Chapter 2---Calling Off the Wedding
1076 Words
Alice Casey stared blankly at Natalie Finley for a long time.
Where had it all gone wrong?
Inside the car, a custom ringtone shattered the silence.
The phone kept ringing.
Natalie couldn't take it anymore.
"Alice, your phone!" Natalie reminded her.
Let's see how she'll explain this to Zachary Hawkins.
Alice lowered her gaze, struggling to keep her voice steady as she answered, "Zachary."
"Having fun today?" His warm voice came through the line.
Alice forced a bitter smile.
Zachary was set to attend a prestigious Outstanding Young Leaders award ceremony soon, so she had come to Kaldryn Mount to pray for his success.
The old Alice had always put Zachary first.
Though she had the strength to reach the summit, she had sacrificed everything for him.
"Alice?" His voice softened when she didn't respond.
"Fine," Alice replied coolly. "I went to get a career talisman for you."
"Why didn't you get one for 'early birth of a noble son' too?" he joked.
She had.
But now, looking at that blessed phrase, it felt as repulsive as swallowing a fly.
It wasn't until her dying breath that she learned her ten years of infertility were due to Zachary secretly lacing her food with birth control pills.
And yet, she had endured years of relentless scorn and humiliation from the Hawkins family.
"Are you tired?" Zachary sensed something was off in her tone and quickly expressed concern.
"I got up early with Natalie and went to the mountain. I'm a bit tired. We're driving back now."
"No wonder. I feel guilty for the last-minute emergency. I shouldn't have made you go through all this," he said with remorse.
Alice felt even her cold laugh was a waste of expression.
She used to foolishly believe he was truly busy.
In truth, he was just busy... with other women.
"Drive safely," Zachary reminded.
Alice hung up the phone.
Natalie looked at Alice's icy demeanor, swallowing back her words.
She felt Alice had become someone else.
A stranger.
She figured maybe after a good night's sleep, everything would return to normal tomorrow.
The car returned to the city. Alice dropped Natalie off at Finley Villa.
"Alice," Alice suddenly called.
Natalie turned.
She met Alice's gaze—something strange flickered in her eyes.
Alice was simply confirming one thing.
She was alive.
And Natalie was still alive.
Natalie found Alice's stare unsettling. "Are you okay? I heard Kaldryn Mount has eerie feng shui and heavy yin energy. Did something latch onto you?"
Natalie was still the same carefree, simple-minded woman.
The world-shattering events hadn't touched her yet.
Alice smiled.
This was her first genuine smile since her rebirth.
She said, "Good thing you're not dead."
"Definitely not normal!" Natalie rolled her eyes. "My dad says someone as troublesome as me will live a thousand years. A little car accident can't kill me!"
In her past life, Alice had also believed that Natalie, so reckless and free-spirited, would never die easily—least of all by suicide. Yet Natalie had jumped from the 28th floor, a gruesome sight.
That was a shadow and pain Alice could never erase.
She was grateful.
She had returned to this moment.
Everything was perfectly timed.
Just in time—nothing had happened. Everything could still be avenged!
She steadied her emotions and abruptly shifted gears. "Don't tell anyone about today."
"Which part?"
"The agreement with Raymond Landry."
Natalie rolled her eyes. "I won't say a word. Anyway, you'll be back to normal tomorrow."
Tomorrow, she would only be more determined.
"I'm leaving."
"Drive carefully," Natalie said, still uneasy.
Alice nodded and smoothly drove the car back home.
Back to the Casey Villa ten years ago.
A familiar yet foreign place.
Her emotions surged uncontrollably.
She walked into the hall. At the sight of her parents, her eyes welled up instantly.
In her past life, if not for her poor choice in a man, her parents wouldn't have perished together in that car crash. In that premeditated accident, they had shielded her with their flesh-and-blood bodies, saving her life at the cost of their own.
She never wanted to relive those bloody scenes, that agony—she would never endure them again!
"Sweetheart, didn't you go to Kaldryn Mount to pray for Zachary? Why are you back so soon?" Nora Casey, her mother, gently greeted.
Alice suppressed the tears in her eyes and walked over with a smile.
From now on,
everything had changed.
From this moment, only she would destroy Zachary Hawkins and obliterate the Hawkins family. No one would ever harm a single hair on the Casey family again!
"Why are your eyes red?" Nora asked, concerned.
"My eyes were dry. I rubbed them."
"The Hawkins family called earlier. They want to discuss the wedding details with us..." Nora said.
Alice took a deep breath. "Mom, I want to call off the engagement with Zachary."
"What?" Nora was stunned.
William Casey, her father, looked up from his newspaper. "Did you two argue?"
"Zachary isn't a good man. He only wants to marry me to seize our family's fortune and use us as a stepping stone into the noble families of Imperial City," Alice said. Seeing their disbelief, she added, "I don't have proof now, but give me time. I'll make you believe me!"
William and Nora exchanged silent glances, surprised by their daughter's sudden resolve.
Their Alice had never caused them worry.
As a child, her grandfather had arranged a child engagement, and she not only accepted it but also strictly upheld her duty, never socializing with any man but Zachary. She had always been devoted to him.
Their bond had always been strong. Why was she saying this now?
Alice saw their doubts. "Dad, I've never asked you to do anything difficult. I know this alliance brings great benefits. But even so, I must stand by my decision."
"You're my daughter. Of course I believe you," William said, yielding. "But calling it off now—not only will we lose the benefits, it could bring massive backlash. How will the Casey Group stand in Kaldryn?"
There was still emotion in his voice.
"It won't," Alice said firmly. "I'm calling it off—but the Hawkins family will bear all the consequences!"
William was stunned.
He was struck by his daughter's sudden presence.
She felt unlike his gentle, soft-spoken daughter.
"Next month's wedding will end in humiliation—for the Hawkins family!"
Alice declared, resolute.
- Writer
