The Strange Groom's Cursed Bride-Chapter 65: Awfully familiar

Suzy grabbed her towel and flapped it at Wilson dismissively. "No one."

"You’re blushing like an idiot," he deadpanned, gesturing to her bright red cheeks.

"I am not," she sniffed, but her ears were already redder. "And what are you doing here? Aren’t you painting today?"

"Taking the day off," he said dryly, still looking at her suspiciously. "Who do you have a crush on?"

She seemed genuinely surprised that he’d caught on so easily, but she simply grinned at him, not bothering to share anything. "Actually... I think he may have a crush on me. Because out of all them, why was he the one to give me a call? Hehe." She tossed her ponytail with dramatic flair, a glint of pure mischief in her eyes.

"I don’t know what you are talking about, but I can tell you are kinda being delusional about something," Wilson countered, completely unaffected by her theatrics.

She tossed her ponytail again with even more dramatic flair. "Some things are too beautiful to explain to commoners like you."

Then she twirled. Yes. Actually twirled on her heel and half-sprinted out of the gym, leaving a baffled Wilson in her wake.

"...Insane," he muttered, shaking his head.

Then sipped his smoothie again, slowly, contemplating the mysteries of his sister.

----

Suzy’s lips pursed as the memory ended, visibly darkening her expression. "The driver came instead," she said flatly, glaring at no one in particular, her indignation clear. It had been a very awkward drive, with the driver... Milo or whatever his name was, just staring ahead like she didn’t exist.

Alice blinked at Suzy from where she stood, still encased in the absurd pillowcase.

Suzy kicked the suitcase with her sneaker lightly. "But yeah. I’m here now. With stuff for you. Feminine needs. Moisturizer. Toothbrush. Anti-kidnapper shampoo. Couple shirts. A bit of make-up stuff. Don’t say I never do anything for you."

Then she crossed her legs on the bed like she lived there and leaned forward, staring straight at Alice with a wild, unfiltered curiosity blazing in her eyes.

"So." Suzy’s voice dropped, and she suddenly looked serious, the casual smirk replaced by a furrowed brow. "What. The. Hell. Happened?"

Alice shifted nervously, the pillowcase mask suddenly feeling less like armor and more like a spotlight. "What... do you mean?"

"You look like a broken crime witness," Suzy added, her gaze sweeping over Alice’s disheveled state, taking in the wrinkled dress and the absurd headwear. "Why are you dressed like a budget pharaoh in here and not going home? Last I checked, you lived in Block A." Suzy tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "And take that thing off your face. I’m sure you were told it was me in here with you last night?"

Alice winced. Suzy was right. That made sense. With a sigh of resignation, she awkwardly removed the pillowcase from her head, letting it fall to the floor.

"T-Thank... you for last night," Alice said awkwardly, meeting Suzy’s gaze.

"I never imagined you had freckles," Suzy suddenly commented, her face still neutral, not reflecting whatever she thought about it.

Alice’s heart hammered against her ribs. Yeah. The freckles—a detail that belonged solely to her, not to the polished façade of Aurora. She tried to hide the sudden panic, her voice muffled but strained, though the pillowcase was gone. "Have you... have you seen my face... bare before?" She held her breath, desperately hoping for a denial, a flicker of doubt from Suzy that she had never seen Aurora’s unadorned face before.

Suzy’s eyebrows drew together, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes as she scrutinized Alice, sensing the unusual tension. She paused, considering. "Hmm... I mean, at school, you were always... ’done.’ You know, perfect makeup, always. But whatever. They are cute. So in case it makes you self-conscious, screw that." Suzy finished with a dismissive wave of her hand, surprisingly genuine in her nonchalance.

Alice was... speechless. She looked at Suzy, half-expecting to see some hidden mockery, but no. She looked genuine. Sincere. A small, unfamiliar warmth bloomed in Alice’s chest.

"Why are you looking at me like you’ve fallen in love? I doubt you’ve never been complimented before," Suzy said lightly, a teasing smirk returning, making Alice snap out of her daze.

She tried for a casual laugh, but it came out as a weak, strangled sound. "Any...way, what are you doing here?"

