After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

“The door password is your birthday,” Jeffrey said to Samuel gently. “Everything inside is set up just like home.”

“Home is wherever Mommy is,” Samuel replied protectively.

Jeffrey raised an eyebrow, his eyes settling on Rebecca.

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Rebecca pulled out a chair, sat down at the table, and said dismissively, “If there’s nothing else, you should go. We’re having dinner.”

“Didn’t you eat earlier? Why eat again?” Jeffrey asked Samuel.

“Mommy’s cooking is delicious,” the boy answered softly.

Jeffrey glanced at the dishes on the table–they did look good, Still, he said, “Even if it’s tasty, don’t overeat. You’ll upset your stomach.”

Rebecca’s grip tightened around her fork. ‘He’s referring to me, isn’t he?‘ she thought.

“Big meals after dark will wreck your health,” Jeffrey added, noticing her irritation. “Understand?”

Samuel nodded but kept eating.

Even after the dinner was over, Jeffrey remained in the living room. He sent Samuel to his bedroom to study, then settled onto the couch, watching

Rebecca.

She cleared the table and carried the dishes to the sink. Just when he expected her to leave them, she turned on the water and carefully washed each

dish.

against greasy bowls, Jeffrey frowned. Those hands ought to

watched as long as she washed. After putting everything away, she came out of the kitchen and met his steady gaze. She paused

of answering, he asked, “Have you gotten used to

much,”

He thought she had been used to a life where she didn’t have to cook, clean, or do chores–she couldn’t have adjusted so

That was why he had stayed. “You should know that

furrowed slightly. ‘But the job was posted by the

sofa arm. “Emily has always taken ballet. Why would

she tried to search her memory for the Reeds. But her knowledge

martial arts all day Saturday,” Jeffrey added calmly. “Emily has dance class on Saturday morning. You

the schedule to just the morning to

want to fall into his trap, quit now,” Jeffrey said,

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Chapter 25

churned bitterly ‘Yeah, I know. But

things difficult for me.

eyes steadily. “I’ll take whatever

as well choose the one that

searching for any hint that

has nothing on me. Why would he even set a trap for someone like

intensified. He couldn’t tell her the

is using me, it’s to get to someone else,” Rebecca went on, shifting gears. “He’s offering good

if he goes after Samuel?” Jeffrey asked, surprised by her

pretty intense,” Rebecca said, each word landing like a trigger on Jeffrey’s nerves,

aura heavy with menace. “How much have you interacted with him? How well do you know

done to win her trust?‘ he wondered, a bitter

won’t,” Rebecca insisted