Chapter 190 You Can Leave
Zachary exhaled deeply.
The whole thing was so bizarre he didn't know where to begin explaining it to Quinley.
"She got plastic surgery. To look like you."
What?
Quinley's eyes went wide as saucers.
She couldn't fathom that Alicia would actually do something like this.
"What is she trying to accomplish?"
Zachary's expression darkened. "Quinny, this is my fault. I didn't handle it properly."
"It's not your fault. You already broke off the engagement. She's the one who won't let go." Quinley lowered her head. She wasn't unreasonable. She'd always known about Alicia's obsession with Zachary. After returning to Rosewood City, she'd just let her guard down, thinking Alicia had finally moved on.
Now she'd come back wearing a face identical to Quinley's.
The discomfort churned inside her. Quinley hung her head, fidgeting with her hands.
Watching her, Zachary's heart twisted. He moved closer and captured her hands in his.
"I'm sorry. I've hurt you again."
His voice was heavy with regret.
But Quinley shook her head. Though she was hurting, she still wanted to comfort him. "I'm not as fragile as you think."
Though she also wasn't as strong as she pretended.
After a long pause, she asked, "So what are you going to do?"
"Put pressure on the Davis family. It's the only way to make her back off."
Quinley considered this and nodded. It really was the only option.
"Thank you for believing me, Quinny."
"You don't need to thank me. We're married now. We're supposed to be a team. Besides, she's the one clinging to you. I know what needs to be done." Quinley was rational, but she was also emotional.
Suddenly something occurred to her. "Were you in such a rush to marry me because of her?"
Zachary had kept this from her. Looking into her eyes, he knew he couldn't hide it anymore. He nodded.
"That night she showed up at Maple Estate. I panicked. My first thought was that I needed to marry you. Only marriage could make her give up completely." He paused. "Quinny, she was one reason, but not the main one. I love you. I want to be with you forever. Please believe me."
Once, Quinley had been the insecure one, always afraid of losing what she had. Now it was Zachary who felt that fear.
"She can get surgery to look like me, but she's not me. She can never replace me. That's enough."
But Quinley was thinking too simply. She believed that as long as she and Zachary loved each other, nothing could separate them.
---
Not long after Zachary left, Elise returned.
"Did you two work things out?" She smiled knowingly.
"Mom, do you have to be so nosy?" Quinley pouted.
Elise beamed. "I just want you lovebirds to be happy. I'm glad you resolved it."
Quinley helped Elise settle back onto the sofa. Just as she sat down, another knock sounded at the door.
"Go answer it. Zach probably came back."
When Quinley opened the door, she really expected to see Zachary. Ever since they'd reconciled, he'd become thoughtful and clingy in a way she thoroughly enjoyed.
But the moment the door swung open, her smile froze.
A familiar stranger stood in the doorway.
Same eyes. Same nose. Same mouth. An identical face—except this person was half a head taller.
"Ms. Elkin, long time no see!" Alicia leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed, regarding Quinley with obvious amusement.
Quinley snapped out of her shock and immediately tried to close the door.
"Cindy, is that Zach?" Elise called from the living room, craning her neck.
"Mrs. Ginger, it's me—a friend of Ms. Promise's." Alicia's strength was impressive. She forced her way inside before Quinley could stop her.
When she appeared before Elise, the older woman's face registered pure shock. The person standing there looked like a supersized version of Quinley—an identical face.
"Who are you?" Elise asked, bewildered.
"I'm Quinley!" Alicia declared without shame.
Elise looked between them in confusion. Quinley's expression darkened as she quickly moved toward the sofa. "Mom, please go into the bedroom."
Alicia made herself comfortable on the sofa as Quinley wheeled Elise into the bedroom, then returned to face the intruder.
"What are you doing here?"
"Nothing much. Just wanted to see you. Over half a year and you haven't changed a bit." Alicia's tone was casual, almost playful.
"You've changed, though. Looking more and more like me."
Quinley's voice was ice-cold.
Alicia showed no shame—only pride. "No, I don't just look like you anymore. I am you now."
She pulled a pack of cigarettes from her purse, extracted one with practiced ease, and lit it. She held it between her index and middle fingers, took a drag, and slowly blew a smoke ring into the air.
"You can never be me," Quinley said firmly.
But what Alicia did next truly shocked her. She pulled several items from her bag and tossed them onto the coffee table—driver's license, passport, bank cards. Everything that could prove she was Quinley.
"See these? With these, I can prove I'm Quinley." She took another deep drag and blew a large smoke ring toward Quinley's face.
"What are you trying to do?" A chill ran through Quinley. Alicia had gone to such lengths to become her—what else did she want besides Zachary?
Alicia didn't answer directly. Instead, she pulled out another card and placed it on the table.
"What I want should be obvious enough." Her smile was cold. "There's a million dollars on this card. Take it, leave Rosewood City, and never come back. Never appear in Zachary's sight again."
She'd stolen Quinley's identity and was now trying to buy away her marriage and happiness.
Quinley looked at her coolly. "And if I refuse?"
"Refuse?" Alicia laughed. "Before, you never dared say no to me. Do you really dare now?"
She stared at Quinley with aggressive confidence, certain of victory.
What she didn't realize was that Quinley was no longer the weak person she used to be.
Quinley's eyes remained calm as still water. She grabbed the documents from the coffee table and threw them directly at Alicia's face.
"Now get the hell out."
Alicia was stunned, staring at Quinley in disbelief. "What did you just say to me?"
"Get. Out."
Just as the words left Quinley's mouth, the bedroom door flew open. Elise wheeled herself out—she'd heard everything.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a vase and hurled it at Alicia.
"Are you deaf? She said get out!"
Before Alicia could cover her head, the vase struck her squarely. Elise snatched up a broom with one hand while propelling her wheelchair forward with the other. She reached Alicia and started swinging.
Alicia frantically grabbed the scattered documents and bank card, then fled in complete disgrace.