Rebecca's tears stopped. Her hands hung limply at her sides as she stared at Matteo in disbelief.
She didn't understand why his attitude toward her changed so fast.
Before, whenever she cried, he was always the first to panic. But now, there was nothing in his eyes except cold indifference. It was as if even if she cried herself dry, he wouldn't care in the slightest.

Rebecca didn't dare admit that she had deliberately provoked Evelyn, or worse, that she had set her up.
She clamped her mouth shut, silently praying, almost in desperation.
"Matty, I didn't do anything. Please, believe me, okay? Ms. Walsh is such a kind person, and you've helped me so much. I'm grateful to both of you. Why would I ever do anything to hurt her?
"Sure, she never liked me, and maybe she's throwing a bit of a tantrum this time, but Matty, don't treat me like this just because she left."
As she spoke, she forced a few more tears out.
Matteo had always been easy to manipulate. If she could just make him soften, he might let this go.

He probably didn't hear everything. And even if he did, she could just blame it on a friend and say that she was only trying to smooth things over.
As long as he didn't push the issue, she could drop the bomb about her pregnancy, spend more time with him, and remind him of their past.
Eventually, she would find a way to make him hers again.
However, the man standing in front of her wasn't the same Matteo she once knew.

Instead of his usual tolerance, he let out a low, mocking laugh, the corner of his mouth curling into a sneer.
"Even now, you still refuse to admit it. After all these years, do you still not understand what kind of person I am?"
His voice turned even colder. "Rebecca, my patience has limits."
Before she could react, he slammed her head down onto the table, his fingers tightening around her throat.
"Since you won't talk, I'll just let your family handle you. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to take you back."
The pain from being strangled wasn't as terrifying as Matteo's words.
Her father's cruel expression flashed through her mind. She still recalled the way he had once told her he would marry her off to that disgusting old man.
Rebecca's fear spiked, her entire body trembling. She was on the verge of losing it.
"No! Please, don't tell them! I'll talk, Matty! I'll tell you everything!"
Hearing this, Matteo finally loosened his grip. "Start talking."
Rebecca gasped for air, coughing violently as the rush of oxygen burned her throat.
However, she didn't dare stop. She gasped sharply, her voice breaking. "Y-You can check my phone!"
Frantically, she unlocked her phone and handed it over with shaking hands.
"I didn't do anything! This is all a misunderstanding!"
Deep down, she felt a shiver of relief.
She had already deleted all the messages where she had taunted Evelyn.
Matteo barely glanced at the screen before he saw through her act.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the phone, already dialing a number.
He was going to send it to an expert who could recover every deleted message.
The moment Rebecca realized what he was doing, it felt like the world was caving in.
She lunged forward, grabbing his arm in desperation.
"Matty, please! Just believe me this once! Don't restore the data!"
But this time, Matteo had no intention of giving her another chance.
He had given her more than enough chances already, and Rebecca had thrown them all away.
Watching her collapse onto the floor, he calmly instructed his assistant to find out what she had done to Evelyn before.