Reba’s mind was a jumbled mess of emotions and sensations as she stumbled out of the alleyway, leaving Harvey alone. She immediately altered her outfit, her mind spinning with guilt, perplexity<b>, </b>and an odd, twisted joy. How could she allow this to happen? How could she let Harvey take her back into his arms so easily?


    Her phone buzzed again, and she saw another missed call from Nichs. Panic washed over her. What was she going to say to him? How could she face him after what just happened? She knew they hadn’tmitted to each other, but she was frightened of beingbeled as a cheap, or even worse, idiot, maybe because that sounded so true.


    With trembling hands, she answered the next call. “Nic, I’m so sorry. Someone almost robbed me and I-”


    “Becky, are you okay?” Nichs’s voice was filled with concern. “You sound out of breath.


    “I’m fine. I’m all safe.” Reba lied, trying to steady her voice. “Just… New York things, you know? It’s always crazy. I’m on my way back now.”


    “Okay, just be safe. I was getting worried.”


    Reba hung up and took a moment topose herself. She couldn’t let Nichs suspect anything. She needed to push what had just happened with Harvey to the back of her mind, at least for now. She gripped the bag filled with croissants that Harvey had bought and walked back to the apartment, forcing herself to focus on her unsteady


    steps.


    When she finally walked through the door, Nichs greeted her with a relieved smile. “There you are! I was starting to think you got lost.”


    Reba forced augh. “Yeah, the queue was ridiculous. I got the croissants, but the juice store is already closed. Sorry.”


    Nichs got closer to her, checking her body. “Are you hurt? You said you almost got robbed?” he asked, worried. Reba swallowed, nervous. “I’m fine. Falmost fell, but I’m not hurt,” she answered, avoiding Nichs‘ gaze.


    They settled in for a movie marathon, but Reba’s thoughts were far from the screen. She felt like she was walking on a tightrope, torn between her need for vengeance against Alicia, her newfound suspicions about Mia, and theplicated mess that


    零+<b>80</b>%


    Harvey had just brought into her life. Also, there was Nichs, who appeared to be earnest yet suspicious.


    As the movie yed, Reba found herself ncing at Nichs, trying to read hist expressions, and his bodynguage. Was he hiding something? Or was she just paranoid?


    “Nic,” she said softly during a quiet moment in the movie. “Can I ask you something?”


    Nichs looked over at her, his expression open and attentive. “Of course, anything.”


    Reba hesitated, then decided to go for it. Do you ever feel like… I don’t know, like you’re not telling me everything? Like there’s something you’re hiding?”


    Nichs’s brow furrowed. “Becky, what do you mean? I’m not hiding anything from


    you.”


    “I know, it’s just… I feel like there’s so much happening, and I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.”


    Nichs reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. “I promise you, I’m not hiding anything. I care about you so much, and I would never want to hurt you.”


    “Um, no offense, but about the sleeping pills that time…”


    Nichs cleared his throat quietly. “I understand; it was a mistake.” I lied to you because I was terrified you would leave me. I swear, I had no other motives, he stated solemnly.


    Reba smiled awkwardly. She knew Nichs would say that, and even if he was lying, he wouldn’t possibly admit it.


    Nichs lifted an eyebrow. “Is there anything left in your head that you want to ask? I’ll answer all of it,” he inquired softly.


    Reba gulped hard. Of course, she had many questions in her mind, but all she did was shake her head and grin slightly. “<i>No</i>, that’s enough. Thanks….”


    The next morning, she awoke feeling unsure. She could always see Harvey’s face when she closed her eyes. She could feel his breath on her neck and his fingers on every inch of her skin. As if everything had been predetermined by the universe, her cell phone suddenly buzzed, and it was an iing text from Harvey.


    “Last night was so amazing, I can’t wait to do it all over again.”


    11-36 Wed, Aug 14


    +80%


    Reba felt a knot in her stomach. Deep down in her heart, she realized Harvey was probably simply too used to her body, for despite their loveless marriage, they had at fairly passionate bed rtionship.


    “Ba, don’t be silly! Ignore him,” he growled. She smacked her check lightly, hating herself.


    She hid her cell phone under her pillow so she wouldn’t be tempted to contact Harvey. That day, she only had one endorsement recording appointment, after that, her schedule would bepletely empty.


    While she was getting ready, she heard a knock on her bedroom door. She opened the door hurriedly, keeping the towel wrapped over her body.


    “Yes, Nic?” This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    “Um…” Nichs nced at Reba from head to toe before taking a step closer, causing her to back away uneasily. “Nic?”


    Nichs gulped hard. “Um, yes! I’m heading to the office. Do you have any schedule today?” He asked in a voice strained with intense desire.


    Reba nodded, holding her towel to keep it from falling down. “I’m full until eight, but maybe I’ll have dinner at home,” she said casually, hoping Nichs wouldn’t think she had something nned for the day.


    Nichs nodded. “Okay, see you at dinner?”


    “Yeah, sure!” Reba took a step back and swiftly slipped behind the door.


    She peered through the hole in her bedroom door and saw Nichs still standing in front of <b>it </b>as <i>if </i>he was contemting something. Frightened, she quickly took out the pepper spray that she always had in her bag and clutched it hard.


    “If he dares to touch me, I swear I’ll make him blind…”


    *****