CHAPTER 526: I MUST’VE MISHEARD YOU (4)

In another part of the island, a young woman stepped out of her car just as the late afternoon sun dipped behind the walls of the grand family house. Her flat shoes slapped softly on the tiled walkway as the heavy wooden doors opened before she could even reach them.

"Miss! Miss Alicia!" the maid gasped, clearly startled but delighted, rushing down the steps with a flurry of excitement. "Ah! You didn’t tell us you were coming!"

Alicia smiled tiredly, catching the older woman in a gentle hug. "Surprise visit, but I don’t need to inform you before visiting my own home, right?"

She said fondly. Alicia had grown up with only her father and considered this maid as a mother figure. Though the maid never crossed her boundaries and had always treated her with the respect of a rich young Miss.

"I missed home."

Lara, the maid, stepped back, eyes shining with affection. "Ah! The old master will be so happy to see you. These days, he’s always grumbling that you never visit. He even blames you for the garden flowers that are starting to droop!"

Alicia stopped and laughed, along with Lara.

"The old master said....

Lara sucked in her tummy and buffed up her chest, mimicking the old master’s voice,

"Alicia is the sunshine that gives them food. Look at how the poor souls are starving because she is not here?"

Alicia doubled over laughing, and most of the workers in the home poked out their heads, shouting one fond greeting after the other.

"Dad sure has a way of saying that he misses me.... Why didn’t he call me?"

"How did you know, Miss Alicia? He was always staring at his phone when he said that."

"Do me a favour, Lara. The next time he does that, just call .... I mean, text me and I’ll call as soon as I can."

Alicia changed her instruction because in her line of work, she preferred to be totally dedicated, so unless it was very urgent, everyone around her had a standing instruction not to call.

Lara nodded and then added, teasingly, "These days, even the dogs and cats also miss you, it would seem!"

"Hahahahahahahahahaaaaaa."

Though Alicia came without a suitcase, there was a medium-sized tote that had a few changes of clothes. She saw another quickly open her car door and grab it before she could object.

The workers of this home had to be strategic because their Miss, though the only child, was too independent, and they had to fight to even do one simple task for them. Oftentimes, they wondered what they were supposed to do, if not serve her.

Alicia was so different from any rich Missus that sometimes, her staff did not know what to do, but her father preferred her that way.

He always said that wealth should not define a person, and even though he had a child who would rather earn her own dime than spend his millions, he was very much okay. He questioned himself sometimes, but that did not mean that he was not proud of his daughter.

"Come inside, come inside! The old master is just finishing his afternoon tea. He came not long ago, and he was already in a good mood. I don’t need to be a genius to know that your presence is going to push his mood through the roof! Wait till he sees you."

As they walked in through the familiar hallway—warmly lit and filled with the scent of tomato sauce and fresh bread—Alicia felt a sense of calm settle over her. Home always had that effect—familiar, grounding.

She had barely sat down and slipped off her shoes when her father’s voice echoed from the sitting room.

"Who’s that I hear? That laugh can only belong to one person! My sweet baby! This just became the best day of my life!"

And just like that, Alicia’s heart squeezed with affection. She and her father were inseparable. If not for her new work initiative, the two were practically besties!

"Your daughter has returned, old man," she called out cheekily, just as he appeared in the doorway with an almost boyish grin.

***

Carmichaels had tried to call Ian right after seeing the news of his and Shelby’s triumphant return, but then, after a second thought, he knew that the family needed their time together.

Carmichaels, therefore, came home. Though his place had all the indications of a home warmth, without his daughter, all of it felt empty. He went about his usual routine, taking care of his plants and then having his afternoon tea. But he never expected his son and only daughter, Alicia, to drop him a surprise visit.

He dropped everything and rushed over as soon as he heard the news.

"Alicia!" he called and rushed towards her for a hug,

"Daddy missed you so much!"

"Am I not too old for this, Dad?" Alicia asked helplessly, returning the hug.

"Nonsense! Why would my baby girl be too old for her Daddy’s hug?"

The two sat there and talked for hours as Lara and the other workers excused them.

Later that evening, the father and daughter had a simple dinner of bread, gravy and some fruits.

"Daddy? Spill!"

