As things turned out, Alice's parents passed away when she was still a very small child. A distant relative didn't want to take in another child; she knew she couldn't handle two, especially since she had just given birth to a son. So, Alice ended up in an orphanage.
She remembered almost nothing about her parents, so she simply tried to make the best of her life. She didn't particularly yearn for a new family; she had a good relationship with everyone at the home and figured she would stay there until she turned eighteen. Besides, she did have a "relative" of sorts—Aunt Veronica, or more accurately, Vera, who had changed her name after marrying an American businessman. It was this same Veronica who had refused to take Alice in because of her own son. But by and large, they were acquainted. Veronica would occasionally visit the home and bring Alice various gifts, ranging from cupcakes to toys and new clothes. Veronica's son, Michael, didn't like Alice and refused to visit her at the home. In general, Michael was a rather spoiled and temperamental child.
One day, Veronica had no one to leave him with, and since she had to visit for Alice's birthday, she brought the boy along. Michael whined the entire way, complaining that he should be at home playing his new high-end gaming console with his friend—after all, he had to show off that he actually owned one!
"Honey, we'll be back soon, and then you can play as much as you want," Veronica repeated patiently.
"I want to play now!" the boy wailed at the top of his lungs.
"Well, we're already here," Veronica said, trying to ignore her son's shouting as she parked the car. "Are you coming in with me?"
"I'm not going anywhere!" Michael pouted.
"Don't you want to wish Alice a happy birthday? She is family, after all."
"It's raining outside! I want to go home and play my games! If you care about this girl so much—more than your own son—then go see her yourself!"
"Fine," Veronica sighed. "I'll be quick."
She grabbed a bag of clothes and a small toy pony tied with a pink ribbon and headed toward the building. Inside, the children were in the playroom, making do with a few shared toys. Veronica asked the teacher to bring Alice to see her.
"Hi, Alice!" Veronica smiled.
"Hi, Aunt Veronica," Alice said, shyly approaching her distant relative.
"It's your birthday today, right?"
"Yes..."
"This is for you!" Veronica handed Alice the toy pony.
The girl's eyes lit up with delight.
"Thank you!.." Alice took the pony and gave her aunt a tight hug.
The girl didn't realize that this same aunt could have taken her into a warm, wealthy home instead of just bringing toys and clothes a couple of times a year.
"Happy birthday," Veronica repeated. "And here's some clothing. Take it. Don't give it to the other kids; these were picked specifically for you."
"Okay, thank you!" But, of course, the eight-year-old girls were already busy trading sparkly tops and patent leather shoes.
Aunt Veronica didn't need to know that, though. Alice looked at her relative with hope. She was one of the few children who was visited by any family at all.
"Aunt Veronica, will you come to the rooms? Will you read to us?"
"I can't today, Alice," the woman sighed. "I have to get Mikey home."
"Is Michael with you?" The girl's eyes widened. She had seen the boy from a distance a few times and really wanted to meet him. "Why didn't he come in?"
"It's raining out," Veronica answered matter-of-factly.
Alice looked out the window. A few drops were lazily trailing down the glass. She turned back to the woman.
"Is that even rain?.."
"Well, for some people, it's enough," Veronica smirked. "Anyway, Alice, I have to go. See you next time!.."
"See you at Christmas..." Alice sighed quietly.
***
When Alice was sixteen, she was invited to dinner for the first time. She didn't know why she was being honored with the invitation, so she was a bit nervous. It seemed Aunt Veronica liked her well enough, but Alice only knew her out of the whole family. Her husband and son would be there, along with some of their high-society friends who were passing through town. All in all, she felt it might be better not to go. But she didn't want to miss such a rare occasion as a family dinner. In fact, it was the first time anyone had ever invited her out for a meal. She wanted so badly to escape the orphanage for more than just a few hours. She was at that age where she dreamed of her first romance, of a fairytale life: finding love, making new friends, landing a prestigious job...
