BIT

Chapter 23

“What do you mean why am I here? Of course, I’m here to get my dinner,” Rebecca rétorted defensively.

“So your handsome boyfriend doesn’t feed you after spending the whole day with you?” Harvey sneered.

“Shut your mouth if you don’t know anything!” Rebecca snapped angrily.

Suddenly, the waitress cleared her throat loudly, interrupting their argument. “If you two don’t want to share a table, I can-”

“No, it’s fine!” Rebecca and Harvey replied simultaneously.

“Okay, perfect!” the waitress said, turning around and leaving Rebecca and Harvey still staring at each other with complex emotions. Fortunately, Rebecca’s food arrived shortly after. “We’ve already processed your delivery order for Mr. Nicholas Bennett; here is the bill,” the waitress said, placing the receipt on the table.

Hearing Nicholas Bennett’s name, Harvey straightened up and glared at Rebecca. “You act as if you’re devastated, but you’re actually enjoying your post–divorce life, aren’t you?”

Rebecca stuffed a large forkful of spaghetti into her mouth, trying hard not to rise to Harvey’s taunts. She knew that no matter how hard she tried to explain, Harvey would never believe her without solid proof.

“At least find someone who truly loves you. You might not know, but Nicholas Bennett is just using you! Why do you think he suddenly reappeared in your life and acted nice? Where was he all this time?” Harvey ranted, becoming increasingly irritated as Rebecca ignored him.

Rebecca slammed her fork and spoon onto the table, her eyes blazing as she glared at Harvey. “Why do you care if Nicholas Bennett is using me? Your girlfriend, that wicked Foxy, is doing far worse, yet you defend her as if she’s innocent!” she shouted, drawing the attention of several onlookers.

Harvey fell silent and took a deep breath.

“Just because she reappeared in my life after my grandfather forced her to leave doesn’t

mean-

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“No one ever forced her to leave. Your grandfather gave her a choice, and that wicked Foxy chose money! She’s back because she ran out of it and needs to dig into you again. Admit it, Harvey, you’re weak and naive, which is why that wild Alicia Fox is with you now,” Rebecca hissed with hatred. Whenever she mentioned Alicia Fox’s name, she felt her blood boiling.

“I am not weak!” Harvey slammed the table, making the restaurant fall silent.

Rebecca scoffed, “Yeah, maybe you’re not weak, but you’re stupid and naive. That’s why your gold–digging girlfriend can control you! Shame on you, Harvey! If it weren’t for your blindness, our baby might still be alive!” she cried with a trembling voice. She stood up, put money on the table, and walked away, leaving Harvey staring in disbelief.

Rebecca hurried out of the restaurant and walked down the deserted sidewalk. Her chest felt full of anger, ready to explode at any moment. She needed to find Dr. Theo, who had treated her before, and interrogate him.

“Can’t you stop running away every time we’re talking?” Suddenly, Harvey stood in front of her, blocking her path, panting from running after her.

Rebecca stopped, startled. She looked at Harvey, confused. “What do you actually want from me? Can’t you just be my enemy? We don’t need to discuss anything, and it would be easier for me. You’re happy now that you finally divorced me, right? So celebrate your victory and stop bothering me!” she barked angrily.

Harvey stood still, opening his mouth and then closing it again, lost for words.

“I just ”

“Whatever happened between us is over. Even if I’m still trying to prove that Alicia committed a crime against me, I’m doing it for the sake of the baby that was once inside me, not for you. So move away and let’s deal with our lives separately,” Rebecca. said firmly.

She brushed past Harvey, feeling like her plans were falling apart. She needed to rearrange everything to ensure things went as she wanted.

“Wait!” Suddenly, Harvey grabbed her arm, nearly causing her to fall, but he caught her and held her in his embrace.

Rebecca knew she should push Harvey away and run, but her body rejected the idea. Her body craved that embrace more than anything. She felt a peace she had never felt

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before, and oddly, that feeling made her sad, bringing tears streaming down her face.

People walked past them as the seconds ticked by, but they continued to hold each other, silently expressing the longing they were too proud to voice.

Rebecca was jolted back to reality by her phone vibrating in her handbag. She pulled away from Harvey, clearing her throat awkwardly.

“Let’s end it here and never meet again,” she said, her tone softening. She took a deep breath and turned away. “I can’t,” Harvey blurted out before Rebecca could leave.

Rebecca stared at him in shock, she wanted to turn around and ask for an explanation, but a voice in her head told her not to do something so foolish.

She clenched her fists and walked away again, her steps slower as her energy was drained.

“You still have feelings for me, don’t you?” Harvey said, walking beside Rebecca, matching her pace.

Rebecca remained silent while pressing her lips tightly, ignoring him.

“Spend this night with me and decide whether you will hate me forever or-

“Or what?” Rebecca challenged. “Is there anything left of our relationship? For three years, I lived without being loved, and in the end, I was trampled on and discarded. What makes you think I still love you the same way? Do you think I’m stupid or what?”

Harvey clenched his jaw, looking uncertain as if unsure of what he was doing. He was just following his instincts. All he knew was that his body had been used to

relurebecca’s

presence for three years. He missed her, missed her deeply but was to admit

1. it.

“I can’t keep doing this. If you don’t leave, I’ll call 911 and report that I’m being stalked,” Rebecca said, pulling out her phone from her handbag.

Harvey stepped closer, and in one swift move he cupped Rebecca’s face and landed a soft kiss on her lips.