    It was then that Josephine thought hopelessly in realization, ¡®Samuel must¡¯ve told him something beforeing in.

    Right ot

    noment Mattiaswho <b>was </b>watching TV in the living <b>room </b>

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    Samuel <b>had </b>his pants halfway down when he suddenly froze. ¡®Who the hell is out <b>there</b><b>?</b>¡® he thought, <b>panic </b>shing <b>across </b>his <b>face</b><b>. </b>

    M

 Tried 563

    <b>Chapter </b><b>563 </b>

    Josephine¡¯s <b>eyes </b>lit up with desperate hope<b>. </b>She started <b>struggling </b>wildly <b>again</b><b>, </b><b>screaming </b><b>at </b>the top of <b>her </b>lungs<b>, </b><b>¡°</b><b>Help </b>me! Please, help me<b>!</b><b>¡± </b><b>At </b>this moment, it <b>was </b><b>all </b>she could <b>do</b>.

    <b>¡°</b>Bree, <b>step </b>back,¡± <b>Bowen </b>ordered <b>as </b>his <b>expression </b>turned grim.

    He and Aubree had thought things between Josephine and Samuel <b>were </b>just like the rumors said, but <b>now </b><b>it </b>was <b>clear </b>this was a whole different story.

    Originally, Aubree and <b>Bowen </b>had nned to <b>scare </b>Josephine as they squeezed some useful information <b>or </b>ckmail material out of her about the <b>vige </b>chief¡¯s family.

    But they never could¡¯ve imagined that the truth was theplete opposite <b>of </b>what they thought.

    Bowen told Aubree to step back<b>, </b>then kicked the door open with a loud crash.

    As the door burst open, Samuel was caught red¨Chanded. His pants tangled around his legs <b>as </b>he tried to force himself on Josephine. She <b>resisted </b>him with all her strength, and Samuel looked like a pervert who¡¯d die for a taste of tulips<b>, </b>shameless <i>to </i>the <b>very </b>end.

    Dust rained down from the doorframe as Bowen grabbed Samuel by the cor before throwing him <b>across </b>the room like a ragdoll.

    Aubree immediately grabbed the nket from the bed and threw it <b>over </b>Josephine to <b>cover </b>her.

    Samuel, who <b>was </b>an ountant and a typical bookworm, wasn¡¯t tall. He was just a bit over 5¡¯7¡± and pretty scrawny in <b>size</b>. Bowen flung him <b>like </b><b>a </b>rag doll, sending him flying in a perfect arc before hended with a bone¨Cjarring thud on the concrete floor; the sound of him hitting the ground made everyone¡¯s teeth ache.

    ¡°Who are you people? Do you even know who I am?¡± Samuel blustered, trying to sound tough.

    Seeing two strangers, Samuel actually felt a bit more at ease<b>. </b>

    His gaze swept over the pair before it locked onto Aubree<b>¨C</b>a woman <b>so </b>gorgeous it made him pause. He was sure he¡¯d never seen her before.

    While they <b>were </bplete strangers, it <b>was </b>obvious what these two were here for.

    Samuel instantly realized these two were the fruit merchants from out of town.

    Mattias stood off to the side, his eyes wide open in shock, and he was shaken by everything happening before him.

    He suddenly threw himself into Josephine¡¯s arms, crying out, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?<b>¡± </b>

    Josephine clutched the nket Aubree had draped over her, holding her son close as silent tears fell. Sheforted, ¡°Mom¡¯s okay, Mattias. Don¡¯t be scared.¡±

    Once Samuel realized who Aubree and Bowen were, his confidence came rushing back, and he started behaving all cocky again.

    While sizing them up, he said, ¡°You¡¯re the three outsiders staying at David¡¯s house<b>, </b>aren¡¯t you?

    ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯m the vige chief¡¯s son. If you cross me, you won¡¯t have it easy in this vige.¡±

    Aubree nced at the mother and son, huddled together and trembling in fear. She then turned her gaze to Samuel, who was acting arrogantly and shamelessly eyeing her up and down with a disgusting look. Her expression darkened instantly.

    Even if it meant exposing her identity and getting kicked out of the vige, she would never let Samuel keep acting so arrogant.

    Samuel still didn¡¯t realize just how serious the situation was.

    He put on a fake friendly grin and said to Bowen, ¡°Hey, man, I know you probably don¡¯t get what¡¯s going on here<b>, </b>so I¡¯ll just let this whole thing slide.¡±

    Then, ncing at Aubree with a sleazy smirk, he added, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about her. She¡¯s your secretary. Secretaries handle whatever needs doing, and when there¡¯s nothing to do¡­ Well, you know how it goes. She¡¯s just some tramp everyone¡¯s had a turn with. You get me, brother? We¡¯re both men here.

    Those words really crossed the line.

    Josephine realized it, too. She thought, These two were outsiders who were here for business. It seems like they¡¯re the fruit merchants from out of town, and they could leave at any time.

    ¡®Perhaps they had just happened to <b>pass </b>by my house, heard themotion, and came in to take <b>a </b>look.

    After everything Samuel just said<b>, </b>would they even bother <b>to </b>stick out for me?¡®

    <b>Bowen¡¯s </b><b>face </b><b>gave </b>nothing <b>away</b>, but then he curled his <b>lips </b><b>into </b><b>a </b>sudden smile, <b>¡°</b><b>Yeah</b>, <b>I </b><b>get </b>it¡±

    The next second, he drove his foot straight <b>into </b>Samuel¡¯s chest without holding back at all.

    <b>Samuel </b>was sent flying <b>across </b>the <b>room</b><b>, </b>crashing into the edge of the cab.

    His <b>face </b><b>went </b>ashen <b>as </b>he clutched his chest, wheezing for breath, looking like he was about t

 Tried 564

    <b>hapter </b><b>564 </b>

    Aubree told Bowen to drag Samuel into the <b>living </b>room <b>so </b>that Josephine could have <b>some </b><b>privacy </b><b>to </bpose herself.

    Josephine settled her <b>son </b>in the <b>room</b>, changed into a set of <b>long</b><b>¨C</b>sleeved <b>clothes </b>and pants<b>, </b>then <b>slowly </b>walked out. ¡°Thank <b>you</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she <b>said </b>softly with her head <b>bowed</b>.

    Aubree looked at her<b>, </b>feeling an ache in her <b>heart</b>. <b>After </b><b>spending </b>these <b>days </b><b>in </b>Ridgehaven <b>Town</b><b>, </b>Aubree had realized just how <b>little </b>women <b>were </b>valued here. <b>If </b>they <b>were </b>lucky <b>enough </b><b>to </b><b>have </b>a decent husband, maybe <b>they </b>could live out their <b>lives </b>in <b>peace</b>, like Jillian. But <b>most </b><b>women </b><b>here </b><b>were </b>like Josephine.

    Even if someone <b>broke </b>into a woman¡¯s home and assaulted her in broad <b>daylight</b><b>, </b><b>no </b><b>one </b>would <b>step </b>in. If word <b>got </b>out, the <b>perpetrator </b>wouldn¡¯t suffer any consequences<b>; </b><b>instead</b>, it would be the victim who would be shamed and med by everyone around her.

    <b>Just </b>hearing the things the <b>vigers </b>said these <b>past </b><b>few </b>days <b>was </b>enough to make Aubree¡¯s stomach turn. She honestly couldn¡¯t imagine how Josephine had managed to endure all these years<b>. </b>

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t <b>for </b><b>you</b>, <b>I </b>probably would¡¯ve been hurt by that animal today<b>¡­ </b><b>I </b>know you¡¯ve heard the rumors about me in the vige<b>, </b>but none <b>of </b>them are true. They¡¯re all lies,¡± Josephine <b>said </b>in a shaking voice.

    ¡°<b>I </b>haven¡¯t done anything wrong. Those men <b>are </b>all after something. I live at the edge of the vige and barely go out, but somehow <b>I¡¯m </b><b>still </b>the one getting med. Why is it always my fault?¡± Josephine broke down<b>, </b>sobbing and cursing as she poured out all her pain and anger.

    At the age of thirty, Josephine looked <b>as </b><b>if </b>she were in her twenties. She was attractive and slender, with only her young son by her side and no man in the house <b>to </b>support her. It <b>was </b>no surprise that someone like Samuel felt emboldened enough to break in.

    Aubree didn¡¯t know what <b>to </b>say. She wondered, This <b>was</b><b>, </b>of course<b>, </b>not Josephine¡¯s fault. But in a ce like this, who could say that being in the wrong would ever actually be seen as wrong?

    ¡®Back when I was with the Wilson family, I had suffered all kinds of abuse. But even if those things hade to light, people would only me me for being ungrateful. As for the Wilson family? What wrong had they done? They¡¯d taken in an orphan, given her a life of luxury, and wasn¡¯t that already a tremendous <b>act </b>of kindness<b>? </b>

    ¡®It was something <b>I </b>was supposed to be grateful for my entire life.

    ¡®As for all the insults, beatings, and punishments¨Cthose <b>were </b>seen as <b>¡°</b>lessons¡± meant to teach me a thing or two.

    ¡®After all, <b>I </b><b>was </b><b>just </b>a girl from an orphanage, someone who had a bad reputation that needed to be disciplined.¡®

    But now that Aubree was <b>on </b>equal footing with the Wilson family, people would say that it was the Wilson family who were in the wrong when they discussed matters from the <b>past</b>.

    Everyone would mock them for mistaking a fake for the <b>real </b>thing. After all, those who had the power got to decide what was right.

    Aubree shot Bowen a look, and he immediately kicked Samuel, who was sprawled on the ground. He chided, ¡°Wow, what an eye¨Copener. So, the vige chief calls all the shots in Ridgehaven Town and decides what is right and wrong. And just because you¡¯re the chief¡¯s son, you get to act all high and mighty.

    ¡°Let¡¯s drag him outside and let the whole vige see what kind of trash he is. Mr. Molina¡¯s daughter is still engaged to <b>a </b>scum like him. What a shame. Mr. Molina <b>is </b>such a good man, and he ended up with this kind of trash for a future son¨Cinw,¡± Aubree chimed in.

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    WI

 Tried 565

    <b>Chapter </b><b>565 </b>

    <b>If </b>word of this got out and Mr. Molina¡¯s family refused <b>to </b>let Millie marry me, it would drive a wedge between the two families, and that would totally mess up Dad¡¯s big ns.

    Aubree snorted in response. ¡°Oh? So, all this is just about you being embarrassed? <b>Is </b>it really that big <b>of </b><b>a </b>deal<b>? </b>

    ¡°So it¡¯s fine for you to let the whole <b>vige </b>gossip about Josephine for days, but the moment <b>we </b>make you lose a little <b>face</b><b>, </b><b>you </b>start throwing <b>a </b>fit? <b>If </b>you couldn¡¯t handle it, maybe you shouldn¡¯t have bullied people in the <b>first </b>ce.¡±

    Aubree looked at him with utter disdain, making it clear she was standing up for Josephine.

    Meanwhile, <b>Bowen </b>stood there with a look that said, ¡°I¡¯m just following her lead.

    Samuel was really starting to panic now as he uttered, ¡°You two outsiders don¡¯t know anything! My dad is nning <b>to </b>coborate with Mr. Molina on a major project. Do you really think my family would let me marry someone as dumb and ugly as Millie if it wasn¡¯t for that¡­¡±

    <b>He </b>suddenly stopped mid¨Csentence, only now realizing he¡¯d let something slip.

    His father had specifically warned him not to breathe a word about this to anyone.

    Aubree¡¯s <b>eyes </b>darkened as she thought, ¡®So, there really <b>was </b>something fishy going on here.

    Seriously? With the way Samuel is, how dare he look down on Millie? Millie isn¡¯t ugly at all, and she¡¯s actually pretty cute. Maybe she¡¯s a little naive because her family spoils her, but to call her dumb? She¡¯s not even close.

    ¡®Honestly, Samuel <b>is </b>the real ¡°dumb and ugly¡± one here. He did something this stupid and spilled everything after just a few words.

    ¡®But for now, dealing with Samuel is the most important thing. As for the rest, with how spineless Samuel is, there¡¯d be plenty of chances to get to the bottom of itter.

    ¡°So¡­ what do you want to do with him?¡± Aubree asked, turning to Josephine.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll get the punishment he deserves. However, this depends on how you want to handle this; it¡¯s your call,¡± she assured.

    Aubree used to worry about whether the vige chief would seek revenge against them. However, now that she was aware he had a secret he couldn¡¯t let anyone discover, her concerns diminished. The two individuals most strongly opposed to the redevelopment were Pontus, who opposed it for the sake of his descendants, and the vige chief. She wondered, ¡®But what was the chief after?

    ¡®For something like this, the vige chief had no reason to refuse, let alone put up a fight.

    There had to be a connection between the two.

    Josephine stared coldly at Samuel, who was bawling and begging on the floor. But, she thought bitterly, ¡®What do I want to do with him? I want to rip his mouth to shreds, slice him into a thousand pieces<b>, </b>and cut off that filthy thing of his. I want to drag him to the vige entrance and let the whole vige <b>see </b>what kind of person this so¨Ccalled ¡°honest boy¡± really is. But¡­

    Josephine clenched her <b>jaw</b>, hatred burning in her eyes, but all that was left in her gaze was a crushing sense of defeat. ¡°Let him go. Just let him leave,¡± she said, her voice hollow.

    Aubree appeared even more incredulous, while Bowen simply arched an eyebrow, <b>as </b>if he had anticipated this all along.

    ¡°Are you sure<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

    On the other hand, Samuel let out <b>a </b>sigh of relief as he smugly thought, ¡®Even if these two outsiders aren¡¯t afraid of my dad, this bitch wouldn¡¯t dare

    talk back to me.

    Josephine¡¯s face was utterly lifeless as she contemted, ¡®As these two people here are willing to stand up for me, the vige chief wouldn¡¯t dare say anything for the sake of his reputation. He might even put on an act as a strict father and give Samuel a good scolding.

    ¡®But what about after that?

    They were just here to buy fruit, and probably wouldn¡¯t stick around for more than a few days.

    ¡°Even if I wanted to move <b>away</b>, it¡¯s not like I could just pack up and leave in a day or two.

    ¡®Once they leave, the vige chief¡¯s family would have the final say in everything that happened to me. What could I possibly do to fight back? What options did I even have, especially as a woman with a young son?¡®

    Aubree tried tofort her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as we¡¯re here, we¡¯ve got your back. No one¡¯s going to hurt you, and you don¡¯t have to be afraid of anything.

    Josephine kept her head <b>down </b>and just shook it, stating, <b>¡°</b>Just let him <b>go</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

 Tried 566

    <b>Chapter </b><b>566 </b>

    After Aubree finished <b>speaking</b>, <b>a </b>visible struggle flickered across Josephine¡¯s <b>face</b>. Ultimately, fear prevailed. Even if she didn¡¯t <b>care </b>about herself, <b>she </b>had to <b>think </b>of <b>her </b>son.

    At <b>worst</b>, it would cost her life, but her <b>son </b><b>was </b>still so young. She couldn¡¯t afford to mess <b>with </b>the <b>vige </b>head¡¯s family.

    Josephine pressed her lips into a bitter line and shook her head firmly. She said, ¡°Thank you for what you did today, but I hope you won¡¯t tell anyone about this.¡±

    Samuel¡¯s eyebrows shot up, a smug grin spreading across his face as he thought, These outsiders really think they¡¯re something <b>special</b>, huh? Once this blows <b>over</b>, I¡¯ll make that bitch pay for it in bed. I¡¯ll make her beg for mercy and then finish her off.

    <b>As </b>for these outsiders, I would get Dad to <b>teach </b>them a lesson they¡¯d never forget.

    ¡®How dare that guy actually hit me! Just wait, <b>I¡¯ll </b>smash his legs to pieces. And that woman? She¡¯ll find out <b>exactly </b>what <b>I </b>can do to her.

    Aubree stepped forward and hugged her,forting, ¡°You have to stand up on your own. If everyone keeps twisting the truth, then <b>go </b>ahead and call them out. Hit them so hard they won¡¯t dare to push the me on you again.¡±

    Samuel clung to Aubree¡¯s shoulders<b>, </b>crying so hard she couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°<b>I </b>can¡¯t do it. As long as I¡¯m still stuck in this vige, there¡¯s nothing <b>I </b>can do,¡± she sobbed.

    Those words made Aubree realize even more clearly that if the vige head of Ridgehaven Town wasn¡¯t dealt with, nothing she wanted to aplish here would ever work out.

    And the look on Samuel¡¯s face just now said it all¡ªhe knew he could get away with anything.

    Josephine <b>was </b>terrified of retaliation from the vige head¡¯s family.

    Compared to Aubree¡¯s gentle approach, Bowen was like a force of nature.

    He yanked Aubree to his side as he said, ¡°Since she¡¯s already said that, let¡¯s just act like we never saw anything.¡±

    Josephine started shaking even harder.

    Aubree looked back at Bowen, her <b>eyes </b>full of disapproval. <b>If </b>even she could see what was happening, Bowen must have realized it even sooner.

    Bowen didn¡¯t budge as he said, ¡°So<b>, </b>are we leaving or what? <b>If </b>she really thinks that giving in will make Samuel let her off, then why should we bother with any of this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Josephine was left speechless as he¡¯d hit the nail right on the head.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t even dare say a word to us here. Once we¡¯re gone, <b>if </b>she ends up getting bullied to death, well, that¡¯s on her.

    ¡°Only an idiot would think that backing down will ever make the bullies stop,¡± Bowen scoffed.

    Josephine trembled, but those words really hit home.

    ¡®If I don¡¯t dare do anything to Samuel now, will the vige head¡¯s family really let me go once they¡¯re gone?¡® she questioned herself.

    Deep down<b>, </b>she already knew the answer.

    Instead of waiting for them to leave and then suffering the vige head¡¯s family¡¯s revenge, she might as well give Samuel a taste of his own medicine right now. Even if they came for herter, at least she wouldn¡¯t go down without a fight.

    With that thought, Josephine clenched her fists, suddenly reached out, and pushed Samuel to the ground. She red between his legs and sent a vicious kick right where it hurt most.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Samuel let out a scream that was even more blood¨Ccurdling than Josephine¡¯s. It <b>was </b>so shrill it could have shattered the sky and knocked down the walls of Josephine¡¯s house.

    Finally, Aubree let out a sigh and thought, ¡®She should have done this long ago.

    However, none of them realized that the scream had been heard loud and clear by the vige head himself, who was hurrying over.

    The blond guy with him piped up, ¡°Sir, that sounded just like Samuel!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s move faster!¡± the vige chief snapped.

    <b>3:41 </b>PM

    Soon, a knock sounded at the door, and <b>a </b>booming male voice came from outside, <b>¡°</b>Josephine<b>, </b><b>are </b>you home? <b>I </b>need a word with you.¡±

    When Josephone heard that voice, her <b>face </b><b>went </b>pale as she whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t open the door. It¡¯s the vige chief.¡±

    Samuel, who <b>was </b>still writhing on the ground, recognized his old man¡¯s <b>voice </b>too.

 Tried 567

    <b>hapter </b><b>567 </b>

    (<b>+23 </b>

    He tried to get up, but the pain from Bowen¡¯s earlier blows was already drilling into his bones. After what Josephine just did, it was <b>a </b>miracle he <b>was </b><b>even </b>conscious, and one had to <b>give </b>it to him for still being awake

    He was about to call out, but the second Bowen shot him a look, he instantly mmed up, not daring to make a sound.

    He had no idea if his dad could actually save him once he got inside, but one thing was crystal clear<b>¨C</b>if these three wanted, they could totally take him out before his old man <b>even </b>set foot in the room.

    ¡°Should we open the door?¡± Aubree nced at Bowen and murmured.

    They had nothing to be afraid of<b>, </b>and the only one who really had to worry was Josephine.

    Josephine had already steeled herself before she made her move, fully prepared for the vige chief¡¯s family toe after her<b>. </b>She just hadn¡¯t expected them to show up this <b>fast</b>.

    ¡°Open the door. It¡¯s fine. Just say I did everything,<b>¡± </b><b>she </b>said firmly.

    She gave Samuel <b>a </b>cold stare and reiterated, ¡°He knows he can¡¯t mess with you, and he wouldn¡¯t dare try anything against you.¡±

    Aubree smiled, having already decided to see this through with Josephine. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got your back,¡± she reassured.

    In the worst<b>¨C</b><b>case </b>scenario, she could get Josephine and her son settled in Rithol City. By then<b>, </b>even if the Frager family wanted to cause trouble, they wouldn¡¯t be able to do it.

    Josephine looked at Aubree<b>, </b>who <b>was </b>so young, and figured Aubree must bepletely dependent on that man.

    Assuming that Aubree was just <b>a </b>sheltered girl who¡¯d never known real hardship, Josephone nced at Bowen and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    <b>It </b>was rare for anyone to tell her not to be afraid or to offer help. A warmth blossomed in her heart<b>, </b>melting away the chill that had haunted her for

    years<b>. </b>

    The door swung open, and <b>a </b>crafty, slick¨Clooking <b>face </b>appeared.

    The vige chief wasn¡¯t very tall; in <b>fact</b>, he was even a bit shorter than Samuel. His <b>eyes </b><b>were </b>full of scheming calction, and he was always sizing people up.

    Next to him stood a blond guy with a cocky<b>, </b>streetwise vibe.

    Once the two of them stepped inside, the door was shut behind them.

    Even though they¡¯d heard the vige chief¡¯s name plenty <b>of </b>times, this was the first time they <b>were </b>actually meeting him. Aubree¡¯s face <b>grew </b>a little

    tense.

    The vige chief¡¯s gaze paused briefly on Aubree and Bowen, his intentions unreadable.

    He nced at Samuel, who was still <b>sprawled </b>on the ground. When he noticed Samuel¡¯s pained movements, a sh of anger crossed his eyes, but he just looked away, <b>clearly </b>not nning to help his son at <b>all</b>.

    The chief said, ¡°Josephine, I¡¯m really sorry about this. I noticed my <b>useless </b>son didn¡¯t show up for work today, so <b>I </b>asked around and found out he came over here. I honestly didn¡¯t expect this to happen¡­

    ¡°This whole mess is my son¡¯s doing. Our family owes you an apology.

    ¡°Your boy is about the right age to start school, isn¡¯t he? How about this? I will do you a favor and get him into the primary school in town, and we¡¯ll cover all the tuition fees. Let¡¯s <b>just </b>pretend none of this ever happened. How does that sound?

    ¡°This youngest son of mine is the most worthless out of all three. I¡¯m getting old, and my older two sons are never home. Only this one sticks around to look after me. I¡¯m still counting on him to take care of me in my old age. Josephine, just do me this favor, alright?¡±

    Josephine wanted to

    say,

    <b>¡°</b>No

    thanks, I can get my son into school just fine without your family¡¯s help.¡±

    She nervously picked at her fingers, feeling torn inside.

    She shot a nce at the blond guy behind the vige chief. She had no clue who Aubree and Bowen really were, but she knew all too well what the vige chief could do. With Aubree¡¯s encouraging look, she managed to squeeze out a smile uglier than crying. She responded, ¡°Sir, what are you talking about? Nothing happened at all.¡±

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you take Samuel back with you? And make sure you teach him a proper lesson.

    <b>3:41 </b>PM

    The <b>vige </b>chief grinned in response, ¡°Of course, of course. <b>I </b>always knew <b>you </b>were <b>a </b>sensible girl.¡±

    He told the blond guy to <b>carry </b>Samuel on his <b>back </b>and chided, ¡°<b>What </b><b>a </b>good¨Cfor¨Cnothing!¡±

 Tried 568

    <b>23 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>You should finish your business and get out of here <b>as </b>soon as you can. The vige chief definitely has his eyes on you,¡± Josephine said, her eyes red after the vige chief and his group left.

    She knew that after she took Samuel down<b>, </b>the vige chief wouldn¡¯t let her<b>¨C</b>or them¨Coff the hook.

    Josephone thought her life was worthless, so she no longer cared. But she couldn¡¯t drag Aubree and Bowen down with her.

    <b>¡°</b><b>It¡¯s </b><b>just </b>a vige chief, so why is everyone so afraid of him?¡± Aubree asked the question that had been on her mind since her very first day in the vige.

    She could easily notice that everyone here looked both startled and scared whenever the vige chief was mentioned.

    Josephine shook her head as <b>she </b>stammered in a trembling voice, ¡°You guys have no idea¡­¡±

    There <b>was </b>real fear in Josephine¡¯s eyes <b>as </b>she recounted, ¡°The current vige chief used to be a thug¨C<b>a </b><b>real </b>scoundrel. He was notorious in the vige for all kinds of dirty deeds. There was nothing he wouldn¡¯t do. When he ran for vige chief, he went door <i>to </i>door, demanding everyone vote for him.

    ¡°Those who swore up and down they wouldn¡¯t vote for him¡­ Well, they vanished without a trace. You can¡¯t even find a shadow of them in the vige now.

    ¡°After he took over as chief, he rounded up all the local thugs and formed this so¨Ccalled ¡®security team. They <b>were </b>supposedly here to keep the peace, but in reality, if anyone dares to <b>go </b>against him, that so¨Ccalled security team will show up at your house and trash the ce the very same day

    Tears streamed down Josephine¡¯s face as she thought bitterly, ¡°Those thugs are nothing but parasites. Back then, everyone in the vige looked down on them. But now, with the chief backing them, they¡¯re riding high, doing all his dirty work. Even if someone calls the cops, none of them would ever rat out the chief. At most, they¡¯ll spend a few days in jail, and that¡¯s it.

    ¡®But once they got out, the payback would be even <b>crazier</b>.

    After a while, the cops just <b>got </b>sick of it and stopped bothering with these matters. The people in the vige became scared, and before long, whatever the chief said was final. He had the entire Ridgehaven Townpletely under his thumb.

    The only ones with any say at all were the wealthiest folks in the vige, the Molina family. But everyone knew that back when the chief was running for office, Millie¡¯s dad was one of his biggest supporters. After the chief got elected, the two families got real chummy, and they were totally in cahoots.¡®

    ¡°If the folks here can¡¯t do anything, don¡¯t the people above step in either?¡± Aubree asked.

    Josephine let out a bitterugh in response, ¡°All these years, the chief¡¯s made a ton of money. He¡¯s no fool. He has been lining the pockets of those above him for ages. If anything significant is about to happen, he receives a warning in advance. They would also help him <b>cover </b>up all the small

    stuff.

    ¡°I heard the county head and the chief are pretty tight.¡±

    They were just ordinary people. Dealing with the chief alone was already more than enough trouble for them. Adding the county head into the mix turned it into a nightmare. That¡¯s why, for all these years, Ridgehaven Town fiercely resisted anyone trying to bring about change, whether they were businessmen or government officials, all because the chief had said so.

    If they didn¡¯t <i>do </i>what the chief wanted, once those outsiders left, they¡¯d be the ones to pay the price.

    Aubree nced back at Bowen, and after getting a nod from him, she turned to Josephine and asked, ¡°Miss Walls, do you know anything about the whole thing with Ridgehaven Town being rebuilt?

    ¡°If you¡¯re all so afraid of the chief, then why not just agree to the relocation? Wouldn¡¯t that mean you could finally leave Ridgehaven Town?

    ¡°Taking the money and leaving this ce has to be better than being under his control forever, right?¡±

    While this made sense¡­

    Josephine sighed, ¡°I can¡¯t speak for anyone else, but the security team came to me and told me not to sign the agreement yet. They said if I held off, I¡¯d get more money down the line. Honestly, I don¡¯t care about the money¨CI want to get out of this vige with my kid, Mattias, as soon as possible. But you can probably guess, I¡¯m terrified of the chief, so I could only go along with what they said.

    ¡°As for the others, I have no idea if they were told the same thing or not.¡±

    ¡°Maybe the chief really just wants to get more money, or maybe he doesn¡¯t want to lose his position as chief.¡±

 Tried 569

    <b>Chapter </b><b>569 </b>

    +23

    <b>¡®</b>But was that <b>really </b>the case? I don¡¯t think so. There must be bigger interests involved here, Aubree thought before asking, ¡°Miss Walls, did you notice the chief acting weird or anything unusual happening before or after the whole demolition and relocation incident<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    Josephine paused to think before responding, ¡°Yeah, actually, there was something. Before the news about the demolition got out<b>, </b><b>I </b>heard people saying the chief <b>kept </b>sneaking <b>off </b><b>to </b>the back mountain all the time.

    ¡°Oh, and now that I think about it, there <b>were </b>some outsiders who showed up in the <b>vige </b>around then<b>, </b>too. But I can¡¯t <b>say </b>for sure if they <b>were </b>with those businessmen who came early to <b>try </b>and talk the <b>vigers </b>into agreeing to the relocation.¡±

    By the time they left Josephine¡¯s house, it was already afternoon.

    Rubbing her chin, Aubree said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, <b>¡°</b>Josephine said Mr. Molina and the chief have deep ties. Judging from what we learned from Ethan, Mr. Molina probably knows even more than he lets on.

    ¡°With all the drama today, shouldn¡¯t we let Mr. Molina in on it? Let¡¯s not forget that he treated us to dinner on our very first day here.¡±

    Bowen let out a faint, almost mocking smile, as if he found the whole thing a bit ridiculous.

    Meanwhile, after the chief took Samuel away, he <b>was </b>immediately taken to the hospital.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we did everything we could. Your son¡­ Well, <b>it¡¯s </b>unlikely he¡¯ll <b>ever </b><b>recover</b>. Of course, it could just be that our hospital isn¡¯t equipped for these conditions like this, <b>so </b>you could try visiting <b>a </b>bigger hospital,¡± the doctor said.

    At that moment, Samuel <b>was </b>still out cold from the anesthesia<b>. </b>

    When the chief heard that his son was basically done for, his face darkened. He replied, ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡±

    The chief¡¯s eldest and second sons, who both worked in the county, rushed over too. Of the three brothers, the youngest was the biggest letdown. The eldest was smart and hadnded a job at the county court. The second son wasn¡¯t <b>as </b>intelligent, and he didn¡¯t even get into college, but he had guts and a ruthless streak. On the surface<b>, </b>he ran a securitypany, but behind the scenes, he was operating a loan¨Csharking business and making a substantial profit.

    ¡°How¡¯s Samuel?¡± the second son <b>asked</b>.

    ¡°He¡¯s crippled,¡± the chief said.

