Chương 5: Second Encounter

Desperate shouts rang out as everyone rushed to her.

Raya felt delighted inwardly but put on a pitiful and sad expression as she said, "This is because of you! If you hadn't argued with the old lady and caused her to be angry, she wouldn't have collapsed."

"Oh God, she's done for," the guests whispered among themselves. If the old lady died, it would be because of Alice, and the Hunts would never let it go.

Sherlin was delighted as well, smiling to herself. It would be best if the Hunts held Alice accountable for the old lady's death; that way, Alice would never escape.

"You killed my grandma!" Raya pointed at Alice and cried out pitifully.

Alice, on the other hand, stated calmly and coldly, "Who said she's dead?"

"She's clearly dead! You killed her!" Raya shouted hysterically.

Alice ignored her and said to the old man, seemingly relaxed, "Find a way to crush one of the longevity pills I gave just now and feed it to her without water."

The old man hurriedly followed Alice's instructions, crushed the pills, and fed them to her.

After a few minutes, the old lady started coughing and slowly regained consciousness.

The guests whispered, "Who would have thought she attained an unattainable gift? We looked down on it."

"And she didn't even bother to explain the gift or prove us wrong... she's truly the definition of a socialite."

"She actually obtained the longevity pills and proved us wrong when we doubted their authenticity—wow..."

"Her gift is even more valuable than the one Miss Raya presented."

Raya listened to the changing whispers, filled with anger. That bitch dared to outshine her in her own party!

The old duo gave their heartfelt appreciation to Alice before retiring to their rooms to rest.

Alice calmly accepted their appreciation. The thought of her disciple actually creating effective longevity pills showed that he had not been slacking off after she left. Although the pills would have been more effective and worked immediately, not after some minutes—if made by her, it was still remarkable for her disciple to have come this far. She smiled softly and slowly walked to a secluded corner, sitting down. The gown she was wearing was uncomfortable for her, as she preferred and was used to her casual, high-end tops and jeans.

Raya's expression faltered, envy etching her features as she attempted to regain her composure. Recalling the duo's earlier acknowledgment of Alice, she walked up to her. "I suppose anyone can get a pill," she scoffed, her tone dripping with condescension.

Alice met her gaze, unwavering. "Perhaps, but not everyone can command respect in the way I do."

"You…" she lamented, her voice laced with disdain, and then walked away.

Nearby, Jermin's attention was reluctantly drawn to the spectacle. He watched Alice with a mix of intrigue and disdain, thoughts swirling in his mind. A child at her age, and yet she commands such attention. It's irritating. Yet, there was a nagging curiosity about her boldness, a magnetism he couldn't shake off.

"Who is she?" Marcus his friend leaned closer, intrigued. "I saw her when she entered; she has a presence, doesn't she?"

"Just a woman with a child, trying to make a name for herself," Jermin replied curtly, masking the stir of intrigue with disinterest.

As the night progressed, Alice observed the party quietly. She didn't like socializing but had to do so to establish her foothold.

Just as she thought she might relax, her family approached. John's smug expression ignited a spark of anger within her. "Well, well, if it isn't the ghost of our past," he sneered, though his eyes betrayed a hint of recognition. He couldn't believe this was the woman, he had unknowingly approached at the airport.

"Surprised to see me, John?" Alice replied, her voice steady but laced with bitterness. "Or perhaps disappointed that I'm not dead?"

Sherlin stood beside him, a contemptuous smile curling her lips. "I always knew you were too weak to stay gone. Look at you still clinging to the past."

Alice's resolve hardened. "I'm here to reclaim what is rightfully mine, not to wallow in your shadows. The past is behind me, and so are your lies." With that she walked away.

Meanwhile, the temperature in a secluded area had dropped a few degrees. Jermin stared at his phone, anger evident in his eyes as his handsome face darkened. His subordinates behind him didn't dare make a sound, afraid of incurring his wrath.

Jermin had attended this party unwillingly, simply because his forces had informed him that the invitation sent to Dr. Anti had been accepted. He had sent his shadow guards to search the whole area, but they couldn't find her. After making inquiries, he was told that although she accepted the invitation, as per the Hunt family's orders, only fifty guests were allowed to attend the party. The last spot of the invited guests was taken by that damn woman, Alice. So that was why Dr. Anti had not attended the party.

All his efforts to track her had been thwarted by that woman. He would make her pay.

Alice sneezed out of the blue and wondered who was talking about her. She decided to go to the balcony for some fresh air to clear her mind. The balcony was as spacious as two large bedrooms, as expected of a prominent family like the Hunts. She leaned into the railing and stared ahead. Just as her thoughts began to wander, she heard a magnetic but cold voice behind her.

