Chapter 46 Her Family
Alicia scowled and stomped angrily, channeling her frustration toward Damian's questioning of her driving skills. "I've been practicing with a second-hand car for days. Of course, I can drive back to Seattle by myself! How dare he belittle my abilities! At least I don't switch lanes recklessly like he did yesterday, engaging in a wild race with another car. Let him know this! I will undoubtedly make it home safely and smoothly."
Taking note of Alicia's words, Lyon nodded promptly. "Understood. Have a safe journey, then."
With her resentment toward Damian fueling her, Alicia embarked on her journey back to her home pack, to be exact, her father's pack.
As tomorrow marked Alpha Jason's birthday and the pack's 30th-anniversary celebration, every house in the village displayed festive decorations. Even the sign in the open space near the small square had two red balloons tied to it by a pack member. To prevent her stepmother from feeling envious upon seeing the new sports car, Alicia chose to park it in the open space.
After retrieving her luggage and gifts from the back seat, Alicia suddenly recalled Damian mentioning that he had left a gift for her father in the trunk. This served as a reminder of Damian's contempt for her driving skills earlier in the day.
She pouted but soon had a brilliant idea. Retrieving her phone, she snapped a picture of the car and her luggage, and sent it to Damian along with a message: "I've arrived at my destination. Unfortunately, I lack the extra hands and strength to carry your gift for you, Speed Racer. Retrieve it yourself when you arrive!"
Feeling somewhat satisfied after sending the message, Alicia's mood improved as she headed toward her father's house with her gifts and luggage. Just as she was about 20 feet away from the house, she overheard Mary's boisterous laughter.
"I heard Alicia is bringing her wealthy husband Tobias to celebrate Jason's birthday this year. Is it true? I'm particularly curious to know if Tobias Wilton is as unattractive as the rumors suggest."
Recognizing Aunt Jennifer's voice, Mary's sister, Alicia paused and stood outside the garden hedge. The climbing plants on the fence concealed her presence, ensuring that Mary and Jennifer, engrossed in their conversation, remained oblivious to her nearby.
"She has said yes to Jason, but I believe she's lying. You know, they didn't even invite her father or me to the wedding. And she hasn't shared a single picture with us in the past year, just phone calls and texts. Perhaps Tobias grew to dislike her shortly after their marriage," Mary's voice rang out, filled with suspicion and disdain for her stepdaughter.
Alicia tightened her grip on the drawstrings of her luggage and shopping bags, silently continuing to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Yeah, you know, the first time I saw her, I didn't think she was the kind to hook a male wolf. Sure, she's good-looking with a nice figure, but I've watched enough TV dramas to know that rich men who have seen too many beautiful women tend to treat those women as their toys. They will be tired of new toys quickly," Jennifer chimed in.
Alicia didn't need confirmation; she could envision Aunt Jennifer rolling her eyes and twirling the ends of her wavy curls, accentuating the gesture with her long nails as she made the remark.
"I know. But Alpha Ellis gladly paid a hefty price for his brother. The pack was rescued from the economic crisis. Jason even gifted me a BMW. That's the only consolation Alicia's marriage has brought me. The child I spent ten years raising and educating has finally proved useful," Mary shared, her voice tinged with satisfaction.
Ah, yes, the mention of money, luxury cars, and the perceived value of her stepdaughter, Mary always boasted to her relatives and friends, wearing an air of pride as if her livestock had fetched a handsome price. Alicia couldn't help but think of it.
Suddenly, the second-floor window slammed shut with force. Startled, everyone in the yard turned their attention to the sound of the closing window.
Alicia glanced up to the second floor, realizing that the noise came from Eric's room. Through the window, she caught a glimpse of his chocolate brown curls, leading her to surmise that Eric had noticed her eavesdropping outside the fence wall and had deliberately made a noise to alert Mary.
Still oblivious to Alicia's presence, Mary called out loudly to the second floor, "Sorry, sweetie, we'll keep our voices down." She then turned to Jennifer and whispered, "Apologies, Jenny. You know my clever Eric baby is often on the second floor, buried in his books, even on Sunday."
Deliberately stepping harder, Alicia made her footsteps audible to Mary. With a wide smile stretching across her face, she purposefully appeared before Mary and Jennifer's eyes.
"Hello, Mary, Aunt Jenny. How are you?" Alicia greeted them warmly.
"Oh my gosh, Allie, you're back! When did you arrive outside the house? I didn't even notice," Mary exclaimed, a flash of panic crossing her chestnut eyes. She worried that both Alicia and Tobias had overheard her and Jennifer's conversation. However, her sister nudged her with her elbow and discreetly gestured behind Alicia. Mary's gaze shifted and she realized that no man accompanying Alicia. So Tobias hadn't returned as expected.
In a matter of seconds, Mary regained her usual condescending demeanor. She flipped her reddish-brown curls and forced a perfunctory smile. She gave her stepdaughter a hug and asked, "Why did you come back alone? Why didn't you inform me in advance? You know I could have picked you up from the airport in the new car your father got me." As she finished speaking, she deliberately turned her head, pointing her cherry-red nail toward the white car parked in the garage.
Jennifer pursed her pink lips and rolled her eyes, having heard Mary boast about the new car no less than five times in the past two days.
Alicia maintained her friendly smile and responded, "Actually, I spontaneously decided to drive back. Where's my father?"
Noticing that Alicia didn't exhibit the envy or jealousy she had anticipated, Mary felt disappointed and replied impatiently, "He's in a meeting at the pack's office."
Jennifer stretched her neck and tiptoed, peering outside, but failed to spot Alicia's car. She covered her mouth and snickered, "Where's your car? Didn't your husband buy you a BMW or some other luxury car? Did you take a cab?"
Alicia, accustomed to Jennifer's mean-spirited attitude, shook her head, opting to avoid unnecessary trouble. "I rented a car and drove back," she replied.
Upon hearing that Alicia had returned in a rental car, Mary assumed that the Wilton Family didn't take her stepdaughter seriously. Her mood shifted, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Where's Tobias? I remember you promised Jason that you'd bring him back with you for the birthday party and the pack celebration. Did you forget it?"
Alicia lowered her gaze, feeling embarrassed, and explained, "He had an urgent matter to attend to and asked me to come back first. He promised he would be here in time for Father's birthday party."
"Urgent matter?" Mary frowned and voiced her concern, "Don't tell me he has abandoned you and you were kicked out from Wilton Family."
Jennifer took pleasure in the situation, playing with her nails and reminding her sister, "See, I told you so."
Before Alicia could continue her explanation, the front door swung open abruptly, cutting her off. Eric emerged from the house, his blue-green eyes betraying his impatience with the women's conversation.
Alicia looked at her stepbrother, whom she hadn't seen in a year. He was Jennifer's child from her previous marriage, but her father had raised him as Scarlett's heir, and Alicia considered him her own brother. Despite his sharp tongue and the occasional meanness at home, she knew Eric had a kind heart.
After a year apart, Alicia noticed that Eric had grown half a head taller than her. His chocolate brown curly hair was a few inches longer than it had been before. However, he still stuck to his habit of wearing plaid shirts and glasses.
With bags and gift packages in both hands, Alicia could only offer a smile to Eric and greet him, "Hey, Eric, you seem taller than a year ago."
"Oh, sweetheart, are we disturbing your studies again?" Mary asked her son genuinely concerned, then quickly shifted to an accusing tone, "It's all because Alicia came back unexpectedly without Tobias that we had to continue talking at the door."