Chapter 4

Alice shut her eyes for a sec, bracing for David's slap, but the sting never came. She peeked and saw David shrugging off his coat, draping it over her, and buttoning it up all careful-like.

David knew Alice was a tough cookie, but he didn't think she'd be this hell-bent on payback.

She'd already clocked Clara at school, but she still chased her to the bar.

Her thirst for revenge was just like his, but seeing her all bruised up and dressed like that just to get even, David couldn't keep his cool anymore.

However, her tight-lipped stubbornness made David feel a bit bad for her.

They'd been together forever, and he'd never laid a hand on Alice.

But seeing her dressed all provocatively in front of everyone, he was pissed. He said coldly, "Did you forget our chat from a few hours ago? I told you I can handle it. It hasn't even been that long, and you're already back for more trouble, huh?"

His eyes landed on the bruises on Alice's forehead and arms, and his face got even darker. David said, "Keep this up, and on your birthday, I'll make sure you don't see Mr. Bailey."

Alice felt a bit wronged but kept her mouth shut, biting her lip and clenching her fists under the coat.

David looked at Dylan and said, "Dylan, I gotta handle some personal stuff. We'll talk about that thing later."

Dylan, with Simon in a headlock, waved without looking back. "Yeah, go ahead... You little punk, still not talking, huh?"

Simon yelled, "Dylan! What do you want me to say? I didn't drink, and I didn't hide anything!"

After leaving the bar, David took Alice to a nearby apartment.

Alice said, "Wow, David, you got places everywhere!"

To see Lucas on her birthday, Alice had to suck it up and butter up David.

But David ignored her, coldly pointing to the sofa in the living room. David demanded, "Sit there, don't touch anything else."

Even though he knew Alice felt wronged, if he didn't lay down the law this time, she'd get into even more trouble next time, maybe even hurt herself worse!

Especially tonight, she dressed like that, hanging with Simon, and bad-mouthing him. Just thinking about it made David wanna spank Alice!

Alice glanced around the living room. The floor was covered with an off-white carpet, a vase with flowers sat on a clear table, and the curtains were sky blue.

Alice watched David head into the bedroom. She took a few steps back, stopped at the door, and opened the shoe cabinet. Inside, she spotted a pair of women's slippers.

She shut the cabinet door, feeling uneasy, but still silently walked into the living room, avoiding the carpet, and plopped down on a single sofa.

When David came out, he saw Alice curled up on the sofa, hugging her knees.

Her small figure looked lonely and pitiful. David sighed, and his anger cooled off a bit.

"Come sit over here." David patted the spot next to him after sitting down.

Alice shook her head.

"Why?" David frowned, not happy with Alice's refusal.

Alice thought, 'Afraid of dirtying your carpet.'

Not daring to spill the truth, Alice made up an excuse. "Afraid you'll hit me."

"If you're scared, then stop causing trouble." David stood up, exasperated, standing in front of Alice. Suddenly, he scooped her up.

"Ah!" Caught off guard, Alice let out a small cry and clung tightly to David's neck.

This was the first time David had held her, so Alice's heart raced and her face turned red.

David gently placed Alice on the large sofa, looking down at her.

David said, "Knowing you messed up and still not behaving, do you want to get hit?"

His tone was threatening, but his actions were gentle as he brushed Alice's hair aside and clipped it up, revealing the bruise on her forehead.

David took a deep breath to keep his anger in check.

He wasn't mad at Alice for causing trouble; he was heartbroken that she never took care of herself and always ended up hurt.

Since living with Alice, he'd treated countless injuries for her, almost becoming as skilled as a professional doctor.

Seeing David about to apply medicine, Alice stopped being stubborn and obediently tilted her head, letting him treat her.

Looking at David's handsome face, Alice felt a bit dazed.

David was 26 this year; it was impossible he had never been in a relationship.

This place must have been where David and his girlfriend once lived because it felt so homey, unlike the villa, which was just empty and devoid of any warmth.

David appeared focused on applying medicine to his 19-year-old fiancée Alice, but he felt inexplicably shy when being intently stared at by Alice.

In all these years, it was the first time a woman had looked at him so directly.

Although Alice was still young, her looks were quite alluring. This combination of innocence and allure was hard for most men to resist.

She was only 19 now, and she would captivate more people once she fully matured.

David felt his heart racing under Alice's gaze, making him super uncomfortable.

