Orphan To Unbreakable Queen - Chapter 121: Chapter 121

Bowen led Aubree up to his room. "Don't let what my father said bother you," Bowen remarked, his tone impatient.
Aubree was momentarily taken aback, but then she offered a reassuring smile. "Mr. Turner didn't say anything inappropriate."
Bowen hesitated, the words choking him. "I…"
"It's okay, I don't mind," Aubree said with a warm, reassuring smile.
Bowen felt a lump in his throat as emotion overwhelmed him. For the first time, Aubree's smile pierced him like salt in a wound. 'Does she not care about anything… or is it that she just doesn't care about me?' he wondered.
His eyes briefly darkened. Bowen flashed a teasing grin and spoke playfully, "That's great to hear. But so that you know, I don't believe any of the things my dad said about me." Without warning, Bowen suddenly grasped Aubree's wrist, pulling her toward him until their faces were only inches apart.
Aubree gasped softly and instinctively raised her hand—she nearly slapped Bowen, but fortunately, her rational side intervened just in time. "You startled me!" she exclaimed, instinctively retracting her hand.
"Sorry," Bowen quickly released his grip, but couldn't resist showing off for Aubree. "Do I look handsome?" he asked with a playful grin.
"You're stunning," Aubree exclaimed impulsively.
Bowen preened even more, his smile broadened. "Am I too old?"
Well,' Aubree thought, 'I guess it all depends.'
Bowen was eight years older than her, a gap that once seemed significant. But she had already been through more than most. By the time everything had come full circle, she had reached her late twenties—nearly thirty. Measured by experience and maturity, she might have even surpassed him.
"It's okay," Aubree murmured.
Bowen leaned closer, lowering his voice to a playful whisper. "Just okay? So, I'm old, huh?" His deep-set eyes held a mystery within them—something she couldn't quite grasp.
"N-no, not at all," stammered Aubree.
Aubree gasped in surprise and instinctively tried to step back, but Bowen's arm quickly wrapped around her waist. With a firm pull, he drew her close to his chest. The scent of his cologne enveloped her as his chin rested on her shoulder. "No?" he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "Then stop calling me what Alvin calls me, okay?"
"But didn't you allow me, just like Alvin does?" Aubree retorted.
"I've changed my mind. Call me anything but that." Bowen flustered.
"O-okay..." Aubree stammered, still flustered, as Alvin's voice suddenly broke the tension.
Alvin snapped, "Uncle Bowen, have you no shame? You just left me stranded at the supermarket without even a car, and to make matters worse, you didn't take a single shopping bag with you!"
Alvin was struggling to carry shopping bags in both hands—almost ready to hang one around his neck and clamp another between his teeth. Meanwhile, Bowen rushed back just to put on a show for Aubree. Alvin's jaw was clenched, with a vein throbbing on his forehead as he glared at Bowen.
Aubree hastily pushed Bowen away, flustered. "I'll leave you two to talk."
Bowen smirked. "Alvin, don't be mad. I'm just trying to find you a future aunt, aren't I?"
'He isn't even pretending anymore!' Alvin rolled his eyes dramatically. "Do you even remember what you used to say? And honestly? Even beasts would come second to you."
"I only made my move after she came of age," Bowen said weakly, his voice wavering between defiance and embarrassment.
Alvin scoffed. "Even though you're my uncle, Aubree is my friend. I stand with what's right, not just with family." Alvin's expression darkened slightly, and his mock-threatening glare only amused Bowen.
Bowen wondered, 'Did my nephew threaten me? Well...'
Bowen gestured for Alvin to come in and take a seat. "You don't need to worry; what you're fearing won't happen," he said with conviction. "What has Mark told you about what happened back then?"
"Mark told me he found a damaged photo and had it digitally restored. He mentioned that it won't be long before he tracks down the individuals who murdered my parents." Alvin's voice turned icy. "Once I find them, I'll show them what a true living hell is."
'Throwing them in prison? That'd be showing mercy—they don't even deserve that,' Alvin thought. Alvin reflected bitterly, 'I will never forgive those responsible for their deaths. If it weren't for them, they would still be alive, and I wouldn't have had to grow up all alone.'
