Chapter 39

All the officers on the case were Chester's former colleagues from his days with the detective squad—dedicated people he trusted completely.

"I'll let you know as soon as we've identified the substance, Chester. But listen... that case four years ago, it already cost you your position and got you transferred. Don't go crossing any more of the city's big shots. I heard about this young woman, and I know the Holloway and Lawson families are involved. Do yourself a favor and keep your head down, alright?" His colleague's warning was quiet but firm as he headed off.

—

Just after noon, the police called. The substance in the syringe was sodium cyanide—a deadly chemical under strict government control. Just a tenth of a gram was enough to kill.

Chester hung up the phone, his face pale with shock as he turned to Alicia.

Who would take such a risk, just to kill an orphan?

Alicia was already at the very bottom of society, someone with no power, no protection—an easy target, really. She wasn't a threat to anyone. Why would someone go to these lengths to see her dead?

"Alicia... are you sure you don't have any enemies? You don't have anything on the Lawsons or the Holloways—no secrets worth killing for?" Chester probed carefully.

Alicia shook her head.

"It was sodium cyanide," Chester whispered.

Alicia's face went white with terror.

Sodium cyanide... the same chemical used in euthanasia.

Who could possibly hate her enough to orchestrate something like this?

"The police will get to the bottom of this. But you have to keep yourself safe. If anything happens, call me right away—promise me," Chester insisted.

Alicia nodded numbly, but none of it made sense.

Would Vincent really want her dead? That seemed impossible...

Then who?

After Chester left, Alicia just sat on the edge of her hospital bed, lost in thought.

—

Around two in the afternoon, Vincent arrived with Mina.

This time, he was alone except for Mina—probably to avoid overwhelming Alicia.

He'd gone to the station first to bail Mina out, then brought her straight to the hospital room.

"Alicia, Mina's here to apologize," Vincent said, standing with Mina at the foot of the bed.

Mina's face was pale—she clearly didn't want to be there—but she spoke anyway. "Alicia, I'm sorry... I never meant for you to get hurt. I had no idea Henry would go so far..."

Her eyes filled with tears, her performance flawless. "I just—I lost my head, I was jealous. I couldn't accept that in the four years I was gone, you and Vin—"

Mina deliberately exposed Alicia and Vincent's past in front of everyone.

Vincent's panic was obvious. "Mina—"

Mina turned to him, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry. I knew about you and Alicia, but I still let jealousy get the better of me. I shouldn't have come back and tried to break you two up. Vin, you should be with Alicia. I'm sorry."

She sobbed and tried to leave.

Vincent, pale and shaken, grabbed her arm. "You're not going anywhere. You're my fiancée—we're getting married! Whatever happened with her..."

He glanced at Alicia, forced into making a choice between the two of them.

"There's nothing between me and Alicia anymore," Vincent said hoarsely.

Alicia gave a tired, bitter smile.

So this was it—were they putting on a tragic lovers' drama for her benefit?

Mina shook her head, crying harder. "It's all my fault. I'm the one to blame..."

Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent)

Chapter 38 Transmigration: I Have Storage Space in the Apocalypse Chapter 760 - 756: Encountering a Man with Evil Intentions "No, it's my fault!" Vincent pulled her into a tight embrace, then looked at Alicia, desperation in his eyes. "Alicia! You're not innocent in all this—let it go already. Just make a statement, clear Mina's name, stop the rumors online!"

Alicia's eyes sparkled with angry tears. She laughed—short, sharp, disbelieving. "I'm at fault? Vincent—what exactly did I do wrong? When I was with you, she was already married. You were single, I was single... So tell me—where did I go wrong?"