Chapter 5

Alyssa checked the news. The first thing she saw was a press conference Gray Corporation had held on its successful acquisition of Somner Corporation. From today onward, Somner Corporation would cease to exist in the world. … Things were going well for Sebastian. He'd acquired Somner Corporation and exacted his revenge. Timothy smiled and said, "The Somner family tricked you into getting married three years ago. Now, you've finally gotten revenge on them." Suddenly, he switched the subject. "Has little miss deaf come to beg you for mercy lately, Seb?" Sebastian faltered in the middle of signing a document. For some reason, the people in his life kept bringing Alyssa up. He said icily, "No." Timothy was surprised. He couldn't believe Alyssa could remain calm when such a huge thing had happened with the Somner family. He asked, "Could it be that she's finally seen the light? I heard her mother and brother are searching high and low for her now. They don't know where she's hiding." Timothy chattered away, making Sebastian frown impatiently. "Get out!" Timothy was taken aback. Only then did he realize Sebastian was angry. He didn't dare say anything else and hurried out of the office. Once he was outside, he pulled out his phone and made a call. "Have you found Alyssa?" "Yes, sir. She's staying at a motel in Riverwest." He had his assistant send him the location before driving to his destination. Alyssa had wasted Sebastian and Daisy's time for three years. Even if she'd now agreed to a divorce, he couldn't let her off the hook so easily! After all, Daisy had saved his life once! … It was drizzling. Alyssa had completed her volunteering for the day before heading to the hospital to collect her medication. Now, she walked back to the motel with an umbrella over her head. There weren't many pedestrians on the street. Timothy easily caught sight of Alyssa walking alone on the street. He sped up as he drove past her, deliberately splashing the water from a puddle all over her. She looked at him, her gaze empty and dull. Timothy happened to see this in the rearview mirror. For some reason, it scared him. Alyssa recognized his car—it was a dark gray Buggati. She silently looked away, pretending she hadn't seen him. Timothy didn't want to let her off just like that, though. He slowed down and followed her. "Your temper's gotten worse, hasn't it, little miss deaf? Aren't you going to greet me? You used to love sucking up to me, didn't you? You wanted me to like you, didn't you?" Alyssa remained unmoved as she listened to his mockery and insults. In the past, she'd done her best to please everyone in Sebastian's life because of her feelings for him. That included his friends. She'd hoped that they would one day accept her. She'd been too optimistic, though. During a gathering, Timothy had bluntly told her he was Daisy's friend. He'd set aside his dignity as a scion to insult her and call her a shameless bitch just so he could stand up for Daisy. Then, he'd thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die there. From then on, Alyssa had kept clear of him. When he saw that she wasn't responding or answering him, he pulled over and got out. He strode over to her and grabbed her arm. "What tricks are you trying to pull this time?" Alyssa's arm hurt. She looked up at him. "I don't know what you're talking about." She tried to pry her arm out of his grip, but he shoved her away before she could. "Don't touch me with your dirty hands!" She staggered backward, ultimately falling hard on the ground. Timothy gaped at her. When had she learned to pull something like this to make her look like a victim? How could she have fallen from such a light push? When he saw the passersby looking at them, he got into the car, feeling embarrassed. Before leaving, he warned, "Don't you dare bully Dee-Dee just because you're disabled, Alyssa. She's different from you. It wasn't easy for her to get to where she is now—you'd better leave her and Seb alone." After driving off, he "considerately" told the Somners where Alyssa was staying. Alyssa's hands and knees had gotten scraped when she'd fallen to the ground. They hurt so much that she couldn't immediately get up. She couldn't understand why Timothy was so unreasonable. She remembered how, four years ago, she'd dragged him out of a car that was about to explode without a care for the danger. His face had been covered in blood, and he couldn't see. However, his voice had been gentle as he'd said, "Thanks. I'll make sure to repay you for this." Was this how he was repaying her? Alyssa returned to the hotel and showered. Then, she applied medication to her injuries. She lay down, feeling bleary. After what had happened that day, she was even more determined to leave Sebastian. … When she woke up the following morning, the sky was just starting to brighten. She headed to the living room to see Heather sitting on the couch in a form-fitting dress. Heather didn't ask Alyssa anything about herself when she saw the latter. Instead, she picked up the documents on the coffee table and handed them to Alyssa. "Go through this. This is the second option I've picked for you." Alyssa took the documents and saw that it was a premarital agreement. She read it. "Ms. Alyssa Somner agrees to willingly marry Mr. Lincoln Cane and care for him until he passes…" "Mr. Cane will ensure the well-being of the Somner family, which is Ms. Somner's family. He will also provide 30 million dollars in capital for the Somner family…" Alyssa's mind buzzed. Heather said, "Mr. Cane doesn't mind that this is your second marriage. As long as you marry him, he'll help us start