After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 183

I'm not rejecting you. | just want to stay close to Mom, Rebecca replied, refusing to take the bait. “Even though

she’s been awake for days now, sometimes it still feels like a dream.”

What if it wasn’t real? What if she imagined it? What if she stepped away for too long and her mother slipped

back into a coma?

Sensing her fear, Jeffrey reached over and took her hand. His grip was firm, steady, and real. “It's not a dream,”

he said gently. “She’s awake. This is real”

“Jeffrey, Rebecca said softly. Maybe it was because the car was so small, or maybe it was the way he’d just

spoken to her, so gently-either way, she couldn't help but want to ask him something, even though deep down,

the already knew the answer

“Yeah Jeffrey replied gently

“If I hadn't kept the deal,” Rebecca asked, staring at that ridiculously good-looking face of his, “would you really

have gone after my moven?”

Jeffrey met her eyes. He wanted to say no-but he knew that if he ever let her see him soften up, she'd think she

could leave whenever she felt like it. So he meeled himself and let his voice go cold. “Thinking of running

Rebecca quickly shook her head. “No, just asking”

“If Jessica’s warning wasnt chan enough for you, | can make it even more obvious,” Jeffrey murmured, softly

tracing her slender hugens-his tgentle, but his words sharp. “And just so you know, lan’s been slipping out

of his bodyguards sight lurex?

“That's not necessary” Rebecca said, pushing down her feelings. “I've got the message”

“Good girl,” peffrey teased, playing with her pale fingertips. “Don’t go dreaming up ways to wreck what we've

Rebecca fell silent. If | leave, what happens to jessica? To fan? she thought. | know Jeffrey wouldn’t actually killi

shemu. Bant when he’s angry, he’s terrifying. Could | really trade their safety for my freedom? What kind of

person would that make me?

The neat day. Amelia picked up on Rebecca's off mood. At lunch, she eyed her daughter, who looked perfectly

monal and asked directly. “What happened when you got back last night?”

“Tah” Rebecca froze for a second, caught off guard,

“You've been distracted all morning” Amelia said. No one knew her daughter better.

Jest didn’t sleep weil Rebecca uid, a rare lie for her | was having nightmares all night.”

“bun about?” Anita prewed

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Chapter 183

35Voil

Rebecca didn’t have to lie this time. “I keep dreaming that you waking up was just a dream. That | open my eyes

and you're still lying there, not moving.”

It was the fear that had been haunting her, making everything feel fragile even now.

Amelia smiled softly, her tone full of affection. “Sweetheart, you really do worry too much.”

Rebecca tried to brush it off, but Amelia could see right through her. If it were just bad dreams, her daughter

wouldn't carry such a weight in her eyes. A mother always knew.

After her afternoon rehab session, Amelia revisited the topic. “When you got back last night, did Jeffrey say

anything to you?”

“What?” Rebecca replied, feigning ignorance.

“Like threatening you with your friends if you ever thought about leaving?” Amelia asked, her tone casual as if

she were discussing the weather.

Rebecca's face gave her away instantly. ‘How does she know? Is she psychic?‘ She felt completely exposed.

“I really thought he was different from those other men,” Amelia sighed, bitterness edging her voice. Seeing

Rebecca's reaction confirmed her suspicion. “Turns out they're all the same, resorting to cheap threats when

they feel powerless.”

Back when Rebecca had Samuel, Amelia had deliberately held off for months before even considering

transferring her assets. She'd believed Jeffrey was decent enough to trust with her daughter. After all, how a man

acts during and after a pregnancy says everything.

But now? Threatening loved ones and talking about moving money? It was weak. Thank god I never signed those

papers, she thought with relief.

“Those other men?” Rebecca echoed, Rebecca echoed, latching onto that part.

“Don’t let his words get to you,” Amelia said quietly, leaning in. “It's a sign he’s desperate. As long as you keep

your resolve and don’t back down, no one will get hurt.”

Rebecca studied her mother’s face. There was so much she didn’t know about Amelia, like the orphanage, a

topic that had always been off-limits. But looking at her now, Rebecca sensed a strength born from a past far

harder than she’d ever imagined.

Rebecca started, hesitating. “Back then, did someone ever-"

“Rebecca.” Amelia's voice was gentle but firm. She didn’t want her daughter stuck in a world shaped by men like

Jeffrey.

“What?” Rebecca responded.

“Do you trust me?” Amelia asked.

Rebecca answered without a second thought. “I do.”

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Chapter 188

“Then trust me, and keep moving forward, I'll handle the rest, Amelia promised. “Lettake care of everything”

Rebecca was her precious daughter, the one good thing that cafter all the pain. All the wanted was for her

to be happy, free to follow her heart.

“If someone had said that to you back then, would things have been easier? Rebecca asked, her voice soft with

emotion.

Her heart ached for her mother. Even though Amelia rarely spoke about her past, Rebecca could tell it hadn't

been easy. ‘How much has she endured to bringinto the world?’ she wondered. And where has my father

been through all of it?”

“There was someone,” Amelia said calmly. But in the end, it was just Amelia learning to get back up and trust

herself after trusting the wrong people.

“You know, | was actually really happy back then,” Amelia said with a grin, gently brushing Rebecca's cheek. “If

someone crossed me, I'd give it right back. After Leo hurt me, | slapped him and kicked him where it hurt.

“I lived on my own terms. | never held back, whether | was returning a favor or settling a score.”

“I made my own money, aced my classes, learned all kinds of crazy skills, and pulled off spretty wild stunts,

too. Back in Honnala, everyone calledBoss.”

Rebecca could almost picture her mother in her youth. Amelia must have been carefree and bold among friends,

confident and graceful in the world, always wearing that proud, fearless smile.

She didn’t ask why Amelia had eventually agreed to marry Richard; something must have pushed Amelia into it.

“Mom, | could never be even half the person you were,” Rebecca said quietly, her voice full of admiration.

Amelia brushed a strand of hair from Rebecca's face, her gaze tender. “You know why | didn’t push you to study

finance or management back then?”

Rebecca shook her head. “No clue.”

“Two reasons,” Amelia told her. “First, you're way too honest and straightforward, and that world would eat you

alive. You'd see sides of people you're better off not knowing.

“And most importantly, | already have more than enough money to last you a lifetime. You only need to learn

what you love. That's all that matters to me.”

Rebecca wrapped her arms around her mom, holding her tight.

Amelia rubbed Rebecca’s back gently. “Don’t worry about anything. I'm here. I've got you. Always.”

Rebecca whispered, “And I've got you, too, Mom.”

She still didn’t fully understand why her amazing mother had left Honnala for Jelasburg, or why Amelia’d cut ties

with everyone from her past. Whatever it was, it must have hurt enough that Amelia wanted a completely

10:46 Wed, Oct 1

Chapter 183

fresh start.

With that thought weighing on her heart, Rebecca softly called out, “Mom”

Amelia's whole face softened, warmth in her eyes, “Yes?”

vouchere

Rebecca’s words brimmed with affection. “I love you, Mom. No matter what, I'll always be here for you. Always.”

Amelia paused, a little stunned, and then whispered, “Sure.”

After that talk, Rebecca finally made up her mind. She decided to meet up with her friend Jessica and talk things

through. If she really was going to leave, she at least owed Jessica a proper goodbye.

AD

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