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.

today,’

Carmen say sorry to me?” Aubree asked, eyes

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

Carmen said, tugging his sleeve, looking all sad

lips went tight, his stare cold. “Enough, Aubree,” he snapped, a warning in his

up. Take it easy,

on?’ Aubree nearly lost

mad she

all-Daxton, quick to rip her apart, no

acting like her wanting an apology

nice but

shot Aubree a fake-sorry look, promising to make things

fifteen, Aubree dreamed her family would swoop in and take her home from the

like a

the orphanage with a laundry list of bad habits, blowing every

reminder of his screw-ups, so he tried to control her life like he was

sure she’d stolen Carmen’s spot the second she showed up,

thought she was a nobody, a stain on his perfect life. At first, she was like a shiny new toy

was the only one who’d ever been kind, but Carmen’s sneaky tricks slowly turned him against her, too.

orphanage

deep breath. ‘Why keep this family

messed up,” Carmen said, glancing at Daxton with big, innocent eyes. “Aubree needs rest. Let’s leave her be. Hey, Daxton, tell the cook to make

side-eye. ‘Seafood pasta?’ She was

the saint, charming the whole Wilson family when they felt bad

hadn’t been through this before, she might’ve bought the act, maybe even

Wilson fortune and all the love that

patting Carmen’s head like she was

Aubree, his face like ice. “I’ll let this go, but mess with Carmen again, and

“Won’t be a next

!

a pen and paper from

saw the first words,

Ronald. “I’ve never been a

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

doing,” Aubree said, calm as ever. “You never

2/3

Chapter 4

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