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.”

a hurt tone, “You’re rejecting me

it,” he reassured

willing to kiss Rebecca, but you won’t even

removed her hand from his arm. “That was just an act for Samuel’s benefit; he explained, “You should never think you’re less important to me than Rebecca.

subtle unease in

knew her lie would eventually come to light. The moment Jeffrey discovered it was Rebecca who had saved him in their childhood, not her, sho would

on Rebecca’s phone: Come and get it yourself included was the address to the

didn’t hesitate. Telling Samuel she had to run an errand, she drove straight over. But when she pulled up to the estate, the place was dead silent -door shut tight,

tried calling Jeffroy, but

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Chapter 6

deliberately toying with her, she refused to play along and sent him a message. If you’re not here within thirty minutes, I will call the fire department to help me open

divorce wasn’t finalized yet, she still

her.

get angry or make sarcastic comments. She simply walked over and asked him, “Why didn’t you

at her as if she were a complete stranger. “Are you someone

slap. In that moment, everything became clear–from the minute those divorce papers were filed, they’d become

strangers

that had been crushing her chest

cool and detached. “You’re right. I’m not anyone important, but if you had returned what you took on your own, none of this would

suitcase,” Andrea said, speaking up for Jeffrey. “It’s not

her eyes was gone, replaced by a chilling emptiness. “I just

Jeffrey’s expression darkened.

flat and final. “Give me my things, and

sudden coldness and

fake the suitcase, Jeffrey reminded

she said, surprising herself with

watched her carefully, trying to detect any sign that she was

he turned to the bodyguard

before

returned

the luggage and leave, she surprised them by

“Rebecca, what are you

here,” Rebecca replied in a deceptively calm voice that somehow made

anticipated she would learn to mirror