Orphan To Unbreakable Queen - Chapter 117: Chapter 117

"Dad, what's wrong?" Carmen asked nervously.
Ronald shot her a disapproving look. "Where are you going? I told everyone to stay home unless necessary."
The family had planned a Christmas getaway to a hot spring island, but with the Rosepoly crisis, they needed to wrap up loose ends first.
After the Rosepoly Group incident, Alice, Daxton, and Trevor were all away from home, having been advised to stay out for a while longer to avoid being hounded by reporters upon their return.
At home, both Carmen and the household staff had been warned to be wary of reporters' persistent questioning.
"MindDrift has..." Carmen bit her tongue. She'd been about to mention the death of a MindDrift streamer, but stopped herself. With Ronald already swamped by Rosepoly's collapse, adding her crisis would be pouring gasoline on the fire. She quickly changed her tone. "A financial publication invited me for an interview."
Ronald, too distracted to question it, waved a hand. "Take bodyguards. And come straight back. The last thing we need is more media trouble."
Ronald snapped, "Don't dawdle—just come straight back. If reporters spot you, it'll only stir up more trouble."
Carmen felt deeply wronged, but she really didn't dare to speak up.
She kept her eyes down, afraid her panic might betray her. "Understood," she murmured.
Ronald paid her no mind. To Ronald, Carmen's only use now was not making things worse.
Outside, Carmen's face was pale, her thoughts in turmoil. Her claim about going for an interview wasn't entirely false. A financial publication had noticed the buzz around her and Aubree's adoptive sister relationship and wanted to capitalize on it by creating a "genius sisters" narrative.
But her immediate dread was that there'd been a death on MindDrift!
A MindDrift host with preexisting health issues had collapsed after an extreme punishment during a livestream PK. Though they'd logged off immediately, it was too late.
But the streamer was still gone.
For now, the fans hadn't noticed, but sooner or later, that streamer's fans would notice something's wrong.
Carmen thought anxiously, 'What if it gets out? I'm totally screwed! What should I do?'
"Miss Miller, thank you for your time. That concludes today's interview."
Aubree nodded politely. "You've worked hard."
"Miss Miller, you may rest backstage for now. We'll arrange for a staff member to escort you out shortly."
"I'd appreciate that."
This was Aubree's last task before Christmas.
Aubree stretched lazily as she followed the staff member. The Rosepoly Group situation was on the brink; just one final push remained. As for Carmen... well, let her enjoy her little moment for now.
Carmen had some tricks up her sleeve in her previous life. She was still a bit green in high school, but college had polished her into a cunning operator.
But this time, Carmen hadn't had the same smooth ride. And Aubree wasn't the same pushover she'd been.
Carmen was clearly getting desperate now. After suffering repeated setbacks, instead of laying low and rebuilding her image, she was stubbornly fighting in areas she had no expertise in.
Without the Wilson family's backing, she wouldn't even have succeeded in launching MindDrift in the first place. God knows where she got the audacity to think she could make it on her own.
After removing her makeup and resting backstage, Aubree was about to leave when she overheard another interview in progress. She remarked casually, "Wow, you guys are still this busy with Christmas coming up."
Aubree casually made small talk, and the staff member assigned to her, not thinking much of it, replied, "It's year-end, so we're all scrambling to hit our targets. The person being interviewed up front right now is probably Miss Wilson."
'Miss Wilson?'
Aubree froze. This financial magazine's main feature was on rising entrepreneurs. Given the recent buzz in Rithol City, and with the surname Wilson... the only person she could think of was Carmen.
"Carmen?" Aubree murmured.
The staff member suddenly realized their blunder and fumbled, "Uh... Miss Miller..."
"Relax, I was just asking," Aubree said with a nonchalant smile.
The higher Carmen climbed, the harder she'd fall. Aubree knew exactly what Carmen craved. If she still had the leisure to do interviews for financial magazines, then the death of that platform streamer hadn't shaken her enough.
Aubree smirked mockingly and said to the staff member, "Let's go."
"Aubree, what are you doing here?"
The staff had gone to get the car, leaving Aubree waiting by the entrance.
Aubree turned around to see Daxton, her hands tucked into her coat pockets, giving him a dismissive look. "Why shouldn't I be here? And you? You're quite free, aren't you? It seems the Wilson family's troubles aren't quite big enough yet."
People saw things differently based on their circumstances.
For example, before, she'd wanted nothing more than for the Wilsons to drop dead. She couldn't stand the sight of them. Now? She loved seeing them. Their helpless rage, their panicked struggles… it was hilarious.
Daxton's face darkened. "If you know we have been having trouble, why haven't you come back to help?"
"Huh?" Was he out of his mind?
Aubree lifted an eyebrow. 'The Wilsons' troubles are my doing. What am I supposed to help with? Hurrying Ronald along to his grave?'
Daxton only knew the family was in some trouble. He had no idea Aubree was behind it all.
"I really don't get why Mom and Dad are so desperate to bring you back, even offering you all those conditions. They should've given those to Carmen instead. She might not have built a successful company like you, but she's trying. She wants to help the family. When MindDrift took off, her first thought was to merge it into the Wilson Group to strengthen it."
"You're nothing like her," Daxton sneered.
That last remark dripped with disdain.
If he hadn't brought up Carmen, Aubree might've just brushed him off. But now? She almost laughed. 'Is Daxton actually proud of Carmen for creating MindDrift?'
She hoped that the pride of his lasted.
The longer he blindly threw money at Carmen, the deeper he'd sink into the pit with her.
"Oh, so you're in trouble now? No wonder things have been so peaceful lately. Fewer annoying mosquitoes buzzed in my ear. Do let me know when your family finally goes completely bankrupt."
Daxton flew into a rage. "What the hell is wrong with you? Are you seriously cursing our family right now?"
"Of course I'm not cursing you." Aubree smiled sweetly. "I genuinely wish you'd all just drop dead."
"You!" Daxton, seething, snapped, "Aubree, you've really turned your back on us now! Do you honestly think starting that little company makes you so high and mighty?"
"Well, it must be something, considering how Ronald keeps begging me to come back." Aubree nodded, as if confirming her success.
Daxton choked on his words, too furious to speak. 'How did I never realize before that Aubree could be so shameless?' he thought.
He sneered. "You're just lucky! Playzy's revenue isn't even growing. It's declining, isn't it? Carmen's ten times smarter than you. She knows how to compete, how to innovate, and push her platform forward. Meanwhile, you're just sitting there gloating over your little achievements. Just wait. She'll crush your company and swallow it whole."
Aubree shot Daxton a mocking smile. If MindDrift survived past Christmas, she'd consider it an act of mercy. If this were Bryan or Ronald, men who actually knew business, they'd never say something so stupid.
To put it bluntly, Daxton was just an egghead. His head was stuffed with nothing but Carmen and medicine.
"Whatever makes you happy." Aubree had no interest in arguing. Seeing her car arrive, she turned to leave.
But Daxton wasn't done. "Aubree, you'll regret leaving the Wilsons. If you apologize to Carmen now and make things right, maybe I'll even forgive you. There might still be a place for you at home. But if you lose everything. Trust me, I'll pay you back for every single thing you've done to Carmen."
Already seated in the car, Aubree rolled her eyes. 'Has Daxton been so busy studying medicine that he forget to get his brain checked first?'