Chapter 184 The Cost of Not Coming Home
She could hear Layla opening the fridge, and speaking to Alexa.
Terrified they might walk out of the kitchen any second, Rebecca felt both embarrassed and annoyed.
Meeting Frederick's teasing eyes, Rebecca gritted her teeth in frustration, lowered her head, and bit his neck.
Taking a sharp breath and meeting Rebecca's glare, Frederick smiled, "Becca, this is the price you pay for not coming home!"
Rebecca froze.
Frederick smiled and held her tighter, "People only think about something all the time when they're missing it."
Once he'd held her and kissed her enough, he wouldn't be like this anymore.
Understanding what Frederick meant, Rebecca fell silent.
"Becca..."
A call came from the kitchen, and Frederick immediately let go.
Rebecca jumped up.
But Alexa didn't appear, her voice just carried over from far away, "Bring the fruit platter over. If you're hungry, have some to tide you over. Dinner will be ready soon."
"Coming!"
Face flushed red, Rebecca glared at Frederick before walking away.
She came back, placed the fruit platter in Frederick's lap, and sat down far away on the other side.
Frederick fell silent.
Looking up again, he saw Rebecca waving her phone, "My mom's phone—did you do something to it?"
Frederick nodded, "She can only call your dad, you, and Layla."
Rebecca let out a sigh of relief.
Dinner was incredibly lavish.
At a glance, everything was Layla and Alexa's specialty dishes.
"Frederick, try this. Layla's ribs are delicious!"
"Frederick, try Layla's salad too. It's really light and refreshing."
As if being nice to Frederick would make him care more about Dennis, which would then make the Johnson family and Dennis treat Becca better, Alexa kept piling food onto Frederick's plate.
Rebecca narrowed her eyes at Alexa, "Mom, if people didn't know better, they'd think he was your future son-in-law."
Was Rebecca jealous?
Alexa smiled cheerfully, heaping Rebecca's bowl full while giving her a mock-reproachful look, "Don't talk nonsense!"
Frederick paused.
Then he heard Rebecca drawl, "Okay..."
Alexa beamed.
Layla lowered her head to hide her smile, occasionally glancing at Frederick, worried he might be upset.
Seeing his helpless expression but eyes full of indulgent affection, Layla looked at Rebecca again, her smile deepening.
After dinner, using the excuse of baking cookies, Layla dragged Alexa to the kitchen.
Glancing at the kitchen repeatedly, Rebecca reached out to push Frederick, "It's already dark, you should go!"
"Okay."
He agreed, but Frederick held his glass of sweet and tangy juice, showing no signs of leaving.
Rebecca fell silent.
Just as he finished the juice, Frederick stood up, "Becca, will you walk me out?"
"No!"
Rebecca lifted her chin proudly, "Didn't you say this is your home too? Why would you need someone to walk you out of your own home?"
Shaking his head helplessly, Frederick walked toward the kitchen, "Mrs. Getty, thank you for your hospitality. I'm leaving now. Please rest well, and I'll come visit you again when I have time!"
"You're leaving already?"
Alexa emerged with flour-covered hands, looked at them, then at Frederick with an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry you had to see me like this."
Then Alexa turned and called to Rebecca, "Becca, go see Frederick out."
Rebecca paused.
Turning back, she met Frederick's smiling face—he didn't even bother with a polite refusal.
Rebecca fell silent.