BIT

Rebecca was too stunned to react immediately. The warmth of Harvey’s lips against hers stirred a torrent of emotions she had buried deep within. For a moment, she forgot about the pain, the betrayal, and the anger. She closed her eyes and let herself get lost in the kiss.

But reality soon crept back in. She pulled away, her eyes brimming with tears. “This doesn’t change anything, Harvey,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “You can’t just kiss away all the hurt and expect everything to be okay.”

Harvey’s face softened with regret and longing. “I know,” he said quietly. “I know I can’t undo the past, but I still care about you, Becky. I can’t just let walk

trying to make things right.”

you

away without

Rebecca shook her head, her tears falling freely now. “It’s too late. Too much has happened. I’ve lost too much.” She took a step back, her resolve hardening. “We need to move on with our lives. Separately.”

Harvey watched her, his eyes pleading for understanding. “Please, just one night. Let’s talk–really talk. If you still want to walk away after that, I won’t stop you.”

Rebecca hesitated. Part of her wanted to leave and never look back, but another part, a smaller, quieter part, wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for closure. Or even a new beginning.

She took a deep breath, wiping away her tears. “One night,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But no promises, Harvey.” She couldn’t believe she just said that.

Harvey nodded, relief washing over his face. Thank you,” he said softly. “We’ll go somewhere quiet, away from all this.”

Rebecca followed Harvey to his car, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was making a mistake, but she also couldn’t deny the part of her that still cared about him. As they drove through the city streets, she- stared out the window, trying to make sense of her feelings.

They arrived at a small, cozy bar one hour away from New York City. It was quiet, almost empty, with soft music playing in the background. Harvey led her to a corner table, away from prying eyes. They sat down, an awkward silence hanging between them.

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After shots of Vodka, Harvey finally broke the silence. “Becky, I’m sorry for everything. I know I’ve hurt you, and I regret it more than you can imagine. I was a fool, and I let my pride and stupidity ruin what we had.”

Rebecca looked at him, searching his eyes for any sign of deceit. “Why now? Why are you saying all this now?”

Harvey sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Because I’ve realized what I’ve lost. Losing you was the biggest mistake of my life and I’ve been too stubborn to admit it until now.”

Rebecca’s heart ached at his words, but she forced herself to stay strong. “Words are easy. Actions are what matter.”

Harvey nodded, reaching across the table to take her hand. “I know, and I want to prove to you that I’ve changed. I want to try it again, Becky. Give me a chance to show you that I can be the man you deserve.”

Rebecca looked down at their joined hands, her mind racing. Could she really trust him. again? Could she open her heart to him after everything they’d been through? Could she believe someone who could never love her after three years of marriage?

“I don’t know if I can,” she said honestly. “Too much has happened, and I’m scared of getting hurt again.”

Harvey squeezed her hand gently. “I understand, and I don’t expect you to forgive me overnight. But please, let’s start with tonight. Let’s talk and see where it leads. No pressure, no expectations.”

Rebecca took a deep breath, her heart wavering. She had been so sure she was done with Harvey, but now, sitting across from him, she couldn’t deny the glimmer of hope that flickered in her chest. Her mind told her to reject him but her body betrayed her. She nodded her head faintly and whispered, “Okay.”

She didn’t know what the future held, but she felt a small seed of possibility take root in her heart. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for them after all. For her to heal, for her to forgive.

They walked back to the car in silence. Harvey drove to a nearby hotel, and Rebecca followed him inside, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. They checked in and made their way to the room, the tension between them was palpable.

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Once inside, the atmosphere shifted. Harvey closed the door, and they stood facing each other, the weight of their shared past pressing down on them. Slowly, tentatively, they moved closer. Harvey reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from Rebecca’s they moved closer. Harvey reached out, face. She looked up at him, her eyes searching his for any sign of hesitation. There were none. Something that she never saw in him when they were still together.

They came together in a rush of passion. They kissed deeply, their hands exploring each other as if they were doing it for the first time. Clothes were shed, and barriers were broken. Rebecca suddenly felt like she was alive again, and above all, she could finally feel that Harvey wanted her.

As they lay intertwined on the bed, the world outside ceased to exist. They were lost in the moment, their bodies communicating what words could not. It was as if time stood still, allowing them a brief respite from the chaos of their lives.

But just as they began to drift into a peaceful slumber, Harvey’s phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand. He ignored it at first, unwilling to break the spell, but it buzzed again, more insistently. With a groan, he reached over and grabbed it, squinting at the screen.

“It’s my assistant,” he said, his voice heavy with reluctance. He answered the call, and Rebecca watched as his expression changed from annoyance to shock.

“What happened?” he asked, sitting up. “Is she okay?”

Rebecca felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew something was terribly wrong.

Harvey listened intently, his face growing paler by the second. “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he said finally, ending the call and turning to Rebecca.

“Alicia’s been in an accident,” he said, his voice strained. “I need to go.”

Rebecca felt a tightness in her chest; she knew everything was always about Alicia. She

knew she should have let him go, but her body was telling her to do otherwise. She

reached out her hand and gripped Harvey’s wrist tightly. “Stay…”

*****