Howard Geoffrey, after Rebecca Quentin stopped struggling, whispered, "Why stop fighting?"
Rebecca Quentin didn’t respond.
Rebecca Quentin gradually fell silent.
Howard Geoffrey kissed Rebecca Quentin’s hair, and only when she was quietly nestled in his embrace did he slowly release her. "Look at me."
Rebecca Quentin didn’t immediately pull away, seemingly tired, standing still and shaking her head.
"I want you to see how I am now." Howard Geoffrey said hoarsely, his eyes fixed on her sorrowful face filled with deep yearning. "Give me a chance to make it up to you."
"It’s impossible..." Rebecca Quentin turned her head away, "I once believed in you, wanted to be with you at all costs, but you cruelly shattered my dream, taught me what self-deception truly is... Now, I can no longer look at you the same way I did before..."
Rebecca Quentin’s somber words struck Howard Geoffrey like a whip. He closed his eyes briefly, "I know, Becca, it was me who changed you."
"If you know that, what do you still want to say?" Read full story at nοvelfire.net
"I’m not the same person I was."
Rebecca Quentin seemed to shudder, but her dense eyelashes remained lowered, refusing to look at him.
Unable to bear the heartache, Howard Geoffrey clenched and unclenched his fists several times before finally summoning the courage to grasp her shoulders, lift her chin, and force her to meet his tender gaze.
"Do you know why I chose November 30th for the wedding date?" Howard Geoffrey asked lowly.
"I don’t want to know."
"You must know, because on that day I wasn’t anticipating my wedding with Alice Robinson, but hoping for a reason from the heavens to abandon hatred and be with you against all odds."
Upon hearing this, Rebecca Quentin’s body trembled violently, her heart shaken, but she couldn’t utter a word.
"Enough, Howard Geoffrey, stop talking, I don’t want to hear it..." Rebecca Quentin finally stepped back, creating distance between them, her gaze lowered as she choked out, "No matter what you say, I will never believe it again... Between us, there’s no possibility." Rebecca Quentin kept retreating, until her back hit the car.
As Howard Geoffrey attempted to approach her, she turned and ran away in the next second...
"Damn it!!" A heavy fist slammed onto the car as Howard Geoffrey watched Rebecca Quentin’s disappearing figure, and chased after.
At the roadside, Howard Geoffrey saw her continually trying to stop passing vehicles.
Howard Geoffrey ran over and grabbed her, "I’ll take you back."
"No need, I’ll catch a cab myself."
Faced with Rebecca Quentin’s stubbornness, Howard Geoffrey’s tone carried slight displeasure, "There are no taxis here."
"If there aren’t any, I’ll walk back by myself."
"Didn’t you see it’s about to rain?"
By the seaside, the weather always changes quickly; although it was clear just now, the sky had now turned overcast, along with a drop in temperature and a cold wind sweeping in from the sea. Only wearing a white shirt, Rebecca Quentin naturally felt the noticeable cold.
Winter in Alton isn’t very cold, wearing two layers of clothes is usually enough, but this morning to make a good impression at the job interview, Rebecca Quentin didn’t wear a jacket, not imagining she’d meet Howard Geoffrey.
Even though her body was already trembling slightly from the sudden drop in temperature, Rebecca Quentin stubbornly replied, "Even if it rains, I don’t need your concern!!"
Exasperated by her repeated strong resistance, Howard Geoffrey finally got angry and walked away furiously.
After Howard Geoffrey left, Rebecca Quentin hugged her shivering body tightly, wishing for a car to appear that would take her away, but not a single private car passed by on the road.
Rebecca Quentin wanted to call the taxi company, but realized the bag she carried was inside Howard Geoffrey’s car.
Feeling irritated, Rebecca Quentin couldn’t help but glance at the beach behind her.
Howard Geoffrey and his car were no longer there...
A feeling of inexplicable loss spread in Rebecca Quentin’s conflicted heart, she bit her lip, forcing herself not to care.
A downpour suddenly started...
Almost at the moment the rain fell, that familiar vehicle stopped at Rebecca Quentin’s feet.
Braving the rain, Howard Geoffrey rushed down from the car, grabbed her hand, "Get in."
Rebecca Quentin struggled free from Howard Geoffrey, surprised by his appearance, yet coldly replied, "I don’t need your concern!!"
Howard Geoffrey gritted his teeth and said, "Damn it, you’d rather stand here in the rain than come with me?"
Rebecca Quentin turned her head to the side.
"Fine..." Spitting out the word in frustration, Howard Geoffrey returned to the car.
The car door slammed shut with a loud "bang."
Rebecca Quentin closed her eyes, embracing her rain-soaked body, her heart heavy with indescribable discomfort.
But just then, Howard Geoffrey came out from the car again...
Hearing the sound, Rebecca Quentin hadn’t seen who approached, but her body was already lifted up, and before she realized it, Howard Geoffrey had picked her up and walked towards the car.
Opening the car door, Howard Geoffrey swiftly placed Rebecca Quentin into the car’s cabin.
Rebecca Quentin could barely utter words before Howard Geoffrey already started the car and pressed the accelerator.
The cabin was heated, quickly eliminating the cold from Rebecca Quentin’s body, making her not want to argue with Howard Geoffrey.
Howard Geoffrey noticed Rebecca Quentin consistently held her body, realizing her clothes were completely soaked, the white shirt now transparent from the rain, faintly revealing her skin beneath, even the black lace lingerie clearly visible around her unshielded chest.
"Cold?" Howard Geoffrey asked aloud.
Rebecca Quentin looked out the window, not answering.
Howard Geoffrey continued, "There are clothes in the backseat you can reach for, wear them if you’re cold."
Rebecca Quentin instinctively glanced at the backseat, where his suit jacket lay.
Though tempted to pick up and wear that suit jacket, out of stubbornness, she pretended not to see it.
Howard Geoffrey noted the resolute manner of Rebecca Quentin wanting nothing to do with him, a hint of displeasure flickering in his eyes.
Just then, Rebecca Quentin’s phone rang.
Rebecca Quentin quickly picked up her carried bag, taking out the phone inside.
"Becca, where are you now?"