Tomorrow was truly a day worth looking forward to, so tonight, she needed to sleep well. But excitement made sleep elusive ; she woke up multiple times throughout the night. This restless anticipation lingered into the next afternoon. She knew the French proficiency scores wouldn’t be available until later, but she couldn’t help checking her email repeatedly, refreshing the official site now and then. Her anxiety lingered into the afternoon, until the long – awaited notification finally arrived.
She immediately logged onto the site, and when the result appeared before her eyes, she could hardly believe it. She had done the test decently, but never dared to imagine such a result. The last exam did not go as well as she had hoped, so she had kept telling herself that just passing would be enough. Yet, the result on the screen was way better than she had anticipated. Clutching her phone, she flopped back onto the bed, tears streaming down her face in an instant.
This time, the tears weren’t for Vance or their marriage, but for the huge step she had taken toward her dreams. She had spent years immersed in French literature, listening to French programs, watching French films, and going through countless practice tests. Her hard work had finally paid off. t Having not slept well the night before, and now with the scores out and everything settled, her heart finally relaxed. She took a nap, waking in the evening refreshed and ready to meet Lauren. When she emerged from the bedroom into the living room, she caught Nancy’s shocked gaze.
For five years, she had rarely worn skirts or bothered with cosmetics. Now she was wearing a dress and had applied makeup. A leg scarred and unable to walk properly had confined not just her physical space but also her longing for beauty. She had feared she didn’t deserve it. ” You look gorgeous, Madam,” Nancy gasped. ” Where are you headed?”
“Watching a performance with my teacher, ” Rebecca replied, still a bit nervous.
The dress nearly reached her ankles, and she had worn stockings to hide the scars on her leg.
She declined Nancy’s offer to accompany her and headed out, feeling like a deer emerging from a deep forest into the human world. She was both excited and apprehensive. Dinner with Lauren featured local cuisine – light, fresh, and sweet, perfectly suiting her taste. Afterward, they went to the theater together. That evening’s performance was by the Soliaridge Troupe, a classic piece Rebecca had danced countless times during her school days. As the music began, the dancer’s soul deep within her awakened.
Though she sat in the audience, though she might never grace the stage again in her lifetime, her toes couldn’t help but tap lightly on the floor in time with the music. It was muscle memory etched into her body. When the curtain fell and the applause thundered, Rebecca sat in the audience seats, watching spectators one by one present flowers to the dancers. She burst into tears once more. It wasn’t sadness, pain, or despair – just dance itself. The resonance between it and her soul. Dance used to be her passion and greatest love, but she had forsaken it for five years. the end of the performance, the dancers gifted flowers to children in the audience From the front row, Reheera watched the sparkles in the children’s eyes as they accepted the bouquets. filled her with a sense of poignant inheritance The male lead walked down from the stage, smiling as he handed her a bouquet She was taken aback, not quite processing what had happened. It wasn’t until Lauren nudged her that she quickly took the flowers and thanked the dancer. ” Thank you for coming to my performance, ” the guy said with a bow before returning to the stage.
On the way back, Lauren asked if she remembered that male dancer Rebecca shook her head, having no recollection at all. ” He graduated from our academy, ” Lauren explained, ” He’s two years below you, and now he’s the principal dancer with the Soliaridge Troupe. ” So, he was a junior. ” I remember one showcase where you were the female lead, and he was the male understudy. The main male got injured and couldn’t perform, so he stepped in. Don’t you remember? ” Lauren added. It took Rebecca a while to remember some fragments. ” He’s the principal now? How wonderful!
“She still felt a twinge of loss and regret, but she was genuinely happy for that junior. Lauren put an arm around Rebecca’s shoulder. ” Life has no endpoint, sweetheart.”
“I know. ” Rebecca nodded firmly, having made up her mind to set sail anew. It had been an exhilarating evening – her first time in a theater watching a performance in five years. Back home, her emotions still surged. She placed the flowers in a vase, snapped a photo, and posted it on her social media. The caption read: [ Tonight belongs to my passion and greatest love.]
That night, she had rediscovered her passion. Afterward, she removed her makeup, washed up, and went to bed. The countdown to her departure from Vance was now at 29 days. She assumed Vance wouldn’t return that night either, but in the middle of the night, the sound of the door opening woke her. He entered the bedroom, carrying the scent of alcohol. He had been drinking again. And judging by the way he bumped into the stool with a clatter, it was quite a lot. Without showering, he collapsed onto the bed. The alcohol reek was overpowering.
