Chapter 7 The Punisher
Clara urged again, her tone sharp and impatient.
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“Mrs. Nolan, you really should drink this. Mr. Eric told the chefs to prepare it just for you.”
Eric’s hand paused mid–flip, his fingers lingering briefly on the page.
Then, as if caught by a sudden thought, he lowered his gaze back to the book and kept reading.
Alice carried the bowl of oatmeal and gave a sudden, calm smile.
C
Clara, still rattled from being scolded earlier that morning, caught sight of that smile and felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
Alice was the first to speak.
“I apologize for hitting you, Clara. You only did it for Mr. Eric’s sake.”
The apology caught Clara off guard. She blinked, stunned and a bit overwhelmed.
“M–Mrs. Nolan, I—I …
Alice cut her off, holding out the bowl. “Take this oatmeal as my apology.”
Clara immediately stepped back, waving her hands.
“Mrs. Nolan, you’re way too kind. It was my fault this morning.
“You hitting me was justified. You don’t have to apologize.”
Alice frowned, her voice soft but sharp enough to chill the room.
“I mean my apology.
“If you don’t drink the oatmeal, does that mean you won’t forgive me?”
Clara’s heart jumped, and she quickly accepted the bowl.
Alice’s smile softened and warmed.
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Chapter 7 The Punisher
“Drink it. Now.”
Clara’s face went pale, her body trembling all over.
“M–Mrs. Nolan, I—”
“You don’t want to?” Alice challenged gently, almost teasing.
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Clara stared at Alice’s innocent–looking smile, but a creeping cold rushed up from her feet, freezing her inside.
She swallowed hard, not stopping for a second, and drank the oatmeal down in one gulp.
As soon as she finished, she hurried off without a word.
Eric finally closed his book and asked, calm but direct, “Was there something wrong with the oatmeal?”
Alice didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she said quietly, “You have to be an immortal just to survive this place.”
Eric was left speechless.
Stanley knocked softly and stood in the hallway, lowering his voice.
“Mr. Eric, Mrs. Nolan, Clara just went to the bathroom and seems to be vomiting.”
Eric’s face showed no surprise. He had clearly expected this.
But when he looked at Alice, there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
“Was it poisoned?”
Alice tilted her head, a sly gleam in her eyes.
“Not necessarily.
“For me, it would just mean throwing up and diarrhea until I’m completely drained.”
She paused, then let out a quiet smile.
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Chapter 7 The Punisher
“But you?
“You just came out of a coma. If you ate that, you can say goodbye to this world.”
Stanley exchanged a look with Eric.
Just as expected–there was no way to guard against this.
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The people who poisoned Eric before, leaving him bedridden for three years, were at it again.
Stanley spoke firmly, “I’ll find her and hand her over to the police.”
Alice didn’t stop him but warned, “This oatmeal won’t show any poison on a test.”
Stanley fell silent for a moment, realizing that reporting it might be useless.
Eric’s expression turned icy cold, sending a chill through the room.
Stanley quickly added, “I’ll start investigating who’s really behind Clara.”
Eric didn’t say a word, which was as good as him giving silent approval.
Naturally, Stanley wasn’t going to alert the enemy about their investigation.
Keeping Clara around made more sense–she was their best lead to expose the mole.
If they kicked her out, the other side might get nervous and send in someone new, which would only leave them scrambling.
Alice smiled, clearly entertained.
The Nolans were a whole lot more interesting than the Spencers.
She wasn’t going to be bored anytime soon, that was for sure.
After Stanley left, Alice stood and walked over to the desk, stretching out her hand.
Eric frowned.
“What’re you doing?”
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Chapter 7 The Punisher
“Taking your pulse.
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“There are snakes even inside this house. I don’t want you getting ripped apart just because
you decided to take a stroll around the mansion,” she ended sarcastically.
Eric gritted his teeth but said nothing.
Alice laid her fingers on his wrist, feeling the rhythm before speaking again.
“Your energy is depleted. Stress is eating you alive.”
Eric didn’t answer, but the irritation showed plain as day.
Then Alice’s face darkened, and a frown crept in.
Yesterday, she’d saved him—at least enough to wake him up.
But now …
His organs were all damaged to varying degrees.
Being in a coma and loaded with drugs that slowed his metabolism wasn’t helping either.
This damage was only going to get worse, and soon, Eric would be facing a nightmare.
“You’re in for a … thrilling ride.”
Her long lashes drooped slightly, and beneath that teasing tone, there was a subtle hint of real
concern.
Eric’s mouth twitched.
Thrillingride?
Is that whatyoucallhellon Planet Alice?
Just then, Stanley came back.
“Mr. Eric, Mr. Charlie sent someone over. He wants Mrs. Nolan to return.”
They’d already asked once at the old mansion, and now they were pushing again?
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Chapter 7 The Punisher
Eric’s cold eyes flicked toward Alice.
Charlie coming back for her meant trouble, no doubt about it.
But Alice didn’t flinch.
