Chapter 185 Collecting Some Interest
The night sky was pitch black, with stars twinkling above.
Unmelted snow still lined both sides of the pebble path.
The air carried a quietness that belonged only to the night.
Walking side by side on the path, Rebecca looked around, "Where's Mike? Didn't you have him drive in?"
His eyes swept across his lit phone screen, catching Mike’s message.
[Mr. Windsor, I'm at the neighborhood entrance. Should I come in now?]
[No need.]
After a quick reply, Frederick glanced over, "He should be on his way. I'll go wait for him at the entrance."
"Oh."
Rebecca nodded, linking her arm through Frederick’s as they walked toward the exit together.
She thought about how she'd already visited the Windsor family and met his grandmother and other relatives.
But on the Getty family side, aside from Layla knowing his identity, Mom knew nothing at all.
At this thought, Rebecca felt a bit uneasy.
Fortunately, Frederick didn't seem to mind.
They reached the neighborhood entrance without incident. Rebecca withdrew her hand from Frederick's grip and tilted her chin. "You should go. I’m heading back too."
As she spoke, Rebecca hunched her shoulders.
Then she saw Frederick turn back., "You think I'd let my wife walk home alone at night?"
Rebecca froze, and before she knew it, Frederick had pulled her into his arms and turned back.
They walked all the way back to the Getty family villa. From there, you could still see a corner of Dennis's house in the distance.
What used to be brightly lit was now completely dark.
Rebecca poked Frederick's arm. "Did you make the Johnson family move away?"
Frederick took her hand and put it in his coat pocket, nodding, "Mom and Jennifer are close friends. What if one day, after dinner, she takes a walk over to the Johnson family's place? Wouldn't our cover be blown?"
Rebecca's heart softened. She stopped and looked up, "Frederick, thank you!"
"Thank you for being so good to me! ...Thank you for treating my mom and dad like family and being so good to them, too!"
Rebecca spoke each word with sincerity.
Frederick pulled her close, his gentle voice in her ear. "Just a thank you?"
Rebecca looked up, "What else then?"
"Fair enough..."
Frederick nodded, gently caressing Rebecca's face, his thumb brushing across her lips, "Then let me collect a little interest. That's not too much, is it?"
As his words fell, Frederick lowered his head and tenderly captured her lips.
A sweet, tangy kiss—like juice.
Rebecca took a step back.
Frederick followed with a step forward.
When she had nowhere left to retreat, and Frederick had her pressed against the pillar by the villa entrance, Rebecca clutched Frederick's coat collar with both hands, feeling like even her breathing was starting to burn.
The moment the villa door opened, Rebecca's body went rigid, not daring to move an inch.
She heard Alexa mutter something like "where did this delivery go" before turning back inside.
Right after, Rebecca's phone started ringing.
Afraid Alexa would come out and see Frederick hadn't left yet, Rebecca stood on tiptoe and quickly pecked him, "Frederick, good night..."
The iron gate creaked open and slammed shut with a clang.
Rebecca called out loudly, "Mom, I’m home," she said as she hung up her phone and ran through the door.
Once the villa door closed, nothing more could be heard.
Frederick looked up at the Getty family villa with its hazy lights, then turned back toward the dark bamboo grove in the distance, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
The first time he saw her had been right there.