Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Nicolas asked Maxwell to meet him at a bar for drinks.
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The bar was run by people from their own circle, and privacy was always guaranteed. They’d hang out there pretty often.
Nicolas sat by himself, nursing a drink and brooding.
Maxwell had a match today and only showed up after it was over.
He walked over and sat down on the couch across from Nicolas. “What’s up with you?”
Nicolas poured him a drink. “Just feeling down.”
Maxwell twirled his glass. “Why drag me out when you’re in a mood? Just ask Alicia to go for a spin on your motorcycle and chill out.”
Maxwell was the same age as Nicolas and Caleb, all twenty-two.
Even though Alicia was two years younger, she always fit right in with them.
Back in middle school, Alicia had skipped two grades in elementary school and got into the same school as the guys, so they all ended up studying together.
They were basically inseparable, a tight-knit group of four who grew up together.
Whenever any of them was feeling down, they’d go to Alicia. She might not know how to comfort them with words, but she’d always join them in whatever crazy thing they wanted to do, just to help them blow off some
steam.
Nicolas knocked back his drink. “She’s what’s got me all worked up.
“She asked me to come see her concert last time, but I had to film a big scene and couldn’t go. She got really mad at me.
“She blocked me everywhere, won’t even acknowledge me when we bump into each other, and even dropped out of our agency.”
Maxwell looked taken aback. “I didn’t go to her show either.”
Nicolas raised his eyebrows. “Then she definitely blocked you too.”
Maxwell let out a laugh. “Come on, she’d never block me.”
He grabbed his phone and said, “I’ll call her right now, invite her over for a drink, and give you a shot to make up with her.
“Plus, my wrists have been killing me from all the practice lately. I’ll have her work her acupuncture magic on it while she’s here.”
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13:01 Wed, May 13
Chapter 24
84
5 vouchers
Whenever his wrist or anything else started bothering him, he’d always have Alicia work her acupuncture magic. It always did the trick and kept the pain away for quite a while.
Nicolas made a gesture. “Go ahead.”
He couldn’t help but wonder if Alicia had blocked Maxwell too.
Maxwell dialed Alicia’s number, but it just kept going straight to voicemail.
He tried a few more times, but got the same result. He frowned, “Maybe she’s busy, or her phone’s got crappy reception.”
Nicolas suggested, “Try WhatsApp.”
Maxwell nodded, opened WhatsApp, and sent her a message.
But after waiting for a long time, the message still remained unread.
Nicolas didn’t even have to check. He could already guess the result and joked, “Guess you got blocked too.”
Knowing that he was not the only one on Alicia’s blacklist, Nicolas felt better.
Maxwell looked genuinely confused. “Seriously? All this just because we missed one show?”
He was stunned she’d actually blocked both of them.
Nicolas let out a sigh. “She got hurt during her show and wound up in the hospital, but we had no idea.
“The next day, while she was still in the hospital, we didn’t visit her or even reach out. Instead, we went to Nicole’s gala.
“Nicole even posted a group photo of us on X, and Alicia got mocked for it. That’s when she flipped out.”
Maxwell paused, then asked with real concern, “She got hurt? Was it serious?”
Nicolas shook his head. “Nah, it wasn’t a bad injury, but she’s super mad this time. Says we’re not even close anymore, and there’s just no talking her down.”
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