After the divorce, he begged

“You guys head back,” Rebecca said, shoving all her feelings aside. Right now, her mind was focused only on the task she’d been assigned. “I’ll spend the night here at the office.”

Ella wanted to let her go back to rest, but Rebecca spoke before she did. “We’re here on behalf of PrimePlay Technologies. If we don’t finish what we were tasked with, it’s bound to look bad for the company.”

“But if you don’t rest, how will you manage work and classes tomorrow?” Ella asked, concern in her voice.

“I should be done by four or five,” Rebecca said, checking the time and making a rough calculation. “I’ll squeeze in a little sleep.”

Ella still wanted to say something, but Rebecca convinced her to leave. ‘No way I’m letting anyone else pay for my mistake,‘ Rebecca thought, determined to take full responsibility for what had happened.

Ten minutes later, Rebecca was left alone in the office. She shut off all the overhead lights, leaving just a single desk lamp casting a gentle glow on her workspace.

Maybe it was the sense of urgency, maybe it was her fear of damaging PrimePlay Technologies‘ reputation, but Rebecca finally locked away all her emotions and focused completely on her task.

At that moment, it hit her–the saying she’d seen somewhere was spot on: office workers barely got a second to feel sad.

At night, they sobbed their heart out, letting all their feelings flood out when they were finally alone. But when the morning came again, they’d wipe away the tears, slap on a smile, and drag themselves back to work like nothing ever happened.

For the next few hours, Rebecca buried herself in the assignment, set on proving she hadn’t snagged her spot at PrimePlay Technologies because of Jeffrey, but because she was truly capable.

Rebecca wanted to let him know that she could support herself, pay her own way, and live independently. She had what it took to get by.

For every hour Rebecca kept working, Jeffrey remained upstairs, waiting for her just as long. In the entire building, only the glow from their separate offices cut through the darkness.

At 4:40 in the morning, Rebecca finally wrapped up her assignment. She saved her work, shut the computer down, grabbed her phone and bag, and set her alarm for 8 a.m.

Then she found a couch in the break room, curled up, and tried to get some sleep.

Worn out from the stress and overwork, Rebecca was out in no time, her breathing soon slow and steady. The room settled into quiet, until the door quietly opened.

Jeffrey stepped inside. He had on a white button–down, but his features was tinged with exhaustion. Feeling the stuffy heat in the break room, Jeffrey turned on the air conditioner, setting it to just the right temperature.

Then he gently laid his suit jacket over her, so she wouldn’t get cold while she slept.

After settling everything, he took a seat beside her, his gaze drinking in every delicate feature of her sleeping face. He couldn’t figure out why she had to be so stubborn.

pull all–nighters anymore. She could spend

can’t you just make things a little easier for yourself?” Jeffrey murmured, his chest heavy with emotion. “You insist on taking on all this suffering, when you don’t even

was dead to the world, oblivious to his arrival and everything he

first. He used her finger to unlock

he quietly switched off the air conditioner, gently lifted his suit jacket over her, and slipped out of the break room at

off. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up on the couch, still

about to head off to freshen up, she suddenly

associated with Jeffrey. Before she could dwell on it, her phone rang. It was Ella. “Where are you? I brought you

Rebecca replied, quickly straightening her clothes before heading

bag of breakfast. Rebecca thanked her, feeling

you and Mr. Hanson pull an all–nighter

She took a sip of her milk and

light. “I saw Mr. Hanson leaving when I came in. He was carrying his jacket. His

hovered mid–air, and all she could think about was that familiar scent that had lingered when she woke up. ‘Wait, did he stay

“What’s wrong?” Ella asked.

couldn’t help feeling a little unsettled. “I didn’t see him at all, neither when

think Jeffrey was such a contradiction. Outwardly, he was harsh

me, why can’t he just let me go?‘ Rebecca thought. ‘Why won’t he let me live the life I want, free

and moving on to what really mattered to her. “Did you

Chapter 153

assignment?”

“Yes,” Rebecca said simply.

55 vouchers

brief exchange, they both dug into their breakfast. When they were done, Rebecca hit the bathroom to

most of the night. Now her head was heavy and she

out of it.

as Rebecca, but he could basically force himself to keep

later this afternoon? Maybe get a bit more sleep?” Gregory asked softly, knowing full well Jeffrey had been

looked as straight–faced and sharp as he always did. “I’ve got stuff going on this

there was no changing his mind, so he

busy with his duties at the company. Both of them were exhausted, but neither