Chapter 53 Delayed Concern
Mary had searched for a long time but couldn't find the bracelet. Seeing the regret written all over Amelia's face, she felt sympathy.
So she persisted for a while longer but still came up empty-handed.
She tried to offer consolation.
"Mrs. Hastings, don't be upset. Sometimes, when you're trying to find something, it just seems impossible to locate. But when you stop searching for it, it may just appear,"
"As long as it's not lost for good, it will show up eventually."
Amelia nodded weakly.
She was tired, being in the early stages of pregnancy, so after exchanging a few words with Mary, she returned to her bedroom.
In the middle of the night, Amelia, a light sleeper, was awakened by the sound of a car engine.
Spring Villa had excellent security.
If it weren't a recognized vehicle, security wouldn't let it through.
Amelia frowned, got up, and pulled back the curtains to look out into the yard.
She saw Frederick stepping out of the car and heading straight toward the house.
Amelia paused, holding on to the curtains tightening.
Mary was already asleep when Frederick entered the house using the keypad.
He had just stepped into the living room and, before turning on the light, the room illuminated automatically.
Amelia stood quietly on the upstairs landing, watching the man changing his shoes.
"Mr. Hastings, I believe you've come to the wrong place."
Frederick looked up to find her in a thin nightgown, her skin pale and luminous.
The distance in her eyes was unmistakable.
He hesitated for a moment, ignoring Amelia, and continued walking inside toward her.
Mary, having been awakened, walked into the living room to see what was happening.
Surprised to see Frederick returning, she spoke up.
"Mr. Hastings..."
She began, but then she caught the strong scent of alcohol on him.
"I'll make you some lemon water to help you sober up."
Then Amelia realized Frederick was drunk.
She glanced at him a few times, then turned to go back to her bedroom.
But Frederick stepped onto the stairs, calling after her.
"I've got something for you."
Amelia paused mid-step and turned to look at him.
Frederick quickly climbed the stairs, closing the distance until he was in front of her.
The strong smell of alcohol from him made Amelia uncomfortable.
Feeling nauseous, she immediately stepped back.
Frederick watched her movements closely as he stepped forward.
"We're not even formally divorced yet, and I don't even have the right to talk to you?" he challenged.
Amelia backed into a corner and placed her hand against his chest to halt his advance.
Frederick looked down at her hand against him, her skin soft and pale. She stared back at him, his reflection visible in her eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he reached into his pocket, pulling out Amelia's bracelet to hand it to her.
"Did you even realize you lost this?" he asked.
He had been waiting for her to come to claim it back. But she had never sought him out.
Amelia hesitated as she looked at the bracelet in Frederick's hand. The gleam from the diamonds made her eyes somewhat uncomfortable. She had already decided that she didn't want the bracelet or him anymore. Her lips were lightly bitten as she struggled to describe her feelings.
Frederick was her true love, and the bracelet was a treasured possession. Now, both appeared before her, reigniting feelings she struggled to let go of. With slightly reddened eyes, she reached out to take back the bracelet.
But as soon as her hand extended, he grasped it. He looked down with an unreadable expression and quietly slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.
Amelia stared at him for a moment before lifting her eyes to his.
"Thank you," she said stiffly.
Frederick quietly regarded her, leaning forward slightly, intending to kiss her. Amelia's heart skipped, and she turned her head.
"If there's nothing else, Mr. Hastings, I'm going to rest," she said.
Hearing this, Frederick straightened up, his gaze fixed on Amelia, his expression a mix of confusion and clarity. It took him several seconds before he took a step back.
"Goodnight," he said.
Amelia nodded, "Goodnight." She then walked toward the bedroom.
Frederick instinctively followed her, but as soon as Amelia sensed him behind her, she immediately turned around after stepping through the door.
"Is there something else, Mr. Hastings?" she inquired.
Frederick shook his head quietly. "Nothing else."
Amelia nodded lightly, suggesting subtly, "If there's nothing else, then after you've had your lemon water, you should head back."
Frederick moved a step forward, wanting to keep her from leaving, but as he took that step, the door shut, stopping just centimeters from his nose.
He stood there, slightly stunned, sobering up a lot. What was he doing?
Furrowing his brow, he turned and went downstairs.
Mary had already prepared the lemon water, and seeing Frederick come down, she brought it to him.
"Mr. Hastings, your lemon water," she offered.
Frederick waved his hand dismissively, a shadow passing over his eyes as he strode out of the living room. Soon, the sound of a car's engine starting and pulling away broke the stillness of the night, which then returned to peaceful silence.
Amelia lay in bed, staring at the bracelet in her hand, unable to calm the turmoil within her. The bracelet, placed on her wrist by Frederick himself, seemed to burn with a heat that made sleep elusive.
Felix watched Frederick exit the house with a serious expression and head straight to the car. He promptly started the vehicle and drove away from Spring Villa. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Felix noted the inscrutable look on the man sitting in the back as he gazed out the window. Felix licked his lips nervously and, mustering his courage, ventured a quiet suggestion. "Mr. Hastings, if you don't want to part with Mrs. Hastings if you don't want a divorce, maybe you should just tell Mrs. Hastings directly." At the mention of Mrs. Hastings, Frederick's face turned cold. "Shut up," he snapped. He had seen Amelia's resistance earlier. What if he truly tried to keep her, and she rejected him? With a sigh, Frederick massaged his temples and pushed his thoughts away. "Just go to the office." Felix felt a twinge of unease but nodded and focused on driving.
Amelia had a restless night and woke up looking rather pale. She applied a modest layer of lipstick after breakfast and then headed to the hospital. Fortunately, she didn't have any surgeries scheduled during this time, as she wouldn't have been able to proceed in her current state.
It was all Frederick's fault! Before their divorce, he hadn't shown her an ounce of tenderness. But now, with the divorce papers signed, his attentiveness seemed to have increased, as if too late. It felt as worthless as weeds to her. She berated him silently in her thoughts, which somewhat eased her mood.
Mrs. Lakoff, who had dedicated her life to teaching along with her husband Patrick and had raised Emily like their own daughter, was now in Amelia's care as her attending physician had an emergency at home. Being the most available doctor in her department, Amelia took over the responsibility.
She hesitated upon entering Laura's hospital room and finding Frederick already there. It made sense for Frederick to be concerned about the Lakoffs, given their close bond with Emily. Amelia wasn’t used to the change, though. the man she had barely seen before the divorce was now someone she encountered daily.
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