Chapter 383 Words That Don’t Add UpÂ
She’s right. Huglan had gone to prison for human trafficking.Â
That charge could not be denied.Â
So was Nathan out of his mind to thank a trafficker?Â
The reporter turned to Eric again. “Mr. Eric, what do you think?”Â
“I don’t get it,” Eric said flatly.Â
His face showed no emotion, but he had to speak out what everyone was thinking.Â
No one gets it.Â
Nathan thought this moment would go to the headline. He believed it would help his public image.Â
What he failed to consider was one simple fact: that Huglan had always been rotten at hisÂ
core.Â
Nathan was mad, but he forced the anger down.Â
Nothing showed on his face.Â
“The thanks I gave you earlier,” Nathan said slowly, “was for taking her in years ago, back in that old hill town where boys were valued more than girls. At least you adopted her and didn’t let her starve.”Â
He paused. “But later, you became a monster who wanted to sell children.”Â
He let out a long sigh.Â
“So that small kindness cancels out nothing. I hope every child you sold can be found.Â
“But since you once adopted my daughter, I will help look for those children. I will help you pay forÂ
your sins.”Â
His words landed hard.Â
Clear. Strong. Carefully spoken.Â
Huglan stared at him in a daze, and then he suddenly started to sob.Â
“Okay, okay, I understand,” he said.Â
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“I only came here to see Alice. Just one look would have been enough, but I’m useless. I ruined everything.”Â
That pathetic display worked. All eyes turned to Alice.Â
No matter how wrong an adoptive father might be, he had once saved her life.Â
If she ignored him completely, the internet would tear her apart.Â
Alice said nothing.Â
Instead, Eric stepped forward; he placed himself in front of her, blocking the cameras.Â
He looked at Huglan, then at Nathan.Â
“You two seem to get along,” Eric said calmly. “Why don’t you sit somewhere and talk?” Nathan was speechless.Â
How could he possibly sit and chat with someone who looked like a beggar?Â
He had only spoken earlier for the sake of his image.Â
But now that Eric had said it out loud, he couldn’t refuse directly.Â
Huglan hurriedly waved his hands.Â
“No, no. I still have work to do. Please go on. Don’t mind me.”Â
He walked up to Eric and bowed deeply.Â
“Mr. Eric, what I did before was wrong. I missed my daughter, so I went to your company and caused trouble. I didn’t realize it would affect the company.Â
“I’m very glad to see you today. I wanted to apologize to you in person. I hope you can forgive me.Â
“Even though I’m Alice’s adoptive father, I didn’t spend much time with her. Please don’t take your anger out on her because of me.”Â
Eric narrowed his eyes. His face turned even coller.Â
“Are you trying to remind me that you once had a connection with my wife,” he said sharply.Â
so I should dislike her because of you?”Â
Huglan froze for a moment.Â
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“My wife had a hard time growing up, but she remained untouched by all that darkness,” Eric continued firmly. “I care about her more than words can say. Why would I ever hate her?Â
“If there’s anyone I should despise,” he added, voice hard as steel, “it’s someone like you. Someone who begs for money, forces his way in, and then plays the victim.”Â
Every word landed with force.Â
Inside Alice’s chest, a warm wave slowly spread.Â
It soaked into a heart that had been dry for far too long.Â
It had been many years; few people had ever stood on her side so firmly.Â
And Eric had just said he cared too much about her.Â
His words felt like flowers drifting in the breeze, one petal at a time, resting on her heart.Â
It seemed to soothe every old wound.Â
Just then, Eric suddenly reached out and held her hand.Â
“Whether it’s a biological father or an adoptive one,” he said calmly, “none of you deserve my wife’s forgiveness.”Â
That was exactly what Alice believed.Â
Hearing him say it out loud, she looked up in surprise and met his gaze.Â
Eric’s eyes shone brightly like the stars in the night sky.Â
In an instant, they lit up her heart.Â
For a brief moment, she wondered if she had fallen ill with something incurable, bee her heart was pounding wildly, completely out of controlÂ
Huglan wiped his fears away. Then his face twisted with ageÂ
“You say I don’t deserve it?” he shouted Wise you think you set 11 Úgh youÂ
No one knew when, but a dagger nuddenly appeared in by mu bie baganda es fariaÂ
I ne didn’t evry taka tumesilaslyÂ
Be halfway through this work, her tande staw z che ment wipeoutÂ
vorus That Don’t Add UpÂ
So, this adoptive father had planned to kill her all along.Â
Just because she had sent them to prison back then?Â
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There was no time to think. She tilted her head, raised her hand, and struck his wrist hard.Â
The dagger fell to the floor at once. Huglan collapsed to the ground.Â
Everyone thought Alice would be badly hurt, if not killed.Â
But no one expected her to know self–defense.Â
At the same moment she moved, Eric lifted his leg and kicked Huglan away without hesitation.Â
10Â
