The Alpha Aunt They Framed Chapter 05

The Alpha Aunt They Framed Chapter 05

MAREN’S POV

The moment we stepped out of the office, Elara finally burst into tears.

“Aunt Maren… I know my parents caused you a lot of trouble by sending me to stay with you. I can

live on campus if I have to, but could you please not treat me like this? Could you go back to being

the aunt you used to be?”

Looking at her like that, I let out a sigh.

“Elara, it’s not that I want to be this way. You saw it yourself that your parents didn’t give me any money. My family isn’t exactly well-off either. When you were little and came to my house, didn’t I always buy two of everything? One for you and one for Brielle. And the gold pendant you’re wearing right now? I bought it for you when you were born. If I had money, why would I refuse to spend it on you? Isn’t that right? The only people you should blame are your parents. They’re the ones who aren’t taking care of you…Forget it. Go back to class for now.”

After making it clear that her parents were the ones refusing to take responsibility, I sent her back

to class.

This time, I wouldn’t keep giving without expecting anything in return as I did in my first life.

I needed her to understand how much I had done for her before, and that the embarrassing

situations she faced happened because her own parents refused to take care of her.

Having saved $49,000 in tuition, I walked to Alpha Honors in a much better mood to see my

daughter.

“Brielle, I brought you some snacks. And here’s $100 for spending money. If you see anything you

like on your way home, just buy it.”

“But… what about Elara?”

“Don’t worry about her.”

I thought my daughter would argue with me.

Instead, Brielle said quietly, “Mom, honestly… I don’t really like her.”

“Hm?”

“She’s always asked me to cover for her and lie for her. She also takes my things without asking

and she’s even stolen money from her own parents.”

I gently patted my daughter’s head, telling her not to let it bother her.

I had always thought Elara only acted like that because she was living in someone else’s home during her senior year and didn’t know the truth about the situation. But I never expected that she . was simply that kind of person deep down.

That night, after the two girls came home and finished dinner, Elara volunteered to wash the

dishes.

I glanced at her, then looked at the security camera I had installed in case she tried anything later

“No, I will do it.”

“Aunt Maren, I really do want to help with the housework. Please let me do it. Otherwise, I won’t

feel comfortable staying here.”

I pretended to hesitate before nodding.

“Fine. You’re a stubborn one. Go ahead, then. After you finish, make sure you study properly. Don’t

fall behind.”

After reminding her, I took Brielle out to meet with a private tutor.

When I let the girls attend school from home during senior year, one reason was that I wanted them to have a more comfortable life. The other was that they wouldn’t have to stay for evening study

sessions, which gave us time to arrange tutoring.

In my first life, though, I considered the pressure too much for both girls, so I enrolled them in

small-group classes.

But this time, I wasn’t going to spend my own money sending Elara to tutoring. Saving that extra

tutoring expense meant I could hire a private tutor for Brielle instead. With one-on-one lessons tailored specifically to her needs, studying would become much easier.

When I returned home, Elara immediately rushed out of her room after hearing the door open.

“Aunt Maren, where did you and Brielle go?”

“Oh, I took Brielle to her tutoring class.”

Elara lowered her head, looking disappointed.

“A tutoring class… I thought your family really didn’t have much money.”

I frowned. How had I never noticed before that she was this calculating?

I knew exactly what she was implying. She was questioning why I could afford tutoring but refused to pay for her during the day, and why I only sent my own daughter to classes while ignoring her.

“Elara, that tutoring class was arranged during the summer before you came here. The payment was already made a long time ago. Do you want to join too?”

“Can I, Aunt Maren?”

Seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, I already knew what she was trying to do. But I pretended not to

understand.

“Em… It’s not up to me. Your parents need to agree first. Here, take my phone and call them. I’ll send the tutor’s contact information to your parents, and once they pay, you can start attending.”

“Oh… no, it’s okay, Aunt Maren. Honestly, homework already takes up so much time every day. I don’t need tutoring. Brielle can just explain what she learned in class to me.”

“Ah, you’re both in your senior year now. Brielle has classes during the day and tutoring at night. She’s exhausted enough already. You can ask your teachers or classmates the next day. I think it’s

more helpful.”

“R-right. I’ll go study then.”

If I hadn’t noticed the resentment in her eyes and the way she clenched her fists, I might have actually believed she was as kind as she pretended to be.

She was still just a kid, after all. If she could get through her senior year honestly and without causing trouble, I wouldn’t bother arguing with her family over what she ate or used.

But as for anything beyond the basics? She shouldn’t expect me to spend another penny.