Chapter 23 She Felt Uncomfortable

Alice raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"

"Feeling proud of yourself?" Clara's eyes were blazing with anger. "Why didn't you tell me you had the recording? You just wanted to humiliate me, didn't you?"

"Did I ask you to come or lie?" Alice shot back with a sneer. "If I had told you about the recording, we wouldn't have had such a great show today, would we?"

Alice stepped closer, fiddling with the white flower on Clara's chest. "I'm really looking forward to seeing you after the school announcement. Keep up that innocent act. It's hilarious when you're embarrassed."

Clara went silent.

Alice ignored her and headed for the school gate.

Suddenly, it started to rain, quickly turning into a downpour. Alice clutched her bag and ran to the bus stop.

She wiped the rain off her cheeks, relieved she had ditched the smoky eye makeup. Otherwise, she'd have a mess on her face.

She tried to hail a cab, but none stopped.

After a while, a Mercedes-Benz pulled up in front of her.

The rear window rolled down, and Clara's face appeared. She smirked, "Alice, need a ride?"

"No, thanks. You stink."

Clara found Alice's words incredibly venomous. She took a deep breath. "Alice, are you going to see Mr. Johnson? Looks like your big day is coming!"

Alice found Clara incredibly annoying and said, "I am not sure about mine, but I know your big day is coming. I'll make sure to give you a big gift when the time comes."

Hearing this, Clara couldn't smile anymore. She knew Alice still had unresolved feelings for Oliver. Since Alice said that, it meant the gift wasn't something Clara would want.

She rolled up the window and told the driver to leave quickly.

Seeing the car disappear into the rain, Alice let out a long sigh of relief.

Soon after, she managed to hail a taxi and left.

Not far away, a black Maybach also slowly drove away.

Inside the Maybach, Henry suddenly remembered the things Alice had said to him, "Uncle Henry, from this angle, you're still so handsome, even your nostrils are handsome."

"Uncle Henry, will you keep me? I'm very easy to take care of."

What kind of compliment was that from Alice?

Keeping her?

How could she even say such words!

Henry's eyes darkened.

When Alice got home, she went into the kitchen and made herself a bowl of spaghetti.

She plated it nicely, snapped a photo, and posted it on Facebook with the caption: [I heard spaghetti and rainy days are a perfect match!]

Of course, this Facebook post was only visible to Henry.

After finishing her spaghetti, she dove into the massive task of baking cakes and cookies.

Meanwhile, Henry opened Facebook and saw Alice's latest post. Looking at the spaghetti in the photo and then at the lobster on his plate, he suddenly found the lobster less appetizing.

He remembered Alice saying she'd make him cakes and cookies.

He raised an eyebrow. Shouldn't he be mad at her?

Why wasn't he?

Alice finished making a cake and a jar of cookies.

After wrapping up her baking, Alice headed straight to the Howard Group building. By the time she got there, it was already 4:30 PM.

She didn't contact Ethan but instead sent Henry a Facebook message: [Uncle Henry, your sweet darling has arrived with cakes and cookies. Please sign for them!]

Attached was a photo!

She looked at her phone, waiting for Henry's reply.

The phone vibrated.

Alice opened it, and her smile froze upon seeing Henry's reply: [Take your cheap cakes and cookies back. I'm very tired of you.]

Alice pressed her lips together, feeling quite hurt.

Not just the word "tired," but "cheap."

Maybe in Henry's eyes, her methods were despicable.

He hadn't shown his annoyance before because he was well-mannered, but now he was worried about her pestering him, so he spoke harshly.

Her fingers tightened around the handle of the bag, feeling her self-esteem severely trampled.

Taking a deep breath, Alice walked to the front desk. "It's fate that we met. Enjoy the food."

With that, she walked out of the building without looking back.

With a loud rumble, the rain poured down.

Standing by the roadside, Alice let the heavy raindrops hit her head, water dripping from her small nose.

This scene was seen by Oliver from a distance. He smirked and walked to the front desk.

The receptionist respectfully said, "Mr. Howard."

Oliver reached out his hand. "That bag just now, it was from my fiancée."

The receptionist was puzzled but obediently handed over the food.

In the CEO's office.

Henry walked out of the lounge with an unhappy expression, adjusting his shirt collar.

Seeing the woman approaching, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. "Why are you still here?"

"Henry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to just now." Julia's gaze was full of caution as she looked at the dazzling Henry.

