Chapter 27 Jerk
The phone vibrated again with the name still flashing boldly on the screen. Her heart tightened immediately. Amelia noticed the caller ID but pretended not to stare even as she wondered why Rebecca seemed so uncomfortable.
Rebecca noticed that Amelia was looking at her so she forced a small smile as she stood up.
"Excuse me, let me take this call. I'll be right back," she said softly, already feeling uneasy.
Amelia nodded gently, respecting the space.
Rebecca stepped out of the cafe, the afternoon breeze brushing against her skin as she walked a few steps away from the entrance. She inhaled deeply before picking the call.
"What is it, Mr Perkins?" she asked immediately, unable to hide the impatience in her voice. "Is there a particular reason why you are you calling me right now? Did your grandfather ask to meet me already?"
There was a soft sigh on the other end that made her uneasy. Somehow, she had that feeling that nothing good was going to come after that sigh.
"Miss Smith," Derek began, his tone low and strangled with guilt, "I’m sorry… but I’ll have to renege on our agreement. I can’t go on with the deal anymore."
Rebecca’s brows drew together sharply. "What do you mean you can’t go through with it?" her voice rose slightly as she asked. "If it’s about the conditions, we can talk about it. You didn’t even give it a try..."
"It’s not about the conditions. I already agreed to them because they were something I could deal with," Derek cut in softly but firmly. "I'm pulling out because of something personal, not because of anything you said. I wanted to tell you now so I don’t leave you hanging. You’re free to go to the other person. The person you said was ready to marry you. I’m really sorry for wasting your time."
For a moment, Rebecca felt her breath freeze in her chest, She wasn’t expecting that. Not today, not after everything she had planned, not after agreeing to introduce him to her uncle on Friday. What was she going to do now? What was she going to tell her uncle now? Would she be left with no other choice but to marry someone she didn't know?
Her shock quickly turned into anger, hot, sharp, and painful. He should never have agreed to the deal if he was just going to chicken out at the end of the day.
"You’re a jerk, Ryan," she snapped, her voice shaking with rage. " You know what, just... Get lost!"
Before he could respond, she ended the call and clenched her phone tightly, her chest rising and falling with fast breaths. She felt foolish. She felt betrayed and used. After getting her hopes high. Just when she had thought one thing was going well in her life, this had to happen.
Without waiting to fully calm down, she walked back into the cafe.
Amelia looked up immediately, concern written all over her face. "Becca… what happened? Why do you look so angry?"
Rebecca sat down heavily, shaking her head. "It’s one stupid jerk. Please, I don’t want to talk about it. Just… don’t bother."
Amelia didn’t push, not with things still fragile between them. Instead, she simply nodded, offering a soft, reassuring smile.
She was going to take her time, rebuilding her friendship with Rebecca and, hopefully, she trusts her enough to tell her stuff.
"Okay. I won’t ask. But you didn’t answer my earlier question."
Rebecca blinked at her. "Which one?" She asked, she thought she had answered all her questions.
"Why you and Liam broke up… and if you’re really okay."
Rebecca looked away, her throat tightening painfully. That wound was still raw, too raw to touch.
"I know you're asking because you care and want to help, but honestly, it’s a story for another day," she said quietly. "I can’t… I can’t talk about it right now."
Amelia nodded again with understanding. "Whenever you’re ready," she whispered. "I’ll be here."
They stayed a bit longer, talking lightly about pastries, work, old memories and everything but Rebecca's wounds. Yet, beneath Rebecca’s every word, a storm brewed inside her.
By the time she finally stood to leave, the anger had returned, mixed with fear, frustration, and desperation. She walked out of the cafe with her mind racing.
It was Wednesday.
In two days time, she was supposed to take the jerk to meet her uncle Richard. And now? The fool had backed out. Just like that. It was true he'd called to apologize and let her know but then, no apology could fix the mess she was suddenly drowning in.
What was she supposed to do? Look for someone to hire and pretend he was her fiancé? That was insane and risky and too messy, too. Who knows, he could turn out to be a serial killer or someone with a psychopath. The last thing she wanted was having to endanger her life or that of her baby.
Or should she give up entirely and accept the arranged marriage proposal her uncle had mentioned?
Her head pounded from the stress.
By the time she got into her car and drove home, she realized she didn’t have many choices left. Everything she had been trying to avoid was closing in on her at once.
As soon as she got into her room with trembling fingers, she dialed her uncle.
"Rebecca?" Richard answered immediately, worried. "Everything okay?"
"I’ll accept the marriage proposal," she blurted out, unable to hold it back anymore.
There was a pause. "Why? I thought you said you already have someone," He asked with concern.
"I thought I did," she replied bitterly. "But it turns out he was a jerk. And I’m not marrying a jerk. I’d rather marry a stranger."
Richard sighed sympathetically. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, Uncle. I’m tired. I just want to get this over with. I don’t want to think anymore. As long as the man is nice and from a good home, I’ll marry him. I trust your choice." She replied, she didn't want to bother herself again thinking about the marriage or even her pregnancy.
Richard paused. "Do you still want to know the man’s name?"
"No," Rebecca said quickly, her voice weak. "Knowing now won’t change anything. He’ll still be a stranger to me. I’ll see him on the wedding day like you originally planned."
Richard was silent for a moment before saying, "Alright, then. You’ve made a wise decision. I’ll speak to my friend about it. We’ll finalize the date and details and I’ll let you know."
"Okay," she whispered.
What neither of them knew was that Vanessa was in her room, listening intently to every word from Richard’s side of the call.
Her hands tightened around her phone. Her jaw clenched and her heart burned with anger.
Rebecca had just agreed to the marriage, and Vanessa… she still had no idea who the mysterious groom was. Even Rebecca didn't know, so how could she know?
Earlier, she had been happy when she listened to Rebecca's call and heard that her mystery man had canceled the marriage plans.
Now, however, that happiness had been shortlived.
Rebecca had someone now and she had no idea who this man they were talking about was, and she hated not knowing who she was dealing with.
To make matters worse, her entire plan to control everything, to block the marriage and keep Rebecca trapped and dependent, had just fallen apart right in front of her.
Her face hardened, and her eyes darkened with fury.
Everything was slipping from her grasp.
And she was not the type to sit quietly and let that happen. Whoever this mystery man was, she'd have to make sure that wedding wouldn't hold.
She was going to make sure of it even if it was the last thing she did.