Chapter 24
Having interrogated him throughout the journey, Rebecca believed she had gained a comprehensive understanding of Morgan’s actual circumstances. It was only then that she finally conceded and forgave him.
Morgan was practically beaming with joy. He wasted no time whisking her straight home the moment they disembarked. She had previously agreed with him, before their trip to Silvanus, that she would accompany him to meet his family upon their return, after all.
Yet, as the car pulled into the highly prestigious villa community in Shadowbrook, Rebecca immediately fell silent. She then turned to stare at Morgan and murmured, “You’re actually from the Chapman family of Shadowbrook? Is this your idea of an average background?”
“Isn’t this average? I guess it could be a misunderstanding on my part, given that my parents had always taught me to stay humble and keep myself grounded,” Morgan replied.
Hearing such a practically flawless response, Rebecca understood, for the first time, that Morgan possessed a remarkably glib tongue.
Just as she was about to admonish him, the car came to a halt. Her eyes widened with shock as she gazed at the formidable group of over a dozen people gathered at the entrance. He had clearly said that it would just be a casual meeting with a few family members. Why on earth had so many people shown up then?
Yet, before she could even process the scene, Morgan had opened the car door, guided her out, and immediately launched into introductions. “Hey, everyone! I’d like you guys to meet my fiancée, Rebecca Green.”
He then turned to Rebecca and said, “That’s my parents and my brother. And that’s my aunt and her husband…”
Rebecca greeted each person one by one, barely daring to lift her head. Though she had heard of the Chapman family, she had never had the chance to interact with them, neither during her time with her own family nor after her marriage to Stephan.
She had only ever met Morgan’s elder brother, Michael Chapman–the renowned, aloof CEO of Chapman Group–on a couple of occasions at banquets.
It appeared that Michael recognized her as well, as she caught him casting several steady glances in her direction.
Her rapidly beating heart became progressively more agitated.
Having painstakingly endured the polite exchanges, Rebecca excused herself to the bathroom for a much–needed breather, only to bump into Michael just as she was leaving.
Michael appeared to have been waiting for her. He held out his right hand with a frosty glint in his eyes and said, “I’m here to properly introduce myself since our previous greeting seemed rather rushed. Should I address you as Ms. Green or Mrs. Lodge?”
That single remark instantly wiped the smile from Rebecca’s face. She, however, quickly collected herself, shook his hand, and replied evenly, “You can just address me as Ms. Green since my marriage to Stephan has concluded entirely.”
“You have just ended your marriage, and you’re already engaged to Morgan, huh?” Michael questioned.
Michael’s overbearing questioning made Rebecca’s scalp crawl. Her thoughts darted, attempting to concoct a convincing reason. Yet, no matter how she tried to put it, it invariably sounded odd and rather indecent once uttered.
Having mulled it over repeatedly, she concluded that no phrasing would soften the blow, so she simply laid out the unvarnished truth. “I met Morgan while I was still married. It was, in essence, an affair, but I don’t regret any of my actions.”
Her bluntness caused a momentary look of surprise to appear on Michael’s usually impassive face. He then nodded in understanding and pressed on with his inquiry. “Isn’t Morgan a lot younger than you?”
Rebecca quickly did the math and noted that Morgan was five years her junior. Her heart began to hammer in her chest. She knew exactly what Michael was getting at he was clearly suggesting that she had exploited her age to ensnare a younger man.
There was indeed some truth to that, though.
However, with things having progressed so far, and Morgan showing no signs of giving up, she refused to cower before Michael. She gathered her resolve and replied, “He’s quite young, but he’s already an adult who’s mature enough to make his own choices. I respected his intentions and, following my own convictions, agreed to his proposal.”
In that instant, a profound silence settled over the confined area for an extended period.
Rebecca stared at the silent figure across from her, feeling like she was about to suffocate if she stayed in that stifling atmosphere any longer. Yet, she knew she couldn’t retreat, so she could only inwardly rally her courage, urging herself to persevere.
Her hands were starting to go numb when Morgan finally found her.
Morgan instantly knew what had transpired the moment he took in the scene before him. He cocked his brow, positioned himself protectively in front of Rebecca, and said, “I thought I’d already told you about Becks and me, Michael. Why are you still giving her a hard time?”
Upon hearing that Morgan had told Michael about them, Rebecca instinctively lifted her gaze and looked at Michael.
Upon meeting her gaze, Michael’s voice became noticeably gentler. “It’s because you only gave me one side of your story, Morgan. I had no choice but to corroborate it, given that this concerns a momentous occasion like marriage.”
