Chapter 177

After that, Everard took off running toward the volleyball court. Rebecca's head spun from being jostled around, and when he finally set her down, she plopped onto the ground, looking thoroughly disgruntled.

She glared up at him.

"I didn't even say 'go'!"

Everard sat down beside her and took her hand, cradling it in his palm.

"I won't let you get in trouble. I promise."

Rebecca looked at Everard. He was still devastatingly handsome—impossible to look away from. The evening breeze tousled his slightly long hair.

She reached up and ruffled his hair, as if it wasn't messy enough already.

She really did love him.

That was the only thought in Rebecca's mind. Someday, she realized, loving someone this much might actually scare her.

Everard and she gazed out at the endless ocean before them.

The night was deep and dark. The sound of waves mingled with the laughter of tourists on the beach. For Everard, who spent his days buried in work, this was actually a kind of bliss.

"This place is so beautiful. Even at night, it's stunning."

Rebecca sighed sincerely.

"You like it here?"

Everard asked.

Rebecca propped her chin on her hand.

"Who doesn't love beautiful scenery? It's like you—handsome, cool guys like you, what woman wouldn't be into that? You should've seen all those girls checking you out on the way here."

"If they'd kept watching, they would've noticed I was checking you out the whole time."

"Hmph. Good answer."

Rebecca lifted her chin, looking quite pleased with herself.

"Everard!"

Rebecca suddenly shouted into the sea breeze.

"What?"

Everard startled, then heard her yell, "I like you!"

A beautiful night, a romantic beach, the intoxicating sound of waves.

In that moment, she wanted the whole world to know.

"Everard is my husband!"

Everard's lips curved upward as he listened to Rebecca shouting into the wind beside him—that declaration that seemed to claim ownership before the entire world.

Childish, maybe. But it made his heart race. And made everyone else jealous.

"Everard! Are you happy?"

"Everard! Say something!"

"Happy!"

"Come on, let's walk around."

"Can't move." Rebecca started acting spoiled.

Everard was still a bit worried—they weren't that far from the barbecue stand.

He crouched down in front of Rebecca.

"Come on, I'll carry you."

Rebecca looked at the broad back bent before her, and just like that, for no reason at all, her eyes stung with heat.

But quickly, the sea breeze blew, and the feeling cooled.

Rebecca grabbed her shoes without ceremony, then jumped onto Everard's back!

Everard hooked his arms under her legs and kept walking forward.

Rebecca leaned against his shoulder, dangling her two shoes from one hand while her legs swung back and forth.

"This is so nice."

Rebecca affectionately pressed her cheek against his, then spoke again.

"Don't you think it's amazing how life works out?"

"Humans are amazing creatures to begin with."

"You're probably the most amazing creature I've ever met."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

Rebecca laughed.

"He's my husband—of course I'm complimenting you!"

"Really? Because it sounds kind of weird to me."

Rebecca swung her legs, then her voice suddenly quieted. She asked softly,

"After today, a lot of things are going to be different, aren't they?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're going to take over the Whitaker Family business, right?"

Rebecca's voice traveled along his ear, and for a moment, Everard couldn't quite read the emotion behind her words.

Was she happy or sad? Hopeful or disappointed?

"Everyone's got to have some sense of purpose in life."

Rebecca's lips curved slightly. "Taking over the Whitaker Family business—that's your purpose. Your parents have always hoped for that."

"Taking over the business isn't my purpose."

Everard paused, then lifted his lips in a smile and declared loudly,

"My purpose is to keep my wife and kid well-fed and happy!"

"Making sure you and Oliver feel safe and happy because I'm here—Rebecca, 'that's' my purpose!"

Rebecca froze, her arms tightening slightly around him.

"Are you going to give up medicine?"

"Rebecca, men are ambitious. About careers, money, power... and women."

Rebecca's eyes narrowed. She poked his cheek with her index finger, her tone dangerous.

"And ambitious about women too! What, planning to hit on a few more?"

Everard turned his head and caught her finger between his teeth, shooting her a glance.

His voice was muffled but dripping with disdain. "You call that ambition?"

"Is that really how shallow you think I am?"

Rebecca raised an eyebrow, pouting.

"Aren't you? What other kind of ambition could you possibly have?"

"I'm not telling you."

"Are you going to tell me or not?"

Rebecca pinched his cheek.

"Nope."

"Fine. Then I'm telling my parents you're planning to hit on a bunch of women!"

"Oh, okay. Go ahead and tell them."

"Everard! You jerk!"

Everard kept walking forward, the sand soft beneath his feet.

