Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Chapter 9 Menu The ward was eerily quiet. Alice opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing. Words seemed inadequate in that moment. After all, she had explained countless times before, but her brothers never believed her.

Noah’s throat moved slightly before he finally let go of her hand. Then he finally released her hand. Disappointment clouded his features. “If you keep being so stubborn, when Ethan gets. back, I won’t protect you. Think about it.” With that, he walked away.

Alice leaned back against the headboard, feeling a strange sense of relief wash over her. The self–mockery in her eyes was palpable–what else was there to think about? Should she just bow her head and tiptoe around them like in her past life, only to end up kicked out of the house and locked away in a mental hospital to die a miserable death? No way.

“Here.” A wrapped ice pack appeared in front of her.

Alice applied the ice to her swollen cheek, stealing a glance at the man beside her.“Thank you,” she whispered.

His voice was cold as ice, “Why didn’t you explain?”

Alice looked down, a bitter smile creeping onto her face.“Do you believe me? I’ve explained countless times before, even provided evidence, but they just thought I was lying.” The room fell into a brief silence. Alice didn’t want to explain too much;

outsiders never believed her, only thinking she was disobedient.

“It’s hard not to believe you.”

Alice was stunned. Did he really believe her?

Jack stepped closer, placing his hand on her forehead.“Your temperature has dropped.” Alice froze; his hand was cool and comforting. She felt a lot better now, the discomfort easing. She looked at his wrist.“Is that scar on your hand from a car accident too?” Jack’s hand froze and quickly withdrew. He removed the empty IV bag and after a moment, replied, “Yes, it’s from a car accident.” His back was turned to her, his profile obscured by the light, making it hard to read his expression.

“I have one too, on my leg.” Alice hiked up her skirt a bit, revealing a thin, white scar.“Here, doesn’t it look a lot like yours?”

Jack glanced at her slender leg. The pale skin made the scar stand out starkly. However, her skirt was hiked a little too high, revealing more than intended.

He glanced at it and quickly turned away.“Little girl, don’t lift up your skirt in front of men.”

“But you’re a doctor.”

scar Jack’s throat tightened, but he was still a man. Didn’t anyone teach her these things?

He continued, “That be can treated. Why haven’t you Alice’s expression dimmed, her heart aching. Alex had said the scar represented her that he’d fix it later. She’d believed him.

had it fixed?”

parents and But later, he’d looked at her scar with disgust, saying he hated it and that he’d never fix it. He claimed she was the reason their parents died, that the scar was her mark, a reminder of their death that she had to carry for life.

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Menu She was devastated, genuinely believing she had caused their deaths, becoming increasingly submissive to her brothers.

Recalling the past made Alice feel like she couldn’t breathe. But she couldn’t voice that reason about you? Why haven’t fixed yours?” she countered, “What now, SO “I’m a man. It doesn’t matter. Little girls should get theirs fixed.”

Alice offered a forced smile. “I’ll think about it later.”

you Seeing her looking down, Jack didn’t press further. He sat beside her and turned on the TV. Alice noticed the screen was showing a gaming live streaming, Luke’s current competition. He’d skipped the banquet for Chloe to participate in this match.

Unfortunately, he’d lost to the young master from the Wilson family in New York.

Alice remembered how, in her past life, after losing the match, Luke had been ruthlessly mocked. Afterward, he had angrily reassembled the family team. Noah, Caleb, Finn, Luke, and her. Though Luke had failed the preliminaries, they had a chance to revive in the next round. They’d fought their way to the national competition, facing the same New York Wilson family team.

During that time, Alice had spent countless hours training and studying their opponents to ensure they could win.

Chloe wasn’t there; her gaming skills were subpar, relegating her to a backup role.