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Archie saw Andrew faltering–and the crowd turning against them. He jumped back in, “So what if you didn’t steal back then? That doesn’t mean you didn’t steal now! Where’d you get the money for this hospital stay? The family didn’t give you a cent!”
Before Alicia could respond, someone in the crowd muttered, “Wait, he’s questioning how she paid for being sick? Is she not allowed to get treatment unless she steals?”
Another added, “Even if she did take money–which she didn’t–isn’t saving your own life kinda justified?”
Archie
spun around, ring. “Stealing is stealing! Defending her just makes you aplices!”
The speakers went quiet, but the damage was done.
Aliciaughed: “Now you wonder how my moneye, Archie? Then what about all those expensive gifts you kept asking on birthdays and holidays? You never ask before.”
Archie stumbled, “You–you lived at home! Obviously Mom and Dad gave it to you!”
“Did they?” Her voice turned sharp. “They gave each of you 3k a month in allowance. I got nothing. You knew that. You just didn’t care–as long as you got your presents.”
Archie clenched his jaw. “We’re your brothers! You should want to give us gifts! We praised you, didn’t we? Called you a good sister. You seemed happy enough!”
The crowd erupted again, “They get 3k a month and she gets nothing?”
“And the brothers ask her for gifts? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”
“Let me get this straight–she buys them expensive presents, and all they give in return is… apliment? That’s it?”
“Yep. No gifts back. Just ‘emotional value.‘ What a joke. I’ll take cash overpliments any day.”
Archie was getting overwhelmed by all the judgmental stares. He’d totally lost control of the situation–he came here to use Alicia, not get exposed himself.
Frustrated, he snapped, “Stop changing the subject! I’m asking you one thing: where did the money for the hospitale from? Did you steal cash or sell something you took?”
“I paid for it.”
A cool, sharp voice cut through the noise from the edge of the crowd. It wasn’t loud, but it carried–cold enough to freeze the air.
Everyone turned.
It was
A tall, strikingly handsome man was making his way through the gathering.
<b>15:40 </b>Wed, Oct <b>1 </b>
He moved with an intensity that made people instinctively step aside.
“Wh–who are you?” Archie stammered, unnerved by his presence.
“You don’t deserve to know,” Charles replied, his voice icy.
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Archie wanted to call him rude, but one look at those frostbitten eyes made him swallow his words.
Charles scanned Alicia quickly, checking she was okay, then turned his gaze to Andrew and Archie. “She’s your sister. She’s sick, in the hospital, and instead of caring, you use her of stealing to pay for treatment? Is her money only good when it’s spent on you?”
The crowd erupted.
“The Lawrences are insane! She can buy them gifts but not get medical care?”
“Why treat a daughter like that? Is it favoritism?”
“Not even–she’s adopted. Their real daughter gets everything.”
“So they neglect the adopted one? But denying medical care? That’s cruel.”
“It’s not just cruel–it’s like killing her slowly!”
“People like this should be exposed. Everyone should see what they’re really like.”
As people spoke, some began recording videos and uploading them online.
Andrew and Archie tried to grab the phones, but they were quickly pushed back by the crowd. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, they could only cover their faces, desperate to avoid being recognized.
On their way to pick up Alicia’s bag, she asked quietly, “Mr. Yates, what brought you back?”
“Mr. Yates noticed you were taking longer than expected and came to check,” Kevin said, still fired up. “Didn’t expect to find those two jerks bullying you again.”
Alicia smiled faintly. “They won’t get another chance.”
Charles remained silent, his expression unreadable.
After retrieving her bag, they got back into the car. Charles instructed the driver, “Take us to Linen Bay Residences.”
The driver’s eyes widened slightly. Linen Bay Residences?
That exclusive, high–securityplex in the city center–known for its luxury, privacy, and sky–high prices. Most owners wouldn’t even consider renting it out. <fn8295> This content belongs to f?ndnovel</fn8295>
‘She must really mean something to him.’ He thought.
She must really mean something to him.
15:40 Wed<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>
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When they arrived, Kevin efficiently handled the paperwork with the property management–registering her face, iris, and fingerprints into the security system.
During the process, Charles‘ phone rang four times.
Once everything was settled, Charles said to the driver, “Back to the office.”
On the way, he instructed Kevin, “The incident at the hospital is probably already online. Buy <i>a </i>few days of trending spots–let this story develop.”
“Got it,” Kevin replied immediately, mentally giving Charles a thousand thumbs–up. He felt a surge of
satisfaction.
Watching the Lawrence brothers nder Miss Lawrence today had made his blood boil. Now, with this spreading online, the Lawrence family’s reputation would definitely take a hit.
But he still had one more task–making sure Mr. Yates wasn’t involved. Any videos uploaded couldn’t include him. He’d have to contact someone to edit those out.
Alicia took the elevator up to Charles‘ apartment and realized only then that each floor had just one unit–the elevator opened directly into the home.
No wonder ess was so strict: facial recognition, fingerprints… nothing was left to chance.
Stepping out of the elevator, she found herself in an entryway with a floor–to–ceiling storage system–shoe cabs below, racks for coats and bags above.
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15:40 Wed<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>