“I’vemadeup my mind.”
1/1
Hooked at Frederick and said, “Ever since that day by the pool–when I accidentally fell in and he chose to save Alicia instead of me—I knew exactly w
what I needed
To do…”
I hadn’t even finished my sentence when he cut me off. “So, now you’ve figured it out. You should be looking for a man who wouldn’t hesitate to save you?”
“No,” Ishook my head, “I realized I needed to leam how to swit
“Ifsomeone saves me, great. Tot if no one does, I have to low how to save myself.”
Frederick clearly hadn’t expected that answer. He passed, then tell silent for a long time before finally saying, “Alright. Go home for now. I’ll think it over and mach out when I’ve made a decision”
Inodded and stood to leave.
As I was about to leave,he called out again, teasing, “Just don’t get yourself locked up at home again when I call. That’d be a real waste of my precious time.” 1 turned back and met his eyes. “Don’t worry. This time, even ifthave to jump off the balcony, I’ll crawl my way out of that place.”
He must’ve seen how serious I was, because he didn’t say another word. He just looked down and muttered, “Fine. Go.”
“Go where? haven’t even said hi yet!”
A bright, girlish voice suddenly rangout, catching both of us offguard.
till carried
A woman stood at the door, wearing a frilly, doll–like dress that looked straight out ofavintage boutique. She looked to be around 20, with a face that still s a hint of innocence.
She locked eyes with me and marched in like she owned the place.
“Elise, seriously? How could you let that witch Alicia walk all overyoulike that?
I blinked, completely thrown off. My brain raced, trying to figureoutwhere I’d seen her before. But nothing came to mind.
Not surprising, considering I’d lost the years of memories. Still, her voice felt strangely familiar
I blinked awkwardly. “What are youtalkingabout?Who walked all over me?
“Oh, don’t play tough with me. Everyone in our circle’s talking about it – you don’t have to pretend around me.
Trubbed my temples, starting to feel a headache coming on. Frederick shot her a sharp look. Who let youinhere?Get out.”
“Nope. I’m not leaving ”
“Fred!”
he wamed.
So, she was Frederick’s sister. No wonder.
Aria stomped over to me, putting her clerks in protest“I heard everything! Your man left you drowning and saved Alicia huustead! Do you even know how sug that gid’s been? All her friends are saying she’s about to become the new Mrs Ford!”
Lügbed “Tiendet lier. Idon‘) care.”
Aqua’s expassion changed. Sur circled around me suspiciously.
“Youdidn’thityour head when you drowned or something, did you?”
She poundmyshoulder. “Elise, where’s that fighting spirit of yours? That crazy possessiveness over Jonathan? With your personality, you should’ve goue toe–to-Thewith Alicia in a full–blowe war by now!
So,that was how people saw me
1 deard my theoal “Sony to disappoint. I’m just not interested in that drama anymore.”
Alicia looked at me like I’d second head, then reached out and pluched my cheek hand.
“Lise! Supoutof hy
You’re mally gonna let Alicia win?”
sug she’sbeen? Bragging
“You losing to her is bad enough, but my mom gave Allela the verdant Bloom—the due that was supposed to be mine! You know how sinug everywhere about how important she is to Jonathan Why can’t you just slap her likeyouusedto?–
”
Wait. I slapped Alicia before?”
Chapter 66
since chat day by the pool.
ideally fell in and hei
of me liewech
The bed when he cut off. “So, now you’ve figured it out. You should be looking for a man who wouldn’t hesitate to save you?
“Me” 1 bookmy hital. “i malued i meded to learn how to swim.
sed, then fell silent for a long time before tally saying “Alright Go home for now I’ll think it over and
thải even. “Don’t won. This time,evenif I have to jump off the balcony, I’ll as my way out of that place.”
the didn’t say another wond. He looked down and muttered, ‘FloTH.
aring a fully, doll–iske dress that looked sight out of average boutique. She looked to be around an, with a face that still camed
bed in like she oward the place.
sininey” Hore comid you let that witch Alchemilkall over you like thächt
when: My brain raced, trying to figure out where sherbetone. Bet nothing came to mind
mist “Hundeverything your man left you drowning and low how