Chapter 72 Does It Still Hurt?

Chapter 72 Does It Still Hurt?

Rebecca's POV

I heard Barbara's question and nodded gently, but my voice came out very small. "Of course, no problem."

She patted my hand, her eyes full of concern. "Rebecca, do you not want to see Everett?"

My heart suddenly tightened, and I immediately shook my head.

I had no idea why she would think that.

Everett hadn't come to see me during this time, but I wouldn't stop wanting to see him because of that.

Barbara clearly looked relieved. "It's good that you two haven't had a fight."

We really hadn't fought, but I'd been feeling this strange sense of unease in my heart.

I kept feeling like something had changed between Everett and me, but I couldn't say exactly what.

Since my accident, he'd only sent me a few messages but hadn't come to the hospital to see me even once.

I started to wonder, was he really that busy? So busy he couldn't spare even a little time to come see me?

If he didn't have time as my boyfriend, then why could Steven keep showing up?

Before Barbara left, she looked at me with a somewhat complicated expression. "Rebecca, Steven is also a good man. Whoever you like, I'll support you."

I froze for a moment, instinctively looking up at her, but she'd already closed the door.

I flopped back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

What did Barbara mean by that just now? Why couldn't I understand it at all?

Just thinking about Steven made my face start to heat up. I pulled the blanket over my head, trapping myself in that stuffy but safe darkness, and slowly closed my eyes.

I seemed to hear again the sound of his heartbeat from that night.

That steady, powerful rhythm, beating against my chest one thump at a time.

I lifted my hand and pressed it against the blanket.

The soft blanket pressed against my palm, suddenly reminding me of the feeling when I touched his chest that night.

My breathing gradually slowed, and my eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Maybe I was really tired, or maybe I subconsciously felt he was still beside me—either way, I fell into a deep sleep.

Knocking sounds came into the room one after another, and my eyelashes trembled slightly.

I opened my eyes to find golden sunlight filling the room. I rubbed my somewhat sore eyes and looked toward the door that was still knocking.

My voice was a bit hoarse. "Who is it?"

The door was pushed open, and before I could react, Everett pulled me into a tight embrace.

His arms held me very tightly, as if he wanted to pull me completely back into his arms.

"Rebecca, I missed you so much. Thank God you're okay."

My mind was still a bit foggy, and I could only lift my hands to push against his chest. "Everett, loosen up a bit. I can barely breathe."

Everett suddenly pulled back his hands, looking very apologetic. "I'm sorry, Rebecca. I'm such an idiot."

His gaze fell on my forehead, his eyes full of heartache. He lifted his hand and gently touched my wound. "Does it still hurt?"

I nodded. My head still hurt, and my body had a dull aching sensation too.

But at the same time, I was grateful that my hands weren't injured and I could still play the piano.

Barbara's voice came up from downstairs. "You two come down. We're about to eat."

Everett reached out his hand toward me. "Come on, my dear princess. We should go down."

I stared at his hand, paused for a moment, then finally put my hand in his.

He led me downstairs. David and Elsie had already arrived at my house and were standing by the dining table waiting for us.

When Elsie saw me, she immediately came over and hugged me.

"Rebecca, I'm so glad you came back safely."

I hugged her back. "Thank you for always thinking of me. I'm feeling much better now."

She took my hand and walked me to the dining table. I immediately spotted Steven sitting next to David.

He sat there quietly. I didn't dare look directly into his eyes, because whenever I saw him, I would think of that information about the military on the computer.

I couldn't help wondering why exactly he was helping me.

Was he helping me because I was Everett's girlfriend, or was there another reason?

Everett's hand suddenly pressed on my shoulder, forcefully pulling me a bit closer to him. His profile was right beside me, very close.

He was still that good-looking, but something felt off in my heart.

I even felt he was too close to me, and this distance made me instinctively want to back away.

He pressed me down into a chair. "Honey, you haven't fully recovered yet. Don't keep standing. Sit down first."

I sat down with my head lowered. Everett sat beside me, holding my hand and not letting go.

Steven sat across from me. I still didn't dare look into his eyes—that calm yet intensely pressuring gaze made me inexplicably guilty.

Barbara brought out dinner, and the aroma of steak mixed with fresh bread spread through the dining room.

She and my father also sat down, and the previously spacious dining table was suddenly filled with seven people.

Everyone chatted casually, and Everett would occasionally put a piece of pizza on my plate.

I ate slowly. Barbara looked at Elsie. "How did you feel about your trip this time?"

Elsie smiled as she put a piece of beef in her mouth. "It was great. I haven't been this relaxed in a long time."

She nudged David with her elbow. "Did you take out the gifts we brought back?"

Before David could speak, my father had already opened the red wine on the table.

"Of course. The bottle in my hand is one of them. Let's try the red wine you specially brought back from abroad."

He filled Everett's glass to the brim. "Good boy, you need to drink more today."

Everett immediately nodded and took the glass that was almost overflowing.

My father went around pouring red wine for everyone. When it was my turn, Steven, who had been watching, spoke up.

"Sir, Rebecca just got out of the hospital. She probably shouldn't be drinking."

Barbara, who hadn't been saying much, also chimed in. "Exactly. Steven is so thoughtful. You don't even remember your own daughter's condition, and you want her to drink?"

Johnny quickly raised his hand to admit his mistake. "My fault. I forgot Rebecca is still a patient."

Barbara glared at him, but he didn't seem upset at all. He turned the bottle, pointing the spout at Steven.

"Can you drink?"

Steven pushed his glass forward a bit. "Of course I can."

But Johnny only poured him a little bit before lifting the bottle. "Steven, I don't think I've asked—what do you do?"

Steven tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. "That's classified, sir."

Barbara put a piece of pineapple pie on his plate. "Alright, Johnny, don't make things difficult for the boy. It's normal that he can't say."

But Johnny clearly wasn't ready to drop it yet. "Do you miss the life you had there?"