But for now, those were just dreams. Alice prepared for the dinner party. She chose her best clothes, and her friends helped her with her makeup, lending her some of their own. Life at the home was, of course, not wealthy. There was one lipstick for ten girls, a single tube of mascara, and a couple of bottles of perfume for the entire place. Most of the budget went toward food and books; naturally, there were no jewelry or beauty products provided beyond basic soap and shampoo. The staff didn't exactly approve of the young girls wearing makeup, either. Nevertheless, Alice got dressed up and announced she was going to her relatives' house. The teachers wished her luck but warned her to be back no later than 10:30 PM if she wanted to sleep in her own bed; otherwise, the security guard would lock the doors.
"I'll be back. I doubt they'll ask me to stay the night," the girl shrugged.
"Have a good time," the teacher sighed.
On her way to Aunt Veronica's apartment, Alice suddenly wondered: why hadn't they ever taken her in?
No one mistreated her at the home, but it was still an orphanage. The food was poor, the education mediocre, and the clothes never quite fit. Aunt Veronica tried to provide those things for her, so if she was spending the money anyway, why couldn't she have just taken her home? Was she afraid Alice would eat too much? That she'd cost too much? The girl felt a sharp pang of resentment. But she didn't want to ruin the relationship yet; she was old enough to think about what she would do after leaving the home. Financial support certainly wouldn't hurt.
Aunt Veronica's apartment was right downtown in a building with a doorman. Alice had been cleared to enter, but the guard moved aside rather reluctantly. He had likely guessed from her appearance that she wasn't exactly "high society." She went up to the correct floor and rang the bell. Veronica herself opened the door.
"Hello," Alice smiled. "Am I too early?"
"Oh, good evening!" Veronica beamed. "No, no, not at all. Come in, take your coat off... Here, the closet is right here. Put on these slippers and head into the living room."
Alice took off her coat and looked around. Everything was in light tones, filled with expensive technology. Fragments of conversation drifted from the parlor; people were speaking in both English and accented tones. Alice felt self-conscious; her French and Spanish were basic, and if the guests didn't speak clear English, she would feel awkward the whole time.
"Could I have everyone's attention for a moment?" Veronica announced, leading Alice into the spacious room. "I'd like to introduce my niece, Alice."
The guests reacted in various ways: some smiled kindly at Alice's modest grin, while others eyed her from head to toe before returning to their conversations.
"Come, sit here," Veronica pointed to a seat next to hers.
On her other side sat a dark-haired man with a touch of gray—he looked like a British lord from a novel. Next to this "lord" sat a young man playing a handheld game, whom Alice recognized as Michael.
"Hello, Alice," the man said. "I'm John, Nikki's husband."
"Hello, John. It's a pleasure," Alice smiled.
"Where are you from?" John asked. His voice, by the way, was perfectly ordinary—not aristocratic at all.
"Right here, from the city," Alice replied.
"Wonderful. I'm from New York. I came here to close a deal with a partner, and I loved this city and its subway system so much that I decided to stay," John chuckled. "Then I met Nikki. And I knew right then I wasn't going anywhere."
"That's so sweet," Alice sighed. "I hope one day someone says that about me."
"Oh, that's all ahead of you!" John laughed. "Anyway, I recommend starting with the salad and then trying the steak."
The dinner went beautifully, despite Alice's fears. She chatted pleasantly with Aunt Veronica and John, barely speaking to anyone else. Time flew by, and she didn't really want to leave. At one point, John went out onto the balcony to smoke a cigar with his friends, and Alice was left without a conversation partner—Aunt Veronica had gone to call a cleaning service to arrange for someone to come by later. Naturally, washing dishes wasn't a task for the wealthy.
"Alice, tell me, is it true you live in a group home?" a woman asked as soon as the hosts had left the room.
"It's true," the girl nodded.
"Hmm. Interesting. I wonder why they didn't bring you here to live. Was there something... troubled about your parents?"
"I don't remember my parents," Alice said, tensing up. "But I'm sure they were wonderful people."
