Chapter 182: Chapter 182

There is a small park opposite the road. They both went there and took a seat on an empty bench.

They sat far from each other on the bench corners.

While maintaining the long silence.

It almost feels like they are both waiting for the conversation to start.

Edwin turned his head to look at her side view which looked a little awkward and nervous.

So, after making that judgment, he decided to speak first.

"So…" Hearing his voice, Rebecca turned to look at him. While his eyes were already on her this realization made her retreat her gaze again back to the land of grass.

While Edwin continues his words, "What do you want to talk about?"

He hoped it was not like what he was thinking.

While Rebecca finally let her awkwardness goes and turned to look at him and almost meet his eyes.

"Yes, I want to tell you that…thank you."

Edwin's brows raised, "For what?"

Rebecca could feel his deep gaze looking inside her heart but she didn't mind it this time and responded by maintaining a stare, "For saving me last night…"

Edwin's heart thumped as he never thought he could hear her gentle tone again for him.

"What if I don't need you to say thank you…"

Rebecca got mystified by his words, "What do you mean?"

Edwin turned his head and looked straight ahead where one couple with their child was going back home while eating ice cream.

Rebecca followed his gaze and found what he was watching. Her heart tightened for a while to watch that.

He turned his gaze again to her and found her still looking at that. He could see, she was touched to see that family and somehow it also made her feel bothered.

"I want a chance. Could you give me that?"

Rebecca's eyelashes flicker as she looks at him with a surprised gaze.

Watching her expression, he felt again move faster.

He doesn't know why he just said that line right now…but he just feels he could not help himself asking her for a second chance again and again even when he knew her reply very well.

While Rebecca stayed paused for a long silence before moving her eyes back to the ground.

Edwin felt hurt to see her not replying and avoiding his eyes.

He got his response.

Believing that, he stood from the bench.

Rebecca instantly raised her head and asked, "Why do you stand?"

Edwin glanced at her with a small hurting smile, "Because I got your response."

Rebecca's face frowned, "How?"

"Your Silence…" She shrugged.

"So, I think, I should leave. You also need rest." Rebecca bit her lower lip with chaos to hear his words. While he turned to leave.

"Good night, Rebecca…" He whispered out and started to take steps to go back.

Rebecca's hands are clenched on the bench edges. As she immediately stood and raised her voice to call him, "Edwin! I forgive you."

Edwin who almost crossed halfway stopped in shock to hear her statement.

He turned immediately to meet her gaze who was looking at him with red eyes while his eyes were almost not ready to blink at what he just heard. He didn't trust in his ears what he just heard out loud.

"Wh…What?" He questioned feeling he almost stopped breathing right now.

Rebecca could feel he was shocked by her sudden response, but now she takes a few steps from his side and repeated. Her words, "I said, I forgive you."

Edwin's lips which almost forgot to smile…now at this moment, his lips corners almost raised.

He finally let go of his stopped breath. His expression changes so fast at this moment that he doesn't understand how to react. He never thought this day would come but now when it comes…He doesn't know how to express…how much he appreciates her.

He felt relieved…

He felt the huge stone over his chest finally crack.

He isn't going to suffer any longer.

His suffering or suffocation finally came to an end and he can't help but feel great about it.

He felt alive and breathing without any grief in this fresh air.

His eyes were almost ready to shed tears. As his eyes turned red with so much emotion. He can't express how relieved her words made him…How with the big burden on his chest he is moving every day until now.

He finally got forgiveness from her.

The burden that he believed was pushing him to be devastating for a long duration is ultimately over in his life.

He walked toward her and stopped a few meters from her.

He wanted to hear her say again that she truly forgave him and that it was not a crazy dream which was going to break as soon as he opened his hell eyes.

"Rebecca, are you sure? I-I mean, are you forgiving me?" His words almost shake to ask that like he is talking in his dream feeling scared and numb with fear.

Rebecca didn't realize that her eyes had also got tears from watching his reaction. The way his pain and hurting eyes changed with bright and sparkling ones. She could realize how miserable he was out there.

