After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 71

Chapter 71

69

55 vouchers

Rebecca never imagined Samuel could make such a remark. She wondered if her frequent contact with lan

mistakenly led Samuel to think she wanted a relationship.

Fortunately, everyone just treated it as a joke and didn’t take it seriously. After scasual banter, the matter

was quickly dropped.

lan then turned the conversation to Jessica’s situation, asking curiously, “Since when did Andrea becyour

sister?”

“She’s my father’s secret love child,” Jessica replied nonchalantly. “We just acknowledged her existence last

week.”

lan exclaimed, “This sounds like something straight out of a soap opera.”

Jessica took a sip of her drink. Before Andrea suddenly appeared at her doorstep, she'd never imagined such

tic twists-a half-sister stealing her best friend's man and bringing him to her home.

“Do you know about this, Becky?” lan asked, noticing Rebecca scrolling through her phone.

Rebecca looked up. “What?”

lan immediately sensed her distraction. “What's wrong? You look...” he drew out the suspense, “oddly

preoccupied.”

“Nothing important.” Rebecca set down her phone, rejoining the conversation. “I knew about Jessica’s situation

from day one. It's definitely soap opera material.”

Jessica stared at her from across the table. “You're acting strangely.”

lan said, “Exactly.”

Jessica spread her hand and demanded, “Hand over your phone.”

lan mimicked her gesture and repeated, “Hand it over.”

“Copycat much?” Jessica shot back mercilessly. “Why repeat everything | say? If your brain's just for show, I'll

donate it for you,”

“Look at her,” lan complained to Rebecca, “she’s always yelling atall day.”

“So what if | do? Rebecca’s on my side,” Jessica argued back. “Even if | beat you to death, she'd be the one

handingthe tools.”

Rebecca quietly sipped her water, staying out of their bickering. She subtly deleted the message Jeffrey had just

sent.

During their argument, Jeffrey had messaged her. | gave you custody rights not for outsiders to pick up our

child.] The “outsider” referred to Jessica.

11:27 Sun, Sep 21

Chapter 71

69

55 vouchers

She didn't reply. Jessica was like a sister to her. She thought, ‘If Jessica counted as an outsider, what did that

make him-always busy with work, leaving Victor to handle pickup duty?’

“You're getting sidetracked.” lan finally refocused after their extended banter. “Weren't we discussing how Becky

was acting strangely while holding her phone earlier?”

“Was Jeffrey texting you just now?” Jessica asked.

“No, it was the company,” Rebecca said, not wanting to stress her out. “We’re having a two-day team-building

event in the northern district next Monday and Tuesday.” The round trip would take four to five hours, an

absurdly long commute.

Jessica immediately offered, “Don’t worry. I'll take care of Samuel.”

Rebecca pressed her lips together, instinct warning her that telling Jessica about Jeffrey’s message would earn

Jessica’s wrath.

True enough, when Jessica learned Jeffrey planned to take Samuel back for a few days with Victor handling

childcare, she launched into a furious tirade against him.

Still, she understood the legal reality. Until the divorce was finalized, Jeffrey retained equal parenting rights.

That night after Samuel fell asleep, Jessica called Rebecca with worried questions she'd avoided during dinner.

Now they could speak freely.

“Don’t worry,” Rebecca reassured her. “I've got this under control.”

She withheld that Andrea worked as Jeffrey’s secretary at PrimePlay Technologies, and that Andrea would likely

accompany him at the team-building event. Jessica already carried enough burdens.

Their late-night conversation ended near midnight. As Rebecca prepared to work on freelance illustrations,

Jeffrey’s message flashed: [I'll pick up Samuel tomorrow morning.]

Rebecca: [Weren't we supposed to meet on Monday?]

Jeffrey: [Tomorrow’s Children’s Day.]

Rebecca paused her typing. She’d always remembered Children’s Day. Her original plan involved finishing

morning dance lessons, decorating their home, baking Samuel's cake, and then surprising him after his martial

arts class ended.

But Jeffrey seemed determined to fulfill his birthday promise about taking Samuel to the amusement park.

Jeffrey: [I've arranged leave for his martial arts class. What about your dance lessons?]

Rebecca nearly suggested afternoon plans, but swallowed the words. Knowing Jeffrey’s recent attitude, she

realized arguments would only fuel more custody threats.

She figured he'd inevitably weaponize it as proof of maternal neglect, leveraging it in future custody battles.

After deliberation, Rebecca contacted Lucas. She carefully explained the scheduling conflict.

11:27 Sun, Sep 21

Chapter 71

69

55 vouchers

“Actually, | was about to reach out,” Lucas confessed. “I completely forgot about Children’s Day. | promised Emily

an outing. Tomorrow might be...”

Relieved, Rebecca heard him continue, “Are you available this Sunday? We could reschedule for Sunday

morning.”

Rebecca said, “Okay.”

Lucas added, “If Samuel is alone, just bring him along.”

Rebecca agreed and thanked him before ending the call.

Jeffrey, still waiting for Rebecca's reply, absently slid his fingers across his phone screen. His eyes grew darker

than the midnight sky outside.

« .

Jeffrey, will you takeout

” :

tomorrow?” Andrea asked iy

q “

shufflingitiseyah built | found an

Fadi i i

a ing spot online. Tomorrow's

. : ”

perfect weather for checking it out.

Jeffrey glanced sideways. “It's Children’s Day tomorrow. | have to spend it with Samuel.”

Andrea froze mid—motion, clutching

q a “ q

the fabric tighter. “That boy agai

Due to him Was ON at

diarer: and then, he ruined my plan

‘

for tomorrow," she wondered. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

“Sunday's forecast shows sunshine too.” Jeffrey stood and approached, trying to soothe her. “How about this

Sunday?”

Andrea seized his hand, pouting playfully. “You have to take photos with me, lots of couple shots, okay?”

Jeffrey's brow furrowed instinctively. Andrea tugged at his arm pleadingly. “Please?”

Jeffrey was about to respond when his phone buzzed with a message. He pulled it out to see a few simple words

from Rebecca: [I asked for leave.]

Andrea couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy. She'd always wanted Jeffrey for herself, but knew he couldn't be

controlled by ordinary means.

His sharp mind saw through every schshe'd ever tried, forcing her to tread carefully those days.

“Is Rebecca going, too?” She schooled her expression, though her eyes betrayed disappointment.

Jeffrey answered matter-of-factly, “As Samuel's mother, Rebecca needs to be present for all his important

milestones.”

Andrea bowed her head. The same

irrefutable logic always trappeglsr,

and any projestviolid seer petty,

on 8 q

y&t $he couldn't risk pushing too hard

lest he discover her secret. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!