After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 7

Jeffrey was absolutely certain Rebecca had done that on purpose

“How could you treat something Jeffrey gave you like this!” Andrea asked as she quickly picked it up and

admired it with clear affection. “This is

Before Andrea could finish her sentence, Rebecca was already getting into the car with her suitcase.

Rather than going home, she headed directly to Jessica’s apartment. Since she hadn't found a new place yet,

keeping her belongings there seemed like the safest option.

Jessica's heart clenched when she saw how heartbroken and drained Rebecca looked after just half a day. “Was it

that awful man again?”

Rebecca responded with a quiet nod.

That complete bastard!” Jessica muttered under her breath. “He’s absolutely worthless,”

“When | went back to pack my things at noon, Rebecca explained in a calm voice that belied her hollow heart,

“he insisted on searching my suitcase in front of Andres because he thought | had stolen from him,

“When called him this afternoon, | heard Andrea telling him she had just finished showering”

“What a total jerk!” Jessica snapped, her anger flaring up instantly.

Hearing her friend’s immediate defense, Rebecca pressed her lips together before finally looking up. “Jessica!”

Yeah? Jessica answered softly

“Can you just hold me? Rebecca asked, the brief calm suddenly replaced by a deep ache in her chest,

Jessica immediately pulled her into a warm, protective embrace.

Rebecca had been determined to stay strong, but remembering everything from the past two days made her

nose sting. Even as she tried to fight them back, tears started streaming down her face.

Her shoulders shook with quiet sobs as her heart clenched with pain.

“Just let it out if you need to cry,” Jessica said, rubbing her back comfortingly. “Get it all out, and then we can

start fresh. You'll stay with me, I've got

you.”

Rebecccrying intensified at these words.

Jessica held her through it all, and only after about ten minutes did Rebecca's sobs finally subside.

Jessica wiped Rebecca's tears with a tissue and gently fixed her messy hair. “You're not alone in this. You've got

me,” she reminded her.

“I know,” Rebecca whispered, her voice raw from crying.

“If you're really set on moving out, just cstay here with Samuel, Jessica offered. “It’s right by his school, and

| can help with him so it won't be too much for you.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

Before Rebecca could protest, Jessica cut her off with mock sternness. “No arguing. If you say no, that means

you don’t really think ofas a friend.”

“Okay,” Rebecca said. But secretly, she was determined to find her own place no matter what

“And Jeffrey is really cool with you taking the kid with you?” Jessien know how things worked in their world better

than most

In the divorces of the wealthy, the father usually ended up with the children. Mothers most often lost those

custody battles. A guy like Jeffrey being fine

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Chapter 7

with it was something new for Jessica

“Yes.” Rebecca nodded.

Jessica looked thoughtful “What about his parents?”

“No idea if he’s told them,” Rebecca said. “I never really dealt with his family much

“Watch your back,” Jessica warned. “I know his parents a little they're not easy people. If they find out you've

got the kids, they'll make trouble.”

Rebecca nodded. “Okay”

“If you can’t handle them, call me. I'll give them a piece of my mind, Jessica said. She'd always been good at

confrontations.

Rebecca agreed, but she didn’t expect them to arrive so soon,

She had just returned hfrom Jessica's apartment when she saw Jeffrey's parents sitting in the living room,

waiting for her.

She put her car keys away and walked over. “Marcus, Candice, it's been a while,” she greeted.

“Save the pleasantries,” Candice, Jeffrey’s mother, said sharply, her face full of spite. Even dressed in an elegant

dress, she lost none of her harshness.

Rebecca didn’t get angry. She had always known his parents disliked her

Over the years of marriage, she'd rarely spent twith them-partly because Jelly didn’t want her subjected to

their judgment, and partly because his own relationship with his parents was strained.

As a result, they hardly saw each other except for family dinners during the holidays.

“Where's Jeffrey Marcus, Jeffrey’s father, asked, his face stern.

Whether out of defiance or simply resignation, she offered a terse reply. “I don’t know.”

“Theard you were pursuing a divorce?” Marcus looked up, his imposing presence filling the room

Rebecca's gare instinctively drifted toward the upstairs hallway.

Seeming to understand her concern, Marcus clarified, “Samuel isn’t here. | had someone take him out for the

afternoon. He won't be back for an hour”

Just then, Rebecca's phone buzzed with an incoming message from Samuel.

“Why are you telling her all this?” Candice cut in, her voice sharp as she looked at Rebecca with pure dismissal.

“Let’s be clear. The reason for our visit is to determine custody arrangements.”

Rebecca's hands tightened. She hadn't expected Jessica's warning to ctrue so quickly.

“Samuel's staying with Jeffrey,” Rebecca said, not wanting to create any unnecessary .

Given how strained things were between Jeffrey andhis parents, she figured he was unlikely to have told them

about the arrangement.

She knew exactly how they would

react if she told them the m0

truth—they'd (even gtd. They'd

SRB Sp her from picking him

up from school, or worse, cut off her

visits completely The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Then explain this,” Marcus said, pulling out their divorce papers from somewhere.

Rebecca took the documents. They were expctly like the ones they'd filed. How did he get those she wondered.

“| don't know how you talked Jeffrey

into giving you custody,” Margyg aid,

his voiced Alston now.

Shnibel s a Hanson. He stays with his

family, not soutsider,” The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

2/3

19:54 Sun, 14 Sept

Chapter 7

Rebecca met his gaze, unfazed. “If his mother is an outsider, then what does that make you?” she said calmly.

“Rebecca, | suggest you cooperate while I'm still willing to have this conversation, Marcus said, his voice

lowering as his patience began to fade.

Rebecca hated their condescending attitude, “I'm Samuel’s mother,” she stated firmly, “and | have every right to

raise him.”

“You don’t even have a job.” Candice went straight for the jugular, her tone dripping with contempt. “How

exactly do you plan to provide for him?”

“| was working before,” Rebecca shot

back. “| just worked at home, andy

nobody thoughttq piuthaton’a

oByEhedk “She might have been

protected, but she wasn't blind to

how things worked. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Ill find a proper job with a steady incsoon,” she added.

“What difference does that make?” Candice asked, her disdain evident.

Rebecca lifted her gaze to meet Candice’s.

“What you earn probably wouldn't cover the cost of one of Samuel's outfits, Candice said sharply.

“The child will remain with us,” Marcus declared after a heavy pause, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Nyour price.”

Watching them act this way, Rebecca knew, for the hundredth tthat Samuel couldn’t grow up in a family like

this.

“Then giveall of Jeffrey’s shares in the Hanson Group.” After a moment of silence, she threw the challenge

back at them, certain they would never agree to her terms.

“Not a chance,” Candice retorted, convinced that Rebecca was only after their family’s money.

Rebecca responded with calm composure, “You started this with your unrealistic expectations.

Candice’s chest heaved with rage while Marcus’s anger hung in the air like a storm cloud.