BIT

“Susan, I don’t know how to thank you enough. If it weren’t for you, maybe-“

“Sah, I didn’t do anything. 1 just took care of Lily and gave you a place to stay; it’s really nothing,” Susan interrupted as Rebecca was saying her goodbyes.

Rebecca hugged Susan tightly. “You say that because you’re too kind. Please take care of yourself. I hope we meet again sometime,” she said before letting go of the embrace.

“So, where are we headed now?” Rebecca asked once she, Harvey, and Lily were inside the black SUV that Harvey was driving.

“Our old apartment. We’ll stay there for a while until all the court proceedings are done. Besides, I need to find the right candidate for CEO so the company can run smoothly without me. What do you think?” Harvey turned to Rebecca, who was sitting beside him.

Rebecca nodded.

“Sounds like a good plan. I just want to be sure that Lily will be safe, right? I mean, there won’t be anyone else trying to harm her, will there?” she asked, still too traumatized to live peacefully

Harvey reached out and held Rebecca’s hand tightly. “We can never be certain of what might happen, but I promise I will ensure strict security so that you and Lily are safe from anyone with ill intentions. I promise.”

“I trust you…”

Setting foot back in their home filled Rebecca with emotion. She touched the sofa she used to sit on, the walls she used to pass by, and the bedroom that brought back all the memories they once shared there.

Suddenly, Harvey hugged her from behind. “I know the way I handled things before was a mistake, but I promise that will never happen again. Whatever problems we face, we’ll face them together, no more running or hiding, even if the intention is to protect you. So take a deep breath and let go of all those fears,” he said, as if he could read Rebecca’s mind.

Rebecca took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Suddenly, tears streamed down her cheeks. She took one of Harvey’s hands that was wrapped around her waist and kissed it softly.

“Hey, are you okay?” Harvey asked, releasing his hug and turning Rebecca around to face him.

Rebecca nodded.

“Just don’t disappear on us ever again. I’m so glad you’re back,” she said, crying.

Harvey couldn’t hold back his tears either and nodded. “I won’t. I’ll be here with you two until death do us part, I promise,” he said earnestly. They gazed into each other’s eyes in silence, and slowly, their faces drew closer until their lips met in a deep longing kiss.

1/3

Thu Aug

Chapter IIT

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As Harvey’s hands began to explore every inch of Rebecca’s skin, she glanced back in panic. “Is Lily safe?

I put her in the crib. Let’s take this moment just for the two of us,” Harvey whispered as he pulled down the zipper of Rebecca’s dress. That night, they made love in every corner of the apartment, unleashing the deep yearning that had been building inside them.

The next morning,

Rebecca woke up to the sunlight streaming through the gaps in the curtains. Reflexively, she turned to her side and sighed in relief when she saw Harvey there, softly snoring. She kissed his head gently, then got out of bed and went to Lily, who was already awake in her crib. She had deliberately moved Lily’s crib to their room because she wasn’t ready to be separated from her.

“Hey, my little angel!” Rebecca exclaimed, lifting Lily from the crib and covering her with kisses.

“Let’s change your diaper and have some breakfast! You probably don’t remember, but this is your real home, and that man sleeping over there is your daddy, your biological father, Rebecca chatted with Lily as if she could understand every word.

After changing Lily’s diaper and feeding her milk, Rebecca placed in a bouncer and made herself a cup of coffee. She sat near the glass wall, overlooking the bustling streets of Manhattan.

She stared at the piece of paper with Cathy’s number in her hand, wondering whether she should call her or not. After everything that had happened between them, she could understand Cathy’s choices, but she was still disappointed when Cathy spread those rumors about her on social media.

After finishing half of her coffee, she finally decided to set aside her disappointment and dialed Cathy’s number on her phone. It was answered immediately after the first ring.

“Hello?”

It was definitely Cathy’s voice.

Rebecca cleared her throat and straightened her back. “Um, Cathy, it’s me, Becky,” she said cautiously. Silence. Rebecca could imagine Cathy being too stunned to speak.

“Oh my God, you got my number? I thought that paper would never reach you, but it turns out that guy is really trustworthy. Um, are you okay?” Cathy asked awkwardly. Of course, after everything between them, nothing could go back to normal just like that.

“Yeah, I’m good. How about you and your family?” Rebecca asked, just as awkwardly.

“We’re good…”

“Great! Weren’t you supposed to be in Hawaii?” Rebecca asked, frowning in confusion.

Silence.

“Cathy? Are you still there?”

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Aug 22

Cathy cleared her throat, “Yeah, um, I decided to come back to New York and return the remaining money Victoria gave me to the court,” she replied, Her voice trembling.

Rebecca felt a knot in her stomach at those words–bribe money from Victoria? She had known about it, but hearing it directly from Cathy’s mouth still shocked her. How far Victoria was willing to go to keep her away from Harvey and remove Lily from their lives.

“Oh, that’s a wise decision,” Rebecca said, honestly not knowing what else to say.

Silence.

“Cathy? If you’re busy, I can call you back later,” Rebecca offered, understanding if Cathy felt ashamed and awkward.

“No, Becky, listen up!” Cathy suddenly exclaimed.

Rebecca straightened up. “Yes, I’m listening, Cathy. What is it?” she asked, hoping they could talk like they used to.

་་

Suddenly, the sound of crying grew louder and louder. “Cathy? Are you okay?” Rebecca asked, frowning in concern.

“I’m sorry, Becky. I know I’m a traitor, but I had no other choice at the time. I had to choose between you and my sick mother. You know how hard that choice was, right?” Cathy sobbed.

Rebecca sighed deeply. “I know, which is why I’ve been haunted by guilt because the people closest to me had to suffer. I should be the one apologizing to you,” she said sincerely.

“Can we start over? I’ll never find a friend as good as you,” Cathy asked, still sobbing.

“Of course! I’m glad you said that because I’m so tired of this awkwardness,” Rebecca replied, laughing softly.

“Yeah, but you know what? I’ve been keeping an eye on you from afar, even though we weren’t talking. If it weren’t for me, you might have walked down the aisle alone that time,” Cathy joked, half–serious.

Rebecca frowned. “What do you mean?”

*****