<h4>Chapter 146: A Reward</h4>


    <strong><i>Meredith.</i></strong>


    The shrill ring of my phone tore through the quiet in my room, dragging me violently out of the deep, dreamless sleep I’d barely sunk into.


    I groaned softly, rolling onto my side, my hand fumbling across the nightstand until I found the device. My eyes squinted against the glow of the screen.


    Dennis.


    I answered without thinking. "Hello...?"


    "Were you sleeping?" came Dennis’s familiar, smooth voice. There was a smile tucked between the sybles.


    "Yes," I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.


    "Oh," he said with mock guilt, "My apologies for waking you. I just wanted to remind you that your favourite driving instructor will be ready for you in half an hour."


    I groaned, flopping onto my back. "I’m too tired for lessons today. I want to sleep some more."


    There was a brief silence, then Dennis sighed. "That’s too bad... I guess the ice cream I drove more than an hour to buy for you will just melt away."


    My eyes snapped open. I sat up so fast the pillow fell from behind me. "You got me ice cream?"


    Since that time, Dennis first took me to Duskmoor’s town when I had a breakdown, all thanks to Draven, and bought me Ice cream; I haven’t had another.


    Dennis chuckled. "I see you’ve changed your mind about the lesson. I’ll be waiting at our usual spot."


    "I’ming!" I blurted as I swung my legs off the bed, fully alert now.


    "Don’t run!" he called through augh before hanging up.


    I threw the nket aside, darted into the dressing room, and pulled on something simple—a matching two-piece, pants and a top. I didn’t even waste time checking myself in the mirror. The mention of ice cream had robbed me of all reasoning.


    As I stepped back into the bedroom, I slipped my phone into the drawer of the nightstand. I wasn’t about to risk Draven finding out about it before my ns. I had ns.


    I dashed out of the room, my heart pounding—not from excitement alone, but from a tiny spark of fear. I prayed none of my maidservants would walk into my room while I was out and cause a panic.


    Thest thing I wanted was to get them into trouble with Draven. He’d scold them for not knowing my whereabouts. And truly, it was wrong of me to leave without informing anyone. But...


    But it was ice cream.


    And when Dennis said he’d gotten it for me, every bit of sense I had was stripped away.


    Maybe it would have been the best situation if I had told Azul from the outset that I would never miss my driving lessons for anything.


    By the time I reached the frontwn, I was in a half-run, my breath hitching slightly.


    Dennis was already there, standing beside his car, holding the te of ice cream in one hand and two stic spoons in the other. The broad smile on his face widened when he saw me.


    I skidded to a stop in front of him, panting. Strands of hair clung to my forehead with sweat. My bun was a mess. I probably looked ridiculous.


    "It seems like you ran, mydy," Dennis said withughter in his voice.


    "I didn’t want my ice cream to melt," I replied, meeting his gaze as I straightened up.


    Dennis shook his head with an amused glint in his eyes. "It’s a good thing you didn’t slip. You’re right on time." Then he added, "You didn’te with any of your maids today?"


    I couldn’t take my eyes off the te of ice cream. "No need for an escort today."


    Dennis hummed. "Too bad I wouldn’t have to see the constant stare of that particr maid of yours. What is her name again?"


    "Deidra," I replied with a smile, and he nodded.


    A few minutester, we found ourselves seated on the grass, our backs against the hedge. The te of ice cream rested between us.


    He passed me a spoon before peeling open the lid. The ice cream was split in two: one side soft pink, the other a creamy vani shade.


    My eyes lit up at the sight.


    Without waiting for an invitation, I scooped a generous amount of the pink part into my mouth. Strawberry. The sweetness rolled across my tongue.


    "Won’t you like to take a photo?" Dennis asked, licking the melted bit from the lid.


    I shook my head, savouring another bite. "Didn’t bring my phone."


    He blinked. "Why?"


    "I don’t want your brother to find out I have one. At least not yet. I want to prank him with it first, like I nned."


    Dennis smirked. "Oh, I’m sure he will love that."


