The Real Heiress Doesn't Forgive Free Preview

"I'm going to ask you one last time—are you marrying him or not?"

A cold and cutting voice echoed through the spacious living room.

Alice Spencer's long, dark lashes fluttered slightly as she lifted her eyes to meet the man's glare.

The speaker was her second brother, CEO of the Spencer Group.

Dressed sharply in a silver-gray suit, he looked like the picture of professionalism—if not for the fury and hatred contorting across his face.

Alice felt her heart tighten as she spoke with a tremble, "I ... "

"Save your lies!" he snapped. "Yeah. You were switched at birth and grew up in the countryside for 22 years. When Linda found out, she didn't get jealous—she came with us to bring you home! And what did you do in return?"

His voice turned even sharper.

"Linda cared about you, yet you still threw her out of the car! If the speed had been any higher, she could've been killed!"

"You're cruel and heartless. So now, taking her place to marry into the Nolans is exactly what you deserve!"

Her chest ached like someone had stabbed her.

"Cruel and heartless?"

Was that really how her brother saw her?

She slowly turned away.

The ruffled collar of her white blouse shifted slightly, revealing a bit of pale skin at her neck.

Her bloodshot eyes stood out even more against her soft features.

Yes, she'd lived on the mountain with her mentor for over 20 years, but he had treated her like family and taught her everything he knew.

She had never blamed anyone for her past.

But just three days ago—one month before Linda Spencer's wedding to Eric Nolan—the Spencers suddenly came to the mountain.

They told her she was the real heiress.

Her mentor said it was time for her to leave and face whatever life had in store. She didn't really want to go, but she went anyway.

On the way back, Linda made sure they sat in the same car.

Then, right after the car started moving, she flung open the door and jumped out.

The next thing she knew, her brothers were all accusing her of trying to murder Linda.

If Linda hadn't needed emergency care, Alice probably would've been arrested right then.

She'd tried to explain over and over these past three days.

None of her brothers listened. They all believed she was framing Linda.

And now, with the Spencers' financial troubles piling up, their only solution was to honor an old engagement with the Nolans in exchange for 50 million dollars.

That was when it all became clear.

They didn't bring her back because they missed her.

They just didn't want Linda to marry a man in a coma.

At this point, words were useless.

"Are you marrying him or not?"

Without waiting for an answer, Charlie Spencer grabbed a teacup and smashed it on the floor. Porcelain shards flew out, one cutting her ankle and drawing blood.

"Fine," Alice said with a bitter laugh, all hope for family ties vanishing. "But I have one condition."

"You are indeed greedy. I'll talk to Gary about how much we'll share with you."

"It's not about the money."

The pain had left her feeling numb, so her expression didn't change when he spoke.

"I just want to see Linda in the hospital."

Charlie blinked, then narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"You're planning to harm Linda again?"

"That's right. Do you dare let me go?"

Alice met his stare, unbothered.

He hesitated for a moment.

They had bodyguards surrounding Linda's room.

To him, Alice was just a village girl. What could she possibly do?

"Alright, you've got 30 minutes. The Nolan family's car will be here any minute. After you see Linda, get in the car right away!"

Alice scoffed quietly and turned to go upstairs to pack her things.

She didn't have much to pack.

There was enough time, but she chose not to wear makeup.

She was naturally beautiful.

Her lips were red without lipstick, her brows were perfectly arched, even without being shaped, and her eyes were as clear as gems.

Dragging her suitcase behind her, she followed Charlie to the hospital.

Linda was staying in a VIP room.

All her brothers were already there, and the moment they saw Alice, disgust showed on every face.

She didn't care. She sat by the bed, just said some casual words, and then someone mentioned that the Nolan family's car had arrived.

She stood up and looked around at her five brothers.

"Let's just cut our ties here. I'm so done with all of you."

"Don't worry — we were planning to do the same," Charlie shot back.

They didn't care about her at all.

