Aubree stared at the two photos on the table, suppressing a bitter, desolate laugh. “So they always knew where was They only took me back when t was fifteen just because they didn’t want me,” she muttered. “No wonder she resented me so much aber came back To wonder, in my previous ite whenever Carmen was unhappy, it was always my fault, Aubree thought bitterly.
Even Caesar felt a knot in his stomach. Honestly, after all his years as a lawyer, he will couldn’t understand it. The Wilson family had made such a public spectacle when their daughter went missing,” he thought. “And their frantic search became the talk of the town. Yet five years later, even after knowing exactly where she was, they chose not to bring her back.”
“Miss Miller, don’t worry,” Caesar said. “We also found it quite puzzling, so we conducted further inquiries into Ms. Diamond
Bowen’s heartached as he looked at Aubree. He explained gently, “Alice was diagnosed with severe mentalitness at the time.”
“What do you mean?” Aubree asked.
“After you went missing at the age of five, Alice couldn’t handle the shock and developed a severe mental illness, so the Wilson family adopted Carmen as your replacement. When Alice finally had a daughter again, she became a bit obsessed,” Bowen said, carefully choosing his words.
He’d only managed to uncover all this by resorting to some cather unconventional methods.
“She watched Carmen obsessively,” Bowen continued. “If Carmen were out of sight for even a minute, Alice’d become frantic. It wasn’t so much that the doted on her adopted daughter. Deep down, she’d already completely replaced you with Carmen.
“When news of you finally reached the Wilson family, it plunged Alice into sheer terror. She was terrified your reappearance would once again snatch her daughter away.”
So she chose to abandon me Aubree’s lips twisted into a bitter, mocking smile. ‘But it doesn’t matter now. Be it feigned favoritism or outright abandonment, I’ve already seen the Wilson family for what they were in my previous life
Fortunately, this time, Aubree managed to cut ties in time. Sure, it stung for a moment, but after that, she was over it
After all, the Wilson family and I are sworn enemies, Aubree thought coldly.
“Perhaps she was
ps she was just… Bo
Bowen tried to say something to comfort her
“It doesn’t matter,” Aubree met Bowen’s worried gaze with a reassuring smile. “Whether she had mental problems or just wanted to abandon me, the outcome is the same either way.”
She then turned to Caesar. “Mr. Valder, when you specifically told me this, what’s your angle?”
Caesar replied, “As your biological parents, they knew you were in the orphanage yet refused to acknowledge you. Instead, years later, they recognized you as an adopted daughter. It gives you grounds to sue Ronald and Alice for child abandonment
“However, our current evidence isn’t quite sufficient. We need someone who can positively identify the person in the photo as Alice.”
Their identification of Alice relied partly on speculation and partly on Bowen’s off the record tactics, neither of which would hold up as legal evidence.
Aubree nodded. “I’ll go back to the orphanage later, and ask Grandma Ethel about it.”
Bowen thought to himself, Speaking of the orphanage, I did have Nina tailing Mark. Now that I think about it, Mark’s been free
lot lately, too.
the orphanage a
Ugo with you,” Bowen said.
“Alright,” Aubree agreed. She knew they’d inevitably need Caesar’s help later, so having Bowen along wouldn’t be a bad thing
With their discussion wrapped up. Caesar perceptively took his cue and leht, first, leaving only Aubree and Bowen in the lounge.
1/2
Chapter 184
heard Aidani leht Isla with you. How come I haven’t seen her pestering you lately?” Aubree felt a bit awkward and changed the subject Aberat, bomen had just helped her out. It would’ve been rude to leave right away.
A strange look crossed Bowen’s face for a moment. is Bree bothered by my relationship with isla? he wondered
The truth was, Aubree didn’t mean anything by it, just making conversation.
“I don’t like Bowen said.
“Huh?” Aubree was a bit confused. ‘What’s this all about?‘
Bowen gently took both of Aubree’s hands from her lap, looking at her intently. “Strictly speaking, Isla and Laren’t even friends,” he said. “She’s not really into me. You could say she’s just attracted to my looks”
Bowen wouldn’t have been so lenient with Isla if he hadn’t known she was just a spoiled kid from a privileged family.
AD
