Mina paced anxiously, standing rooted to the spot as she pulled out her phone and dialed Vincentâs number.
With so many reporters swarming aroundâand one of them even pretending to faint on the groundâshe dreaded to think how the news would spin this tomorrow.
The Holloway family prided themselves on their reputation and legacy. Her brother Henry was already in prison; if her own name got dragged through the mud now, it could be a fatal blow to the familyâs standing.
But no matter how many times she called, Vincent didnât answer.
Desperate, Mina dialed again and again, but every call went to voicemail.
...
In the car, Vincentâs face was grim. When he saw Minaâs name flash on the screen, he just tossed his phone aside without a second thought.
Heâd once believed his love for Mina was unshakeable. After all, how many people keep a teenage crush alive for so many years? He thought it would never change.
Even when Mina had moved abroad and married someone else, even when he, out of spite or rebellion, kept Alicia by his side, heâd never imagined he could fall for another woman.
Yet now, when it came to choosing between Mina and Alicia, the scales inside him tipped further and further in Aliciaâs favor.
With every passing day, he found himself drawn more to Alicia...
âMr. Lawson, Miss Holloway is calling again...â His assistant sounded nervous, half-afraid that Mina wanted Vincent to go to city hall and tie the knot.
He didnât dare answer Minaâs calls either. No one could guess where things stood between Vincent and her, or what she might demand.
âDonât answer,â Vincent muttered irritably. Mina had no other reason to call him or his assistant these daysâaside from pushing for that marriage license.
The more she tried to tighten her grip, the more suffocated he felt.
His assistant drove him home.
The house felt empty, the silence almost echoing off the walls.
Vincent tossed the gift he was holding onto the table and collapsed onto the sofa, weariness settling over him.
After a moment, he rubbed his forehead, got up, and left the living room. He drove himself to an apartment across town.
The place where he and Alicia used to live.
Alicia had been with him for four years, but heâd never invited her into his family home. The only times sheâd come near were when she picked him up for work as his assistant.
Back then, the thought of marrying her had never crossed his mind.
Now, as he parked outside the apartment building and looked up at the windows, he realized being with Alicia had become a habitâone he couldnât just shake off.
Life without Alicia felt wrong, like something fundamental was missing.
Heâd always seen her as a gentle, obedient little thing, someone who would quietly wait for himâa sheltered pet rabbit, never complaining, always understanding.
If he was in a good mood, heâd drop by to see her. If he was upset, heâd come here to clear his head.
Her place had become a sanctuaryâa harbor where he could hide when life became too much.
But now, his little rabbit had run away.
âVincent, whatâve you been up to lately? Come out for a drink with us. Tyroneâs moving to Seaview City for good, so letâs all get together,â Franklin called just as Vincent stepped out of the elevator.
Unlocking the apartment door, Vincent sighed, rubbing his temples. âNot tonight.â
âWhatâs going on? Are you and Tyrone really going to fall out over a woman? Iâll set something up, weâll all hang out,â Franklin insisted, not giving Vincent a chance to decline. âTen oâclock tonight, at Nocturne Era. Donât even think about bailing.â
With that, Franklin hung up.
Franklin was the mutual friend between Vincent and Tyrone. The two of them had always been business associates, but their relationship was more than just professional.
Tyrone was a wild cardâmercurial, unpredictable, the kind of guy most people in their circle steered clear of.
Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent)
ï¤Chapter 151 Transmigration: I Have Storage Space in the Apocalypse ï¤Chapter 760 - 756: Encountering a Man with Evil Intentions Vincent, on the other hand, was known for his competence, and he and Tyrone had always respected each other.
If it hadnât been for Alicia, things between them might have stayed that way forever...
Vincent tossed his phone aside and sank back onto the sofa, pressing his fingers to his temples, exhaustion etched into every line of his face.