CHAPTER 87
New York City Courthouse.
"Can I hug you one last time, Alicia?"
The blue eyes instantly turned dim. Her tears were unstoppable. And quickly, she opened her arms to immediately hug her boyfriend tightly. Tighter as if they didn't want to be separated right then and there.
Ace Wilson Blake, had been sentenced to death for the planned murder of his seven victims with the evidence of the footage that Nicholas had.
"I don't regret what will happen to me today, because at least, I can feel loved before I die," Ace said softly. He then closed his eyes and smiled slightly in the girl's arms. "I'm sorry, Alicia."
Louder sobs were finally heard. Alicia's tear-drenched face sank into the crook of the neck of the lover she loved so much.
"If only I had known I would love you this deeply, I wouldn't have done those stupid things in the past," Ace continued, which only made Alicia sadder. "Now we have to part ways."
"Ace, I--"
"Sshh, take it easy, Alicia," Ace cut in, trying to calm her down. "I feel fine now." He then stretched their embrace so that Ace could clearly see Alicia's now puffy eyes. Then gently, he pressed her fingers on both of the girl's cheeks. "Make sure you live happily without me, Sugar."
With a sob, Alicia nodded her head in acceptance and tried to smile. "I love you, Ace."
"Yeah, I know," Ace teased. He then rubbed the top of Alicia's head like he used to do to the girl before. "Stay out of harm's way and I'll make sure Nicholas takes care of you," he said as he glanced at Nicholas behind Alicia.
The young detective stood there with Brittany. They gazed with concern at the couple who would soon be separated by death. But unfortunately, there wasn't much they could do.
After all, Ace was the one who killed James (Brittany's boyfriend in the dormitory) and Alicia's biological parents.
That man had ruined the life of Alicia, the girl he now truly loved.
Didn't he deserve all this?
"Hey, Nic!" called Ace. "Take care of my girlfriend after I die. If you put her in danger again, I'll make sure I pull you down to hell with me."
To which the young detective only replied with an amused snort.
Then Ace turned to Brittany. "Britt... I'm sorry," he said in a softer tone.
But Brittany just looked at him flatly. She clenched her hands into fists and held back her emotions as she said, "May God forgive you for all your sins, Ace."
Ace knew Brittany hated her. But didn't the blonde-haired girl seem to be holding herself together in front of Alicia?
Afterward, she looked into Alicia's blue eyes again. Smiling, she said, "I think our goodbye time is over. I will leave now." he gently stroked the top of Alicia's head once more.
This time, Ace couldn't help himself. A single tear fell from his sad eyes. "I love you, no matter how dangerous it is, Alicia," he said softly.
The two police officers who had been waiting had now moved and led Ace to the execution site.
Meanwhile, Alicia fell to the floor staring at her boyfriend's back as he slowly moved away.
"Alicia, let's go," Nicholas said. "I have to make sure Ace keeps his promise to a little girl in a hospital."
Slowly, Alicia turned her head towards Nicholas. "Little girl?"
"So, do you want to come with me?"
Alicia's tear-stained face turned towards Nicholas, her mind overwhelmed by a combination of sadness, confusion, and a hint of curiosity as she mentioned the little girl's name. She got up slowly, her body feeling like an anchor dragged down by grief.
"What little girl?" Alicia's voice trembled, the last of her emotions causing her words to shake.
Nicholas gave a grim smile, the weight of this situation evident in his tired eyes. "There's a girl at Golden Hospital. Ace has made a deal with Jill."
Alicia's heart was racing. In the middle of the chaos and tragedy surrounding her, the thought of a little girl's hopes being tied up with Ace left her confused. She nodded, wiping away tears, determined to make sense of this confusing situation.
As they walked down the crowded streets of New York, Nicholas explained, "Her name is Lily. She has been battling a critical illness for a while. Ace visits her often, offering stories and laughter that brighten her day. Ace also makes Jill obey his orders using Lily."
