Chapter 247

Ronald carefully recalled the details of Carmen’s adoption. In the first year, when Aubree went missing, Alice began showing signs of mental instability. At that time, Ronald was mainly focused on finding his daughter. He had also arranged for Alice to see a psychologist.

After some time of therapy, the psychologist suggested diverting Alice’s attention. At first, Ronald never considered adoption, but whenever he took her out to help her relax, he noticed her gaze would always linger on little girls around six or seven years old.

He talked to the psychologist about adopting a girl. The psychologist advised that it would be fine as long as Alice didn’t oppose it.

For quite some time, Ronald kept subtly hinting to Alice about adopting a girl. As to why it was Carmen, it all started with a newspaper.

A newspaper ended up in Alice’s hands. It featured an orphanage, and the girl in the very center of the photo, with a toothy grin, was none other than Carmen. Believing Alice had taken a liking to her, Ronald soon arranged for them to meet.

Surprisingly, Alice showed extraordinary patience and affection toward Carmen. He used to think it was all fate, but now, looking back…

“What a coincidence! Everything fell into place so perfectly, almost too perfect, as if it had all been orchestrated from the very beginning,” Ronald thought.

“That psychologist… Was he one of your people?” Ronald asked slowly, enunciating every word.

If everything happened as I suspected, I can no longer tell if Aubree being taken by human traffickers was an accident, or orchestrated, he thought.

“What is the relationship between Carmen and Alice? Why did she abandon her daughter, Aubree, to bring Carmen into our home and care for her?” Ronald wondered.

Ronald’s gaze darted suspiciously between the two women, finally settling on Carmen with piercing scrutiny.

Carmen trembled, her face growing even paler. She instantly grasped the gravity of the situation and couldn’t help but start doubting her own identity.

Could it be that Alice is my mother? she wondered. The thought was so terrifying that she didn’t dare think any further. Compared to that kind of blood tie, she would rather be the Wilson family’s adopted daughter.

Alice, sitting there, ghostly pale, didn’t utter a word, yet her whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Aubree’s mind raced. That psychologist. Could he be Gordon? she thought.

“Which psychologist? Was his name Gordon?” Aubree asked.

Ronald looked over and asked, “How did you know that?”

So, it’s him! Aubree thought. It means Gordon isn’t just some shady doctor Alice hired to fake medical reports. He must know way more than I imagined.

However, the investigators Aubree had sent to Kroit City to track down Gordon still hadn’t uncovered anything useful.

Facing Ronald’s question, Aubree shrugged. “Since I even knew Alice was having her breakdown, is it really that surprising I know about the psychologist too?"

Ronald was momentarily speechless. Fair point, he thought. Right now, I must know why Alice did all this!

Watching quietly as Ronald and Alice stood locked in a wordless standoff, Aubree let out a bitter chuckle and said, “When I first came back to the Wilson family, I was so happy.

“I thought I finally had a mom and dad, a real family. But, it turns out the one who wanted me least was my dear mother.”

Aubree sounded sarcastic when she said, “Alice, for three years in the Wilson family, did I look utterly pathetic, bending to please you and Carmen? I looked like some doomed clown, oblivious to my fate, still desperately struggling to stand up.

“But you never imagined I would rise and become the very threat you’ve been dying to crush.”

Aubree laughed boldly. She used to be timid and submissive. But now, no matter what she said or did, and how much Alice disliked her, Alice had no choice but to grit her teeth and endure it.

“Alice, is this your idea of motherly love! How magnificent! You’re willing to sacrifice your own flesh and blood to protect your precious adopted daughter,” Aubree sneered.

Aubree, looking at Alice, whose face was ashen and on the verge of collapsing, laughed wildly, full of unrestrained arrogance.

Ronald’s mind was in total disarray. What is Carmen, and what the hell have I done? he wondered.

If Carmen is… Then what the hell have I done to my own daughter, Aubree, these past three years, for someone like her? he thought bitterly.

Ronald’s lips trembled as he stared blankly at Aubree, a wave of despair washing over him.