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.
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