Mrs. Geoffrey, assisted by a servant, stood up and immediately reached out to embrace Rebecca Quentin, her voice choked with emotion, "Why did you leave again without a word? Do you know how heartbroken and disappointed I was..."
Rebecca tightly hugged Mrs. Geoffrey, her eyes reddened, guilt overflowing, "Auntie, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to leave you, I just... I just had some things I couldn’t figure out, but now I have, and I won’t leave again."
"Silly child, why didn’t you tell me if something was bothering you? I’ve always said I’d stand by you no matter what..."
"It’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back..."
A few minutes later, Rebecca lifted her head from Mrs. Geoffrey’s shoulder, tears glistening in her eyes. She asked, "Auntie, where’s Howard Geoffrey?"
Mrs. Geoffrey answered truthfully, "He’s upstairs. As soon as he heard you were missing, he got angry with everyone at the Geoffrey house and has been in his room for a long time. I didn’t dare go in."
Coming to the second floor, Rebecca turned the unlocked doorknob.
After opening the door, her gaze fell on the floor-to-ceiling windows facing south.
Seeing that familiar figure by the window, Rebecca let out a huge sigh of relief, thankful she was still able to see him.
Perhaps hearing the sound of Rebecca entering the room, Howard Geoffrey turned his face, extinguishing the cigarette butt in the ashtray. He muttered with thin lips, "You thought you’d never come back once you left."
Hearing the strain in his voice, Rebecca stood not far from him, almost on the verge of tears, her body frozen.
Without hearing a response from Rebecca, Howard’s voice grew colder, "Tonight, I had planned to announce our engagement."
Rebecca choked up, holding back the tears about to spill from her eyes, "I never thought of leaving you."
Howard’s lips curled with a sarcastic smile, "Changed your clothes, took all your documents, and you still dare say you didn’t think of leaving?"
Rebecca bit her lower lip, holding back her tears, taking deep breaths.
Howard cast his gaze back out the floor-to-ceiling window, the garden’s glowing twilight illuminating his handsome features.
Seeing a gloom that never used to be on his face, Rebecca ran over and threw herself into Howard’s arms, burying her head in his chest, she burst into tears.
Howard held her tightly, tighter than ever before, as if fearing she might vanish into thin air again.
Rebecca sobbed loudly, like a child who had suffered all sorts of grievances, crying and explaining, "I’m sorry, Howard... I thought you didn’t care about me at all. It was my suspicion and doubt that made tonight so heavy. I’m sorry..."
Howard listened quietly to Rebecca’s explanation, burying his face deep into her neck.
"I just couldn’t believe there’s a future for us. You never told me you cared. I thought I was the only one who cared between us..."
Rebecca cried herself weak, never before had she been so undignified, so humble in front of him.
Howard still held her tightly, as if he would never let go.
Rebecca sobbed, lying on his shoulder.
Howard finally spoke softly, "Becca, I love you."
Tears welled up in Rebecca’s eyes again because those three words were what she had longed for years to hear.
"I’m sorry, I’m sorry..."
She almost missed the chance of spending a lifetime with him.
Waking in Howard’s arms, Rebecca felt happiness like never before.
Opening her eyes, she heard the water running in the shower and then the buzzing of an electric shaver. Rebecca couldn’t help but smile, gripping the blanket with happiness.
"Morning." Howard, refreshed, sat at the edge of the bed, kissing her eyes, "Want to get up?"
"Uh... I don’t want to move."
"Then I’ll join you."
Howard made a move to get back in bed, pulling up the covers.
Rebecca nudged Howard, looking at the clock on the wall, and asked, "Didn’t you say you had work to deal with at the office?"
Howard held Rebecca in his arms, as if savoring the moment’s comfort, and with closed eyes, he replied, "Work never ends, sometimes you need to steal some leisure in the midst of busyness."
Rebecca got up from his arms, urging him playfully, "Mr. Geoffrey, you have to support me in the future, so hurry and go make money. I want to live a lavish life of a lady of leisure."