After the divorce he begged novel Chapter 34

The manager looked visibly embarrassed. Just as he was scrambling for a response, Rebecca stood up and walked over, her expression calm but firm. “Jeffrey put you up to this, right?” she asked.

“No, definitely not Mr. Hanson,” the manager denied quickly.

“Where is he?” Rebecca pressed, her voice steady. She was convinced Jeffrey was behind all this. “Is he next door, or has he already left?”

Back when they were together, he always preferred the next booth whenever he wanted to eavesdrop or stage a scene. After all these years, she doubted he’d changed that habit.

The manager was sweating bullets. He never expected things to take this turn.

Just then, Stanley’s voice crackled faintly in his earpiece. “Bring her over.”

Swallowing hard under Rebecca and lan’s intense stares, the manager finally confessed, his heart racing, “Mr. Hanson and Mr. Garcia are waiting for you next door.”

Without another word, Rebecca walked out. Ian followed closely behind.

The door to the adjacent private room was already open. Rebecca stepped inside and saw Jeffrey sitting calmly in a chair, as composed as ever. He showed no emotion–only briefly glancing up when she entered.

Their eyes met, and Rebecca’s hands tightened unconsciously at her sides.

Before she could speak, Stanley cut in first. “Mr. Yeats, here to thank us?”

“I thought it was some idiot’s doing. Turns out it was you,” lan scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Guess you haven’t gotten any smarter over the years.”

“lan Yeats!” Stanley shot up, anger flashing in his eyes.

lan simply crossed his arms, his voice provocative. “What’s up?”

Stanley lunged forward. “I swear I’ll-”

Jeffrey gripped his shoulder and spoke in a calm, measured tone, “Are you seriously going to let a few barks get under your skin?”

“Well, look who’s here–the cheater himself,” lan fired back without missing a beat. “What’s the plan? Team up with this fool to blame your infidelity on Becky?”

Stanley gritted his teeth. ‘Who does he think he is, calling me a fool? Still just as annoying as ever.‘

“Too bad for you, Jeffrey. Becky isn’t trash like you.” lan pulled out a chair gently for Rebecca. “And I’m not a homewrecker like Andrea, either.”

“Finished?” Jeffrey’s gaze turned icy.

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13:26 Wed, 17 Sept

Chapter 34

Sept b

“Not even close.” lan stood protectively beside Rebecca. “Who do you think you’re insulting? Do you and your mistress usually finish that fast in bed?”

Both Stanley and Jeffrey fell silent.

Rebecca facepalmed. ‘How did I forget how much this guy loves to run his mouth?‘

“If that’s really the case, maybe you should see a specialist,” lan said, pretending to sound concerned. “There’s no shame

in having limitations. But when it’s this bad, you might need treatment.”

“Enough dodging,” Jeffrey said, completely unfazed. “Let’s get to the point.”

lan raised an eyebrow. “What point?”

“You love Rebecca,” Jeffrey stated calmly, glancing briefly at Rebecca before turning to lan. “Don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do,” lan admitted without hesitation. “It’s not exactly a secret. Why would I deny it?”

Stanley was stunned.

Jeffrey’s expression darkened.

“Wait–are you actually confessing?” Stanley blurted out, totally lost.

“Can you stop filtering everything through that romance–obsessed brain of yours?” lan shot back, looking confident.

“Since when is ‘loving someone‘ only about romance? Can’t friends love each other?”

“So you’re saying you don’t have any feelings for Rebecca beyond friendship?” Stanley pressed.

lan didn’t even blink. “Nope, I have.”

Rebecca already knew what was coming. She shot lan a sideways glance and cleared her throat softly.

Before Jeffrey or Stanley could process her reaction, lan declared with unshakable pride, “Beyond friendship, I see her as my master. Whoever she points at, I bite. No questions asked.”

Rebecca instantly regretted coming over. ‘This has Jessica written all over it,‘ she thought.

“Are you addicted to being a guard dog?” Stanley said, completely thrown.

“Well, way better than being a henchman,” lan grinned, oozing smugness.

Stanley’s temper flared. “Say one more word–I dare you.”

‘Nobody’s stopping me today. I’m going to beat the living shit out of this loud–mouth asshole!‘ he thought, furious.

“Let’s go, Becky,” lan said, already backing toward the door. Now that he’d had his fun, it was time to exit. “Better stay away from henchmen and cheaters. They’re bad for your brain.”

“Okay,” Rebecca replied, standing up. lan’s bluntness was a little awkward, but she had to admit–it felt good to let off some steam. ‘He always knows how to lighten the mood when I need it,‘ she thought.

13:26 Wed, 17 Sept

Chapter 34

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Stanley watched the two walk away, frustration boiling under his skin. He turned to Jeffrey. “You’re just letting them go? No warning? No threat?”

Jeffrey remained silent, his eyes fixed on the empty doorway.

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