Betrayed by my ex, Sleeping with his uncle

Alice'POV

During a family gathering, my parents' adopted daughter, Lillian Bell, fell into the lake and nearly drowned. After we called for an ambulance in a panic, everyone assumed I was the one who pushed her in. I was the only one with her at the time, and Lillian and I had never exactly seen eye to eye.

My father slapped me on the spot, berating me in front of all our relatives. My mother, even angrier, kicked open my bedroom door and demanded, "Did you push Lillian into the water?"

The look on her face was fierce, as if she wanted to tear me apart to avenge her adopted daughter. It felt like she was ready to rip me, her own child, to shreds just to vent her frustration over Lillian.

I took off my headphones, too drained to defend myself. "Am I crazy? Why would I push her into the water for no reason? What would I gain from that? Jail?"

"You just want to make Lillian miserable!" My mom pinched me hard a few times and threw everything on the bedside at me. "You have a heart full of malice! How could I have given birth to a daughter like you?"

"You're jealous of how much we love Lillian, so you can't wait for her to fail. You envy her beauty and kindness. You've made so many mistakes growing up, and it was Lillian who always stood up for you!"

I couldn't take it anymore and didn't even want to argue back. "Fine! If you love Lillian so much, can I just leave this family? From now on, I'm not your daughter!"

"Stop right there!" Just as I was about to pack my things and leave, my mother suddenly grabbed me and slapped me hard-twice. "You're going to marry Nathaniel next week. Where do you think you're going?"

"Don't you know your father works for the powerful Carter family? If you cause a scene like this, what will happen to his reputation? You ungrateful daughter!"

I held my cheek, my eyes stinging as if lemon juice had been squeezed into them. "So to you, I'm just a tool, right? My only value is marrying into the Carter family?"

"What else? I had a difficult childbirth with you. Within two months of your birth, your father's stocks and funds plummeted. If we hadn't adopted Lillian, we'd all be ruined because of you."

My mom pointed a finger at me, furious. "You're nothing but a prostitute serving Nathaniel!"

"I've put up with your favoritism toward Lillian my whole life. You treat me like a cash cow, demanding money and forcing Nathaniel to get my dad a job at Carter & Company."

I burst into tears, finally letting all my grievances spill out. "Would you be satisfied if I died and Nathaniel married Lillian?"

My mom sneered. "Honestly, I hope Nathaniel marries Lillian. At least she won't suffer anymore. He's the one who saved her from the mess you caused."

She was right. I still remember the look in Nathaniel's eyes when he rescued Lillian. He thought I was the one who pushed her into the water.

Lillian weakly said, "Don't blame Alice. She... she definitely didn't mean to hurt me on purpose."

After saying that, Lillian completely fainted.

I was at a loss, unable to defend myself. I wanted to explain, reaching for Nathaniel's hand, but he shook me off. My mom glared at me with such intensity it felt like she wanted to tear me apart. "If anything happens to Lillian, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life!"

All I could do was murmur, "It wasn't me. It wasn't me." I hadn't touched Lillian at all; she was the one who called out to me first, saying she liked Nathaniel and asking if I could give him to her. I refused her. But then, in the next moment, Lillian fell into the lake on her own.

Before I could react, Nathaniel shoved me aside and knocked me to the ground. He jumped into the lake and gently pulled Lillian out.

"Alice, are you crazy? Do you want to kill your sister?" he yelled at me.

Sister? Lillian is not my sister; she's just the adopted daughter of the Bell family. Somehow, Lillian's status in that family has risen dramatically. My parents treat her words like royal decrees, and even Nathaniel often turns his gaze toward her.

My parents adore Lillian Bell so much that they would go to any lengths to give her the stars and the moon. Meanwhile, I am increasingly sidelined in the Bell family.

Honestly, I have no hostility toward Lillian, even though she's grown more favored. But this isn't the first time she has deliberately framed me. She keeps sowing discord between my parents and me, and I've had enough!

Alice'POV

My family forced me to go to the hospital and apologize to Lillian. Reluctantly, I showed up at her room with a basket of fruit, only to witness the most disgusting scene of my life.

Nathaniel and Lillian were kissing on the bed, his hand sliding under her clothes, gently stroking her skin. I stood frozen in shock, feeling like the blood had drained from my face as I trembled uncontrollably.

I had thought that despite my family's disdain, I still had Nathaniel's love. Even though my parents had arranged my marriage to him for their own purposes, I was willing to accept it. Nathaniel and I had been childhood sweethearts-eight years of knowing each other and two years of dating. But all that affection couldn't compare to Lillian's single fall into the water.

"Lillian, you don't know how much it hurt to see you fall in," I heard Nathaniel say softly, his hand brushing her cheek. "I never thought Alice Bell could be so malicious as to want to take your life."

Lillian, nestled in Nathaniel's embrace, caught sight of me through the crack in the door.

"Alice probably didn't mean it. Besides, Mom and Dad have already dealt with her. I just choked on some water and ended up with pneumonia. Otherwise, there's nothing serious."

"Pneumonia can be fatal," Nathaniel Thorn said, his eyebrows furrowing with concern.

"Nathaniel, you saved me. I don't know how to thank you. All I can think of is offering my body," Lillian said, her face flushing bright red.

