The doll's makeup was faded to almost non-existent, one side of her face was dented and left hand twisted at an odd angle. But someone made her features with sketch pens, to hide the dented face her braided ponytail was brought forward to the damaged side, hiding the damage and a white cloth was wrapped around her arm as if trying to heal her.

The doll was ugly and damaged, but Xiu Mei only saw the efforts put in order to cover the ugliness. To her, it was the most beautiful doll she has ever seen.

However what surprised her most was the thin metal wire wrapped at the dolls lower body, starting from the waist. It was so meticulously and neatly done that not even a tiny s.p.a.ce was left unwrapped. But why? What's the purpose?

 "She is beautiful" Xiu Mei extended her hand and touched the doll lightly.

"Aahhh!"

Unknown to her, this little action triggered something inside Xavier and he turned into a violent animal. Next moment Xavier pushed Xiu Mei harshly on the shoulder, making her almost collide into the medicine table. While trying to balance herself she fell down in the s.p.a.ce between the bed and medicine table.

Before Xiu Mei could react, Xavier jumped from the bed, picked the scissor from the tray, overturning the medicine table in rage. Holding scissor he tried to attack Xiu Mei, growling like an animal.

Reflexively she covered her face with her hands. But the expected pain never came. After some time she peeked from the s.p.a.ce in between her fingers and saw a man holding frenzied Xavier while the later struggles wildly.

Xiu Mei crawled under the bed. All she could hear was the sound of someone growling and the word 'control''control''control' echoing in the room.

Nothing happened as per her expectations….

No one hugged her….

No one was happy….

No one will tell about her past….

It's all over….

Feng Jianyu hugged her protectively after hearing what happened inside the tent. He could not bear to see her sad again. Just a moment ago he saw her old self, the jovial Alice but that didn't last long.

Before Feng Jianyu can say something to comfort her he saw that the man has walked up to them and is now staring intently at Xiu Mei. He c.o.c.ked his head to all possible angles, trying to recognize the masked woman. His brows furrowed deeper when the woman lifted her head up and looked into his eyes.

'These eyes!?' He wondered. 

He noticed her gaze seemed to be saying a thousand words, like narrating a story. Strikingly familiar! These deep beautiful eyes match with a certain someone. A person who used to be very special to him….

As if his body acted on its own, unknowingly he extended his hand to take off her mask. Xiu Mei neither moved nor did she stop the man from removing her mask. Lu Xion and Feng Jianyu did not intervene as they understood that Xiu Mei doesn't have any problem in revealing her ident.i.ty to this man.

The man gasped in shock and breathed out a name, "ALICE!?" He looked at her horror-stricken, unable to believe on his eyes that the woman sitting on the bed is really her. He pinched to confirm. Indeed this is a reality, not any dream.

But how is this possible? He poked finger her arm, then again poked her, and again, until he heard the same voice, as sweet as honey.

"Brother Jos… It's me. Alice"

He took a step backward in shock. Yes! This is how she used to address him.

Although his name was Joseph, she shortened his name in her own preferred version. But he never opposed her calling him like this. Afterall she was the special one that always treats him, Uncle Xavier and his family with respect.

Treating someone depending on their social status, caste, or number of zeros in the bank account was not the part of Alice's nature. This quality of hers accompanied by her innocent and pure heart separates her from those evil Kong kids.

"Alice…. You are alive!" Joseph choked, still thinking it's a dream and she might disappear at any moment.

"Yes, I'm alive"

Joseph's eyes widened as his body trembled.

"But…. But Kong Da said that you died in Country Y" Joseph recalled Kong Da's words, "He even mentioned something about p-painful death" saying he ran his eyes on her body looking for any scar or something, but surprisingly she was all fine. Had Kong Da lied? Or is there a different story?

"I'm fine" Xiu Mei saw his curious gaze running on her body and a.s.sured him.

"Then Kong Da lied to me!"

"No! He didn't lied. I was almost dead. But I think G.o.d had some different plans for me. He wanted me to live and send Kong's to the gates of h.e.l.l" Xiu Mei said clenching her jaw.

"How did you survived Kong da's attack and….."

Xiu Mei stopped him from asking any more questions by raising her palm. "I'll answer your questions later. But first, tell me what happened to Uncle Xavier. Why his condition is like this? Why are you alone? Where is Uncle Xavier's wife, Aunty Martha, and his daughter Rose? What exactly happened after I ran away from Kong's house?"

Hearing her countless questions Joseph turned away from her, "Leave this country before this news reaches Kong Da's ears. He will leave no stone unturned to harm you again" He warned her.

"Thanks for the concern. But I'm not the same Alice. Let Kong Da come for me, I know how to kick his a.s.s" Xiu Mei replied nonchalantly before reminding him again, "You didn't answer my questions"

"That's none of your concern" Joseph sneered, shooting Xiu Mei a hard stare and tried to leave the tent but was stopped by Yeti. Joseph frowned and looked at her.

"Answer my questions first"