Rising From Betrayal Reborn As The Family Outcast novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

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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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.”

Maxwell let out a sigh of relief. “Glad it wasn’t anything serious.”

He looked a bit guilty. “Honestly, I had something I couldn’t get out of that day. That’s why I missed her show.”

He sighed again. “Nicole really didn’t help. Why did she post that group photo? She totally stirred the pot.”

For the past two years, Alicia had made no secret of how much she couldn’t stand Nicole and her mother.

Last year, at a family dinner between the Hammond and Delaney families, Alicia completely ignored Nicole and her mother, which really pissed off her uncle, who ended up scolding her.

But Alicia just flipped the whole table over, sending food flying everywhere, and the whole dinner ended in a

total mess.

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This time, Alicia invited them first, but they all skipped her show and then showed up to support Nicole the very next day.

When Alicia learned that, of course she was pissed.

Maxwell grumbled, “But Alicia blocked us over something so minor? That’s kind of over the top.”

Nicolas wasn’t too happy either, especially about Nicole posting that group photo.

But Nicole was always timid and pure–hearted. Nicolas thought she probably didn’t do it on purpose. She was just genuinely glad they came to support her.

Besides, she was so sensitive. It didn’t feel right to blame her for it.

Otherwise, she’d probably end up crying somewhere by herself, or just keep it all bottled up inside.

Nicolas knocked back another drink. “I think she’s being a bit much too, but I just can’t get her to forgive me. That’s what’s driving me crazy.”

Just then, his phone lit up with two messages from his assistant.

He checked them, and his expression changed.

He exited WhatsApp and switched over to X. After reading the posts, his face turned stormy.

Noticing Nicolas’s expression, Maxwell asked, “What’s wrong?”

Nicolas handed Maxwell the phone. “See for yourself.”

Maxwell took the phone and scrolled through the posts, his expression turning grim.

He looked even more baffled. “Why did Alicia suddenly join Jason’s team? What is she up to?”

They’d all gone to the same middle school as Jason, and even back then, they were always at each other’s throats.

The real kicker was that, for the past two years, Jason had been going absolutely nuts targeting Nicolas’s cousin, Victor Farrell.

Things between Jason and the Farrell family got seriously messy.

Because the Moore family was tight with Victor, they got caught in the crossfire too.

Nicolas had ended up taking the fall for Victor more than once, due to Jason.

Whenever they ran into Jason, it was like they were enemies.

Since they were Nicolas’s childhood buddies and always sided with Victor, it was a given they’d be on Victor’s

team.

Nicolas’s knuckles went white around his glass. “Honestly, I want to know what she’s up to too.”

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He clenched his jaw. “She can be pissed at us, she can throw a tantrum at me, but getting involved with Jason is crossing the line.”

Seeing Nicolas so worked up, Maxwell couldn’t help but say, “Let me try and get in touch with her.”

He flagged down a waiter and asked to borrow their phone.

Right now, Alicia was over at Jason’s place.

They’d originally planned to meet up for treatment tomorrow, but Jason messaged her saying he’d already got everything she needed ready.

Since Jason had stood up for her on social media, Alicia felt pretty upbeat, so she headed over to his place ahead of schedule.

It was not like she was leaning on him or actually needed someone to back her up.

But ever since Nicole and her mother moved in with the Hammonds, nobody ever stood up for Alicia, no matter what she went through.

They’d only tell her, “Nicole is younger than you. Can’t you just cut her some slack?

“She’s not in great health. Why do you have to get into it with her? Can’t you just be a bit more chill about it?

“She’s so sensitive and fragile. If you keep this up, she’s just gonna run off and cry by herself again.”

Alicia thought the whole thing was a joke. They weren’t even blood–related.

Besides, she was only three months older than Nicole.

And even if they were actual sisters, the older one didn’t have to cave to the younger.

Nicole was always so fragile and sensitive. Whenever she got upset, she’d sneak off to cry, claim she was depressed, or even pull the whole suicide act.

But all of that had nothing to do with Alicia. She didn’t understand why she always had to back down.

To Alicia, if Nicole really wanted to die, she’d done it ages ago. No way she’d still be living it up like nothing ever happened.

Only her family would ever fall for it and keep fussing over Nicole.

Honestly, Alicia never expected the one to have her back without hesitation would be Jason, the guy she was always at odds with.

Whether he was being genuine or just had his own agenda, at least it made her feel like she wasn’t fighting this battle alone anymore.

Alicia was the type who’d always give back three times, even ten times the kindness she received.

So she showed up early to help Jason out with his treatment.

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Right now, she was putting together the herbal bath pack for him.

When her phone rang, she just picked it up without thinking.

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