"I wonder how many beds you climbed to get this invitation." He looked at her mockingly as he walked closer, his breath brushing against her neck. "Or rather, who you managed to sleep with." For some reason, he felt drawn to the sweet scent on her body. It instantly cleared the headache that had been lingering every day, and his head felt clear after inhaling her scent. Just as he was thinking, a clear, cold voice interrupted his thoughts.

"It doesn't matter whose bed I climbed through to obtain the invitation," she retorted. She didn't know if her assistant had accepted the invitation sent to her directly or to Dr. Anti, so she decided to go with the flow of what this lunatic said to cover up. "So long as I didn't climb into yours, it means you're not worth it." She clicked her tongue, smiled lightly, and continued taking light steps away from him because they were too close.

Jermin's face darkened and twitched slightly as he watched her actions and listened to her words. Was she stating that he wasn't qualified to have her and avoiding physical contact with him?

"I'd love to see whose bed you'd climb to go higher in the future." Alice stared at his handsome but cold face. The piercing in his left ear added to his dark aura, coupled with his tattoos that gave him a devilish look. He looked like an alluring angel from the gates of hell. She had to admit that he was devilishly and astonishingly handsome, but she couldn't be captivated by this narcissistic man because she cared less. "Whoever that person is, it surely won't be you," she stated, walking away with her head held high.

Jermin stared at her departing figure and couldn't fathom her earlier words: she didn't like him? How was that even possible? He was the most suitable bachelor for women, ranking first when good-looking men were called. No one could compare with him. Many women tried every means to get to him, yet this woman acted as if she didn't care about him at all. His gaze was fixed on her retreating back until her figure disappeared. He smiled faintly and slowly retreated.

The night continued with laughter and festivities.

As the party came to an end and most guests started leaving, Alice leaned against a marble pillar, taking a moment to breathe and gather her thoughts. Her eyelids drooped slightly, and her long lashes cast soft shadows on her cheeks. She didn't enjoy events like this, but to establish her business and gain a foothold, she had to attend and mingle more.

Her mind drifted back to her earlier encounter with Jermin. Her aunt abroad had warned her against getting involved with him, advising that if she had to associate with him at all, it should be as a friend, not an enemy. Her aunt had told her that, although he was the CEO of the largest enterprise at home and abroad, he was also an underground mafia boss—ruthless and unflinching when it came to taking lives.

Alice couldn't understand how she kept having coincidental encounters with him when she preferred to focus on her goals and avoid mingling. Her gaze scanned the room; most guests had already dispersed, and her eyes landed on Sherlin and John, their faces a blend of disbelief and simmering anger.

"How could she change in just three years?" Sherlin hissed under her breath, her gaze sharp enough to cut. She hated to admit it, but Alice looked exceptionally beautiful, her scars healed and her cold temperament lending her a magnetic allure. Even A-list celebrities would pale in comparison to her.

John, standing beside Sherlin, wore a mask of confusion, his earlier disdain giving way to a flicker of regret. He had witnessed Alice's transformation, and for the first time, he was confronted with the reality of what he had lost. Sherlin couldn't even compare to her in beauty. Alice was no longer the meek woman he had discarded but a force to be reckoned with.

Alice turned away from their piercing stares, noting that she would soon need to leave the party to return to her daughter. Thinking of her daughter, her lips curved slightly.

The moment was interrupted by a familiar voice, a low murmur that sliced through the din of the party. "What a display, Alice. Quite the crowd-pleaser, aren't you?"

Alice turned to see Raya standing there, flanked by a couple of friends. The smirk on Raya's face was unmistakable, a clear attempt to undermine Alice's moment. "Too bad it's just for show. People will see through it eventually."

Alice raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth curling into a sardonic smile. "Show or not, I believe it's better than remaining unnoticed, don't you think, country bumpkin?" Raya was an old aquintance from when she was in the country side, luckily, for her she was adopted, by the wealthiest family in the country, and since then she became an arrogant socialite...

She had always picked on Alice wanting to show that she was now above her, Alice had always let it slide before, but that wouldn't be the case now.

How....dare you?" Ever since she was adopted she had put, her past behind, and hated being reminded, and Alice just did that by calling her that name.

The tension in the air thickened, but Alice was too uninterested to waste her energy on Raya. Instead, she walked away, navigating her way through the crowd. Raya clenched her fists in anger, watching Alice ignore her, her mind silently plotting to eliminate Alice before she became an obstacle.

Just then, Alice's phone vibrated. With a graceful yet subtle motion, she paused and glanced down to read the message.

"You left without any clue...it seems you're running away from me but you cant.."