"In some cultures, they say you should speak well of the dead or not at all," another woman chimed in.
"Yes, yes, quite interesting. But I feel like they would have taken a healthy child into their home," the first woman countered.
Alice tried to mentally distance herself from the unpleasant topic. Why were they discussing her as if she weren't there?
"Alice, how's the dinner?" Michael asked pointedly and loudly. Alice grabbed onto the question like a lifeline.
"Wonderful," she smiled. "Everything was delicious."
"Of course. It's not exactly your usual foster home slop," Michael smirked.
Alice stared at the boy, eyes wide. Meanwhile, Michael walked over to a side table and picked through a pile of pastries.
"Here, this is more your speed. We aren't a charity, after all."
With those words, the boy placed a half-eaten honey cupcake onto Alice's plate. Tears welled in her eyes as she watched him. Snickers broke out around the room; Michael stood there with an arrogant grin. Alice flushed deep red and stood up.
"I think it's time for me to go. Thank you again for the dinner. Goodbye." She walked quickly toward the hallway.
"Mom! Your little beggar girl is leaving! Go make sure she didn't steal anything!" Michael yelled.
"You little jerk..." Alice hissed under her breath.
She wished she could be anywhere but here. Everyone had laughed at her. They had been laughing from the start, watching her struggle with the silverware, not knowing what the expensive dishes were supposed to taste like, choosing plain tea over the expensive coffee.
"What's wrong? Are you leaving already?" Veronica came out to meet her.
"Don't worry, I'm not planning on stealing anything," Alice sobbed.
"The boy was just joking, why are you so offended?.." Veronica said, throwing up her hands in confusion.
"Was he joking when he gave me someone's leftovers? I'm sorry, but I don't get jokes like that. If you only invited me to entertain your rich friends, then please, don't ever do it again. Don't contact me at all!.. Ever!.."
"Young lady, you're being hysterical. Go home and calm down. If you can't handle a harmless joke from my son, then perhaps it really is best if we stop seeing each other," Veronica said sternly.
Alice didn't answer and headed for the door. She was back at the home long before 10:30 PM. The teacher noticed her sad expression and hurried to find out what happened.
"Alice, what—" she began, but Alice cut her off.
"Mrs. Stevens, everything is fine. I just don't want to talk about it right now."
"I see. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes," Alice said, closing her bedroom door.
Teenagers often returned from relative visits in a bad mood. Often, the relatives would spend the time bad-mouthing the children's parents or pointing out the children's flaws. Alice was no exception. One trip to the relatives who had refused to take her in proved to be a crushing blow. From then on, Aunt Veronica never visited or even called. At first, Alice was deeply hurt, but after a year, she began to forget about Michael's rudeness and his whole family. People are cruel—that was the lesson she took from that dinner.
Alice set her sights on becoming a lawyer, studying diligently for her exams. Even though she had a scholarship for former foster youth, she still worked tirelessly. As a result, she aced her exams and got into a top university. She was a dedicated student, never missing a lecture. By twenty-two, she had received a state-subsidized apartment, and a year later, she graduated with her law degree.
At her graduation party, a classmate named Roman approached her. He had shown interest in her before, but Alice had been too busy studying.
"Hi," he smiled. "Are you too busy with schoolwork tonight?"
"Haha, not tonight," Alice laughed.
"Then how about a walk after the party?"
"Hmm. I don't see any reason why not," she agreed.
Roman and Alice began dating. Alice wasn't thinking about marriage yet; she wanted to establish her career first. Of course, she wouldn't be hired as a private defense attorney right away, but she could start in the public sector. From there, the road to private practice would be open.
In short, Alice had a clear plan for her career. Her boyfriend, Roman, started as an intern at his father's firm. The senior partners mentored him, showing him the ropes, and eventually, Roman felt ready to strike out on his own. He discussed everything with Alice, and she supported the idea. With a little help from his father, Roman opened a small boutique firm that grew every year.
