Chapter 264


    Victoria realized that Alicia was out of it, therefore she held her hands as they exchanged looks. She didn''t ask further questions about it.


    "Are you okay? Do you want me to give you a ride?”


    Alicia shook her head. "No! I just want to be... alone!"


    Simrly, she also rejected Marshall''s request afterward. She feared that Victoria wouldn''t be safe staying here, thus she dragged Victoria out


    together.


    "Victoria, let''s leave together! Don''t stay in this kind of ce for long!"


    "Got it! I still have to wait for a friend to get something, I''ll leave in a while! I''ll be careful, don''t worry about me! Ally, did you encounter something? If


    you need help, just call us. Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much. Don''t just keep it to yourself. You would be defeated if you keep


    everything in!"


    "I know! I''ll tell you everything I can!" However, even Alicia herself hadn''t cleared her own doubts yet.


    The duo spoke for a while. After reminding Victoria several things. only then did she leave.


    That night, Alicia''s mind was in too much of a mess. Fortunately, there weren''t many cars around. Alicia stopped before a bridge opposite a mall while


    gazing at the neon lights and the crowd of people that was faraway. Many scenes kept reying themselves in her mind. Her one-night stand with


    Frederick, their lightning-fast marriage... Everything shed across her mind like scenes from a movie.


    Uncontrobly, tears blurred her vision


    The ce where they lived was Landrum Garden. It was full of jasmine flowers. The house and the courtyard were filled with the fragrance of


    jasmine.


    No wonder he disliked the scent on her body so much! No wonder he disliked it when her body wash was jasmine-scented!


    Bah! It turned out that she was just not the person whom he was used to!


    How much did he like that woman? The house was full of jasmine and the only decorative items in the office that she could remember were those few


    pots of jasmine!


    It turned out that jasmines represented Danica! Her nickname was Jasmine!


    Jasmine!


    No wonder he loved jasmines so much! It was everywhere around him!


    The vi had been built for Danica; Landrum Garden was named after her. In the office, the jasmine which he gazed at during his free time even


    represented Danica! Private room No. 7 of Seventh Hotel, such a romantic and luxurious ce, was also for her!


    No wonder Alicia had thought that it was a dating spot for couples!


    It turned out that he was so attentive to Danica! Everything was prepared for her!


    Fire and water should never, and could never have been mixed. Only someone as stupid as Alicia would believe Frederick''s words. Someone who


    used to love water would nevere to like fire.


    Alicia looked a lot like the old Danica!


    Was this the reason he had deceived Alicia with such sweet words over and over again?


    In the house that belonged to Danica, she wore the clothes that Danica liked, wore the earrings that Danica liked... Was she acting as Danica''s


    temporary substitute as she made love to him?


    It was too much!


    Had Danica ever slept in that bed too? Was his every word, his every sign of tenderness and gentleness, all forthat woman?


    What was his intention?


    Wasn''t Danica back? Why? Could it be that she was disabled? Did Frederick treat Alicia well, all for her to sacrifice everything for him and take care


    of Mrs. Clements, be the shield when facing Mrs. Clements? Or was it that Danica was too embarrassing to be around with as of now, or was she in


    danger, or did she have any other reasons that needed Alicia to be her temporary shield?


    Since Alicia looked simr to Danica, was it possible that Frederick just wanted to take advantage of Alicia?


    It was horrible!


    Alicia was also a living person. Why did he want her to live in Danica''s shadow?


    He had restricted her with all kinds of rules, held her back, and coaxed her. But, he joined the anniversary party with Danica behind Alicia''s back! He


    even gave Danica earrings and took away Alicia’s chance to win the first prize!


    How could men be so shameless!


    Suddenly, Alicia thought of Jeremy again. He used to treat her the same way. He had once treated her very well but in the end. he had thrown her off


    from the top of the world to the very bottom


    They hated each other deeply. In the


    past, she couldn''t understand why.


    At present éven though she still


    hated him; at least she had a reason


    to forgive him. If she really went”


    through all of this just to pay-off her


    brother''s debt to Jeremy, atleast it


    was over!


    But what about Frederick?


    Had he been testing her up to this moment? What did she do wrong? She just wanted a pure rtionship. Why did all men treat her like this, one


    after another?


    Alicia couldn''t understand at all. She felt so disgusted.


    She hated this feeling!


    She didn''t want to live in the shadow


    of others and’she didn''t want to


    deceive hersétf to please a man who


    couldn''t even act well! Even if it was>


    a short rtionship that would end


    tragically, he should still belong-to


    Alicia’ She could bear the ups-and


    downs, the joys and Sorrows, but


    she couldn''t ept thatall of his


    actions had been pretentious and


    deceptive. He did not belong to her!


    In fact, every word he said, everything he did, and every present he gave her, was not meant for her.


    What were her existence and contribution for?


    Was she an intermediary to help them achieve joy and harmony?


    No!


    Letting the cold breeze blow against her. Alicia maintained motionless for a long time. She didn''t move at all.


    The lights in front of her were gradually dimming but she was still immersed in her thoughts. She clenched her fists.


    On the other side, as Frederick watched Alicia leave, his thought was also jumbled up. He wasn''t listening to what his friends said. He was dragged


    back to the private room and felt annoyed.


    However, there were so many people around him that he couldn''t walk away for a while.


    Finally, as ast resort. his gaze for help turned to Carson. The duo cooperated and they were finally able to step away from the crowd. When they


    went out, Frederick spoke.


    "I''m leaving now! Please help me to say goodbye to them, thanks!”


    After patting Carson on the shoulder, he never stopped walking as he dialed Alicia''s number. When he got into the car, he stepped down on the


    elerator.


    "Sorry, the number you''ve dialed is temporarily unavable, please try againter! Sorry..."


    Frederick knew that she must be


    emotional buthe was not sure if she


    had goneback home. Thus,he =X


    headed ta A icia''s mother''s house~


    first. When he arrived, the lightdt? the


    nouse''was not lit and Alicia’s-car


    was not there. Then, he rushed over


    (Landrum Garden. Contént


    belongs to


    After entering the house, he realized that she hadn''te back yet. He almost dropped the phone in a panic for the first time.


    He called a few more times but no one answered.


    After looking at the time, he realized that it was almost eleven o''clock! Guessing that Alicia might be in a bad mood and just needed to rx,


    Frederick began to wait at the bar as there was nowhere for Alicia to go.


    Time gradually passed by. Every second seemed torturous and Frederick''s eyes were stuck at the door. Far the first time ever, he got restless. He


    was fidgeting anxiously and kept looking at his watch.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "Why haven''t youe back?”