Eric had been in a coma for three years, and his condition had taken a turn for the worse. He probably didn't have much time left. She was a bride-to-be, but she was also a "widow-to-be". The Nolans would surely look down on her, too.

She left the room, face cold and emotionless.

After she was gone, Charlie walked over to Gary Spencer's side.

"Fifty million just hit our account. It's time to wake Linda up."

Finally, Gary smiled with relief. "Linda has been through a lot. Wake her."

The doctor was called in immediately and gave Linda an injection.

Time passed. But she didn't wake up. The doctor's expression turned pale.

"She ... seems to be in a coma!"

Charlie's face suddenly went pale, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest. "What do you mean?"

"I-I mean ... " the doctor stuttered, rushing to run more tests. His face turned ghost-white.

"She might be in a vegetative state."

All five brothers panicked and ran to the bed.

"Call your specialists! Now!"

The car sent by the Nolans was driven by Eric's younger brother, Michael Nolan.

He didn't bother hiding his dislike for Alice and drove like he was racing.

He thought she'd be carsick. But to his surprise, she remained perfectly calm the entire ride.

When they arrived, she even smiled at him.

"You're pretty rude. From now on, I'm your sister-in-law."

Michael's face darkened. His voice was icy.

"Let's see if you even make it past tonight."

His brother was hanging on by a thread.

If he died tonight, Alice would be seen as a jinx and face a terrible fate.

She didn't flinch but smiled. "I hate rude people."

Then she turned and walked inside.

One of the villa's rooms had been turned into a medical suite with complete medical equipment for Eric due to how serious his condition was.

A few maids escorted her upstairs.

Right before the door, they shoved her inside and locked it behind her, just in case she ran.

Alice looked around. The place was full of top-tier medical equipment.

The man resting on the bed was still, his face pale yet commanding.

Even from afar, she could sense the strong energy he gave off.

She slowly walked over, sat down beside him, and checked his pulse.

After a moment, she unbuttoned his shirt.

A needle slipped from her sleeve into her fingers, and she swiftly inserted it into his chest.

With more than ten shots, he suddenly coughed, vomited some blood, and then slowly opened his eyes.

"Who are you? What are you doing in here? This is my room—get out!"

The moment Eric opened his eyes, a beautiful woman stood in front of him. Her face jogged a memory—something his stepmother once mentioned.

Even while trapped in a coma, he'd still been aware of voices around him. He remembered her saying she'd find a woman to give him an heir.

But Eric wasn't fooled.

He knew she had no good intentions. Anyone she picked would be a tool in the battle over the family's wealth.

Alice's anger instantly flared.

She had only agreed to this marriage to cut ties with the Spencers without dragging her mentor into trouble.

That didn't mean she'd let herself be treated like garbage.

This guy's attitude was so terrible, all her effort to help him detox was wasted!

Without waiting, she lifted her arm.

A tiny silver needle zipped from her sleeve and stabbed right into Eric's shoulder.

His body, which had only just started to regain strength, immediately weakened again. His cold stare sharpened. "You—!"

"Save your breath. Listen to me first," Alice ordered, narrowing her eyes. Her gaze was sharp yet carried something unreadable, like hidden secrets behind clear glass.

Eric clenched his jaw. It wasn't that he didn't want to reply—he physically couldn't.

His blood boiled with rage.

Alice spoke quickly, "I'm your wife now."

She tossed the marriage certificate onto the bed.

The Nolans had more than enough power to register the marriage without needing either of them present.

Eric's brows drew together.

"You're still thinking about your childhood sweetheart? She and I were switched at birth. Now I have come back and married you as the real heiress. They forced me to this. But from the look on your face, you're clearly not into this, and honestly, neither am I. So, how about we strike a deal?"

The fire in his chest had already started to cool.

He kept his eyes on her, studying every move.

Alice didn't care what he was thinking—she just kept talking.

