Chapter 30
I stood there, expressionless, watching them.
Oh, they thought I was still the same Alice from before? They had never bothered to ask for casually sweeping everything under the rug as if it were a grand favor to me.
I didn’t care anymore.
Luke felt a twinge of guilt, unable to meet my gaze, waiting for Noah to step in.
my opinion,
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, I should feel reassured, right?
Chloe’s face darkened with resentment. She’d worked so hard; why did I effortlessly take her place? She might lack talent, but her effort was comparable.
Luke looked at me hopefully; although he didn’t speak, he also wanted me to join the team. They had laid out the olive branch; surely I shouldn’t be stubborn anymore.
My 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?”
I didn’t just become this skilled overnight.
I must have been practicing behind the scenes; what else could it be for if not to join the team?
Luke didn’t believe me, staring straight at me.
My features were delicate, my 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?”
I paused. “It’s not about forgiveness; there are more teams in this world than just the Welch family’s.” I 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 me, 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!”
I 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.
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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 alongside!
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!”
I stepped back in shock; was Chloe out of her mind? Whether I joined the team or not had nothing to do with this woman! Wasn’t Chloe the one who didn’t want to see me join the team? Now she was resorting to self-harm to force my hand; was she crazy?
Luke was 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 she 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’s heart softened instantly; he had a bit of a grudge against Chloe.
Noah looked at me anxiously.”Alice, can you bear to watch your sister hurt herself?”
Luke frowned, knowing Chloe’s actions were inappropriate, but if I agreed to join the team, everything would be fine. So, all I had to do was nod in agreement.
I 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 I 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 of my business. Stop playing the moral high ground!”
“Alice, her father saved your life! How can you provoke her like this?!”
Luke was furious, slapping me across the face. I was taken aback; I never expected Luke would hit me! Only Caleb had hit me before.
But that slap didn’t land on my face.
Jack stood beside us, 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.”
I turned my head, staring at him in shock.
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Chapter 30
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.
Menu
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 me again?
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 me 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!”
I pursed my 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 me; he looked at me 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 me like
before.
After all, no matter how excessive his actions had been in the past, I never held it against him.
This time, it should be the same, right?
At least he wouldn’t do it again in the future.
My cheek still throbbed, but it paled in comparison to the pain in my heart. My gaze was sardonic.”So?”
I realized I’d been a pushover for Luke, which was why I was looked down upon.
“A proper apology requires sincerity.”
Jack grabbed my hand and delivered a hard slap to Luke.
