Chapter 200

Rebecca shrugged him off without saying a word and stormed upstairs.

As his words replayed in her mind, the knot of anxiety in her chest tightened.

What if he really goes off the deep end?‘ she wondered.

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As soon as that thought popped up, her mom and Jessica’s warnings flashed through her mind: ‘Jeffrey’s got his sights set on you. As long as you keep moving forward and don’t look back, let him lose it–he’ll snap out of it eventually

‘But will he really just let it slide?‘ Rebecca couldn’t help but doubt it.

Rebecca spent over an hour wrestling with her thoughts, caught in a tug–of–war between dread and hope–it felt like every minute was an eternity.

In all five years of their marriage, Jeffrey had never blown up at her. Lately, sure, his behavior had been completely out of line, but it hadn’t actually crossed into real anger. Rebecca honestly had no clue what he’d do if he ever truly lost it–or how she’d even deal with it if he did.

There was a knock at the door.

Jeffrey’s voice came from outside. “Samuel’s already inside the gate. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

Rebecca opened the door.

She didn’t even spare him a glance as she brushed past..

Jeffrey fell into step beside her, trying to smooth things over. “I was just worried you’d leave without saying anything. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Rebecca didn’t respond.

‘If I’d said goodbye, would you really have let me walk away?‘ Rebecca thought, a bitter edge in her heart.

“If you’re upset, just take it out on me,” Jeffrey said, gently taking her hand and sticking close by her side. “Don’t keep it all bottled up–it’s not good for you.”

Rebecca stopped in her tracks and said bluntly, “Aren’t you being hypocritical?”

Jeffrey blinked, surprised. “Huh?”

“If you actually cared about my well–being, you wouldn’t keep giving me reasons to get angry,” Rebecca retorted, obvious resentment in her voice. Honestly, she wished they could just end things peacefully–no more drama, no more fighting.

Jeffrey fired back, “What about you?”

Still pissed off, Rebecca snapped, “Me? What’s that supposed to mean?”

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“How much of what you said was true, and how much was just for show?” Jeffrey’s voice was low and serious. “You say you won’t leave–but is that really what you want?”

The air between them grew tense in an instant.

They stood facing each other, neither of them saying a word.

Until-

“Mommy!” Samuel’s bright, cheerful voice rang out as he came running in, his little legs moving as fast as they could. He threw his arms around Rebecca. “I missed you so much!”

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Rebecca’s mood instantly lightened. “I missed you too, sweetie. How have you been these past few days? Were you happy?”

Samuel’s eyes sparkled. “So much fun!”

Rebecca gave him a gentle hug.

Jeffrey’s eyes softened as he watched the scene. Just as he was about to suggest they go sit down and chat, his phone rang in his pocket. Andrea’s name flashed brightly on the screen.

Jeffrey’s gaze darkened.

‘Every single time she calls, it’s always at the perfect moment, Jeffrey thought, suspicion gnawing at him.

There was no way this was just a coincidence.

“I’ve got to take this,” Jeffrey said in a low voice to them.

When Rebecca saw Andrea calling, she didn’t say a word—just took Samuel upstairs. She kept fussing over him, asking if he was hungry or wanted a late–night snack, then started chatting with him about all the wild stuff he’d gotten up to at summer camp, trying to keep things light.

Halfway through their chat, Samuel gave her a totally serious look and asked, “Mommy, is Grandma feeling any better?”

“A lot better,” Rebecca said. “She can walk by herself slowly now. Give it a little more time, and she’ll pretty much be back to normal.”

“So when are we leaving?” Samuel just blurted out.

Rebecca froze for a second.

Her heart gave a little jolt. “You…”

Samuel glanced toward the door, saw his dad still hadn’t come up, and blurted out, “You and Dad didn’t get divorced, and Dad’s still talking to that lady. I bet you want to leave!”

All the tension Rebecca had been holding onto tonight suddenly melted away.

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Chapter 200

It was like an invisible force was giving her the strength to keep going.