"You weren't in an accident. Someone gave you a poison that works over time. I can cure you, but it'll take a year. During that year, we'll pretend to be a normal couple in front of others. Behind closed doors, we'll just be business partners."

She gave him a second to take it in. "After one year, we split for good. No ties, no drama. Sound fair?"

She figured that would be enough time to uncover the truth—who'd hurt her mentor and destroyed his career.

Eric showed no reaction.

"I'll take your silence as a yes," she said coolly.

Still mute, Eric glared at her.

Alice calmly pulled the needle from his shoulder and walked over to the fridge.

Unfortunately, when she opened it, all she found was pricey medication—no food at all.

She hadn't eaten at the Spencers' residence, and now she was starving. Her face darkened with frustration.

"There's fruit," Eric said suddenly.

As if reading her mind, he reached for a nearby drawer.

But the moment his hand moved, he froze, stunned.

He'd actually been able to grab the handle.

Power was coming back to his limbs.

Could this mean he was truly healing?

Not even Professor Hoffman, the country's top doctors, had been able to help him, and now this young woman—barely more than a girl—was making progress in just one night?

If she could pull this off, one year would be nothing.

He pointed toward the bed. "Since we're married..."

Alice took a bite of the apple and smiled. "I'm not sleeping there."

Even though the Nolans were complicated, a few loyal people still cared about Eric.

One of them usually stayed the night, which was why there was a small bed in the corner. That's where Alice planned to sleep.

That was her plan, and she didn't waste any time. Right after she said it, she walked over to the small bed. "Good night."

She was so tired. After eating an apple to quiet her hunger, drowsiness hit her hard, and she was out the moment her head hit the pillow.

Eric didn't even get the chance to argue.

Was she here to rescue him or drive him insane?

The next morning, Alice stretched and sat up, feeling completely refreshed.

But almost immediately, she noticed a chill running down her spine.

Is the air conditioning too strong?

She slowly sat up, only to find the man in the other bed staring daggers at her.

Oh, right—she'd totally forgotten she was married now.

"Why are you still in bed?" she asked, tying her hair into a loose ponytail. The simple gesture somehow made her look even more energetic.

Eric gave a bitter chuckle and nodded toward the wheelchair by the door.

Alice tilted her head, her eyes twinkling. "Need me to roll you out for a stroll?"

He shot back, "We're a team now, is it so hard for you to help your partner?"

She shrugged, completely unbothered. "We can always call the deal off."

Eric said flatly, "If you could agree to marry me, then clearly, this was the best choice you could make."

Alice sighed.

Fine, I'm a doctor. There's no point in arguing with the patient.

Just as she reached the door, the sound of a key turning stopped her.

"There's no sound from inside. Think he's finally dead?"

"Prof. Hoffman said Mr. Eric wouldn't survive the night. That girl must've fainted when she saw a corpse for the first time."

"Then open the door. We need to tell Mrs. Ruby that he's dead.

"The board meeting's in two hours, and she's counting on Mr. Michael to take over the shares."

"Hey, this is great news for us."

The lock clicked, and the door swung open.

"Oh no, Mr. Eric!"

A maid burst in, crying loudly without checking the room.

Smack!

The tears suddenly stopped when the maid grabbed her cheek, finally noticing something was off.

The slap left her frozen in place, and the other maids who came in after her were just as surprised.

They had expected Alice to be sobbing in a corner. Instead, she stood tall and angry, her cold stare locking onto the maid.

"Out."

Alice had recognized her as the one who shoved her into the room last night. Her voice was sharp and firm.

The maid clutched her cheek, shocked, and turned to Eric. "What did you do to Mr. Eric?"

"I'm his wife. I don't need your permission for anything I do."

Her tone was colder than ice. Her eyes sliced through Clara like a knife.

Clara stumbled back in fear and nearly fell.

Betty caught her and gave Alice a disgusted look. "I bet you killed him and locked us out to hide the truth. Murderer!"

"What's with all the noise?"

