After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 290

(48)

55 vouchers

“Now that you've caround, you should really sit down and talk with Rebecca over the next few days,”

Stanley said, giving Jeffrey a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Even if you can’t be a couple, you can still be

friends. Don’t act like you're mortal enemies.”

Jeffrey didn’t respond.

They'd almost ended up as mortal enemies.

“Any tyou're feeling off, make sure you tell your doctor right away,” Stanley said, sounding especially

sincere. “Don’t act like you're invincible. You're not just the CEO of the Hanson Group-you're also Samuel's dad.”

“Where's Stephen?” Jeffrey asked.

“No idea,” Stanley replied honestly. “Either he’s trying to get you kicked out so he can gun for the CEO chair at

the Hanson Group, or he’s getting close to Rebecca and planning to use her to wreck you and your reputation.”

Jeffrey pulled out his phone and sent Gregory a message.

Once Jeffrey finished texting, Stanley jumped in, eager to push further. “So, how are you gonna get Rebecca

back?”

“Shouldn’t you be worrying about your own company first?” Jeffrey shot back, dodging the question.

Stanley eyed him. “Don’t tellyou're still sticking to that promise you made her.”

Jeffrey stayed silent.

But you

could read the answer clear as day on his face.

“Hey, don’t take this the wrong way, but you already went against your promise when you asked Gregory to look

into her dinner plans,” Stanley said, trying to snap Jeffrey back to reality. “The whole deal’s already blown, so

there's really no need to keep pretending you're holding up your end. Understand?”

Jeffrey kicked off the blanket and got out of bed.

Stanley blocked his way, saying, “Where do you think you're going?”

I'm leaving the hospital, Jeffrey replied.

“Leave? You're nowhere near recovered! You wanna walk out just so we gotta wheel you right back in?” Stanley

yanked him back down. “Maybe you don’t care about the hassle, but trust me-Gregory, the medical team, and |

are getting pretty sick of it.”

Jeffrey didn’t even bother to respond.

Once Jeffrey set his mind to something, wild horses couldn't drag him back. He and Rebecca really were two

16:19 Fri, Oct 10

Chapter 290

of a kind.

4G (48

55 vouchers

“Oh, | see what you're up to,” Stanley said, suddenly changing gears. “You're actually trying to make yourself

look sicker on purpose, aren't you?”

Jeffrey froze with his shirt halfway on.

Stanley put a hand on his shoulder, lips curling with a sly grin. “Well well, Jeffrey, never pegged you for the

scheming type.”

Jeffrey: “7”

“You know, if you just stayed put for another week, you'd be outta here in no time-and that wouldn't give you

much of a window with Rebecca,” Stanley schemed, his own mind working overtime. “So you figure, might as

well check yourself out before you're ready, huh? With all this running in and out and making a fuss, you're

probably locking yourself in here for another ten days, maybe even half a month.”

Jeffrey's brows pinched together.

Before Jeffrey could get a word in, Stanley stroked his chin and grinned, “Now that’s sserious strategy.

Respect.”

“I'm really not,” Jeffrey replied, keeping it simple.

“Sure, sure, | get what you mean,” Stanley said with a playful wink and a light clap on Jeffrey’s shoulder. “Don’t

worry, your little secret’s safe. Not a word to Gregory, promise.”

Jeffrey knew Stanley was just messing with him, trying to bait him with that lreverse psychology. But he

couldn't risk it. If he walked out now and ended up back in the hospital, everyone would start thinking he'd done

it on purpose.

Even Rebecca might wonder if he wasn’t the sperson she used to know.

“Why'd you change back into your hospital gown?” Stanley asked, watching as Jeffrey took off his suit and

slipped into the hospital gown again. “Not leaving after all?”

“If you want the Garcia Group picking up a new rival, go ahead and keep running your mouth,” Jeffrey said,

putting Stanley in his place without even trying. “Branching out into a whole new field is child’s play for the

Hanson Group

Stanley shut up instantly.

He had no doubt about Jeffrey’s abilities.

Jeffrey never did anything halfway-if he set his sights on the Garcia Group's turf, their profits wouldn't just drop-

they’d plummet.

“Get the doctor,” Jeffrey said, easing himself back onto the bed. Whatever was swirling in his mind, he gave

nothing away.

