''Good going, Alice. Good going. I leave you alone for a day and the next time I hear is a dating scandal about you?'' Xia asked as she applied her face cream.

"Aiya, I told you it's not what you think. I already ironed things with Josh and he doesn't mind helping me out for a while'' Alice lied on the bed as she spoke.

''Of course he will agree to it because he is interested in you but that is calling taking advantage of him, Alice. If you don't know, let me tell you''

''I was pushed to the wall by Director An''

''That darn director An. Should I beat him for you?'' Xia turned to face her.

''No, Natalie already booked that slot. She promised to beat him up the next time she sees him''

''How is she going to beat someone she doesn't know? She is so funny''

''I know, right. Xia, don't you think it's been quiet on their end? I could have sworn I sensed something weird between my sister and Mikael but maybe it's me having wild thoughts''

''Or maybe it is your instincts telling you something'' Xia said and looked at Alice.

''What? Do you know something?'' Alice asked curiously.

''Well, whether I know or not is none of my business and it is good to hear it from the horse's own mouth'' Xia replied as she thought back on the interview night. She had seen the way Mikael held unto Natalie's hand and the affectionate way they gazed at each other.

''You seem to know something but you are not telling me, right?'' Alice got down from the bed.

''I don't know anything…'' Xia paused when they heard the doorbell ring. She and Alice looked at each other.

''I will check'' Alice got down from the bed and went to open the door. Alice frowned when she saw Karl at the door looking dirty and unkempt.

''Who is there?'' Xia asked.

''Actually, you need to come and see for yourself'' Alice said. She wasn't sure how to handle the situation in front of her.

Xia stood up and went to the door. She looked equally stunned when she saw the boy looking all dirty.

''Karl, what happened to you?'' Xia asked.

''Aunt, help me. I can't clean myself up. Mom said she can't touch me because I smell and daddy is not here to bath me. I don't want to smell; people will laugh at me''

Xia and Alice looked at each other. Xia hesitated before squatting down to meet his level. She sighed, confused at the situation. This was only the second time they were meeting. How did he know where her room was? Why did he even come to her when his mother was clearly around?

''I'm going to get some snacks at the stores. Do you need anything?'' Alice asked.

''I want chocolate'' Karl said excitedly.

''Not you… I was asking your… stepmother'' Alice teased.

''Hey!!'' Xia screamed.

''I will see you later, bestie'' Alice picked her small purse and left the room. She kept smiling all the way.

''Aunt, won't you clean me up? I smell bad'' Karl said, tugging at Xia's pyjamas.

''Karl…'' Alice pulled him inside and closed the door before asking him, ''why did you come to me? How did you know my room number?''

''Daddy told me to come to you when it's emergency and he is not around. He said you are the person he trusts the most''

''Did… did your daddy talk about me?''

''Mm, daddy told me about you. He said you were his best friend but now you hate him. aunt, please don't hurt my dad. He is the coolest person in the whole world''

''I…''

''My mother is a bad meaner. She doesn't wash me up. She allows the house helps to wash me all the time and when I soil myself, she tells me to get away from her''

''Karl, let's go in. I will wash you up but you don't have to call your mother a bad meaner because she is your mother and she loves you'' Xia held his hand and went with him into the bathroom.

''Aunt, my mother loves my dad so much. That is what she told me. She said that she will be good to be as long as I am able to make my dad stay with her''

''Karl, that's enough'' Xia removed his clothes and turned the shower to warm and started cleaning him up.

''Aunt, you love my father, right?'' Karl looked at Xia and smiled, 'aunt you are so beautiful. My father said that your smile is like the sun that shines at early dawn''

''Karl, where is your mother? If she finds out you came to me, she will not be happy''

'That is why she doesn't need to know. My father said as men we should always learn to keep secrets. Aunt, this is our little secret. Your secret is also safe with me. I won't tell my mother anything''

Xia faked a smile and didn't say anything again. After bathing him, she wrapped his small body in the big towel and carried him into the room and sat him on the bed.

''You don't have anything to change in, Karl. What are we going to do now?''

''I sent my dad a text, telling him to bring me spare clothes. I told him I was here with you''

'You told you father you were with me?''

''Yes, look'' Karl picked his phone that he had placed on the table and showed the message to Xia. Xia looked at the messages and smiled.

''You did well'' she sat beside him.

''Aunt, I played the whole day. I think I am feeling sleepy. Can I sleep a little before my father comes for me?''

''Oo, sleep. I am going to the terrace to get some fresh air. Call me if you need me'' Xia stood up and went through the back door to the terrace that she shared with Connor.

….

Alice held the pack of potato chips that she took from the bar counter and started walking back to her room. She started eating the chips as she turned and bumped into a woman. Her pack fell from her hands and the chips came out.

''Damn it, why don't you watch it when you are walking?'' Alice heard the woman cussed and Alice cocked her brows and turned to look at her. When their gaze met, they both stopped smiling.

''Oh, it's you. The famous Alice. No, actually, I should call you sister in law since you are dating my brother in law, right?'' Via said.

Alice looked at the chips on the floor and said to Via, 'pick it up''

''What?''

''You pushed me and my pack of potato chips fell down, shouldn't you be picking it up for me?'' Alice asked and lifted her eyebrows at Via questionably.

''Are you serious?''

''Do I look like I am smiling?'' Alice retorted sharply.

''Ah'' Via chuckled. She took a step forward and stepped on the pack of chips. She turned to Alice saying, ''oops, did you mean I should pick it up? My bad, I thought you said to step on it''

''You…'' Alice laughed and looked around them. she didn't see anyone around that area so she stepped closer to Via and the latter moved backwards.

''What are you doing?'' Via asked.

''What do you think?'' Alice looked at the opened trashcan behind Via and asked, ''I heard you hated things that smelled?''

''What?''

''You see. There are three people in this world that if anyone messes with them, I become crazy. Natalie Jun, Kim Xia and Alice Jun, myself. If you mess with anyone of these people, I will mess with you. be careful, even I don't know what I am capable of sometimes''

''Are you threatening me? Hey, I am clearly older than you…''

''Then act your age! Stay away from my best friend. Take your drama away from her''

''Hey!''

''Hey, what? What?'' Alice said and moved closer. When Via tried to go back, she fell right into the trashcan. When she looked at herself, she screamed. There were unfinished cups of coffee and salad in the trashcan and when she fell into it, they soiled her up.

'Hey'' Via screamed.

''I didn't even touch you'' Alice stepped back, ''maybe next time you should watch where you are going'' Alice said to her and turned, walking away.

''You are going to pay for this'' Via screamed as she walked away.

..

''That damn woman just turned me into a bully'' Alice said as she went towards her room.

''I'm glad you realised that'' Director An said. Alice stopped and looked at the man standing at her doorstep.

''Director An?'' Alice walked closer but maintained a good distance between them.

''I didn't know you were the one so I filmed it. What do we do with this now? You are going to be tagged a bully when this gets into the internet''

''What do you want?''