A deep male voice spoke from inside, making every maid freeze.

"M-Mr. Eric?"

Betty peeked in, terrified, and saw Eric slowly sit up.

"Ah! A ghost!"

She turned pale and bolted.

The others screamed and fled too, bumping into each other on the way out.

Alice leaned against the doorframe, watching the scene unfold. She couldn't help but laugh.

"Looks like your family doesn't actually want you to wake up., Mr. Eric."

Eric quickly changed into clean clothes, then leaned against the wall as he settled into his wheelchair.

Alice approached, grabbed the wheelchair handles, and wheeled him downstairs.

Since they barely knew each other, they ate quietly without speaking. The mood was tense and uneasy.

After eating, it was time to visit the Nolans' old mansion. Since it was the day after their wedding, they were expected to greet the elders.

And because Clara had caused such a fuss, the whole Nolan family had already heard that Eric—who'd been in a coma—was now awake.

So the board meeting had been postponed. Everyone was now gathered at the old mansion, eager to witness the miracle.

Just as they stepped out of the villa, a bodyguard rushed over to open the car door.

Alice let go of the wheelchair without hesitation and climbed into the car herself.

Stanley, the bodyguard, looked confused. "Mrs. Nolan, aren't you going to help Mr. Eric into the car?"

Alice raised her brow and replied calmly, "He's not disabled or old. Why would he need my help?"

Stanley stammered, "But he has trouble wal..."

Before he could finish, Eric gripped the armrest of the wheelchair and slowly got up.

Stanley's jaw practically dropped. He...can stand up by himself now?

Just last night, he'd been a vegetable on the verge of death. Was this for real?

He slapped his own forehead, felt the sting, and realized he wasn't dreaming.

He then watched, wide-eyed, as the once-comatose Eric made his way into the car by himself.

Eric wasn't crippled—just weak from being bedridden too long. Even walking a few steps made his forehead drip with sweat and left him short of breath.

Seeing this, Stanley reached to turn on the air conditioner.

Alice spoke up in a flat tone, "Cold air right now? Sure, go ahead. He'll probably drop dead in three minutes."

Stanley quickly pulled his hand back.

What was he thinking? Turning on the AC?

Now he wanted to chop off his own hand in regret.

It was obvious now—Mrs. Nolan wasn't someone to mess with.

All he did was ask if she could help Eric, and she immediately held a grudge.

He had assumed Eric might step in and scold her, but instead, Eric closed his eyes and said nothing, silently agreeing with her.

Roughly ten minutes later, the car rolled to a stop in front of the Nolans' old mansion.

This place is right in the heart of Mapleford—land here is super expensive.

But the Nolans owned not one but two mansions here, with the walls knocked down to make a giant estate.

The inside was all about luxury!

As they entered the main hall, Irene Nolan and Jimmy Nolan sat in the center, their white hair and kind smiles giving off an elder's grace.

Their eyes welled up with tears when they saw Eric sitting in the wheelchair.

But when they noticed Alice, their joyful expressions vanished, replaced by cold disgust.

"You sure have guts. Eric's wife should be Linda!"

The one speaking was Eric's stepmother, Ruby Randall. She now ran most of the Nolans businesses and held significant power.

Alice sneered inwardly.

She'd cured Eric, yet instead of gratitude, they blamed her?

So this was the real Nolans?

"If you're not the one we want, then give back the 50 million," Ruby said coolly, turning to Irene for support.

Alice knew the Spencers took the 50 million, but she didn't get a dime.

She answered, "You're right. It should be taken back."

Eric arched a brow as he glanced at her.

Something about her reaction seemed off.

Everyone around looked stunned. That was 50 million dollars they were talking about!

Maybe not much to the Nolans, but for the Spencers, it was a lifesaver.

"That money was for Linda. Since she's not here, it should be returned," Alice said, her voice clear and flat.

Ruby gave a slight nod. "At least you know your place."

Alice suddenly smiled.

