Chapter 6 But every time the thought crossed her mind , Alicia couldn't help but feel ridiculous - she simply didn't belong in a place like this . " Mina , I brought something for you . " ) Alicia had come with a gift a tin of homemade cookies . She used to make these for the children at the orphanage - a modest treat , not worth much in anyone's eyes , but filled with her genuine care . After all , there was nothing she could give that would mean anything to someone in Mina's world .

Mina accepted the cookies with a smile , flipping open the lid for a peek before glancing over her shoulder at Vincent . " I think I saw these same cookies in Vin's car earlier . " Vincent's expression tightened , and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy He probably thought Alicia was doing this on purpose - using the cookies to provoke Mina - and the idea clearly annoyed him . But Alicia honestly had no idea Vincent ever kept any of her cookies in his car I " It's just that … Mr.

Lawson would sometimes skip breakfast when he was busy , so if I had extra , I'd leave some cookies in his office … " Alicia rushed to explain , her anxiety making her fingers stiff and awkward.B The physical symptoms of her depression were still severe , and only getting worse. !! Seems like Vin is quite fond of his assistant's cookies - he even brings them in the car , Mina said gently , her voice as soft as ever.

But there was a razor's edge beneath that sweetness.8 Alicia stared at the floor , feeling utterly lost . She knew saying more would only make things worse ; Vincent was bound to think she was trying to get under Mina's skin on purpose . " I'm not a fan .

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I probably tossed them in the trash , and Charles picked them out by mistake and left them in the car , Vincent replied offhandedly , as if it was hardly worth his attention.D Charles , Vincent's driver and assistant , made a convenient scapegoat . Alicia went rigid . Trash . So the cookies she'd woken up before dawn to make - buming her hands on boiling water in nothing but garbage to Vincent . Maybe he was sending her a message , loud and clear !!

the process - were Mina smiled again and asked the housekeeper to bring Alicia a pair of disposable slippers . " Relax . Let me introduce you to my friends . " Mina gave Alicia the throwaway slippers , but all the other guests wore the plush , custom ones set aside for regular visitors . It couldn't be clearer - Mina was only inviting her here this one time . Vincent had once told her that Mina , divorced and sensitive , never let down her guard .

But what Vincent didn't know was that Alicia was even more fragile than anyone could guess . She'd grown up an orphan , learning early that survival depended on reading every nuance of a room . Vincent noticed the difference in slippers too , but said nothing . He simply accepted it . Accepted that Alicia would never be welcome here again . " Everyone , this is Vin's assistant - a lovely young woman ," Mina said brightly , introducing Alicia to the group in the parlor .

Alicia kept her head down , bowing politely . But when she looked up , it felt as if she'd stumbled into an icy void . Six people sat around the tea table . Three of them were her old college classmates - the very ones who'd made her life hell back then . Mira , Henry Holloway , Cecilia Weston …. Alicia stood frozen , trembling uncontrollably . She shot a desperate look at Vincent , pleading for help.X Maybe Mina didn't know her past , but did Vincent truly not realize ? !!

He knew exactly who Mina had invited , yet he still forced her to come . Did he want to destroy her ??