Henry gave her a cold glance. "Do I need to check the surveillance to see if you spilled coffee on my shirt on purpose?"

Julia had planned to spill coffee on Henry's shirt and then help him wipe it off to create some physical contact. But she didn't expect Henry to push her to the ground, clearly rejecting her touch.

She wiped her tears. "Henry, do you hate me that much?"

Henry sat in his chair and pressed the intercom button, his voice stern, "Come in."

Ethan arrived in two seconds. "Mr. Howard."

"From now on, no one is allowed in my office without my permission."

Ethan glanced at the tearful Julia and nodded towards Henry. "Understood." Then Ethan turned to Julia. "Ms. Diaz, please."

Looking at Henry's icy face, Julia bit her lip and stormed out in a huff.

Upon leaving the office, she saw Oliver walking towards her with a bright smile while holding a transparent bag—the same one she had seen in the picture on Henry's Facebook.

Julia's mind worked quickly. Wasn't this for Henry?

How did it end up in Oliver's hands?

Thinking that, she walked up. "Oliver."

"Julia, here to see Uncle Henry?"

Julia nodded and asked tentatively, "Is that dessert for Henry?"

Oliver lifted the bag. "No, it's from my fiancée."

Fiancée?

Since when did Alice become his fiancée again?

But it didn't matter, as long as Alice had no connection with Henry.

Last time at Bernardin Restaurant, she had seen Henry dining with a girl. After some investigation, she found out the girl was Oliver's fiancée, Alice. However, Oliver had shifted his affections to Clara, the stepdaughter of the Savoy Family.

Julia was worried about Henry and Alice being together, so she wanted to win over the aloof Henry as soon as possible.

Today, she had come all dolled up to seduce Henry, but he had been extremely cold and even humiliated her.

When Henry was changing his shirt, a Facebook message had popped up on his phone and Julia had happened to see that the message was from Alice.

She hated Alice so much. Alice, after being betrayed, had gone after Oliver's uncle. What a shameless woman!

So, Julia had deleted the Facebook message and replied with something that would hurt Alice and even make her give up.

But now, the bag that was supposed to be for Henry was in Oliver's hands, while Oliver said it was from his fiancée and didn't intend to give it to Henry.

Though something was off, as long as it didn't end up with Henry, it was fine!

Julia smiled, "Looks like things are going well between you and Alice."

Oliver nodded. "We'll definitely invite you to the engagement party, Julia."

Julia agreed and left triumphantly.

Henry was checking his phone for new messages, but there were none.

He glanced sideways at the floor-to-ceiling window, where raindrops were hitting the glass with a splattering sound.

He wondered if she had brought an umbrella.

Would she be stuck somewhere because of the rain?

Henry's fingers traced Alice's name on the phone, and just as he was about to dial her number, there was a knock on the door.

Oliver pushed the door open. "Uncle Henry."

Henry's gaze fell on the paper bag, his eyes showing no emotion. His voice was distant and cold, "What's up?"

"Next weekend is Grandma's birthday. I went to the auction house and then got a call from Alice. She said she had something to give me." Oliver sat down on the sofa and opened the bag, taking out the cake and cookie jar.

Oliver smiled, "She said she's sorted out her feelings and is ready to be with me. She sent some cake and cookies to express her love. She's really something." Then he looked at Henry. "Uncle Henry, would you like to try some?"

"No need." Henry pressed the intercom button. "Tonight's schedule is back on."

Oliver popped a chocolate cookie into his mouth. "Uncle Henry, since you have plans tonight, I'll take my leave."

Watching Oliver leave, Henry leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

Something didn't feel right.

If Alice really wanted to give it to Oliver, why would she say she was making it for him?

He dialed Alice's number, but her phone was off.

He looked at the pouring rain outside, feeling a bit displeased. He took a car key from the drawer and grabbed his suit jacket from the coat rack as he left the office.

The Bentley drove out of the underground garage, the wipers moving quickly.

Henry gripped the steering wheel, his fingers tapping lightly as he accelerated towards Bluewater Bay.

Meanwhile, in the back seat of a taxi, Alice sneezed and sniffled, feeling a bit congested.

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror. "Looks like you've caught a cold. Drink some ginger tea when you get home."

Alice looked up and smiled, "Thank you."

The car stopped at the entrance, and Alice found her phone had automatically turned off.

So, she fished a hundred-dollar bill out of her bag. "Just keep the change."

Getting out of the car, Alice walked towards the entrance with her bag.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm.