Chapter 7

The school day blew by. Aubree’s high school had evening study sessions, but she’d gotten a pass from her teacher to skip them. She grabbed her bag, ready to hit the store for some groceries to cook dinner, needing fuel for a late night gaming session at the internet café.

But right outside the school gates, someone stepped in her way.

It was Emery.

His expression was twisted, eyes flashing with disappointment and anger. “I thought cutting off Dad was bad, Aubree, but this? Didn’t think you’d go this dirty.”

Aubree frowned, totally lost. She took a step back. “What’re you even talking about? If it’s nothing, just…let me go, okay?”

Emery’s jaw clenched, like he was biting back a yell. “Why’d you post that video on the school forum? You know how much this’ll wreck Carmen…”

“…She’s at Rithol Art School, training, and called me crying her eyes out. Says she doesn’t even know why you’re mad at her, and you’re out here ruining her. That’s cold, Aubree.”

“Cold?” Aubree let out a sharp laugh, then smirked. This was too much.

They all knew about the forum drama–the lies trashing Carmen’s name–and didn’t…

But the second her comeback hit Carmen? Boom, she’s the bad guy, no questions asked.

“Emery, is your brain just for decoration?” she snapped. “Only people at the Wilson family party knew about that video. You think those big shots would mess with the Wilsons? So, who leaked it, huh?”

“If I wasn’t getting slammed online first, you think I’d post that video for giggles? And FYI, that video’s legit. It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

Emery blinked, thrown, but rallied fast. “You’re always ticking someone off, Aubree. That forum post? Probably just payback from someone you annoyed. Carmen would never do that.”

Aubree rolled her eyes so hard it stung. She was done with this Carmen fanboy. “Buzz off,” she growled.

But Emery wasn’t dropping it. As she turned to leave, he grabbed her wrist. “You’re coming with me to apologize to Carmen. Now, I’ll sort out the truth later, but you’re fixing this.”

He wouldn’t let go.

Aubree’s temper flared. She glared at him. “So, you don’t even know what went down, and it’s my fault anyway?”

Emery opened his mouth–probably to bring up Carmen’s dumb staircase fall–but Aubree shut it down.

“Don’t,” she cut in. “I remember when I came back to the Wilson family, Carmen was getting trashed at school, people saying she’d be kicked out.

“Mr. Wilson made me play happy sisters with her for show. You all rushed over to make sure everyone knew Carmen was still the Wilson princess. Bryan even sent a lawyer’s letter to the jerk stirring the pot.

“And me? What’ve you done to back me up? Nothing. Zilch.

“As my real brother, you’re not protecting me. You’re just mad I cleared my name because it might make Carmen sad.

“What’s her deal? Heart made of glass? She cripples over this? Then what about me? I’ve been torn apart online; should I just jump off a cliff?”

“If Carmen’s your favorite sister, fine. Why even bother with me?

“Emery, there’s playing favorites, and then there’s this.”

Emery’s grip on Aubree’s hand eased up. He didn’t say a word, because he knew she’d bet the rail on the point.

He tried to speak, wanting to claim the family cared about her too, but their icy vibes from before left him speechless.

Taking a deep breath, he said, “C’mon, just come home with me.”

Aubree looked at him like he was nuts.

“What’s the hold-up? Weren’t we grabbing food?” A sharp, confident voice broke in. Alvin, decked out in a crisp white shirt and black pants, sauntered over, one hand stuffed in his pocket.

His eyes flicked toward them, brows low and screaming disapproval.

Alvin’s face was stone-cold. He’d been thrown off when his uncle, who’d been MIA for three years, rolled up to grab him from school. Thought maybe it was some uncle-nephew bonding time.

Nope. They just sat in the car, going nowhere, until Aubree showed up at the gate.

Then Bowen hit him with, “Alvin, you gotta build those classmate connections, right?”

Total BS. But with his uncle’s glare burning holes, Alvin dragged himself over to Aubree.

Aubree was free for a second. She knew Alvin, sure, but they weren’t tight enough to just hit up a burger joint together.

Still, this was her golden ticket to ditch Emery.

She yanked her hand free and stepped up next to Alvin. “Let’s go.”

Alvin’s jaw clenched. He was kinda curious, though, ‘What’s the story with Aubree and Uncle Bowen?!’

He shot her a couple of quick looks as they headed for the car.

Emery could’ve stopped Aubree, but Alvin? No chance. Kid’s last name was Turner, and that carried weight. Plus, rumor was Bowen was back in town.

Right as Aubree took off, Emery’s phone lit up. It was the hospital.

“Mr. Wilson, Miss Miller’s test results are in. Mind swinging by to grab ‘em?” the doctor said.

When Aubree blacked out and landed in the hospital, Emery had the docs give her a full workup.

After shaking off Emery, Aubree flashed Alvin a grin. “Alvin, thanks for the save. I’m gonna dip now.”

“Nah, it’s not me who wants you," Alvin said, swinging open the car’s back door. That was when Aubree spotted a shadowy figure chilling inside, half-hidden in the dark.

She couldn’t make out his face–just a hand, knuckles sharp, catching the streetlight’s glow.

A low chuckle came from the shadows, like the guy was in a great mood. “Miss Miller, how about I treat you to some grub?”

When Aubree realized it was Bowen asking, she nodded, still kinda stunned.

Squished between the uncle-nephew duo in the backseat, it hit her. ‘Bowen’s taking me to dinner? What the hell?!’

The car was silent. A bodyguard drove, another rode shotgun.

Alvin was glued to his phone on her left, Bowen flipped through papers on her right. Nobody was chatting, and she wasn’t about to start.

Real talk? She was floored.

Everything she knew about these two came from Carmen, who was legit obsessed with Alvin, swearing he was the only guy worth her time.

Alvin had it rough growing up, lost his parents young in a freak accident. Bowen’s father, Enrique, raised him, then he moved in with Bowen.

Word was he picked painting to honor his mom’s last wish. Carmen, all in on him, jumped into art too, even scheming to follow him to Rithol Art School–probably by paying Aubree to fake her portfolio.

Bowen, though, was total legend. Ritol City’s number one bachelor, straight out of a romance novel. Every CFO trope? Nailed it.

Aubree knew Alvin better, mostly because he was All-Star, GOD’s Fury esports team’s jungle captain.

Fans called him “Shrek” for his sneaky, brutal plays and that cheeky username.

She’d always figured her first real moment with Alvin would be him hitting her up for the team.

One glance at Alvin’s phone proved her right. He was watching clips of her tearing it up at the internet café.

She’d shelled out for a high-rank account and went ham in peak matches, running into streamers and pros. Those clips were blowing up online.

“GOD’s Fury invite’s gotta be close,” she thought.

Aubree twined her fingers, trying to keep her cool. Still, one question nagged her. “What does Bowen want with me?”