"Well then, once you get that money back, let's discuss how much you're supposed to pay me."

The whole room fell silent.

"I'm the real heiress of the Spencers, way more important than that fake," she added.

"And don't forget, Eric woke up as soon as I married him. That makes me a lucky charm. If Linda's getting 50 million, then I should get three times that."

Ruby's hands clenched tightly. This girl had some nerve.

Sandy Nolan, who stood nearby, immediately jumped in.

"It was your family that forced you to take Linda's place! My mom didn't punish you, and now you're asking for money too?"

She shouted angrily, "Shameless!"

Alice gave her a cold smile.

"We are legally married with a certificate, and the Nolans arranged it themselves."

Everyone's expression shifted.

Alice kept going.

"You could've stopped it before signing the papers. But you didn't. I honestly thought you all wanted me to marry Eric and would make it up to me. Guess I was wrong."

Then she looked at Eric, who still hadn't said anything.

"Honey, the City Hall is still open. Want to go get divorced? But once you ditch your lucky charm, who knows if you'll stay conscious. Well, that's not my problem anymore."

Eric had watched the drama unfold in silence, his face darkening.

He knew his family was sly. Now that Alice had barged in and shaken things up, maybe it was a good thing.

So he said nothing, silently supporting her actions.

Irene was fuming. "Divorcing right after the wedding? No manners at all!"

Alice shot back instantly.

"I married Eric when he was still in a coma. I got nothing and you all expect me to return the money? What kind of manners is that?"

That struck a nerve. The room went completely quiet.

Everyone knew that Irene ruled the family. But Alice dared to talk back.

And the worst part? Everything Alice said made perfect sense—there was nothing Irene could say to argue back.

It left Irene choking on her anger.

Then Alice pushed even harder.

"Let's go get that divorce done now. Before the office takes their lunch break."

She reached for the wheelchair.

Now the Nolans started to panic.

If they got divorced today, word would spread all over Mapleford.

And if people found out the money went to Linda while Alice became Eric's wife—and they even demanded she return it—they'd be the laughingstock of the city.

That would completely destroy their reputation as the city's top family.

Irene had a strong reputation to uphold, so there was no way she'd back down.

That meant Ruby had to be the one to step in.

With a forced smile, she said, "Oh come on, we were just joking around. No need to mention divorce."

But Alice wasn't going to let it slide.

"Alright then, what's the plan for the money?"

Ruby didn't dare promise such a big amount outright. She turned to Irene again for help.

After a brief pause, Irene said reluctantly, "Tell Linda to return it."

Alice's lips curled into a mocking smile.

The Spencers had used that money to save themselves, treating Linda like their lucky charm.

But if they lost it now?

"That's your issue. I'm not getting involved. Let's just talk about how much I'll get."

The Nolans looked furious—like their faces were about to turn black with anger.

Irene looked especially furious, almost passing out from anger.

It was Ruby who finally broke the silence.

"We can talk about this after the formal introductions," she said, lowering her voice on purpose.

"No need to embarrass ourselves in front of everyone."

Eric getting married wasn't supposed to be a big deal.

After all, he had been in a coma and wasn't expected to live long anyway.

But now that he'd suddenly regained consciousness, everything had changed.

The family's power dynamics would shift, so everyone had rushed over to watch how things played out.

The room was filled with Eric's extended family—uncles, aunts, and other relatives.

Even the distant relatives had shown up because shares in the company were at stake.

Alice stood her ground, not the least bit shaken.

If she backed down now, everyone would see her as easy to push around.

"Alright then, hurry up and introduce them, and pay me after that." she said plainly.

That one sentence made Ruby's chest tighten.

Although she was Eric's stepmother, she didn't dare upset so many people.

And Alice still wore that clueless expression, like she was just a simple girl from the countryside who didn't understand how things worked.

Ruby nearly choked on her own anger.

Eric gave Alice a curious look.

They had agreed—once he was cured, they would get divorced.

