Chapter 38 Act Smart
“Did you ask her about it?” Rebecca asked, not wanting Amelia to get involved in all of this.
"No. I pretended not to hear it. I didn’t want her to suspect anything. But Rebecca, that’s not normal. Why would she go as far as cloning your phone? That's so frightening."
Rebecca sank slowly onto the couch, her hands shaking. For a moment, she couldn’t find her voice.
Various possibilities ran through her mind as she sat there, the shock of finding out something that dangerous still evident on her face.
"So it’s true," she whispered.
"What’s going on?" Amelia asked gently, sitting beside her. "Rebecca, what is happening between you and Vanessa? Why is she going so far?"
Rebecca closed her eyes. For the first time in a long while, she felt something shift inside her. Amelia had come to her before, warned her, and even after everything, she was still here with her. This was the moment that made Rebecca feel like she could trust Amelia.
She opened her eyes and looked at her friend. "I didn’t want to tell anyone," she said quietly. "I wasn't sure who to trust."
"You know you can trust me," Amelia replied firmly as she stood up and moved closer to Rebecca.
Rebecca swallowed hard. "Vanessa and Liam… they were together."
Amelia frowned. "Together how?"
"They were sleeping together," Rebecca said. "While Liam was still with me."
Amelia gasped softly. "What?"
"I found out the night my parents died," Rebecca continued, her voice trembling. "That night… the night my parents died, I went over to his house and saw both of them together. Not just that, they'd been planning to take everything from me. My inheritance and all. They'd planned to trick me into marrying Liam, transferring everything to him and then, he'd in turn, transfer everything to Vanessa whom he truly loved."
Amelia’s hand flew to her mouth. "That’s why he acted that way at the wedding."
“No. He acted that way because I called everything off without without telling them what I saw. I didn't give them any excuse. I just broke it off. Later, I found out I was pregnant but not with Liam's child,” Rebecca said, sniffling.
“Not with his child? How? But he's been the only man you've ever loved. Wait, did you really cheat on him?” Amelia asked, narrowing her eyes.
Rebecca laughed humorlessly. “Cheat on him? I wish I did. After finding out about their betrayal, I met a stranger and had sex with him,” Rebecca said, her eyes distant.
“I guess it's because her plans to get your father's properties are failing hence she's coming to me and cloning your phone just to find a way to get to you,” Amelia said, feeling a shrudder run through her.
"Yes," Rebecca nodded. "Vanessa has been trying to control everything since then. She’s been watching me, manipulating things. I didn’t even realize how deep it went until now."
Amelia felt a chill run through her. "This is serious, Becca."
"I know," Rebecca whispered. "And now she’s cloning my phone? That means she’s been listening, reading, watching, I have to do something."
Amelia reached for her hand. "You’re not alone anymore. We’ll handle this together."
Rebecca squeezed her hand back, tears filling her eyes, not from fear this time, but from relief.
For the first time in a long while, she felt like she wasn’t fighting alone.
Rebecca and Amelia were still sitting together in the living room. Even though neither of them was speaking at the moment, the seriousness of what they had just discussed hung in the air like a thick fog. Rebecca sat stiffly on the couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her mind was restless, moving from one thought to another.
She knew one thing clearly now, she had to act smart. Whatever Vanessa and Liam were planning, she couldn’t let them know that she was already aware. If they sensed it, they would change their plans, and that would put her in even more danger than she already is. She needed to pretend she was still clueless while secretly figuring out her next move.
"I’m really glad you came," She said softly, breaking the silence as she turned to Amelia, her eyes filled with gratitude. "If you didn’t tell me what you heard today, I would still be in the dark. I don’t even want to imagine how lost I would have been."
Amelia nodded slowly. "I couldn’t keep it to myself. It didn’t feel right. And Rebecca, you really need to be careful now. Vanessa isn’t acting like a normal person."
Rebecca sighed and leaned back slightly. "I know. I used to think she was just being jealous or controlling and maybe craving for attention, but cloning my phone? That’s really dangerous."
Before Amelia could respond, the door to the guest room opened.
Derek stepped out.
He had been inside the room for a while, trying to focus on work since he was taking some time off. His laptop was still open on the desk, untouched. No matter how hard he tried, his thoughts kept drifting back to Rebecca and everything he and Ryan talked about. Nothing was making sense to him.
As soon as he entered the living room, his eyes landed on Amelia.
He stopped walking.
"Oh," he said, clearly surprised. "Amelia is here?"
Both women turned to look at him. He'd learned Amelia and Rebecca were quite close before the wedding party finished the previous day.
Amelia immediately stood up, offering a polite smile. "Yes. It hasn't been long I came. It's nothing serious. Just wanted to see Rebecca," she said with an easy smile.
Derek walked closer, his gaze shifting briefly to Rebecca. "She didn’t tell me you were coming," he said, his tone carrying a hint of accusation, even though he didn’t mean it to sound that way.
Amelia replied without hesitation. "I called her first. She told me she wasn’t feeling okay, so I decided to come and see her. She didn't even know I was coming."
Derek frowned slightly. "She didn’t mention anything to me," he muttered.
In his mind, he replayed their argument from earlier that morning. Rebecca hadn’t complained about feeling sick then. If anything, she had seemed more angry than unwell.
Rebecca opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, another voice interrupted her.
Mr. Edwards stepped into the living room, coming into view.
He had clearly overheard Derek’s last statement.
"She didn’t tell you?" Edwards repeated slowly, his sharp eyes settling on his grandson.
Derek turned toward him. "Grandpa, I was just saying—"