2

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leave without me, were you?” Samuel asked, his

as she spoke “You grew up here, all your

to me,” Samuel piped

his little hand. “So, should I sneak

“No way, Mom! I’m the one running off with

about our plan. Once Grandma’s feeling much better, we’ll wait for the right moment and

“Yeah!” Samuel nodded seriously.

want to know why?” Rebecca was honestly surprised–things were going way smoother than she’d

tell Dad, he’ll definitely stop us. He really doesn’t want you to leave,” Samuel said, sounding all grown up for his age. “But this

don’t want you and Dad to

you’re not

the best

you, sweetie,” Rebecca whispered, hugging him close. His understanding

finished talking, Jeffrey headed upstairs. The way both of them looked at him made him pause;

their faces?‘ Jeffrey

you?” Samuel piped up, his eyes curious. He’d spotted the contact

out to mess up Samuel’s hair a little. “Hang tight and be

looked up at him and asked, “Can you

froze for a second, surprised

seriously, wanting Dad to leave Mom with a good impression before they left.

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Chapter 200

even closer,

a hard, thin line, his expression

long, heavy

Samuel. It’s a debt I owe her from way back, and

won’t be Dad to me anymore. You’ll just be Mr. Hanson–got it?” Samuel said, his voice firmer than ever,

end of the day, he was just a kid stuck in the middle of

played, they argued–but when it came down to really leaving, Samuel couldn’t help feeling a pang of sadness. After all, besides Mom, Dad was the one who cared about him most. If things weren’t this messed up, all he’d ever want was

Jeffrey said,

Rebecca, his gaze lingering for a

without another word, he turned

he got in the car, Jeffrey tapped out a message: [Having fun using Andrea to

Stephen: [?]

Stephen: [What’s going on?]

already picked out a fiancée for you.

eyes narrowed as

slowly across the screen,

his tone all business. “Stop using Andrea to mess with me and Rebecca. Keep it up, and don’t think I won’t play the same game

out between me and Rebecca, Andrea would

could’ve been a

again, there’s no way it’s

not pulling this off

Chapter 200

saying

his words replayed in her mind, the knot of

off the deep

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sights set on you. As long as you keep moving forward and don’t look back, let him lose it–he’ll snap out of it

just let it

an hour wrestling with her thoughts, caught in a tug–of–war between dread and hope–it felt

years of their marriage, Jeffrey had never blown up at her. Lately, sure, his behavior had been completely out of line, but it hadn’t actually crossed into real anger. Rebecca honestly had no clue what he’d do if he ever truly lost it–or how she’d even

knock at the

outside. “Samuel’s already inside the gate. He’ll be here in a

Rebecca opened the door.

him a glance as she brushed

beside her, trying to smooth things over. “I was just worried you’d leave without saying anything. I didn’t

Rebecca didn’t respond.

said goodbye, would you really have let me

hand and sticking close by her

her tracks and said bluntly, “Aren’t

Jeffrey blinked, surprised. “Huh?”

giving me reasons to get angry,” Rebecca retorted, obvious resentment in

back, “What about

pissed off, Rebecca snapped, “Me?

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Chapter 200

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of what you said was true, and how much was just for show?” Jeffrey’s voice was low and

air between them grew

other, neither of

Until-

legs moving as fast as they could. He threw his arms around Rebecca.

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lightened. “I missed you too, sweetie. How have you been

sparkled. “So much

gave him

Just as he was about to suggest they go sit down and chat,

Jeffrey’s gaze darkened.

time she calls, it’s always at the perfect moment, Jeffrey thought, suspicion gnawing at

this

to take this,” Jeffrey said

took Samuel upstairs. She kept fussing over him, asking if he was hungry or wanted a late–night snack, then started chatting with him about all the wild stuff he’d gotten

gave her a totally serious look and asked, “Mommy, is Grandma feeling

“She can walk by herself slowly now. Give it a little more time, and she’ll pretty much be back

when are we leaving?” Samuel

for

gave a little jolt.

saw his dad still hadn’t come up, and blurted out, “You and Dad didn’t get divorced, and Dad’s still talking to that lady. I bet you want to

had been holding

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Chapter 200

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