After the divorce, he begged

No Ads

Chapter 27

“I want to beat one of my classmates,” Emily said, her voice firm despite her youth. “I’m going to prove I’m better than her in every way.”

Rebecca was slightly surprised. She hadn’t expected this kid to bo

so competitive.

“Ms. Jensen.” Emily reached out to take her hand, her eyes bright and eager. “Will you be really strict with me? I want to learn as fast as I can.”

“Okay,” Rebecca agreed.

Emily beamed and threw herself into the lesson with intense focus.

Rebecca was a true master of classical dance. In her prime, she had won numerous national awards. Even after marriage, she never let go of her passion.

As the lesson began, Lucas–watching from the study via monitor–remarked to the mild–mannered man beside him, “Don’t worry. I already talked with Emily. She won’t slip up. Besides, she’s genuinely interested in learning classical dance

now.”

Stephen kept his eyes on the screen, his expression unreadable behind his glasses.

“There’s something I’ve been wondering,” Lucas said, tilting his head.

Stephen glanced his way.

Lucas leaned in slightly. “Shouldn’t we be more focused on Andrea–the one Jeffrey’s keeping around? Why are you so interested in Rebecca? Isn’t she about to be divorced anyway?”

“She filed for divorce, but it hasn’t been finalized yet,” Stephen corrected calmly.

Lucas looked confused. “What’s the difference? A divorce is a divorce, isn’t it?”

doesn’t want the divorce, it won’t happen,” Stephen replied, knowing his brother all too

but he didn’t press further. It wasn’t like it was

of them kept watching the surveillance feed from the study for a while. Once they were sure Emily hadn’t said anything

Rebecca continued teaching,

lessons, Emily was still full of energy. She invited Rebecca to stay for lunch, but Rebecca politely declined, explaining she

affectionate pat and praised her once more before heading out. On her way back, though, a text came in from

want to talk.] Attached was the address of an

1/2

Chapter 27

called him right away. This time, the phone rang–instead of the dead silence

only rang about four times, to Rebecca it felt like an eternity. Her mind raced with memories–him stealing money, disappearing,

call connected. A low, rough voice came through.

really him. After all these years, he actually has the nerve to answer my

Amelia’s condition took a turn. Is it true?” Richard

“Since when do you care about

course I care,” Richard insisted, his tone serious. “She’s not just your

money and disappeared,” Rebecca shot back, old wounds reopening as she spoke. “You wouldn’t have abandoned us

on the

jaw, anger still simmering

then?” Richard’s voice sounded weary, older. “If I hadn’t done what I did, things

that?” It was like being stabbed

come,” Richard said, his voice growing more solemn. “Let me explain everything. If you still hate me after that, I’ll go beg

hailed a cab and headed straight to the

all the times before. But a small, stubborn part of her still wondered if

scheme, so what? But

she found the bar and the exact booth he’d told her about.

hesitation.

booth was dim, but she immediately spotted the middle–aged Richard sitting

complicated look in his eyes. “Rebecca,”