After the divorce, he begged

00000 35% _

+20)

When Jessica cdownstairs, Eugene kept signaling for her to stay upstairs, but obedience wasn’t her style.

She plopped down next to him, facing Jeffrey and Andrea directly.

“Jessica...” Andrea said, making sure to emphasize her words. “No, | should call you sister now. Rebecca often-

mentioned how loyal you were as her best friend in college.”

“I don’t accept homewreckers as sisters,” Jessica shot back, biting into an apple.

Andrea's face instantly paled, and she was clearly caught off guard by her blunt words at Jeffrey's presence.

“Genetics are fascinating,” Jessica said casually, taking another bite of her apple and crossing her legs. “When

the mother

is a mistress, the daughter follows suit. Like mother, like daughter. Rotten apples don’t fall far from the tree.”

“Do you even realize who 1-” Andrea said.

Jessica turned her sharp gaze to her father, delivering the verbal blow unflinchingly. “Where there's a mistress,

there's

always scum. Thank God | inherited Mom's genes instead of your trash DNA.”

Eugene pressed his lips into a thin line. ‘Is this collateral damage really necessary?‘ he thought.

Andrea put on her wounded puppy look. “Don’t you like me, sis?”

Jessica feigned surprise. “Even the blind could see how much | hate you. Turns out you're not just morally

bankrupt but visually impaired, too.”

A flash of malice crossed Andrea’s eyes before she clutched Jeffrey's sleeve, biting her lip with a pitiful look.

Jessica almost gagged at her food at the sight of her tic act.

“The family reunion’s over,” Jessica said, tossing her apple core into the trash with finality. “Tfor you two

lovebirds to

leave.”

“Jessica,” Eugene whispered, reminding her.

Jessica didn’t care. She was upset, and there was no reason to hold back when it cto her feelings.

“Ms. Scott seems upset,” Jeffrey said slowly, his deep eyes glinting coldly, his tailored black suit adding to his icy

presence.

“Sorry, my daughter is immature,” Eugene said quickly, not wanting to offend Jeffrey. “Please don’t take it to

heart, Mr.

Hanson.”

Jeffrey didn’t say anything, but his cold/intimidating aura made everyone uncomfortable,

Eugene grabbed Jessica’s arm. “Apologize to Mr. Hanson.”

“Why should I?” Jessica didn’t think Jeffrey could actually harm her. As long as she survived, nothing else

mattered.

“My dear, you know Jeffrey’s methods,” Eugene muttered in her ear, urging her to see reason. “If you anger him,

have you thought about the consequences?”

1/3

14:12 Fri, 19 Sept 00

Chapter 60

Jessica turned away, refusing to apologize.

Eugene tugged at her sleeve. “Hurry up. Don’t make things harder for your future self.”

“If Mom were here, she wouldn't makeapologize,” Jessica said seriously.

35%

629)

Eugene paused. Jessica’s mother, Kate Scott, wouldn't force an apology but would stubbornly insist on principles,

Jessica had inherited most of her personality from Kate. But in this situation, refusing a reasonable compromise

would only lead

to retaliation.

“Mr. Hanson, letapologize on my daughter's behalf,” Eugene said with strained dignity. “I hope you won't

take her earher words to heart. I'll discipline her later.”

Jessica tugged at him several times, but she couldn't stop him from apologizing.

Jeffrey was about to respond when Andrea stepped in as the peacemaker. “Jessica has always been spoiled by

Dad and Kate. Please don’t take her careless words too seriously.”

Jessica’s temper flared instantly.

Jeffrey's gaze swept over her briefly. As Rebecca's closest friend, Jessica was off-limits to him. “Very well. I'll let

this slide,” he said, conceding.

Andrea stiffened for a moment.

When Rebecca had cto apologize earlier, Andrea’s pleading had been met with cold indifference. He'd said

Rebecca's feelings didn’t matter, only her mistakes did. But now, he actually let Jessica off the hook.

Jessica easily read Andrea’s expression. The pitiful act she'd put on to appear virtuous had completely backfired

when Jeffrey actually went along with it. When she saw Andrea's frustrated face, Jessica's irritation shifted into

amusement.

“Thank you, Jeffrey,” Andrea said with a forced smile.

“How do you plan to handle Andrea’s situation, Mr. Scott?” Jeffrey redirected the conversation.

“Letting her live with us will be difficult. The head of our household is Jessica’s mother,” Eugene replied, unwilling

to jeopardize his position for an illegitimate child. “She’ll never allow Andrea into the Scott family.”

Jeffrey raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised by this response.

Eugene attempted to sugarcoat it. “But rest assured. I'll cup with a compromise solution as soon as

possible.”

Jeffrey merely hummed noncommittally. “We'll take our leave,” he said, standing up and escorting Andrea out.

Before leaving, Andrea lingered, trying to provoke Jessica. She gave Eugene a meaningful look when getting up

from the sofa. “Dad, could you givea hug?”

Jessica's lips twitched. She fixed her glare on Eugene, her eyes sending a clear warning, as if to say,” Try

hugging her, and see what happens.”

Eugene froze. “We're both in committed relationships now. Physical contact would be inappropriate,” he said

quickly

2/3

14:12 Fri, 19 Sept 00

Chapter 60

under Jessica’s piercing stare. “People might misunderstand.”

0435%

Andrea wanted to argue, but she stopped, realizing Jeffrey might actually care, especially since it was the first

tshe'd met Eugene.

Eugene took the opportunity to add, “Mr. Hanson, have a safe trip.”

Jeffrey didn’t respond, simply leading Andrea away.

Once they were gone, Eugene turned

to Jessica, feigning hel lessnasen

“Why Rye ihre) provoke

Jeffry ike that? You were obviously

trying to upset him.” The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Don’t talk to me, you cheater,” Jessica muttered, still seething with resentment.

“Andrea was an accident,” Eugene explained

Jessica started heading upstairs. “Save your explanation for Mom. She’s probably already heard by now.”

Eugene stood there, flustered.

Jessica quickly updated Rebecca

about the situation upstairs. As she

recounted how she'd gyvekéd m

Jeffrey bn ube, Rebecca could

feel the tension in her palms, though

she was relieved Jeffrey hadn't

escalated things further. The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

As they talked, Jessica suddenly becserious. “Rebecca,” she said.

Rebecca responded, “Yes?”

Having worked in the business world,

Jessica saw things clearly. “From

what happened today (itis cleat m

J

Jeffrey tosent Care for Andrea the

way he cares about you. If he realizes

his mistakes and apologizes, would

you forgive him?” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“No,” Rebecca replied immediately, though she knew it was hard to give a final answer until things played out.

Maybe. Maybe not. After thinking it over, she added, “But either way, there's no chance of us getting back

together.”

Forgiveness would mean letting go of their five years of shared memories, while refusing to reconcile meant

separating the good moments from his betrayal.

A