Ten Days to Leave My Stepbrother (Beatrice) novel Chapter 7

**TITLE: Across Quiet Meadows Rise Dreams Waiting For Their Moment**

**Chapter 7**

**288 Vouchers**

Beatrice sat at the table, her gaze fixed on her plate, methodically pushing the food around as if it were a puzzle she was trying to solve. She barely registered Maverick’s voice, his words fading into the background like an old song she couldn’t quite recall. The weight of her thoughts pressed heavily on her, drowning out the casual banter around her.

Once she finished her meal, a sense of urgency washed over her. As she prepared to rise, her phone buzzed insistently, pulling her attention away from the room. A quick glance revealed a message from Maribel—$30,000 had been transferred to her account, every cent intact.

Beatrice’s eyes darted up, and she caught Maribel’s gaze. There was a playful glint in her friend’s eyes, a smirk that hinted at mischief, as if she were testing the waters of Beatrice’s resolve.

Just as she contemplated her next move, another notification chimed in. It was a message from Maribel again: “I absolutely adored the photos you snapped yesterday, especially the ones where you and Maverick are sharing a kiss. They’re stunning! I’ll definitely send them over to Mac so he can see. Your hard work deserves recognition!”

“Got it,” Beatrice typed back, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly in response to the compliment.

With a few taps, she accepted the transfer, watching as the numbers in her account swelled. When she finally glanced at her balance—an impressive $5 million—her heart fluttered with a mix of pride and disbelief. A soft smile crept onto her lips, a fleeting moment of joy amidst her swirling emotions.

As her friends continued their chatter, oblivious to her internal struggle, Beatrice excused herself and hurried upstairs to change. She could feel the clock ticking, urging her to move faster. Today was important; she had to bid farewell to a few of her closest girlfriends before embarking on this new chapter of her life. If she didn’t hurry, she would miss the chance.

She navigated the bustling streets, finally arriving at the private club just as the clock struck noon. The atmosphere was warm, filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses. After exchanging quick hellos, her friends’ voices turned serious, tinged with a reluctance that hung thick in the air. “Bex, are you really going abroad to study?” one of them asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

“How long are you going to be gone? Are you even coming back?” another chimed in, her tone laced with disbelief.

“Yeah, it’s a three-year program,” Beatrice replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “After that, I’ll find a job and settle down there. I probably won’t come back.”

The revelation hung in the air, and her friends exchanged shocked glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and worry.

Time slipped away, each moment a treasure that she tucked away in her heart. But just five days before her departure, Celia left on a business trip with Derek, leaving Beatrice alone at home when an unexpected call came through from her aunt. The news was unsettling: her father’s cemetery needed to be relocated due to new development plans, and they required her and her mother to handle the arrangements.

The Melton family had always been a source of tension ever since Celia had married into their ranks. Beatrice felt a pang of discomfort at the thought of her mother facing gossip and scrutiny, so she resolved to go alone, determined to shield her from any unnecessary drama.

In a rush, Beatrice dialed a few contacts, trying to secure a new burial plot that would be fitting. Just as she was about to leave for the cemetery to collect the ashes, she unexpectedly ran into Maverick at the door, his presence startling her. It had been ages since they last saw each other, and the air between them crackled with unspoken words.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” he asked, his brow furrowing as he took in her distressed expression. Without waiting for a response, he grasped her hand firmly. “Do you even see me as your boyfriend? Why wouldn’t you ask me to come with you for something this significant? How is a girl like you supposed to handle this alone?”

“Get in the car. I’m going with you!” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Beatrice stared at him, her heart racing as she tried to decipher the sincerity in his eyes. Was he genuinely concerned, or was this just another performance in their complicated relationship? The uncertainty churned in her stomach as she weighed her options, caught between the past and the uncertain future that lay ahead.