Rebecca leaned back into her chair, exhaling slowly.
"I might not know who Carl is…" she said, her gaze hardening, "…but I'm not losing my family."
Audrey stared at her. For a moment, she said nothing.
Then—
"You better not mess this up again, Becca." Her voice was quiet, but firm. "I won't forgive you twice."
Rebecca didn't hesitate. "I won't."
Audrey chuckled softly. "Now, this is the Becca I know." She paused for a moment, before she added. "I support you."
Rebecca smiled widely, then looked down at her dress.
"Anderson said I wore these types of clothes to please Carl. But this is clearly not my style."
Audrey nodded.
"Can you accompany me to shop for new dresses?" She blinked her eyes innocently.
"You see the thing is, I can't recall my phone's password. I also don't know my way around the town. And I asked the driver to return." She bit her lips.
"Don't worry. I've been waiting for the day where we can go on a shopping spree once again." Audrey rose to her feet. "The day has finally arrived."
She walked over to Rebecca, and pulled her up to her feet. "Bestie, today... we shop!"
Rebecca laughed. Now, this was the Audrey she knew. Energetic and always full of life.
Meanwhile, far from Rebecca's newfound resolve, someone else was losing control.
Carl pushed the door open with a loud noise. His expression was dark as he was fuming in anger.
"How dare she ignore me?" He screamed, sweeping the lamp of the table, causing a shattering sound.
He ran a hand through his hair before he collapsed to the chair.
"It was always easy to convince her." He murmured with narrowed eyes. "She used to listen to everything I said."
"But now... her eyes were indifferent. It was like she didn't know who she was speaking to."
The next moment, one of the doors opened and a lady dressed in nothing but a provocative night gown stepped out.
She had two glasses of wine in each hand as she approached him slowly.
"Who made our Young Master angry?" Her voice was low as she handed him one of the glasses.
"Rebecca." He replied, taking the glass.
Sophie's fingers tightened slightly around the glass… before she relaxed.
Instead, she took a seat beside him. "And how did Rebecca offend our Young Master?"
Carl took a large gulp before he answered. "She's… changed." His voice dropped. "And I don't like it."
"Young Master, I have a way for you to coax her." The lady smiled softly.
Carl's eyes brightened. "And what could your method be, Sophie?"
Sophie leaned in, and whispered into his ears.
Carl's lips curved as he chuckled. He patted Sophie's cheeks.
"If she won't come willingly…" his fingers tightened around the glass, "…then I'll remind her how much she needs me."
"As expected… you're the only one who understands me."
Sophie blushed, but the smile on her lips didn't quite reach her eyes. "This is what I should do for Young Master."
Carl smirked. "How about I reward you?"
The blush on Sophie's cheeks deepened. "As the Young Master wishes."
---------------
The mall was bustling with life. Rebecca barely paid attention to the crowd.
She stood in front of the mirror, holding a simple black dress against her body. It was elegant. Minimal. It was nothing like the overly bright, attention-seeking clothes in her wardrobe.
The dress... it was just like her.
"This one," she said, nodding to herself.
Audrey leaned against the rack, her arms folded. "Finally. I was starting to think that you'd lost your taste permanently."
Rebecca shot her a look. "Excuse me. I have good taste."
Audrey scoffed. "Yeah. You had good taste. Then Carl happened."
Rebecca grimaced slightly. "Must you remind me every five minutes?"
"Yes."
Rebecca rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Just as she turned back to the mirror, a voice cut through the air.
"My my... what a surprise."
The tone was soft, but it was laced with something sharp.
Rebecca's hands stilled.
Audrey's expression darkened.
They both turned.
A tall woman stood at a distance. She was dressed impeccably. Her gaze swept over Rebecca slowly, from head to toe, as if assessing her worth.
Then she smiled.
"Who's she?" Rebecca whispered to Audrey.
"Clara Whitmore," Audrey answered with a bitter voice. "Anderson's… longtime acquaintance."
Rebecca nodded.
"Rebecca Parker." Clara said smoothly, forcing Rebecca's attention to be on her. "I almost didn't recognize you."
Rebecca tilted her head slightly, her expression calm. "Should I be offended?"
Clara chuckled softly. "Of course not. It's just... you look different."
Her gaze lingered on the black dress in Rebecca's hands.
"Less desperate… or just pretending better?"
Audrey's eyes flared. "Watch your—"
Rebecca raised her hand slightly, stopping her. Her eyes remained on Clara
"Do I know you?" She asked, her tone indifferent.
Clara stiffened just for a second.
"Of course you do." She replied. "Or have you started pretending not to recognize people?"
Rebecca didn't answer her immediately. Instead, she simply studied her.
Then—
"No," she said plainly. "I don't."
Silence fell.
Audrey blinked.
Clara's expression cracked slightly. "What kind of game are you playing now?"
Rebecca sighed softly. So this is the kind of people I used to deal with? Pathetic.
"If this is how you greet people," she said, "then I'm glad I don't remember you."
Audrey choked on a laugh.
Clara's face darkened.
"Still as arrogant as ever." She sneered. "I heard about you and Anderson."
Rebecca's brows lifted slightly. "Oh?"
"The divorce," Clara continued, her lips curving. "I suppose even he has his limits."
Audrey clenched her fists.
Rebecca, on the other hand, remained unfazed. Instead, she smiled... slowly.
"You seem very invested in my marriage," she said lightly. "Should I be concerned?"
Clara stiffened.
Rebecca took a deliberate step forward.
"If you're waiting for it to fall apart," she continued, her voice soft but firm, "you might be waiting for a very long time."
Clara let out a cold laugh. "Confident, aren't you? After everything you've done."
Rebecca's eyes sharpened slightly.
"I don't know what you think I've done," she said calmly, "but whatever it is... it has clearly not given you what you want."
Her voice dropped.
"Which makes this whole conversation a little embarrassing... for you."
Audrey's jaw dropped.
Clara's face flushed. "You—!"
Rebecca turned away before she could finish.
"Audrey," she said casually. "I think I'll take this one."
Audrey snapped out of it. "Right—yes. Definitely this one."
As they walked past her, Rebecca paused just for a second.
Without turning back, she added: "And one more thing."
Clara froze.
Rebecca's calm voice sounded. "Anderson is my husband."
A slight pause.
"You should remember your place.""
Then, she walked away.
Audrey grabbed her arm once they were out of earshot.
"What was that?" She whisper-yelled.
Rebecca blinked. "What?"
"That." Audrey gestured wildly. "Since when did you become this... this..."
"Composed?" Rebecca offered.
"Terrifying!" Audrey corrected.
"I don't know what kind of person I used to be," she said, her gaze drifting slightly.
Then it sharpened. "But I do know one thing." She adjusted the dress in her hands. "I don't intend to lose to anyone."
Audrey stared at her for a moment… then smiled.
"Yeah," she said. "You're definitely back."
And this time… don't disappear again.