Chapter 287 Uncle Frederick is Fine
Amelia watched Felix dash upstairs and called out, "It's just dinner. I'll bring him back after."
Felix paused, glancing at Frederick, whose frown deepened.
"Ms. Davis, it's a hassle for you to pick up and drop off Mr. Hastings every day. Why not let him stay for a few days?" Felix suggested.
Amelia replied softly, "It's no trouble."
Felix was at a loss and looked at Frederick, wishing he could speak up.
Seeing Frederick's silence, Amelia said quietly, "Let's go. Dad's already made dinner."
Frederick remained anchored to the couch, unmoving.
Amelia checked the time and said, "If you don't go, I'll call Daddy and tell him not to make extra food for you."
His expression shifting, Frederick locked eyes with Amelia.
She gave him a look and started to leave the living room.
Felix simmered with frustration beneath the surface.
Frederick watched Amelia walk away, his chest heaving.
Amelia picked up her phone, ready to call Vincent, when Frederick grabbed her arm from behind.
"I'll go," he said.
Amelia smiled, put her phone away, and said, "Let's go."
She headed downstairs and opened the backseat door.
Frederick, looking stern, stared at the front passenger door.
"Not letting me sit in the front? Who's that seat for?" he asked, jealousy in his voice.
Amelia's brow twitched. She closed the backseat door, opened the front passenger door, and said softly, "Get in."
Frederick, feeling stifled, got in with a cold face.
Felix felt relieved seeing Amelia let Frederick sit in the front. Thank goodness Amelia came. Otherwise, Felix was really worried Frederick might give up.
Frederick sat in the car, not even reaching for his seatbelt. Amelia leaned over and pulled it down.
"Buckle up," she reminded him.
Frederick shook his right hand. "Not convenient."
Amelia raised an eyebrow, "Use your left hand."
Frederick replied, "My palm hurts like hell."
Amelia looked at him for a moment, then leaned in to fasten his seatbelt.
Frederick's mood lifted slightly, a small smile replacing his frown.
After fastening his seatbelt, Amelia closed the door and got into the driver's seat.
Felix, standing respectfully, waved and then remembered the flowers he was holding. He quickly ran over and handed them to Amelia through the window, smiling.
"These are from Mr. Hastings."
Amelia looked at the flowers, then at Frederick.
Frederick sat silently, his face blank.
Seeing him not speak, Amelia smiled faintly, took the flowers, placed them in the backseat, and looked at Felix.
"Thank Mr. Hastings for me."
Felix and Frederick stayed silent.
Amelia started the car and drove away from Spring Villa with Frederick.
As they left, neither spoke.
After a prolonged silence, Frederick's voice pierced the quiet. "Didn't you notice anything when you arrived?"
Amelia shook her head. "Nothing stood out."
In truth, the moment she pulled into the estate, she sensed it. Spring Villa remained frozen in time, untouched. Mary was preoccupied tending to Brittany, absent from the usual bustling scene. Every trinket, each item on the tables, all remained steadfast in their original places, a snapshot of the past.
Spring Villa, frozen in time, mirrored her departure.
Frederick felt a tightness in his chest, staring at Amelia like he was trying to read her mind.
Amelia kept her eyes on the road, driving with focus.
After a while, Frederick finally spoke. "Spring Villa is just like when you lived there. Every flower, every tree, nothing's changed."
At the red light, Amelia stopped the car and glanced at Frederick. "Mr. Hastings, are you saying everything's the same, but we've changed?"
A lump formed in Frederick's throat, a sense of suffocation enveloping him.
When the light turned green, Amelia continued driving.
Frederick leaned back, staring out the window, unsure what to say next.
Amelia glanced at him, noting his sullen expression, then looked away, staying silent.
After a long pause, Frederick spoke in a deep voice. "Amelia, I wish we could go back. Back to before the divorce, or even when we first got married."
Amelia smiled lightly. "I wish we could go back too, back to before we got married, or even further."
Frederick looked at her, hurt in his eyes, but said nothing more.
The car pulled into Davis Manor.
Amelia backed the car into the garage with a single turn of the wheel, parking it perfectly.
Frederick watched her and said, "Your driving's gotten pretty good."
Amelia responded calmly, "I've practiced a lot."
Frederick fell silent.
He remembered when they first got married; she had rarely driven and couldn't have parked properly. She had asked him for help, but he had mocked her instead of teaching her, telling her she must have bought her license instead of passing the test by herself and should go back to driving school.
He thought he had forgotten those moments, but now he realized he remembered them clearly, every small detail etched in his mind.
Amelia got out of the car and walked around to open Frederick's door.
Anna, hearing the car, ran out holding a doll, standing on the steps, looking eagerly at Amelia. "Mommy."
Amelia heard Anna's voice, saw her barefoot, and quickly walked over, picking her up.
"Why did you come out here alone?" she asked softly.
Anna hugged Amelia's neck and kissed her cheek. "Susan and Grandpa are busy."
Amelia kissed her back. "Mommy's here now."
Anna added, "And Uncle Frederick."
Her voice was clear and sweet, and she looked straight at Frederick.
She had initially reached out to Frederick but hesitated when she saw his bandaged hand, pulling her little hands back.
"What happened to Uncle Frederick?" Anna asked, her eyes full of concern.
Frederick walked over and used his left hand to rub her head. "Uncle Frederick is fine," he said gently, smiling.
Amelia glanced at him, noticing he had completely restrained his negative emotions, and felt slightly moved.
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