Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 82

"If anything comes up with my grandfather, he won't reach out to you directly. He'll come to me first. So, I'll handle any issues for you. All you need to do is trust me—completely," Tyrone explained.

Alicia nodded.

The car rumbled to a stop in the orphanage's crumbling old courtyard. Out on the cracked basketball court, a handful of children chased each other, laughter echoing in the air.

Most of the kids who remained at this orphanage had been abandoned because of congenital illnesses or disabilities. Without families willing to adopt them, they had nowhere else to go—so the orphanage became their permanent home.

Some were well past eighteen, but since they couldn't function independently in the outside world, Albertine refused to force them out. This place had become the only family they'd ever known.

"Alicia's back!" Zoe, who worked in the kitchen, spotted Alicia through the window and called out, barely able to contain her excitement.

Moments later, Albertine appeared, leading a few other staff members down the steps.

"Albertine." Alicia's voice trembled as she called out, her throat tight with emotion.

It struck her—she hadn't been back since leaving for college. Four years. For all that time, they'd only kept in touch through calls and the occasional message.

Vincent had never once offered to come back with her. The bus fare from Seaview City to Willowshire County was too expensive, and Alicia had always found herself unwilling to spend the money, choosing instead to send what little she could to the orphanage rather than visit in person.

"Albertine, how's everything here?" Alicia asked, hugging her tightly.

Albertine smiled and patted Alicia's back. "We're doing well. The paperwork for the orphanage's renovation finally came through. We were on the verge of being shut down for lack of funds. But… the Lynch Foundation reached out to us."

Albertine's voice caught as she spoke, overwhelmed with relief.

It felt like things were finally turning around.

Alicia looked at Tyrone, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Albertine, that's Mr. Lynch—the president of Lynch Corporation."