    The chief¡¯s <b>expression </b>was calm and unreadable as he thought back to the two people he¡¯d seen at Josephine¡¯s house.

    Were they really just fruit merchants<b>?</b>¡® he wondered.

    When Bowen and the others first arrived in the vige, he hadn¡¯t thought much of it. After all, it was harvest <b>season</b>, and fruit buyersing and going was nothing out of the ordinary.

    But today, something just felt off.

    ¡®From the way those two carried themselves, there¡¯s no way they were just ordinary fruit merchants, the chief.thought.

    The chief¡¯s second son had the worst temper in the family. Although he didn¡¯t think much of his youngest brother, he firmly believed that blood was thicker than water. Only family members had the right to push <b>each </b>other around, and no outsider was allowed toy a finger on them.

    ¡®How dare that bitchy a hand on my brother<b>?</b><b>¡® </b>he fumed, rage simmering inside.

    ¡°It was that slut from the end of the vige, wasn¡¯t it? Tomorrow, I¡¯ll get a couple of guys to go teach her a real lesson!¡± he spat, his voice full of

    venom.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± the chief snapped, his tone harsh andmanding. ¡°Do you even realize what time it is right now?

    ¡°The higher¨Cups are about to restart the reconstruction n, and there are a bunch of new faces in the vige. This is when everyone¡¯s closely monitoring every move. Can¡¯t you tell what you should do and what you need to keep under wraps?

    ¡°Samuel just got engaged to Millie, and now there¡¯s this mess. Why are you acting like I¡¯m not embarrassed enough already? Keep your mouth shut about whatever happened to Samuel, and don¡¯t let a word slip out. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring some gifts and apologize to the Molina family myself.¡±

    The chief¡¯s second son was beyond annoyed, and he thought, ¡®Why do we have to keep cozying up to David Molina? We¡¯ve already done more than enough to keep their family happy.

    ¡®Even if Samuel is crippled, Millie¡¯s stuck with him now. Does she really think she can just walk away?¡±

    The eldest nodded in <b>agreement</b>, ¡°By the <b>way</b><b>, </b>Dad<b>, you </b>said those fruit merchants seemed off. For all we know, they might not even be fruit merchants at all.¡±

    The chief¡¯s <b>eyes </b>lit up <b>at </b>that, and he thought. That¡¯s definitely possible.

    Those <b>two </b>didn¡¯t look like <b>your </b><b>average </b><b>person </b><b>at </b>all.¡®

    ¡°Funny you mention it, Dad,¡± the eldest said, <b>a </b>sly grin <b>spreading </b><b>across </b>his <b>face</b>. ¡°The county head actually called me <b>a </b>couple <b>of </b><b>days </b>ago and said he wanted to invite our family <b>over </b>for dinner sometime<b>, </b><b>so </b>he could introduce someone to us.¡±

 Tried 570

    <b>Chapter </b><b>570 </b>

    Word spread like wildfire through the small vige <b>of </b><b>Ridgehaven </b>Town when people saw Samuel being carried out of Josephine¡¯s house, half¨Cdead and <b>barely </b>hanging on. With rumors about the <b>two </b>already making the rounds, it didn¡¯t take long for <b>all </b>kinds of gossip to sweep through the vige like dust in the wind.

    Bright and early the next morning, the vige chief hurried over to David¡¯s ce carrying two bottles of good liquor to offer his apologies in

    person<b>. </b>

    David was tall, and though <b>years </b>of hard work had tanned his skin to a bronze shade, he still looked rather thin and frail<b>. </b>Back in his youth, he was quite the looker.

    When the vige head arrived. David <b>was </b>smoking a cigarette.

    Before the vige chief showed up, Aubree and Bowen <b>had </b>already recounted everything that had happened at Josephine¡¯s ce.

    As he listened to their ount, David felt it was utterly absurd. He just couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it. ¡®Samuel <b>was </b><b>a </b>university graduate from the provincial capital, someone who¡¯d earned his ce through real <b>exams</b>. How could he get such indecent thoughts in his head just because Josephone <b>was </b>picking up a package?

    ¡®He¡¯s supposed to be an educated man, yet he shamelessly did something <b>so </b>vile, he is worse than an animal, David thought.

    He and the vige chief <b>were </b>like brothers since they were kids. They had always been getting into trouble together. Back in school, neither of them <b>was </b>much of <b>a </b>schr, but David <b>was </b>the more honest one, while the vige chief hung out with the local troublemakers. Still, nothing ever came

    between them.

    They were just <b>as </b>close as they¡¯d always been.

    His daughter, Millie, and Samuel <b>were </b>childhood friends¨Cthey¡¯d gone to the same school together ever since elementary school. The two kids had even promised each other they¡¯d get married someday<b>, </b>and both families were more than happy to see them end up together.

    Millie had not gotten epted into college, and the vigers often gossiped that Samuel was useless. They criticized him for being unable to find a job, not being a college graduate, and having to return home to rely on his father. However, David understood the actual reason: Samuel came back solely to be with Millie.

    When rumors about Samuel and Josephine first started circting, none of their family members believed them. But when Millie went to confront him about it, it made a bit of a scene. David just thought Samuel was still young and not exactly settled down, and he probably got a little smitten by Josephine¡¯s good looks and lost his head for a moment.

    But now, after everything that had happened, David couldn¡¯t just turn a blind eye anymore.

    He fumed inwardly, ¡®He actually barged into her house to do something like that? Is he even human?¡®

    Back then, he was furious at Samuel for not being able to control himself, but now, he was just as relieved as he was angry before.

    It was a good thing Millie hadn¡¯t married a jerk like Samuel yet. Otherwise, if she really ended up with him, her whole life would¡¯ve been nothing but pain and regret.

    ¡°Let¡¯s drop the whole job¨Chunting thing for Jason,¡± David said firmly. ¡°He¡¯s still young, and I will let him tag along with me in the orchard for now. If he¡¯s interested and has a knack for it, maybe he can just take over the reins from me one day.¡±

    The vige chief¡¯s heart sank as he realized David was putting distance between them.

    ¡°Are you really going to do this?¡± the vige chief asked, his voice heavy.

    David flicked his cigarette and let out a long sigh, ¡°It¡¯s not that I really want to do this, but I can¡¯t go against my conscience.

    ¡°Back when you ran for vige chief, I already did something I knew was wrong. These bottles shouldn¡¯t be for me. Did you go and apologize to Josephine yourself?

    ¡°I¡¯m a dad too. You care about your son, and I have to look out for my daughter.

    ¡°As for that business you brought up about thend behind the mountain, thend¡¯s mine. If you want to do something with it, I¡¯ll just turn a blind eye. But don¡¯t expect me to get involved. That¡¯s illegal, and I¡¯m too old to be taking risks like that.¡±

    The vige chief¡¯s face went from green to ck with anger, and he spat, ¡°Fine. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you if <b>I </b>use yournd and don¡¯t give you a dime.¡±

    He didn¡¯t take the liquor with him, but he knew David was already letting him off easy by not making a scene about it.

    As the vige chief stepped out of David¡¯s house, there was already a crowd gathered outside.

 Tried 571

    <b>Chapter </b><b>571 </b>

    By now<b>, </b>everyone in the vige knew about that whole mess with Samuel, and they thought, ¡®He still had enough shame to hide himself after pulling a stunt like that<b>, </b>leaving his old man to face the music for him¡®

    All those curious, scornful, and disgusted looks zeroed in on the vige chief.

    Still stinging from getting shut down by David, the vige chief brushed the dust off his clothes and shot the crowd <b>a </b>nasty look with his shifty little eyes. ¡°Oh, so you all think you¡¯re real gutsy now, huh? What, are you here for the drama? Who are you staring <b>at</b><b>?</b>¡± he barked.

    Everyone around jumped at his outburst, and they shrank back and dropped their heads like a bunch of kids caught red¨Chanded.

    Watching the scene from a distance, Aubree frowned in disapproval. Behind her, Vincent couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Is that supposed to be a vige chief? Lle acts more like some local despot.¡±

    They¡¯de today to finalize the deal for David¡¯s fruit and also to see for themselves how the vige chief would react.

    Right at that moment, a ck sedan rolled up and stopped in front of the vige head. The door opened<b>, </b>and out stepped a man in a crisp suit. On the surface, he looked like a refined professional, but there was something sly and dangerous about him. He looked like the kind of guy who looked respectable but <b>was </b>rotten to the core. If one looked closely, one could see he shared a few features with the vige chief.

    Who¡¯s that?¡± Aubree asked.

    Vincent had been here long enough to figure out the key yers in the vige <b>as </b>he responded, ¡°That¡¯s the vige chief¡¯s eldest son.¡±

    ¡°The eldest son?¡¯ Aubree wondered in surprise.

    She shifted her gaze to the car window. She couldn¡¯t see the face clearly, but just from the figure, she was certain that Bryan was the person sitting in the back seat.

    She couldn¡¯t hear what the vige head¡¯s son was saying, but the vige chief¡¯s face went through a few changes before he finally put on a bootlicking grin and got into the car.

    ¡°That¡¯s Bryan,¡± Aubree said.

    Hearing that, Bowen replied, ¡°If that¡¯s Bryan, he must¡¯ve figured out that trying to work through the vigers won¡¯t get him anywhere now. He¡¯s probably using his connections to persuade the vige chief to agree.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already sent people to survey thend behind the mountains. We should have the results soon.¡±

    In fact, the two of them already had some suspicions about what might be hidden back there.

    It had to be something really valuable. Otherwise<b>, </b>the vige chief wouldn¡¯t have turned down the demolitionpensation and gone so far as to stall the whole project just to retain control of Ridgehaven Town.

    At the most luxurious hotel in Mistmere, the vige chief¡¯s eldest son, Santiago Frager, who had just been acting all high and mighty, was now reduced to a totalckey¨Cbowing and scraping as he poured drinks for the three people in the seats of honor.

    And those three were none other than the county chief of Mistmere, Bryan, and Carmen.

    The vige chief raised his ss and knocked back three shots in a row before apologizing, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault that I didn¡¯t recognize you, Miss Wilson, and let you suffer such grievances on your very first day in the vige.¡±

    When Carmen came with her team<b>, </b>she was acting under the names of Wilson Group and the Diamonde Group, butpared to Bryan, she was still a far cry from his level.

    Right now, Wilson Group was still firmly in Bryan¡¯s hands. There was a world of difference between someone who truly held the reins of power in the Wilson family and someone who merely held an empty title.

    As Carmen knew that, the smile on her face was stiff and unnatural.

    Alvin had reminded her that once Bryan showed up, she should just let him go talk to the county chief, and she didn¡¯t have to worry about anything else. After that, all she needed to do was stay with Bryan and keep an eye on how things were progressing.

    As soon as Bryan made his status known, he got the county chief to spill everything.

    ¡°Enough of that, and let¡¯s get down to business,¡± Bryan said, cutting straight to the point.

    The county chief hurriedly put on a fawning smile, clearly flustered. He honestly hadn¡¯t expected that reopening this project would draw in so

    3:42 PM

    many heavy hitters.

    <b>¡°</b>Mr. Wilson, you¡¯re someone important, and I¡¯m just <b>a </b><b>regr </b>guy. I don¡¯t care about the project itself, and I just <b>want </b>that gold mine behind the mountain,¡± the county chief said.

    ¡°You¡¯re after the gold mine<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Bryan scoffed.

    It finally hit Carmen<b>, </b>and she thought, <b>¡®</b><b>So </b>the Ridgehaven Town kept refusing the demolition, was all because of the gold mine?¡®

    ¡°Do you really think you can get your hands on it?¡± Bryan shot back, his tone cold and unyielding.

    The county chief¡¯s <b>face </b>changed instantly at Bryan¡¯s blunt words

 Tried 572

    <b>Chapter </b><b>572 </b>

    Just then, <b>a </b>ss hit the table with a loud thud as the <b>vige </b>chief¡¯s voice sounded, ¡°Mr. Wilknow you¡¯re from Rithol City and you¡¯re a big

    shot, but I bet you¡¯re not the only important person who¡¯se here, right<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    The vige chief¡¯s small, cloudy <b>eyes </b>shed with a flicker of cunning. He was certain that the two outsiders <b>at </b>Josephine¡¯s ce were definitely not just fruit merchants.

    He thought, ¡®I heard the demolition project was restarted, but hardly anyone hade to the vige so far. I guess they just brought in the big shots directly.

    ¡®For all I know<b>, </b>those two outsiders at Josephine¡¯s ce might be from Rithol City too!

    <b>¡°</b><b>If </b>you¡¯re not willing to cooperate, I¡¯m sure plenty of others would love to get involved,¡± the vige chief taunted with a sly smile.

    <b>As </b>the chief smirked, Santiago quickly tried to smooth things <b>over</b>, ¡°Mr. Wilson, please don¡¯t take it the wrong way. Honestly, who wouldn¡¯t want to grab the demolition money and get out of this dump? <b>It¡¯s </b>just that we¡¯re all sitting on a gold mine, am I right?¡±

    Bryan let out a low chuckle, ¡°What I mean is, let me take over the gold mine. I¡¯ll pay you a lump sum for it.¡±

    The vige chief¡¯s expression darkened, and he questioned, ¡°Mr. Wilson, wouldn¡¯t that be a huge loss for me?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°What will you lose out on? Do you even have the guts to open up that gold mine yourself?¡± Bryan shot back and his words struck a chord with everyone present.

    The vige chief had discovered the gold mine not long after the government announced the redevelopment project. The mine was hidden in the back mountain, onnd owned by David. The vige chief had secretly struck a deal with David, and they had agreed that he would stir up the orchard farmers to <b>resist </b>the demolition, while David would help him sway the rest of the vigers.

    He promised David a 20% cut once the gold mine started operating, and David agreed. That was the real <b>reason </b>they¡¯d been dragging their feet on the demolition.

    But the problem was that the authorities were monitoring everything closely, and no one dared to take such a huge risk. The vige chief couldn¡¯t mine the gold on his own, and he couldn¡¯t find any parties who had the guts or the skills to pull it off. As such<b>, </b>the whole situation had been left hanging for years<b>. </b>

    Bryan wasn¡¯t in a hurry, and heid out his n, ¡°Look, it¡¯s not like you can mine the gold yourself anyway. Why not just take a lump sum and keep quiet about it? I can use the redevelopment project in Ridgehaven Town as cover to mine the gold. By the time the project¡¯s finished, the mine will be tapped out too. Isn¡¯t that just perfect<b>?</b>¡±

    The vige chief¡¯s expression kept changing, but none of them looked good.

    ¡®Bryan does have a point, the vige chief thought. ¡®It¡¯s not like I can do anything with the gold mine besides sitting on it. Getting a lump sum isn¡¯t a bad deal either. But¡­ how could I possibly be willing

    to let it go so easily?¡®

    His jaw tightened <i>as </i>he replied, ¡°Mr. Wilson, let¡¯s not kid ourselves. In the end, you still need my input on this to get the redevelopment project, don¡¯t you?

    ¡°If I don¡¯t give the green light, I guarantee you that Wilson Group won¡¯t get the project.¡±

    The vige chief really was a sly old fox, and he immediately came up with a new n.

    ¡®Fine,¡® he thought. ¡®If I can¡¯t get a good deal, then no one else will either.

    ¡®Worst case, I¡¯ll still walk away with the demolition payout.¡¯

    Santiago poured Bryan a ss of wine and offered a toast, ¡°Mr. Wilson, harmony brings wealth. Let¡¯s do business amicably and we will both profit. How about we each take a step back?

    ¡°Here¡¯s my suggestion: we both make apromise. You give us 20% of the gold mine¡¯s profits. Thend where the mine sits actually belongs to one of our vige¡¯s biggest fruit farmers, <i>so </i>he deserves a share too. My dad already promised him 20% as well.¡±

    ¡°And as for the county chief<b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>

    The county chief knew better than anyone that with Bryan here, he himself didn¡¯t matter at all.

    ¡°No, no, I don¡¯t need anything,¡± the county chief quickly waved his hands in response. ¡°I¡¯m just the go¨Cbetween here, nothing more.¡±

    Santiago kept his smile stered on as he added, ¡°Not at all, sir. We couldn¡¯t have managed any of this without you.

    ¡°<b>If </b>it weren¡¯t for your help, people like us wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep things under control.

    3:42 <b>PM </b>

    The County Chief should get a 10% cut <b>too</b>, <b>don¡¯t </b>you think, Mr. Wilson?<b>¡± </b>

 Tried 573

    <b>Chapter </b><b>573 </b>

    Bryan didn¡¯t answer right away. Worried he might be unhappy, Santiago quickly added, ¡°Mr Wilson, there¡¯s no need to make it so nobody gets <b>a </b>piece of the pie, right?¡±

    Bryan knew that after guarding the gold mine for so long, there was no way the vige chief¡¯s family would be satisfied with just being bought off with a lump sum

    He¡¯d drawn such a hard line on purpose as he was waiting for the vige chief¡¯s family to name their own terms, so he could keep the <b>upper </b>hand.

    Getting half the profits <b>was </b>already more than generous. Besides, the Wilson Group¡¯s real objective wasn¡¯t even the gold mine.

    In the end, he raised his ss and agreed, ¡°Here¡¯s to a sessful partnership.¡±

    Back at the hotel, Carmen pushed open the door and could just make out that there was someone sitting on the sofa.

    From the <b>shape </b>of the figure¡­.

    Carmen gasped, ¡°Alvin?¡±

    Sure enough, it was Alvin.

    s Alvin.

    He turned to look at her<b>, </b>calm and unhurried as he questioned, ¡°So, what did you all talk about today?¡±

    Carmen filled Alvin in on everything they talked about today.

    As she spoke, she recalled matters concerning the gold mine and how Alvin had told her from the <b>start </b>to wait for Bryan and push him to work with the vige chief.

    ¡°That was my guess, Carmen thought.

    Alvin didn¡¯t exin further, but he probed, ¡°What do you think about Bryan teaming up with the vige chief?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?<b>¡± </b>Carmen replied.

    With the vige chief on their side, they¡¯d have a <b>great </b>shot atnding the project.

    But Alvin didn¡¯t help <b>her </b><b>just </b>so the Wilson Group could <b>easily </b>snag the <b>deal</b>.

    ¡°You fool!¡± Alvin snapped. ¡°If the project <b>gets </b>settled this way, what does it have to do with you? All the credit will go to Bryan, and you¡¯ll just end up

    worse off.¡±

    ¡°Then what am I supposed to do?¡± Carmen asked, feeling lost.

    No matter what kind of personal grudges she had with Bryan, at the end of the day, they were still family.

    There¡¯s no way she could <b>just </b>sit back and let Aubree snatch the project for herself.

    Alvin let out a coldugh and uttered, ¡°Mining without a permit is against thew.

    ¡°Bryan would never let himself get exposed to something like this, but if someone tips off the authorities and the vige chief gets taken down, Bryan might not be in real trouble, but he¡¯ll have to face an investigation.¡±

    ¡°Once Bryan gets tied up in the investigation, you¡¯ll be the only one left to speak for the Wilson Group. With the vige chief out of the way, and <b>I¡¯ve </b>already dealt with the toughest holdout in the vige,nding this project will be a walk in the park,¡±

    Carmen was tempted by his suggestion.

    She inwardly reasoned, ¡®Alvin was absolutely right. If Bryan pulled this off, not only would he secure the project and an extra 50% of the gold mine¡¯s profits for thepany, but when it came time to hand out rewards, I wouldn¡¯t even get a taste of the benefits.

    But if I went with Alvin¡¯s n, I would be the hero who turned things around after Bryan¡¯s blunder. That would put me in a whole different league.¡¯

    ¡°At the end of the day, it¡¯s your call,¡± Alvin said.

    He wondered, ¡®Which option would Carmen choose?

    ¡®She was already working with me, and with something so clearly in her favor, of course, she¡¯d agree.

    3.42 PM

    Carmen gave a charming smile <b>and </b><b>agreed</b>, ¡°<b>Isn¡¯t </b><b>it </b>obvious? Of course I¡¯m with you<b>. </b>

    ¡°<b>I </b>recorded <b>their </b>conversation <b>today</b>. Once <b>I¡¯ve </b>had it edited, I¡¯ll send it in as an anonymous tip.¡±

    Alvin nodded in response, <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>need to move <b>fast</b>. Aubree¡¯s probably making <b>progress </b>too<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°<b>A </b>gold mine<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree blurted <b>out</b><b>, </b>her <b>eyes </b>wide in surprise as she listened to what Bowen had just told her.

    It was Bowen who had asked Ethan to look <b>into </b>this matter. Since <b>none </b>of them were in the vige <b>right </b><b>now</b>, Ethan was the only one who could move around <b>freely</b>.

    <b>¡°</b>When ites <b>to </b>treasures hidden in the mountains, if it¡¯s not ancient relics, it¡¯s gotta be minerals,¡± Bowen exined.

    ¡®Otherwise, the vige chief wouldn¡¯t have just sat on it for years, too scared to make <b>a </b>move, he thought.

    Aubree¡¯s brow <b>furrowed </b>instantly as she murmured. This isn¡¯t good!

    ¡°From what I <b>saw </b>in that <b>car </b>today, Bryan must have gone straight to the vige chief to cut a deal. The vige chief can¡¯t do anything with the gold mine, but Bryan definitely can!

    Once they get past the vige chief, the rest is nothing.¡±

    ¡°Even if they tried to report the vige chief, there¡¯s nothing anyone can do for now, especially with the county chief covering for him, ¡®Aubree thought.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Bree,¡± Bowen said with a sly smile. ¡°Just focus on persuading the other vigers. There are people who will deal with the vige chief and Bryan for us.¡±

 Tried 574

    <b>hapter </b>574

    ¡°<b>How¡¯s </b>my dad doing<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Bowen asked as he handed his things to Samson while walking out <b>of </b>the airport.

    Last night, he had received a call from the butler at the family estate, saying <b>that </b>his father, Enrique, had twisted his ankle and fallen down <b>the </b>stairs.

    Despite his <b>age</b>, Enrique didn¡¯t want to trouble anyone and had told the butler not to inform them, thinking <b>it </b>was <b>a </b>minor incident that would resolve once his ankle healed.

    But the butler, who <b>was </b>concerned about the situation<b>, </b>had secretly called Bowen.

    Upon receiving the news<b>, </b>Bowen had caught a flight back overnight

    ¡°The initial checkup at the hospital didn¡¯t find anything serious. Mr. Turner is fine. He just suffered a light <b>fall </b>and a sprained ankle. Nothing else seems wrong for now, but they¡¯ll need to run some more tests,¡± Samson replied.

    Bowen let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Did Kelvin get everything I asked him to organize while I was away?¡± he asked.

    Kelvin figured you¡¯d be back around this time<b>, </b>so he got everything ready ahead of time. <b>It¡¯s </b><b>all </b>in the <b>car</b><b>,¡± </b>Samson replied.

    Bowen had been letting Alvin constantly make things difficult for him at thepany. It was not because he intended <i>to </i>let Alvin <b>get </b><b>away </b>with everything. Dealing with Alvin was <b>easy </b>for him; the real problem was whether Enrique would approve.

    Bowen had been letting Alvin¡¯s actions slide, hoping Alvin would <b>cross </b>the line<b>, </b>so Enrique would be the one to step in and he could avoid a <b>direct </b>confrontation with Alvin as much as possible.

    The car soon arrived at the hospital<b>. </b>

    As Bowen pushed the door open, he was greeted by Enrique¡¯s booming voice, ¡°I¡¯m fine, aren¡¯t I? Why can¡¯t I be discharged?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Turner, please don¡¯t give us a hard time. Until all your test results are back, none <b>of </b><b>us </b>dare let you <b>leave </b>the hospital,¡± the nurse replied.

    The nurse wondered, ¡®If something happened <b>after </b>you left, who would we answer <b>to</b>?¡®

    ¡°Wow, Dad, you really have <i>a </i>knack for giving the nurses a hard time,¡± Bowen said as he walked in.

    When Enrique caught sight of his youngest son, he felt a flicker of guilt. He quickly thought, ¡®Didn¡¯t I tell them not to notify him?¡®

    He immediately scowled and snapped, ¡°Who told you about this? Or did you have someone spying on me at the estate?¡±

    23

    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. I don¡¯t have the skills to keep tabs on you. It was the butler who called me. Honestly, I don¡¯t think you need us hovering around. Seeing how much energy you have to scold people, I¡¯d say you¡¯re doing just fine<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Bowen replied as he pulled up a chair and sat down. The nurse had already left the room when he arrived.

    He handed Enrique a folder that Kelvin had prepared and said, ¡°Take a look.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Enrique asked, looking puzzled as he opened the folder.

    He skimmed through the contents, and his expression quickly turned serious.

    As he read, he saw detailed records of how Alvin had been targeting Bowen since joining Turner Group, how he had been getting involved with certain shareholders, and trying to oust his uncle.

    ¡°Is everything here actually true?¡± Enrique asked in a low voice.

    Bowen gave a small smile in response, ¡°I just got back from Mistmere. If you ask around at thepany, you¡¯ll see that Alvin was the one in charge of the Mistmere project. I was just there to keep my girlfriendpany. That¡¯s all.

    ¡°Alvin took this project at the shareholders¡® meeting, saying Bree was ourpetitor and that I was way too close to her, so he took over the project himself.¡±

    ¡°What nonsense<b>!</b>¡± Enrique snapped.

    Business¨Cwise, Bowen owned 30% of Bree Technology, and in private, he and Aubree were dating.

    Whichever way you looked at it, Bree Technology and Turner Group were on the same side. Enrique was well aware of the Mistmere redevelopment project. It was a significant undertaking that made sense for bothpanies to join forces and win together.

 Tried 575

    <b>Chapter </b>575

    After a couple of harsh words about <b>Alvin¡¯s </b>actions, Enrique nced at Bowen<b>, </b><b>trying </b><b>to </b>read sigh and shifted the <b>topic</b>. <b>¡°</b><b>Alvin </b>is, after <b>all</b><b>, </b>your brother¡¯s only child¡­¡±

    Bowen replied, ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d go this <b>far </b>if he weren¡¯t brother¡¯s <b>son</b><b>? </b>

    ¡°I think you know the <b>reason</b>. Even if <b>I </b>stayed out of it, Alvin wouldn¡¯t be able to take on Bree.¡±

    23

    0

    his <b>face</b>. When Bowen didn¡¯t <b>react</b>, Enrique let out <b>a </b>

    Enrique <b>knew </b><b>exactly </b>what Bowen meant. <b>He¡¯d </b>already tolerated Alvin¡¯s antics for too long. Rather than waiting for <b>Alvin </b>to make <b>a </b>mistake that couldn¡¯t <b>be </b>undone, <b>it </b>was better to step in now and cut their losses.

    But Alvin had lost his parents when he was just a kid, and he was Enrique¡¯s only grandson. How could Enrique really harden his heart <b>against </b>him<b>? </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>Just </b>keep an <b>eye </b>on him,¡± Enrique said, <b>still </b>hoping Bowen would go <b>easy </b>on Alvin.

    Enrique still wished Bowen would just turn a blind eye to <b>it </b><b>all</b>.

    Bowen <b>was </b>about to <b>say </b>more when there <b>was </b><b>a </b>knock at the door. It <b>was </b><b>Samson</b>.

    ¡°Mr. Turner<b>, </b>I need to talk to you for a moment,¡± Samson said.

    Bowen ended his conversation with Enrique and stepped out of the room. It wasn¡¯t Samson who actually needed to speak with him; it was Enrique¡¯s doctor.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, you¡¯re just in time. This is Enrique¡¯s medical report. There are some things here that <b>I </b>can¡¯t really tell him directly<b>, </b>so I¡¯m letting you know instead¡­¡± the doctor said.

    The doctor rattled off <b>a </b>string <b>of </b>medical terms, then finally said, ¡°To put it inly, Enrique is in thete stages of lung cancer. Given his age¨Che¡¯s already in histe seventies, almost eighty¨Cthere¡¯s really no point in putting him through aggressive treatments anymore. It would only make him suffer. Our advice is to go with conservative care and let him spend his remaining time asfortably as possible¡­¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Enrique get regr checkups? Howe nobody caught this until now?¡± Bowen demanded, his voice tight with anger and frustration.

    Before the doctor could answer, Samson jumped in to exin, ¡°Mr. Turner, honestly, Mr. Enrique always thought it was a hassle. He never believed anything <b>was </b>really wrong, so every time he just did the basics¨Cblood pressure, blood sugar, that kind of thing¡­<b>¡± </b>

    Bowen fidgeted with his hands, feeling helpless as he asked, <b>¡°</b>Is there any treatment avable <b>overseas</b>?<b>¡± </b>

    The doctor shook his head in response, ¡°<b>It¡¯s </bte<b>¨C</b>stage cancer, Mr. Turner<b>¨C</b>you know what that means. But I did hear Walton Pharmaceuticals is developing a breakthrough drug for cancer. Maybe that¡¯s something worth looking into.¡±

    The Walton Pharmaceuticals?¡® Bowen froze for a second as he thought, ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t Bree mention she had some kind of partnership with the Mansell family?¡®

    ¡°Alright, I understand. Don¡¯t tell my dad about this yet. If there¡¯s nothing else, can he go home to rest?¡± Bowen asked.

    ¡°Yes, but it would be best to have a medical team by his side to look after him,¡± the doctor replied.

    ¡°Okay, Samson, handle that. And make sure no one at the estate says a word about this,¡± Bowen instructed.

    After all this, Bowen really didn¡¯t have the energy to keep going back and forth with Enrique about Alvin.

    Meanwhile, since Bowen had to leave Mistmere on short notice, Aubree couldn¡¯t just leave the project hanging.

    After all, things were finallying to a close.

    She and Vincent headed straight to David¡¯s house.

    ¡°Mr. Molina, you don¡¯t look the least bit surprised to see us<b>,</b>¡± Aubree said as they walked in.

    After everything that had happened, David had more or less figured out that these three were definitely not your average fruit merchants.

    ¡°Looks like I had you all wrong,¡± he admitted.

    Aubree got straight <i>to </i>the point, introducing herself without any pretense. She stated, ¡°We¡¯ve looked into it, and there¡¯s a gold mine in the mountains behind your house.¡±

    David was quiet for a long moment, honestly shocked that Aubree had uncovered the truth in such a short time.

    <b>And </b>what really caught him off guard was that she <b>was </b>actually from Rithol City.

