After the divorce, he begged

“Let him target me all he wants,” lan sneered, He had never been scared of anyone. “Don’t overthink it–just keep living your life like normal.”

“lan,” Rebecca frowned, worried he was being reckless.

“You think I came back just for me?” lan kept his eyes on the road, one hand resting lightly on the wheel. “I’m under strict orders from Jessica. If I left you to handle this alone, she’d come at me with a kitchen knife.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Rebecca said seriously. “I’ll make her understand.”

“No need,” lan cut in smoothly. “It’s already decided. Whatever Jeffrey tries, just remember–Jessica and I are always with

you.”

Rebecca opened her mouth to argue.

But lan wasn’t done. “If you say no, that means you don’t see us as real friends. And if we’re not friends, I might just have to teach Jeffrey a lesson.”

Rebecca looked puzzled. “If we’re not friends, why would you?”

“Because he’s the reason you push us away,” lan said, as if it were the most logical thing in the world. “So obviously, it’s all

his fault.”

Rebecca finally smiled softly. She knew there was no changing their minds–not lan’s, and certainly not Jessica’s. She felt a deep warmth having friends like them, but couldn’t shake the guilt of possibly dragging them into her mess.

“I know what you’re worried about. Worst case, Jeffrey tries to ruin my company or drag my dad into this mess. But I’ve taken precautions. Don’t stress over it,” lan said. He had already thought everything through.

“Thank you,” Rebecca said softly. She knew there was no changing his mind.

lan shot her a look. “You know if Jessica hears you being this formal, she’ll lecture you for an hour, right?”

A faint smile touched Rebecca’s lips. She finally let go of the urge to argue, She figured maybe if she kept a low profile and didn’t draw attention, Jeffrey wouldn’t go too far against them.

About half an hour later, lan pulled up in front of Rebecca’s apartment building. He frowned slightly as he looked up at the modest complex. “You live here?”

“Yep.” Rebecca nodded.

“Why not stay at one of Jessica’s places? She’s got plenty of empty properties,” lan couldn’t help asking. He remembered Rebecca had never lived somewhere so ordinary before.

“It’s comfortable here,” Rebecca replied and offered a practical reason. “It’s close to Samuel’s school. Makes drop–offs and pickups easier.”

his mouth to say more, then

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Chapter 35

now,” Rebecca said,

until she was inside

but furious voice–he’d clearly woken her up. “Are you out of your mind? Do

in about Becky,” lan

when I’m actually awake.” She hung up without

started looking for a hotel nearby,

faltered. After letting it ring for about ten seconds, he

moment later, lan drove off, a slight frown on his

car parked not far away, Jeffrey

the previous call and what he’d just seen, Stanley pieced things together. He asked, “You called Henry

but his cold face

wonder he wasn’t worried after the proposal stunt failed,‘ Stanley thought.

in Jelasburg knew lan and his father Henry didn’t get along. Every time

lan out of the family business in a fit of rage, and lan had built his

scratch.

close eye on lan these next few days,” Jeffrey instructed Gregory

he does.”

“Okay,” Gregory replied.

about five minutes, Jeffrey

but she was sure both she and lan were being watched by him–at

today.

apartment, she set up her computer and tablet on the living room table near the balcony and took on a digital art

character art was easy. She’d even won major game art contests against thousands of competitors back in the day. Back then,

A typical full–body commission could

Wed, 17

Chapter 35

several thousand dollars. This one paid a thousand–low requirements, quick turnaround. Too bad gigs like this didn’t come every

in sketching. Four hours flew by in a focused

only when her alarm went off–time to pick up Samuel–that she finally paused, rubbing her stiff neck before heading

at her computer and picked up her stylus. Just as she began refining her