He quickly finished applying the medicine, half-clenching his left hand into a fist and bringing it to his mouth to cover a light cough, trying to hide his embarrassment. He didn't notice that his ears had turned red.

David perched on the armrest of the sofa, his gaze drifting to Alice's arm. Seeing the bruises, his brows furrowed deeply.

Her arm was already covered in bruises, and now there wasn't a single spot of unblemished skin, with scratches and pinch marks all over. It was just missing a bite mark to complete the set.

David questioned, "How much more do you plan to hurt yourself before you stop?"

Alice tilted her head, her cheek resting on her knee, and watched David's well-defined fingers holding a cotton swab, dabbing medicine on her arm.

She spoke nonchalantly, "Well, until Clara stops insulting me."

David didn't like such competitive girls. After finishing the medicine, he decided to give Alice some punishment. He brought a blanket and pillow from the bedroom and set them up on the sofa.

"You're sleeping on the sofa tonight."

Alice fell silent.

"David, I'm a girl," Alice emphasized.

David looked at her indifferently.

Alice continued reluctantly, "Okay, putting aside the fact that I'm a girl, I'm your fiancée, and you ask me to sleep on the sofa?"

David pressed his thin lips together, showing no sign of guilt, and crossed his arms, waiting leisurely for her next excuse.

Alice took a deep breath, knowing she couldn't refuse him, and forced a smile. "David, I'll sleep on the sofa then."

"Goodnight," David replied.

Alice watched David walk into the bedroom, the door closing quickly, and heard the sound of it being locked.

Alice rubbed her mouth.

Before turning off the lights, Alice pulled the curtains open a bit, letting the moonlight in so the living room wouldn't be so dark.

She glanced at the flowers in the vase, reached out to touch the petals, and noticed they still had water droplets on them. She smiled.

David only had patience for her, and his tenderness was probably reserved for the person in his heart. The reason he tolerated this engagement was likely because she was young and easy to control.

If his fiancée were Celeste, they would probably be arguing by now.

Thinking of this, Alice laughed at herself, feeling a slight sense of loss, but she quickly shook her head to dispel it.

Alice stretched and felt sore all over. Her arm felt like it had been broken and reattached, and it was exhausting to move her fingers.

Alice murmured, "Goodnight."

The next day, Alice was sleeping soundly when sunlight suddenly poured in, hurting her eyes.

She raised her hand to block the light and squinted to see David placing breakfast on the table.

David demanded, "Get up."

His tone was commanding, harsh, and cold.

Alice was super annoyed, but remembering her mistakes, she didn't dare to be stubborn and spoke gently, "David, I'm still sleepy..."

Alice squinted, swayed as she sat up, and pulled out her phone from her pocket. Seeing the time, she grimaced and looked at David helplessly, "David, it's only six o'clock..."

She had never gotten up this early for school.

David took the breakfast out of the bag and opened the lid. The food released a delicious aroma.

David said, "Eat up, then we'll go back to the villa to pack your things. I'll take you to school."

Alice sighed, instinctively wanting to brush her teeth and wash her face. But as she stood up, she froze.

She almost forgot this wasn't the villa. Even if there were extra toothpaste and toothbrushes here, they would belong to David's girlfriend, and she couldn't use them.

David, drinking his milk, looked up at Alice. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Alice sat back down and started eating a sandwich with gusto.

After returning to the villa and grabbing her textbooks, David drove her to school.

Previously, those didn't know who David was, but now they did. And everyone now knew that Alice and David were a couple.

As soon as she entered the school gate, Alice noticed that people who used to pretend not to know her were now greeting her.

Alice ignored them all.

"Who does she think she is?" Seeing Alice's indifferent attitude, others complained.

Alice smirked but said nothing.

The day passed peacefully. Alice didn't cause any trouble, and no one bothered her, a rare moment of peace.

The only thing that wasn't peaceful was that Alice noticed David seemed to be planning to keep an eye on her.

On the way back, Alice wanted to tell David not to pick her up and drop her off at school anymore, fearing that the gossipers would dig deeper and find out about their engagement.

She didn't want people to know David was her fiancé for a simple reason. She wanted everyone to understand that she, Alice, was bold and reckless not because of David.

Alice always believed in not starting trouble but not fearing it either.

If someone offended her, she would make sure they paid the price, no matter what.