"Babe, you can do anything you want with me."

I was completely disgusted. In that moment, I saw through Nathaniel Thorn's hypocrisy. I kicked the door open and hurled all the fruit at that cheating man and his shameless woman.

It felt like I lost my mind in an instant, driven to madness by these two traitors.

"You two adulterous dogs! Don't you have any shame?"

I slapped Lillian hard, then scratched Nathaniel's arm and bit him several times, plunging the scene into chaos. It wasn't until several medical staff pulled me away that the farce finally came to an end. Nathaniel stood protectively in front of Lillian, and in that moment, I lost all hope in him.

"Alice! You're not content with trying to kill her? What more do you want? You've slapped Lillian's face red!" he shouted, disgust etched across his features.

"I think you're jealous of her beauty. You want to kill her and disfigure her!" Nathaniel shot back angrily.

"Lillian, don't be afraid. As long as I'm here today, I won't let Alice harm you," he said gently, pulling her into his embrace.

"Nathaniel Thorn, we've known each other for eight years. I never knew you could be so repulsive!" I trembled with rage. "Fine, I'll leave you two to it. If you want to get married, go right ahead!"

"Alice, it's not what you think. Actually, we-" Nathaniel began, but his expression suddenly shifted.

"Alice, please don't misunderstand us," Lillian added weakly, her voice barely audible.

"I know you two are engaged and about to get married." Lillian blinked, tears welling in her eyes. "It's all my fault! I don't have the face to go on living! I wish I had just drowned!"

"Nathaniel, you shouldn't have saved me. You should have let me die!" Lillian sobbed.

"Don't say that!" I shouted. "Nathaniel Thorn, Lillian Bell, I will never associate with you two again!" I stormed out of the hospital and rushed home.

I didn't have much to pack since I hadn't stayed at home long each year. If it weren't for preparing to marry Nathaniel, I doubt I would have lingered this time.

When I ran into my mom, the anger on her face told me Lillian had already filled her in. "You want to break off the engagement with Nathaniel?" she hissed, pinching my arm hard. "Fine, get out of this house today! We are no longer mother and daughter!"

I looked at her, a coldness invading my chest. After a long pause, I finally responded, "Okay. I'll sever our mother-daughter ties for good."

Alice'POV

Nathaniel and Lillian are definitely a couple now, always seen together and very affectionate. This happened after I severed ties with the Bell family and called off my engagement to Nathaniel. I didn't need anyone to inform me; my parents were eager to spread the news about Lillian and Nathaniel being together. They told everyone how well-matched they were, belittling my so-called ingratitude along the way.

"I've never seen such a disobedient daughter like Alice! From now on, she is no longer my daughter!" my mom scolded me in front of everyone at my company.

My boss, Ava Carson, had strong ties to the Carter family, and her expression changed instantly when she heard I had broken off my engagement with Nathaniel Carter.

"Alice Bell, get me the meeting report for this afternoon-now!" Ava barked, slamming a pile of materials onto my desk.

"I don't recall this being my job," I replied, crossing my arms defiantly.

"Now that you've been abandoned by Nathaniel, what right do you have to act superior?" Ava glared at me. "You're my subordinate. Whatever work I assign you, you'll do it! If you don't finish it, I'll fire you immediately."

I clenched my teeth, facing Ava's arrogant demeanor, but I couldn't muster a response.

Since I cut ties with my family and broke up with Nathaniel, my salary is my only source of income. I had given him all my savings to invest in stocks, which is why I'm left with just enough to cover my living expenses. At least for now, I can't afford to lose this job.

"As the leader, of course you have the final say," I sighed, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"It seems Nathaniel really abandoned her," Ava said triumphantly, gossiping with her colleagues in the office.

"It feels good to see," one colleague chimed in. "I used to wonder what Alice had besides being a little prettier."

"Alice isn't favored in the Bell family at all. I don't know why Nathaniel chose to marry her in the first place!" another added.

"Oh, what else could it be? It must be because she's good in bed," Nathan, the colleague who usually flatters me the most, immediately interjected.

"Look at her flirtatious appearance. She must be the best at seducing men."

These colleagues, who had once ingratiated themselves with me to get in good with the Carter family, had now all turned their backs. My eyes burned, and my fingers tightened around the materials I was holding.

Just then, Nathan suddenly shoved me from behind, and I fell to the ground. Papers scattered everywhere. The others stood around me with cups of water, laughing. Their eyes were filled with mockery.

My head hit the corner of the table, leaving a large red mark.

"Look, Alice is just like a clown now!" Nathan pointed and laughed.

As my pent-up emotions finally reached a breaking point, just when I felt the urge to cry, a pair of broad hands reached out from behind me.

"Alice, get up." A deep voice rang in my ear.

It was Maxwell Carter! Nathan and Ava looked even more shocked than I felt. Maxwell Carter was the boss of the Carter family, and he rarely came to the office. Ordinary employees could go a long time without ever seeing him.

Unexpectedly, today he not only showed up but also spoke to me so gently. I felt as if I had been struck by lightning, unable to move.

Maxwell helped me up, his gaze focused on the spot where my forehead had hit.

"Does it hurt?" His fingers brushed softly over my head, his voice gentle and soothing.