After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 8

Seeing the situation escalate, Victor made a call to Jeffrey.

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your price because you gave us Samuel Marcus said, his gaze hard and unyielding. “But since you can’t be

reasonable, this

“We only let you ny

discussion is over

Rebecca said calmly. “We really don’t need to discuss this. It’s not your decision to make!”

Marcus's voice turned icy. “What did you just say?”

“The divorce papers are already filed,” Rebecca said, her body tense but her voice steady. “I get custody once

it’s final. If you try to take him, I'll call the police”

Both Marcus’s and Candice’s faces instantly darkened.

That was exactly why they’d rushed over when they heard the news. After the divorce was finalized, changing

anything would be nearly impossible.

“How can you be so selfish?” Candice snapped. “Have you even considered that he’s just a child? You're making

him suffer by dragging him through this instability.”

“I just have custody,” Rebecca shot back. “It’s not like his father’s dead. I've never stopped Jeffrey from

spending money on him.”

“Let’s cut to the chase. You're just using Samuel to get money out of Joffrey, Candice said with venom.

“Someone as manipulative as you doesn’t deserve to be his mother.”

“I might not be perfect, but at least I'm better than a cheater,” Rebecca fired back, done with explanations.

“So he had an affair? Big deal,” Marcus shot back. “That's practically normal in our crowd

“Which is exactly why I'm taking Samuel and leaving, Rebecca said, her conviction growing. Your family’s twisted

values would mess up anyone, no matter how strong their moral foundation.”

“Watch your mouth!” Marcus snapped, furious that Rebecca-a trophy his son supported-dared to judge him.

Rebecca held her ground. T'll say it as many times as it takes. The truth doesn’t change.”

The air between them went cold.

Right at that moment, Marcus’s phone buzzed loudly.

Seeing Jeffrey’s nflash across the screen, he answered with barely contained rage. “You won't believe what

your woman just did,” he snapped without greeting. “She actually had the nerve to raise her voice at me.”

Jeffrey responded calmly, without a trace of the respect he should have for his father, “You said it yourself-she’s

my woman.”

The response only fueled Marcus's anger, though he knew better than to take it out on his son.

Shooting a dark look toward Rebecca, he switched the phone to speaker. “Actually, your timing is perfect. Your

mother and | need to ask you about something.”

Jeffrey cut straight to the point before they could continue. “Letguess. This is about Rebecca getting custody

of Samuel?”

Marcus's eyes flickered toward Rebecca before he answered, “Yes”

“I'm fine with it,” Jeffrey stated flatly

The atmosphere grew tense as Marcus's anger becpalpable.

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Chapter 8

Not picking up on his father's mood, Jeffrey said calmly, “If she wants to raise him, let her do it.”

“Are you crazy?” Candice burst out, her voice sharp with panic at the thought of losing her grandson. “If Samuel

goes with her, he'll forget all about you. What happens when he starts calling sother man dad?”

“Maybe that will happen when he’s little,” Jeffrey said casually. “But once he grows up and understands how

things really work, that could change.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Candice asked, not following his logic.

“You've seen those stories about rich people finding their kids,” Jeffrey said, always thinking about the bottom

line. “Those kids are always happy to discover they've got a wealthy father.”

Marcus and Candice went quiet, clearly not having considered that angle

“When he’s older, he'll figure out what the right choice is,” Jeffrey said practically. “Besides, be there as he grows

up-1 won't miss any of the big

moments.”

“But Samuel isn’t that kind of kid,” Candice said, thinking of how the boy had always been well-behaved and

sensible-never greedy or competitive with others. Her voice filled with uncertainty as she added, “What if he

turns out to be different from what you imagine?”

“Till be there for him as he grows up,” Jeffrey stated with finality.

“And stay out of her business about the boy,” he added, his tone making clear he wouldn't tolerate their

meddling. “The harder you push, the more you'll push Samuel away. Just act normal around him like you always

have.”

Suddenly, Rebecca understood exactly why Jeffrey hadn't contested the custody. Now she saw why people called

him calculating and ruthless.

She had to admit his reasoning was airtight. With occasional visits, showing up for birthdays and holidays, and

bringing gifts, he’d still look like the perfect father in Samuel's eyes.

His cheating had only hurt her, but his love for Samuel never wavered. Whether his son stayed with him or not

didn’t really matter to Jeffrey.

“But what if she won't let us see Samuel?” Candice asked, thinking about how defiant Rebecca had been earlier.

“I'm his father, and | have rights,” Jeffrey said calmly, though the threat in his voice was unmistakable. “If she

tries to keep him from me, I'll ruin her”

Rebecca pressed her lips into a thin line, feeling h

heart grow colder with each word.

She now realized there were no free rides in life. What had seemed like rescue when she was at her lowest

turned to be a blade aimed straight at her heart.

“Got it,” Marcus said in his low rumble of a voice, Finally accepting this line of thinking.

Jeffrey hung up without another word, leaving the living room in complete silence,

I

You only got custody because

” :

Jeffrey went to bat for i ee

said asso ode €. "A gold

digder like you—what makes you

hink i ly?”

think you can raise Samuel properly?

Before leaving, Marcus fixed Rebecca with a stern look. “You're responsible for Samuel's well-being while he’s

with you,” he stated in a tone that brooked no argument.

Rebecca ignored his comment. She wasn’t even sure how she had managed to walk upstairs.

Without realizing it, she found herself

. )

in Samugh'’s small study. When she

saw the family photédaptiof the

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threBlofithem on his desk, memories

of their happy times playing together

cflooding back to her. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

At that moment, she was suddenly overwlymed with guilt. She had made this important decision for her son

without ever asking what he wanted.

“Mommy” a young voice called from the doorway.

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19:54 Sun, 14 Sept uw.

Chapter 8

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Rebecca turned toward the voice and saw Samuel standing in the doorway. Before she could say anything, he

walked over on his small legs and wrapped his arms around her in a hug

She pushed aside her own emotions and managed a calm tone. “What's wrong, honey?”

« : . »

Nothing. | just wanted to hug you,

Samuel murmured into her shoulder,

his worl particalarly eerie

« )

heed you to know you're the most

. . ”

important person in my whole world.

He'd seen the whole thing through the security camera.

Watching his grandparents bully his mother and hearing how cold his father was to her made him realize

everything she’d put up with for him.

Rebecca was stunned by what he said. “Did someone tell you something?” she asked.

“Nobody toldanything.!” Samuel shook his head, meeting Rebecca's worried look. “I just happened to hear

you talking in the living room.”

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