Eighty Eight

CHAPTER 88

Alicia sat in a long chair across from the city's court office. Her blue eyes gazed around as she enjoyed a caramel macchiato in a cup from a nearby coffee shop.

Everyone seemed to be busy with their own business. They came and went like the wind on Alicia's face that afternoon.

The hot steam on the cup's surface slapped Alicia in the face, making her realize that the reality she was facing was more bitter than the coffee in her cup.

"Alicia?"

The voice didn't distract Alicia. She was still busy with her own thoughts. Her attitude showed antipathy. She didn't care at all.

Alicia's indifference, however, annoyed Nicholas. The man in the white coat sat next to Alicia. He looked at Alicia's sad face worriedly, then let out a long sigh there, "Are you okay?"

Alicia shrugged her shoulders. But her face held little expression. She wasn't in the mood for conversation in this situation, but Nicholas' presence was also unavoidable.

"At least... I kept my promise. I proved that Ace was indeed guilty, and... you deserve a better man."

Hearing Nicholas' words made Alicia a little distracted. Alicia lowered her hand, placed the full cup of coffee on her right side, and then replied to Nicholas.

"I don't know which is worse, finding out your favorite teacher is dead, or finding out... that your boyfriend is a murderer," Alicia said, trying to be as calm as possible. "They both sound like they could ruin my life. Don't they, Nic?"

Nicholas turned his head. Their eyes finally met.

The tall man looked at Alicia's face for a little longer. Although she didn't show any expression, Nicholas knew that Alicia was just trying to hold back. Nicholas' heart was troubled, so he spread one hand, pulled Alicia's shoulder closer and embraced her without permission.

"You can cry on my shoulder, it's better than holding it in."

And in that instant, Alicia's tears fell down her cheeks. Alicia's ego and self-defense collapsed instantly. She burst into tears in the arms of a man much older than her. Nicholas hugged her sympathetically, while Alicia hid her face in Nicholas' chest.

"This... sucks, Nic!" Although he said it in a trembling tone, Nicholas could hear Alicia's words well. "Why does my life have to be this bad?"

Nicholas closed his mouth tightly. He didn't want to comment. He didn't want to judge Alicia. Although it was painful to see the woman he loved, crying over another man... but it would be more painful if Nicholas let Alicia face this difficult situation alone.

"You can cry as long as you need, Alicia."

---

"This is for you," Nicholas said, just as he got into his car.

Alicia had been sitting waiting in the car for ten minutes. After crying, she felt very relieved and empty at the same time.

Nicholas offered her a ride home and Alicia was fine with it.

"What's this?"

"A sandwich." Nicholas unfolded the paper wrapping the sandwich in his hand and gave it to Alicia. With a small smile, he said, "You cried for a while, you must have lost a lot of energy."

Alicia's face turned uncomfortable. She looked at the sandwich in Nicholas' hand, then looked into his eyes. "But... I lost my appetite."

"You should eat. This reality is too bitter, so you should at least be strong." Nicholas pulled Alicia's hand, making the girl accept the sandwich even though she was forced to. "Eat this. I bought you a sandwich with lots of meat to fulfill your protein needs."

Alicia was silent, she looked at the sandwich in her hand with a blank stare. Nicholas observed, he seemed to see a different Alicia. It seemed that Alicia had completely lost her motivation to live because of the harsh reality in front of her.

Ace was a murderer, and Ace committed murder to avenge his parents... on Alicia's parents. Alicia couldn't decide which was the worst of the two options.

Nicholas opened his own sandwich and shook it in the air. Alicia blinked, she had been daydreaming. "You wouldn't miss out on the best beef they have, would you?" and Nicholas began to bite into his food, to encourage Alicia to do the same. "Uuuuum! This is the best sandwich I've ever had! I'm quite happy that I bought it for you, if I had bought this sandwich for Noel, he would have asked for more."

Alicia chuckled, she then bit the end of the sandwich in her hand and made Nicholas smile proudly.

"How was it? It's delicious, isn't it?" Nicholas asked, "You have to buy it yourself if you want more."

"Tsk, fine. I'll buy it myself."

The atmosphere that was previously filled with sadness, emotion, anger... had changed for the better. At least Alicia had eaten to fill her empty stomach.

Nicholas realized that Alicia had not eaten or touched a snack since the trial started. And it only got worse, after Alicia found out that Ace was found guilty and would be sentenced to death by the state.

But Nicholas lost his smile when he realized that Ace could still file an appeal or other legal aid. The death sentence could still change. And the only person Nicholas could think of was Alicia.

Could it be possible that Ace would do something else to harm Alicia in the future?

"Nic?"

Nicholas woke up from his reverie when he heard Alicia speak.

"Yes, Alicia?"

Alicia gave a short snort, then smiled a little. "Did you think of something? You seem distracted by something."

"Me?" Nicholas chuckled melodiously. He scratched his head which honestly didn't feel itchy because the atmosphere was so awkward. "I was just thinking about what flavor of sandwich to have again the next day. What do you think?"

"Tsk, you're thinking of sandwiches in a situation like this?"

"Probably yes."

Alicia laughed at Nicholas' silly behavior. He deliberately lied so that Alicia could laugh again. Little did Nicholas know, that from a distance... someone was watching the two of them.

"Let's go now," a woman said to her driver in the car.