Chapter 435

However… Could I trust Carmen? thought Alice.

Alice’s eyes grew red as she thought about everything that had happened.

Back then, the Diamonde family forced her to break up with Xander to win over Ronald and shamelessly pushed her into Ronald’s bed. She ended up being pregnant with Bryan before she even married Ronald.

Alice refused to give in, but the Diamonde family gave up all pretense and sent her straight to Ronald’s place. She had to keep living with Ronald as long as she wouldn’t agree to marry him. They hoped Alice and Ronald would develop feelings for each other.

No matter what, they already had a son together by then, and Ronald… was a good man. Even though she said all kinds of harsh things to Ronald, Ronald still took care of her selflessly during that time, never once complaining.

Then, one night when they were both drunk, they ended up together again. That was how Daxton was born. Alice finally gave in after Daxton grew a bit older.

She thought it was just how her life would go until Xander showed up on her wedding day, turning everything upside down.

It was like her heart, which had been numb for so long, suddenly started beating again. Looking back, Alice felt like she used up all the courage she had in her whole life just to run away from that wedding. She’d given Ronald two sons. That was the only way she knew how to repay his love.

However, she never expected what came after: being dragged back to the Diamonde family, losing the man she loved, and her daughter ending up all alone in an orphanage.

Alice needed a daughter for Carmen to rightfully return to her side. That was how Aubree was born. With the Diamonde family’s help, Carmen, with her age altered, returned to Alice as her adopted daughter.

Alice had made up her mind. Instead of passively waiting for Ronald to run out of patience, it was better for them to take the initiative.

Carmen and Bryan were half-siblings, sharing the same mother. Once Carmen took control of the Wilson family, Alice would tell them the truth. Given their blood relationship, she believed they could accept it.

“This won’t be an easy road even if Daxton is on Carmen’s side,” said Alice.

The first hurdle in their way was Aubree. If Carmen had Aubree’s skills and could build a business empire worth hundreds of millions, Ronald would be over the moon to let Carmen into the company. Alice wouldn’t even have to say a word.

If Carmen couldn’t get into the company, nothing else would matter.

“With Aubree standing in the way, Ronald isn’t going to pay any attention to Carmen,” added Alice.

“If Aubree is in the way, make her disappear,” Ernesto said, as if he were just chatting about the weather but talking about taking someone’s life.

Alice was horrified. Sure, Aubree’s birth had been part of a scheme from the very beginning, but Aubree was still her flesh and blood, the child she carried for nine months and brought into the world. Even when she’d heartlessly abandoned Aubree back then, she’d never once thought about actually ending her life.

“No!” Alice blurted out.

Ernesto let out a cold chuckle. Back then, he was the first to help their parents scheme and send Alice to Ronald. Now, he couldn't care less about Aubree, who was completely useless to him.

He sneered, “So, you’re picking Aubree between your two daughters?

“Alright then. I’ll go and tell Ronald his adopted daughter who he’s cherished all these years is his wife’s illegitimate child with another man. Who knows? Maybe once he finds out, he’ll do something about Carmen to get Aubree back. When the truth comes out, I’ll be the uncle who exposed everything. Aubree may even thank me for it.”

“No, you can’t!” Alice’s face went pale. “Leave Carmen out of this. I sacrificed myself for the family back then. Why can’t you just let my daughter go?”

“How have I not let Carmen go? Didn’t I give her the chance to fight for the Wilson Group? If she pulls it off, she’ll be at the top. Am I not treating her well enough?” Ernesto retorted, sounding so sure of himself.

There was a subtle, almost mocking pity in the way Ernesto looked at Alice. That bastard child she had with Xander died of illness years ago, and only she was dumb enough to ever believe Xander was some kind of good guy.