Chapter 416 Micro Expressions
Alaric's face was a mix of confusion as he glanced between Fiona and me.
Seeing this, Fiona seized the moment and said to Alaric, "Don't let her fool you with that innocent act. Diana's not as perfect as she seems. If you knew what she's done, you'd be shocked."
Alaric's expression turned deadly serious. He stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of me, and glared at Fiona.
"I've known Diana for a long time. I know who she is. But you, bullying a kid in public and making empty threats, that's just low. Now, you better explain yourself, or I'm calling the cops right now!"
Fiona's face twisted with anger at Alaric's words. She shoved him aside with surprising strength, yanked the door open, and stormed out, slamming it so hard the whole room shook.
Alaric stumbled from the push, struggling to regain his balance. His eyes blazed with fury, and he was ready to chase after Fiona.
"That Fiona is way too arrogant. We can't just let her get away with this!"
He quickened his pace, determined not to let Fiona escape.
Seeing this, my heart tightened. I quickly grabbed Alaric's arm and shouted, "Alaric, don't chase her!"
Alaric turned back, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "Diana, she ran off with that recorder. She'll definitely come back to cause more trouble. How can we not go after her?"
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Think about it. Skylar is still terrified. If we both run out, what will she do alone? And Fiona is clearly agitated. Who knows what she might do outside? If we chase her and provoke her further, things could get even worse."
Alaric paused, his eyes showing a trace of doubt. He looked at the crying Skylar, then at the open door, and sighed, stopping in his tracks.
I went to Skylar, knelt down, and hugged her tightly, whispering, "It's okay, Skylar. Don't cry. Everything's fine now."
Skylar sniffled, clutching my clothes tightly, her sobs gradually quieting. Alaric came over, gently patting her head. "Don't be scared, Skylar. I'm here."
Once Skylar calmed down a bit, I looked up at Alaric and said sincerely, "Thank you so much for today. If you hadn't shown up in time, I wouldn't have stood a chance in that confrontation."
Alaric frowned, his expression serious. "Fiona is definitely a big problem. If she's willing to threaten you like this, there must be something significant on that recorder."
I was about to respond when I noticed Alaric subtly stepping back, creating a slight distance between us.
This small action made my heart sink. Alaric had always been naturally close to me, but now there was an inexplicable sense of distance.
Trying to convince myself it was just a coincidence, I tentatively suggested, "Do you think I should try to contact Fiona and see if I can buy the recorder back with money?"
I tried to keep my tone calm.
Alaric shook his head slightly, his tone less enthusiastic than usual. "I don't think that's gonna work. Fiona's the only daughter of the Griffin family; she doesn't need money. She's probably got a bigger plan with that recorder. Money might not solve this."
As he spoke, he didn't meet my eyes like he usually did, instead looking slightly to the side.
My unease grew stronger, recalling Fiona's earlier words to Alaric.
'Diana is not as perfect as she seems. If you knew the things she's done, you'd be shocked.'
Could Alaric really be influenced by those words? I found it hard to believe, but his unusual behavior made me doubt.
To test my suspicion, I brought up a fond memory. "Alaric, remember that time we took Skylar for a picnic, and it suddenly rained? We hid in a gazebo and sang songs together."
I hoped he would reminisce with me and smile like he used to. But Alaric only gave a slight smile and said, "Yeah, I remember."
I couldn't tell if he genuinely felt anything from that memory. My heart sank further. It seemed Fiona's words had planted seeds of doubt in Alaric's mind.
Looking at my once-trusted friend, I suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity, unsure how to face him.
Alaric then spoke gently, trying to comfort me. "Diana, don't overthink it. Our priority now is to deal with Fiona."
His tone had a hint of the old concern.
Just moments ago, he was distant, dismissing my suggestion, and now he was comforting me as if nothing had happened. This sudden change left me stunned. I looked up at him, confused.
"Alaric, you..."
The words stuck in my throat, unsure how to continue. I could only stare at him, hoping to find some answers in his expression.
Alaric met my gaze, sighed, and scratched his head, as if choosing his words carefully. "Even if that recorder has secrets about you, it doesn't matter to me. How could I let a few words from her make me doubt you?"
Despite his sincere words, my heart felt heavy. I watched Alaric closely, feeling like he had changed, but unable to pinpoint exactly how.
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