Waves of conflicting emotions raged inside Alicia. The man she loves, sentenced to death for an unspeakable crime, has a relationship with a fragile little boy who is fighting for his life. Confusion clouds her mind as she grapples with this paradox.
Arriving at the hospital, Nicholas takes Alicia to Lily's room. The sight of the fragile little girl lying between the white hospital sheets tugged at Alicia's heartstrings. Lily's face lit up at their arrival, her eyes fixed on Nicholas.
"Did Dad... did he send you?" Lily's voice was shaking, hope dancing in her eyes.
Nicholas nodded his head. "He did. And he also sent someone very special." He pointed at Alicia.
Alicia stood still, the weight of the moment weighing on her. Lily's innocent gaze held many questions and hopes. She knelt beside Lily's bed, unsure of how to deal with this fragile soul in her darkest hour.
"Are you my Dad's friend?" Lily's voice was just a whisper, loaded with anticipation.
Alicia hesitated, her mind racing. Memories of the love she shared with Ace intertwined with the atrocities he committed, creating a complex web of conflicting thoughts. However, as she looked into Lily's hopeful eyes, a determination came to her.
"Yes, Lily. I was a friend of your father's, we came to visit you."
Lily's face lit up, a smile spread across her pale cheeks. "Thank you," she sighed, her words filled with gratitude and a glimmer of peace.
As Alicia sat beside Lily, sharing stories of Jill bringing happy moments into the young girl's life, she couldn't shake the emotions churning within her. Wrestling with the complexities of love, forgiveness, and redemption, Alicia finds herself at an unexpected crossroads, torn between the darkness of the past and the fragile hope of the present.
CHAPTER 88Alicia 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 w
CHAPTER 89THE DEATH SENTENCE THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO ACE BLAKE HAS BEEN COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT. ACE BLAKE'S LEGAL APPEAL WAS APPROVED BY THE JUDGE.One year later.Knock! Knock! Knock!A knock on the door made Alicia turn her head. She looked at the closed door of her flat, then turned to the television in front of her.The anchor had just broadcast the latest news about Ace Blake's murder case. One year on, Ace had filed an appeal to reduce his punishment. The CEO of Golden Group was not sentenced to death and received a mitigation. His punishment has been changed after he passed a twelve-month trial period.A lot of judgment went into Ace's success in receiving leniency. But Alicia didn't expect Ace's sentence to be reduced this quickly."Wait a minute!"Alicia switched off the television, walked towards the door which made another sound.Knock! Knock! Knock!And when Alicia opened the door, her blue eyes found Nicholas standing in his black clothes."Nic?""We have to talk n
Chapter 90Prisons for serious crimes do have a more tense atmosphere when compared to prisons at other levels. As the perpetrator of a premeditated murder case, Ace was given a heavy sentence. Ace was placed in a special prison for serious criminals.Ace's murder case had been going on since he was seventeen years old when he was attending Golden High School and living his life as a teenager.Ace was now twenty years old. He missed his birthday yesterday, but Ace didn't care about that. Because all his thoughts were filled with Alicia.Knock! Knock!The sound came from the iron fist of a prison officer at work. The man hit the prison door to wake up the sleeping Ace. It had been three hundred and sixty-five days since Ace had been in the cell. He occupied a prison room with no luxurious amenities like the one in his flat."You have a guest."Ace looked up, seeing a large man in his black uniform. The man's eyes were slanted like a Chinese descendant, but his body was large like the A
CHAPTER 91The booming laughter reflected satisfaction. Angela's loud laughter was full of insults for Ace who was sitting in his chair."What did you say, kill me? Hahaha, oops! Sorry, I underestimated you, didn't I?" Angela pretended to cover her mouth, then she lowered her hand. Tapping her long, polish-colored fingernails on the table, Angela said, "But 'kill' me sounds a bit much, Ace.""What do you want from me?" Ace looked at the pictures of Alicia again, especially the one Angela pointed to with the pointed tips of her nails. She had used silver nail polish, making them sparkle in the light above their heads. "I couldn't even do anything while I was in prison.""Persuade your father to give me all his shares. I need all of it to build a business in England."Ace snorted. He grinned sarcastically. His gaze turned sharp, like a criminal ready to prey on his next victim. "This is all for money?""I need your father's shares in England," Angela continued, becoming more serious as
