Chapter 143 Different
The next morning came slowly for Rebecca. She didn’t sleep well. Every time she closed her eyes, something pulled her back to that moment Derek had kissed her.
And then, to Adrian. His calm voice and his quiet smile. Rebecca turned in her bed and stared at the wall.
Her eyes felt heavy. Her head felt full.
I don’t want to think today, she told herself.
But her mind didn’t listen, it kept going back, aain and again.
She sat up slowly and pressed her fingers to her forehead.
“I’m fine,” she whispered but even she didn’t believe it. But whatever it was, she needed to push it all aside and go to work.
By the time she got to her office, she had already put herself together. Her face looked normal. Her clothes were neat and her steps were steady.
No one would know about all that had been going on her her head since last night.
She walked into her office and stopped. There it was. A bouquet of flowers, fresh and beautiful.
Placed neatly at the center of her desk. Rebecca stared at it. For a few seconds, she didn’t move.
Her chest tightened, not in a bad way but not in an easy way either. She walked closer slowly.
Her fingers brushed lightly against the petals. It was soft and carefully arranged, just like before.
Seeing the bouquet, she didn't need to guess who had sent it to her. It looked too familiar for her not to know.
She smiled when she saw that there was a small card. She already knew what it would say.
Still… she picked it up.
“Good morning, Becca. I hope today is kind to you.”
Rebecca held the card for a moment. He didn’t stop sending her flowers. She thought as something in her chest shifted.
Usually, this would make her smile. It would usually make her shake her head and laugh a little.
But today… she just stood there, thinking.
Although she'd told herself she wouldn't run away from this but why did this feel different today? She wondered.
Her fingers tightened slightly on the card as she wondered briefly.
Why do I feel… tired instead of happy?
She placed the card down slowly, and carefully like she didn’t want to break something even though she didn’t know what it was.
She settled down and it didn't take long before a knock came on her door.
“Come in,” she said, her voice sounding normal.
Her secretary walked in with a small smile.
“Miss Smith, your car has been returned. It was fixed this morning.”
Rebecca blinked. She'd thought Adrian would be the one to return the car himself since she'd been thinking of ways to avoid seeing him today. Thanfully, she didn't have to see him again.
“I see. Who returned it?” she asked curiously.
“A mechanic brought it. He said it was sent by Mr. Adrian.”
“He also asked me to give you this,” the secretary added, placing her car keys on the table.
Rebecca looked at them then nodded slightly.
“Alright. Thank you.”
The secretary smiled and left. The door closed and the room became quiet again.
Rebecca stared at the keys.
Why is he doing all this…? Going the extra mile for her. She was quiet sure he knew she was married to Derek. So why?
Her throat felt tight. Why is he making this so hard? She reached out and picked up the keys. Held them and turned them slightly in her hand.
You barely know me… her mind whispered.
Why do you care like this?
She exhaled slowly, and just then, her phone rang. Rebecca looked at the screen.
It was Adrian. Her fingers paused.
Should I answer? Should I ignore it? What would she say to him?
She stared at it for a second. Then picked it up.
“Hello,” she said, her voice coming out soft but she could feel the difference especially in how she felt, taking to him.
Adrian noticed it immediately. “Good morning, Rebecca.”
There was a small pause on her end before she replied, “Good morning.”
Adrian leaned back slightly where he was, knowing that something felt off.
He didn’t say it, though he felt it.
“Did you see the flowers?” he asked with a knowing smile.
“Yes,” she replied simply.
“Do you like them?” he asked and there was a small silence.
Rebecca looked at the bouquet and then sighed. “They’re nice,” she said.
She didn't sound cold but she did not sound warm either. She just sounded indifferent.
Adrian’s fingers tapped lightly against his desk. That’s not how she talks to him.
But he didn’t react. He still needed to observe. Probably something happened last night after he'd dropped her off.
“I had your car checked this morning,” he said. “It should be working fine now.”
“I saw,” Rebecca replied. “Thank you.”
Adrian frowned slightly when he observed again that she was trying to sound formal or rather, she sounded formal.
From the way they've been interacting, he knew she would have said more to just thank you and I saw.
He remembered how she used to respond. She used to sound light and would always try to tease him even though a little. And then there was always a little smile in her voice.
But this, it wasn’t that at all.
“You don’t sound like yourself,” he said gently.
Rebecca went still. Her grip on the phone tightened. He noticed… just like he always does. Why did he have to be so observant?
She closed her eyes briefly and took a slow quiet breath. “I’m fine,” she said.
Adrian didn’t speak immediately. He knew that answer and he didn’t believe it. But he also knew pushing wouldn’t help.
So instead, he asked softly,
“Did something happen? Yesterday after I dropped you off?”
Rebecca’s chest tightened as images flashed in her mind.
Her lips parted slightly but no words came out.
Don’t say it…
You don’t even understand it yourself. She told herself and she swallowed.
“No,” she said quietly. “What could happen?”
Adrian listened. He could hear it. The hesitation, the weight and the silence behind her words. But he didn’t call her out.
“Alright,” he said simply and that made her pause.
She had expected him to ask again. To push and to question her. But he didn’t and somehow, that made her chest feel tight in a different way.
“You don’t believe me,” she said softly.
Adrian leaned back slightly. “I do but I also think something is bothering you,” he replied calmly.
Rebecca looked down. Her fingers pressed lightly against the table.
“Nothing’s bothering me. I’m fine.”
“I heard you.”
His voice wasn’t hard. It wasn’t challenging either. Just… steady and that made it worse.
Rebecca closed her eyes again.
Why is he like this? Why is he not making this easy for me to ignore?
“I just didn’t sleep well,” she said after a moment.
It wasn’t a full lie.
Adrian nodded slightly, even though she couldn’t see him. “That happens,” he said and went silent. After a moment, he added, “You should rest when you can.”
Rebecca let out a small breath. “I will,” she said.
There was another pause as Adrian thought for a moment.
Don’t push her. At least, not now.
“I won’t keep you,” he said.
Rebecca blinked slightly. “You’re not?”
“No,” he replied and that surprised her.
“Alright,” she said softly and then another silence settled between them.
Then Adrian broke the silence. “Rebecca.”
Her heart skipped slightly. “Yes?”
Adrian’s voice was calm but careful. “If you need anything… you can call me.”
Although they were simple words but they stayed with her. Rebecca didn’t answer immediately.
Why does that feel… safe? Her throat tightened.
“Okay,” she said quietly.
Adrian nodded to himself even though she couldn’t see it.
“Have a good day.”
“You too,” she replied.
Then the call ended. Rebecca slowly lowered her phone and her hand rested on the table.
She stared at nothing, her mind full again but different this time.
She knew he must've noticed that she wasn't okay. He asked but then even when she knew he must've figured out it was a lie, he didn’t force it.
She looked at the flowers again. Then at her car keys then back at her phone.
Her chest felt tight but not in the same way as last night.
This felt confusing.
Rebecca leaned back in her chair, her eyes slowly closing.
Why does he make it so hard to stay guarded?
She didn’t have an answer and that scared her more than anything.