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.

greasy bowls, Jeffrey frowned. Those hands ought to be holding a paintbrush or gliding

she washed. After putting everything away, she came out of the kitchen and

of answering, he asked, “Have you gotten used to life without the

very much,”

didn’t have to cook, clean,

he had stayed.

slightly. ‘But the job was posted by the Reed

leaned back lazily against the sofa arm. “Emily has always taken ballet. Why would she suddenly need a

to search her memory for the Reeds. But her knowledge was mostly limited to Jeffrey’s friends, and she

Jeffrey added calmly. “Emily

almost convinced. Stephen could easily arrange something like this. Shortening the schedule to just the morning to avoid raising suspicion sounded exactly

you don’t want to fall into his trap, quit now,” Jeffrey said, reading her

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Chapter 25

churned bitterly ‘Yeah, I know. But what choice do

money? Play piano on the street? Jeffrey will make things difficult for me. Find another job? I

steadily.

another minefield. Neither option is good. I might as well

searching for any hint that she

on me. Why would he even set a trap for someone

He couldn’t tell her the trap wasn’t meant for her–but

someone else,” Rebecca went on, shifting gears. “He’s offering good money

he goes after Samuel?” Jeffrey asked,

landing like a trigger on Jeffrey’s

with menace. “How much have you interacted with him? How well

would she defend Stephen? What has he done to win her trust?‘ he wondered, a bitter edge

won’t,” Rebecca

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