Chapter 256 Jumping At Such An Opportunity
Anna had spent the entire afternoon at the Hastings Manor without taking a nap, and she was feeling a bit tired. When Amelia mentioned going home, Anna nodded gently and reached out for Amelia to hold her.
"Home," Anna said in a soft, clear voice.
Amelia reached out and picked Anna up, then quietly bid farewell to Brittany, "Brittany, Anna and I will head back now. We'll visit you another day."
Though Brittany was reluctant, she let go of Amelia's hand.
The sky outside had already darkened, and Amelia still had to drive Anna back. Brittany didn't want them traveling in the dark.
As Amelia rose from the sofa, Brittany glanced at Tom, signaling him to see Amelia and Anna off.
Tom approached respectfully, about to speak, when Frederick spoke up in a calm voice, "I'll take them."
Hearing this, Tom stepped back.
Brittany nodded lightly.
Amelia, with a polite expression, declined, "No need to trouble Mr. Hastings. I drove here myself."
Brittany looked at Frederick upon hearing this.
Given Frederick's personality, being refused might mean he wouldn't insist.
However, he placed what he was holding on the table, showing no sign of embarrassment from the refusal.
"I'll walk you to the door," he said, already moving toward them.
At the sight of this, Amelia couldn't refuse any further.
Holding Anna, she walked out of the Hastings Manor's living room.
Frederick followed at a leisurely pace.
Amelia's car was parked in the yard, just a few steps down the stairs.
She walked quickly but stumbled on the steps.
Seeing her trip, Frederick seemed to skip a beat in his heart, and he quickly reached out to steady her.
Amelia, regaining her balance, felt a shiver of fear.
Holding Anna, if she had fallen, the consequences would have been dire.
Frederick, seeing she was steady, sighed in relief and withdrew his hand.
"Take your time," he said.
Amelia responded with a simple nod without further comment.
She composed herself and continued down the steps, but Frederick pulled her back.
Amelia paused a hint of confusion in her eyes.
In those few seconds, Frederick had already stepped in front of her.
He maintained a one-step distance from Amelia, ensuring that if she tripped again, she would fall against his back, providing a buffer.
Amelia quietly watched his solid back, feeling a mix of emotions.
At her car, Frederick opened the back door.
Amelia stepped forward, bent down, and secured Anna in the back seat.
Anna cooperated fully, raising her little hand and waving to Frederick as Amelia fastened her seatbelt.
"Goodbye, Uncle Frederick," Anna said sweetly.
Her voice was so endearing that it lifted Frederick's gloomy mood considerably.
"Goodbye," he said, raising his hand to wave at Anna.
After securing Anna's seatbelt, Amelia reached to close the car door.
Amelia pulled the door but found it wouldn't budge, so she looked up at Frederick.
Frederick's hand was on the door, holding it.
"Mr. Hastings," Amelia reminded him, glancing at his hand.
Frederick paused, then released the door.
Amelia closed the door, walked around the car, and opened the driver's side door.
Frederick followed, moving from the rear of the car to the back seat door. After opening the door, he sat inside.
Amelia, seeing his actions, was stunned for a few seconds before speaking, "Mr. Hastings, I won't have time to bring you back later."
Frederick, already seated in the back, replied softly, "You don't need to bring me back. I'll have my driver pick me up."
Amelia furrowed her brows.
Frederick added, "It's not very safe for Anna to sit alone in the back seat. It's better if I accompany her."
Amelia remained silent.
Using the child's safety as an excuse left her with no reason to refuse.
Amelia took a deep breath and rubbed her temples, just about to speak again when Frederick's deep voice came from the back seat.
He said, "If you don't want to reconcile, I won't bug you. Let's just get along for Mrs. Brittany's sake."
Amelia remained silent for a while, unsure how to respond. Then she started the car and drove away from Hastings Manor.
On the way back to the Davis Manor, the sound of Anna and Frederick talking occasionally reached her ears.
Amelia couldn't help but glance at the rearview mirror.
In the back seat, Frederick was playing a guessing game with Anna, who was smiling freely and without a care in the world.
Frederick's usually expressionless face also bore a gentle smile, his tightly pressed lips curving into a pleasant arc.
From this angle in the rearview mirror, Amelia seemed to find some similarities between Anna and Frederick.
Her heart fluttered slightly, and she quickly looked away when Frederick glanced forward, focusing on driving as if unaffected.
Amelia drove into the Davis Manor's yard.
Susan hurried out of the house to help Anna.
As Susan opened the car door and bent down to pick up Anna, she saw Frederick in Amelia's car.
Amelia's car was small and compact, making Frederick's long legs and arms look particularly cramped.
Yet, even in such a setting, his noble demeanor was unmistakable.
"Mr. Hastings," Susan greeted him.
Frederick nodded slightly and opened the car door to get out.
He was about to offer a hand when Amelia quickly walked over to Susan and took Anna out of the car seat.
Frederick's outstretched hand froze for a moment before he slowly withdrew it. Amelia's actions seemed to suggest she was worried he might try to take the child from her.
He felt a bit disheartened.
"Anna didn't take a nap this afternoon. I'll take her upstairs for a bath," Amelia said, handing the car keys to Susan before heading inside.
Susan noticed Amelia ignoring Frederick and felt a bit awkward.
Susan glanced at Frederick, who was still standing by the car, and politely asked, "Mr. Hastings, would you like to come inside?"
Frederick watched Amelia's retreating figure, feeling slightly heavy-hearted.
He replied, "I'll go in and say hello to Vincent."
Susan smiled awkwardly and said softly, "Mr. Davis took his medication and went to bed early. He's already resting."
Frederick paused upon hearing this. With Vincent asleep, Amelia likely wouldn't welcome him inside.
He composed himself and saw his assistant had driven up to the Davis Manor entrance. He said calmly, "Then I won't disturb you."
Susan didn't insist, politely seeing him off. "Take care, Mr. Hastings."
Frederick didn't respond and walked out of the Davis Manor.
The assistant, who had been following Amelia's car, had just parked at the Davis Manor entrance when he saw Frederick coming out. He couldn't help but think, 'The Davis Manor must be the most temperamental household in Kasfee. Frederick has reached the door, yet they didn't invite him in. Other families will jump at such an opportunity. It seems that I have to be more courteous to Amelia in the future.'
After all, there were hardly any women who could leave Frederick standing outside without a care.
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