Chapter 484 My Designed Wedding Dress

Chapter 484 My Designed Wedding Dress

The living room TV was blasting loud enough that the staff couldn't make out what the two were saying.

But no one dared get closer.

Alice, who'd been in such a good mood lately, had suddenly turned into a completely different person, ready to snap at the drop of a hat.

Michael was naturally patient and gentle with her tantrums, and everyone else was too scared to say a word against her.

David raised an eyebrow. "How do I put this? Zaid's got everything ready to go."

"You went to see him?" Alice's voice carried a hint of surprise, though she didn't turn around.

Everyone here was Michael's spy—she wouldn't let David blow his cover.

"You think I could find him?" David let out a bitter laugh. "Ms. Baker, I've got to hand it to you. Everyone who falls for you is seriously impressive. Zaid knows we're working together now—he came to me first."

There was a thread of jealousy woven through his words.

Thinking about what he was doing now, David shook his head helplessly. Was he really getting jealous over some woman? That wasn't like him at all.

But thinking about Zaid still made something twist in his chest.

Zaid wasn't even that good-looking. Just because Alice met Zaid first, she was head-over-heels devoted to him?

Talk about unfair.

Fresh juice obviously took time to make, but only so much time.

Knowing Alice was picky, the kitchen always had several people working together.

When the staff brought up the juice, Alice had already turned off the TV.

"Pour it out. I don't want it anymore." Alice turned and headed upstairs without so much as a glance at the juice.

David rolled his eyes. "What a waste."

He grabbed the juice and downed it in one gulp.

Sweet and sour—kind of a weird taste, actually.

Just then, Michael walked through the front door, catching sight of Alice's retreating figure on the stairs.

"Michael, I saw him." David dropped his playful expression, his face turning serious.

Michael glanced toward the staircase. "Come to my study."

The moment they entered the study, Michael clutched his stomach.

"Michael, you okay? Should I get someone to bring medicine?" David moved toward the door.

Michael waved him off. "I'm fine. What did he say?"

"Jake's sticking to his story—human trafficking, claims he doesn't know Ms. Baker, has no idea who you are. But this kid's got some tricks up his sleeve." David poured Michael a cup of hot water. "Let me get someone inside to feel him out."

Michael took a sip of the hot water, his complexion improving slightly. "No need to get physical. Just tell him straight up—if he spills everything, I can get his sentence reduced."

David nodded. "Got it. I'll handle it now. Michael, maybe you should have Ms. Baker come down? You don't look so good."

"Go ahead." Michael stared into his water glass, lost in thought.

David agreed and finally left the villa.

But before leaving, he glanced back once more toward Alice's bedroom.

"Hope I picked the right side this time."

Hearing the motorcycle outside, Michael finally got up and returned to the bedroom.

These past few days, he'd been sleeping with Alice in his arms—just sleeping, as if he really believed she was pregnant.

Alice didn't struggle anymore. Struggling was pointless anyway.

"No appetite tonight? You barely ate anything." Michael shrugged off his jacket, asking casually.

He knew Alice's every move in this house—the staff reported to him every two hours.

Alice made a noncommittal sound, continuing to read her novel.

Michael had cut off all her contact with the outside world, naturally severing all electronic devices. She still hadn't been able to check what was on that memory card.

"No appetite, or just unhappy? All these wedding dresses, and not one you like?" Michael clapped his hands, and immediately, staff wheeled in racks of wedding gowns.

Looking at the dresses on display, Alice let out a bitter laugh. "Michael, you're still planning to get married?"

She casually picked up the calendar from the table, numbly staring at the date.

Things had gotten this far, and he was still thinking about a wedding?

Michael walked over and took her hand. "I know the timing's a bit rushed, but there really wasn't time for a custom dress. I designed some of these myself—sure you don't want to take a look?"

Alice had been about to pull her hand away when she suddenly stopped.

Had he designed wedding dresses?

She looked at the twenty-plus gowns before her, feeling overwhelmed by the dizzying display.

The dresses were all beautiful, the styles fresh and innovative, but she just didn't want to wear any of them.

She didn't want to marry Michael, and she didn't want to be here.

But she couldn't escape.

Alice turned away. "Mr. Johnson certainly has time on his hands. With everything that's happening right now, you still have the mood to design wedding dresses?"

The ledger was still missing, her mother was still unconscious, and the feud between their families had finally surfaced.

How could he still be thinking about making wedding dresses?

Alice suppressed the pain in her heart and looked up at him. "Michael, weddings need family blessings. Both sets of parents should be there. Don't you know that?"

"Aurora is abroad with your mother, your father killed my biological father, my adoptive father was driven to death by you, and my adoptive mother is still unconscious in the hospital. You want to get married? Design wedding dresses? Don't you think that's ridiculous?"

Every word she spoke was enough to break someone's spirit.

Michael just quietly watched her beautiful face, and suddenly it overlapped with Alice from high school.

Back then, she smiled more, as if failing a test was her only worry in the world.

Now it seemed like worry was her only emotion.

Michael reached up to tuck her loose hair behind her ear. "I didn't design them now. I designed them in high school. The first time I saw you dance, I got inspired. You forgot I could draw?"

Alice was slightly stunned. The first time she danced?

She couldn't remember dancing anywhere except that one time on the school stage.

At least she'd never danced for Michael.

But she knew Michael could draw.

When she first got together with Michael, she'd seen his sketchbook filled with landscape studies.

She'd even asked Michael to draw her portrait.

But Michael had refused.

"Why? You think my hands are meant for such boring things?"

Right, Michael was too precious to do that kind of thing.

Thinking of the past, Alice felt a wave of sadness wash over her.

"Michael, I used to imagine myself in a wedding dress. When we first got together, I really did."

She had thought about marrying him.

Michael had appeared when she was most helpless, and she'd fallen for him.

She'd even thought, so what if it was kept arrangement?

He didn't give her extra money—it was basically like dating, so why couldn't they get married?

Once married, she wouldn't be his mistress anymore.

Alice lowered her gaze, unconsciously looking at the ring she couldn't remove. "Michael, we can never go back."

"Don't you want to know what you looked like to me in high school?" Michael chuckled softly, as if he hadn't heard the impatience in her voice.

Can't go back?

Of course, he had ways to take them both back to the past. There was still time, still a chance.

He shook Alice's hand gently. "Why don't you guess which one I designed first?"