After the divorce, he begged

Jeffrey said, “I will, as long as it’s legal.”

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Andrea didn’t bother pretending to be naïve in front of him anymore, knowing he could see right through her no matter what. She said, “I want shares in the Scott Group–a bigger stake than Jessica.”

Jeffrey looked up.

The atmosphere in the hospital room instantly grew heavy.

Meanwhile, back at Rebecca’s, once Samuel was asleep, she returned to her sketches, watching her balance creep up–small gains, big relief. Near 1 a.m., Rebecca’s phone buzzed–it was the group chat she had with Jessica and lan.

Jessica texted: [Heard Andrea ended up in the hospital yesterday. True or not? Wait, actually, it was the day before yesterday. It’s already past midnight.]

lan replied: [It’s for real.]

After that, Ian sent a voice message that lasted over ten seconds, telling Jessica about everything—from Andrea’s car accident to Jeffrey sticking with Samuel and Rebecca through it all.

Jessica texted: [Serves her right. She can’t be stirring anything up these last few days. So your waiting period ends on the 12th, and you and Jeffrey are getting your divorce certificate on the 13th, right, Rebecca?]

When Rebecca picked up her phone, that message was right at the top. She glanced at the calendar and typed back: [Yeah, seems like it.]

It had been a little over twenty days since Rebecca and Jeffrey applied for divorce. Rebecca had worried she wouldn’t be able to handle life without him, but now, while her heart hadn’t fully adjusted, she’d mostly gotten used to it.

She could look after herself and Samuel. She could pay for her mom’s medical expenses. She realized she didn’t need Jeffrey anymore.

Jessica texted: [Oh, almost forgot–you know how I went out to the bar yesterday? Ran into your dad there. He wants you to see him on Wednesday, says it’s super important and something to do with your mom.]

Rebecca paused.

Another voice message from Jessica arrived. She said, “Honestly, I’ve got a feeling he’s up to no good, so I didn’t tell you right away.”

Rebecca typed back: [Just ignore him.]

Richard might really know something about Amelia, but after getting played once, there was no way Rebecca would fall for it again. For all she knew, Richard just wanted to drag her along for drinks–or something even more disgusting.

Besides, after what May had said last time, Rebecca was even more convinced that Amelia had been keeping

14:54 Mon, Sep 22

Chapter 83

her on

you still up so

replied: [I’m basically a wage

:

༡༣ $1

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run a company with me back then, you wouldn’t

rested her head on her hand, lost

together–Amelia was the one calling the shots for most of

had stepped away completely and never let her get involved or learn the ropes. When the Jensen Group went bankrupt,

so she wanted to keep me away from

to say Rebecca was not curious, especially after what that mystery man and May said. But she knew Amelia couldn’t give her any answers right now. There was

them kept the group chat alive for a few more minutes until Rebecca dropped a quick “back to the grind–OT calls”

knew she wouldn’t go for it. So instead, they told her, “Just let us know

rolled around

at school, the company car pulled up and whisked the

as the morning went on, everyone shook off their sleepiness. Soon

from the seat next to Rebecca and

her

said your family used to be loaded. Is that

“Not

she said your family went bankrupt before?”

own idea of what ‘bankrupt‘

their savings for some

14:54 Mon, Sep 22

Chapter 83

…

51

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it–Rebecca clearly didn’t want to talk about it any further. But the more Rebecca kept quiet, the more curious Lisa got. She

gossiping about, and honestly, she couldn’t have cared less. Right now, all she wanted was to figure out what this team–building trip actually meant–whether it was about team spirit or

know if joining the activities was mandatory or if she could simply chill on her

pulled up to the lake–house villa, Rebecca had her answer: the schedule read “free time-

there was a bunch of stuff to do–billiards, poker, karaoke, swimming, Werewolf, and a huge pool

any of it. She was wiped out, and all she wanted