Rebecca had no interest in advising him anymore, whether it was to drink less or to shower, but that stench was overwhelming. She got up, intending to move to the guest room. As she reached the bedroom door, Vance’s voice came from behind her. ” Where are you going? ” She opened the door without answering, but the bed rustled. Vance got up and stumbled toward her, only to clatter into the chair again. He grabbed her wrist, asking, ” Not sleeping? Where to?”
“To the guest room. Let go, ” she said, trying to pull free. But reasoning with a drunk was futile.
The more she struggled, the tighter he held on. ” Stop fussing. If you’d just apologized earlier, I wouldn’t have let it escalate like this, ” he slurred. Rebecca blinked, not understanding what he meant. She hadn’t apologized to anyone. ” When did I apologize? ” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. She hadn’t even seen him, so how could she have apologized? Vance chuckled, then muttered drunkenly, ” Tonight belongs to my passion and greatest love. That’s why I came back. If you had softened up earlier, I wouldn’t have snapped at you.” Rebecca froze, not expecting him to think that post was meant for him. She was speechless. ” Rebecca… ” He suddenly embraced her. ” I know you love me. You’d do anything for me. So, no matter what happens in this life, I’ll never betray you.”
Rebecca was momentarily stunned. Vance was right about one thing, though. She used to love him deeply. He had said those exact words at their wedding. Back then, she had thought, though it wasn’t a confession, it was a promise. He had given her a lifetime commitment. A lifetime was so long. Surely, one day, they would truly love each other. And even if, by some misfortune, he never did, that was okay. Her love for him would suffice. “Vance, ” she said, having one more question she wanted to ask him. ” Hm? ” He exhaled hot breath against her ear, laced with alcohol.” But Catherine is back now. If you’re with me, what about her? ” she asked. ” Catherine… ” He repeated the name, suddenly choking up. ” Catherine, I’ll never forget. What I promised you… I’ll never forget… ” Rebecca’s blood ran cold as she realized that he had mistaken her for Catherine. ” What was it? What did you promise Catherine? ” she asked numbly. His arms suddenly tightened around her. ” Everything… All of it… Cathy… ” Before she knew it, he lifted her off the ground and pressed her down onto the bed.
His breath, heavy with the scent of alcohol, assailed her face, nose, and chin. He desperately searched for her lips, but she dodged each time. The alcohol stench made her nauseous. When his hands began tearing at her nightgown, she struggled fiercely. ” Cathy, stop fussing. Obey me, ” he slurred. In her desperate struggle, she freed one hand and slapped wildly at him. Finally, one connected with his face, a crisp smack echoing through the room. ” Vance! ” she shouted at the top of her lungs. ” Look closely! I’m not Catherine! ” His body stiffened briefly.
Seizing the moment, she shoved him off with all her strength. He flopped back onto the bed, murmuring, ” I’m sorry… I have to go home. I promised to take care of her for life. I owe her… ” Rebecca clamped her hands over her ears. Those words had haunted her like a curse for five years, buzzing in her head whenever they surfaced. She glared at the man sprawled on the bed, roaring, ” I don’t want you to owe me! Do you hear me? I don’t want your debt! I want you to set me free!
Vance’s phone vibrated, the screen flashing with the caller ID: Cathy Babe. The irony was biting. On his phone, Rebecca’s contact was simply her name. Right after the wedding, she had fantasized about him calling her Becky or simply Honey. She had secretly wondered if she should ask him to change her contact to something affectionate, whether on WhatsApp or his phone book. But no. Whether in conversation or contact, she was always just Rebecca.
For self – consolation, she had told herself that this was just his personality – straightforward, distant, and rigid. She had been wrong. The nickname on the screen was glaring, and a battle raged inside her. She was torn between answering the call and ignoring it. Finally, she bit her lip, picked up the phone, and unlocked it. Catherine spoke first. ” Vance.”
More Kickass Romance Reads
Dive into irresistible romance stories packed with possessive heroes, forbidden passion, billionaire obsession, mafia intrigue, and heart-stopping twists. One chapter is never enough—your next addiction starts here.