Chapter 45

Over the next few days, TNN and countless other media went crazy over the Silverman case. William Silverman resigned as the CEO of Silverman Corporation, liquidated his shares, and sold the Silverware to an up-and-coming startup company from Silicon Valley. The name Thomas Silverman became the most searched for words in the search engine and just about everyone had a story to tell about the mysterious murderous twin. Some claimed to have seen him playing in the slums as a child, others swore they had bumped into him at a prestigious boarding school in Europe and yet a few others would say he had been kept locked up in a bunker as a sexual slave to his crazed mother.

Thomas Silverman was swiftly given a life sentence without parole while his mother was slapped with a house arrest of 3 years for physical, emotional, and mental abuse of her sons. Williams was set free on a hefty bail and seemingly disappeared from the limelight.

He neither called nor visited Rebecca during her time at the hospital. Rebecca was disappointed, but deep down she understood. He needed time to heal, and so did she. They had begun a relationship based on lust and skated on thin ice ever since – him always hiding his inner turmoil from her and she, never truly understanding the person that he was.

 She wondered if she ever would.

***

6 MONTHS LATER

“Earth to Becca!” Jean called out, snapping Rebecca to attention. It was Jean and Sam’s wedding day and what a glorious day it was. It was a simple and intimate outdoor wedding at a lush and beautiful park.

“How’s my hair?” Jean asked nervously, peeking out from their white canopy at the guests who were mingling around.

Rebecca smiled and gave her friend a warm embrace, “You look gorgeous.” Jean was dressed in a simple yet stunning lacy sheath wedding dress. It fitted at Jean’s waist ad fell straight to the ground below her hips with minimal flare. Her mother-in-law who stood next to them was beaming from ear to ear.

“Thank you,” Jean whispered, looking like she was about to have a mental breakdown. Rebecca patted her friend on the shoulder and took a peek out of the canopy herself. She could see Sam standing at the floral wedding arch of pink and white roses talking to John. Sam was in a dark grey tuxedo while John wore a lighter version. He must have sensed her looking at them for he looked up from his conversation with Sam and waved at her, flashing his pearly whites. Nearby a group of female guests squealed at the sight of John. He was practically Adonis reincarnated.

“He is very handsome, “Jean’s mother-in-law nodded with approval. Rebecca forced a smile and nodded robotically, “Yes, he is.” She had been hearing the same thing the whole morning. Every woman under the canopy seemed to have fallen head over heels in love with John. She wondered if she should too.

John had called her the night before, “I’m getting a promotion.” She had jumped for joy and invited him over to her apartment for a can of beer to celebrate.

“I’ll be leading a case, it’s in California. So, I won’t be able to come back much,” he had said, nursing his cold can of Heineken.

“Oh,” she had scratched her head, they were no longer unruly. At her mother’s insistence, she had them straightened out and was very pleased with the outcome. “We won’t be seeing each other then? For how long?” she had asked innocently, chugging down a big gulp before belching in his face. He had to wave the smell away.

“Probably six months, maybe more. They might want me to stay longer,” John had said quietly before catching her by surprise, “Would you …. like to come with me?”

He hadn’t confessed directly, but she knew what he meant. She would have been a fool not to. Had William Silverman not come into her life, she probably would have jumped at the chance to go on an adventure with John, but she did meet William and because of that, Rebecca could not say yes.

Her head dropped; she could not meet his gaze. “I’m sorry John,” was all she could say.

He had smiled and hugged her that night, it was a hug like the many others that he had given her throughout all their years together growing up. But at that moment, it felt like he saying goodbye for good. Tears had formed in her eyes and he had to wipe them away with his sleeves.

“It’s okay Rebecca, I understand.”

That was their last conversation together.

“Becca…let’s go. It’s time,” Jean called out, bringing Rebecca back to the present again. Rebecca nodded and helped to lift Jean’s long lacy train and together with two little flower girls, they exited the canopy.

Etta James’ “At Last” blasted on the stereo as the women marched towards the men.

“At last, my love has come along My lonely days are over

And life is like a song

At last The skies above are blue My heart was wrapped up in clover

The night I looked at you I found a dream

That I could speak to A dream that I can call my own I found a thrill

To press my cheek to A thrill that I've never known You smiled, you smiled Oh, and then the spell was cast And here we are in Heaven For you are mine at last”

Later, after the wedding vows were exchanged and as guests began to mingle around, Rebecca found herself walking around the park, The willow trees swayed to the gentle breeze and she had to laugh at the sight of the little flower girls chasing after the birds.

And as she did, she caught sight of a man in the crowd. He had a textured crop with a few subtle grey streaks, and his thick eyebrows furrowed as his jet-black eyes pierced into hers before his lips curled into a dimpled smile.

It was William Silverman himself. He was finally back. Her heart thumped at the sight of him.

Slowly but surely, he walked towards her, as did she – both ignoring the chattering of guests around them. It seemed to take forever, but they finally stood face to face, with William towering a head above her.

Gingerly he took her hands in his as he looked into her hazel eyes, “Rebecca Grey, would you like to start anew with me?”

She smiled, “Yes.”