Chapter 21

Aubree thought of her previous life. It had been the same back then–Alice, as her mother, was the one Aubree had longed most to get close to after returning to the Wilson family. But no matter how hard Aubree tried to please her, she could never compare to one tear from Carmen.

Back then, it was Emery who came to the orphanage to pick her up. On the way, he kept explaining that the family was just too busy to come themselves. In truth, it was only because no one cared.

When Aubree got back to the house, only Alice was home. She was holding Carmen in her arms, and the way she looked at Aubree wasn’t like a mother looking at her daughter–it was like she was looking at an enemy.

The first thing Alice said was to lay down the rules. She said, “Even though you’re our biological daughter, Carmen’s been with us for ten years. You were born on the same day, but you’re the older sister. As her big sister, I expect you to take care of your little sister.”

“Take care of your sister.” That one sentence became the excuse for every punishment Aubree received afterward.

From that day on, whenever something happened to Carmen, it was Aubree who got yelled at and beaten. Alice always wore that angry, resentful look as she questioned her: “Why didn’t you take care of your sister?”

Thinking about all that now, Aubree let out a cold smile. ‘Where does Alice get the nerve to still come around asking me to do this and that?’

Aubree spoke up. “And what exactly gives you the right to stand here and demand anything from me? As my mom?”

With that, Aubree pulled a document out of her bag–it was the agreement to sever ties. “Ms. Diamonde, have you already forgotten that Mr. Wilson signed this?”

Alice instantly went silent. She couldn’t believe Aubree was really serious about cutting her off.

Aubree continued, “As a mother, when you were asking your real daughter to work behind the scenes for your adoptive one, did it ever occur to you what kind of impact that would have on your own child?”

In her previous life, Aubree had done exactly that–helped Carmen and lost every opportunity she could’ve had. And when things went south, Carmen pushed her out front to take the fall.

Aubree actually had a chance to clear her name, but the Wilsons forced her to take the blame. They made her stand in front of the media and confess that she’d been plagiarizing Carmen all along.

Bitterness, rage… all kinds of emotions swirled in her chest. Aubree just couldn’t bring herself not to care. She would always resent that family.

Alice frowned, sounding righteous. “Didn’t you switch to academics anyway? You’ve got such great talent in art–if you don’t use it, it’s a waste. What’s wrong with helping Carmen out?”

Hearing this, Aubree almost laughed.

Alice pulled the same old line again. “Carmen’s your sister-”

“I want Carmen to die before I do. Can she do that for me?” Aubree shot back.

“You!” Alice nearly burst a vein. ‘This ungrateful brat actually dares to curse Carmen like that!’

Alice raised her hand, about to slap her. But Aubree was ready. She caught Alice’s wrist mid-air and flung it aside with force.

Alice stumbled backward, lost her balance in her heels, and fell hard on the ground.

“You just hit me?” Alice looked at her in disbelief.

Aubree stared coldly at her. “What if I did? You can hit me, but I can’t hit back?”

Alice froze. The girl standing in front of her now felt like a total stranger.

While Alice was still in shock, Aubree stepped around her. “Ms. Diamonde, the moment I left the Wilson house, it meant I no longer have anything to do with you or that family. I’m not going back. And I’m sure as hell not doing anything for you people again.”

With that, Aubree waved down a cab and got in.

The bodyguard moved to stop her, but Alice stopped him. “Let her go. I don’t believe she’ll really cut ties for good,” she said through gritted teeth.

Right now, anger was all she felt. Alice didn’t believe for a second that Aubree would really walk away from everything.

Suddenly, an idea struck Alice, and a confident smile tugged at her lips.

Alice knew what Aubree had planned. Aubree and Carmen’s eighteenth birthday was coming up. Alice figured Aubree would definitely try to stir up something. Maybe to force Carmen to give up her inheritance or to get her own name on the Wilson family registry. Either way, Alice was sure her plan wouldn’t work.

Alice thought, ‘Does Aubree say she doesn’t care about us anymore? Then I’ll throw Carmen the grandest party imaginable. Just wait and see.’

