Saving Alicia

Brooklyn

9:00 pm

The city was dressed in the finest winter and the snow sparkled in the chilly night breeze. Snowflakes kept falling from the sky. Brooklyn was seen covered in a serene white glow. The air dazzled with the sounds of carolers, the jingling of sleigh bells, and the distant honking of cars making their way through. It was Christmas Eve, the festive season, where families and friends merry in glad tidings.

The festive spirit spread throughout the city.

Right in the heart of Brooklyn, twinkling lights framed around Alicia's window as a group of friends and family gathered around the crackling fireplace. The fresh aroma of baked cookies filled the room. The Christmas tree glittered at the corner. The entire household was merry and the atmosphere filled with laughter. Some sipped on hot cocoa while others shared Christmas stories.

Alicia Evergreen locked hands with her boyfriend, Dylan Campbell, her eyes filled with tears as he serenaded her with a bright smile on his lips.

Everyone watched the beautiful couple except Liam Smith, her childhood bestie who loved her so much. For some reason, he never liked Dylan for Alicia. Of course, Alicia has had other boyfriends in the past, and Liam had his shortcomings with them, but his hatred for Dylan was over the roof.

Liam looked away and sipped his hot cocoa while the rest of the guests admired the couples.

No one knew what Dylan had prepared for Alicia. Only Alicia's mother knew exactly what was about to happen.

Soon, the music came to a stop, and Alicia pulled away in an attempt to leave the room but was stopped by a smiling Dylan, who gently gripped her soft hand and planted a kiss on it.

"You look so beautiful," his words sent butterflies inside her belly.

"Awww!" The entire guests voiced out, but Alicia buried her face in his broad chest out of shame.

Her cheeks flushed red from the embarrassment, and she stylishly pulled away, turning around to leave, but Dylan's words echoed softly through the room, making her halt with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Alicia Evergreen, my beloved, my beautiful Barbie doll. The one who makes my heart beat... I would be damned if I said I don't love you. I fucking love you, babes." Dylan declared his love for Alicia looking deep into her eyes like some priceless jewel. "Alicia, you are the love of my life, you are my best friend and the best thing that has happened to me. You love me for what I am and not who I am. You made me the man I am today and fought for me when others didn't see the light in me. I am glad you are mine and I am so fucking proud of calling you mine. But..." Dylan's sigh broke through the room and Alicia stood in a state of panic.

Is he breaking up with me? Her heart pounded without a care. No...no...no, you can't do this, babe.

As her mind wandered in a state of panic, her eyes suddenly widened in shock at seeing her boyfriend kneeling before her. Her body shook to the point she could no longer control her emotions and held her mouth tightly to hold back the screaming.

Dylan smirked at her reaction and took a glance at the room.

His girlfriend was not the only one stunned. The room was buzzing with whispers.

"Say yes, say yes, girl..." Everyone except Liam screamed with excitement.

Liam's eyes shot red and he tilted his head to hold back the tears. His heart shattered into a thousand pieces and the lump in his throat grew thicker that he could choke on it. His cup of hot cocoa fell to the ground and he dropped his gaze to embrace his sad reality.

"Alicia Evergreen, I want you to be the mother of my children. I want a family with you. I want to grow old with you and behold that beautiful face beside my bed till my last breath. Will you marry me, babe?" He popped out the long-awaited question.

"YES! YES! YES! Of course, I will be your wife."

Alicia screamed in excitement and jumped all over Dylan the moment he slid the ring into her finger.

"Let's get married tomorrow, what do you say?"

"Perfect," she replied.

"I guess my work here is done," Mary, her mother, said and hugged the couple affectionately.

"You fucking knew," Alicia glared coldly at her mother but burst into tears and pulled her closer for a warm embrace. "Thank you so much, Ma. I love you."

"It's okay dear," Mary patted Alicia and flashed a smile at Dylan.

"Congrats, babe," her BBF jumped on Alicia.

Since they were little, the trio always tagged along and supported each other. Liam, Violet, and Alicia have been the best of friends. But when other boys came into the picture asking Alicia out, Liam started acting weird.

If not for Violet, Liam wouldn't have made it here with Dylan around.

Everyone joined in her joy, but when Liam stood up from his seat, the entire room was filled with awkwardness, and everyone took a step back nervously.

"Shit!" Violet cussed under the skin. "Not again. Cheer up! You have to be happy for her." She ran to Liam and pulled him closer.

