After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 176

Rebecca froze, and in that instant, everything clicked.

Neither she nor Jessica had guessed the full picture. Jessica's explanation wasn’t wrong, but Jeffrey’s purpose

went deeper. By making her give in and accept those bodyguards, he had laid the groundwork to justify his

demand just now.

He really was as calculating as the rumors claimed, leaving no possibility unconsidered.

“What do you think?” Jeffrey's hand pinched the small curve of her waist.

Seeing this, the others quickly slipped away-they didn’t want to be the third wheel here.

“Does it even matter what | say?” Rebecca felt her heart sinking lower and lower. She knew there was no way

out of his game. “You've already planned it all. Why pretend to ask for my opinion?”

“You're my wife. Your opinion matters.” Jeffrey was used to speaking pretty words.

The calmness in his face unsettled her.

He hadn't always been like this. Before, his kindness toward her had been genuine, and she hadn't felt this

unease. But now every word, every move of his was full of intent, and all she could feel was disgust.

“If you really valued my opinion, you wouldn't forceto do things your way,” she said, tearing through his

mask.

Jeffrey leaned closer, his voice low. “Are you blaming me?”

Rebecca didn’t bother hiding her feelings. “I just hate the way you're doing this.”

“Since | got back from that trip, I've been trying hard to treat you well.” With a sudden pull, Jeffrey trapped her in

his arms. “If I'm falling short somewhere, tell me. I'll try to make it up to you.”

She didn’t even feel like answering.

On Andrea, he wouldn't compromise. On divorce, or making their relationship public, he wouldn't budge. Since

those things weren't open for discussion, she had nothing to say.

“Say something,” Jeffrey pressed.

“Just be straight with me,” Rebecca said, tired of the back-and-forth. “What exactly do you want from me? Spell

it out. And don’t drag up the past-be specific.

“I want you to kiss me, to hold me, to look atwith joy in your eyes. His whisper tickled her ear, deep and

magnetic. “I want you to lettake you out on weekends...”

“Dream on,” Rebecca shot back before Jeffrey could finish.

Jeffrey didn’t seem bothered at all.

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Chapter 176

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Rebecca met his gaze, speaking slowly. “What you want is nothing but a daydream.”

“Exactly,” Jeffrey replied, unfazed. “That's why I'm here-hoping you'll make my dreams ctrue.

Rebecca pushed against him, trying to break free, but he didn’t move an inch.

“I'll give you plenty of tto adjust,” he murmured, his arms holding her firmly, not painfully, but right enough

to keep her from slipping away. “But that tisn’t for you to figure out how to leave me.”

Rebecca hadn't expected him to lay it all out so directly.

“When that tis up, if you're still treatinglike a stranger, then I'll find my own way to make those dreams

happen.” His tone stayed gentle, but the words were a veiled threat. “Do you understand?”

“Letgo first,” Rebecca said, avoiding his question.

Jeffrey let her go.

Rebecca, stubborn as ever, rolled her eyes. “So all this talk is just about your own selfish desires, isn't it?”

No matter how much he tried to make it up to her, no matter how kind he acted, it was still only about having

both a wife and a mistress.

Even if he didn’t love Andrea, that didn’t change what he was. Andrea wasn't his family, yet he still kept her on

his payroll. At the core, he was no different from any man who kept a mistress.

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“Exactly,” Jeffrey admitted without hesitation, though he didn’t really know what Rebecca was thinking. “As long

as | can keep you by my side, I'll use any means necessary-even if it makes you hatein the end.”

“Psycho!” Rebecca spat at him before storming off. She couldn't stand another second with him.

Leaving the attic, she picked up a car in the garage and headed straight for Jessica.

Rebecca’s manor felt like nothing but a prison to her.

Upstairs, Jeffrey stood at the window, watching her car grow smaller and smaller in the distance. His tone was

unhurried as he said, “Gregory.”

Gregory appeared at once. “Mr. Hanson?”

“When she meets up with Jessica, send people to put on a little show.” Jeffrey didn’t even have to guess-he knew

that’s where she was going. “Let her understand what it means to break our deal. She needs to see there are

consequences.”

Gregory hesitated. “Aren’t you worried she'll be angry?”

“Isn't she already angry?” Jeffrey shot back.

He had all the patience in the world to coax her, to shower her with care-so long as it softened her, drew her

closer. But if all she did was shut him out, then kindness alone wasn’t going to cut it.

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Chapter 176

She had cback. To him, that meant she had to keep her word.

Gregory swallowed his doubts. “How far should it go?”

“Scare them,” Jeffrey said. “But don’t lay a finger on them.”

Gregory nodded. “Got it.”

ta 55 valscher

Rebecca had no idea what Jeffrey was plotting. All she wanted now was a way to vent the frustration burning

inside her.

Jessica had just wrapped up work when Rebecca asked her out. When she saw the bar Rebecca had chosen, she

raised a brow. “You? Askingto meet here? What's going on?”

“What do you want to drink?” Rebecca asked straight up.

“Anything's fine.” Jessica slid into the seat across from her.

Rebecca ordered the drinks Jessica usually had. But when Jessica noticed she hadn't ordered anything for herself,

she blinked. “And you?”

Rebecca replied flatly, “Lemon juice. No sugar.”

Jessica shouted in disbelief, “They actually have that?”

“Money talks,” Rebecca said simply.

Jessica gaped at her like she'd just seen a ghost, utterly lost for words.

A moment later, the bartender returned with several tall glasses of unsweetened lemon juice, setting them down

politely in front of Rebecca. “Enjoy.”

“You sure you don’t want alcohol?” Jessica leaned back, wrinkling her nose as the sharp citrus scent hit her. Her

mouth watered against her will. “Nobody drinks this stuff.”

“Alcohol makesdrunk too easily. I'm not about to let Jeffrey draghover his shoulder.” Rebecca was

clear-headed. “I just need a way to let out my emotions. Lemon juice works as well as alcohol.

Jessica asked, “What did that bastard do to you this time?”

Rebecca raised a glass of lemon juice and clinked it toward her. “Don’t ask. Just drink.”

Jessica eyed the pale yellow liquid with dread, but still lifted her own glass. The sharp clink rang out between

them.

Rebecca took a sip. The sourness hit so hard her whole face scrunched up.

At that moment, the anger in her chest gave way to a different kind of torment-the raw, stinging bite of

citrus.

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Chapter 176

“You don’t have to torture your teeth and stomach like this.” Jessica couldn't even watch anymore. She had to

admit, she kind of admired Rebecca. “Honestly, drinking that’s worse than drinking alcohol.

It took several lemons to fill a single glass. Rebecca had probably downed the juice of a whole lemon in one gulp.

“Jessica...” Rebecca started, wanting to say something.

“Spit it out,” Jessica said, not missing a beat.

Rebecca pressed her lips together.

Right then, a fight suddenly broke out at the table next to them. One guy swung a bottle that nearly smashed

into Jessica.

“Shit!” Jessica shot to her feet, yanking Rebecca with her, her heart pounding. “Good thing | ducked- otherwise

that bottle would've cracked my head open.”

Rebecca quickly looked her over, making sure she wasn’t hurt, then finally let out a breath.

Just then, Rebecca’s phone buzzed.

It was a message from Jeffrey: [This was just a reminder. | don’t like it when you say yes and then break our deal.

Got it, Rebecca?]

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