Chapter 42
When Rebekah woke again, the surroundings were both familiar and strange, making it hard to distinguish dream from reality. A persistent, dull ache throbbed in her ankle.
“Mrs. Forrester, you must be mindful of your ankle from now on. Keep it warm on damp days if it hurts, and don’t walk too much. Otherwise, I’m afraid it may never heal properly.” It was the doctor’s voice.
She sat up and realized she was in her old bedroom at the estate. After thanking the doctor, Benjamin pushed the door open before she could even collect her thoughts. His expression was frigid, and a cold aura seemed to radiate from him. A flicker of disgust crossed his eyes when he saw her.
He strode to her bedside and seized her wrist. “What a performance, Rebekah,” he sneered.
Rebekah winced, yanking her hand away. “What is your problem p>
“My problem?” Benjamin scoffed, his dark, charming eyes simmering on the edge of rage. “You come back here, don’t even bother to knock, and then you stand in the rain until you get sick? All just to play the victim for Grandpa so he’d yell at Candice p>
“Rebekah, how can you be so malicious p>
Rebekah’s face was still pale from her illness.
She found his accusation utterly absurd. So, he was here to defend Candice.
Shawn echoed his father, glaring at Rebekah as if she were his mortal enemy, not his mother. “You evil woman! Why do you always have to pick on Aunt Candice?! You should have stayed in prison for another three months p>
Rebekah’s fingers curled into a fist. A cold laugh escaped her lips as she addressed them both, her voice flat. “I did knock. You just didn’t hear it p>
Shawn flinched at her words and shot a nervous glance at Benjamin. Seeing no reaction from his father, he regained his confidence. He had heard her knock, and he had deliberately ignored it. He was teaching her a lesson for his dad.
Suddenly, Candice entered the room, her eyes red rimmed. Her voice was unusually fragile. “Sister, I know you’re not happy to see me here at the estate. I was just so worried about Grandpa. Benjamin and I have always been just good friends, and his grandfather is like my own, so I stayed p>
She continued, her voice cracking. “If you’re angry, you could have just told me. Im not like other girls who play games I’m very direct if you had said you didn’t want me here,” would have left immediately You didn’t have to resort to a scheme like this just to make Grandpa Forrester dislike me p>
Her performance made Shawn even angrier. He glowered at Rebekah. “You wanted Great-Grandfather to hate Aunt Candice! You’re such a manipulative, evil woman! I don’t have a mother like you p>
Benjamin’s face was a stony mask, colder than before. “Your little tricks only make me despise you more, Rebekah. If you want to remain Mrs. Forrester, then you’ll follow the Forrester family rules. Don’t bring the disgusting habits you picked up in prison into this house p>
A wave of numb weariness washed
over Rebekah as she faced their
accusations. She offered a thin, bitter smile. “Spare me your hypoonsy. Grandpa is gravely you were in the living room this morning, dancing and celebrating. Your music was so loud you couldn’t hear me knocking. You didn’t open the door, and now you have the audacity to blame me? So funny p>