After the divorce, he begged

“What should the CEO of the Hanson Group do?” Jeffrey locked eyes with his parents.

Marcus blurted out without hesitation, “It’s certainly not whatever nonsense you're doing now.”

Jeffrey turned and left without another glance.

He'd made that initial call, fearing Rebecca couldn’t handle them alone. Knowing his family, he understood

they'd force her to surrender Amelia’s custody through any means if he didn’t intervene.

But in his eyes, his woman wasn’t theirs to command.

“Jeffrey! Stop right there. Are you even listening to me?”

Marcus's furious shouts echoed behind Jeffrey as the bodyguards escorted him out, leaving him powerless

beyond empty threats.

Jeffrey ignored the commotion, footsteps heavy as he returned to his office.

“The Hanson family has more than one heir.” Marcus's voice faded into the distance as he continued, “If you

your can’t handle being CEO, I'll put Stephen in

chair.”

“That's enough,” Candice interjected, her heart sinking.

“How dare he pull this reckless stunt over swoman?” Marcus's temper flared uncontrollably. “He represents

not just himself, but the entire Hanson Group.”

Candice fell silent.

After making an awkward exit from the Hanson Group headquarters, Marcus was furious and barked at the

driver, “Taketo PrimePlay Technologies.”

“Jeffrey wasn’t bluffing.” Candice maintained her composure. “That incident destroyed his trust in us. If you

target Rebecca, he'll truly sever family ties.”

“You think | fear him?” Marcus blustered.

Candice turned with a knowing look. “Don’t forget how he gained control of the Hanson Group.”

Marcus stiffened, his expression growing solemn as uncomfortable memories surfaced, leaving him speechless.

“We'll wait.” Candice glanced at the calendar in her phone. “If he still acts recklessly after their divorce, we'll

explore other options.”

Rebecca had no idea she'd inadvertently avoided trouble. After putting Samuel to sleep with bedtstories that

evening, she texted May: [May, are you asleep?]

A video call cthrough instantly. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” May yawned, concern evident in her sleepy

voice.

The screen showed May in a sexy silk nightgown. Though nearing fifty, she maintained her looks like someone in

her thirties. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with coquettish charm.

“You're still as young and beautiful as ever,” Rebecca said sincerely, momentarily dazzled despite their long

acquaintance.

“Stop it.” May propped her phone on the bathroom counter while applying skincare. “I'm getting old.”

Rebecca was momentarily lost for words.

May massaged serum into her cheeks. “Out with it. What's bothering you?”

“Were you really childhood friends from the orphanage with my mother?” Rebecca leaned closer to the screen,

scrutinizing every microexpression.

May froze mid-motion, completely unprepared for the decades-old question resurfacing.

Rebecca immediately caught the hesitation. “It’s not true, is it?”

“It is.” May restored her composure, methodically applying skincare. “Your mom and | have known each other

since childhood at the orphanage. Ms. Coleman was like a mother to us both. We took you to visit her when you

were little, remember?”

“Besides you, did my mom have any other friends or family?” Rebecca pressed cautiously.

“I don’t know,” May replied evasively, keeping her cards close. “Who's to say she didn’t see other people behind

my back?”

“When | visited the hospital today, | met someone in my mom’s ward.” Rebecca adjusted the story slightly,

seeking truth through calculated disclosure. “He claimed to be her old acquaintance.”

May's response was simple. “I see.”

Rebecca cropped a surveillance photo and sent it. “Do you recognize this person?”

Grabbing her phone, May walked to the living room while opening the message. When the image loaded, her

pupils shook violently. The photo clattered to the floor with a hollow thud.

How? How did he find Amelia?’ she thought to herself.

“May?” Rebecca caught every nuance of May's reaction-the clear recognition mixed with complicated history.

Retrieving the phone with forced calm, May asked, “You said you met him in her ward?”

“Yep,” Rebecca responded softly.

May pressed, “What did he say to you?”

“Is he an old acquaintance of my mom’s?” Rebecca countered instead of answering.

In Rebecca’s memory, May always remained calm and composed, even when hearing about Rebecca’s marriage

to Jeffrey, whom May had never met before. Yet just now, Rebecca had seen genuine shock on May's

face.

“No,” May lied casually. “An enemy, if anything.”

Rebecca wondered, ‘An enemy? Who would sit patiently by their enemy’s hospital bed for half an hour?’

“What exactly did he tell you?” May pressed again.

“Nothing,” Rebecca confessed. “I lied earlier. We never spoke. The doctor toldabout his visit.”

“You're learning bad habits from Jeffrey, little troublemaker,” May teased, stension leaving her shoulders.

Rebecca chuckled evasively. She kept the divorce secret, not wanting to burden May with worry.

“That man is no good. Tell Jeffrey not to let him in anymore.” May knew Amelia had been staying at the Hanson

Group's private hospital. “Don’t get involved with him either.”

Rebecca nodded obediently. “Okay.”

After chatting a bit more about other

trivial daily matters, they red fr

up. As if worrieq-Refie€oa wou n't

obey) MAY Gent her a follow-up

message after the call, reiterating the

importance of staying away The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

from that man.

Although Rebecca agreed, May still felt uneasy. In the end, she dug out a long-unused number and dialed it.

sok

Rebecca realized through the call that the man was closely connected to her mother. Though May called him an

enemy, Rebecca could tell her tone and expression clearly carried traces of resentment.

Rebecca muttered in her mind, ‘Is he Mom's former family? Was Mom abandoned and left in an orphanage by

her family who reunited with her later?’

Although her mind was full of

questions, she didn't plan to

investigate further, 4 ast tap [1

strogldnt se MéHtioned meant an

unhappy history. Since Amelia had

chosen to keep it hidden, Rebecca

believed she wanted to forget it all.

Rebecca told herself, ‘After she

wakes up, if she wants to talk, I'll

listen. If she doesn't| @pnT press!

1.€

Aftepallvon isthe most important

person in my world, and everyone

else is just a stranger who doesn't

matter. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

After putting the matter aside, she began pondering the anniversary celebration. Classical dance held a limited

competitive advantage in such grand events, requiring her to devise a new approach.

After a night of consideration, Rebecca finalized a concept and wrote a story script.

Chapter 69