    Even someone like him, <b>a </b>farmer living deep in the mountains, had heard of Aubree¡¯s name.

    ¡°What do <b>you </b>want?¡± he asked in a <b>wary </b>tone<b>. </b>

 Tried 576

    <b>Chapter </b>576

    Aubree didn¡¯t beat around the bush. She knew the gold mine was on David¡¯snd, and Ethan had already mentioned that David and the

    vige chief had some kind of arrangement.

    It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out that the vige chief probably promised David some perks to keep the gold mine under wraps.

    ¡°I¡¯m right, the vige chief has already made a deal with Wilson Group from Rithol City. My guess is, they¡¯re letting Wilson Group take the lion¡¯s share of the gold mine, and Wilson Group will be in charge of the mining,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°It¡¯s got nothing to do with me. Like I said, I¡¯ll just pretend I don¡¯t know anything about the gold mine, and whatever profits you make, there¡¯s no need to give me any.¡± David replied.

    He figured that as long as he didn¡¯t take any profit and kept his head down, it had nothing to do with him, be it good or bad.

    Aubree replied, ¡°Mr. Molina, aren¡¯t you being a little too naive?

    ¡°Let¡¯s not even talk about whether the vige chief¡¯s family might pull something shady using your name. If you know what¡¯s going on and just keep quiet, that makes you an aplice. Mining without a permit is illegal. Do you really think you won¡¯t get into any trouble if things go south?¡±

    David¡¯s hand trembled as he took a drag from his cigarette, ash scattering to the floor. He asked, ¡°With the vige chief cozying up to someone as powerful as Bryan, do you think you can stop them if they want to do something?¡±

    Aubree smiled in response, ¡°Bryan might want to mine the gold, but it¡¯s not that easy. He¡¯ll ask the vige chief to help him secure the project to redevelop Ridgehaven Town so that he can use it as a cover for mining. As long as the rest of you sign this demolition agreement, the project won¡¯t be Wilson Group¡¯s anymore.¡±

    Vincent stepped forward and handed David the prepared demolition agreement. Thepensation offered was fair, based on the market

    rate.

    ¡°If I sign this, does that mean you¡¯ll actually get the project?¡± David asked. His tone wasn¡¯t sarcastic. He knew that even if everyone in the vige agreed, without the vige chief¡¯s approval, the project still wouldn¡¯t happen.

    Aubree nodded, understanding where he wasing from. She exined, ¡°David, like I said, mining without a permit is illegal. Forget all the other shady stuff the vige chief has done over the years. Just this gold mine thing alone is enough to get him kicked out as the chief.¡±

    Once the vige chief is out of the picture, nothing else really matters.

    David took another drag <i>from </i>his cigarette as he contemted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Aubree reassured. ¡°This agreementes with a condition that if the vige chief is still safe and sound after ten days, the agreement is void.¡±

    Hearing this, David visibly rxed.

    He owned arge orchard, and thepensation plus the demolition payout added up to a pretty hefty sum that would be enough for his whole family to leave Ridgehaven Town and Mistmere behind, and start a new life in a better city.

    ¡°Alright,¡± David finally agreed, a hint of relief in his voice. ¡®It¡¯s time to move on,¡® he thought.

    With David¡¯s signed agreement in hand, Aubree used the same approach and went around visiting the other families in Ridgehaven Town.

    To avoid any unnecessary trouble, she didn¡¯t breathe a word about the gold mine to anyone else. She just told them that the vige chief¡¯s refusal to approve the demolition wasn¡¯t for their sake at all, and that he was just looking out for himself, trying to raise his own price and

    <b>cash </b>in on the deal.

    At first, most of them didn¡¯t believe the vige chief would actually get in trouble. After all, they¡¯d been under his thumb for so long that fear had be ingrained in them, making them too scared to take any action.

    But when Aubree showed them David¡¯s signed agreement, they started to waver.

    If even David signed it, maybe what she¡¯s saying is actually true?¡® one of them thought.

    Is the vige chief really about to get what he deserves?¡® another wondered.

    ¡®So the real reason the vige chief didn¡¯t want us to agree to the demolition wasn¡¯t to get us more money. It was all for his own benefit!¡®

    someone else realized.

 Tried 577

    <b>Chapter </b><b>577 </b>

    When it came to standing up for themselves, even the most beaten¨Cdown folks found a bit of backbone once their bottom line was on the line. Aubree¡¯s approach went off without a hitch. However, those few who hesitated to sign were just holding off to see if the vige chief would really get what¡¯sing to him, just like she said.

    After making their way from one end of the vige to the other, they soon found themselves at the Nelson family¡¯s doorstep.

    ¡°Ms. Miller, do you really think we can convince the Nelson family?¡± Ethan asked.

    Ethan thought, ¡®Since Alvin already brought their son back, doesn¡¯t that mean the Nelson family will just go along with whatever he says?¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t know till we try, am I right?¡± Aubree replied.

    Honestly, even Aubree wasn¡¯t sure if Pontus would give in.

    To be honest, all she could do was discuss things with the project manager and see if she could convince at least part of the Nelson family to go along with the agreement.

    Luckily, when they went to visit Pontus, Jacob wasn¡¯t home.

    ¡°Mr. Nelsn, where¡¯s your son?¡± Aubree asked.

    As soon as Pontus recognized Aubree, his face brightened with a warm smile. However, when she mentioned his son, the smile slightly vanished. He responded, ¡°Ever since he returned, he hardly spends any time at home.¡±

    To be precise, except for staying home the night he first returned, Jacob just dropped by once or twice over the next couple of days for a quick meal with his dad and to discuss the demolition. From the way he spoke, it was apparent he wanted everything to go his way.

    Most of the time, he was nowhere to be seen. Heined the countryside was dirty and ufortable, so he moved into a hotel in town and ate all his meals there. Even when he was home, Pontus could barely catch a glimpse of him.

    ¡®Can I really count on a son like that, who¡¯s forgotten his roots, to take me to the city and actually take care of me after the house is torn down?¡® Pontus wondered.

    Aubree sensed a turning point and, this time, made no attempt to hide who she was.

    When she revealed she was the CEO of Bree Technology, Pontus was clearly stunned for a moment.

    Vincent quickly added, ¡°Mr. Nelson, the GrabCheap App you¡¯re using right now is developed and run by Bree Technology. Ms. Miller was the one who came up with it.¡±

    While he didn¡¯t know much about Bree Technology, Pontus but he sure knew GrabCheap!

    As an elderly person with barely any ie, he used to hold back from buying or using anything new. But ever since GrabCheap showed up, he could finally swap <i>out </i>his old, worn¨Cout things for brand new ones.

    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, my child!¡± he said warmly,

    Aubree asked, ¡°Mr. Nelson, do you remember that resort I mentioned the first time we met?

    ¡°To tell you the truth, if I get the project to renovate Ridgehaven Town, my n is to turn this ce into a themed resort. For elders like you who really don¡¯t want to leave, you can stay right here at the resort. We¡¯ll set you up with a job that fits you, so you can spend your golden years here infort.¡±

    The entire idea was to create a themed resort, and having locals or even former vigers working or living there would make the ce even more appealing to visitors.

    Aubree spoke with real sincerity, and Pontus listened carefully, turning it all over in his mind as he contemted, ¡®Can I really trust my own. son and daughter?

    Who am I kidding? Of course not. They only care about the money.

    If they get their hands on thepensation, those two families will just end up fighting over it anyway. I might as well keep everything in <i>my </i>own hands. After I¡¯m gone, it¡¯s no longer my problem.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll sign the agreement,¡± Pontus finally said, his voice steady with a hint of resolve. ¡®Guess it¡¯s time to take matters into my own hands,¡® he thought.

    As they left the Nelson family¡¯s house, Aubree felt a wave of relief wash over her. Just one more person left, and that¡¯s Josephine. There shouldn¡¯t be any surprises with her,¡® she thought.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, her voice steady and confident.

    After following this project for so long, it was finally wrapping up, and Aubree was in a great mood.

    Vincent grinned and said, ¡°All things considered, this whole process went pretty smoothly.¡±

    ¡®Indeed, Aubree thought.

    As soon as they got close to Josephine¡¯s house, a loud racket of things being smashed and broken reached their ears.

 Tried 578

    <b>Chapter </b>578

    ¡°We received an anonymous report saying you discovered a gold mine and intended to mine it illegally,¡± a Mistmere Police Department

    officer said.

    The vige chief sat in the interrogation room, still in a daze as he wondered, ¡®A gold mine? Mining? How did the cops find out?

    ¡®And where¡¯s the county chief? Why didn¡¯t he cover this up?¡®

    The interrogator seemed to read his mind and added, ¡°If you¡¯re waiting for your protector, I can tell you this report was sent straight to the mayor. The city is taking this matter very seriously. Your position as vige chief has already been suspended, and even the county chief is being interrogated next door.¡±

    The contents of the recording were yed back. The audio had been edited so that the identities of the chief and the county magistrate were clear, but Bryan¡¯s identity was hidden entirely.

    Carmen wasn¡¯t stupid enough to let Bryan get dragged into this mess. Now that the chief was under control, Bryan would have to lie low for a while. However, if Bryan were caught up in the illegal gold mining scandal, the Wilson Group would be dragged down with him.

    She had already seen the Wilson Group as her personal property. She didn¡¯t care if Bryan ended up in jail, but what mattered was that nothing could happen to Wilson Group right now.

    The vige chief mentally reyed the list of everyone who was present there that night, racking his brain until it hurt, but he waspletely stumped. He just couldn¡¯t figure out who would do such a thing to him.

    He contemted, ¡®Was it the county chief? Is he crazy? Is he tired of living?

    ¡®Was it someone from Wilson Group? There¡¯s no way. That would just be asking for trouble.¡®

    ¡°I have no idea what this recording is about. Perhaps someone had faked it,¡± the chief said.

    Seeing the vige chief¡¯s defiant attitude, the interrogator¡¯s temper red. Just as he was about to threaten him, the door to the interrogation room swung opened.

    A higher¨Cranking officer motioned for the interrogator toe over and whispered something to him. The chief watched as the interrogator, who had been so stern and arrogant just moments ago, suddenly bowed and nodded, speaking in a tone of deference.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t that the department director?¡® the chief thought.

    Just then, a young man in casual clothes walked in.

    He looked young, maybe twenty at most, and he was strikingly handsome. He even reminded the chief of the man he had seen at Josephine¡¯s house.

    ¡®Who could this be? It seems like he is someone important enough for the department directer to bring in himself,¡® the vige chief

    wondered.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± the chief asked.

    Alvin sat down across from the chief and gave a slight smile, ¡°Alvin Turner from the Turner Group in Rithol City.¡±

    ¡®Turner?¡® the chief thought.

    He immediately thought of Bowen and Aubree. Thanks to Bryan, the vige chief already knew who they really were.

    He¡¯d been plotting to have the vigers kick those two out the next time they showed up, but before he could do anything, he was the one hauled off to the police station.

    <b>¡°</b>What¡¯s your rtionship with Bowen?¡± the chief asked.

    Alvin replied calmly, ¡°He¡¯s my uncle. Strictly speaking, we¡¯re rivals, too, but none of that matters.

    ¡°I can make sure you walk out of here without a scratch.

    ¡°I can do so just because I am part of the Turner family.¡±

    The chief knew that Alvin¡¯s words carried real weight. Not only had the police department director been fawning over him, but even someone as powerful as Bryan, someone the chief could never hope to cross paths with, showed a hint of wariness whenever the Turner family was

    mentioned.

    ¡°How do I know you truly want to help me?¡± the vige chief asked. He was not about to be fooled. He knew that whether it was Alvin or Aubree, their real goal was the Ridgehaven Town redevelopment project, and he was the key to making it happen.

    He had to hold on tight to his bargaining chips, or he¡¯d be worth nothing at all.

    Besides, the interrogator¡¯s words might not be entirely urate. The county chief wasn¡¯t someone who could be brought down that easily.

 Tried 579

    420

    Alvin calmly pulled out his phone, turned the screen toward the chief, and yed a video. The star of the video was none other than the county chief¨Cthe very man the vige chief thought was untouchable.

    Alvin stated, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if I really want to help you or not. You have no other options.

    ¡°The police have already sent people to check out the mountain behind the vige. Soon, it won¡¯t matter whether you confess or not.¡±¡±

    ¡°Of course, you¡¯ve lived half your life already. Maybe you¡¯re ready to face the consequences. But what about your three sons? Are they ready for that too?¡±

    ¡°If they knew about this, that makes them aplices, and they won¡¯t get away either.¡±

    The vige chief¡¯s expression shifted, but Alvin seized the moment and pressed on, ¡°I know you¡¯ve got a consent form with every Ridgehaven. Town resident¡¯s signature. With that form, it means every household agrees to the demolition. Hand it over to me, and I¡¯ll get you out of here. Or, better yet, I can ensure that the gold mine mess has nothing to do with you. You¡¯ll still get your demolitionpensation and live out the rest of your life in peace.¡±

    The chief readily agreed.

    He really had no other choice. Without the county chief, he was nothing¨Clet alone going up against someone like Alvin.

    As for why he didn¡¯t count on Bryan¨Cwell, if Bryan had covered his tracks wlessly, now that everything hade to light, he¡¯d be too busy saving his own skin to help anyone else.

    The vige chief¡¯s guess was right on the money. When Bryan signed the gold mine profit¨Csharing agreement with the vige chief, he didn¡¯t use Wilson Group¡¯s name, but instead used a frontpany under the supervision of one of his subordinates. Still, the police followed the trail from that agreement and ultimately arrested his subordinate anyway.

    Bryan knew the vige chief was done for.

    With the vige chief out of the picture, Bryan had no leverage left in the Ridgehaven Town project against Turner Group and Aubree. Not wanting to get burned himself, he left Carmen to handle the aftermath and slipped back to Rithol City toy low.

    The vige chief had the consent form with him. Once Alvin got it, he left the interrogation room and made a call, ¡°Okay, you¡¯re already here? I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up right away.¡±

    He thought, ¡®As for whether the vige chief lived or died, what did that have to do with me?

    ¡®Helping the chief would be a crime anyway, and I still had to look out for the Turner Group¡¯s reputation.¡¯

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± On the other side, Aubree and Vincent had just stepped into Josephine¡¯s yard when they heard her

    scream.

    Her voice wasced with fear.

    They rushed straight into the house. The moment they pushed open the door, they saw a thuggish¨Clooking man who looked a lot like the vige chief, nked by three others. Opposite them was Josephine, who was trembling as she tried to shield her son, Mattias.

    Almost everything in the house that could be smashed had been smashed.

    The troublemaker was the vige chief¡¯s second son, Salvatore.

    Chapter 579 ????

    Salvatore took one look at Aubree and instantly recognized her at someone from Rithat City,

    Salvature wasn¡¯t scared of Aubree or Virent themselves¨Cwhat really ntade him nervous was who Aubree actually was.

    Salvatore forced a smile, ¡°Well, well, it it isn¡¯t Ms. Miller from Rithal City? Sorry for not greeting you properly, it¡¯s just not a good time right now. I¡¯ve some personal matters to attend to. Could you please step aside?¡±

    Josephine¡¯s eyes filled with tears as she screamed, ¡°Salvatore! Don¡¯t go too far! It was your brother who tried fo¡­ not me!¡±

    At the mention of his brother, Salvatore¡¯s temper red, and he spat, ¡°Spare me the act! You tramp, dressing like that every day. Aren¡¯t you just begging for attention from men? My brother was just giving you what you wanted!¡±

    Josephine was both humiliated and furious.

    Aubree and Vincent frowned at his words.

    The more Salvatore talked, the angrier he got. Suddenly, he swung his hand up, but Aubree, who had been watching his every move, immediately stepped in to intercept him.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Josephine screamed as she instinctively squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head, but the pain she expected never came. Her eyes flew open in shock when she saw someone, a bit shorter than herself, standing protectively in front of her.

    She realized it was Aubree.

    Salvatore froze, totally caught off guard that Aubree had actually managed to stop him.

    Ìï

 Tried 580

    <b>Chapter 580 </b>

    Salvatore gave Aubree a curious look and asked, ¡°You know how to fight?¡±

    He thought, I hit hard, and many guys could block that, let alone a woman.¡®

    Aubree pulled her hand back, neither confirming nor denying. She said, ¡°If you¡¯ve got something to say, just say it. Why do you have to get physical?¡±

    Salvatore¡¯s eyes grew even more wary.

    He really didn¡¯t dare mess with Aubree. She clearly had some skills, and today probably wasn¡¯t the day to go after Josephine.

    Though Salvatore seemed reckless, he was actually pretty sharp and knew how to read the room.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll let this bitch off the hook today, for Ms. Miller¡¯s sake,¡± Salvatore said before leaving with his men.

    As soon as he left, Josephine hugged her son and cried. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡±

    She thought in despair, ¡®How did my family end up like this? What did I do wrong?

    Just because my husband died, does that mean anyone can bully me now?¡®

    As Aubree didn¡¯t really know how tofort her, she said, ¡°If you¡¯re willing, I can arrange for you to settle down in Rithol City right away once you sign this relocation agreement. Thepensation can be the foundation for you and Mattias to start a new life there.¡±

    She¡¯d been considering this ever since she started helping Josephine. Of course, she wasn¡¯t about to offer her a fancy vi or anything. She could buy a regr apartment and rent it to Josephine at a friendly price. If Josephine worked hard, she could eventually buy the ce from her.

    Aubree exined all of this to her.

    ¡°Really?¡± Josephine asked, her eyes still wet with tears.

    ¡°Really,¡± Aubree confirmed again.

    21

    Josephine knew she was already getting a huge favor. In a ce as expensive as Rithol City, even a regr apartment was way out of her reach right now. Even with thepensation, she and Mattias still had to make ends meet.

    She¡¯d never been lucky in her life, but now she realized that maybe all her luck in the first half of her life went into meeting her husband, and the rest was spent on meeting Aubree, who was the one who changed her life.

    Just then, Aubree¡¯s phone rang, and it was Ethan calling.

    Ethan reported, ¡°Ms. Miller, you need to get to the old tree in the vige right away. Something¡¯s happened.

    ¡°Alvin somehow got his hands on a consent form with all the vigers¡® signatures. He¡¯s with the project manager now. If they verify the form, the project might go to Turner Group.¡±

    Aubree was stunned as she thought, ¡®Alvin? had almost forgotten about him. After he showed up with Jacob at the very beginning, I had never seen him again. He was even less noticeable than the folks from Wilson Group.

    ¡®Did he just pull the rug out from under us?¡®

    After hanging up, Aubree¡¯s mood sank as she realized that she had underestimated Alvin. She inwardly sighed, ¡®Well, the Turner family was

    20.35 Thu 7 <b>Air </b>

    Chapter S80

    7AM OF

    Jull of schemers, and I was the one who had let my guard down!

    Aubree told Vincent what Ethan had said on the phone and reassured, ¡°No matter what, we¡¯ve done our best. Let¡¯s go see what¡¯s going on.¡±

    ¡°Wait a second,¡± Josephine said, suddenly standing up.

    She took a deep breath and added, ¡°If it¡¯s about the consent form, I might be able to help.

    When Aubree arrived at the tree in the center of the vige with Vincent and Josephine, she saw Alvin, looking unusually sharp in formal clothes, standing next to a man in a suit. It was the project manager for the Ridgehaven Town project.

    When he saw her, Alvin gave a faint smirk, ¡°You¡¯re toote.¡±

    Aubree met his gaze and she thought, ¡°Is this really the first time we had faced each other so calmly and peacefully since our falling out?

    Isn¡¯t it funny how things turn out?

    ¡®But still¡­

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m not toote after all,¡± she calmly said.

 Tried 581

    Chapter <b>581 </b>

    The project manager had already verified the consent form and found no major issues. ¡°As we agreed, Turner Group, Wilson Group, Diamonde Group, and Bree Techitology whoever settles the relocation first, by any means as long as it¡¯s legal andpliant, gets the project. Currently, it appears that Turner Group is in the lead.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already checked with Wilson Group and Diamonde Group, and they have no objections for now. Ms. Miller, if you don¡¯t have any issues either, this project will go to Turner Group,¡± the project manager added.

    Aubree didn¡¯t reply. Instead, she nced at Josephine.

    Alvin had noticed Josephine the moment she arrived.

    ¡®Does Aubree really think Josephine can turn things around? Even her family has already signed the consent form. What could she possibly do now¨Ctake it back?¡® Alvin thought as a cold glint shed in Alvin¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°There¡¯s a problem with this consent form,¡± Josephine said.

    Recalling everything Aubree had done for her, Josephine gathered her courage and stepped forward, stating, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this is the consent form the vige chief made us sign back then. It has my son, Mattias¡¯s name on it.

    ¡°The vige chief pretty much ran the ce like his own little kingdom. We didn¡¯t dare go against him, but I was worried he¡¯d pocket everything in the end. So when it came time to sign, I yed it smart and I signed my son¡¯s name instead of mine. But the property is actually under my name.¡±

    As such, Josephine¡¯s consent on the form did not hold weight.

    The project manager frowned as he uttered, ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­¡±

    Aubree jumped right in and handed over the agreement she¡¯d collected. She announced, ¡°Here¡¯s the agreement I got from the vigers. All the ones who agreed to the relocation signed it. And that¡¯s not all¡­¡±

    Ever since she decided to redevelop Ridgehaven Town, she¡¯d had her team put together a full project proposal and sent Vincent to do some groundwork in the vige. Now, she handed all those documents to the project manager.

    ¡°From what we¡¯ve found, a lot of the elderly in Ridgehaven Town have kids who aren¡¯t around, and honestly, most of those kids aren¡¯t too keen on taking care of them. After the demolition, what happens to these seniors is a real problem. We¡¯ve already talked to them and done

    our research to figure out a solution,¡± Aubree exined.

    The Turner Group had a project n, too, of course, but Alvin hadn¡¯t thought things through as thoroughly as Aubree had, and he hadn¡¯t

    prioritized the elderly issue as prominently.

    On this point, he was already at a disadvantage.

    ¡°I need to go back and think this over,¡± the project manager said, giving a nomittal answer. Both Aubree and Alvin nodded in

    agreement.

    But Alvin knew deep down that he had lost.

    The project manager had other things to attend to, so after a quick goodbye, he left.

    ¡°Turns out, I really shouldn¡¯t have underestimated you,¡± Alvin said with one hand in his pocket.

    Aubree felt a bitplicated inside. She wasn¡¯t the type to tell Alvin to just let it go. Instead, she replied, ¡°Back at you.

    ¡°Honestly, you almost had it. Guess fuck was on my side this time!

    To be honest, Aubree felt her win had a lot to do with fuck. If Josephine hadn¡¯t kept that ace up her sleeve, and if Aubree hadn¡¯t helped her af just the right moment, things could¡¯ve gone either way.

    Alvin gave a shortugh in response, ¡°Luck counts as strength too.¡±

    He didn¡¯t argue anymore. A loss was a loss¨Cno point making excuses.

    Alvin didn¡¯t stick around after that, and he went straight back to the hotel to pack up and prepare for his return to Rithol City. This project might be over, but things between him and Aubree were far from finished.

    Carmen had been waiting at the hotel entrance for a while. The moment she saw Alvin, she rushed over and eximed, ¡°Alvin! How could

    you do this?¡±

    He¡¯d tricked her, made her ruin her own brother¡¯s ns, and then just kicked her to the curb.

    Alvin didn¡¯t even blink before responding, ¡°Get out of my way.¡±

    After all, only a fool would believe their opponent would help them.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes reddened with emotion, but Alvin just walked right around her and into the hotel.

    Watching his back as he left, Carmen¡¯s eyes filled with a trace of hatred. She¡¯d loved him so much, trusted himpletely, and she could not

    believe that he would lie to her like this.

 Tried 582

    Chapter <b>582 </b>

    Meanwhile, in Ridgehaven Town, the vige chief¡¯s crimes illegal gold mining, collusion with the county chief, bribery of his superiors, and intimisation of his subordinates had been confirmed.

    Of his three sons, Santiago and Salvatore had also exploited their positions tomit all sorts of misdeeds, and now the three of them would be spending at least a decade behind bars, if not more.

    Samuel, the vige chief¡¯s third son, whom everyone thought was the most useless, was the only one who managed to dodge the bullet. But whether that was a good thing for him was another story.

    Samuel had lost his manhood, and the medical expenses were a headache. The vige chief¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t stand the vigers¡® whispers and criticism. And with Samuel, their only son left, beingpletely good¨Cfor¨Cnothing, she simply disappeared with the demolitionpensation.

    After the Ridgehaven Town project manager got back, he reviewed everything that had happenedtely. After some discussion, the project was assigned to Bree Technology.

    As soon as Aubree got the news, she immediately booked a flight back to Rithol City, pushing her team toe up with the best n as soon as possible so that the project could be kicked off without dy.

    While Aubree was riding high, Bryan, who had returned a step ahead of her, was really having a rough time. Not only had he failed to secure the project, but he¡¯d also lost a team member along the way.

    Ronald had given him an earful.

    At least the project hadn¡¯t gone to Carmen; otherwise, the shareholders would¡¯ve been raising hell.

    But aside from the whole Ridgehaven Town project, what really blindsided Bryan was that Trevor was stirring up drama again.

    ¡°Mr. Bryan Wilson, we really can¡¯t control Mr. Trevor Wilson anymore,¡± the new agent assigned to Trevorined.

    After Bryan left Rithol City, he told the agent to keep a close eye on Trevor, have him use this downtime to work on himself, and once things cooled off, start making some appearances in the media. When the buzz died down, they¡¯d get ready for hiseback.

    Everyone knew the drill, but if Trevor just wouldn¡¯t cooperate, there was nothing the agent could do about it.

    ¡°As soon as you left Rithol City, Mr. Trevor Wilson holed up in a manor on the outskirts. He refuses to see anyone. The housekeeper who looks after him says he¡¯s been drinking day and night, living in a haze,¡± the agent said.

    Bryan immediately frowned. He didn¡¯t believe Trevor would bepletely devastated just because he got yed by Aubree once.

    That simply wasn¡¯t Trevor¡¯s nature.

    ¡°Did you notice anything strange going on with him before or after that?¡± Bryan asked.

    While Bryan was away from Rithol City, the agent had been trying to get to the bottom of things and managed to dig up a clue.

    ¡°Yes, I did. When Mr. Trevor Wilson moved into the manor, he apparently got a package from the police department,¡± the agent replied.

    ¡°But as you know, Mr. Bryan Wilson, I¡¯m just an agent, and there¡¯s only so much I can do. Once the police are involved, I¡¯m out of my depth. I have no idea what was in that package.¡±

    Bryan immediately made a call to the Wilson family¡¯s mansion. After confirming with the butler that it was true, he asked the butler to find out what was in the package Trevor had received.

    They posted Wifi

    yady

    honor, Brgan found out h Trevor had was in the cedarst night and was posshays now Jest fearing that was enough to make Bryan fame.

    AD

 Tried 583

    <b>Chapter </b><b>583 </b>

    If his anger could take physical form, anyone looking at him would swear his hair was about to catch fire.

    The cer door swung open, and Trevor,pletely wasted and clutching a bottle in the corner, forced his eyes open with great effort. ¡°Get out! Didn¡¯t I tell you? No one¡¯s allowed in here.¡±

    He figured it was just the housekeepering to tell him to have his meal.

    ¡®The housekeeper always just knocks. She never actuallyes in. Did she suddenly grow a backbone today?¡® Trevor thought.

    He fumbled for an empty bottle nearby and tried to throw it at whoever came in, but he was so drunk he could barely lift his arm, let alone actually hit anyone with it. Even speaking exhausted all his strength.

    The bottle didn¡¯t even make it past his own feet before dropping to the floor.

    Bryan stepped inside, and the stench of alcohol hit him like a punch to the face, so strong it nearly overwhelmed his senses. The cer was dimly lit, and as he got closer to Trevor, the first thing he saw were empty bottles littered everywhere on the floor.

    Trevor was slumped against the wine rack, his clothes wrinkled and rumpled. Greasy hair hung limply over his eyes, and his face was covered in stubble. He looked so unkempt that even the homeless guys under the bridges in Rithol City looked more alive than he did.

    He was a far cry from the superstar he once was.

    Bryan had just lost the Ridgehaven Town project and had been getting chewed out by Ronald for two days straight. Seeing Trevor in this sorry state was thest straw. His anger finally snapped.

    He suddenly grabbed Trevor by the cor, yanked him up, and with his other hand balled into a fist, swung it at Trevor¡¯s jaw without holding

    back.

    Trevor¡¯s skin, already pale, looked even more sickly and washed¨Cout after being holed up for so long.

    Bryan¡¯s fist nced off the side of Trevor¡¯s mouth, and within moments, a purplish bruise started to form on Trevor¡¯s face.

    If Trevor didn¡¯t have to rely on that face to make a living, Bryan would¡¯ve gone for more than just his jaw.

    The pain jolted Trevor, making him a little more sober.

    ¡°Bryan?¡± Now<i>, </i>Trevor was truly panicking.

    In the Wilson family, even if Ronald was standing right in front of him, Trevor would only hold back out of basic respect because Ronald was

    his father.

    But Bryan was a whole different story.

    When they were kids, Ronald was always tied up with thepany, and Alice never really paid much attention to them. Bryan was the only one who took care of his younger brothers.

    Which also meant that when they screwed up, Bryan never pulled his punches. He made sure every hit counted, and they¡¯d remember the

    lesson for a long time.

    ¡°Bryan, what are you doing here?¡± Trevor asked.

    Bryan let out a cold snort. ¡°If I didn¡¯t show up, you¡¯d probably drink yourself to death in here.

    tres, wire did you turn to such a wing? So you got get on end week on

    de the and at the

    Trupie expresion dawled ¡°Aryan just leave me alone)

    at get a hard Mating obory for summalt like

    Be steadied hinwelt and shook himmelt free from Bryan¡¯s grip. ¡°Just stay away from me. Don¡¯t bother with me anymore.¡±

    These words made Bryan¡¯s temper spike again. ¡°Did I reallye all the way out here just to listen to this crap? he thought

    Without another word, he mmed his fist into Trevor¡¯s stomach, ¡°Shut up!! spent my own money and time cleaning up your mess, overhauling your studio, and bringing in a whole new team of people you can count on. I didn¡¯t do all that just for your to mope around here like you¡¯ve given up on life.¡±

    Trevor clutched his stomach and let out a miserableugh. ¡°Bryan, you have no idea.¡±

    Bryan was so pissed off that he honestly felt like beating Trevor to death.

