Chapter 29
David had been grinding away at home all day. He checked the clock and realized Alice should be rolling in soon, so he headed down to the kitchen.
The nanny was whipping up some soup. When she saw David stroll in, she wiped her hands and called out, "Mr. Tudor."
David asked, "What's on the menu tonight?"
"Steak, juice, and a bit of salad."
"Throw in some soup too."
"Got it."
David plopped down in the living room, waiting for Alice to show up.
The nanny bounced after setting up dinner. David waited till 6:30, and it was already pitch black, but Alice was still MIA.
David thought, 'Is she freaked out from that morning mess? Maybe I should say sorry when she gets back.'
David felt kinda stuck.
It was Alice who messed up, and he, being the older one, was just trying to set her straight. Why should he be the one to apologize?
He dialed Alice's number and wandered into the kitchen to reheat the now-cold dishes. The next second, he heard a phone ringing by the door.
David froze and turned to look.
After hanging up, the ringing outside cut off abruptly.
David's face darkened. He quickly walked to the door and opened it. "What are you doing..."
In the dim light of a few street lamps, Alice was sitting on the steps. Her clothes were weirdly wet, and her eyes were red.
David realized something was off and immediately squatted down.
As he got closer to Alice, he caught a whiff of something. Upon closer look, he found a piece of vegetable in her hair.
David's eyes instantly turned icy. He pulled her into the house.
"What happened?" he asked softly.
Hearing his voice, Alice's eyes welled up, and tears started to fall like rain. Her mouth quivered, and she cried like her heart was breaking.
"David," she choked out, her frozen fingers fumbling in her pocket for something. Before she could pull it out, David reached over, took it, and after a quick glance, got the gist of what went down.
He crumpled the check and tossed it on the ground. Bending down, he cupped Alice's face in his hands. "Stop crying, okay? Be good, go upstairs and take a bath, then come down to eat. We can hash it out after dinner, alright?"
David didn't mind the smell on her. He gently ruffled Alice's hair. "Go take a bath. I'll reheat the food."
After watching Alice head upstairs, David stepped outside to look around but didn't find her backpack. His expression grew even colder.
He went back to the kitchen to reheat the food and waited for Alice to finish her bath and come down to eat.
The check was signed by Juniper. It wasn't hard to figure out that something must have gone down for Alice. That's why she came home so late and sat outside without coming in. Plus, she had vegetable leaves on her, meaning she got splashed with soup. He just didn't know if the soup was hot or cold when it was thrown on her.
Alice usually laughed off her troubles, but this time she cried and didn't even dare to complain to him.
"David." Alice's voice snapped David back to reality.
He turned off the microwave and walked over to Alice, cupping her head and taking a sniff. It was a mix of body wash and shampoo.
Alice was startled by David's actions, her body stiffening.
"You smell nice." David ruffled her still-damp hair and smiled. "Go dry your hair first, then come down to eat."
Alice went upstairs without a word.
He wanted to figure out what had happened first and then find a solution. He wouldn't let Alice suffer this grievance for nothing.
David reheated the food and was about to go upstairs to call her.
Just as he reached the stairs, Alice came down.
Remembering Felix's advice, David pursed his lips. As Alice came down, he suddenly opened his arms and hugged her, gently patting her back.
Alice was stunned. "David?"
"If you want to cry, just cry. If you want to throw a tantrum, just do it. Here, no one will stop you. There are no strict rules here. I don't know how you lived in the Bailey Family, but with me, if you cry, I'll comfort you. If you're bullied, you can come back and tell me. I'm a man and your fiancé. No one can say otherwise." David said gently.
No one had ever said such words to her.
In the Bailey Family, Lucas treated her the best, but Lucas was often sick and had to go to the hospital. When he wasn't around, both Celeste and the servants would bully her, telling her that if she dared to complain to Lucas, then he'd get angry and end up in the hospital, and no one would care for her by then.
She was young then and very afraid of losing Lucas's affection, so she never told him when she was bullied.
Just as David was about to let go, Alice suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest.
"David, do you know? No one has ever said such things to me. Everyone always told me that if I wanted to complain, I could, but if Lucas got angry and ended up in the hospital, no one would care for me." Alice almost trembled when she said the last words.
David didn't say anything. He wrapped one arm around Alice's waist and lifted her up, carrying her to the dining table.
David held Alice like a child, feeding her.
Sniffling, Alice looked at David's serious expression and mumbled, "I'm 19." Being fed was too undignified.
David wiped the tears from her face with his thumb and raised an eyebrow. "A 19-year-old girl, and you're crying like this?"
Alice's cheeks turned red. She puffed out her cheeks in frustration and got off David's lap, pulling out a chair to sit down.
David thought to himself that Felix's advice was indeed effective.
After a good cry, it seemed like Alice was no longer frustrated. Alice ate with her cheeks puffed out, and David served her a bowl of soup. She finished it without leaving a drop.
David glanced at the water stains on his clothes and looked up at Alice.
Alice's expression was sheepish. "Should I wash it for you?"
"You should," David replied.
Alice fell silent.
"Now, are you willing to tell me what happened?" David asked.
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