Chapter 17
In less than three minutes, Alicia came out.
She took a blanket from the cabinet and walked to the couch with her eyes staring straight ahead. She then placed the pillow she was holding on the couch and started sleeping again.
Frederick was so pissed that he almost burst out in anger as he watched the whole process.
After that, he laid back down with a loud bang. He exerted so much strength that the bed creaked with his movement. Perhaps, he did not even notice that he, who was usually indifferent, seemed to be short-fused every day...
It was a roller coaster ride but two days almost came to an end. Mrs. Clements had a habit of taking a nap in the afternoon. Therefore, Alicia got some shut-eye in the room as well and it was way past three in the afternoon when she woke up.
She recalled that she would be leaving after dinner. Following that, she packed her things after noticing that Frederick had yet to come back. After finishing her packing, she headed out and decided to accompany Mrs. Clements.
As she was walking down the stairs, she felt something strange brushing against her feet. Alicia lowered her head and spotted a chubby Persian cat rubbing against her feet. It had white fur, big blue eyes and it was very adorable. She then picked it up and carried it in her arms.
"What a beautiful cat!" Alicia praised.
"Don't touch my cat with your dirty hands!"
Before a smile could form on Alicia's face, a red light flashed in front of her eyes, and the cat she held was gone. She was still stunned when someone pushed her and she stumbled backward. Her ankle hit the stairs and she fell on the floor.
"Ouch!"
Alicia noticed a woman was standing in front of her. It turned out to be Hallie Clements, Frederick's half-sister. She was holding the cat in her arms and stroking its fur. She looked down at Alicia, her eyes full of despising and disdain.
"You're just a commoner from a poor village! Don't you know that you can't simply touch other people's things? You have no manners! It's considered stealing if you take something without asking! If I didn't happen to see you, are you going to carry it back with you?" Hallie accused.
Instantly, Alicia got up and defended herself.
"Miss Clements, may I remind you that you just accused me of having no manners and stealing your things. However, you judged a book by its cover and insulted me without knowing what was going on. Is that the good manner that you were talking about? I'm also a member of this family but I didn't know that it's your cat. I don't intend to steal it! You can't just simply make up things and frame me for it. We are both human beings!" Alicia retorted.
"Oh, my, did I step on your toes? Did I hit the bull's eye? Look how pathetic you are! My kitty Baby is so much more expensive than you! You're just an ugly duckling and you'll stay that way. Do you really think you can turn into a beautiful swan?" Hallie satirized.
Alicia could not stand Hallie's tone because she never spent a single penny of Hallie's money. She was about to retaliate when a male's voice spoke.
"Alicia."
It was not until then that Alicia realized Frederick standing at the door. Instantly, Alicia bit her lips and turned around. Hallie's expression changed as well.
Alicia thought that Frederick would take the opportunity to blame her. After all, he had been giving her the cold shoulder since that morning. She then lowered her eyes but there was a hint of stubbornness in it.
She was not at fault and it was impossible for her to apologize!
Frederick stepped forward and glanced at Hallie indifferently. After that, he took Alicia's hand, which had two scratch marks on it. It was clear that the cat was the culprit.
"Does it hurt?" Frederick asked.
Alicia lifted her head and nodded instinctively. However, she noticed that Hallie, who was arrogant and overbearing previously, was shaking. Hallie's anxious voice was trembling and she grew quieter as she spoke.
"She's the one who doesn't know her place. She went to hug my cat first and Baby is afraid of strangers..."
Was Hallie afraid of Frederick?
Alicia was puzzled by this and could not help but think, "Why?"