Chapter 6
Alicia took a two–day break to allow her body some time to recover. During those days, she often saw Marcus and Mandy all over each other.
Marcus would prepare breakfast just for her, guide her through golf lessons with their hands intertwined, and walk hand–in–hand with her through the garden at dusk.
They were respectful and loving toward each other, like a real married couple.
Alicia observed quietly, as if shards of glass pricked her chest, causing a sharp, burning pain inside. However, this torment wasn’t rooted in jealousy.
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She knew that every nice thing Marcus did for Mandy was an attempt to get back at her and make her react.
She was just seeing echoes of her own past in the way they treated each other. Back then, Marcus treated her far better than he currently treats Mandy.
He carefully wrote down every word she said in his memo and read it over and over again before going to sleep, just so he could dream about her.
He planned endless surprises for her every day, told her everything about his life, and always put her feelings first.
When she was severely injured and losing a lot of blood, he donated his own blood until he fainted, ready to sacrifice his life for love.
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The once lovely memories have now turned into an unreachable past. How could she not feel the hurt?
After she calmed down, Alicia went to the greenhouse by herself, her face pale. She filled a watering can and brought it to the room at the very back.
When she opened the door, she saw a huge bed of tulips that the gardener had been carefully taking care of.
She tended to the flowers like she always did, then settled next to the flower bed, watching the colorful blossoms and whispering softly.
“Callie, every year around this time, you’d take me to the flower fields to capture endless photos, making your brother shoot and edit them until he ran out of patience. The tulips are blooming again, but you’re not here with me. I miss you so deeply. Are you well in heaven? Can you hear me? I came today to say that I’ve finally understood it’s time to move on. I hope from now on, I can find happiness, and your brother and parents can be happy too, just like you.”
As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks once more, oblivious to the fact that the greenhouse door had swung open.
Mandy sneaked up behind her, eyes filled with disdain. “Weren’t you the one who ended Callie’s life? How dare you even utter her name? Aren’t you scared her spirit will come after you?”
Seeing Mandy stopped Alicia’s heart. “How did you get in here?”
Had Marcus really revealed this place to her as well? This was meant to be their hidden sanctuary–hers, Callie’s, and his.
Mandy shot her a mocking look, then suddenly slapped her across the face.
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“That’s ridiculous. I’m Mrs. Daston now, the lady of the entire Daston’s estate. This greenhouse is mine. I can come and go as I please. You’re just a guest here. What right do you have to be here?”
While boasting about her status, she leaned down, yanked out several tulips, and tossed them to the ground, crushing them underfoot.
Alicia’s head jerked to the side from the slap, her vision flashing red as pain flared across her cheek.
Seeing the damage Mandy had done, Alicia’s mind went numb. She surged forward and pushed Mandy forcefully.
“How dare you touch these flowers! Who said you could? These belong to Callie…”
Mandy hit the ground hard, her palms scraping against the gravel and peeling the skin.
Gritting her teeth, she got up and charged into the flower bed, stomping through it like a madwoman.
“I’ll crush these flowers if I feel like it! Alicia, I’ll grind them into the dirt just like I’m humiliating you!”
Watching Mandy tear everything apart, Alicia finally lost her grip on reality.
She used every ounce of strength to pull Mandy away, but Mandy fought back hard, kicking and thrashing.
In a moment of desperation, Mandy lit a lighter and threw it into the flowers.
