Chapter 193: The Beloved Alice

The boundary between dreams and reality felt like a mirror, reflecting two different developments in two separate worlds. Irene remembered some teachings from her mentor, Kelly, about the art of divination. Irene wouldn’t dismiss the warnings from her dream so easily. As for her tragic ending in the dream, Irene couldn’t shake the feeling that it didn’t quite resonate with her true self. It wasn’t something she would actually do. First, she had no intention of returning to the Norman family. Second, she would never stand by and watch as Mr. Robertson met a tragic end—he was her father, after all. Irene couldn’t understand why she would have such a dream, but one thing was certain—she wouldn’t allow the events of that dream to unfold in reality! Meanwhile, in the capital city, at the Norman family’s estate... Alice was on the phone, her voice usually quiet, but now she sounded joyful: “Norman Mom, are you coming back?” On the other end, Alice’s sister, Mary Raphael, took the phone and responded with a smile, “Yes, we’ll be home soon.” Alice, who rarely showed much emotion, was now as happy as a child. “Didn’t the doctors say Norman Mom needed four years of treatment in the hospital?” Mary laughed softly. “Mom misses you. She’s been having trouble sleeping at night, thinking about you.” At that moment, Norman’s wife, Mrs. Norman, took the phone, her voice warm and gentle, like that of a kind, nurturing mother. “Your birthday is coming up, isn’t it? How could Mom miss it?” Eldest son Gray sat nearby, smiling at this. With Alice around, his mother’s condition would surely improve. Even the doctors agreed—having family around significantly boosts a patient’s spirits. Sometimes, fate has a way of compensating for what you’ve lost. When something is taken away, destiny returns it in another form. Their mother had lost her biological daughter, Irene, and Gray had lost his sister, but his wife’s sister, Alice, bore such a striking resemblance to Irene—and even to their mother. Their birthdays were even the same. It must be fate, Gray thought with a smile, recalling that familiar face so similar to his mother’s. He said gently, “Alice, I’ve heard about some things happening in the capital. I’ll talk to Dad. We can’t let anyone in the family be wronged because of an outsider.” “If I can’t convince him, we still have Mom. Don’t worry.” Alice spoke more freely around Gray and the others. “Brother-in-law, it’s really nothing. Dad hasn’t treated me poorly. It’s just that Aunt Hanni had some misunderstandings with Dad and said a few things to his trusted private detective. It’s no big deal.” Alice smiled softly, her eyes glinting with sincerity. “Please, don’t upset Dad because of me. A family should be happy together, not arguing.” Gray was touched by her words. “I’m glad to hear you think that way.” Prioritizing family was something Mr. Robertson had always instilled in them, and it was a lesson he and Mrs. Norman had demonstrated through their actions, teaching the Norman children by example. However, even within a family, disagreements could arise. Always letting one side yield to the other wasn’t healthy and could lead to even bigger conflicts later on. Gray reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure this is resolved.” On the other end of the line, Mrs. Norman took the phone again and said, “This time, I’ve made up my mind. When we return, I’ll talk to your father, and we’ll formally adopt you. You’ll be a part of the Norman family!” Alice felt a surge of happiness, but then, thinking of how her seventh brother wasn’t particularly fond of her, she grew despondent again. “Won’t the other brothers be upset? Especially Third Brother, Sixth Brother, and Seventh Brother—and maybe even Dad. It might come as a shock to him.” Mrs. Norman frowned, displeased. “Don’t worry about them! Sweetheart, you’re overthinking it. Those brothers of yours are just stubborn, not angry with you. Don’t let it get to you.” Tears began to stream down Alice’s cheeks as she replied, “Norman Mom, you know my mother passed away when I was young, and my sister raised me. It wasn’t until I came here that I felt the warmth of a mother’s love and the affection of brothers. You and Brother-in-law will always be my family, even without the adoption.” Gray, overhearing this, felt a deep sense of sympathy. He couldn’t stand seeing his loved ones suffer and wanted to find a solution that would keep everyone from feeling wronged. Gray made up his mind to talk to his father about formally adopting Alice. It wouldn’t be right for her to live with them indefinitely without clarification—it wasn’t fair to the Raphael family either. The next morning, Irene, who rarely slept in, woke up later than usual and received a call from Stefan. On the other end, Stefan’s deep voice chuckled, “Are you up yet? Come downstairs for breakfast. Uncle Robertson brought all sorts of food for you.” When Irene came downstairs, she found the dining table overflowing with breakfast dishes. Mr. Robertson had gone all out, practically emptying the capital’s restaurants. The table was filled with an array of dishes—some with an Eastern flair, some Western, and even some local specialties and breakfast foods unique to the capital. All the ingredients had been flown in. Mr. Robertson had even brought in chefs, but only for that morning’s meal. He hadn’t forgotten to ask what girls like to eat when he was in A City, and he had the best custom-made women’s clothing prepared for Irene—dresses, everyday wear, even accessories. Meanwhile, Hausman, as the second-in-command of the Scorpion Mercenary Group, quickly received reports from the business unit. The Scorpion Mercenary Group mainly took on mercenary jobs. However, to cover their massive expenses—and because Irene often took in people who needed help—they eventually expanded their business. Some members lacked combat skills, so they needed to find alternative ways to contribute. Years ago, during a mission, Irene had rescued the daughter of a famous fashion designer. The designer’s work had been plagiarized, leading to his depression and eventual suicide. Even after that, his enemies didn’t leave his daughter alone. After Irene saved her, the girl stayed with the Scorpion Mercenary Group and took on the task of earning money. With Irene’s help, she started a custom-made women’s clothing business. So, when Mr. Robertson placed an order, Hausman found out immediately. Hausman was stunned. Who was this man with so much money? Even the world’s richest people wouldn’t go to such lengths for custom-made clothes for their family members!