MasukAlison was skeptical. "You mean, we're fleeing by car? Will this really work?"Renee smiled and assured her about the plan. "Don't worry—the car in which you're driving has fake license plates, with several other cars of similar models escorting it. We will then stop at a camera blind spot to switch cars just to be safe."My makeup artist will slip in with the gardeners soon. She will come to disguise you before we get you out. But I have to go now—your mom usually asks Mimi Lillard to bring you lunch, right? Can't expose myself now."She couldn't drag her feet while she was disguised as the maid named Mimi.Quickly listing all the things to take notice, Renee left, but just as she stepped out, she found Quincy and another woman she had never met sharing an umbrella as they walked through the winter snow.Quincy was smiling as she said, "You might not be aware, Mrs. Xavier, but the clivia in the greenhouse out back is blossoming beautifully. You need to see it later."As they slo
Renee knocked on the door, and as there was no response from inside, she looked around.Once she made sure there wasn't anyone around, she cleared her throat.She was about to knock again when the bedroom opened from the inside, and Alison stood there in her pajamas, staring at her as she stood outside."It's me," Renee announced herself while quickly sliding in the room through the gap between Alison and the door, closing it while she did."Renee…?" Alison asked uncertainly, hearing the familiar voice but seeing an unfamiliar face."Yeah." Renee nodded, pointing at her own face. "Went out of my way to get a makeup artist."Then, looking Alison from head to toe, she grimaced in pain. "Why are you so skinny?"It had only been a month, but Alison's cheeks were sunken and her skin dull, as if she was suffering from malnutrition.Even her usually dark hair had completely lost its luster."Oh, finally." Alison sobbed as she hugged Renee. "I really don't know what I would do if you
That was the case for Alison, whose marriage was inevitably strategic.Even if it wasn't William Xavier, there was still a long list of other families waiting.Putting down her cup, Renee said, "Why not try to buy time and let Alison find someone suitable? Marriage isn't a game, and certainly not something you bear with for a day before it's over. It's the rest of her life."Jasper sipped his coffee too and stared at the steam as he said, "Everyone must pay the price for their mistakes."Renee stared at him, speechless.After a while, she asked in exasperation, "Are you saying that there are no other options?""No, there isn't." And with that, Jasper cut off any responses she had in mind.They held each other's gazes in silence, and Renee eventually turned to look outside the window while Jasper looked down at his coffee, stirring it.The piano music ringing in the cafe was melodious and calming, but the good vibes were doing nothing to curb the stalemate between them.After
Candy held a thumbs-up at her. "I love you, Ms. Whitley!"With that, she turned and left.Renee's smile slowly faded after she closed the door, and clicked into a luxury designer brand's official website.To no surprise, that necklace was the latest winter design and cost over two hundred grand.Handcrafted with the torch-fire enamel so that it sparkled dazzlingly under the lights, it was worth well over two hundred grand.Renee knew her jewelry as she often attended various banquets, and she could see that the necklace Candy wore wasn't a replica.And Candy definitely couldn't afford that with her income.-Later, at three o'clock, as Renee arrived at the West Coast Cafe, she alighted to see that it was snowing everywhere.Putting on her scarf, she noticed snowflakes landing on her palm, though it soon melted.Jasper arrived not that much later and found Renee standing by her car under the snow, wearing a huge cotton coat and that red knitted scarf.Her long hair was loose,
Renee fell silent.After everything was said and done, Alison was the heiress of the Zellers, and the arranged marriage was with the mayor's son.If Alison ran away, the Xaviers would be offended.It had always been a rule to never challenge authority, as it was all too easy for the Xaviers if they wanted revenge.Just as Renee stayed silent, Alison sobbed, "Renee, I'm begging you… You're the only one who can help me now. If you don't, I really might die…"Renee's heart clenched even as she listened to Alison's sobs, and she asked, "Alright, how can I help you?""I need a new ID and passport," Alison replied. "I want to go to Australia…"-After comforting Alison for a while, Renee hung up, holding her phone and looking out the glass wall.Scowling, she sighed. "A new ID and a passport? Really?"Just those two things were endlessly difficult, and the Zellers could easily catch her if she tried anything.Could she really help Alison escape? She really wasn't sure.Knock, kno
Donald almost suffered from a stroke after hearing Jasper defend Alison. "Shut up already!" he snapped, waving him off. "Get out of here!"Jasper leveled a look at Alison and shrugged, clearly telling her that she was on her own.After he left, it was Will and Quincy's turn to suffer Donald's wrath.It wasn't until after a long while that Donald finally calmed down and growled at Alison, "You're either selling the company and getting married, or it's going to go bankrupt soon. Your mom told us that your partner is a close friend of yours—you wouldn't want her to suffer because of you, do you?""You're way out of line!" Alison smacked the bed while glaring furiously at Donald, her tears gushing.Quincy strode up, trying to reason. "Please, Allie. Your grandfather is just—""Get out! Out!!!" Alison shrieked hysterically, picking up anything within reach and flinging it at them.Only her grandmother really cared about her, but she was still recovering and she didn't want to give







