Chapter 286: What Happened Exactly?
“It was about dawn. I heard keys jingling, and it woke me up. I got up and found the door wide open. The driver left right after you came in,” the nanny recalled.
“Oh.” Alison rubbed her temples. The more she tried to remember, the more the night dissolved into nothing.
Suddenly, she remembered Aidan.
“Did Aidan call?” she asked.
“Yes, he called last night. I told him you weren’t here, then I haven’t heard from him since.”
She thought it must be Aidan who arranged for someone to bring her home.
He must have… there’s no one else who’d bother.
She regretted being drunk last night, and missing the chance to see Matthew.
“Thank you for taking care of the children,” Alison said.
“Don’t mention it, Madam. I’ve grown attached to those two. I see them as my own. Could you please not send them to the old lady’s place?”
Alison paused, recalling Isabella’s attitude toward her last night.
She replied, “Hm, I’ll try to arrange it.”
After the nanny quietly left, Alison remained lost in thought. Fragments flickered and vanished the harder she chased them. She decided to call Aidan for advice.
It rang once before someone picked up.
A gentle female voice came through. “Hello, is this for Aidan? He’s resting right now. Would you mind calling back later?”
The disarming voice made it hard for her to refuse.
“Sure,” Alison said, about to hang up.
Before she could press the end button, the woman’s voice came again. “Would you mind leaving your name, Miss? That way, when Aidan wakes up, I can let him know.”
Alison smiled faintly. “This is Alison.”
“Alison Fairchild? You’re Alison?” The woman sounded surprised.
“Yes.”
“Aidan has been calling your name all night in his sleep. Would you wait a moment? I’ll wake him up to take the call.”
Upon hearing Alison’s name, the woman’s tone instantly softened.
“No need. Let him rest. He can call me when he wakes up. It’s nothing urgent.”
“All right, then. I’ll have Aidan call you back when he wakes up.” The woman’s voice held no trace of reluctance.
Alison hung up, still wrestling with what had happened last night.
Why can’t I remember? Why does it feel like something terrible happened?
It wasn’t until late afternoon that Aidan finally called.
“Alison, are you okay?”
“Aidan, did you drive me home last night?” Alison cut straight to the point.
The question caught Aidan off guard.
Judging by her tone, he knew she remembered nothing. He quickly composed himself.
“Yes, you were drunk, so I took you home,” he lied smoothly.
He forced the lie out between clenched teeth. The truth—that he’d been drugged himself and woken up beside Lucia—was a weight he couldn’t bear to confess.
“Aidan, thank you.” Alison finally felt her heart settle.
“Don’t mention it. I never imagined the cocktails were so strong. Even after I walked you home, I passed out cold and slept straight through until now. My head’s pounding. How about you? Does yours hurt?”
“A little. By the way, Aidan, did Matthew show up later?”
“No, I don’t think so.” He wasn’t sure, but he answered casually.
“Good. By the way, tell me—what was the name of that girl who answered your phone?”
“Lucia Frost.”
Aidan hesitated, bitterness creeping in. He hated even saying her name. Lucia had no right to answer his calls—especially Alison’s.
“Lucia… Oh, right. I remember now, Aidan. Isn’t she the TV host who does the music shows?” Alison asked.
“Yeah, that’s her,” Aidan replied curtly.
“Well, I should go now. I need to pick up the kids.” Alison smiled faintly, preparing to hang up.
She was secretly pleased that he had such a beautiful girlfriend. At least someone like her suits him better than I do.
But just as she was about to hang up, Aidan panicked. “Alison, don’t hang up. It’s not what you think. Let’s have dinner tonight.”
“Aidan, I’m spending the night with the kids. If you don’t have plans, why don’t you visit Aunt Cassandra?”
Truthfully, she wanted to suggest he spend the evening with Lucia. However, seeing how urgent he was, she softened her tone.
With that, she hung up, leaving Aidan sighing helplessly on the other line.
Alison was in a foul mood all afternoon.
Just then, her phone rang again. She instinctively glanced at the number. Seeing it was unknown, she didn’t want to pick up.
But the ringing persisted, the vibration pounding against her headache.
She snatched the phone. “Hello? I don’t need anything. Stop trying to sell me stuff.”
“Alison, it’s me.” Pierre’s cold voice slid through the line.
“Sorry, I don’t know you.” Alison hung up before he could respond, then yanked the phone cord out.
Her pulse raced. Something happened last night… I can feel it.
She remembered stepping into the hotel garden, the strange heat rising in her body—and Pierre walking toward her.
Then nothing.
“But I know you.” Pierre’s voice boomed in her ears once more.