Chapter 234
Chloe’s face was ashen; she couldn’t answer. She trembled, “I… I didn’t say anything. Don’t frame me!” If Blake found out, she was finished.
Seeing Chloe’s obvious fear, Alice guessed what had happened.
“I remember when you were almost killed by those thugs in the alley,” Alice said to Blake. “Alice, you remember! Don’t you feel guilty?” Blake demanded.
“Why should I feel guilty? I ran to get help, and I bumped into Chloe. The thugs caught up, threatening us to reveal your location.”
Blake’s face hardened.“Alice, you told them where I was, didn’t you?”
“Chloe told them, not me. If I hadn’t stopped Chloe from revealing your location and led them in the opposite direction, you’d be dead.” Alice remembered; after that incident, Blake’s attitude. toward her had soured, while he became increasingly protective of Chloe. She’d assumed Chloe had stolen another brother, never understanding the reason.
Blake looked at Chloe.“Is that true?”
“Brother, it’s not like that. Alice was scared and wanted to tell them where you were; I stopped her. I secretly found you and took you to the hospital,” Chloe said, her face pale. She couldn’t admit the truth. No one would believe Alice after all these years.
Blake fell silent.
Jack looked at Chloe.“You say Alice gave away Blake’s location. Why didn’t the thugs go there, but you did?”
Chloe stammered, “I tricked the thugs away.”
“How? What was Alice doing?” Jack pressed.
Chloe’s voice was shaky.“I… I don’t remember. Alice was scared and ran away, saying she didn’t know Four, claiming I was his real sister.”
Alice scoffed.“Chloe, you still lie so easily.”
“I’m not lying.”
“You can’t remember what you did, but you remember what Alice did.” Alice stared at Chloe.“You can’t say anything because “I” led the thugs away. You can’t reveal that!” Revealing that would expose her.
Chloe’s nostrils flared with cold sweat.“No, I really don’t remember. Four, please believe me.”
Blake looked at Chloe, then at Alice.“There’s no proof. Why should I believe you? You’re trying to destroy me now; how can I believe you didn’t abandon me then?” He still didn’t believe Alice had saved him.
Alice’s tone was cold.“Chloe’s story has no proof either, yet you believed her.” It wasn’t about proof; it was about trust.
Blake looked at Alice, his expression grim.“You say you led the thugs away. How did “you” escape? They were dangerous; how could a girl like you get away?”
Alice’s expression turned somber. After a pause, she said, “It wasn’t a good memory.”
Jack took her hand.“If you don’t want
to.” to talk about it, you don’t have
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Chapter 234
Alice nodded. “Right. It’s pointless anyway. I regret what I did. I should have just left
Her sarcastic tone infuriated Blake.
you
there.
“Alice, you’re saying this because you can’t explain what happened, right?” Blake challenged. Chloe added fuel to the fire.“Alice, Four couldn’t fight those thugs; how did you, a girl, escape? It doesn’t make sense.”
“I was caught. They threatened me, demanding I call someone to pay for my release,” Alice said, looking at Blake.“I didn’t call you. I called another Windham family member.” Blake’s lips tightened.“Who? Second Brother?”
Chloe chimed in, “Second Brother always favors Alice.” She’d deny anything related to Noah. Alice looked at Chloe with a smirk.“Sadly, you’re
you’re wrong. I called Ethan.”
Chloe’s blood drained. What now?
Ethan arrived, getting out of his car.“Alice, are you finally regretful? Did you want to call me?” Alice turned to Ethan.“I have a question. I haven’t carried this burden for years for nothing.”
“What is it?”
“Remember when Four almost died in that alley?”
Ethan nodded. “Yes. You led the thugs away, giving Four a chance to escape. You were caught and threatened to call for your release. I was out of town when I called you; I came and rescued you.”
Silence fell. Chloe trembled, taking several steps back. She had to run.
Alice turned to Blake.“Did you hear that? You didn’t believe me or Second Brother. But you must believe Ethan.”
Blake was stunned. This was impossible. He looked at Chloe, who was hiding in the corner, and roared, “You b****, come here! Explain this!”
Chloe tried to flee but was caught. She sobbed, “Four, I… I didn’t know Alice led them away.
“Why did you lie?” Blake grabbed her hair, his eyes bloodshot. Why had she deceived him? He’d
been kept in the dark for years!
Chloe cried out in pain.“Four, I… I was just speculating. Alice didn’t tell you this then. Why is she only saying it now?”
Blake looked at Alice.“Why didn’t you tell me then?”
Alice looked at Ethan sarcastically.“Because Mr. Windham said he would tell you.”
Ethan looked uneasy.“I must have forgotten. They’re siblings; Chloe saved Four, so I didn’t think it mattered.”
“Brother, you ruined me!” Blake’s voice was choked with emotion. Because of this misunderstanding, he’d been cruel to Alice, using Chloe to torment her. And it was all a lie! Chloe had lied to him for years.
Blake looked at Alice, his lips trembling.“I… I didn’t know you saved me.” Could she forgive him?
This chapter reveals the truth behind the childhood incident, highlighting Chloe’s deception and the misunderstanding that fueled Blake’s animosity towards Alice. The Americanized setting and colloquial language remain consistently applied.
