Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 5

"You're asking me to help your future wife with your proposal… Vincent, how are you any different from Mira? Why are you so cruel to me?" Alicia's voice was hoarse, her composure unraveling.

She was done pretending.

Vincent's face was cold as stone as he stared at Alicia. "Still insisting you're not picking a fight?"

Alicia felt like she couldn't breathe. Because what she truly wanted—Vincent would never give.

"Even if I don't marry Mina, one day I'll marry someone else. Maybe Emily from the Harrington family, or perhaps the daughter of the Lyons. But the one person I will never marry is you. Do you understand?"

Vincent had made himself perfectly clear.

Alicia lacked the pedigree; she'd never belong in his world.

Vincent cared deeply about social standing. The fact that he'd ever taken her in at all was the most reckless thing he'd done in his life.

He would never give Alicia an official place by his side.

Alicia let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh. "I never expected you'd marry me. I know my place… I always knew we'd end sooner or later."

"Alicia, you're an adult. Try to be realistic. As long as you behave, when this ends, I won't leave you with nothing. You can pick any apartment you like in Seaview City. I'll make sure you have a car and more money than you'll need." Vincent stood up and walked toward her. "Come by early tomorrow."

"I want to get married too, Vincent." Alicia's voice was numb.

Vincent paused mid-step, turning back to look at her.

"I mean it," Alicia said, lifting her head as tears slipped down her cheeks, uninvited.

"Get some rest. I'll pretend you're just having a tantrum. When you're serious about ending this and really want to get married, let me know. I'll find you a decent, ambitious young man from the company—someone from a normal background." Vincent was magnanimous as he left.

He was convinced that, with her background, Alicia couldn't find anyone better.

Every mansion worth over ten million in Seaview City had been built by Harboridge Riverside Properties. Vincent's villa and Mr. Lynch's Riverside Mansion were both among the city's most exclusive homes.

It wasn't Alicia's first time at Vincent's place. As his intern, she'd picked him up here many times, but every visit left her feeling uneasy.

Maybe it was because she'd grown up an orphan, but Alicia longed for a home more than anything.

Vincent kept her tucked away elsewhere. Her rented apartment—one of Seaview City's most luxurious—wasn't a real home. It was a gilded cage, a place to keep her out of sight.

But Vincent's true home was here—and there would never be a place for her in it.

"Assistant's here," Mina called out with a bright smile as Alicia entered.

Mina's presence in the mansion was effortless; she fit the role of lady of the house with absolute ease.

Alicia used to dream about what it would be like to marry Vincent, to stand here as the woman of this house, to finally belong somewhere…