over. You wouldn't want to disappoint me and your brother, right?" Alyssa paled. "I can't do it." Heather didn't expect her to reject the idea so bluntly and flew off the handle. "What right do you have to say no? I gave you your life!" Alyssa looked her in the eye. "Does that mean I won't owe you once I return this life to you?" Heather was taken aback. "What did you say?" Alyssa said, "If I return my life to you, will I stop owing you for bringing me into this world? Will that mean you'll no longer be my mother?" Heather didn't believe her threat and sneered. "Sure. Return your life to me, and I'll stop forcing you. Would you dare, though?" Alyssa seemed to make a decision. "Give me a month." Heather felt like Alyssa had lost her mind. "Don't think you can threaten me with death. I don't care about you, so you can go ahead and die. Remember to sign the agreement if you don't have the courage to die." Alyssa felt so oppressed that she wanted to find a place to let loose. She went to a bar and drank in a corner. She watched dazedly as the people danced and sang along with the music. A handsome man noticed her alone and approached her. "Wait, aren't you Alyssa Somner?" She looked at him but didn't know who he was. She asked, "Do you know how to become happy?" He was confused. "What did you say?" She sipped her drink and said, "The doctor said I'm sick and that I need to make myself happy. But… I can't…" The man, Cameron Hart, felt upset when he heard that. Didn't she remember him? Also, what sort of illness would require her to be happy? "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy," he said gently. "I'll take you home." Alyssa smiled at him. "You're such a nice guy." He saw the bitterness in her smile and had mixed feelings. He wondered what she'd been through over the past few years. Why did she seem so sad? Sebastian was at the same bar. He'd gotten into the habit of letting loose each night since the divorce. It had been ages since he'd returned to Dove Garden. It was late, so everyone was preparing to leave. Suddenly, Daisy noticed a familiar figure in the corner. She asked in surprise, "Isn't that Ms. Somner?" Sebastian looked in the direction she pointed and saw a man standing before Alyssa. They were chatting and laughing. His expression immediately darkened. She'd come to a bar to get drunk and was even getting to know other men! It looked like he'd thought too highly of her before! "Do you want to go check on her, Bash?" Daisy asked. "No," he said coldly. Then, he strode off. Meanwhile, Alyssa turned down Cameron's offer to send her home. She said, "I can head home myself. I don't want to trouble you." He was still worried about her and ran after her when he saw her leave the bar. "Don't you remember me anymore, Alyssa?" She looked at him, unable to remember who he was. "It's me, Piggy. Have you forgotten me?" Cameron asked. Only then did Alyssa remember him. When she'd stayed in the countryside with Mindy, she'd made a friend named Piggy. At the time, Cameron had been plump and hadn't even been as tall as her. Now, however, he stood tall at 6'3". He'd lost weight, and his handsome features were on display. "I remember now. You've changed so much that I couldn't recognize you," Alyssa said. It was always lovely to meet someone familiar in another place. She forced a faint smile. Cameron wasn't happy to see that. "Come on. I'll send you home." Only when they arrived at the motel did he realize she was staying in such a rundown place. She said awkwardly, "I'm sorry you had to see this. Please don't tell Mindy I'm staying here. I don't want her to worry." Cameron nodded. It was late, so he couldn't stay. He left after telling Alyssa he would drop by to see her tomorrow. As he left, he didn't notice the black Maybach parked in the shadows downstairs. Thanks to all the drinks she'd had, Alyssa's stomach felt uncomfortable, and her head spun. Suddenly, someone pounded on the door. She thought Cameron had returned, so she got up and opened the door. As soon as it swung open, Sebastian grabbed her wrist so tightly that it felt like it was about to break. "You've really shown me a different side of yourself this time, Alyssa!" He slammed the door shut behind him and dragged her to the couch. He said mockingly, "No wonder you were willing to let me go. It turns out you've already found someone to take over for me!" His words stabbed her like a knife. She didn't know how he'd found her and why he'd run into Cameron. She was taken aback at first but decided against explaining. Her eyes were red as she looked at him. "We're just the pot calling the kettle black, aren't we?" The Somner family had tricked Sebastian into marrying her, but he'd gotten his revenge by giving her the cold shoulder for three years. He'd also remained entangled with his first love. Neither of them was better than the other. Sebastian reeked of alcohol from the drinks he'd had. He gripped Alyssa's jaw, his eyes bloodshot as he snarled, "Who was that? When did you guys meet each other?" This was her first time seeing him like this. She laughed softly. "Are you jealous?" His pupils constricted. Then, he sneered. "Are you worthy of that?" Alyssa couldn't say anything in response. Sebastian abruptly leaned close to her ear and growled, "Has he already fucked you?" Alyssa had given up on getting a job and turned down all social gatherings with her friends because of the Gray family's rules. Now, however, Sebastian was suspecting her… Suddenly, she felt like she could let go of him. She asked in return, "What do you think?" Her words thoroughly angered Sebastian. His hot hand traveled down her body.