Betrayed and Dumped: She Rose Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 34

Rebecca stepped out of the hospital room, set the water pitcher on the table across the hall, and turned to face Bruce. She didn’t bother with small talk. “Did you want to say something to me?” Her tone was chilly, her face missing that bright, unstoppable smile she used to have whenever she saw him.

Bruce felt a sharp jolt in his chest. It hit him that ever since Rebecca had taken her leave, she hadn’t smiled at him like that anymore. She used to look at him like he was her whole world. Now he got nothing but distance. Did she find our about something? He tried to shake off the thought. It didn’t make sense. Rebecca had been stuck at the hospital, busy with Samantha day and night. She barely had time to call him, let alone find out anything about what was happening at work. Even if someone had dropped hints, Rebecca wasn’t the type to keep things bottled up. If she suspected something, she would have already confronted him.

She hadn’t said a word, so she probably didn’t know a thing.

Without realizing it, they had walked all the way to the end of the hallway. There was an open window there and a breeze drifted in, helping Bruce breathe a little easier. He let out a long, slow breath. He hadn’t done anything to betray her, so there was nothing to feel guilty about. And even if she did know about Sonja, what did it matter? It was just a regular hiring decision. He was the CEO. He could hire whoever he wanted.

That thought made him feel steadier, ready for whatever was coming. It had been a long time since he’d seen Rebecca. Now, watching her stand by the window with the wind playing in her dark hair, he felt something stir inside him. Morris was always complaining that he didn’t get why Bruce cared about Rebecca so much. But Bruce thought she was pretty incredible. Not just smart and capable, but beautiful, too.

Rebecca’s beauty wasn’t like Sonja’s, who was all bright lights and easy charm. Rebecca was the kind of beautiful you noticed slowly, and the feeling stayed with you. If Sonja was a rose, then Rebecca was a gladiolus. That flower meant sincerity, loyalty, and a kind of quiet strength.

Bruce reached out. His hand was big, his fingers long, as he gently tucked a strand of Rebecca’s hair behind her ear. She flinched, surprised by his sudden touch, but by the time she realized what he’d done, his hand was already gone.

“You’ve lost so much weight,” Bruce said quietly. “If you’re overwhelmed, I can get you extra help. I’ll cover it.”

Rebecca lowered her eyes. “That’s not necessary.” It wasn’t the hospital that was keeping her busy, anyway. It was work. Another helper wouldn’t make a difference.

“You said you wanted to talk to me, right?” she asked.

“Yeah.” Bruce nodded.

Rebecca drew in a slow, steady breath. When she spoke, her voice was light and calm. “I accept your apology. As for whatever Morris said, I don’t care. It’s just noise to me. I don’t take it to heart.”

Bruce stared at her, then frowned. “Rebecca, don’t talk about Morris like that.”

She couldn’t hold back her frustration any longer. “I don’t want to talk about him at all. You came here for a reason, and I doubt it was just to talk about Morris. So say whatever else you need to say.”

After that, she planned to ask him if he’d gotten her letter. She wanted to know if he’d read her resignation, and if he’d agree to end the engagement. She’d been so busy lately she’d almost forgotten about it. Seeing him tonight brought it all back.

Bruce closed his eyes for a moment. His throat felt tight. Finally, he managed to say, “I want to call off the engagement.”