After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“If that’s your excuse, then go to the hospital and apologize to Mom,” Rebecca said, her voice clear and unwavering.

Richard set down his glass and slowly rose to his feet.

Rebecca thought he was about to go with her, only to see the guilt on his face vanish–replaced by something dark and cold.

“You think Amelia deserves my apology?” Richard took a step closer, his mask slipping completely. “Let me remind you: if I hadn’t left you two in Jelasburg, you would never have met someone like Jeffrey.”

Rebecca finally realized Richard wasn’t here to make things right.

“You should thank me,” Richard went on, his voice growing louder. “I’m the reason you got to live the high life as Mrs. Hanson.”

“I can’t believe Mom ever loved someone like you,” Rebecca said, the last trace of warmth draining from her voice. She

turned to leave.

“Watch your mouth!” Richard snapped. He grabbed her arm and shoved her back onto the couch. “Remember who put a roof over your head all those years.”

Rebecca was about to fire back when he cut her off, “I heard you divorced Jeffrey.”

Rebecca frowned. ‘The divorce is something barely anyone knew about–so how did he?‘

“Let’s cut the crap,” Richard said coldly. The earlier grief was gone, replaced by pure calculation. “I’m here for your divorce settlement. I don’t want it all–just give me seventy percent.”

“Then you’ll be disappointed.” Rebecca got to her feet, her voice dripping with cold mockery. “Jeffrey didn’t give me a

dime.”

ཆ།

nonsense. My patience is about to

almost felt grateful she hadn’t

about the divorce, then you should also know I had to sell the wedding ring to cover

studied her face carefully, searching for any hint of a lie. But her eyes were steady

she sold the multi–million–dollar ring for far less than it was worth. He assumed it was because Jeffrey had given

you nothing?” Richard asked one last

done with the talk. She turned to leave, ready to cut Richard out of her life

understand why Richard, who had been good to her throughout her childhood, would abandon her

Chapter 28

things got tough–were all those happy memories just

snarled, grabbing Rebecca’s arm and staring hard at her stunning face, “then you’ll have to earn it yourself. Honestly, a face

her toward the next booth. The room was loud and thick

scoping out the bar, saw the whole thing. He quickly snapped

was gripping Rebecca’s arm, and the

walked over to the private room’s door, peering through the crack. “Want me to go in and get her? These guys are bad news. Your

darkened, his fingers tapping slowly on

didn’t say a word, but Stanley felt

me the guest list,” Jeffrey said,

“But what

flicked on by itself, and a cool,

‘Seriously? You could’ve just asked for a video

private room was rowdy and thick with smoke. As Richard dragged

toward a group of men. “Go make a

who’s this?” one of them asked, looking Rebecca up and

complete change from earlier.

an issue,” the man laughed, trading a meaningful look

erupting with a hatred so

“Drinking with these gentlemen is an honor. You think you’re still Jeffrey’s

sign that Jeffrey was one with her and had thrown her