The Queen They Buried

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Aubree woke up to the sharp sting of hospital disinfectant in her nose. The ceiling lights flickered, blurry for a second, before her head cleared.

‘A hospital? Seriously?’ she thought.

“Aubree, thank God you’re awake!” a voice sounded.

She turned and saw Emery, grinning like he’d just won the lottery. Her eyes drifted past him to Ronald, standing stiffly nearby. Over by the door, Daxton had his arm around Carmen, who kept peeking at her.

A sour thought hit her. ‘Bet they’re bummed I’m okay!

Aubree didn’t say a word. Emery’s smile dimmed for a moment, but he quickly slapped on a soft, comforting one.

That smile? She’d only seen it aimed at Carmen the past couple of years.

‘What is this? Pity because I ended up in a hospital bed? Pass,’ she thought bitterly.

Aubree swatted away Emery’s hand as he reached for her and propped herself up. “If you’re here to make me say sorry to Carmen, save it. Ain’t happening.”

Emery blinked, his forehead creasing. ‘What’s her deal?’

Daxton jumped in, all hot and bothered. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ronald stayed quiet, but his eyes screamed he wasn’t happy.

“Just what I said,” Aubree rasped, her throat scratchy.

(+20)

Her ghostly pale face shut Daxton up for a second. Emery, always the good cop, chimed in gently. “We checked the cameras while you were out. Carmen tripped on her own. Me and Dax got heated and jumped to conclusions.”

“Carmen freaked out and thought you pushed her,” he added. “It’s just a big mix-up. Dad’s not gonna cut you out of the inheritance or anything.”

Ronald nodded. “It’s nothing big, a mistake. Drop it. Rest up. We’re taking Carmen home to recover.”

Aubree bit back a laugh. Carmen took a tumble, and they were quick to point fingers, no evidence required. When the truth spilled out? Just a clumsy slip-up.

Now they were acting like handing her what was rightfully hers was some grand gesture.

Not today,’ she

shouldn’t Carmen say sorry to

jaw dropped, face red. “What’s your problem? Carmen was so worried, she stayed

chill,” Carmen said, tugging his sleeve, looking all sad and fragile.

his stare cold. “Enough, Aubree,” he snapped,

woke up. Take it easy,

Aubree

so mad

all-Daxton, quick to rip her apart, no

wanting an

Emery, playing nice

to make things right

in and take her home from the orphanage.

like a stray dog, sneaking peeks

laundry list of bad habits,

Bryan saw her as a reminder of his screw-ups, so he tried to control

second she showed up, always giving her the

new toy to him, but once the fun wore off, she was just dirt on his

Carmen’s sneaky tricks slowly turned

leaving that orphanage was her biggest

breath. ‘Why

eyes. “Aubree needs rest. Let’s leave her be. Hey, Daxton, tell the cook to make her favorite seafood

gave her a side-eye. ‘Seafood pasta?’ She was allergic, and Carmen knew

playing the saint, charming the whole Wilson

she might’ve bought the act, maybe even

was clear: snag the Wilson fortune

Carmen’s head like she was a damn angel. “You’re

face like ice. “I’ll let this go, but mess with

“Won’t be

!

hospital room had everything. She grabbed a pen and paper from the nightstand

peeked over, saw the first words,

shoved the paper at Ronald. “I’ve never been a real Wilson anyway. Let’s make

twisting with shock, then rage. “You gone crazy, Aubree? You wanna cut me out

“You never gave me the Wilson name. I was never one of

2/3

Chapter 4

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