After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 211

Chapter 212

It was the hottest August of the year.

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Rebecca wished she could go back in time and ask him, ‘Wasn’t the rooftop burning up in August? Why didn’t you wait for us?‘

‘Even just five more minutes would’ve been enough, she thought.

“After that happened, Jeffrey stopped smiling so much, and he wasn’t nearly as arrogant anymore,” Riley said, a wave of nostalgia washing over her as she remembered those happy days with the four of them. “He used to be so into himself, always getting into it with Stanley over who looked better.”

Rebecca felt her chest tighten even more.

They were just sixteen or seventeen, right in the middle of their teenage years.

For most people, that’s the time they remember most vividly in their whole lives.

Going through something like that at that age, it was the kind of thing you could never really forget or get

over.

“Back then, Stanley and I were both afraid he’d be messed up for good after what happened,” Riley said. “He barely spoke or smiled anymore, and the way he handled things got colder and more ruthless every time.

Things didn’t start to change until we saw him with you.

He finally started to warm up again, and that’s when we felt safe to go and focus on our own lives.”

Rebecca remembered her first real encounter with Jeffrey was at a big banquet.

Her parents were off handling business, and she’d tucked herself away in a quiet corner–only to have a well- connected guy start pestering her. Jeffrey stepped in and got her out of trouble.

Back then, just like Riley had said, he hardly ever cracked a smile and gave off this icy, distant vibe. Rebecca always figured he’d be hard to deal with–not someone you wanted to cross–so she instinctively steered clear of him.

From then on,

they kept running into each other–always crossing paths again and again.

And later, when they finally got married, Jeffrey told her he’d made sure those “coincidences” happened on

purpose.

“Rebecca,” Riley called, pulling her back from her wandering thoughts.

Rebecca blinked, coming back to herself.

Riley’s eyes softened with warmth. “Thank you for dragging that guy back–he’s as stubborn as an ox. We

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Chapter 212

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have done

the more it felt like he was even more messed up now. ‘I honestly don’t think he’s any better off than

not too bad,” Riley replied, sounding practical

just stared at

then, nobody could get through to

even care?‘ Rebecca couldn’t help

she doubted it. It never really felt like he

did just

Riley said, picking up on Rebecca’s shift in mood but choosing this moment to bring it up

hesitated. “What

off, and he goes straight for self–harm…

spoke, Rebecca couldn’t help but start guessing what she was

just going in circles,‘ Rebecca wondered to

she still hoping I’ll go back to him and help him finally let go of all

him walk all over you, don’t cave to his threats or demands,” Riley said, her tone firm. “Let him taste a

for a

what I thought she’d ask,‘ Rebecca thought, feeling kind of

her. “Well? What do you

felt a wave of shame rush over her. “I’m

and yet I doubted her

Riley blinked, confused. “Huh?”

is she refusing?‘ Riley wondered, momentarily

him…” Rebecca said, feeling a kind of guilt she’d never felt for

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Chapter 212

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unfazed. She knew what she’d just said could easily be taken that way. “If he was just a kid, maybe I’d want you to help him out. But he’s a grown man–and honestly, he’s more complex

Riley

had only ever been Jeffrey’s friend to her. But right then, Rebecca found herself

Rebecca thought, the feeling hitting

I said,”

silent for a moment

time their conversation wrapped up, it was lunchtime. Amelia texted that she wouldn’t be coming back, so Rebecca just ordered lunch for herself,

as they finished eating, Rebecca’s phone buzzed with a message from Gregory, Mr. Hanson’s assistant: [Ms.

filled Riley in

himself–the worst he’d do is make himself suffer, but never all the way,” Riley said, sounding completely unbothered. “His goal is just to get you back. Even when he acts crazy, he never pushes himself all

he always this

to lose his cool on other people,”

and Marcus’s complicated relationship, but stopped herself –she knew the more details she dug up, the harder it would be to keep her

stay strong

over at

gown. Still, the first thing

a little too tight. “She’s probably just caught

quietly, keeping his mouth

sarcasm in the room was thick as

up

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Chapter 212

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