Chapter 162

Chapter 162

Rebecca never expected to run into William here.

She reached out and took the diamond ring from William's hand, sliding it back onto her ring finger. "Thanks."

William looked at her — still in her competition gown, hair and makeup intact. His eyes moved over her from head to toe without thinking. It had been three months since they'd last seen each other.

She was nothing like the Rebecca he used to know.

"Ma'am, please let me go. I swear I'll never do it again."

The boy, caught by security but still struggling, looked at Rebecca with pitiful eyes.

Rebecca turned to look at him, a small frown crossing her face.

"Who taught you to steal?"

"I just thought your ring was really pretty."

Only now did Rebecca take a good look at the boy. Besides a fleece-lined denim jacket that was falling apart, he was barely dressed for the weather.

The arrivals hall was warm enough, but outside it was freezing cold.

His hands were bright red, balled into fists.

"Where are your parents?"

Rebecca asked.

The boy's face fell instantly. His big, bright eyes filled with tears.

"My parents are both sick. They're at home."

William cut in bluntly.

"Take him to the police station."

The boy's face scrunched up immediately. "Sir, please don't take me to the police station!"

"If you have parents, they can come pick you up from the station. If you don't, the police will take you to an orphanage. And if you're a repeat offender, then jail might be the best place for you to learn your lesson."

The moment William said that, the boy struggled even harder.

"Ma'am, I already gave your stuff back. Please let me go! I don't want to go with them!"

Rebecca looked at the small boy.

"How old are you?"

"Eight."

And already so streetwise at eight years old.

"You're still very young. The police will help you."

William gave Rebecca a long, thoughtful look.

Rebecca turned and caught his expression.

"What?"

William shrugged.

"I figured you'd feel sorry for the kid and ask security to let him go."

Rebecca paused, then gave a faint smile.

"You still don't know me very well."

William's expression visibly stiffened for a moment.

Rebecca said, "When I look at him, I think about Oliver growing up. If he ever does something wrong out there, I'd want someone to hold him accountable — not just let it slide."

"Where are you coming back from?"

"Just got back from abroad. Had some things to deal with over there."

Neither Rebecca nor William had expected they could meet again and talk this calmly.

"What about you? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm picking someone up." Rebecca paused, then continued, "Everard. He went on a business trip abroad last week too."

The corner of William's mouth tugged slightly. He nodded, understanding.

"I see. I'll get going then."

"Sure."

Rebecca answered, but inside she let out a quiet breath of relief — she really just wanted William to leave.

And William didn't linger. But as he walked past her, he said,

"Put your shoes on. It's cold."

That strangely familiar tone drifted into Rebecca's ears, and for just a moment, she felt a little lost.

"Okay."

The word came out dry.

William's step paused. Rebecca said, "Oliver's been asking about you lately. If you miss him, I can arrange for you to see him."

"Maybe in a bit."

"Okay."

A few months ago, she had almost let herself hate William completely.

Now all the love and hate and everything in between was over, and she felt almost nothing. When she really thought about it, he was Oliver's father.

That was probably a tie that would never go away.

She took a deep breath and was about to turn around when a bright, sweet voice rang out behind her.

"William!"

William looked at the woman running toward him and smiled, opening his arms.

Irene Smith, with no regard for where she was, leapt straight at him.

William reacted quickly and caught her.

"I made it on time, right?"

"Yeah."

"Who was that woman? You just got back and someone's already hitting on you?"

Irene's voice was sharp, and she made no effort to keep it down. Rebecca, standing just ten or so steps away, heard every word clearly.

"I'll introduce you sometime."

"So you do know her? Don't tell me that's your ex-wife?"

Irene was still talking, but William had already put his arm around her shoulder and was steering her away.

Rebecca's feelings were complicated for a moment — not because of herself, but because she suddenly thought of Celeste.

……

On the other side of the hall, Everard came out of the arrivals corridor with a few colleagues.

He was mid-conversation, but his eyes had already found Rebecca standing not far away, talking to William.

Seeing William didn't surprise him — they'd been on the same flight.

Then the other woman arrived, and Everard's eyes narrowed slightly.

Irene?

The corner of his mouth pulled back. So that's how it is.

William and Irene left together, and Rebecca stood there alone, staring in their direction for a long moment without moving.

Everard's eyes darkened slightly.

"Mr. Whitaker?"

The young man standing beside Everard was a student he'd brought along to the conference.

He followed Everard's gaze and looked over, puzzled.

But Everard didn't respond. He just called out toward Rebecca, "Rebecca."

Rebecca turned at the sound of her name. The moment she saw Everard still standing at the arrivals exit, her face broke into a bright smile. She jogged over in her heels to meet him.

She looked up eagerly as he walked toward her, then threw her arms around him.

Everard loved seeing Rebecca like this — open and full of light.

He held her for a good while before letting go, then asked,

"What were you doing just standing there?"

Rebecca quickly said, "I haven't even had a chance to tell you — I ran into this eight-year-old boy just now."

She launched into a lively, detailed account of the whole scene at the airport.

But she didn't mention William once.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You don't believe me?"

Everard had a faint smile on his face that made Rebecca uneasy.

"No, I do. Security caught up with the boy — then what happened?"

"Then I had security take him to the police station. I think he might be an orphan."

Rebecca went on.

"He said he only grabbed it because he thought my ring was pretty, but I don't buy that. He's definitely done this before. What eight-year-old is that quick?"