Chapter 29
Alice stood there, expressionless, watching them.
tAerus
Oh, they thought she was still the same Alice from before? They had never bothered to ask for her opinion, casually sweeping everything under the rug as if it were a grand favor to her.
She didn’t care anymore.
Luke felt a twinge of guilt, unable to meet Alice’s gaze, waiting for Noah to step in.
Noah, as the older, continued, “Alice, after this match, you’ve proven your strength. No one can replace your position in the team.”
With that, Alice should feel reassured, right?
Chloe’s face darkened with resentment. She’d worked so hard; why did Alice effortlessly take her place? She might lack talent, but her effort was comparable.
Luke looked at Alice hopefully; although he didn’t speak, he also wanted Alice to join the team. They had laid out the olive branch; surely Alice shouldn’t be stubborn anymore.
Alice’s gaze was cold.“I refuse.”
Luke was distraught.“Why?”
“I competed because they insulted my parents, not because I wanted to join the team.”
“But clearly practiced secretly, didn’t you do that to come back?”
Alice didn’t just become this skilled overnight.
She must have been practicing behind the scenes; what else could it be for if not to join the team?
Luke didn’t believe her, staring straight at her.
Alice’s features were delicate, her eyes cold as ice:“No.”
Luke’s heart sank, he couldn’t help but ask, “Alice, do I need to apologize personally for you to forgive me?”
Alice paused. “It’s not about forgiveness; there are more teams in this world than just the Welch family’s.” She loved competing, but not just for the Landing Team. The message was clear.
“Alice, I know you hate me!”
Chloe suddenly cried out, her voice trembling. Everyone looked at her. She walked toward Alice, her tone was humble.“Luke really hopes you can join the team. If my presence is making you unhappy, I’ll quit immediately; I won’t compete with you for this position!”
Alice felt impatient.“You’d better shut up. I’m not joining the team because I don’t want to, and it has nothing to do with you. Stop trying to make yourself look good.”
“I knew it! You’re still angry because I took your spot. I thought I could seize the opportunity you didn’t want and prove myself, but I guess I’m just too foolish!”
Chloe sniffed, her voice sweet and pitiful, making everyone feel a pang of sympathy.
Noah felt a twinge of pity for Chloe.“Chloe, it was Luke who was wrong, he hurt Alice. It’s not your fault.”
Luke felt even more frustrated, having been dragged into this. Seeing Chloe’s act, he regretted letting her join. She was better suited to being a sweet little, sister, not someone to work
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< Chapter 29
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Seeing Luke’s indifference, Chloe made a bold move, pulling out a brow razor and pointing it at her wrist:“Alice, if I die, I won’t compete with you anymore!”
Alice stepped back in shock; was Chloe out of her mind? Whether she joined the team or not had nothing to do with this woman! Wasn’t Chloe the one who didn’t want to see her join the team? Now she was resorting to self–harm to force her hand; was she crazy?
shocked.“Chloe, calm down! This has nothing to do with you.”
Chloe smiled through tears. “Luke, it’s my fault. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken the opportunity you didn’t want, and I wouldn’t have made you angry. After all these years, just growing up in the Welch family, I’m already very satisfied; I’d be willing to die!”
Luke was
Luke’s heart softened instantly; he had a bit of a grudge against Chloe.
Noah looked at Alice anxiously.“Alice, can you bear to watch your sister hurt herself?”
Luke frowned, knowing Chloe’s actions were inappropriate, but if Alice agreed to join the team, everything would be fine. So, all Alice had to do was nod in agreement. Alice said calmly, “Have you all misunderstood something?”
Noah was surprised.“What do you mean?”
“First of all, I’ve made it clear that I’m not joining the team simply because I don’t like it; it has nothing to do with any of you. Secondly, Chloe using self–harm to coerce me is no different from me self–harming to force the King to marry me.”
The sarcasm was sharp.
The teammates who had been about to speak all fell silent, realizing she had a point.
Luke couldn’t help but interject:“No matter what, Chloe’s still family.” Chloe was unskilled and irresponsible, but she was still just a girl.
“What’s that got to do with me? Whether Chloe self–harms or commits suicide, it’s none business. Stop playing the moral high ground!”
of
my-
“Alice, her father saved your life! How can you provoke her like this?!”
Luke was furious, slapping Alice across the face. Alice was taken aback; she never expected Luke would hit her! Only Caleb had hit her before.
But that slap didn’t land on her face.
Jack stood beside them, stopping Luke’s hand. His expression was cold.“According to the Minor Protection Law, this is already your second act of violence; by law, the victim can report this and seek protection for their personal freedom.”
Alice turned her head, staring at him in shock.
What was he doing here?
Luke gritted his teeth.“Who are you? This is our family matter; you, an outsider, have no right to interfere!”
Noah recognized Jack but didn’t expect him to show up here.
Jack spoke calmly:“If even an outsider can’t stand by, it’s clear how excessive your behavior is.” His eyes were filled with cold fury; how could they lay hands on her again?
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He’d almost lost his patience.
Noah
frowned.“Dr. Wilson,
you’ve
misunderstood.
This time is different.”
“How is it different? Your fake sister drags her feet and plays hard to get, relying on Alice, the real sister, to step in and win the match, forcing the opponent to apologize. You don’t treat her well, and you even lay hands on her;where’s your conscience?!”
Noah was speechless, finally realizing that their earlier actions toward Alice were a bit excessive!
He felt guilty.“Alice, I didn’t mean it. I just didn’t want Chloe to do something foolish that would hurt herself!”
Alice pursed her lips.
Jack’s voice was laced with sarcasm.“You don’t want your adopted sister to get hurt, so you hurt your real sister? What kind of excuse is that?!”
Noah felt even guiltier. He addressed Luke, “Apologize to Alice! Why did you hit her?!” He was also shocked by Luke’s actions.
Luke stood frozen, sheepishly hiding his hand. He hadn’t expected to actually hit her; he looked at Alice with guilt:“I was just so angry when I heard what you said; that’s why I… that’s why I did that.”
He didn’t even know why he had such a strong reaction and acted without restraint, as if he could scold her like before.
After all, no matter how excessive his actions had been in the past, Alice never held it against him.
This time, it should be the same, right?
At least he wouldn’t do it again in the future.
Alice’s cheek still throbbed, but it paled in comparison to the pain in her heart. Her gaze was sardonic.“So?”
She realized she’d been a pushover for Luke, which was why she was looked down upon.
“A proper apology requires sincerity.”
Jack grabbed Alice’s hand and delivered a hard slap to Luke.
