FIFTY ONE

ALICE'S POV

I was rewatching my interview on "The View," critiquing my outfit choice. "I knew I should have worn the Versace jumpsuit," I muttered, annoyed with myself. Just then, there was a knock on my door.

"Mum, it's me. Open up," William's voice called from the other side. I sighed, pausing the video, and walked over to let him in. The moment I opened the door, I saw a look of pride plastered across his face.

"What's happening?" I asked, curious but also slightly apprehensive.

William stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I took care of it," he said, a note of satisfaction in his voice.

My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I've dealt with the Marlon's," he said, pulling out his phone and showing me a news report. The headline read, "Local Family Found Dead in Apparent Robbery Gone Wrong."

I scanned the article quickly, my mind racing. "Oh, I didn’t think you could pull it off," I said, a mix of surprise and relief flooding