    ¡®Does he think I¡¯m some kind of psychic? If he doesn¡¯t say anything, how am I supposed to know what¡¯s going on?¡® Bryan thought.

    Just as Bryan was about to blow up again, his phone suddenly rang.

    Seeing that it was the butler, Bryan forced himself to calm down. He took a few steps away, turned his back, and picked up the call.

 Tried 584

    <b>Chapter </b><b>584 </b>

    The butler pulled some strings using the Wilson family¡¯s connections, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to figure out exactly what had been sent to Trevor that day.

    ¡°A medical report?¡± Bryan asked.

    ¡°Yeah, it seems to be Kate¡¯s medical report. It was stated that she¡¯s sick,¡± the butler replied.

    Bryan understood right away. If this had happened to anyone else¡ªeven Trevor himself¨Che probably would¡¯ve fallen for it too.

    However, the real mastermind behind Kate¡¯s situation was Aubree.

    Back when Aubree truly cared about them, she¡¯d gotten to know every detail of their personalities. Even Bryan could tell that once Trevor saw the report, he definitely wouldn¡¯t go to the hospital to double¨Ccheck. He¡¯d just assume he was indeed sick and spiraled into despair.

    And sure enough, things had unfolded exactly as Aubree had anticipated.

    After hanging up, Bryan headed straight for Trevor.

    He¡¯d only stepped away for a moment, but Trevor had already curled back into the corner, clutching a bottle of liquor and chugging it down.

    Without a word, Bryan strode over, pped the bottle out of Trevor¡¯s hand, and grabbed him by the cor, dragging him toward the exit.

    Just as they were about to leave the dark cer, Trevor finally started to panic. ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t want to go out. Bryan, can you just

    leave me alone?¡±

    Bryan pped him hard across the face. ¡°Since you think you¡¯re sick, then go to the hospital and get checked. If there¡¯s really something wrong with you, even if you drop dead in here, I¡¯ll just wait until you¡¯re cold before I bother to pick up your corpse.¡±

    All the strength suddenly left Trevor. ¡°You already know?¡±

    Bryan let out a cold, mockingugh and yanked him outside without hesitation. ¡°Coincidentally, I just found out. Trevor, you really are a

    fool.¡±

    Bryan couldn¡¯t resist cursing Trevor for letting Aubree see right through him and ying right into her hands.

    When Trevor heard Bryan call him a fool, it instantly brought back all those years Carmen had lied to him and kept him in the dark. His eyes went dull as he thought, ¡®I really am a fool. If I weren¡¯t so stupid, it wouldn¡¯t have taken me this long to realize who cared about me back

    then.¡®

    Bryan dragged Trevor into the car. Even though Trevor had officially left showbiz, his former glory was still enough that if he showed up in public looking like this, it would definitely cause a hugemotion.

    The car headed straight for the Wilson Group¡¯s private hospital. On the way, Bryan gave the hospital a heads¨Cup to get everything ready.

    Be it blood tests or X¨Crays, Trevor went through every test they could throw at him.

    Bryan and Trevor holed up at the hospital all day, just waiting for the results.

    ¡°Mr. Trevor Wilson¡¯s test results are in. Nothing major. Just go easy on the booze.¡± The doctor kept his head down as he spoke, then handed

    the report over to Bryan.

    Bryan skimmed through it. Indeed, Trevor was fine. In the next second, he turned and threw the whole stack of test reports right at Trevor¡¯s

    face.

    50.96 TH 77 VLD

    Chispite 594

    ¡°Ge ve her Than Head

    The white chrets were altered here like falling chow at Troens frantically fried to grab them, ¡°I¡¯m fine? 15 could phably be fine

    It¡¯s becauer tote was never slit: The whole report was take. Autres set you up from the start. And you just yed right into her hands, Being early what she wanted, like a loyal little puppet¡±

    It hit Trevor all at once, painfully slow. He finally restized what was really going on.

    Aubree knew their personalities very well, and she used that knowledge to set the perfect trap for each of them.

    But back then, she¡¯d used that same understanding to care for and protect them.

 Tried 585

    <b>Chapter </b><b>585 </b>

    Trevor was hit with a wave of mixed emotions¨Crelief that he was fine, and crushing sorrow when he realized just how much Aubree, the sister he¡¯d been desperate to win back, truly hated him. She hadn¡¯t just ruined his career; she wanted to ruin his life too.

    Trevorughed, clutching his medical report. Hisughter was crazed, spiraling into something twisted and almost sinister.

    Bryan just stood there, watching him with cold, detached eyes. Once Trevor had finally worn himself out, Bryan spoke up. ¡°Aubree is back from Mistmere.¡±

    ¡°Bryan, lend me a couple of guys,¡± Trevor said.

    ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Bryan frowned.

    Trevor straightened up, tilting his head slightly. His brown eyes glinted with an icy, chilling light. ¡°Nothing much. It¡¯s just been far too long since I saw Aubree. I think it¡¯s time we have a little reunion.¡±

    ¡®He wants to see Aubree?¡® Bryan considered it for a second, decided it probably wouldn¡¯t lead to any real trouble, and nodded his approval.

    ¡°Thanks, Bryan.¡±

    Trevor nned to look for Aubree. By the time he left the hospital, it was alreadyte at night. He wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d even be able to see her at this hour, but he was determined to go anyway.

    After leaving the hospital, he found a nearby hotel to freshen up. Then, with the two guys Bryan had lent him, he headed straight for Aubree¡¯s ce.

    Luck was on his side. He arrived just as Aubree was getting back from work.

    From the car window, Trevor watched as Aubree, whom he used to ignore without a second nce, slowly walked closer. He realized he¡¯d

    never really taken a good look at her until now.

    She wasn¡¯t tall, probably thanks to all those years of not getting enough to eat. As for her looks, that was never an issue; nobody in the Wilson family was ever ugly.

    He¡¯d let her down before. But from now on, he was going to make it right.

    When Aubree approached, Trevor got out of the car with his two bodyguards in tow.

    Aubree paused, instantly on guard. When she realized it was Trevor, her eyes widened in surprise. She¡¯d thought he¡¯d be holed up

    somewhere at a time like this.

    ¡°Aubree, it¡¯s been a while,¡± Trevor said. Even though he still looked a bit rough around the edges, that face of his was still a total knockout.

    Standing under the streetlight, he shed her a small smile. Putting all their grudges aside, Aubree had to admit that if Trevor showed up like this in front of anyone else, he¡¯d have people screaming over his looks.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been a while. Honestly, I wish it could¡¯ve been even longer,¡± Aubree replied. As she stared at him, she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. It seemed that Trevor wasn¡¯t exactly unaffected.

    Still, even if Trevor did fall for it, there was always someone in the Wilson family who¡¯d step forward and look after him.

    ¡°So? Did youe here tonight to settle the score with me?¡± Aubree asked, arching an eyebrow.

    ¡°Of course not. You¡¯re my only sister. How could I ever do something like that to you?¡±

    Trevor really wasn¡¯t like the others. As a celebrity, he¡¯d heard every insult and snide remark imaginable. Mockery and hate were just part of his daily life. Aubree¡¯s little jabs weren¡¯t nearly enough to get a rise out of inm.

    ¡°Aubree, everyone messes up sometimes. Why can¡¯t you forgive me? I admit, I never saw how good you were to me before, and I took it all for granted. Can¡¯t you give me just one more chance?¡± Trevor said.

    ¡®Give him one more chance?¡® Aubree scoffed inwardly. ¡®But when did anyone ever give me a chance?¡®

    Aubree¡¯s hands slowly curled into fists at her sides. If she hadn¡¯t gotten to live her life over again, who knew where she¡¯d be now. She would probably be dead and rotting under some bridge, her body stinking, and no one even noticing.

    ¡®They want me to give them another chance? Back in the other timeline, did any of them ever give me a chance?¡® she thought bitterly.

    ¡°Give you a chance? Back when I was in the Wilson family, getting framed by Carmen, going hungry, getting beaten and punished, who gave me a chance then?¡± Aubree demanded.

    Her usations hit Trevor right in the heart, striking a nerve.

    extes

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 Tried 586

    <b>Chapter </b>586

    <b>Chapter 586 </b>

    Trevor felt guilty as Aubree used him, but what he felt even more was resentment.

    He med Carmen, thinking it was all because of her that he was mistaken about Aubree back then, thus leading to this whole mess.

    If not for that, he could have had an amazing, truly wonderful little sister.

    He didn¡¯t want to end up like Bryan and the others, lost in regret and not knowing what to do. Since they all wanted her back so badly, why were they <b>just </b>talking and not actually doing anything?

    No matter what Aubree did, she was still their family.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Aubree,¡± Trevor said with a smile, taking a step closer.

    ¡°You might not forgive me right now, but we¡¯ve got all the time in the world. One day, you¡¯ll forgive me and realize that I still love you.¡±

    Aubree instantly sensed something was wrong<i>. </i>She hurriedly stepped back and tried to leave, but the bodyguards Trevor had stationed there quickly

    moved in and restrained her.

    ¡°Take her to the car,¡± Trevor ordered.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes went wide in disbelief as she struggled hard. She honestly never thought Trevor would have the guts to abduct her in broad daylight.

    ¡°Trevor, are you insane? This is kidnapping. It¡¯s against thew!¡± she yelled.

    ¡°Kidnapping? Don¡¯t make it sound so awful,¡± Trevor replied with a faint smile. He reached out and, ignoring Aubree¡¯s resistance, firmly ruffled her hair. ¡°I¡¯m just a caring big brother trying to bring my stubborn little sister home. Even if the cops show up, what can they do?¡±

    Aubree was fuming, but she couldn¡¯t break free. In no time, she was shoved into the car.

    Trevor left a bodyguard in the back seat to hold Aubree down, then sat right beside her as the car started up.

    None of them realized that someone in a nearby car had witnessed everything from start to finish.

    ¡°Mr. Turner, Miss Miller has been abducted!¡± Ethan, who was behind the wheel, sounded anxious. The Wilson family and Aubree never got along, and not long ago, Aubree had set a huge trap for Trevor. Ethan wondered if Trevor decided to get revenge out of anger and humiliation.

    Bowen had naturally caught the whole scene. ¡°Follow them,¡± he ordered.

    He kept his tone calm, but inside, he was relieved he¡¯d decided toe over tonight. Originally, he¡¯d just wanted to find Bree and ask her about the new cancer drug Walton Pharmaceuticals was working on.

    Inside the car, Trevor kept trying to persuade Aubree. ¡°Aubree, can¡¯t you just behave for once? I¡¯m not going to hurt you. I¡¯m just taking you home.¡±

    ¡°Home? Trevor, I¡¯m an orphan. I don¡¯t have a home, and I definitely don¡¯t have a family like yours.¡± Aubree red at him, struggling hard. If she could break free, she¡¯d jump out of the car just to get away.

    ¡°Once we¡¯re home, I¡¯ll let you <b>go</b>,¡± Trevor said, his n simple in his mind. ¡®Once Aubree is back at the house, I¡¯ll punish Carmen right in front of her. Aubree can¡¯t possibly not be moved by that, right?!

    With that thought, Trevor couldn¡¯t wait to call the butler. ¡°Is Carmen at home right now?¡±

    When he heard that Carmen was indeed at home, he got even more excited.

    ¡°Aubree, once we¡¯re home, you¡¯ll see just how determined I am,¡± he said.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him anymore. She knew there was no way to break free<b>, </b>so she stopped struggling <b>and </b>decided to save <b>her </b>

    08157 <b>Sat </b><b>9 </b><b>AUG </b>

    <b>Chapter </b>586

    <b>strength</b><b>. </b>Maybe once <b>they </b>got <b>to </b><b>the </b><b>Wilson </b>family¡¯s mansion<b>, </b>there¡¯d be <b>a </b><b>chance </b><b>for </b>things <b>to </b><b>turn </b>around<b>. </b>

    <b>She </b>knew Trevor <b>was </b><b>probably </b>nning to put Carmen in her ce right in front of her. She might have hated <b>Carmen</b><b>, </b><b>but </b><b>that </b><b>didn¡¯t </b><b>mean </b>all <b>the </b>pain <b>she¡¯d </b>suffered <b>was </b><b>just </b>Carmen¡¯s <b>fault</b>. No one in the Wilson family could absolve themselves.

    The bodyguard driving <b>soon </b>noticed Bowen tailing them. ¡°Mr. Trevor Wilson, someone¡¯s following us.¡±

    Trevor immediately nced back, just <b>as </b><b>a </b>car with its headlights zing pulled up behind them, flooding their rear window <b>with </b><b>light</b>. <b>When </b>he <b>caught </b>the license te, his face darkened. ¡°Tch, he¡¯s clingy as ever. Does he have nothing better to do than stick to us like glue?¡±

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 Tried 587

    <b>Chapter </b><b>587 </b>

    Aubree tried to see who it was, but Trevor noticed and reached over, turning her face back toward him. ¡°Remember, you¡¯re a Wilson<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    His words came out of nowhere, catching her off guard. She watched Trevor¡¯s face, then

    Wilson family¡¯s mansion. We don¡¯t have the samest name, and I don¡¯t have any inheritance rights. How am I considered a part of the Wilson farsity

    ¡°Trevor, the only person who¡¯de looking for me thiste, see me getting dragged off by you, and then tail you so relentlessly making you pull that expression¡ªhas to be Bowen, right? What, are you jealous of him?¡±

    Trevor¡¯s expression faltered for a split second, but then he just shrugged and smiled. ¡°What¡¯s there about him for me to be jealous off¡±

    Aubree pointed at herself. ¡°Me.¡±

    ¡°Trevor, you¡¯re the third son in the family. You have two outstanding older brothers, and aside from your good looks, you can¡¯t measure up to Bryan and the others when ites to talent. So,pared to them, you weren¡¯t held in high regard,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°When you were a kid, Alice and Ronald were both at the peak of their careers, so you never got the kind of parental love that most kids take for granted. Then, when you grew up and entered showbiz, people tried to butter you up because of your status<b>, </b>but you never got any real sincerity from anyone, not even from your own family.

    ¡°Then I showed up. I treated you well, but at first, you tossed my kindness aside like it was nothing. Now that I¡¯ve taken it all back, you regret it and want it from me again.

    ¡°But you realized that what you desperately want but can¡¯t get, Bowen got it effortlessly. And what I give him ispletely different from <b>what </b>I ever gave anyone in the Wilson family. It¡¯s one of a kind, just for him. That¡¯s why you¡¯re jealous of him.¡±

    Trevor¡¯s deepest desires and wounds were ripped open by Aubree¡¯s words, and he couldn¡¯t help but lower his head in embarrassment.

    ¡°No matter what you say, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting you

    go,¡± Trevor said.

    Aubree just shrugged it off. Now that she knew Bowen was tailing them, she could finally rx.

    ¡®When disaster strikes, isn¡¯t it always the tall guy who takes the fall first?¡® she thought. ¡®Bowen is so much taller than I am. If anythinges crashing down, it¡¯ll hit him, not <i>me</i><i>.</i>¡®

    Neither of them said another word for the rest of the ride.

    Back at the Wilson family¡¯s mansion, the butler had just gotten off the phone with Trevor. Every time Trevor specifically asked if Carmen was home, it usually meant trouble was brewing.

    With a frown, he went upstairs and knocked on Carmen¡¯s door. ¡°Miss Wilson, Mr. Trevor Wilson just called. I think that no matter what it is, you¡¯d better ask Mrs. Wilson if she cane home.¡±

    Aubree spent the whole ride with her eyes closed, pretending to nap, but she could tell when the car finally came to <b>a </b>stop.

    After getting out of the car, Aubree kept her face cold and expressionless as she spoke. ¡°We¡¯re already here. It¡¯s not like I can run off now, so there¡¯s no need for the bodyguards to keep holding onto me, right?¡±

    Trevor just smiled. ¡°Of <i>course</i>. You¡¯reing home, not being thrown in jail.¡±

    He reached out and gripped Aubree¡¯s hand firmly. ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m bringing you home.¡±

    <i>Aubree </i>knew there was no way she could break free, so she didn¡¯t bother wasting her energy. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like letting him hold <b>her </b>hand was <b>going </b>

    to kill her.

    Trevor was so excited that his heart was pounding just like the first time he¡¯d won a Best Actor award.

    If it <b>hadn¡¯t </b>been for Carmen, he could¡¯ve had a little sister who truly toyed him. He would¡¯ve protected her, Eaton h?r on shows, and made her die nation¡¯s sweetheart in the eyes of the fans.

    However, he was sure he wouldn¡¯t have to wait long. For all he knew, as soon as Carmen apologized to Aubree, Aubres might just Entgive him <b>on </b>the wat

    After all, from the surface, it wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d actually done anything.

    With hope still burning in his chest, Trevor walked Aubree right through the doors of the Wilson family¡¯s mansion.

 Tried 588

    <b>¡°</b>Miss Miller!¡± The Butler¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head when the say Autres walking in witte trende

    He wasn¡¯t the only one in shock. Even the housekeeper and servants wit

    King for the Wilson family coulder & Beve their eyes

    Back when Aubree left the Wilson family, plenty of them thought she was being stupid. So what if the hat to put up with a little mistreatmend Bong the heiress of the Wilson family means rolling in riches. If it were me, I¡¯d take it withoutint, they all thought.

    Some even ced bets on how long it would take for Aubree to slink back, begging for forgiveness.

    But none of them ever imagined things would flip like this. In the end, it was the Wilson family members who had to go, one by one, to beg Aubree toe back.

    It really blew everyone¡¯s mind. No one expected the tables to turn like this.

    It turned out that Aubree managed to achieve more after she left the Wilson family.

    The butler watched as Aubree, lookingpletely unwilling, was dragged in by Trevor. He could pretty much guess what that phone call asking about Carmen was for, and secretly felt relieved that he¡¯d given Carmen a heads¨Cup earlier.

    ¡°¡®¡°If I hadn¡¯t done that, Miss Wilson might¡¯ve ended up in the hospital tonight,¡® he thought to himself.

    When Aubree met the butler¡¯s gaze, she gave him a polite nod. He¡¯d secretly helped her out a few times before. It didn¡¯t really fix anything, but at least made the punishments a bit more bearable.

    Trevor had already figured out how to please Aubree on the way back. He was going to make Carmen pay for every single thing Aubree had suffered in the past.

    That should finally appease Aubree, right? And if that¡¯s still not enough¡­¡® Trevor thought, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes. He wouldn¡¯t hesitate to get his hands even bloodier if that was what it took.

    ¡°Aubree!¡± Ronald called out as he came down the stairs. He¡¯d just heard about Trevor from Bryan¡¯s phone call and was all furious, ready to confront Trevor. But the moment he saw Aubree, all that anger instantly turned into shock.

    His gaze shifted to Trevor¡¯s hand, which was still tightly holding onto Aubree¡¯s.

    He wondered, ¡®Did theye back holding hands? Has Aubree forgiven them? Did Trevor manage to talk her intoing back?

    But when Ronald looked closer, he noticed the barely suppressed anger on Aubree¡¯s face. In that instant, he realized that Trevor must have forcefully brought her back.

    Meanwhile, Bowen arrived outside the Wilson family¡¯s house. Trevor had already instructed the guards not to let him in, and they stood firm at their posts, blocking his way.

    Bowen didn¡¯t want to force his way in. ¡®Since Bree is back at the Wilson family¡¯s mansion, probably nothing bad will happen to her for the time being,¡® he thought.

    Inside the Wilson family¡¯s mansion<b>, </b>Carmen was feeling uneasy, holed up in her room, but still unable to escape Trevor¡¯s clutches. When she spotted Aubree sitting on the living room sofa downstairs, she felt even more uneasy.

    ¡®Aubree? Why is Aubree here? What is Trevor nning to do to me?¡® Carmen thought.

    ¡°Trevor, Aubree is back?¡± Carmen managed to squeeze out a smile that was uglier than crying, all the while desperately praying that Alice and Daxton would get home soon.

    Trevor ignored herpletely, while Ronald was thinking about something else.

    08:57 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>9 Aug

    <b>Chapter </b><b>588 </b>

    <b>The </b>Ridgehaven Town project had already been officially awarded <b>to </b>Bree Technology<b>, </b>and there was basically no room for negotiation anymore. Shi <b>even </b><b>for </b>the Wilson Group, if they could get a share of that project, it would be a huge benefit.

    ¡®If Trevor really managed to bring Aubree back, then as family, we could get involved in the project too. Aubree would probably agree to it. <b>With </b><b>the </b>thoughts in mind, Ronald didn¡¯t try to stop Trevor.

    Trevor dropped to one knee in front of Aubree, bringing himself eye¨Cto¨Ceye with her. ¡°Aubree, how do you want to make Carmen pay for everything she put you through?¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t say a word. She just shot him a look full of sarcasm as she thought, ¡®Sure, Carmen hurt me plenty, but in the end, wasn¡¯t it always you people who actually made me suffer?¡®

    Trevor wasn¡¯t fazed by Aubree¡¯s icy attitude at all. He got to his feet and fixed his gaze on Carmen, making her visibly tremble in fear.

    ¡°Let me see. The punishments Aubree got the most were being starved, forced to kneel, and punished. But you¡¯ve already eaten, and if you sneak foodter, I won¡¯t even know.¡± Trevor frowned, mulling it over.

    AD

 Tried 589

    <b>Chapter </b><b>589 </b>

    After a moment, he quickly came up with a a solution. ¡°Since you made Aubree go hungry every day, your punishment will be to eat even more

    He immediately told the kitchen staff to start cooking. ¡°Carmen, don¡¯t say that I don¡¯t care about you. I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll upset your stomach, so specially asked them to make you something digestible.¡±

    Carmen¡¯s whole body trembled as she threw a pleading look at Ronald. ¡°Dad¡­¡±

    But Ronald turned his head away, pretending not to hear her.

    Carmen felt a chill run through her, from the pit of her stomach all the way to her fingertips. It was like she¡¯d just been pulled out of ice¨Ccold water.

    ¡°It¡¯ll take a while for the food to be ready, so let¡¯s not drag this out. It¡¯s gettingte, and I don¡¯t want to mess up Aubree¡¯s sleep.¡± Trevor said.

    Those words almost made Aubreeugh. ¡®Trevor has been an actor for so long that he actually thinks he¡¯s some kind of perfect brother now? she thought mockingly.

    However, she looked quite forward to seeing just what Trevor would end up doing to Carmen.

    ¡°Dad, the cane is in the study, right?¡± Trevor asked.

    As soon as he said that, Ronald paused for just a couple of seconds before telling the butler to fetch it.

    The cane was a specially made rattan stick, about a foot and a half long. It was super flexible and covered in sharp little thorns. When it hit one, it tore up one¡¯s skin and flesh, but never broke any bones.

    Back when Aubree was living with the Wilson family, she got beaten with that cane more times than she could count. If she didn¡¯t know that, except for Carmen, the other four Wilson siblings had all gotten a taste of it once or twice, she would¡¯ve thought they made <b>it </b>just for her when she moved in.

    Carmen¡¯s face turned deathly pale. ¡°Dad, please, don¡¯t. My health is terrible. I might actually die.¡±

    She finally thought of an excuse to get her out of this situation. She had a heart condition after all.

    If Carmen hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Aubree would¡¯ve almost forgotten about her so¨Ccalled heart condition.

    Back when Aubree was living with the Wilson family, Carmen¡¯s heart problems would re up at the drop of a hat. Even after Aubree left, Carmen still <b>got </b>worked up over her plenty of times. Yet, Carmen was still alive and kicking.

    Ronald let out a sigh. ¡°Carmen, we¡¯ve taken care of you all these years. Don¡¯t you think you should repay our kindness?¡±

    He made it sound like as long as Carmen took her punishment, Aubree would forgive all of them.

    That was when Carmen finally understood that it wasn¡¯t that the others didn¡¯t want to do something to her; it was just that no one else ever actually acted on it the way Trevor did.

    Trevor was already closing in with the cane in hand. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. You¡¯ve had regr check¨Cups all these years, and your health has been just great. Even if something does happen, don¡¯t worry. The Wilson family has more than enough money to treat you.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time. Go down on your knees. You owe it to Aubree for all the times she had to kneel. When you eatter, do so on your knees, right in front of Aubree. I can¡¯t remember how many times Aubree got beaten before. We¡¯ll just keep going until the food is done.¡±

    Aubree watched the whole scene, clicking her tongue softly. ¡®Trevor ispletely heartless,¡® she thought.

    As <i>for </i>stopping him, that was thest thing on her mind. Trevor did have a point. After everything she¡¯d been through, <b>it </b>was only <b>fair </b>for some <b>of </b><b>that </b>suffering to be redressed.

    Emery had lost the <i>use </i>of his hands and was imprisoned for three years. He was still behind bars, paying for it. Trevor¡¯s career was <b>mostly </b><b>ruined</b><b>; </b><b>he </b>

    112

    <b>08:57 </b><b>Sat</b>, 9 <b>Aug </b>¨‹

    carried the weight of a life lost on his conscience, and he existed as a mere shadow of a man for a long <b>time</b>.

    Honestly<b>, </b>just getting a beating was letting Carmen off easy.

    Carmen was bawling and throwing a tantrum, but in the end, she was pinned down and made to kneel right at Aubree¡¯s feet.

    Carmen was bawling her eyes out, snot streaming down her face. ¡°Aubree, save me! I was wrong, I swear I was wrong. Can you please forgive me just this once?<b>¡± </b>

    Aubree propped her chin on her hand, adding fuel to the fire. ¡°Trevor, are you stalling because you¡¯re hoping Alice and Daxton will rush back to save her?¡±

    She hadn¡¯t even finished speaking when the cane sliced through the air with a sharp crack.

    AD

 Tried 590

    The rattan cane snapped against Carmen¡¯s back, the sound crisp and sharp. With the very first strike, her scream was so miserable <b>and </b>blood <i>curdling</i>.

    She staggered, unable to stay on her knees, and toppled forward. ¡°It hurts, it hurts so much. Trevor, please<b>, </b>sparen

    @me¡±

    Carmen immediately grabbed Trevor¡¯s pant leg, begging for mercy.

    ¡®Is that all you can take?¡® Aubree thought

    as she sat on the sofa. Back then, she just knelt there and took the punishment without making a sound<b>. </b>

    It wasn¡¯t that Aubree didn¡¯t feel the pain

    She

    at if she made a sound, they¡¯d only hit her harder.

    to the side, watching. Even though he didn¡¯t say a word, anyone could see the look of reluctance <b>and </b>

    Aubree nced at Ronald, who was standi pity on his face.

    ¡®Now he feels sorry for her? Back when I was the one

    thought.

    getting beaten, everyone in the Wilson family just watched like it was some kind of show, Aubree

    After all, Carmen was the daughter raised by his side. Even though Ronald now had plenty ofints about her and even suspected she might be¡­ When he saw Carmen being beaten, it still made his heart ache a little.

    However, that bit of heartache was nothingpared to the benefits Aubree could bring.

    Trevor had already raised the cane for a second strike. Carmen squeezed her eyes shut in despair, bracing herself. Just as the cane was about toe down, the Wilson family¡¯s front door was suddenly thrown open. ¡°Stop!¡±

    It was Daxton. He¡¯d gotten there fast.

    Aubree let out a small smile. But when Trevor saw it was Daxton, he didn¡¯t stop. Instead, he brought the cane down even harder and faster.

    ¡°Ow! Daxton! It hurts, it hurts so much!¡± Carmen cried.

    Daxton¡¯s anger was zing as he watched the scene unfold. In just a few quick strides, he rushed over and shoved Trevor hard. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    Trevor staggered back a couple of steps. By the time he steadied himself<b>, </b>Daxton was already cradling Carmen in his arms, his face written all over with worry and pain, holding <i>her </i>protectively.

    He shot Trevor a furious re.

    ¡°You¡¯re back so soon, huh?¡± Trevor wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated, his eyes full of contempt. ¡°You want to protect Carmen? Well, I¡¯m just standing up for Aubree. Do you have a problem with that?¡±

    The only people in the Wilson family that Trevor would even consider listening to were Bryan and Ronald.

    Carmen, still trembling in Daxton¡¯s arms, had taken two hardshes from Trevor<b>, </b><b>who </b>hadn¡¯t held back at all. The pain was so intense that Carmen was still shaking uncontrobly.

    Trevor¡¯s words made Daxton¡¯s eyes burn with anger. ¡°Aubree? Where were you all those years ago when you didn¡¯t even remember Aubree was your sister? Now you suddenly care?¡±

    Aubree agreed with Daxton on that. She thought, Where were they back then? Now that I don¡¯t need them, suddenly they want to act like I¡¯m their daughter and sister?¡®

    Trevor¡¯s expression turned cold in a sh. ¡°Even if you¡¯vee back, it doesn¡¯t change a thing. If Carmen doesn¡¯t get the full punishment tonight, I¡¯ll make sure she pays for it tomorrow, the day after, and every day after that. Unless you n on never leaving her side, I¡¯ll always find a <b>way </b><b>to </b><b>get to </b>her.

    ¡°Who are you refusing to let go of<b>?</b>¡±

    08:57 5.TA

    Chanter o

    fef was apmeching, and Allca vede Arbread in a fran

    <b>When </b>Treign can he, he fin

    Seeing Carmen sobbing in Dahan¡¯s Shins, her burz dresked

    The butler had already filled her in on what had happens.

    ??? ? ? ??? ?? ??? ?

    1 ???? ????? ?? ??

    But the butler didn¡¯t know the details. All he could tell Alice was that trade bind offenly care Buck holding hands. Then, out of nowhere, Trevor decided to punish Carmines

    Alice immediately assumed that Aubree must have somehow gotten into Trevor¡¯s head, forming him against Carmen Shafiquen her return to the Wilson family as a bargaining chip to make Trevor hurt Carmen.

    AD

 Tried 591

    <b>Chapter </b><b>591 </b>

    Without even ncing at Trevor, Alice stormed straight up to Aubree, jabbed a finger at her, and cursed, ¡°How could you be so <b>vicious</b>? <b>Didn¡¯t </b><b>you </b>say you never wanted toe back here?

    ¡°You acted like you had a spine, but now that you think your brothers and dad are on your side, youe back just to pick on Carmen? The fact that you¡¯re my daughter makes me sick to my stomach.¡±

    ¡®Here we go again,¡® Aubree thought.

