Orphan To Unbreakable Queen - Chapter 145: Chapter 145

In the grand auditorium, Aubree stood at center stage. The front row was packed with school and education officials. Of course, Bowen, whose exceptionally dazzling smile stood out.
Aubree's gaze swept past Bowen, and she flashed him a toothy, defiant grin.
With a slight lift of her gaze, Aubree took in the scene. Aside from the officials, the rest of the attendees included students' parents, the press corps, and, of course, the entire Wilson family.
Every single member of the Wilson family was present, except for Emery, who was serving time. Even Trevor had shown up, fully disguised and tucked away in the farthest corner.
Aubree coldly thought, 'Perfect. They're all here.'
A cold glint flashed in Aubree's eyes as she thought again, 'Since they're so eager to hear, I'll make sure they get an earful!'
The moment Aubree took the mic, the reporters below couldn't hold back. They asked questions one after another.
Entrepreneur, genius—these identities were already old news. Compared to those, Aubree had an even more attention-grabbing identity: the disowned heiress of the Wilson family.
Aubree answered without a hint of hesitation. "Compared to that label," she said coldly, "I'd much rather be an orphan."
The audience erupted in shocked murmurs.
Wasn't she cursing the Wilson family?
Aubree shrugged and said, "I'm sure most of you know the Wilson family and I are sworn enemies. When I first started my business, they attacked me both openly and behind the scenes. I gave as good as I got. So I despise any identity linked to the Wilson family, and I certainly don't see myself as one of them. I went missing at five and didn't return to the Wilson family until I was fifteen. For three years, I endured countless brutal beatings and punishments. Any debt of gratitude has long been repaid. Now, all that's left is nothing but hatred.
"My so-called family was wiped out by the time I was five. After they were all gone, I grew up in an orphanage. It was Mr. Quinn who sponsored me so that I could eat, have clothes to wear, and have books to read. That's the only reason I'm alive today. The only person I'll ever thank is Mr. Quinn, the benefactor, whose appearance I do not know.
"So, I'd appreciate it if you, the media, could do me this favor: from now on, in any stories about me, please leave the Wilson family out of it entirely."
Aubree smiled, her tone laced with just the right amount of youthful mischief.
Upon hearing her words, the crowd erupted into an uproar.
Though her tone remained outwardly calm, every word dripped with seething hatred.
Aubree never bothered hiding her utter loathing for the Wilson family. That nonsense about "leaving each other alone"? Bullshit. She was the avenging fury returned to claim their lives. What she wanted was the complete ruin of the Wilson family, to see every last one of them reap what they'd sown. The best outcome? Their total extinction.
The reporters instantly grasped the subtext. Aubree was drawing a clear line. She had no connection to the Wilson family, and for better or worse, neither side was to exploit the other.
The reporters didn't dwell on it. Laughing it off, they decided to do her the favor and quickly moved on to other questions.
Some asked about her essays, others about her journey so far. Aubree, with a bright, unflappable smile, answered every question with ease.
Seated in the audience, Bowen gazed at Aubree on stage with such tenderness in his eyes it could have flooded the entire auditorium—enough to make onlookers' skin crawl.
On the other side of the crowd, Bryan buried his face in his hands, tears streaming down as short, choked sobs escaped his throat.
Tears rolled down Bryan's face—mere droplets, but for a man of his stoic nature, it was nothing short of extraordinary. 'Aubree... my little sister!' thought Quinn.
Ever since Bryan learned that Alice had deliberately abandoned Aubree, Bryan's guilt and regret had reached unbearable levels. He could never forget standing by Aubree's crib when she was born, silently vowing, "I'll protect my baby sister no matter what."
However, what had he done?
When Aubree first came back, I meant to make it up to her... But how did everything go so wrong? Bryan thought, his heart heavy with regret.
Every time he saw her face or heard her defiance, Bryan couldn't help but feel she was blaming him for failing to protect her all those years ago... That creeping fear only fueled his desperate need to make her submit to his will.