"Yes…"

"I've finally made my decision to forgive you."

As soon as she completed her words, Edwin could not help but walk in a fast phase and hugged her.

At first, Rebecca was stunned by his sudden action. But when she heard him whispering in a shattered voice, she could not get the courage to stop him from hugging her. Most importantly she doesn't feel mixed feelings this time about his closeness. She thought it was going to be hard to let him close but now she knew, she was already moving further.

When she was deep down in her thoughts, Edwin's voice caught her attention.

"Thank you, Rebecca….thank you so for forgiving me…" He was almost shaking in her arms and she could feel herself getting emotional with him.

.

.

After breaking the hug they both turned awkward. While Edwin apologized for hugging her without her permission.

"I'm sorry. I'm just overwhelmed." He again maintains his distance from her. While she just nodded in understanding.

They both felt silent again. When Rebecca thought about speaking to him about her decision.

"Edwin, I…I decided something for you." She turned a little hesitant to disclose her real deal after watching his reaction to her forgiving words.

While Edwin smiled at her and asked, "What is that?"

Rebecca meets his eyes and speaks out, "Edwin, I'm not going to tell you to stay away from the baby anymore…"

Edwin's eyes looked at her with a deep gaze.

"I mean, you can do your duty as a father and be a part of our baby's life. I'm not going to snatch dad from my baby's life…"

"Are you by any chance deciding this out of courtesy to save you…" He felt like that when he heard about her decision because she doesn't look comfortable telling that. Even when she's giving him a chance to be a part of his baby's life.

However, Rebecca shakes her head and denies his words, "No, it's not like that. I think carefully and then decide this and I feel you would be a great dad to our baby."

Hearing 'our' his heart warmed up. How much he waited to hear this one word from her mouth.

However, this doesn't make him stop to ask other questions.

"What about you? Are you letting me enter your world? Are you willing to give me a chance to be a man who can protect you?"

Rebecca's heartbeat stopped to his words. She felt mixed feelings about how to respond to his words.

She doesn't want to hurt him but she's not ready to accept him.

"Tell me, Rebecca…" He wanted to hear her.

Rebecca took a long deep breath and replied, "I'm sorry…but I need more time."

Hearing her He first didn't react and looked at the ground. He sighed heavily and this made Rebecca feel she needed to explain to him so she tried to do that, "Listen, Edwin, I know…"

"Rebecca…" He stopped her from finishing her words.

She looked at him as he raised his head and met her eyes full of love.

He could sense she was nervous. So, he tried to talk with a tiny smile which made him look satisfied.

His eyes filled with a soft gaze before he finally responded to her, "I understand… you don't need to explain…"

She felt paused and deeply tried to look at him. While he added.

"And I promise I'll wait for you just like I did until now…" His soft words made her heart thump.

She felt touched by his words. As her reaction filled with gentleness.

While Edwin felt too amazed to see her reaction and the way she called his name and tried to explain herself not to hurt him. He already wins his half-battle here.

After the conversation, both came out of the park in silence as Rebecca was still awkward to talk further about anything for now. For Edwin on the other side, he thought to step slowly and try to interact slowly with her not get her awkward or by any way feel his action pressurized.

With a walk, they both reach in front of his car.

He turned and looked at her while she tried her best to look calm and easy, not nervous at all.

"Then…Bye for now…" Edwin wanted to spend more time with her because he doesn't know why he still feels this whole meeting was like a dream. While it's finally proof she is here, talking to him. And everything they talked about was real.

However, he knows it's just a deep fear. To lose everything again…To lose Rebecca and to lose a baby…

When you suddenly get all happiness, you feel scared and imagine everything is an illusion for a long time before you can finally bear that, It's real. A complete reality and no one could snatch that…

"Yeah, Bye…" Rebecca responded with a polite smile on her face.

Edwin nodded and moved into his car.

As soon as the car engine started Edwin glanced at her last time before moving the car at medium speed.

Rebecca watches his car vanish while Edwin sees her standing through the small mirror. His lips curled up with a bright smile as he felt he could not ask for more.