After the divorce, he begged

With that, Jeffrey walked out, making it clear he wasn’t going to stick around.

B

Lucas watched him go, his mind swirling with doubt. As Jeffrey reached the door, Lucas called out, “Wait a

second...”

Jeffrey stopped, turning to see what Lucas wanted.

“Is this just hearsay, or do you have solid information?” Lucas asked, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced

with a serious edge in his eyes.

“Solid intelligence,” Jeffrey said clearly, “Including details about her job, where she lives, and her identity.”

Lucas’s hands tightened slightly at his sides.

Noticing his conflict and hesitation, Jeffrey offered, “To show good faith, Ill share one detail first.”

Lucas’s eyes flickered with interest. “What is it?”

“Her engagement is coming up, “Jeffrey said, watching Lucas closely for any reaction.

Lucas’s chest tightened, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “That’s impossible!”

35%

“See for yourself,” Jeffrey said casually, observing Lucas’s whitening knuckles. “This intelligence is only good for

a week. After that, it's gone for good.”

Lucas pursed his lips, his mind racing through the past. He didn’t want to believe it.

But given Joanna's personality and what he had done to her, he wouldn't be surprised if she reacted this way.

Lucas stood in the doorway for a long time, only snapping back to reality when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

When he saw it was Stephen calling, his fingers instinctively tightened around the phone. After a brief moment,

he answered, “Stephen.”

His voice sounded hoarse and subdued, a clear sign of emotional turmoil that wouldn't go unnoticed by Stephen.

“What's wrong?” Stephen asked, his tone gentle.

Lucas tightened his grip on the phone, words stuck in his throat.

Stephen, always perceptive, waited a beat before guessing. “Did Jeffrey tell you something?”

Lucas paused, surprised. “How did you know?”

“Only he could get under your skin like this,” Stephen replied calmly, his words a soothing balm to Lucas’s

anxious mind.

“He wantsto fire Rebecca,” Lucas admitted, his voice steady as he confided in Stephen. “In exchange for

information about Joanna.”

14:12 Fri, 19 Sept 0.

Chapter 58

00335%

20

Stephen's deep eyes, framed by silver-rimmed glasses, lifted slightly, a flicker of unspoken thoughts passing

across his

face.

Leaning against the porch column, Lucas added, “He says nobody else can get this intelligence, not even you.”

“So that’s what he’s claiming?” Stephen asked.

“Yes,” Lucas replied.

Silence stretched between them through the phone line.

After a moment, Stephen spoke again. He knew how important Joanna was to Lucas, but he also understood

Rebecca's role in Lucas’s plans. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course,” Lucas replied without hesitation.

“Joanna is in Jeffrey’s custody,” Stephen said, his voice steady.

Lucas furrowed his brow, confused and unsettled.

Stephen twirled a pen between his fingers, his eyes behind the lenses slightly narrowing. “I'll have someone look

into it and let you know what we find as soon as possible.”

Before Lucas could respond, the call ended. He stood there, more conflicted than ever.

If Joanna were hiding from him, things could be sorted out. But if she was really in Jeffrey’s hands, the situation

was about to get much more complicated.

“Mr. Reed...” Rebecca waved her hand in front of his face, calling his na few times.

Lucas snapped back to reality. Seeing her holding her bag and ready to leave, he instinctively asked, “Is today’s

dance

session over?”

Rebecca nodded. “Yes.”

Lucas checked the time. “Lunch is ready. Stay and eat before you go.”

“No, thanks. | have sthings to take care of at home.” Rebecca made an excuse, biting her lip. After a

moment to steady. herself, she asked, “Can | ask you something?”

Lucas slipped one hand into his pocket, looking effortlessly cool. “Go ahead.”

Rebecca's hand holding the bag twitched slightly. “Jeffrey asked you to fire me, didn’t he?”

Earlier, she had stayed mostly because of the high salary, but more importantly, she hadn't feared immediate

termination here. Everyone knew Jeffrey and Lucas were enemies. But what she saw just now gave her a sinking

feeling.

Lucas looked into her innocent eyes for a moment before answering honestly, “Yes, but | haven't given him an

answer yet.”

14:12 Fri, 19 Sept 0

Chapter 58

Rebecca's heart sank. “Thank you,” she murmured to Lucas before turning to walk away.

“Ms. Jensen,” Lucas called after her.

Rebecca stopped in her tracks.

Lucas asked bluntly, “During your marriage to Jeffrey, did you ever meet a woman surnamed Jordan?”

Rebecca shook her head. “No.”

Lucas’s last shred of hope vanished instantly.

Rebecca didn’t linger on the matter, leaving promptly after their conversation.

Q4:35%([]

As she walked away from the villa,

she couldn't stop worrying that in

Jeffrey sabotaged tid jab fo, her

oBsiflon Mt PrimePlay Technologies

would be in serious jeopardy. She

wondered what she could do then.

Fuming, she pulled out her phone and dialed Jeffrey. Each unanswered ringtone amplified her simmering anger.

Jeffrey had just returned to Harmony Estate from the hospital when Rebecca's call cthrough. He answered

without much thought, still staring at his computer screen. “What?”

“Why did you make Lucas fire me?” Rebecca's voice crackled through the line, full of accusation. “You promised

you wouldn't interfere! Have you forgotten our agreement at Harmony Estate?”

“Not interfering means treating you like any other stranger,” Jeffrey’s deep voice rumbled, barely moving his

lips.

“Then why get involved if we're strangers?” she asked.

“Ordinary strangers don’t affect my interests,” he replied calmly. “But you're an exception.”

“What have | ever done to affect you?” Rebecca felt like he was doing this on purpose. “Blocked your path?

Offended you? Or somehow displeased you?”

“Why would | explain myself to srandom passerby?” Jeffrey said, his words cutting deep.

The simple statement hit Rebecca like a knife, shattering her composure. Her grip on the phone tightened, and

all her questions died on her lips.

It was true that he didn’t owe explanations to strangers. Unable to find a suitable response, she ended the call

abruptly.

She'd have to swallow this bitter pill.

If Lucas decided to fire her based.on

Jeffrey's suggestion} dh¥ have to

figure ot few ways to make quick

cash. She was just a tiny ant

compared to Jeffrey's empire. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

Jeffrey stared at the phone, his fingertips lightly brushing over Rebecca's contact name.

Andrea walked in, noticing that he seemed unusually distracted. “Jeffrey? Are you busy?” she asked cautiously.

“What is it?” Jeffrey set the phone aside.

3/4

35%

20)

Chapter 58

“My mother textedthis morning,” Andrea said, hesitating before continuing. “About my father.”

She had spent years living alone with her mother, asking countless times about her father, only to receive vague

answers.

Only recently, after confirming time

and again that Jeffrey genuinely

cared for her, did Andrey figafly Bet a

[

cel fromiter other. It was then that

her mother revealed her father's

identity. Andrea never could have

imagined it would be him. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!