Rebecca's eyes blazed as she glared at the man beside her. "And why should I listen to you when you've never paid heed to what I want?" she snarled, her voice sharp with restrained fury.
Maxwell didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned toward her, lips twitching into a smirk. "That's my girl..."
Before his mouth could reach hers, Rebecca shot to her feet, startled by his sudden move. In her rush, her phone slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor.
"That was quick," he drawled, unfazed. "I guess that means you still remember my unique way of shutting you up."
"Lunatic," Rebecca spat and stormed out, heels echoing against the salon's polished tiles.
"Your phone," Maxwell called after her, bending to retrieve it. But she was already gone.
He waited, eyes fixed on the corridor she disappeared into, expecting her to return for the phone. Ten minutes passed. She didn't.
His curiosity piqued, Maxwell glanced at the device lying innocently on the table. He picked it up and pressed the side button.
"Locked," he muttered. With a cautious glance around the room, he typed in a familiar code.
Incorrect PIN.
A frown creased his brow. "So she finally stopped using her birthday," he mumbled and tried another significant date. The screen remained locked. He tried again. And again.
Still locked.
With a frustrated grunt, Maxwell dropped the phone onto the table.
Rebecca didn't return to the main salon that night. She remained in the locker room until daylight, emerging only when the sun's rays filtered through the blinds.
As she moved around, cleaning up any sign that she had spent the night there, Maxwell sat watching her. His eyes trailed her every motion, captivated by her presence.
By the time her staff arrived, Rebecca had composed herself. None suspected a thing. She managed to evade their questions with seamless ease.
Unlike the awkward tension from the first day Maxwell appeared, the staff now seemed used to having him around. Everyone except Rebecca. His prying eyes still unsettled her, and at least one staff member had noticed.
Later that afternoon, she slipped away from his view and retreated to the locker room, phone in hand. She dialed quickly.
"Hey, are the results of the test and examination out yet? And how is my Sweet Peanut faring? I bet he misses me a whole lot, right?" Rebecca's voice was low, cautious, though no one else was present.
Timberlake's voice came through the line, calm and steady. "The results are due this afternoon. And Jerry's been sulking all morning. Yesterday he spoke fewer words than usual. Today, he hasn't said a single one."
He turned his head slightly, eyes resting on the small figure lying curled under a hospital blanket. Jeremy, still and silent.
"I wish I could be there when the final test results come out," Rebecca whispered. Her hand gripped her chest. Her pacing became erratic as guilt tightened around her like a vice.
She had imagined this moment so many times. Not once had she thought she'd miss it.
"I know I promised I could take care of him until you're free from that freak," Timberlake continued, his voice laced with concern. "But Dr. Philip is worried. He's not sure Jerry will be strong enough for the operation…"
"What the hell do you mean by that?!" Rebecca exploded, her voice rising uncontrollably. "Why would he say such a thing?"
"Becca, you need to calm down~"
"Don't f*cking tell me to calm down!" she shouted, forgetting the need for secrecy. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest.
"After the last physical, he promised there wouldn't be any more issues as long as my Sweet Peanut followed the diet plan and schedule! So why the hell is he going back on his word?"
"It's not that, Becca," Timberlake said gently. "Jerry's been acting out since you left."
Rebecca froze mid-step. "What do you mean by that?"
Timberlake rose from his chair and approached Jeremy's bed, brushing a hand over the boy's soft hair.
"He didn't eat anything solid yesterday, like the nurses instructed before the test. But afterward, when they brought him his regular meal, he only ate a single spoonful. That's all he's had since then."
Rebecca's heart sank as Timberlake continued.
"That's why Dr. Philip is worried. If he doesn't start eating, he might not be strong enough for surgery."
A heavy silence settled on Rebecca's end of the call.
"I guess I'm being punished again," she murmured. "Punished for not being a better mother."
"Becca, that's not what~"
""Do you know how I felt the first time they told me about his condition?" she asked, crouching down and clutching her chest. Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Do you know what shattered me the most? It wasn't the diagnosis. It was realizing my Sweet Peanut had been in unbearable pain… and he never told me. Not once. I died a thousand times that day."
Hot tears slid down her cheeks, her sobs quiet but wracking.
"I know I haven't been a good mother. But he can't keep doing this to himself because of me. He's just a child," she whispered brokenly.
"I'll try to talk to him again when he wakes," Timberlake said, trying to sound hopeful. "Maybe this time, I'll get through to him."
"Okay…" Rebecca responded faintly.
"If that doesn't work, expect me at the hospital tomorrow."
"How will you do that with that freak watching your every move?" Timberlake asked sharply.
"If I have to drug him, then so be it. No one can stop me when my mind's made up. Not even him. He knows that very well," she replied, her voice hard with resolve.
"Just be careful," Timberlake warned. "And don't forget you've got a little boy waiting for you."
"I won't," she promised.
When the call ended, Rebecca let the phone fall to her side. She didn't even notice when the tears returned.
She was still crouched on the floor, silent and grieving, when the door creaked open.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were in here," Diamond said gently. She didn't leave.
"It's fine," Rebecca replied, hastily wiping her tears. She turned to leave, steadying herself.
"Miss Rebecca," Diamond began, "I don't mean to intrude, but… are you okay?"
Rebecca froze with her hand on the doorknob.
"I've noticed something's been off since that guy showed up. You're distracted. Making mistakes you never used to. Does he have something to do with why you were crying?"
"If he's hurting you, I can tell him off right now~"
"No," Rebecca cut in, shaking her head hard. "Don't let his looks deceive you. He's not someone you want to offend. Just… pretend you didn't see anything."
Diamond's face fell. "Are you turning down my help because you don't think I can handle him?"
"You don't understand. He's dangerous. Everyone who crosses him pays the price. Just let him be. He'll leave when he gets bored."
Silence settled between them.
"Well, I don't know why you'd describe him that way, but if you go out like this, Tyler and the others will start asking questions," Diamond said softly, pointing to her messy hair and puffy eyes.
"You can stay here a while longer. I'll make sure no one bothers you," she offered and stepped out, shutting the door behind her.
Unluckily for Maxwell, he arrived at that exact moment.
Diamond's expression turned cold as she saw him approach.
"There's a clear sign that says staff only," she said curtly, standing in his way. "What are you doing here, mister?"
"I'm looking for Jennie—no, I mean Rebecca," Maxwell replied quickly. Though he addressed her, his eyes were fixed on the door behind her.
"I think I saw her go in there…"
"If you're here to get your hair done, any of our stylists can help you."
"I'm not a customer. I just need to confirm if Rebecca is inside."
He shifted to the right. Diamond blocked him again.
Maxwell's face darkened. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Diamond snapped, refusing to flinch. "This area is for staff only."
They stood in a tense standoff, the air thick with unspoken warnings.