CHAPTER 92Nicholas helped Emma put the dinner menu on the table. From roast chicken, pasta to salads made by Emma herself, everything was served on the table. It was like they were having a big event with that much food!Alicia sat beside Nicholas, observing how Nicholas and Emma had a very close relationship as son and mother. She smiled occasionally, feeling happy for the warmth that Nicholas' family created.Especially when Alan, Nicholas' father came and joined them.Alan and Emma talked a lot, inviting Alicia to join in the pleasant small talk. Nicholas' parents didn't discuss Alicia's past, or the things that offended her during their time together."You should try this, Alicia," Emma said, cutting off a piece of chicken breast and placing it on Alicia's plate. "Chicken breast is high in protein. It's very good for your body.""Okay, Emma. Thank you."Emma pointed at Nicholas who was sitting opposite her while squinting. "Nicholas really likes chicken breast, it makes his chest
CHAPTER 93Alicia tied a striped scarf around her neck. The wind in the late fall began to feel colder than other days. People started to change their clothes into warmer and thicker outfits. She turned around and picked up her gray backpack that she kept on the table.The taxi she had booked through an online app arrived and Alicia got in. Alicia checked the ID card of the driver and he was a forty-five-year-old man."We're going to Golden University, right?"And Alicia nodded her head. "Right."After traveling for more than thirty minutes, the taxi carrying Alicia arrived at her campus."Thank you."Alicia paid the bill and walked into the campus. From outside, the girl could immediately see gold and black balloons decorating the tall iron fence. People from the campus were celebrating their graduation. The more Alicia walked in, the more her blue eyes caught sight of people wearing their graduation robes and togas.It wasn't until she reached the end of the street that she found th
CHAPTER 94Brittany tapped Alicia on the shoulder. She realized something was wrong with her best friend. "What's wrong, Alicia? Are you uncomfortable? Are you seeing someone you know?"Alicia blinked. She gasped and immediately turned around. Smiling awkwardly, the girl opened her mouth. "I kind of saw-"But Alicia didn't finish her sentence. She considered talking about Ace in front of Kevin. They weren't very close, so Alicia felt reluctant to discuss it."Seeing who, Alicia?"Brittany scanned the surroundings. Of all the people huddled around, there was no one that Brittany was sure of. Alicia looked at Kevin for a moment, then turned to Brittany again and replied, "No, forget it. I just saw it wrong."Kevin then commented. "I want to take Brittany to lunch at a steakhouse. Would you like to join us, Alicia?"Brittany sulked, shaking Alicia's arm, which was wrapped in a long T-shirt. "You have to come, Alicia. It's to celebrate my graduation and Kevin's birthday."The man who was
CHAPTER 95"Born in Brooklyn, raised in San Antonia and moved to New York."Noel opened a file in a folder on the computer. Noel and Nicholas had been sitting in Noel's new office for the past thirty minutes.After being promoted to lead detective for the serious crimes division, Noel had received a set of perks from the New York City Police Department. Including a new room, new equipment, a new gun and of course a salary increase."Everything fits. Where did you get that information?"Nicholas returned Noel's gaze to him. The man with a thin beard that filled the area of his chin and firm jaw mumbled for quite a while. He nodded and said, "I managed to get the information from Alicia. She told me herself.""Did she say it, or did you provoke her?""I call it a 'big effort' that wasn't easy."Noel snorted, then shook her head in disbelief. "You could say that you tried to lure her into a date.""Damn, how do you know?""What don't I know about you, Nicholas Gray?" Noel shrugged, raisi
