Rising From Betrayal Reborn As The Family Outcast novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55

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Back in the practice room, the team listened with growing admiration, their expressions turning to outright respect.

“Ms. Delaney, you’re incredible,” one trainee said, clearly impressed. “How do you know so many instruments?

“Especially the classical ones. You don’t just play them, you really make them sing.”

While Alicia’s background in a girl group made her skill with guitar or bass seem expected, her command of classical instruments and the clear proficiency with which she played them came as a surprise to everyone.

Alicia offered a modest smile. “My mother loved classical music, so I picked up the basics when I was young.

“But honestly, I only ever scratched the surface. I’m nowhere near a professional.”

She meant it sincerely. While competent, she never considered herself a true master of any one instrument.

“You’re being way too humble, Ms. Delaney,” several of them chimed in warmly.

Another trainee, curious, ventured a question. “Was your mother… the graceful, gentle type?”

Given Alicia’s elegant touch with the classical instruments, they pictured someone serene and refined.

Alicia’s smile softened, though her eyes held a different, fiercer light. “Actually, no.

“She wasn’t gentle like still water. She was more like the midday sun. Bright. Intense.”

In many ways, Alicia reflected her mother’s spirit-direct, passionate, and unwilling to pretend.

A few trainees chuckled softly. “Well, we were completely wrong then.”

One of them then suggested, “For the live performance, you should invite your family if they can make it. The show sets aside tickets for family members.”

It was a standard offering. Each contestant received guest passes for their loved ones.

Alicia said, “My mother passed away ten years ago.”

She shrugged, then continued evenly. “As for the rest of my family, I wouldn’t expect them to come.

“Not long ago, I cut ties with all of them.

“So they won’t be attending, and I won’t be inviting them.

“It’s better this way, for everyone.”

She said this openly and intentionally, knowing the cameras were rolling.

When the truth about her past and her connection to the Hammonds eventually surfaced, these words would be remembered, revisited and reexamined.

What had been a private break now needed a public record. This was her declaration she was no longer part of that family and she wanted it known.

Her statement left a palpable silence in the practice room. Viewers watching the livestream were equally taken aback.

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Clearly, no one had seen this coming.

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The trainee who had asked about Alicia’s family looked flustered. “Ms. Delaney, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know about your mother.”

Alicia offered a small, forgiving smile. “It’s alright.”

She then smoothly shifted the focus back to the task at hand. “Let’s get back on track. Discuss which instrument you think works best.”

Mentioning the severed ties was enough. It didn’t need to become a spectacle or a plea for sympathy.

Leaving it as a quiet statement would allow others to uncover the contrasts later, which held its own kind of impact.

The others, not wanting to press on a sensitive topic, readily followed her lead.

Internally, however, they couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What must Ms. Delaney have gone through to cut ties with her entire family?

‘She’s so grounded and kind. It must have taken something serious for her to walk away.’

Viewers watching the livestream were thinking along similar lines.

[Alicia always seems so bright and upbeat. I never imagined she’d broken with her family.]

[Her family must have done something really hurtful.]

[Yeah, when she said, ‘I wouldn’t expect them to come,’ it just felt so heavy.]

[Sometimes walking away is the healthiest choice. As long as Alicia is living well and happy, that’s what matters.]

[Exactly. Forget about those people. She has us now.]

*****

Meanwhile, in a hotel room, Jason was watching Alicia’s stream and following the live comments.

He sent a quick message to Marley.

He requested two edited clips: one featuring Nicole performing on multiple instruments while elaborating on how cherished she was by the Hammond family, and another capturing Alicia’s own instrumental showcase alongside her brief, revealing remarks about her family background.

He then instructed his assistant to have the PR department arrange three trending topics for Nicole and one for Alicia.

Jason understood personally what it meant to be hurt by family and to choose distance.

He suspected Alicia’s mention of cutting ties was intentional, a quiet statement for the public record.

He decided to give that statement a gentle push, ensuring even those who hadn’t watched the episode would hear it.

