Chapter 3 Meet
1976 Words
The wish in my heart is that I was never with you and forgot nothing.
Alice stood in the empty room, looking from side to side.
Where is this place?
There was a crystal clear revolving staircase and Alice walked up it and into a room, a room with nothing in it.
......
Alice felt as if this place was déjà vu.
A sharp pain hit her unexpectedly, as if a long, dusty door had suddenly been opened. A flood of memories rushed into her mind, spinning around in her head.
She clutched her head in pain. The memories in her head were the good, painful ones she had left behind.
The clarity felt as if ...... had experienced it only a short time ago.
As the memories continued, the room she was in slowly began to change.
The all-white room gradually became something she was familiar with, the room she had lived in before her imprisonment.
There was a young girl sitting on the bed, her back turned to her.
She held her breath and slowly approached the back.
“Ah ...... what shall I give him for his birthday? ”Suddenly, the owner of the back figure spoke, the person shook his head as if he was thinking about something important, then he stood up quickly and went to the cupboard to take out a pair of fine paintings, smiling happily, "There!
Then the girl sat down in front of the dressing-table with great interest, and delicately dressed, her beautiful and silky head was rolled up with the waving of her fingers.
The whole room suddenly became blurred, and as the scene shifted, Alice found herself standing outside the hotel entrance.
Her heart sank as she walked quickly down the corridor looking for someone, finally stopping at the rubbish bin near the bathroom.
Only the young girl stood there, lost in thought, staring motionlessly at the painting in the bin .......
Alice remembered.
That day was the man's birthday, she attended as promised, sent a gift, was publicly humiliated by the man, surrounded by vulgar taunts, and finally saw his gift as something unseemly to be thrown in the dustbin.
It was raining heavily that day.
The young girl picked up the painting from the dustbin, which was already a bit tattered. She pulled the corners of her mouth into an ugly smile, told herself not to be sad, and then walked out of the hall and stood in the doorway watching the downpour accompanied by the sound of thunder.
The man just looked at the young girl without expression, even glanced at the painting she was holding, and finally took the girl's hand in a loving gesture and held up the umbrella for her to get into a limousine and leave.
But then the man came back, took the girl's hand and pulled her into the car, the rain showing no signs of abating as she was left halfway across the street.
“Enough!” Alice interrupted with some anger at the memories repeating before her eyes, disgusted at her dead, moth-eaten self as she watched the man.
It was as if she was being reminded again and again.
Don't make the same mistake again.
She didn't know how to get home, and the next morning she was in bed with a high fever for a week.
The man never said anything.
After what happened, that home... it was long gone, and she was hated by her own family.
She hated him, she missed him, and this complex of thoughts and emotions stayed with her for three years.
“Alice......” The young girl, lying on her bed with a flushed face, squinted hard and mumbled something in a voice too small to know what she was saying.
Gradually she began to transform into an intense light, Alice gasped and unconsciously reached out for her hand, only to grab a ball of air. The intense light made her dizzy and she gradually lost consciousness.
The alarm clock by the bed rang for a long time.
A wave of dizziness came over her, so strong that Alice forced herself to go to the bathroom and vomited into the toilet several times, getting up somewhat limply. She rinsed out her mouth, washed her face in the mirror and looked at herself in the mirror.
The pale complexion was terribly pale at the moment, and there were deep dark circles under both eyes, as if to say 'I'm so tired'.
There was a musty smell in the old house, even the air was damp, the smell of moss mixed with the smell of rotting wood, all of which she had never experienced before.
The old her had thought such a life was out of reach, but now it was within reach.
But...
She didn't have much time to mourn, she had to earn money to support herself.
Alice and Annie began a long search for work.
The reality is very hard. Alice was expelled from university because she only had a high school education, and not many companies were willing to hire her. Annie's situation was even worse: having dropped out of junior high school and having a criminal record, she found it difficult to even apply for a job as a receptionist in a company.
After being cold-shouldered and stared at, Alice ended up working as a waitress in a bar.
Three months passed.
Moonlight streamed in from outside and Annie was asleep on her bed.
She took a key and went downstairs.
Alice's job was just beginning.
The sound of clinking glasses, the scent of desire fermenting in the air, the smell sweet and foul.
“Alice,” The bar manager called to Alice, lowering her voice, “Later you will serve the guests in this box well.” As she said this, she pointed to box 10 in the corner, “Don't worry, all the students are in there, they won't do much fooling around.”