Stanley didn’t hesitate-he was off to fetch the doctor in a flash.

16:19 Fri, Oct 10

Chapter 290

It didn’t take long.

43

EX 55 vouchers

Dr. Carter, Jeffrey's attending physician, walked in with a crisp white coat, his gentle and refined demeanor

making him seem especially warm and approachable.

He cover to the bed and asked, “Mr. Garcia said you wanted to see me?”

Jeffrey: “When can | get out of here?”

“You'll need at least a week.,” Dr. Carter said, his tone gentle but firm-the guy was in his thirties and seriously

knew his stuff. “If you really want to get back on your feet, it all comes down to how well you listen to me.”

“Got it. Jeffrey replied, swallowing back his feelings.

Stanley was waiting outside the door.

As soon as Dr. Carter stepped out, Stanley glanced into the room and immediately asked, “So, how'd it go?”

Dr. Carter: “He just wanted to know when he could get out of here.”

“You didn’t try to talk him into seeing a therapist while you had the chance?” Stanley pressed, obviously still

hung up about Jeffrey's mental health. It had always bothered him-first because of stuff from when they were

kids, now because those old issues just wouldn't die down. “Right now’s probably when his guard is lowest.”

“If he doesn’t want the help, even with his walls down, there's still no way | can reach him,” Dr. Carter replied,

worry deepening on his face. “His self-control is on another level-so much so that he can even force down a full-

blown mental health issue.”

But when you force all those mental problems down and keep a lid on them, eventually they snap right back at

you-even harder.

That's when you can’t eat a bite, can’t get a wink of sleep, sometimes both at once, and your whole system just

tanks

With all those extremotions battling it out inside, it’s his body that ends up paying the price every single

time

“Still, he’s doing better today, Dr. Carter commented. ‘He's not nearly as tense as usual.”

“That's because Rebecca showed up, Stanley said knowingly, right on the money about what had changed.

Honestly, most of his emotional hang-ups all trace right back to her

When he was younger, his issues just cfrom being way too hung up on his promises. Other than the stuff

with Andrea, he’s managed pretty well for years. But with Rebecca that’s a whole different ball game. He wants

to love her, wants to see her, even just to be near her, but Rebecca only wants to keep him at arm’s length.

That's why he’s always at war with himself-and why all this mess is messing with his head.

“Think you could get Ms. Jensen to swing by?” Dr. Carter suggested, not that he'd spent much ttalking to

16:19 Fri, Oct 10

Chapter 290

48

55 vouchers

Rebecca himself. Still, pretty much everyone at the hospital was well aware of her history with Jeffrey. “Honestly,

with her around, maybe Jeffrey could finally snap out of this sooner rather than later.”

Stanley shook his head. “That's not it.”

Dr. Carter looked confused. “What do you mean?”

Stanley got right to the point. “With her here, Jeffrey won't open up at all.”

Dr. Carter frowned, genuinely puzzled. “Why?”

“Because he can’t bear to see the people he cares about worried or upset,” Stanley explained, switching tones.

“You go do your thing-I'll have a word with him myself.”

Dr. Carter didn’t say another word—he just turned and walked out.

Stanley walked up to the hospital room door, his hand hovering just inches from the handle before he paused.

Honestly, convincing Jeffrey to see a shrink was never really going to work. But maybe getting Rebecca to come

hang around more often and just spend twith him would do way more good than sdoctor ever could.

After all, when it comes to fixing a mess like this, the only person who can really sort it out is the one at the

heart of it.

Thinking that, Stanley couldn't help but smirk to himself-it was worth a shot, anyway.

[Rebecca, you free this afternoon?]

Rebecca had just arrived outside Rebecca’s Manor. As her car passed through the iron gates, the luxury sedan

that had been following her the whole way simply drove right in after her. The bodyguards, unaware of the

situation, just figured they were coming in together and didn’t think much of it.

It wasn’t until Rebecca’s car pulled into the garage that the other car finally stopped behind her.

Rebecca saw Marcus and Candice step out of the car, didn’t say a single word to them-she just turned to Mark,

cold and direct: “Show the two elders out. If they refuse to leave, have the bodyguards escort them off the

grounds.

AD

Comment

word

word

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

word

word

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIiI0fiflO&1