"Alicia, where are you going? Have you forgotten that your father confined you?" Mrs. Kieran asked curiously, her gaze on her daughter who looked like she was hosting a party.
Her sparkling silver gown perfectly fit her curves, matched with a pair of dark blue double-strap heels. She looked like a totally different person under heavy makeup.
If not for the fact that there was no one at home aside from Alicia and her mother, she would have been mistaken for a stranger.
Her lips curled into a sly smile before replying, "I am getting married today."
"Don't tell me you are going to be her substitute?" Mrs. Kieran inquired anxiously, reminded of their current predicament.
She can't allow her only child to be a toy for a rapist, especially when Mr. Thompson's plan was to rape Sabrina to death.
Alicia burst into laughter at her mother's words. She found it unbelievable that her mother still hadn't known the type of person she was.
She is the type that never accepts defeat or failure. To her, being perfect is her only goal.
"Mrs. Kieran, I can't believe you think so lowly of me," she spoke up before taking a few steps towards her mother, whose eyes were widened in amusement. "I am not going to Mr. Thompson! I am taking back what actually belongs to me."
"What actually belongs to you?"
"Yes, mother," her response was quick and precise.
"I won't let you leave this house if you don't share your plan with me," Mrs. Kieran urged calmly.
Knowing how adamant her mother could be, Alicia began. "I am going to poison Sabrina. If Sabrina is nowhere to be found, the Sawyer family would have no choice but to choose me."
"After all, they can't embarrass themselves in front of their guests," she added.
"But you can't get married to Atticus unless you are regarded as Sabrina... Are you sure this is a good plan?" Mrs. Kieran inquired, feeling doubtful of her daughter's plan.
Alicia chuckled at her mother's silly question. She leaned slowly, her eyes piercing through her mother's.
"And so? Why can't I claim that name? Have you forgotten that our lives depend on this? If Sabrina successfully gets married to Atticus, our lives would be ruined," Alicia reminded her mother of their fate before heading out.
She got into her car, started it, and drove off to Sawyer Grand Event Hall (SGEH), which was built two years ago mainly for important events hosted by class-A citizens.
Today would be the first time she was going to step foot in there, and probably see the place she had always dreamt of getting married. Not so different for Sabrina too.
Reporters rushed up to her the moment she got out of her car. Camera flashes directed towards her face as many of the reporters took photos of her.
No one wanted to miss having an image of Attiv cus Adam Sawyer's bride. Not only was she from a reputable background, but also beautiful, they thought.
Since Alicia was the only one who was known by the public as Kieran's daughter, she had nothing to worry about. Only Sabrina's client, the hotel workers, the club manager, and neighbors knew about Sabrina.
After several photographs, the reporters finally made way for Alicia. She headed straight to the bride's dressing room.
She knocked several times before the door opened.
"Do you—"
Sabrina did not bother to wait for the makeup artist to complete her statement before dragging her out to a corner, making sure Sabrina wasn't alerted.
"What are you doing? Do you want to injure me?" The makeup artist asked curtly.
"I would, but that depends on your response to the favor I am about to ask of you," Alicia smiled faintly as she spoke, not revealing her real intention.
Anxious and curious about the favor a class-B citizen was about to ask from a poverty-wretched girl like her, she asked, "What favor, ma?"
Since her boss was sick, the makeup artist decided to stand in for her, knowing about the consequence of her action. She needed the money and her boss needed to rest, after all, she is good at what she does.
"Add this substance to the bride's drink. I don't want a 'no' as an answer unless you want everyone to know you stood in for your boss," Alicia threatened, sending chills down the weak lady's spine.
"I... I... Will... Do as... You say... Ma," she stuttered, receiving the substance from Alicia.
"If you do a great job, you will get a reward, don't forget that," Alicia left after that, putting her hope on the makeup artist.
The makeup artist took a deep breath before summoning the courage to head in. This was the first time she was going to harm an innocent person, but she had no choice.
"What took you so long?" Sabrina asked after getting a glimpse of her makeup designer.
Just the final touch on her hair and Sabrina would become a Barbie. The perfect makeup made her look like a fallen angel, in addition to her perfect black gown.
She chose black for a reason. Since it wasn't real, she decided not to choose the typical white wedding dress.
"Wow, I have never imagined free-run to be this good on me," she complimented the makeup artist after her hair had been styled.
"Ma, since we are done, I would advise you to take wine to calm down. I always advise my clients to do so because walking down the aisle with many eyes on you isn't easy," the makeup artist stated, trying her best to convince Sabrina.
Sabrina smiled before nodding her head. "If you insist. But let the wine be non-alcoholic."
The makeup artist's pale look brightened upon hearing Sabrina's response. She did not hesitate before leaving to get Sabrina the wine.
A few minutes later, she returned with a glass of wine. "This is it, ma'am. It is a French wine made from grapes."
"Oh, it tastes..." just the first gulp, Sabrina felt a sharp burn in her chest, which made the glass of wine fall from her hand.
Before she could realize what had just happened, her chest was burning and her head suddenly began to spin as if she had just taken acid.
Not knowing who else to suspect, she turned to face the makeup artist, "Why did you poison me?"
"I... Am sorry... Someone threatened me. A lady... Threatened—"
"Short brown-haired lady?" Sabrina asked, trying to confirm who it was.
"Yes. She is a little bit taller than you," the makeup artist replied immediately, confirming it was Alicia.