After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 106

“It's getting late. You should head hand get srest,” Stephen said gently to Rebecca, his back to the

door, not realizing Jeffrey had cin. “I'll ask Bernard to drive you home.”

“That's alright, I'll just grab a cab,” Rebecca replied, turning down his offer.

Stephen gave a weak smile. “Cabs aren't safe this late. I'd feel better if Bernard took you.”

Rebecca was just about to decline again when she noticed Jeffrey’s eyes locked onto her. She braced herself and

said, “Alright. Sorry for the trouble, Stephen.”

“We're family, right?” Stephen said with a soft chuckle.

After saying she’d cby tomorrow, Rebecca grabbed her bag and left, brushing past Jeffrey without even

glancing at him. She walked straight out of the room with Bernard.

Jeffrey shot her a brief sideways glance. Stanley leaned in and whispered. “Wantto stop her?”

Jeffrey's response was cool and brief. “No need.”

“Jeffrey, you're here.” Stephen greeted Jeffrey from his hospital bed, his face pale but his eyes warm. “It’s been

over ten years since you last visitedin the hospital.”

Jeffrey walked over to the bed, his gaze cool. “She’s gone. You don’t have to keep pretending now.”

Stephen looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“Do you know why I'm the one running the Hanson Group instead of you?” Jeffrey said coolly, not the least bit.

rattled. “Because rats from the gutter never make it to the big leagues. They can’t stand the light.”

“Look at you, the mighty boss.” Stephen teased. “You sure have gotten good at laying it on thick.”

“I know you planned everything tonight,” Jeffrey said, not bothering to hide it. “And I get that you're trying to get

betweenand Rebecca. But just remember, when you try to takedown, you're gonna pay a price

yourself.”

“You think | was behind the chandelier incident?” Stephen looked genuinely puzzled.

Jeffrey just shot back, “Wasn't it?”

Stephen frowned, “And what exactly do | get out of doing that?”

There were plenty of perks. Jeffrey didn’t say a word because talking to him about this was pointless.

“I know you've had issues withbecause of all the at the Hanson Group,” Stephen said, trying to be

rational. “But just like you, I'd never drag innocent people into our mess.”

“Would you swear on the safety of that woman you're keeping at home?” Jeffrey challenged.

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Stephen fixed his gaze on him, a hint of confusion in his eyes. ‘Why was Jeffrey suddenly bringing this up so

often, when he’d never mentioned it before?’ Stephen couldn't help wondering.

“There's something you probably haven't heard yet,” Jeffrey said, his voice cool. “After all, your trusted cronies

were all here tonight, helping you run this act.”

Normally, Jeffrey wouldn't pull innocent bystanders into the mess, but he wasn’t above using outsiders when

push cto shove.

Stephen kept a straight face. “What's that?”

“While you were off playing hero for your own interests, Karen ended up getting cornered by her deadbeat,

gambling father,” Jeffrey commented blandly, as if it barely mattered. “Heard she went hcovered in

bruises.”

A flicker passed through Stephen’s eyes, gone as soon as it appeared.

Jeffrey caught every bit of it. “Bet you're thinking, you sent bodyguards to keep an eye on her, so nothing could

happen to her, right?”

Stephen lifted his gaze. This time, he was really scrutinizing his brother. He'd kept everything so deeply hidden,

not even Lucas had a clue. ‘How did Jeffrey figure it out?’ he wondered.

“Just because you're working overtto protect her doesn’t mean someone else isn’t trying to hurt her,” Jeffrey

said, his tone unhurried. “If my timing’s right, she’s most likely facing the second wave of trouble now.”

Stephen instinctively reached for his phone. Jeffrey's sharp gaze didn’t miss a thing. “Worried?” he asked.

Stephen paused. He knew that Jeffrey was deeply calculating and ruthless in his methods, but he hadn't

expected him to maintain such sharp insight even after something like this had happened.

“A person who doesn’t matter, why should | worry?” Stephen casually picked up his phone, turned on the screen,

and glanced at it. “I just felt a bit sleepy and wanted to check the time.”

Deep down, a hint of mockery flickered in Jeffrey’s eyes. ‘Seriously, can’t even face your own feelings? How

pathetic, Jeffrey scoffed inwardly.

“Don’t use Rebecca again.” Jeffrey cut him off, his cold eyes as unfathomable as midnight. “Or | won't hesitate to

drag other people into this mess.”

With those words, he strode out, his back straight and indifferent as ever. Only after Jeffrey and Stanley vanished

from view did Stephen finally pick up his phone and make a call.

In the parking lot, Stanley sat in the driver's seat. Looking at the silent Jeffrey, he tried to break the tension by

speaking up. “You just mentioned that Stephen has someone? Karen?”

Jeffrey, remembering sinfo he’d picked up by accident, shrugged. “Not exactly.”

Stanley blinked in confusion. “Huh? Not exactly?”

Jeffrey replied flatly, “He’s never owned up to it.”

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20 vouchers,

“Damn, the Hanson family really is full of heartbreakers.” Stanley blurted out. “One drops his wife for another

woman, the other just strings her along, never making it official.”

Before Stanley could finish, the air inside the car felt suddenly tense. He caught a glimpse of Jeffrey’s face out of

the corner of his eye.

“I never brought up divorce,” Jeffrey said, voice cold and steady. From start to finish, it had always been Rebecca

bringing it up, not him.

“I misspoke. I'll slap myself as punishment, | swear.” Stanley stammered out, desperate not to tick him off any

further.

Suddenly, Stanley got why all those reality show judges only ever say nice things and never mention anyone's

flaws. With a mood like Jeffrey's, he realized he'd be way too intimidated to speak his mind, too.

The car rolled on in silence. As they neared an intersection, Jeffrey told him ahead of time, “Take a left at the

next light.”

“Why take a left?” Stanley asked, but he still switched lanes without hesitation. “That's not the way back to

Rebecca's Manor.” Jeffrey didn’t bother explaining.

Meanwhile, Rebecca got hand started replying to her messages one at a time. For the board members, she

sent updates about Stephen’s injuries using the company app, then switched over to her socials to handle

everyone else who'd messaged her.

By the tshe was done, half an hour had slipped by.

She collapsed onto the sofa, her gaze troubled. ‘Trying to twist the truth about someone when | actually know

what's going on. That's really not me, Rebecca thought, feeling conflicted.

With all kinds of emotions crowding her mind, she tossed her phone aside, grabbed spajamas, and headed

for a shower, hoping to wash away the mess inside her.

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Outside, someone was knocking on the door. After

knocking a few times with no response, Jeffrey whipped out his phone and called Samuel, who was just getting

ready for bed.

As soon as Samuel picked up, Jeffrey went straight in. “I'm standing outside your mom’s room.”

Samuel helpfully reminded. “Mom doesn’t want you here.”

Jeffrey said, “I think she’s in danger.”

Samuel didn't fall for it. “Honestly, the real danger here is you.”

Jeffrey was speechless. ‘No doubt about it. He's definitely my kid, Jeffrey couldn't help thinking, both proud and

exasperated.

“I know you're trying to getto say it's okay for you to cin,” Samuel said, his quick little brain catching on

right away. “That way, if Mom gets mad, you can say | let you in.”

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Jeffrey just fell silent. ‘Man, are kids really getting this quick nowadays?‘ Jeffrey mused to himself, a little taken

aback.

Chapter 107