Chapter 10 Pride or Importance
Thinking of that, Alice looked over her shoulder and said, “Have a car ready.”
Eric didn’t object.
But just as she turned to leave, he spoke again, his brow still furrowed.
“You plan on going alone?”
Alice paused, a flicker of disbelief passing across her face.
“Hold on–you’re not actually thinking of coming too, are you?”
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Technically, tradition said the husband should accompany the bride on her return visit. If he brought lavish gifts, it would earn her family bragging rights.
But Alice wasn’t making a courtesy call. She wasn’t going to play nice for this visit.
She didn’t need anyone putting on a show for her.
Eric couldn’t think of a reply. Her words had knocked the wind right out of him.
He drew in a slow breath.
“You helped my father last night. I owe you.”
Alice let out a soft, dry laugh. “That kind of debt would be wasted on the Spencers.”
In other words, she wanted to save that favor for something real.
Eric didn’t press the issue.
Then Alice’s eyes fell on him again. His condition wasn’t exactly stable. If anything went sideways, it was better to have him close, just in case she had to step in.
Her lips curved. “But if you really want to come, I won’t stop you.”
Eric turned toward Stanley. “Get the gifts ready.”
Stanley didn’t hesitate–he rushed off to rally the staff.
Thirty minutes later, a Nolan vehicle rolled to a smooth stop outside the Spencers‘ villa.
The Spencers still owned a good amount of real estate in Mapleford, but thanks to the recent cash crisis and mounting project demands, they’d been offloading properties one by one.
This place was their last real gem in the city–easily the most extravagant.
Word had spread that Alice was returning today. Technically, all five brothers should’ve been there to receive
her.
But instead, Scott had a race to train for and flat–out refused to push his schedule back, even a little.
Damon’s mentor had flown in from abroad, and he’d gone to greet him–hoping to snag a prized painting for
Linda.
Chapter 10 Pride or Importance
And Boston? He was filming literally around the corner, but still didn’t bother to show his face.
So, inside the mansion, only Gary and Charlie were present.
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Alice wheeled Eric through the front doors and into the living room. Her gaze swept the space once–cool, detached.
The room was spotless.
No tea.
No fruit.
Not even a hint of welcome.
Gary’s face was storm–dark, as if one more breath would set him off.
Charlie’s eyes burned with fury, the kind that felt like it came from somewhere deeper, colder–hellish, even.
“Now you come back!”
The brothers shouted together, their voices laced with pure venom.
Their teeth ground audibly as they spoke, each syllable jagged–like they were already halfway to tearing her apart.
Alice threw back a sharp laugh and sank onto the sofa nearby, stretching out lazily against the backrest.
“You sent people after me. If I didn’t figure it out by now, that’d just be embarrassing.”
Both men froze, caught off guard and momentarily speechless.
When they sent Alice off in marriage, they never once expected she’d set foot here again.
But the moment Alice left, Linda had slipped into a comą.
And somehow–that impossible country girl–had woken Eric up after marrying into the Nolans.
So naturally, suspicion fell on Alice, as if Linda’s collapse was her doing.
They’d sent messengers to call her back that very day, but she never showed.
Then, early this morning, news hit that Alice had saved Oscar’s life.
That only added fuel to the fire, and they scrambled to summon her again.
In reality, they were the ones who needed a favor now.
A storm of anger churned inside both brothers, but they had nowhere to vent, no ground to claim.
Gary took a long breath and stood up slowly, trying to smooth over the tension in his voice.
“Mr. Eric, I’ve got an intriguing Go endgame here. Would you like to take a look?”
Eric had loved playing Go before he slipped into that coma, so refusing wasn’t an option. “Alright,” he replied.
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Chapter 10 Pride or Importance
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Stanley stepped forward immediately, wheeling Eric along behind Gary as they headed into the adjoining
room.
No sooner had they disappeared than Charlie lost his restraint.
“What the hell did you do to Linda?”
Alice lifted her eyes deliberately.
Her own brother, Charlie, stared at her like she was some venomous creature, cold and deadly.
His eyes were bloodshot from restless nights spent worrying over Linda.
In that instant, Alice saw nothing but a snake coiled silently in the grass, ready to strike.
She laughed again–this time cold and hard.
“You know full well, don’t you?”
The story went that she pushed Linda out of a moving car to kill her and claim her share of the inheritance.
Her voice cut sharp, stripped of any warmth.
The timid, compliant girl they once knew was gone.
Charlie faltered, stunned by the change.
“You…”
A wave of panic swept through him.
There was a creeping sense of loss he couldn’t fight swelling within.
But Linda’s fate steadied him, and he gathered himself, voice brittle.
“You know exactly what I mean. What did you do to Linda in the hospital that day?”
Alice’s laugh sharpened, dripping with derision.
“Nothing at all. I was just there to visit a patient.”
Charlie gritted his teeth. “You expect me to buy that?”
“Sure do. I’m gorgeous and kindhearted. It’s a tough combo,” Alice said, all wide eyes and mock innocence.
Charlie’s fury boiled over. Her shamelessness hit a new peak.
“Then why the hell is she still in a coma? Tell me that!”
Alice cocked her head, feigning confusion.
“Funny you ask–I thought she passed out from shock after I shoved her out of the car?”
Charlie’s eye twitched. He’d completely forgotten that detail in his rage.
Alice leaned in, voice low and sharp.
“Or maybe she woke up before I even got to the hospital and just faked the whole coma?”
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Chapter 10 Pride or Importance
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Charlie’s teeth clenched so hard it hurt.
He knew she was right–but admitting it would destroy the Spencer name.
“That’s nonsense!” he bellowed.
Alice rose without hesitation.
“When I married, we made it clear–everything was over between me and this family. No ties, no strings left.”
She stepped forward, voice sharp and unforgiving.
You think I want to be here? Did you conveniently forget that you’re the ones who sent messenger after messenger to me?”
Her gaze was ice–cold. “But since you don’t exactly want me here, I’m leaving.”
Without another word, she cut past Eric, who was still focused on his game, and strode toward the door.
The Spencers already knew about her healing talents, and they’d long suspected Linda’s coma had something to do with Alice.
If they wanted Linda to wake up, they’d have to throw away the family’s pride.
It was a choice between saving their pride or saving Linda.
Pickone.
Just as Alice reached the doorway, Charlie’s voice stopped her.
“As long as you save Linda, we’ll agree to whatever you want.”
Alice leaned against the doorframe, her eyes cold and sharp.
“Anything?”
“Yeah.”
She pulled out her phone, her tone steady. “Then record a video clearing up the truth about me pushing Linda.”
Charlie’s veins throbbed at his temples, rage barely contained. “That’ll destroy the Spencer name!”
No way
would he agree.
He wanted nothing more than to choke his sister right then and there.
Alice swallowed her bitterness, her voice still icy.
“Ah, that’s a very clear no, then. Goodbye.”
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