After the divorce he begged novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Jeffrey shot Stanley a sideways glance.

Stanley froze. ‘Oh my god. Did I just say that out loud?‘

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“I mean, your gifts are always so special. Someone like me, who didn’t really help, doesn’t deserve a gift from you,” he explained quickly, afraid he’d signed his own death warrant by speaking without thinking.

Jeffrey said coolly, “Nonsense. Just bei

Mr. Garcia gets you at least ten.”

Stanley tried to argue, but the moment he met Jeffrey’s flat, unreadable stare, he instantly backed down. “My mistake,” he

said.

Gregory cleared his throat softly from the driver’s seat.

“Stop laughing,” Stanley snapped, quickly changing the subject. “Or I’ll have your boss send you a hundred of ‘gifts.“”

“Mr. Hanson has always been fair and reasonable,” Gregory replied seriously. “He isn’t swayed by petty words. Or you

think he is?”

“Suck–up,” Stanley muttered through gritted teeth.

Jeffrey glanced sideways at him. “Don’t mess with my guy.”

Stanley fell silent. If it weren’t for the drama, he wouldn’t stay in the car for another second.

A little further down the road, Gregory asked, “Mr. Hanson, Ms. Jensen’s car is heading toward Samuel’s martial arts class. Should I take you and Mr. Garcia home, or would you like to go see Samuel?”

“To see Samuel, obviously,” Stanley cut in. “I haven’t seen him since I got back to town.”

Gregory glanced at Jeffrey in the rearview mirror. When he got no objection, he followed Stanley’s directions.

Meanwhile, Rebecca hadn’t arrived yet. Sitting quietly in the back seat, she gazed out the window, lost in thought. For a moment, it almost felt like she was heading home from school on a break.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a message from Jessica: [Forgot to tell you something important yesterday.]

Rebecca: [What is it?]

A voice message from Jessica played, “That stingy, ridiculously narcissistic jerk with a god complex is back.”

Rebecca froze–lan Yeats?

Just then, the car pulled up outside Samuel’s martial arts studio. She paid the driver and stepped out, typing a reply to

Jessica.

Halfway through her message, a blur of motion rushed toward her. Before she could even see who it was, she was pulled

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Chapter 31

into a warm, strong hug that carried a faint scent of clean cologne.

“Becky!” a cheerful male voice rang out.

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Rebecca pushed him back. Sunlight glinted off his handsome face, his eyes crinkling with a smile, his short hair as messy and carefree as she remembered.

“lan?” Rebecca was surprised. Jessica had just mentioned him, and now here he was–right in front of her.

lan took off his sunglasses, a confident grin spreading across his face. “Surprised? Bet you didn’t see this coming. Took me forever to plan this reunion.”

“I’m surprised–and genuinely happy,” Rebecca admitted honestly, her gloomy mood from earlier lifting almost instantly.

lan clipped his sunglasses onto his shirt collar. “You look totally underwhelmed. Next time I’ll have to make a bigger entrance–something you’ll remember forever.”

“After all these years, you haven’t changed at all,” Rebecca said, genuinely happy to see her old friend.

She, Jessica, and lan had grown up together. Rebecca had stayed in Jelasburg for college at Amelia’s request, while Jessica and lan went abroad to study. Not long after graduation, Rebecca got married. lan moved overseas the year after

her wedding.

It had been four years since Rebecca and lan had last seen each other. But thanks to their non–stop group chats, it felt like no time had passed at all.

“The world might change, but I don’t,” lan said confidently.

Rebecca chuckled.

lan glanced toward the Hanson family’s martial arts studio, asking bluntly, “Here to pick up Samuel?”

“Just visiting. But he’s probably done with lunch and taking a nap now. I’ll pick him up after six,” Rebecca said. She checked the time and glanced at his suitcase. “You must be hungry.”

“I’ve been busy planning this surprise since I landed. Didn’t have time to eat,” lan said matter–of–factly.

Rebecca smiled, “My treat.”

She had come here on impulse. After dealing with Richard’s mess, she thought seeing Samuel might lift her spirits. Whenever she felt down, being with her son always helped.

But now, with an old friend suddenly back in town, the weight of the afternoon began to fade.

“No way.” lan grabbed his suitcase, his tone as straightforward as ever. “If Jessica finds out I let you pay, she’d fly back just to tear me apart.”

A wave of warmth and familiarity washed over Rebecca. She hadn’t felt this light in days–it was like seeing sunlight break through after a long storm.

“Come on, I’m treating you,” lan said, guiding her toward his car.

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Chapter 31

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