The Queen They Buried

Chapter 399

After a few months of training, Kyler Bradley became a pretty solid stand–in. Thanks to his acting background, he slipped into the role in no time. Aubree even brought in people to coach him on how to carry himself and act the part.

Just by looking at him, people would totally buy that he was a refined, gentle, almost scholarly guy–the kind of gentleman who’d catch anyone’s eye at first glance.

The scene where Alice ran into Kyler again was all part of a carefully crafted setup.

On the first day at the art academy, Alice was dropping Carmen off. The entrance was a total mess with cars everywhere, and even though security guards and traffic cops were trying to keep things under control, something still went wrong.

Kyler, sticking to the script Aubree had given him, jumped in right as a little girl was about to get hit by a car. “Where are your parents? There are way too many cars here. Go find your mom and dad. It’s not safe to be out here alone,” he said.

The sunlight was just right that day, and his gentle, understated smile appeared at the perfect moment.

When Alice turned at the commotion and saw this scene, her heart started pounding uncontrollably, like it was about to break free from her chest, whether she wanted it to or not.

“Xander…” she whispered. For a split second, it was like she was watching her past self being pulled from under that car all over again.

“Mom, what are you looking at?” Carmen asked as she hurried back after finishing her registration.

a little panicked. She discreetly gestured

is or why he showed up in front of me, I’m

a man’s back. She felt

anxious to leave, it was like she wished she could grow a second pair of legs just

Alice seemed and wondered, ‘Why is she in such a hurry? Is it because of that man from

should go see what makes that guy

*****

ethereal, untouched–by–the–world vibe. Kyler’s appearance was, in a way, a perfect reenactment of Alice’s very first encounter with her

already brought Kyler to a café near the

any of you. Could you please

even though he’d been half–forced there by strangers, he still kept his manners

her heart

him. How can two

his aura to his face, he is the spitting image of Xander from

her excitement,

she was, but still put on a slightly confused look. “Hi, is there something