Chapter 65: Unacceptable, But Very Much Liked!
It was already very late when they got off the Ferris wheel. Alex was holding Frederick's hand with one of his and Rebecca's with the other, bouncing along happily—clearly in a great mood.
Rebecca would laugh and joke around, even making faces at Alex, but she just wouldn't look at Frederick.
Frederick sighed deeply to himself.
The Maybach sped back to Pinewood Mansion.
Once inside the villa, Rebecca ruffled Alex's hair. "It's late, get to bed early. I'll take you somewhere else fun tomorrow!"
Alex nodded excitedly over and over.
Rebecca turned and headed straight upstairs.
When Frederick returned to the master bedroom, the large room was pitch dark, with only a faint, damp fragrance lingering in the air.
Knowing she was doing this on purpose, Frederick's eyes showed helplessness as he fumbled his way to the bathroom in the dark.
The sound of running water started. Rebecca pulled back the covers and let out a quiet breath.
Rebecca herself couldn't quite figure out what she was upset about.
Was she mad that Frederick was being petty—that he wouldn't accept her sincere apology?
Or was it something else?
Lost in confused thoughts, Rebecca didn't even notice when the water stopped running.
The bathroom door suddenly opened, light spilling out. Rebecca snapped back to attention and quickly closed her eyes.
The moment Frederick slipped into bed, he could tell Rebecca was pretending to be asleep again.
When Rebecca was actually asleep, she was as relaxed as a sponge.
But right now, under the covers, she was as stiff as a board.
His eyes amused, Frederick leaned over.
"Rebecca, I've already apologized. It's over now. Let's not stay angry overnight, okay?"
Frederick's voice came from beside her ear, his breath brushing into her collar. The fine hairs on Rebecca's neck stood up with a tingling sensation.
Wanting to keep pretending she was asleep, Rebecca stayed silent.
Frederick's muffled laugh sounded. "Mrs. Windsor, do you know your acting skills are terrible and really easy to see through?"
Rebecca stiffened.
The bedside lamp came on.
Instinctively opening her eyes, she found herself looking straight up at Frederick's amused expression.
Rebecca glared at him indignantly. "You say it's over? Well, it's not over for me yet."
Frederick raised an eyebrow. "Alright, then tell me why you're angry. If it's my fault, I'll apologize."
"I..." I never used the same method to appease Dennis.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but remembering how just one "Uncle Frederick" could make him angry, this clearly wasn't the right time to bring up Dennis.
Rebecca fell silent.
Frederick didn't press her, only said softly, "Rebecca, it's my fault. I shouldn't have doubted you. It's just that when I think about you humbling yourself to please someone else, it makes me really angry."
Rebecca stared blankly.
Frederick continued in a low voice, "There are many ways to apologize. When we're wrong, we should show our attitude and accept punishment when needed. But the premise of punishment is that it can't hurt one's dignity. Any apology that damages self-respect is wrong. Do you understand?"
Rebecca never expected this—she'd guessed the beginning right but not the ending.
Frederick at night seemed like a different person, his features softer than during the day, and much more patient too.
Rebecca's courage gradually grew. "So we're even now, right?"
"Right."
Frederick nodded, and Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief.
Her stiff body gradually relaxed bit by bit.
Then she saw Frederick lean closer. "There's one more thing I want to tell you..."
Rebecca looked up.
In the dim lamplight, Frederick's features were deep and intense. "Mrs. Windsor, while your way of showing remorse wasn't acceptable, I really liked it!"
Before Rebecca could figure out what he meant by that,
Frederick lowered his head and gently captured her lips.