Ethan felt his authority as head of the family challenged by Alice''s defiance. “Alice, this is a family matter! You can''t handle it this way!" Especially considering Chloe''s father had saved Alice''s life. Had she forgotten?


    The investigator interjected, “Mr. Windham, you''re being biased. Chloe cheated; what does Alice have to do with it?"


    “Alice''s the valedictorian! How could she cheat? She got the top score!"


    “Cheaters usually have poor grades. Someone who''s already at the top wouldn''t need to cheat. That kind of score is impossible to replicate."


    Ethan was speechless, his expression ufortable. He couldn''t ept this. Chloe? He stubbornly replied, “But Chloe is always obedient and understanding. Alice was the one reported first. Have you investigated thoroughly?” He still believed Alice''s sudden improvement was impossible! It was too much!


    "We heard about Alice''s


    valedictorian


    status. Her grades are


    legitimate.” “Mr. Windham, your family is strange. You have a valedictorian, but you''re hoping she cheated! What kind of thinking is that?"


    “Yeah, you don''t support your brilliant sister, but you believe a liar with failing grades. The rich are so baffling!"


    Ethan''s face flushed crimson; he couldn''t respond. He looked at Alice incredulously. Her sudden improvement...and the investigation cleared her? He hadn''t noticed any academic talent in her as a child. Alice looked at Chloe, sitting on the floor."Stop ying innocent. Admit you cheated; the evidence is here. Maybe you can plead for leniency."


    "Alice, your words are outrageous!"


    Alice sneered.“Brother, Chloe said the same thing to me. You find "my" words outrageous? What about her attacks earlier?"


    Ethan was silenced. He hadn''t noticed. Chloe''s vulnerability had made him more protective. He found Alice too assertive.“Chloe is more sensible than you. Why bother with her?” “Chloe''s too dumb to even get into a good college even with cheating. I don''t need to bother with her. But I''m warning her: stay away from me! She''s not worthy of being my rival.” Chloe, enraged, lunged at Alice, eyes zing. ‘Alice, how dare you? You bitch!” Alice grabbed Chloe''s hair and started pping her, raining blows. She used all her strength, holding nothing back. She was on the verge of a meltdown. If the Winds didn''t understand her words, then they could all go crazy together!


    Chloe, losing all rationality, fought back. But Alice pinned her down and started pummeling her. Chloe, always focused on her figure, was thin and no match for Alice''s strength. Old grudges and fresh insults mingled. Everyone was stunned by the brawl.


    Luke yelled, "Brother, what are you doing? Stop them!"


    Ethan finally reacted, grabbing Alice''s shoulder."Alice, stop!"


    4312.26


    Chanter 109


    Ignoring him, she continued hitting Chloe. Ethan tried to pull her away. Alice turned and bit his wrist until she tasted blood, then released him.


    Ethan winced, “Alice, are you insane?"


    Alice wiped her mouth, her hair disheveled, her eyes cold. "You forced me!"


    Luke helped Chloe up, her face a mess, her hair a tangled bird''s nest. Chloe wailed, "Brother, avenge me! She hit me!"


    Ethan was overwhelmed. He looked at Alice.“Aren''t you going to apologize?” “Apologize? Fine.” Alice grabbed a vase and hurled it at Ethan.''Chloe started it. Why should T apologize? Why?! Apologize to who?!"


    She started smashing everything in sight, her anger boiling over. She grabbed the IV stand, ring at Ethan and Chloe.''Say that again? Apologize? I didn''t hear you clearly!" Rejecting moral high grounds; embracing pure, unadulterated chaos! It felt exhrating.


    The room was a wreck. Everyone was silent. Ethan looked at the destruction. “Luke, look at what you''ve done! She''s running amok, smashing things!" What kind of behavior was this? Luke looked helpless. Alice was driven to this point by them. They were at fault. He looked at Alice, guilt etched on his face.“Please put down the things and let''s talk."


    "No!" She climbed onto a table, ready to go full-on crazy. She''d wanted to leave them alone, but “No!” She climbed onto a table, ready to go they''d pushed her to the edge.


    Luke instinctively said, "Alice, that''s Luke''s IV stand!"


    Chloe immediately cried, "Alice, take your anger out on me. Don''t use Luke''s IV stand! He''ll hurt."


    get


    Luke frowned at Chloe. He''d never noticed her maniptivenguage before, pretending to care while subtly ming Alice.


    He yanked out the IV needle. It''s fine. I won''t die." He didn''t want the IV stand to be another reason to me Alice. He owed his sister so much; he''d even give his life for her.


    Alice felt a pang of guilt at Luke''s action.


    She said coldly, "You don''t have to do that!"


    She put down the IV stand, pointing at Chloe."Crying, crying, all you do is cry. Every time you cry and act pitiful, it''s my fault. It''s so annoying!"


    Chloe''s carefully constructed act of distress crumbled. She hadn''t expected Alice topletely


    lose it.


    Chloe whined, “Brother, it hurts so much." Why not use the effective ploy of ying the victim?