After the divorce, he begged

v

Chapter 225

During dinner, the atmosphere at the table was unusually strange.

Rebecca glanced back and forth at the three of them. She’d overheard part of their conversation, and

Sebastian's line, “You forced her to abort that child a long tago,” hit her especially hard.

Her impression of Ryan only got worse because of that.

Ryan was completely clueless about any of this.

At the dinner table, the three family elders were busy scheming against each other. Sometimes, Sebastian

couldn’t stand Ryan, and other times, Sebastian and Ryan would join forces to look down on Jeffrey.

They took turns sniping at each other, every word loaded with unspoken sarcasm.

“This is a family dinner, not sbusiness negotiation,” Rebecca couldn't help but speak up. “If you want to

compete for who's got the better mouth, feel free to schedule another meeting and go all out there.”

All three immediately quieted down.

Not another word was said.

Amelia had specifically hired a chef for Rebecca's birthday, hoping to make it special. But even that didn’t stop

them from treating it like scorporate dinner, so it was no surprise Rebecca had to step in.

Rebecca noticed the plate in front of Jeffrey piled with food that he really shouldn't be eating, and couldn't help

but frown.

23

Jeffrey caught her look and quickly said, “Hey, blMr. Guzman and Mr. Quinn-they shoved all this onto my

plate. None of it was my choice.”

Sebastian was speechless.

Ryan was speechless.

Rebecca swallowed her feelings and kept quiet.

For the next hour or so, everyone just ate in peace, no more .

It wasn't like the three suddenly turned into goody-goodies; it’s just that Sebastian and Ryan didn’t want to get

caught in Jeffrey's tricks again. Once burned, twice shy.

Dinner was over.

Sebastian and Ryan lingered at the table, both itching to say something but hesitating, clearly hoping to stick

around-yet worried that Rebecca and Amelia would show them to the door at any minute.

Jeffrey had Samuel as his golden ticket to stay as long as he wanted, but what about them? ‘Lucky guy, thought

Ryan, a bit annoyed.

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Chapter 225

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“Mommy! Happy birthday!” Samuel cdownstairs, clutching the cake he'd helped make, his big eyes shining

with excitement. “Mr. Hanson and | put this birthday cake together just for you!”

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Rebecca said, accepting the cake and softly mussing up his hair, her gaze filled with

affection.

With a gentle smile, Jeffrey lit the candles.

Then, with a touch of ceremony, he placed the custom golden crown onto Rebecca's head.

As Rebecca closed her eyes to make a wish, Samuel tugged on Jeffrey’s sleeve. “Aren't you going to say

something, Mr. Hanson?”

Jeffrey pretended not to get it. “Say what?”

“You always used to ask Mommy what she wished for,” Samuel said, his little face full of cuteness. “And you'd

tell her you were her wishing tree, that you'd help make all her wishes ctrue.”

Jeffrey pressed his lips together and said nothing.

He already knew exactly what Rebecca was wishing for.

Rebecca's birthday wish? Oh, just to finally get that divorce from him.

Sebastian didn’t miss a beat. “Rebecca, what did you wish for? Let your Grandpa Richard handle it-consider it

done!”

Ryan jumped in right after, throwing down, “Whatever it is, it's Dad's job to make it happen!”

Amelia stared at them, utterly lost.

Then she blurted out, “Dad?”

“I know you still blme for what happened before,” Ryan said quietly, looking Amelia in the eye. “But by

blood, Rebecca is my daughter.”

Amelia was about to speak.

But Rebecca cut her off. “I'm not.”

Ryan’s brows knitted together. “Rebecca.”

Rebecca met his gaze, her face set and serious. “The child you and my mother had? That child was gone

because of you-over twenty years ago, you forced her to have an abortion.”

Amelia went silent, caught completely off guard.

Ryan was stunned.

Neither of them had any idea Rebecca already knew the truth.

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Chapter 225

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“You wanted to know my birthday wish?” Rebecca said, her tone icy-she couldn't feel anything for this so- called

father. “I wished for you to never botheror my mom again. Whatever you've been doing for the past twenty

years, just keep doing it. Leave us out of it.”

“I'm sorry for everything that happened in the past,” Ryan said, his heart growing heavier with every word. “But |

really want to make it up to you, to show you how much | regret it.”

Nobody wants to see their own child looking at them with that kind of hatred.

When Ryan discovered Rebecca was his and Amelia’s daughter, it was like his empty, lifeless existence of the

last twenty years was suddenly jolted awake-he’d finally felt alive again.