Carmichaels smiled and placed his hand on the table, after dabbing his mouthhis napkin, indicating that he was done with his meal.

"I can’t hide anything from you, huh?"

"Nope!"

Carmichaels smiled, and then his face turned solemn,

"I know that we’ve had this conversation prior, but I promise that this is a good candidate.

Solid background. He has a good family ... in fact, the best that you can think of. He has a good job, and no bad habits.... The list goes on and on..."

Alicia sighed, also dabbing her lips with her napkin,

"Daddy, I told you. I want to fall in love—naturally. Like real people do. Not because someone’s aunt thinks we’d match based on birth charts and bank statements. You know my preference already, so why -"

Carmichaels stared at her for a long second before slumping into his chair. "Young people," he muttered, rubbing his temple. "You all want fire and lightning and forget that peace and partnership last longer. I only have your best interest at heart..."

Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Talk of double standards, Dad! You married Mum for love."

He grunted. "I married your mother because she refused to take no for an answer. She was one headstrong woman..." His eyes softened slightly at the thought of his deceased wife,

She grinned. "And you loved ... I mean, you love her. Isn’t that why you never remarried?"

"I learned to love her," he corrected. "Big difference."

They both laughed, but Alicia’s smile faded slightly. She knew her father meant well, but her heart still longed for something that didn’t feel handed over like a job application. It was tough navigating the job market; she did not want her love life to be another such application or arrangement.

Their dinner was a simple affair, but it was warm, both in terms of the food and the company.

Carmichaels sighed and decided to drop the conversation.

"Where’s your new post?"

"You know those are confidential, Dad, I can’t tell you much, but they are a wonderful family, and the kids are great!"

"hmmmmm..."

After dinner, he patted his full belly and let out a satisfied sigh. "I love our dinner session like this. You should come back more often, Alicia dear."

Alicia nodded, knowing that her father just missed her. She looked so much like her mother that Alicia sometimes couldn’t help but think that she was reminding her father of what he had lost.

He kissed her forehead as he stood. "Goodnight, my dear."

"Night, Daddy."

As he got to the door, about to leave her for the night, he turned back one more time, hand resting lightly on the frame.

"Alicia?" he said in a gentle tone, "Are you absolutely sure you don’t want to consider him? He’s a good man. Stable. Respectful. Smart."

She gave a soft laugh, rolling her eyes. "You mean this mysterious CEO you work with? The one you just talked about? Dad, please..." she chuckled. "You make him sound like a resume."

He chuckled too, hands raised in surrender. "Alright, alright. I won’t bring it up again."

"I won’t even bother asking who this mysterious person is," Alicia added,

"Why would you want to introduce someone to me, and will not even give me any details about the person? ... apart from his adjectives?

Indeed he had not given his daughter any other details on the intended groom.

"You have to trust Dad’s judgment. Besides, what’s the fun in it?"

Carmichaels paused, thinking that since Brad had not agreed, he did not want to show his picture... or any other details. He just felt it was better that way.

’It’s a pity ...’ he sighed.

’Brad would have made a fine husband for my daughter!’

Alicia smiled. It’s always been her father and her, and she was used to having her way most of the time, and this was no different; besides, she was just thirty-five and had time to settle down if need be.

But just as she smiled in triumph, Carmichaels added slyly, "Fine, have it your way, however... you’re already old enough. So, I’ll give you two months...."

"For what?" She frowned, not understanding,

"....to bring home the man you do want to marry."

Her jaw dropped. "What!"

"Otherwise..." he trailed off, letting the weight of the unspoken threat hang between them.

She groaned dramatically, already knowing what the "otherwise" meant — endless setups, subtle lectures, maybe even a surprise introduction or two. She shook her head with a reluctant grin.

"Alright, old man. You win."

He smiled proudly. "That’s my girl."

And with that, he finally headed off to bed, leaving Alicia staring after him with her hands on her chin and a mix of dread and amusement on her face.

Once upstairs, he settled into his room and shut the door. He pulled out his phone and stared at the screen for a moment, hesitating, but whatever he wanted to do, Carmichaels didn’t go through with it.

*********

Thank you so much to all for your votes and comments! I hope we can keep it up ^_^

Support the author by reading only on Webnovel :) ~Uploaded only on webnovel by Loctovia ~