After the divorce he begged novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79

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Rebecca glanced at Samuel beside her, giving him brief instructions before following Stephen outside.

The garden. Rebecca cut straight to the chase. “What did you want to discuss, Stephen?”

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you.” He adjusted his glasses, his profile appearing as approachable as ever with that bookish warmth.

Rebecca couldn’t imagine what favor Stephen Hanson could possibly need from her.

Stephen read her hesitation and cut in before she could refuse. “This concerns Jeffrey. I want you to talk sense into him.”

Rebecca grew more puzzled.

“He’s been neglecting Hanson Group duties lately, spending all his time at PrimePlay Technologies helping plan their anniversary event,” Stephen explained calmly. “Our parents aren’t pleased.”

“I can’t help with this,” Rebecca declined.

Given their pending divorce, interfering with Jeffrey’s affairs wasn’t her place. Even if she tried, their strained relationship guaranteed he wouldn’t listen.

More importantly, Jeffrey always operated with deliberate purpose.

“I understand your reluctance to clean up Jeffrey’s messes,” Stephen said, though his tone remained steady. “But it’d be regrettable to see him lose the CEO position he’s fought so hard to attain.”

Rebecca met his gaze directly. “Wouldn’t you be pleased if he’s removed, Stephen?”

She’d stayed clear of the power struggles between the brothers, and Jeffrey had shielded her from such corporate warfare.

But everyone knew about their ongoing rivalry for control of the Hanson Group empire.

“If he’d been dismissed for job performance, I’d naturally be pleased,” Stephen said without hiding his satisfaction. “But winning because of personal entanglements wouldn’t be a fair victory.”

The phrase “personal entanglements” struck Rebecca. Maintaining eye contact, she asked calmly, “How can you be so sure he’ll actually get dismissed?”

She knew Jeffrey’s capabilities too well. Having beaten Stephen in their previous power struggle, this current issue was trivial for him. He’d have backup plans.

Stephen met her gaze directly. “Because our parents exploited his weakness.”

Rebecca blinked, confused.

“They visited the Hanson Group during PrimePlay Technologies‘ anniversary event.” Stephen adjusted his

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Chapter 79

silver–rimmed glasses, his tone still gentle. “Threatened him using your safety as leverage.

Rebecca stiffened.

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Seeing her reaction, Stephen pressed on. “I want you to convince him to refocus on the Hanson Group. He always listens to you.”

“Sorry, I can’t help with that.” Her refusal was immediate. While she believed his parents confronted Jeffrey, the idea that they could threaten him? Jeffrey Hanson bowed to no one.

Stephen accepted her firm stance gracefully. “My apologies for taking up your time.”

Rebecca didn’t respond. She turned to leave and went inside to fetch Samuel.

To be honest, Rebecca couldn’t quite grasp Stephen’s intentions behind doing all this. From her perspective, his words offered him no tangible benefits or advantages.

“Rebecca,” Stephen called out to her from behind.

She paused mid–step.

Stephen approached her with measured strides. “Did Jeffrey ever tell you about his childhood?”

Rebecca maintained a neutral expression, her eyes silently questioning the relevance.

“You should ask him sometime.” Stephen left this cryptic remark hanging. “If after learning his past you still hold your current beliefs, I’ll say no more.”

Rebecca found his behavior perplexing. During their previous meeting, he’d practically painted Jeffrey as commitment–phobic, just shy of outright calling him a player. Yet now he seemed to be defending him.

Stephen Hanson was proving exceptionally difficult to read.

After bidding farewell to Lucas inside, she left with Samuel. Stephen’s enigmatic statements would have to wait for later contemplation.

Watching their retreating figures, Lucas turned to Stephen beside him and asked, “Why bring that up with her all of a sudden?”

“Jeffrey hasn’t been himself lately,” Stephen replied, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with hidden meaning. “As his brother, I should lend some support.”

A chill crept down Lucas‘ spine. This particular “support” wasn’t the benevolent kind.

“Rebecca might not play along with your scheme,” he warned, having glimpsed her stubborn nature during their brief interactions. “Given her current relationship with Jeffrey, she definitely won’t ask him directly.”

Stephen countered, “She doesn’t need to ask.”

Lucas was confused.

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“We just need to plant the seed in her subconscious,” Stephen explained with inscrutable calm. “When the time comes, it’ll bear fruit naturally.”

“Aren’t you worried Jeffrey will retaliate?” Lucas frowned, uneasy about involving outsiders in their longstanding rivalry.

Dragging Rebecca into this… Lucas felt Stephen’s approach was a bit dangerous.

Stephen remained eerily calm. “How? I don’t have a weakness like he does.”

“What about the one you’re keeping at home?” Lucas hinted.

Stephen’s gaze remained steady, his expression unreadable. “Just a woman. She’s disposable at any time.”

Lucas opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Over the past two years, Lucas had witnessed Stephen’s relationship with her. He knew exactly how much his friend cared. Sometimes he wished Stephen could be more forthright like Jeffrey, openly acknowledging his feelings.

Yet the brothers handled this matter completely differently.

*****

Jeffrey remained unaware of Rebecca’s recent meeting with Stephen.

After leaving the hospital at noon, he returned to Maple Garden. Following a rejuvenating shower in unit 1801, he dried his hair and retrieved a key to unlock Rebecca’s adjacent apartment.

Meanwhile, Rebecca and Samuel departed the Reed residence.

As their car headed toward the hospital, an observer immediately reported, “Gregory, Ms. Jensen and Samuel are heading to the medical center.”

Rebecca had no idea she was being watched, let alone that someone had entered her home.

She had stayed at the hospital for nearly two hours before leaving.

“Not planning to stay longer?” Timothy appeared suddenly, asking in a natural and gentle tone.

“No,” Rebecca replied, still holding Samuel’s hand. “We’ll come back tomorrow afternoon.”

Timothy cleared his throat lightly. “Perhaps I should discuss your mother’s condition with you.”

“Has there been a change?” Rebecca asked earnestly.

“No, it’s the same as before,” Timothy replied somewhat uneasily.

Rebecca paused, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

Timothy grew increasingly nervous under her gaze, his mood heavy.

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He couldn’t understand why Gregory had suddenly instructed him to stall Rebecca and prevent her from returning home too early.

“Is my mother’s condition getting worse?” Rebecca had noticed his odd behavior but couldn’t guess the reason since he wasn’t speaking up.

“Not at all.” Timothy quickly improvised a plausible excuse. “I just thought you might stay longer in case that man from the surveillance footage shows up again.”

Rebecca relaxed slightly. “He was just here. He probably won’t come back so soon.”

Timothy nodded. “Makes sense.”

“We’ll be leaving then,” Rebecca said politely. “We won’t take up more of your time.”

Timothy acknowledged. After Rebecca and Samuel left the hospital, he sent a message to Gregory: [Ms. Jensen and Samuel have departed.]

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