But Alice clearly didn't trust him or the Nolans to keep their word.

So she'd come in swinging, offending everyone on purpose.

That way, when it was time to split, even if Eric changed his mind, the others would push for the divorce just to be rid of her.

This woman was sharp—every move calculated.

"Oh, no! Something's wrong!"

Suddenly, a maid rushed out of one of the nearby rooms in the mansion, nearly tripping over herself in a panic.

Ruby, still seething, snapped, "What are you freaking out about?"

The maid almost cried in fear.

"I-It's Mr. Oscar ... he ... "

She meant Eric's father, Oscar Nolan.

He had fallen seriously ill eight years ago and had been bedridden ever since.

His condition had torn the Nolans apart. Then Eric became a vegetable, and the family almost collapsed completely.

If Oscar died now, things would only get worse.

No one cared about Alice anymore—they all rushed to his room.

A woman in a white coat stepped out just as they arrived. She pulled down her face mask, revealing a stunning, elegant face.

Her soft, almond-shaped eyes lit up briefly when she spotted Eric, but she quickly looked away and said with a heavy sigh, "I'm sorry, Irene. We did everything we could ... "

She looked down.

"If Mr. Oscar still doesn't wake up, we'll have no choice but to declare brain death."

This woman was Melanie Hayden, daughter of the prestigious Haydens known for their medical background.

She had been learning medicine since she was a child and was considered one of the youngest surgeons in the country.

Irene's cane fell to the ground with a loud clatter.

She stumbled back, vision blurry.

At once, the room was filled with weeping from the relatives.

Though it was hard to tell how much of it was real grief.

Alice stood still, unfazed. She'd just arrived and didn't know the man, so she felt no emotional connection.

Her calm face stood out, and others quickly seized the chance to attack her.

"Wasn't someone just bragging about being a lucky charm?"

"Yeah, right. The moment she shows up, Mr. Oscar dies.

"No wonder the Spencers dumped the real heiress for a fake one—turns out this girl is cursed.

"Before this gets out to the media, we should cancel the marriage.

"Honestly, calling her a killer wouldn't be far off."

A sudden, icy voice sliced through the room.

"Oh? So outsiders are in charge of the Nolans matters now?"

Eric's words were like a blast of cold wind, sharp and chilling.

The crowd went silent, a shiver running through them.

Had they forgotten? Before falling into a coma, Eric was the one keeping the Nolans together.

He had even brought them back to the top of the Mapleford's elite.

With him defending Alice, no one dared say another word.

"What are you doing?!"

Melanie's sharp voice rang out suddenly.

It was only then that everyone noticed Alice had slipped into the room while Eric was busy scolding them.

"She's trying to harm Mr. Oscar!" Melanie shouted.

They rushed in and saw Melanie clutching Alice's wrist.

Alice raised an eyebrow, smirking.

"And what proof do you have that I harm him?"

Once the others were all inside, Melanie pointed at Oscar's head.

"Don't pretend I didn't see you stick needles into his skull! That's incredibly dangerous—one wrong move and—"

She didn't finish, but everyone understood what she meant.

Oscar's head now had over a dozen silver needles in it.

Alice sneered softly and withdrew her hand with a simple motion.

Melanie's expression darkened. "What are you up to this time?"

Since Alice had just finished the needle therapy, she remained calm and unbothered.

"Nothing really, I just thought it was strange."

Melanie snapped, "What exactly is so strange?"

Alice answered with a straight face,

"Didn't I tell you I'm a lucky charm? Shouldn't you be thankful I'm helping Mr. Oscar?"

Irene stepped forward, trembling with rage.

"You hurt my son and think I should be thankful about it? If something happens to Oscar today, you're going to pay with your life!"

When Melanie heard that, she relaxed completely.

A village girl was showing off with parlor tricks—hardly worth her time.

Lucky charm? Needle therapy? What a joke.

Did she really think she was Kite?

