Alessia turned back impatiently to look at Dominic. "Mr. Carter, is there anything else? Do you want to apologize to me? I won't hold a grudge."
Dominic's brows furrowed in anger, temporarily ignoring Alessia's sarcastic remarks, and spoke to Tiffany first.
"Tiffany, I didn't clarify this matter with you in advance. It's not your fault. You can leave first. I have a few words to say to Alessia."
Tiffany pursed her lips and said lightly, "The misunderstanding is cleared up, so I won't disturb you two for now. Oh, by the way, Aunt Brenda said we'll have lunch together at noon."
"Okay!" Dominic's eyes showed a moment of complexity upon hearing Tiffany's words.
Alessia knew that the person mentioned by Tiffany was Dominic's mother, Brenda Jenkins, A.K.A Mrs. Carter.
Brenda was a special figure in the Carter family. She seemed to exist only in the mouths of the family members and rarely participated in any family gatherings or banquets. She didn't even attend Dominic's wedding with Alessia.
Alessia had only seen Brenda twice. Once was when Bianca was seriously ill, and the other was when Brenda returned home in the evening and happened to meet her in the courtyard.
She didn't expect Tiffany to be able to invite Brenda out for a meal. It seemed that Brenda had a special regard for her.
Just as Alessia's thoughts returned, she noticed that Dominic's grip on her wrist tightened.
She winced in pain and was about to pull her hand back when Dominic let go of her first.
Dominic said domineeringly, "Even if you didn't leak Christian and Eleanor's identities, you still can't deny that you instigated Grandma to make me remarry you."
Alessia rolled her eyes, truly feeling exhausted.
Since Dominic had already made up his mind, to save trouble, she decided to go along with it.
Alessia replied perfunctorily, "Okay, I'll talk to Grandma. I promise she won't pressure you to remarry me again. If you don't believe me, I can swear."
"No need for a swear. Just remember what you said."
Back in the main house, Grandma Carter asked as soon as she saw Alessia, "How was it? Did Dom bully you?"
"No," Alessia shook her head. "Grandma, can I make a request?"
"What?"
"Could you please not force Dominic to remarry me?" Alessia pursed her lips and spoke up.
The kind intentions of the old lady were not good after all.
Grandma Carter immediately became unhappy. "What's this? Did Dominic really bully you just now? This kid, he's grown up now, and he's gotten arrogant. He even forgot that he's my grandson. Even if he's fifty or sixty years old, he still has to listen to me."
Grandma Carter's words were somewhat domineering.
But Alessia felt warm inside. If Grandma could say that, it meant she had no objections to Dominic. Dominic's opinion of Grandma was probably one-sided.
She couldn't let Grandma really scold Dominic for her sake. If that happened, Dominic would blame her.
Alessia explained soothingly, "Grandma, Dominic really didn't bully me. I just don't like him anymore."
"Don't like him anymore? Didn't you like him before?" Grandma Carter was stunned to see Alessia's serious expression.
Alessia continued to explain, "Grandma, you also know it's in the past. After all, I've been divorced from him for so long. Time can change many things, and I don't have to hang myself on a crooked neck."
"Are you serious?" Grandma Carter saw that Alessia didn't seem to be lying and started to take her seriously.
"Yes, I'm serious." Alessia nodded firmly.
"Okay, then I won't force you two anymore. Let things take their course." Grandma Carter's disappointment was evident, but she still agreed in the end.
If both of them didn't have feelings anymore, then forcibly arranging their marriage wouldn't make sense.
Alessia breathed a sigh of relief. As she looked up, she noticed that Dominic was standing at the door.
He should have heard all those words just now.
This was for the best. Hopefully, Dominic wouldn't misunderstand her anymore, thinking she had instigated Grandma to reconcile them.
Alessia smiled at him, but Dominic instead looked away angrily.
He was really difficult to deal with. She was almost exhausted from just saying those words.
Well, let him be angry. As long as he didn't cause trouble for her in the future.
Alessia, indifferent, turned to Grandma Carter and bid farewell, "Grandma, I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave now. I'll come see you another day."
"You're always so busy, but I don't know what you're busy with every day." Grandma Carter also saw Dominic at the door. The following words were unclear if they were directed at Alessia or Dominic.
"I don't care what you're busy with, but no one can stop me from seeing my great-grandson and great-granddaughter."
Alessia knew she was in the wrong and nodded without saying anything more.
In the courtyard corridor, Tiffany watched Alessia leave with a gloomy expression. She had created this misunderstanding today as a test and hadn't really intended to harm Alessia.
Alessia truly lived up to her reputation of being able to change Dominic. She didn't disappoint her.
But from now on, things wouldn't be so easy.
Dominic belonged to her.
"Do you really think you can handle Alessia? She's holding three aces in her hand."
Just as Tiffany was calculating, a voice came from behind her.
Tiffany immediately reined in her malicious gaze, smiled generously, and pretended to be ignorant. "Auntie Clara, what are you talking about? I don't understand. Who's trying to deal with Miss La Rosa?"
Clara said, "Don't pretend with me. I saw the argument between Dom and Alessia just now. As long as you don't let Alessia remarry Dom, if you want to use me, I don't mind."
Clara was straightforward, but Tiffany refused to admit it. She wouldn't leave herself any handle. She said, "Auntie, I've explained to Dom already. I accidentally let slip about those two children. I wouldn't use you. I just wonder, why do you hate Miss La Rosa so much?"
Clara rolled her eyes. As long as their goals were the same, she didn't care about Tiffany's hypocrisy.
She looked at her newly done nails and said leisurely, "I have many reasons to hate her. She's a country bumpkin who can't rise to the occasion, and she doesn't even know who her parents are. She doesn't match the aura of theCarter family in any aspect."
After finishing her words, Clara walked away like a proud swan.
Tiffany narrowed her eyes. Alessia's identity was indeed something she could attack. Even though Alessia was a gold medal designer and lyricist, she was no match for her.
She had been evaluated by her mentor as someone who could surpass the genius psychologist Riley. Riley focused on psychology, while she excelled in surgery, so she was no less than Riley.
Alessia's talents were simply inadequate in front of her.
The reason she actively requested to join Dominic's lab this time when she returned to Canada was also to let Dominic see her excellence.
Moreover, she knew Dominic's secret!
Tiffany smiled proudly, her lips curling. Since the day she knew Dominic's secret, she had been planning in her heart.
After so long of preparation, this plan could finally be executed upon her return to Canada.
At noon, the sun rose high.
After leaving the Carter family, Alessia received a call from Jessie inviting her to meet at a café.
Alessia checked the time and agreed.
The two sat down at the café, and Jessie took off her sunglasses.
She looked a bit haggard.
"My brother's body has been sent for cremation. My mom cried her eyes out, and my dad seemed to have aged ten years all at once."
Alessia quietly watched Jessie without saying a word.
Jessie continued, tears welling up in her eyes. "Sia, I don't blame you. I can't blame you. After all, it's my family's fault, it's my aunt... No, it's Ava. She's greedy. My parents didn't educate my brother well, but I still feel sad. My brother was a jerk, but he was still my brother."
Alessia handed her a tissue and finally spoke, "Let's not meet again in the future."
***