Chapter 196 Forgiveness?


    Alice scoffed. "Only guilty people act so tough." She didn''t need the Alice family''s forgiveness. She hadn''t done anything wrong.


    “Alice, if you return to the Alice family and take over your second brother''spany, we can coborate on the Al project. The Alice family will reach new heights. It''s good for you and for the family. What do you think?" Ethan was confident, certain Alice would lose. Alice''s representative spoke up, “Mr. Alice, what a brilliant n! When you kicked Alice out, you didn''t mention being a family then? Now that she''s sessful, you''re suddenly all about family? Is this how families work?"


    Do you. you


    Ethan''s face darkened. He turned to Alice.“Staying with the Alice family is best for understand how cutthroat Washington is? Smallpanies like Maple Leaf crumble every year. You''re ants before real power."


    Alice''s expression was cold. Ethan was attacking Maple Leaf because of her.“If Maple Leaf bankrupt, you won''t get away scot-free."


    goes


    "You? A little girl? What can you do? You can''t even find awyer. You should know how insignificant you are."


    “Mr. Ethan seems rxed. Did you forget the Alice Group''s firewall incident? The frantic scramble to fix it?”


    Ethan


    remembered, scoffing.“You think that''s a threat? Naive! You''ll see.”


    Alice stood still, disturbed. Luke lingered behind, looking haggard and hesitant.


    Alice spoke to her representative, ignoring Luke. But Luke wouldn''t leave, making it difficult for them to discuss the case.


    Alice turned, her eyes weary."What do you want?"


    "Alice..."


    "Don''t call me that. We''re not that close." Her tone was cold and distant.


    Luke looked unsteady."I know Brother used his connections to prevent you from finding awyer. You know his methods. Can''t you reconcile with him? Return to the family, and Maple Leaf won''t be targeted.”


    Alice felt a pang of guilt about Maple Leaf.


    Her representative spoke first, “Maple Leaf is not being targeted because of Alice. Our Al project is a hotmodity. Competitors want to destroy us. Alice has nothing to do with it. Without her, the project wouldn''t be where it is today."


    Alice


    hadn''t


    hadn''t expected this support. She was used to being misunderstood. Luke''s expression faltered."Alice, I didn''t mean that. I just think returning home is best."


    "That''s what "you" think is best. It benefits "you", not me!”


    "I''m worried about you."


    Alice sneered. “You''re worried about “yourself". If I return, you''ll be the first one off the hook, right?”


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    Luke''s expression shifted. He was selfish, but he wanted to


    reconcile.


    Alice mocked him. "Since you''re so concerned about myck of awyer, why not confess to the judge that you did it? Then I won''t need one."


    Luke fell silent.


    "What? No response? You were so concerned about me, but this solution, which is genuinely in my best interest, makes you ufortable?" Her words were sharp daggers. Luke took a deep breath.“Alice, I''m your brother. Must you send me to jail?” He knew he''d been He knew Chloe was maniptive. Why couldn''t Alice give him a chance?


    Alice smiled. “Let''s be clear. You''re taking the fall for Chloe. Brother used you as a scapegoat. I''m not sending you to jail. They are."


    wrong.


    Luke''s face drained of color. He choked out, “I really want to make it up to you.”


    Alice felt disgusted. Why couldn''t they be sincere?


    She red.“Fine. Here''s your chance to make amends.”


    A flicker of hope crossed Luke''s eyes. "Tell me.”


    "Confess to the judge."


    Luke''s face froze. He nervously avoided her gaze. There. That''s the so-called sincere apology. Like expired medicine, insincere and repulsive.


    Alice sneered. "What? Can''t do it?"


    Luke stammered, “It''s not that I can''t, but if I go to jail, how can I make it up to you?”


    “Going to jail is the best way to make amends. I''ll forgive everything you''ve done. How''s that?”


    Silence.


    Ethan turned.“Luke, what are you doing? What''s the point of talking to such an ungrateful brat?"


    Luke looked guiltily at Alice, then followed Ethan, his steps hurried and shamefaced.


    Alice watched him go, a cynical smile ying on her lips.


    Her representative approached, his expressionplex. “Alice, your family is so... hypocritical." No sincerity in their apologies, no genuine intent to make amends. Everything was predicated on sacrificing Alice''s interests. What kind of family was this?


    Alice saw her colleagues'' reactions."I''m used to it. I know what they''re like. Let''s go." Andrew Yates had messaged her that theirwyer was on his way.


    Alice and her colleagues entered the courtroom. Ethan and Luke were already seated, theirwyer reviewing thick files. Alice and her representative sat down, but theirwyer was still absent.


    The judge asked Alice, "When will yourwyer arrive?"


    "Soon. He''s on his way," Alice replied.


    Ethan''s voice was smug."Maybe they''re too scared to show up. Alice, you''re going to lose. Settle now. What do you want?"


    Alice stared at Ethan, silent.


    A man entered. "Sorry I''mte."


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    Ethan gasped."Mr. Henry?"


    Mr. Henry was a legendarywyer, the chief counsel for the powerful Wikon family. Why wosté


    he take a small case like this?