Chapter 4

Giselle had put all her strength into the slap, so Rebecca's cheek instantly turned red. She cupped it, and her mind went blank as her ears buzzed. "What the hell was that for, Giselle?" Rebecca's blood boiled when she returned to her senses, and she raised a hand to return the favor. However, the slap didn't land. Stephan grabbed her wrist and stopped her, sounding a little angry as he said, "Giselle did nothing to upset you, Becks. Why are you trying to hit her?" Rebecca yanked her wrist out of his grip, which was so tight that her wrist felt numb. She snarled, "You think I'm hitting her for no reason? Ask everyone here who made the first move!" Giselle immediately put on a pitiful look as tears welled up in her eyes. "Stephan, you're the one who said I'm too timid and that I need to find chances to build my courage. That's why I wanted to try slapping your wife in public. I couldn't think of a better opportunity! But Mrs. Lodge was so fierce… I'm scared!" Stephan frowned at her words. "How could you slap someone to build your courage?" And she'd done it to Rebecca, of all people! Giselle sniffled as tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry! I'm just too stupid. You said Mrs. Lodge has a good temper, so I figured she wouldn't get mad even if I slapped her. I didn't think…" His heart softened at the sight of her tears, and he forgot about being mad. He wiped her tears and said comfortingly, "Alright, alright. No one's mad at you, okay? Be good and stop crying." Rebecca was furious and heartbroken as she watched things unfold. She couldn't keep her anger at bay anymore and snapped, "I'm the one who was hit, Stephan! What right do you have to forgive her on my behalf? And drop your act, Giselle! Would anyone think of using this to build their courage?" Giselle sobbed so hard that she couldn't even breathe. She looked like she would keel over at any moment. Stephan's heart ached at the sight, and he said carelessly, "She's just a young lady. How hard could she have slapped you? Do you have to be so petty and calculative? Look at how guilty she is now—she's about to pass out! Enough's enough, Becks." With that, he swept Giselle off her feet and left. Rebecca never expected him to say that, so she stood there in shock. She felt like she'd been dunked in ice. She didn't even know how she got home. She kept telling herself not to cry, so she kept her tears at bay throughout the journey home. In the end, her eyes became bloodshot. When she got home, one of the maids was shocked to see the handprint on her face. She asked whether someone had bullied Rebecca and reached for the phone to call Stephan, wanting to tell him so he could stand up for her. "Don't bother," Rebecca said softly, stopping her. He was the one who'd caused all her pain. She sat before the window and put ice on her face for an hour before the swelling reduced slightly. Then, she received a text from Giselle. "Are you home yet, Mrs. Lodge? I'm at the hospital now. Stephan was just too worried about me—I only fainted, but he booked out the whole VIP floor and got dozens of doctors to check on me. "How's your face? It's all my fault for not controlling my strength. It must hurt, right? How about you come to the hospital now? I'll generously allow one of my doctors to take a look at you and see whether you'll end up disfigured." Rebecca gave the message a quick glance before forwarding it to Stephan. He only replied when it was past midnight. "Giselle meant well." She laughed so hard that tears flowed down her face. Then, she sent him a voice message. "So defensive of her, huh? How about you marry her right now? I'll step down and make way for her. I wish you both the best." This time, his reply was instant. "Why are you saying these things again, Becks? I've told you countless times that you're the only woman who will ever be my wife. I'm just fooling around with these people, so stop being so calculative. Go to bed, alright? I'll be back tomorrow to be with you." Rebecca felt helpless and resigned when she read his message. She laughed self-deprecatingly and locked her phone, not wanting to waste any more time on this nonsense.