    Her eyes went ice¨Ccold, feeling a bitter sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Alice was making the same old baseless usations, just like always, never caring who <b>was </b>actually at fault.

    ¡®Too bad for them, I¡¯m not the same Aubree who used to let them walk all over me anymore, Aubree told herself inwardly.

    ¡°You actually got one thing right,¡± Aubree said. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve grown a pair.¡± Before Alice could even react, Aubree grabbed the finger Alice was pointing <b>at </b>her with and bent it back hard.

    ¡°Ow!¡± Alice never expected Aubree would dare fight back in the Wilson family¡¯s mansion. She was totally unprepared.

    Her face went pale with pain, eyes wide in shock.

    Aubree only tightened her grip, making Alice instinctively try to yank her hand back. ¡°Next time you point at me, I¡¯ll snap your finger right off.¡±

    With that warning, Aubree gave Alice a hard shove to the side, knocking her straight to the ground.

    Alice clutched her finger, her face pale and lips trembling. She looked up at Aubree as if she were a stranger, like she were seeing her for the very first

    time.

    ¡°Aubree, how dare youy a hand on me!¡± Alice screamed.

    Aubree let out a coldugh. ¡°I already did, didn¡¯t I? Why even ask? Do you want me to show you again?¡±

    Alice shrank back, certain that Aubree wasn¡¯t just making empty threats.

    Now that both Daxton and Alice were back, Aubree could only sigh in disappointment. It looked like there wouldn¡¯t be any real drama tonight after all. She¡¯d actually been a little curious to see just how far Trevor was willing to go.

    Trevor moved his lips, nning to just let Aubree rest for now. He was a man of his word. Even if he couldn¡¯t make Carmen suffer the way Aubree once did tonight, he¡¯d just find another chanceter.

    Just as he was about to speak<i>, </i>Ronald, who had been silent this whole time<b>, </b>suddenly said, ¡°Why is dinner taking so long tonight?¡±

    Carmen¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Ronald. ¡°Dad.¡±

    Ronald ignored her and turned to the butler. ¡°If it¡¯s not ready yet, just bring out whatever¡¯s done. She can eat while she waits. It¡¯s not like she¡¯ll be able to finish it all anyway.¡±

    Out of the corner of his eye, Ronald nced at Alice/ He¡¯d found out a lot about her pasttely, such as how she ran away from their marriage years ago, and had a daughter with another man, whoter remarried and started a new family.

    He still couldn¡¯t be sure if Carmen was Alice¡¯s daughter with that man <i>or </i>something else. However, he wanted to see just how much Alice really <b>cared </b>about Carmen. He wondered if she would actually turn against him for Carmen¡¯s sake.

    Today was the perfect opportunity.

    He could make Aubree happy, win her over, and also see how much Alice cared about Carmen. As for Carmen, she¡¯d just have to put <b>up </b><b>with </b><b>a </b><b>little </b>grievance.

    08:58 Sat, 9 <b>Aug </b>

    ¡°Dad, what¡¯s the point of eating sote?¡± Daston asked, noticing that Carmen was still trembling in his arms

    <b>Trevor </b>let out a coldugh. ¡°Thanks to Carmen, Aubree barely ever got a full meal at home before So tonight, we¡¯ll let Carman water filt

    Alice didn¡¯t even care about the pain anymore. ¡°No way. If anyone daresy a hand on Carmen, they¡¯ll have to deal with me.¡±

    She nted herself in front of Carmen, shielding Carmen with her own body.

    Ronald¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°So, even if I divorce you, you¡¯re still going to protect her?¡±

    Normally, Alice would have picked up on the threat in Ronald¡¯s words, but right now, all she could think about was how she¡¯d already lost Ber daughter once and lost Xander forever. She couldn¡¯t let her daughter get hurt again,

    ¡°Yes, even if we get divorced, I won¡¯t let you hurt Carmen,¡± Alice said firmly.

    Ronald smiled, but his eyes were as toxic as if dipped in venom. Even though he didn¡¯t have all the evidence yet, he was almost positive that Carmen <b>was </b>the bastard Alice had after running away from their marriage..

    ¡°Good, very good,¡± he said.

    Ìï

 Tried 592

    <b>Chapter </b><b>592 </b>

    Meanwhile, Bowen wasn¡¯t just sitting around outside the Wilson family¡¯s house.

    The Wilson family¡¯s bodyguards had stopped him, and Bowen had not tried to force

    his way in since he knew that Aubree was sale.

    Instead, Bowen had called Mark. ¡°Remember that time when Nina got kidnapped because of Aubree?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Did you finally get something on the Wilson family?¡± Mark asked excitedly.

    There was no way Mark could forget the incident at the party when Nina had been mistaken for Aubree and kidnapped. If he had the chance, he would¡¯ve already brought people to the Wilson family to cause trouble.

    ¡°Does dragging someone into their home against their will count?¡± Bowen replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m right outside the Wilson family¡¯s ce, and their bodyguards aren¡¯t letting me in,¡± Bowen said, stifling augh. He lifted his gaze <b>slightly</b>. The three bodyguards had him surrounded, all looking like they were facing a major threat.

    Yet, Bowen simply stood there. He made no move to leave or to fight them, leaving the bodyguardspletely at a loss.

    Furthermore, Bowen did not bother avoiding them at all and simply took the call right in front of their faces.

    The bodyguards exchanged uneasy nces. It was as if they were trying to decide what to do now that Bowen was calling for reinforcements.

    Realistically, there was nothing they could do. They were merely hired help, and the most they could do was to send someone to inform the family, and that is what they did.

    Bowen put away his phone, grinning. ¡°Are you still trying to stop me? You know you won¡¯t be able to. It¡¯d be easier to just let me in so I can have a nice chat with Trevor, and then you guys won¡¯t have to worry about me anymore.¡±

    Ronald had only meant to test Alice. He never intended to do anything to Carmen. After all, Trevor was the crazy one who could act without a care. Ronald couldn¡¯t afford to be that reckless.

    But Alice¡¯s reaction was so unexpectedly firm, it was almost touching.

    Ronald was still a man, and he was sure that no man could simplyugh off such a sensitive topic.

    All the old grudges and resentment that had been simmering finally burst out. Ronald let out a cold, angryugh. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯d like to see how you n to protect her tonight.¡±

    With that, he ordered the kitchen to bring out every single dish and told Carmen to finish them all.

    ¡°Are you done?¡± Aubree cut in, her voice slicing through the tension. ¡°All this drama is getting old. If you¡¯re just here to <b>put </b>on <b>a </b>show<b>, </b><b>I </b><b>don¡¯t </b>have the time or the mood to watch you all bicker endlessly,¡± she said.

    Aubree just wanted to go home. These so¨Ccalled punishments weren¡¯t fixing anything, and Aubree was honestly <b>just </b><b>done </b><b>with </b><b>it</b>.

    She let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°Trevor, don¡¯t you get it? Everything you¡¯re doing is just to make yourself feel <b>better</b><b>, </b><b>If </b><b>you </b><b>really </b>want <b>my </b>forgiveness, you¡¯d have to wipe out everyone in the Wilson family. And when you finally take a bullet and die<b>, </b>maybe I¡¯ll <b>even </b><b>swing </b><b>by </b><b>your </b>grave every year. How¡¯s that for closure?<b>¡°! </b>

    Aubree continued, ¡°The old me might¡¯ve been moved by how much you all suddenly care<b>, </b><b>but </b><b>now</b><b>? </b>I <b>just </b><b>find </b><b>it </b><bughable</b>. It <b>hadn¡¯t </b><b>made </b>something of myself after leaving the Wilson family, would any of you be treating <b>me </b><b>like </b><b>this</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>Sun</b><b>, </b>10 <b>Aug </b>

    ¡°You¡¯d just be sneering, calling me fake, thinking I was just trying to get your attention by running away. But in the end, I¡¯d still have to creat back in shame, wouldn¡¯t 17¡± Aubree sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before and I¡¯ll say it again. There is a very simple way for me to let go of my futted, and that will be when everyst one of you is dead.¡±

    Trevor wanted to protest that he wasn¡¯t just putting on a show, that he genuinely wanted to stand up for her. But as the words reached his

    them. lips, he realized with a bitter ache that he had no right to even say

    Trevor had just been a bystander, and when everything went down, not only did he not stop it, but he even egged things on. He could not bring himself to say that he was not at fault here.

    <b>AD </b>

 Tried 593

    <b>Chapter </b><b>593 </b>

    The real problem was still Carmen. Aubree felt that they were making a scene for nothing, and Carmen had only gotten a mild beating Aubree probably just figured they weren¡¯t being sincere at all.

    ¡°I just did not pick the right time. Next time, I¡¯d do it right and finally get her to forgive me. Trevor thought, lying to himself as always

    Aubree didn¡¯t bother to care about how he felt. She shot a nce at Ronald, whose face was dark and menacing. He probably understood by now, so it looked like it was finally time to hand over thest bit of information she had on Alice and Carmen.

    Aubree felt that Ronald could not be fully trusted. Thus, she had naturally kept some information from Ronald when she uncovered the truth about Carmen¡¯s background and Alice¡¯s past.

    Aubree was worried that if she had told Ronald everything, he would just rush to confront them, get manipted, and end up thinking Aubree was the one scheming to turn against each other, such that he¡¯d never believe any of it.

    ema

    Ronald only trusted what he found and saw for himself.

    Aubree shifted her gaze from Ronald to Trevor and asked, ¡°You should let me go now, right? Or are you nning to keep me here under house arrest until I forgive you?¡±

    Trevor pressed his lips together. He knew it wasn¡¯t realistic to keep Aubree here forever, especially with Bowen watching like a hawk outside. But Trevor simply could not bring himself to let her go so easily.

    ¡°It¡¯s alreadyte. Why don¡¯t you just stay here for tonight? You haven¡¯t been back in a long time, and your room¡¯s been redecorated and kept spotless. You can sleep there,¡± Trevor suggested.

    He didn¡¯t even realize it, but his voice

    <i>was </i><i>full </i>of caution.

    Just as Trevor was about to pull his usual stunt and force Aubree to stay, there was a knock at the Wilson family¡¯s front door.

    ¡®At this time of night, could it be Bowen?¡® Trevor thought as he nced over.

    Aubree seemed to have guessed as much too, and a visible smile crept onto her face.

    Sure enough, when the butler opened the door, the bodyguard¡¯s nervous face showed up first. Before the bodyguard could even speak, Bowen had already stepped out from behind him, with Ethan and Samson following close behind. There was ice in Bowen¡¯s eyes, but when he saw Aubree standing there safe and sound, some of the tension finally melted away.

    ¡°Trevor, <i>you </i>brought my girlfriend home and didn¡¯t even give me a heads¨Cup? Had me worried sick out here,¡± Bowen said, half¨Cjoking, half- exasperated.

    Bowen let out a sigh, acting so at ease you¡¯d think he was part of the family. It was like he owned the ce.

    Trevor¡¯s face grew even colder. ¡°Mr. Turner, if I recall correctly, this is my house.¡±

    The implication was clear. Trevor was trying to warn Bowen that he was just a guest and he should not get too co

    ble.

    Bowen¡¯s smile disappeared in a sh. ¡°Oh, is that so? Funny, because I distinctly remember Bree saying repeatedly <b>that </b><b>she </b>wants <b>nothing </b><b>to </b><i>do </i>with you people. Is forcing others into things they hate a Wilson family specialty?¡±

    ¡°I missed my sister and brought her home. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re meddling a bit too much for an outsider<b>, </b><b>Mr. </b>Turner?¡± Trevor <b>shot </b><b>back</b>.

    ¡®Does he really think he can just walk into my house and take Aubree away from me?¡® Trevor thought, refusing <b>to </b><b>believe </b><b>Bowen </b><b>could </b>actually pull it off right under his nose.

    <b>24 </b>Sun, Tu <b>Aug </b>

    Bowen let out a cold, mockingugh, eyes full of contempt. He strode forward, took Aubree¡¯s hand<b>, </b><b>and </b>said<b>, </b><b>¡°</b>is that sn? Then I¡¯d live to see how you n on stopping me.¡±

    With that, Bowen started leading Aubree toward the door. Trevor instantly signaled the bodyguards to block their way, while Ethan and Samson squared up, ready for trouble. Ronald didn¡¯t step in. Although he, too, wanted Aubree to stay, he was not going to go head to wad with Bowen in public. So he just let Trevor take the lead, silently giving his tacit approval.

    Just as both sides looked ready to throw down, the roar of an engine suddenly shattered the tense standoff.

    Everyone nced toward the entrance as a Maybach came to a smooth stop, with a motorcycle pulling up right behind it.

    Nina swung one leg off her bike, parked it, took off her helmet, and let out a whistle. ¡°Now this is what I call lively.¡±

    Mark stepped out of the Maybach.

 Tried 594

    <b>Chapter </b><b>594 </b>

    ¡®Why are these two here?¡® Ronald thought, frowning as a bad feeling hit him.

    The Wilson family¡¯s front door was wide open, and Mark walked right in with Nina following close behind.

    Nina ignored everyone¡¯s looks and walked right up to Aubree to give her a friendly pat on the shoulder. ¡°Wow, Aubree, you sure are in demand! Look at all these people fighting over you.¡±

    After his phone call with Bowen, Mark had let Nina know, and the two of them had driven over. Although they came from different ces, they coincidentally arrived at the same time.

    ¡°How about I let you have this kind of luck instead?¡± Aubree replied with a helpless smile. She did not understand why anyone would want to be fought over by a bunch of losers.

    Nina couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. After she finally stoppedughing, she turned to Mark. ¡°So, what do you think<i>?</i><i>¡± </i>

    ¡°We should ask the Wilson family if they think they¡¯re so powerful that they can just ignore everything and lock someone up whenever they feel like it,¡± Mark said, crossing his arms and shooting the Wilson family a cold look.

    He flexed his fingers, itching for a fight.

    If it were just Bowen, it wouldn¡¯t be much of a problem for the Wilson family. But it was hard to say if both Bowen and Mark came together. Especially since Mark had been a thorn in their side after the kidnapping incident with the Walton family.

    If they ended up as Mark¡¯s target now, they¡¯d be in for a world of trouble.

    After weighing his options, Ronald forced a smile. ¡°Mr. King, you must be joking. That¡¯s against thew. Why would we ever do something like

    that?¡±

    Aubree just raised an eyebrow and stayed silent.

    Bowen scoffed, took Aubree by the hand, and was ready to walk out. ¡®At least Ronald knows how to read the <b>room</b>, he thought.

    ¡°No way!¡± Trevor suddenly shouted. ¡°So what if you¡¯re a soldier? Aubree¡¯s my sister. Are you seriously going to stop me from taking her

    home?¡±

    Trevor reached out to grab Aubree, but before she could even dodge, Mark, who¡¯d been ready for this, snatched Trevor¡¯s wrist in a sh.

    Mark tightened his grip, yanking Trevor off bnce such that he stumbled right into Mark. Mark didn¡¯t hold back at all. He¡¯de today looking for a fight.

    Mark drove his knee hard into Trevor¡¯s stomach, then flipped him right over his shoulder. By the time Trevor knew what hit him, he was t on his back, totally dazed. He justy there for a while, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.

    ¡°What, you trying to attack a soldier?¡± Mark raised an eyebrow, looking down at Trevor.

    Trevor was so mad he nearly exploded. ¡®Who¡¯s really attacking who here?¡® he thought.

    Ronald¡¯s eyelid twitched hard. He cursed Trevor in his head for being so damn stubborn. Everyone knew that <b>it </b><b>would </b><b>be </b><b>hard </b><b>to </b><b>win </b><b>against </b>someone like Mark, who has a special status. Ronald felt that Trevor should have known to back <b>off </b><b>from </b>the fight.

    ¡°Mr. King, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. Trevor just missed his sister, that¡¯s all. He just got a bit worked up,¡± Ronald said, <b>trying </b><b>to </b><b>smooth </b><b>things </b>

    over<b>. </b>

    <b>11:24 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>10 </b><b>Aug </b>

    Mark couldn¡¯t care less what Trevor was trying to do. ¡°That kind of excuse doesn¡¯t work on me,¡±

    Mark might look calm on the surface, but anyone who could run with Bowen was hardly innocent. He was just as scheming as Bowen They were birds of a feather, through and through.

    It was likely that Mark was just waiting for someone from the Wilson family to lose their cool and slip up, so he could pounce on <b>their </b><b>mista </b>Otherwise, Mark would have no excuse to stir up trouble for them.

    Mark pinned Trevor¡¯s wrist to the ground with his foot, making sure he stayed down. Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone <b>and </b>dialed the police chief directly.

    With just a few words, he twisted the minor scuffle into an usation that Trevor had assaulted a soldier, telling the chief toe deal with <ol><li>it. </li></ol>

    The police chief was already on edge just hearing Mark¡¯s voice on the line, but when he heard the Wilson family was involved, <i>his </i>head started spinning.

    <b><i>AD </i></b>

    Comment

 Tried 595

    <b>Chapter </b><b>595 </b>

    ¡®This is like a battle between giants. I¡¯m just a little guy caught in the middle. I can¡¯t afford to piss off either side!¡® the police chief thought. Yer he kept the call going, not daring to refuse.

    With a bitter look, he could only force out a reluctant acknowledgement.

    After weighing his options, the chief knew he had to send officers to bring Trevor in, no matter what.

    If push came to shove, he¡¯d just toss Trevor in a cell for a couple of days and call it following protocol.

    With Mark making the call himself, the police showed up in no time. Trevor was hauled away, and even if the Wilson family tried to pull some stringster, he was still going to be locked up for at least two days.

    Aubree walked out of the Wilson family¡¯s house unscathed. Just as she stepped through the front door, she suddenly turned back and shot Carmen a look, mouthing a silent message to her.

    Carmen¡¯s eyes filled with a mix of fear and anger. She couldn¡¯t stop trembling as she clung to Daxton, seekingfort.

    In Rithol City, there is a restaurant atop the city¡¯s most beautiful observation tower. It was a famous spot where countless couples came to take photos. At this moment, Bryan and Elizabeth sat across from each other!

    Oliver was there too.

    Ever since the Walton family¡¯s party, Oliver had been looking for a chance to get in touch with Aubree. But Aubree had left for Mistmere after settling her business here, and he had his own business in Rithol City, so he couldn¡¯t leave. Now that he¡¯d heard Aubree was back, he¡¯d been trying to find an opportunity, but honestly, his rtionship with her was so distant that it was akin to that of strangers.

    So, when he heard Elizabeth was inviting Bryan out for dinner tonight, he decided to tag along, nning to fish for some news from Bryan, Aubree¡¯s brother in name, and see if he could get anything <i>out </i>of it.

    ¡°If Oliver weren¡¯t here, I might¡¯ve thought you were trying to ask me out or something,¡± Bryan said, raising his ss with a teasing grin.

    Elizabeth didn¡¯t even react to his joke. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m just the person who set things up. I¡¯m not the one who actually wants to talk to you.¡±

    Bryan¡¯s expression changed a bit. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Elizabeth took a sip of water and stayed silent.

    ¡°I¡¯m the one who wants to talk to you, Mr. Wilson,¡± Alvin said, stepping out from behind.

    The moment Bryan saw him, his expression dropped instantly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing for me to discuss with you<b>, </b>Mr. Turner.¡±

    He immediately stood up to leave, but Alvin pressed a hand on his shoulder and forced him back into his se Wilson. Let¡¯s have a chat first.¡±

    ¡®o need <b>to </b>rush <b>off</b><b>, </b>Mr.

    ¡°Alvin, did you really think I wouldn¡¯t know you were the one messing with the Ridgehaven Town project<b>? </b><b>You </b>stabbed <b>me </b><b>in </b><b>the </b><b>back </b><b>and </b>made me suffer a huge loss. What makes you think I¡¯d ever work with you again<b>?</b>¡± Bryan snapped.

    ¡°I underestimated you too. I didn¡¯t take Carmen as someone who would forget that she is a part of the Wilson <b>family</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b><b>Alvin </b><b>let </b><b>out </b><b>a </b><b>cold </bugh.

    Bryan really hadn¡¯t expected that it was Carmen.

    <b>SUI</b>, <b>TU </b><b>Aug </b>

    There <b>were </b>only a handful of people there that day. If he¡¯d just looked into them individually<b>, </b>he could¡¯ve figured out who it was.

    Alvin showed not the slightest hint of embarrassment at being found out. His face didn¡¯t even twitch. ¡°Back in Ridgehaven <b>Town</b>, we were rivals, so of course we butted heads. But now, we could be partners.¡±

    <b>¡°</b>There are no enemies or friends thatst forever, but shared benefits can alwaysst,¡± Alvin added. ¡°So, Mr. Wilson, how about tearing <b>up </b>with me?¡±

    Bryan let out a couple of cold snorts. His attitude wasn¡¯t exactly friendly, but at least he stayed put and didn¡¯t try to leave again.

    Elizabeth let out a quiet sigh of relief. Honestly, when Alvin approached her about this, she was shocked. The idea of Alvin and <b>Bryan </b><b>working </b>together was nothing short of a miracle.

    But if Alvin could actually make it happen, it would definitely be a good thing for her.

    ¡°Alright, Alvin, why don¡¯t you tell me exactly what kind of partnership you¡¯re talking about?¡± Bryan said.

    He was willing to hear him out, but that didn¡¯t mean he was going to say yes.

 Tried 596

    <b>Chapter </b><b>596 </b>

    Bryan was willing to listen now.

    Alvin sat down and spoke slowly, ¡°It¡¯s simple. I have only one goal. I want Aubree to leave Uncle Bowen and Rithol City And hopefully, che neveres back.¡±

    Hearing Alvin¡¯s request, Bryan raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡®Huh, that¡¯s a new angle for me to work with, he thought. ¡®Maybe this could be <b>a </b>way to settle things.¡±

    He¡¯d been torn up about thistely. Now that Aubree was working against the Wilson family, Bryan found it hard to believe that <b>it </b>would be difficult for the Wilson family to handle Aubree after all these years of their hard work.

    Back when Aubree still had the Turner family backing her up, it did seem like she¡¯d never end up bankrupt no matter what. But now, <b>with </b>Alvin turning his back on her, things were different.

    ¡®If we manage to take Aubree down and shees back to the Wilson family willingly, there¡¯s no way she won¡¯t end uppeting with me, Bryan mused, a hint of guilt in his heart. ¡®If she wants to be a good little sister, I¡¯d be happy to be a good big brother to her.

    ¡®But what really worries me is, if Bree Technology goes under and Aubreees back to the Wilson family to fight for her ce, then it¡¯ll be hard to predict who might lose and win,¡¯ Bryan reasoned to himself.

    Bryan could not help thinking that things might be different if Aubree were to leave Rithol City.

    Without Aubree here, she wouldn¡¯t be able topete with him. He¡¯d finally have all the time in the world to make things right between them. But if Aubree stayed, it was likely that no amount of effort would amend their rtionship with Aubree since her heart was as hard <b>as </b>

    stone.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯m in,¡± Bryan said. This was a deal he could ept.

    ¡°Do you have a n?¡± Bryan asked.

    Alvin gave a slight smile. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve got something on Uncle Bowen. If I y my cards right, it could be the vital puzzle piece to cause a huge rift between them. But for that to work, there needs to be some friction between them first.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already nted someone close to Uncle Bowen,¡± Alvin continued. ¡°What I need from you, Mr. Wilson, is to make things a bit more difficult for Aubree. It¡¯ll be good to keep her busy and tie up her free time to make sure she doesn¡¯t get too many chances to see Uncle

    Bowen.¡±

    As Alvin wasying out his ns, Oliver, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly raised his hand with a little wave, instantly drawing everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°I think I can lend a hand too,¡± Oliver said.

    ¡°In some ways, we¡¯re after the same thing,¡± Oliver added, his gaze deep and steady as he looked at Alvin.

    Alvin¡¯s eyes flickered.

    ¡°I¡¯m actually pretty interested in Aubree,¡± Oliver went on. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to try and steal her away from your uncle.¡±

    ¡°If Aubree really falls out with your Uncle Bowen, and I swoop in and win her over, that would fit your n perfectly,<b>¡± </b>Oliver said <b>with </b><b>a </b><b>sly </b>grin. ¡°She¡¯d leave your uncle and leave Rithol City. I¡¯m only in Rithol City because of a work transfer anyway. I¡¯ll <b>be </b><b>heading </b><b>back </b><b>home </b>sooner orter.¡±

    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t mind. In fact, that¡¯s even better,¡± Alvin replied, a pleased look shing across <i>his </i>face.

    Just getting Aubree to misunderstand Uncle Bowen wasn¡¯t easy<b>, </b>but if both sides ended <b>up </b>misunderstanding each <b>other </b><b>the </b>rest be way better.

    Alvin was practically over the moon at Oliver¡¯s suggestion.

    ¡°Actually, I just got some news,¡± Alvin said, a sly glint in his eye. ¡°Since Aubreended the Ridgehaven Town project, the school has invited

    ing that project as a case study. That¡¯s your chance to make a move. her to give a lecture to the finance students, using

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep Uncle Bowen upied,¡± Alvin added. ¡°The rest will depend on your skills,¡± Alvin said with a smirk.

    Oliverughed, his eyes full of determination. ¡°If I can¡¯t get something out of this, I¡¯d be wasting the tip and opportunity you <b>gave </b>me<b>, </b><b>Alvin </b>

    The four of them had dinner together at the restaurant.

    Alvin and Oliver had things to take care of and left first, while Bryan gave Elizabeth a ride home.

    <b><i>AD </i></b>

 Tried 597

    <b>Chapter </b><b>597 </b>

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried I might turn on you?¡± Bryan asked, ncing over at Elizabeth as they waited at a red light.

    Elizabeth smiled, her tone unwavering. ¡°Even if you get angry, you wouldn¡¯t really turn on me.¡± Right now, things weren¡¯t looking <b>good </b><b>for </b>the Wilson family. Ronald didn¡¯t trust Bryan like before, and Carmen had joined the fray as another rival.

    Even though Carmen was still naive and no real threat to him yet, she was not someone to be taken lightly, especially with the Diamonde Group backing her.

    Elizabeth was Bryan¡¯s fianc¨¦e in name, and as his ally, even if this partnership with Alvin didn¡¯t work out, Bryan couldn¡¯t just <b>cut </b>her off unless he was ready to give up Lawson Group¡¯s support.

    Bryan suddenly felt a surge of irritation. It was all because of Aubree, this unpredictable variable who had stirred up so much trouble. Now<b>, </b>he had to second¨Cguess every move, and he couldn¡¯t even afford to fall out with Elizabeth.

    Bryan rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, and after a moment said, ¡°Yeah, you introduced me to Alvin, but there would be no consequences for you even if things didn¡¯t work out between Alvin and I. Yet if our alliance seeds, there¡¯s much to gain for you.¡±

    If Bowen really did fall out with Aubree, it would be the perfect chance for Elizabeth to take advantage of.

    Elizabeth brushed her hair back. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure Bowen knows I¡¯m the woman who truly deserves to stand by his side.¡±

    Bryan nced at her just as the light turned green. He stubbed out his cigarette and started the car again. Even if Aubree wasn¡¯t around, Bryan was certain Bowen would never choose Elizabeth.

    But there was no need <i>for </i>Bryan to point that out to her.

    After dropping Elizabeth off at the Lawson family¡¯s ce, Bryan headed back to the Wilson family¡¯s home.

    It waste by the time he got back. Bryan figured everyone would be asleep, but when he walked in, he noticed a soft, yellow light still on in a corner of the living room.

    The butler, Benson, was sitting there, his head propped up, dozing off.

    ¡°Uncle Benson, why aren¡¯t you in your room sleeping?¡± Bryan asked.

    Benson jolted awake, and when he saw Bryan, he quickly said, ¡°I was waiting for you<b>, </b>sir.¡±

    ¡°Waiting for me?¡± Bryan was puzzled.

    Just because Aubree had left with Bowen didn¡¯t mean the drama at the Wilson family was over.

    After she left, Daxton insisted that Trevor apologize to Carmen. Trevor, of course, wasn¡¯t about to back down, and the two <b>almost </b><b>got </b><b>into </b><b>a </b>fight. If Mark hadn¡¯t called the police in time to stop them and take Trevor away, the brothers might still be at it.

    With Trevor taken away, Daxton was fuming. He took Carmen to the hospital to get her back injury treated and hadn¡¯te home <b>since</b><b>. </b><b>He </b>probably took her to stay somewhere else for the night.

    As for Ronald and Alice, there hadn¡¯t been any more drama between them, but there were definitely things to be <b>worried </b><b>about</b>.

    Benson sighed, thinking about the way they looked at each other at the end. ¡°Madam Alice still <b>hasn¡¯t </b><be </b><b>back</b><b>. </b><b>Because </b><b>of </b><b>everything </b>happening with Miss Carmen, she even said that if ites to it, she¡¯d divorce Mr. Wilson <b>just </b><b>to </b><b>protect </b>Miss <b>Carmen</b>.<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°What<b>?</b>¡± Bryan was stunned.

    <b>1/2 </b>

 Tried 598

    <b>Chapter </b><b>598 </b>

    Aubree let out a soft sigh as her internal clock woke her right on time.

    She sat up in bed, her mind still a bit

    [I¡¯ll pick you up after your speech toda

    noticed a note on the bedside table.

    the note wrote. It was from Bowen.

    It reminded Aubree that she had to give a talk to the finance department at Rithol University today.

    Vincent had already prepared all the materials she needed for the talk, which saved her a lot of trouble.

    When Aubree walked over to the balcony and looked out, she saw Vincent already waiting for her downstairs.

    Aubree quickly got ready and headed down.

    ¡°Drop me off at Rithol University, then head straight back to the office. You can let Ronald in on thest bit about Alice and Carmen,¡± Aubree

    instructed.

    After getting out of the car, Aubree gave Vincent a quick wave and headed straight toward the venue.

    She was already about to start her third year at university. Emery had been sentenced to three years in jail back then, and now he was almost

    due for release.

    Meanwhile, in Turner Group¡¯s top¨Cfloor conference room.

    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, we¡¯ll wrap up today¡¯s meeting,¡± Bowen said after the Chief Financial Officer had finished presenting the quarterly earnings report. He nced around at the other shareholders.

