Chapter 97 97
"I didn't steal your family." Liam sent a quick text back to the number before he walked towards the door.
"I....I didn't really know you were here. We came for a vacation and we lost the key card to our room. It's already late and we figured it'll be an hassle to go back to the office and get another, so we decided to beg for a night." Sarah quickly explained and Liam glanced at Alice. The little girl was looking so tired and already hungry. They would have been searching for the card for a while.
Alexa scratched her neck in confusion as she stared at Liam from the side and he raised his brow in a questioning gaze, she nodded her head understanding he was asking for permission to bring them in.
Liam opened the door wide and they stepped in,
"Thank you so much. We'll be out of here as early as five in the morning." Sarah said.
"You don't have to rush. Incase you didn't know, the kids are not really in good terms with each other and staying is an opportunity for them to get close and be together." Alexa smiled and Sarah returned it. She was simply just too kind.
"Did Alice have dinner yet? There's something on the table. She's about to sleep, so let her eat even if it is a little." Alexa said and immediately took Alice from her, leading her to the table.
"Alice." Jade's voice was heard from the stairs and Alexa halted int her movement.
"Mom, what is Alice doing here?" Jade frowned widely as she walked down the stairs and into the dining.
"Alice is staying here with us for the night." Alexa continued serving Alice's food as the girl stared at Jade uninterestingly. She was simply too tired to argue with the vibrant youngster this night and she hoped Jade understood. But no, she didn't.
"Mom. I don't want to stay in the same house with Alice. Not after she bullied me!" Jade folded her hand and Alice bit her lips as she immediately swooped the girl in her arms.
"Alice. Have something to eat." She said and rushed up the stairs with Jade in her arms.
Alexa sighed as she got into the kids room. Jace was on the bed in his pyjamas already but he was reading a book seriously that he didn't even turn when they got in.
"Jade. I get you don't really like Alice but what can I do? Alice's daddy is your grand uncle." She spread her arms.
"That's not supposed to be funny, mommy." Jade answered blankly and Alexa blinked, dropping her arms.
"Okay fine." She said as she sat on the bed.
"Alice is family. So you have to put the past behind you. That is how you grow. Remember, Jade, you always talked about forgiveness. Act it now." She said, convincing her.
"But Alice said we didn't have a daddy. She spread bad things about me and Jace."
"But she changed before we finished our exams, didn't you notice?" Jace pried in.
"She was quiet. I do that during my exams." Jade placed her hands on her hips and it took everything in Alexa not to burst out laughing. Jade had never been quiet, even Jace knew that cause the corner of his lips tilted upwards in pure disbelieve.
"Maybe Alice has a lot going on? People don't get quiet for no reason." Alexa said and Jade twitched her lips.
"If she was noisy before, it is not good when she suddenly gets quiet. And if she doesn't have friends who care about her, then it is very bad."
"She has Daisy, a girl who Jace madly likes." Jade smirked and Alexa pursed her lips, her cheeks swelling up. Jade always had a problem with Daisy, always claiming that Jace liked the girl. As a result, even Alexa became so curious about this little Daisy.
"I don't like Daisy. She is just a good girl." As usual, Jace didn't waste time in defending himself from his sister.
"Pfft. Lying again." Jade brought out her tongue and Jade hissed loudly, closing his book and placing it on the drawer beside him.
"Kids, can Alice spend the night in your room?"
"Yes!"
"No!"
Alexa was shocked. Why? Jace was the one who said no. It was meant to be Jade's words.
"Mom. I can't sleep with two ladies in a room. It's not nice." He shook his head.
"Well," Alexa agreed. He had a point. She had initially wanted them to have separate rooms from the beginning but the kids had refused. She knew they would soon grow up.
Jade hit him on his shoulder, "What do you mean? Do you think we would hurt you?" She raised her lids and Jace shook his head.
"I'll sleep with Daddy." He said and immediately walked out of the room..
Jade shrugged, "Well, I guess it's me and Alice then."
"Jade," Alexa said as she stopped at the door and the little woman looked at her, "Don't fight Alice."
Jade frowned, "I'm not like that mom." She said and Alexa nodded.
By 11pm, the whole house was totally quiet as everyone has settled in bed and already slept off. Tomorrow was going to be another messy day going to the Dole plantation.
The next morning, the shrill sound of the alarm got everyone up and Liam sighed, muttering unheard words under his breath.
"Daddy. Wake up!" Jace shook him and he smiled, ruffling the little guy's head.
"Food morning, son." He muttered.
"Good morning, daddy. I'm going to wake Jade and Alice up." He said and rushed out of the room but what greeted Liam's ears were now Jace's scream.
He pulled the duvet out of his body without thinking twice and rushed to the kids room.
"Where are they?" He asked.
His heart beat fast in his chest as she stepped into the room, he could hear them resounding in his ears. His eyes wet blurry as he stared at the foot prints. Jade's footprints.
And lots of blood.
The two girls were gone.