Chapter 149: The Weekend Shopping
The words had already escaped, and Charlotte’s eyes had lit up with understanding.
Charlotte’s face broke into a knowing smile. "You weren’t angry, but you were pretended to be." she said, her voice filled with amusement. She took a step closer to Thea, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "You were just playing a role, weren’t you?"
Thea’s eyes darted away, unable to meet Charlotte’s gaze, as she realized her secret was out.
As Thea backed away, Charlotte closed in, her eyes sparkling with playful intent. Thea’s retreat was halted when she stumbled upon the bed and tumbled onto it, giving Charlotte the perfect opportunity to pounce.
With a sly grin, Charlotte caught Thea, her hands holding Thea’s wrists in place. "You played with me throughout the day...hmm? Do you think you can easily escape from me?" Charlotte teased, her voice low and husky.
Thea stuttered, trying to defend herself. "Charlotte...it’s your fault yesterday grandma scolded me, as you too pretended..."
Charlotte’s grin only grew wider. "That’s different," she replied, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Without warning, Charlotte pinned Thea’s foot in place and began to tickle it mercilessly. Thea’s laughter erupted, a contagious and joyful sound. "Aah...Charlotte...He he...no more, please... Charlotte.." she begged, but Charlotte continued to tickle her, her fingers dancing across Thea’s foot with a playful touch.
Thea’s body shook with laughter, her eyes shining with tears. She tried to squirm away, but Charlotte held her fast, determined to exact her playful revenge. As the tickling continued, Thea’s laughter grew louder, filling the room with a happy sound. Charlotte’s own laughter joined in, blending with Thea’s in a joyful duet.
After Charlotte had taken her revenge, she finally relented, releasing Thea from her tickling grasp. Thea glared at her, still trying to catch her breath from laughing so hard.
"Don’t give me that look.." Charlotte said, holding up her hands in mock defense. "You’re to be blamed for it."
Thea’s expression turned indignant. "But it was your fault..."
Charlotte shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I know I was at fault. Whatever, I like to tease you a little."
Thea rolled her eyes. "That’s why I prefer to ignore you completely."
As she spoke, Thea wiped away the tears that had formed during the tickling session, her eyes still shining with mirth. Charlotte grinned, seeming to enjoy the fact that she had gotten a rise out of Thea.
"As long as I’m present, you have to tolerate it, baby." Charlotte said, her voice teasing.
Thea’s expression softened, and she smiled, indicating that she had forgiven Charlotte. "You’ve forgiven me, right?" Charlotte asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.
Thea nodded, and Charlotte’s face lit up with a smile. "Great! Let’s go downstairs, then. Grandma asked for both of us to come down for the meal."
With that, Charlotte held out her hand, and Thea took it, the two of them walking downstairs together, arm in arm, their earlier playful squabble forgotten.
"Grandma, we’re here," Thea announced, as they entered the dining room.
Grandma Grace looked up from her seat at the head of the table. "Hmm, take a seat, girls." she replied, her eyes warm with welcome.
As they sat down, Grandma Grace turned her attention to Thea. "Thea, were you angry with our cute Charlotte today?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Thea nodded, but before she could elaborate, Charlotte jumped in. "No, Grandma, don’t believe her words. She said that she wasn’t at all angry with me, but pretended to be," Charlotte said, her mouth full of food.
Grandma Grace’s eyes turned to Thea, a questioning look on her face. "Thea, did you?"
Thea hesitated, before nodding sheepishly. "Well, yes... but she was at fault." she added, trying to justify her actions.
Charlotte smiled,as she shot Thea a look. "For that, I have already asked for your forgiveness." she said, her voice innocent.
Grandma Grace chuckled, her eyes twinkling with understanding. "I see," she said, her voice warm with affection."Well, it’s between you two best friends.If you two have already settled the matter, then that’s good. Let’s just enjoy our meal, shall we?"
Thea and Charlotte looked at each other, and then back at Grandma Grace, before smiling and turning their attention to the food on the table.
After Charlotte bid them goodbye after the meal, Grandma Grace patted the seat beside her, inviting Thea to sit down. Thea obliged, snuggling into the comfortable spot beside her grandmother.
"Charlotte was truly worried while she believed you were truly angry with her," Grandma Grace said, a knowing glint in her eye. "I knew that you, my mischievous child, wouldn’t be angry with her, but were just pretending to be."
Thea smiled, looking up at her grandmother with a hint of mischief still in her eyes. "Hmm, you would know me, after all, you’ve raised me all these years."
Grandma Grace chuckled, wrapping her arms around Thea in a warm hug. "Yes, I’ve had the pleasure of watching you grow and learning your little ways." she said, her voice filled with love and warmth.
As Thea disappeared upstairs, Grandma Grace’s gaze lingered on the empty space, her mind flooded with memories of the past. She couldn’t help but think about the difficult times Thea had faced, particularly when she was just five years old and lost her parents. The pain and grief had been overwhelming, leaving Thea feeling lost and alone in the world.
Grandma Grace’s heart swelled with emotion as she recalled the days when Thea had stopped talking, unable to express the emotions that were bottled up inside her. It had been a heartbreaking time, but with unwavering love, patience, and care, Grandma Grace had helped Thea slowly heal and find her voice again.
As she sat there, lost in thought,Grandma Grace felt a deep sense of gratitude for the people who had come into Thea’s life, particularly Ryder, Charlotte and his family. They had brought so much joy, love, and acceptance into Thea’s world, and Grandma Grace knew that her granddaughter was fortunate to have them by her side.
On weekends, as promised earlier, she accompanied Charlotte to the shopping mall.
As they were out shopping, Charlotte suddenly announced, "Next Wednesday, we’re departing. Start packing your things!" Thea murmured a distracted "Okay..." without breaking her stride.
Charlotte continued, "I’ve already booked our tickets." Thea responded with a vague "Hmm...", still focused on the stores and merchandise around her.
Charlotte’s voice cut through Thea’s distraction, "Are you listening?" Thea snapped out of her reverie, looking at Charlotte with a confused expression. "What did you say?" she asked.
Charlotte repeated, "This Wednesday, we’re going. I’ve booked the tickets for us." Thea nodded, starting to process the information. "Okay..."
As the reality of their departure sank in, Charlotte asked, "Grandma would go to her elder brother’s house, right? When we go?" Thea thought for a moment before responding. Charlotte then offered, "Hmm, then I will accompany you to drop her off at your grandfather’s house."
Thea spoke up, "You don’t have to accompany me to drop off Grandma." But Charlotte insisted, "No, I should go with you. Our flight is at 3 am next day, so we will drop Grandma off on Tuesday, and then you’ll stay with me. That way, Grandma won’t have to worry about you."
Thea raised an eyebrow, "Am I a kid that she has to worry about?" Charlotte’s expression turned playful, and she teased, "But I’ll do it anyway, after all, my baby has a friend like me who’s worried about you." Thea couldn’t help but laugh at Charlotte’s affectionate joke, feeling grateful for her friend’s caring nature.
Charlotte’s gaze fell upon a gorgeous gown store in the shopping complex, its sophisticated exterior and dazzling window display instantly grabbing her attention. She stood there for a moment, admiring the store’s elegant appearance, before turning to Thea with a enthusiastic smile. "Let’s go and try some gowns in this store."
Thea followed Charlotte into the store, where they were greeted by a smiling saleswoman. Charlotte walked over to the collection of gowns, her eyes scanning the racks as she searched for the perfect dress. Thea joined her, and together they began to browse through the elegant gowns on display.
As Charlotte approached the collection of gowns, her eyes landed on a beautiful dress displayed on a mannequin in the right corner of the store.
