After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 22

“Jeffrey,” Andrea began another performance, “it was an accident earlier. She might not have meant to hurt me.”

“Whether she meant it or not, you got hurt because of her,” Jeffrey cut in, his eyes never leaving Rebecca's face,

watching for even the slightest reaction, “She needs to pay for it.”

Rebecca got it. He wasn’t here to negotiate-he was here to stand by Andrea, just like he once stood by her. Back

then, no matter who was at fault, he always took her side.

Now, he was making it clear: if Rebecca refused to “share” him, his affection would shift to someone else. But

she didn’t want that kind of love-the kind that could be so easily given to another.

“Do you mean it?” Rebecca asked, her voice steady.

Jeffrey nodded. “Every word.”

In one swift motion, Rebecca grabbed a sterile scalpel from a nearby tray and drew it sharply across her palm.

The skin split open cleanly, blood welling up instantly and spilling over her hand.

“Ms. Jensen!” Timothy cried out, shocked.

Jeffrey's eyes darkened, fixed on Rebecca's bleeding hand. He thought, ‘This is the sRebecca who used to

tear up over the smallest scratch, clinging toand whimpering that it hurt?

‘How can she now cut herself so deeply without even flinching? Is she really that determined to refuse my help?

So willing to hurt herself just to defy

me?’

“Is this enough?” Rebecca asked calmly, blood dripping steadily from her hand onto the floor. “If not, I'll keep

going until you're satisfied.”

“Mr. Hanson, Ms. Scott's injuries are minor-just a few scrapes,” Timothy said urgently, worried that Rebecca's

wound might get worse. “Ms. Jensen has paid more than enough.”

It wasn’t just ten times the blood-it was closer to fifty times what Andrea had lost.

Jeffrey's expression darkened, his mood grim.

Just then, Andrea spoke up. “Jeffrey was only joking earlier. Why did you take it so seriously, Rebecca? If he really

didn’t want Dr. Johnson treating your mother, he would've had her moved out long ago.”

“It might be a joke,” Rebecca replied calmly. Even as the pain in her palm intensified, she showed no sign of

weakness. “It could easily cost my mom's

life.”

Andrea glanced nervously at Jeffrey.

Jeffrey wasn’t listening at all. His attention was entirely on Rebecca's bleeding hand and her defiant expression-

so different from the vulnerable woman

he once knew.

“Mr. Hanson,” Timothy said cautiously, “if Ms. Jensen’s wound isn’t treated soon...”

He didn’t get to finish. Jeffrey grabbed Andrea's wrist, though his eyes remained locked on Rebecca's injury, and

said, “Let's go.”

“What about Ms. Jensen’s mother?” Timothy asked quickly.

“Rebecca has paid her dues,” Jeffrey said coldly without looking back. “Treat her if you want.”

Timothy let out a sigh of relief. As he reached for the disinfectant and bandages, he couldn't help but scold,

“Rebecca, what were you thinking, cutting yourself like that? Do you have any idea how deep that is?”

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Chapter 22

Rebecca stayed silent. When it cto her mother’s safety, she wasn’t taking any chances.

“This might sting. Try to hang in there,” Timothy said gently. Having known Rebecca for years, he was all too

aware of how afraid of pain she used to be.

Rebecca took the bottle of hydrogen peroxide from him. “It’s fine. | can do it myself.”

Timothy watched her with concern.

Rebecca poured the solution directly over the wound without so much as a flinch-no gasp, no tears, as if it were

nothing more than water on unbroken skin.

“I thought you were scared of pain,” Timothy remarked lightly.

He remembered how she'd twisted her ankle during dance practice once- -Jeffrey had carried her in, and she’d

teared up over the smallest ache. This injury hurt far more than that, and yet she hadn't made a sound.

“That was a long tago,” Rebecca replied evenly. After disinfecting the cut, she applied ointment and began

wrapping the gauze herself. “Let's get back to my mom's treatment plan.”

Timothy could tell she was pushing through the pain. He took the gauze from her hands and finished bandaging

her wound carefully. It was a simple act, but for a moment, Rebecca found herself quietly watching, lost in

thought.

Just as Timothy finished, his phone chimed with a message from Jeffrey: [Be gentle while bandaging her. And

make sure to give her the scar ointment afterward.]

[Got it,] Timothy replied.

Jeffrey didn’t respond further.

Andrea studied his unreadable expression carefully. Worried he might blher for seeking out Rebecca like last

time, she decided to take the initiative.

“Jeffrey,” she said. “I know you don’t wantnear Rebecca. But | couldn't just stand by when Amelia was in

trouble. If you're upset with me, | understand.”

“Does it still hurt?” Jeffrey asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah.” Andrea nodded, her expression shifting to one of wounded vulnerability.

Jeffrey rested his broad hand gently on her knee, his eyes lingering on the bandage. Without thinking, his thumb

brushed lightly over the gauze. Somehow, his mind was elsewhere, replaying the image of Rebecca's bloodied

palm.

“The doctor said it’s not serious,” Andrea said, placing her hand over his. “Don’t worry.”

