When the car window fully opened, Tessa called out, "Matthew—" She stopped short, seeing Rachel inside. She'd only expected Matthew.

Dumbstruck, Tessa couldn't utter her prepared words. Matthew's expression hardened. "Get out of my face," he snapped, then rolled up the window. He wanted nothing to do with her, striving to leave the past behind. Life was peaceful as long as he didn't think of her; her presence only dredged up painful memories. Every penny he'd earned had gone to her, and he'd even served prison time for her, only to be betrayed upon release. The pain had been excruciating.

Meanwhile, Tessa, flustered and unprepared for this rejection, had hoped her carefully orchestrated encounter would charm him into forgiveness. Instead, Matthew didn't even look at her. Raising her head, she found other parents staring, their judgment palpable. Worse, they openly commented on her:

"Why is she dressed like this at a kindergarten?" "She immediately approaches a luxurious car. I doubt she's a proper lady." "How can she fish for men at a kindergarten? That's shameless!" "Oh dear, this is a bad influence on the kids."

Tessa's face fell. She knocked again on the car window. Matthew leaned back, closing his eyes, while Rachel remained silent. But the insistent knocking annoyed him, and he reluctantly lowered the window. "Will you stop?" he demanded.

Tessa had planned a reconciliation, but the sight of Rachel choked her words. A feeling of inferiority washed over her; Rachel seemed the rightful wife, and she, the interloper.

Unable to plead for reconciliation, she tried a different tack, mentioning her company's financial troubles. "Something bad has happened to our company—"

Matthew interrupted with a wave of his hand. "Hold on. It's your company, not ours."

Her expression shifted. During their divorce, Matthew had claimed indifference to the company; she'd doubted him then, but now believed him. Collecting herself, she explained, "You're right. My company has a problem. I need a loan, but Mr. Robins will only approve it if you speak to him. Can you call him?"

Matthew's face was grim. He recalled Elliott's pleas to secure a bank deposit when the company thrived; he hadn't anticipated this outcome. Elliott's refusal to approve the loan without Matthew's guarantee meant the company was doomed—three short years had undone all his efforts.

A flicker of hope ignited when Matthew didn't immediately refuse. "Mr. Robins said he'd…" she began, then recalled a past conversation. "That when I run out of money, I shouldn't come to you. If I hit rock bottom and can't even find a job, you won't help even if I beg for it. You wanted a new life."

Troubled, Tessa searched her memory and confirmed the conversation. Back then, Matthew had been penniless while she was a billionaire. Never had she imagined needing his help.

Matthew's voice was cold. "Whether you remember or not, we're done. I'm not helping you."

Tessa's nostrils flared. "Considering we were married, can't you make one phone call? It wouldn't take much time."

He scoffed. "Like you said, don't turn to me. Even if you beg, I won't care."

The words hit her like a slap.