<b>Chapter </b>399
After a <b>few </b>months <b>of </b>training, Kyler Bradley became a pretty solid stand–in. Thanks <b>to </b>his acting background, he slipped into <b>the </b>role in no time. Aubree <b>even </b>brought in people to coach him on how <b>to </b>carry himself and act the part.
Just by looking <b>at </b>him, people would <b>totally </b>buy that he was a refined, gentle, almost schrly <b>guy</b>–the kind of gentleman who’d catch anyone’s <b>eye </b>at first nce.
The scene <b>where </b><b>Alice </b>ran into <b>Kyler </b>again <b>was </b>all part of a carefully crafted setup.
On the first <b>day </b>at the art academy, Alice was dropping Carmen off. The entrance <b>was </b><b>a </b>total mess with <b>cars </b>everywhere, and even though security guards and traffic cops were trying to keep things under control, something still went wrong.
Kyler, sticking to the script Aubree had given him, jumped in right <b>as </b><b>a </b>little girl <b>was </b>about to get hit by a car. “Where are your parents? There are way too many <b>cars </b>here. <b>Go </b>find your mom and dad. <b>It’s </b>not safe to be out here alone,” he said.
The sunlight was just right that day, and his gentle, understated smile appeared at the perfect moment.
When Alice turned at themotion and <b>saw </b>this scene, her heart started pounding uncontrobly, like it was about to break free from her chest, whether she wanted it to or not.
“Xander…” she whispered. For a split second, it was like <b>she </b><b>was </b>watching her <b>past </b>self being pulled from under that car all over again.
“Mom, what are you looking at?” Carmen asked <b>as </b>she hurried back after finishing her registration.
Alice quickly averted her gaze, flustered and <b>a </b>little panicked. She <b>discreetly </b>gestured to her bodyguards, signaling them to stop Kyler.
‘No matter who this guy <b>is </b>or why he showed up in front of me, I’m not letting him <b>slip </b><b>away</b><b>!</b>‘ Alice thought.
Carmen followed Alice’s gaze but only caught a glimpse of a man’s <b>back</b>. She <b>felt </b>a bit curious, but didn’t dwell on it.
After dropping Carmen off at school, Alice did not dwell on saying goodbye to <b>her</b><b>. </b>She <b>was </b><b>so </b>anxious to <b>leave</b>, it <b>was </b>like she wished she could grow <b>a </b>second pair of <b>legs </b>just to <b>get </b><b>away </b>faster.
Carmen noticed how off Alice seemed and wondered, ‘Why <b>is </b>she in such a hurry? <b>Is </b>it <b>because </b>of that man from earlier?
‘Maybe I should go <b>see </b>what makes that guy <b>so </b><b>special</b>.
*****
Meanwhile, Aubree’s n was a total <b>sess</b><b>. </b>She knew that <b>Alice </b>liked men with an <b>ethereal</b>, untouched–by–the<b>–</b>world vibe. Kyler’s appearance was, in a <b>way</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>perfect reenactment of Alice’s very first encounter with her Xander Freeman.
Alice’s bodyguards had already brought Kyler to <b>a </b><b>café </b><b>near </b>the university district.
“Sorry, I don’t know any of you. Could you <b>please </b>let me <b>go</b>?” Kyler said.
Kyler frowned slightly, but even though he’d been half–forced there by strangers<b>, </b>he <b>still </b>kept his manners and asked to leave in a calm, polite tone.
When Alice walked in and <b>saw </b>this <b>scene</b>, her <b>heart </b>started pounding wildly again<b>, </bpletely out of <b>her </b>control.
She thought, ‘He looks <b>just </b>like him. How can two people in the world <b>be </b>this alike?
‘From his aura to his <b>face</b><b>, </b>he <b>is </b>the spitting image of Xander from all those years <b>ago</b>!‘
Alice, unable to contain her <b>excitement</b><b>, </b><b>stepped </b>forward. “Hi, I’m <b>Alice</b>.”
Kyler knew who she was, but still put on <b>a </b>slightly confused look. “Hi, is <b>there </b>something you need from me?”
“I…” For a moment, Alice didn’t know what to say. <b>She </b>wanted to blurt out that she wanted to keep him as <b>a </b>sugar baby, but was afraid she’de off way too abruptly.
Staring at his face, just as young as in her memories, she suddenly felt awkward. ‘He’s still so young, and I’m already in my fifties… she thought.
<b>She </b><b>wasn’t </b><b>young </b>anymore, and <b>even </b>just starting a conversation <b>with </b>him felt <b>a </b><b>bit </b>presumptuous.
<b>She </b>asked, “I’m the <b>owner </b>and chief <b>designer </b><b>of </b>Cloud <b>Design</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>fashion design brand. Your look and temperament fit. perfectly with the <b>theme </b><b>of </b>my <b>new </b><b>collection</b>. Would you be interested in being my model<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Kyler looked genuinely surprised. “Sorry, I might not be able to give <b>you </b>an answer right now<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“That’s alright. We <b>can </b><b>exchange </b><b>contact </b>info,” <b>Alice </b>said.
“Well…” Kyler looked a little hesitant.
“Here’s my business card. If you’re notfortable<b>, </b>you can alwayse to thepany to find me. Cloud Design has a studio in Rithol City, Alice added.
“Alright.” Kyler gave a faint, <b>gentle </b>smile. “Let’s keep in touch.”