Chapter 195: You Like Me (Part 1)
The thought of finding Sophia compelled Alison to push Jack away.
After Sophia returns, I’ll apologize to you.
“No, I won’t leave.” He shook her shoulders, refusing to believe her words.
“Alison, you must be being blackmailed, right?” he demanded, images of his mother and Aimée flashing through his mind.
“Sorry, no. No one’s forcing me. I genuinely dislike you, Mr Winston. This is the hotel where you’re holding your wedding. I hope your ceremony falls apart and becomes S City’s biggest laughingstock. Jack, I’d love to see the day you become a joke.”
She provoked him deliberately, knowing persuasion would never work.
“Alison, why do you do that?” Jack’s forehead veins bulged as he approached the brink of madness.
“Because I hate you,” she said, glaring at him.
“Why? Because I kept demanding you?” His voice broke into a roar.
How could she be so cruel?
He added, “Was everything at the Volcano Geopark also an act?”
“Yes, I made you fall for me first, then abandon you. Haha, Jack, you really fell for it. Now you know what it’s like to be discarded. You deserve it, Jack. Do you remember leaving me in the forest all alone back then?” she blurted out, against her will.
Just then, the hotel door behind them suddenly swung open.
Someone spotted Jack and gasped, “Look! The groom is here!”
There was nowhere left to hide.
Alison slowly rose to her feet. As she turned toward the crowd, she knew the moment had come.
Her heart pounded fiercely.
She swept her gaze over the crowd and pointed at Jack, shouting, “Help! Jack assaulted me.”
When had Alison become such an unreasonable woman?
He stared at her in bewilderment. She felt so unfamiliar.
Had she finally revealed her true nature?
“Mr Winston, is this true?” An eager gossip reporter pressed forward. Jack’s ears kept echoing with questions.
“Alison, did I really assault you?” He longed for her no.
Alison’s mind buzzed. She wanted to deny it, but the thought of Sophia held her tongue back.
Steeling herself, she replied, “Yes.”
“No, Jack was just a little tipsy. They were actually making a bet, just joking around. Miss Fairchild is my bridesmaid and Aidan’s girlfriend. How could Jack possibly have assaulted her? She made a bet with the other two bridesmaids, daring to say those words in public. If she did, the other two bridesmaids would have to be her bridesmaids.” Aimée appeared at just the right moment.
“Miss Rolland, is this true?”
“Absolutely true. I’m certain. So, Jack, let’s go inside. Grandpa and Mom are waiting for us to get married.”
Everyone was baffled. It seemed that Jack hadn’t actually assaulted Alison; otherwise, Aimée—his fiancée—would not have remained so calm. Yet now, far from being angry, Aimée walked toward Jack with a smile.
It was clear that this was a joke.
Jack stood frozen like a puppet, his gaze still fixed on Alison.
Was Aimée telling the truth?
In that moment, he would rather buy it than believe Alison’s ruthlessness.
But deep down, a voice insisted that it wasn’t a joke.
He smiled bitterly inside.