Chapter 42 (1/2)

Chapter 42: Chapter 4 Alice in Trouble-13

”If you're okay, get off.”

Her sudden change in attitude made his lips and fingers stop. He lifted his head and saw her staring at him.

”I said, get off.”

”...”

Mad Hatter got up hesitantly. His clothes were still tidy while hers were a mess. She reorganized her clothes, got up, and pointed as Mad Hatter stared at her.

”Your clothes are next to the sofa.”

He looked inside the shopping bag dropped next to the sofa. His clothes and hat were inside. In that moment, the reality of the situation struck him.

She's here. She kept her promise. But...why is she such a mess? He scratched his now cleared-up head. He turned back time to figure out what happened.

Her voice telling him to pull himself together, her warm, soft skin, her palm on his face, his instinctive move in lust...

Seeing the blotches on her skin as she dressed, Mad Hatter's face glowed red.

”Mad Hatter?”

”Oh, my God.”

”What's the matter?”

”No, nothing. Uh...Why are your clothes…?”

SoYoon turned away instead of answering. Without any expression, she rolled up her sweater. As she was packing up, Mad Hatter covered his eyes.

Ding—the grandfather clock chimed one o'clock. She bent down and picked up the shopping bag. When she got up, the room spun. Before she came here, she had felt nauseous at home when she had stopped by to get her clothes. She had taken some iron before she left, but that must have not been enough to heal her completely. And…

”Come back to me tonight.”

Heart's voice echoed inside her. It was one o'clock. SoYoon's eyes drooped. She did not think she could keep that promise.

***

The morning after the kidnapping, Alice spent time alone with Heart. In the second-floor drawing room, the two of them conversed casually. She sat in awe, looking at Heart's face as she sipped her coffee.

Heart's looks, wealth, power, and even how he treated her were all of the perfect man. However, Alice was not content with just one man. Even in the original, he was only one of many. To continue the story in such a way, she couldn't stay trapped at Heart's house like this.

”Heart, there is something I would like to request. Would you do it for me?”

”Hmm? Why would you ask that? Was there ever a time I rejected any of your requests?”

There wasn't. Alice folded her hands in front of her chest and looked up at Heart. It was a gesture that had never failed her before.

”I want to go outside by myself. Can't I? I won't go anywhere else other than the neutral zone.”

Although this probably wasn't something to bring up the day after a kidnapping, she had come to this conclusion after much thought.

Due to this whole Jack fiasco, the fact that Heart cared for Alice was now probably well known in Wonderland. Heart was like a king in Wonderland. To hurt someone he loved meant that they were willing to become an enemy of Wonderland itself.

Heart contemplated for a moment as Alice adorably pleaded with him. Surrendering, he gave permission.

”Besides, the reason I had been keeping you locked inside was because of Jack. Okay. But, you must promise to stay with your guard when traveling from the house to the neutral zone.”

”Of course! Thank you, Heart! And…”

Alice shot a glance at Heart as though embarrassed. He licked his lips with his tongue to get the coffee left on the corners of his mouth. The gesture reminded her of a Latin model. She couldn't stop imagining how sexy it would be if those lips would speak her real name.

”Call me GaHyun.”

”GaHyun?”

Oh, my God. Alice realized how electrifying the pronunciation of her name was. It started low then went into a deep echo that lightly sang like the perfect harmony of a song. As she was lost in her excitement, Heart called her by her name once more.

”GaHyun. What does this mean?”

”Oh, that...It's from a place far south that means 'to light up in beauty.' My parents gave it to me in hopes that I would grow up to be beautiful. Although there isn't anyone left to call me by that name…”

Alice dropped her head slightly. She knew how pitiful her white neck looked through her golden locks.

”Alice means 'noble.'”

It was something she didn't know. She smiled shyly and waited for him to continue.