After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 40

“What do you want?” Rebecca’s heart suddenly tightened as she spun around, giving Jeffrey a wary look.

Jeffrey met her eyes, calm as ever. “Relax, I’m not here for anything. Just wanted a casual chat.”

Rebecca’s hand slowly clenched tighter, her nails digging into her palm and reopening the old wound, it hurt, but she was numb to the pain..

“She started talking nonsense in front of me. That’s why I snapped,” Rebecca said, forcing her emotions down. She really didn’t want him stirring up chaos in her work and life.

Jeffrey drawled, “Back when I had your back, did you ever see me waste time reasoning with people?”

His words instantly shot down all the excuses Rebecca had prepared. She stood in the harsh glow of the streetlight while darkness loomed behind her, just like the uncertainty waiting in her future.

“If you think she’s the victim, go ahead. Make me pay her back, just like what you did at the hospital,” she said, clutching her bleeding hand tighter, desperately searching for one last shred of dignity to hold onto.

But this was Jeffrey; he was ruthless even to himself, let alone others. If he was pissed off, everyone else had to suffer with

him.

“If you want payback, knock yourself out,” Jeffrey said, stepping closer, his obsidian eyes fixed on her face. “But you still need to apologize.”

Rebecca felt her heart shatter. “Does it really have to be this way?”

“The choice is yours,” Jeffrey said, already thinking, ‘If she just plays cute and says she doesn’t want to apologize, I’ll let it

go.‘

But Rebecca wasn’t about to let him have his way. She steadied herself and forced a compromise for the sake of survival. “If I apologize to Andrea, will you promise not to tell my dad where I live, and stay out of my final interview?”

Even though PrimePlay Technologies had nothing to do with Jeffrey, if he got involved, they might still turn her down just to avoid getting on his bad side. Nobody wanted to offend someone that powerful over something trivial.

“Yes,” Jeffrey replied, his eyes clouded over with darkness.

“Alright,” Rebecca agreed, conceding for her own peace. “I’ll apologize to Andrea tomorrow. I just hope you’ll keep your

word.”

Jeffrey’s eyes turned icy. He thought, ‘She’d rather swallow her pride and apologize than show any softness. Not trying to be kind, she knows exactly how to get under my skin.‘

“Anything else?” Rebecca asked, her voice unusually calm. “If not, I’ll take Samuel home.”

could respond, a cheerful voice suddenly rang

over to Rebecca with a bright smile, his whole body buzzing with

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Chapter 40

was surprised. “What are

30%

asked me to come pick you up,” lan said, glancing at Samuel and completely ignoring Jeffrey. “He said it’s not safe for you

on his short legs.

a second, not expecting

spotted the blood trickling from her side and couldn’t help

they’d had dinner, and Rebecca had said it happened

off the blood without much care. “Guess I bent my palm too much and popped

vivid red smeared across her palm, and his fingers instinctively tightened.

puffing gently on her hand, his big eyes filled with worry and

head a gentle rub. “Really, sweetie, it’s nothing.

cut’s huge!” lan said, giving her a look. “Who was it

only pause, momentarily

deepened, and the air around

glanced over at Jeffrey and asked,

hand?”

lingering on Rebecca for a long moment before finally shifting to Samuel. He added, “Come here, son. Daddy has a

still walked over. Once they’d gotten some distance, he stared up at

him, doing his best to sound

Samuel played dumb. “Huh?”

answer me,” Jeffrey

can,” Samuel replied, super serious, even though his voice was still small and sweet. “lan’s pretty cool. I don’t mind if he becomes

trying to get a rise out of him,

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Chapter 40

nerve.

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Samuel went on, doubling down with a serious look. “But you better

you?” Jeffrey grumbled, giving his chubby cheeks

but clever for his age, shot

to reason with Samuel. “When did

his childish voice full of certainty. “Mommy was smiling before she saw you, but after you two talked, the light in