After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 197

Jeffrey’s eyes bore into her, dark and intense.

Rebecca met his stare, unwavering, calm in her eyes.

The air between them grew heavy with tension.

Neither spoke; the silence stretched longer.

After what felt like forever, Jeffrey finally spoke up. He reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his face calm as always. “I’ll do my best to win your mom over.”

Rebecca gave a half–hearted, “Mm.”

Jeffrey’s fingers slid from her ear to her cheek. “I’m heading out. Make sure to rest up while you’re at the hospital.”

Rebecca replied, “Mm.”

Jeffrey added, “Call me if you need anything.”

Rebecca answered in a dull monotone, “Okay.”

“So cold?” Jeffrey said, lightly pinching her cheek, his tone still doting. “I just got chewed out by your mom. Aren’t you even going to comfort me a little?”

Rebecca replied without a hint of warmth, “I wouldn’t know how.” “When I don’t love someone, I can’t hide it. “Just go home and rest up.”

Jeffrey’s expression didn’t change. “Fine. Whatever you say, Becky.”

Rebecca couldn’t even be bothered to respond.

Jeffrey knew she really didn’t want to talk to him, so he let it go. “Go on, get going.”

“Okay.” Rebecca didn’t hesitate; she just turned and walked away.

Jeffrey watched as Rebecca walked farther and farther away, never once looking back, until she slipped completely out of sight. For a brief moment, emotion churned in his usually calm, dark eyes–then it all faded, replaced by a cold indifference.

The driver quickly got out and opened the car door for him.

Jeffrey slid into the seat, face unreadable. He hadn’t even sat upright before he noticed there was someone already in the car with him.

“Hey,” Stanley said, forcing a smile.

Jeffrey furrowed his brow. “Why are you here?”

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Chapter 197

ชร

Stanley replied offhandedly. “Heard your wife’s real dad is the Chairman of Guzman Group, so I came over to nose around a bit. Who would’ve thought I’d land right in the middle of such an awkward situation?”

If I’d known things would get this awkward, I would’ve waited for the car to start moving before showing my face.

Jeffrey pressed his lips together, his gaze growing chilly.

The driver asked, “Mr. Hanson, do you want to go to the office or back to Becky’s place?”

Jeffrey replied, “The office.”

already past five,” Stanley said, glancing toward the dashboard clock. “You’ll probably get there just in time to watch

Jeffrey didn’t respond.

a few extra hours now, how am I supposed to play along with her runaway drama? And how

dad?” Stanley asked, not bothered by Jeffrey’s silence,

“Yeah,” Jeffrey answered, offhandedly.

told Gregory to

I actually took that money, I’d have

to be hard to keep her by your side now,

has got nothing to do with

go of friends like Jessica and Ian, even if she reconnects with Ryan, she’ll

to say

just admit he was wrong, say sorry, and let Rebecca go–but

as he put his phone away after Gregory responded, his tone calm and measured. “If she wants

Stanley stared, totally baffled.

had frozen over. “Seriously? You

unfazed. “If she wants out, it’s not like I can stop

11:02 Thu, Oct 2

Chapter 197

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twice as anxious, twice as regretful when something

Stanley fell silent.

I was stupid to expect anything else from him,‘ Stanley

if she doesn’t regret it?” Stanley

a handful of people. If regret wasn’t in her nature, she wouldn’t have turned her back on Jessica and the others–all because

him with a serious look.

stared,

couldn’t help speaking up for Rebecca. “Rebecca’s never owed you anything. You keep putting her

she’s dying, she’s not leaving me,” Jeffrey

Jeffrey, thinking this dude was

incident, Jeffrey’s just

polite on the outside, but deep down, he’s like a ticking time bomb–cross the wrong line and he could

that old fire and energy in Jeffrey again. Back then, he and Riley seriously

looking at things

he’s moved on at all—if anything, he’s even

rather blunt question, “What if she doesn’t care at all whether you’ll go after Jessica

I haven’t taken things far enough,” Jeffrey replied, his voice just as flat as ever. “Push anything to the extreme, and

to him, hoping he

the driver,

caught off

him, icy and

of road. “You kidding me? Out here–where

11:02 Thu, Oct 2

Chapter 197

to go?”

deadpan, replied,

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man,” Stanley muttered, getting out and grumbling to himself. “The day someone finally beats