Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 20

Tyrone nodded. "Let me drive you home."

Alicia agreed, quietly following him out.

"Alicia!" Vincent's voice was sharp with anger—she had never defied him before.

Without thinking, he started after her, forgetting entirely that the dinner party's guests were all watching.

Mina hurried over and caught Vincent's arm, her voice anxious. "Vincent, my father's here with some friends. Come say hello with me, please."

Her words snapped Vincent back to the present. He glanced at Mina, then nodded.

All around, the other guests stared, baffled by the scene. No one could figure out just what the connection was between Vincent, Tyrone, and the pretty young woman who had just left.

"Vincent must really be in love with Mina," someone whispered. "It's rare to see someone so devoted in this crowd."

Another woman murmured, "Mina's something else, isn't she? Her family needed to break into the Vesperian market, so she went and married a local. Once the novelty wore off and she got divorced, she came right back to go after Vincent. It's a win-win for her, either way."

A few heiresses, voices lowered, gossiped in the corner.

Mina truly was shrewd. She always knew how to read the room, and how to make every marriage work to her advantage.

She was certain Vincent would always wait for her.

So what if she'd married and divorced abroad? Back in Seaview City, she could still marry Vincent and become the woman everyone envied.

Clinging to Vincent's arm, Mina shot a meaningful look at Alicia's retreating figure.

She had underestimated that girl—Alicia had managed to catch Tyrone Lynch's attention.

Even while she was overseas, Mina had kept someone watching Vincent for her.

Men, she thought, were always ruled by their desires. When she first heard about Alicia, Mina hadn't cared—Alicia seemed too insignificant to threaten her place.

As long as she came back, Vincent would still be hers.

That was why Mina never bothered to intervene—until now.

Alicia's Apartment

Tyrone drove Alicia back to her place.

"Thank you, Mr. Lynch," Alicia said as she stepped out of the car, bowing her head politely.

She was grateful—not just for getting her out of the police station, but also for standing up for her at the party.

"My offer still stands," Tyrone said. "If you ever decide you want to marry me, just let me know."

Alicia didn't refuse. If she ever ran out of options, at least she still had Tyrone as a way out.

He drove off, and Alicia let herself into her small rented apartment.

She looked around at the cramped space, feeling strangely detached.

Four years ago, Vincent had picked her up from the hospital and brought her here, telling her this was where she'd be living from now on.