Kite—the mysterious doctor not affiliated with any hospital or organization.

The only one in the world with a 100% success rate in surgery.

A legend in needle therapy, said to revive the dead.

Even billionaires lined up just for a consultation, though no one had ever seen Kite's real face.

Melanie turned to Eric and sighed.

"If you don't stop her now, you'll regret it."

She shoved her hands into her coat pockets as if waiting to enjoy the show.

As the bickering continued, the rest of the Nolans seemed secretly pleased.

Whether Oscar passed away on his own or because of Alice,

his shares would be up for grabs either way.

It's a win either way.

Alice spoke again, her tone calm and steady.

"Pay with my life? Mr. Oscar is about to wake up, and I doubt he'll be on your side.."

The crowd burst into mocking laughter.

What, she expected a man near death to suddenly wake up? She was totally insane!

But right after she said that, a sharp coughing sound echoed from the room.

Everyone froze.

Oscar, who had looked moments away from death, slowly opened his eyes.

Melanie spun around, stunned beyond words.

The man she had just declared brain-dead ... was now awake.

It felt like someone had smacked her right in the face.

"No way ... this can't be happening!"

Alice didn't even flinch at everyone's stunned reactions.

Instead, she calmly made her way over to Eric and gently rested her hands on his wheelchair.

"Actually, I should thank you," she said with a faint smile.

Eric raised a brow, immediately getting a bad feeling about where this was going.

"You've always treated me like your lucky charm. You didn't stop me from going into Mr. Oscar's room either. You trusted me that much—it's really touching."

Everyone had been caught up in the shock of Oscar's miraculous recovery.

But now, after hearing what she said, their attention shifted to Alice and Eric.

Eric was dumbfounded.

Just a few simple lines, and she'd publicly tied the two of them together.

This woman was something else.

He rubbed his forehead, sighing quietly. At this point, he guessed they were "partners" now—barely.

"You handled things well. Didn't let anyone down," he said, face serious, finally admitting it.

Everyone was shocked.

While Irene and Ruby were still busy chatting with Oscar, completely unaware of what was happening outside, the others stared at Alice like she was their sworn enemy.

After all, they'd been counting on splitting up the shares once Oscar passed. But now? Their dreams had gone up in smoke.

Alice ignored their bitter glares and pushed Eric toward the main hall.

They needed a break before the real chaos started.

...

Unfortunately, they didn't get much rest. Before long, Eric left to go see Oscar.

Alice sat alone in the huge room, sipping a cup of tea.

But barely a moment later, Melanie walked in.

"You've got some serious tricks. Who trained you?"

Alice continued fiddling with her teacup, clearly not interested in talking.

Melanie's chest tightened in anger when she got no reply.

"I'm not here to waste time. Answer me!"

Alice let out a small laugh. "Didn't I already tell you? What, were your ears not working?"

Melanie paused. Had she said that?

Oh, right—Alice had claimed she was a lucky charm.

What nonsense. Only an idiot would believe that.

But judging by Alice's attitude, there was no way she'd spill anything today.

"You want money? Is 200 million enough? I'll give it to you—if you leave Eric."

Alice blinked. Did she hear that right?

"Wait ... you're serious?"

Melanie lost her patience.

She'd studied medicine for years just to save Eric, only to get shoved aside by some village girl?

Of course, she was angry.

Right now, she wanted nothing more than to claw that calm expression off Alice's face.

"Name your price. As long as you divorce him right now, I'll agree to anything."

She forced her temper down and spoke through gritted teeth.

Alice gently tapped the rim of her teacup, her fingers pale and smooth.

"You're clearly so devoted to him. Why not say this stuff in front of Eric?"

Melanie glared at her flawless face, her voice full of spite.

"I could if I wanted to. I didn't because I was trying to protect you!"

"Protect me?" Alice arched an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.

Melanie gave her a pitying look. "You really don't know?

"Eric became a vegetable because of a business war. You're just some girl from the countryside—if you stay with him, you'll only get dragged into the mess."

