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    Alice was stunned. "My boyfriend?" She hadn''t introduced Jack to her ssmates. Lana Parker nodded. "Last night, after dinner, a very handsome man said he was your boyfriend, but we''d never seen him, so we didn''t let him take you."


    "How did you know he was my boyfriend?"


    "We guessed. Someone saw him by the car this morning; he''s very handsome; they recognized him immediately.” Lana Parker showed Alice a photo."Is this him?"


    Alice recognized Jack. Her expression


    was uneasy. “He really waited all night?"


    "He was wearing the same clothes; he hadn''t gone home. He followed us all the way to the dorm." Alice was silent.


    "Couples fight; give him a chance to exin,” Lana Parker said, though she''d never been in a rtionship.


    Alice gave a self-deprecating smile."Some things can''t be solved with expMarytions." She hadn''t decided how to face Jack and his true identity.


    "What did he do?"


    "I found out he lied to me," Alice said listlessly. "I''ve been ignoring him because I haven''t figured out what to do."


    "Will you forgive him or break up with him?” Mary Parker, surprisingly, spoke up. Alice was surprised; Mary Parker rarely interacted with them. Mary Parker looked ufortable.“I also found out my fiancé lied to me." fiancé lied too? Did they


    Alice''s eyebrows twitched; was Mary Parker talking about Ethan?


    Lana Parker asked, "Mary Parker, your fiancé lied too? Did they both cheat?"


    Alice and Mary Parker fell silent. Alice thought about Jack and Julia Garcia; technically, she was the "other woman"?


    Alice looked at Mary Parker.“Do you know your fiancé well?"


    "We''re not close. It''s an arranged marriage. You know I''m disabled. Wealthy boys don''t date girls like me." Mary Parker seemed to have been holding this in."I''ve never had many friends. They''re all here because of my family; I''ve never had a boyfriend."


    Alice frowned. “Do you like him?”


    "I don''t know. He''s kind to me. I can''t expect more; people wouldugh." Mary Parker''s voice was filled with self-deprecation.


    Alice was surprised by Mary Parker and Ethan''s rtionship. Mary Parker had probably tipped off Ethan about the press conference; she''d thought they had a good rtionship.


    Lana Parker said, “Mary Parker, don''t be so self-deprecating. You excel in journalism; you''re capable. You don''t need to get married. If he''s bad, leave him."


    Mary Parker lowered her head."It''s arranged. They say I need a good husband for a secure future." "You''re being gaslighted! This isn''t ancient times. If you have a job and earn money, you''ll be fine." Lana Parker was indignant.


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    Alice said, “Trust your instincts. If the rtionship makes you unhappy, make a choice.


    Mary Parker looked at her. “And you?"


    Alice fell silent. "The same. You don''t need a man to survive. Even if I break up, I''ll still be me."


    Lana Parker nodded. "Let''s eat,"


    Alice got ready to go out. Mary Parker said, "Can I join you?"


    ''Alice and Lana Parker agreed. Mary Parker sighed, grabbing her cane. Alice said, "Let''s go to the school cafeteria; it''s closer." Mary Parker''s mobility was a concern.


    still is Parker pointed. "That car


    there."


    him hadn''t expected


    to still


    be waiting.


    They


    went


    Alice


    the


    recognized Jack''s


    cafeteria.


    Lana


    car.


    She


    Alice saw several messages from Jack asking if she was awake and inviting her to Pear Garden for lunch.


    Alice replied, “[I''m awake, but I have sses.]”


    Her phone rang.


    Lana Parker said, "Answer it and clear things up."


    Alice answered. Jack''s voice was low and husky."Are you okay? Pear Garden has a great hangover remedy; I''ll send it over."


    "No need. I''m fine." Alice''s tone was distant.


    Jack rubbed his temples."Alice, I was busyst night; I''ll tell you beforehand next time.” Alice stood in the hallway, looking at the car. Her eyes were red."I understand, but I''m busy too. Let''s talkter." She hadn''t decided how to face him. She needed time. She was avoiding him. Jack sighed in relief."Okay. I need to tell you something too." His grandmother was still in the hospital. He wanted to introduce Alice to her, but first, he had to reveal his identity. Now, they were fighting.


    After hanging up, Jack rolled down his window and lit a cigarette. He didn''t have a smoking habit, only when he was stressed. He couldn''t control Alice. He had to appease her before she learned his identity.


    Alice saw the car leave; her heart felt empty. She returned to the table, eating listlessly. Lana Parker said, “He left?"


    Alice was agitated. "Yes. Let''s talkter."


    your


    Lana Parker looked at Mary Parker."Alice''s situation is better because they''re in a free


    of you." fiancé taking advantage but be careful about rtionship, Mary Parker hesitated."I checked my fiancé''s family. He has a beloved sister, but she''s adopted. His family helped her many times.”


    Alice''s eyes widened; was she talking about Chloe? The Chens weren''t fools; they must know something. Why was Mary Parker telling her this?


    Lana Parker mmed the table."Another adopted sister! There aren''t any good ones!" Mary Parker''s expression turnedplex. When Lana Parker went to the restroom, she looked


    think?" at Alice."What do you


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    Ms. Chen, you don''t need to beat around the bush. You want to know about my brother and Chloe."


    Mary Parker''s face paled. Alice knew.