After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 26.

Chapter 26

“I came to check on Samuel,” Jeffrey said, his voice low. He rose to his feet, his presence filling the room. His gaze lingered briefly on Rebecca before adding, “Lock the doors and windows. I’ll be there soon.”

“Please hurr-” Andrea began, but a sudden clap of thunder cut her off. She let out a sharp cry.

Rebecca was scared, too. Jeffrey noticed but said nothing. Instead, he gentled his voice, talking Andrea through her fake panic until she finally calmed down.

Before leaving, he saw how tense Rebecca looked and said offhandedly, “If you’re scared, put on some headphones.”

“Not your concern,” Rebecca shot back, suppressing a shiver. “Go back to her. Stop wasting your time here.”

No sooner had she spoken than another roar of thunder shook the room. But this time, she didn’t even blink.

Jeffrey didn’t stay. Toying with his phone, he walked out of the modest apartment–a space that hardly matched his status. As he slid into his car downstairs, a sharp lightning bolt sliced through the darkness…

Almost instinctively, Jeffrey glanced up toward Rebecca’s floor. “Call Jessica. Make up a reason–get her to stay with Rebecca tonight,” he ordered.

“After you passed that message to the Scotts, Jessica was tricked by her parents into going overseas,” replied Gregory soberly from the driver’s seat. “She can’t be back tonight.”

he

Jeffrey fell silent. He ran his fingers over the phone, weighing his words. Then he sent a message: [Your mom is scared of thunder. Go sleep with her tonight.]

Samuel read the message but didn’t reply. He could tolerate his father being harsh with him, but abandoning his mom was unforgivable, no matter how “important” that other woman was supposed to be.

“Harmony Estate,” Jeffrey said. He didn’t bother sending another text–he knew Samuel would go stay with Rebecca.

Gregory nodded. “Okay.”

The car sped through the storm. Thunder growled overhead, sometimes so loud it felt like the sky might split open.

Jeffrey’s perfect eyebrows knitted together. His fingertip unconsciously traced the phone screen, eyes fixed on the chat. labeled “Rebecca.” But even as the car pulled into Harmony Estate, not a single text had left his screen.

tucked his phone away and stepped out, his earlier concern for Rebecca left behind-

from the bed and threw her arms around his waist, holding him tightly. “You’re back. That

stay here with you,” Jeffrey said, gently

nodded and climbed back into bed. After a moment,

looked at her, his striking

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Chapter 26

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for his hand, her

certain that if he got into bed with her,

in and sat

me?” Andrea noticed he was pulling away. “You didn’t want to touch me earlier, and now you

on getting better. We’ll handle the

sleep. ‘Rebecca is out

yet Andrea had drifted off. Watching her breathe steadily in bed, Jeffrey sat in

it got stuffy and didn’t actually block the sound, Rebecca always hid underneath. Even when

he pulled out his phone and texted Samuel:

were on

any of Rebecca’s messages since last night. At first, Rebecca thought she was just sleeping after pulling an

full day had passed now, and Rebecca was getting worried. Luckily, the video

chuckled. “My dad just had someone return my

voice

mom to trick me into this country. The second I got off the plane, he took my passport and phone,” Jessica complained, still annoyed. “After years of nothing, suddenly they joined forces just to

in a split second

tell you,” Jessica said, switching topics. Since Samuel was on

took the cue. “What

airport who kinda looks like you,”

it. The man in the

really handsome.

an

to be