Back in the practice room, Alicia and the trainees finalized their instrument choices, and the team returned to refining the

song

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The live stream cameras now focused on the trainees as they worked through the arrangement.

With a quiet moment to himself, Darren pulled out his phone and opened a game.

Alicia, meanwhile, opened X and browsed the trending list. The moment she saw the top entries, she knew Jason was behind

There were three hashtags trending about Nicole: [Nicole music virtuoso], [Nicole’s family gifts], and [Nicole is spoiled by wealthy family].

A couple of unrelated topics trailed below, followed sharply by the trending topic: [Alicia severs ties with her family].

Alicia tapped open the three trending posts about Nicole.

One featured a video, so she slipped on her earbuds.

Watching Nicole not only flaunt her proficiency with multiple instruments but also deliberately showcase the affection of her father and brothers came as no surprise.

It was clear Nicole was laying the groundwork for her eventual identity reveal.

Both women understood this moment was inevitable, yet each was biding her time, waiting for the optimal moment to strike.

Alicia was waiting for the backlash to hit Nicole hardest, and Nicole wanted to soften and spin the narrative when the time

came.

Beyond strategy, Nicole’s performative display was undoubtedly meant to needle Alicia, especially with Leo’s birthday banquet fast approaching.

If Alicia took the bait, as her temperament often led her to, she would likely arrive at the event cold and distant toward Leo.

His displeasure would inevitably follow, and once the guests departed, he would summon her for another scolding.

She would be blamed for nothing, subjected once more to comparisons with Nicole’s perfect composure and grace, much like parents who hold up another child as the standard, their disappointment palpable.

In moments like these, Alicia found it impossible to stay silent..

She would argue back, sparking another heated clash with Leo.

And that was precisely when Nicole and her mother would step in, the picture of compassion and understanding, ready to soothe his temper in the aftermath.

Alicia knew all too well that fighting with Leo only played into their hands.

But there was no use clinging to a relationship or a father’s love that had already been lost.

His heart had long been swayed. In his eyes, anything she did was just another act of immature defiance.

So rather than endure his accusations in stifled silence, she preferred to confront him directly

If she was going to be miserable, she’d make sure he didn’t walk away untouched.

Alicia opened the trending tag about herself and considered the idea of editing the two videos together as a birthday gift for

Leo.

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First, she could highlight the Hammond family’s lavish affection for their stepdaughter, showcasing Leo and Nicole’s picture-perfect bond.

Then, with a brutal cut, she would reveal the footage of the real daughter disowning the Hammond family. Now that would deliver an impact.

A wicked smile touched her lips. ‘Now that is a gift, she murmured to herself.

The idea settled in, feeling more fitting by the second.

Without further hesitation, she picked up her phone and typed out a message to Jason.

Alicia: [Jason, do me a favor and send over those two videos from the trending list.]

Jason: [Figured you’d ask.]

He sent her a single, pre-edited clip that merged both videos.

Alicia: [You read my mind. Seriously, how do you always nail it?]

Jason: [Just looking out for you.]

Jason: [This feels like the start of something. What’s the plan?[

Alicia: [I’m thinking of gifting this little edit to Leo for his birthday.]

Alicia: [Imagine it playing on the big screens during the party. Perfect, right?]

Jason could already picture Leo’s face darkening in real time.

Jason: [Only you could pull that off.]

Jason: [Flawless. I’m taking notes.]

He filed the idea away for his own father’s upcoming celebration. Alicia had a way of turning the expected upside down.

Alicia: [Obviously.]

A faint, knowing smile softened Jason’s usual detached expression as he pictured the self-satisfied look she’d be wearing just then.

Jason: (Brilliant.]

On the other side, inside Hammond Group headquarters, an assistant knocked and entered the executive office.

Approaching the desk, he addressed Kevin “Sir, regarding your request to monitor Alicia’s activities…”

He offered his phone. “She’s currently trending online. Would you like us to suppress the topic?”

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