Chapter 119
If he had met her a bit sooner, he wouldn't be in such a mad rush now. Sure, she might've been underage back then, but it would've been better than finding his true love right when he was about to hit thirty.
Thinking about Felix, who was over thirty and still single, made David feel a bit better. But then he remembered James, who was four years younger and had already had several girlfriends, and that threw him off balance again.
Meanwhile, Felix, working late, and James, checking accounts at the bar, both sneezed at the same time.
David had just stepped out of the bathroom and tied his bathrobe when there was a knock on his door. He opened it to find Alice standing there with a pillow, looking completely blank. "I'm here to sleep with you," she said.
David was taken aback for a moment, then he grinned and stepped aside. "It's my honor."
Alice, ignoring his smug look, walked in, pushed David's pillow aside, and put her own pillow down. They looked like a married couple now.
David hugged her from behind, both of them smelling like shower gel, though Alice's scent was stronger. He lowered his head to sniff her shoulder and neck, saying, "Next time, I want to use your shower gel. It smells nice."
"Don't you think it's a bit girly for a guy to use cherry blossom-scented shower gel?" Alice asked.
"No," David replied with a smile. "Just like you wearing my shirts, using your body wash is perfectly fine for me."
Alice didn't bother to argue with him. She turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck, and draped her legs over his thighs. Resting her head on his shoulder, she nestled against him like a child.
David stroked her hair. "Why are you in a bad mood?"
David sensed that she had been down since leaving the police station. He had held back from asking on the way home, but Alice had come to him on her own.
Alice asked, "If they adopted me, why could they send me away after having their own child?"
Alice didn't understand, just as she couldn't comprehend how Marcus, despite having a wife and kids, could still have an affair and even father her.
"One is biological, the other is not," David patiently explained. "Given the Campbell family's situation, if they had money, they would likely choose surrogacy or IVF rather than adoption. So, after having a biological child, the adopted one becomes a burden."
"Am I redundant?" Alice looked up at him.
David was silent for a few seconds, then looked into her eyes. "To Juniper and Celeste, you might be redundant; to your dad Marcus, you are dispensable; but to Lucas, you are very important."
David emphasized, "To me, you are the most indispensable person."
David gently kissed her lips. "You are my everything."
Moonlight quietly spilled into the room, and the two people embracing on the bed seemed to have found solace for their souls. Alice, tightly held in David's arms, slept soundly, while David, as if he had obtained the world's most precious treasure, cherished and reveled in this warmth.
The next day, when Alice got to school, she saw Ophelia standing by the classroom door, holding a bag with a freshly cleaned coat inside.
The school had given a vague explanation about Ophelia's situation, not really going into details. But that didn't stop a bunch of curious classmates from asking what had happened, and some even wanted to know the exact scene, which was super annoying.
"I want to invite you and that gentleman to dinner to say thanks. Is that okay?" Ophelia asked shyly.
"I can, but I don't know if he can make it," Alice said, taking the bag. "Should I ask him?"
Ophelia nodded, her cheeks turning a bit red. "If it weren't for you guys, I wouldn't be able to keep studying."
"And me!" Esme chimed in indignantly. "I also tried my best to find you, but someone, who seems tough on the outside but is soft on the inside, went to play hero."
Alice rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone to text David.
Ophelia smiled. "Thank you too, Ms. Garcia. I'll treat you to a meal another day."
Esme suggested with interest, "How about going to Starry Sky Restaurant? Do you think the owner will give us a discount?"
Ophelia quickly explained, "I've already talked to the owner, and he will reserve a spot for us. But I have to finish my part-time job today, so how about after school?"
Esme looked at Alice, who had just received a reply from David.
David: [No, have fun. I have to work overtime today, thanks to you troublemaker.]
Alice sighed helplessly. "He said he can't come."
Hearing this, Ophelia looked a bit disappointed but said, "Then it'll be the three of us. How about after school today?"
Alice and Esme nodded.
After school, Esme and Alice headed towards Starry Sky Restaurant.
Esme wanted to apologize several times, wanting to say that she was upset yesterday and spoke without thinking, hoping Alice wouldn't hold it against her. But every time she was about to speak, she swallowed her words, not knowing how to make it sound sincere. Just as she was thinking, Alice patted her shoulder.
"What have you been mumbling about all the way?" Alice couldn't stand it anymore, seeing Esme open and close her mouth several times, hesitating to speak.
Esme frowned. "I want to apologize. I was in a bad mood yesterday, so I said some harsh words to you, but a verbal apology feels insincere. I'm trying to think of a more formal way."
Alice rolled her eyes helplessly. "Is it worth agonizing over this all the way? We're friends, and I was also at fault yesterday. Alright, I forgive you. Let's go, Ophelia might already be waiting for us."
Esme nodded. "Okay!"
When they arrived at the entrance of Starry Sky Restaurant, Alice reached out to push the door, but someone else grabbed the handle at the same time. The two girls froze, one trying to push in, the other trying to pull out.
Alice turned her head and her expression changed instantly.
Lila didn't expect to meet Alice here and felt a wave of awkwardness besides surprise.
Lila's female friend, not understanding the situation, stepped forward and said, "Miss, we're all here to have dinner. Could you please move?"
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