After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Rebecca's heart remained tight with anxiety. With Jeffrey on the case, she knew the truth behind Samuel's

allergy would cout soon enough. But Samuel had just had a brush with death, and no one knew if he'd have

any aftereffects.

“He has always enjoyed good health. He'll be fine,” Jeffrey said, sensing her worry as he cto her side and

drew her into an embrace.

Rebecca shoved him away. Her look was pure venom. She was physically sickened by his casual disregard for

Samuel's safety.

“I know you don’t want anything to do with me, and you loathe every move I've made,” Jeffrey said, his gaze

heavy and suffocating as it landed on her. “But don’t forget the contract you just signed.”

Rebecca's whole body went rigid.

Jeffrey closed the distance, leaning in so close that Rebecca could see the fine hairs on his face. “Samuel is still

in the hospital. If | decide to make things difficult, his recovery could beccomplicated.”

“What the hell do you want?” Rebecca's voice shook. She was extremely fearful.

She was terrified that Jeffrey would lose his mind, that he would stop at nothing-even hurting Samuel-to get

what he wanted.

“What | do next depends on you, Jeffrey said, grabbing her hand and tracing circles with his thumb. “Play the

part of my wife, and Samuel stays healthy. But if you step out of line, | will not hesitate to have his treatment

plan adjusted”

Rebecca slapped him hard across the face. Her full strength left five vivid red marks on Jeffrey's cheek.

Her eyes blazed with fury as she stared at him, each word biting. “Are you a monster?”

“I can be,” Jeffrey said, utterly unfazed by the sting on his cheek. “Or not.”

As long

long as he c¢

monstrous.

could keep her by his side, he would accept everything, even if she saw him as utterly

Rebecca was shaking with rage. She thought that after all these years of marriage, she understood him.

He was ruthless to outsiders, but with Samuel, he was the father who got down on the floor to play, who

indulged his every whim, who actually took the tto talk things through.

If Samuel ever felt wronged, Jeffrey would be the first to leap to his defense. Their bickering might have seemed

heated, but it was all in good fun-just their unique way of bonding.

But now, hearing his words, Rebecca suddenly realized she didn’t understand him at all.

“Feeling better now?” Jeffrey asked, his expression unfazed, voice steady as ever. “If not, keep going. Left or

right, take your pick.”

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Chapter 157

200

“If anything happens to Samuel, | will end you,” Rebecca shot back. She wasn’t bluffing. If Jeffrey dared mess

with Sammel, she would do whatever it took. She didn’t care if she had to break the law just to watch Jeffrey.

burn.

Jeffrey pressed. “As long as you behave and do as you're told, he will be perfectly fine.”

Rebecca stifled the storm of emotions inside her. It was as if a violent, tearing pain was gripping her chest.

“Go downstairs and get your things.” Jeffrey said, his voice eerily calm. “From now on, you're living with me.

Morning and night, we head out together and chtogether. No exceptions.”

Hatred flashed in Rebecca's eyes. Every inch of her was tense with pent-up anger and frustration toward Jeffrey.

Jeffrey reached for her hand. “Let's go.”

Rebecca yanked her hand back. “I'm not leaving until | know Samuel's safe.”

Just then, Jeffrey’s phone rang. Seeing it was Emory calling, he glanced at Rebecca before hitting speakerphone.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Hanson, Samuel's out of danger,” Emory reported, just as he'd been asked. “Should we keep him here or

send him home?”

Jeffrey asked, “How is he?”

Emory replied, “He's asleep.”

“Keep an eye on him. Someone will pick him up later. Jeffrey said. “If he wakes up, callimmediately.”

“Understood,” Emory replied.

Jeffrey was about to hang up when Rebecca cut in, “I want to see him.”

Jeffrey ended the call and immediately started a video call with Emory. Only after seeing for herself that Samuel

was safe did Rebecca finally begin to relax.

“He's safe. Now go get your things.” Jeffrey pocketed his phone and pinned her with a cold, suffocating look.

Rebecca balked. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to know she had any kind of relationship with him.

But she was out of options. Jeffrey had already proven he would watch Samuel walk into danger without lifting a

finger. If she disobeyed him now, he was fully capable of following through on his monstrous threats.

She simply couldn't afford to take that risk.

“I have two conditions, Rebecca stated.

Jeffrey's expression remained impassive. “Nthem.”

“You do not interfere with my work, and our relationship remains strictly private at the office,” she said. She

10:30 Mon, Sep 29

Chapter 157

refused to let her hard work be reduced to nothing but her connections with him.

She hated the idea that her worth would always be tied to Jeffrey.

“The first condition is acceptable,” Jeffrey said, his voice low and his gaze piercing. “The second is not.”

Rebecca asked, “Why?”

“Am | that much of an embarrassment to you?” Jeffrey countered.

Rebecca was too weary to even argue. He still didn’t get it. He couldn’t understand why she refused to be

publicly tied to him at work.

0

She knew nobody stuck around forever, but she had fought tooth and nail to earn her place on her own merit

She refused to let it all be dismissed as just a wealthy man’s wife dabbling in a career.

Words like that would erase everything she'd ever worked for.

“If you don’t want to go downstairs, I'll have your things brought up, Jeffrey offered, still totally baffled about why

this mattered so much to her.

In his eyes, she had his cards to spend on anything she wanted, but she insisted on slogging away at work. He

thought that was just silly

But if it made her happy, he wouldn't stand in her way. There was no point in provoking a fight over it. He could

afford to indulge her little whims, to let her have her life experience.

“No, thanks,” Rebecca replied firmly. “I'll get them myself.” She turned and left his room, heading for the

eighteenth floor.

As soon as she returned, both Faye and Ella looked her way-one was all gossip, the other all concern.

“What was that about earlier?” Faye asked, sounding more curious than anything. “Everything okay? Do you

need a hand?”

“No, thanks,” Rebecca said, heading straight for her bedroom.

Faye and Ella lingered at the doorway, watching her silently.

Rebecca quickly gathered up all her things and packed them into her suitcase, her motions mechanical and

utterly emotionless. The moment she turned to drag her luggage out, Ella's voice, full of concern, broke the

silence. “Rebecca, what's wrong?”

Both Faye and Ella immediately assumed she was moving out. Ella couldn’t help but imagine the worst.

Rebecca opened her mouth, trying to figure out how to respond, when Jeffrey asked from outside, “Mind if |

cin?”

“No, of course, cin, Faye blurted out.

Jeffrey stepped inside. Impeccably dressed, he carried an aura of privilege. He went straight to Rebecca and

10:30 Mon, Sep 29

Chapter 157

took the suitcase from her. I'll take that,” he said.

Faye’s eyes went wide. She took in how close they stood together and the casual way Jeffrey took the suitcase. A

speculation began to form in her mind.

Thank you for taking care of her these last few days,” Jeffrey said as he effortlessly laced his fingers through

Rebecca’s, making their relationship plain for anyone to see. “She’ll be moving upstairs with me. She won't need

this room anymore.”

“0...kay.” Faye stammered, her mind completely short-circuited from shock.

Ella’s gaze instinctively flew to Rebecca. Though their hands were locked together, everything about Rebecca's

stiff posture and distant expression screamed that she wasn’t happy.

“Mr. Hanson, Faye began, her eyes glued to their intertwined hands. She hesitated, then the question tumbled

out. “So, what is your relationship with Rebecca?”

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