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 run

Rebecca almost felt grateful she hadn’t

wedding ring to

face carefully, searching for any hint of a lie. But her eyes were steady and cold–dead

less than it was worth. He assumed it was because Jeffrey had given her so much that a few million meant nothing. He never imagined the truth

really gave you nothing?” Richard

Jeffrey yourself,” Rebecca said, done with the talk. She turned to leave, ready to

who had been good to her throughout her childhood, would abandon her

Chapter 28

mom the moment things got tough–were all those

Jeffrey didn’t give you anything,” Richard snarled, grabbing Rebecca’s arm and staring hard at her stunning face, “then you’ll have to earn it yourself. Honestly, a face like yours could be worth

already dragging her toward the next booth. The room was loud and thick with smoke,

snapped a photo, sent it to Jeffrey, and made the call.

hand was gripping Rebecca’s

go in

darkened, his fingers tapping slowly on the

but Stanley felt the cold anger through the

me the guest list,” Jeffrey said, his voice

“But what about

answer, his phone was hacked. The rear camera flicked on by itself, and a cool, detached voice came through. “Point the camera

could’ve just asked for

with smoke. As

a group of men. “Go make a toast

them asked, looking Rebecca up and down with a sleazy

daughter, Rebecca,” Richard said with a flattering smile–a complete change from earlier. “She’ll be drinking with

man laughed, trading a meaningful

so intense it was almost terrifying. She’d

across the face, his eyes cold and cruel. “Drinking with these gentlemen is an

her getting zero divorce settlement was just a sign that Jeffrey was one with her and had thrown her away -if he’d given a damn, he wouldn’t have left