Chapter 497
Vance nodded. “All right, home it is.”
As they drew closer to shore, cellservice returned, and Vance’s phone began ringing.
“I need to take this,” he said, stepping aside. “Hello, Anna?”
His voice was softer than the sea breeze, almost lost in the wind. “Something came up here. I’m…”
She couldn’t make out the rest, but Anna’s voice came through loudly, angry and repeating, “You can’t… You can’t…”
Vance said sorry repeatedly, his tone humble, even a little subservient. Rebecca had never seen this version of him. For a moment, she doubted if this was really the man she knew.
“Apologize to Cathy!”
“Don’t even think about driving Cathy away!”
“When did you become so mean?”
He was supposed to sound like that.
She wasn’t trying to compare, but the dead memories flooded back like a tide. She had never believed in judging people by their affection rather than their actions.
Everything he had done while they were together proved he hadn’t treated her like a human being. Why believe anything he
claimed to feel?
Luckily, she had walked away. She hadn’t given up on herself in those five long years.
When he finished the call, he tapped at his phone. Rebecca turned her back to him and watched the port lights grow brighter.
What rotten luck-to be forced to spend another night with him! But the more she replayed the previous evening, the less
random it felt.
If those men had grabbed her at random, there were usually only two motives: money or something worse. They had considered her offer of cash but ultimately refused. And they hadn’t actually harmed her.
That suggested someone had sent them. Who could it be? She immediately ruled out Emmett, who lacked both the money and
the connections.
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Who else? She glanced back at Vance, her eyes now filled with hatred. This had better not be connected to him.
The harbor lights reflected in his eyes. He gave a small smile. “What’s wrong? We’re almost there.”
She gritted her teeth. “I’ve figured it out. Anything that touches you turns into a disaster. You’re my bane!”
He paused. “Didn’t we get our compatibility charts read together once?”
She was unimpressed. “That chart reader was obviously a fraud!”
When they got married, they had gone through the whole compatibility ritual, and the chart reader had sworn they were a perfect match. That was total nonsense.
“Actually…”
“Don’t talk! Just hearing your voice gives me a headache. You’re bad luck for me!”
Vance swallowed the rest of his words. They both fell into silence as the ship finally docked.
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Just before reaching the pier, his phone rang again. He muttered softiething about having someone leave an item at the terminal
hall.
A few minutes later, the ship was secured. The crew escorted them down the gangway, waving goodbye.
Rebecca waved back, knowing none of this had been their fault. She was actually grateful, having enjoyed their food and bourbon.
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