CHAPTER 275 Nicholas drove the car as fast as he could. He cut through the streets knowing that Alicia was in danger and needed to be rescued immediately. At this moment, Nicholas deliberately did not turn on the siren in his car to avoid things that threatened Alicia. Arriving at Alicia's house, Nicholas could see a suspicious car near Rick and his mother's house. Nicholas' eyebrows furrowed and he slowed down the car. While looking around, Nicholas tried to think of a plan. Until finally, Nicholas stopped his car right behind the suspicious car. Nicholas got out of the car, but his gaze remained wary. He took out his gun and pointed it downwards as he walked into Alicia's yard. He realized that Alicia's door was unlocked even though the lights were off. Just as Nicholas entered Alicia's house, a punch landed from behind. But Nicholas was strong enough to withstand it, so the man immediately turned around and pointed the gun at Ace. But Ace was also ready to shoot Nicholas in the
CHAPTER 274Nicholas observed the change in Selena's expression from a different room. She stood up and hugged herself while frowning."She keeps bringing up Glen. It's starting to worry me," Nicholas muttered.While on the other side, Noel began to open the folder given by Nicholas. There were several sheets of paper inside. They were reports done by Peter and that surprised Noel. He peered into the folder."I didn't know Nicholas would give me this much work." Noel's complaint was heard by Nicholas in a different room, but Nicholas ignored it and chose to focus on Selena. Noel looked at Selena then smiled and put the papers on the table. "I don't want to read all the writing on this paper. So, what can you give me to get me to get you out of prison?""I... I didn't kill anyone."Noel waved her hands in the air, she seemed to look down on the opponent. "That's a very standard thing. Do you have any evidence? Everyone in that base camp is dead, none of them can give you testimony. So
CHAPTER 273Glen looked up, he hadn't finished his fries yet. "Are you leaving now, Uncle? Are you going to see my mom?"Nicholas mumbled for a while, before finally nodding his head. "I'm going to take care of some work and meet with your mother. Is there anything you want to say to her?"Glen's face grew more enthusiastic as he finished the fries in his mouth and looked thoughtful. He looked around before finally seeing Nicholas again. Raising his index finger in the air, Glen said, "I want you to tell my mom that I miss her a lot. I want some chocolate candy from Uncle Chuck's shop! They have the best chocolate in town and I want to try it."Now, it was Nicholas' turn to raise his eyebrows enthusiastically. "Do you know Uncle Chuck's?""My friends in class talk about it, but I don't know. I just heard about it and wanted to try the chocolate candies they have."Nicholas nodded his head. He smiled widely and rubbed the top of Glen's head in relief. At least, the boy still had some e
CHAPTER 272Nicholas dropped Alicia off in front of Alpha Company's office, while he continued on his way to the daycare. He got out of his car, with a bag of fries from Mcd. Nicholas walked in and was met by Lim Sara.Lim Sara, who was working, greeted Nicholas politely. "Good morning, Detective. Have you come to pick up Glen?"A small mumble was heard from Nicholas. He finally explained the situation to Sara. "Um, well, the police still have to check a few things from Mrs. Selena. It may take some time, can Glen stay here a little longer?"Lim Sara looked worried. The woman with her beautiful hair coils mumbled, before nodding and replying, "Of course, Detective. But it seems like Glen is worried about his mother, he's asked about her several times and I can only say that she's at work." Sara turned around, then showed Glen who was sitting alone in the corner of the study room. "Because he stays here alone, without the other children, he thinks that his mother is angry.""Has Glen e
CHAPTER 271Alicia leaned on Nicholas' shoulder, she let the blanket cover their bodies on the sofa. After a night of sleeping together, Alicia woke up first. She took a deep breath and woke Nicholas up."Nick?"While shaking Nicholas' hand, Alicia tried to get her lover to wake up. And after a while, Nicholas did wake up."Um, good morning, Alicia." Nicholas adjusted his sitting position, he then blinked his eyes and began to speak. "How did you sleep last night?"Alicia mumbled. Letting go of the blanket covering her body, she hugged herself. "I got a good sleep because of you. But can't you just relax like this? You said you were going to check on Selena again today?""Yes, there will be a cross-examination. Noel will try to provoke her with psychological techniques," Nicholas said. He looked ahead, then moistened his dry lips. "I wonder to what extent Selena knows information about Ace. If Selena can tell the police about the steps Ace is taking, it would be great for all of us."
