Chapter 33: Peace before the Storm
A day passed quickly. In the evening, the sunset dyed red half the sky, and Noah leaned against the car, waiting for Alicia to come out of the office.
It had been half an hour since the end of school hours. Alicia was stalling for time to wait for all the students to leave. Nowadays was different from the past, she was already a married woman, and her every move might ruin her reputation.
Noah was a very patient man. He understood her concern, so he did not go in to push her. When she finally came out, he immediately joked, "I am waiting for my prey here, and I guess you dare not stand me up."
Alicia smiled politely and got into his car.
Noah got on the car and saw that she was distracted. He tried to fasten her seat belt, but she was alienated and stopped, "Thank you, I would do it myself."
He felt the sense of loss for a moment, but he quickly adjusted. "Where are we going to have dinner?"
"You can choose what you like, it's my treat today."
"What a rare opportunity. I need to think about it."
Noah puckering his handsome eyebrows, like he was seriously thinking.
"Ruby Red Restaurants."
Alicia looked at him in surprise and said softly, "That's what I like..."
"I like it too."
She stopped talking, knowing that because she liked it, he liked it.
The Ruby Red Restaurants was located in the West Road which was quiet in the city center. The lights, the tableware, the tables and chairs of the restaurant were all decorated blue, which made people feel the illusion of reaching the Aegean. Romantic and beautiful decoration style, exquisite food filled with Europe flavor and Mediterranean customs were everywhere.
The two found a place near the window and sat down. The waiter brought the menu. Alicia handed it to Noah, "You first."
Noah didn't refuse, but took it and chose the dishes carefully. Alicia thought, "I bet he would pick up what I like."
As a result, he really ordered what she liked to eat. She was surprised, "How did he know?"
"Know what?" Noah raised his head.
"My preferences."
"What do you say?" He asked with a smile.
"Did Ellie tell you that?"
"Yeah."
Alicia sighed, and she should have thought that no one dared to betray her except Ellie, though she was reluctant.
Looking out of the window, she inadvertently saw a familiar car. She snorted and asked the opposite man uncertainly, "Is that a Rolls-Royce?"
Noah looked down her sight and answered with certainty, "Yes."
Shivering again, she secretly prayed Carlos was not around there...
No, no, absolutely not. He's not the only one in the world driving a Rolls-Royce.
Alicia denied it again and again. However, the moment she just saw the familiar car, the familiar figure came into view. Carlos and a strange man came to the restaurant, and they were coming near to her. With no time to hide, she lowered her head in panic, praying not to be noticed, but it was too late, since Carlos had already seen her at the door.
Even with his head down, she could feel a chill approaching, and Alicia just wanted to kill herself. She knew better than anyone how angry Carlos would be when he saw her being with Noah.
She was caught sleeping in his room last night. It was lucky that he let her go, but being lucky once didn't mean being lucky always, and Alicia never felt she was a lucky dog. Mostly, she is unlucky, just like this moment, today.
A pair of shiny leather shoes stopped by her and Noah. Knowing she couldn't avoid it, Alicia slowly raised her head and met Carlos's cold eyes. She wanted to say something but failed due to her dry throat. Besides, any words at this time were sophistry.
Whatever, she decided to face it. Time went very slowly, and a minute was like a miserable life. Carlos paused for a few seconds. She thought he would go on the rampage, but he walked silently, without saying a word.
Such unusual behavior makes Alicia extremely uneasy. Although it wasn't long since she had got married with this man, she knew him quite well, who would definitely not accept and tolerate lies. Carlos sat behind her. Turning around, Alicia met his complicated eyes, and she felt very uncomfortable and complicated.
Although he didn't say anything, she read from his eyes that it would be more serious than anger. Alicia had no mood for dinner, so she said to Noah apologetically, "Shall we find another place for dinner?" Noah nodded tenderly, "Ok."
Of course, he also saw Carlos. Even if she didn't ask to leave first, he would make such a proposal for her.
Running away from Ruby Red Restaurant, Alicia stood on the gray street, feeling a bit of headache. Noah drove up and picked her up. He asked, "Do you want to go home? I'll drive you home." "But we haven't had dinner yet."
"It's ok. I'm afraid you're not in the mood for dinner with me now. Let's have another date."
Alicia felt guilty and grateful, nodding numbly, "Thank you."
Noah sent her to the Cloud Mansion. Getting down, Alicia said guiltily, "I'm really sorry. It's still on me next time."
"No problem."
"See you then."
Giving a wave at Noah, she turned around and walked forward, leaving a slender and lonely figure under the street lamp.
