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.”

things, not to critique my place,” Rebecca shot

what Samuel was used to. But she was determined to build a better life for him–one she could provide on

own terms.

room,” Rebecca said, opening one of the bedroom doors.

two largest rooms in the apartment. The only other space was

feet.

she planning to stay in that tiny

was busy arranging

his bedroom, and

1/3

4/%

Chapter 23

when he saw the clean, neatly organized kitchen. ‘Rebecca doesn’t know how to cook, does

can go now,” Rebecca said once she finished organizing and noticed Jeffrey still standing in the

until he grows up, I’ll have someone handle his meals,” Jeffrey

response, he turned and

Jeffrey knew everything about her, except for one thing–she knew how to cook, and she was pretty

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

Now,

Rebecca suspected Jeffrey

instructor position. Even though she’d been a stay–at–home wife during her marriage, she’d never given up on her lifelong passions–dancing and

was set in Jelasburg’s most upscale neighborhood. A resident there was looking for one–on–one tutors for

her wasn’t Jeffrey, but he was pretty much cut from the

gentle–looking man playing with a

blurted out, wondering, ‘What is

greeted her warmly, a soft

felt a wave of awkwardness but nodded

over to a servant

light gray suit today, silver–rimmed glasses resting on his nose–the picture of

better. The kinder he appeared on the

Stephen said, gesturing toward the living room sofa. Once Rebecca was seated, he asked casually, “Would you like something to