Chapter 64
64 The Illusion Breaks
The stark contrast-
–
It made Connor’s chest tighten, his thoughts grind to a halt.
A strange sense of revulsion rose up in him.
“Connor, help me! There’s a bug!”
+3 Pearls
Rebecca had no idea how awful she looked. Even though she was in pain and panicking, she still forced a delicate, gentle tone.
Which clashed wildly with the way she’d just been screaming.
Connor had seen women in embarrassing moments before–employees spilling water on themselves in the break room, guests drunk and sobbing at private clubs, passersby with their makeup running in the rain…
But putting that kind of image on Rebecca? It just didn’t sit right.
When Rebecca lifted her head for help, the pale skin where a diamond necklace should’ve rested was now smeared with a strange yellow fluid.
“Get up first.”
He gritted his teeth, reminding himself not to overreact. Everyone had bad days.
But when he reached out, he purposely avoided her yellow–stained hand and only grabbed her by the elbow.
Even through the fabric, he could feel the softness of her arm.
And yet, in this moment, his mind wandered–To Scarlett.
Scarlett had gotten really thin these past couple of years. Last time he held her, she felt so bony he didn’t even feel like hugging her.
He’d even complained:
“You don’t need to lose weight to please me. I don’t like women who are too skinny.”
He couldn’t even remember what expression Scarlett had made back then.
Just that she’d looked disappointed, her head down, and didn’t say anything for a long time.
Now, he found himself wondering-
What had she been thinking at the time?
She was studying medicine. Would she really starve herself just to lose weight?
Even trying to recall it now, he couldn’t remember what Scarlett had been going through back then.
So he let the thought go.
Fine. When Scarlett comes crawling back someday, begging to get back together, he’ll just go a little easier
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64 The Illusion Breaks
on her.
8 Pearls
“Connor, can you walk me back to the dorm? I’m hurt. I don’t want to go home and worry my family.
The hint was obvious.
If this had been before, Connor definitely would’ve invited her to stay at the Jude family home or one of his private properties, call in a doctor, and take care of her there.
A man and a woman alone–who knew what could happen?
If the Jude Group really secured a deal with the Lane family, Connor would become one of Trenwyn’s elite. Her status would rise with his.
But-
Connor didn’t respond right away.
He stared down at Rebecca’s messy hair, realizing she no longer looked like that perfect, flawless portrait in his mind.
“Alright. Rest at the dorm, for now.”
He’d meant to take her to a hospital, but midway through the sentence, he changed course.
Rebecca froze.
Only then did she remember–when he helped her up just now, he hadn’t taken her hand.
“Connor, I don’t know if the campus clinic is open. I’m really worried that bug might’ve been poisonous…”
Connor snapped back to attention.
Was he being too harsh just now?
“Ugh, such beautiful flowers… how could they have bugs in them? I’m scared. Do you think someone’s targeting me?”
Connor’s mind fully returned to the situation.
And he started to wonder-
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He had carefully picked out the flowers. The florist had done a clean job wrapping them.
He had held the bouquet the whole time–nothing seemed off.
So how did this happen ?
Suddenly-
A thought hit him.
On his way here, he’d run into Scarlett.
04 The Illusion Breaks
Scarlett had always liked using bugs and mice in her research:
And of course, he’d told her he was on his way to see Reberca,
Scarlett must have gotten jealous–and planted the bug to humiliate Rebecca.
Her real goal was to make Rebecca look bad and drive a wedge between them.
That was close.
Rebecca had just helped him write the proposal that got approved by the Lane family.
And yet, just because of some random mishap, he started feeling put off?
If Rebecca picked up on that, how would they keep working together?
Scarlett really was twisted and malicious.
And just moments ago, he’d actually felt guilty about her–maybe even wanted to check in on her.
Now that he was thinking clearly, he just wanted to slap himself.
“The dorm’s not safe. You’ll stay at my apartment nearby tonight. I’ll have my family doctor come over.
Rebecca let out a quiet breath of relief, but in her heart, she was thinking, just as expected.
Clearly, someone had been trying to turn Connor against her.
Good thing she stepped in in time. A few words, and his goodwill snapped right back.
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
She looked down shyly.
Connor, now fully in protector mode, answered with firm righteousness.
“Don’t worry. I’ll call a female doctor. She’ll stay with you through the night.”
Rebecca looked up, startled. “And you?”
“Oh, I…” She quickly adjusted her tone and spoke gently. “I just meant, does the Lane family still need anything from you tonight? Are you expected to go back and work late?”
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