Chapter 61
In the interrogation room of the police station, Daxton sat pale-faced, a cup of steaming drink at his side. Aubree occupied the seat next to him.
“Alright, start talking. What happened here?” The interrogating officer glanced from one to the other, rubbing his temples in frustration.
The officers were quite familiar with Daxton and his group, which only made the whole situation even more baffling to them.
They thought, “Weren’t they supposed to be siblings? How did this turn into trespassing? And he got beaten up this badly?”
Daxton was so badly injured that officers had to support him all the way to the police station.
Daxton’s back felt as if it had been scorched, burning and stinging with every movement. Gritting his teeth, he snapped, “Doesn’t this count as her intentionally assaulting me?”
The moment the cops barged in, it all clicked. Aubree had known it was him all along and had deliberately set him up for that beating.
He’d really lost his head and actually let her get exactly what she wanted.
The searing pain on his back was a brand of humiliation, a constant reminder that he’d been outmaneuvered by the very person he despised most.
Aubree hunched her shoulders, feigning a frightened look. “Officer, I was home alone when some stranger broke in. Wouldn’t any girl be terrified? I couldn’t see his face or know who he was, so isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?”
Aubree tried to look as helpless as possible and said to the officer, “Officer, didn’t the medical report just confirm they’re only superficial wounds? At worst, this counts as self-defense, right? Shouldn’t we be focusing on his trespassing violation instead?”
Only now did Daxton snap, “I’m your brother!”
Aubree’s eyes flashed with derision. “We don’t have any adoption papers proving we’re siblings, nor are we even listed in the same family registry. So what kind of siblings does that make us?”
Daxton was left speechless. Back when Aubree had first been found, mostly because he didn’t want Carmen to get hurt, and with some other complications at the time, he’d strongly opposed his parents putting Aubree on the family registry and letting her take their surname. He never imagined that decision would come back to bite him now.
At this point, the resolution was crystal clear. Aubree had the moral and legal high ground, and Daxton could only swallow his pride and accept the beating he’d gotten.
The police gave Daxton a brief verbal warning, had both of them sign the paperwork, and then let them go.
Daxton had contacted the Wilson family early that morning to pick him up. To his surprise, when he stepped out of the police station, it was Ronald who had come.
He asked, “Dad? What are you doing here?”
Ronald didn’t respond, steadying Daxton with one hand while his gaze settled on Aubree. As he reassessed his daughter, he was startled to realize that the timid and unpresentable girl he’d always remembered now had eyes shining with unmistakable confidence.
The more he looked at her, the more pleased he became, and his tone softened noticeably. “Aubree, it must have been tough for you out there on your own these days. Dad’s been giving things a lot of thought lately, and I realize I was unfair to you before and caused you grievance. Let me start by apologizing to you here and now.”
Aubree narrowed her eyes warily at Ronald’s sudden change in attitude. ‘What’s his game this time?’ she thought, instantly on guard.
Aubree shifted her feet slightly. She thought, ‘It’s too late, and Zachary isn’t by my side anymore. But at least I’m still right outside the police station. If Ronald tries anything, I can just shout for help.’
“Daxton!” Ronald cut in sharply. “After wronging Aubree so many times, shouldn’t you give her a proper apology and make it up to her?”
‘Me? Apologize to Aubree?’ Daxton thought, stunned. ‘I’d have to be out of my damn mind to apologize to Aubree!’
“I don’t want it!” Aubree snapped. She wouldn’t dare accept Daxton’s apology. “Besides, it’s best we go our separate ways!” Who knows what kind of trouble he’ll bring me tomorrow if I accept, she thought warily.
Ronald didn’t seem the least bit angry. ‘Kids will be kids,’ he thought indulgently. ‘A little attitude is only to be expected.’
In Ronald’s eyes, Aubree used to be utterly nothing but an embarrassment to the family. Any time she acted out, it was just “making trouble.” But now that she’s useful to him, her defiance is suddenly brushed off as merely “a child acting up.”
He had double standards down to a fine art.
