Chapter 1 - Alice

“Our records show that Mr. Bianchi was discharged a few days ago.”

“Oh...” Alice blinked, a pang of disappointment piercing her heart as she looked at the receptionist of that hospital wing “I... I didn't know...”

“Even if he was here, this hospital does not allow patients to be visited by unknown people.” The woman replied, narrowing her gaze with pure contempt, measuring Alice from top to bottom “If you are the girlfriend that Mr. Bianchi's relatives talked about, then perhaps you should have come earlier, young lady.”

“I didn't plan to visit him. I just wanted to leave these gifts here.” She tried to swallow the lump of discomfort in her throat and maintain her posture, even though her hands were nervously clutching the tiny bouquet and the candy wrapper “Also, my last name might be Dawsey, but the girlfriend you're talking about It's my sister, Amber...”

“Of course, of course...” the woman snorted, refocusing solely on her computer “Since there is no one here to receive your gifts, go away. We can’t afford to stay here talking and disturb a relative who wants to visit a patient.”

Alice felt like reminding her that the huge reception was absolutely empty, but she ended up biting her tongue. She had spent enough time in nursing school to know fancy hospitals like this were usually infested with arrogant people who only offered smiles to those whose bank account was over 8 figures. Shrugging her shoulders, Alice just resigned herself and turned to walk out of the hospital, her gifts still in her hands. The small note written in gold ink, still hanging from the stem of one of the flowers, with a name standing out.

Massimo.

It was ridiculous that she had come there. Massimo couldn't care less whether she was dead or alive. Especially not after the car accident that had almost taken his life. And, after how Amber had treated him, Massimo probably didn't want any gifts that came from the Dawseys.

But still, she hadn't been able to stop herself from going there. Not after hearing her mother say he was about to be discharged. Well, Alice should have known that Kendra no longer cared about Massimo enough to know exactly when he was going home. After all, he was no longer the man she had dreamed of Amber marrying.

It seemed that being a billionaire wasn't enough for her mother and sister, if the man couldn't walk.

Fighting against the melancholy that Massimo's image brought to her, Alice tried to see only the good side of that situation. Massimo was far from the ICU, safe at home. That hospital wasn't far from her family's mansion and she could offer the gift cake as a dessert to her daughter and her boyfriend. She had to talk to Casey, anyway, to tell him that she would accept his proposal for them to live together.

Her savings weren't a fortune, but it would be enough to help pay the first few months' rent on the small one-bedroom apartment she had visited days ago. Enough until she accepted the first opportunity that came her way, whether it was a job that would help her realize her dream of becoming a nurse or not.

Everything so that Millie, her little angel, could have a real home.

With that thought, Alice finally arrived at the mansion, where her mother's servants opened the door without exchanging a single word with her, as always. Their gaze, however, had something strange in it, tense and almost mocking, following her tired footsteps all the way to the living room, the room closest to the small bedroom next to the laundry room that she and Millicent shared...

Even her eyes fell toward some sort of wet sound that was coming from one of the couches.

And, there, he found Casey. Kisses with her sister.

“Alice!” Casey gasped, struggling for a moment to get Amber off of him, though Alice doubted he could do anything to hide the way her sister's blouse was half open and her lipstick-smeared face "You come home early...! I... I mean...”

“I could ask what the fuck you two are doing…” Alice gritted her teeth, not knowing if that pain inside her came from the betrayal or the way Amber was looking at her over the back of the sofa, looking very satisfied “But I think that would make me sound more stupid than you two already think I am."

“Alice... I...” Casey stuttered, embarrassed “I can explain...”

“Explain what? That while you were asking me to move in together, you were sleeping with my sister?” she spat, disgusted.

"No! It wasn't that! Amber and I never slept together, I swear! In fact, this is the second kiss we've shared...” Casey continued to try to explain himself, as Amber finally stood up, perching on Casey's shoulder, eased “I... I'm sorry you found out this way. I know that what Amber and I did was terrible. Believe me, I've tried to fight it for the last few months, because what I feel for you is also true, Alice..."

“But, we both fell in love.” Amber interrupted him, hugging his arm almost as if to mark her territory “I’m really sorry, sissy. It all started with the best of intentions, I swear. I noticed that Casey was always lonely while you were working, so I started spending some time with him. We realized we had a lot in common. Over time, it became too strong for us to control.” Her sister made a pout that didn't seem genuine at all "Actually, the only reason we kissed today is because Casey promised me that he would clear things up with you and the two of us could be together..." Amber smiled sweetly, as if she was trying to encourage Casey, although that only seemed to make him even more uneasy.

“I... I'm really sorry, Alice. If I could go back in time, I would have been honest with you from the moment I realized I was in love with Amber.” The way his dark eyes looked sad almost made him look like the kind and patient man who had made Alice agree to start a relationship “And, of course, you have the right to be angry with us, but... Please, know that none of this was ever about hurting you. It was about love...”

“Oh, sure.” Alice can't resist giving a cynical laugh “The same love you said you felt for me while you were lusting after my sister? Don't worry, Casey. I'll be very understanding about this. You couldn't sleep with me, so you went looking for a bed more easily, with Amber. Makes a lot of sense..."

“You can’t talk to me like that!” Amber whimpered, and Alice wondered if she was not screaming, enraged, just because Casey was there “I'm still your sister! Plus, look at you! You're not even sad or anything! Everyone could see that you treated Casey like a friend and were only with him to try to be a father to your daughter! Why are you so angry just because he's trying to be happy with someone who really loves him? If you care about both of us, you’ll want to see us happy, won’t you?”

"Are you serious?!" Alice growled “My own sister is having an affair with my boyfriend and you think I should congratulate you both on that? If either of you two really cared about me, you would never have done this! And if it were the other way around, Amber?” Alice found herself saying, even though a part of her mind was on alert, begging her to shut up before she ended up saying something she shouldn't “What if I had fallen in love with one of your boyfriends? Would you be happy for me or would you call me a cheating bitch for having…?”

“What do you think you’re saying to your sister?!” A shrill voice interrupted the fight and, by instinct, Alice froze where she was, only managing to turn her neck to find her mother there, walking towards them confidently, while the sound of her high heels on the porcelain floor echoed “Oh, That's it? Are you making all this fuss and acting like a crazy person over a little boyfriend, Alice?” Kendra rolled her ice-colored eyes, exactly like Amber's.

“You knew that, didn’t you?” Alice murmured, her lips pursed “Why am I not surprised?”

“How can you insult your sister just because of a man? Is this how you react when you find out that a man wants better than you? Well, your life will certainly be a sea of ​​disappointments from now on, since you didn't learn your lesson from your daughter's father, whoever he may be.” Kendra sneered and, even though Alice had heard her say much worse things than that, she still cringed “Now, stop acting like a child. We have more important matters to deal with now. And, if you really care that much about having a man around to make you feel less like a failure, then today is your lucky day.”