She even let out a dramatic sigh.

"Eric's ruthless. No one but me can keep him in check. If you don't leave, you might not make it out alive."

Alice lowered her eyes, a cold sharpness in her gaze.

Melanie mistook it for fear.

She thought Alice had finally realized she was out of her league.

She knew Eric liked someone else, and now she'd learned about his temper, too. Honestly, it was impressive she hadn't run yet.

"Alice, I'll arrange for you to leave tonight. The money I give you will be enough for a lifetime. Eric's on the brink of death—you can't possibly—"

"Ah!"

Before she could finish, Melanie let out a shriek.

Alice had dumped a full cup of hot tea right over her head.

It burned like fire, making her scalp tingle and her face twist in pain.

Alice stood up slowly, walking toward her step by step.

"Didn't he warn you I've got a short temper?"

Hmph.

Eric was the Nolans' future heir—he was worth billions.

Did she really care about just 200 million?

Besides, if she walked away now, how would she get her revenge?

"You just assaulted me! Are you out of your mind?"

Melanie's scream didn't seem to bother anyone in the mansion.

In fact, it was quiet enough to hear another scream from outside.

And that voice ...

Melanie turned and rushed out, only to find her assistant groveling on the ground, crying and begging for mercy.

Just a few minutes ago, she'd been strutting around in a white coat, full of herself.

Now, she looked like a total wreck—hair a mess, pale as a ghost.

And sitting in his wheelchair nearby was Eric, his expression cold as ice.

His cold, piercing stare felt almost inhuman—like something out of a nightmare.

The intensity in his eyes made everyone feel uneasy.

"Speak," he demanded.

His voice was icy, stripped of any warmth, sending a shiver through the room.

Alice had never seen this side of him before.

And honestly ... it was kind of intriguing.

The assistant looked like her soul had already left her body.

"I didn't mean it, Mr. Eric ...

"Everyone was saying you wouldn't make it through the night. I just repeated it.

"I'm a doctor! I'd never do anything to hurt anyone!"

Seeing her assistant in such deep trouble, Melanie didn't care about her own mess anymore.

She ran over immediately.

People nearby were murmuring to each other, and it wasn't difficult to figure out what went down.

Oscar, though seriously ill, still had a few years left.

But this assistant had told him Eric was going to die.

Hearing that, Oscar had coughed up blood on the spot.

That's when Melanie had been called to help.

"Mr. Eric, she's my assistant—she'd never harm Mr. Oscar. Besides, he's fine now, isn't he?"

Suddenly, the air felt like it had frozen.

Melanie's heart skipped a beat.

Why had she said that? Arguing with Alice had made her lose her head.

This was the worst possible time to open her mouth like that.

The assistant was shaking so hard she couldn't even cry anymore.

Eric let out a cold chuckle. "Stanley."

Stanley stepped forward and grabbed the assistant.

With brutal precision, he dislocated her jaw and snapped the bones in her hand.

She'd never practice medicine again.

Everyone from the Nolans stood there, stunned.

No one dared say a word.

Alice chuckled and looked straight at Melanie's pale face.

"So, Melanie, are you still offering me 200 million?"

That hit Melanie like a punch to the gut.

Her whole body trembled with fury.

The assistant was dragged away, and not a single person stepped in to help.

Alice suddenly felt a whole lot better.

Alice slowly walked over and stood in front of Irene and Ruby.

"So? Is this all taken care of now? I've been waiting forever."

Irene's face twisted in rage. "What kind of attitude is that?"

Alice blinked, looking innocent. "Oh? Does that mean I'm not getting the money?"

Irene's head nearly exploded.

"Anyone back from the Spencers' residence yet? Hand over the 50 million to her first."

They had no choice.

Alice claimed she was a lucky charm, and somehow Eric and his father woke up.

In front of all these people, if they didn't give her anything, they'd be the ones getting criticized.