Chapter 37

Cecilia

The drive back to the Reynolds estate was quiet, save for the occasional hum of the engine and Alice's soft, uneven breathing beside me.

She'd stopped crying about halfway through the ride, but her fingers still gripped the edge of the leather jacket I'd bought her like it was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.

"Thank you," she whispered suddenly, her voice so small I almost didn't hear it over the sound of the tires on the road.

I glanced at her, my chest tightening. "You don't have to thank me."

"I do." She turned to face me, her eyes red-rimmed but clear.

I reached over and squeezed her hand. "You deserve that, Alice. You deserve to be happy."

She nodded, but her gaze drifted to the window, and I could see the fear creeping back in as the gates of the estate came into view. Her entire body went rigid, her breath catching in her throat.

"He's there," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I followed her line of sight and saw him—Max Reynolds, standing at the front entrance like a sentinel, his arms crossed over his chest and his expression unreadable in the dim light.

Alice's hand tightened around mine. "I can't—I can't go in there."

"Then don't," I said firmly, pulling the car to a stop just inside the gates. "Not yet."

She looked at me, her eyes wide with panic. "He's gonna be so pissed."

"Let him be pissed," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt. "I'll talk to him."

"Cecilia—"

"Stay here," I said, cutting her off. "I mean it. Don't get out until I tell you to."

Before she could protest, I stepped out of the car and walked toward Max. He didn't move, didn't even blink—just watched me approach with that same cold. It was the first time Max had ever looked at me like this, like I was a problem that needed solving. Is this the power Alice has over him?

"Max," I said, stopping a few feet away from him.

"Cecilia." His voice was flat, devoid of emotion. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Out," I said simply. "Didn't I tell you Alice needs some rest?"

His jaw tightened. "A break."

"Yeah. A break." I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. "We went to the pier, played some arcade games, ate junk food. Normal stuff."

"Normal," he repeated, his tone dripping with disbelief. "You took her to the pier. Without telling me."

"She's not a prisoner, Max."

"She's my lover."

"Lover?" I echoed, my voice sharp. "Are you sure it's love?"

His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought he might actually lose his temper. But instead, he took a slow, deliberate breath and uncrossed his arms. "What happened?"

I hesitated, debating how much to tell him. But if Alice was ever going to have a chance at freedom, Max needed to know what she'd been through. I said finally. "Sophia and Madison,they were... less than kind."

"Less than kind," he repeated, his voice dangerously low.

I said bluntly. "She said Alice seduced you."

Max's entire body went rigid, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "That bitch," he muttered under his breath. "That fucking bitch."

"Yeah," I said, my tone dry. "That about sums it up."

He looked past me, his gaze landing on Alice, who was still sitting in the car, her face pale and her eyes fixed on the dashboard. "Is she okay?"

"She's scared," I said honestly. "And she has every right to be."

Max's jaw clenched, and he looked away, his expression darkening. "I don't get it," he said after a long pause. "What the hell does Carter see in Sophia?"

"Maybe she's just a good actress," I suggested. "Didn't we all think she was a nice person before?"

Max shook his head, his frustration palpable. "He's smarter than us."

"Love makes people stupid," I said with a shrug.

He glared at me, but there was no real heat behind it. "What do you want, Cecilia?"

"I want you to be good to her," I said, my voice softening. "I'm gonna keep coming back to see her. Take her out, let her have fun."

Max stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he looked back at Alice, his gaze lingering on her trembling form. "You don't understand," he said quietly. "She doesn't love me. The moment I stop caring about her, she won't come back."

I felt a chill run down my spine at the rawness in his voice, the vulnerability he was trying so hard to hide. I thought of Arthur, of the way he'd let me go four years ago, convinced it was for the best. And I thought of myself, of the way I'd clawed my way back to him—not because I had to, but because I wanted to.

"Really?" I said, my voice soft but pointed.

Max turned to look at me, his eyes narrowing. And then, slowly, his expression shifted, something like realization dawning on his face. "You came back," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I didn't answer, but I didn't need to. The truth was written all over my face.

Max let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Arthur's a lucky bastard."

Before I could respond, the car door opened, and Alice stepped out, her movements hesitant and unsure. She walked toward us slowly, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold herself together.

"I'm okay," she said, her voice so quiet I almost didn't hear her. "I can handle it."

Max's expression softened, just slightly, and he reached out, pulling her into his arms. She didn't resist, but she didn't relax either, her body stiff and unyielding against his.

I watched them, my chest tight with a mix of anger and sadness.

"Alice," I said, pulling out my phone. "Give me your number."

She looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. "What?"

"Your number," I repeated, holding out my phone. "I'm gonna call you next time I want to hang out. And you're gonna answer."

She hesitated, glancing at Max, who said nothing. Then, slowly, she took my phone and typed in her number, her hands shaking slightly.

"Thank you," she whispered again, handing it back to me.

I smiled, tucking my phone into my pocket. "Anytime."

The sound of an engine cut through the silence, and I turned to see Arthur's car pulling up behind Alice's Porsche. He stepped out, his expression calm but his eyes sharp as they took in the scene.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his gaze flicking between me, Max, and Alice.

"Yeah," I said, walking toward him. "Just saying goodbye."

Arthur nodded, his hand finding mine as I reached him. "Ready to go?"

I glanced back at Alice, who was still standing in Max's arms, her eyes fixed on me. "Yeah," I said quietly. "Let's go."

"You okay?" Arthur asked as I slid into the passenger seat.

"Yeah," I said, my voice hollow. "I just... I hope she's gonna be okay."

Arthur squeezed my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "You did what you could. That's all anyone can ask."

Hope she gets through tonight safely.