Between The Lines

Chapter 143: Breaking News

Rebecca's POV (1st Person):

The house felt heavier tonight, like the walls were closing in on me. I stood outside the door, heart racing as the cold air bit at my skin. My hand trembled as I reached for the knob, my pulse pounding so hard I could barely think. This wasn't just about telling them the truth anymore. This was about breaking a promise. A promise I never should have made.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Lane said it had to happen, that we couldn't keep hiding forever. He was right—deep down, I knew it—but that didn't make this any easier. The memory of my dad's face after the ball, the rage and the disappointment when he found out about us... that moment haunted me. And tonight, I was about to reignite all of that.

I stepped inside, my legs heavy as I moved into the living room. My parents were there, as always. My mum sat on the edge of the couch, tapping her fingers anxiously against her wine glass. My dad was pacing, his jaw clenched, the tension between them thicker than the air. They barely looked at each other anymore. When they did, it was only with contempt.

"Rebecca," my dad barked the second he saw me, his voice hard and cold. "You're late. Where have you been?"

I froze, swallowing hard. I had to get this over with.

"We need to talk," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but loud enough to cut through the tension in the room.

My mum glanced up at me, eyes narrowing in concern, while my dad's expression darkened. He stopped pacing and crossed his arms, the vein in his temple throbbing. "Talk about what?"

I took a breath, and the words stuck in my throat. But I couldn't hold them back anymore.

"About Lane."

The second his name left my mouth, the room shifted. My dad's face twisted with fury, and my mum's eyes widened in shock. I could see the storm brewing in both of them. My mum looked confused, but my dad? He was livid.

"Are you out of your damn mind?" My dad's voice was so sharp it cut through the air like a knife. "Lane? After everything? After you promised me—"

"I know," I interrupted, feeling my chest tighten. "I know what I promised, Dad. But things have changed."

"Changed?" he spat, his voice rising with each word. He took a step toward me, towering over me in a way that made me want to shrink back. But I didn't. I stood my ground, even though my whole body was shaking. "You swore, Rebecca. You swore to me that you'd never see him again. That this... this disgusting thing between you was over. And now you stand here telling me you've been lying to me this whole time?"

His voice boomed, filled with betrayal, and I could feel the weight of it crushing me. I couldn't meet his eyes. Not after all the lying, all the sneaking around. But I had to say it. I had to own it.

"I love him," I said, my voice trembling but firm. "And we're together. I'm moving in with him."

The silence that followed was deafening, but it didn't last long.

My dad's face turned red, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "You're moving in with him?" he roared, his words dripping with disbelief and rage. "Are you out of your mind, Rebecca? You think this is some fairytale? That this teacher of yours, this... predator is going to take care of you?"

"He's not a predator!" I yelled back, my own anger flaring up, finally breaking through the fear. "This isn't what you think it is. I'm not a child anymore. I love him, and he loves me."

"Not a child?" my dad barked a laugh, his voice laced with contempt. "You've been acting like one since this whole thing started. Lying. Sneaking around. And with him of all people? Do you even hear yourself?"