Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 495

“Brandon, you don’t need to worry about this. Let the old man make his own arrangements. Clayton’s got real talent, and marrying Alicia to him is the best of both worlds.” Mr. Brown’s tone was steady and final. Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, deliberately avoiding Brandon.

Everyone else followed suit, steering clear of Brandon and Jade as if the two of them didn’t belong.

Jade stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. The old man actually wanted Alicia to marry Clayton? On what grounds?

If Clayton married the White family’s heiress, persuading him to switch sides would be nearly impossible.

No. She couldn’t let Clayton and Alicia get married.

Clenching her jaw, Jade whipped out her phone and shot off a message to Natalia. The two of them had been at each other’s throats over Clayton, but now that he was about to marry Alicia, it was time to shift focus.

“There’s no point in us fighting each other anymore. If we want anything, we need to team up against Alicia,” Jade typed, sending the message.

Natalia replied almost instantly. “Why should we? That orphan brat, Alicia—who does she think she is?”

It was clear—they’d reached an understanding. Alicia had just become their new target.

......

In the hospital, the old man had left Alicia and Clayton with a few final instructions. Soon after, his strength failed him, and he slipped into a deep sleep—passing away peacefully, spared from further suffering.

Alicia sat in the corridor for what felt like ages, numb to everything around her.

Clayton was busy upstairs with the family elders and company executives, handling arrangements for the old man’s passing. The corridors bustled with activity, but for Alicia, the world felt eerily quiet and far away.

The old man’s last words echoed in her mind: If you’re born into the White family, you need a will of iron. You cannot afford to be soft-hearted.

Alicia had always been too gentle, and the old man worried she’d never be able to command respect within the company. Truthfully, he didn’t fully trust Clayton, either.

Anyone could betray you. Only by becoming strong herself could Alicia hope to hold her ground at the top.

She’d only just returned to the White family, and the old man’s health had been failing. He could only pave the way for her so much.

“I never wanted any of that. In his previous will, Grandpa left me more than enough—I was the one who refused it.” Clayton wrapped his hand around Alicia’s, steadying the coffee in her grasp. His eyes held a quiet intensity. “Alicia, the road ahead is going to be hard. No one can stay by your side forever. Not even me. Do you understand?”

Alicia drew a shaky breath, understanding what he meant.

Maybe… he would be leaving soon, too.

Now that the old man had arranged their marriage, and since Clayton would never steal another man’s wife—especially not Tyrone’s—it meant he’d have to step away from White Corporation.

Once he was gone, Alicia would be left to shoulder the entire Lynch Corporation alone. It would be brutal.

But no matter how hard it got, she would have to stand on her own.

“Clayton, whatever happens, I hope we never end up as enemies.” Her voice was hoarse.

Clayton was a mystery to her—one she doubted she’d ever solve.