Chapter 272

Chapter 272

All eyes turned to Alicia. She shifted uncomfortably, but she knew she had no choice. With a face set in stone, she walked over to Adeline, her eyes practically shooting fire. She just didn't like Adeline. There was no reason; it was as if they were born to be at odds.

Edward stepped in front of Adeline. "Did you call us back today just to make trouble?"

"Edward, don't be so tense." Rupert said. "No one is going to bully Ms. Brown."

Alicia gave Edward a long, meaningful look. This was the man she had loved for years, but he had never loved her back, no matter what she did. She took a deep breath. "I admit, I was the one who tricked Adeline's grandmother out of the nursing home."

Adeline's breath caught. She had known this truth for a long time, but hearing it from Alicia's lips always stirred up a fresh wave of hatred.

"But I never thought your grandmother would die," Alicia said flatly. "I just wanted to get her out of there, to negotiate with you. Your grandmother's death was just bad luck."

"She was very unlucky." Adeline sighed.

Edward glanced at her, frowning. He raised his hand, wanting to rest it on her shoulder, but he pulled it back. "Adeline."

Adeline forced a smile, her eyes fixed on Alicia. "My grandmother was very unlucky to have met you."

Alicia didn't seem to mind. She had a strange confidence. "It's all in the past. I hope after we've talked openly today, you won't bother me about this anymore."

"I bother you?" Adeline said, as if she had misheard. "Wasn't it you who went to all the trouble of finding me at the beach?"

"Mr. Thomas, I've said my piece." Alicia said, turning to Rupert.

Rupert nodded. "Your father and I have been friends for decades. I've watched you grow up. I know what kind of person you are. Even though you've made some mistakes, I believe you've truly changed."

"Of course, Mr. Thomas. Since you've given me this chance, I will certainly seize it."

With just a few words, Rupert had decided the outcome. He looked at Edward, his voice gentle. "For my sake, let's not pursue this any further. Let it be over. You young people should get along and support each other. I hope to see you all live in harmony." He sounded gentle, but his words were firm, completely ignoring Adeline's feelings. Even though she was the victim.

"Whether to forgive or not is not for us to say," Edward said coolly. He was not giving in.

"Then what do you want?" Rupert retorted. "For Alicia to go to jail?"

Edward didn't answer, but his silence was a clear statement.

Rupert traced the rim of his coffee cup with his finger. "Edward, don't forget the help the Carter family gave you when you just got out of prison. You can't be ungrateful, can you?"

His words silenced them both. Adeline had already paid her dues for that karma, but Edward had spent years in prison, and the suffering he had endured was undeniable. She still felt a sense of guilt.

"They helped me, and I'm grateful." Edward said, his voice firm and clear. "I will do my best to repay them. But that's a separate matter. I am me, and Adeline is Adeline."

Adeline couldn't help but look at him. His broad back was still a shield, as if it could protect her from all the wind and rain. His words moved her deeply.

"Kindness and enmity cannot be mixed, nor can they cancel each other out." Edward said, each word deliberate. "Alicia did something wrong. She caused a death. A simple apology is not enough."

Alicia clenched her fists, suppressing her disappointment and anger. "Then what do you want me to do? Pay with my life?"

"A life for a life. It's not out of the question."

Alicia could no longer pretend to be meek and gentle. She exploded like a firecracker. "Why? That old woman was so old, she was going to die sooner or later! I'm still young, I have decades to live! Besides, she fell into the water. It was an accident, I didn't push her! What does it have to do with me? You insist on blaming me, isn't that just slander?"

She glared at Adeline. "Are you short on money, or can't you survive? Is this your way of getting money from me? Tell me, how much do you want? The Carter family has nothing but money." She pulled out a wad of cash from her pocket and threw it at Adeline. "Here's your money. Now leave me alone!"

Edward's face was ice-cold. Rupert frowned. "Alicia."

Alicia stiffened, her voice resentful. "Mr. Thomas, she's just pushing her luck. She's trying to blame me for something that has nothing to do with me. She's just trying to get revenge!"

The wad of cash hit Adeline and fell to the floor. She looked down at it, then picked it up. A full ten thousand dollars. Who carries that much cash around? She walked over to Alicia and handed it back to her. "Take your money. I don't want it."

Alicia thought she was just being self-righteous. She sneered. "Fine. You don't want money, I won't give you any."

Just as her fingers closed around the cash, Adeline's hand flew up and slapped her across the face. Alicia's head snapped to the side, her cheek stinging. "Adeline!"

"That was to tell you," Adeline said calmly, "that there are many things I don't want to argue with you about. But since you refuse to repent, I'll have to argue with you."

Alicia laughed, her voice filled with rage. "What can you do? What right do you have to argue?"

Adeline looked directly at Rupert. "There's something I think you should know." She played a recording.

"Why do you think I was able to get away with it? Because Mr. Rupert Thomas was protecting me. As long as he's around, you'll never be with Edward! And I took your grandmother away in Edward's name. Your grandmother went with me because she trusted Edward. So, it's your fault, really. If it weren't for you, why would your grandmother have trusted someone in Edward's name?"

Rupert's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed. Alicia glanced at him, and seeing no sign of anger, she relaxed. "So what if you play this recording?"

Adeline ignored her. "Mr. Thomas, were you really the one who covered up all the evidence and vouched for Alicia back then?"

'Rupert won't abandon me,' Alicia thought confidently. 'The Carter and Thomas families are business partners. Our companies are intertwined. A businessman like Rupert will always think in terms of business. He knows how strong our relationship is.'

"Of course not." Rupert's voice rang out.

"Then what was your role in this?" Edward asked.

Rupert smiled wearily. "I had nothing to do with it. I only heard Alicia's side of the story. I thought she hadn't done it. I thought it was just an accident."

"And what if it wasn't an accident? What if someone could prove that Alicia didn't just take my grandmother, but that it was a kidnapping…"

"What are you talking about?" Alicia shrieked. "I never kidnapped your grandmother! The old woman went with me willingly!"

"But what if I've already found a witness?"

Adeline's words made Alicia uneasy. She frantically tried to remember if there had been any witnesses. "Impossible. The nursing home staff were on holiday. The surveillance cameras were broken. No one saw me take your grandmother…" The words tumbled out of her mouth. She realized her mistake, but she quickly regained her composure. So what if she admitted it?

"Adeline, you can't just throw accusations at me to clear your grandmother's name. This case was closed two years ago. Even the police said it had nothing to do with me. Are you questioning the police investigation?"

"Even a court-decided case can be appealed if you're not satisfied with the outcome. And I have evidence." Adeline pushed open the door to the Thomas Villa.

Kaida sat in her wheelchair, smiling at her.

"Adeline."