Chapter 27 Haven't You Had Enough Slaps?

Alice slumped on the couch, staring up at the chandelier. The crystal balls reflected her tired face.

She remembered being five, right after her mom's funeral, they shipped her off to some far-off countryside while she was still grieving.

She had no clue why they took her to such a remote place. It wasn't until the car drove away that she realized she was being abandoned.

She chased the car until it disappeared from sight.

The barking dogs around her freaked her out. She yelled for her mom and dad, but no one answered.

The family that took her in was dirt poor. Her foster dad, Peter Green, was an alcoholic, and her foster mom, Lila Green, was weak.

Every time Peter drank, he'd beat Lila and her. When Alice was six, Lila finally snapped. She slashed Peter's neck with a knife, and blood splattered all over Alice.

Alice was terrified, not because she thought Lila would hurt her, but because she was scared of being homeless again.

Peter bled out and died, and Lila went to prison for murder.

Alice was raised by her neighbor, Isla Reed, and other villagers, staying with each family for a week at a time.

She promised herself she'd wait for Lila to get out of prison and take care of her. But Lila got lung cancer six months into her sentence and died three months later.

The day Lila died, Alice hid in a corner of Isla's house and cried until her eyes were swollen. She felt like a jinx, just like Zoey had said.

She became depressed and withdrawn.

It was Isla and other elders who helped her through the darkness.

Alice was raised by the village until she was eight. Then, an old man in his sixties showed up.

He saw her potential and promised to give her the best education and life. He wanted the villagers' permission to take her away.

After some discussion, they agreed she wouldn't have a good future in such a poor place, so they let him take her.

That decision changed her life.

The music from a Facebook video call snapped Alice out of her thoughts.

She saw the incoming video call and smiled as she answered, "Neil!"

Neil Fisher frowned, "Show some respect for your elders, call me Grandpa!"

"What should I call you?"

"Grandpa!"

"I'm here!" Alice laughed.

Seeing Neil's stern face, she called out again, "Grandpa!"

Neil snorted.

Alice stopped teasing him, "Alright, I'll give you some respect and call you Grandpa!"

Neil smiled helplessly, "You're so mischievous! Tell me, how are things with the Savoy Family?"

"Pretty good, Grandpa."

Neil sighed, "You always hide the bad news. I heard from Calvin that the Savoy Family always bullies you. With your temperament, you must be enduring a lot!"

"It's okay, I'm not putting up with it anymore." Alice didn't want him to worry, so she quickly changed the subject, "Where's Grandma?"

"She's making flower cakes for you! The roses in the garden are blooming beautifully, and she picked a lot for you. Calvin will bring them to you."

At that moment, Calvin's face appeared. "Madam, you've got me in trouble! Henry's men are as persistent as leeches."

"Isn't this training your escape skills? So, you won't be idle."

"Maybe I should go to Floragada to find Mike."

Alice's face turned serious. "Don't even think about it. He's in danger. I've already got someone on it. Don't make things worse for me, okay?"

Calvin quickly replied, "I know, I know. I won't go. Don't be mad." Seeing Alice's icy expression, he realized she was genuinely upset. "I swear, I won't go!"

Alice took a deep breath. "We'll talk later. When Grandma's flower cakes are ready, come back."

Calvin wanted to say more, but Alice ended the call. Staring at the dark screen, he pouted, only to get a hard smack on the head.

Neil snorted, "I was talking to my granddaughter. Why'd you butt in? Now she's mad and hung up!"

Calvin pouted, "Grandpa, you're so biased! I'm your grandson too!"

"Neil, why'd you hit my grandson?" Neil's wife, Amara Fisher, walked in with a basket of roses, glaring at Neil.

Neil snorted, "Your grandson brought up the wrong topic! He said he was planning to go to Floragada to find Mike, so Alice got mad."

Amara walked over and smacked Calvin's head hard too. "You stay home and don't go anywhere!"

Calvin rubbed his head. "I'll go back to Loshanda to deliver the flower cakes to Alice once you're done."

Amara gave him a sidelong glance and walked into the kitchen. As she turned, tears welled up in her eyes. She had already lost one grandson. She couldn't lose Alice or Calvin.

Alice stared at the dark screen, feeling utterly drained.

After washing up, she changed into her pajamas and sank into her big bed.

Maybe sleep could solve her worries.

In the dead of night, Henry sat in a rocking chair by the floor-to-ceiling window, the ashtray on the table overflowing with cigarette butts.

He glanced at his phone. The group chat was buzzing, but Alice hadn't sent any goodnight messages.

The next day, Alice arrived at school and saw the latest campus notice on the bulletin board.

It downplayed Sarah's disruptive behavior and poor influence on campus. After a discussion among the school leaders, it was decided that Sarah would be publicly criticized, while Clara and the other three students weren't mentioned.

A mocking smile appeared on Alice's face.

If Henry hadn't been there that day, she would definitely be the one in this notice, and it wouldn't be just a light punishment of public criticism but expulsion.

"How do you feel, Alice? Are you really angry?" Sarah pushed through the crowd and bumped into Alice's shoulder. "Don't think that just because Mr. Howard said a few words that day, he was standing up for you. Who do you think you are!"

Alice brushed the dust off her shoulder. "Didn't get enough slaps?"

Sarah's pupils shrank. "What do you want to do?"

Alice gave her a sidelong glance. "Are you narcissistic? Leave me alone. If you annoy me, I'll gladly give you a few more slaps."

"You!" Sarah stomped her foot angrily as she watched Alice's back.

The Howard Group President's Office.

Ethan knocked and entered the office. "Mr. Howard, Wesley, the principal of Loshanda University, wants to discuss the laboratory donation with you."

Henry lifted his head. "Go check the latest notice from Loshanda University. I want to know the result."

Soon, Ethan reported, "The latest notice is that Sarah was publicly criticized for disrupting campus order."

Henry's pen paused. "That's it?"

"Yes."

"Tell Wesley that the Howard Group will no longer provide any funding to Loshanda University because I hate being deceived."

Ethan nodded. "Yes, sir."