After the divorce, he begged

Riley lounged on the sofa. “I know you don’t listen, so I won’t bother persuading you. But think about it. If Rebecca and Samuel walk away over all this and never return, won’t you regret it?”

Jeffrey poured himself a drink in silence. His life was already littered with regrets; the one that hurt him most had happened long ago when he was still young-

“I’m heading out,” Riley said, tapping her glass against theirs. “Been back this long and still haven’t seen my mentor. She finished her drink and left without a word.

Stanley shot her desperate glances, trying to get her to stay, but Riley didn’t even give him a look as she strode out, totally unfazed and cool as ever.

“Riley makes sense. Stanley ventured, his voice awkward. He knew better than to push this issue too much. “Nobody wants to see you like this, not even him.”

Jeffrey gave Stanley a cold stare, and Stanley instantly shut his mouth, not daring to say another word.

Jeffrey stared at his phone, still black and lifeless. “Try calling her again. Tell her I’ve blacked out.”

Stanley clicked right away. “Got it.”

Jeffrey added. “Get Barry to back you up and play along.”

Stanley nodded. “No problem.”

Just to be sure, Jeffrey pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to the driver who’d been escorting

Rebecca

Rebecca had just arrived at Rebecca’s Manor and was still in the car when her phone rang.

“Would you mind coming to pick up Jeffrey!” Stanley said through the phone, his tone carrying a hint of difficulty. “He refuses to leave with Barry. He keeps saying he wants you there.”

In the background, Barry’s muffled voice could be heard. “Ms. Jensen is busy at the moment. Please come

with me.”

Stanley hesitated, “Do you think you could come over for a bit?”

Once Rebecca made up her mind, there was no changing it. She refused directly. “No.”

“I wouldn’t call if I had a choice, Stanley said, searching for words. “You know Jeffrey isn’t the type to drink without reason. If he’s like this, something’s really hurting him.”

just waited for Stanley to

his luck. “Just this once, alright? Next time he wants

Sep 29

Chapter 171

come with me? Barry chined in, playing his part

casually. Keep an eye on him and make

“Ti

their conversation and immediately called them out. Jeffrey’s

Barry instinctively looked at Jeffrey, who stayed silent. They knew deep down Rebecca was most likely telling the

he’s that drunk, just leave him there, Rebecca snapped, still pissed, “He’ll come back once he sobers up. You don’t

each other, knowing that Rebecca really didn’t

hung up without a second thought and stepped out of

that even a single stray

your belongings from Maple Garden. Mr. Hanson had us sort and bring

and couldn’t help thinking. “Talk about impatient. They’d planned to handle this together, but Jeffrey had already rushed ahead and had

said. She didn’t have much stuff there anyway, and kept her important documents with her most of the time. As she scanned the boxes, something important suddenly

had that brake failure, Rebecca had stayed over at Rebecca’s Manor. Worried he’d discover it, she’d tucked her mom’s property transfer paperwork under the pillow. She

her heart racing. The maid, Mary Shaw, had changed those sheets several times already. Rebecca guessed that the paperwork might have gotten

papers. “Ms. Jensen, I found these under the pillow while cleaning. Mr. Hanson left them there for days. I wasn’t sure if

property transfer. “I left it here before,” she said, honest

pillow, and since Mary always put things back when changing the sheets, no one had

then, Mary

the paperwork away.

10:33 Mon, Sep 29

Chapter 171

calling Rebecca Mrs

Himon‘

herself

in address

and then said, “I probably shouldn’t meddle, but we all see how much you and Mr. Hanson mean to each other. We

just nodded.

quickly finished swapping out the sheets, hugged the old bedding

suitcase. She was about to find something to do, but realized