Suzy shrugged. "As I said, I was asked to bring some of your stuff. But seriously, why are you here? I thought the whole point of your ’wedding’ was just very... not the cozy type. And now you’re here, and they’re asking me to bring your luggage. Is the Matriarch aware of this sudden residential relocation?" Her voice had dropped, becoming serious, reflecting her genuine bewilderment about the shift in what she knew to be a purely transactional arrangement.

"It’s... complicated. Maybe... a temporary shift?" Alice offered, honestly as far as she could go with the explanation because she also had no idea why Hades had suddenly changed his mind.

Suzy’s gaze remained fixed on her, unblink Alice, processing the vague explanation. "Complicated, huh? Because from where I’m standing, it looks less like a ’temporary arrangement’ and more like... a full-blown declaration." She paused, then leaned forward conspiratorially, her eyes gleaming with a sudden, mischievous insight. "Tell me, Aurora," Suzy whispered, her voice dropping to a theatrical hush. "You’re not doing anything crazy... like actually falling in love with Hades, are you?"

Alice spluttered, the words hitting her like a cold splash of water. "Are you insane?! How could I possibly do that?!" Her voice was so loudly defensive, so explosively indignant, that it startled Suzy, making her recoil slightly.

A slow "Aha!" moment dawned on Suzy’s face. She looked at Alice with a pitiful, yet knowing, expression. "Well, I wouldn’t blame you, I guess," Suzy said, shrugging. "Sometimes... ladies have weird taste. And there are no issues, I mean, he is your husband, technically. But then... the problem is Hades reciprocating."

Alice tried to deny again, a fresh wave of mortification washing over her, but then a polite but firm knock came on the door.

It was Milo.

Alice shuffled to the door, utterly done with the bizarre interrogation and the entire day itself. When she opened it, Milo was standing there, holding the painting still wrapped beautifully. Annoying.

He glanced between the two women, his eyes straight and unwavering. "Just delivering the gift to your room, Miss Aurora," he said, his voice flat and professional, betraying absolutely no hint of the crush he secretly harbored for Suzy. "Wasn’t sure where else to keep it." He stepped just inside, creating a subtle awkwardness in the already small space.

Suzy, her curiosity instantly piqued by the mention of a gift, stood up and went to him, eyeing the wrapped canvas with keen interest. "What painting is that?"

Milo’s gaze flickered to Suzy for a fraction of a second, a fleeting softness in his eyes, before returning to its carefully neutral setting. "It’s from Miss Caroline Cresswell," he stated stoically, as if reciting a weather report.

Suzy instantly looked at Alice, a silent question in her gaze. Alice just shook her head subtly, accepting the painting from Milo with a curt nod, a silent plea for him to just leave.

Milo nodded once more, then looked at Suzy, a long, lingering gaze that lasted just a beat too long before he turned and closed the door behind him. The moment the door clicked shut, he pressed his back against it and started smiling like an idiot, a wide, goofy grin spreading across his face, completely unseen by the women inside.

Inside, the click of the door signaled Milo’s exit, leaving Alice and Suzy in the quiet, charged room. Suzy’s eyes, bright with renewed curiosity, immediately fixed on the wrapped canvas in Alice’s hands.

"What is that all about?" Suzy asked, gesturing vaguely at the painting.

"She was here. She brought this." Her tone was flat, uninterested, reflecting the whirlwind of more pressing thoughts in her mind.

Suzy scoffed. "Painters know no other relevant gifts to give than paintings, do they? Honestly." She then leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "Can I open it? I want to see what all the rave is about with her work. Even Wilson, my painter brother, compliments her."

Alice was barely listening, her thoughts drifting to Paula. As far as she was concerned, there was no living person better than Paula, no artist more talented, no one whose work held such profound meaning. The image of Paula, with her quiet intensity and extraordinary skill, filled Alice’s mind.

Her eyes instantly went to the painting as Suzy, with eager fingers, unwrapped it. The rustle of the paper, the unveiling of the canvas—

And then, the what-the-hell moment was so loud it almost knocked the air from Alice’s lungs. Her eyes widened, staring at the unveiled painting. It was familiar. Awfully familiar.

And definitely something that didn’t belong to Caroline.

Because she knew it. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Recognized it.

And the specific stroke she even drew on it.

What the helly.

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