After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 103

Upstairs in the lounge, Jeffrey and Stephen sat face to face. Without looking back, Stephen ordered Bernard and bodyguards, “Leave us. I have something private to discuss with Jeffrey.”

Bernard responded, then left the room with the two bodyguards.

Stephen turned to Jeffrey and asked, “Will you ask your friend to leave? I assume you wouldn’t want him to hear what we’re about to discuss.”

Stanley just glanced sideways, quietly watching. It was obvious he was doing whatever Jeffrey wanted.

“No need,” Jeffrey replied calmly. “I don’t have anything to hide.”

Stephen chuckled softly, a smirk playing on his lips. “Let’s see if you can still say that later.”

Jeffrey was nothing like Stephen. Jeffrey didn’t give a damn if Stephen had dirt on him or if anyone figured out his weak spots. Without beating around the bush, Jeffrey asked, “What are you doing with Rebecca?”

“Just having a heart–to–heart,” Stephen replied, cool as ever.

“Really? You need all this drama just to talk?” Jeffrey eyed the whole elaborate setup. ‘There was no way Stephen bought that it was just some random chat,‘ he thought.

“Not for an ordinary heart–to–heart, no.” Stephen drawled, leisurely taking off his glasses. “But I was talking to her about your childhood. And I showed her a few photos, for good measure.”

Jeffrey’s whole vibe turned ice cold in an instant. Stephen slid his glasses back on, drawling out each word. “Oh? She didn’t mention anything to you?”

Stanley shot Jeffrey a worried look, heart twisting a little. The last thing Jeffrey ever wanted was to talk about his childhood.

That part of his life was locked away, buried deep where nobody could reach. Even Stanley had always known better than to go there.

Stephen bringing it up with Rebecca was like poking at a lion’s sore spot, messing with Jeffrey at his most vulnerable.

“She knows I hate talking about that stuff,” Jeffrey said, feeling much calmer thanks to Rebecca’s gentle instincts. “That kind of automatic care and real love… I’m guessing you’ve never experienced it, have you?”

Stephen’s eyes glinted for a split second behind his glasses, betraying a hint of something hard to read.

“You only ever care about power and your own interests,” Jeffrey said, not pulling any punches.

“Well, take a look at this,” Stephen said, pulling up a photo on his phone and sliding it across the table. “I showed her this one, too.”

came into view, his heart skipped

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Chapter 103

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to the past, to that sunny, energetic person who always wore a smile, as if he were still

a photo.”

affected Jeffrey. After that, even if their parents mentioned

block me, even tried to control Stanley. So what’s your real goal?” Jeffrey asked, his voice calm and collected, like he’d settled into unshakeable

detail. The air in the lounge grew

he was truly unfazed or just putting on a

eyes were colder than midnight, deep

tell Rebecca about his past. If he really wanted to, he could have said it anytime, anywhere, without making

Want to go check it out?” Stephen switched

stayed silent. He just looked at Stephen, his eyes steady

to talk, I’ll see myself out,” Stephen said, standing and pushing up his glasses. He walked out of the

in Stanley’s mind as he hesitated, words catching in

gut punch. Stanley honestly worried Jeffrey would get swallowed up by those old memories again.

you think Stephen’s endgame is?” Jeffrey asked, racking his brain for an answer,

up.

Honestly, he’d never seen Jeffrey so calm while dealing with a mess like this. Back in the day, Jeffrey would have totally

looking at me like

it vague, not wanting to dig too deep in case Jeffrey was just pretending to be okay. “Are you

“I’m fine,” Jeffrey replied.

had been before, he might have had some emotional reaction. But before coming up, he

Chapter 103

2:20 vouchers

and even showed her the photos, yet she didn’t

Rebecca still kept Jeffrey’s shattered pride and

Jeffrey’s back like that, there was no way Jeffrey had ever let someone else mess with his

asked, his voice soft and

his strikingly handsome face as

decided not to dig any further. As