Chapter 320 Exposed
Chapter 320 Exposed
It had only been a week since leaving Empire City, but Rebecca remembered clearly—when they left, the roads on both sides were still dull and gray.
But now, coming back, at first glance, there was a hazy expanse of green everywhere.
Tiny green buds had sprouted on the tree trunks.
Spring had arrived.
Alex, who used to be teased for acting like a little adult, seemed like a different person after this trip.
His face constantly wore a cheerful smile, and when they met, he even knew to softly take Elizabeth's hand.
Even though he still didn't speak, the care in his eyes was obvious.
Touching Alex's little face, Elizabeth glanced at Frederick, then at Rebecca, and swallowed back the words about Celine's repeated requests to meet.
Rebecca had dinner at the old house and then returned to the Getty family villa.
After being away for a week, although they'd called and video chatted every day, she still hadn't seen them in person.
And this was the longest time Rebecca had been separated from her mother since the Getty family's troubles.
Pushing open the door, fragrant aromas filled the air.
Rebecca walked to the kitchen and saw Layla making soup.
Turning around and seeing her, Layla's face lit up with delight.
Seeing Rebecca about to go find Alexa, Layla quickly grabbed her, "Wait a bit, Mrs. Getty is on the phone."
Rebecca's heart skipped a beat. "Who's she talking to?"
Layla said nothing.
But Rebecca seemed to already know the answer.
Dad had already passed away.
But in Mom's heart, Dad was still alive.
After standing quietly outside the first-floor master bedroom for a while, Rebecca turned and went upstairs to shower and change.
The next day was the first day of the semester at Empire University.
There weren't many classes on the first day—each department sent out notices, class presidents arranged for people to pick up textbooks from designated locations, and then organized classroom distribution to students.
Usually, this kind of work defaulted to the strong, able-bodied male students.
After collecting books and attending the class meeting, when Rebecca returned to Star Apartments, she found Lucy had already cleaned the room until it sparkled.
Her phone dinged—a message from Isabella.
[Mrs. Windsor, are you free tonight?]
[What's up?]
[There's a birthday party, they asked me to go. Can you do me a favor?]
[What time?]
[Meet at the usual place at five!]
Putting away her phone and letting Frederick know, she heard the door lock turn. Rebecca looked up to see Lucy.
And Ryan, behind her, was carrying a stack of books.
"Becca, I missed you so much!"
Lucy excitedly rushed over.
Ryan greeted them and left, reminding Lucy not to forget her medicine before he went.
After the door closed, Rebecca looked Lucy over with concern, "What's wrong? Where don't you feel well?"
"Stomachache."
Lucy smiled, went straight to the drawer, pulled out some ibuprofen, and waved it at Rebecca, "Old problem, but it'll be fine after taking this. No big deal."
Rebecca's gaze paused.
Lucy quickly pulled her hand back.
Then, feeling there was nothing to be shy about, she stretched out her hand in front of Rebecca's face, "Does it look good?"
On her fair finger, a rose gold ring sparkled.
A Forever classic design.
Over ten years old, an unsurpassed classic.
Rebecca nodded, "Beautiful! Classics never go out of style."
Lucy's embarrassment became more obvious, "On Valentine's night, Ryan bought it at a night market stall, 19.99."
Rebecca froze.
Although street vendor goods these days were quite competitive, with some craftsmanship almost rivaling authentic pieces.
But Rebecca, studying jewelry design, could still tell the difference between genuine goods and street vendor items.
A ring priced at 19,999, given by Ryan to Lucy, but he said it only cost nineteen ninety-nine.
Was he afraid Lucy would think it too expensive and want to return it?
Or was there another reason?
"Becca, what's wrong?"
Seeing Rebecca looking distracted, Lucy looked anxious.
Rebecca smiled and shook her head, "Nothing... just haven't seen you in days, still getting my bearings."
Lucy blushed.
Rebecca smiled, "When he bought it, didn't you tease him?"
"We weren't together that night."
Completely unaware that her boyfriend not being with her on Valentine's night was anything strange, Lucy smiled, "Besides, there's nothing to laugh about. Even if he didn't buy me a gift, I wouldn't be mad."
They'd been together since they were 18—this was their second Valentine's Day in college.
Last Valentine's Day, Ryan had made Lucy a bracelet himself.
After moving into Star Apartments, Lucy kept it by her bedside. Rebecca had seen it.
Handsome.
And considerate.
He rejected advances from other girls without hesitation.
In Lucy's heart, Ryan was the perfect boyfriend.
Rebecca believed that if Ryan dared buy a 19.99 ring, Lucy would dare wear it.
Part of her thought Ryan might have some unavoidable difficulties, and maybe that photo from the bar was just her overthinking.
But another small voice asked: What if?
Yet looking at Lucy, face shy and eyes bright, humming songs even while showering, Rebecca buried all her doubts deep inside.
After giving Lucy some basic jewelry care tips, she confirmed that the ring was more likely to be lost from frequent removal than corroded by water from washing hands or showering.
In the evening, Rebecca went straight to the styling studio where she'd arranged to meet Isabella.
"Whose birthday is it that they're making such a big deal?"
Letting the makeup artist work on her face, Rebecca looked at Isabella in the mirror and asked.
"Ugh..."
Starting with a sigh, Isabella said glumly, "Last week I went back for John's birthday, and he said he had two candidates for me to consider. I didn't want to think about it, so I told him I had a boyfriend. But then, I got caught."
When she talked back to Anna, John had just walked in.
If John hadn't calmed Anna down and said he'd handle it, that night Anna would have blown up Isabella's phone.
"John said he didn't mean to force me, just wanted to give me another option. Asked me to just go and see."
Maybe because John's words were so gentle, forming a stark contrast with Anna's.
Or maybe she felt that meeting and saying it wasn't suitable would be more convincing than directly refusing.
"Anyway, I agreed!"
Isabella looked at Rebecca, "Becca, just follow my lead tonight!"
Rebecca understood immediately.
At seven in the evening, Rebecca and Isabella, arm in arm and smiling brightly, appeared in the banquet hall on the first floor of Empire Grand Hotel.
Beautiful women always attracted attention wherever they went, especially a pair of beauties with such distinct temperaments.
And even more so when Rebecca carried the halo of being Mrs. Windsor.
The guests in the hall all turned around, their eyes filled with admiration.
People came forward one after another to greet them.
In her peripheral vision, she caught sight of a familiar dark figure. Rebecca instinctively turned her head.
Their eyes met. Rebecca froze, her gaze gradually turning cold.
A few steps away, Ryan's calm gaze shattered the moment he saw Rebecca.