Chapter 117 Even
The car doors locked, and silence filled the vehicle.
The expected sound of the engine starting never came.
Rebecca turned around to see Frederick with one hand on the steering wheel, looking at her with amusement in his eyes. "Becca, are you avoiding me because you're shy, or... because you're afraid of me?"
Was there any difference?
"I am not!"
Rebecca sat up straight, indignantly, and recited what Isabella had been nagging her about. "We're legally married. It's only natural for you to take care of me. I... what do I have to be shy about? I just, I just..."
After fumbling for a while without finding a suitable reason, Rebecca's eyes lit up. "I just drank too much last night and still have some... hangover side effects."
Frederick raised an eyebrow, enunciating each word, "Hangover side effects?"
Very good. That excuse... was very much her style.
Frederick nodded and started the car, driving away from the hot spring resort.
With one excuse about drinking too much, it was as if she'd found the off switch for all morning's embarrassment.
Thinking that she'd be back at school in the afternoon, and that after a week had passed, last night's events would be mostly forgotten, Rebecca felt relieved.
Back at Pinewood Mansion, Rebecca hummed a tune as she packed her luggage.
In the living room downstairs, listening to the cheerful melody from upstairs, a dark gleam flickered in Frederick's eyes.
He could already imagine the empty, cold loneliness of the villa after Becca left.
Layla brought over a glass of water and handed it to Frederick, examining his expression with concern. "Mr. Windsor, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
His heart skipped a beat. Frederick shook his head. "I'm fine. Just need some water."
Layla looked anxious. "Should I call a doctor to come check on you?"
Frederick shook his head.
Then he saw Layla hurry upstairs.
The sound of footsteps clattered all the way from the second floor down, then stopped in front of the sofa.
Rebecca sat down beside Frederick, studying his face, which showed no obvious signs of discomfort, and asked carefully, "Is it your stomach? Or somewhere else? I'll call the doctor and have him come take a look."
"No need."
Reaching out to stop Rebecca from making the call, Frederick shook his head. "It's nothing. Just an old problem. I'll be fine after resting a bit. Let me take you back to school first."
As he made to get up, before Frederick could rise, Rebecca pulled him back down. "I'm not in a hurry. It's still early. Where does it hurt?"
Studying Frederick's complexion, Rebecca looked carefully.
She couldn't tell if Frederick always had such pale skin and she'd never looked closely before, or if he really wasn't feeling well and his face was a bit white. Rebecca reached out and pressed gently. "Does it hurt here? Or here?"
Rebecca's movements were gentle, her eyes filled with concern like spring water.
Watching her quietly, Frederick nodded vaguely.
Rebecca seemed to have figured it out. She turned and ran off. "Then I'll find you some medicine. Frederick, don't move!"
His gaze followed Rebecca as he watched her find the first aid kit with ease, then read through the instructions and find the right medicine.
Looking down at the two white pills she placed in his hand, Frederick suddenly felt a bit despicable.
If people outside knew that for this brief moment of warmth, he didn't hesitate to fake illness to deceive a young girl.
They'd all laugh at him, wouldn't they?
"Hurry up and take it!"
Touching the water glass in his hand to check the temperature, Rebecca urged him repeatedly with concerned eyes.
Frederick sighed inwardly.
Without caring what the medicine was or what it treated, Frederick tilted his head back and took it.
Looking back down at Rebecca, he said, "Becca, I have the illness, you have the cure. Don't you think we're a perfect match?"
Still joking around when he's sick?
That means it's not that serious.
Rebecca wrinkled her nose. "You took care of me last night, now I'm taking care of you, so we're even, okay!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Rebecca froze.
Her mind filled with images from last night, and a blush spread from behind her ears.
Rebecca turned and ran. "Since you're not feeling well, you should rest properly. I haven't finished packing..."
His gaze sliding over Rebecca's flushed face, Frederick smiled.
Even?
More like settling the score!
Putting down the water glass, Frederick got up and followed.