    I didn’t reply. I knew Draven’s temper far too well to believe he’dugh at any prank I yed. If anything, I was risking his wrath. Again.


    Still, I scooped the vani half and popped it in my mouth.


    Dennis pulled out his own phone from his pocket. "I’ll take a few shots and a clip then. For future evidence that Meredith Carter is obsessed with ice cream."


    "Only for ice cream," I muttered.


    "And mypany," he added with a yful wink.


    I snorted softly, but said nothing as I continued eating. The breeze was gentle, the sky above clear and soft with hints of dusk. For the first time in hours, I felt light, unbothered. And oddly... safe.


    ---


    The car rolled to a slow stop. I carefully steered into the marked spot for what had to be my sixth attempt today.


    This time, the tires didn’t grind against the curb, and I didn’t mount the grass either. That was already an improvement.


    Dennis leaned forward in his seat to nce at the distance between the car and the parking line. "Not bad," he said with a nod, "but you’re still a bit tilted to the left."


    I groaned and slumped back into the seat, gripping the wheel like I could choke the fault out of it. "Why is the left side easier than the right? My brain just refuses to cooperate."


    "Because your instinct favours your driver’s side. It’s a normal beginner struggle," Dennis replied, opening his door and stepping out.


    I followed with a huff, closing the door behind me. The air outside was cooler now as the evening shadows stretched across the ground. Thest ray of sun peeked over the roofline of the house, painting everything in warm orange.


    Dennis rounded the car and gave the parked angle another look. "When you perfect your parking, I will let you drive us to town. Full drive. From start to finish."


    My head whipped toward him. "Town?" I echoed, barely hiding the thrill that buzzed through me. That meant real roads, other cars... and ice cream I wouldn’t have to run for.


    He grinned, clearly amused by how fast I brightened up. "Yes, town. But only after you can park like someone who won’t crash into a fire hydrant."


    "Deal!" I shouted, grabbing his wrist and tugging. "One more round. Just one more. Let me practice again."


    Dennisughed. "Meredith—"


    "I’m serious! I can do better, I promise. Let’s just go one morep, please? We don’t even have to do turns, just parking. Give me ten minutes—no, five. I’ll prove I can do it."


    I was halfway dragging him back toward the driver’s side when he stopped me with both hands gently on my shoulders.


    His palms were warm, grounding.


    "Hey," he said, bending slightly so his eyes were level with mine. "Calm down. You’ve done well today. Don’t ruin it by overworking yourself."


    My excitement fizzled a little at the edges. I stared up at him, still eager but slowly realizing he wasn’t going to budge.


    He smiled faintly and gave my shoulder a soft squeeze before dropping his hands. "If we keep going, we’ll bete for dinner."


    That did it. I sighed, finally letting the tension slip from my fingers.


    "Fine," I muttered. "But I’m not done being obsessed with parking."


    "I’d be worried if you weren’t," Dennis said,ughing as he walked around to the passenger side to gather his keys.


    As I nced over my shoulder toward the estate, I already started envisioning the day I’d finally pull out of the driveway and cruise all the way into Duskmoor like someone who belonged behind the wheel.


    And the first ce I’d stop?


    Where else?


    Ice cream.


    "I know you are excited, but what we are about to do is illegal." Dennis’s voice broke through my thoughts as he drove us back to the main house.


    "Huh?" I snapped my gaze to him.


    "It is against Duskmoor’sw to drive on theirnds without a Driving license," He exined.


    <i>What? That was a crime?</i>


    "So, you are telling me we are going to bemitting a crime because there is no way I’m letting you go back on your word."


    He had to understand that fact.


    "I’m not going back on my word." He smiled, spearing me a nce.


    I released a sigh of relief and looked back on the path. "I wish we could get in trouble with this and drag your brother into it."


    I suddenly felt like dragging Draven into a rabbit hole.


    "Unfortunately, we can’t tease him with that," Dennis chuckled. "He will kill us both."


    And I couldn’t have agreed more with him.