After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 156

Chapter 156

MHD

“All I'm asking is for you to stay with me, Rebecca. To stop this talk of divorce, Jeffrey explained, his voice

patient. “This isn’t about taking away your freedom.”

Rebecca didn’t bother to reply. “Right, she thought bitterly. He won't letleave him, and he expectsto

accept that he’s supporting Andrea forever. How is that any different from taking away my freedom?”

“Here. This is yours,” he said, pulling the unlimited black card from his jacket and offering it to her. “I had it

reissued with a new design. Andrea never touched it.”

Once, such a thoughtful detail would have melted her heart. Now, it was just noise. Her mind was a single.

looping track of panic. She thought, Is Samuel okay? How could this have happened? The school knew all his

allergies...

Suddenly, a horrifying idea struck her. She shoved him away, scrambling back to put sdistance between

them. Her eyes were wide with a new kind of terror.

“Samuel..” she started. “His allergic reaction. That was you, wasn’t it? Did you stage this whole thing?”

The pieces clicked together with sickening speed: the prepared agreement, the order to the doctors to stand

down, and the door to his suite left open. It was all too perfect to be a coincidence.

“No.” Jeffrey said flatly.

“Really?” Rebecca shot back.

“No,” he repeated.

She chose to believe him. He didn’t have to lie to her.

Once Rebecca's emotions had somewhat settled, Jeffrey asked the question almost anyone in his position would

have asked. “Do you really think I'm the kind of man who would risk our son's life?”

“Are you serious?” Rebecca shot back. “You were literally using his life as a bargaining chip five minutes ago. Did

you forget already?”

“Amazing,” she thought with biting sarcasm. How a man that powerful could have such a short memory.

Jeffrey’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing to defend himself. The truth was, he was just as terrified for Samuel

as Rebecca was. But he didn’t tell her.

The clock rewound two hours, to the moment Rebecca had stormed out of his suite.

Jeffrey was about to call Gregory, intending to have him speak with the gaming division executives. He wanted

them to ease up on the PrimePlay Technologies team’s workload and provide more hands-on training

10:30 Mon, Sep 29

Chapter lati

But just as he was about to dial, his cell rang. He recognized the number and answered immediately.

“Mr. Hanson? It's Lena, from Sammel’s summer camp. He had an allergic reaction, and it's had, the teacher

sand, her voice strained with panic. It looks really serious. You need to

“Stay with him and keepupdated on his condition. My team is on its way, Jeffrey cut her off.

He didn’t waste a single second on blor questions. He disconnected and immediately dialed the private

medical unit that shadowed Samuel 24/7, ordering them to intervene. Every second was critical.

They were at Samuel's side in under sixty seconds, giving him the best possible first aid on the spot.

“Mr. Hanson, Samuel's reaction is quite severe, the head of the medical team reported to Jeffrey over the phone,

his voice tight. “We've stabilized him for the moment, but we need to get him to the hospital. Now”

“The car is waiting. Your route is clear,” Jeffrey replied. He'd set everything in motion the instant the call came

in. “Get him there. Dr. Yeager is prepped and waiting.”

“On it,” the medic confirmed.

With the medical response underway, Jeffrey’s mind shifted to information control. He dialed Lena again. “Say

nothing of this to Rebecca for the tbeing,” he commanded. “I'll be in touch.”

“Okay.” Lena agreed.

For the next hour, Jeffrey never left the video call with the medical team. He watched the monitor, his eyes

locked on Samuel's pained face. For the first tin a long time, he felt a sharp knot of fear tighten in his chest.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the doctors brought Samuel out of the woods.

“How’s Samuel doing?” Jeffrey asked.

The hospital director, Emory Yeager, who had personally supervised the case, appeared on screen. “He's fine, Mr.

Hanson. The crisis is over.”

Jeffrey frowned slightly. “Then why isn’t he awake?”

“His vitals are perfect. Honestly, he’s probably just exhausted. It's been a long day for him, Emory reassured

him. “I promise you, Mr. Hanson. He's healthy and completely safe.”

The knot in Jeffrey’s chest finally began to loosen. “Good.”

