Alice stared at his message, speechless.


    Menu


    Her roommate, Lana Parker, emerged from the shower."Alice, what''s got you so zoned out?" “What does it mean when a guy says he doesn''t want to talk about money, only feelings?”


    Guoguo''s eyes gleamed with gossip."Two possibilities."


    "Let''s hear them."


    "One: He likes you and is hinting at it."


    Alice shook her head."Impossible."


    "Two: He wants to sleep with you but doesn''t want to pay. Cheapskate.”


    Aliceughed. That was even less likely. She replied with a string of ellipses. Jack saw her response and told his boxing coach, "Send another batch of that ointment I sentst time."


    The coach nodded.


    Jack went to his usual hangout with the guys. He rubbed his temples.


    Andrew Yates walked over.“Whoa, Jack, arm injury? You''ve created a perimeter of bandages, and they''re pink!"


    The others crowded around."They''re actually pink!"


    One guy reached for a bandage, but Jack swatted his hand away."Don''t touch.


    "Whoa, they''re peeling off, and you won''t let us touch them?"


    “Protecting them like that? It must be a girl."


    "Pink bandages? Probably young. Is she even an adult?"


    Jack frowned."Scram, all of you! No questions!"


    Andrew Yates shooed everyone away.“Little Lemon''s, right?"


    Jack didn''t deny it.


    Andrew Yates continued, “Why''d you suddenly message me to cancel Garrett Yates''s card and stop him from going to Pear Garden?"


    "To teach him a lesson!" Jack thought of Chloe''s smugness earlier and wanted to stick up for Alice. He recounted the events. Andrew Yates whistled."That toxic lotus is relentless. Don''t


    worry, this is


    this is easy. My aunt hates white lotuses, especially the broke kind."


    Jack took a sip of red wine.“One more thing.”


    "What?"


    “Nothing.” He hesitated, thinking of Alice and John Wilson together-young, same age. And Alice''s curiosity about John Wilson. The wine tasted bitter.


    Alice received another delivery of ointment the next day—arge quantity this time. She took a picture and sent it to Jack, then transferred the money. Then she went to ss.


    Guoguo whispered, "Boyfriend? Suitor?"


    72:39


    55.6%


    "Neither. Just a friend."


    Mermi


    Alice changed the subject.“There''s a gaming industry party this weekend. Lots of big names. You going?"


    "Sure, I want to see what it''s like."


    "Let''s go together." Alice needed to find


    sponsors.


    A message popped up on Alice''s phone. She grabbed it, thinking it was Jack. It wasn''t.


    Daniel: "Don''t forget the party this weekend."


    "I know,” she replied. She checked her chat with Jack-no reply. Same with John Wilson. John Wilson probably misunderstood, too.


    She messaged John Wilson:"Did you misunderstand earlier? I wasn''t trying to find your weaknesses to make you quit. I didn''t mean it that way."


    The expression felt weak. Jack said John Wilson''s family disapproved of gaming. Maybe John Wilson quit because of his family in her past life, not for the reason she thought.


    John Wilson woke up to Alice''s message. He sat up, relieved. He knew his sister-inw wouldn''t try to hurt him.


    He cheerfully replied, "Okay, I''m relieved."


    Alice felt better."Going to the party this weekend?”


    Hell yes! He had to be there to protect his sister-inw. His brother couldn''t show up due to his identity. This was his chance to shine! He''d show his brother how important he was, how much he regretted calling him a dumpster baby!


    John Wilson! Get up! Your grandmother wants you for breakfast!"


    Mrs. Wilson burst into his room, furious at the mess.


    "Mom, you can''t just barge into my room! I have privacy!"


    “What privacy? Get up!" She red at him.“Your brother sent you back, so I wouldn''t investigate that girl he''s protecting."


    “Mom, can you give my brother some privacy?”


    "I''m doing this for his own good!"


    John Wilson dug his nose."You''re a stepmother! What do you care?"


    Mrs. Wilson''s blood pressure soared.“Say that again?”


    "My brother can date whoever he wants! It''s his choice!"


    “John Wilson! Stop right there!" She grabbed something and threw it at him.


    John Wilson, in his underwear, sprinted through the hallway, yelling, “Grandma, help! My stepmother''s abusing me!"


    Mrs. Wilson, out of breath, huffed, “Even if I''m a stepmother, I''ll arrange the best marriage for him, shut those gossips up!” She had raised Jack, and he''d been so obedient and sessful. That''s why she''d had another child. She''d thought they''d be simr, but she got a hellion instead! She regretted it so much!


    John Wilson escaped to his room, got dressed, and replied to Alice:“The party sounds boring, but


    go if you''re going." He was a good, responsible brother!


    ????


    55.6%


    Hisy 195


    Alice could exin things to John Wilson in person.


    After ss, Alice got a message from Maple Leafs representative Pre-trial mediation is scheduled for this afternoon. Yourwyer will be there. Are you avable?


    "No sses this afternoon. I''ll be there." She couldn''t miss it.


    She told Guoguo and headed to court. Maple Leaf''s representatives were already there. The representative said, “Alice, do you know who ourwyer is?"


    "No. Isn''t he here yet?"


    “No. But the Alice family''swyer arrived. He''s famous. This case is going to be tough.” Alice frowned. She heard Ethan''s voice, "Still haven''t found a decentwyer? Need me to rmend one?"


    She looked up and saw Ethan with his entourage, Luke looking haggard. Ethan looked down at her. “It''s not toote to admit defeat. After all, you''re my sister. I''ll forgive you."