Betrayed and Dumped She Rose Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 413

Rebecca and Stephen were tucked away in the very last row, hidden in the corner. Stephen had picked the spot on purpose—private, easy to miss, with the lighting making it look like only one person was sitting there.

He grinned and handed Rebecca some popcorn and a soda.

She raised an eyebrow, half teasing, half surprised. “So even big-shot CEOs need the classic movie snacks, huh?”

Still, she took them with a smile.

Stephen nodded toward the couples in front of them. “Everyone else was getting popcorn and drinks, so I figured it was just what you do on a date.”

Rebecca took a long sip of her soda, then laughed. “Wait, haven’t you dated before? You act like you don’t know anything.”

Stephen cleared his throat, a little embarrassed. “Never been to a movie theater, actually. I always watched films at home. I’ve got a home theater. It’s about three hundred square meters.”

Rebecca just stared at him, lost for words for a moment.

He slipped his arm around her shoulders, his eyes locked on hers. “Want to check it out? Next date, my place?”

Rebecca bit her lip, hesitating. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

Stephen smiled, looking every bit the gentleman. “It’s just my private villa.”

She knew what it usually meant when a guy asked a girl over to his place. There was no way his intentions were that innocent.

Rebecca’s cheeks felt warm and she looked down, taking a big gulp of her ice-cold soda. She drank too fast and started coughing.

Stephen gently patted her back, grinning. “What’s running through your head? I meant just hanging out.”

Rebecca’s face was bright red, but she refused to admit what she’d been thinking. “Nothing! I just ran into two dogs in the elevator earlier. They were barking like crazy and it annoyed me, so I needed some soda to chill out.”

Stephen blinked. Dogs in the mall? That was weird. The place really needed better management. He made a mental note to tell the mall’s founder about it.

As the movie started, Stephen pulled out his phone and found the founder’s contact, who was someone he’d met at a business event. He messaged right away, pointing out the management problem and offering some advice.

Rebecca couldn’t help but give in. “How about… we go hang out in your car?”

Stephen’s eyes lit up, almost sparkling. “Sure.”

Rebecca caught that look and wondered if he’d gotten the wrong idea. Seriously, she just meant chatting in the car.

Once they left, they headed down the elevator, Rebecca a step behind Stephen. Her phone rang just then. Security said her car was blocking someone and she needed to move it.

Rebecca thought that was odd. She was pretty sure she hadn’t parked in anybody’s way, but she told Stephen to go ahead and wait for her at his car.

When she got to her parking spot, she realized the person who’d complained was Sonja.

Sonja was alone this time. Bruce was nowhere to be seen.

With her arms crossed and a mocking smile, Sonja looked Rebecca up and down. “So you really are by yourself. How sad.”