It wasn't arrogance—just reality. In today's world, men with money and power naturally attracted more female attention. If he wanted, countless women would throw themselves at him.

But was that ambition?

Even if countless women adored him, what would happen if he fell from grace one day?

In this life, all he needed was one person who loved him wholeheartedly, who understood him completely, who stood by his side. Someone who knew what he was thinking, understood what he said, and supported what he did...

Someone who would willingly walk the rough roads with him.

'That' was ambition. Because it was so rare.

"Come on, tell me! I'm dying to know!"

Rebecca wheedled and coaxed, but Everard refused to budge, which made her practically bristle on his back.

"I'll tell you later."

"After you've cheated on me?"

"Rebecca, if you want to check out that area over there, I can take you."

"Everard, don't change the subject!"

"Oh right, where were we? Yeah—I'm not rushing to give up medicine just yet."

Rebecca deflated, knowing Everard wasn't going to tell her. But she didn't feel uneasy about what he'd said.

"Still waiting to hear what your parents think?"

Everard nodded.

Rebecca took a deep breath.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing! Just building up my courage!"

Rebecca's expression turned serious, full of determination, each word deliberate.

"Building up a whole lot of courage! So I can be there for you. Whatever you do, I'll be there with you."

Everard felt his heart swell.

"Rebecca."

"Hmm?"

"What you just said—that's enough."

"Be with me."

Rebecca's eyes stung with heat, then she laughed softly and kissed his ear.

"Are you tired?"

"Maybe a little."

"Put me down."

"You're not tired anymore?"

"I am. Let's sit for a bit, then you can carry me again. Even if you're working a beast of burden, you've got to let it catch its breath, right?"

Rebecca patted his hair, looking very understanding.

Everard glanced at her, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes. His arm hooked around her waist from behind, and he tossed her straight onto the sand.

Rebecca was so stunned she couldn't think straight, just felt a sharp pain in her butt.

"Everard!"

Everard dusted off his hands and rolled his shoulders, looking completely relaxed.

"You're heavy as hell."

"You barely carried me any distance and you're saying I'm heavy! You never used to say I was heavy!"

Everard crouched down, looking at her.

"What?"

Rebecca's voice immediately weakened under his stare.

"Look for yourself—we walked from the east coast all the way to the west coast. Look back there—can you even see the smoke from that barbecue stand anymore?"

Rebecca stuck her head out and craned her neck to look, then cleared her throat and mumbled,

"Still, you didn't have to drop me like that."

Everard turned and sat down, then pulled her onto his lap face-down. His large hand landed on her backside!

"Hey! What are you doing!"

"There's no one here."

"What about those people over there!"

"It's so dark, they can't see."

"Everard, you have no shame—I'm embarrassed!"

Rebecca kept protesting and trying to flip over, but before she could, Everard delivered another smack.

"You gonna keep squirming?"

"Everard!"

"You said it hurt, didn't you? I'm rubbing it for you."

Rebecca said indignantly,

"Who slaps someone and 'then' rubs it?"

"It doesn't hurt that much. You're making a fuss."

"It 'does' hurt!"

Rebecca grumbled, but after that she stopped squirming. Lying across Everard's lap was actually pretty comfortable.

Rebecca's brow twitched. "Everard, where are you rubbing? I didn't hurt that spot—didn't hurt it!"

"I'm rubbing everywhere."

Rebecca's face flushed bright red. She covered her face with both hands. "Pervert."

Everard's hand took full advantage before finally releasing her, then he leaned back against the soft sand, enjoying the evening breeze.

Rebecca scrambled up and changed positions, kneeling on his lap to face him directly.

"Oh? Weren't you all shy just a second ago?"

"What are you thinking! I have something to tell you. This way, you'll hear me better."

Everard looked at her. Her long hair kept blowing into his face with the wind.

Everard pulled her closer by the neck, bringing her lips near his. "I know. You love me very much."

"I'm not—"

Whatever else she wanted to say was swallowed by Everard's kiss.

Endless affection, deeper than the ocean.

Rebecca kept her eyes open. What was she going to say again?

The kiss made her forget.

The beach gradually emptied as time crept toward midnight. The night deepened, the chill growing heavier.

But Rebecca, nestled in Everard's arms, was so comfortable she was nearly asleep.

"Alright, let's head back."

"Okay."

Rebecca could barely keep her eyes open. Everard crouched down and pulled her onto his back.

Rebecca swung her legs again, eyes half-closed. Through her drowsy haze, a little smile still played at her lips.

"You're really carrying me back?"

"Go ahead and sleep."

Rebecca contentedly nuzzled against the back of his neck, the curve of her smile never fading.

Marrying him was the best thing ever.