Chapter 31
The slap that left my palm tingling! I stared in shock at Jack, who suddenly seemed towering. I hadn’t expected him to grab my hand and slap Luke.
A stunned silence filled the room.
When Chloe saw Luke getting hit, she felt a bit of satisfaction. With this, Luke wouldn’t forgive me now.
Luke’s eyes were bloodshot, incredulous as he exclaimed, “Alice! You actually dared to hit me?” Wasn’t I worried that I might just ignore him forever?
I calmly withdrew my hand. It had felt good.”You hit me earlier, so I’m just returning the favor. What’s the problem?”
“But I’m your brother! I was preventing you from saying something stupid that could lead to a disaster! It’s not the same!” Luke had always been proud, and even though he apologized earlier, he never thought he’d get slapped by me! He felt a bit humiliated.
Jack’s lips curled in a sneer.”Can I ask what she said that could cause this so-called disaster?”
Luke looked at Chloe, justifying his actions.”Chloe was emotional earlier, and if Alice’s words triggered her, what if she did something to hurt herself?” He hadn’t done anything wrong. It was me who was too cold, lacking any familial warmth. Even if I won the competition, I shouldn’t hurt my family!
Jack looked at Chloe, his eyes icy.”We’ve been talking for a while. If you were going to kill yourself, why haven’t you done it yet? Who are you trying to impress by dragging this out?”
Chloe was taken aback by his bluntness. She hadn’t really wanted to die. But when had I become so close to this doctor? Feeling awkward, I held the blade, unsure whether to put it down or continue. She resorted to her old trick, eyes red,
“I-I was just anxious, I wanted to…”
“If you’re anxious, you can find a private place to end it, but using suicide to threaten others into doing what you want is just wrong!”
Chloe burst into real tears this time, not pretending.
I was exhausted and glanced at Jack.”Let’s go.” I didn’t want to waste any more time.
Noah frowned.”Where are you going?”
“It’s my
business.”
“You’re a minor. As your guardian, I have the right to know, and you can’t just leave with a stranger!” Noah shot
a wary glance at Jack. Had this guy led his little sister astray with all these changes?
Luke blocked my path.”Noah’s right. You’re young. Don’t let some smooth-talking guy fool you.”
Noah glared at Jack. “If you dare to take Alice away, I’ll call the cops and say you’re abducting a minor.”
I was a bit angry.”He didn’t abduct me; I want to leave.” I didn’t want to stay in the Welch family any longer. The situation was suffocating..
20.59
< Chapter 31
Noah looked at me,,”Alice, I know you’re rebellious, and no matter what I say, you won’t listen, but one day you’ll understand I’m doing this for your own good!”
Jack sneered. “For Alice’s good? So every time there’s a conflict, you make her compromise? Every time she hurt, you expect her to understand you? Why don’t you take that kind of ‘good’ for yourselves?”
Menu
gets
Noah was speechless, realizing he’d neglected me. I’d always been obedient, never complaining. He’d assumed I didn’t care. But I remembered everything. He’d failed as a brother.
Just then, the police arrived, accompanied by a lawyer.
The lawyer spoke, “I’m Miss Welch’s lawyer. Given the repeated violence from her family, we have filed evidence. She’ll be going to a safe place with police escort.”
I was surprised; I hadn’t hired a lawyer. Had Jack done it? He met my gaze calmly, reassuring me.
Luke was furious.”What do you mean? We’re her guardians; what right do you have to do this?”
The lawyer blocked Luke.”Sir, Miss Welch has applied for personal safety protection. You’re banned from contacting her for six months. If you harm her in any way, we will file a lawsuit!”
Luke was stunned, unable to speak, filled with anger and guilt. Noah felt defeated. At that moment, he truly realized he might lose his sister.
He softened his tone, “Alice, I haven’t been a good brother. I’m sorry. But I promise it won’t happen again. Can we not escalate it like this?”
I looked up, my eyes clear.”No.” There was no need for that.
After saying that, I turned and walked away.
Noah felt a lump in his throat, his eyes stinging; he had indeed hurt my feelings. That’s why I wouldn’t believe him or return to the Welch family!
Luke, seeing me leave, panicked. I couldn’t go! I was their sister! He looked at Noah.”Noah, do something! She can’t leave! We’re family!” What about the finals if I left?
Noah sighed. “If you know this, why did hit her?”
you
Luke was speechless. He’d been the one to strike first! He regretted his impulsiveness. But it was because Chloe had held the razor to her wrist!
He looked at Chloe, his tone reproachful.”Why did you do something so dangerous?” It was all because of
Chloe.
“Luke, I just wanted Alice to calm down and join the team. I was doing it for you.” Chloe was guilty but wouldn’t admit it.
Luke found it absurd.”You think self-harm will make her calm down? You’re just morally blackmailing her!”
Chloe’s expression froze; had Luke suddenly become smarter?
Noah tried to smooth things over.”Luke, say less.”
“Noah, it’s true! I never forced Chloe to harm herself to make Alice join the team; she did it on her own, and that’s what led to all this!” The more Luke thought about it, the more wrong he felt.
20.5%
< Chapter 31
Chloe shrank back, looking pitiful, “Luke, I’m sorry. I was too foolish and thought of this method in a panic. I realize now it was wrong. I’ll apologize to Alice and explain everything.”
Seeing Chloe sincerely apologize, Luke softened a bit, “Don’t do it again.” But he felt a pang of sadness seeing
me go.
Chloe suddenly brightened up, returning to her obedient and cheerful self. But she hated me. The self-harm tactic should have worked; it should have driven a wedge between me and Luke. It was all because of that doctor!
Chloe said, “Noah, what’s the relationship between Alice and that school doctor?”
Noah looked troubled.”I don’t know.”
“Noah, I’m worried Alice might get tricked. After all, our Welch family is wealthy and powerful; a small school doctor might want to use Alice to climb the social ladder.”
Luke scoffed. “That school doctor doesn’t have the right to think that way.”
Noah said coldly, “I’ll have someone bring her back and make that doctor disappear from New York.” The Welch family weren’t to be trifled with.
Chloe’s eyes gleamed; without the doctor’s influence, I would be the same vulnerable girl.
But the men returned, reporting, “Mr. Welch, we couldn’t find Miss Welch or the doctor.”
Noah began to panic; I was missing?