After several years together, Roman invited Alice to a restaurant to celebrate their anniversary. By then, Alice knew exactly what a good tiramisu should taste like. Remembering that nightmare dinner from years ago, she just smirked. It was all in the distant past...
She was now a successful, established professional who knew exactly how she didn't want to treat others.
"How's the dinner?" Roman asked, word-for-word the same question Michael had once asked.
Alice couldn't hold back a short laugh.
"Wonderful. Everything is delicious," she replied.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked, puzzled.
"Oh, just a ghost from the past," Alice waved it off.
"Well..." Roman seemed a bit hurt. "You should probably stop keeping secrets from me. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I'm asking you to be my wife," Roman smiled, pulling out a ring box. Alice gasped. "Is it a yes?"
"Yes!.. Of course, yes!.." She was laughing, but happy tears were shimmering in her eyes.
***
Roman and Alice got married. They decided to wait a bit on children, so they both dove into their work after the honeymoon. Alice moved into private practice, having built a significant reputation for herself. Naturally, her fees were substantial.
One day, Alice was reviewing inquiries on her website when her phone rang. She was used to clients calling her mobile directly to discuss matters in person. It was a common part of her practice. So, she wasn't surprised to see an unknown number.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Is this Alice Vance?"
"Yes, good evening. Who am I speaking with?" The voice sounded vaguely familiar.
"My name is Michael," the caller said. Images began flashing before Alice's eyes.
Michael! That Michael!
"Sorry for the late call, but this is important. Um... Can I meet with you?"
"Yes, certainly," Alice said, her mind racing.
Did he not remember her? Though she had changed a lot since she was sixteen.
"Great. Only thing is... I'm already in custody," Michael sniffled.
"That's fine, I'm known at the local precincts," Alice said, her voice gaining confidence.
He really didn't recognize her name.
"Tell me, what are the charges?"
"Theft. Grand larceny. But I didn't do it!"
"Yes, yes, I believe you," Alice said in a honeyed tone. "We'll figure it all out. I'll come by tomorrow to talk."
"Thank you!"
"How did you find me?" Alice asked, a standard question to track her marketing. Michael was silent for a moment.
"My... my mom told me you became a lawyer about five years ago," he said quietly. "So I thought, since we're practically family..."
"Ah, so you do remember me," Alice felt a spark of heat.
"Well, of course I remember. Though I didn't recognize you. That won't affect my defense, will it?"
"Oh, not at all," Alice said dryly. Not even an apology after all these years! "See you tomorrow."
"Thank you..."
Alice hung up and almost threw the phone at the wall. She only stopped because it was a gift from her husband. She took a deep breath and went to the home bar for a glass of wine.
"Whoa, it's only Wednesday and you're already hitting the bottle!" Roman whistled as he walked in a couple of hours later.
By then, Alice had calmed down slightly with the help of the wine.
"You won't believe what happened!" her emotions flared again. "A client called me. His name is Michael!"
"So?" Roman shrugged.
"It's that little punk!" Alice slammed her hand on the table. "Remember when you proposed and asked how the dinner was? I laughed."
"I remember."
"Well, years ago, my distant relatives invited me for dinner. The aunt used to bring me toys and stuff, so I didn't suspect anything. Though they never took me out of the orphanage, which I realized too late. Anyway, their son—also Michael, obviously—gave me a half-eaten cupcake and told me it was all I could afford. Said they weren't a charity. That was the last time I saw them. And today, this client, Michael, says he remembers me, that his mom told him about me! It's him! That same parasite!.."
"Easy, easy..." Roman hugged his fuming wife. "Wow. You never told me about them before. I can see why. But listen—maybe fate sent you Michael for a reason."
"If you're about to talk to me about forgiveness, I'll lose it," she huffed. "I'm a good person, but there are some things you don't just forgive. The best I can do is refuse to represent him," Alice shrugged.
"Is that right?" Roman smirked.
The next morning, Alice drove to the detention center Michael had specified. She was smirking, imagining the prisoner's face. He had called her a thief...
