Chapter 29
Rebecca’s voice was sharp enough to cut through the elegant ambiance of the restaurant. Heads turned, and murmurs rippled across the room as she stood by the table, her arms crossed, glaring daggers at Victoria.
“Zayden, what is this?!” Rebecca hissed, her voice rising. “You and I belong together! We’ve always belonged together, ever since medical school. And now, what? You’re here on a date with her?”
Victoria’s grip on her wine glass tightened as she glanced around at the curious onlookers. She placed the glass down carefully, exhaling slowly to maintain her composure. Not tonight. Not like this.
“Rebecca,” Zayden began, his voice calm but firm, “this isn’t the time or place for this. We’re in the middle of dinner.”
“Oh, I can see that!” Rebecca snapped, her tone laced with venom. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re mine. Do you remember all the plans we made? The future we talked about? And now you’re here, acting like I don’t exist?”
“Rebecca,” Zayden said, more firmly this time, his jaw tightening, “I haven’t seen you in years. Whatever we had—whatever you think we had—is over. It’s been over.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened, tears welling up as her voice turned shrill. “You’re lying! You said we’d build a life together. That I was the one for you. And then you disappeared! You left without a word!”
Victoria couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed her chair back, the screech of wood against tile silencing Rebecca’s rant momentarily. “I’ll just call Elena to pick me up,” she said, her voice cool and detached. She reached for her clutch, standing up.
“No,” Zayden said quickly, reaching out to gently hold her arm. “Victoria, wait. Please. I’m so sorry for this—this whole scene—but I don’t know what Rebecca is doing here. I haven’t seen her in years. I swear.”
Victoria raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical. “Clearly, she thinks otherwise.”
Rebecca pointed an accusatory finger at Zayden. “Oh, don’t act like you’re innocent! You ghosted me after everything we went through together. And now you’re here playing house with her?” She gestured dramatically at Victoria, her voice loud enough to make more diners turn their heads.
Zayden sighed, running a hand down his face. “Rebecca, lower your voice. We’re not doing this here.”
“Why not?” Rebecca countered, stepping closer. “Are you embarrassed? Or is it because you don’t want her to know the truth about us?”
Victoria crossed her arms, her patience thinning by the second. “If you’re done with your tantrum, Rebecca, I’d like to leave.”
Rebecca turned to Victoria, her expression fierce. “Oh, so now you’re just going to walk away? Typical. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
Victoria met her gaze, her voice icy. “Neither do you. And frankly, I don’t care. Whatever unresolved issues you have with Zayden, leave me out of it.”
Rebecca opened her mouth to retort, but Zayden stepped between them, his tone final. “That’s enough, Rebecca. You’re making a scene, and you need to leave.”
“No!” Rebecca shouted, her voice echoing. “I’m not going anywhere until you explain yourself. You owe me that much.”
At that moment, the restaurant manager approached, his face tense but professional. “Ma’am,” he said to Rebecca, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave. You’re disturbing our guests.”
Rebecca glared at him, her nostrils flaring. “I’m not leaving until I get answers.”
The manager motioned to two security guards nearby, and they stepped forward. “Ma’am, if you don’t comply, we’ll have to escort you out.”
Rebecca threw her hands up in frustration, tears spilling down her cheeks. “This isn’t over, Zayden,” she spat, her voice trembling. “You’ll regret this.”
The guards gently but firmly guided her toward the exit as she continued to rant incoherently. The restaurant slowly returned to its subdued murmur, though curious glances still lingered in their direction.
Victoria sat back down, folding her hands in her lap. “Well,” she said dryly, “that was… memorable.”
Zayden sighed deeply, pulling out his phone. His face was a mask of frustration as he dialed a number. “Find out what Rebecca wants,” he said into the phone, his tone curt. “After all these years, I want to know why she suddenly showed up and, more importantly, how she knew I was here.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed, her curiosity piqued. “Who are you talking to?”
Zayden glanced at her, his expression softening slightly. “My private detective.”
Victoria raised an eyebrow. “Your private detective?”
He nodded, tucking his phone back into his pocket. “Sometimes, when you’ve lived the kind of life I have, you need someone who can dig deeper than you can.”
Victoria tilted her head, studying him. “And what exactly have you done that requires a private detective, Zayden?”
His lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s a long story, Tori. One I might tell you someday. But for now, I’d rather focus on you.”
She leaned back slightly, her guard still up. “I hope this detective of yours finds out quickly. Because if this is the kind of drama that follows you around, I’m not sure I want to be part of it.”
Zayden chuckled softly, the tension easing from his face. “Fair enough. But I can promise you one thing: Rebecca’s little outburst isn’t going to ruin tonight. Let’s order dessert, shall we?”
Victoria hesitated, then nodded, though her mind was still swirling with questions. Who exactly was Zayden Huntington, and what kind of life had he lived to need a private detective on speed dial?
