After the divorce, he begged

“Are you sure you want to call me that?” Jeffrey asked. He wasn’t mad at all. He stayed as cool and unconcerned as if nothing could ever stir him.

“I’m absolutely sure,” Samuel replied.

Jeffrey gave him a little flick on the forehead. “Okay.”

He thought, ‘You’re being this polite because you’ll probably need my help again someday, right? If we were too close, you’d hesitate to ask.’

Samuel found his reaction strangely out of character.

“Make sure to tell your mom not to get that wound wet,” Jeffrey reminded as he glanced at Rebecca’s injured ankle before leaving. “Otherwise, it will get worse.”

Samuel didn’t say anything. After Jeffrey left, he pulled Rebecca toward the door. His voice was quiet, yet just loud enough for Jeffrey to catch. “Mom, we need to change the lock code.”

“Okay,” Rebecca replied.

Jeffrey stood by the elevator, watching them busy themselves with the lock. Without a word, he stepped inside. To him, this kind of digital lock was easier to crack than a regular one–just a few lines of code, and it would fall apart.

Rebecca had no idea. She racked her brain to come up with a code that was both memorable and difficult for anyone else to guess.

“Mom,” Samuel said softly after closing the door, his voice tinged with guilt.

“What?” Rebecca responded.

“I’m sorry,” Samuel said, honestly feeling guilty. “I knew you didn’t want to see Dad, but I gave him the code anyway and let him in. If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have had to deal with him.”

“I know you did it because you were worried about me,” Rebecca said softly, rubbing his head. “That means a lot, so you don’t need to say sorry.”

“Mom, I love you,” Samuel said as he hugged her tightly.

Rebecca’s heart softened. She asked Samuel how he had been during the past few days at Jeffrey’s place.

Samuel gave the same answer as before. He said he was doing fine, just that he really missed her.

Rebecca knew Jeffrey loved Samuel deeply, and she knew that as long as his parents stayed away, Samuel would be treated with care in his home, but she still didn’t dare let Samuel stay with him.

She had already made up her mind to stay single forever, just so she could put all her energy into taking care

of Samuel.

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rest of his

chatting for a while, Rebecca reminded Samuel that it was time

Samuel off at school as usual before rushing back to the office. She had barely sat down when

Rebecca, did you

you sleep well

fell, I was really

dazed. Setting down her bag, she gave

last night was Mr. Hanson,

I saw

on

closest one to you. Why did he

they had all believed what Rebecca had told them, but none of them had expected something even juicier

own life to protect her, while Jeffrey held her hand. She suddenly became the

Mr. Hanson holding Rebecca’s hand, but none of you paid attention to how hard he was gripping it,” Ella said as

clear memory of it. What stood out most in

those movie scenes, where the guy dragged the

were on stage at the time just how angry Mr. Hanson was when he grabbed Rebecca,” Ella said, shielding Rebecca

her words, everyone fell silent. Gossip thrived in groups, but once someone interrupted, the buzz

here?” Derek showed up out

just talking with Rebecca about what happened last night.” Lisa knew Derek was curious

12:59 Wed, Sep 24

Chapter 109

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something, and then we could learn more from him. Since he had already raised the question, Ella

look of faint displeasure. To her,

as he walked over, his tone a

sparkled

no one is allowed to gossip about what happened at

turned to Rebecca at once. They wondered if it was really that serious or if things were being blown