After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 71

Chapter 71

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Rebecca never imagined Samuel could make such a remark. She wondered if her frequent contact with Ian mistakenly led Samuel to think she wanted a relationship.

Fortunately, everyone just treated it as a joke and didn’t take it seriously. After some casual banter, the matter was quickly dropped.

Ian then turned the conversation to Jessica’s situation, asking curiously, “Since when did Andrea become your sister?”

“She’s my father’s secret love child,” Jessica replied nonchalantly. “We just acknowledged her existence last week.”

Ian exclaimed, “This sounds like something straight out of a soap opera.”

Jessica took a sip of her drink. Before Andrea suddenly appeared at her doorstep, she’d never imagined such dramatic twists–a half–sister stealing her best friend’s man and bringing him to her home.

“Do you know about this, Becky?” Ian asked, noticing Rebecca scrolling through her phone.

Rebecca looked up. “What?”

Ian immediately sensed her distraction. “What’s wrong? You look…” he drew out the suspense, “oddly preoccupied.”

“Nothing important.” Rebecca set down her phone, rejoining the conversation. “I knew about Jessica’s situation from day one. It’s definitely soap opera material.”

Jessica stared at her from across the table. “You’re acting strangely.”

Ian said, “Exactly.”

Jessica spread her hand and demanded, “Hand over your phone.”

and

mercilessly. “Why repeat everything I say? If your brain’s just for show, I’ll donate it for

to Rebecca, “she’s always yelling

“Even if I beat you to death, she’d be the

bickering. She

not for outsiders to pick up our child.] The “outsider” referred to

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Chapter 71

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sister to her. She thought, ‘If Jessica counted as an outsider, what did that

after their extended banter. “Weren’t we discussing how

Jeffrey texting you just

having a two–day team–building event in the northern district next Monday and Tuesday.” The round trip would take four to five hours, an

immediately offered, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care

her lips together, instinct warning her that telling Jessica

a few

understood the legal reality. Until the divorce

worried questions she’d avoided during dinner. Now

worry,” Rebecca reassured her. “I’ve got this

Andrea worked as Jeffrey’s secretary at PrimePlay Technologies, and that Andrea would likely accompany him at the team–building event.

prepared to work on freelance illustrations, Jeffrey’s message flashed: [I’ll pick up Samuel

supposed to meet on

Jeffrey: [Tomorrow’s Children’s Day.]

original plan involved finishing morning dance lessons, decorating their home, baking

Jeffrey seemed determined to fulfill his birthday promise about taking Samuel to the amusement

leave for his martial arts class. What about your

swallowed the words. Knowing Jeffrey’s recent attitude, she realized arguments would only

of maternal neglect, leveraging it in future

contacted Lucas. She carefully explained

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