    These days, the Turner Group was split into two clear factions. On one side were the seasoned schemers who were silenced under Bowen¡¯s leadership. Now, they¡¯d all thrown their lot in with Alvin, hoping to use him to overthrow Bowen.

    The other side was made up of people Bowen himself had brought up the ranks. They were his loyal followers through and through.

    ¡°I have a question,¡± Alvin said, standing up and fixing Bowen with a steady gaze.

    ¡°Everyone¡¯s aware I failed tond the Ridgehaven Town project,¡± Alvin continued.

    Some of the shareholders, not sure what was going on, started whispering among themselves.

    ¡°What¡¯s Alvin trying to say? Why bring this up out of the blue?¡± one of them muttered.

    ¡°Back then, Alvin talked us into handing him the project, saying Mr. Turner and Bree Technology were too close for co didn¡¯t even get it. I figured Mr. Turner would give him a hard time about it when he got back,¡± another worker whispered.

    ¡°Mr. Turner didn¡¯t even make a fuss about it, and now Alvin¡¯s the one bringing it up?¡± Another whisper could be heard. <ol><li>t. And now he </li></ol>

    Under the curious and somewhat impressed gazes of the others, Alvin turned to Bowen. ¡°But there¡¯s something you all probably don¡¯t know, Uncle Bowen went to Mistmere, too, and he helped Aubree out with that project,¡±

    ¡®Ah, so this is what he was getting at,¡¯ Bowen thought.

    Bowen gave a wry smile and, under the curious stares of the other shareholders, admitted openly, ¡°Yeah, I went to Mistmere, <b>and </b><b>I </b><b>did </b><b>help </b>

    10

    Bree out. What¡¯s the problem?¡±

    Bowen¡¯s question hung in the air as a terise silence stretched out. Even the shareholders on Bowen¡¯s side couldn¡¯t <b>help </b><b>but </b>feel <b>ashamed </b>

    They seemed to share the same thought that Bowen and Alvin were from the same family, and Bowen helping an outsider <b>made </b><b>it </b><b>difficult </b>for them to rationalise his actions.

    ¡°Bowen, aren¡¯t you being a bit too self¨Ccentered?¡± An elderly shareholder yelled in anger and stood up, his back hunched with age.

    Bowen nced over. ¡°Oh, Mr. Lane, you¡¯re still around?¡±

    As soon as Bowen said that, the other shareholders shot each other knowing, slightly mocking looks.

    Everyone knew that back when Bowen¡¯s father was in charge, Edward Lane had always been eyeing thepany. He was one <b>of </b><b>the </b>earliest to follow Bowen¡¯s father, and out of respect for their long history together, the old man let him stay on, giving him a yearly dividend <b>so </b><b>he </b>could enjoy his twilight years infort.

    But sometimes, Edward just didn¡¯t know when to quit or show any respect. Even though he was well past retirement age, he clung <b>to </b><b>his </b>shares like a lifeline, refusing to hand them over to his kids. He never missed a single shareholders¡® meeting, not even once.

    Everyone in the room knew he was still dreaming about taking the chairman¡¯s seat for himself.

 Tried 599

    <b>Chapter </b><b>599 </b>

    Edward caught the meaning behind Bowen¡¯s words, and his old face turned red in an instant. ¡°Bowen, don¡¯t try to change the <b>subject</b><b>. </b>We¡¯re talking about you turning your back on your own family for outsiders!¡±

    ¡°If you can¡¯t keep your personal life and business separate, then you should just step down and let someone more capable take over. Now<b>! </b>see why you didn¡¯t say a word about Alvin¡¯s failure with Ridgehaven Town. It¡¯s because you were covering your own tracks from the start<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Edward used.

    Bowen remained seated at the head of the table, looking up at Edward. Even though Bowen was the one being questioned, his sharp,manding presence made the shareholder hesitate. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s talk about it, Mr. Lane.¡±

    ¡°Business¨Cwise, you all teamed up to push me out of this project. So what¡¯s wrong with me pushing back against Alvin? The project¡¯s not even under my name anymore. I¡¯m still the secondrgest shareholder in Bree Technology. If Breends the deal, I make even more money Why shouldn¡¯t I do that? On the personal side, it¡¯s my girlfriend on one hand, and my nephew, who¡¯s also mypetitor, on the other. No matter who I help, I¡¯ve got a reason to, right?¡± Bowen analyzed.

    His words sounded perfectly reasonable. After all, Bowen really did hold a big chunk of Bree Technology¡¯s shares, just a bit less than Aubree. If he wanted to, those shares could be a real threat to her.

    But it was also true that Bowen held arge proportion of the shares in Turner Group, although no one dared to point that out to Bowen. After all, the fact is that the Ridgehaven Town project was only handed to Alvin because most of the shareholders had joined forces to push Bowen out in the first ce.

    Edward was so angry that his chest was practically heaving. ¡°You¡¯re just pulling this logic out of your ass!¡±

    ¡°Oh? That means I must be making some sense at least.¡± Bowen shot back with a smirk.

    Alvin seized the moment to speak up. ¡°Uncle Bowen, Grandpa Lane¡¯s not young anymore. Why bother getting into an argument with him?¡±

    Bowen just shot Alvin a cold look, saying nothing.

    ¡°If you really think Bree Technology¡¯s interests outweigh Turner Group¡¯s, then there¡¯s nothing left for me to say,¡± Alvin concluded.

    Bowen had been in the business world long enough not to be fazed by a couple of words from Alvin. ¡°Ever since they chose to stand against me and with you, Turner Group¡¯s interests stopped mattering to me. As far as I¡¯m concerned, they¡¯re all just opponents now. I don¡¯t have the habit of helping people who want to see me fail.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, let¡¯s end this meeting,¡± Bowen said, ncing at his watch. He was going to bete getting to Rithol University.

    Alvin caught the gesture. ¡°Of course, Uncle Bowen. If you have other things to do, we can wrap up here.¡±

    Bowen nodded and stood up to leave. As he passed by Alvin, he suddenly paused. ¡°Grandpa¡¯s sick. Have you been back to the family estate to see him?¡±

    Alvin was caught off guard. He did not know that his grandpa was sick.

    ¡°If you have time, go visit him,¡± Bowen added/then finally left the conference room. The other shareholders soon followed, filing out one after another.

    Alvin frowned slightly but didn¡¯t take Bowen¡¯s words too seriously.

    ¡®Oliver <i>should </i>have everything under control,¡® he thought.

    <b>23.22 </b>

    Meanwhile, at Rithol University, Aubree¡¯s speech was nearly over. When Oliver arrived, what he saw was her up on stage, taking fashions <b>from </b>the students.

    She was confident and dazzling. Even though she was already on apletely different level from the students in <b>the </b><b>audience</b>, she tol answered every question thoroughly. It was hard to imagine that a girl in her early twenties could have such poise and <b>maturity</b>.

    Oliver stood there holding a bouquet, ncing around until he spotted the student backstage. The student had been chosen <b>by </b>the school to go up and present flowers to Aubree at the end.

    He walked over and asked politely, ¡°Excuse me, would you mind if I was the one to give her the flowers at the end?¡± Still dressed in his military uniform, the insignia on his shoulder caught the student¡¯s eye, making them let out a quiet gasp of surprise.

 Tried 600

    <b>Chapter </b><b>600 </b>

    With his impressive status, Oliver found people trusting him more and more. The student emcee hesitated for a moment and said, <b>¡°</b>if need, to check with the teacher.¡±

    Oliver shed a gentlemanly smile, letting her know he wouldn¡¯t insist if it wasn¡¯t okay.

    That smile left the flower girlpletely flustered. Blushing, she hurried over to the teacher in charge of the event. No one knew what she said, but the teacher nced at Oliver a couple of times before nodding.

    The student came back with an excited look on her face. ¡°Sir, the teacher said it¡¯s fine. Just stand here, and when the emcee wraps up <b>and </b>thanks Aubree for her presentation, you can go up with the flowers.¡±

    She added, ¡°Actually, your flowers look even better than the ones our school prepared. You can just use yours.¡±

    ¡°Great, thanks,¡± Oliver replied.

    The student, still blushing, hurried back to her seat. It wasn¡¯t until she sat down that she suddenly thought to herself, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t Aubree supposed to be dating Mr. Turner from Turner Group?¡®

    As a finance major, she definitely knew Bowen¡¯s face since he was a regr face in business magazines. ¡®So then, who was that handsome guy in the military uniform just now?¡® she wondered.

    Meanwhile, Aubree¡¯s speech wasing to an end. After answering thest student¡¯s question, the emcee took the stage to wrap things up.

    Oliver straightened his clothes and, following the instructions the student had given him earlier, made his way up to the stage.

    As soon as he stepped on stage, the students in the audience let out surprised gasps. Some even started cheering and whooping.

    When Aubree saw Oliver, she was momentarily stunned. She¡¯d nearly forgotten he even existed.

    The emcee, who was also a student, handled it with impressiveposure. After a brief sh of surprise, she quickly recovered and teased with a grin, ¡°Looks like Aubree is quite popr!¡±

    Aubree wasn¡¯t exactly in a good mood. The moment Oliver appeared, her first instinct was suspicion. She couldn¡¯t help but think he was up to his old tricks again.

    But she was still at school, right in the middle of her speech. No matter what Oliver was nning or what his motives were, he was representing Rithol University <i>now</i>. She couldn¡¯t make the school lose face in front of everyone.

    Besides, the teachers here had no idea about the history between her and Oliver.

    Oliver handed her the bouquet. ¡°These are for you. I hope you like them.¡±

    Honestly, Aubree didn¡¯t want to ept them. She¡¯d much rather just take the bouquet and smack Oliver over the head with it. She knew that he was definitely up to no good.

    Afterposing herself, Aubree managed to look natural as she reached out to take the flowers. ¡°Many thanks to the school,¡± she said.

    Oliver just raised an eyebrow, unfazed by her deliberately crediting his gesture to the school¡¯s arrangements.

    After all, their first meeting had been anything but friendly, but that was fine. He still had plenty of time and opportunities ahead.

    ording to the protocol, after the flower presentation, there was supposed to be a handshake and a hug. Oliver was <b>more </b><b>than </b>happy <b>to </b><b>get </b>close to Aubree, but she frowned slightly. She didn¡¯t refuse, but her whole body was tense<b>, </b>ready to pull away at any second.

    23:22 <b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>11 </b><b>Aug </b><b>O </b>

    IXA

    Meanwhile, Bowen, who had arrived a bitte because of a meeting, was standing in the audience. He narrowed his eyes as he watched <b>t </b>scene unfold on stage. A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips, but if you looked into his eyes, <b>you¡¯d </b>see the storm brewing there.

    Anyone could tell that smile had nothing to do with being happy.

    Ethan, standing next to Bowen, gave himself a little shiver. ¡®Damn, what is Oliver up to? Is Aubree his girlfriend or something? Why is he acting so desperate to please her?¡® he thought.

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 Tried 601

    <b>Chapter </b><b>601 </b>

    If he¡¯d known it would turn out like this, he would¡¯ve swapped with Turner and just waited in the car himself.

    After the flower presentation, it was time to take a photo together.

    Bowen didn¡¯t do anything until the entire event had finished.

    ¡°You did a great job,¡± the teacher said with a warm smile, shaking Aubree¡¯s hand. ¡°Having someone as talented as you is truly <b>a </b><b>blessing </b>for Rithol University.¡±

    She chuckled, ¡°With your current status, I honestly don¡¯t know whether to call you Ms. Miller or just address you as a student.¡±

    Aubree returned the smile politely. ¡°No matter what happens in the future, I¡¯ll always be a student of Rithol University. If you start <b>calling </b><b>me </b>Ms. Miller, I¡¯ll really feel nervous.¡±

    After a few more words, the teacher shot a meaningful nce at Oliver, who was still waiting nearby, and grinned. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t <b>keep </b><b>you </b>any longer. Looks like you¡¯ve got something else going on.¡±

    With that, the teacher gathered up the other students who were still finishing up and led them away.

    ¡°Aubree¡­I heard everyone calling you that. Mind if I call you that too?¡± Oliver asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯d actually listen if I said no,¡± Aubree shot back, rolling her eyes the moment the teacher was out of earshot.

    Aubree wondered if Bowen was already here to pick her up like he had promised. She could not wait to shake off Oliver as soon as possible.

    Oliver didn¡¯t mind her cold attitude at all. It was what made it fun for him.

    ¡°How about we grab dinnerter?¡± Oliver asked, acting like he didn¡¯t even notice her rejection and just kept talking.

    Aubree¡¯s attention waspletely elsewhere, not even catching what he¡¯d just said. Her gaze suddenly locked onto the man striding toward

    her, and her annoyance instantly flipped to delight.

    ¡°What took you so long, Bowen?¡± Aubree called out.

    As Bowen got closer and saw the look on her face, the icy look in his eyes finally thawed a bit. Hearing herint, he lifted his hands in a helpless gesture, surrendering. ¡°My bad. Somest¨Cminute stuff came up at the meeting and held me up.¡±

    ¡°By the way, I¡¯ll answer on behalf of my girlfriend. Sorry, she¡¯s busy tonight,¡± he added.

    Bowen naturally moved to Aubree¡¯s side and slipped an arm around her waist, staking his im without saying a word.

    Oliver didn¡¯t look the slightest bit rattled by Bowen¡¯s arrival. He even put on a mock¨Cserious tone and said, ¡°Mr. Turner, you¡¯re here.¡±

    Bowen¡¯s brow creased slightly.

    ¡°Mr. Lawson, are you aware that making a show of affection toward someone else¡¯s girlfriend is pretty disrespectful<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Bowen said.

    ¡°Someone outstanding is bound to attract admirers. I don¡¯t see anything wrong with that,¡± Oliver scoffed. ¡°Or is <b>it </b>that <b>you¡¯re </b>not confident in yourself, Mr. Turner?¡±

    Bowen let out augh, giving Oliver a once¨Cover with a look that was downright picky. ¡°I can¡¯t speak for everyone else<b>, </b><b>but </b><b>standing </b><b>in </b><b>front </b>of you, Mr. Lawson, I think I can muster up at least a little confidence.¡±

    23.22 Mon, 11 Au

    <b>Mon</b>¡± TA

    Chapter <b>601 </b>

    He <b>added</b><b>, </b><b>¡°</b>After all, Bree isn¡¯t the type to fall for someone who locked her <b>up </b>in an <b>interrogation </b><b>room</b><b>, </b>can¡¯t tell right from wrong and

    throws his weight around.¡±

    Oliver¡¯s face fell for a second, but he quickly pulled himself together. He nced at Aubree, shrugged, and sald, ¡°Well, Mr. Turner Feness m just not cut out for your kind of double standards.¡±

    ¡®What does that even mean?¡® Aubree wondered, freezing momentarily as she instinctively nced over at Bowen.

    Bowen was just as lost, not really sure what Oliver was trying to say.

    Oliver just smiled and didn¡¯t press the issue. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re here, Mr. Turner, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±

    He added with a smirk, ¡°You know what they say, gentlemen chase after fairdies. Even married couples divorce. You two <b>are </b><b>just </b><b>dating </b><b>s? </b>don¡¯t go thinking you¡¯re irreceable, Mr. Turner.¡±

    As he turned to leave, Oliver shot a nce toward a corner of the room. After he walked away, a shadowy figure quickly slipped out <b>from </b>where he¡¯d been looking.

 Tried 602

    <b>Chapter </b><b>602 </b>

    Bowen held Aubree¡¯s hand all the way to the car, not saying a single word.

    ¡°I really had no idea he¡¯d be the one toe up and give me flowers,¡± Aubree finally spoke up, breaking the silence.

    ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the school, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have epted them.¡± Once she found out Oliver had bought the flowers <b>himself</b><b>, </b><b>Aubree </b>tossed them right away.

    Bowen didn¡¯t say a word the whole way, and Aubree started to think he was mad.

    Even though she didn¡¯t think she¡¯d really done anything wrong, she figured guys were like that. Sometimes you just have to say a <b>few </b>nice things to calm them down.

    She looked up at him, and just then, Bowen turned his head too. His voice was low and a little sulky. ¡°I¡¯m not mad.¡±

    He wrapped his arms around her, acting all clingy, and buried his face in her neck. ¡°But <i>you </i>need to coax me.¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh. She never realized until now that Bowen could be this childish.

    But really, she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong this time. Still, he was reluctantly putting up with it, so maybe he did feel a bit wronged.

    ¡°How would you like me to do that?¡± Aubree asked.

    ¡°Like this?¡± she said, tilting her head up and nting a quick kiss on his

    cheek.

    His gaze instantly locked with hers, emotions swirling in his eyes, shining dangerously with mostly hunger and longing.

    ¡°Bree¡­¡± Bowen rasped, his voice thick, somewhere between a warning and a plea.

    If this were the old Aubree, just kissing him like that would¡¯ve left her blushing for ages. But now she didn¡¯t even flinch. Instead, she shot Bowen a yful wink. ¡°What, did I do something wrong? Or was that not good enough for you?¡± she teased.

    ¡°How about this?¡± she said, leaning in and pressing a kiss to his Adam¡¯s apple.

    That was a weak spot for Bowen. The soft brush of her lips sent a shiver straight to his brain. Bowen instinctively tilted his head back, his hand around her waist tightening without thinking.

    ¡°Bree¡­¡± he breathed out, his voice low and husky, practically vibrating in her ear.

    Up front, the two drivers both shivered involuntarily. The partition could block the view, but not the sounds. They exchanged a look.

    They both knew exactly what the other was thinking. Aubree is being bolder than they thought.

    Meanwhile, a mischievous glint shed in Aubree¡¯s eyes.

    Suddenly, Bowen¡¯s breathing got even heavier, his voice dropping to a low growl. ¡°Don¡¯t bite.¡±

    One hand was wrapped around her waist, the other resting on her shoulder. It was hard to tell if he was trying to pull her closer or <b>push </b>her

    away.

    ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t bite,¡± Aubree said with a yful pout as she pulled away.

    Aubree¡¯s voice dripped with mock disappointment as she pretended to misunderstand him. ¡°I guess <b>you </b>can¡¯t even <b>handle </b><b>this</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Bowen never stopped her from doing whatever she wanted in moments like this. It would not be far fetched <b>to </b><b>say </b>that he kind of encry

    <b>¡°</b><b>Hmm</b>¡­¡± Bowen leaned back in his seat, waiting to see what she¡¯d do next.

    ¡°How about this?¡± Aubree barely finished thest syble before her words melted into a kiss, her lips capturing his <b>mid</b>¨Csentence

    She leaned over him, bracing herself as she kissed Bowen from above.

    He went along with herpletely, letting her do whatever she wanted.

    It was rare for Aubree to take the initiative like this, and she was still a little inexperienced, just mimicking the way Bowen used to <b>kiss </b><b>her</b>. But that hint of shyness and inexperience was enough to set Bowen on fire.

    He wasn¡¯t satisfied with her gentle teasing anymore. Suddenly, Bowen flipped the script and took the lead, kissing her back <b>with </b><b>real </b><b>heat</b>.

    Once Bowen was in control, the kiss changedpletely. It went from soft and sweet to one that was wild and intense, like a storm <b>breaking </b>

    loose.

    When they finally broke apart, Aubree was left clutching her chest, mouth parted as she tried to catch her breath, her heart pounding <b>like </b>

    crazy.

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 Tried 603

    <b>Chapter </b><b>603 </b>

    A yful glint shed in Bowen¡¯s eyes. ¡°All this time and you¡¯re still so hopeless? Haven¡¯t learned a thing, have you?¡±

    Aubree shot him a re. ¡°You think everyone¡¯s as insatiable as you? Seriously, you¡¯re like a demon reincarnated.¡±

    ¡°Hey, even if I am insatiable, it depends on the person. With anyone else, I wouldn¡¯t even think about kissing, let alone¡­¡± Before he could finish, Aubree quickly pped her hand over his mouth.

    ¡°Keep your voice down! There are other people here, you know. Do you really want everyone to hear this kind of stuff?¡± Aubree¡¯s eyes were wide.

    Bowen let out a helplessugh, then suddenly leaned in to whisper in her ear, ¡°Actually, Ollie gave me a few things not long ago. I picked out something I really liked and I want to see you wear it for me tonight.¡±

    Aubree instantly turned as red as a tomato, her blush spreading all the way down her neck. ¡°Can you not be so shameless for once?¡±

    She grumbled a couple of times in mock annoyance, but she didn¡¯t actually refuse him.

    Bowen smiled, lookingpletely satisfied. He held her hand, and after Aubree had finally settled down, he got serious. ¡°Honestly, when I saw Oliver up there on stage, the first thing I felt wasn¡¯t jealousy or anger.¡±

    ¡°It was fear,¡± Bowen admitted quietly.

    He said it again, a little more earnest this time. ¡°I was scared, Bree.¡±

    ¡°You just keep getting more amazing, and more people are starting to notice you. I¡¯m so much older than you. I used to be the one guiding you, but now you don¡¯t even need me for that anymore. What if one day¡­Bree, I¡¯m scared you¡¯ll leave me behind.¡±

    He sounded genuinely emotional, but it was likely that most of it was just him acting pitiful, trying to score some extra affection. This man was shamelessly using this excuse to get a little more love from her.

    Aubreeughed, genuinely surprised. She never expected Bowen to be the insecure one in their rtionship. She always thought she was a good match for him, and with his looks and status, he really had nothing to feel insecure about.

    But since Aubree felt that her man deserved to be spoiled by her, she obediently wrapped her arms around him and said softly, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t lie to me or betray me, I¡¯ll never be the one to let go first.¡±

    She didn¡¯t notice the brief flicker of difort in Bowen¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°I won¡¯t betray you. Never,¡± he said firmly.

    ¡°I know,¡± Aubree replied, her smile bright and full of trust. She really did believe in him. If she didn¡¯t trust him, she would have really questioned him about what Oliver said earlier.

    Ever since Bowen got back from Mistmere, he¡¯d been buried in work, and when Aubree returned, she was busy with the Ridgehaven <b>Town </b>project too. It wasn¡¯t until the ns were finally settled and the actual construction handed off to the team that they both finally had some

    free time.

    He hadn¡¯t really spent any real time with her in a while. He also wanted to ask her about the cancer medication. Thus, Bowen booked <b>a </b><b>table </b><b>at </b>one of Aubree¡¯s favorite restaurants, nning to bring it up over dinner.

    But neither of them had a clue that the inte was already going wild over Oliver giving Aubree flowers.

    Even though Aubree wasn¡¯t <b>a </b>celebrity, she¡¯d be a hot topic of discussion ever since she stepped into <b>the </b><b>spotlight</b>. <b>The </b><b>whole </b><b>saga </b><b>of </b>

    <b>1/2 </b>

    <b>the </b>rich family¡¯s lost daughter being found, then fighting with the fake heiress<b>, </b>breaking away <b>from </b>her <b>family </b><b>to </b>make <b>it </b><b>on </b>her <b>own </b>at such <b>young </b><b>age</b>, and now teaming up with Bowen, the business tycoon everyone knows, was just too much drama <b>for people </b><b>to </b><b>resist</b>.

    Whether it was juicy gossip or hertest business moves, any new development about her would instantly get picked <b>apart </b><b>by </b>those clout chasing bloggers and influencer ounts.

    The paparazzi didn¡¯t even bother hyping things up. They had just dropped a few photos of Oliver handing flowers to Aubree on stage, <b>the </b><b>two </b>of them shaking hands and hugging, and then a couple shots of Bowen showing up, and that of all three of them facing off.

    18

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 Tried 604

    <b>Chapter </b><b>604 </b>

    Before the reporter who posted those photos could even say a word, the nosy onlookers had already cooked up a whole drama <b>based </b><b>on </b>the so¨Ccalled ¡°eyewitness¡± ounts.

    One personmented: [This was a speech Aubree gave at Rithol University. I was there, and what happened in those <b>photos </b>was real.]

    Another wrote: [Remember when Aubree and Bowen were together? That was such a big thing back then, and I totally shipped them. <b>When </b>the guy in the photos showed up with flowers, I thought at first it was something the school arranged. But then <b>a </b>ssmate who knew the

    no way the school would invite someone like him just to hand over flowers. He

    significance of his outfit clued me in, and I realized there¡¯s

    must¡¯ve done it on his own.]

    Someone else chimed in: [Maybe Aubree and Bowen have already broken up? Even if this guy likes Aubree and is trying to pursue her<b>, </b><b>he¡¯s </b>just bringing her some flowers. Is that such a big deal?]

    Of course, some more level¨Cheadedizens didn¡¯t think the photos meant much.

    Despite that, more gossip started pouring in.

    Someone posted: [Let me spill some tea you probably haven¡¯t heard. I work at Turner Group, and I¡¯m pretty high up within the organization<b>, </b>so I get to see a lot. Remember that intern program Turner Group ran a while back? Well<b>, </b>rumor has it that one of the interns is super close with Mr. Turner.]

    Anotherizen replied: [Hey, wait up! I work at Turner Group too, and I know exactly what you¡¯re talking about. That female intern is just <b>a </b>junior assistant, but she¡¯s always going in and out of Mr. Turner¡¯s office, and every time shees out<b>, </b>she looks like something juicy <b>just </b>happened.]

    Othersmented: [So that¡¯s the real story behind all this¡­]

    Someone else added: [¡°See? Rich people¡¯s love lives are never that simple.]

    At this moment, Aubree and Bowen had no idea that everything was about to blow up online.

    The two of them were out having dinner, enjoying Rithol City¡¯s signatur

    aged beef steak.

    Bowen sliced up some of the meat, put it on a te, and slid <b>it </b>over to Aubree, nodding for her to try it first.

    ¡°Bree, didn¡¯t you tell me before that you and Walton Pharmaceuticals are working on an anti¨Ccancer drug?¡± Bowen asked.

    She had mentioned it to him in passing, and she genuinely hoped the drug would get released soon. In her previous life, the sessful development of that anti¨Ccancer drug had saved countless lives.

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re already in the final stage. If all goes well, the drug will be out in the market soon. As long as the clinical trials go smoothly, <b>it </b>can be put into use right away,¡± she replied.

    ¡®There¡¯s no way the clinical trials will have any issues,¡® Aubree thought confidently. ¡®They went perfectly in myst life. So, how could a problem just appear out of thin air this time?¡®

    Hearing this, Bowen¡¯s expression rxed slightly, bit was a bitter kind of relief. ¡°My grandfather haste<b>¨C</b><b>stage </b><b>lung </b>the best specialists I could find, but at this point, all they can do is try to ease his symptoms,¡± he shared. <ol><li>r<b>. </b><b>I¡¯ve </b><b>brought </b><b>in </b></li></ol>

    <b>In </b>other words, Enrique was only holding on because of the Turner family¡¯s wealth. No one could say when <b>the </b><b>cancer </b><b>would </b><b>suddenly </b>spread and take him it could happen at any moment.

    <b>¡°</b><b>If </b>things go well, maybe he¡¯ll hang in there a bit longer. But if not¡­ we¡¯re probably talking just <b>a </b>few <b>months</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>Bowen </b>said <b>quietly </b>

    <i>a </i>

    All of a sudden, he felt gentle weight on the back of his hand, and warmth spread through his skin. When he looked <b>up</b><b>, </b><b>he </b><b>met </b><b>Aubre </b>

    ry, it¡¯ll be alright.¡± smiling eyes. Sheforted, ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite, that¡¯s not like you at all. Don¡¯t worry,

    Chapter <b>604 </b>

    <b>Aubree¡¯s </b><b>face </b>fell. She paused with her fork in mid¨Cair, then set it aside before reassuring, <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>understand. <b>I¡¯ll </b><b>have </b>theb speed things up a <b>much </b><b>as </b>possible. As soon as everything¡¯s ready, I¡¯ll let you know right away.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Thank you,¡± Bowen murmured, lowering his head. He hadn¡¯t felt this powerless in a long time.

 Tried 605

    <b>Chapter </b><b>605 </b>

    <b>As </b><b>she </b>spoke, Aubree picked up a piece of meat and ced it on his te. She added, ¡°Now, eat up and don¡¯t worry¡±

    ¡°Alright, <b>let¡¯s </b>eat,¡± Bowen said softly.

    After dinner, Aubree suggested they go visit Enrique at the Turner family¡¯s home, and of course, Bowen didn¡¯t reject her.

    They spent the entire afternoon keeping Enriquepany, and when evening rolled around, Bowen drove Aubree back to Ellis <b>Heights </b><b>so </b>they could get some rest.

    ¡°Go take a shower first. I¡¯ll grab you some clothes to change into,¡± Bowen said. She often stayed over everything she needed.

    at Ellis Heights, and the <b>vi </b>had

    Innocent as ever, Aubree headed straight to the bathroom to wash up,pletely missing the amused look in Bowen¡¯s eyes.

    He thought, ¡®Looks like Bree forgot something.

    ¡®But I definitely didn¡¯t.¡®

    ¡°Bowen?¡± The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, and Aubree called out as she wrapped a towel around herself. ¡°Where are my pajamas?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re just outside,¡± Bowen replied.

    He was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching as the bathroom door cracked open just a sliver. Aubree¡¯s head poked out first, her body wrapped in a towel that covered her from her chest all the way down to her thighs.

    Bowen couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    Even though his gaze was perfectly innocent and he hadn¡¯t mentioned a thing, Aubree¡¯s cheeks suddenly flushed. She just couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Bowen was plotting something.

    She quickly reached out, snatched up the clothes, and ducked back into the bathroom, shooting Bowen a fierce re, eximing, ¡°You¡¯re

    such a rascal!¡±

    Bowen just arched an eyebrow, not even bothering to deny it.

    Back in the bathroom, Aubree caught sight of herself in the mirror and was startled to see her cheekspletely flushed.

    She reached out and patted her face, muttering to herself with a hint of self¨Cdisgust, ¡°He didn¡¯t even do anything, so why on earth are you blushing like that!¡±

    After taking a moment topose herself, Aubree unfolded the pajamas Bowen had set out for her. As she held them, she suddenly remembered the things she¡¯d promised Bowen in the car earlier.

    For example, Ollie had recently visited a pajama expo overseas and brought back a few lovely pieces for Bowen<b>. </b>Bowen <b>had </b><b>picked </b><b>out a </b>couple he liked and said he wanted to see her wear them.

    Aubree had honestly expected something a little on the wild side, but this outfit looked pretty normal.

