I randomly found a man, and it turned out he was a big shot

Chapter 4:Fickle man

Alice hardly needed to wonder who was behind the scheme—it was undoubtedly Sara. Collaborating with David, Sara would have found it all too easy to steal her designs.

Without hesitation, Alice arranged for her discharge from the hospital. After all she had endured, she was surprised to find herself far less angry than she might have expected.

As she stepped out of the hospital and stood by the curb, ready to hail a cab, a voice suddenly called out her name.

"Alice?"

The voice wasn’t unfamiliar; on the contrary, it was one she remembered vividly.

Clenching her fists, she turned around to see Laura standing a short distance away.

Laura looked exactly as she did in Alice’s memories—poised, well-dressed, and exuding the air of someone used to luxury. In a dainty dress, Laura sashayed toward her, confidence radiating from her every step.

"It really is you," Laura remarked, drawing closer. The scorn on her face was unmistakable, and she gave Alice a slow, disdainful once-over. "Well, well, did someone actually hit you? " I never thought I’d see the day when the brilliant designer Alice ended up like this."

Laura was Jack’s sister, and the two of them had never been on good terms.

"And what business is it of yours?" Alice replied coolly.

Laura didn’t take offense. Instead, she let out a laugh, her voice tinged with mockery. "That temper of yours hasn’t changed. No wonder someone felt the urge to hit you."

Alice smirked coldly. "And your mouth hasn’t changed either. What are you doing here? Visiting the psych ward?"

Laura’s brows furrowed tightly for a moment, but she quickly smoothed her expression and adopted a smug smile. "Look at you now—beaten up and accused of plagiarism. Let me guess, you must’ve heard that my brother’s back in town and decided to throw yourself at him again, didn’t you?"

Alice’s expression faltered slightly, her chest tightening. It took all her willpower to steady herself before replying, "The news about the plagiarism accusations only broke recently, yet you seem remarkably well-informed. I must say, Laura, your long-standing obsession with my affairs is truly impressive. It must have been exhausting for you to keep tabs on me all these years."

"Don’t flatter yourself!" Laura snapped, her voice rising with indignation, as though Alice had hit a nerve. "Who would waste their time on you, you worthless bastard!"

Laura had hurled that same insult at Alice countless times during their school days.

After all, how dare this "bastard" have the audacity to fall in love with his brother?

Alice had long grown accustomed to verbal abuse. Instead of reacting with anger, she chuckled lightly and said, "Oh, by the way, if I recall correctly… weren’t you in love with Lucas?"

Laura’s infatuation with Lucas had been common knowledge during their school years. She had even gone so far as to throw herself at him, only for Lucas to treat her with utter indifference.

The thought of how Laura might react if she ever discovered that Alice had once shared a bed with Lucas brought a faint smirk to Alice’s lips.

"I’m warning you!" Laura snarled, her voice trembling with jealousy and rage. "Stay away from Lucas, or I’ll make you regret it!"

Alice’s smile remained serene, her voice calm yet tinged with subtle irony. "Laura, life is long. Let’s take our time and see how things unfold."

Upon finishing her words, Alice swiftly turned and hailed a taxi. Only when Laura’s frantic figure disappeared from the rearview mirror did the smile on Alice’s face fade. Jack had returned… the man she once loved. Though her feelings for him had long since waned, hearing this news still left her somewhat disoriented. After she married David, Jack moved abroad, and a year later, she learned of his marriage. The one thing she dreaded most was Jack seeing her in her current state.

Her eyes grew heavy with a tinge of sadness, and as she lifted her hand to wipe away the corners of her eyes, her phone rang. David had destroyed her old phone, and this one had been a gift from Valentina on her last visit, the number unchanged. It was an unfamiliar number, yet Alice instantly recognized it as Lucas’s.

She answered the call, but before she could speak, Lucas’s voice came through, “Where are you?”

Alice hesitated. “I’ve been discharged…”

Had Lucas gone to the hospital to find her?

“Where are you?” he asked again.

Alice glanced outside before providing her location.

“Get out of the car,” came Lucas’s succinct reply.

“I’m going back to grab something,” Alice said.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” Lucas’s voice took on an icy tone.

With no other choice, Alice motioned for the driver to pull over and stepped out of the car. Moments later, Lucas’s vehicle arrived, and he immediately opened the passenger door. “Get in.”

Alice couldn’t quite understand why she was following Lucas’s orders, perhaps because Valentina had shared so much about him, leaving her somewhat intimidated. After all, although Lucas had been nothing but polite during their encounters, the fact that he had broken David’s leg suggested he was far from being a harmless man.

“Did you cry?” Lucas’s attention to detail was almost unnerving. Alice had merely reddened her eyes earlier.

“No,” Alice naturally refused to admit it. “The wind blew it.”

Lucas didn’t say another word and started the car, leaving the area.

Feeling a bit awkward, Alice shifted her gaze towards the window. It was then that she realized Lucas wasn’t heading in the direction of her home at all.

“Where are you taking me?”

She turned her head in bewilderment and asked.

“To my place.”

“Why would we go to your place?”

Alice widened her eyes, “I need to go back!

I have to get the evidence of David’s infidelity!”

Only after resolving the matter with David would she have the energy to deal with the false accusations of plagiarism that had been thrust upon her!

“Who are you planning to confront with that dead expression, searching for evidence of someone’s betrayal?”

Lucas mocked, his voice dripping with scorn, “Have you forgotten what almost happened to you before?”

Alice was momentarily stunned, her anger swelling within her. After a long pause, she suddenly broke into a smile. “Lucas, you’re only taking me back to your place because you want to sleep with me, aren’t you?”

Lucas tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Is that how you see me?”

“Otherwise, what else could it be?”

Alice asked. “Are you concerned about me? Who are you to care about me? We’ve only spent one night together; we’re not even friends.”

In this world, the only person who truly cared for her was Valentina.

She had once believed her mother truly loved her, but when her mother discovered she had feelings for Jack, she cursed her, calling her shameless and a slut.

She had once believed that Jack genuinely loved her, that he would stand up to his family for her, but he hadn’t. After her mother discovered their relationship, he coldly watched as she was scolded and ultimately driven out of the house.

Later, when she met David, she no longer believed in love. It was David’s kindness that warmed her heart, allowing her to fall in love with him and eventually marry him.

But in just three short years, she saw through David’s true character.

That’s why she couldn’t bring herself to believe that Lucas had any genuine care for her.

Lucas, such a significant figure. What reason would he have to care for someone like her, who was labeled a “w***e” by David?

Alice didn’t know which of her words hit Lucas’s nerve, but he suddenly pulled into a nearby parking lot. As soon as the car came to a stop, he roughly grabbed her and placed her on his lap.

The movement was coarse, and his cold, furious voice echoed in his ear. “Is this what you wanted, huh? Are you satisfied now?!”