After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 6

To Rebecca, Jeffrey’s words felt like a sharp blade piercing her heart.

Even though the news about Jeffrey and Andrea had hurt her, Rebecca had clung to the hope that it might have just been a misunderstanding.

But hearing those cheesy words firsthand felt even worse than being stabbed. Her chest grow fight with a heavy, suffocating pressure.

“What is it?” Jeffrey’s voice was deep, but his tone was colder and more distant than she had ever heard, making her feel completely insignificant.

Still, Rebecca wanted to hear him clarify it. “What are you two doing?” she asked

“Did you call me just for that!” he replied, deflecting her question.

She was completely disappointed in him. Collecting herself, she saw no point in wasting more time. “Where is my suitcase? I want it back.”

His response was the silent void of a disconnected call.

She stabbed the redial button without hesitation. Her passport was in that suitcase, and she knew leaving it in his hands any longer was asking for

Trouble

This time, he didn’t pick up.

Andrea saw the call coming through on his phone, the ser

showing the contact hame Rebecca, and asked tentatively, “Aren’t you going to get that?”

allmustaying with you now,” he said: “Let’s finish your show first.”

Jeffrey let his phone koop ringing, making no move to answer or decl

Andrea, fresh from the shower in a sleek cambole, slipped her arms around bis “Forget the show,” she murmured. “I’d rather do something else with

you

She pressed herself closer against him, putting herself in a position where Jeffrey would get an eyeful if he glanced down.

“Be good now,” Jeffrey said, stopping her advances with calm detachment, “Your main focus right now should be resting and recovering your health.”

voice took on a hurt tone, “You’re rejecting me because you don’t

not it,” he

Rebecca, but you won’t even touch me?”

an act for Samuel’s benefit; he explained, “You should never think you’re less important to me than Rebecca.

touched, Andres felt a subtle unease

who had saved him in their childhood, not her, sho would lose

Rebecca’s phone: Come and get it

drove straight over. But when she pulled up

calling Jeffroy, but he didn’t

1/3

Chapter 6

she refused to play along and sent him a message. If you’re not here within thirty minutes, I

their divorce wasn’t finalized yet, she still had every right to be in

this move from her.

how close they appeared, Rebecca didn’t get angry or make sarcastic comments. She simply walked over and asked him, “Why didn’t you answer your

should I have?” Jeffrey replied coldly, looking at her as if she were a complete stranger. “Are

her like a slap. In that moment, everything became clear–from the minute those

strangers

weight that had been crushing her chest

manner turning cool and detached. “You’re right. I’m not anyone important, but if you had returned what you took on your

a suitcase,” Andrea said, speaking up for Jeffrey.

wouldn’t want it, Rebecca said, her voice hollow. The usual emotion in her eyes was gone, replaced by a chilling emptiness. “I just want my suitcase

Jeffrey’s expression darkened.

final. “Give me my things, and

everything–his sudden coldness

the suitcase, Jeffrey

replace it with an identical one,” she said, surprising herself with how numb she felt “I doubt you want any more

to detect any sign that she

long moment, he turned to the

bodyguard nodded before turning

returned carrying

Rebecca to simply take the luggage and leave, she surprised them

asked hesitantly, “Rebecca,

making sure everything’s still here,” Rebecca replied in a deceptively calm voice that somehow

imperceptibly. He hadn’t anticipated she would