Chapter 266
Every time he saw her face or heard her defiance, Bryan couldn’t help but feel she was blaming him for failing to protect her all those years ago. That creeping fear only fueled his desperate need to make her submit to his will. That was when his actions started getting out of hand.
However, no one paid any attention to Bryan, who was weeping. Trevor, meanwhile, kept his eyes fixed on Aubree, his mind racing with cold calculations. He thought, “With how much she hates us now, she’ll relentlessly target us in the future. She’s building her empire, and with Bowen backing her, if we let her grow any stronger, aren’t we raising a dagger to hang over our heads?”
“Dad…” Trevor turned to look at Ronald, only to see Ronald’s face drained of all hope, ashen, utterly lifeless, and defeated. Ronald’s last hope was shattered. For Aubree to say such things before the entire media meant she had utterly disowned him as her father.
Trevor could hardly believe his eyes. His father, the man who had always seemed like a master strategist, now looked utterly defeated. Trevor quickly glanced at the others. Sure enough, every single one of them wore the same grim expression.
Alice’s face darkened, her eyes blazing with fury. She thought, “Even though I’ve always favored Carmen, I never said I didn’t recognize Aubree as my daughter! Aubree’s words aren’t just leaving us completely humiliated. Once the news gets out, who knows what vile things people will say about Carmen? Aubree Miller, the ungrateful wretch! She’s blatantly cursing us to die!”
Alice said, “She’s completely out of line!”
Daxton, however, was consumed with worry. Aubree was growing more formidable by the day. He thought, “Back when she was powerless in the Wilson family, she still managed to torment Carmen. If this keeps up, won’t she end up driving Carmen to her death?”
“Dad, are you going to turn a blind eye to Aubree?” Daxton said. “If you keep letting her run wild like this, she’ll destroy the Wilson family sooner or later!”
“Daxton, she’s your sister!” Bryan gasped in shock. He couldn’t fathom it. Even at this critical juncture, how could Daxton still be so utterly blind to what truly mattered?
Daxton sneered. “Carmen is my only sister. Since you’re all too soft-hearted to act, I’ll gladly take care of it myself.”
“Don’t you dare!” Ronald roared, his face twisted with fury.
Daxton didn’t mince words. “Dad, Aubree hates you just as much. Don’t you remember? You were the one who forced her to drag her battered, pain-wracked body to the hospital ward to apologize to Carmen. You were the first to slap her the moment she stepped inside. You forced her to surrender her inheritance rights, and you refused to let her take the Wilson name or be added to the family registry!”
Daxton’s words cut through all pretense like the sharpest blade, leaving no mercy in their wake. Ronald choked on his words, utterly defenseless against Daxton’s accusations.
Trevor’s eyes gleamed with cold calculation. He thought, “I can’t let Aubree ruin my career. Since my father and Bryan can’t be relied on, I’ll have to ally with anyone willing to take Aubree down.”
Aubree was still being interviewed. Some reporters, clearly fixated on her “orphan” background, relentlessly hounded her with questions, refusing to drop the subject. Aubree couldn’t have cared less if everyone below heard every word of her bitter tirade.
Aubree met their gaze coldly, “Yeah. Every last one’s dead.”
“How did they die?”
Aubree scoffed. “Who knows? Maybe they did so much evil that lightning finally struck them dead. Wouldn’t surprise me. I owe them. Without their ‘help,’ I wouldn’t be where I am today. But that sure doesn’t mean I won’t be looking forward to the day I can personally dance on their graves.”
Alice and the others arrived simmering with barely contained anger, only to leave practically choking on their fury. Even Ronald couldn’t stomach her words any longer and followed the others out.
Only Bryan remained, crying like an idiot in the corner.
Back then, Aubree used to say I was the one she looked up to most… Bryan thought bitterly. He remembered coming home from work one evening to find Aubree waiting for him in the living room, her eyes brimming with concern. She said softly, “I’ll study business and help you run the company when I grow up. That way, you won’t have to work so late anymore.”
Bryan thought bitterly. “But what the hell was I doing all that time? We’re the ones who destroyed her with our hands.”