Chapter 57: Wrong is Wrong, I Admit It!
Rebecca slept comfortably until she woke up naturally.
Opening her eyes, she saw the pure white ceiling above.
Turning her head, bright sunshine streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
A breeze slipped through the gaps in the window, bringing a refreshing coolness into the warm room that felt wonderful.
Thinking back over the past week, first there was Monday when she squeezed into that bed in the dorm with Lucy—a bed that creaked at the slightest movement, making her afraid to even turn over.
Then the following days curled up on the couch in the hospital room, waking up with either a sore neck, aching back, or pain everywhere.
Only last night, after taking a bath and sleeping in a spacious, soft bed, did she finally get a good night's sleep.
For the N+1st time, Rebecca felt grateful that she had met Frederick.
Thinking of Frederick naturally led to thoughts of Alex.
She had promised to play with Alex today!
Rebecca stretched comfortably and reached for her phone on the nightstand.
One glance and she screamed out loud.
11:36 AM.
If she slept any longer, she'd miss lunch, let alone playing with Alex!
Oh no!
Frederick would definitely give her that cold laugh: "Rebecca, is this your idea of taking initiative to bring Alex home and treating him well?"
Moving quickly, she washed her face, brushed her teeth, changed clothes, and rushed downstairs, just in time to see two people quietly reading in the first-floor study.
Frederick sat behind the desk by the window, looking at his computer.
On the floor in front of the desk, Alex was reading a book.
In the quiet study, only the occasional sound of mouse clicks and page-turning could be heard.
Rebecca scratched her head a bit guiltily and turned toward the kitchen.
A moment later, she returned.
"Um... time to eat!"
Rebecca stood at the door and reminded them softly.
"Alex, bookmark your page. Time to eat!"
Frederick spoke up. Alex nodded, put away the book from the floor onto the bookshelf, and followed Frederick out.
The man and child walked past without even glancing her way, completely ignoring Rebecca standing at the door.
Even someone as slow to catch on as Rebecca could tell they were doing it on purpose!
"It's not my fault..."
Rebecca caught up and tugged on Frederick's sleeve. "Why didn't you wake me up? And somehow my alarm got turned off—I didn't oversleep on purpose!"
"Alexander..."
When Frederick wouldn't listen, Rebecca turned to Alexander.
Crouching down, Rebecca held Alex's hand with a sincere expression. "Wrong is wrong, I admit it! The morning's already gone, but I'll take you out this afternoon. I promise you'll have a great time and lots of fun. Just give me a chance to make it up to you, okay?"
Alex looked at Rebecca quietly: How will you make it up?
"If you have fun, then forgive me for breaking my promise this morning. If you don't have fun, then I didn't do well enough, and I owe you one day of playing together—I'll make it up with 10 days. Does that work?"
Looking up at Frederick, whose expression was calm but whose eyes showed amusement, clearly in a good mood.
Then looking down at Rebecca, who seemed nervous and eager to make amends.
Alex extended his small hand.
Beside them, Frederick's eyes flickered slightly.
Completely oblivious, Rebecca's face lit up.
"Pinky promise!"
The two linked pinkies, then held hands as they went to the sink to wash up, before sitting down at the dining table.
The table was filled with all kinds of dishes—at first glance, all her favorites.
Having slept well and now with good food, Rebecca's mood was absolutely wonderful.
Looking up, she met Frederick's examining gaze, as if she had done something shocking.
The fork she was reaching out to pick up food paused mid-air, and Rebecca's heart skipped a beat. "What's wrong?"