Be Your Lover Forever (Alicia)

Alicia crouched down, trying to pick up the sausage. However, she lost control of her emotions and ended up hugging her knees as she wept aloud. Her cries rang in the air.

Why did his attitude change so greatly all of a sudden? What had she done wrong? He didn't even give her a sign to prepare herself...

All of a sudden? A sign?

A realization dawned on her. Alicia looked up abruptly and stopped sobbing.

[Ally, believe me. Always keep in mind that I love you very much.]

[Are you talking about the 'ten- times promise' again? I remember everything that happened between us, Frederick.]

The next second, his words echoed in her ears and the wedding incident at Four Seasons Hotel struck her at the same time. Reaching back into the past, Alicia closed her eyes and murmured under her breath.

"If you really don't love me anymore, why weren't you willing to say it to me for the second time?

Why did you only drive me away instead?"

Was he really hiding something from her?

Alicia noticed something strange as she was ruminating on his words and everything that happened at the wedding. Indeed, he could get a divorce without her consent. However, he had no need to deceive her to do so. If he genuinely insisted on breaking up with her, she wouldn't have a choice but to accept his decision.

Because she and her family could not afford to offend him.

He could've made everything simple if that was the case.

Why was she the only one who had been kept away from all these since everyone else had already known, including Jeremy and Danica? What was their purpose? What was on their mind?

"Ally, believe me. Always keep in mind that I love you very much."

Frederick's enchanting voice lingered in her mind. Looking at the sausage in her hand, Alicia slowly walked to the trash can and threw it away just as Frederick had done the other day, quick and clean.

"You little glutton, you should eat less street food. It's not good for your health!"

His affectionate voice and charming appearance in Alicia's head made her broke into laughter through her tears. "Honey, I really want to hear you nagging me again."

Snuffling hard, she threw her head back and held tears in her eyes, talking to herself, "Alicia, what are you crying for? It's no use to cry over someone who left you. He's not worth it."

She had gone through so much, and she had let go of many heartbroken relationships before. Why couldn't she do the same this time but feel hurt instead?

"You can let go of him!"

"Just let time do its job!"

Gazing at the starry night, she felt much more comfortable after coaxing herself. Perhaps it was because she had let out her sadness, or maybe she had eventually come around, or she had caught a glimpse of hope in her memories. "One year, for you and me!"

Just then, her mobile phone rang. It was from Flora. She quickly wiped away her tears, took a deep breath and answered the call,

"Mom, it's me."

After telling Flora that she was fine and chatted with her, she made a suggestion.

"Mom, don't come back with dad yet. I'm going to Bayton City to get something sorted and perhaps I'll clean up the house too. I'll pick you up after a few days. We can go to the seaside for vacation by then..."

If her parents returned now, they would be living in fear again.

She mustn't be defeated no matter how! She and her family had gone through a lot to live a good life. They would never want to repeat their miserable past. Alicia thought it would be better for her parents not to be in Bayton City for now. She talked to her mother with a smile on her face, trying hard to hide her worries.

After hanging up the phone, she let out a deep sigh. A bright crescent was shining in the night.

She smiled weakly and said, "People part and meet again as the moon waxes and wanes... Well meet again at last, won't we?"

Shortly after, she left with an eased mind.

The next day, Alicia packed her things and returned to Bayton City.

Her mind was entangled with

thoughts. She didn't go back to her parents because she was afraid that they would find out something wrong with her. She didn't want to stay in Casterwich City and get anyone else into her mess either. Therefore, she didn't even tell Nicholas about her problems.

Some misery was to be kept to herself.

Her emotions were still unstable though she had figured it out. After she was back in Bayton City, she spent her days going to places where she shared sweet memories with Frederick. She walked aimlessly with an absent mind. She stood in a daze on the field of St. Abbott University and at the entrance of the cafeteria. She would also smile to

herself at the setting sun at dawn.

Her confidence grew as she was revisiting those places. However, she realized that those sweet memories were very much conflicted with his current decision. She would rather believe in her memories.

If she continued staying abroad and knew nothing of all these, would they still be in love as they were?

Alicia couldn't stop thinking about it. A bold guess crossed her mind.

Was his sudden change an unexpected move? Perhaps, he had been hiding all these from her to erase himself from her life.

There must be something that he couldn't tell her.

When she arrived home later that day, she posted a photo of the heart-shaped shadow she made with her hand under the sunset.

The caption read, "Time flies, but never will I

forget."

"Do you know that I am waiting for you?"

"I only believe in you. Can you not disappoint me?"

She smiled bitterly as she stared at her post. "I hope you won't fail my trust in you."

"Miss Blanchard, you are back. Have you eaten? Would you like to have some supper?"

"No, I've eaten. Thank you."

How could she have the appetite?

Alicia froze when the doorbell rang, wondering, "Who could be at such a late hour?"

"I'll go and take a look," said the servant.

Then, the servant brought in a woman who was holding a basket.

"This is Miss Blanchard. Miss Blanchard, this is Mrs. Crouch from next door. She looked surprisingly young in her seventies. Just call her Joyce as she insisted. Joyce is an expert in traditional medicines. She used to spend a lot of time with Mrs. Blanchard and even acupunctured Mr. Blanchard. Thanks to Nelson's medicine steam, Mr. Blanchard recovered speedily. He also said he felt relaxed and could walk steadily after remediation. Joyce is here to deliver us some freshly caught Groupers." "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Crouch. My mom used to mention you often, but I didn't expect..."

As soon as Alicia opened her mouth, a strong smell wafted into her nose. The unpleasant feeling in her stomach made her rush to the bathroom. After a violent episode of vomiting, she felt extremely dizzy that she could hardly stand and almost fell. She spoke to Joyce after feeling much better, "Mrs. Crouch, I'm sorry to let you..."

All of a sudden, her vision went black...