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 it

time with the knife. The more she thought about it, the more it felt like he was even more messed up now. ‘I honestly don’t think he’s any better off

Riley replied, sounding practical as always.

at Riley, not

“Back then, nobody could get through to him. But now,

he even care?‘ Rebecca couldn’t help

it. It never really

lot of the things he did just seemed… selfish–almost like he was only

picking up on Rebecca’s

hesitated. “What is

seen how he is these days–just the smallest thing sets him off, and he goes straight for self–harm… Riley’s voice was

couldn’t help but start guessing

going in circles,‘ Rebecca wondered to

still hoping I’ll go back to him and help him finally

to stick to what you did today. Don’t let him walk all over you, don’t cave to his threats or demands,” Riley said, her tone firm. “Let him taste a bit

for a

isn’t anything like what I thought

“Well? What

felt a wave of shame rush over her.

yet I doubted her for

Riley blinked, confused. “Huh?”

she refusing?‘ Riley

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

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Chapter 212

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deserve that?” Riley replied, totally 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 than anyone I’ve ever

Riley in a whole

to her. But right then, Rebecca found

person, Rebecca thought, the

do as I said,” Riley told

silent for a moment

wrapped up, it was lunchtime. Amelia texted that she wouldn’t be coming back, so Rebecca just ordered

phone buzzed with a message from Gregory, Mr. Hanson’s assistant: [Ms. Jensen,

filled Riley in on

go through with killing 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

he always this

he used to lose his cool on other people,” Riley recalled, her voice steady. “Especially

Marcus’s complicated relationship, but stopped herself –she knew the more details she

strong and not let her

over at

back from surgery looking pretty pale in his hospital gown. Still, the first thing he did was ask, “Has

Gregory said, gripping his phone a little too tight. “She’s

quietly, keeping

sarcasm in the room was thick as

look–even laid up and hurt, he

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Chapter 212

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