The sea breeze stopped blowing and the animals and insects grew silent. In this moment of silence, Rebecca watched the man in front of her smile."Who do you want me to be?" His tone now was gentle and persuasive, unlike his sheepish tone from earlier. It was as if he was telling her that he could continue pretending to be Dan if she wished it.However, once the veneer was shattered, it was over. She couldn't turn it into the real thing by pretending. She knew the answer but chose to ask despite it. Now, she had to face harsh reality.Suddenly, Rebecca let out a laugh. She didn't know if she was laughing more at the absurdity of her reality or at her stupidity. Why did she have to come back? None of this would have happened if she left with her brothers earlier. She wondered if it was fate that things turned out this way, and unfortunately, it seemed so.David started to walk toward her. His bodyguards in black suits followed, each step thundering off the cobblestones."Don't co
That's true. How could she be sure? If she ignored what Sam told her about David's evil deeds and just looked at her legs, it was obvious to the kind of person David was. So, how could she be sure that he would keep his word and release everyone if she went to him? Was it worth believing the man who lied to her about being Daniel?Rebecca stopped in her tracks at Caleb's words. Sam immediately added, "Becca, listen to Caleb and come back here. You are not our burden. You never were and never will be. No matter what, Cal and I will never allow you to give yourself up for us."The incident at Tillfort Peaks was a lesson for all. Sam believed he didn't need Rebecca to save him each time. Even if they only had each other, he was certain he'd be able to protect her. If he wasn't able to bring her with him, he still couldn't stay and watch her leave – not when he could stop it. "Come over here, Becca. Don't you trust Sam and I?" Caleb was being extremely careful. His voice was edged wi
"Come back with me and I'll order my men away," David whispered in her ear. He leaned in so intimately that others wondered if something more was going on."I'm not threatening you, nor am I lying to you."Rebecca remained still. David took this opportunity to grab her wrist tightly. It didn't matter how hard she struggled. She couldn't escape him if he wanted her there. Hence, she decided it was better to try trusting him again.Watching the will leave her made David feel joyful again. He signaled his men to step down. The human wall separating Sam and Caleb from each other parted, but still prevented them from rushing David.Although Rebecca didn't turn back, she saw what happened from the corner of her eye and breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. David noticed this and his mood improved. He smiled and said, "You can rest easy now, Ms. Johnson."Rebecca looked up at him and choked between sobs. "There's still someone else.""Someone else?" That was when David turned to loo
"Crazy bastard?" David surprisingly wasn't angered by this. He had been called many different names — a lunatic, the devil, demented …Humans were as such. They labeled others with special words when others behaved in ways that defied common understanding.David didn't see himself as a lunatic. However, he was willing to let it slide if the person labeling him was Rebecca. "So be it. Call me what you, if it makes you feel better."He let go of her hair, his eyes trained downward. He couldn't tell if his words were for Rebecca or for himself. When he looked up again, all he could see was the same uncaring look, with none of the warmth from the previous day to be seen.Since she could see through his pretenses, there was no need for him to continue acting. Moreover, he thought it would be better for him to be his usual self. It would make her feel less disgusted, and he would be happier dropping all pretenses anyway.Rebecca was bewildered. She couldn't figure out the meaning behind
Rebecca turned her head toward the source of the sound with an innocent expression. Her pale face was scarred red because of the napkins. She looked extremely pitiful in this state.David stopped in his tracks and his expression darkened. Rebecca became more afraid when she saw this. Her mind went blank as she watched David approach her. However, her body leaned back against the chair on its own accord when David stopped in front of her and held out his hand to her. Since there was limited space, there was nowhere for her to hide.David didn't continue. His hand halted in mid-air when he saw her avoid him.Although there was no change in his expression, she could still feel that his mood had worsened. Anyone's mood would turn sour at such a blatant display of disgust, what more the high and mighty Mr. Winston.All this while, he was the one who looked down on others, but never the other way round. Rebecca shuddered at the thought. She opened her mouth and tried to find an excus
The sun was hanging high in the sky outside the hotel. David's bodyguards who had surrounded Sam and Caleb had left. They even cleaned the puddle of blood on the ground before they left. It was as if this morning's incident never happened. It wasn't long before the brothers were left stranded on the empty road. It was a hot day, but they felt a chill."Sam, what should we do now?" They were unwilling to give up and had been standing there for some time. However, nothing would come about if they continued standing under the sun, and they felt strange not doing anything.Sam pursed his lips as he tried to think of an answer. His eyes were still glued to the semi-transparent thick glass panel. He hoped to catch a glimpse of Rebecca through that glass. However, his rational mind told him that it was impossible. She had followed David into the elevator and the last time he caught sight of her happened too quickly.He sucked in a deep breath and retracted his gaze. "Let's go back to t
At the hotel, Rebecca quickly finished getting ready. After changing out her clothes, she suddenly had the thought of hiding in the bedroom and not getting out.The confusion that had originally arisen at night had now resurfaced, and it was gradually eating away at her. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, her mind racing.She wasn't sure if it was the mist in the bathroom or if she had cried too much today, but her face had an abnormal flush. She looked pitiable and distressed, especially with her reddened eyes.Rebecca herself didn't realize that this was how she looked to David earlier. She looked so ... Although she didn't remember the past five years and didn't know what she was like during that time, her intuition told her that this wasn't it.She wasn't a wallflower that clung to others or like a bird locked inside a cage. How did she end up like this? This couldn't be it.Was it because David had taken care of her for a month, and so she had already changed to
Rebecca didn't stay shocked for long. After locking eyes with David, she got up from the couch. She hid all her emotions and asked monotonously, "Since this outfit is too childish for you, what do you think I should wear?"David glanced at her and was about to respond when there was a knock on the door. It was none other than Randy, who had been with them during this time. David didn't like to close doors, and the top floor was usually empty, so the room's door was left open. He just had to turn and see the person at the door.It might have been her imagination, but when Rebecca glanced at Randy, she could feel the hatred in his eyes directed at her. Before she could look closer, Randy had already shifted his gaze.She also retracted her gaze helplessly. Randy was here looking for David, and it seemed like it was serious given his stern tone. "Mr. Winston."Because Rebecca was present, Randy didn't explain further. He just glanced behind him before turning his gaze back to David,