C8 Chapter 8

Drinking alcohol is one thing Alice despised so much, but that's the only thing on her mind as it stands. Her heart is still reeling from shock. Alice's car seemed to steer itself to the bar. As she got to the bar, she sat in the car for a while, crying all her eyes out before gathering the strength to enter inside.

Inside, Alice slid into the seat near the gate since she wanted to be alone. She sat there with her head on the table. The waitress came forth and gently tapped on Alice. "Please, ma'am, what should we offer?” she asked calmly, handing over the menu to her.

“I need bottles of wine,” Alice responded without raising her to stare at the waitress.

“How many bottles, ma'am?” the waitress enquired, bending down to listen to her response. As her voice was extremely low before.

Alice jerked her head from the table and stared at the waitress and yelled. “Get out of sight!” her voice full of pain that made the waitress surprised. The menu fell off her hand because of Alice's sudden outburst. She left to bring her the order.

The waitress returned with three bottles of wine. Her hands were shaking out of fear as she got in front of Alice and wanted to serve.

“You may go,” Alice said, dismissing her.

She filled a glass of wine and started sipping.

As the cool beer touched her lips, Alice felt a sense of ease wash over her. As her gaze wandered across the crowd, and her ears enjoyed the background music. However, her mind was full of thoughts, and she felt lost.

From a distance, she heard her name. She didn't see the person until the person drew closer, and her jaw slackened and her mouth agape in shock. “Lucas!” She yelled, embracing him. Alice's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at his face. “What! Is that you or I'm having a nightmare?”

“How on earth are you here? What are you doing in New York?” Alice stammered, asking multiple questions at once.

“It's a long story, Alice. But that's part of life," Lucas answered, his voice full of worry. It sounds like there's a lot on his mind.

“Alice, I know you pretty well, and you don't drink alcohol. Why are you here with three bottles of wine in front of you?” Lucas asked, his eyes locked on her. Seeing how reddish and swollen her eyes are, “Have you been crying, Alice?”

Alice felt a flutter in her chest as Lucas pulled the drinks away from her. “Lucas, you won't understand. But let's keep all that aside for now. You're the last person I expect to see in New York. What exactly are you doing here?”

“I know your family is not here. Or are you married here, leaving with your family?” Alice is still questioning Lucas without a break. While Lucas looks at her, still wanting to know why her eyes are reddish and swollen.

“Married?” Lucas yelled in shock, he called the waitress to get them fresh juice. “Don't be ridiculous, Alice! You know me better; I'm still single.”

“I don't know if you could grant me that favor though" he said with his eyes locked on hers. One could perceive the sincerity in his eyes.

“I know you don't mean what you just said, Lucas,” Alice responded, giggling as she sipped the fresh juice the waitress served them.

“Someone who was crying uncontrollably, now blushing and giggling. That gladdens my heart," Alice whispered to herself in a soft tone and still stared at Lucas. “This is the company I wanted.”

“What if, I mean everything I'm saying now, Alice? Will you have a second thought about it?” Lucas said, but this time in a serious tone.

Alice's eyes widened in shock, her voice barely above whisper. “You can't be serious. A marriage contract!”

“I've been here for hours now, lost in my thoughts; I didn't even know what to do anymore. I was on the verge of giving up,” Lucas' voice dropped in a gentle whisper.

“The moment I was about to leave was when I met you and thanked goodness our paths crossed at this critical moment of my life, Alice,” Lucas said in a low voice, his gaze fixed on her. But Alice was still silent and shocked.

“I'm on the verge of losing my inheritance to someone else. I need to get married within a month or my inheritance is gone,” Lucas said in a low tone, his voice cracking in desperation.

“What inheritance are you talking about, Lucas?” Alice asked as she was getting more confused.

“You will understand better when you agree to grant me this one-time favour, Alice.”

“Two years of the marriage contract with your terms and conditions, and it won't be a burden,” Lucas said in a low voice. His gaze burned with an intensity that made Alice's heart race as if he were aware that his proposal was a lot to take in.

“Take my card. I know how you feel now, but think deeply about it; let me know your terms and conditions.”

“I will pay anything for this; bear that in mind. Enjoy your night,” Lucas dropped his last words. Alice sat there, she watched him leave until she couldn't see him anymore.

As Lucas left, the waitress approached Alice with a note. "Please, ma'am, someone dropped this for you,” the waitress beckoned Alice as she was lost in thought and speechless.She handed her a note.

She was opening it, her fingers shaking as she unfolded the cryptic message, and was wondering who dropped it. “Your brother is alive, and the illness was not real.” The short note snapped Alice off her mind, and she stood up immediately.

“What! This is a joke,” Alice exclaimed, storming out of the bar.