Chapter 5

I actually owned a few properties myself, but they were all currently rented out. I couldn’t just kick out tenants because I needed a place to stay.

So I accepted Lucy’s suggestion and temporarily moved into Alex Sterling’s vacant house.

When Lucy handed me the keys, I asked again, still a little worried, “Your brother won’t suddenly come back, will he?”

“No, he won’t. I just asked him recently, and he said he has no plans to return for now.”

“Besides, if he does suddenly come back, you can just move in with me back at the Sterling family estate.”

That evening, Lucy invited me for a drink at a bar. A few drinks in, I spotted Jake and Mark. Chloe was with them. As for Leo, I wasn’t sure where he was hiding.

I pretended not to see them and turned my head. But out of the corner of my eye, I caught Chloe raising an eyebrow, a faint, mocking smirk on her lips as she stared at me.

“What’s wrong? See someone you know?” Lucy asked, following my gaze.

I took a sip of my drink, calmly replying, “Nothing. Just someone I’d rather not see.”

Feeling the alcohol, I rushed to the restroom.

Right at the entrance, I bumped into Chloe. Her chin was slightly lifted, her eyes filled with obvious disdain, and she let out a cold snort.

I walked past her without a word, but she suddenly flashed a knowing smile.

As I was about to leave the restroom, the scene reflected in the crack under the door made me freeze instantly—Chloe was wrapped tightly around Leo from behind, her hands tracing over his body.

“Leo, don’t be in such a hurry to leave.” Her voice was laced with seduction.

Leo’s brow was furrowed: “This isn’t appropriate. Let’s go somewhere else.”

But Chloe paid no mind. Instead, she took his hand, guiding it to her intimate parts. A smirk played at the corner of her eye as she stood on tiptoe and whispered hotly into his ear.

“Leo, it’s much more exciting here. Don’t you want to try?”

Leo’s eyes glazed over, succumbing to the irresistible temptation.

In the dim light by the restroom, their entwined figures flickered in and out of the shadows, the air thick with their intimacy.

Chloe savored Leo’s rising passion, her gaze occasionally flicking towards the restroom door. She caught a glimpse of my silhouette, and a triumphant smile curved her lips.

I bit down hard on my lower lip, trying to compose myself. It's just a quick fling, it'll be over soon. Just a minute or two, I can handle it.

After their footsteps faded, my phone suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up, and a line of text pierced my eyes like a needle: [He loves me so much. Can you feel it?]

My heart still ached, but Chloe’s provocation, ironically, became the remedy that ripped Leo from my heart by the roots. It was excruciatingly painful, yet incredibly effective. My sorrow was slowly replaced by disgust.

After a few more drinks at the bar, I returned home late. The alcohol briefly numbed my brain, making me miss the subtle changes in the house. My head spinning, I walked up to the second floor. After washing up, I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open. I pushed open my room door and dove straight into bed.

But the temperature under the covers felt off.

Instinctively, I reached out and touched a scorching hot body.

I shot upright. “Who’s there?”

*Click*. The lights came on.

The man squinted, his eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. When he saw me, his gaze lingered.

“Alice?”

My mind felt sluggish. It took me a long moment to respond.

“Alex Sterling? What are you doing here?”

I rubbed my throbbing temples, trying to clear the fog from my thoughts.

“This is my room,” he said, his tone flat, yet with a hint of subtle concern. “Drinking?”

I nodded, explaining, “Sorry, I drank too much. I must have walked into the wrong room.”

With that, I fumbled to get out of bed.

But Alex suddenly reached out and grabbed my wrist, his voice low:

“Since you’re here, don’t be in such a hurry to leave.”

“We have some scores to settle.”

Hearing his words, the image of Leo and Chloe together flashed in my mind. A strange impulse surged through me, overriding my reason.

“Alex, marry me.”

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Alex’s eyes widened slightly, clearly not expecting such an abrupt proposal. The grip on my wrist eased slightly, but he didn't let go.

“You’re drunk,” he said in a low voice, a hint of scrutiny in his tone.