CHAPTER 136: PROXY FAN GIRL

Gavin pulled into the lot with a sharp, practiced turn, killed the engine, and the three of them stepped out. The evening air felt heavier than it should, like it knew trouble was about to start brewing.

First, Suzy’s gaze landed on Alice and lingered as though trying to piece together a puzzle she shouldn’t be touching.

That look made Alice even more vigilant because that was just... sus.

Then, Gavin approached after properly parking the car and Suzy’s eyes moved to him, widening slightly when she saw him.

"...You?" Suzy’s voice broke the air like a snapped twig.

Gavin didn’t so much as flinch. His gaze slipped past her as though she were just another hedge planted along the driveway.

He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve and walked forward without acknowledgment, that silent refusal to engage cutting sharper than any insult.

Wilson’s eyes tracked him in a way Alice didn’t exactly understand. Suspicious, heavy, and entirely unpleasant. There was no attempt at politeness, no attempt to mask it. His stare landed on Gavin like a weight.

Alice felt the tension crawling across her skin.

What about Hades? He seemed like he didn’t care for this and was about to just head in, but a call on his phone distracted him. He looked at Alice briefly and then a suspicious exchange with Gavin before he stepped to the side to take the call.

"Why," Wilson said at last facing Gavin, voice deceptively mild, "are you joining the dinner?"

Gavin let his eyes fall on Wilson. His brow arched, an eloquent gesture that carried with it the essence of disdain. And who are you to ask me that? the look said. He didn’t bother answering with words.

"Wilson." Suzy stepped forward, her tone low but urgent. "Stop. Don’t start this."

Alice’s eyes darted to her, then to Wilson, confusion spiking. What was happening?

Wilson’s mouth twitched as if he wanted to press it, but Suzy’s hand shot out, brushing his arm. Her glance was warning.

Wilson exchanged a hard look with her and for a moment, it seemed like they were both communicating with their eyes, locking them out.

This atmosphere was... unpleasant.

Every shift of eye contact bounced off Alice like static electricity.

Maybe she would have tried to say something, but she didn’t have it in her today. She didn’t even want to be here. She didn’t know what would happen and she dreaded it.

As if this was not bad enough.

A car drove in.

Dawin.

Just perfect.

He walked up the path, his driver taking his briefcase up ahead.

His timing was the universe’s cruelest joke. One second too early, one second too late, and maybe she could’ve escaped this. But no... now they were all here. Outside. Together.

And Hades was still taking whatever call he was taking. She couldn’t go in without him. She didn’t want to.

Once Dawin got closer, the siblings stopped their eyes chatter and looked at him, saying their greetings. Dawin looked at Alice but his gaze thankfully didn’t linger.

"Aren’t you all going in?"

Dawin’s voice was steady, low, carrying the weight of quiet authority.

But the world already tilted for Alice as yesterday’s memory clawed through her chest: his voice, calm and... suspicious, letting her know he knew the truth about who she really was. Aurora. Alice. He knew.

And he had yet to say what he planned to do with that knowledge.

She didn’t know how to look at him. Didn’t know if she should. Also, she wondered if he knew about Vivian too. If he knew why his family’s name and hers were in the same file?

"Wilson was just about to leave," Suzy said, gently pushing Wilson along, and giving Gavin an apologetic look.

Wilson’s head turned sharply toward her, but Dawin’s voice cut through before he could respond.

"You’re not staying?" Dawin asked, his tone still as calm as always.

Wilson exhaled, sharp through his nose. "No. Something important came up. I have work waiting at the gallery."

Something flickered in the air. Alice tilted her head, uncertain, but before she could process it, Suzy was already sighing, rolling her eyes just slightly.

"Wish I had a gallery like Princely," she muttered under her breath, almost to herself, "then I wouldn’t have to keep attending these awkward dinners."

Her words landed like a stone tossed into still water. Dawin’s eyes narrowed a fraction, but Suzy’s face paled, realizing too late what she’d just said. She turned hastily to him with a small, apologetic smile. "Sorry... just... a bad joke."

Alice, though, wasn’t listening anymore. The words hit her like a spark. Princely.

The name carved itself into her chest. Her head snapped toward Wilson, disbelief etched sharp into her expression.

