After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 29

“Didn’t expect you to have such a temper, Ms. Jensen,” one of the men in the booth remarked, sounding more amused than surprised. “No wonder Mr. Hanson took a liking to you.”

“Care to join us for a drink, Mrs. Hanson?” another added, deliberately emphasizing the title.

Richard’s eyes stayed fixed on Rebecca, completely ignoring her defiance. “I said go pour the drinks–now.”

Rebecca’s hand shook slightly as she gripped the broken bottle. Her feet crept slowly toward the door.

Everyone in the room caught her movement.

“Mr. Jensen, looks like you’re not serious about rebuilding your company,” one of the men said, setting his glass down with a sharp thud. His displeasure was clear. “In that case, I’ll pass on this toast.”

A sharp, merciless glint flicked in Richard’s eyes. ‘I’ve worked so hard to set up these connections. I’ll never let this defiant daughter mess this up.‘

When he’d first learned that Rebecca had married Jeffrey, he thought he could use that to save the company. But she’d told Jeffrey she had nothing to do with him, causing him to miss countless opportunities because of Jeffrey.

“This is your last warning,” Richard said, his eyes locked on the jagged bottle in her hand. “Or don’t blame me for a tough

dad.”

Rebecca didn’t even respond–the loving dad he used to be was long gone.

Since she wouldn’t back down, Richard didn’t wait. He lunged forward, trying to grab the bottle from her hand.

Rebecca swung wildly–the broken glass glinting under the dim light.

But Richard was desperate to win over the men in the room. Even if it meant getting cut, he had to take her down.

Suddenly, the jagged edge of the bottle sliced deep into Richard’s hand, drawing blood.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, he tightened his grip on the broken glass and wrestled it out of her grasp. His eyes turned cold as he slammed the bottle onto the floor, shattering it completely.

“Now go pour the drinks for the gentlemen,” he growled, his voice low and threatening.

—

“Don’t make me call the cops,” Rebecca shot back, her phone screen lit up with 911. “I’d be happy to escort everyone here to the police station.”

“Call them. What are they going to do? Arrest us for asking you to toast?” Richard scoffed, completely unimpressed. He’d been playing this game too long to be scared.

toasting’s not against the law, Rebecca said, smearing her lipstick and scanning the room. “But when the cops see me like this–bruised, hair a mess–you think they’ll buy this as

seethed,

13:25 Wed, 17 Sept

Chapter 29

security cameras definitely caught you dragging me from the other room,” Rebecca continued, her voice steady and her resolve clear. “Want to guess how

where everyone lost interest. No one

make sure your daughter knows how to behave before you bring her out,”

muttered.

can’t even control your daughter, maybe we should

help you, even after marrying your daughter. He must’ve seen right through

kept coming, each comment digging deeper into Richard’s pride. But he needed these

into her pocket and walked out. Only when she was

breathe.

once said, he’d shielded her so well she’d never truly experienced the ugly side of the world. So when Richard dragged her

she had pulled herself together. And she had realized one thing: now that she and Jeffrey were divorced, except for

full of people just waiting to kick her when she was down. The weight of that truth sat

buzzed. It was a message from Richard: [You’ll pay for

blocked him without a second thought. She didn’t know what that “price” would be–but whatever it was,

face it.

fuming, typing out threat after threat. But halfway through, it hit him: he had very little

background was too mysterious–if he actually touched her, who knew what her powerful connections

phone still in

Richard upstairs,” Jeffrey said, his

and then it hit him. “Wait–you’re

just releasing Stanley’s

13:25 Wed, 17 Sept

Chapter 29

46%

not some random errand boy!‘ Stanley grumbled silently. Still,

with a dark

a word out, Stanley flashed a tight smile.

upstairs, anxiety tightening his

sofa, legs crossed. His gaze was cold, unreadable, and filled with

instinctively. Fear–raw and immediate–washed

in casually and said to Jeffrey,

Hanson,” Richard stammered, his earlier bravado completely gone. The memory of Jeffrey’s past

lips curved slightly. “Mr. Jensen,