''What happened to Natalie today?'' Mikael asked.
''Nothing. She is fine.'' Alice replied half-heartedly.
''I already asked someone to look into it. Now, you better tell me the truth.'' Mikael said sternly and Alice banged the ladle in her hand on the cabinet and turned to face him.
''Since you're the great young Master of the Sun family who loves to look into everything pertaining to my sister, you must have known that my sister has panic disorder, can't eat anything containing carbs and is extremely afraid of anyone having the name 'Song' as their last name, right?"
"Mikael ,If you hadn't told her to make herself useful and find a job and stop using your brother's money? If you hadn't told her such disgusting words and made her feel worthless? She wouldn't have tried her best to find a job? She wouldn't have gotten into Janice and she wouldn't have been bullied until she had a relapse? This is all your fault and I will make you pay for it.''
Alice was so frustrated and vented on Mikael. Even though she knew she wasn't to be blamed for everything.
''What relapse?'' Mikael's eyes flickered as he asked, but Alice was too angry to notice the change in him.
''Since you're investigating, why don't you add that as well. Try to find out what happened to my sister five years ago, why your brother was so protective of her and married her. Why don't you use the energy you're using to sabotage and make my sister's life miserable to find out all of that? Obnoxious bastard.''
Alice poured the food into a plate and turned the microwave and went into Natalie's room, leaving Mikael confused.
Mikael rushed into his room. He closed the door behind him and opened his cardboard. He removed the file of Natalie and poured out all the pictures and papers containing her information.
His gaze fell on a particular paper titled 'Natalie found in front of Glory City hospital after a year of going missing'. He shakingly took the paper and read it.
A whirlwind of emotions took over him and he gasped. He had investigated alright but he never had time to read the information he got on her.
Now, everything was clear to him. Why his brother tried so hard to protect her. It was because she was 'that girl'.
''How could she be the same girl?'' Mikael felt short of words. He remembered her. They used to be neighbours. Natalie and her brother were in the same class during middle school. He used to hate her because he knew that her father's first love was his mother. He never believed that they were just friends even though Thomas had told him that a lot of times.
He remembered her father remarried and they moved to another city. Now, it was clear. The woman he had remarried was no other than Alice's mother who also passed away shortly after.
Everything was clear to him now. Mikael cussed and threw the pictures on the floor. His phone buzzed and he hurriedly answered it.
''What did you find out?'' He asked immediately and listened carefully.
Mikael chuckled sarcastically and his gaze darkened.
He hung up and sat on the bed and laughed. ''Someone actually dared to bully my people? This woman must be tired of being in the industry.''
….
Alice fed Natalie the food until she was satisfied and stopped her.
''Alice, I'm full.'' she said softly.
''Eat a little more. Dr. Andrea said you need to eat and rest. I already asked my scheduled to be pushed back. In the meantime, I will be here taking care of you. Big sis, let's go on a picnic when you get better. We haven't been on a picnic together since I started acting.''
As they were talking, Mikael stood by the door listening quietly. There was a mix of complicated emotions in his eyes.
In the middle of the night as they were sleeping, Natalie stirred in her sleep while talking.
''Don't hurt me, please don't hurt me. I will be good, I won't make noise, please, please…''
Alice opened her eyes on the side of the bed and noticed Natalie's behaviour. She quickly sat up and turned on the light and tried to wake her up.
''Natalie, is okay!''
Natalie opened her eyes and sat up on the bed shrinking towards the edge as Alice spoke to her.
''Is me, is your sister, I won't hurt you.''
''Alice?'' When she recognised Alice, Natalie crawled into her embrace as her breathing quickened intensely.
''Is me. You're safe, no one will hurt you again, I promise. Should I sing for you?''
Natalie nodded her head when Alice asked her.
'Row, row, row your boat
'Gently on the stream
'Merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream 2x.
Outside the door, Mikael clenched his fists tightly. He stood there for a while before going back to his room. He had been checking up on them throughout the night.
…..
Janice Jewelry...
Lucy arrived at the company in her small frog shaped car and pulled over. When she got down, she saw Matt chatting with Amy at the entrance. She looked at him and their eyes met before she quickly turned away.
Lucy held her purse tightly as she dilly dallied around the car park.
Not having the courage to walk pass them after what she did yesterday. She felt totally embarrassed for running out of the elevator in that manner.
''Are you planning to walk around the car park till closing?'' Matt asked and raised his brows.
''Hello, mom!'' Lucy quickly took out her phone and started making a fake call. Matt stood there watching her calmly as she continued to talk on the phone.
''Yes, I will be home very early for din…'' Lucy coughed and her face turned red when the phone in her hand started ringing. She bit her lips awkwardly and looked at Matt.
Matt waved the phone in his hand at her and she gasped. ''Are you the one who just called me?''
''What do you think?'' Matt chuckled.
''You… what do you want?'' Lucy asked and Matt stepped closer to her.
''You already know what I want from you. I helped you so it's natural you also help me.''
''Are you in love with me?''
''No, but I want you to go on a fake date with me. Act as my girlfriend in front of my parents for a day.''
Lucy pointed at herself and asked, ''why? Why me? There are so many women who have a crush on you and would be glad to act along. Why are you asking me to do that for you?''
''Because I know that you are the only one who will not take advantage of me when you find out who I am.'' Matt said with a serious expression.
''Wait. Are you secretly rich or do you have powerful parents? Are you a secret heir?''
''What do you think?''
''Oh My God! You are… no, I already know your salary is huge but you even have rich parents?''
''Will you do it for me then? I promise I won't bother you again after tonight.''
''The date is tonight? Why are you just telling me right now?'' Lucy asked rather loudly. Her voice attracted Anita's attention as she got down from her car. She turned to them and frowned when she saw them. She only smiled at Matt who remained nonchalant, not even bothering to look at her.
''Lucy!'' Matt called her name and he blushed.
''Yes?''
''I would have told you if you didn't run away without waiting for me to finish my statement yesterday.''
''Right!'' Lucy scratched her hair.
''So, would you go with me?''
''Well, considering how you decided to help me without even asking any questions I should help you out. But let me warn you, I won't be responsible for my words if your parents turn out to be rude.'' she warned him sternly.
''No worries. My parents are far from being rude, especially to my girlfriend.''
''Okay, since it's settled, I should go to work.'' Lucy turned and hurried inside and Matt smiled.
''She is cute.'' He said and thought about the first time he met her in the elevator with Natalie.
He had taken notice of her and have been noticing her since then. She just stood out among all the workers in his eyes.
....
Later that day....
Lucy got out of a taxi and saw Matt dressed in a grey suit and pants waiting at the entrance of Shining Star Restaurant waiting and she walked to him. He smiled at her when he saw her.
''Lucy, you're here? You look beautiful.'' He said looking at her. She wore a black pencil skirt and paired it with a pink half shoulder top and wore a light blue blazer on top.
''I promised I would be here.'' Lucy said and blushed.
''Thank you, I didn't think you would come. You must find me strange, right?'' Matt asked as he held her hand and led her inside.
''Strange, yes. But, I can't say no to a handsome man. So, all I have to do is act like we're a couple, right?'' Lucy asked. When she saw Matt staring at her she blushed and looked away.
He had suddenly stopped with no warning and was staring at her deeply.
''It's good to know that I appeal to you. Let's go, my parents will be here soon. Let's use the time we have to get to know each other.'' Matt smirked.