He even went back to the Guzman family and pulled out all the stops, just hoping he could finally bring her

home.

“No need,” Rebecca replied, voice like ice-sharp and direct. “If you genuinely felt guilty for what you did to my

mom, you wouldn't have waited more than twenty years to finally apologize.”

As soon as she said that, the air froze for a moment.

Sebastian, who'd been watching the like it was a show, suddenly looked a little uneasy.

‘Funny,’ Rebecca thought, ‘he did pretty much the sthing as Ryan back then.’

“Amelia,” Ryan tried to reach out, hoping she'd back him up and help break the ice.

“Rebecca’s wish is my wish,” Amelia said, her tone ice-cold and totally uninterested. Whatever she used to feel

for Ryan had long since faded-twenty years and everything he'd done back then had left nothing behind. “Have

scake and then please leave.”

Ryan’s eyes went completely dark.

After a while, he finally muttered, “No matter what, she’s still my daughter.”

Amelia just rolled her eyes, totally indifferent. “Where’s your proof?”

Ryan could only stare in silence.

With Jeffrey always running interference, Ryan couldn't even get a paternity test done with Rebecca. Just

thinking about it made him glare at Jeffrey with even more irritation.

Jeffrey didn’t even blink.

Amelia and Rebecca were the only ones he cared about anyway.

As for Ryan, the so-called father-in-law nobody cared to recognize, Jeffrey couldn't be bothered if he upset him.

Even if Ryan shamelessly managed to win back Rebecca and Amelia’s forgiveness somehow, his place in this

family would at best be flimsy and easily swept aside.

After that bit of , Rebecca cut the cake and started handing out slices.

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Chapter 225

When things finally wrapped up, Sebastian-who’d kept quiet all along-cover to Rebecca and Amelia “You

two free for a minute? Need to talk.”

The four of them went upstairs to the study.

Seeing Rebecca and Amelia acting so distant, Sebastian just felt weird inside. He really didn’t know what to say

to close that gap.

“So, what do you want to talk about?” Rebecca asked, straight to the point.

Sebastian shot a look at Oliver.

Oliver reached into his bag and pulled out a share transfer agreement, setting it down in front of them. He locked

eyes with Amelia. “This is the scontract you signed back then. All the terms are still valid

In other words, if they wanted, they could buy back their shares in Quinn Group at the sprice they sold

them for.

If they wanted, they could buy back their shares in Quinn Group for the original selling price.

“I know,” Amelia said, not bothering to hide anything. “I was actually planning to have Rebecca buy them back.”

“My eldest son might not be too happy about it,” Sebastian said, his voice rough with age. “But don’t worry. I'll

talk to him as soon as | get home.”

Amelia just nodded.

Seeing how distant Amelia was, Sebastian felt the weight of that barrier between them-he wanted to say

something, but the words just wouldn't come.

Amelia used to have such a sharp edge, but now she seemed much gentler than before.

“If you ever decide to cback, there's always a place for both of you in this family,” Sebastian finally said

after a long, heavy silence. “But if you'd rather not, I'll respect whatever choice you make.”

Amelia looked at him calmly. “You really have changed.”

Deep down, Sebastian couldn't hide his regret. ‘When you lose your best kid, you can’t help but start questioning

everything about yourself!

Amelia didn’t say anything.

Honestly, Sebastian making this change would only make it easier for Rebecca to take over the shares.

Sebastian started to say something-“Amelia...“-but hesitated.

Amelia cut him off, her tone icy and formal. “We're not close enough for you to callthat. Just callAmelia

from now on.”

Sebastian fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

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Chapter 225

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With everything discussed and settled, Amelia didn’t hesitate to signal for someone to see them off.

Amelia had someone promptly escort them out.

After seeing them out, Amelia couldn't care less-her heart didn’t even flutter. She glanced sideways at Rebecca,

her eyes soft but clear: “You've always wanted to know what happened towith the Quinn family, right?”

Rebecca shook her head, genuine concern crossing her face. “Mom, seriously, if you don’t feel like talking about

it, just skip it. I don’t want you digging up those old wounds.”

Amelia answered, voice smooth and relaxed-as if all those scars healed ages ago. “It's not that | don’t want to

tell you. Sthings you absolutely need to know. Otherwise, when it’s tto reclaim those shares, if someone

starts throwing shade or talking nonsense, you'll be caught off guard.”

B

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