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Chapter 32

Rebecca froze, her mind racing. The tension between the two men was palpable, and she could see Nicholas‘ jaw tighten as he spotted the flowers in Harvey’s hand.

“Becky,” Nicholas began, his voice strained but calm, “I thought we were going to have dinner together.”

Before she could respond, Harvey cut in, “I just wanted to apologize in person. Can we talk, just for a minute?”

Rebecca felt caught in the middle, the weight of both their expectations pressing down on her. She glanced back at the studio entrance where Cathy stood, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“This is my workplace, Rebecca said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Let’s not make a scene here.”

Harvey stepped closer, his eyes pleading. “Please, Becky. Just a moment.”

Nicholas put down the bag, his face hardening. “Becky, you don’t owe him anything. Let’s go inside and talk.”

Rebecca took a long breath, attempting to collect her thoughts. “Harvey, I told you we were done. I don’t need your apology, and we don’t have anything else to talk about. Nic, let us go somewhere quiet and talk.”

Harvey’s face fell, but he nodded, taking a step back. “Alright. I know you need some time, I’ll call you later. You know I won’t give up,” he said, turning and walking away.

Rebecca’s pulse pounded as she heard Harvey’s words as if they were exactly what she wanted to hear from him. But she looked away, pretending not to care. She turned to Nicholas and saw the hurt in his eyes.

“Let’s go to the café around the corner. We need to talk.”

“Becky, what’s going on? You don’t have to take me anywhere just to talk with me. I won’t demand anything from you because, like you said, we are not a couple. I only came here because I was worried that you might be too busy and miss your dinner,” said Nicholas casually. “If this was about Harvey’s presence earlier, I was only concerned that he would play with you again. Sorry if I overreacted, but I care deeply about you. But now I see you are a mature lady capable of making judgments, so I won’t interfere

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Chapter 32

with your business over again, I promise.”

Rebecca looked up in amazement, unable to believe what she had heard. He stared at Nicholas without blinking for several seconds, looking for signs of deception on his face. but finding none. “Nic, do you realize that you change so quickly that sometimes it’s hard for me to recognize you?” Rebecca muttered, not trying to hide her disbelief.

Nicholas grabbed Rebecca’s hand with his one free hand. “I understand. I used to wonder about my emotional instability, but now I know the answer. It turns out that the tumor in my head has a substantial impact on my unexpected emotional shifts; I’m sorry.”

Rebecca gulped, feeling a lump form in her throat. “No, don’t. I’m just overwhelmed with everything. Harvey, Alicia, my jobs… It’s a lot to handle.”

Nicholas squeezed her hand gently. “I understand. You know what, Becky? I will never judge you again and force you to do anything. I just want you to accompany me until I completely lose my memory,” Nicholas stated with a smile.

Rebecca frowned. “Lose your memory? What do you mean?”

Nicholas took a big breath. “The doctor mentioned the process would be like that. He said that the tumor would eventually burn out my memory and cause me to forget who

I was.”

Rebecca covered her mouth in surprise. She felt everything Nicholas said was like a movie script, but she couldn’t deny that it was real. She took a big breath and nodded.

“Whatever it is, I will accompany you as long as you keep your word not to be possessive as if we were a couple,” she replied, getting more composed.

Nicholas grinned and nodded twice. “I promise.” Can we drive to the car now? I’m hungry,” he murmured, lifting the paper bag containing sushi in his hand.

Rebecca nodded. “Let’s go!” she said, tailing behind Nicholas. She examined his straight posture, broad shoulders, and powerful muscles, wondering how he could appear healthy and normal when he was sick inside.

They sat in Nicholas‘ car, hungrily eating sushi and tempura.

“Hike seeing you living a normal life like this, he continued, nibbling on sushi.

Rebecca let out a deep breath. “Let’s just pretend my life is normal, you just have to see

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Chapter 32

it that way.”

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“Okay, if that’s what you want, we can just pretend we’re playing a role. I know it’s difficult for you to accompany me in my condition, but because of your kind heart, you want to, so I will do the same. I want you to be comfortable and happy while you’re with me. I know you haven’t felt that way in a long time. Maybe it’s because I force you to think like I do.”

Rebecca looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there. “I honestly feel as if I’m speaking to someone other than Nicholas Bennett I know, but I enjoy the nice change in you. I’m delighted you finally understand that I prefer to have boundaries. You should know that I have high expectations for your words,” she stated. She felt both relieved and odd, an emotion she struggled to define.

Rebecca felt increasingly convinced that Nicholas could not possibly collaborate with at wicked lady like Alicia to bring her down during a lengthy chat with him. On the one hand, she was relieved but also concerned since revealing who that person was would be tougher.

“Um, do you want me to take you to the hotel to get your things or-

“Of course! I don’t want the hassle of getting into a cab and carrying two large suitcases,” Rebecca replied, wiping her lips with a wet tissue.

Nicholas smiled and nodded. He drove slowly toward the hotel, humming along to the random music playing in his car, which astounded Rebecca because she had never seen Nicholas so happy and relaxed like that.

When they arrived at the hotel lobby, Nicholas‘ cell phone buzzed and displayed an unsaved number. Rebecca took a quick look at his screen. At first, she didn’t care, but then she instinctively attempted to memorize the number.

“You’re not going to pick it up?” Rebecca inquired as the cell phone buzzed for the third time.

Nicholas looked at the phone. “It’s just a spam number. They sometimes offer cleaning services, credit cards, security, or whatever, so I’ll just ignore it!” He said that while staring straight ahead.

Rebecca nodded, almost believing it if there hadn’t been an incoming message from the same number, accompanied by nearly eight pop–up messages.

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Chapter 32

“Okay, I’ll go in alone. Just wait here,” Rebecca said, trying not to ask a question unrelated to her.

She jumped down quietly, although the corner of her eye was fixed on Nicholas. She dashed into the hotel lobby and hid behind a pillar to peek at him, and her stomach churned as she spotted him on the phone with a serious expression.

‘Did he call that unknown number? What if it was Alicia’s number?‘