He thought, “Of course, they all knew Aubren was being framed. How naive was I? As the masterminds behind it all, they were fully aware of the truth.”
He had thought they just misunderstood Aubren. It wasn’t until today that Emery finally saw his so-called family for who they really were.
Breathing badly, his voice trembling with anger, Emery 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… Emery was utterly shocked; he couldn’t believe those words had actually come 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 already latched 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 dares lay a finger on Carmen, 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 place. 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 glanced 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 to come 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 feel laughable.
Emery thought to himself, “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 correcting. 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 his heart, the pain so intense it stole his 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 supposed to be for her own good?
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. “Fine, if this is what you want, do it yourselves. From today on, I won’t do a single thing to hurt Aubree again.”
Chapter 53
With that, he cast a mocking glance at the cold dinner on the table, his lips curling in disdain. “Let’s see, Mom, Dad, it was never about a reunion. You just wanted an excuse to drag Bryan and me back for a lecture.”
With a stiff bow, Emery turned and walked away, escaping the prison that was the Wilson mansion.
The Wilson family usually lived together at the family mansion, though each maintained their own place in the city. But after leaving home, instead of going to his own apartment, Emery drove straight to a nearby apartment complex.
His car came to a stop in the shade of a towering tree. From this vantage point, he only needed to glance 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 for the city to audition, 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 place 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.
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.”
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 you come 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 frowned for a second before haltingly explaining, “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 relationship, Emery felt as if his heart were being ripped out of his chest, his tone ingratiating and pleading, terrified that even the best intentioned misstep might upset Aubree again.
Chapter 53