BIT

Victoria’s face turned red with fury as the committee members gawked. Rebecca straightened up, ignoring the throbbing pain in her cheek.

“Oh, Victoria, I didn’t realize you were still such a passionate speaker,” Rebecca said loudly, conveying her voice to the onlookers. But I’m afraid we have to end our little chat here. Your charity event must go on, after all.” She shot a pointed look at the committee members, who scrambled to look busy, their eyes wide with curiosity.

Victoria’s assistant, Chloe, rushed forward, her eyes darting between the two women. “Is everything alright, ma’am?” She asked nervously.

Victoria forced a tight smile. “Everything is fine, Chloe. Let’s proceed with the event. Rebecca was just leaving.” Her voice was clipped and icy.

Rebecca nodded, her demeanor calm despite the tumult inside her. “Yes, I was just leaving. But remember, Victoria, 24 hours.” She turned on her heel and walked out, feeling the weight of the stares on her back.

As she exited the hotel, Rebecca pulled out her phone and dialed Cathy. “I’m done here. Pick me up at the main entrance.

Cathy arrived quickly, concern etched on her face as she saw the red mark on Rebecca’s cheek. “What happened? Did she hit you?” she exclaimed. Rebecca nodded, touching her cheek lightly. “Yeah, but it’s fine. We have bigger things to worry about. This is really complicated. I don’t even know where to start

Cathy tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, thinking. Not long after, she turned to Rebecca and said, “I think we need to find the root cause.”

1

Rebecca frowned, “You mean the reason why Victoria and Alicia are doing this?”

Cathy nodded. “You know, if this were just about money, Victoria could have gotten rid of Harvey at any time. I mean, Harvey isn’t even her biological son,” she said, shrugging.

“You’re right, but even Harvey wouldn’t have known about that if we hadn’t overheard Victor and his gang talking back then. I still don’t understand how Nicholas, Victor, and Victoria are connected…”

“Wait! Victor and Victoria? Could they be…” Cathy interrupted, eyes wide.

12:32 Thu, Aug 15 MW.

1 @ 471%

Rebecca gasped. “Siblings? Holy shit!” She covered her mouth, shocked by the idea.

Cathy suddenly pulled the car over.

“Assuming that’s true, it means Victoria was the mastermind from the beginning! She brought Alicia and Nicholas together, each with different interests but the same goal, to separate you two!”

“But if this is about money, wouldn’t it be easier for Victoria to get rid of Harvey and his father, making Mia the sole heir?” Rebecca bit her fingernail, confused.

Suddenly, Cathy’s phone vibrated. “My sister!” she exclaimed, then pressed the speaker icon. “Yes, Mom?”

“Lily won’t stop crying. I’ve given her milk and changed her diaper, but she still won’t calm down. I think she misses her mother,” Cathy’s sister babbled, her voice competing with Lily’s cries.

Rebecca’s face tightened instantly. “I’ll think about it later, let’s get Lily first!”

Fifteen minutes later,

Rebecca ran down the hallway towards Cathy’s, apartment unit, panting. She didn’t want Lily to cry for too long. When she arrived, her heart pounded hard as she didn’t hear the sound of a crying baby. If something happened to Lily, she would never forgive herself.

“She’s asleep, but she didn’t want to be put down in the crib,” said Olive, Cathy’s sister, half–whispering.

Rebecca sighed in relief.

“Thanks, Olive. I’ll wash and change quickly,” she said, walking briskly towards Cathy’s bedroom. She held her stomach, which felt like it was being stabbed; she had run too fast and forgotten that her C–section wound was still not fully healed.

She changed clothes, grimacing in pain, and then returned to the living room to hold Lily.

“Thank you, Olive. You’re an angel,” she said sincerely. Olive beamed, “No worries, I love babies!”

1232 Thu, Aug 15 MWO

and grabbing a can of cold beer.

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“No, can you take me home? I think Lily needs her room,” said Rebecca, looking down at her beautiful daughter’s face. “She looks like her father, except for her eyes. She has

my eyes…”

Suddenly, Rebecca’s chest tightened but she held back her tears.

“Becky, have dinner here first, I made a delicious spinach chicken for you,” said Cathy’s mother, who suddenly appeared from the kitchen. Initially, Rebecca wanted to refuse because she didn’t have an appetite, but seeing the sparkle in Cathy’s mother’s eyes, she finally nodded with a small smile.

Two hours later, Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Rebecca sat in the car with Cathy driving beside her.

“Are you okay? I haven’t heard you speak since earlier,” Cathy said, glancing at Rebecca, who was holding her still–aching stomach despite having taken pain medication.

“Yeah. Do you think Harvey will contact me tomorrow or not?” she asked without taking her eyes off the busy street.

“I don’t know, let’s hope for the best,” Cathy replied, uncertain.

When they arrived at Rebecca’s apartment, Cathy’s phone vibrated, a call from Olive. Shortly after, Cathy said quickly, “Becky, I’ll take you upstairs and then head back home. My mom needs me.”

Rebecca glared. “Are you crazy? I can go up to my apartment by myself. You go home. now! Your mom needs you more! I’ll be fine,” she said, then jumped out and unbuckled Lily’s car seat from the passenger seat.

“Are you sure?” Cathy asked, reluctant to see Rebecca carrying the car seat with Lily in and a diaper bag on her shoulder. “Easy! Just go!” Rebecca waved her hand, shooing Cathy away.

“Okay, call me if anything happens! Bye!”

After Cathy left, Rebecca entered the apartment lobby, walking slowly because her stomach hurt terribly, as if her C–section wound had reopened. Cold sweat started to drench her body; she couldn’t wait to check what was hannenina will. 1.

Thu, Aug 1 WUS

“Becky! We meet again!”

10+ 71%

Rebecca looked up and saw Jacob standing in front of her, smiling broadly. “Hi,” she replied with a faint smile. Suddenly, her vision began to blur. “Jacob, can you hold my baby?” she asked, extending the car seat to Jacob, who took it without asking because three seconds later, Rebecca collapsed to the floor, blood seeping through the light blue knit shirt she was wearing.

“Becky! Becky!”