Chapter III

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 accusing 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 planned.

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 the last 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 surveillance blind spot. Winona and her gang used to beat people up here all the time without ever getting caught. Who’d believe I slapped 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 up last night wasn’t enough, now she even dares to lay hands on Carmen!”

Daxton glared daggers at Aubree, his eyes blazing 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 accusing her of hitting someone, she figured she might as well make his accusation come 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 slap across Carmen’s other cheek.

She said, “Because this is the only slap I gave you.”

The slap came so fast that neither Bryan nor Daxton could react in time to stop it.

“Aubree?”

Daxton’s cry was laced with fury, while Bryan’s was sharp and urgent.

Bryan was completely stunned. He never expected Aubree to take action without a word of explanation.

Carmen couldn’t believe Aubree dared to hit her right in front of her brothers. She stood rooted to the spot, completely stunned, her mind blank 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 slap marks on her face the same? If I had slapped her, that side of her face would be even more swollen.”

Bryan instinctively glanced at both sides of Carmen’s face. Looking closer, he saw the slap marks really were different.

“If that useless brain of yours isn’t doing anything, donate it to science, and 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 Daxton snapped out of it, Aubree had already kept a safe distance between them.

She thought sarcastically, ‘What if these two grown men decide to play 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 slap 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 attention lately. She had no choice; it’s all Aubree’s fault!’