Orphan To Unbreakable Queen - Chapter 162: Chapter 162

Once they were gone, the party hall erupted into a flurry of heated discussions.
A guest said, "I thought Ms. Miller looked familiar before, but after what Mr. Carr said... she does resemble her..."
Another guest scoffed, "Resembles who? Aubree's way prettier than that woman. If anything, it's that woman who looks like her."
A guest whispered, "Wait, so Bowen and Kurtis had a falling out over a woman back then?"
Another guest chimed in, "That's not how it was. I heard they were just business partners. As for Cordelia Vought, wasn't it all just a one-sided crush on her part?"
"Oh, who cares what kind of status Cordelia had? She was Mr. Carr's sweetheart. Does anything else even matter? Haven't you noticed? Over the past few years, anyone who even slightly resembles her has been given a big break."
Aubree trailed behind, her mind racing. From what Kurtis had just said, it wasn't hard to figure out she resembled someone, and that person seemed to be at the center of a falling-out between Bowen and Kurtis.
So...
Aubree narrowed her eyes. 'Was Bowen's inexplicable kindness to me from the beginning because of this?'
"The classic stand-in trope?"
A cold, mocking laugh echoed in her mind as her gaze on Bowen's back turned sharp and dangerous. 'You'd better not be playing this game with me, Bowen. Otherwise... just try me.'
Bowen's eyelid twitched inexplicably, a wave of unease washing over him.
"Word around Rithol City is that Ms. Miller's success is all thanks to you, Mr. Turner, the most successful investor. Am I wrong?" said Kurtis.
Kurtis flashed a smile. Had it not been for the biting sarcasm lacing his words, one might almost think he was genuinely praising them both.
"I've got great taste," Bowen replied with a confident grin, accepting the compliment without hesitation.
Aubree rolled her eyes. 'Please, that was all me.'
They entered the private room. As the door closed, Bowen paused mid-step. "Oh, right, I haven't properly introduced you to Mr. Carr yet."
"This is Aubree Miller, founder of Bree Technology and my girlfriend."
"So, to answer your first question today. She's not just familiar. She's etched permanently in my memory."
Then, he reached out and pulled Aubree, who had been standing just behind Kurtis, firmly into his embrace. Locking eyes with Kurtis in a silent battle of wills, Bowen was unmistakably staking his claim.
Kurtis's mask of civility began to crack. He thought, 'Girlfriend?! Alice never told me that.
'No way. How could Bowen possibly have a girlfriend?'
The smile slid off Kurtis's face, his eyes glinting with menace. He seized Bowen by the collar and snarled, "You're dating? How dare you? What gives you the right?
"Cordelia died for you! You belong to her!"
Aubree was utterly bewildered. 'What the hell is going on here?' she thought.
Bowen looked genuinely confused and asked, "Who's Cordelia?"
Aubree shrugged Bowen's hand off. "Who else? Your old flame, obviously," she scoffed.
She crossed her arms and stepped aside. "Mr. Carr, could you calm down for a moment?
"Sort out your old grudges yourselves. Honestly, I don't even care why you dragged me to this party. But give me Gordon's information.
"As for us," she shot Bowen a glare, "we'll settle this later!"
That last line was for Bowen, who raised his hands in mock surrender. "As you wish, my girlfriend."
Aubree's nose twitched. 'Did someone spray perfume in here? It smells so sweet... Almost too sweet,' she wondered.
Kurtis finally released Bowen, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You don't remember her? How could you not remember Cordelia? She died because of you!"
His fists clenched, knuckles white with anger, as he continued, "When you were expanding your business in Kroit City, you stayed for two years. You were kidnapped. It was because of her that you walked away unscathed!"
"Yeah, I was targeted for kidnapping," Bowen said. "But do you think the people I've got on my payroll are just sitting around doing nothing? I got tipped off early and deliberately avoided the route those kidnappers were staking out."
"Then why did you leave Kroit City the very next day?" Kurtis demanded, his voice sharp with accusation.
Bowen let out a derisive laugh, shooting Turner a look as if he were a complete idiot. "I'd wrapped up my business here. Knowing someone was after me, should I have just stuck around and waited to die?"
At that time, the Turner Group's operations were primarily concentrated in Rithol City. Upon seeing the promising potential gradually developing market in Kroit City, Bowen established a branch office there and stayed for two years.
Kurtis's face twisted in bitter agony, as if he'd swallowed the bitterest herb imaginable. He could never forget the sight of Cordelia in her brutalized state—dying in his arms, whispering that she had no regrets, because she had saved the man she loved most.
Even after sending everyone responsible to hell to atone for Cordelia, his hatred for Bowen only deepened. "A real man doesn't let a woman take the fall for him!" he seethed.
Aubree casually took a seat, quietly settling in for the show.
Bowen rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Don't tell me this is why you've been relentlessly targeting Turner Group's businesses in Kroit City ever since I left?" He thought, "Ever since Bryan and his wife passed away, I've barely had time for anything besides my studies and family. Whatever energy I had left all went to Alvin. The idea of having a girlfriend wasn't even on my radar.'
Bowen pulled out his phone and fired off a message to Kelvin. [Dig up everything on that ambush-kidnapping from years ago. I need it now.]
Kurtis appeared to realize there might be some hidden truth about the incident years ago.
From their conversation, Aubree had pieced together some of the story. In short, Kurtis had been in love with a girl named Cordelia Vought, who coincidentally bore a striking resemblance to her.
Bowen had once been set up and nearly kidnapped, but for reasons no one could quite explain. It was Cordelia who ended up dead. It fueled Kurtis's burning hatred toward Bowen, and he began relentlessly targeting Bowen. But Turner Group was no easy target. Over the years, it only grew stronger with its Rithol City branch rising to dominance.
Kurtis had no choice but to bide his time, seeking an opportunity. Aubree's appearance was exactly the chance he'd been waiting for.
As for why he targeted Aubree, it had something to do with Alice. Kurtis deliberately avoided elaborating. Right now, all he cared about was uncovering the truth about that incident.
Kurtis said, "I'm not someone who can't tell right from wrong. If it's confirmed that you had nothing to do with what happened back then, I won't come after you anymore. In fact, I'll even work with you. Whatever information or people you're looking for, I can help you track them down and get you the answers you want."
Kurtis slowly sank back onto the sofa, his clasped hands resting heavily between his knees. He hunched forward, his face etching with a grim expression.
Aubree shook her head slightly and thought, 'So Alice knew I'd be looking into Gordon. She came to Kurtis first. I wonder how she managed to convince him... But Alice wouldn't make things this simple, would she? Just have Kurtis bring me to Bowen so I'd start suspecting I'm just a stand-in?
The plan is way too basic. Is it worth going to such lengths?' thought Aubree.
Aubree was still trying to figure out the ins and outs of the situation when her head suddenly spun. If it was not for Bowen's quick reflexes beside her, she would have collapsed right onto the floor.
"I..." Aubree opened her mouth, but her throat was painfully dry, and her voice came out hoarse and raspy.
Bowen frowned and reached out to check her temperature. "You're burning up. Do you have a fever?"
Aubree flinched as if burned and quickly pulled away. "Your hand's burning hot, too."
Bowen froze, suddenly realizing something was off with himself as well.
Before Bowen could figure out what was going on, a hand shot out from the side and grabbed him. He turned sharply, only to meet Kurtis's bloodshot eyes, wild with unmistakable desire.
Without thinking, Bowen lashed out with a forceful kick. "Have you lost your damn mind?" he shouted.
The pain jolted Kurtis back to his senses for a moment. He sprawled onto his back on the floor and stammered, "I..."