After returning from the library with her borrowed books, Alicia considered reaching out to Tyrone. Her phone hovered on his contact page for ages, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to call.
The silence stretched on until Alicia simply powered off her phone.
She couldn't have it both ways. That was just wishful thinking.
She was only his wife on paper, and this child was nothing but the product of their contract. She had no right to expect anything more from Tyrone.
"We're home, ma'am." The driver's voice broke through Alicia's thoughts as the car rolled to a stop in front of the villa.
She snapped back to reality, nodded, and stepped out.
"Alicia..."
Melanie was here again.
Alicia's guard went up as she caught sight of her. "Please don't come by anymore."
Melanie's eyes filled with tears. "Alicia, I'm so sorry."
She bowed her head, voice trembling. "I know you'll never forgive me. I know you asked your uncle to spare me if it weren't for you, he wouldn't have let me off this time. I've applied to study abroad. I'll be leaving Seaview, and you won't have to see me again."
Alicia remained silent.
"Alicia... Uncle Tyrone does care about you, you know." Melanie sniffled, trying to compose herself. "My mom... she's been sent to a psychiatric hospital in Harboridge. Without your uncle's approval, she'll never be allowed to leave. She'll spend the rest of her life there... It was Uncle Tyrone's doing."
Alicia looked up in surprise, staring at Melanie.
She hadn't imagined Tyrone would go this far.
"These past few days, Uncle Tyrone's been at the police station
dealing with everything. I had a
et
recording of my mom telling me to
push you down the stairs-he.
e
reported it. But since she's mentally ill and was in the middle of an episode, the police could only hand her over to the hospital."
Alicia's palms grew hot. She looked down, suddenly at a loss.
Tyrone... actually called the police...
"My mom always thought she could hold Uncle Tyrone hostage with the fact she once saved his life. The truth is, if she'd just behaved, stayed within her limits, he would have always taken care of her out of gratitude. But she had to chase after things that never belonged to her..."
Melanie's words grew softer. "I'm sorry for what I did to you, Alicia. I was selfish. I used your child as a bargaining chip for my own freedom..."
Tears slipped down Melanie's cheeks.
Alicia, watching her, suddenly realized that Melanie was frightening in her own way.
"But, Alicia... even if I hadn't pushed you down those stairs, you wouldn't have been able to keep that baby," Melanie whispered, raising her eyes to meet Alicia's. "Be careful of the old man. Be careful of Wilma. Besides my uncle, trust no one..."
Alicia froze, unable to grasp what Melanie truly meant.
"Alicia, you need to
understand there are some things
et
in this world you can earn if you work hard. But there are others, no matter how hard you try, you'll never
change. That's class." Melanie
stepped closer, meeting Alicia's
gaze. "You're an orphan. The Lynch family will never truly accept you. The old man will never let Uncle Tyrone's future wife always be you. The White family won't let you use your unborn child to lay claim to the title of Mrs. Lynch forever..."
Before she'd pushed Alicia down the stairs, Melanie had overheard someone calling
Wilma.
Wilma had been staying at Melanie's tiny apartment while looking after Serena. The walls were thin, and one night, when Melanie couldn't sleep and went to get a drink of water, she'd overheard Wilma on the phone.
Someone had told Wilma... to poison Alicia's unborn child. If possible, to make sure both Alicia and the baby died.
There were far too many people who wanted Alicia gone.
Dar Ha
Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent)
Chapter 243
Transmigration: I Have Storage Space in the Apocalypse
Chapter 760-756: Encountering a Man with Evil Intentions