Chapter 1243: 649: Extra Story: The Big Bad Wolf and Little White Rabbit Make Up (2-2)

Alice froze for a second, staring blankly at him. What did he just call her? "Wifey"...

That was how he addressed her in her dreams, a dream she’d always thought would never come true.

He kissed her on the forehead, affection overflowing. "Marry me, Alice."

Is this where the prince and princess live happily ever after together?

No...

Alice took a deep breath and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "I need to think about it."

Chester’s brows knitted together in a tight frown. "Why?"

"Because I still can’t bring myself to trust you with all my heart."

Chester hugged her from behind, his arms tightening around her. "Then what do you want to do? If you’re thinking you need me to leave so you can think clearly, sorry, that’s not happening."

That was exactly what she’d wanted to say; she hadn’t expected him to see right through her in advance.

"You’re impossible."

He rested his head on her shoulder, his cheek against hers. "At most, I can promise you this—I’ll wait until you nod before you marry me."

"I never said I’d marry you."

He said overbearingly, "You’ve got no choice but to marry me."

"Scoundrel."

He laughed, slowly turning her around so she faced him. "Let me kiss you properly. I haven’t..."

"Ah!" Alice suddenly let out a shriek and pushed him away.

Chester frowned. "What’s wrong?"

Alice blurted out, "I forgot, the board members are still waiting for me to start the meeting." As she spoke, she glanced at the time. "Damn, it’s already time for the meeting." She shot out of the room like an arrow.

He grabbed her at just the right moment, looking extremely displeased. "At a time like this you won’t stay home with me, and you’re still thinking about a meeting?"

Alice yanked herself free. "Go keep your own damn self company."

Chester’s face darkened.

Alice had already dashed out of the room.

She only heard a furious curse echo from inside. "Damn it!"

Alice admitted it: she did come for the meeting, but she also wanted to use it as an excuse to escape him.

Leaning back against the car seat, Alice’s heart was still thudding wildly.

She was useless—facing him, she still got nervous.

No one knew she wasn’t a strong woman in any real sense of the word; she could never truly be unruffled, dealing with everything calmly.

This past year, the reason she managed to keep the company running wasn’t that she was genuinely capable, but that she’d poured in more sweat than anyone else.

She didn’t understand business at all. When she first founded "Tench," she was so busy she was dizzy and lost, at her wits’ end. But no matter how hard it got, she never let it show in front of subordinates or clients, because she’d sworn she had to learn to be independent and strong.

A year of single-minded focus on the company finally won her a suit of armor—cold and arrogant to insiders and outsiders alike—but in truth, only she knew best: she didn’t understand business, and she didn’t even like business. The life she yearned for had always been the simplest—being a wife and raising children.

But this façade was something she refused to tear off in front of him.

She’d struggled so hard to prop up this strength; she couldn’t let herself become small again.

If she’d just let herself get lost in the gentle web he’d spun around her just now, she was really afraid she’d carelessly turn back into the girl she used to be.

She admitted it: when it came to him, her heart still fluttered.

She’d already exhausted herself trying to reject him, yet in the end she still couldn’t reject that lingering thrill she felt for him.

She loved him.

Back in Germany she’d felt nothing for him; on Foam Island she’d been cold to him. But just now, as he told her "I love you" over and over again, she’d wanted to open her mouth and refuse—only to realize she couldn’t say the words at all...

All she wanted was to cry, to complain about him, to curse him a thousand times over. And yet, she wanted to be with him.

Did that make her utterly pathetic?

"Miss Robinson, Miss Robinson..."

Andie whispered, calling to her.

Immersed in her thoughts, Alice finally came back to herself. "Uh..." She looked, embarrassed, at the more than ten board members seated before her, all watching her intently.

Eric Grant said, "Miss Robinson, I know you’ve had a lot of tabloid stories about your private life lately; they must have affected your mood... If you’re still not feeling better, why don’t we postpone the meeting? You can go home and get some proper rest for a few days."

"That’s right, Miss Robinson. You’ve worked so hard this past year, haven’t even taken a single day off... Why not take advantage of this period and rest at home for a while? We old guys will help you keep an eye on the company." The one speaking was Adams Herbert.

Ever since Alice had brought these old gentlemen onto Tench’s board, they’d become utterly loyal to "Tench."

Alice gave everyone an embarrassed little smile. "I know you’re all very concerned, but I’m fine... Let’s continue the meeting. I want ’Tench’ to wrap things up as soon as possible."

When the meeting ended, Alice returned to her office.

Andie was already packing up to get off work. Seeing Alice still sitting at her desk, Andie couldn’t help but ask with concern, "Miss Robinson, aren’t you going home?"

"Uh, I want to stay at the company and look over the materials for the IPO."

"I’ll stay and keep you company."

"No need... We’ve just done a four-hour meeting; you’re tired too. Go home and get some rest. I’ll head back once I’ve finished reading the documents."

"All right then. If you need anything, just call me, Miss Robinson."

"Mm."

After Andie left, the large executive office was left with only Alice inside.

Alice wasn’t in the mood to read any files; she just wanted an excuse to stay at the company.

Yes, she wasn’t mentally ready to go back and see him yet.

Were they really just starting over like this?

It was supposed to be something happy, yet right now it only made her terribly upset.

The reason she was upset was the constant surge of guilt and self-reproach rising in her heart.

Yes, at this very moment, she felt she was failing Claud Laurence badly.

This past year, if not for Claud, she wouldn’t have made it this far. She owed Claud so, so much...

These last two days Claud hadn’t called her again; he was keeping his promise, not putting any pressure on her, letting her calmly make her choice.

She was already very, very calm—so why was it that the moment she ran into Chester, she still couldn’t keep her cool?

She didn’t want to hurt Claud, she really didn’t...

She had never treated Claud as some lifeline she grabbed in a crisis; she chose Claud because she truly wanted to spend her life with him.