Chapter 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 time comes, 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 has completely 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, contemplating, “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’t come 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 play it by ear, he thought.
For Bowen, this was just as agonizing a choice. Bowen playfully 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 to come over. “Come, walk with me,” he said.
There’s no escaping this, Bowen thought.
Bowen was well aware that Enrique had come 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 playful demeanor he had displayed towards Aubree. Leaning on his cane, he remarked, “She’s acceptable.”
“She’s wonderful,” Bowen corrected firmly.
Enrique rolled his eyes. “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’t compatible. She doesn’t have strong feelings for you—not yet, at least. In this relationship, 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, lacking the cloudiness often associated with his age. “With your temperament, when you truly fall for someone, you become completely uncontrollable.”
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 it comes to devotion, that’s something you inherited from me.”