Chapter 3: Uncle

Alison could never forget that face. The chiseled features, the high-bridged nose, the deep-set eyes, and those unique teal eyes that belonged to the White family. On his left hand, a ruby-embedded ring gleamed under the crystal chandelier light, adding to his cold, untouchable aura, like a flower on a distant mountaintop that no one could approach. When Oliver glanced at Alison, his body stiffened. It wasn’t until a pair of hands rested on his shoulders that he snapped back into focus, quickly regaining his usual cold demeanor. Those hands belonged to Jenny Black. Her eyes were red, clearly showing that she had just been crying. She looked like a helpless little rabbit, innocent and harmless. Alison let out a small, amused laugh. Everyone was finally here. Sitting at the center, Aiden White, the elder of the White family, took a sip of his tea and shot a disapproving glance at Alison, his eyes filled with judgment. "Enough. What’s all this shouting for? Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?" "Alison, you and your mother have lived under the White family’s roof for years. We haven’t wronged you. You’d better admit your mistake. If you don’t, you’ll go to hell after you die." The tone of his voice was filled with nothing but threats. As Lucas White’s father, Aiden had never liked Jane Lane. His harsh words made the already timid Jane even more afraid. Jane rushed to Alison’s side, pleading through her sobs, "Alison, just apologize to your grandfather. If you apologize, it’ll be fine. Don’t make things worse; they won’t let you off otherwise!" Alison’s lips curved into a smirk. Jane would never understand that all Aiden White wanted was someone to cover up the White family’s scandal. The moment Alison apologized, they would push her into the media spotlight, making her the scapegoat for all the attacks. Alison raised her head, kneeling straight and tall. She looked around at everyone in the room, her gaze finally resting on Oliver. Their eyes met, but this time, Oliver didn’t look away. Still, there was no reaction from him. It was exactly the outcome Alison had expected. But this time, things wouldn’t go the way he wanted them to. Holding Oliver’s gaze, Alison stood up. Her knees ached from kneeling, but she let out a soft laugh. "I didn’t do anything wrong, so why should I apologize?" "What nonsense are you talking about?!" Aiden White’s pale face flushed red with anger. He slammed his teacup down onto the coffee table with a loud crash. Alison calmly continued, her voice no longer carrying the hesitation it once had. "I didn’t drug anyone, so I won’t apologize. And besides, have any of you even looked closely at that blurry photo? Why are you so sure that the person in it is me? The reporters can say whatever they want, but how can the White family be so easily deceived? Did any of you see me in Uncle’s bed? Or did Uncle see my face and confirm it was me? If Uncle was so clear-headed at the time, why didn’t he stop me? And if he wasn’t clear-headed, how could he be so sure it was me?" That’s right—unless Alison admitted to it, no one could prove who the woman in the photo was. And Oliver, who had an obsession with purity, would never admit the woman that night was Alison. He loved Jenny Black. Oliver desperately hoped that the woman wasn’t Alison. But instead of following Alison’s train of thought, Oliver asked a different question. "What did you just call me?" "Uncle," Alison replied coldly, suppressing all her emotions. "Good." Oliver’s expression darkened as he remained seated, his hands resting casually on the armrests. The ruby ring on his finger glimmered as his sharp gaze seemed to pierce through Alison’s thoughts, as if he was trying to see right through her. Alison met his gaze, but the oppressive aura Oliver exuded still made her uneasy. Her newly acquired courage faltered, and she quickly looked away. Aiden White set down his teacup, glaring at Alison with a displeased expression. "Then tell us, whose daughter is in this scandalous newspaper story?" Alison, who had been clenching her fists, slowly raised a finger and pointed to a corner of the room. "It was her." She pointed directly at Jenny Black. Jenny, who had just been about to cry, froze, her face showing panic and confusion. Alison’s smile widened. This time, she would see Oliver’s "tragic" love story play out to its fullest. After all, Alison wanted to know how Oliver would react when he finally saw his beloved’s true face. Jenny Black, the daughter of a small, struggling family, had watched her family’s business declare bankruptcy three years ago. Two years ago, Oliver had publicly announced their relationship, and despite family objections, had thrown an extravagant engagement party. Overnight, Jenny became the envy of every woman in California. To outsiders, Jenny seemed like a graceful, elegant angel, but Alison knew the truth—Jenny was cunning and ruthless. If Jenny Black hadn’t become a designer, she could have won an Oscar for her acting. Alison was certain that Jenny knew exactly why she was being accused. From the moment Jenny became Oliver’s partner, she had been scheming to marry into the White family. But with the engagement delayed for two years, things were starting to look uncertain. Alison knew Jenny too well. Jenny stepped forward, standing beside Alison, her face filled with sincerity. "That’s right, Grandpa. I did it. Alison and I have similar figures, and we even look a bit alike. In that blurry photo, it just looks more like her. It’s all a misunderstanding." However, some in the crowd were skeptical of Jenny’s explanation. "But there are also Alison’s diaries online. The first entry was from five years ago, while you’ve only known the Third Young Master for two years, right?" Jenny quickly composed herself, preparing her story. She let out a deep sigh, her eyes brimming with emotion. "Actually, I’ve always had feelings for Oliver. Those diaries online are mine. I don’t even know who posted them." Tears trickled down her cheeks as she glanced shyly at Oliver, her face flushed with embarrassment, like a young girl confessing her crush. Her performance was flawless—how could anyone doubt her sincerity? Alison couldn’t help but feel that her past self had been nothing but a joke. "Uncle and Jenny have been engaged for quite some time now. As his fiancée, it’s only natural for her to help him with his troubles. Those paparazzi are just trying to stir up scandal by latching onto the White family’s affairs."