Free woman now

    Chapter 3: You're a Free Woman Now

    "Fine, Alissa, hand me a pen," Shane agreed, huffing with anger.

    A pen.

    At this moment, Alicia froze - she had forgotten to get a pen from home. Still, she decided to search her purse but could not find one.

    Shrugging, she told him in a nonchalant tone, "I don't have a pen with me."

    "You don't?" Shane rolled his head back in laughter. He gritted his teeth. "What kind of games are you playing, Alissa?"

    How could she come over to the hospital with papers but forget a pen? This was surely a part of her plan.

    When Alissa decided to defend herself, a soft, quiet voice broke through the silence. It was weak and feeble. "I have one."

    At this, Alissa scoffed, staring at the blue pen. "Of course."

    "I took it from a nurse," Cindy explained quickly, her voice laced with nervousness, wanting to avoid any conflict. "Shane, you know how much I love drawing, but I couldn't find a pencil, so I borrowed her pen." Being quick-witted, Cindy instantly explained so Shane would not think she was supporting the divorce.

    Hearing this, a smile curled on Shane's lips, adoration in his eyes, his voice growing gentle. "I know, baby. I will buy you a packet so you can start drawing again."

    "Thank you," Cindy replied excitedly, while Alissa rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. "But I don't think you two should call it quits. You can actually--"

    "No!" Alissa and Shane simultaneously rejected the suggestion, their voices sharp and final. Shane was stunned to see that Alissa was so bent on divorcing him, and he felt something pierce his chest. Ignoring the faint pain, he angrily signed his initials at the bottom of the page.

    Watching him, Alissa felt tears sting the back of her eyes at how easy it was for him to sign it. Her brows furrowed while he did, and he looked up to find her eyes blurred with tears. Something pricked his heart again, and he had to fight the feelings to rush over and wipe her tears away.

    Clearing his throat, Shane stood up, straightening his composure, his facial expression indecipherable. "You are a free woman now, Alissa."

    "Congratulations to me," Alissa chuckled emptily, shrugging her shoulders. She took the papers, turned, and left with her head risen high. At a corner, Alissa rushed to a bathroom, tears streaming down her face. She covered her lips to stop her sobs from going out.

    The good memories of their marriage played like a TV montage in her mind. She stared at the girl in the reflection - she looked like a mess, not a glamorous one. Black tears from her mascara ran down her face, her dress looked as if she had slept in it. Her hair was a mess from too much of her hands running through it.

    Alissa counted to three, then she burst into tears, crying her heart out, wishing she could get rid of the pain.

    After she was fine, Alissa felt lighter. She wiped her makeup, washed her face with the cool bathroom water. Taking out a red lipstick, she applied it on.

    "I am going to get my life together and make them all regret treating me like trash," she swore, a smile stressing her beauty.

    Walking down the empty street, Alissa was startled by the honk of a vehicle behind her. She pulled herself from the road and watched the Maybach come to a screeching stop. The door opened, and a handsome man came out from it. She blinked her eyes twice, rubbing them. "Peter?"

    Peter, now standing tall and confident, lunged out in a well-tailored three-piece suit, his features more sharpened than before. He gave off a powerful aura. Peter advanced towards her, a smile springing to his lips.

    "Someone asked for a fairy Godfather?" he said in a playful tone, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

    "What is all this?" Alissa questioned, her gaze moving from the Maybach and back to Peter. He was only a driver. How could he afford all this?

    "Don't tell me you are gambling or did you win the lottery?" she asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

    At her words, Peter burst into laughter, the sound pleasing to Alissa's ears. "The lottery? It's even better," he replied, a hint of excitement in his voice.

    "What is it?" Alissa found herself more intrigued by this new personality. Peter seemed shy when she was working for him, so she had never seen him radiate so much confidence.

    "Have you divorced that man?" Peter asked, his expression turning serious.

    At his question, Alissa was taken aback, and she took three steps back out of precaution. It was late at night, and she had not told anyone she was coming to the hospital. Peter didn't even stay with them. Was he dangerous?

    Slowly, she started to back away, reaching into her purse for pepper spray. She held it up, warning him, "Stay back, you stalker, or I will spray this and kick you in the balls."

    "Calm down, Alissa, I am only here to take you home," Peter said, his voice soothing and reassuring.

    "I am not going back to that shithole," Alissa replied, her voice laced with defiance.

    "No. I mean your true home, back to your origin," Peter clarified, his expression soft and earnest.

    "My parents won't accept me after they think I tried to kill their precious daughter," Alissa argued, her voice tinged with sadness.

    "No. I mean your biological family. Alissa, grandfather has been waiting ages to see you," Peter revealed, his eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and hope.

    "What are you talking about?" Alissa asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

    "My name is Asher Kincaid, your brother. I was sent by grandfather to bring you home. When you saw me at that parking lot, I pretended to be stranded, but I didn't expect you would give me a job. You have such a good heart like mom," Asher explained, his voice filled with sincerity.

    "Stop, Peter or Asher? Whatever you're saying makes no sense," Alissa said, her head spinning with the new information. It was too much to process.

    A family?

    She had a family and a mother?

    Was she all true?

    "I know, wait." Asher sighed, and he went back to his car, bringing out a document. It was a file containing vital information of a Colet Kincaid, and Alissa noticed there was a picture of her as a child, the same age when she was adopted and lost her memories - eight years old.

    "Your real identity is Colet Kincaid, the heiress of the Kincaid business," he explained. He brought out another photo of a woman who looked like a twin of Alisa, except the photo seemed to be in black and white and looked old. "This is your mother, Alina Kincaid. I am here to bring you home, Alisa. Come home!" Asher pleaded, his eyes filled with hope and longing.

    "How can I trust you?" Alissa asked in skepticism, lifting the pepper spray can and standing in a defensive stance.

    "You have to take a leap of faith. Everyone is counting on me to bring you home!" He smiled earnestly. 

Alissa fought the feeling to trust him.

    "I am going to go with you, but I still don't trust. If you try something, I will... I have a black belt in karate," she threatened him, making a karate stance.

    Asher laughed at her posture, he sent a hand in his hair. This little woman was actually intimidating, he liked her.

    "I won't do anything inappropriate or try to hurt you," he promised, crossing over his heart.

    Asher opened the door, and she entered, still gripping the can. "You have two cousins, three uncles and a niece. You will be pleased to meet them all."

    The car came to a halt at the airport. Asher opened the door, and the cold air slapped Alissa's face. Her lips parted at the sight of the private jet, as she had never seen one in person, especially not one so large.

    The wind from its fan kept her hair flying to her face, and she pinned them behind her ears.

    Suddenly, an old man with a golden stick descended the stairs, walking majestically in a grey suit. His aura was that of dominance, and several people surrounded him. Alissa could not stop staring, as she recognized him from several magazines - Fabrice Kincaid, the multi-billionaire of several businesses and the country's third-richest man.

    The man grew closer, and his cold brown eyes became softer when they landed on her features. He caressed her cheek, which made her feel warm inside. "Welcome, daughter. We have been waiting for you."