The Queen They Buried

Aubere looked back at him and thought, if you’d said this to me before, I would’ve been over the moon, probably too excited to sleep for days. But now! Heel nothing. If anything, it is almost laughable.

Now you put on this act? Where were you when it actually mattered!

‘So what were those three years of suffering fort Was I just a glutton for punishment?

“Are they seriously trying to lure me back just so they can keep trampling all over

“Like he’d really rush to help just because my startup club lacks anything. Who knows, maybe after all this “helping” God’s Fury would just end up being renamed Apes Squad”

As soon as the thought book root in Aubree’s mind, it spiraled out of control. Her previously scornful expression instantly hardened into seriousness.

Aubree shot Emory a guarded look, her whole body tense with suspicion.

She thought, ‘Didn’t the Wilson family say they wished I’d just die out there?

“Why do they keep taking turns showing up to find me! If bolore it was just about keeping Carmen at Rithol Art School, what’s their excuse now everything that’s happened? is Emery really here because they’re plotting something new against me?”

“Emery,” Aubree snapped, “wasn’t I clear enough last time? Your whole family is a joke. What exactly do you want from me, coming after me one after another? If you got all that pent–up family affection and nowhere to put it, just give it all to Carmen. Trust me, she’ll lap it up. As for me? I’m not your emotional dumping ground.”

Emery watched as Aubree regarded him with wariness and annoyance. It felt as if a thousand knives were stabbing into his heart, the pain so sharp it stole his breath away

Aubree used to treasure nothing more than her family, these very people. But now, she cast aside what she once held dear like worthless trash

“Wait, Aubree,” Emery blurted out urgently, “I genuinely want to help you. Did you see my posts online? You’re new to this, now’s when you need support the most. My team can get your operation running smoothly in no time. In esports, I guarantee even Bowen doesn’t know the industry as well as do.”

The more carest Emory became, the more suspicious Aubree gren, she could practically smell something fishy.

“Help me?” Aubree echoed, her tone laced with irony. That word held no good memories for her, the last time Emery had offered his help,” it was all for Carmen’s sake.

Aubree’s expression turned even more sardonic at the memory. “Seriously, don’t you see how absurd this is?” she scoffed. “Let’s be honest, in the three years spent with the Wilson family, I got scraps of kindness but a full course of suffering. So I’m begging you just have some mercy and stay the hell out of my life.”

Emery was completely caught off guard by Aubree’s reaction. “No, it’s not like that. If you don’t trust me, I can assign my beam to sign a formal contract. That way, you’ll know I’m serious, okay?”

rectly. We can

such a powerhouse that everyone from star players to support staff became

accept even a crumb of your “kindness“, who knows what price have to pay for it later? You give me a low lousy little Lavers, then expect me to go back and slave away for Carmen, right? Aubree cut him of already wary of

Carmen, Emery stammered, her

1/3

Chapter 54

was already losing her patience. “Do I really have to rip off every last

the Wilson family, you brought me some lousy freebie that was actually meant for Carmen, called it

color as the memory hit him, he remembered

is a treasure, while I’m nothing but trash, is that it? Did

Wilson family’s New Year’s dinner and brought her some food and supplies, she

death in that basement that

never forget it. It felt like the chill seeped into my bones, running

lips went pale and trembled slightly. He couldn’t bring himself to

seemed everyone had forgotten about their newest addition. Each

big dinner together, then take the kids and Aubree around to visit some important friends and

designs that Alice had saved on the computer. It was the worst fiscal year for Alice’s brand, which was why she had personally created this exclusive holiday collection, with no backups. Panicked at her fnistake, Carmen turned to Emery

was to pin the blame on Aubree. He handed her the freebie perfume that came with

present

look of surprise on Aubree’s face as she

had lit up with pure, radiant joy. Now, just thinking about it, all he

bone–deep chill seized

disgusting, not only did he pass off a cheap freeble as a special New Year’s gift, but he even had the audacity to use

by their furious mother and locked in the basement as punishment, Emery was too busy comforting Carmen to even spare her a

sasement,

compliments, Aubree was locked away completely forgotten. If it hadn’t been for Wendy, who kept worrying about her and sent

next morning

him just how deeply he’d hurt her,

it up,

could recall was muttering

of his

cared. All that mattered to him was making sure Aubrey took the blame to spare Carmen from their mother’s wrath, Ho never once considered just how brutal the punishment would be

felt as his heart were being crushed