radicalducati Chapter 54
Chapter 54
After the meal.
Grandma Carter held Alessia's hand as they walked in the garden.
With a loving expression, Grandma Carter said, "Sia, when you have time, bring your twin daughters back to let Grandma have a look."
Earlier in the dining room, Clara suddenly mentioned her remarriage and child, embarrassing her. Unexpectedly, her grandmother didn't mind at all and even wanted to meet the two babies.
Alessia pursed her lips, suppressing the emotional turmoil in her heart.
She couldn't bring the twins to the Carter family's old mansion. This would surely disappoint her grandmother.
"Silly girl, are you worried that Dom won't like it?" Grandma Carter asked with concern when she saw Alessia remaining silent.
Feeling even more guilty, Alessia pursed her lips and uttered two words, "I'm sorry!"
This 'I'm sorry' encompassed not only her silence during the divorce but also her deception of Grandma Carter.
"Silly girl, why do you apologize? I just want you to be happy." Grandma Carter patted her hand.
Alessia felt warmth enveloping her.
After all, Grandma Carter was getting older, and walking was inconvenient with one leg. After a while of chatting, she began to feel drowsy.
Alessia helped Grandma Carter back to her room. When she came out, she saw Bianca, who had changed into a white tracksuit, looking youthful and beautiful, bringing Christopher over to invite her to play badminton.
Today was overcast, neither sunny nor rainy, making it suitable for exercise. Moreover, she had never done parent-child sports with Chris before.
Alessia hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.
On the lush green grass, two graceful figures, jumping and running, swung their rackets, freely sweating.
A small figure, with short legs, ran back and forth on the green lawn, picking up the occasional shuttlecock that fell to the ground for the two ladies.
This scene was both pleasing to the eye and exceptionally heartwarming.
Dominic stood tall on the balcony, and even his stern facial features seemed to soften a bit.
Sisca brought out a cup of coffee and immediately sensed the change in Dominic. A feeling of jealousy engulfed her entire being.
"Miss La Rosa is really beautiful," Sisca said as she took a step forward, standing side by side with Dominic, her gaze falling on Alessia on the grass.
Dominic frowned slightly, and Sisca continued, "I have also met Miss Ramirez. Although Miss La Rosa doesn't resemble Miss Ramirez, they are both beauties. It's a pity that Miss Ramirez has a mental illness. I wonder if this kind of illness is hereditary."
Sisca's sole intention was to discredit Alessia, but she completely failed to notice that when she reached this point, Dominic's expression darkened.
She continued, "Perhaps Miss La Rosa is also considering Miss Ramirez's illness, so she doesn't want to acknowledge her as her mother. But I think a child doesn't mind if the mother is ugly, and a dog doesn't mind if the home is poor. Miss La Rosa's actions might have hurt Miss Ramirez's feelings a bit."
After saying these words, Sisca looked at Dominic, hoping to see disdain for Alessia in his eyes.
However, what she saw instead was Dominic's deep eyes, which seemed to see through all her intentions, staring at her coldly as if he had long seen through all her ulterior motives.
Sisca felt like she was being strangled. Her face turned pale, and she uncomfortably asked, "Dom, why are you looking at me like this? Did... did I say something wrong?"
Dominic didn't reply, withdrawing his gaze and coolly stating, "It's getting late, you should go back now."
"It's only three o'clock now," Sisca checked the time, reluctantly biting her lip.
Dominic responded emotionlessly, "There's a press conference at four, you should apologize as soon as you're discharged."
David timely approached, gesturing for her to leave.
Sisca's remark about whether Miss La Rosa would inherit the illness implied that the young master was born to Miss La Rosa, suggesting he might also inherit the mental illness.
Instantly, all color drained from Sisca's face. She bit her lip, feeling unwilling as she left.
On the grass, Bianca received a report from a servant and happily hugged Alessia's arm, saying, "The annoying person has finally left."
Alessia raised an eyebrow.