He considered his original plan-to keep the whole incident from Rebecca. But then he suddenly remembered how

hell-bent she was on divorcing him and taking Amelia and Samuel out of Jelasburg. In that moment, an idea

struck him.

“Listen carefully,” Jeffrey said to the medical staff. “I want you to use makeup that’s safe for kids to make him

look like he’s still having an allergic reaction. Make his lips look pale, and spray swater on his forehead.”

A stunned silence met his request, but no one dared question the order. They went to work, creating the

10:30 Mon, Sep 29

Chapter 156

horrifying illusion. And so, the stage was set for Rebecca's arrival.

Jeffrey's focus returned to the present. He met Rebecca's glare and answered her accusation. “I used his life to

threaten you,” he admitted, his voice even. “But just this once

| have to admit it, he thought. She needs to believe | can be this ruthless when it comes to Samuel. It’s the only

way she’ll understand that leavingis not an option”

“When we get back, just quit your job at PrimePlay Technologies,” Jeffrey announced, shifting topics. He wanted

her to have an easy life, not kill herself with late nights and stressful projects for a paycheck he considered

pocket change.

But that job was Rebecca's only source of power, the one thing that was truly hers. “You have got to be kidding

me.” she snapped.

Jeffrey was confused. For once, he had no clue what had set her off. “I gave you back the card. You can have

anything you want. Why waste your tat an office when you could be enjoying your life?”

“In your dreams, Rebecca hissed. “I am never quitting that job. She snatched the paper off the table. “And for

the record, there is nothing in your stupid agreement that says | can’t work.”

‘If I quit. | know exactly what happens, she thought, the memory burning like acid. The next twe fight. he'll

spit out those swords: Everything you eat, everything you use and wear-it's all because of me.

And I'll have no comeback. | will not make the smistake twice. Once was more than enough humiliation to

last a lifetime.”

“Fine,” Jeffrey conceded. “If the job makes you happy, keep it. You're free to choose.”

The cruel remark he’d once thrown at her in anger had beca permanent thorn in her heart, but he had no

idea.

Rebecca tossed the agreement back at him. As he watched her, a strange warmth flickered to life in Jeffrey's

chest. Her fire was back.

“There she is, he thought. ‘She’s the sas she always was. The only difference is that now, all that fury is

aimed at me.

“It's getting late, Jeffrey said softly. “You should sleep.”

He had completely forgotten one crucial detail: As far as Rebecca knew, Samuel was still fighting for his life in

an emergency room.

She stared at him, shocked at his casual indifference. The last of her hope in him withered and died. “Are you

even human?” she whispered.

Jeffrey looked up, confused. “What?”

“You wantto sleep?” Rebecca had never been this angry, not even when she first found out about Andrea.

10:30 Mon, Sep 29

Chapter 156

“While Sammel is still in the ER! Are you his father or not?”

Jeffrey pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose Shit, he thought. He'd gotten so lost in the game, and he'd

forgotten the lie.

Just a second,” Jeffrey said to her. Phone in hand, he walked to the massive window overlooking the city and

dialed Emory “Is everything okay now?”

“Yes,” Emory replied. Samuel looked all good now.

“Callin ten minutes. Feedthe sstory you did half an hour ago. And make sure all traces of the

makeup and the water spray are gone,” Jeffrey ordered quietly. He needed Rebecca to never find out the truth.

“Consider it done. Emory replied.

Jeffrey ended the call with a quiet “Okay.”

Rebecca, though furious with Jeffrey, couldn't hide the desperate worry in her eyes. “Well? How is Samuel?”

“He's stable. Out of danger,” Jeffrey said, his face a perfect mask of calm. The lie slid off his tongue without a

hitch. They're just wrapping things up. There’s nothing to worry about.”

The tight band of fear around Rebecca's heart loosened, but only for a moment. In the space that her panic had

occupied, suspicion began to take root.

“But how did this happen? We gave the camp a detailed list of his allergies. Plus, Samuel's not the kind of kid

who'll eat something just because it’s there. We warn him about food, and he actually listens.”

“I already have a team on it,” Jeffrey said, and a shadow passed through his eyes as he followed her line of

thinking.

‘A food allergy... he thought. ‘Rebecca’s right. It made no sense. Samuel is always careful about what he eats.

Someone did this to him on purpose.

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