During that time, every time Alvin closed his eyes, all he could see were the loving smiles of his parents. A single tear rolled down his cheek. His voice, rough and filled with menace, growled, "When the time comes, stay out of my way."
Watching Alvin like this, Bowen couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He wondered, 'How would Alvin react if he ever found out that the girl from back then was Bree? Ever since they passed away, Alvin has completely shut himself off emotionally. The fact that he can even refer to Bree as his friend shows just how much he valued her.'
Bowen knew that Alvin would never allow the killers to escape justice. However, the mere existence of Aubree could pose another heartbreaking challenge for him. After a moment of hesitation, Bowen quietly asked, "Alvin, just hypothetically speaking... What would you do if that little girl from all those years ago suddenly appeared before you?"
He added, "It would also be nearly impossible to remove her from your life. You..." Bowen paused, contemplating, 'Would you consider making peace with it? And with yourself?'
Alvin interrupted sharply, saying, "If she dares to show up in front of me, I won't hold back. She may be innocent, and it's already incredibly generous of me to offer her an out. But if she can't keep herself out of my sight for good, then I'll make sure she does!"
Alvin couldn't help but resent Aubree—she was a victim too, but if his parents hadn't risked their lives to save her, they wouldn't have died. Not treating her like one of those human traffickers was already the most significant concession he could make. Alvin bitterly thought, 'If that girl's life hadn't come at the cost of my parents' lives, I wouldn't have shown her any mercy either!'
Bowen bit his tongue, worried that if he spoke any further, Alvin would realize the person in question was Aubree. Reluctantly, he decided to hold back. 'I'll just have to play it by ear,' he thought.
For Bowen, this was just as agonizing a choice. Bowen playfully tapped Alvin on the back of the head, immediately reverting to his usual teasing demeanor. "You cheeky brat, lecturing your Uncle now? Get yourself down to the kitchen and start cooking!"
Alvin grumbled inwardly, 'Seriously, this guy's moods change faster than the weather!' Alvin pouted as he rubbed the back of his head and muttered, "Fine..."
Downstairs, Aubree sat on the couch with the TV remote in hand, while Ethan and Samson were busy putting up tinsel on the Christmas tree. Enrique gestured for Bowen to come over. "Come, walk with me," he said.
'There's no escaping this,' Bowen thought.
Bowen was well aware that Enrique had come to Shiyvania solely to assess Aubree—these past few days had been nothing short of an evaluation. "Dad, just tell me what's on your mind," he said.
Enrique's expression hardened, utterly devoid of the playful amusement he had displayed towards Aubree. Leaning on his cane, he remarked, "She's acceptable."
"She's wonderful," Bowen corrected firmly.
Enrique rolled his eyes at him. 'How had I never noticed before that Bowen was... What do kids call it these days? Well, a love-struck fool!' he thought, a blend of exasperation and affection in his gaze.
He said, "But you two aren't compatible. She doesn't have strong feelings for you—not yet, at least. In this relationship, she has the upper hand. And as the head of the family, you should always prioritize yourself."
Enrique continued, "I've never meddled in your love life before. Back then, with the family under your leadership, we didn't need political marriages to strengthen our position, and I believed you were level-headed enough to handle them. But I see now—I was mistaken."
Enrique's gaze was sharp and clear, lacking the cloudiness often associated with his age. "With your temperament, when you truly fall for someone, you become completely uncontrollable."
Bowen nodded slightly, his voice firm. "For me, there's only ever been one answer—it's her, and only her."
"Forgive me, Dad. I can choose not to be the head of the Turner family—you still have Alvin. But I cannot live without Aubree. It's Christmas Eve, and we can't keep everyone waiting for dinner. I'll go lend a hand now."
Watching Bowen walk away, Enrique felt no anger at being contradicted. Instead, he chuckled, "You little rascal!" He murmured, a hint of pride in his voice. "You can't even win over a young girl—no match for my charm back in the day. But when it comes to devotion, that's something you inherited from me."