Chapter 24 Caught in the Crossfire
This setup wasn’t half bad. No matter how you looked at it, he wasn’t losing anything.
And besides, he was curious-what could this pregnant girl really do to sound so confident?
“Alright.” Becky beamed with satisfaction.
And just like that, Becky had found herself a part-time gig.
Xavier stared at the text message on his phone.
“Too busy lately. Maybe next time.”
He scrolled up through the thread. Becky had used that same excuse again and again, like she couldn’t even be bothered to come up with a different one.
Suddenly, Xavier regretted sending her that million.
She’d taken the money and disappeared, completely ignoring him since.
Acting on impulse, he dialed her number.
Becky stared at the name “Ex-Husband” flashing on her screen. After five seconds of hesitation, she answered.
“Becky, I don’t care what you’ve got going on. You’re coming back to Westview Pavilion tonight.”
Becky winced. “What is it now, ex-husband? Can’t you just tell me over the phone?”
Xavier’s voice tightened. “Drop the ‘ex’ part.”
“Why? You are my ex-husband.”
“Becky!”
“Just say what you want. I’m really busy. There’s no way I can come back to Westview Pavilion tonight.”
There was a long pause. Then he said, “Give me your apartment number. I’ll come to you.”
He’d only taken her as far as the entrance last time—he didn’t know exactly where she lived.
Becky panicked.
“Not convenient!”
Xavier narrowed his eyes. “You got a new boyfriend?”
Her eyes lit up.
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That was a good excuse.
“Yeah. I’m living with him now. Wouldn’t be right to have you over-he wouldn’t like it.”
“We just got divorced, Becky. Why the hell did you jump into a new relationship so fast? Who is he? What’s his background? Do you even know him that well? And you’re already living together? Absolutely not! Move back. Now!”
Xavier felt like he was going to explode.
The thought of Becky in some other guy’s bed, sleeping beside him, maybe doing who-knows-what, lit a fire in his chest. He wanted to find that man and tear him limb from limb..
Becky was stunned by how intense his reaction was.
What the hell’s wrong with him?
“Xavier, are you okay? We’re divorced. This is really none of your business.”
Xavier had already lost all reason.
“Becky, listen to me. We might be divorced, but we’re still family. And I will not allow you to live with another man!”
“I make my own choices. You don’t get to dictate anything anymore. I’m hanging up.”
“Becky! Try hanging up on me and see what happens!”
She faltered. For some reason, she didn’t dare end the call.
“Tell me your address.”
“Xavier, are you insane?”
“If you won’t tell me, I’ll find it myself.”
She knew he could, if he wanted to.
He just hadn’t bothered-until now.
She gave up.
“Fine. I lied. I don’t have a boyfriend. I’m not living with anyone.”
There was a long silence on the other end.
She thought he’d dropped dead.
Then his voice came through. “How do I know that’s true?”
She had no way to prove
Xavier said, “I’ll come see for myself.”
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That terrified her. If he came over, everything would be exposed.
So she went all in.
Raising her voice dramatically, she cried, “I’m still hung up on you, you bastard! How would I even want a boyfriend?!”
She wanted to die.
Great. Now there was no way out.
Even if she jumped in the Yellow River, it wouldn’t wash clean.
Xavier’s eyes darkened.
He couldn’t quite explain what he was feeling.
Becky decided to go all out. No dignity left anyway.
In a broken, emotional voice, she said, “Xavier, let’s just stop seeing each other, okay? Give me a little peace. Every time I see you, I feel miserable for days. I can’t stop thinking about you. I dream about you. You’re in my head when I eat, when I go to the bathroom-do you have any idea what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t love you back? Sometimes letting go means not seeing each other again.”
“So please, let’s just leave it at this. If you really want to be kind to me, then don’t show up. I’d be grateful.”
By the time she was done, she was gagging at her own words.
“Anyway, that’s it. Bye!”
She hung up quickly.
Kevin walked into the office to find Xavier staring blankly at his phone.
He called Xavier’s name several times with no response.
Raising his voice slightly, he said, “Mr. Xavier?”
Xavier finally looked up, eyes unfocused.
Kevin gave him a strange look. “Are you alright, Mr. Xavier?”
Xavier didn’t answer. He took the folder Kevin brought and started flipping through it.
Kevin turned to leave, but Xavier suddenly stopped him.
“Kevin, do you think I was too cruel to Becky?”
Kevin replied instantly, “No, sir. You’ve been more than fair. Honestly, after what she did-drugging you like that-most people wouldn’t have hesitated to throw her in the ocean and feed her to the sharks.”
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