Chapter 3 Treatment Reserved for the Mistress
"Becca..."
Isabella's voice buzzed with excitement over the phone. "Elizabeth's throwing a big banquet at the Windsor Mansion tomorrow for all the elite women in Empire City. It's a matchmaking event for Mr. Windsor."
A matchmaking event for Frederick? Why is she so excited about this?
Rebecca looked puzzled. "So what?"
"Elizabeth said whoever wins Mr. Windsor's heart, even if it's just dating and not marriage, will get a gift worth a billion dollars."
Isabella's words came out in a rush. "I already got an invite. Wish me luck! What if I actually pull it off?"
"Isn't Mr. Windsor in his thirties? No wonder Elizabeth's in a hurry. In our circle, people his age usually have kids already, whether through arranged marriages or finding someone on their own. But Mr. Windsor? He hasn't shown interest in anyone. Becca, do you think he might be into men?"
Isabella kept gossiping, but Rebecca's mind wandered.
Frederick isn't in his thirties. He's eight years older than me, which makes him just 28 this year.
Rebecca vividly remembered the first time she saw him at the Johnson Villa. Frederick was over six feet tall, with long legs and a stern face. Even a simple white shirt seemed to glow on him.
Jennifer Johnson had introduced him as Frederick, and Rebecca had blurted out, "Brother Frederick." Amidst the adults' amused laughter, she corrected herself and, like the other Johnson family kids, called him Uncle Frederick.
During holidays, the Getty and Johnson families always gathered together, and every time they visited the Johnson Villa, she saw him. She knew he was a top student at the world's best university, the most outstanding young man of the Windsor family. She knew he majored in finance, spoke several languages, and took over the Windsor Group at a young age.
She also knew he had a distant and cold personality, rarely attended elite banquets, and spent his free time visiting churches or temples to learn about different religions.
"Becca, Becca?"
Isabella's voice snapped Rebecca back to reality.
Rebecca nodded. "Okay, I'll think about it."
Isabella was taken aback. "I didn't mean you should go too! Becca, you and Dennis..."
"I've already broken off the engagement."
Rebecca's heart ached, but she spoke calmly. "I blocked and deleted him before he could respond, but I guess he agreed."
The circle is so small. Even if she blocked his number, Dennis could still find her easily. But he didn't. His words had been clear.
Rebecca couldn't understand why the affection they'd shared since childhood had turned into disdain from Dennis. At their engagement party on her 18th birthday, he had declared his eternal love for her. Just a week ago, he was still planning their Christmas vacation together.
So, because the Getty family went bankrupt and the Johnson family couldn't rely on them anymore, did his love change too?
Rebecca could only laugh. Turns out, she was the only fool who believed in true love!
"Bastard!"
Isabella cursed softly, her voice turning gentle. "Becca, sometimes you have to go through the wrong ones to find the right one. You'll meet your ideal partner, trust me!"
Isabella's tone shifted excitedly. "Since you broke off the engagement, you're single now! Let's dress up and look stunning for the matchmaking event tomorrow. If Mr. Windsor has any sense, he'll pick one of us, right? Then we can use that billion dollars to pay off the Getty family's debts."
Rebecca was touched but didn't want Isabella to risk her own happiness. "Izzy, you don't have to..."
"Don't worry about it. With you there, if Mr. Windsor isn't blind, he won't choose me! I'll just be there to lower the odds, okay?"
Rebecca fell silent.
It was already 11 PM, and Frederick still hadn't returned.
She couldn't thank him in person, so Rebecca decided not to stay any longer. She left the villa, leaving a thank-you note behind.
Rebecca hailed a cab straight to the hospital.
A black Maybach followed her all the way to the hospital, stopping only when she entered the hospital doors.
Everything was quiet.
The car was eerily silent.
Sensing Frederick's foul mood, Mike's breath became lighter and lighter, afraid that even breathing might be a crime at this moment.
"What is Dennis up to lately?" Frederick's cold voice broke the silence.
Mike glanced at the rearview mirror. "Mr. Johnson... same as usual."
Same as usual meant sleeping during the day and partying with friends at night. Occasionally, when his father pushed him, he'd show up at the company and flirt with the pretty secretaries.
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the car became even more oppressive.
Mike instinctively looked at the hospital building.
When Frederick spoke again, Mike thought he was hallucinating. "Find a reason to make her stay."
A man who was ruthless and decisive in business, unfazed by stock market fluctuations, now spoke with hesitation and uncertainty.
Mike's tongue tied. Find a reason? What reason? And where should she stay... Pinewood Mansion?
Staying at Pinewood Mansion was reserved for the lady of the house. But Rebecca...
Mike's thoughts were tangled, unable to find a single reason. Everyone in Empire City knew Rebecca was the future Mrs. Johnson, just waiting for the legal age to register and hold the wedding.
Despite the shocking behavior of the Johnson family recently, this was still between the Johnson and Getty families, and outsiders had no say.
Glancing at the rearview mirror, Mike tightly shut his mouth.
The warm air blew from all directions, but Mike felt frozen to the bone.
In the hospital room, Rebecca watched her mother, Alexa, slowly fall asleep after receiving a sedative, tears streaming down her face.
Her once gentle and elegant mother had gone mad after the Getty family's downfall and Henry's death, unable to calm down even in her presence. According to the doctors, immediate intervention was needed. Otherwise, if her condition worsened, Alexa would end up in a mental institution.
Daily treatment and care cost five thousand dollars, which used to be less than the price of a meal. But now, if it weren't for Layla's card, Rebecca wouldn't even have that money.
Her lips were nearly bitten through. Only when Alexa's breathing became steady and peaceful did Rebecca leave the room and call Isabella. "I'll go to the matchmaking event at Windsor Mansion tomorrow!"