CHAPTER 424: SHE WOULD’VE LIVED A HAPPY LIFE

Silence in the room after Adolf had finished his explanation, and Alice’s heart thumped painfully and loudly. She was so uncomfortable that she felt so much like ripping her heart out of her own chest.

What was this? Why was it that it was the day they decided to reunite that such a thing happened?

"That day, my mother wanted us to meet." Alice muttered softly. "It turned out to be a wrong decision. If we had stayed indoors that day, like every other day, then my mother wouldn’t have died. Ah, the irony."

It was such an issue to despair over.

"Alice, I’m sorry." Adolf said, getting up from his chair and approaching her.

He went down on one knee and then held her hand.

"I had no idea you existed. I... I had no idea but that’s not an excuse, right?"

"No, it’s a very reasonable excuse." Alice said. "I wouldn’t have expected you to search the world for something you didn’t even know existed, so it’s not your fault."

Though she said that, her trembling fist and hand in Adolf’s grasp told him that she was not okay with it at all.

Ah, what could he do to make up for these years of neglect? What could he do to make up for neglecting his own flesh and blood? His granddaughter that was born of his precious daughter?

"Alice, I’m sorry." He apologized. "If I could turn time, I would. I..." He didn’t even know what to say. He was at a loss for words.

"Believe me," Alice suddenly said, her gaze darkened with remorse. "There’s no one who wants to turn back time more than me."

Leo watched her.

If the decision to go back to the past and change everything, stop the precious people around her from dying, had been her choice, then she would’ve definitely gone back to the day of the apocalypse or a day before the apocalypse.

That way, she would prevent her mother from dying that day and avoid all that suffering she went through at the hands of Big Stach.

She would’ve lived a happy life.

But that was not the reason behind this time reversal. It was to stop more people from dying and not to give her the happy life she desired.

The pain and struggles she passed through that were so evidently engraved in her bones and flowing through her blood were the fuel that pushed her past her limit and made her into what she was today.

Giving power to someone who had never experienced hardships or even remembered the hardship of the previous life would not amount to much work done.

They would feel too entitled, could become selfish, and not know what it means to lose and make sacrifices.

Miss Stella watched Alice, her hands interlocked together. To think it was true and she was actually her niece. While she was glad at the fact, she couldn’t help but feel sad for her.

All these years, all that suffering could’ve been avoided if they had just known of her existence.

If they had known, they would’ve searched high and low for her, just as they searched high and low for Summer but never found her. Not even news of her death.

(Ahem, so there’s a reason why Summer’s dead body wasn’t found. Not because she got swallowed but because someone ’took’ her body)

"Gramps," Alice called. "I understand you cared and loved my mother. You never wanted this to happen. I mean, no one could’ve known that there would suddenly be an apocalypse, right?" She smiled sadly. "But... It doesn’t change the fact that I was alone for so many years and suffered." The words were heavy on her throat and she gulped. "I want to get some air."

Philip watched her. He couldn’t even try to blame her for taking his mother away now that he heard all that.

The one who took his mother wasn’t Alice but her father and then they birthed her.

"Of course." He let go of her hand, though reluctant.

This wasn’t an ordinary reunion where they would ask each other how life was going for the other. What are your likes or dislikes?

Asking that would just be asking Alice to explain how she had suffered for so many years.

It would be too inconsiderate.

Right now, he could only think of ways to make it up to her as well as her dead mother.

"Gramps, do me a favor." Alice asked, her head lowered and face dark to the point they couldn’t see clearly the kind of expression she had on her face.

"What is it?"

"Contact Canada." She said. "I’ll be heading to the coast right now so tell them I’ll be there to clear up a few of the monsters in a few minutes."

This quickly alarmed them.

"It’s dangerous without proper preparation." Miss Stella yelled. "You can’t."

But Alice ignored her warning and looked at Adolf, waiting for his response.

He should know better than anyone if it was dangerous for someone like her.

Alice needed to let out the resentment in her heart. The pain that was wringing around her heart and making her feel very comfortable. Making her feel weak.

She wanted to let it out somehow and soon. And the best place was a place that was filled with such monsters.

"Alright." Adolf answered, shocking them and Alice nodded.

"Thank you. I’ll be out long so refrain from contacting me." She turned around. "I’ll make contact when I need to and..." She glanced over her shoulder and said, "...Gramps, it’s not your fault." She had such a sad smile on her lips and then headed out with Leo in tow.

As they left, Adolf covered his face in dismay. What was with this cruel development?

But... It wasn’t too late, right? He was glad that he didn’t find out too late.

He would definitely make it up to her.

On that day, Alice flew off to the coast of Canada without resting, her heart weighing more than her body and her head feeling so messy.

Aside from having flashbacks from the past where she lost several precious people, she had never felt this way in this life. Even the memories of the previous life did not weigh as heavy as this.

This... Was the worst.

She hated that she felt so vulnerable.

But she would use that feeling of vulnerability to take out the monsters.

She landed on the island, spreading dust everywhere and causing the personnel there to wonder what had landed.

"What was that?"

She stepped out, her eyes dark, and said,

"I’m here to clear the dungeons. Open up."