“Where to, miss?” the cab driver asked. The girl had just jumped in and told him to drive, but hadn’t given a destination.

‘Where?’ Aubree blanked. She didn’t know where else she could go.

“Ellis Heights,” Aubree replied. That seemed to be the only place left.

As soon as Aubree got out of the cab, she saw Carol waiting by the door. The moment she saw Aubree, Carol came up to her. “You’re back so late–I thought you might’ve gotten lost.”

“Sorry to worry you,” Aubree said with a strained smile. Running into Alice had completely ruined her mood. “Carol, I don’t really have an appetite tonight. I think I’ll head up and study.”

Carol worked beside Bowen for years. Reading people’s emotions was second nature. She instantly sensed something was off.

Bowen got Carol’s message just as he finished a meeting. Bowen stepped out of the conference room, walking ahead of his assistant, Kelvin, who was carrying a stack of documents and reporting on the next item.

Then Bowen looked down and sent a message to Zachary, who had been assigned to stay close to Aubree, asking what had happened today.

Bowen never had Aubree monitored unless necessary. The only reason he had someone around her was to keep her safe in case something ever happened. Like what happened today with Alice–Zachary hadn’t thought it was serious enough to report. If Bowen hadn’t asked, he wouldn’t have said a word.

“Mr. Turner, the last thing on the schedule is the Lane family’s dinner party,” Kelvin said.

“Cancel it. Send a gift instead and tell Mr. Lane something came up at home. Apologies, I won’t be able to make it in person,” Bowen said.

After giving his instructions, Bowen slipped his phone into his pocket and headed straight for the elevator.

Kelvin made a silent “huh? Something came up at home?” He thought, ‘I haven’t heard of Alvin getting into any trouble again!’

Chris was driving today. He asked, “Mr. Turner, heading to Alvin’s place?”

“No, go to Ellis Heights,” Bowen said.

Chris was surprised. In the rearview mirror, he saw Bowen’s face calm and unreadable.

This was the first time Bowen had said he was going to Ellis Heights since Aubree moved in. As subordinates, they never pried into the boss’s personal life, so Chris kept his expression neutral and started the car.

But inside, his gossip radar was lighting up. ‘God! Samson bet me that Mr. Turner only let Aubree move in out of concern for his nephew’s classmate. And now? Not even a week has passed and he can’t sit still anymore!’

As they passed a dessert shop, Bowen told him to pull over. A moment later, he came back carrying a rabbit-shaped cake.

Meanwhile, Aubree was busy cursing Odionlandian in her head. Any bad mood she’d had was wiped clean by the horrors of grammar.

Yes, as someone who had once aced every subject–Aubree had always struggled with Odionlandian. Her test scores had always been nearly perfect, except for Odionlandian. Back then, Aubree focused a lot on improving it. Even then, she could get a high score.

Now, after not touching it for two years, Aubree had lost whatever progress she’d made. Just passing was hard enough.

“Mind if I come in?” came a voice from outside her door.

‘That voice–Bowen?’ Aubree frowned. ‘It’s late–what is he doing here?’

“Come in,” Aubree called back.

The door opened, and in walked a man in a sharp silver-gray suit, holding a rabbit cake that completely clashed with his image.

‘Is it for me?’ Aubree glanced at the cake and figured he’d heard what happened today and came to cheer her up.

Aubree was half right. Bowen had come to comfort the brokenhearted girl, but the cake wasn’t exactly meant for her.

“Mr. Turner, is there something you need?” Aubree asked.

Bowen pulled out a chair and sat down beside her. “Just checking in on my tenant. As your landlord, I figured I should see how you’re doing. If anything’s going on, I can always step in as your life coach. But from the looks of it, seems like I’m more useful as an Odionlandian tutor right now.”

Looking at the sea of red ink on her notes, Bowen smiled. ‘After all these years, her Odionlandian is still a total mess,’ he thought.

The moment he walked in and saw her battling Odionlandian, Bowen knew she’d already processed what happened.

Bowen’s lips curved in a smile. ‘She isn’t as fragile as people thought.’