As the old saying goes: what goes around, comes around. Alice was in a fantastic mood. She passed the guard, showed her credentials, and headed toward Michael. It was hard to recognize him. The polished, rich boy had turned into a gaunt, tired-looking man. He looked like someone who spent too much time in bars. When he saw Alice, Michael jumped up happily.
"I'm so glad you came!.." he said.
"Well, looks like the tables have turned," Alice smirked.
"I wanted to apologize for my behavior back then..." Michael lowered his head. "I mean, you understand. My parents were rich, I was spoiled. And who were you then? A girl from a home, a poor relative. Of course, I wanted to show off for the guests and show who was boss. It was just a stupid joke."
"Seemed like you put a lot of thought into that 'harmless' joke," Alice nodded.
"Well... You aren't still mad, are you?"
"Of course not." It was good she knew how to lie. It was a talent she had polished to a diamond finish in law school. "So, what about these charges?"
"Well, actually..." Michael began, but Alice interrupted him.
"Tell me, what happened to your parents? Why didn't your mom call me? They don't usually give you internet access to find a lawyer in here."
"Well, the situation with Mom is... complicated. Basically, she's in Miami," Michael looked away.
"And why aren't you with them?" Alice asked.
"Well... Dad found a mistress, Mom found a lover. When it all came out, I was already twenty. They talked and decided on an amicable divorce. I was in school then, so the 'family council' decided I was a big boy. I was on my own. But was I used to that? When the tap to Dad's bank account was shut off, I felt the full horror of reality. Mom was busy with her own life. So I started asking everyone for money, got into credit card debt just to avoid living like a poor person. When Mom found out how much I owed, she told me to forget her number. Said she pampered me until I was eighteen, and now I had to deal with my own problems. She's a piece of work..." Michael swore. It took a lot for Alice not to slap him or even flinch. "Dad just disappeared. So I had to... borrow some money from a friend... He had just sold his apartment and we went out to celebrate. The cash was exactly what I needed for my debt. You understand? The collectors were already waiting for me; I panicked! I asked him if he'd lend me the money. He said he'd give me anything. So I took it! How was I supposed to know the jerk wouldn't remember and would run to the police the next morning?"
"Right... I asked about your parents and I got a confession," Alice muttered.
"It just kind of happened..." Michael said sheepishly. "So? Will you help me?"
"Well, the case isn't exactly simple. There's no written agreement, just a verbal one," she pretended to think. "And how are you going to pay?"
"I'll borrow the money from my mother or try to get a hold of my father."
"I work on a retainer," Alice said coldly.
"But... I just told you I don't have any money! Not a cent!" Michael exclaimed.
"Well..." Alice reached into her bag and pulled out a small package, placing it in front of Michael. "Then this is all you can afford. I'm not a public defender, and I'm not a charity."
Michael stared in shock at the half-eaten honey cupcake. It was exactly like the one he had put on Alice's plate when she was a teenager. He hadn't admitted he'd wanted to humiliate her back then, but she knew.
"Alice... I was a kid... And now I'm in huge trouble! Don't you see the difference?!"
"Of course, I see the difference. But there's nothing I can do; I don't work on credit. Especially for those suspected of theft. Oh, would you look at that! Turns out even the 'non-beggars' can steal something!"
Alice was practically glowing. She walked out of the detention center with a light heart, not feeling like she had failed to help a good person. For her, this man had never done anything good. Besides, he had just admitted he stole his friend's money. A verbal agreement with no witnesses—even if it existed—had no weight in court. Michael probably would have tried to get her to falsify evidence, which could have gotten Alice herself disbarred. She didn't regret her actions for a second; she felt she had done the right thing.
After six months of legal proceedings, Michael was found guilty. His father never came to his aid, nor did his mother. Apparently, they were also disappointed in him or were busy with more important matters; it didn't matter to Alice. she helped people out of difficult situations when the innocent were framed or when people tried to bribe judges... but helping actual, unrepentant criminals was something Alice had no interest in doing.
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