After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 188

“Well, if you’re happy, don’t I deserve a little reward?” Jeffrey murmured, his voice low and teasing as he took

her hand.

Rebecca shot him a sideways glance. She knew he could see right through her and was just saying it to get a rise out of her.

“Fine. Here’s your reward: Go back to work and make your money,” Rebecca snapped. “And stay away from me until you’ve earned enough.”

But Jeffrey wasn’t angry. He was intrigued. This fiery Rebecca felt more real, more alive than ever. After that, neither of them spoke for the rest of the ride. Rebecca kept her eyes glued to the window, while Jeffrey never took his eyes off her.

*****

At the hospital, Jeffrey was the perfect son–in–law. He was polite and calm, asking Amelia about her health with just the right amount of concern.

But Amelia wasn’t buying it. She’d been around the block too many times to be taken in by an act. She knew a man like Jeffrey was far more dangerous than Ryan could ever be.

Once the small talk was done, Amelia cut right to the chase. “I hear you’re very close to another woman.”

Jeffrey didn’t even flinch. “You must mean Andrea.”

“I do,” Amelia said.

“Andrea saved my life when I was a kid. I owe her,” Jeffrey said, his voice steady and deliberate. “Everything I do for her is just to repay that debt. There’s nothing romantic between us.”

“But you hurt Rebecca because of her,” Amelia stated flatly.

While Amelia was in her coma, Rebecca had visited constantly, talking to her for hours. Amelia had heard every last word. She knew exactly what her daughter had been through.

“That was my fault, and I’m willing to apologize and make it right,” Jeffrey replied smoothly. “She wanted a divorce, and I was angry. I lost my head and did some things I regret.”

“And what about transferring the marital assets? About denying everything she contributed to the marriage?” Amelia stared him down. “That’s more than just losing your head.”

“I never touched our assets. That was just a threat to stop her from talking about divorce. You’re welcome to check the records if you doubt me,” Jeffrey stated calmly. “As for what I said about her… They were just words. I was angry.”

To Jeffrey, Rebecca was more than just the woman who gave him a family. She was the only light in his dark

world.

Jeffrey’s words brought Rebecca no comfort. It didn’t matter if he was telling the truth now. The damage was

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No explanation could fix what he’d broken inside

there.

girl to be happy. I didn’t spend my life protecting her just so you could make

was stunned. She never thought her mother

coming. “I understand where you’re coming from,” he said calmly. “But my marriage to Rebecca is important to me, and I don’t believe in quitting

stared at him. ‘He’s much smoother than Ryan,‘ she thought acidly. ‘He knows how to play the part, how to

compare two different kinds of garbage. My daughter isn’t going to settle for the shinier piece

Amelia stated plainly.

what’s between Rebecca and me is our business,” Jeffrey insisted. “And I will do what it takes

knew there was no point

then, May walked in and immediately picked up on the weird vibe in the room. Her eyes darted between them as she

“All done?” Amelia asked.

be standing here if it wasn’t?” May quipped, sliding

is

her voice sharp and clear. “I want you to transfer the money Jeffrey spent on my medical bills back to him. We

him then: Amelia despised him even

nothing. “Add in the interest, Rebecca,” she added. “So the next time you argue, he can’t throw it in your

“Okay,” Rebecca replied.

Rebecca’s mother,” Jeffrey said, his voice smooth as silk. “It was my

And he realized with cold certainty: If he couldn’t

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Chapter 188

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even made it sound like Rebecca, your own wife, had no legal right to her share of the assets in a

outsider, certainly know my place. No, thank you. I know better than to

over at Rebecca. “Sweetie, did

her phone

transfer limit when she set up Amelia’s new account, so

deposit notification. His jaw

there’s nothing else, I’ll let you go,” Amelia said coldly. “May, Rebecca, and I need

Take care,” Jeffrey

merely grunted in

stayed silent the entire time. “Rebecca,” he said, his voice dangerously soft. “Aren’t you going to