Chapter 259: I Am the Master Here

Gabriel briefly explained what had happened.

"Mrs. Hall got kicked out last night, said she was going back to her parents' place, but early this morning they sent her back. So I brought her inside."

Alice quickly understood his thinking. "You used my name?"

"Yes. Mrs. Hall has lived with Mr. Hall for so many years, she knows him best. If she's willing to help you, it'll save you a lot of trouble."

Alice didn't dwell on this point. She directly transferred fifty thousand dollars to him.

"Well done. By the way, Stella's been discharged from the hospital and should be back tonight. We can start making moves on the Hall family's side too."

"Yes." Gabriel agreed, feeling even more motivated.

Soon, two months passed.

Alice's injuries had basically healed, and she was planning to go back.

In the car, Michael was still worried.

"Why don't you come with me, Alice? Your health is more important."

Alice looked at the dark circles under his eyes. "You've already been handling all this for me for so long. If I let you keep pushing yourself, I'm worried your body will give out before mine does."

She was still officially the Hall family's heir, so of course she had to go back.

"Do you need me to leave some people to help you?" Michael knew he couldn't convince her, so he could only compromise.

Alice refused without hesitation. "Gabriel's still there, you don't need to worry. He's very capable."

Hearing her praise another man made him uncomfortable, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand.

"Am I not good enough?"

Alice noticed his mood and deliberately teased him.

"Michael, have you forgotten? A man should never say he's not up to it."

Michael's eyes darkened immediately. He looked at her with burning intensity. "Whether I'm up to it or not, don't you know best? Last time was too rushed, and you were drugged. I didn't get to truly show you what pleasure feels like..."

Alice didn't care that the driver was still there. She raised her hand and covered his mouth to stop him from talking nonsense.

"Alright! I won't say it anymore, okay? How about this—Sidney will be staying with me too. Is that okay?"

Just as she was about to pull her hand back, Michael suddenly grabbed it.

He lowered his head and planted a kiss on her palm, suppressing the desire in his eyes, his voice low and strained.

"Fine. Don't make me wait too long, Alice."

Alice pulled her hand back, feeling her palm tingle as if lightly burned by fire.

Soon, the car stopped at the entrance.

Alice was helped out of the car, and Gabriel was already waiting outside.

Seeing her return, his eyes clearly showed uncontainable joy.

"Miss, you're finally back. The three of them went to a party and won't be back for about two more hours."

Alice nodded at him. "Thanks for your hard work."

"It's my honor to work for you, especially since you've been paying me so well."

Gabriel was very satisfied with his earlier choice. Good thing he'd sided with Alice.

In this past month, he'd earned more money than he'd saved in over twenty years.

He loved this kind of boss who threw money around.

Alice raised an eyebrow. She could see the calculations in his eyes. She picked up her phone and transferred another twenty thousand to him. "This is for your hard work."

Michael felt a bit jealous, and his hand supporting her unconsciously tightened.

Alice sensed his mood and couldn't help but smile.

"Alright, go take care of your business."

"You're kicking me out after using me?" Michael frowned, a hint of grievance in his tone.

Over this past month, Michael had stopped pretending around her and started flirting with her freely.

"We'll see each other tomorrow anyway." Alice helplessly rubbed her forehead. "Michael, I actually preferred it when you pretended to be gentle."

Michael took her hand and pried her fingers open one by one, then interlaced them with his.

"Now you want to back out? Too late, Alice. You've already seen who I really am. You'll just have to get used to it."

Alice watched his childlike actions, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, but she still patiently tried to persuade him.

She knew Michael had been left with trauma from that car accident—he was terrified something would happen to her again.

"Michael, you still have so much work piling up on your end. We'll see each other tomorrow. Don't worry, Gabriel's here, and Sidney will be back in the evening. Even if something does happen, I'll tell you right away."

Only after Alice had said this much did he finally feel reassured enough to leave.

As soon as he left, Gabriel immediately came over with a gossipy expression.

"Miss, it looks like Mr. Davis really likes you."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "What, are you starting to care about my private life now?"

Her half-smiling expression made him immediately back off.

"I'll help you inside right now. The bed's already prepared."

Every time Alice showed this expression, his wallet took a hit.

Back in her room, all her things had been neatly organized. Then Alice had them prepare another room next to hers.

Gabriel looked troubled. "Next door is Stella's walk-in closet."

"That's simple. Since I'm back, I'm still the one in charge here. Clear everything out and move it all away."

Gabriel had been waiting for exactly this. He immediately had people come up to do it.

Over this entire month, Gabriel had basically turned everyone in this house into his people.

These servants took less than an hour to reorganize that room.

Stella's things were casually piled in a corner outside.

Alice had just woken up from a nap.

Seeing this scene, she was in a good mood. "Help me downstairs to sit for a while. Perfect timing to give them a surprise."

During the month she'd been gone, Robert had been thinking he was the true master of the Hall family.

Not only had he taken back control of the company, he'd also made multiple trips to the research institute trying to poach people from her team.

Unfortunately, those people were all core team members she'd carefully selected layer by layer.

No matter how much money he offered or how high a position he dangled, none of them wavered.

Only then did Robert have to give up, though he and Stella still hadn't gotten their revenge.

Later, that driver died in the hospital despite resuscitation efforts, so the case had to be closed.

This meant Stella and her mother were completely cleared of suspicion.

Originally Michael had wanted to personally deal with them, but Alice stopped him.

Her revenge—of course she would take it herself.

Alice ate some fruit while picking up the medical company's report from the past month that Aubrey had sent over. After glancing at it briefly, she tossed the report in the trash.

During the month she'd been gone, that medical company had indeed fallen back into losses under Robert's management.

Robert had even spent big money to poach so-called "talent" from other companies.

This past month, the company had burned through huge amounts with no actual results, only making each written report look polished and impressive.

Just then, laughter came from outside the door.

Alice looked up toward the entrance.

Stella was clinging to Robert's arm acting cute. "Dad, after my little brothers and sisters are born, I'll definitely teach them well. The Hall family will depend on them then."

Robert was flattered by her words, his face full of pride. "Who would've thought at my age I'd have three or four more kids. This time I'll definitely raise them right—they're our family's future."

Evelyn stood a bit further behind them. Her face showed no emotion, and she hadn't said a word the whole way.

Suddenly, Stella's words stopped mid-sentence, a flash of panic crossing her face.

She tugged at Robert's arm and lowered her voice. "Dad, Alice is back."