Chapter 6
But every time the thought crossed her mind, Alicia couldn’t help but feel ridiculous–she simply didn’t belong in a place like this.
“Mina, I brought something for you.“)
Alicia had come with a gift a tin of homemade cookies. She used to make these for the children at the orphanage–a modest treat, not worth much in anyone’s eyes, but filled with her genuine care.
After all, there was nothing she could give that would mean anything to someone in Mina’s world.
Mina accepted the cookies with a smile, flipping open the lid for a peek before glancing over her shoulder at Vincent. “I think I saw these same cookies in Vin’s car earlier.”
Vincent’s expression tightened, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy
He probably thought Alicia was doing this on purpose–using the cookies to provoke Mina–and the idea clearly annoyed him. But Alicia honestly had no idea Vincent ever kept any of her cookies in his car
I
“It’s just that… Mr. Lawson would sometimes skip breakfast when he was busy, so if I had extra, I’d leave some cookies in his office…” Alicia rushed to explain, her anxiety making her fingers stiff and awkward.B
The physical symptoms of her depression were still severe, and only getting worse.!!
Seems like Vin is quite fond of his assistant’s cookies–he even brings them in the car, Mina said gently, her voice as soft as ever. But there was a razor’s edge beneath that sweetness.8
Alicia stared at the floor, feeling utterly lost. She knew saying more would only make things worse; Vincent was bound to think she was trying to get under Mina’s skin on purpose.
“I’m not a fan. I probably tossed them in the trash, and Charles picked them out by mistake and left them in the car, Vincent replied offhandedly, as if it was hardly worth his attention.D
Charles, Vincent’s driver and assistant, made a convenient scapegoat.
Alicia went rigid. Trash. So the cookies she’d woken up before dawn to make–buming her hands on boiling water in nothing but garbage to Vincent.
Maybe he was sending her a message, loud and clear!!
the process–were
Mina smiled again and asked the housekeeper to bring Alicia a pair of disposable slippers. “Relax. Let me introduce you to my friends.”
Mina gave Alicia the throwaway slippers, but all the other guests wore the plush, custom ones set aside for regular visitors.
It couldn’t be clearer–Mina was only inviting her here this one time.
Vincent had once told her that Mina, divorced and sensitive, never let down her guard. But what Vincent didn’t know was that Alicia was even more fragile than anyone could guess.
She’d grown up an orphan, learning early that survival depended on reading every nuance of a room.
Vincent noticed the difference in slippers too, but said nothing. He simply accepted it.
Accepted that Alicia would never be welcome here again.
“Everyone, this is Vin’s assistant–a lovely young woman,” Mina said brightly, introducing Alicia to the group in the parlor.
Alicia kept her head down, bowing politely. But when she looked up, it felt as if she’d stumbled into an icy void.
Six people sat around the tea table.
Three of them were her old college classmates–the very ones who’d made her life hell back then.
Mira, Henry Holloway, Cecilia Weston….
Alicia stood frozen, trembling uncontrollably. She shot a desperate look at Vincent, pleading for help.X
Maybe Mina didn’t know her past, but did Vincent truly not realize?!!
He knew exactly who Mina had invited, yet he still forced her to come.
Did he want to destroy her??
