Chapter 119 Still Mine
Friday evening arrived quietly, the soft golden light of the setting sun slipping through the large kitchen windows. Rebecca had dismissed the staff earlier that afternoon, insisting that she would handle dinner herself. It wasn’t something she normally did, especially in a house that had more than enough people to take care of such things.
But today felt different.
After her conversation with Amelia the day before, something had settled inside her like a quiet determination. She had spent hours replaying Amelia’s words in her mind. If Derek had been distant lately, if the pressure from work and grief had been weighing on him, then perhaps what he needed most right now was warmth… something simple and personal to remind him that he wasn’t alone, that he still has people who care about him.
So she decided to cook.
The dining table was beautifully arranged. Soft candles glowed gently, casting warm light over the neatly placed plates. The aroma of his favorite dishes filled the room, and she had even changed into something a little nicer.
It wasn’t extravagant, just a simple elegant dress that hugged her frame modestly, paired with light makeup that softened her natural features. Nothing dramatic. Just enough effort to make the evening feel special.
She checked the clock again.
7:30 p.m.
Right on time, the sound of Derek’s car echoed outside. A small smile spread across her face as she hurried toward the entrance.
The door opened moments later.
Derek stepped inside, loosening his tie slightly as he crossed the threshold. His movements were slower than usual, the exhaustion from the past weeks evident in the slight heaviness of his posture.
But when he saw Rebecca waiting there, something in his expression softened.
"You’re back early today," she greeted warmly, as she took his suitcase off his hand.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling lightly. "Meetings ended earlier than expected."
Her smile brightened immediately.
"That’s good," she said, stepping aside to let him in. "I made dinner myself today."
He paused briefly.
His eyes drifted past her toward the dining room, where the soft candlelight illuminated the carefully arranged table. For a brief moment, genuine appreciation flickered across his face.
"You didn’t have to do all that," he said quietly.
"I wanted to," she replied gently.
She walked beside him toward the dining room.
"You’ve been under so much pressure lately," she added softly. "I thought maybe… tonight could be a little calmer."
What she didn’t say was what truly motivated her.
After speaking with Amelia, Rebecca had realized something important. Perhaps she had been too passive lately, allowing the distance between them to grow without actively trying to close it. Derek had always taken care of her before everything fell apart. Now she wanted to show him that she was just as committed to what they had.
That she wasn’t going anywhere.
They reached the table.
Derek pulled out his chair slowly, preparing to sit.
And then his phone rang.
The sharp vibration broke through the quiet warmth of the room, sounding far louder than it should have.
Derek pulled out the phone from his pocket and glanced down at the screen.
Celia.
His fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the phone.
Rebecca noticed the shift instantly. The slight tension in his jaw. The way his shoulders stiffened.
"Aren’t you going to answer?" she asked gently.
He hesitated.
Just for a moment.
"I’ll be right back."
Then he stepped away toward the window, a little farther from the dinning area.
He answered the call quietly.
"Hello?"
Celia’s voice came through the line soft and fragile, almost trembling.
"Derek… I’m sorry. I know you’re probably home already."
He remained silent.
"I just… had a really bad day," she continued, her voice lowering further. "I don’t know why everything suddenly feels so heavy tonight. I tried distracting myself but nothing seems to work."
He closed his eyes briefly.
Behind him, Rebecca stood quietly beside the table, watching him. She couldn’t hear what the other person was saying, but she could see the tension settling deeper into his shoulders.
"I didn’t know who else to call," Celia continued softly. "I just needed someone to talk to… someone who understands me."
There was a long pause.
Derek exhaled slowly.
"I’m coming over," he said finally.
When he ended the call and turned back around, the guilt had already begun to settle heavily in his chest.
Rebecca looked at him expectantly, as he walked back to the dinning area.
"I’m sorry," he said quickly, already reaching for his car keys. "Something urgent came up at work. I need to go handle it."
Rebecca blinked, caught off guard.
"Now?" she asked softly. "But dinner..."
"I’ll eat later," he interrupted, his voice slightly rushed as he moved toward the door.
She stood beside the table, her hands slowly clasping together.
"You’ve barely rested today," she said quietly. "Can’t it wait until morning?"
He avoided her eyes, as he turned towards her.
"It can’t. It’s important, and I'll be back late." He added.
Before leaving, he stepped toward her and pressed a brief kiss against her cheek, quick, almost absent-minded.
Then he left.
The door closed behind him.
Silence filled the room.
Rebecca remained standing there for several seconds, staring at the untouched plates and the empty chair across from her.
The warmth she had tried so carefully to create now felt hollow… misplaced.
Slowly, she lowered herself into her seat.
The excitement she had felt earlier faded, replaced by a quiet ache she couldn’t quite put into words.
Across the city, Celia opened her door moments after Derek knocked.
She wore an oversized sweater that hung loosely over her frame. Her hair looked slightly messy, her face pale in a way that appeared fragile almost too perfect to be natural.
"You look exhausted," she said immediately, her voice filled with concern as she stepped aside.
Derek walked in slowly.
"I’ve just been busy," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Celia watched him carefully as he moved inside. His shoulders were tense, his movements slower than usual.
"You shouldn’t push yourself this hard," she said softly. "You’ve been through too much lately."
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he sank heavily onto the couch, exhaling deeply like a man who had been carrying too much weight for far too long.
"I’ll make you some tea," she said gently.
He gave a distracted nod.
By the time she returned, the tea cup warm in her hands, Derek had already leaned back against the couch.
His head tilted slightly, his breathing had slowed.
He had fallen asleep, just like that.
Celia stood there quietly, watching him.
The tea remained untouched.
A slow smile gradually spread across her lips.
Sleeping.
His guard was gone, his control lowered. The carefully constructed distance he always maintained had disappeared the moment exhaustion claimed him.
She set the cup aside quietly and moved closer.
Sitting beside him, she studied his face, the stress etched across his features, the faint crease between his brows even in sleep.
The man who once belonged completely to her.
"Still mine," she whispered under her breath.
He could deny it all he wanted, deny loving her, deny their past, deny whatever feelings still lingered. But actions spoke louder than words.
And Derek always came when she called.
That alone was enough for her.
Carefully, she adjusted her position beside him, leaning into him just enough to appear intimate but not obvious.
Then she reached for his phone on the table.
His password hadn’t changed.
It opened instantly under her fingers.
She angled the camera carefully.
Her head resting close to his shoulder. His body relaxed beside her. The frame tight enough to suggest something far more personal than the truth.
Click.
The picture was perfect.
Compromising without context, suggestive without explanation.
She stared at the image for a moment, satisfaction glinting in her eyes.
Then she scrolled through his contacts.
Rebecca.
Without hesitation, she sent the photo.
No caption.
No explanation.
Just the image.
She placed the phone back exactly where it had been and leaned against Derek again, her expression soft and innocent by the time he stirred awake a few minutes later.
Across the city, Rebecca sat quietly in the bedroom.
She had eventually left the untouched dinner behind, unable to bring herself to sit at the table any longer. The house had grown strangely quiet without Derek’s presence.
Her phone vibrated softly on the bedside table.
She almost ignored it.
She assumed it was just a household notification or a message from her secretary.
But something made her reach for it.
The moment the image appeared on her screen, everything inside her froze.
Her fingers turned cold first, the phone trembled slightly in her hands as she stared at the picture.