Bianca said, "It's Sisca. I'm getting more and more annoyed with her lately. Don't blame my brother for helping her at the dining table. My brother had no choice."
Alessia didn't respond, seeming genuinely uninterested in Dominic's affairs.
Bianca became anxious. If her sister-in-law wasn't interested, she still had to help clarify things for her brother.
Bianca cleared her throat and continued, "Actually, my brother allowed Sisca to stir up rumors about him because Sisca's brother once saved my brother's life."
Alessia tilted her head.
Seeing Alessia finally showing some interest, Bianca continued eagerly.
"When my brother was in the second year of junior high school, he experienced an avalanche while climbing the Niagara Escarpment and almost died. Thanks to Sisca's brother, my brother was safe. My brother has continued to support Sisca since then. He felt indebted to her brother. Sister-in-law, can you understand my brother's dilemma?"
"So your brother wants to repay her with his body?" Alessia's lips curled mockingly, recalling the text message from years ago.
Bianca was momentarily stunned before shaking her head. "Sister-in-law, are you jealous? My brother only feels guilty towards Sisca."
Even if it was just guilt, that text message from back then might have been a misunderstanding. Nevertheless, even if it were, a marriage without love couldn't last between her and Dominic.
Alessia removed Bianca's arm from around hers and casually said, "You're overthinking it. There's no possibility between me and your brother."
Bianca's expression fell.
As the sun gradually set, Alessia bid farewell to Grandma Carter, preparing to leave.
Grandma Carter's eyes revealed reluctance.
Alessia said, "Grandma, I'll come to see you whenever I have time."
"Okay." Grandma Carter smiled, suddenly looking at Dominic sitting on the sofa and calling out, "Dom, you send Sia back."
Alessia felt awful.
Dominic had explicitly stated in the agreement that she couldn't use the children to get close to him. If she accepted Grandma's arrangement, she didn't know how he would feel about it.
After some thought, she decided to speak up. "Grandma, it's not necessary. I can take a cab."
"Why take a cab when Dom can send you? He's free now anyway," Grandma Carter decided firmly, leaving no room for refusal.
Alessia had no choice but to accept. It seemed that even though she had remarried and had a child, Grandma still hadn't given up on the idea of matchmaking her with Dominic.
She couldn't hurt the old lady's feelings too much.
In the end, Alessia didn't refuse anymore.
She followed Dominic out of the main house.
Alessia watched the tall figure walking in front of her and stopped in her tracks.
The man noticed her movement and turned his head impatiently.
Alessia spoke, "You don't have to send me. If we don't mention this, Grandma won't know."
"So, is this your usual style of deception?" Dominic didn't appreciate it, instead wearing a mocking expression.
Alessia was stunned, feeling it was better to ignore Dominic.
If he liked to send her off, then so be it. As long as she didn't let him into the house, he wouldn't find out about Christian and Elle anyway.
Dominic sat in the driver's seat, and Alessia walked over to open the rear door.
Dominic's harsh voice came from inside the car, "Do you think I'm your chauffeur?"
Alessia impatiently closed the rear door. After all, she didn't mind treating Dominic as her chauffeur, but she didn't know if this petty man would hold a grudge.
Alessia got into the car, fastened her seatbelt, and lay back in her seat, her thoughts suddenly wandering.
They say the passenger seat is reserved for girlfriends or wives. Before the divorce, she had never sat in Dominic's passenger seat. After the divorce, she ended up sitting in it.
"What are you looking at?" Dominic noticed Alessia looking at him through the rearview mirror and spoke expressionlessly.
"In the second year of junior high, why did you go to the Niagara Escarpment ?" Alessia asked inexplicably.
Dominic obviously hadn't expected Alessia to ask this question. After a moment of surprise, he remembered what had happened back then.
He went to the Niagara Escarpment that year because he had made an appointment with someone.
They met on a forum, gradually became acquainted, and finally arranged to meet in person.
However, he went, but she didn't show up.
***