“Thank you sister.” Alice nodded and smiled slightly embarrassed. The bar was relatively quiet today and there were not many customers, everyone else was trying to make some money, just her standing on the bar watching dryly.
“Just take this and go in. ” The manager waved her hand and looked at Alice's back, looking at her reminded her of her own daughter, so she took better care of her.
In the noisy bar, Alice took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Under the ambiguous light and music, five or six young people sat casually, and she glanced unconsciously at the man sitting in the middle of them, the shimmering light falling vaguely on his face, the deep contours turning to shadows, like an ink drawing.
“Hello, can I get you a drink?” Her eyes lingered, then immediately lowered her head.
“Are all the waitresses here that pretty, hahaha?” A man opened his mouth and laughed out loud.
“Give us a bottle of wine.”
“Do you need my recommendation?” Amid the banter and flirting, Alice was all smiles, her voice as sweet as ever.
“The most expensive one then, you guys are paying for it anyway hahaha.”
The man sitting in the middle just smiled slightly, and when he looked up at Alice, he couldn't help but freeze.
Before Alice could say anything, a six-foot man in a jumper stood up, looking straight at her with a face full of surprise and astonishment.
“Aren't you Alice? What are you doing here?”
“I'm at work, aren't I?” Alice smiled sweetly, she heard her voice unusually calm and light, as if the wind was blowing, not her words.
“Alice,” the man in the middle stood up and looked at her.
Alice continued to pour drinks for the others as the man unconsciously grabbed her hand and frowned, “I need to talk to you.”
“...... Wait till I get off work.” Alice didn't answer or look at him directly.
“Erkrine?” The man next to him looked at him quizzically.
“Alice?” Before the man could speak, someone suddenly exclaimed, “That's the one who's in jail. ...... No wonder she looks so familiar.”
Alice's body stiffened.
She suppressed the trembling deep in her heart, not caring about the words and stares of others.
Over and over again, she told herself.
She didn't kill anyone.
She wasn't a murderer.
Yes, she wasn't.
The man pursed his lips and took two deliberate steps forward to block the man's view.
“It's true, I didn't even realise it just now.” The other person also opened his mouth, seemingly not noticing the displeasure on the man's face, and said with a loud grin, “The young lady who was chasing after the great young master of B City who is known all over the world in the beginning, now comes to work in a bar, it's really pathetic ......'.”
Everyone in the circle knew that she liked that person so much that she followed him every day, and also knew that that person didn't like him, and even despised her.
Seven years ago.
“......” The man's face fell, but Alice took his wrist and smiled slightly, "It's rather pathetic, so we'll have to trouble you all for more.”
The man looked at her in disbelief, his eyes fixed on her various expressions. She was still smiling, as sweet and enchanting as a spring flower, but instead she was embarrassing these men.
“I'll go and prepare the wine then.” Alice hurried off obediently, whispering in the man's ear, “If there's anything we can talk about later.”
The man looked at the girl's back as she left, filled with heartache.
His heart was pounding.
It was not until after two in the morning that Alice finished her work and dragged her tired body out of the bar. As she came out, she saw the man leaning against the bar, smoking a cigarette.
“......Mr Millet,” The cigarette flickered in the dimly lit street.
The man saw her coming and hastily put out the cigarette, “Hey.”
“...... It's OK.”
The night wind was cold, Alice was wearing a black jacket, she craned her neck now and then, her face was a little white from the cold, but she never said a word.
“...... I'll take you back.”
“.....” The words that were meant to be a refusal came to an abrupt end under his strong gaze and she bowed her head, “Okay.”
She took the initiative and got into the back seat, Erkrine glanced at her without saying anything and got into the car.
Neither of them spoke and the atmosphere was a little awkward.
She had lost a lot of weight.
He glanced at her in the rear-view mirror now and then, his long, beautiful hair gone, those eyes looking out, quiet.
“Thank you.” Alice spoke first to break the silence, "Actually, just now in the bar ...... did not bother you to come out to help me, so that the young master of the Millet family is not talked about by others.”
The Millet family, usually very reserved, and he is the only son of the family, was collected favour.
“...... ” Erkrine opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
It had only been three years.
Where was the present her who had the elegance of the highly favoured and radiant Missy?
“When did you come out? How come there's no contact...” He suddenly realised his excitement and hastily lowered his tone, “Where are you living now?”
- Writer
