Everyone at the table was caught off guard when Bryan stormed off. After a stunned silence, Alice snapped, “That damn troublemaker Aubree!”

Daston’s face darkened. “I never thought you would treat Carmen like this, and now even Emery has changed. Has Aubree put some kind of spell on them both?” he thought, frustration and suspicion clouding his mind.

Cuimen couldn’t believe Bryan would storm out right in front of their parents. She lowered her eyes, her hand clenched tightly under the table. She thought, "I’ve worked so hard for over a decade, and Aubree’s only been back for what, three years? In just three years, she’s managed to steal my place. If I give her any more time, is she going to completely replace me!”

Carmen shuddered as she pictured the Wilson family scorning and loathing her. Her face, lowered to hide her expression, twisted with fear. She thought fiercely, “I’ll never let this happen to me!”

“Mom, Dad,” Carmen asked softly, her voice trembling with uncertainty, “does Bryan hate me now? And Emery... is he mad at me because his esports team lost?” Since Bryan and Emery had stopped supporting her, she thought to herself, “Time to try a different approach.”

The instant her words left her lips, everyone at the table exchanged glances, their expressions shifting all at once. They thought, “We were so caught up blaming Bryan that we nearly let Emery off the hook!”

Trevor added fuel to the fire with a smirk. “If it weren’t for Emery, this wouldn’t be getting resolved so soon.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the already heavy atmosphere grew even heavier. Ronald, whose word carried the most weight in the family, frowned so deeply it could have crushed a fly.

“What a damn waste of all the kindness Carmen showed him,” Daston sneered. He’d personally witnessed how hard Carmen worked to help Emery win that championship.

Daston thought angrily, “Carmen was even blamed by those guys from Emery’s esports team, doesn’t anyone realize how wronged she must feel? If Emery really sides with Aubree over some damn championship, I’ll make sure he regrets it!”

Daston gently squeezed Carmen’s hand in reassurance and said softly, “Come on, Emery wouldn’t get mad at you over something so trivial.”

“I think Emery can’t even tell right from wrong anymore,” Ronald snapped. He thought, “Even if we let it slide that you’re siding with Aubree, what’s truly outrageous is that ever since Carmen was set up by that wretch, you haven’t even bothered to show up or say a single word to help her! Is this really how you treat your own sister?"

Alice’s heart ached seeing Carmen being viciously cyberbullied online. This time, even though Emery was her own son, she felt he had truly crossed the line. She knew Emery was the only one in the family who ever took Aubree’s side, but she felt that he couldn’t just brush Carmen aside like that.

“How could a brother act like this?” Alice thought, her heart aching with disappointment.

“Wait ‘til Emery gets back, I’m going to give him a piece of my mind!” With just that one sentence, Carmen immediately turned the tables against Emery.

At that moment, Emery didn’t even wonder why Bryan had left. All he could think about was Aubree.

He walked down the street, unable to stop smiling. He thought, “This time really helped Aubree. She’s got to see I’m actually changing for the better! Aubree’s starting an esports club, she must be inexperienced in so many areas. This is my chance to prove myself! I’ll show Aubree my determination, she’ll definitely come back to me. Last time she just didn’t believe in me.”

Carmen checked the time and, seeing it was about right, let her eyes redden slightly, her gaze brimming with grievance, but forced a magnanimous smile. “It’s nothing really, I’m just a little upset. I’m sure Emery had his reasons for acting that way. Mom, Dad, please don’t let this ruin the family harmony because of me!”

Her performance drew even more pity from the family. Carmen was truly so considerate. Even after the way her brothers treated her, she still stood up for them.

Especially Daston, sitting beside her, gazed at Carmen with eyes so tender they could melt ice. He thought, “My Carmen is always like this, so considerate and caring of everyone’s feelings in the family. Just like back then…”

Daston was the most intellectually gifted of all the Wilson siblings. With Bryan overseeing the family business, he was free to pursue his own passions. He chose medicine and found deep fulfillment in the lab, solving complex medical problems and developing groundbreaking new drugs.

Growing up, Daston’s parents were constantly busy, and Bryan was overwhelmed by his studies. In Daston’s world, he always felt utterly alone until Carmen came into his life.

Thinking back, a gentle smile spread across his face. In this family, only Carmen ever cared if he was cold or hungry, and as she grew up, she became increasingly considerate. A few years back, she’d still check that he was eating on time in the lab, going the extra mile to prepare stomach-nourishing meals and personally deliver them to him there.

He thought, “Back then, I made up my mind, even if everyone else in the family doted on Aubree, I’d still protect Carmen and never let her be wronged. At least my family wasn’t blind. They know who truly deserves our love. But lately… things just haven’t been the same. Looks like I have to deal with Aubree once I’m free.”

The front door swung open again. Carmen looked up, and just as she’d expected, Emery was back.

Emery was about to ask why Bryan had left when a barrage of disapproving stares shattered the good mood he’d carried all the way home.

Emery looked puzzled, recalling how Bryan had also hurried off earlier. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“How dare you ask what happened? Don’t you damn well know what you’ve done?" Ronald slammed his fist on the table, his eyes blazing with fury.

His usually warm and gracious mother sat rigidly in her seat, her gaze fixed on him with unmistakable disapproval.

The remaining two brothers also wore grave expressions, staring at him as if he’d committed an unforgivable sin, their eyes brimming with shock and bitter disappointment. Now he finally understood what that look from Bryan meant.

They resented him for siding with Aubree, even though all he did was simply tell the truth and give her the fair treatment she deserved.

All traces of his earlier good mood vanished instantly. Unlike Bryan, Emery wasn’t the type to storm off, he wanted to set the record straight.

Trying to keep his voice as calm as possible, Emery said, “Dad, Mom, Carmen, I think there’s been some misunderstanding here.”

Emery wanted his family to see that Aubree wasn’t the person they imagined. But he’d forgotten that they’d never intended to listen. All they cared about was his unconditional loyalty, that he’d always take Carmen’s side, no matter what happened.

Daston crossed his arms, his eyes filled with scorn. “Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? That you’d rather side with Aubree against your own family than help Carmen?"

Emery bristled at the accusation. “I wasn’t taking sides. Just stating the facts.”

Emery said firmly, “In esports, losing means losing. I don’t care for a title won by shady tactics.”

Daston scoffed. “Who cares what you think? If Carmen hadn’t felt guilty about your team losing, I wouldn’t have resorted to this against Aubree, only to hand her a comeback chance."

“Who’s as self-righteous as you, Emery? Sure, you thought you were being fair, but look what you’ve done, Carmen’s now getting dragged through the mud because of you. The only reason I didn’t haul you over here to make amends to her is that you’re my brother!"

“Emery, what’s done is done. We won’t dwell on it further,” Alice said easily. “But if something like this happens again, don’t act so rashly, at least discuss it with the family first.” As a mother, she hated seeing this rift grow between her children.

Ronald’s brow furrowed slightly as he delivered his final verdict. “You should be grateful that Carmen forgave you,” he said sternly. “Otherwise, I’d make sure you learn what’s acceptable and what’s not. We don’t turn against our own family."

“Aubree’s been setting up that esports club lately. This is your area of expertise, put in some effort and make things tough for her. Think of it as making amends to Carmen.”

Emery’s mind went utterly blank for a second. It took him a long moment to process what those words actually meant.