After the divorce, he begged

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Chapter 27

“I want to beat one of my classmates,” Emily said, her voice firm despite her youth. “I’m going to prove I'm

better than her in every way.”

Rebecca was slightly surprised. She hadn't expected this kid to bo

so competitive.

“Ms. Jensen.” Emily reached out to take her hand, her eyes bright and eager. “Will you be really strict with me? |

want to learn as fast as | can.”

“Okay,” Rebecca agreed.

Emily beamed and threw herself into the lesson with intense focus.

Rebecca was a true master of classical dance. In her prime, she had won numerous national awards. Even after

marriage, she never let go of her passion.

As the lesson began, Lucas-watching from the study via monitor-remarked to the mild-mannered man beside

him, “Don’t worry. | already talked with Emily. She won't slip up. Besides, she’s genuinely interested in learning

classical dance

now.”

Stephen kept his eyes on the screen, his expression unreadable behind his glasses.

“There's something I've been wondering,” Lucas said, tilting his head.

Stephen glanced his way.

Lucas leaned in slightly. “Shouldn't we be more focused on Andrea-the one Jeffrey’s keeping around? Why are

you so interested in Rebecca? Isn't she about to be divorced anyway?”

“She filed for divorce, but it hasn't been finalized yet,” Stephen corrected calmly.

Lucas looked confused. “What's the difference? A divorce is a divorce, isn't it?”

“If Jeffrey doesn’t want the divorce, it won't happen,” Stephen replied, knowing his brother all too well.

Lucas still didn’t really get it, but he didn’t press further. It wasn’t like it was his business anyway.

The two of them kept watching the surveillance feed from the study for a while. Once they were sure Emily

hadn’t said anything she shouldn't, they quietly left the villa.

Back in the dance room, Rebecca continued teaching, completely unaware she'd been watched.

After three hours of morning lessons, Emily was still full of energy. She invited Rebecca to stay for lunch, but

Rebecca politely declined, explaining she had things to take care of at home. Emily didn’t push.

Rebecca gave the girl's head an affectionate pat and praised her once more before heading out. On her way

back, though, a text cin from Richard.

It read: [Csee me. | want to talk.] Attached was the address of an upscale bar.

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Chapter 27

Rebecca called him right away. This time, the phone rang-instead of the dead silence she'd gotten before.

Though it only rang about four times, to Rebecca it felt like an eternity. Her mind raced with memories-him

stealing money, disappearing, lying to her face.

Finally, the call connected. A low, rough voice cthrough. “Rebecca.”

Rebecca's hand shook slightly. ‘It’s really him. After all these years, he actually has the nerve to answer my call,

she thought.

“I heard Amelia’s condition took a turn. Is it true?” Richard asked, his voice slow and heavy.

Rebecca fired back, “Since when do you care about it?”

“Of course | care,” Richard insisted, his tone serious. “She’s not just your mother-she’s still my wife.”

“If you treated her as your wife, you wouldn't have stolen all the money and disappeared,” Rebecca shot back,

old wounds reopening as she spoke. “You wouldn't have abandoned us with all that debt and ignored us for

years.”

Silence hung heavily on the other end.

Rebecca clenched her jaw, anger still simmering inside.

“What if | told you... | had my reasons back then?” Richard's voice sounded weary, older. “If | hadn't done what |

did, things would've been worse for you two.”

Rebecca let out a sarcastic laugh. “You expectto believe that?” It was like being stabbed and then told it was

for her own good-how ridiculous.

“Just come,” Richard said, his voice growing more solemn. “Letexplain everything. If you still hateafter

that, I'll go beg Amelia’s forgiveness.”

“Okay,” Rebecca snapped, ending the call. She hailed a cab and headed straight to the address he'd sent.

Everything in her warned that this was just another one of Richard's lies, like all the times before. But a small,

stubborn part of her still wondered if there was more to the story.

‘I have nothing left to lose. He can’t hurtanymore,’ she thought. ‘Even if this is another scheme, so what?

But if there is a chance he is telling the truth... Mom and | deserve that apology.”

Half an hour later, she found the bar and the exact booth he'd told her about. She pushed the door open without

hesitation.

The booth was dim, but she immediately spotted the middle-aged Richard sitting on the couch.

He rose slowly, a complicated look in his eyes. “Rebecca,” he called.

Rebecca didn't answer. She stood by

the door, watching him Shed Lhe

years had not been Kikd-He ost

the Shah Sresence he once had as

the boss of the Jensen Group. Now

he just looked worn out. The content

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chapter there!

“Don’t just stand there, silly. Cand sit,” Richard said, stepping forward to guide her toward the couch.

13:25 Wed, 17 Sept

Chapter 27

Rebecca didn’t sit. Her eyes stayed pinned on him.

Complicated feelings swirled in Richard's eyes. Scanning her from head to toe, he said in a gravelly voice,

“You've lost weight. Not eating right?”

“Cut the act,” Rebecca said, pulling

her arm away. She wasn't the najve

girl who'd fall fou hiadedke concern

aby RoR Nou said you had an

explanation why you had taken the

money and run. I'm listening.” The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

“Can’t we just talk for a minute?” Richard said, his voice heavy. “It hurts to see you like this.”

“If you really cared, you'd tellthe truth,” Rebecca said flatly. After everything that had happened-with him,

with Jeffrey-she’d learned not to trust pretty words.

Richard’s gaze dropped, and he suddenly looked defeated.

Rebecca stood still, not moving an inch.

“I didn’t want to tell you any of this, but you kept pushing,” Richard began, downing his drink with a heavy sigh.

“The company’s crash wasn’t an accident. We were set up.”

Rebecca listened quietly.

“If I hadn't taken that money and fled

the country, all of us would've been

targets.” Richarets 16iéS grew thick

WRRHEStoN. “By leaving, | bought us

a chance to fight back and uncover

the truth.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“You can dress it up all you want,” Rebecca said coldly, “but in the end, you still took the money and ran. You left

us behind.”

Richard’s hand clenched around the wine glass, his lowered eyes dark. He'd planned to win her over with a

flawless

he was at a loss for words.

explanation, but after endless rehearsing, he had nothing.

AD