"Wait... Princely? As in Princely Gallery?" Her voice trembled with shock. "You work there?"

Those were the first words she had said since she got here.

And also, Hades chose that perfect moment to return, standing behind her, both brothers looking at each other.

Suzy blinked. "...Actually," she said slowly, "he owns it."

The air collapsed out of Alice’s chest. Her eyes widened further, mouth parting as if to let the revelation sink in.

"You own—" she stammered, her tone exploding with astonishment. "For real?"

Wilson’s face twisted with something awkward. His shoulders shifted like the words weighed heavier than he liked. "...Well. I guess."

Alice’s shock melted into something else. Something warm, almost sparkling. Her eyes softened, lit with awe. Without thinking, she stepped forward, closing the space between them.

"You’re... oh my God, you’re the one behind that gallery?" she burst out, her voice almost trembling with excitement. "I... I know your works!"

The words tumbled out of her before she could stop them. Her excitement wasn’t for herself, but for Paula, for whom Princely Gallery and its elusive owner had been a lifelong dream. Alice had heard about the "prince of paintings" so often that the name had a special kind of magic attached to it. This was for Paula, a proxy for the hope she’d carried for her friend.

Meanwhile...

Hades and Dawin, "..."

Hades didn’t say a word. Neither did Dawin. But the silence between the two men was so sharp it could slice skin.

Wilson blinked at her. Gavin’s eyes narrowed. Suzy’s lips parted in disbelief.

But Alice, for once, wasn’t frozen. She was alive with admiration, staring at Wilson like she had just stumbled across a secret legend.

Wilson tilted his head slightly, one brow lifting as he stared at Alice.

"For real?" he asked.

Alice nodded too fast, too eagerly. "Yes. I... I mean, I know someone who is a huge fan of your work, but I just never connected you were... I mean, I didn’t think you were... well, you."

His tone was smooth, teasing, yet carrying that faint sharpness people used when they weren’t sure whether to be insulted.

"You didn’t think I was the one who painted those pieces?"

"No!" Alice blurted, then faltered. "I mean... yes, I mean—" Her hands fluttered up before she clasped them together like a guilty child. She could feel all the eyes on her, weighing, measuring. Her throat was dry.

Wilson smirked faintly, his voice dipping lower. "Then what did I look like?"

The words left her mouth before she could choke them back. "Not that talented."

Her face went cold instantly, as though she’d slapped herself. "I mean... no—! Sorry, that’s not what I meant!" She laughed too loudly, the sound shrill in the thick air. "I just mean, I never realized someone as quiet as you had been right here all along and... you know, doing... that."

Suzy was the first to exhale, a half-sigh, half-laugh. "Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone get that worked up about Wilson’s work before. Almost forgot he’s... well, kind of a celebrity out there."

Wilson’s lips curved, and his gaze slid sideways, amused. Alice felt the blood drain from her face.

Oh God.

Shit. She’d broken character.

Way too much.

She forced herself to step back, her heart jackhammering. The mask she’d been wearing, the careful, detached Aurora-act, was cracked, jagged, slipping. And worst of all, she could feel two sets of eyes drilling into her through the silence: Hades and Dawin.

Alice swallowed, her tongue dry against her teeth. Fuck.

"I’m also a fan of your work," Hades said out of nowhere, drawing all attention to him.

However, unlike her, he looked... uninterested. It was very clear he had no idea what was his work and he was in fact, not a fan.

Gavin had to stop himself again from rolling his eyes.

"I see..." Wilson said to Hades awkwardly then turned back his attention to Alice,

"If you want, I can provide tickets. You can come check it out with your friend one of these days..."

That seemed to snap her back to life, and she looked up at him with wide, shining eyes. "Really?"

The hope in her voice was too raw, too real.

Paula would die from excitement.

Then it hit her again. She wasn’t supposed to act like that. She scrambled for a mask and coughed lightly, pressing her lips together.

"Of course. Sure," she said, trying to flatten her tone into something bored, disinterested.

But it was too late. The crack had shown.

"Great! I hope you enjoy dinner then." He smiled at her before turning his gaze to Gavin, all smile out now.

He didn’t say anything, but there was enough warning on his face.