The Queen They Buried

He thought, “Of course, they all knew Aubren was being framed. How raivet was. As the masterminds behind it all, they were fully aware of the truth?

He had thought they just mounderstood Aubren |

It wasn’t until today that I mery finally saw his to called family for who they really

Breathing badly, his vence trembling with anger, Timary demanded. “So what you’re saying is that Laczidentally ruined your scheme to frame Aubree, and now you actually want me to join in bullying her?”

When their veneer of decency was torn away, the words beneath o

Emery was utterly shocked, he couldn’t believe those words had actually come from his own parents.

“Emery, how can you call this bullying Aubree?” Trevor spread his hands in exasperation, looking utterly helpless, “She’s the one picking on Carmen an delving Mom and Dad. Aubree’s so rebellious, we’re just trying to teach her a lesson before she gets herself into even bigger trouble. We’re only doing this for her own good.”

Alice gave her third son an approving look. “Trevor’s right,” she said, feigning concern, “Aren’t we just doing this for Aubree’s own good? Back when she still lived at home, she’d never have dared act like this?”

With a dejected look, Alice thought to herself, ‘Daxton really was so–called farsighted.” When Aubree was first brought home, she had genuinely to make amends to her long lost daughter by giving her the best of everything

But Dadan had cautioned her, since no one knew what kind of temperament Aubree had developed growing up in an orphanage, giving her too much might only spother or make her too wild at heart.

Ronald’s face darkened with rage. “That damned brat had the nerve to sever ties with us at the hospital, she must’ve already latched onto the Turner tamily! You and Bryan have lost your minds, spoiling her like this. You’re only emboldening her to defy us if she dares lay a finger on Carmen, i: make you both pay

Ronald snapped, “That brat won’t learn her lesson until she feels real pain! Now that she’s got some skills, she dares to defy the family, give her an inch and she’ll take a mile. We’re asking you to put her in her place. It’s all for Aubree’s own good. Even if you’re not doing it for Carmen, at least do it for her.”

His anger only grew as he recalled that party where his friends were gossiping about that online scandal, making a spectacle of his family. He fumed, That brat is an utter disgrace! At least when we kept her locked up at home, her misbehavior stayed within the family New that she’s out in the world. she’s running wild!

Having achieved her desired effect, Carmen bit her lip, leigning hesitation as she glanced at Emery “Emery, I know you care about Aubree, but it’s really not safe for her to be out there alone. Whatever the circumstances, couldn’t we just as

st ask her to cothe home first?”

anything wrong with what Carmen said. He truly believed she cared about Aubree. But

pretense

never Bee who needed to change. From the very start, we were the ones looking at her through prejudiced eyes, finding fault with everything

Dad felt like a daggey stabbing into my heart, the pain so intense it stole my

were Carmen starting a club, they’d be falling over themselves to support her I’d honestly think they’d been possessed! But when it’s

of them are willing to

his gaze across the faces of his family, once familiar, now utterly alien. “Tree, this is what you want, do it yourselves. From

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Chapter 53

he cast a mocking

the talla, his lips

reunion. You just wanted an excuse to rad Bryan And me back fa a

a stiff bow. Desery turned and walked

that was the Wrisen

maintained their own place in the city. But after leaving home, Emery

came to a stop in the shade of a

only needed to glance up to see the window of

on her whereabouts. Minor matters

had moved out of Ellis Heights, he was ecstatic. Bowen had recently

to him, this was the perfect opportunity to win Aubree back. “When che was long at Ella

wind of her move to her new place and insisted on throwing

standing under a streetlight in the distance, his gue seemingly fixed on

‘Emery? What’s

to suddenly defend me online? Does he really think a few petty favors will

He really is dreaming.

not the