Chapter 62: It's All Your Fault!
Rebecca: "Frederick, this is all your fault! I only said I wanted to borrow your shoulder for a moment. You were the one who hugged me first."
Frederick: "Yes, it was me."
"And you were the one who patted my head and rubbed my back."
"That's right, it was me!"
"It's all your fault!"
"I'm sorry!"
As they walked, she complained playfully. Seeing him admit to everything and apologize so sincerely, Rebecca's embarrassment gradually faded away.
Looking down, she saw Alex smiling with his eyes curved into crescents.
Rebecca stopped in her tracks huffily and looked at Frederick, whose eyes held a smile. "Anyway, it's all your fault!"
"Alright..."
Frederick nodded. "Mrs. Windsor, I was wrong. What can I do to make you feel better?"
Looking around, Rebecca pointed toward an ice cream cart in the distance. "We want ice cream!"
Frederick's eyes paused for a moment.
5°F, and they want ice cream?
But if it exists, there must be a reason!
If no one was buying, why would there be ice cream vendors in the amusement park on such a cold day?
Besides, other tourists passing by were eating it too.
Frederick nodded. "Okay!"
Yay!
Rebecca cheered, winked at Alex, and the two of them held hands and ran toward the ice cream cart.
Eating ice cream.
Swinging on swings.
Climbing rope courses.
Digging in the sand.
When the sky grew dark, Rebecca looked at Alex breathlessly. "Alex, let's eat dinner and come back, okay?"
Alex?
Frederick raised an eyebrow.
When they left at noon, it was still "Alexander."
In just one afternoon, it had become... Alex?
Turning back, he saw Alex nod calmly: Okay.
Frederick fell silent.
Dinner was burgers.
Frederick ordered quite a lot and even got Alex a kids' meal that came with a toy.
Seeing Alex find everything novel, getting excited even over a little toy that was countless times simpler than the Legos at home, and watching Rebecca eat with her mouth all greasy, Frederick felt himself relax completely.
Indeed, kids should play with other kids their age.
He just didn't know—how old was Mrs. Windsor this year!
Watching the adult and child work together on that little Lego set, Frederick asked with amusement in his eyes, "Rebecca, how old are you?"
Absorbed in assembling the toy, Rebecca didn't even look up. "Three years old."
As she spoke, their four hands completed that embarrassingly simple little toy.
Pushing the toy in front of Frederick, Rebecca instantly switched to a childish voice. "Uncle Frederick, praise me please!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Rebecca knew something was wrong.
Sure enough, his smile faded bit by bit, and his previously relaxed expression grew cold and stern.
Knowing she'd misspoken, Rebecca bit her lip.
Just from their expressions, it was clear Rebecca had said the wrong thing and Frederick was angry.
Alex looked at one, then the other. The next moment, he stood up and positioned himself in front of Rebecca.
Alex's face showed anxiety, but his eyes made his meaning clear: You can't blame her!
Frederick's eyes flickered with surprise.
Alex had lived at the old mansion for nearly three years, and he'd never seen him care about anyone.
Rebecca had only played with him for one afternoon, and he was already protecting her?
His gaze swept over Rebecca's worried face, and Frederick reached out to ruffle Alex's hair. "Fine, for your sake, I'll let her off this time."
Alex nodded.
But Rebecca only grew more nervous.
Letting her off "this time" meant that when they got home, he'd settle the score with her later!
Staring at Frederick in a daze, Rebecca's heart leaped into her throat.