Chapter 44
Was that an apology? It felt more like an attempt to force me to accept everything.
My expression was neutral, but it made Luke’s heart sink. He had been feeling confident just moments now he was uncertain. He thought that with such a low bow and an apology, I would understand his intentions, right? He had never humbled himself like this for anyone else! I was the first!
ago, but
Chloe seized the opportunity.”Alice, Luke put so much effort into that apology, you have to see how sincere he
is.”
Luke looked uncomfortable. “Alice, you can ask for anything; I can meet your demands.”
I raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm in my voice.”My demands are simple.”
“Say it.”
Luke breathed a sigh of relief. As long as I was willing to negotiate, it meant I’d forgive him. I was just throwing a tantrum, feeling he favored Chloe! After making up, he’d have a serious talk with me.
“From today on, stay away from me. And don’t make decisions for me.”
Luke’s face froze instantly, his mind buzzing as if it had exploded.
I turned and left, my back resolute, without a single backward glance.
As I stepped out of the training base, a wave of heat hit me, and the summer cicadas made me feel inexplicably
irritated.
“Alice, what do I have to do to get your forgiveness? Just tell me!” Luke followed me out, his gaze earnest.
I finally lost my patience. “Can’t you understand what I just said? I suggest you go back to elementary school
and retake it.”
“Alice, we’ve been close since we were kids. Just because I acted impulsively once, you plan to never forgive me for the rest of your life and deny me as your brother?” Luke couldn’t believe I was so heartless.
I found it amusing. Just once? It seemed that in Luke’s eyes, he still didn’t understand why I wanted to leave the Welch family. But I didn’t feel the need to explain. I didn’t want to look back, let alone beg for reconciliation.
My gaze was cold and distant.”If think that
you
way,
then so be it.”
Luke seemed stunned, speechless. He couldn’t believe I’d actually reject him.
Chloe rushed forward, blocking my path.”Alice, the last incident was all my fault; I caused all of this. Starting today, I’ll move out of the Welch family, and you’ll never have to see me again.”
Turning to Luke, tears welled in Chloe’s eyes. “Luke, thank you for everything. I’m grateful.”
Luke instinctively reached for Chloe’s hand.”What are you doing? This has nothing to do with you. It’s between Alice and me.”
“No, Luke, you don’t understand! It’s my fault! I have to take responsibility!” Chloe shook her head, her maturity tugging at his heartstrings.
Meru
Luke sighed. “Why can’t you be as understanding as Chloe, Alice?”
I raised an eyebrow, tinged with mockery:”So having her is enough for you? Don’t bother me!”
“Alice, you always think we favor Chloe, but have you looked at what you’ve done? Everyone has feelings; if you were as understanding, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“So staying apart and being well is the best choice.”
I walked straight to the roadside, which was quite remote, with hardly any cars passing by. But I really wanted to leave this place.
Luke blocked my path:”I think we should have a good talk and clear things up!”
Beep beep beep- A harsh honking sound erupted as a black luxury car sped towards us. Luke turned to look at the car, which was heading straight for him without any intention of braking!
“Luke, watch out!”
Chloe dashed over, and Luke instinctively moved to pull Chloe out of the way, but he turned back to look at me, who was standing still. Realizing what he’d done, he screamed, “Get out of the way!”
My expression was blank, my eyes devoid of emotion.
With a screech, the car stopped next to me. The window rolled down, revealing Jack’s stern face.”Get in.”
A faint smile touched my lips. I knew it was him. I bent down to get in the car, and outside, Luke’s voice rang out:”Alice, you can’t go with him!”
I turned my head to look at the approaching Luke and rolled up the window, cutting off everything outside. Luke chased for a while before finally stopping in frustration. He pounded the ground, wondering how it had come to this. Just moments ago, he had left me standing there.
He remembered my expression and felt a pang of panic. What had he done? He’d instinctively chosen Chloe, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care about me. Chloe had saved him. Would I understand? He was losing his footing.
Chloe caught up, worried.”Luke, are you okay? Alice will be fine. She didn’t come home last night, probably with that school doctor.”
Luke straightened his expression:”Alice is being led astray by that school doctor. Although she used to throw tantrums, she never acted out against her family like this!”
I had changed. He had to find a way to get everything back on track!
In the car, I rolled down the window, letting the outside wind blow in, not saying a word. Jack drove without asking questions, taking me back to my apartment.
In the elevator, I glanced at him. I stole a glance at him:”Are you angry?”
I had noticed Jack’s expression wasn’t great while we were in the car. The man looked at our reflections in the elevator: “You’ve made progress this time; you knew to call for help when being taken away.”
“Because it happened so suddenly, someone confessed to me at the school gate, and I sprayed them with a fire extinguisher. The person was from Washington and not someone to mess with. When the conflict broke out,
team base.”
I hadn’t expected Luke’s elaborate apology and the banner inviting me to join. I hadn’t agreed to anything. The old me would’ve been pressured into it. But now, as long as I had no morals, then morals couldn’t bind me.
“Who confessed to you?”
I shrugged.”Just the school hunk from the private school next door!”
Jack narrowed his eyes.”Is he the one you have a crush on?”
“Impossible, it’s not him!” I chuckled.
We reached our floor. I stepped out. Jack watched my back, his tone a bit stiff:”Kid, don’t date too early!”
“I know, you’ve said it many times; don’t lecture me like an old father!”
Jack followed me slowly, his brows furrowing as if he was pondering something.
I noticed fresh vegetables and fruit in the kitchen.”Are you planning to cook for yourself?”
“Of course not. The housekeeper was supposed to do it. But then I got a certain someone’s message.”
I felt a twinge of guilt.”Maybe I can cook from now on. I’m pretty good at it.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed. “When did you learn it?”
“I often cooked for everyone at home, especially Ethan and Noah. They had poor stomachs and could only eat the food I made…” I trailed off.”I learned a long time ago.”
I’d learned to cook for my brothers.
Jack didn’t seem pleased.”Alice, your hands aren’t for cooking.”
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