Betrayed and Dumped: She Rose Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 86

Bruce couldn’t get the memories out of his head. He kept seeing Rebecca’s bright smile from the day they met, and the way her cheeks turned pink when she nervously asked if he wanted to be with her.

All those years together, Rebecca was always the one who took the first step. She planned everything, handled the details, made life easy. He let himself get used to it.

But it wasn’t like Bruce just stood by. He bought her expensive gifts and luxury brands that normal people could only dream about. He even tried to give her his salary card and credit cards, but Rebecca always turned them down.

He had his fair share of girls trying to get close to him, all with hidden agendas, but he never crossed the line. Not once. Even his closest friends joked that he was ridiculously loyal to Rebecca.

Wasn’t that love?

Rebecca looked at him, a mocking smile on her lips. “Bruce, are you short on money? Of course not. Yes you got me those fancy gifts and luxury stuff. Maybe they mean something to others, but for you, they’re nothing. You give me things that barely matter to you. That’s not thoughtful, it’s just going through the motions.”

“And sure, you stayed loyal. Good for you. But didn’t I do the same? I faced plenty of temptation too, but I never crossed any lines. I always kept my boundaries with other men. That’s just basic decency, Bruce. It has nothing to do with love.”

Bruce was left speechless. Frustration bubbled up inside him.

He clenched his jaw and shot back, “Does it really matter if it’s love or not?”

Rebecca laughed, but there was no warmth in it. Just a tired, mocking sound. She didn’t even bother to answer. There was nothing left to say. They were just too different.

She turned and walked off.

Bruce wanted to call out to her, but she was already heading for the gate, her steps quick and determined. In a few seconds, she was gone. He kicked his car tire, cursing under his breath, then stood there, smoking two cigarettes in silence before finally driving away.

Neon lights from the street flickered over his face, shadows shifting with every flash. He tried to comfort himself. She could act tough now because she’d just quit her job. When her savings ran out, she’d come back to him. She’d have to.

*

There were only three days left before the Meridian Tech project bid. Rebecca knew their chances weren’t great, but she still told the guys on her team to polish the product a little more.

They picked a time and headed out that night, first for a meal, then some shopping.

They ended up in a nice little restaurant. Cindy was on a diet, so she barely touched her food and pushed most of it over to Rebecca.

Watching her eat, Cindy couldn’t help but sigh. “Seriously, how do you eat so much and still look amazing? I’m so jealous.”

Rebecca grinned. “I don’t stress too much about my figure. Staying healthy is what matters.”

Cindy tilted her head, curious. “So what do you care about? You don’t seem materialistic, and you’re not super competitive. You always seem so chill.”

It was true. Rebecca used to care most about three people—her mother, Lottie, and Bruce. But now, it was just her mom and herself. Her mom was healthy, and she had a stable job that was going places. If she had any extra time or energy, she’d rather spend it on herself.

Loving herself mattered most now.