Chapter 30 I Don't Like to Drink
Nicole remained silent for a long time and said nothing.
When the elevator doors opened, Amelia patted her on the shoulder. "I've got to go."
Nicole nodded and watched Amelia leave.
After leaving the hospital, Amelia hailed a taxi back to the Davis Manor. Rachel and Vincent had been waiting at home for Frederick and Amelia to return.
Seeing Amelia arrive alone, a flicker of confusion crossed Rachel's eyes. She had called Amelia earlier, and Frederick had been with her then. So she asked, "Where's Mr. Hastings?"
"He had some business to take care of," Amelia explained.
Vincent emerged from the kitchen, apron still tied around his waist. He seemed a bit disheartened by the news but nodded in understanding.
"Frederick's running such a large company, he's bound to be busy. Amelia, send him a message. If he can't make it, that's okay. Business comes first," he said.
Amelia nodded and agreed smoothly, "Okay."
She pulled out her phone from her purse. Seeing Vincent's expectant look, she had no choice but to find Frederick's number and dialed.
But the ringing came from outside the door.
Amelia paused.
Everyone turned their gaze toward the entrance.
Carrying a gift box, Frederick stepped inside. In his other hand, he held a cell phone, glancing up at Amelia with a hint of displeasure hidden deep within his eyes. Amelia hung up her call.
Vincent hurried over to greet him. "Amelia mentioned you had urgent business at the office. Did you handle it already?"
Frederick's gaze shifted from Amelia, his demeanor surprisingly courteous. "It's been taken care of," he replied.
Amelia sighed in relief at his cooperation. Vincent laughed heartily, clearly in a good mood. "Knowing you both were coming over tonight, I took the liberty of cooking a few dishes myself."
Keeping pace, Frederick chimed in, "Well, it seems I'm in for a lucky evening then." As he finished his sentence, Susan came in looking a bit awkward with a guest in tow. "Mr. Davis, Mr. Vanderbilt is here." She carefully eyed Frederick as she spoke.
His expression remained calm as he looked down at Amelia beside him. She raised her eyebrows with a touch of surprise in her expression, but she stood up to welcome Daniel nonetheless.
A slight change came over Frederick's mood.
Vincent had not expected Daniel to show up. Seeing Daniel at the door with a gift, he moved to greet him. "Daniel, what brings you here?"
Daniel handed the gift to Amelia with a smile and turned to Vincent, still grinning. "I heard it was your discharge day, so I thought I'd come by to see you."
"I left in such a hurry last time I didn't get a chance to really talk to you."
Vincent responded with a polite smile. As the host, it was natural for him to invite Daniel to stay for dinner. "You came at just the right time. We were about to have dinner. Join us."
Daniel didn't decline and nodded in agreement. "Sure."
During the exchange, he looked toward Frederick, who was standing not far away. Frederick's expression was indifferent as his eyes moved from Daniel's back to Vincent's. "Vincent, do we have any wine at home? I'd like to share a drink with Mr. Vanderbilt."
Vincent nodded and gestured for Susan to retrieve it. Daniel paused for a moment in his step.
Rachel, observing their conversation, frowned slightly. The silent battle had begun, and she couldn't help but look at Amelia with a hint of schadenfreude.
Amelia, oblivious to the tussles between them, was busy assisting Susan in finding the wine as Vincent made sure to usher Frederick and Daniel to their seats.
After taking their seats, Daniel looked at Frederick with a curious smile and asked, "Did Mr. Hastings and Rachel get married?"
Amelia was in the midst of opening and sampling a wine when she heard Daniel's question, and she choked on her drink.
Rachel, however, remained calm and seated, replying in a low voice, "No."
"He's my sister's husband," Rachel added with a smile, glancing at Daniel.
Daniel appeared confused for a few seconds before laughing and saying, "So it turns out Mr. Hastings is married to Amelia. I've never heard Amelia mention it before."
At these words, Frederick's expression turned a bit colder.
Even though Susan served as the Davis family's housekeeper, she held a significant position.
Amelia and Rachel were almost entirely raised by her.
Seeing Frederick's displeased face, she quickly stepped in to lighten the mood.
"Mr. Vanderbilt has only recently returned to the country and has had few opportunities to see Ms. Davis, which is probably why Ms. Davis never managed to tell you," Susan explained.
Daniel nodded gently, responding emotionlessly, "Perhaps."
Amelia placed the wine bottle in front of Daniel and Frederick, and as she was about to sit down next to Rachel, Frederick caught her wrist, indicating with his eyes that she should sit beside him.
Vincent looked over at them. Amelia hesitated for a moment but eventually sat next to him.
Daniel glanced at Amelia.
There was a fleeting stiffness in the air.
Rachel set a wine glass next to Amelia and then stood up to fetch a bottle of red wine.
"You have tomorrow off, so let's have a little drink tonight," she said.
Amelia paused, knowing that drinking wasn't really an option for her right now.
"Frederick's been drinking, and I have to drive later," she said softly, declining.
Frederick raised an eyebrow and turned to her, saying, "It's okay to have a little. I'll call a driver to pick us up later."
Without a good excuse to refuse, Amelia relented, "Well, I'll just have a little since I haven't drunk in a long time."
Susan had already opened the red wine and let it breathe.
After a while, Susan poured a half glass for Amelia.
Amelia accepted the glass, and feeling Frederick's eyes on her, she took a tentative sip.
She frowned immediately, "This wine tastes a bit different from what I had last time."
Vincent wasn't knowledgeable about wines, and Amelia seldom drank.
In the Davis family, it was really only Rachel who knew a bit about wine.
The wine was a gift from Frederick, and he should have had a good grasp of it.
Amelia paused.
Frederick reached for the wine glass in front of Amelia, not minding that she had already used it, and took a small sip.
"The wine hasn't had enough time to breathe.
That's why the taste might be a bit off."
While speaking, he placed the glass back beside Amelia's hand.
She glanced at her glass, hesitated for a moment, and then, in a coquettish tone, pushed the wine glass towards Frederick, saying, "I don't want to drink this anymore. It doesn't taste good at all.
You drink it for me."
Her whining delighted Frederick.
He smiled and agreed, "Alright, as you wish."
Vincent also chuckled, "Amelia, like me, doesn't understand wine or how to appreciate it."
Amelia silently heaved a sigh of relief.
Her tolerance for alcohol was not great. Drinking this glass of wine would not only make her drunk, but she feared it might also affect the fetus in her womb.
Daniel sat aside, unable to blend into their conversation. His gaze softened, and the hand holding his glass tightened.
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