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

to me?” Aubree

face red. “What’s your problem? Carmen was so worried, she stayed here, no sleep,

all sad and

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

you just woke up.

on?’ Aubree nearly

was so mad she

eyed them all-Daxton, quick to

her wanting an apology

nice

fake-sorry look, promising to make things right but never following

dreamed her family would swoop in and take her home from the orphanage. They did, but

favoritism, she tiptoed around like a stray dog, sneaking peeks at the

a laundry list of bad

saw her as a reminder of his screw-ups, so he tried to control her life like he was doing her a favor. Push back?

the second she showed up,

new toy to him, but once the fun wore off, she was just dirt on his shiny star status, not

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

orphanage was

a deep breath. ‘Why keep this family around

Carmen said, glancing at Daxton with big, innocent eyes. “Aubree needs rest. Let’s leave her be.

pasta?’ She

master at playing the saint, charming the whole Wilson family when they felt bad

she might’ve bought the act, maybe even thanked Carmen for

snag the Wilson fortune and all the love that

like she was a damn angel. “You’re too sweet,

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

blink. “Won’t be a next

!

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

saw the first words, and went

Ronald. “I’ve never been a real

with shock, then rage. “You

never gave me the Wilson

2/3

Chapter 4

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