Chapter 181 A Sense of Strangeness
Joe descended the stairs, gazing at the empty living room, and did not see any of the younger ones. "Claire, where are the kids?"
Claire replied, "They're playing chess in the side hall."
"Let's go take a look."
As they entered the side hall, they saw Alice sitting opposite Donte, engaged in a silent battle over the chessboard. Joe was somewhat surprised to see Alice playing chess with Donte. He walked over and observed closely.
Donte's pieces hadn’t gained any advantage, while Alice's pieces were pressing forward relentlessly, though she could not claim immediate victory either.
It was a good game indeed!
Even if he were playing against Ruben, the situation might not be this intense.
In this match, the outcome was secondary; merely observing the board revealed the high level of skill both Donte and Alice possessed.
"Dad, Mom, why are you here? It's so boring here. Let's go to the living room." Rachel said, tugging at Claire's hand. But Claire did not move, her gaze fixed on the chessboard.
Rachel urged, "Mom!"
Joe said, "Rachel, a true gentleman remains silent while watching a game."
Rachel had no choice but to fall silent.
Five minutes later, Donte placed his piece down. "I lost."
He stood up, looking at Alice. "Alice, you're really good."
Natalie responded modestly, "Just a fluke."
Rachel frowned. "No way, Donte, you actually lost?? Why did you let her win? How could you lose to Alice?"
Donte exhaled slowly. He certainly hadn't let Alice win. When Alice was playing just now, her pieces advanced with a ferocity that surpassed even Adrian's.
Joe looked at Alice with a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Not bad."
Natalie said, "Thank you for the compliment."
Claire suggested, "Alright, you must be tired from playing chess. Let's go sit outside. Daniel and Jamie will be here soon."
Rachel was the first to cheer. "Jamie is coming, too?"
Natalie followed behind Adrian, saying, "I won."
Adrian stopped in his tracks, and Natalie almost bumped into his back.
She rubbed her nose.
Adrian said, "I didn't know you could play chess."
Natalie's eyes narrowed. 'Adrian, there are many things you don't know,' she thought.
"Well, you know it now." Her voice was low, deliberately mimicking Alice's tone. Having been with the Cullen family for many years, she could imitate some of Alice's expressions, actions, and voice.
Adrian turned around, and suddenly, his hand reached out towards Natalie.
Natalie instinctively stepped back, but then her cheek felt empty.
Adrian had taken off her sunglasses. What met his eyes was Alice's face.
She was indeed Alice. Yet, Adrian felt a sense of strangeness. He had a feeling that this face did not belong to Alice.
Alice's eyes were bloodshot, as if, just as she had said, they were inflamed, her eyes moist and red-rimmed. Adrian frowned slightly.
Natalie had prepared for this. Since she claimed her eyes were inflamed, she had to make them appear genuinely inflamed.
Otherwise, without heavy makeup, Adrian would surely recognize her eyes.
She wouldn't reveal any flaws by doing this.
Claire had just left her phone on the table and forgotten to take it. Now she returned to retrieve it, passing by Adrian and Natalie, and caught sight of Natalie. "Oh dear, Alice, your eyes are really inflamed."
Natalie nodded.
She had used too much eye drops and rubbed them a bit, causing some redness and swelling.
"I'll instruct the kitchen to prepare some light and tasty dishes for you."
"Thank you."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
