Betrayed and Dumped: She Rose Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 78

The next moment, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was Rebecca’s mom calling.

Bruce glanced at the girl in the kitchen, then got up and slipped into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him before answering. His voice was gentle. “Hi, Samantha. How are you feeling these days? I’m sorry I haven’t stopped by... work’s just been crazy lately.”

Samantha didn’t seem bothered at all. She knew exactly how busy Bruce could get. “It’s alright, dear. I’m doing just fine.” She paused for a second, then got right to the point. “I heard from Rebecca that you two broke up?”

Bruce sighed. “Rebecca insisted on it. I didn’t want to break up.”

Samantha let out a long breath. “She can be so stubborn, sometimes too stubborn for her own good. I honestly don’t think she means it. Once she’s had a chance to cool off, she’ll come around. I’ll try to talk some sense into her.”

Bruce immediately understood what she was saying. She’d called to comfort him, and it was clear she didn’t really believe the breakup was permanent either. All that frustration he’d been carrying around just disappeared. Everyone could see Rebecca was just being dramatic. It was only a matter of time before she came back. So why bother getting mad that she deleted him from her contacts? Deleting his contact was easy, but adding him back would be harder. Next time, he wanted her to be begging for it.

Bruce thanked Samantha a few times, then hung up. Out in the living room, he heard Sonja calling his name.

He opened the door and stepped out. “I was feeling a bit chilly, so I put on a sweater.”

“What? Are you getting a fever?” Sonja stood on her tiptoes and pressed her forehead against his, checking his temperature. Then she reached up and touched his cheek with her hand.

“You don’t feel hot, but... why are you blushing?” she asked.

Bruce turned his head away, clearing his throat. “Probably just stuffy in here. I’ll open a window.”

Sonja watched him rush off, a smile tugging at her lips.

Standing by the window, Bruce could feel his heart pounding. Every time he was around Sonja, he couldn’t help but feel something for her. That night at Mrs. Campbell’s birthday party, he knew exactly what the Campbell family was hinting at. Nobody said it outright, but it was like everyone just agreed that he and Sonja were together.

He looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath of the crisp air. It helped clear his mind. Logically, being with Sonja made the most sense. She was the best choice in so many ways. But for some reason, he just couldn’t let go of Rebecca. Then again, she was the one who wanted the breakup. If he started something with Sonja now, it wouldn’t really count as cheating, would it?

Rebecca’s eyes went wide. “Wait, wouldn’t that be kind of weird?”

Stephen just shrugged. “What’s weird about it? Next time I go, I’ll bring you along. Actually, let me tell you a secret about my uncle. He acts tough, but honestly, his wife runs the show at home.”

Rebecca stared at him, picturing Dr. Palmer’s usual serious face. She couldn’t wrap her head around it. A smile slipped onto her lips. She really couldn’t imagine that at all.

Stephen glanced over and saw the smile on her face, warm and bright like sunlight breaking through on a winter day.

Not long after, they pulled up to the venue. Stephen parked the car, and Rebecca walked with him toward the entrance. They showed their invitations and got checked in, one after the other.

But Stephen was too famous, and with Duncan Corporation being the biggest company in Coralbridge, people immediately started crowding around, eager to shake his hand.