“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 Rithol Art School.

Carmen thought, “Help, I’m going crazy. All my life, I’ve been pampered and praised. Never have I 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 face, hailed by countless fans as God’s Fury’s masterpiece, watched her with a teasing smile.

Carmen flinched instinctively. She made a point of avoiding Trevor whenever possible; he was the one she feared most in the family.

Whenever Carmen was around Trevor, she always felt completely exposed, 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, 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 it comes 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 tilted her head up, deliberately exposing the delicate curve of her neck. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she put on her most vulnerable display, 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. “You’re my favorite little sister, after all.”

Carmen’s body gave an involuntary shudder as relief washed over her. At least 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 flashed a reassuring smile. “But don’t worry, I’ll think of a way to help you.”

Carmen’s eyes widened in confusion. “What on earth does Trevor mean?” she wondered, completely 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 her 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…”

Carmen stammered, her eyes flickering with uncertainty as she gazed up at him timidly. “I don’t think Lean…”

Trevor placed 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.”

Just as Trevor finished speaking, Alice burst through the front door and said, “My darling! She immediately pulled Carmen into a tight embrace. “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 Aubree! How could she be so wicked? What has the Wilson family ever done to her? She chose to leave, and after that, she started 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 haven’t changed one bit.”

Snuggled in Alice’s embrace, Carmen lowered her lashes, putting on a pitiful act. Her voice trembling, she choked out, “Mom… why did you come back?! I didn’t want to trouble you. No, I mean I’m fine…”

Chapter 41

Carmen’s incoherent, tearful words only 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 your parents.”

Alice shot Trevor an approving look and thought, “Good job, Trevor; 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 Aubree.”

After Trevor said this, Alice’s fury shot through the roof. “Is Bryan turning against the family now?” she snapped.

“Who else would he help if not Carmen? That ungrateful brat?”

At that moment, it never even crossed Alice’s mind that the “ungrateful brat” she was cursing was actually her own biological daughter.

She was furious that her son would help his biological sister instead of their adopted one.

Carmen finally realized what Trevor had meant earlier. Bryan might not want to help her, but now that Alice had spoken, he’d have to, whether he liked it or not.

Wiping away her tears, Carmen sniffled, “Mom, please don’t be mad at Bryan. He must just be really busy lately.”

Carmen’s words only fanned the flames 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 fury as she snapped, “Bryan, get your ass back here, now!”

The moment Bryan answered the phone, he knew Alice had 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 child late in life.

Bryan rubbed his temples wearily. “Mom, I’m tied up right now. Let’s talk when I get home, okay?”

“Unless the company 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 was coming home, no matter what.

Bryan had no choice but to agree. Sensing his discomfort, his business partner kindly gave him a way out. “Mr. Wilson, if you need to attend to family matters, we can always reschedule.”

Bryan said, “My apologies, Mr. Nash; let me make it up to you with dinner next time.”

As soon as Bryan left, Kelvin Malone, who was Bowen’s assistant, emerged with a practiced professional smile. “Mr. Nash, how about changing your partnership from Wilson Group to Turner Group instead?”

—–

In a private dining room at Rithol City’s famed Grand Hotel, the entire God’s Fury team had gathered for a celebratory dinner.

The team had planned to celebrate their Autumn Finals victory with a celebratory dinner, but Daxton’s sudden interference threw a wrench in those plans.

“Phoenix, how’s your injury?” Leroy Castillo, the top laner, 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 ones at fault. We should’ve 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 Alvin.

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.

Chapter 41

Alvin glanced at Aubree. They’d met privately before coming here to discuss some important matters.

“Aubree, also 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 Holland, the ADC, chimed in anxiously, “Phoenix, are you leaving God’s Fury?”

Before Aubree could respond, Hector started to panic. “You can’t! Our team’s just getting started; we’re gonna win so many championships together!”

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 be competing anymore.”

Before she could finish, Luna, the team’s most hot-headed member, slammed the table and swore, “Fuck! So this is our farewell dinner?”

Matilda Diaz, who had been somewhat distracted from the start, now looked over with a conflicted expression, clearly wanting to persuade Aubree as well.

Just as the tension hung in the air, Aubree let out a 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 be competing 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 mid laner. From now on, God’s Fury will officially become God’s Fury Esports Club.”

“And now, let me properly reintroduce myself. I’m Aubree Miller, also known as Phoenix. From this moment on, I'll be your new owner.”