radicalducati Chapter 149
Chapter 149
"Alright, darling, your analysis is correct. Elle will be fine."
Alessia felt that her younger son's thinking was right. This was the old mansion of the Carter family, with a comprehensive security system. If her daughter encountered any trouble in the old mansion, there would have been some commotion.
Moreover, her daughter was obedient and wouldn't have sneaked out. At this time, she must be playing in the garden.
Alessia wasn't too concerned. She chatted with Old Lady Carter for a while. When it was time for dinner, Eleanor still hadn't returned.
At that moment, Dominic returned.
After searching around and failing to find Eleanor, everyone realized there might be a problem. An unsettled expression began to appear on their faces.
"Let's check the surveillance first; Elle couldn't have gone missing," Alessia said calmly.
Her calmness didn't mean she didn't care. It was because she had experience climbing over the walls of the old mansion before and knew that intruders couldn't easily get in.
Dominic also knew that Alessia had climbed over the walls before. Thinking about their past confrontations, a subtle expression flashed in his eyes, and he agreed to check the surveillance without objection.
The head of security brought a tablet, and through various surveillance screens, Alessia soon saw Eleanor playing with a model airplane in the garden with a servant.
The airplane lost control for a moment and flew into an independent courtyard.
To enter the courtyard, one had to pass through an arch covered with green vines and yellow flowers. Eleanor paused in front of the arch before entering with her short little legs.
The servant couldn't stop her in time.
"Oh no, Miss has gone into Madam's courtyard."
A servant behind them couldn't help but speak out. After all, everyone in the old mansion knew that Madam Carter didn't like outsiders entering her courtyard, and she especially disliked Dominic and Bianca.
Their grandchildren had just returned, and they hadn't even met yet. Eleanor suddenly barging in would surely displease Madam Carter.
Alessia had lived in the Carter family for three years and hadn't had any dealings with Madam Carter, but she knew her character.
However, she wasn't very worried. A tiger wouldn't eat its cubs; could Madam Carter really harm Elle?
"I'll bring Elle back," Dominic said.
"I'll come with you," Alessia stood up too.
Old Lady Carter watched the man and woman leave the room one after the other with a smile and said to the person beside her, "Look, they match each other well."
"They do," everyone chimed in.
Old Lady Carter seemed to have forgotten that not long ago, Alessia had made it clear that she had nothing to do with Dominic anymore.
After leaving the room, Alessia heard the voices of the others behind her. To avoid an awkward situation, she changed the subject and asked Dominic, "Why did you come back? Doesn't Bianca need someone to be with her?"
Dominic paused, looking at Alessia. "Are you concerned about me?"
Alessia glared at Dominic. "I'm concerned about Bianca."
"Oh," Dominic responded with a mutter. "Both my wife and child are at home, so I naturally came back."
"What?" Alessia stopped in her tracks.
Dominic's long legs also stopped, but he had no intention of repeating himself. Instead, he looked at Alessia with a reflection of her in his eyes.
"It's nothing. Let's hurry; my mom must be impatient," Dominic said.
"Okay." Alessia furrowed her brows, smoothed out her disheveled hair, and stopped talking.
She had clearly heard what Dominic had just said, but since he didn't want to repeat it, she didn't bother to confirm it again.
She didn't know what had gotten into Dominic, but she didn't want to overthink it.
When they reached Madam Carter's courtyard, Alessia and Dominic expected to see an irritated Madam Carter.
But to their surprise, there was no one on the recliner under the shade. An open book lay on top of it. In the clearing in front, stood Brenda, elegant and refined, teaching Eleanor how to play with the model airplane.
"Wow, the airplane flies so high! Grandma, you're so amazing!" Eleanor clapped enthusiastically, flattering her.
Madam Carter's face was full of kindness. She lovingly patted Eleanor's head. "Good girl, go and pick it up."
"Okay!" Eleanor obediently agreed and ran towards the fallen airplane with her short legs.
As the little figure picked up the small airplane and ran back, she looked up and saw Alessia and Dominic standing at the entrance to the courtyard.