"Alicia."
Noah suddenly called her, and she looked back in confusion, "What?"
"If you feel it hard, don't push yourself. You just need to know that there is someone who would always wait for you, no matter how long it takes." Alicia sighed and muttered to herself, "I can't love you, but still thank you."
Back home, the living room was very lively. She excused herself for being uncomfortable to go upstairs, restlessly waiting for Carlos to come back. Although he hadn't lost his temper in the restaurant, she didn't think that he would let it go. Maybe he just controlled himself because of his status.
She absent-mindedly marked a stack of examination papers. Scrupulous as she always is, she couldn't get down working at all for the first time. It's not the fear that the plan would be interrupted by her being driven away but a complex and strange feeling that made her upset.
If there were no special circumstances, she would go to bed on time at 10:00 PM every day, but tonight she is waiting for him to come back. She is still sitting at her desk at 11:00 PM.
Carlos didn't come back until 11:45 PM. Hearing the noise outside the door, Alicia immediately became alerted. She closed her eyes and silently waited for the storm to come.
Ten minutes passed, and nothing happened. Suspiciously, she rose from the chair, slightly pulled the door, and secretly took a quick peek outside.
Carlos were lying on the sofa for a catnap, without any sign that he would settle accounts with her. Struggling for a moment, Alicia decided to take the initiative to go out and explain to him. It seemed that he was not going to interrogate why she had lied to him, which was even more disturbing.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to lie to you. President Jiang helped me the other day, and I wanted to invite him to dinner to express my gratitude. I was afraid that telling you the truth would cause misunderstanding, so I lied to you."
Alicia stood in front of Carlos and confessed why she had to lie to him.
Carlos opened his eyes indifferently, looked at her for a moment, suddenly stretched out his hand and dragged her down on the sofa, pressed her under his body, and gnashed the teeth in anger "You should have told me the truth, but now it's too late."
"Are you going to drive me away again?"
"I won't drive you away, but I would hate you more than before."
He let go of her with a sneer. Alicia stood up straight and said calmly, "You can hate me if it can make you feel better."
Carlos wouldn't know, the last thing that Alicia was afraid of was being hated, which she had long been accustomed to since she entered the Joliot-Curie family at the age of eight.
The next day, she got up late. The Noel-Baker family would have breakfast at 7:30 AM on time. Having missed the breakfast time, she didn't want to be hasty. It is the weekend today, so she didn't have to go to school. She got dressed easily and went to the next door to get washed. When she passed Carlos's room, she saw a purple gift box with exquisite packaging thrown in the trash can. She picked it up in surprise and opened it. It turned out to be an expensive necklace with fine workmanship.
Such a good necklace should not be thrown away, but if it dropped by accident, it would not drop the trash can. She stood by the door puzzled for a while, then she simply put it on the table for him. When she was ready to go out, she left a glance at the square gift box, and a thought flashed through her heart inadvertently, could that necklace have been bought for her?
It seems impossible, but it is also possible. If it is not for her, why should he throw it away? Even if he is rich, he wouldn't waste it doing this.
Thinking about this, she couldn't help walking over, opened the gift box, took out the necklace and put it around her neck.
The door was knocked, and she opened it. Rosie Doyle said respectfully, "Please go downstairs for dinner, Mrs. Alicia. Everyone is waiting for you."
She was flattered and surprised, "Isn't it past breakfast time?"
"Mrs. Sara didn't see you go downstairs and delayed the meal time."
"OK, I'll be right down."
Alicia was so moved. Except the man who hated her, the family were really sweet to her.
Hurrying downstairs, she went straight to the table, making an apology, "I'm sorry, I got up late."
"It's ok. Young people should have more sleep." Sara patted her hand kindly.
"Wow, Mrs. Noel-Baker, what a beautiful necklace."
Aurora excitedly went up to her, bent down and took a closer look, exclaiming, "Wow, it's Light & Shadow, and there are only ten in the world. I have been crazy about it all the time. Where did you buy it?" Alicia peeked at Carlos in embarrassment, who is now staring at the necklace around her neck with a flash of surprise in his eyes. Seeing her watching himself, he coldly turned away, and started having breakfast, turning a blind eye to what's happening.
"Well, you already have countless jewelry. Go ahead with your breakfast."
Sara took a glare at her daughter, and happened to relieve Alicia's embarrassment, who was just being upset how to tell the origin of the necklace.
Having a breakfast is harder than eating a stone. The breakfast was finally over. When she was just trying to take a breath, the man next to her opened his mouth, "Come upstairs with me."☐☐☐☐☐☐☐