That was when his actions started getting out of hand.
However, no one paid any attention to Bryan, who was weeping. Trevor, meanwhile, kept his eyes fixed on Aubree, his mind racing with cold calculations. He thought, 'With how much she hates us now, she'll relentlessly target us in the future. She's building her empire, and with Bowen backing her, if we let her grow any stronger, aren't we raising a dagger to hang over our heads?'
"Dad..." Trevor turned to look at Ronald, only to see Ronald's face drained of all hope, ashen, utterly lifeless, and defeated.
Ronald's last hope was shattered. For Aubree to say such things before the entire media, it meant she had utterly disowned him as her father.
Trevor could hardly believe his eyes. His father, the man who had always seemed like a master strategist, now looked utterly defeated.
Trevor quickly glanced at the others. Sure enough, every single one of them wore the same grim expression.
Alice's face darkened, her eyes blazing with fury. She thought, 'Even though I've always favored Carmen, I never said I didn't recognize Aubree as my daughter! Aubree's words aren't just leaving us completely humiliated. Once the news gets out, who knows what vile things people will say about Carmen?
Aubree Miller, the ungrateful wretch! She's blatantly cursing us to die!'
Alice said, "She's completely out of line!"
Daxton, however, was consumed with worry. Aubree was growing more formidable by the day. He thought, 'Back when she was powerless in the Wilson family, she still managed to torment Carmen. If this keeps up, won't she end up driving Carmen to her death?'
"Dad, are you going to turn a blind eye to Aubree?" Daxton said. "If you keep letting her run wild like this, she'll destroy the Wilson family sooner or later!"
"Daxton, she's your sister!" Bryan gasped in shock. He couldn't fathom it. Even at the critical juncture, how could Daxton still be so utterly blind to what truly mattered?
Daxton sneered. "Carmen is my only sister. Since you're all too soft-hearted to act, I'll gladly take care of it myself."
"Don't you dare!" Ronald roared, his face twisted with fury.
Daxton didn't mince words. "Dad, Aubree hates you just as much.
"Don't you remember? You were the one who forced her to drag her battered, pain-wracked body to the hospital ward to apologize to Carmen. You were the first to slap her the moment she stepped inside. You forced her to surrender her inheritance rights. And you refused to let her take the Wilson name or be added to the family registry!"
Daxton's words cut through all pretense like the sharpest blade, leaving no mercy in their wake.
Ronald choked on his words, utterly defenseless against Daxton's accusations.
Trevor's eyes gleamed with cold calculation. He thought, 'I can't let Aubree ruin my career. Since my father and Bryan can't be relied on, I'll have to ally with anyone willing to take Aubree down.'
Aubree was still being interviewed. Some reporters, clearly fixated on her "orphan" background, relentlessly hounded her with questions, refusing to drop the subject.
Aubree couldn't have cared less if everyone below heard every word of her bitter tirade.
Aubree met their gaze coldly. "Yeah. Every last one's dead.
"How did they die?" Aubree scoffed. "Who knows? Maybe they did so much evil that lightning finally struck them dead. Wouldn't surprise me.
"I owe them. Without their "help," I wouldn't be where I am today. But that sure doesn't mean I won't be looking forward to the day I can personally dance on their graves."
Alice and the others arrived simmering with barely contained anger, only to leave practically choking on their fury.
Even Ronald couldn't stomach her words any longer and followed the others out.
Only Bryan remained, crying like an idiot in the corner.
Back then, Aubree used to say I was the one she looked up to most...' Bryan thought bitterly.
He remembered coming home from work one evening to find Aubree waiting for him in the living room, her eyes brimming with concern. She said softly, "I'll study business and help you run the company when I grow up. That way, you won't have to work so late anymore."
Bryan thought bitterly, 'But what the hell was I doing all that time? We're the ones who destroyed her with our hands.'