After the divorce, he begged

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Jane had sidea about what was going on between Rebecca and Jeffrey, but she'd always thought of Rebecca

as just a regular team member and never really paid much attention to her personal life.

But today, barely after Jeffrey had left, Jane’s phone buzzed-he’d sent her a message. At that moment, Jane

finally got what her family had meant when they said Jeffrey had everything figured out.

It only took him a few days of watching before he saw right through Jane and knew exactly how she felt about

Rebecca.

Rebecca said, “I'll do my best and won't hold you back.” Jane always looked out for her. Right now, the only way

she could repay Jane was to put everything into her work.

Jane nodded in response.

They didn’t say much else. After a bit more casual chatter, Jane went to get swater, while Rebecca headed

outside to make a video call.

Even though Rebecca knew Samuel was getting all the care he needed, she couldn’t help but worry a bit. The

moment the video call went through, she asked, “Are you doing okay over there, honey?”

“I'm fine,” Samuel said as he set his tablet aside, his sweet little face full of innocence. He added, “But | do kinda

miss you though.”

Rebecca felt her heart completely soften. She said, “Mommy misses you, too, sweetheart.”

They talked about this and that-one minute Rebecca was asking if he'd eaten enough, the next she was

checking if he liked his classes. The whole conversation was comfortable and warm, like any nightly check-in

between mom and kid.

That was, until a deep, steady voice cfrom the other end, saying, “Drink your milk first, then you can talk to

your mom.”

Moments later, a pale, elegant hand holding a glass of milk slipped into view. The fingers were slender and

impeccably neat-Rebecca didn’t even need to see the face to know instantly it was Jeffrey.

Rebecca thought, ‘So Jeffrey’s been with Samuel this whole time?"

Samuel took the glass and gulped down the milk, then handed it right back. He said, “All done.”

“Okay,” Jeffrey responded.

Samuel blinked at him, puzzled.

Jeffrey leaned back lazily in his chair, left hand on the table. He asked, “Why are you looking at me? Go on, chat

with your mom.”

“I wanna tell Mommy a secret,” Samuel said, not-so-subtly trying to shoo Jeffrey away.

14:55 Mon, Sep 22

Chapter 86

Jeffrey said, “Just go ahead.”

Samuel said, “How am | supposed to, with you right here?”

Jeffrey frowned and said, “I’m not covering your mouth.”

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Samuel thought Jeffrey was honestly shameless. He blurted out, “Are you sticking around here on purpose just so

you can overhearand Mommy talking?”

Jeffrey glanced at the tablet screen, catching every flicker of Rebecca's expression. He said, “You could say that.

After all, you both pretty much hate my guts right now. For all | know, you might be talking smack behind my

back.”

Samuel said, “Mr. Hanson, don’t be so suspicious. If Mommy and | ever wanted to badmouth you, we’d just say it

straight to you. No need to sneak around.”

Jeffrey repeated, “Mr. Hanson?”

Samuel blinked back at him, looking all innocent. He asked, “What?”

Jeffrey let out a chuckle and poked Samuel on the head. He then said, “Nice, kid. Make sure you use that name

the next tyou wantto bail you out.”

Samuel just went silent, his cheeks puffing up as if he was about to protest, but couldn't say a word.

Seeing Samuel sulking like that, Jeffrey finally stood up and let him off the hook. On his way out, he locked eyes

with Rebecca on the screen, giving her one last look before walking away.

Up to then, Rebecca had only seen Jeffrey’s hand handing Samuel the glass and heard their voices. Not until

Jeffrey stood and walked out did she get a clear look at him.

Rebecca and Samuel ended up talking for almost another twenty minutes.

After reminding Samuel to stay warm with his blanket at night, Rebecca hung up. She didn’t head upstairs

immediately-instead, she sat outside for a while, her mind wandering.

Rebecca realized she’d been totally blanking on Samuel's tuition fees until tonight. If Samuel hadn't teased

Jeffrey by calling him “Mr. Hanson,” she probably wouldn't have thought of it until summer break.

Tuition, room, board, fees-they were looking at well over 100 thousand dollars a semester, enough to make any

wallet weep. Jeffrey covered part; Rebecca covered the rest.

Rebecca knew she had to pull in extra cash-fast. That night, she sketched a side-hustle roadmap, then headed

upstairs, washed up, and crashed.

But bills kept piling, and the money stress wouldn't quit; she tossed all night. Even on a rare off-day, her brain

flashed the snagging thought: if she'd stayed home, she could've knocked out another commission and

plumped up her balance.

The next day, Rebecca spent twith everyone at the event and then joined the group rehearsing for

Wednesday night's performance.

14:55 Mon, Sep 22

Chapter 86

The company car didn’t drop them off at huntil it was almost four or five in the afternoon.

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When Rebecca got home, she dropped a message in the group chat: [Either of you free right now?]

lan replied: [I'm free.]

Jessica replied: [Busy.]

Rebecca texted: [I need to go ask my dad something, but | don’t really want to go alone.]

After what happened before, Rebecca was extra cautious with stuff like this. Between the stuff May said and the

way she acted, Rebecca was left totally in the dark about what was really going on between Amelia and Richard.

Rebecca figured she’d wait until Amelia woke up before discussing her situation. Still, she felt the need to figure

out her relationship with Richard right now.

There was what Richard had said earlier: “Don’t you want to know why | abandoned back then?”

Half an hour later, lan cto pick Rebecca up.

you and your mother

Dressed to turn heads as always, lan

leaned over the steering wheel while

driving to the bar, making sralltalk

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“Didn’t she say she wouldn't work for her dad for free?” Rebecca asked.

Jessica's cards were still all on lockdown. Anything she wanted to buy had to go through her parents for

approval. Jessica had been pretty mad about that for ages.

lan said, “It’s not about work. | really have no clue what she’s doing. She won't say a word, just acting all

mysterious about it.”

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Jeffrey hasn't sent anyone to check

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up on them lately, has he? Rebecca

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Rebecca thought, ‘If Andrea went so

far as to establish a family

connection with Euge@theotyh'

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Jan replied, “Nope.”

Rebecca kept digging, “And you? Anything?”

lan shook his head and said, “Nope, nothing

There was one this dad called him back, but lan wasn’t that spoiled rich kid just drifting through life

anymore. These days, he could handle anything thrown at him-nothing really fazed him.

Rebecca finally felt herself relax a little.

14:55 Mon, Sep 22

Chapter 86

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About half an hour later, lan and Rebecca rolled up to Richard's usual spot-the bar where he could always be

found behind the counter, polishing glasses.

Brady was Stanley’s man through and through. He recognized Rebecca and lan right away.

As soon as he found out they were asking for Richard, he didn’t waste any tshowing them the way-but he

made sure to tip Stanley off about it at the stime.

Stanley wasted no tpassing the news along to Jeffrey.

Jeffrey didn’t seem too fazed. He said, “If she wants to see him, let her. Just make sure nothing goes down like

last time.”

Stanley added, “She’s with lan.”

Jeffrey went silent.

When Jeffrey didn’t respond, Stanley went ahead on his own, “Since you're not giving any special orders, I'll go

brief the crew.”

“Wait,” Jeffrey finally spoke up, his tone cool and unhurried. He said, “Keepposted on what they talk about

later.”