"And who says I'm not?" His dreadful voice struck and Violet stepped aside.

"Congratulations, Alicia," Liam said with a smile on his lips. "If this makes you happy then I am happy."

"Thanks, Liam," she replied and rubbed her head anxiously. "Thanks for coming."

"Yeah!" He replied.

The party went on and everyone drank in merriment. After a few minutes of excitement, the guests made their way home.

Alicia stood beside the window, watching the guests leave one at a time.

All these years of hoping and clinging to Dylan Campbell, her heart shattered into a thousand pieces whenever she saw other women flirt around him. Dylan always discards the rumors of him dating other women.

Alicia flashed a warm smile at her diamond ring. "It's finally happening," she muttered, wiping the tears that fell from her eyes. "If only Dad and Alice were here to see this day. I miss them so much."

She lost her twin sister when she was just fifteen and her father joined years after Alice passed.

Dylan picked the perfect date for the wedding. December 25th was exactly Alicia's birthday. The perfect Christmas wedding.

She suddenly felt a soft touch on her shoulder and turned to Dylan's warm smile.

"Come here," he said and pulled her into his warm embrace. "I love you."

"I know," she replied and felt his warmth. "Thanks for not letting me down. Is the mother still inside?"

"Yeah!" He replied.

"Babe, drinks are on me," Violet announced from behind, making the couples turn around with confused looks on their faces. "We party till dawn."

"I thought you were gone," Alicia said..

"Let's go. It's still 9 pm, and I owe you a little party before the big day," she twisted her waist with a smirk on her face.

"Don't be nasty, girl," Alicia whined. She gazed at Dylan and tried to seek his permission.

"Don't worry about me, go with her. I will leave once I know everyone has gone home."

"That settles it," Violet grabbed her by the arm and pulled her outside the house.

ONE HOUR LATER

Alicia arrived at the house drunk. Violet managed to drop her off, and luckily for Alicia, the housekeeper was there to help her get settled. Her eyes flickered at Dylan's car still parked outside.

"He waited for me," her heart melted at the romantic gesture. "Let me go, I can walk in. Shush! I need to surprise him. Go away, all of you... shuu!"

Alicia's legs staggered around the house, but she managed to remain calm, not to wake anyone. Dylan might be in the guest room, she chuckled in a whisper and wiped her eyes.

On her way to her bedroom, she crawled up the stairs in her condition, but Alicia crawled past her mother's bedroom; she halted and narrowed her brows at the strange sound coming out of her bedroom.

"Right there," Mary moaned intensely. "Yeah!!! I love how you always turn me on. Eat me raw, baby!!!"

"Silly girl," a familiar voice answered, making Alicia rub her eyes.

"Remember the deal, Dylan. She signs the document on the day of the wedding. Alicia doesn't know it yet but her father willed his company to her as a wedding gift. I want that bitch dead after signing the papers. That damn lawyer wouldn't yield to my instructions. I will never allow her to take charge of my husband's company."

"I can't afford to fail you now. You brought me here for this purpose. Four years of fake relationship with a woman I never loved just to make my baby happy," Dylan locked lips with Mary and intensified the passion in her. "I always come back to taste from your middle. You are so fucking tight for your age, babe."

"That's what you get for being a good boy."

"What the heck?!" Her heart raced unusually. "This must be an illusion. I am drunk.. What company is she talking about?"

The door was slightly open and Alicia took the courage to have a glimpse. She wished that all she had heard was a lie, but when her eyes fell on Dylan right between her mother's wet middle, her throat filled with puke. She couldn't afford to be noticed, so she held her mouth with one hand. Alicia was almost on it, with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Fuck! Come closer," Mary's moaning continued. "Did you check with Alicia? Go get the door, babe."

"Relax! She's out with Violet partying. I guess it's a kind of bridal shower so we won't be expecting her tonight. Let's enjoy the night together and celebrate our victory ahead."

His hands ran through her middle and a loud moan escaped her lips. His smirk deepened seeing how she enjoyed every bit of it.

Alicia couldn't watch them anymore. Her heart already bleeds. With all she just heard, she needs to get out of the house.

Her mother and her fiance are making love. What the heck?!

"I have to get out of here. Liam was right about Dylan," she panicked with fear surging through her body and turned around to leave but then, her leg landed on the flower vase beside her mother's door, causing a loud sound.

"Shit! I'm doomed." She trembled uncontrollably.