Chapter 11 You Didn't Sell Me Out, Did You?

Lester cleared his throat. "One million bucks!"

Alice clicked her tongue. "Didn't you give Clara ten million bucks last time she went shopping?"

Zoey jumped in. "You can't compare yourself to Clara. She's gonna be the Howard Family's hostess!"

Alice sneered. "So the Johnson Family isn't even a fraction of the Howards! Is this how you plan my future, by picking a lame marriage?"

Zoey snorted. "You grew up in the sticks. What do you know about etiquette, dance, or piano? You're lucky the Johnson heir even notices you!"

Alice shrugged. "So with my background, I'm only good enough for the Johnsons. Fine, I'll pass Grandma's message to their heir."

Zoey was fuming. "You little brat! If you keep talking crap, I'll make you pay!"

Alice winked playfully. "Still threatening me? Who knows what a country bumpkin like me might say."

Lester's face darkened. He pulled out another bank card and handed it over, annoyed. "This card's got about ten million bucks. Spend it wisely."

Alice grinned and took it without hesitation. "Thanks, Dad."

As she reached the door, she turned around. "Oh, by the way, Aunt Elodie said smoky makeup and colorful hairstyles suit me better."

Zoey's eyes widened. "No! You can't dress like that."

Alice ignored her and quickly left.

Outside the villa, Alice grabbed a cab to Calvin's place.

On the way, she called Calvin.

"Madam, you coming over?"

"Yeah, tidy up a bit. Don't let it be a mess."

"No way, I'm a neat freak!" Calvin said, holding the phone with one hand and tidying up T-shirts and shorts with the other. "What do you wanna eat? I'll cook for you at noon!"

Alice touched her nose. "No need, just tidy up first."

After hanging up, Alice put away her phone and opened her mini laptop. She logged into the Dark Web and sent a message: [The kidnapper is at...]

The reply came quick: [Got it! Your reward's on the way.]

In less than a minute, her account had an extra million bucks.

She immediately transferred five hundred thousand bucks to Calvin's account and called him. "Calvin, your task is here."

"So sudden? What task?"

"Escape."

"What? What kind of task is that?" Calvin was confused but quickly caught on. "You didn't sell me out, did you?"

Alice laughed, rubbing her chin. "You could say that, but escaping is your thing! They won't catch you. Just show your back, and I'll cover your tracks."

"I'm really your unlucky sidekick, but why only five hundred thousand bucks? Isn't it supposed to be five million? Missing a zero, aren't we?"

"If I didn't say that, would you take the task so easily?" Alice glanced at her watch. "You've got about ten minutes left."

Calvin immediately put down the phone, packed his important electronics into a backpack, and got ready to bolt.

Looking downstairs, he saw three black Range Rovers parked at the entrance.

He cursed under his breath, quickly changed his outfit, and headed out.

As the door swung open, Calvin adjusted his sunglasses and sashayed out, hips swaying.

The dozen or so bodyguards at the entrance saw the stunning Calvin in a red dress with flowing hair and instinctively stepped aside to clear the way.

Calvin walked out leisurely, glancing back as the door closed behind him. Then, he bolted in high heels to a Mercedes, jumped in, and sped off.

The bodyguards stormed up to the tenth floor, burst into room 1002, and found it empty except for some scattered clothes. The kidnapper was long gone.

One of them suddenly realized. "Damn! That chick in the red dress was suspicious. She must be the kidnapper!"

"What do you mean?"

"I just remembered what was off about her! Her feet were huge!"

"Get her!"

"Notify Mr. Ross immediately and track that chick's escape route!"

"It's not a chick, clearly a dude!"

Sitting in a nearby pavilion, Alice watched the bodyguards scramble into their cars and leave. She opened her laptop, hacked into the traffic department, and erased all traces of Calvin's escape, making it irrecoverable.

After stretching her neck, she packed her bag and headed to meet Esme.

When Alice arrived at the entrance, Esme had just turned down a handsome guy's advances.

Esme's red dress showcased her stunning figure.

Seeing Alice, she rushed over and hugged her. "Alice, I missed you so much!"

"You call me all the time, and you still miss me?"

Esme let go, her eyes reddening. "Of course I do. You've been living dangerously these past two years. I'm always afraid that one day you won't answer my call, and I'll think you..."

"Alright, I'm back now!"

"But Mike still hasn't been found."

Alice was silent for a moment. "I've got people looking for him in Floragada. We'll find him eventually. Now, let's enjoy our shopping today!" She pulled out two cards. "Eleven million bucks in total. Whatever you like, it's on me!"

This mall in Stellaria was a top-tier shopping center, combining shopping, entertainment, and cinema, favored by the elite.

As Alice and Esme shopped, they chatted about the new clothes.

"Alice, look, this brand Airevyn has new designs, and they kinda resemble our old ones." Esme raised her chin.

Alice narrowed her eyes. "They've just incorporated some elements. It's not plagiarism. The designer's pretty slick."

Esme crossed her arms. "The owner behind Airevyn is Oliver. That scumbag is really annoying."

"He's pretty gross." Alice chuckled. "If those designers want to incorporate elements, let them. Since they can't create new ones, it just shows their level. For this reason alone, Airevyn will never surpass Morrisa."

Esme nodded. "Makes sense."

Alice waved the card in her hand. "Come on, let's start swiping!"

Meanwhile, at the Savoy Villa.

Clara looked at Elodie, who was rubbing her temples. "Mom, what's wrong?"

"That bitch Alice got two bank cards from your dad today, totaling eleven million bucks." Elodie gritted her teeth. "Just thinking about her spending all that money gives me a headache."

Clara frowned. "Alice can't possibly spend that much, right? After all, her taste is only good for buying cheap stuff."

As she finished her words, Elodie's phone kept pinging with notification sounds. She picked it up. Just one glance made her blood pressure soar as million-dollar transactions popped up one after another.