"Mommy, Daddy!" Eleanor was delighted to see Alessia and Dominic and ran towards them with her short little legs.
"Slow down," Alessia gestured with her hand, cautioning her.
Dominic's gaze remained on Brenda.
He noticed that Brenda's expression changed as soon as she saw them.
Brenda restrained her smile, becoming as distant and cold as she usually was when they met.
Alessia picked up Eleanor, who had run up to her with the airplane, and hugged her along with the toy.
"Mommy, why are you here? Grandma and I were playing a game. Huh... where's Grandma?" Eleanor turned around and noticed that Brenda had disappeared into the house.
Alessia sensed Brenda's resistance towards them. Brenda had never been fond of visitors, so it was rare for her to enjoy Eleanor's company.
Even so, Alessia was afraid that Eleanor might misunderstand, so she gently tapped Eleanor's nose.
"Alright, Grandma must be tired. Let's not disturb her. Let's go back and have dinner first. We can come back to play with Grandma when we have time, okay?"
"Okay!" Eleanor readily agreed, thinking of how Brenda had been playing with her just now.
Seeing Eleanor being obedient, Alessia's eyes were full of tenderness. She bent down and put Eleanor back on the ground.
Eleanor looked up, holding Alessia's left hand and Dominic's right hand. The three of them walked out of the archway covered with yellow flowers.
Outside, Eleanor's mood dropped again. Reluctant to leave, she looked back multiple times and worriedly said, "Grandma is all alone in such a big courtyard. Is she feeling lonely? I heard her cough twice just now."
Following Eleanor's gaze, Dominic's eyes darkened.
Although Dominic hid his loneliness well, Alessia still noticed it.
Alessia said to Eleanor, "If you're worried about Grandma, you can stay with your brothers in the old mansion for a while. After school, you can come and spend more time with Grandma. You can also bring your brothers to keep Grandma company."
"Can I? That's great!" Eleanor's eyes lit up. She liked Grandma, who smelled nice and was beautiful.
But soon, she had a new question, "Mommy, if I and my brothers stay in the old mansion, where will you stay?"
Alessia paused, about to answer, when Eleanor suddenly realized something. She shook Alessia and Dominic's hands with her small hands, one on each side.
"Hehe, I got it! Mommy, you left us with Grandma because you want to have some alone time with Daddy, right?"
As soon as the little girl finished speaking, she let go of their hands and skipped away with her short legs.
This little mischief-maker!
Alessia was helpless but also happy to see Eleanor's lively and lovely appearance.
She was about to step forward when she noticed Dominic looking at her.
Their eyes met, and Dominic's gaze deepened as he spoke, "Is what our daughter said true? Do you want to leave the children with their grandma because you want to have some alone time with me, with ulterior motives?"
Alessia was stunned for a moment, then rolled her eyes. "Dominic Carter, I've noticed you've been acting strange lately."
Dominic shrugged nonchalantly. "You forget what I said last time. Considering how much you like me, I can give you another chance."
Alessia was about to go crazy. Could he please have some self-awareness?
She felt she had to make it clear, "Mr. Carter, you've got it wrong. What I said to Grandma last time wasn't out of anger or a ploy to win you over. We're divorced, so there won't be any getting back together. That's been my thought all along. Now, I left Elle here simply because I think she has a connection with Madam Carter. After all, Madam Carter is their grandmother, and I naturally hope she gets along well with them and they can help her open up. It's not with any ulterior motives. Don't listen to the kids' nonsense."
With that said, she rubbed her temples, feeling like she had explained it clearly enough and didn't want to explain further. She lifted her leg and followed Eleanor ahead.
Everyone else had left, leaving Dominic standing there, touching his nose. He then confidently pursed his lips.
Was he mistaken?
Of course not.
Alessia said those words because she was hurt by what he said last time.
Since he decided to give it another chance, it would definitely require more than one person's effort.
It was time for him to do something, at least to let Alessia know... he had let go.
***