Chapter 223
Caleb continued, “Understand now?” He still didn’t believe he couldn’t control Alice.
Alice laughed, a chilling look in her eyes.
Caleb’s demeanor shifted when he saw her smile.“What’s so funny?”
“Do you really care about your sister so much?”
Alice sat back, a smirk playing on her lips.“Why are you so desperate to get me back into the Welch family? Isn’t it enough to have Chloe?”
Caleb’s eyes turned cold.“Alice, I don’t like that look.”
“Good. I don’t like yours either. We’re even.”
She spun in her chair.“I remember when you were a kid, whenever you got picked on, you’d take it out on me. Who’s looking down on you now?”
“Alice, think before you speak. Pissing me off won’t help you. Think about your friends and your team.”
“Let’s go down together.”
Alice stood, grabbing his collar. “Only cowards take their anger out on their family. After all these years, you’re still a coward!”
Caleb knew how to deal with her, but she also knew what mattered most to him.
Caleb, enraged, raised his hand to strike, but hesitated, his fist hanging mid–air..
Alice’s eyes were icy.“Hit me. Why don’t you? Because you can’t beat me?”
His eyes were red with anger.
He was furious, but Alice had spoken the truth; he couldn’t physically overpower her anymore.
Caleb sneered, “I won’t lay a hand on you, Alice. But I have plenty of ways to make you suffer. Your team’s practice will be a nightmare. Never bow your head.”
He stormed out.
Alice slammed her fist on the desk when she watched him away, her knuckles white.
Lana rushed in.“Your hand! Did Caleb threaten you?”
Alice examined her hand.“After Mom and Dad died, my family was a mess. I lived with my brothers, learning to read their moods to appease them.”
Lana’s eyes were red.“But you’re their sister! They shouldn’t treat you this way.”
Alice’s gaze fell.“I know. They blame me for Mom and Dad’s death. I’ve been enduring it. They’re used to the old ways, and they’re desperate to go back to that.”
She’d died once already.
She wasn’t going back and living like before.
“I might have to quit the team,” she said as she looked at Lana.
Caleb was relentless. He would never stop unless he got what he wanted.
Everyone was working hard for the competition; she couldn’t let them lose this opportunity because of her.
Lana’s tears fell.“No way! We won’t let this affect our training.”
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Sarah, the club member who reported on David, entered. “That’s right. We’ll adjust our practice schedule. We won’t let him win.
Alice’s eyes welled up.“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. We know what you’ve been through, and we know how partial your family is. We’re a team. We’re in this together.”
Alice wiped her tears. She’d find a way to stop Caleb’s threats.
This lifetime, she just wanted to escape the Welch family.
But they were relentless, determined to make her life miserable. She’d make it miserable for everyone then.
Alice went downstairs. The shooting kept repeating.
Alice repeatedly pummeled Chloe’s character in the game, finally venting her frustrations.
Chloe’s acting started to be unnatural.
Caleb noticed the crew’s growing impatience and announced, “Let’s call it a day. Dinner’s on me tonight.”
After the crew dispersed, Caleb turned to Alice. “So you’re not worried about your team’s practice being disrupted?”
“The filming needs time. You shouldn’t be the one worried,” Alice replied calmly, meeting his gaze.
It was a game of endurance.
Caleb tried to hide his anger, feigning gentleness.“Let’s go to dinner. I chose your favorite restaurant.”
Alice smirked. “You’ve got the wrong person. Chloe likes that restaurant, not me.”
Caleb’s face faltered.“Oh, I must have gotten it mixed up. I’ve been so busy lately.”
“If you can’t even remember that, then stop pretending to be a good brother. There are no cameras here.”
Caleb’s face darkened.
Chloe tried to smooth things over.“Caleb, Alice just talks like that. Don’t mind.”
Caleb took the opportunity to leave the base.
Lana fumed.“Can you believe him? All that nice–guy act is fake! I wish we could expose him!”
“He’s a celebrity. Without solid evidence, no one will believe us,” Alice said, knowing that Caleb’s carefully cultivated image made her arguments virtually useless against his massive fanbase.
“Let’s start practice. Everyone, we’re doing sparring sessions,” Alice declared.
They practiced until the gate to the door was about to be closed.
Alice showered and found a familiar package on her desk in the dorm.
There were pain relief patches when she opened it.
She snapped a photo and texted Jack.“Got it. Thanks.”
Jack hesitated in his reply, unsure how to reply.
Her detached tone made him question her current state of mind.
Andrew looked over his shoulder.“Her replying means she’s being rational. She knows you weren’t driving that night, so it’s not your fault.”
“But she doesn’t seem to have figured it all out.”
Jack stared at the chat in hesitation.
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Andrew added, “Makes sense. Your stepmother handled the situation. Your identity might not have been revealed. You‘ should ask her.”
Jack nodded, agreeing; he needed to settle accounts with his half–brother, John, who tried to betray him.
Alice finished drying her hair, noticing Jack’s delayed reply.
Instead, she received several messages from the Mysterious Web.
“The client is very serious. We can increase your pay and meet your any other requirements,” the administrator said.
“It’s not about the money. The deal’s off,” Alice replied, unwilling to work with Ethan’s company.
“Have you had issues with them?”
Alice responded, “Yes, indeed.”
“Perfect! Use this opportunity to get an apology! They need you. Don’t waste this chance!”
Then, a thought struck her.
Ethan had a lead on her parents‘ accident.
Maybe she could use this to get what she needed.
He stayed in Washington for many years, only to learn a little, which meant finding the hit–and–run driver would be difficult.
She might have to spend years of her own time.
Even though she desperately wanted to avoid the Welch family, she needed the truth. She needed to find that driver. “You’re right. I’ll go to the Welch Group tomorrow morning.”
Some things needed to be discussed in person.
The next morning, after class, Alice went to the Welch Group.
She approached the receptionist with a backpack.“I’m here to see Mr. Welch.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
The receptionist recognized her, and her eyes widened.“You’re Alice?”
Alice didn’t deny it. The receptionist took her upstairs to the CEO’s office.
When Ethan looked up at Alice, he was surprised.“Why did you come?”
Alice stated her purpose clearly.“I want information about the hit–and–run driver.”
“So you’ve decided to drop the charges. Wise choice. You do have a conscience after all. Mom and Dad didn’t raise you for nothing,” Ethan said, his mood better.
He looked down at her condescendingly.“But you’ll have to beg for it.”