Jeffrey quietly withdrew his hand and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Rest well these next few

days. Callif you need anything. And keep the wound dry.”

“Aren’t you coming back with me?” Andrea asked, a hint of panic in her voice.

“There are still matters to handle at the hospital and the office,” Jeffrey said calmly, his voice low. “I'll cfind

you when I'm done.”

A flicker of jealousy passed through Andrea’s eyes/She knew he was staying because of Rebecca.

“If you get bored, ask your friends to go shopping with you,” Jeffrey offered.

Andrea nodded quietly.

Jeffrey didn’t linger. After giving a few instructions to the driver, he got out of the car. Only after the vehicle

disappeared from view did he turn and head back to the hospital, making his way to Timothy's other office.

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Chapter 22

Rebecca stayed silent. When it cto her mother’s safety, she wasn’t taking any chances.

“This might sting. Try to hang in there,” Timothy said gently. Having known Rebecca for years, he was all too

aware of how afraid of pain she used to be,

Rebecca took the bottle of hydrogen peroxide from him. “It’s fine. | can do it myself.”

Timothy watched her with concern.

Rebecca poured the solution directly over the wound without so much as a flinch-no gasp, no tears, as if it were

nothing more than water on unbroken skin.

“I thought you were scared of pain,” Timothy remarked lightly.

He remembered how she’d twisted her ankle during dance practice once-Jeffrey had carried her in, and she'd

teared up over the smallest ache. This injury hurt far more than that, and yet she hadn't made a sound.

“That was a long tago,” Rebecca replied evenly. After disinfecting the cut, she applied ointment and began

wrapping the gauze herself. “Let's get back to my mom's treatment plan.”

Timothy could tell she was pushing through the pain. He took the gauze from her hands and finished bandaging

her wound carefully. It was a simple act, but for a moment, Rebecca found herself quietly watching, lost in

thought.

Just as Timothy finished, his phone chimed with a message from Jeffrey: [Be gentle while bandaging her. And

make sure to give her the scar ointment afterward.]

[Got it,] Timothy replied.

Jeffrey didn’t respond further.

Andrea studied his unreadable expression carefully. Worried he might blher for seeking out Rebecca like last

time, she decided to take the initiative.

“Jeffrey,” she said. “I know you don’t wantnear Rebecca. But | couldn't just stand by when Amelia was in

trouble. If you're upset with me, | understand.”

“Does it still hurt?” Jeffrey asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah.” Andrea nodded, her expression shifting to one of wounded vulnerability.

Jeffrey rested his broad hand gently

on her knee, his eyes lingering on the

bandage. Without thinking BiothUimb

brushedNightly over the gauze.

Somehow, his mind was elsewhere,

. . ’

replaying the image of Rebecca's

bloodied palm. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“The doctor said it’s not serious,” Andrea said, placing her hand over his. “Don’t worry.”

Jeffrey quietly withdrew his hand and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Rest well these next few

days. Callif you need anything. And keep the wound dry.”

“Aren’t you coming back with me?” Andrea asked, a hint of panic in her voice.

“There are still matters to handle at the hospital and the office,” Jeffrey said calmly, his voice low. “I'll cfind

you when I'm done.”

A flicker of jealousy passed through Andrea’s eyes She knew he was staying because of Rebecca.

“If you get bored, ask your friends to go shopping with you,” Jeffrey offered.

Andrea nodded quietly.

q on [8 a8

Jeffrey didn't linger. After giving a

few instructions to the driver, he got

out of the car. Only fig the fetiitle

disappdaréd trom view did he turn

and head back to the hospital,

q q q ,

making his way to Timothy's other

office. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

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20:26 Sun, 14 Sept

Chapter 22

8449%

By then, Rebecca had almost finished discussing Amelia’s treatment plan with Timothy. She realized she'd need

to keep working hard to cover any unexpected medical expenses.

“Thank you for taking care of my mom,” Rebecca said politely, maintaining her usual composed tone.

Timothy replied gently, “No need to be so formal.”

Once everything was settled, Timothy handed her a tube of scar ointment and walked her out.

Just as he settled back at his desk, the office door swung open. He glanced up to find Jeffrey standing in the

doorway. “Mr. Hanson,” he said.

« . . ”

Is the surgery plan finalized?" Jeffrey

asked as he walked in and took a

seat. His eyes drifted {oyatd Ghd

medical Waite bin nearby, where

blood-stained cotton balls and

droplets of blood stood out sharply.

His brow furrowed slightly. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

Timothy handed him the documents. “It’s all set.”

Jeffrey took them and reviewed each page carefully. Only after confirming everything was in order did he hand it

back.

Minutes passed slowly. Jeffrey remained seated, saying nothing more.

Timothy struggled with the heavy tension in the room. Gathering his courage, he asked cautiously, “Is there

something wrong with the surgery plan?”

“How is her hand?” Jeffrey asked. His tone was neutral, revealing nothing about whether he was concerned or

just making sure Rebecca had suffered enough to match Andrea’s “pain.”

ZUZO Sun, 14 Sept

Chapter 23