Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 33

Today, when Vincent promised to help Alicia secure the opportunity to study abroad, it was all part of his plan to keep her reliant on him, just as she always had been.

Once he was married, he could send Alicia away for further studies—a perfect arrangement that benefitted both sides.

But if he moved in with Mina now...

"Vin?" Mina looked at Vincent, her voice tinged with nervousness.

"Alright... but the house needs a bit of remodeling first. After all, you'll be moving in as the lady of the house, and it'll be our home together. It deserves a fresh look. Once it's done, we can move in together—how does that sound?" Vincent offered up the excuse smoothly.

The truth was, he simply wasn't ready to give up Alicia before the wedding.

Maybe he was just too satisfied with her, physically...

Mina stared at Vincent for a moment, forcing a bright smile. "Sure, that sounds nice..."

She clenched her hands tightly beneath the table. Even though she knew Vincent was just stalling, she pretended not to notice.

But inside, panic was already taking over.

No. She couldn't let Alicia stick around any longer.

***

Crystal Waters.

Alicia arrived in the lobby right on time, just as Mina had asked.

Mina, unsurprisingly, was already there.

Crystal Waters was a private club owned by the Holloway family—an exclusive, members-only retreat for the city's elite. Only those with fortunes in the millions could even hope to get a membership card.

The place offered everything: golf, spa treatments, hot springs, a luxury hotel...

"Hey, assistant!" Mina greeted Alicia warmly, a white bandage still fixed across her forehead.

Alicia's gaze was cold. Whatever illusions she'd once had about Mina's kindness had been shattered.

"You really think you can fight against people like me all on your own? Don't be naïve. Your classmates will smear your name for money. Your teachers can be bribed to hand your spot to someone else. I can pay enough to have your orphanage bulldozed off the map. And you? You have no one. No one's on your side."

Mina's words were cutting, but she wasn't wrong.

"If there's nothing left to discuss, I'll be going," Alicia said, standing up.

Mina glanced at the security guard standing nearby.

"You can leave—but we'll need to check your phone and your pockets first," the guard said, his tone firm.

"Even the police can't search me without cause. Miss Mina Holloway, don't you know the law?" Alicia turned back to Mina.

"Here at Crystal Waters, my word is the law," Mina replied coldly.

She was so sure of herself—her arrogance almost slipped into carelessness.

Alicia smiled, picking up her phone. "Sorry, I didn't record anything. But I did start a live stream. So even if I never walk out of Crystal Waters, everyone's already seen just how ruthless Mina Holloway can be."