Chapter 11

– "Excuse me?" Alexander thought his ears deceived him.

"Give me fifty thousand dollars! I swear I'll never bother the Sullivans again." Alice's voice held eerie calmness, like someone who'd made peace with mortality.

Alexander was so furious he barked out a laugh.

'This woman truly mastered the art of manipulation.'

"Who swore to me yesterday she'd never ask for money again?" His mocking tone dripped with sarcasm.

"Do you think a woman like me, who's played hard to get with you multiple times, has any integrity left?" She mirrored his mockery perfectly.

Alexander fell silent.

He'd nearly forgotten how brazen she could be.

His lips curled into a cruel sneer. "If I can get you out of prison, don't you think I can put you back in?"

Alice had no retort.

She knew matching Alexander's ruthlessness was a losing game.

But she needed that money. Her mother's grave couldn't be desecrated.

"You're right." Her gaze dropped, smile turning bleak. "You could crush me like an ant whenever you please."

She yanked the door open to leave.

The man blocked her path. "Where do you think you're going?"

"That's none of your concern," Alice shot back.

Alexander closed the distance between them. "I almost forgot. Victoria mentioned you're in the night trade now. Listen carefully - during our contract period, if I catch you engaging in any... unsavory activities..."

Alice exploded. "Or what? Or what? Tell me, Alexander Knight, do I owe you something? Did I come crawling to you for money?"

"I only agreed to this deal because your mother showed me kindness in prison. This was my way of repaying her."

"That's it!"

"After my release, I struggled to find decent work. You ruined my job one day before payday."

"I didn't even have bus fare! What exactly am I supposed to live on?"

"You heard the Sullivans yourself. They demanded I stay. I never intended to harass them! They lent me money before, and now they want fifty grand repaid in one day! If I don't pay, they'll dig up my mother's grave!"

"Tell me, Alexander, what should I use to pay them?"

Alexander was stunned.

She'd always been so composed.

This outburst caught him completely off guard.

After her tirade, she gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Why am I shouting at you? Begging for pity? In your eyes, I'm just a toy you can trample whenever you please. If I beg from you, doesn't that make me even more pathetic? How stupid of me."

She stormed to her room, hastily stuffed cheap clothes, toothpaste, and a soap bar into a duffel bag, then marched out.

"Mr. Knight, I'm terminating our agreement."

"Unilaterally?"

"I know there are penalties. I don't have money now. Give me one week, then I'll return and accept whatever punishment you deem fit."

Alexander raised an intrigued brow. "What's your plan for this week?"

"Sell blood on the black market first. Once I have travel money, I'll visit my mother's grave. After that, do what you want with me. If you're worried, send someone to tail me."

She reached for the door.

Alexander grabbed her wrist.

He thrust a thick envelope at her, voice icy as ever. "Fifty thousand. No second chances. And don't forget your duties with my mother tomorrow."

Alice stared blankly at the money, frozen for a long moment.

She snatched the cash, whirled around, and fled to her room. The moment the door clicked shut, the floodgates opened.

Her abandoned duffel bag lay at Alexander's feet. He rifled through its contents - two threadbare outfits, basic toiletries, and about thirty dollars in loose change.

Alice cried all night. Next morning, her eyes were swollen crimson.

Fortunately, Alexander had left early for urgent business, sparing her the humiliation.

After composing herself, Alice visited Margaret at the hospital.

"Alice, darling, what happened to your eyes?" Margaret fretted.

"Nothing, Mom." Alice's eyes welled up again.

Not wanting Margaret to see her tears, she turned and rushed out.

Margaret immediately called Alexander. "Son, you're always working while Alice keeps me company every morning. What a wonderful daughter-in-law. I don't know how much time I have left... I'd love to see your wedding soon..."

Margaret assumed Alice was upset about lacking a proper wedding ceremony. What woman didn't dream of walking down the aisle?

It was Margaret's lifelong regret too - she'd never worn a wedding dress.

She wanted to give Alice what she never had.

"Mother, you're still recovering. A grand wedding isn't appropriate now," Alexander reasoned.

"Just a simple ceremony would suffice."

Alexander sighed deeply. "As you wish."

Margaret brightened immediately. "No need to pick another date - how about the day after tomorrow? Let the wedding planners handle the venue for a small ceremony."

The day after tomorrow.

For ordinary people, it would be impossible. But for Alexander Knight? Even a same-day wedding was feasible.

"Very well, Mother."

As Margaret hung up, Alice returned after composing herself. "Mom, I had a bad cold these past two days - all the sneezing made my eyes water. Sorry for worrying you."

"Alice dear, I have a surprise for you," Margaret said, clasping her hands.

"What surprise?"

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise!" Margaret teased, then shooed her away. "Don't waste time with an old woman like me. Go treat yourself to a spa day, buy some new clothes. Go on!"

Alice knew she was broke but couldn't explain.

This was perfect for job hunting though - she needed income fast to regain independence.

That afternoon, Alice went to repay the Sullivans.

Waiting at the bus stop, she overheard excited chatter:

"The rich have it made! Throwing a wedding together in one day?"

"Is that hard? Everything's ready-made now. One day's plenty!"

"Must be an engagement party. The Knights would never be this low-key for an actual wedding."

"Yeah, engagement makes sense. Their real wedding would be way grander."

"Must be nice being wealthy - pulling together an event this big overnight."

The commuters were buzzing about the Knight family's upcoming nuptials.

'Knight family?'

'Could this involve Alexander?'

After last night, Alice's opinion of Alexander had shifted slightly. Maybe he wasn't entirely heartless.

The bus arrived. Alice boarded, heading to the Sullivan estate.

When Alice slapped the $50,000 on their coffee table, Olivia looked ready to combust. "Did you rob a bank?"

"Not your concern. Write me that receipt - we're square now." Alice offered paper and pen.

Olivia knocked them away. "If you got money this easy, fifty grand's nothing! Eight years of support - half a million sounds fair, no?"

Alice was speechless.

Just then, Benjamin burst in excitedly. "Olivia! Victoria! Fantastic news! Alexander and Victoria's engagement is the day after tomorrow!"