CHAPTER 270Nicholas put on an apron, before grabbing a cutting board and knife. He took out the onions, garlic and chili peppers. Skillfully, Nicholas began to chop the ingredients into small pieces, and then he heated the oil in the wok. He prepared to put in all the ingredients, and after the smell of onions was there, Nicholas put in the minced meat that he took from the refrigerator. His big hands started moving here and there quickly. He was like a professional chef. Sautéing, putting in spices and making everything better.Besides cooking the meat, Nicholas also prepared two loaves of bread on a plate. He placed the meat onto the bread, then garnished it with lettuce, tomato and some sauce on top.Nicholas patted his palms when he was done. He took off the apron, put it back on the table and started to prepare the two plates of food for the dining table. It was raining outside, and Alicia was still covering herself with a blanket on the sofa.It looked like Alicia was completel
CHAPTER 269Knock! Knock! Knock!Alicia opened her eyes after hearing a knock on the door. She tried to blink her eyes, then got up from her bed. She walked with her weak body to the door. The transparent door showed Nicholas outside, so Alicia didn't have to worry about opening the door.The girl opened the door and Nicholas greeted her enthusiastically. "Hey, Alicia. Why... what's wrong with you? Your face looks pale."Nicholas pressed the back of his hand to his forehead, checking Alicia's body temperature manually. He felt an unusual heat. There was something strange and Nicholas looked at Alicia worriedly."You have a fever, Alicia." Nicholas put his arm around Alicia and carried her into the house. Nicholas closed the door behind him and gently pushed Alicia into the living room. Nicholas helped Alicia to sit down. "Have you had a fever since morning?"Alicia nodded her head. "I... went to see Anna at her house.""Did you manage to meet Anna?""She... was close to my mother, Nic
CHAPTER 268"I may be ignorant of thethe law, I've run afoul of the constitution and statutes, but I know you'll remain a fugitive as long as you live in this world.a fugitive as long as you live in this world."Ace furrowed his browdeeply. "I'll have to think about it."The Fixer picked up the bagwith the money and held it in his lap like the baby he loved. While picking upseveral stacks of money and smelling the odor, The Fixer continued, "If you'dagree to my game, you can come the day before you're due to leave forEngland. Oh, and take Alicia with you. She has to 'die' with you too,right?"They exchanged glances fora few moments, before Ace finally turned around and left The Fixer's hiddenThe Fixer's hidden warehouse. He handed over the one million dollars he gotfrom stealing Amanda, Jill and Jason's money in order to escape farther than New York.than New York. But faking death? Ace hasn't thought of thatbefore.Meanwhile, insidehis base camp, The Fixer was feeling go
CHAPTER 267CHAPTER 267Ace put on his black gloves before he got into the car. His brown eyes looked ahead, while both hands held the steering wheel. The engine hadn't been turned on yet, so the road ahead was very dark. Ace managed to hide the car in a narrow alley that only fit Ace's car. Even then, Ace had to work hard to get it out carefully.After the chase that almost got him caught by Nicholas, Ace felt even more threatened. The streets of New York City were lined with his face. He was the most wanted fugitive in New York City. Even billboards that used to display commercial advertisements or important notices were now replaced with his face. Everyone was looking for Ace Blake."Damn. Where am I going to go now? I can't go without Alicia, but taking her without a plan won't do me any favors either."After thinking for a while, Ace finally started the engine of his car. He positioned the car so that it could exit the narrow alley. The car blended into the crowded street, but Ac