Chapter 303: You Provoked Me (Part 1)
“Mommy, open your mouth.” Sophia picked up a piece of food and brought it to Alison’s lips.
As she ate, Alison looked at Lucia gratefully.
Lucia, the polished TV host with a flawless career, looked like she belonged beside Aidan — the picture of perfection.
Finally, Alison was still drunk — the figures before her eyes began to blur.
She couldn’t remember how she made it home, collapsing onto her bed the moment she entered. Her body was utterly exhausted, and the alcohol triggered a throbbing headache.
“Do you need any help here? Ma’am, I’ll bathe the children and tuck them in,” the nanny asked.
“No, thank you.” Alison forced a faint smile.
After the nanny left and closed the door, the room fell silent.
This loneliness surrounded Alison, and she instinctively began looking for traces of Jack.
The scent of his cologne felt as though it had vanished from the world.
Just as she was lost in nostalgia, a faint soapberry fragrance drifted through her mind — a blue silhouette gradually overlapped Jack’s figure.
She longed to see him — Gabriel.
She rose; the alcohol had numbed her senses.
Jack had only been gone a few months, yet she couldn’t resist the urge to see Gabriel. Maybe it was just for that fleeting resemblance — something to soothe the ache.
Alison, reeking of alcohol, grabbed two bottles from the home bar and headed straight for the small attic.
She hailed a taxi and got in.
The car window was open, but the breeze couldn’t blow away the stench of alcohol clinging to her.
Arriving at the destination, the driver reminded her, “Be careful, Miss.”
There was a mixed bag of people there — all kinds, not the safest place to be.
“Thanks, I’ll be fine.” With Gabriel there, she felt certain she would be safe.
Recalling the last time he washed her feet and bandaged her wounds, warmth spread through her body.
She loved being with him; it always gave her a sense of peace and security.
She staggered along, passersby giving her a wide berth.
She decided she would get that pest — Emily — away from Gabriel.
Would she be in his room now?
If yes… are they having sex?
Alcohol made her thoughts jump wildly, and Alison quickened her pace.
At that moment, two figures were quietly following her.
“Mr. Bruce, Alison’s gone to see Gabriel again,” a deep voice relayed through the earpiece to Pierre.
“Let her go. I wonder if that woman can truly steal Gabriel’s heart. It might be interesting,” Pierre said.
“Mr. Bruce, what do you intend to do then?” his subordinate asked.
“Heh. I only want to exploit his weakness. Don’t let him sleep with her. No one touches her unless I allow it,” Pierre sneered, recalling the image of Alison writing in the snow.
“Yes… yes, Mr. Bruce, you’re right. Gabriel seems rather taken with her — more so than with Emily. When we encountered her on the highway yesterday, he actually turned back to help her after she fell,” the subordinate reported.
“Ha! Looks like I’m not the only one who’s smitten. Keep a close eye on her. Protect her well.”
Pierre hung up, tapping his fingers on the desk.
She skipped up the stairs, humming a tune.
The lyrics were about lovers arguing.
Thinking of Jack, tears streamed down her face instinctively.
When she staggered onto the rooftop, she saw the flickering lights of fireworks.
As she breathed in the faint scent of tobacco, she imagined Jack standing before her, smoking.
“Jack…” She choked, pushing open the door.
The man didn’t turn around, ignoring her. He just kept puffing on his cigarette and exhaled.
“Jack, drink with me.” She rushed forward and held two bottles of liquor up to the man in the darkness. “Cheers.”
There was still no response.
“Jack, why don’t you answer me?” She clutched the bottles in one hand and shook his shoulder with the other.
Yet the man still ignored her.
“Are you angry, Jack?”
The alcohol made her unsteady. As her body slid down, she instinctively clutched the bottles.
“Jack, I came to drink with you, please…”