Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 31

The assistant on the phone panicked instantly, stammering, "It… it was Miss Mina Holloway. She said you told me to contact the people at the orphanage."

Vincent froze for a moment—Mina...

"I understand." He ended the call and rubbed his forehead.

It was Mina's doing. He couldn't bring himself to be angry with her. After all, he was the one who had wronged her first. And these past four years… his relationship with Alicia had never been clean. Mina had every reason to resent Alicia. It wasn't as though Alicia was an innocent party.

...

The small motel room felt even more cramped at night.

Alicia sat on the narrow bed, wide awake.

Mina was using the orphanage to threaten her. Tomorrow, she would have no choice but to go to Crystal Waters.

But what exactly did Mina want from her?

Was she planning to intimidate her, or would she send Henry and the others to rough her up again? To keep tormenting her?

Alicia took a deep breath. This time, she wasn't going to give in.

She was determined to be ready for anything.

A loud bang echoed through the door.

"Alicia, open up." Vincent's voice.

Alicia didn't respond, nor did she move to open the door.

"Alicia, I know you're in there." Vincent was starting to sound irritated.

Still, Alicia stayed put.

The hallway went silent. For a moment, Alicia thought Vincent had left. But soon after, she heard footsteps and then the motel owner unlocking the door for him.

But to Alicia, it was sickening.

He was the one who had left her in this mess. He was the one who had hurt her.

Yet somehow, he always managed to play the savior, manipulating her again and again, making her feel like she was the one in the wrong, that she wasn't good enough.

"Vincent… I'm not nineteen anymore. I'm not that naïve girl you could sweet-talk into submission." Alicia pushed him away and met his eyes, her voice steady. "There's nothing between us anymore. So, Mr. Lawson, you don't need to come looking for me. You don't need to pretend you care… Congratulations on your engagement, by the way. Let's never see each other again."

Her words were final. After all the times Vincent had chosen Mina over her—had driven her to the edge—Alicia's love for him had died.

She wasn't foolish enough to hope for him to change anymore.

"Alicia!" Vincent's patience snapped. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You just won't let this go, will you?"

He shoved her back onto the bed. No matter how much he hated this dingy motel room, Vincent couldn't help himself—he was determined to teach Alicia a lesson.

Because, in his mind, the only time she ever listened was when he had her in his bed.