Chapter 248
If only I had brought her back and treated her well from the beginning, how proud and elated would I be now! My daughter, barely eighteen, already owns such a thriving empire and has even captivated Bowen’s attention.
No, this is just the beginning. Aubree’s future achievements will be a hundred times more extraordinary than what she has now, he thought.
Ronald felt his heart bleed. Of all his children, the most talented and brilliant was his youngest daughter, Aubree, the very one who had turned against him and now wished him dead!
Just thinking about it made Ronald feel like coughing up blood from sheer regret. In the past, he had always favored Carmen. Even if he had moments of guilt, he could still comfort himself by thinking Aubree was simply immature and unworthy.
But now, with Carmen’s identity in question, everything he had done was no longer a form of self-consolation but one resounding slap after another, all coming back at this very moment to hit him square in the face.
Aubree nudged the papers on the floor with her foot and said, “Alice, you’ve been dying to disown me, haven’t you? That way, Carmen’s place in the Wilson family would be completely secure.
“Now that Ronald knows everything, truths and lies alike, why don’t you sign the papers? It doesn’t matter if it’s you or Ronald who signs, the outcome’s the same.”
Aubree wore a cheerful smile on her face, while in stark contrast, Alice’s expression was as lifeless as could be.
Ronald glared at Alice. “Tell me, why?” he demanded.
Alice bit her lip, her voice dry and strained, and said, “… I don’t know.”
Ronald scoffed, thinking, "Fine! Such a convenient reply!”
Veins throbbed at Ronald’s temple in anger. I’ll deal with this matter thoroughly later, he thought.
After taking a few deep breaths, Ronald looked at Aubree, his voice trembling as he pleaded, “Aubree, I truly didn’t know all this in the past. I was a victim, too. Please forgive me. I promise I’ll make it up to you from now on.”
This apology was more sincere than anything he had ever made before. With tears welling in his eyes and a trembling voice, Ronald reached out his arms, longing to pull Aubree into a hug.
But just as he was about to touch Aubree, she shoved his hand away without hesitation, her face contorted with revulsion. “Don’t touch me,” she spat. “You make my skin crawl.”
Ronald froze with his hand outstretched, as if struck by lightning. In the past, whatever Aubree spoke or did, all he felt was frustration at her immaturity.
But now, all he felt was a deep, bitter sorrow because his daughter no longer wanted to acknowledge him as her father due to everything that had happened.
“Don’t you dare call yourself my dad! You’re not worthy of that title! I was an orphan before, and I always will be one. My parents died a long time ago, when I was just five years old!” Aubree said.
Ronald’s eyes stung with unshed tears. Only when one truly realizes their own mistakes does regret become utterly unbearable, he thought.
Aubree never expected them to sign the document. The only thing she wanted was to drive a wedge between Ronald and Alice. Casting a cold glance around the ward, she sneered and said, “Just let me know when you decide to sign.”
As Aubree walked out, the real battle in the ward had just begun. Ronald kept pressing Alice for answers, but she stubbornly refused to say anything further.
“Are you dumb!” Ronald bellowed, grabbing the table in the VIP ward and violently flipping it over with a thunderous crash. Carmen flinched, trembling in fear, too terrified to say a word.
Ronald was gasping with rage, his eyes fiery with menace as he glared at the two women sitting on the bed. “You think keeping quiet will stop me from finding out the truth?” he asked.
He had initially hesitated about marrying Carmen off for a business alliance, but now….
“Carmen, you’ve been expelled from school, and your MindDrift has been ordered to be shut down. You have caused the family a great deal of trouble. The Wilson family has raised you for all these years; it’s time for you to give back,” he said.
Carmen lifted her head, trembling. “There’s a high-society party next week. Many eligible young heirs from prominent and wealthy families will be there. You’re coming with me,” Ronald said.
A sudden, crushing blow hit Carmen. Her vision blurred out, her eyes widening in fury. How could you force me into a marriage arranged for business interests? None of those men is worthy of me! I want Alvin Turner! she cried in her heart.