Chapter 6
Fiona sneered, "Alice, you really have nothing now."
Alice didn't hear a word.
She tried to stand, but her body refused to cooperate. Every movement felt like a blade cutting into her.
Jake's expression changed. He looked at the TV, then at the broken Alice on the floor. He finally stepped forward. "Alice—"
"Don't touch me." She lifted her head with the last bit of strength she had. Her eyes locked onto him and Fiona. "If anything happens to my father, I will make all of you pay with your lives."
With those words, everything went dark for Alice, and she lost consciousness.
In that final moment before losing consciousness, she saw a memory from years ago.
Her father stood beside her, gently patting her head. "Alice, remember this. No matter what happens, I'm here."
But now, even he was slipping away.
*****
When Alice came to again, a harsh white light flooded her vision, so bright that it hurt.
"You're awake?" The voice was familiar, and it made her chest tighten.
Fiona walked in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. She wore a smug smile. "Ms. Harmon, you've been out for three whole days."
She sat down by the bed and crossed her legs. "Do you know what happened to your dad?"
Alice's heart jolted. She struggled to turn her head, her eyes asking the question she could not voice.
Fiona let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "He's a vegetable now. The doctors say there's almost no chance he'll ever wake up.
"How tragic. The Harmon Group is leaderless now. Good thing Jake stepped in just in time to take over. Otherwise, your whole family would've collapsed."
A crushing pain spread through Alice's chest. It felt like she could not breathe, yet she did not even have the strength to cry.
"Oh, right." Fiona raised her right hand. A diamond ring caught the sunlight and sparkled. "Take a look. Jake designed this himself. He just put it on me yesterday.
"He said he wanted to make up for the three years I lost."
She touched the ruby necklace at her throat with her left hand. "And this? He bought it for me at an auction in Sherpven City, no matter the cost. It's worth about 20 million dollars.
"You were with him for three years. Did he ever give you anything like this?"
Alice slowly closed her eyes. She did not want to see anymore.
Jake had never given her expensive gifts. He used to say their love did not need proof from material things. And she had believed him.
"Dad..." Alice rasped, barely getting the word out.
"Your dad?" Fiona sneered. "Alice, are you still not facing reality? You have nothing left. You have no family, no child, and you're not even going to be Jake's wife. You were proud for over twenty years. What did you get in the end?"
Fiona stood and looked down at her, eyes glinting with cruelty. "But you still have one last bit of value.
"Mr. Barlow has always wanted you. You turned him down before, but he has not forgotten.
"Even like this, you were once the most beautiful woman in Aurissy City. You should still fetch a reasonable price."
Alice's eyes flew open.
Fiona waved toward the door. "Clean her up and send her to Mr. Barlow."
The two bodyguards hesitated and exchanged a glance. One of them asked carefully, "Does Mr. Harvey know about this?"
Fiona's expression darkened instantly. She kicked him hard in the leg. "Do I need permission to give orders? Even if I killed her, Jake would not say a word.
"Besides, he's in Sherpven City on business. I'm in charge here."
The bodyguard said nothing more and stepped forward.
"Don't touch me!" Alice gathered what little strength she had and shoved his hand away. She pushed too hard and slipped off the bed, hitting the floor.
Fiona walked over, her heel stopping right beside Alice's hand. "Look at you. You really do look like a stray dog now."
She crouched down and grabbed Alice by the hair, forcing her to look up. "Do you remember the charity gala three years ago? You told everyone my dress was a fake. You made me a joke in front of everyone."
Alice remembered. The dress had been fake. She had only told the truth.
But right now, any explanation was meaningless.
"And my brother," Fiona went on, her voice colder. "All he wanted was a chance at Harmon Group. But with one word from you, he could not even submit his resume.
"He ended up working construction and fell from scaffolding last year, and he is still stuck in bed."
Alice remembered parts of that, but not all of it.
Harmon Group rejected thousands of applicants every year. There was no way she could remember each one.
"Do you really think you're better than everyone?" Fiona leaned closer, her hatred almost spilling over. "Today, I'm going to crush you beneath my heel."