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.”

to bring his things, not to critique

Samuel was used to. But she was determined to

own terms.

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

two largest rooms in the apartment. The only other space was a small study, barely

feet.

she planning to stay in that tiny room

busy arranging the items the bodyguards

One would be Samuel’s walk–in closet, another his bedroom, and the last–the smallest–would hold her

1/3

4/%

Chapter 23

few steps further and paused when he saw the clean, neatly organized kitchen. ‘Rebecca doesn’t know

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

stays healthy until he grows up, I’ll have someone

waiting for a response, he turned and left with his

Jeffrey knew everything about

meal for him once. But she’d accidentally cut her finger–a one–in–a–million mishap–and from that day on,

anymore. Now,

gotten any replies, Rebecca suspected Jeffrey was

she’d been a stay–at–home

neighborhood. A resident there was looking for one–on–one tutors for their children. At least here, she figured, she wouldn’t

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

inside the villa, Rebecca stepped into the garden. There, she saw a refined, gentle–looking man playing with a child around four

out, wondering,

warmly,

wave of awkwardness but

Reed, over to a servant and

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

Rebecca knew better. The kinder he appeared on the surface, the more ruthless

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