After the divorce he begged novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

“Are you serious?” Stanley whispered.

Jeffrey walked into the next booth, his tone icy. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

“Alright, I’m on it,” Stanley said, a slow grin spreading across his face. Nothing made him happier than stirring up trouble for lan. ‘You’re done for now, lan,‘ Stanley thought coldly.

Meanwhile, lan felt a sudden chill run down his neck. Rubbing the back of his head, he kept talking to Rebecca. “Are you job hunting right now?”

Rebecca looked surprised. “How did you know?”

lan didn’t try to hide it. “Jessica told me.”

‘Of course,‘ Rebecca thought. ‘If it isn’t a secret only between me and Jessica, it’s bound to reach lan sooner or later.‘

“A friend of mine is hiring at the moment. Want me to put in a word? It’s a newly listed company, but it’s stable,” lan offered. He’d heard from Jessica that Jeffrey had been blocking Rebecca’s job search.

Rebecca shook her head. “Thanks, but I’d rather look on my own.”

“It’s a real opportunity, Rebecca,” lan insisted. “No special treatment–just a fair interview. You’ll have to earn the position yourself.”

“It’s not that I’m being polite,” Rebecca said bluntly.

lan frowned, “Then what is it?”

“Jeffrey’s made it very clear to everyone in the industry,” Rebecca explained, her mood dripping. “If I join your friend’s company, I’ll only be putting them in danger.”

“I’m not afraid of him,” lan said firmly. “Come work at my company–I’ll protect you. Whatever tricks Jeffrey tries, I’ll

handle it.”

Rebecca refused. She knew exactly how Jeffrey operated. If he targeted lan, the best–case scenario would be lan’s company going under; worst case, he’d be buried in debt. Sending Jessica overseas had been Jeffrey’s warning–Rebecca didn’t want another friend hurt because of her.

“I’ve got this,” Rebecca said softly. “Really, don’t worry about me.”

Seeing the resolve in her eyes, lan knew she’d made up her mind. He decided to drop it and figure out another way to help

her later.

Just then, the door swung open. Staff streamed in, carrying roses, candles, and soft string lights. In under a minute, the room had been transformed into what looked like a scene straight out of a romantic proposal.

lan and Rebecca stared in confusion.

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“What’s all this?” lan asked the manager, who was directing the setup with unusual intensity.

“Just setting the mood for you and Ms. Jensen’s dinner. Please, enjoy your evening,” the manager replied with exaggerated seriousness, throwing lan a look that said you knew exactly what this was.

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Just as he finished speaking, the food arrived. The waiter smoothly poured the decanted wine into both Rebecca’s and lan’s glasses.

Wanting to speak privately, lan waved them away.

“Did you plan all this?” Rebecca asked, glancing around at the unexpectedly–and awkwardly–romantic setup.

“No way,” lan said quickly. “I came straight from the airport. I only picked this place because Jessica said the food here was decent. Probably the restaurant manager has too much time on his hands.”

The restaurant manager at the door and the two supervisors standing nearby–holding the flowers and the ring–fell into

an awkward silence.

Finally, a supervisor whispered cautiously, “Should we still go through with it?”

Another chimed in, “Maybe Mr. Yeats will kick us out?”

The restaurant manager glanced toward the other private room and said without hesitation, “We deliver.”

If lan got pissed, at worst, he’d just bitch about it. But if Stanley and Jeffrey lost it, there was no telling what would

happen.

The two supervisors checked the time, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

The moment the door swung open, lan glared over and snapped, “Didn’t I say no interruptions?”

The supervisors‘ hearts were pounding, but their faces, stayed calm. One of them walked straight up to Rebecca and held out the bouquet. “Ms. Jensen, these are for you.”

Rebecca just stared, not taking the roses.

Another supervisor quietly slipped the ring box into lan’s hand. “Mr. Yeats, here’s what you asked for.”

Jan took it with a confused frown. “What is this-”

The moment he opened the box, his mind went blank. He instinctively looked at the supervisor who gave him the ring.

The supervisor gave him an encouraging smile and whispered, “You’ve got this.”

‘Are all restaurants this insane these days?‘ lan thought. He set the ring box down on the table, his expression turning serious. “Get your manager in here.”

Almost instantly, the manager stepped inside, posture stiff and proper. “What can I do for you, Mr. Yeats?”

“What’s the meaning of all this?” lan tossed the ring box toward him, irritation clear in his voice. “Who told you to prepare

this stuff?”

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The manager responded with a subtle, pointed wink.

lan leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. “Don’t think a weird eye twitch is gonna make this go away.”

The manager blinked slowly.

You serious?”

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‘Is this guy out of his mind?‘ lan frowned. He was starting to wonder if the whole restaurant was just a cover for something

shady.

“All this was specially arranged to enhance your dining experience with Ms. Jensen,” the manager explained calmly. “If it’s not to your liking, I’ll have everything cleared away immediately.”

“I’ve seen piano setups, violin solos, but roses and a ring?” lan stood up angrily. “What are you implying–that Ms. Jensen is unfaithful? Or that I’m some kind of homewrecker?”

Stanley, listening in on the open line with the manager, was shocked. He shot a panicked look at Jeffrey, who still looked calm, and asked, “He’s blowing the whole plan. What do we do now?”

“Just keep playing,” Jeffrey said, his expression unreadable.

Stanley felt a knot form in his stomach. Even if the manager stuck to the script, Rebecca wouldn’t buy it. If she dug into this later, she’d immediately suspect them.

“Last chance,” lan warned, his voice low and dangerous. “Tell the truth, or I’ll tear this place apart.”

The manager hesitated. “Should I really say it?”

“You think I’m bluffing?” lan’s eyes narrowed.

“With all due respect, wasn’t it you who asked us to arrange all this?” The manager put on a wounded look. “You said you wanted to confess to Ms. Jensen today, your reunion day.”

“When did I ever say that? Show me proof,” lan shot back. He wasn’t usually sly, but he wasn’t a fool either–he could tell that someone was setting him up.

“The message you sent through your man,” the manager insisted solemnly, handing over a printed invoice. “This is the receipt for the engagement ring–paid with your card.”

lan took it, scanned the lines, and pulled out his phone–two recent bank deductions glared back at him from the screen.

He tossed the invoice aside with a cold laugh. “Go back and tell whoever put you up to this that if they’ve got something to say, they can say it to my face. No need for these cheap tricks.”

After a brief pause, he added, his tone dripping with scorn, “And don’t you dare imply I have feelings for Becky. Even if I did, I’d never buy a ring that cheap/”

Chapter 34

Chapter 34