Chapter 177
Voices from outside interrupted them. They quickly distanced themselves.
Alice scrambled up.“I… I need to change my clothes.”
Jack sat up and watched Alice flee.
He lay back down. He was no better. His heart was racing.
He tilted his head to look at the sunset. It was indeed beautiful.
But the sunset was not as beautiful as she was.
***
Alice went back to the locker room.
She sat on the chair and covered her face. It took some time for her to calm down.
Had her heartbeat been that loud?
Did he hear it?
Alice rubbed her face and took a shower. Her body ached.
She changed her clothes. Her hair was dried and cascaded on her shoulder. She looked quiet..
She looked around but didn’t see Jack. Had he left?
Alice picked up her phone but hesitated before texting Jack.
“Not leaving?”
-Jack stood there. He had changed clothes, and his hair was still damp.
Alice put down her phone and walked over. They walked out, both smelling of the same gym shower gel.
The sun had set. The sky was darker.
At the dorm building, Alice stopped.“I need to go back to the dorm.”
“Okay. Remember to ice your arms. Avoid intense training. You’ll get injured.”
Alice heard his low, serious voice.
She lowered her head and looked at Jack’s chest.“I know.”
“You’ve been training so hard… You look like learning skills to save your life in the war!”
Jack was still so sharp–tongued.
Alice looked up.“Yes, I’m saving my life.”
“What are you afraid of?”
Jack sensed the change in her, but her distance made her hard to read.
Was she worried about the Garcia family?
But Jack had pressured them, and Max had apologized.
Alice feigned ease.“I’m not afraid of anything. I just want to be stronger.”
Only when she became stronger could she protect herself and those she cared about.
“I’ll head back to school.”
15:40
Menu
39.4%
< Chapter 177
Alice left when noticing someone was watching them.
Jack watched Alice go. Her petite figure looked resilient.
Jack remembered their first encounter in the infirmary. Alice was depressed and downcast.
Now, she had a temper.
Back in the dorm, Alice thought about their sparring session and the near–kiss.
She covered her eyes, feeling the soreness in her arms.
“Alice, your delivery.”
Alice stood up. Lana handed her a parcel.“I didn’t order anything.”
“It has your name on it. Want to check it?”
Alice opened it. She found pain relief patches and boxing guidance including injury prevention.
She knew who sent it.
Alice took a photo and texted Jack, “Did you send me this?”
“It’s effective.”
His reply was simple.
Alice applied the patches. Lana helped with her back.
Lana asked as if gossiping, “Who sent this? Your boyfriend?”
“Just a friend.”
Alice looked at the book, feeling like Jack was mocking her.
She transferred some money to Jack.
He replied with a question mark.
“No freebies.”
She waited but got no reply. Jack hadn’t accepted the money.
The next morning, Alice found the aches were worse.
But the patches helped.
Jack had guessed it correctly.
Alice went downstairs with Lana for class.
But she saw Luke outside.
With his tall figure and fine features, Luke was attracting many girls‘ attention.
Alice looked away, walking forward.
But sometimes avoiding was useless.
“Alice, wait.”
Alice frowned.“Move. I’m late for class.”
“Just a few minutes. I can wait until you finish your class.”
He was insistent.
Alice was impatient.“Say it.”
15:40
Menu
39.4%
< Chapter 177
Menu
Luke’s expression was uneasy. He said hoarsely, “This time, it was Chloe and me to blame. Noah wasn’t involved. He invested half his wealth in this project. If it fails…”
“Stop. You’re pleading, right?”
Luke nodded with an anxious look.“I’ll make it up to you. Please don’t blame Noah.”
Alice was sarcastic.“What do you expect me to do?”
“Tell the organizers the Welch Group didn’t plagiarize. We’re family, and it was a joke.”
Alice laughed.“Only the Welch family would make such a ridiculous request.”
“Alice, I didn’t mean anything else.”
Lana couldn’t take it anymore.“Sir, you’re asking Alice to lie to the organizers. Have you considered the consequences? Will her company believe her?
“You only care about saving yourselves, leaving Alice to take the blame. That’s not fair!”
Lana was angry.
She could see how biased the Welches were at the election. But this time they went too far.
Luke was speechless. He looked at Alice.“I know this is hard.”
“Since you know it’s hard, you shouldn’t have asked. But you said it anyway. You don’t care about how awkward Alice would be. You don’t deserve to be her brother!”
Luke was scolded and speechless.
Lana said, “Let’s go. We’re late.”
Alice looked at Luke.“Have you received the lawyer’s letter?”
“Lawyer’s letter? You’re suing us?”
Luke’s eyes were filled with disbelief.
Alice smirked.“Get a good lawyer.”
Alice and Lana left.
Luke looked stunned.
He knew Alice was angry. But he hadn’t expected her to sue them.
Chloe rushed over, looking anxious.
“Luke, Alice sued us! The lawyer’s letter was with Ethan! What should we do? What did Alice say when you talked to
her?”
Luke couldn’t straighten his back.
His eyes were red.“Chloe, this is all your fault.”
< Chapter 178
