Betrayed and Dumped: She Rose Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 274

The next afternoon was the monthly exec meeting, which meant everyone from all the branch offices had to show up. Rebecca was on the list, too.

When she pushed open the door, Stephen was already in his spot at the head of the table, deep in conversation with an executive from out of town. He glanced up at the sound, their eyes met for a second, and Rebecca was quick to look away. She kept her face calm, unbothered, and slipped quietly into a seat right in the corner.

She’d picked a spot so far off to the side that Stephen would have had to crane his neck just to see her. The man beside him noticed he wasn’t listening and called his name again, a little louder this time. “Mr. Duncan? Mr. Duncan?”

That snapped Stephen out of it. He frowned, loosening his tie just a touch.

Two long hours later, the meeting wrapped up. Stephen wanted to catch Rebecca before she left, to ask if she was alright or if she still felt sick. But a crowd of execs surrounded him immediately, all with questions and reports. By the time he was free, Rebecca was nowhere to be seen.

He pressed his fingers to his forehead, a dull ache spreading through his chest.

Meanwhile, as soon as the meeting ended, Rebecca hurried out as fast as she could, almost running. She’d tried not to look at Stephen, but she still felt his gaze on her every time she glanced down to take notes.

Once she got back to her own office, Rebecca closed the door and let out a slow breath. But her chest still felt tight, a sharp ache settling in. She’d always told herself not to catch feelings for him, but now she realized she was already in deep without even noticing.

Yesterday, when Mrs. Duncan insulted her, she could at least argue that she and Stephen were just colleagues, nothing more. Today, though, she couldn’t even convince herself of that.

At least she’d stopped things before it got any further.

Mrs. Duncan was right. She and Stephen were from completely different worlds. It never could have worked.

This was the end for them.

From now on, she’d just be his employee. Nothing more.

Rebecca patted her cheeks, took a deep breath, and told herself that she could live without a man, but not without her job. Companies with good pay, great benefits, and decent management like Sunforge Tech didn’t come around often. She needed to hang onto this job.

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