Chapter 156 The Husband's Role
The Maybach pulled out of Pinewood Mansion close to noon.
In the passenger seat, Rebecca kept her head down, typing away. No matter how much Frederick looked at her, she ignored him.
Knowing Rebecca was upset, Frederick reached over to pull her hand during a red light. "Becca, I was wrong. I'm sorry, okay? I'll explain to Grandmother later and say I was the one who overslept, that it had nothing to do with you. Okay?"
Rebecca looked up and glared at him. "Afraid people won't know what you did and why you overslept, right?"
"So what if they know? We're newlyweds."
Frederick spoke matter-of-factly.
Rebecca fell silent.
After a long while, she muttered something and went back to her messages.
Isabella had been texting her since the day before yesterday, asking if she wanted to go shopping together over the weekend.
Hours passed between each message.
And she hadn't replied once.
As if guessing what she was busy with, Isabella sent a mischievous emoji. [Mrs. Windsor, hang in there!]
Last night, Isabella had even gone to the hospital to see Alexa.
She sent a photo. [Mom's recovering well! Photo.jpg]
In the photo, Alexa was wearing a hospital gown and watching TV.
Her hair was neatly done, and she wore a faint smile.
If Isabella didn't know Alexa no longer recognized her, she would have almost thought she'd fully recovered.
Only now did Rebecca finally have time to reply to Isabella's messages. Seeing "Mrs. Windsor, hang in there" at the top of the chat, Rebecca felt her face heat up inexplicably.
She messaged Isabella, who replied instantly.
[Izzy, I'm going to the Windsor Mansion for lunch now. I'll come find you later.]
[I'm at the airport waiting to board.]
[Where are you going?]
[Skiing.]
[Didn't we agree to go together during the break?]
[You sure you'll be able to get out of bed during the break?]
[Isabella, you're dead!]
[Gotta go, boarding now!]
After sending a "have fun" emoji, Rebecca turned back to Frederick with resentment. "It's all your fault! I should have been with Izzy, going skiing together. Frederick, this is all your fault!"
Rebecca was getting better and better at shifting blame.
It was as if she were seeing the carefree, willful, bright, and spirited Rebecca from before.
Frederick accepted the blame readily. "Okay, it's all my fault! So, during the break, I'll take you skiing, okay?"
Somehow hearing a hint of gentle indulgence in his tone, like he was coaxing a child, Rebecca pretended to reply to messages and looked down at her phone.
As the car approached the Windsor Mansion, thinking of Alex, Rebecca suddenly sat up straight. "Oh no! I forgot something really important!"
On Christmas night, the three of them sat under the Christmas tree at Pinewood Mansion, opening gifts. Rebecca had told a white lie, saying she'd left Alex's gift in her dorm room at school and would give it to him next time they met.
But she'd completely forgotten about it.
She couldn't very well tell Alex she hadn't been to school because she wasn't feeling well these past few days, could she?
Just imagining Alex's expectant face, shaking his head sensibly and saying it was okay, but with disappointment clear in his eyes, filled Rebecca with regret and guilt.
"Frederick, is there a mall or toy store nearby?"
Rebecca turned to ask Frederick.
"Already prepared..."
Parking the car steadily at the entrance of the alley, Frederick pulled Rebecca close and kissed her lips. "Know what a husband is for?"
Rebecca shook her head.
Frederick smiled. "To fill in the gaps for his wife!"
Rebecca's heart skipped a beat.