After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 212

It was the hottest August of the year.

479

55 vouchers

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

10:46 Fri, Oct 3

Chapter 212

875

65 vouchers

have done

it, the more it felt like he was

he’s not too bad,” Riley replied, sounding practical as

just stared at Riley, not getting

nobody could get through to him. But now, he actually listens to

he even care?‘ Rebecca couldn’t

It never really felt like he

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

Rebecca’s shift in mood but choosing this moment

hesitated. “What is

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

Riley spoke, Rebecca couldn’t help but start guessing

thoughts are just going in circles,‘ Rebecca wondered to

him and

him walk all over you, don’t cave

for a

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

glanced at her. “Well? What do you

shame rush over her.

doubted her for no reason,‘ Rebecca thought, feeling even

Riley blinked, confused. “Huh?”

she refusing?‘ Riley wondered, momentarily

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

10:46 Fri, Oct 3

Chapter 212

2200

even 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

Riley in a

until now, Riley had only ever been Jeffrey’s friend to her. But right then, Rebecca

a good person, Rebecca thought, the

do as I said,” Riley

a moment before finally

that she wouldn’t be

buzzed with a message from Gregory,

in on

way,” Riley said, sounding completely unbothered. “His goal is just to get you back. Even when he acts crazy, he never

he always this

then, he used to lose his cool on other

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

now, she needed to stay strong and

at

surgery looking pretty pale in his hospital gown. Still, the first thing he

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

quietly,

the sarcasm in the room

sharp look–even laid up and hurt, he still

10:46 Fri, Oct 3

Chapter 212