The Queen They Buried

Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Aubree’s voice trembled as she said, “Emery, do you know how cold winters get in Rithol City? That kind of cold, I’ll never forget it. It felt like the chill seeped into my bones, running through every inch of me. I was so cold, so, so cold…”

Emery’s lips went pale and trembled slightly. He couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze.

It was Aubree’s first New Year back with the Wilson family. Yet it seemed everyone had forgotten about their newest addition. Each family member had carefully prepared a New Year’s gift for Carmen, and Emery was no exception.

The Wilson family’s original plan for that day was to have a big dinner together, then take the kids and Aubree around to visit some important friends and relatives, a way to make up for not throwing her a proper welcome party when she first came home, and to finally introduce her to everyone.

While the entire family was busy with New Year preparations, Carmen accidentally deleted the new collection 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 mistake, Carmen turned to Emery for help.

Emery’s solution was to pin the blame on Aubree. He handed her the freebie perfume that came with Carmen’s gift, pretending it was a New Year’s present.

He still remembered the look of surprise on Aubree’s face as she held the gift. “Emery… is this really for me?”

Emery remembered how Aubree’s face had lit up with pure, radiant joy. Now, just thinking about it, all he felt was a deep, burning shame.

**

bone-deep chill

then was absolutely disgusting, not only did he pass off a cheap freebie as a special New Year’s gift, but he even had the audacity to use that so-called favor to pressure

in the basement

introduced to everyone by her parents and receiving a flood of compliments, Aubree was locked away in the basement, completely forgotten. If it hadn’t been for Wendy, who kept worrying about her and

he’d hurt her, far more than he’d ever allowed himself to

comfort. Had Aubree not brought it up, that memory would likely have been buried deep in the recesses of

that mattered to him was making sure Aubree took the blame to spare Carmen from their mother’s wrath. He never once considered just how brutal the punishment would be for

outcast.

as if his heart were being crushed in a vice,

words were so empty and

amends and help me? Giving me people and resources means nothing. If you’re really

you say you named this club so that when the team finally reached the top, I’d be able to find my way back home?” Aubree’s voice dripped with

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Chaptcy 05

life’s work, bent over decades with blood, sweat, and tears. Over the years, he’d apum off numerous ventures from the

to part with it, right Aubree’s expression turned icy in an instant. “Then shut the hell up! Take your phony affection and get out of my bice! Of course, she knew Emery would never