Chapter 41

David wasn't too keen on digging up old memories, but seeing Alice blow up like that, especially 'cause of him, he figured he better spill the beans to keep her from overthinking.

David reached out and messed up Alice's hair, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's all ancient history. It wasn't serious. Just busted my leg and had a long hospital stay, almost lost the leg. Since then, no more street racing for me."

Seeing Alice still looking down, David added, "With my experience as a lesson, do you know how pissed I was when I found out you were street racing and ended up at the police station? I'm not mad you were arrested to the station, but that you didn't look out for yourself."

Alice pouted and shot David a glance, muttering, "It was James who was street racing, not me."

Hearing this, David's face darkened, and his tone turned icy. "When did you start hanging out with him?"

Without any excuse, Alice had to spill the beans to David.

After she said everything, David said, "I'll have a word with him when we get back."

Right then, James had no clue what was coming his way in a few days.

Back at Hot Springs Resort, Alice was all about getting David to take a dip in the hot spring.

David wasn't really feeling it, but seeing Alice's determined look, like she'd drag him there herself if he didn't go, he swallowed his words and nodded.

Alice immediately beamed, "What do you wanna eat? I'll grab it from the restaurant for you."

"Anything's cool," David said.

Alice headed to the restaurant, and just as David stepped into the room, his phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, David could pretty much guess what the convo was gonna be about.

He answered and put it on speaker, tossing the phone on the bed while he shrugged off his jacket and hung it up.

"Hey," David said.

A voice came from the other end, "David, why'd you take so long to pick up? Where's Alice?"

David chuckled, "Grandpa, I'm your grandson."

"What good is a grandson like you?" Gavin snorted, "Are you more sensible than Alice? I got three grandsons. One is all about his career and still hasn't found a wife at 30. Another spends his days partying with models and influencers, changing girlfriends like clothes. And you? Even worse! You got a wife but no kids, might as well not have a wife at all!"

Gavin's sarcasm was thick, expecting David to snap back, but after a few seconds of silence, Gavin wondered if what Dylan said was true, that David had feelings for Alice...

If that were true, it would be awesome!

Gavin was secretly pleased but didn't show it. "When are you and Alice coming back?"

"Tomorrow morning's flight," David said, picking up the phone and putting it to his ear. "Grandpa, need me to bring anything back?"

Gavin thought for a moment and said, "Bring some local food. I'm planning to visit Lucas."

David agreed, and after a few more reminders from Gavin, he hung up.

After soaking in the hot spring for a bit, David figured it was time and headed back to the room in his bathrobe.

There was food on the table, but no one around.

David closed the door and walked straight to the bedroom.

Gently opening the door, he saw Alice curled up on the bed, eyes closed, sleeping soundly.

David quietly approached, slowly sitting at the foot of the bed. His tall frame blocked the light from the window, casting a shadow over Alice's upper body and face.

David stared at her sleeping face for what felt like forever.

Thinking back, he realized he'd never seen her like this before.

Alice had a bunch of different faces around him.

A troublemaker with sharp claws, a soft and sweet girl who liked to act spoiled, sometimes a stubborn girl so strong that even he felt helpless. But this was the first time he saw her looking so defenseless.

Thinking this, David chuckled softly, curled his index finger, and gently tapped Alice's nose, whispering, "If you were this sweet and cute every day, maybe I'd like you a bit more."

As soon as he finished speaking, the smile on David's face froze.

As if realizing something, he suddenly pulled his hand back and walked out of the bedroom.

The shadow blocking the light disappeared, and the bright light hit Alice's eyes. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she made a few grumpy sounds as she slowly opened her eyes, turned over, crawled to the center of the bed. Then she grabbed the corner of the blanket and covered her head, going back to sleep.

As she felt drowsy, she thought, 'David's been in the hot spring for so long, does he faint in the hot spring pool?' Thinking this, she fell asleep.

Outside the door, David leaned against the cold wall and let out a long sigh.

Maybe it was because he hadn't been socializing for too long and had seen fewer women that he developed feelings for Alice. When they got back, he should ask Garrett to set up some social events. It would not only help his career but also his mental health, preventing his thoughts from getting so twisted that he'd start wanting someone who wasn't even old enough to get married.

On the last night at Hot Springs Resort, Alice finally got to try out a mixed bath.

The mixed bath pool was way bigger than the separate male and female hot spring pools, with marble tiles. Once inside, the mist surrounded her, and the warm steam hit her face.

After soaking alone for a while, Alice looked around the entrance but didn't see anyone coming in. 'Am I gonna enjoy this mixed bath alone tonight?' She wondered.

Alice pouted, looking bored, "This is so lame."

At the entrance of the mixed bath, a few guys holding stuff were stopped. Just as they were about to argue, the guy who stopped them took money from his wallet and gave each of them two hundred bucks, politely saying, "I'm sorry, my girl really wanted to try a mixed bath, but she's still a minor, so please come back later. This is the fee for reserving the mixed bath pool, hope you understand."

It wasn't a big deal, and since David was so sincere and polite, everyone took the money and left, not pushing to get in.

Not far away, Desmond and Dylan each leaned against a wall, staring at David, who stood like a guardian at the entrance of the mixed bath pool.

Desmond snorted, "I bet David wants to soak with Alice but he's too embarrassed! Since he can't soak with Alice, he won't let anyone else either, even bribing them! I've counted, he's given out almost two grand! How can his wallet hold so much cash?"

Dylan laughed sarcastically, "After Alice went to the mixed bath, he went to the front desk and charged a small amount, converting it all into cash and slipping it in!"

This showed that no matter how polite David appeared, he was a rogue at heart! No matter how gentlemanly he seemed, he couldn't change his rogue nature!

Thinking this, Dylan muttered under his breath, "Scoundrel."