Thomas was curious and observant, Alice thought as she settled herself at the backseat of their family car.She did not say anything about Helena’s case, of course. She did not trust Thomas enough to give him information that she kept from the cops for weeks.It was clear how much he wanted to ask more questions, but she was glad that he did not push any further. It was ironic, but because of that, he gained a bit of Alice’s trust.The following morning, Alice still wore black tops and boots in which she paired with denim pants that hang lowly just below her knees. She didn’t remove Helena’s keychain from her backpack while the lucky necklace still clung to her neck.George was already at the dining table when Alice went downstairs. His eyes looked tired behind the thick, black frame of his glasses, while his posture was in a bit of a slump. Despite the illuminating lights and lively noise from the kitchen, her father looked exhaus

The thought of a dead body near Alice’s home terrified her. When she got home, she immediately turned on the television and switched it to the local news. Her heart was pounding while her head was swirling with intrusive thoughts as she waited, wishing that the dead body found was not someone she knew.Thankfully, it wasn’t.“The local street sweeper, Frederick Hardy, found Jonathan Miller’s body wrapped in a black trash bag.” A picture of a trash bag appeared on the screen, together with a couple of blurred pixels of blood around it. “The police are now investigating what they have believed to be a murder.”Alice felt her thumping heart slowed. It was scary to think that

Alice could not believe what she saw.Her father was at home, looking sad and exhausted, while her mother was in a romantic dinner with a different man. Not just any man, at that. It was Louis Saint Clair. The owner of Saint Clair Academy, the owner of numerous oilfields in the country, and the father of the boy who she was, kind of, attracted to.“Alice, are you okay?" Wilson asked.Alice hoped she was wrong. She hoped that what she saw was a mere figment of her imagination. Meredith would not do that; in Alice’s eyes, her mother was a woman with class and principles. Her mother wouldn’t cheat. It was impossible.

“Hurry up!” Alice spattered as she half-walked and half-jogged to get back to Candice’s horrible Halloween party. Thomas was slowly trailing behind her. “I think that detective was lying. He knew more than what he was saying,” Thomas stated, a hint of curiosity could be heard from his voice.“Of course he knows more. He’s a detective,” Alice pointed out, her brows creasing together. “Now will you please hurry up? Or do I have to carry you in my back, Your Highness?”Thomas’ lips formed a mischievous smile. “Why are you in a rush, anyway? It makes me think that you wanted to get away from me because you’re nervous.”“You’re so full of yourself, Saint Clair.” She sho

CHAPTER 19 | Grayson Alice regretted it. She regretted the moment her mouth opened to accept Eric’s… relationship. In just a snap, she earned herself a boyfriend. She imagined that her first boyfriend would be meaningful. She imagined waltzing through the floors of their mansion with the guy, then introducing him to her parents. In her imagination, her boyfriend was a gentleman. Not like the boy Eric was. Speaking of her parents, how would she explain that she got herself a boyfriend after talking to him in seconds? “Is there something bothering you? You look unwell,” Wilson queried. “Just thinking…” Ali