The call was from her colleague, Miriam.,

"Yeah! Daisy said that she wants to treat everyone to dinner tonight. We have discussed that we would all pitch in 200 dollars each. After eating, we will go to the Oasis Clubhouse nearby to have a gathering and karaoke session. It'll just be a few colleagues from our department and Daisy's boyfriend, Vargas, will be coming as well. I've heard that he's quite good-looking, and he's quite a decent man as well. Rumors said that he chased Daisy for quite some time! It just so happened that he was able to join us today, hence he booked a big private room for us!

", With that said, Miriam lowered her voice and continued speaking.,

"He probably wants to let everyone know that they're dating as soon as possible so that Daisy won't be able to change her mind! Come join us, Alicia, there won't be any outsiders!

", Since her father's surgery was successful, Alicia was in a good mood. She felt that it would be a joyful event to celebrate her colleague's birthday as well. She replied after checking her schedule.,

"I still have some matters to deal with in the afternoon, therefore I won't be joining you guys for dinner! I should be done by the time the karaoke session starts, I will see you all then! I'll transfer the money to you in a while! Should I bring a cake?

",

"No, it's okay, we'll prepare those things. If the money isn't enough, I will pay for the things first. If we're lacking too much money, I'll collect it from you guys afterward!

", After confirming a few more details, Alicia hung up the phone., As soon as she turned around, Mrs. Blanchard gave her a smile.,

"Ally, you should go out and have some fun! I'll clean the house and make a few dishes for dinner! Today is probably our happiest day over the past two years! When your father comes home, we will finally be reunited!

", Mrs. Blanchard released a deep sigh as her eyes fell upon Alicia. The only regret that she had at present was that they delayed the marriage of their precious daughter!, This was the biggest pain in her heart. It would've been a piece of cake to find Alicia a good man to marry with the wealth of the Blanchard family in the past on top of her beauty and talents! She would've been able to live a life with no worries!, Alicia could guess what her mother was thinking about once she looked into her eyes. With her smile on her face, she helped her mother sit down.,

"Mom, today is a good day, you should be happy! I will help you clean up around the house since no one has been living there for a while. I would definitely stay here with you if Frederick was on a business trip, he's been very clingy lately! I haven't told him about Dad's surgery because I was worried that he would think that I was asking him for money. When Dad gets better and returns home, I will bring Frederick over and we can have lunch together as a family!

", Frederick would probably agree to have lunch with them. Technically, she just wanted her parents to know that she was doing well and not worry about her., Mrs. Blanchard naturally understood and caressed Alicia's hair as she smiled.,

"Alright! Ally, I understand how you feel. In the past, when our family was rich, even relatives that we barely talked to visited us all the time. But when we were in trouble, how many people actually took us seriously? Let alone help us, it was good enough that they didn't mock us! Even though the past two years have been difficult, I learned many lessons. The people of society are too realistic and we shouldn't expect anyone to do us favors. Nowadays, more and more people have learned to please those who are doing well, but barely anyone tries to help those who are struggling! That is why the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. No matter what happens, we can only rely on ourselves! I never paid much attention to the outside world, but I can tell how well Frederick is doing. I know what you're thinking too. There is a big difference between us and the Clements family. I just hope that you don't get too deep into the relationship. It's easy to get into it but it's hard to get out of it. Make sure that you love yourself more! Your father and I only have you!

", She was very worried. What if her daughter gets hurt again? Will she lose her daughter forever?, Alicia understood what her mother was trying to say; it wasn't the first time she had mentioned it. She held her mother's hand in hers and rested her head on her mother's shoulder.,

"I know! Don't worry, your daughter has grown up now! I'm no longer the fragile and ignorant self that I was three years ago, I will not fall that easily anymore...

", Alicia will never starve herself, cry in toilets, or smoke secretly and burn herself for a man anymore., Never will she do these things that hurt herself and make her parents worried ever again!,

"Okay! You must be hungry! I'll make you some noodles, have some before you get busy!

", Looking at her mother being busy in the kitchen, Alicia thought that children with mothers were really happy., Without having to worry about her father, Alicia felt relieved, as if she had won the lottery. Even if she had to pay more money in the future, she won't feel overwhelmed., She realized that she couldn't show up at Daisy's birthday celebration empty-handed. After checking the progress of her customized tie at Mural Street, she went to the shopping mall to buy a gift for Daisy. After looking around for a long time, Alicia still wasn't sure what to buy for Daisy. If her gift was too expensive, it would make the gifts of other colleagues seem cheap in comparison! Alicia thought about it and decided that a gift that was not too expensive but could express her thoughts would be best so that her courtesy wouldn't end up being a burden for others., After all, they were more of her colleagues than friends. This was actually the first time they celebrated someone's birthday together., Alicia finally decided to get a stuffed toy for Daisy after thinking carefully. Most girls liked stuffed toys, and they were meaningful and inexpensive gifts. Even if the other colleagues didn't get gifts, they wouldn't look too bad in comparison., She decided to choose an exquisite stuffed bear. There were many stuffed bears holding heart-shaped pillows with unique phrases on them. She chose one with the phrase 'Happy Birthday' on it and requested for the seller to wrap it nicely. Then, she carried the gift tied up with a pink ribbon back to her car., After leaving the gift in her car, Alicia went back into the shopping mall to buy more things since her father was going to be discharged soon. She bought some discounted clothes and daily necessities for her mother and herself. By the time she left with her arms full of shopping bags, the sky had darkened., She estimated that she would have to go and join her colleagues soon after she sent the things back home, and began to walk back. As she stepped out of the mall, she saw a crowd gathering around a stall. She looked up and discovered that it was a clearance sale in a shop that sold accessories; all the people there were trying to buy the discounted items.,

"Clearance sale! Everything is from ten to twenty dollars. Buy three and get one free!

", Shouts sounded from the speakers from time to time, and a few more stalls were set up on the side. The accessories were dumped onto the stalls directly from the boxes. They were colorful, shiny, and nicely packaged. Since it was along the way, Alicia went to join in the fun., Seeing the hairpins, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories, her eyes swept around the stall. A string of silver bells entered her sight, and she could hear the slight ringing every once in a while. Alicia stepped forward and took the bells. Sure enough, she could hear the tinkling of the bells when they moved., These little things were so cute and delicate!,

"Are these also sold for ten dollars?

", Raising her hand, Alicia gestured to the man collecting money on the chair.

"They're all sold for ten dollars, buy three and get one free!

" he replied., Alicia chose a shiny anklet that had rhinestones and silver bells on it. There was a raindrop-shaped zircon crystal pendant at the center of the anklet, which reminded Alicia of how Frederick chose the earrings for her. She happily took out ten dollars and handed them over to the man. Alicia was in delight, she felt awfully lucky that day., After she got into her car, she opened the packaging immediately and put the anklet on., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.