After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 14

“What happened to your neck?” Jessica asked, gently moving ftebecca’s hair aside to reveal a distinct mark. “Don’t tell me that jerk Jeffrey did this?

Rebecca’s hand flew to her neck, surprised that something so brief had left such a visible mark.

Seeing the answer on her friend’s face, Jessica dropped her voice to a whisper. “It was really him?”

“Yes,” Rebecca admitted, her voice barely audible.

“That bastard,” Jessica seethed, her anger boiling over. “He’s dating Andrea while putting his hands on you? What a complete piece of shit!”

Rebecca just nodded in grim agreement.

Jessica was so furious that she even started imagining all sorts of violent retribution.

“I need to ask you something,” Rebecca said after a brief hesitation, deciding to just put it out there.

Jessica’s tone immediately softened. “Anything, you know that.”

“Could I crash at your place for a few days?” Rebecca asked. Even though they were best friends, she always believed in being polite about these things. “I haven’t found a new apartment yet, and I really can’t go back there.”

Jeffrey had changed the passcode, so showing up now would be downright pathetic. Besides, she knew perfectly well she needed to stay away from him.

“Seriously, consider this place your home. Stay as long as you want,” Jessica said. She knew Rebecca could be stubborn, so she dropped the usual lecture. “Here, let’s get your fingerprint set up. That way, you can come and go even if I’m not around.”

Rebecca actually agreed without argument this time.

They had just finished setting up the fingerprint when Jessica’s phone rang. It was her father, urgently summoning her to the office. Though she’d been about to help Rebecca research the diamond collection, she had no choice but to go immediately.

“Go ahead with your business. I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me,” Rebecca said, not wanting to get in the way of her friend’s actual responsibilities.

“Okay, just hang tight here. Text me if anything comes up,” Jessica said, knowing her father only summoned her for big things. “I should be back soon.”

Rebecca murmured in agreement and walked her to the door.

Jessica’s parents had a marriage of convenience. Though they led separate lives after marrying, they both absolutely adored their daughter–Jessica was practically their little princess.

Less than an hour after she left, Rebecca’s phone buzzed with an incoming message from a stranger. [Hello. Is the ring still available?]

Rebecca replied immediately. [Yes.]

right away. “I’m very interested in the diamond from that ring you have,” he said directly. “If you’re available, I’d like to meet in person to discuss it.

calling?” Rebecca inquired, never/comfortable meeting strangers

Group, he replied. He then texted her his business

quickly verified the details before

about Stanley from the Garcia Group–everyone said he was one of the good guys with a

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20:24 Sun, 14 Sept

Chapter 14

Hotel,” stanley said.

said.

49%%%

Stanley had a great reputation, Rebecca decided to play it safe. She shot Jessica a quick text about where she was going and activated her phone’s emergency SOS feature. From experience, she knew that truly trustworthy people were

phone buzzed with

she reached for her phone to check it, her father, Eugene Scott, cleared his throat, saying slowly, “Am I that boring already? We just started talking, and

me,” Jessica explained as she unlocked her phone. “By the

smoothly plucked the phone from

“What

Eugene said, already scrolling

BFF,” he quickly deleted them before she could notice, knowing

him a confused

asked, “Pick

with a straight face, giving

back. “If I picked you, your

quiet, not daring to say

to stay out of hers. “If there’s nothing important, I’m

on,” Eugene said, stalling like he’d been told to. “You know about Rebecca and Jeffrey’s divorce,

Jessica said casually. “What’s

don’t get pulled into any of her problems,” Eugene warned, not wanting her on Jeffrey’s radar. “I know you two

eyes and called him

went well,

meeting with both buyers, but

touch your ring. They told me Jeffrey had put the word out that anyone who buys it from you will have to deal with

to grab you something to eat