The Queen They Let Go (Alice and Eric) novel Chapter 454

Xenia had been an edge case in the Sarratts for years—barely on their radar, nowhere near important enough to be told what the family was really doing.

Consequently, she believed she was just an ordinary socialite—content with saving up a little private pocket money.

The fact that Eugenia wasn't dead and had returned made her happier than anyone.

Thus, she took a day off from school to visit her aunt.

She even took a day off school to come see her aunt.

And by pure coincidence, Alice and Eric were there too.

They'd come to deliver evidence—enough to erase the Sarratts from the map.

It was too heavy to hand off to anyone else, so they brought it personally.

Xenia showed up in a pink princess dress, hair piled into a neat bun like a porcelain doll—pure, polished, and painfully adorable.

The second she saw Eric, her eyes lit up.

Then, she just ... stared.

Alice couldn't explain why, but it immediately rubbed her the wrong way.

And, annoyingly, her mood dipped again.

Eric acted like he didn't notice a thing. He kept peeling pistachios for Alice, calm as ever.

Eugenia smiled, waved Xenia over, and seated her beside herself—directly across from Eric.

When Xenia sat down, she peeked at Eric, shy and cautious.

And once she realized he looked even better up close, her face went bright red.

Eric was silent all the while.

Alice felt even more uncomfortable.

She suddenly swatted Eric's hand. "Get out."

He was caught off guard.

However, he always followed her lead, so without thinking too much, he stood up and took his leave.

Xenia kept watching the two of them, her eyes still sparkling.

It was the kind of stare that made your skin crawl.

The moment Alice stepped into the hallway, the anger she'd been holding finally surged up.

Even her voice had an edge.

"Mr. Eric, did you seriously not notice she was staring at you the entire time?"

Eric looked at her, genuinely surprised.

"Why would that matter?"

He'd been the center of attention since he was a child.

In board meetings, thousands of eyes were on him—waiting, measuring, judging.

He never thought much of it.

To him, a minor character like Xenia wasn't even as important as the teacup in front of him.

Why would he pay attention?

That indifference lit Alice up.

"Do you not understand she likes you?"

Eric frowned, even more confused.

It wasn't the first time a woman had liked him, and it wouldn't be the last.

He didn't like Xenia, anyway, so why should he care?

"You okay?"

He studied her like she'd suddenly developed a fever.

Alice went silent.

Seeing him reach out as if to check if she had a fever, she angrily jerked her face away, not letting him touch her forehead.

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