Chapter 17
Chapter 17
“How the hell could Aubree be that good at academies?” n
“Bryan scoffed like he’d just heard the biggest joke in the world,
That look of disdain in Bryan’s eyes stung Emery. There were still so many things in that file his assistant had compiled–things even he hadn’t know about Aubree, things that shocked him. But he hadn’t shared it with the rest of the Wilson family
Not that it mattered. Even if they saw it, they probably wouldn’t think anything about it. Maybe they’d even turn it around and blame Aubree for not speaking up. Like it was her fault for staying quiet
Emery thought, “Wouldn’t be surprising if they’re the ones who cause hall the problems in the first place.
“Like how Daston admitted he told Aubree to hide her grades, Or how Bryan, with all that proof in front of him someone who can strategize from miles away in the business world–still just sneered at it.
“Do they really not know what’s going on? Or do they just not give a damn?”
Emery took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. No point going in circles now. What mattered was finding Aubree.
Bryan dropped back in his chair, legs spread, raked his perfectly styled hair with his fingers until a few strands fell over his forehead. He lit a cigarette and held it between his fingers. “So Emery, you came here today just to pin everything on me?”
“You think you have the right?” Bryan lifted his eyelids slowly, eyes full of mockery, “if I remember right, back when you were still serving, you took both Carmen and Aubree to visit your team.
“Esports wasn’t even a big thing yet, and the whole squad was crammed into one house. Bunch of guys, no supervision. You were too busy looking after Carmen and nearly letting something happen to Aubree.
“And afterward, because that guy was a starting member and there was a big match coming up, you signed a damn waiver as her guardian and buried the whole thing All for your precious glory, Or have you forgotten?”
Emery turned his head to the side, eyes flickering with quilt. “I did give that guy a harsh warning.”
Bryan’s laugh dripped with contempt. He said coldly, “Oh yeah? And now he’s out of the league, freelancing with his skills and making bank. Some punishment.”
Hearing this, Emery lowered his head. No way to argue with that. The truth was, he didn’t want the trouble. He figured a warning was good enough.
But if it had been Carmen… that guy would’ve been dragged straight to court, no questions asked.
And afterward, when people brought it up again, the blame somehow got turned on Aubree. That she must’ve done something to provoke it. Because she was the one who almost got into big trouble.
Bryan stared at Emery, then finally let out a sigh. “I can see you’ve been the kindest to Aubree over the years. But you don’t actually think no one knows what’s been going on, do you?”
Emery’s body tensed. He didn’t get what Bryan meant.
Bryan went on. “Take her grades, for example. I never looked into it, sure. But you think Mom and Dad didn’t call the school? Didn’t check? They just assumed that a little bit of temptation was enough to get her to cheat. Like Aubree is that kind of person–no bottom line if you offer her something
sorry.
“And that time Mom took me, Carmen, and Aubree to the temple. Carmen’s heart acted up again, and we left Aubree behind on the mountain. It was pouring that day, and she came down on her own. Mam and I both figured out later that Carmen laked it.
“But Aubree God, she was so dumb. So many safer ways to come back down. She could’ve just stayed the night at the temple, right? But no, she dragged herself back in the storm like she was trying to get sympathy. Like she wanted us to feel sorry for her and start treating her like Carmen”
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Chapter 17
Emery couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He asked, “So you all started being hard on Aubree because you thought she was manipulative?”
Emery thought, ‘She was, what–fifteen? A kid from an orphanage suddenly got into a family full of strangers. Of course her first instinct was to go home
when she was abandoned
“That isn’t some kind of power play. It’s just human!
Emery laughed bitterly. “Bryan, Mom told me once when you were little, she took you to a friend’s house and forgot about the time while playing cards She let you there for hours. You cried your heart out, screaming for your mom.”
Bryan frowned. He didn’t get why Emery was bringing that up now.
“You were like twehre. Not exactly a toddler, Emery added.
Emery continued, “You hearing yourself right now? Even you were crying in a house full of familiar people, and you were older than Aubree. But now you expect a fifteen year–old girl, lost for ten years, dropped into a strange place, not to freak out? You were yelling for Mom. All she wanted was to go home. What did she do wrong?”
Emery felt a crushing sadness. He’d only heard about that incident through others later.
Back then Emery had thought, “What’s the big deal? Now it all just feels sick
“So that’s how it worked; the favored one got comforted for every little thing, while the one who actually suffered got told they needed more discipline.’
Emery tilted his head back, blinking hard to hold back tears. “You said Aubree had no bottom line, all for a little attention. You knew Daxton made her da it. You mocked her, but did you ever stop to think she got lost at five, hadn’t seen her family in ten years. Maybe all she wanted was someone to notice
her.
“Aubro gave up the only thing she had–her grades–just to get Daxton to smile at her. She could kneel in the cold all night if that meant being acknowledged, Carmen takes a heart problem out of guilt, and you feel bad for her. But the kid who got lost for ten years doesn’t deserve to be cared
Aher a while, the room went dead quietly.
Bryan’s eyes widened a little. Something seemed to click–but he still didn’t think he was wro
Emery couldn’t say another word. He just felt cold all over.
At first, Emery had thought they all just misunderstood Aubree. But now fryan was saying it out loud–they’d known. They just chose to look the other
way.
Emery thought, “You can’t wake someone who’s pretending to be asleep
“No matter how much Aubree cried or begged back then, nobody cared if it’s Aubree, then it has to be her fault.
Bryan isn’t wrong. The way Aubree turns out….I’m part of that.
“We’re supposed to be family, Real siblings. So how does it all end up like this?
“I’ve already asked the police to help look for her.“Bryan started.
“Who are you guys looking for?” Carmen’s voice suddenly came from the door. She peeked in, looking curious.
Carmen spotted the bruise on Bryan’s face and gasped. “What happened to your face?
Emery quickly shut up. Suddenly, he didn’t know how to face Carmen right
Bryan relaxed his brow and smiled. “Nothing, I tripped. Carmen, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in class?”
Chapter 17
Hearing this, Carmen looked sheepish. She replied, “Sorry, Bryan. I might’ve embarrassed you guys “
“What happened?” Bisan asked right.
Emery watched in silence. ‘Cadmen can walk
out of Beyan’s office whenever the
“But Aubree? She has to call fist if she wants to walk in the company. And even then, who knows if she’ll be allowed in
‘So getting into Bryan’s office is completely out of the question
“Because Bryan didn’t worry about Carmen leaking company secrets. But he didn’t trust his own sister, Auhren!
on doesn’t meet expectations, I should Carmen fidgeted with her fingers, voice soft. “I’m falling behind in my art class. The teacher said if my next piece doesn’t me drop out myself”
Emery couldn’t help thinking–if it were Aubree, she probably wouldn’t have said a word. She’d stay up all night practicing until she could keep up Carmen, though, didn’t hesitate to come cry to Bryan.
“Isn’t Aubree our real sister ? Emery wondered.
Bryan was already comforting her. He said softly. “That’s not a big deal. Just have Aubree draw something for you.”
With that, Bryan grabbed the phone and asked his assistant if Aubree had called or sent any messages lately–anything about wanting to come home
The assistant replied, “Mr. Wilson, there’s been no contact from Ms. Miller at all.”
AD