    It was a simple white pajama slip dress. The front was clean and elegant, Nothing was out of the ordinary <b>aside </b><b>from </b><b>the </b><b>open</b><b>¨C</b><b>back </b><b>design</b>, which was a bit unexpected. Other than that, it was like any other standard pajama set.

    Aubree was honestly a bit surprised,

    <b>Chapter </b><b>605 </b>

    <b>Is </b><b>this </b>actually just a normal nightgown?¡® Aubree wondered, feeling a little suspicious.

    <b>She </b>slipped the dress on and, she had to admit, it looked pretty good on her.

    The nightgown was made of luxurious silk, with a pearl belt cinched at the waist. The back was mostly bare, with only a few thin straps crisscrossing from her shoulders down to just above her hips.

    Turning around to check herself out in the mirror, Aubree couldn¡¯t help but snark, ¡®Those straps are probably just there for the looks, <b>and </b>maybe a little extra fun, huh?¡®

    Once she had it on, she realized there was another problem. The dress was extremely short, and Aubree felt like she would be <b>shing </b>someone if she took even one step.

    She thought, ¡®But since it was just a nightgown anyway, who cared if it was a little short?¡®

    After psyching herself up, Aubree finally pushed open the bathroom door and walked out. Sure enough, Bowen was already sitting there<i>, </i>looking like he¡¯d been waiting for this moment all along.

    The moment he saw her, he waspletely stunned. That simple yet cleverly designed white nightgown looked anything but ordinary <b>on </b>Aubree, and it brought out all her best features without missing a single one.

    ¡°Bree, turn around for me,¡± Bowen said in a low and smooth voice.

    Aubree felt her whole body heat up under Bowen¡¯s intense gaze, but since she was already wearing it, there was no point in being shy now.

    She turned her head to the side and slowly shifted her body<i>, </i>bit by bit.

    From the front, she looked like a pure saint from an ancient temple, but as she turned, apletely different kind of allure mixed into her

    aura.

    Comment

 Tried 606

    <b><i>No </i></b><b><i>Ads </i></b>

    <b>Chapter </b><b>606 </b>

    As Bowen pulled Aubree into his arms, it finally felt real to him. He finally felt like the girl in his arms belonged to him.

    He ran his hand over her back, savoring the softness of her skin. However, a few scars stood out, and that caught his attention.

    Bowen gently traced each one with his fingers.

    ¡°That tickles¡­¡± Aubree squirmed under his touch, unable to help herself.

    Perhaps it was in Alice¡¯s bloodline. Even during the three difficult years she spent with the Wilson family, when she was just a shadow of herself from hunger, her skin remained pale and tender.

    Every scar marking her body was a result of the Wilson family¡¯s abuse, umting one after another.

    They had taken her to doctors in hopes of removing the scars, but no matter what, new ones would always show up. Even the faintest marks

    never truly went away.

    Now, she could easily travel to another country and have thetest treatments to erase the scars, but she chose not to. Those scars served as reminders of the suffering the Wilson family caused her. They were her motivation to keep pushing ahead, a prompt never to give up, and to strive for a ce where the Wilson family could never harm her again.

    Bowen stayed silent, his grip loosening as his fingers gently traced over each scar, more gently with each touch. He couldn¡¯t <b>help </b>but <b>think</b><b>, </b><b>¡°</b><b>If </b>only I had known back then, I should have watched over her more closely.¡¯

    They stayed like that for a while, just holding each other. All of a sudden, Aubree pushed herself out of Bowen¡¯s arms, and she gave him a slow once¨Cover. With a yful spark in her eyes, she asked, ¡°Bowen, shouldn¡¯t you be making me happy now?¡±

    Aubree gave him a little twirl, letting him take in the view before requesting, ¡°Now that I¡¯ve satisfied your request, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s only fair you return the favor?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bowen replied, a smirk tugging at his lips.

    ¡°So, what do you want me to do?¡± Bowen probed as he stepped back, looking like he¡¯d go along with whatever she wanted.

    Aubree rested her chin on her hand and said thoughtfully, ¡°Honestly, I want to see you in a dress shirt,¡±

    Caught off guard by her request, he asked, ¡°That¡¯s it? Don¡¯t I wear shirts all the time?¡±

    ¡°A ck dress shirt. All ck, from head to toe,¡± Aubree said, a yful glint in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you like that before.¡±

    Bowen usually went for ¨¤id¨Cback, casual look, but his sense of style was always on point. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have picked out that slip dress for her. The dress he picked fit her perfectly, as if it were made just for her.

    At formal events, <i>he </i>typically dressed in suits, but he rarely chose all ck. To him, that color scheme felt too serious and gloomy, and it was not his style at all.

    However, he was happy to go along with it since Aubree had asked.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Bowen murmured, dipping his head to brush a soft kiss over her lips. ¡°Wait for me.¡±

    With that, he turned and disappeared into the dressing room.

    When Bowen walked back into the room, Aubree¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He was wearing a sleek ck <b>dress </b>shirt that fit him perfectly<b>. </b>It had a stylish cor that added to his sharp look.

    <b>21:54 </b>Tue, 12 <b>Aug </b>

    The shirt was buttoned only at the top, giving a hint of his toned chest beneath. With Bowen¡¯s already impressive <b>physique</b><b>, </b><b>he </b>looked Irresistibly attractive.

    Aubree felt a rush of heat to her face he looked so good that she nearly felt overwhelmed!

    ¡°Like what you see?¡± Bowen asked, catching every bit of her reaction.

    ¡°You look great,¡± Aubree said, her admiration in

    as

    day in her eyes.

    She stepped forward, pushed him down onto the bed, and straddled him.

    The difference between ck and white was stunning. These two bold colors came together in a way that created a unique and exciting energy between them.

    Aubree trailed her fingers down from his chin, down his throat, over his chest, before pausing at the top button of his shirt.

    Bowen gripped her waist to steady her while his other hand gently supported her back.

    A low, muffled moan rumbled from his throat as Aubree leaned down and imed his lips in a kiss.

    <b>A </b>

 Tried 607

    <b>Chapter </b><b>607 </b>

    This time, Bowen didn¡¯t give her any room to take the lead. Even with Aubree on top, the moment their lips met<b>, </b><b>he </b>took control without hesitation, flipping their positions in an instant.

    By the end, both of them were drenched in sweat again. Aubree shot Bowen a look and said, ¡°So much for that shower, <b>huh</b><b>? </b>It was pointless.¡±

    She¡¯d only just discovered that the thin straps on her slip dress weren¡¯t just for looks¨Cthey had a practical purpose too. One quick <b>tug</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>the whole thing came undone. It was almost too convenient.

    Bowen chuckled in response, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can afford the water bill.¡±

    ¡®Is that really what you¡¯re worried about?¡® Aubree thought, rolling her eyes.

    She stopped trying to argue with him; she was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. Before heading to bed, she quickly <i>checked </i>her phone and was shocked to discover that the situation with her and Bowen had gone viral on social media and was trending.

    Earlier, while having dinner with Bowen, they had seen a post about it, but it hadn¡¯t seemed like a big deal at the time. She didn¡¯t feel like stepping in to rify anything about the tabloid stories, so she decided to ignore them. Who would have thought it would blow up like this?

    As Aubree clicked to look deeper, she realized it wasn¡¯t the original post that was grabbing all the attention. Instead, it was a blogger¡¯s so- called ¡°analysis¡± that had gone viral.

    The blogger suggested that her rtionship with Bowen was purely a business agreement from the start.

    Now that herpany, Bree Technology, was doing well and Bowen had his investment sorted, both were free to go their separate ways and pursue their interests. Aubree dismissed the blogger¡¯s ims as nonsense.

    What caught her eye, though, was an intern who was suddenly very active in thements, appearing everywhere on the major bloggers¡®

    posts.

    ¡®Who is this intern, anyway?¡® Aubree wondered.

    It was strange, but no one ever seemed to mention the intern¡¯s name. People on marketing ounts and in thements only referred to this person as someone working as an assistant at Turner Group.

    Bowen¡¯s principal assistant was Kelvin, and the other assistants were part of the President¡¯s Office, which was overseen by Kelvin.

    Aubree had hardly ever visited Turner Group herself.

    She thought, ¡®Even if this is some kind of trap, I need to check it out for myself. I have to understand what¡¯s going on behind the scenes.¡¯

    She kept her ns to visit the office a secret from Bowen. The next day, after finishing her work, Aubree let Vincent leave work early and drove to the Turner Group building.

    The receptionist recognized her immediately! At firs the usual friendly smile slipped a bit as she was surprised to see tired eyes lit up with excitement. Seeing Aubree made the receptionist think of the intern who had been trending onlely.

    But then<b>, </b><b>her </b>

    ¡®Wow, the official girlfriend is here to catch the mistress!¡® she thought.

    The phrase ¡®catch the mistress¡® shed through the receptionist¡¯s mind. If it weren¡¯t for her job, she would have loved <b>to </b><b>join </b><b>in </b><b>on </b><b>the </b><b>action</b>. She may be a woman, but she was tough, and she could easily help tackle someone if needed. <b>And </b><b>if </b><b>worse </b><b>came </b><b>to </b><b>worst</b><b>, </b>she <b>could </b><b>always </b>

    <b>21:85 </b>Tue 12.

    Chapter <b>607 </b>

    <b>be </b><b>the </b><b>one </b><b>to </b>kick down <b>a </b>door.

    <b>It </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b>just the receptionist<b>; </b>everyone in the lobby stopped what they were doing as soon as they noticed Aubree

    With <b>a </b>confident flip of her hair, she approached the reception desk and asked, ¡°Excuse me, can I go in<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Of course!¡± The receptionist nodded enthusiastically, almost as if trying to make a hole in her desk with her head. ¡®Even if it <b>wasn¡¯t </b>permitted, it had to be for Miss Miller!¡® she thought.

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Aubree replied with a bright smile. ¡°And by the way, what floor is the President¡¯s Office on?¡±

    The receptionist¡¯s eyes lit up with realization. She quickly grew frustrated with herself for not being able to see what was about <b>to </b><b>happen</b>. <b>¡°</b>The President¡¯s Office is on the 35th floor. Oh, and Miss Miller, I actually <i>know </i>the name of that intern everyone¡¯s talking about online.

    ¡°Her name is Jacinta Melrose. She¡¯s a sophomore intern who was brought in from Rithol University,¡± the receptionist shared.

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Aubree said again.

    After another quick thank you, she hopped into the elevator and headed straight to the 35th floor.

    News spread quickly that she was on her way. Kelvin, who had been cking off and hanging out in thepany chat group, was so surprised when he heard the news that he spat out his coffee.

    As the top assistant, he immediately messaged Bowen to inform him.

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 Tried 608

    <b>Chapter </b><b>608 </b>

    ¡°Mr. <b>Turner¡¯s </b>condition is looking pretty good. Maybe it¡¯s because of his mindset, but right now, the cancer cells are under <b>control</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>doctor said.

    Bowen was at his family¡¯s estate, listening to the doctor give an update on Enrique¡¯s health, when he received the message from Kelvin.

    He couldn¡¯t help but think about the rumors online iming he had an affair with an intern. Most people would be worried in a situation like this, but Bowen felt at ease, knowing that Aubree wasn¡¯t the type to fall for mere gossip.

    ¡°Let her handle it her way. Just make sure nobody g

    y foolish enough to challenge her ca

    any trouble,¡± Bowen said.

    Kelvin¡¯s expression was a mix of confusion and surprise at Bowen¡¯s calmness. He thought, ¡®Who would dare to bully Miss Miller?

    ¡®If the CEO himself is not nning to intervene, why should I, as an assistant, get involved?¡®

    As such, he remained in his office, not moving an inch.

    Meanwhile, Aubree followed the friendly receptionist¡¯s instructions and headed straight to the 35th floor.

    The CEO¡¯s office was hard to miss¨Cit was right by the elevator with transparent ss walls. Standing outside, Aubree could see everything that was going on inside.

    She caught the attention of someone just about to leave.

    News of hering to Turner Group had spread quickly, and even though it looked like everyone inside was busy, their eyes were focused on her.

    After all, what could be more interesting than the real girlfriend showing up to confront someone else?

    ¡°Miss Miller, did you need something?¡± the person she stopped asked, looking unusually excited.

    Aubree smiled and asked, ¡°Is there someone named Jacinta in the CEO¡¯s office?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Jacinta was just in there a moment ago, helping Mr. Turner with some papers. She should still be in his office,¡± the employee replied.

    Aubree thought, ¡®Helping Bowen with paperwork?

    ¡®He does not leave important documents in his office. Besides<b>, </b>that¡¯s usually Kelvin¡¯s role, isn¡¯t it?¡®

    ¡°Does she visit Mr. Turner¡¯s office often?¡± Aubree inquired.

    The employee hesitated for a second, then replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯d say ¡®often<b>,</b>¡® but she goes there quite a bit.

    ¡°She always says she¡¯s helping him with something or just dropping off files.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Aubree smiled and said, ¡°Thanks!¡±

    Just as she was about to walk away, the employee mentioned, ¡°Oh, by the way, Mr. Turner isn¡¯t in the office today.¡±

    <b>Aubree </b>had no clue¨Cshe wasn¡¯t the kind of girlfriend who checked in with Bowen constantly.

    After thanking him again, Aubree made her way straight toward Bowen¡¯s office.

    His office was on the top floor, upying the prime spot in the entire building.

    <b>The </b><b>lock </b><b>on </b>Bowen¡¯s office door had Aubree¡¯s fingerprint registered, so she simply swiped her finger <b>and </b><b>walked </b><b>right </b><b>in</b>. Inside, a Casually dressed woman spun around, clearly startled.

    When <b>she </b>saw Aubree, she let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest, ¡°Oh<b>, </b>it¡¯s you, Miss Miller. For a second <b>there</b><b>, </b><b>I </b><b>thought </b>someone was breaking into Mr. Turner¡¯s office.¡±

    Aubree studied the woman. She didn¡¯t recognize her, but there was something oddly familiar about her<i>. </i>She asked, ¡°Are <b>you </b><b>Jacinta</b><b>? </b>

    ¡°Yes<b>, </b><b>I </b>am,¡± Jacinta replied with a bright smile.

    That strange sense of familiarity grew even stronger. ¡®Have I never seen her before?¡® Aubree wondered.

    ¡°Miss Miller, are you here to see Mr. Turner? Unfortunately, he¡¯s not in today. Do you want to wait for him?

    ¡°If you are, he probably won¡¯t being in at all. Mr. Enrique is sick, so Mr. Turner hasn¡¯t been around muchtely¨Ctoday included.

    ¡°But if you¡¯d like to wait, feel free to have a seat. I¡¯ll get you some water. What would you like to drink?¡± Jacinta asked.

    Aubree found herself chuckling silently, ¡®She sure acts like she owns this ce.

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Tried 609

    Chapter <b>609 </b>

    Thank goodness <b>this </b>is <b>only </b>his office. I can <b>only </b>imagine <b>how </b>Jacinta might behave if they were at Bowen¡¯s Home,

    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m here to see you,¡± Aubree sald, maintaining a friendly smile.

    Jacinta looked surprised, responding. ¡°Me? You¡¯re here for me?¡±

    ¡°You seemed to know a lot about Bowen, more than what a typical secretary might know. You even know that Mr. Enrique is sick, she pointed out.

    Jacinta smiled shyly and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she exined, ¡°Mr. Turner sometimes chats with me about these things after we¡¯ve finished our work, of course.¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Is she suggesting that she and Bowen talk outside of the office too?¡±

    Admittedly, Jacinta¡¯s words made her feel a bit uneasy.

    However, Aubree trusted Bowen, and she knew that anyone could uncover the little things Jacinta had mentioned about him with a bit of digging.

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious about not knowing why I¡¯m looking for you, right?¡± Aubree asked, facing Jacinta directly.

    She noticed a faint smile on Jacinta¡¯s lips as she responded respectfully, ¡°Miss Miller, are <i>you </i>referring to that rumor going around online?

    ¡°Those are just some baseless gossip¨Csurely you don¡¯t believe any of it, do you?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far. I just wanted to get to know you better. Now that I have, it turns out you¡¯re nothing special, Aubree replied.

    Aubree nced at the desk, noticing it was covered in papers. It was clear that Jacinta had been busy organizing them.

    After Aubree finished talking, she saw Jacinta¡¯s expression change; it turned serious.

    ¡°From the moment I walked in, I¡¯ve had this uneasy feeling¨Clike I know you somehow¡­¡± Aubree said slowly, seeing Jacinta starting to look a bit anxious.

    ¡°But to be honest, I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve ever met, or at least I don¡¯t remember seeing your face before,¡± she added after a pause.

    Then Aubreeughed suddenly, a realization hitting her. She chuckled, ¡°Now I understand! That strange feeling makes sense: you¡¯ve been mimicking me! And honestly, you do it pretty well.

    ¡°If someone nced, they might even think you look a bit like me, but not in the way where we are twins, but simr enough that it could catch someone¡¯s eye.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just your face; even your style is a bit like mine.¡±

    Jacinta forced a smile, much less genuine than before, and replied, ¡°Maybe you¡¯re reading too much into this, Miss Miller?¡±

    They both knew there was more going on beneath the surface.

    Aubree decided <i>not </i>to say anything further. This visit had turned out to be more interesting than she had thought.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let you get back to your work, Jacinta,¡± she said, closing the office door thoughtfully as she left.

    As she walked out, she bumped into, Kelvin.

    Miss Miller he greeted her

    Kelvin she replied<b>, </b>not wanting to <b>chat </b>much.

    <b>¡°</b><b>Did </b><b>you </b><b>just </be from Mr. Turner¡¯s office?¡± Kelvin asked, looking toward where she had juste from,

    Aubree found the question a bit odd but answered, ¡°Yes¡±

    ¡°Walt<b>, </b><b>isn¡¯t </b>Mr. Turner¡¯s office supposed to be empty?¡± Kelvin blurted out, genuinely puzzled. ¡®What could Miss Miller possibly be doing in there if she wasn¡¯t looking for someone?¡® he wondered.

    ¡°I was looking for Jacinta. She was inside sorting through some files, Aubree answered calmly.

    Kelvin was feeling more confused than ever as he said, ¡°How did she even get into Mr. Turner¡¯s office?

    ¡°Organizing files isn¡¯t part of her job.¡±

    If it hadn¡¯t been for that buzz online, he wouldn¡¯t have even known who Jacinta was. He thought, ¡®She¡¯s just an ordinary assistant, and she¡¯s never been given any major tasks, so how did she get into the CEO¡¯s office?¡®

    Aubree started to ask, ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell her to¡­¡± but then she paused mid¨Csentence.

    ¡°If Kelvin didn¡¯t send her, then either Jacinta was just sneaking around the office whenever she wanted, or Bowen gave her the go¨Cahead, she considered.

    Either way, the whole situation was bing increasinglyplicated.

 Tried 610

    Chapter <b>610 </b>

    <b>Seeing </b><b>the </b><b>change </b><b>in </b>Aubree¡¯s expression, Kelvin awkwardly cut himself off. ¡°Maybe <b>Mr. </b>Turner asked her to help

    <b>The </b><b>moment </b>he said it, he realized how it sounded. Rumors had already been circting about Mr. Turner and Jacinta<b>, </b>and now he was essentially suggesting that Mr. Turner had directly asked an intern to review his files. Wouldn¡¯t that just make Aubree more <b>suspicious </b>at the <b>two </b>of them<b>? </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Maybe,¡± Aubree replied, already lost in her thoughts. ¡®I need to find out more about Jacinta, she told herself.

    Without saying anything else to Kelvin, she walked out of the Turner Group building.

    As soon as she got into her car, Aubree quickly texted Vincent: [Look into the intern at Turner Group named Jacinta Melrose<b>.</b><b>] </b>

    Shortly after Aubree left, Jacinta unexpectedly showed up in Bowen¡¯s office.

    She lowered her head respectfully and greeted, ¡°Mr. Alvin.¡± ¡°Did Aubree just stop by?¡± Alvin asked.

    ¡°Did Aubree just stop by?¡± Alvin asked.

    ¡°Yes, I did everything you taught me to,¡± Jacinta replied. Alvin lowered his gaze, studying her face.

    He reached out, gripping her chin to lift her face

    fas <i>he </i>reminded, ¡°Since this is what you chose, make sure you do it well.¡±

    Alvin studied her face carefully. It had taken a lot turned out pretty well.¡±

    <b>Of </b>effort to get Jacinta¡¯s face to be the way it is now. Hemented, <b>¡°</b>Not bad. The recovery

    Jacinta clenched her fists as she responded, ¡°You said as long as I do what you tell me to, I¡¯ll get my chance.¡±

    ¡°Of course. That depends on whether you can grab onto the opportunity when it arises,¡± Alvin replied.

    After leaving Turner Group, Aubree didn¡¯t go anywhere else. She drove straight to the Turner family¡¯s mansion to see Bowen.

    As Enrique was feeling unwell, Aubree had nned to visit him anyway. With all the drama surrounding Jacinta, she really needed to have a serious conversation with Bowen.

    On her way, she stopped to pick up some health supplements, then made her way to the Turner mansion.

    When she arrived, she found Bowen and Enrique fishing together.

    ¡°Something is wrong with this location!¡± Enrique insisted, his face red with frustration.

    Enrique seemed upset and was arguing with Bowen.

    Bowen, holding his fishing rod, caught a fish just then and smiled. ¡°Grandpa, you cannot me the spot if you¡¯re not catching anything,¡± he teased.

    Aubree noticed that Bowen had a good catch in his bucket, while Enrique¡¯s was empty.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we switch spots?¡± Enrique suggested, still irritated.

    ¡°You¡¯ve fished everywhere in this pond, but I¡¯ve never seen you catch much!¡± he grumbled, growing so frustrated he started <b>stomping </b><b>his </b>

    feet.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help butugh, which made Bowen happy and surprised. He asked her, ¡°What brings you here today?¡±

    I came to see Me Entiques Aufbres retalled

    Enoque phimbled, ¡°What¡¯s so interesting about an old like her year 4 here for an Art by its Becolle inspunka the butter to take bowen¡¯s fish to the Witchon for a chain kulurke rootd spy.

    <b>After </b><b>lunch</b>, Enrique decided to take a walk outside white Aubree and Bowen cat does together

    ¡°Did you go to the office?¡± Bowen geken het.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied, quickly telling him about her day at work.

    Then she pressed him, ¡°So, Bowen, what¡¯s going on between you and Jacinta?¡± fer eyes were searching his face for answers,

    In one of Alice¡¯s private vis in Rithol City, Ernesto was filled with anger. ¡°Divorce? How could you even say that?¡± he yelled

    He was still away on a business trip when he heard the shocking news¨CAlice had argued with Ronald and mentioned casually, ¡°#things get terrible, we¡¯ll just get a divorce.¡±

    Once, the Diamonde family was more respected than the Wilson family. They had seen potential in Ronald and treated him well. They <b>never </b>tried to boss him around, which is why Ronald helped the Diamonde family during tough times.

    AD

 Tried 611

    <b>Now</b><b>, </b>the Diamonde familly was struggling, <b>and </b>without the support of their old connections and the Wilson <b>family</b>, <b>they </b>might hamam tant status among the elite.

    <b>Ernesto </b>couldn¡¯t believe Alice would consider divorcing the Wilson family<b>, </b>as it would mean losing Ronald¡¯s support. <b>Does </b>the thin would let that happen?¡® he thought, furious.

    He told Alice firmly, ¡°No matter what urs, even if Ronald can¡¯t stand you anymore, you need to stay with the Wilson family no matter what You can¡¯t just leave them!¡±

    Alice looked down, and Carmen, who was sitting next to her, stayed quiet, still feeling the pain from Trevor¡¯s outburst earlier<i>. </i>

    Trevor¡¯s meltdown not only made Carmen resent Aubree more but also taught her a harsh lesson: she didn¡¯t hold much value in the Wilson family. If she left, she would lose even more.

    Thinking of this, Carmen wrapped her arms around Alice gently and said, ¡°Mom, I know you care about me and love me, but I don¡¯t want to see you and Dad fighting because of me.¡±

    Alice sighed and replied, ¡°I won¡¯t let it happen again. I was just too hasty this time.¡±

    She was trying to reassure Ernesto that things would be okay.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go home today and cook dinner myself. I¡¯ll make sure Ronaldes home early,¡± Alice promised.

    This seemed to calm Ernesto down. He looked at Alice¨Cshe was his sister, and even without the bond of family, he saw she was still a beautiful woman. Ronald genuinely cared for her. Sure, their feelings had changed a bit over the years<b>, </b>but as long as Alice was willing topromise, he believed any man, including Ronald, would eventually forgive and forget.

    ¡°That¡¯s more like it. No couple should go to bed angry,¡± Ernesto said with a grin.

    Alice quietly clenched her hand on her knee, saying nothing. What had happened to her no longer mattered¨Cso long as Carmen was safe and well, nothing else in the world was important anymore.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of. I know you didn¡¯te to Rithol City just to see me. If there¡¯s something you want to discuss with Carmen, I¡¯ll give you two some privacy,¡± Alice said tactfully, then left.

    Once she was gone, Carmen confessed immediately. ¡°Uncle, I couldn¡¯t secure the Ridgehaven Town project.¡±

    Ernesto hadn¡¯t expected her to pull it off. His n had been for Carmen to ride on Bryan¡¯s coattails and, if she got lucky, maybe even take the

    credit for herself.

    What he hadn¡¯t anticipated was Carmen being foolish enough to strike a deal with the devil. Every single member of the Turner family was cunning. Alvin had managed to carve out his territory at Turner Group in no time¨Che was not someone to be underestimated.

    Even Ernesto would have to be cautious if he were ever to face off against Alvin. Yet Carmen had agreed to everything Alvin said without a second thought.

    ¡°Let this be a lesson to you, Carmen. You need to understand that businesspeople care about profit above all else. Feelings are just tools for personal gain,¡± Ernesto said.

    Carmen clenched her teeth. She never imagined Alvin would use her in this way, not after all the trust she had ced in him.

    ¡°It won¡¯t happen again, Uncle. You¡¯re right¨Conce I climb high enough, even the Turner family won¡¯t matter to me. And Alvin won¡¯t be anything special either,¡± Carmen said.

    ????

    ??? ?

    ???

    ???? ??

    ????? ???

    ??? ?? ????

    ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ? ?? ??

    ?? ?? ??? Bhav or And look

    on ??? ? ?ome ????? ??? ?? ???? ? management et Wilson Group to support you with your projects

    ¡°After thest two fallimes, the most important thing for you now is to rettore the Buth your dad out the dianditers hade in te

    ??? ???

    1

 Tried 612

    <b>Chapter </b>612

    <b>Bowen </b>figured Aubree had probably gone to Turner Group because of all the rumors blowing up online. However, <b>he </b><b>didn¡¯t </b>bother <b>to </b>pay <b>much </b>attention to what she was up to as he had a clear conscience.

    <b>But </b>when Aubree suddenly mentioned that name, Bowen was momentarily stunned. He repeated, clearly confused by <b>the </b>situation, You

    said that I had asked her to help me organize files?¡±

    ¡°<b>I </b><b>didn¡¯t</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>he denied.

    She trusted him, but she couldn¡¯t shake the uneasiness Jacinta stirred in her, and she wanted to understand what was going on.

    ¡°I know,¡± she continued, her gaze fixed on him. ¡°This sudden buzz online¡ªit¡¯s Oliver¡¯s doing, and maybe even Alvin is involved behind the scenes. I just don¡¯t get it. Are they seriously trying to break us up? It¡¯s so clumsy. I¡¯d have to trust you so little to let something like thise

    between us.<b>¡± </b>

    She couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Her eyes searched Bowen¡¯s face, as if trying to uncover some hidden truth¨Cunless he was hiding something.

    ¡°Bowen, what do you think about all this?¡± Aubree asked.

    Bowen¡¯s fingers curled unconsciously as he met her gaze. After a long pause, he gave her a yful grin, ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just out of their minds and actually think this could work?¡±

    ¡°Would you like me to deal with the rumors circting online?¡± he asked.

    Aubree gave him a couple more searching looks, but couldn¡¯t find anything suspicious. Maybe she was overthinking it.

    ¡°No need,¡± she said. ¡°The more attention we give it, the more it looks like we care. How long do you think Jacinta can keep putting on this

    solo act?¡±

    Just as she said, Jacinta¡¯s sudden appearance hade out of nowhere. Aside from the online buzz, anyone at Turner Group with half a brain could tell that what was going on between Bowen and Aubree was nothing like what the inte was iming.

    Gradually, people who knew the truth began speaking up online, clearing the air about their rtionship. The rumors died down just as quickly as they had started. After that, neither Alvin nor Oliver made any more moves¨Cexcept for Oliver, who, for some reason, kept pestering her like he was acting weird.

    At Rithol University, third¨Cyear students were now encouraged toplete an internship, so the coursework was significantly lighter. Bree Technology¡¯s earlier investments in cutting¨Cedge industries were already showing results, and Aubree was constantly running back and forth between Walton Pharmaceuticals¡®b and thepany, spinning like a top every day. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, she always seemed to run into Oliver after work.

    Before she even made it out of the building, Aubree spotted that all¨Ctoo¨Cfamiliar car parked out front. She immediately made a beeline for the back door, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

    A voice called out, ¡°Aubree!¡±

    But Oliver, who¡¯d been lying in wait, wasn¡¯t about to let her slip away. He crossed the distance in a few quick strides and grabbed her wrist.

    ¡°Aubree, I¡¯ve been trying to talk to you for days. Can¡¯t you just humor me for once?¡± he said.

    People nearby began ncing over. One person hesitated, then stepped forward and asked, ¡°Ms. Miller, do you need any help?¡±

    <b>Everyone </b><b>recognized </b><b>him </b><b>by </b>now as <b>he </b><b>had </b>been turking <b>around </b><b>after </b>work for <b>days</b><b>, </b><b>always </b>trying to catch Aubree tauendon times, she <b>turned </b><b>him </b><b>down</b>, <b>and </b><b>he </b>left quietly. <b>But </b><b>now </b>he was grabbing <b>her</b><b>? </b>What was going <b>on</b><b>? </b>

    ¡°it¡¯s fine. <b>You </b><b>guys </b>can head out<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Aubree sald, rubbing her temples.

    1

    A <b>headache </b>was starting to set in. This guy was unbelievable. Not long ago, he¡¯d dragged her into an interrogation room<b>, </b>and now he was popping <b>up </b>like this, iming he wanted to pursue her? She already had a boyfriend and even if she didn¡¯t, it¡¯s not like she was a masochis <b>Why </b>would she put herself through this?

