After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 23

Unsure what Jeffrey meant, Timothy chose his words carefully. “It’s fairly deep. If it were in a different location, it would’ve required stitches.”

Jeffrey glanced at him, his eyes deep.

On the surface, Timothy remained calm. But inside, he was sweating.

$47%

“Make sure the surgery goes smoothly,” Jeffrey said, rising to his feet. His gaze drifted over the medical instruments nearby. “I don’t want anything like today to happen again.”

“Got it,” Timothy replied, quickly putting the medical tools aside.

Jeffrey stepped out of the hospital and dialed Gregory. “What’s Rebecca doing now?” he asked.

“She’s looking for a place,” replied Gregory.

A shadow crossed Jeffrey’s eyes. He quickly gave a few orders over the phone.

Gregory acknowledged and got to work.

Rebecca had no idea Jeffrey was having her followed. With the surgery funds secured, she’d begun apartment hunting. Fortunately, she found a reasonably priced place in a safe neighborhood, not far from Samuel’s school.

After confirming the apartment was in good condition, Rebecca signed the lease with the landlord–paying three months‘ rent and a security deposit upfront.

She spent most of the day cleaning and unpacking. Once everything was in order, she texted Jeffrey: [Maple Garden, Building 1, Unit 1802. Bring Samuel’s things here.]

No reply came, and Rebecca didn’t follow up.

Around 4 p.m., there was a knock at the door. Rebecca opened it and saw Jeffrey standing there in a sharp, tailored suit.

He glanced around the less–than–1,000–square–foot apartment before stepping inside. The living room, which had felt fairly spacious, suddenly seemed cramped with his presence.

“You expect Samuel to live here?” Jeffrey’s tone was cool as his eyes settled on Rebecca. “His walk–in closet in my villa is bigger than this entire

apartment.”

his things, not to critique my place,”

Samuel was used to. But she was determined

own terms.

in this room,” Rebecca said, opening one of the bedroom doors. Then she gestured to

rooms in the

feet.

stay in that tiny room herself?‘

busy arranging the

walk–in closet, another his bedroom, and the last–the smallest–would hold her things and also be where

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Chapter 23

further and paused when he saw the clean,

said once she finished organizing and

stays healthy until he grows up, I’ll have someone handle his meals,” Jeffrey said coolly. “Don’t feed

for a response, he turned and left with his

not bothered by his remarks. Jeffrey knew everything about her,

for him once. But she’d accidentally cut her finger–a one–in–a–million mishap–and from that day on, he never let her near the kitchen again, convinced

mattered anymore. Now, all Rebecca cared about

Jeffrey was behind it. Left with no other options, she started looking into part–time

position. Even though she’d been a stay–at–home wife during her marriage, she’d never

one–on–one tutors for their children. At least here, she figured, she wouldn’t have to

person who’d hired her wasn’t Jeffrey, but he was pretty

villa, Rebecca stepped into the garden. There, she saw a refined, gentle–looking man playing with a child around four or five years old. Her mind went blank

out, wondering, ‘What is he doing

greeted her warmly,

wave of awkwardness but

girl, Emily Reed, over to a servant

wearing a light gray suit today, silver–rimmed glasses resting on

the surface,

Rebecca was seated, he asked casually, “Would you like something to drink? Some juice, perhaps? I remember you used to enjoy fresh–squeezed juice at