“Stanley, don’t you think you should call the cops? Someone’s breaking in.”
Stanley blinked, confused.
Buthe’ssupposedtobeyourfamily!
Eric jumped in, “Stanley, do as she says.”
Stanley sighed deeply–this gig was wearing him thin.
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Meanwhile, Alice acted like everything was normal. She ate two apples without breaking a
sweat.
Once she was done, the tiredness hit her.
She laid back on the bed and closed her eyes for a bit.
After a moment, she opened them and looked over at Eric.
“I’d recommend you take a nap. Tonight’s not gonna be a good night for sleep.”
Eric wasn’t buying it. He buried himself in his book, completely absorbed.
Alice shrugged. Suit yourself. Don’t say I didn’twarnyou.
As the sky darkened, Alice woke up.
Clara came by with food again, but this time, no medicine was mixed in.
Alice and Eric sat facing each other.
Eric, just waking up, ate slowly, savoring each bite.
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Chapter 7 The Punisher
Alice, on the other hand, practically inhaled her food like a wild animal.
As Alice finished saying, “I’m full,” there was a soft knock at the door.
A narrow crack slid open, and Stanley’s voice drifted in.
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“Mr. Eric, it’s bad–Mr. Oscar suddenly started coughing up blood and passed out. The old mansion’s a mess.”
Eric’s expression darkened instantly, worry crashing over him like a storm.
Alice clapped her hands lightly, slipping two bagels into a bag without a second thought.
“Let’s go.”
Eric didn’t say a word, but she was clearly even more urgent than he was.
She caught the look in his eyes right away. “I didn’t get much rest at lunch. The sooner we leave, the sooner we’re back. We still have to go to the Spencers‘ tomorrow.”
Outside, Stanley’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He wondered if Alice even knew what she was talking about.
Oscar had already been declared brain dead–basically on the brink of death.
He’d stirred that morning, but it was probably just a fleeting moment after hearing Eric had gotten married–a last flicker of life.
Now, coughing up blood and unconscious again, things looked grim.
If he were to…
They’d have to hold vigil at the old mansion.
Before Stanley could say a word, the wheelchair was already pushed out.
Stanley swallowed his worries and followed silently.
The three of them drove quickly and arrived at the old mansion shortly after.
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Chapter 7 The Punisher
Inside, a crowd had gathered.
The moment they appeared, all eyes locked on them.
Alice ignored the stares and headed straight to Oscar’s room.
Inside, Melanie’s sharp voice sliced through the tense atmosphere.
“Don’t get in my way! I’m trying to save him!”
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Chapter 8 Rising Stakes
Chapter 8 Rising Stakes
“I’m not trying to interrupt, but—”
Melanie’s words trailed off as the voice sounded eerily familiar.
Almost instinctively, she froze and looked toward the source.
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Under the harsh light, Alice’s long black hair.flowed smoothly over her shoulders, framing a delicate, stunning face.
Her pink lips moved just slightly.
“But if you keep this up, Mr. Oscar won’t last ten minutes.”
A wave of disgust flooded Melanie’s mind, sharp and sudden.
Her bright eyes darkened with cold hatred.
Her tone cut like shards of glass.
“You don’t understand anything, so shut your mouth. You’re just going to make it worse for everyone!”
Irene was right by the entrance. The sight of Alice made her eyes widen.
“Rick, how could you let her in?”
Professor Hoffman stepped forward.
He was a world–renowned medical expert, the one who had overseen Eric’s treatment before.
Oscar’s critical condition had them calling him back today.
He’d heard Eric had woken up but believed it was thanks to his treatment, not Alice.
Now, seeing Alice in person, his face darkened.
She looked barely 20, yet she had the nerve to make wild claims.
This was, to him, preposterous.
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Chapter 8 Rising Stakes
“Irene, is this the woman stealing credit for the treatment I gave Rick?”
His words struck Irene hard, leaving her red–faced with shame.
Her glare toward Alice turned icy and hostile.
“Get out now, or you will pay dearly.”
Alice didn’t even spare the so–called Professor Hoffman a glance.
All the yelling felt like a thousand ducks quacking nonstop in her ears.
If hell had a chamber of annoyance, this would be the perfect picture for it.
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Her voice sliced through the heavy air, sharp and unyielding. “If you want Mr. Oscar to survive, then I’m the one who has to operate. If not, then you might as well prepare for the
worst.”
Irene’s anger ignited without hesitation.
“Who do you think you are? How dare you take that attitude!”
But Alice, fueled by a fierce determination, didn’t back down for a second.
“Really? Questioning my qualifications when your son’s life is hanging by a thread?”
Irene faltered, struck dumb for a moment, her face burning a deep, furious red.
Then Alice leaned forward, her voice calm but cutting.
“Mr. Oscar has less than five minutes left.”
Irene spat back, furious.
…
“How dare you! You you cursed my slapped Alice on the spot.
son!” If she’d been physically stronger, she’d have
But Alice had no patience for someone so obstinate.
She glanced at her watch, her voice even and measured.
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