After the divorce, he begged

“Let him targetall he wants,” lan sneered, He had never been scared of anyone. “Don’t overthink it-just keep

living your life like normal.”

“lan,” Rebecca frowned, worried he was being reckless.

“You think | cback just for me?” lan kept his eyes on the road, one hand resting lightly on the wheel. “I'm

under strict orders from Jessica. If | left you to handle this alone, she’d catwith a kitchen knife.”

“Ill talk to her,” Rebecca said seriously. “I'll make her understand.”

“No need,” lan cut in smoothly. “It's already decided. Whatever Jeffrey tries, just remember-Jessica and | are

always with

you.”

Rebecca opened her mouth to argue.

But lan wasn’t done. “If you say no, that means you don’t see us as real friends. And if we're not friends, | might

just have to teach Jeffrey a lesson.”

Rebecca looked puzzled. “If we're not friends, why would you?”

“Because he’s the reason you push us away,” lan said, as if it were the most logical thing in the world. “So

obviously, it’s all

his fault.”

Rebecca finally smiled softly. She knew there was no changing their minds-not lan’s, and certainly not Jessica's.

She felt a deep warmth having friends like them, but couldn’t shake the guilt of possibly dragging them into her

mess.

“I know what you're worried about. Worst case, Jeffrey tries to ruin my company or drag my dad into this mess.

But I've taken precautions. Don’t stress over it,” lan said. He had already thought everything through.

“Thank you,” Rebecca said softly. She knew there was no changing his mind.

lan shot her a look. “You know if Jessica hears you being this formal, she’ll lecture you for an hour, right?”

A faint smile touched Rebecca's lips. She finally let go of the urge to argue, She figured maybe if she kept a low

profile and didn’t draw attention, Jeffrey wouldn't go too far against them.

About half an hour later, lan pulled up in front of Rebecca’s apartment building. He frowned slightly as he looked

up at the modest complex. “You live here?”

“Yep.” Rebecca nodded.

“Why not stay at one of Jessica's places? She’s got plenty of empty properties,” lan couldn't help asking. He

remembered Rebecca had never lived somewhere so ordinary before.

“It’s comfortable here,” Rebecca replied and offered a practical reason. “It’s close to Samuel's school. Makes

drop-offs and pickups easier.”

lan opened his mouth to say more, then seemed to think better of it.

1/4

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Chapter 35

“I'm going up now,” Rebecca said, gesturing toward the building.

“Alright,” lan nodded. He waited until she was inside before pulling out his phone and dialing Jessica.

As expected, she answered with a groggy but furious voice-he’d clearly woken her up. “Are you out of your

mind? Do you know what tit is?”

“Just wanted to check in about Becky,” lan said calmly.

“Huh?” Jessica mumbled, “Let's talk when I'm actually awake.” She hung up without another word.

lan wasn't surprised. Just as he started looking for a hotel nearby, his phone rang.

Seeing the familiar number flash on the screen, his confident expression faltered. After letting it ring for about

ten seconds, he finally answered, his tone impatient, “What's up?”

A short moment later, lan drove off, a slight frown on his face.

From his car parked not far away, Jeffrey watched the entire scene unfold.

Based on the previous call and what he’d just seen, Stanley pieced things together. He asked, “You called Henry

just now?”

Jeffrey didn’t answer, but his cold face said everything.

‘No wonder he wasn’t worried after the proposal stunt failed,’ Stanley thought. ‘He has a backup plan all along.

Everyone in Jelasburg knew lan and his father Henry didn’t get along. Every tthey were together, it ended in

arguments-or worse.

Eventually, Henry had kicked lan out of the family business in a fit of rage, and lan had built his own company

from

scratch.

“Keep a close eye on lan these next few days,” Jeffrey instructed Gregory in the driver's seat. “I want to know

everything

he does.”

“Okay,” Gregory replied.

After hanging around for about five minutes, Jeffrey finally let him drive off.

Rebecca didn’t know about Jeffrey’s plan, but she was sure both she and lan were being watched by him-at least

for

today.

Back at her apartment, she set up her computer and tablet on the living room table near the balcony and took

on a digital art commission.

For her, drawing full-body character art was easy. She’d even won major gart contests against thousands of

competitors back in the day. Back then, though, it was just for fun-not for money.

Now, things were different. She needed the income. A typical full-body commission could go for anywhere from a

few

13:27 Wed, 17 Sept O

Chapter 35

hundred to several thousand dollars. This one paid a thousand-low requirements, quick turnaround. Too bad gigs

like this didn’t cevery day.

That afternoon, Rebecca lost herself in sketching. Four hours flew by in a focused blur.

It was only when her alarm went off-tto pick up Samuel-that she finally paused, rubbing her stiff neck before

heading out.

That evening, after putting Samuel to bed, Rebecca settled back at her computer and picked up her stylus. Just

as she began refining her drawing, lan called.

“Still up?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she replied.

“| put together a list of companies that might be a good fit for you. Sent it over WhatsApp,” lan said briskly. “Take

a look.”

Rebecca opened the message on her computer.

“I made sure none of them have any ties to Jeffrey or Stanley. You can apply safely,” lan added before she could

even respond. “And don’t worry-they’re not connected to me, either.”

After talking with Jessica, lan had a clearer picture of Rebecca’s situation. Knowing she was worried about

causing trouble, he decided to help in a different way.

“Okay,” Rebecca replied softly.

“Get srest soon,” lan said after finishing his serious business. “Callanytif you need anything. I've

got your

back.”

A wave of warmth spread through Rebecca's chest. “Mm,” she whispered.

lan said goodnight and waited for her to hang up first,

After the call, Rebecca sent her resto the companies lan had suggested. Once the emails were confirmed,

she returned to her artwork.

Tpassed quickly, and before she knew it, it was already Monday.

After dropping Samuel off at school,

she planned to look for more art

commissions. On her way Back!"

howevahlshe Yeceived an interview

invitation from PrimePlay

Technologies and decided to head

straight over. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

The interview went smoothly. She showed them her award-winning pieces and her online portfolio, and the

interviewers were clearly impressed.

“What's your expected salary?” one of them asked directly.

Rebecca didn't hesitate. “No less

than ten thousand.” Even thoughishe

hadn't held a reguiarjéb) she'dkept

her skit sharp by winning art

contests—and she knew what her

work was worth. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

The interviewers exchanged glances. “Understood. Can you cback for the final interview on Wednesday?”

13:27 Wed, 17 Sept

Chapter 35

14345%[

Just as Rebecca was about to

answer, her phone buzzed. A Sih

from Timothy litupoé Joreen’ Ms.

JEnsendor mother's surgery has

been scheduled for this afternoon.

Are you available to come?] The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

AD