Chapter 18
The voice on the phone belonged to Damian Hayes, a notorious underworld figure who controlled the darkest corners of South City. Every dirty job connected to Alice Carter’s imprisonment had his fingerprints all over it.
The Sullivan family had used Hayes’ services more than once.
Victoria Sullivan decided to go all out this time.
Originally, the Sullivans hadn’t planned to take Alice’s life before Victoria and Alexander Knight’s wedding. They feared the scandal would disrupt the ceremony. But there was another reason—Victoria wanted to personally shatter Alice’s world, to make her realize every ounce of her happiness had been stolen from Alice’s suffering.
She wanted Alice to burn with rage.
But now? Victoria didn’t care anymore.
She wanted Alice dead.
Immediately.
Hayes demanded ten million upfront.
Victoria scoffed. “That’s a steep price, Damian.”
A dark chuckle slithered through the phone. “I know exactly who you want gone. I’ll make sure it’s clean. And painful. You could even watch if you’d like. Doesn’t that sound worth every penny?”
Victoria didn’t hesitate. “Fine. Ten million it is.”
For the Sullivans, it was a hefty sum. But Victoria was about to become Mrs. Knight—soon, money would be no object.
After finalizing the deal, she hung up and smirked. “Alice Carter, everything that was yours is mine now. Your purpose is over. Just die already.”
She cast one last venomous glance at The Grandview before storming off.
Meanwhile, Alice wheeled Margaret Bennett out of the restaurant.
“Mom, won’t you stay with me tonight?” Alice asked softly, already knowing the answer.
Margaret’s condition was critical. Even attending the wedding had required a medical team, and the doctors had only permitted her three hours outside the hospital.
Margaret smiled weakly. “Sweetheart, tonight is for you and Alexander. I won’t intrude. The nurses will take me back. You two go home.”
Alice nodded, watching until the car disappeared. When she turned around, Alexander was already gone.
Her smile turned bitter.
This was just a transaction.
He was doing it for his mother.
She was doing it for hers.
No matter how cruel Alexander was, she’d endure it—for Margaret.
Alice dragged her wedding train through the empty hall, heading for the dressing room. The staff’s stares prickled her skin. But when she arrived, her clothes were gone.
“Looking for something?” an attendant asked.
“My clothes—a black skirt and white blouse?”
“Oh, that? We tossed it. Looked like trash.”
Alice froze.
How was she supposed to leave in a wedding dress?
She called Alexander. No answer.
For two hours, she sat alone in the hall, the once-envied bride now a laughingstock.
Finally, she texted him: Am I supposed to walk home in this?
Silence.
As dusk fell, she resigned herself to public humiliation—until Nathaniel Brooks appeared.
“Miss Carter, Mr. Knight had urgent business. I’ll take you home.”
Relief washed over her. “Thank you.”
The Knight residence was eerily quiet when they arrived. Assuming Alexander was asleep, Alice tiptoed to her room—then paused.
The emerald bracelet Margaret had given her still adorned her wrist.
It was too valuable to keep.
She knocked on Alexander’s door. No response.
Pushing it open, she found the room empty.
Probably comforting Victoria, she thought bitterly.
She placed the bracelet on his nightstand—then froze.
The door wouldn’t open.
Panic set in.
No lock. No mechanism. Just… stuck.
She yanked, shoved, sweat beading her brow—nothing.
Desperate, she turned to the nightstand. As she pulled the drawer, a blade shot out, grazing her arm before retracting.
A message glinted above it:
First warning. Touch anything else, and the next blade won’t miss.
Alice’s legs gave out.
She crumpled into the corner, too terrified to move.
Exhaustion eventually dragged her into a fitful sleep.
When Alexander returned late that night, he sensed the intrusion immediately.
He flung the door open—and found her curled up like a frightened child.