The Devil's Good Girl-Chapter 235: It’ll be a bloody mess soon

"Marcus, Vincent, Shanaiah. Those are the names she mentioned. Destroying them isn’t the only thing I’ll do. I’ll make them confess where they hid Alicia’s body."

Silence hung in the air with Fil staring at Michael with equal shock and confusion. It took her some time to digest everything he confessed. Her mouth opened and closed, but she didn’t know what to say at the moment. It was a lot.

"Alicia..." she muttered. "Michael, I’ve been with Vincent for a long time. I would know if someone named Alicia was with the group. And also, isn’t she a little too young?"

"You don’t know her because she mainly worked for Shanaiah as a tutor." Michael leaned against his seat, cocking his head back with his eyes cast heavenward. "She might be young, but she’s a smart one. It was Shanaiah’s third year in college and they hired Alicia to help Shanaiah pass the year. Those other two also needed help, so they hired her to do basically everything to pass their year."

Fil pressed her lips into a thin line, gazing down as she recalled a distant memory of the past. Back in her last year of college, she remembered Vincent slacking. She used to scold him about it, forcing him to cram with her. Although Vincent didn’t mind back then, he also barely gave his bare minimum.

She could still remember her anxiety at that time. She was worried he wouldn’t make it. However, somehow, Vincent graduated. He didn’t graduate with flying colors, but he had higher grades than expected.

’Back then... I actually thought he got those grades because of me.’ Fil pressed her lips into a thin, looking up at him with mixed emotions. "Do you think they killed her?"

"They killed her," he stressed as he looked back at her. "I don’t just think of it, Fil. I know they did."

"Is that why you stopped me from calling for help that night at Chairman Hale’s party?"

Michael rocked his head. "If you called for help, then they would be painted as victims. I can’t have that. If someone already tried to do something like that to them, it’ll be easier for them to twist the truth if their names are dragged by some allegations."

"I’m sorry," he added quietly. "I know you thought I was doing that for you. But honestly, I did it for me."

Fil bit her inner bottom lips. It wasn’t like she was disappointed by that. After all, Michael never said he was doing things just for her. She always believed Michael had a reason and helping her just happened to be on the way. Even so, this was difficult to digest.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked quietly. "Are you sure you should be telling this to me?"

A moment of silence befell the two of them, which lasted for minutes. All they did was stare at each other until his mouth parted.

"Because you reminded me of her," he said. "She used to tell me the same thing: I just want to live my life on my own terms."

A bitter and helpless smile dominated his face. "I want her to live too, Fil. But they took that away from her and they took away my chance to make amends for what my parents did to her."

"I couldn’t give that to her anymore, but I thought if I could help someone who was in the same situation... I should," he continued with a forced smile. "I know you were hurt and you want them to make them feel the same pain they put you through. However, revenge will tear you apart bit by bit. So... let it go. I said that not out of complete concern. I said it because I’m already on it. Don’t get in the way."

Another wave of silence followed his honest sentiments, which Fil didn’t expect when she came in here tonight. It surprised her, but at the back of her mind, she knew she wasn’t in the right place to accuse her of manipulating her.

At the end of the day, dropping revenge was something she felt was the first right thing she had done after making tons of wrong calls.

"That night you told me to go away, I was just starting with my plans," was the first thing she said as soon as she found her voice. "But at that time, I already knew I was losing a part of myself."

Her eyes swirled with genuine concern. "Will you be okay, Michael?"

"I will." He smiled in relief and nodded. "Knowing innocent people — you and Anton — won’t be affected by it, I will be fine."

"So, you don’t owe me. Taking Anton out of the picture is a great help," he continued. "I’ve already crossed him out of my list when I proved he had nothing to do with Alicia’s disappearance."

"I see." Fil rocked her head in understanding, breathing out deeply. She gazed down at the device in her hand, now understanding his reasons behind this device much deeper.

She also figured out Michael’s position in the company based on everything he said and the documents she saw the last time. No wonder such a big company was investing in this device. If this existed before, then Michael would’ve known Alicia was in great danger and was able to call for help.

Although she couldn’t tell for sure — that was the problem. Because Michael couldn’t do anything before, he was left with many what-ifs.

"Whatever the outcome is or whatever will happen to you... I can’t help you," she said after a moment of contemplation. "I won’t be on the way, but I still wish for you to find your peace."

"Thank you."

"Michael," she called, looking him straight in the eye. "You mentioned it yourself. Revenge will also ruin the person who holds the vengeance. So, just like you told me back then, can’t you... let it go?"

Michael smiled subtly as he shook his head. "I can’t. I’m too deep into this. Even if I am not, I’m not abandoning Alicia ever again. I have to take her home even if it’s just her remains."

"Then... I hope you’ll find justice."

"Soon," he said. "Soon, Fil. So, when you hear any news once you leave, turn a deaf ear to it. Don’t look back because it’ll be a bloody mess soon."