Chapter 224
Ethan’s voice was laced with a chilling calmness.“Now it’s your turn to beg.”
He still hadn’t forgotten Alice forcing him to beg at the Maple Company. He’d been simmering with resentment, and now, finally, the tables had turned.
He’d been curious to see how long she could hold out.
Alice’s voice was cold and unwavering. “No, it’s still your turn to beg.”
Ethan scoffed.“Alice, out of respect for Mom and Dad, I’ve tolerated you. But if you’re going to be so unreasonable, get out of my office. Don’t make Mom and Dad sad.”
Alice’s eyes fell upon her father’s calligraphy hanging on the wall in the office.
It read, “Diligence will pay off.”
She didn’t move. “But you called me here.”
“I called you here? Don’t be ridiculous! Get out. I have work to do. I can find someone else to rewrite the firewall code without you.”
Ethan sneered with disdain.“Nothing is irreplaceable.”
“You’re right, but the person you found on the Mysterious Web was me.”
“You? Impossible,” Ethan scoffed instantly, looking at her.
“I hired someone reputable. You’re too young to have a reputation on the Mysterious Web.”
Alice spoke calmly. “I just took on a freelance job to make some money. Creating firewall systems isn’t new to me; I’m familiar with the process. But when I saw the company address yesterday, I realized it was you, so I refused.”
Alice looked at him calmly after speaking.
Ethan’s face fell; she’d hit the nail on the head. He had contacted someone who, after learning the company’s address, had refused the job.
He stared at the file in front of him, speechless.
Alice continued, “I first registered on the Mysterious Web because Noah’s tech company had problems. I wanted to learn computer programming to help. Noah found out and forbade me from contacting the Mysterious Web again.” Ethan said, “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? You came here just to gloat.”
“Honestly, I don’t have time for that,” she countered as she looked up at him.
“But you came anyway, proving that without you, I can’t find anyone trustworthy, right?”
Ethan tugged at his tie, his irritation evident.
“Mr. Welch, let’s make a deal. As agreed, I’ll rewrite the firewall code, and you give me the clues.”
Alice’s gaze was steady.“This is a good deal for you.”
“Alice, why do you think I’d agree? I can’t trust outsiders, let alone you! Remember how you hacked into the system last time? The trouble you caused?”
Ethan was wary of a repeat mistake.
“But you went to the Mysterious Web, meaning you couldn’t find anyone else, right?”
Alice stood up.“I’m not in a hurry. If you change your mind, contact me. We can sign an NDA if you’re worried about people knowing I wrote the code.”
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< Chapter 224
She knew Ethan was vain and wouldn’t want anyone in the Welch family to know he’d hired her again.
She turned to leave, but Ethan stopped her.
“Alice, you’d rather make this deal than let your brother off the hook?”
“It’s not me; it’s you and Chloe who won’t let him off.”
Alice paused, her eyes filled with contempt. “The constant moral blackmail…is entertaining for you?” Ethan’s anger flared due to her stare.
He pointed at the calligraphy, saying loudly, “Alice, dare you say that in front of Dad’s calligraphy?” “Dare you say the whole truth without flinching?” Alice retorted.
“At least I’m not a hypocrite, resorting to moral blackmail to absolve myself.”
She left without looking back.
Ethan slammed his fist on his desk, furious.
Then Alice heard his shout.“Get back here!”
Alice smirked. She knew he wouldn’t hold out for long.
An outsider might sell the Welch Group’s secrets; she had no such motive. It was her parents‘ company after all. She returned to his office.
His secretary quickly prepared the contract, which Alice signed without hesitation.
“The clues?” Alice asked, handing over the contract.
Ethan’s face was tight. “I thought you were truly heartless, uninterested in finding the hit–and–run driver.”
Alice remained expressionless.“Don’t waste my time.”
“It took me years to find this… It’s connected to the Garcia family.”
“The Garcia family? As in, Max’s family?”
Ethan nodded.“Yes.”
Alice recalled the Garcia family’s history of shielding Max. The driver was likely someone from the Garcia family, using a scapegoat.
“Even with this clue, you can’t investigate alone. You’re too weak.”
Alice retorted, “If I’m so weak, why did you work with me?”
Ethan’s face darkened.
Alice’s spirits lifted as she left the building.
The Garcia family connection gave her a direction, which surprised her. She had to find out who from the Garcia family was in New York back then.
She went back to the gaming team base, where the film crew was still filming, but there were fewer onlookers.
Caleb sat under a parasol, calmly observing her arrival.“Alice, you’re late again. Even though you’re my sister, making everyone wait isn’t very professional.”
Chloe watched with amusement.“Yeah, Alice, your scenes are the only ones left.”
Alice’s eyes narrowed with cold.“I think it’s fine. I’m not in a rush.”
“Alice, what’s your attitude?”
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< Chapter 224
“I’m not your sister. I’m entitled to some personal space. We have practice; I don’t have time to film.”
Alice left, ignoring Caleb’s furious expression.
As long as she wasn’t in a hurry, someone else would be.
Caleb loved playing the good brother in public. Then she would let him clean up his own mess.
Once he couldn’t take it anymore, he’d stop.
As soon as Alice returned to the office, Caleb stormed in.“Alice, you did this on purpose.”
“Yep. It’s all intentional.” Alice smirked.
“It’s not my money being spent on the film crew.”
“Good. You’re getting smarter,” Caleb snarled, his voice laced with annoyance.
“But don’t think you’ve won. We’re filming the outdoor scene tonight. You won’t have practice then, right?”
“Okay.”
Alice readily agreed. Since he wasn’t stalling, she wouldn’t bother arguing.
She didn’t have time to waste.
Caleb left in a huff.
Lana walked in, a smile playing on her lips.“He’s finally stopped stalling?”
“Probably. He loves his image too much to continue this,” Alice agreed.
Lana warned, “But he doesn’t seem like he’ll give up easily. You need to come up with a plan; you can’t be constantly threatened.”
Alice nodded. “I’ve gathered some dirt on him. If it’s exposed, he’ll be ruined, and he’ll lose this year’s Best Actor
award.”
As she finished speaking, she noticed someone lurking outside the partially open door.
“Who’s there?” She looked over.
There was no response. Lana checked.“No one.”
Chloe was hiding in the corner. She looked at the recording of their conversation on her phone with a triumphant expression.
If Caleb heard this, he’d surely punish Alice.
“This is all your fault, Alice,” Chloe thought.
< Chapter 225
