<b>Chapter </b><b>7 </b>


    Jeffrey was absolutely certain Reba had done that on purpose


    “How could you treat something Jeffrey gave you like this!” <b>Andrea </b><b>asked </b>as she <b>quickly </b>picked it up and admired it with clear affection. “This is


    Before Andrea could finish her sentence, Reba was already getting into the car with her suitcase.


    Rather than going home, she headed directly to Jessica’s apartment. Since she hadn’t found a new ce yet, keeping her belongings there seemed like the safest option.


    Jessica’s heart clenched when she saw how heartbroken and drained Reba looked after just half a <b>day</b>. “Was it that awful man again?”


    Reba responded with a quiet nod.


    Thatplete bastard!” Jessica muttered under her breath. “He’s absolutely worthless,”


    “When I went back to pack my things at noon, Reba exined in a calm voice that belied her hollow heart, “he insisted on searching my suitcase in front of Andres because he thought I had stolen from him,


    “When called him this afternoon, I heard Andrea telling him she had just finished showering”


    “What a total jerk!” Jessica snapped, her anger ring up instantly.


    Hearing her friend’s immediate defense, Reba pressed her lips together before <b>finally </b>looking up. “Jessica<b>!</b><b>” </b>


    Yeah? Jessica answered softly


    “Can you just hold me? Reba asked, the brief calm suddenly reced by a deep ache in her chest,


    Jessica immediately pulled her into a warm, protective embrace.


    Reba had been determined to stay strong, <b>but </b>remembering everything from the past two <b>days </b><b>made </b>her nose sting<b>. </b>Even as she tried to fight them back, tears started streaming down her face.


    Her shoulders shook with quiet sobs as her heart clenched with <b>pain</b>.


    “Just let it <b>out </b>if you need to <b>cry</b>,” Jessica said, rubbing her backfortingly. “Get it all out, and then we <b>can </b>start fresh. You’ll stay with me, I’ve got


    you.”


    Rebcrying intensified at these words.


    Jessica held her through it all, and only after about ten minutes did Reba’s sobs finally subside.


    Jessica wiped Reba’s tears with a tissue and gently fixed her messy hair. “You’re not alone in this. You’ve got me,” she reminded her.


    “I know,” Reba whispered, her voice raw from crying.


    “If you’re <b>really </b>set on moving out, juste stay here with Samuel, Jessica offered. “It’s right by his school, and I can help with him so it won’t be too much for you.


    Before Reba could protest, Jessica cut her off with <b>mock </b>sternness. “No arguing. If you say no, that means you don’t really think of me as a friend.”


    “Okay,” Reba <b>said</b>. But secretly, she was determined <b>to </b>find her own ce no matter what


    “And Jeffrey is really cool with you taking the kid with you?” Jessien know how things worked in their world better than most


    In the divorces of the wealthy, the father usually ended up with the children. Mothers most often lost <b>those </b>custody battles. A guy like Jeffrey being fine


    <b>19:54 </b>


    62%,


    with it was something new for Jessica


    “Yes.” Reba <b>nodded</b><b>. </b>


    Jessica looked thoughtful “What about <b>his </b>parents?”


    “No idea if he’s told them,” Reba said. “I never really dealt with his family much


    “Watch your back,” Jessica warned. “I know his parents a little they’re not easy people. If they find out you’ve got the kids, they’ll make trouble.”


    Reba nodded. “Okay”


    “If you can’t handle them, call me. I’ll give them a piece of my mind, Jessica said. She’d always been good at confrontations.


    Reba agreed, but she didn’t expect them to arrive so soon,


    She had just returned home from Jessica’s apartment when she saw Jeffrey’s parents sitting in the living room<b>, </b>waiting for her.


    She <b>put </b>her car keys away and walked over. “Marcus, Candice, it’s been a while,” she greeted.


    <b>“</b><b>Save </b>the pleasantries,” Candice, Jeffrey’s mother<b>, </b>said sharply, her face full of spite. Even dressed in an elegant dress, she lost none of her harshness.


    Reba didn’t get angry. She had always known his parents disliked her


    <b>Over </b>the years of marriage, she’d rarely spent time with them–partly because Jelly didn’t want her subjected to their judgment, and partly because his own rtionship with his parents was strained.


    As a result, they hardly <b>saw </b>each other except for family dinners during the holidays.


    “Where’s Jeffrey Marcus, <b>Jeffrey’s </b>father, asked<b>, </b>his face stern.


    Whether out of defiance or simply resignation, she offered a terse reply. “I don’t know.”


    “Theard you were pursuing a divorce?” Marcus looked up, his imposing presence filling the room


    <b>Reba’s </b><b>gare </b>instinctively drifted <b>toward </b>the upstairs hallway.


    Seeming to understand her concern, Marcus rified, “Samuel isn’t here. I had someone take him <b>out </b>for the afternoon. He won’t be back for an hour”


    Just then, Reba’s phone buzzed with an iing message from Samuel.


    “Why are you telling her all this?<b>” </b>Candice cut in, her voice sharp as she looked at Reba with pure dismissal. “Let’s be clear. The reason for our visit is to determine custody arrangements.”


    Reba’s hands tightened. She hadn’t expected Jessica’s warning toe true so quickly.


    <b>“</b>Samuel’s staying with Jeffrey<b>,</b>” Reba said, not wanting to create any unnecessary drama.


    Given how strained things were between Jeffrey andhis parents, she figured he was unlikely to have told them about the arrangement.


    She knew exactly how they would react if she told them the truth–they’d never drop it. They’d probably stop her from picking him up from school, or worse<b>, </b>cut off her visitspletely


    “Then exin this,” Marcus said, pulling out their divorce papers from somewhere.


    Reba <b>took </b>the documents. They were expctly like the ones they’d filed. How did he get those she wondered.


    “I don’t know how you talked Jeffrey <b>into </b>giving you custody,” Marcus said, his voice hand, “but that stops now. Samuel’s a Hanson. He stays with his family, not some outsider,”


    19:54 Sun, 14 Sept


    Reba met his gaze, unfazed. “If his mother is an outsider, then what does that make you?” she said calmly.


    “Reba, I suggest you cooperate while I’m still willing to have this conversation, Marcus said, his voice lowering as his patience began to fade.


    Reba hated their condescending attitude, “I’m Samuel’s mother,” she stated firmly, “and I have every right to raise him.”


    “You don’t even have a job.” Candice went straight for the jugr, her tone dripping with contempt. “How exactly do you n to provide for him?”


    “I was working before<b>,” </b>Reba shot back. “I just worked at home, and nobody thought to put that on <b>a </b>paycheck.” She might have been protected, but she wasn’t blind to how things worked.


    “I’ll find <b>a </b>proper job with a steady ie soon,” she added.


    “What difference does that make?” Candice asked, her disdain evident.


    Reba lifted her gaze to meet Candice’s.


    “What you earn probably wouldn’t cover the cost of one of Samuel’s outfits, Candice said sharply.


    “The child will remain with us,” Marcus dered after a heavy pause, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Name your price.”


    Watching them act this way, <b>Reba </b>knew, for the hundredth time that Samuel couldn’t grow up in a family like this.


    “Then give me all of Jeffrey’s shares in the Hanson Group.” After a moment of silence, she threw the challenge back at them, certain they would never agree to her terms.


    “Not a chance,” Candice retorted, convinced that Reba was only after their family’s money.


    Reba responded <b>with </b>calmposure, “You started this with your unrealistic expectations.


    Candice’s chest heaved with rage while Marcus’s anger hung in the air like a storm cloud.