Hearing her father’s words, Rebecca Quentin slowly raised her eyes. She stared blankly at him but didn’t say anything.
Just as the father and daughter were locked in a stalemate, Rebecca’s phone suddenly rang.
Perhaps sensing who the caller might be, Rebecca took out her phone and stared blankly at the number displayed on the screen.
It was a call from Howard Geoffrey...
Alexander Quentin did not speak. He patiently waited for his daughter to make a choice. Of course, he knew what she would eventually choose.
After a long while, Becca sniffed, then pressed the answer button. "Hello... Yes... I’m home... Okay, I’ll wait for you."
Seeing his daughter’s reaction, Alexander couldn’t help but breathe an inward sigh of relief.
It took Becca a long moment to lower the phone from her ear. She looked up at her father and finally said, "That was Howard. He said he’s coming to pick me up."
Alexander feigned surprise. "Becca, you..."
"Daddy, the Quentin Corporation was passed down from Great-grandfather. Neither you nor I can just stand by and watch it go bankrupt..."
The implication of Becca’s words was quite clear.
"But Becca, Daddy doesn’t want you to be wronged..."
After hesitating for a few seconds, Becca finally gave a dazed smile. "It’s alright. After all, I’m only replacing someone who’s dead. Perhaps, with time, I can eventually take that woman’s place in his heart."
Watching Becca’s dejected figure retreat, Alexander was overcome with deep self-reproach.
In reality, the "truth" about Howard Geoffrey’s girlfriend’s death and the Quentin Corporation receiving aid from Skytop was merely a lie Alexander had fabricated for Becca. He knew that if he hadn’t told her this, given Becca’s personality, she would never willingly stay by Howard Geoffrey’s side.
Indeed, Alexander wanted Becca to stay with Howard forever.
As a father who doted on his daughter, Alexander certainly hadn’t chosen to sacrifice her happiness merely to curry favor with Howard Geoffrey. He had done all of this for Becca’s sake...
Watching his daughter’s slender, retreating figure, Alexander thought with a pang of guilt, Becca, I’m sorry. One day, you’ll understand the choices Daddy made for you...
A black Bentley was parked in a shaded spot outside the villa gates.
Becca took a deep breath. Once she was sure her emotions were under control, she walked over with a faint smile.
Howard gallantly opened the car door for her. As Becca settled in and was about to buckle her seatbelt, a kiss as light as a butterfly’s wing landed on her forehead.
He murmured the affectionate nickname, intending to bury his face in her neck and draw in more of her scent.
His touch would normally make her unbearably shy. But at this moment, as the thought that she was merely a substitute for his deceased girlfriend flashed through her mind, her body suddenly stiffened. Turning her head away, she instinctively pushed him back. "Ah, don’t..."
Howard hadn’t seemed to expect such a reaction from Becca. He held her slender waist, his voice low and raspy as he asked, "Angry? Sorry, I was busy at the wedding venue all morning..."
Becca lowered her head and mumbled, "I’m not angry..."
Howard gently cupped Becca’s face, gazing deeply into her eyes. "Then why are your eyes red?"
"I, uh..." Becca stammered, unable to find a reasonable excuse.
"Was I too rough last night...?"