“The anger in Vance’s eyes intensified. ” You’ve really outdone yourself. ” This was not a compliment, but Rebecca remained cool. ” Thank you, I’m flattered.”
“Come over here! ” he exploded. She sat down and stayed put, defying him. He stormed over, towering in front of her. Perhaps because they were in public, he tried to suppress his anger as much as possible, but his words were laced with heavy sarcasm. “I never realized a thief was in my house. It could have been emptied, and I wouldn’t even know it. ” Rebecca stayed silent, but he pressed on.” Are you that hard up for cash? The money I give you is not enough?”
“Not really. ” She shrugged. ” I’ve just been decluttering lately – getting rid of things I don’t need anymore.”
“Things you don’t need? ” He fumed, pointing at the rings in the case. ” You don’t need our wedding rings anymore? ” She met his eyes calmly. “What else? If they were useful, would you have worn yours? ” He lost his tongue, mortified. ” One day, you might even sell me off! ” She sneered, looking past him at Catherine. ” You interested? I’m selling Mr. Bradford here.
Second – hand with a discount. ” Catherine was totally lost, but Vance was pissed, turning to her. ” Cathy, head on back. ” She was reluctant. ” Vance…”
“We’ll talk about the watches later. Go for now, ” he insisted, dead serious. Among his circle of friends, he held considerable authority. When he was serious, no one dared to defy him, not even Catherine. Despite being spoiled and arrogant, she knew how to gauge the situation. With him truly mad, she didn’t dare test it. Instead, she softened her tone. ” Okay, I’ll head back. Just don’t get mad at Rebecca.
She must have her reasons. ” Even then, she didn’t forget to slip in a little dig. Once she left, Vance confronted Rebecca. ” What are you up to, huh?”
“I already told you, ” she said evenly. ” Decluttering… including you. “
Vance’s face darkened. ” You serious?”
“Yeah ” Rebecca wasn’t joking, jealous, or throwing a fit. ” Fine! ” he hutted. ” Don’t come crying later! ” He returned to the counter and pointed at the watches. ” I’ll take them all! ” By then, Vivian had pieced it together that Rebecca was this guy’s wife and that the pretentious woman earlier was the side piece. She closed the display case door. ” I’m sorry, sir, but they’re not for sale. ” Vance never expected to be rebuffed by a store clerk. For the first time, he asserted his status.” Believe it or not, I could buy this whole shop out from under you right now.”
“Oh, I’d rather go bankrupt than sell. I may be insignificant, but I don’t want anything from my store to end up with a homewrecker, ” she said defiantly. Vance was infuriated. Lestthings get out of hand, Rebecca stepped in. ” You’re being silly. Sell them to him… at a high price. Scumbags like him have money to burn anyway. Feel free to rip him off. ” Vance clenched his teeth. ” Screwing me over as always, huh? ” Ignoring him, Rebecca winked at Vivian to jack up the price.
Catching the hint, the latter quickly pulled out all ten watches and quoted double the market valuie. It was a highway robbery, but with Rebecca looking askance at him, he couldn’t back down. ” I’ll take them! ” he declared, tapping on the counter. ” And the rings! ” Vivian looked at Rebecca, who nodded in agreement. This time, Vivian didn’t hesitate and directly quoted double the price. Vance paid up without blinking. Vivian packed everything and handed it over to him. Vance grabbed it and turned to Rebecca. ” And you… get in the car!” Rebecca didn’t fight it, but as soon as she got in, her phone buzzed with a bank alert for incoming funds. It was Vivian transferring money to her with a note: This is from the rings – all yours. I don’t want a cut. Hang in there, girl. Don’t let it get you down. ]
Rebecca replied with a smiley. Down? The worst part was already behind her. Vance saw her fiddling with her phone and figured it out. ” Was it fun? ” She put away her phone, not responding ” You mailed me the dolls and sold off all the gifts. Now the wedding rings, too. Next, you will be selling the house?” he scoffed. She thought about it. If selling the house didn’t require his signature, she really would have sold it. ” If you’re short on money, just tell me. How much do you need? You have your own credit card, and I gave you a supplementary card. Aren’t those enough for you to spend? ” he rambled on. ” Your family is trying to buy a house. Pick one, and I’ll cover it. Teaming up with outsiders to screw me over is not tuu. I think you’re just too idle. ” Her phone pinged again.
This time, it was from the embassy, notifying her of her fingerprinting appointment Simultaneously, Lauren’s message cause through, forwarding the embassy’s notice and instructing her to go to Arelmoor for fingerprinting, scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Rebecca racked her brains, trying to find a good excuse Vance noticed her silence and prodded. ” I’m talking to you. What’s on your mind? ” Rebecca snapped back to reality. ” Oh, just thinking about how stuff holds value. You see, I can sell them second – hand and turn them into cash. But a husband? No takers.” The red light flicked on ahead, and Vance slammed on the brakes.
Vance’s eyes flashed with anger. ” You’ve been pushing my buttons non – stop lately! ” Rebecca was unfazed, figuring his temper had also been quite volatile recently. His old stability was gone, all thanks to Catherine’s remarkable influence. ” Guess I had you pegged wrong, ” he continued. ” I thought you were gentle and sensible Now? You’re a real handful Look at Cathy…”
“I don’t wanna look. You do it for me, and make it count. ” She cut him off, unwilling to hear the rest of his praise for how wonderful Catherine was He got irked after a tew jabs like that.” Fine, I’ll go look. Just don’t regret it! ” She popped in her earbuds, ending the conversation. He dropped her at the complex entrance. ” I’ve got a meeting to attend. Tonight… ” She got out of the car and slammed the door shut, uninterested in hearing whatever he planned to do. In the evening, Nancy prepared spicy crabs, but Rebecca didn’t have a bite. She only had some vegetables, then returned to her rooth to check flights and book a ticket to Arelmoor. She decided to go straight there without notifying Vance. Around nine, she got the form notice.
Things were moving fast. Her heart surged with joy as she carefully checked each item, filling them out one by one while verifying what else she might be missing. At eleven, the door clicked. Vance was home. She shut her laptop and lay on the bed, pretending to scroll through her phone. Outside, he was talking to Nancy. ” I told you to make these crabs per her taste, ” he said. ” Why spicy again? ” Nancy fidgeted. ” Mrs. Bradford told me to make them spicy.”
“And she didn’t have a bite?”
“No.”
“Set the table.
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