He asked, “Your birthday is coming up soon. Don’t you want the dress your mother specially designed for you?”
Aubree, who had turned to leave, paused mid-step.
Ronald smirked triumphantly. He knew Aubree all too well; she might talk about cutting ties, but deep down, he felt that she was just fishing for their attention.
He added, “At your birthday celebration, I’ll have your registration transferred to our family, change your surname to Wilson, and publicly announce that you are the legitimate daughter of the Wilson family.”
As Aubree turned away, her eyes glinted with undisguised scorn. She thought, ‘If anyone in the Wilson family is truly formidable, it’s not Daxton or Bryan, it’s Ronald, the one who really holds all the power.’
Ronald was the epitome of self-interest. Sons or daughters meant nothing to him; only those who could bring him value were worthy of consideration.
‘So now that I’m useful, he thinks he can just coax me back? Dream on,’ she scoffed to herself.
Aubree strode off without so much as a backward glance.
To Ronald, Aubree’s blatant rejection only made him more certain of victory. After all, he was offering everything she’d ever dreamed of. He felt that there was no way she’d actually refuse.
The moment Aubree left, Daxton exploded. “Dad! What the hell were you saying just now? Where does this leave Carmen?”
Ronald gave Daxton a cold sidelong glance, withdrew his supporting hand and shoved it into his trouser pocket. “What do you mean? Did I ever say Carmen isn’t part of our family? She’s just an adopted daughter. Since when do I need her approval to acknowledge my real daughter?”
Ronald said coldly, “After all the trouble she’s caused, the fact that I’m still willing to clean up her messes just shows how generous I’ve already been to her, more than she deserves.
“Daxton, you’ve been causing trouble lately, too. Getting the police involved this time? This is looking bad on the Wilson family!”
Daxton clenched his fists, bowing his head in silent fury. ‘If I say another word, Dad will definitely take it out on Carmen,’ he thought bitterly.
“Let this setback be a lesson for Carmen,” Ronald said coldly. “Next time, she should use her head and stop giving people ammunition against her.” After lecturing his son, he finally signaled for the driver to help Daxton into the car.
As for Aubree, Ronald wasn’t worried in the slightest. He was certain she’d come crawling back home by tomorrow.
He needed to tell the rest of the family to treat Aubree better for now, at least until he could leverage her connection to Bowen.
Back at her apartment, Aubree didn’t take a single word Ronald said seriously. ‘Only a damn fool would buy that crap,’ she scoffed to herself.
After beating up Daxton, Aubree felt thoroughly satisfied and slept soundly through the night.
Dressed in her school uniform with a backpack, Aubree went to Rithol High School the next day.
The story of how Aubree won the bronze medal and caused Will’s downfall had spread like wildfire through Rithol High School. The moment she stepped into the classroom, all eyes were instantly drawn to her.
Unlike before, when they watched her with scorn and schadenfreude, now their eyes shone with nothing but genuine admiration and envy.
“Look who’s back, the pride of our class!” Once someone spoke up, the rest of the class erupted in excitement.
Aubree’s class was one of Rithol High School’s lower-tier classes, with students of varying abilities.
A person said, “Hey, Aubree, come and check out my gameplay! Do you think I’ve got what it takes to go pro?”
Another said, “Go pro? You? Move over for Queen Aubree! Hey Aubree, free tonight? Wanna carry me to rank up?”
Someone else said, “Back off, everyone! Aubree, could you please help me with this problem?”
Aubree found herself surrounded by her classmates, the sudden burst of enthusiasm leaving her completely overwhelmed. ‘I never imagined I’d actually be this popular one day,’ she thought.
Just then, Matilda came to her rescue.
“Thank you, Aubree!” Matilda suddenly pulled her into a tight hug. Aubree was dazed by the sudden embrace.
‘Thank me? For what?’ Aubree thought, puzzled.
Matilda said to Aubree, “The girl who committed suicide was my close friend. Because of what you said, the case was reopened for investigation, and the newly appointed principal got all those people fired.”
Aubree smiled sincerely. “Karma always catches up with the wicked in the end,” she said.