    Bree Technology¡¯s building sat right in the heart of Rithol City¡¯s business district, and it was peak rush hour. A bunch of employees <b>had </b>stopped to watch, and even passersby were casting curious nces.

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 Tried 613

    <b>Chapter </b><b>613 </b>

    From Oliver¡¯s bodynguage alone, it was apparent¨Cshe wasn¡¯t going anywhere unless she gave him an answer. Just <b>yesterday</b><b>, </b>Bowen <b>had </b>messaged her that he¡¯d be out of town on business for a while, so she couldn¡¯t exactly call him up to y the boyfriend card <b>and </b><b>shut </b><b>this </b>

    down.

    ¡°Oliver, you said it yourself¨CI¡¯ve turned you down for days. Can¡¯t you take a hint?¡± she said.

    But honestly, if Oliver knew how to take a hint, he wouldn¡¯t be standing there pestering her.

    ¡°My idea of self¨Cawareness is never to give up,¡± he replied smoothly.

    After a brief moment, he added, ¡°Aubree, if my sources are right, you¡¯re heading to Drebay City soon, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t forget¨Cthe <b>Lawson </b>family runs the show over there.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s expression darkened. He wasn¡¯t wrong¨Cshe was indeed nning a trip to Drebay City, thanks to some connections in Rithol who had set up a project for her. She was teaming up with the local government tounch a semiconductor chip R&Dpany, with an investment of several million dors nned.

    Her strategy was straightforward: the Wilson family was still a major yer, second only to the Turner Group, with numerousplex interests at y. Additionally, she had the support of the Lawson and Diamonde families. The Diamonde family might have fallen on hard times, but with their connections, even the sharks from S¨¹dlichen Strand wouldn¡¯t dare make a move.

    The Lawson family held the real power in Drebay City. They might not have been a big deal in Rithol City, but that didn¡¯t mean they were easy to mess with.

    The truth was, Wilson Group likely paid them a fortune every year. Up until now, Aubree had only been making small moves, so they hadn¡¯t bothered stepping in over minor issues. A little healthypetition was eptable.

    But if she started cutting into Wilson Group¡¯s bottom line, things wouldn¡¯t go so smoothly.

    For now, her goal was to keep climbing, to keep pushing forward until, when it came down to a choice between Wilson Group and Bree Technology, she¡¯d be the one they backed.

    The project was supposed to be under wraps, but with so many connections involved, word had naturally started to spread. If the Lawson family truly wanted to make things difficult for her in Drebay City, it could easily turn into a mess.

    She understood the old saying well: even a powerful outsider can¡¯t beat a local snake.

    ¡°What exactly do <i>you </i>want from me?¡± Aubree asked. She didn¡¯t want to make a scene in front of everyone, so she got into the car with Oliver.

    The moment she sat down, she turned to him and asked the question again.

    ¡°Simple. Grab dinner with me,¡± Oliver replied.

    He smiled slyly and added, ¡°Just one meal¨Cthat¡¯s it. Have dinner with me, and I¡¯ll make sure the Lawson family doesn¡¯t give you any <b>trouble </b>

    in Drebay City.¡±

    Aubree gave a reluctant nod. It was just a meal, and she could tune him out the whole time.

    Oliver had already chosen the restaurant. When they arrived, he stepped forward and pulled out a chair for her like <b>a </b><b>gentleman</b><b>. </b><b>Aubree </b>ignored him and chose the chair on the opposite side, pulling it out herself. She sat down without acknowledging <b>the </b><b>gesture</b>.

    She looked him in the eye and said, ¡°If we¡¯re eating, then let¡¯s eat quickly.¡±

    Oliver¡¯s expression froze for a moment, but then he smiled and took <b>the </b>seat he had <b>pulled </b><b>out</b><b>, </b><b>acting </b>as <b>if </b><b>nothing </b><b>had </b><b>happened</b>.

    <b>1/2 </b>

    ¨C <b>14:44 </b><b>Thu</b>, <b>14 </b><b>Aug </b>(

    He¡¯d reserved the entire restaurant, so it was just the two of them. As soon as they sat down, the waiter approached <b>with </b><b>menus</b>.

    Before Oliver could speak, Aubree grabbed a menu and started ordering all her favorite dishes, feelingpletely unapologetic. She <b>didn¡¯t </b>care how Oliver felt. He was the one insisting on treating her, so why should she bother being polite?

    Not that Oliver seemed upset. There was even a trace of indulgence in his eyes. He¡¯d met more socialites, celebrities, and heiresses than <b>he </b>could count¨Cbut it was rare to find someone with Aubree¡¯s attitude.

    He found her bluntness to be kind of adorable.

    Oliver couldn¡¯t help but remember the first time they¡¯d met¨CAubree had looked at him with that same disdain, and her eyespletely fearless. Even back then, he¡¯d wondered, ¡®How is she not even a little bit afraid of me in a situation like that?¡®

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 Tried 614

    <b>Chapter </b><b>614 </b>

    The food was served rtively quickly.

    ¡°Is Bowen not picking you up from work today?¡± Oliver asked, trying to sound casual, but there was a sharpness in his eyes. He¡¯d <b>run </b>into Bowen a few timestely, and every time, it left him fuming inside.

    Aubree paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. ¡°You¡¯re asking as if you don¡¯t already I know exactly where he is,¡± she shot back.

    She thought, ¡®A few days ago, Oliver had backed off immediately after being rejected, and he barely put up a fight. But now, suddenly<b>, </b>he was acting all bold. Isn¡¯t that because he knew Bowen was out of town on a business trip?¡®

    ¡°You figured I¡¯d have no choice but to give in with everyone pressuring me and Bowen being out of town, right?¡± she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

    She shot him a mocking look¨Cshe was honestly fed

    up with him.

    Oliver, pretending not to notice her irritation, put on a surprised face and asked, ¡°Bowen¡­ went on a business trip?

    ¡°You¡¯re right¨CI¡¯ve been keeping tabs on you two. I want to pursue you, and as far as I¡¯m concerned, Bowen is my biggest obstacle at the moment. So yeah, I¡¯m doing this. Can you say I¡¯m out of line?¡±

    He leaned in slightly and continued, ¡°I know you can¡¯t stand me, but there¡¯s something you should know. <b>I </b>don¡¯t know if Bowen¡¯s on a business trip or not, but I do know he¡¯s still in Rithol City.¡±

    Aubree instantly lost her appetite at his words. Her eyes locked on Oliver, trying to read his expression.

    He just sat there, calm and unmoved, letting her stare. He was telling the truth¨Cand no matter how she pressed, his answer didn¡¯t change:

    Bowen was still in Rithol City.

    By the time they walked out of the restaurant, Aubree had regained herposure. Everythingtely had made her more on edge than usual. Before, even if someone had told her Bowen was hiding something, her first instinct wouldn¡¯t have been suspicion¨Cshe would¡¯ve

    believed he had his reasons.

    But now, just having these doubts proved something: Alvin and the others¡® earlier efforts were starting to work.

    ¡®What exactly are they trying to do?¡® she wondered.

    Logically, she knew she was being too uptight. If she kept obsessing over whether Bowen was hiding something, she¡¯d be walking right into Alvin¡¯s trap.

    But emotionally, she couldn¡¯t help herself; she needed the truth.

    After dinner, Oliver stuck to his word and didn¡¯t push to walk her home. Aubree took a cab back to her ce.

    As soon as she got in and opened herptop, she found an email from Vincent¨Che¡¯d sent the results of his investigation into Jacinta.

    She read through the report carefully. At first nce, nothing seemed unusual. Jacinta majored in finance at Rithol University and <b>joined </b>Turner Group through their internship program.

    She¡¯d done exceptionally well during her internship and was eventually offered a full¨Ctime position.

    Everything seemed normal at first nce.

    <i>1/2 </i>

    14.44 <b>Thu </b><b>14 </b><b>Aug </b>(0)

    But after reading it two more times, Aubree finally noticed something odd. When Jacinta first joined Turner Group, she <b>had </b><b>taken </b>several months off for health reasons. HR had initially nned to terminate her, but a supervisor intervened and intervened <b>to </b><b>prevent </b>the termination. They had managed to keep her, thanks to her outstanding grades.

    Aubree immediately highlighted the supervisor¡¯s name and sent it to Vincent. She instructed, ¡°Look into who this supervisor is mainly connected to at Turner Group.¡±

    It was a much easier lead to follow. Two hourster, Vincent had already finished the investigation.

    Just as Aubree suspected, the supervisor was essentially a shareholder who had been ced in thepany due to their connections. <b>He </b>was the type who clocked in and out, did the bare minimum, never aplished anything, and barely made his presence known.

    For something as minor as keeping an intern, no one would bother challenging someone with that kind of backing.

    The ironic part was that this particr shareholder was one of the few who openly supported Alvin.

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 Tried 615

    <b>Chapter </b><b>615 </b>

    It looked like Aubree would need to stop by the university before heading to Drebay City to ask a few questions.

    For now, she set aside the issue with Jacinta, but Oliver¡¯s words kept reying in her mind: ¡°Do you trust Bowen that much?

    ¡°Don¡¯t you ever wonder if he¡¯s hiding something from you?

    ¡°If you want, I can help you find out what Bowen is doing in Rithol City instead of being on a business trip.¡±

    She knew these voices were like the whispers of the demon. In her rational mind, she knew who was conspiracy against her, but she found it difficult to resist their temptation.

    After a long pause, Aubree slowly opened her eyes and wondered, ¡®How am I supposed to find out what Bowen¡¯s hiding from me<b>?</b>¡±

    Her trip to Drebay City was already set for the next few days. But the following day, she stopped by the university. Since Jacinta was supposedly in the same year as her, Aubree nned to ask one of the finance professors about her.

    She¡¯d already given her advisor a heads¨Cup. It was just a small favor¨Casking about someone¨Cso the advisor had immediately informed <b>the </b>relevant professor and told Aubree to reach out directly when she arrived on campus.

    ¡°Aubree, based on what you told me, there¡¯s no one named Jacinta in your year who stands out for her grades. There¡¯s no Jacinta at all in

    your year in the entire finance department,¡± the faculty shared.

    ¡°No one?¡± Aubree gasped in astonishment. She had always thought Jacinta was just some girl from Rithol University who happened <b>to </b>resemble her a lot. She had thought that Jacinta was someone Alvin had found, and during those months she¡¯d disappeared, maybe Alvin

    had struck some sort of deal with her and helped her refine her style and presence.

    However, this new informationpletely blew apart all her previous assumptions.

    There was no Jacinta to begin with.

    But even Kelvin had confirmed that Jacinta was a student at Rithol University¨Cthere was no doubt about that.

    Aubree frowned before responding, ¡°Alright, sorry to trouble you, Professor.¡±

    As she left the office, Aubree was deep in thought, ¡®Who on earth is Jacinta, really?¡®

    ¡°Ah!¡± someone cried out suddenly. Before Aubree could react, someone crashed right into her.

    ¡°Sorry, sorry! I was in a rush to deliver some documents to the professor¡­ Wait, are you Aubree?¡± the person asked.

    Aubree stumbled from the impact. Before she could even see who had bumped into her<b>, </b>the flustered voice turned to surprise.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Aubree asked. The girl in front of her had her hair down<b>, </b>wore a in jacket and jeans, and lookedpletely average<b>¡ª</b><b>just </b>like other college girl you¡¯d see around campus.

    any

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m, uh¡­ we grew up in the same orphanage, but I doubt you remember me,¡± the girl said.

    She continued, ¡°I¡¯m two years older than you, and I¡¯m about to graduate, I was adopted not long after you arrived at <b>the </b><b>orphanage</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Sorry again for running into you just now.¡±

    <b>14.44 </b><b>Thu </b><b>14 </b><b>Aug </b>( linh.

    As <b>she </b>wasn¡¯t really in the mood for small talk, Aubree forced a smile, ¡°Oh, I see. It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m okay. You¡¯ve got stuff <b>to </b><b>do</b><b>, </b><b>right</b><b>? </b><b>Don¡¯t </b><b>let </b>me hold you up.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right! I still need to deliver these documents to the professor,¡± The girl gasped as she pped her forehead, as if <b>just </b><b>remembering</b>, <b>then </b>hurried off. But then, as if something suddenly urred to her, she turned back and said, ¡°Aubree, have you been back <b>to </b><b>the </b><b>orphanage </btely?¡±

    Before Aubree could answer, the girl continued, ¡°I had a chance to go back, right?

    saw some new

    news about you recently. Looks like you were in Mistmere, so <b>i </b>guess <b>you </b>haven¡¯t

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how close you are to Ethel, but¡­ thest time I visited her, she seemed <i>to </i>be in even worse health than before. If <b>you </b><b>have </b><b>the </b>time and want to, you might consider going to see her.

    ¡°When I was therest time, Ethel was talking about you.¡±

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 Tried 616

    <b>Chapter </b><b>616 </b>

    As <b>soon </b>as she finished speaking, the girl didn¡¯t give Aubree a chance to ask anything else before she rushed off in <b>a </b>hurry <b>with </b>a <b>worried </b><b>look </b>

    on her face.

    Reflecting on the conversation, Aubree realized she hadn¡¯t been back in a while.

    Ethel¡¯s health was no longer what it used to be. Earlier, Bowen had helped out by finding a traditional doctor to care for her. Thest <b>time </b>Aubree called, Ethel had told her everything was just fine.

    Since there was still no breakthrough in Jacinta¡¯s case, Aubree had no choice but to let Vincent keep investigating

    As for whether Bowen was actually in Rithol City, she didn¡¯t n to dig into it. Aubree believed that he must have his reasons for <b>doing </b><b>what </b>he did, and she decided to wait until he returned from his ¡°business trip¡± to ask him about it directly.

    After leaving school, Aubree picked up some things and drove to the orphanage. As soon as she walked through the gates, she saw Ang ying with the youngest kids in the yard.

    When Ang spotted her, her face lit up with a big smile, ¡°Aubree, you¡¯re back!¡±

    ¡°Why are you still being so polite when you visit? You brought so much stuff again! Next time, don¡¯t even think about <b>it</b>. If you bring anything with you the next time, I won¡¯t take it. Thanks to you, the orphanage has gotten a lot of support from themunity, and the children¡¯s lives are so much better now,¡± Ang said.

    Her words were filled with genuine gratitude.

    After Ethel¡¯s death, the orphanage would eventually be handed over to Ang. Naturally, she hoped the kids here could live better lives.

    They were already poor kids that nobody cared about. If they couldn¡¯t even get enough to eat or stay warm, who could bear to watch that happen?

    ¡°If my influence can help the orphanage, I¡¯m more than happy to help,¡± Aubree said. She noticed that the yard now had a lot more yground equipment, and the clothes hanging on the line looked brand new. The kids didn¡¯t look as listless or hungry as she remembered from her childhood here.

    ¡°By the way, Ang, I¡¯m here to see Ethel. I heard she hasn¡¯t been feeling too welltely, so I wanted to check in on her,¡± Aubree said.

    ¡°Oh, that¡­¡± At the mention of Ethel, Ang¡¯s smile faded into a worried expression.

    ¡°Aunt¡­ sigh. The traditional doctor, Mr. Turner, who was brought inst time, did help, but she¡¯s getting on in years, after all.

    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot¨CAunt Ethel moved to the back wing recently.

    ¡°We renovated the backyard and expanded the orphanage slightly. Aunt Ethel said it¡¯s quieter back there, so she decided to move in. Now she spends her days growing vegetables and enjoying a peaceful life.

    ¡°There¡¯s a back entrance over there. Next time youe to visit Aunt Ethel, you can just use that¨Cit¡¯ll save you the trouble of¡­<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Ang said with a helpless smile.

    She shed a small, resigned smile as the kids she¡¯d been ying with all came running over, crowding around Aubree.

    Aubree smiled and pulled out some snacks to gently coax the kids away. She chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s fine. They¡¯re pretty <b>adorable</b><b>. </b><b>Looks </b><b>like </b><b>they </b><b>all </b>recognize me, huh?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ whenever things are quiet, I tell them stories about you<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>Ang </b>replied. <b>¡°</b><b>To </b>these <b>kids</b><b>, </b><b>you¡¯re </b><b>their </b><b>role </b><b>model</b><b>¨C</b><b>kind </b><b>of </b><b>like </b><b>their </b><b>big </b>

    <b>1/2 </b>

    <b>14:45 </b><b>Thu </b>T <b>AUD </b>

    sister, you know?¡±

    After chatting with Ang for a bit, Aubree headed to the backyard to visit Ethel.

    Just like Ang had said, the orphanage look

    Cely different now¨Cthe backyard was tastefullyndscaped <b>and </b>had an entirely new

    vibe.

    Ang exined that Ethel was now the prominent resident in the back wing and sometimes hosted essential guests <b>there</b>. She <b>had </b><b>also </b>turned the rest of the open space into her vegetable garden

    Following Ang¡¯s directions, Aubree made her way straight to Ethel¡¯s room.

    Maybe because Ethel was getting older, her room was now located near the main entrance for convenience. As Aubree approached<b>, </b><b>she </b>noticed someone stepping out of Ethel¡¯s room and leaving through the gate.

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 Tried 617

    <b>Chapter </b><b>617 </b>

    <b>Chapter </b><b>617 </b>

    The <b>person </b>got into a car and drove off,pletely unaware that anyone had seen them.

    <b>Aubree </b>gasped inwardly. Wait, that silhouette¡­.

    Without thinking, she pulled out her phone and snapped a quick photo.

    She stared at the image, and her heart sank. Suppose she wasn¡¯t imagining things; that was Kelvin. There was no doubt.

    ¡®Bowen was supposed to be on a business trip¨Cthere was no way Kelvin, his assistant, wouldn¡¯t be with him.

    ¡®And even if, by some chance, Bowen hadn¡¯t brought Kelvin along, there was no reason Kelvin would show up at the orphanage unless Bowen had sent him,¡® she thought.

    Before she realized it, Aubree¡¯s hands had balled into fists. Her thoughts raced, ¡®What on earth was Bowen hiding from me? Could this be connected to Ethel?¡®

    No matter how hard she tried, Aubree couldn¡¯t figure out how any of it connected.

    While she was standing there lost in thought, Ethel spotted her through the window and called out, ¡°Aubree, is that you? Why are you just standing out there? What are you doinge inside already!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡­ uh¡­¡± Aubree mumbled awkwardly, then finally pushed the door open and stepped inside.

    Ethel was sitting in her wheelchair, beaming as Aubree walked in. She asked, ¡°Did you just see Kelvin on your way in?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise. ¡®Wait, am I just overthinking this?¡® she wondered.

    ¡°Kelvin was just here to drop off my medicine,¡± Ethel said, nodding toward the bag of herbs on the table.

    ¡°The traditional doctor Bowen found for mest time has helped, but some of the herbs are hard to find. Bowen said he didn¡¯t want to

    trouble you, so he always has Kelvin or someone else bring the medicine over for me,¡± Ethel exined.

    ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± Aubree replied with a smile, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

    ¡®Looks like I was overthinking it,¡® she thought.

    From the beginning, this situation was orchestrated by Alvin, and Aubree was well aware of his intentions. However, she found herself emotionally impacted despite her understanding.

    When she met Ethel¡¯s warm and caring eyes, Aubree felt a sense of calm wash over her. ¡®Why am I even second¨Cguessing myself?¡® she thought, ¡®I know this is all a ploy against me. If I just ignore it and don¡¯t let it affect me, then no matter what Alvin does, it won¡¯t bother me.¡®

    At that moment, Aubree didn¡¯t realize that her attempts to convince herself to be indifferent only revealed how much she truly cared.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Ethel,¡± Aubree said. ¡°I heard you¡¯ye not been feeling welltely, and I wanted to check in on you. It¡¯s been a while since m

    visit.¡±

    As she spoke, she felt a pang of self¨Cfrustration. Ethel had always been there for her, especially during her time in the orphanage when she struggled to fit in with the other children. Ethel would look out for Aubree, even speaking with the other kids to help them understand and ept her better.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner? If you¡¯re still feeling unwell, let me take you to the Military Hospital for a checkup,¡± Aubree offered.

    <b>Chapter </b>617

    <b>Ethel </b><b>shook </b><b>her </b><b>head </b><b>with </b><b>a </b>kind simile, saying<b>, </b><b>¡°</b>This is just part of getting older. You¡¯re busy<b>, </b><b>and </b>I <b>already </b><b>have </b><b>a </b>doctor seeing to mest <b>visiting </b>me when you can is more than enough..

    <b>¡°</b>Being in a wheelchair helps me get around more easily. As we age, our bodies just don¡¯t work the same way¡±

    ¡°How about I take you outside for some fresh air?¡± Aubree suggested, returning the smile.

    Since she would be leaving for Drebay City the next day and didn¡¯t know when she¡¯d return, she set her worries aside <b>and </b>spent the <b>entire </b>afternoon with Ethel at the orphanage. That evening, she even cooked dinner for them before it was time for her to leave<b>. </b>

    As Aubree walked away, Ethel watched from the doorway until she was out of sight.

    ¡°Aunt Ethel, did Mr. Turner visit you because of Aubree?¡± Ang asked quietly.

    Ethel smiled gently and replied, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing important¨Cno need to worry the young ones with such things.¡±

    <b>A</b>

 Tried 618

    <b>Chapter </b><b>618 </b>

    As soon as the news broke that Aubree was nning to invest and build in the Drebay City, the whole region was instantly abuzz.

    The Lawson family in Drebay City was just like the Turner family in Rithol City. They are one of the region¡¯s top elite families.

    When news about Bryan and Elizabeth broke out earlier, the Lawson family also gained significantly from the buzz. Aubree¡¯s business was mainly concentrated in Rithol City and S¨¹dlichen Strand, with some operations in Nadio, but she had no connection to Drebay City. Even so, her name was well known there.

    She had skyrocketed to fame in just a few years. Back then, people called her a prodigy; now, she was already the youngest entrepreneur in the game. With two major sesses¨CGrabCheap and Zappy¨Cunder her belt, she had sparked an entire trend in the live¨Cstreaming industry.

    Her worth ranked among the very top nationwide.

    Additionally, Aubree had significant overseas ventures.

    Then there was her rtionship with the Wilson family. Though rumours imed the two sides didn¡¯t get along, family was still family¨Cyou couldn¡¯t draw a clear line. The Lawson and Wilson families were rted by marriage, so if Aubree nned to expand her business into Drebay City, who was to say she wouldn¡¯t let the Lawson family in on the action?

    The attention surrounding Aubree in Drebay City was at an all¨Ctime high.

    For one thing, she was nning to invest in and build factories in the region¨Cmaking her a walking goldmine. Once that money started flowing in, it would immediately drive growth across rted industries and boost small and medium¨Csized businesses in the area, giving the local economy a significant boost.

    For another, there were the established local giants. The biggest names in the region had been eager to work with Aubree for a long time, and now this golden opportunity had practicallynded on their doorstep. If they didn¡¯t seize it now, when would they?

    As soon as her flight was confirmed, she notified the team handling her reception in Drebay City.

    ¡°She¡¯s arriving tomorrow?¡± someone asked.

    ¡°Yeah, her flight¡¯s in the morning¨Cshe¡¯llnd just before noon.

    Lunch has already been arranged,¡± another confirmed.

    <i>¡°</i>Aubree used to work in emerce and short video tforms,¡± someone said, ¡°but recently, she¡¯s built strong ties with the senior researchers at the Rithol City institute. She¡¯s invested heavily in them and even contributed ideas to improve their projects.¡±

    Others agreed, ¡°Some people are just naturally gifted, you know? I heard she studied finance at Rithol University. Even though she has only read a few books and taken a couple of courses on semiconductors, she has alreadye up with some real insights. She even helped <b>the </b>research team solve a few major technical challenges. With a brain like that¨Cif she ever dedicated herself to serving the country, can you imagine the possibilities.¡±

    ¡°Come on,¡± someone else chimed in. ¡°Isn¡¯t she already doing that? Look at how much money she¡¯s pouring in. The higher¨Cups have been treating this very seriously ever since they heard the news.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, when Aubreees to Drebay City, we¡¯ve got to make sure both she and her money stay right here,¡± another person added:

    The Drebay City Commerce Committee had already finalised all the airport pickup arrangements for her. Everything was in ce<b>¨C</b><b>now</b>, all that was left was for Aubree to arrive so they could finally sit down and talk business.

    <b>In </b>another ssic<b>, </b>elegant courtyard in Drebay City, a middle¨Caged woman dressed in a sky¨Cblue traditional <b>gown</b><b>, </b><b>her </b><b>hair </b><b>neatly </b><b>pinned </b><b>up </b>

    <b>15 </b><b>Aug </b>17

    <b>and </b><b>her </b><b>every </b>movement graceful, said, ¡°Jasper, your son¡¯s calling.¡± She walked over and handed the phone to <b>the </b>man <b>sitting </b><b>on </b><b>the </b><b>sofa</b>. <b>The </b>man, dressed in a suit and watching the news, had stern features and an air of quiet authority.

    <b>Even </b>seated, he exuded a presence that demanded both respect and a hint of fear.

    As the man received the call, he could be heard saying, ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯reing back?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll have someone arrange it.¡±

    ¡°So, what did your son say?¡± Pam pressed, unable to hide her impatience. ¡°Honestly, isn¡¯t developing here in Drebay City good <b>enough</b><b>? </b>Why do you insist on sending him to Rithol City?¡±

    Jasper Lawson frowned in response, ¡°He¡¯ll have far more opportunities to grow in Rithol City. <i>Of </i>course, <i>we </i>can¡¯t let that chance slip <b>by</b>.

 Tried 619

    <b>Chapter </b><b>619 </b>

    Pam pouted, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know¨Che just got there and already got himself into trouble for helping your sister¡¯s daughter. Now he¡¯s ended <b>up </b>with a warning.

    <b>¡°</b>Seriously, you couldn¡¯t even smooth over such a small issue? Now he has to write a self¨Ccriticism report?¡±

    ¡°You think Rithol City is just like home?¡± he went on. ¡°He messed with someone he shouldn¡¯t have. Taking a small hit isn¡¯t the end of the world.¡± After all, he¡¯d warned Oliver before he left¨CRithol City was crawling with powerful families, and he needed to be careful. That reminded Jasper of what Oliver had just said on the phone¨Che wanted Jasper to find an excuse to bring him back for a while. And judging from his tone, it was clear that it had something <b>to </b>do with Aubreeing to Drebay City to invest.

    That reminded Jasper of what Oliver had just said on the phone¨Che wanted Jasper to find an excuse to bring him back for a while. And judging from his tone, it was clear that it had something to do with Aubreeing to Drebay City to invest.

    ¡°Your son wants me to assign him some task so he cane back for a bit,¡± Jasper said.

    Pam looked confused, and she probed, ¡°He¡¯s doing just fine in Rithol City. What¡¯s he suddenlying back for?¡±

    She thought, ¡®Can¡¯t he just ask for some time off?<b>¡® </b>

    After a moment, she added, ¡°If you ask me, it probably has something to do with Aubree.¡±

    Jasper narrowed his eyes but said nothing, his expression shifting subtly,

    He knew plenty about Aubree. Ever since she left the Wilson family two years ago, she had started to make a name for herself. Back when she was with them, she was just the neglected girl they brought back¨Cnow, she was anything but ordinary.

    A business prodigy with a sharp mind, Aubree had proven herself time and again over the past two years.

    Just look at how she¡¯d managed to get Emery locked up for three years and forced Trevor out of the game. That level of cunning and shrewdness wasn¡¯t something you saw every day.

    She was not someone to underestimate. And now Oliver had his eyes glued to her every move. Jasper had a sinking feeling¨Cthis trip to Drebay City was

    bound to bring trouble for the Lawson family.

    Meanwhile, the Wilson family quickly caught wind of Aubree¡¯s ns to invest and build in the Drebay City region.

    When Ronald received the news, he scrambled to contact his contacts to verify it. Once it was confirmed, a look of shock spread across his face.

    He wondered, ¡®Has my daughter moved beyond small¨Ctime business ventures?

    ¡®Is she seriously stepping into cutting¨Cedge fields like new energy chips now?

    ¡®Even Bryan, our eldest, was only managing the family¡¯s more conventional businesses. I still hold a tight grip on the Wilson family¡¯s deeper<b>, </b>more influential industries¨Cthe high¨Clevel ventures tied to significant connections and government projects.

    ¡®Aubree¡¯s growth has been so rapid!¡®

    For the first time, a wave of unease washed over/Ronald. No matter what she¡¯d done before, he had never taken her seriously. Sure, <b>she¡¯d </b><b>pulled </b><b>off </b><b>a </b><b>few </b>small victories, but they were nothing more than minor setbacks¨Cnever anything that could truly threaten the Wilson Group¡¯s core interests.

    He immediately made calls to ask for details/

    The person on the other end reported, ¡°It¡¯s already been finalised. The Provincial Development and Reform Commission has issued <b>a </b><b>notice</b><b>, </b><b>making </b><b>it </b>clear they¡¯re cing great importance on Aubree¡¯s visit to Drebay City. The Commerce Committee has already arranged <b>her </b>airport reception.

    <b>16:55 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>16 </b><b>Aug </b>

    <b>¡°</b>There¡¯s a bit of an inside story here¡ªAubree had already established connections with some top experts at the Rithol City <b>research </b><b>institute</b><b>, </b><b>especially </b><b>in </b>chip research. She has invested heavily in the institute.

    ¡°Their research typically isn¡¯t made public, but sharing some of the less sensitive technology isn¡¯t a big deal. This didn¡¯t happen overnight<b>. </b><b>She¡¯s </b><b>been </b>preparing for this for quite a while..

    ¡°Currently, Drebay City is the fastest¨Cgrowing region. Don¡¯t get me wrong, Ronald, but maybe you¡¯re overthinking it. For all we know<b>, </b>she¡¯s just steadily moving forward, like always.¡±

    Hearing that, Ronald¡¯s expression turned even darker.

    He thought grimly, ¡®So Aubree¡¯s been growing stronger all along, and we didn¡¯t even notice.

    ¡®First, it was the Ridgehaven Town project, and now she¡¯s investing in chips in Drebay City. Suppose she keeps expanding like this. Are we just going to <b>sit </b>back and let her squeeze the Wilson family out of the game?¡®

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