After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 76

i(5!)

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For the first time, Rebecca truly understood the phrase: Does money make you better than everyone?

“It’s getting late. Let's eat first.” Jeffrey was still holding Samuel's hand, his calm words slipping from thin lips.

Rebecca glanced at the overflowing trash can.

Samuel offered his other hand to her, redirecting her attention. “Mommy, let's go.”

Rebecca exhaled slowly. “Okay.”

The three of them went to a restaurant near the amusement park. Sitting by the window offered a panoramic

view of both the park and the lake in the distance.

Throughout the meal, Jeffrey kept chatting with Samuel as if that earlier phone call had never happened.

This made Rebecca wonder if Andrea’s car accident was real or fabricated.

“What's on your mind?” Jeffrey noticed she'd barely touched her food.

She studied his face but found no trace of concern or anxiety. He seemed completely normal.

Shaking off her thoughts, she finally picked up her fork.

Truth or lies didn’t matter anymore. She just needed to focus on living her own life.

Jeffrey found her behavior odd. The constant zoning out and brooding suggested sheavy burden.

Samuel piped up after nibbling a few bites, round eyes sparkling. “Daddy, can we try the escape room after

this?”

Jeffrey automatically turned to Rebecca beside him. “Ask your mom.”

Samuel glanced sideways.

Rebecca initially wanted to decline, but agreed considering the rare occasion. “Alright.”

During past escape room games, she'd always hidden in Jeffrey’s arms. Now without support, she resolved to

conquer these fears she couldn't avoid forever.

Samuel paused. This probing question unexpectedly gained his mother’s consent.

When starting the game, Samuel suggested Rebecca wait outside with Jeffrey. Before he finished, she grabbed

his hand decisively. “Why wait? You think Mommy's scared?”

Samuel said, “No...”

Rebecca said, “Watchcrack puzzles and show you super-mom skills today.”

14:52 Mon, Sep 22

Chapter 76

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Seeing her determination, Samuel nodded emphatically. “Okay.”

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Upon entering the dimly lit chamber with eerie sounds, Rebecca’s spine tingled. Clutching her earlier bravado,

she reached for the first clue.

When she was very young, she was afraid of water, and she tried her best to learn to swim. Later, she was afraid

of mice and cockroaches, so Jessica threw two in front of her, and Rebecca then overcthe fear.

She can still do this.

“Mommy,” Samuel said, noticing her tension and distress. The little boy reached out to tug her sleeve with his

small hand. “Maybe | should do it.”

“I'll handle it.” Rebecca steadied her pounding heart and forced herself to focus.

This moment proved Rebecca was one tough cookie. Despite pale-faced terror, she powered through every

challenge until they reached sunlight at the exit. When daylight hit, the anxiety clinging to her throughout the

experience seemed to evaporate.

Samuel raised his thumb. “Mommy, you're awesome.”

Rebecca's eyes curved into happy crescents. “Of course | am. Your mommy's got to set the bar high.”

Jeffrey watched their mutual admiration session with darkened eyes, turbulent emotions swirling in his gaze.

He'd witnessed every panicked flinch when she first entered the haunted attraction. Multiple times, she'd

instinctively leaned toward him for comfort mid-scare, only to catch herself at the last moment.

Her journey from terrified trembling to courageous triumph left him cold. This growth wasn’t something to

celebrate.

Jeffrey knew that unless he found ways to anchor her by his side, she'd eventually overcher current

disorientation like she’d conquered those fears today. And when that happened, she'd walk away for good.

He didn’t want to see this outcome, let alone accept it.

“Daddy.” Samuel wanted to share something, but paused when he noticed Jeffrey’s unusual expression while

looking at Rebecca. “Are you mad because you're not included?”

Rebecca looked up, her gaze instantly captured by his eyes.

“Yeah.” Jeffrey glanced away briefly before meeting his son's eyes with half-seriousness. “Are you going to

comfort your old man?”

Samuel responded with blunt honesty, “Nope.”

The afternoon unfolded joyfully with Rebecca and Samuel playing together, while Jeffrey dutifully carried bags

like a pack mule.

Even as bedtarrived after dinner, the boy remained buzzing with memories of their family day, though he

knew Jeffrey would visit “that person” once he fell asleep.

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Chapter 76

At precisely 9 PM, Rebecca successfully tucked Samuel into bed.

Closing his bedroom door, she turned to issue a dismissal. “Samuel's asleep. You can leave now.”

Jeffrey checked his watch, his deep voice rumbling. “The day isn’t over yet.”

Rebecca saw how serious he was and didn’t bother responding further.

Fi

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She walked to sit on the chair in the

corner of the living room, opened her

laptop and started pingom Mm

figened SER Yet Jeffrey's

presence felt overwhelmingly intense,

his gaze burning into her back so

strongly she could feel it without

turning around. The content is on

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chapter there!

Just as she prepared to ask him to leave again, Jeffrey’s phone rang.

He glanced indifferently and swiped to answer, his deep voice formal and stern. “What is it?”

“I sent you dozens of messages. Why didn’t you reply to any?” Stanley's complaining voice cthrough. “Did

you even check them?”

“Not yet,” Jeffrey responded.

Stanley massaged his temples,

feeling like his whole head was om

buzzing gd posite tpdate.

“Andtea’ Shrgery ended at 2 PM

today. Everything went smoothly. She

woke up an hour ago.” The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Got it,” Jeffrey answered flatly.

Stanley sounded baffled. “That's all you've got to say? Just ‘got it?”

Jeffrey remained silent. Smatters weren't meant to be shared.

“The moment she woke up, she

asked her friend where you were.”

Stanley briefed hi After 6005eing

you shdseanied completely

devastated. Don't you care about

her? Why didn’t you ceven after

her accident?” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

He'd been sleeping in that morning when Jeffrey unexpectedly called, demanding he check on Andrea’s condition

at the hospital.

Stanley couldn’t comprehend it. Jeffrey always defended Andrea in front of Rebecca, yet now when a crisis

struck, he showed no concern.

“I'll clater,” Jeffrey replied with unchanged indifference.

“Define “later”.” Stanley snapped, having been asked multiple times if he was the patient's husband.

Jeffrey's lips parted slightly as he gave precise timing, “12 AM.”

Stanley surrendered, not pressing further. “Fine. I'll stay till then. Not a minute longer.”

After hanging up, Rebecca understood Jeffrey's delayed response to Andrea’s accident stemmed from his

daytpromise to Samuel.

Setting aside her tasks, she turned to him with detached formality. “You've kept your promise to Samuel. You

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Chapter 76

may leave now.”