Chapter <b>19 </b>


    ‘God, has he even listened to himself? The second I get back, he’s ordering me around like I’m his assistant–and his demands arepletely unreasonable,‘ Stanley thought. He clenched his fist, itching to throw a punch at Jeffrey.


    “Look, I can’t guarantee she’ll settle for exactly 200 thousand dors,” Stanley said bluntly. “Amelia’s surgery is going to run at least 150 thousand. If you only offer 200 thousand, don’t you think she’ll suspect this is all your doing?”


    “She won’t,” Jeffrey replied tly.


    Stanley was confused.


    Jeffrey lifted his eyelids slightly. “I’m only giving two hundred grand–not a penny more.”


    “Seriously, what is going on in your head?” Stanley shook his head. “First, you were obsessed with her. Now you’re making her life hell. I’m starting to think you’ve got some kind of split personality.”


    “She brought up divorce,” Jeffrey said coolly. “I’m just giving her a taste of what life is like without my support. Seems fair.”


    “Divorce?” Stanley almost choked.


    Even though he’d been overseas the past few years, he’d seen how inseparable Jeffrey and Reba were. Sometimes when he called Jeffrey, Jeffrey would go on and on about his love story–it almost made Stanley want to find a rtionship of his own.


    But now, the couple who were once sweeter than sugar were talking about divorce. Stanley was so stunned that he wondered if he’d misheard.


    “Yeah,” Jeffrey answered tly.


    Stanley, never one to miss the gossip, leaned in. “Why?”


    “She can’t ept Andrea,” Jeffrey said tly, downing the rest of his drink.


    “Who the hell is Andrea?‘ Stanley thought, lost. “Is Andrea… a woman?” he asked carefully.


    Jeffrey shot him a look like he was an idiot. Still, he started exining.


    After a while, Stanley got the whole story. He stared at Jeffrey–cool,posed, and sprawled elegantly in the velvet booth–and blurted out, “Isn’t it totally normal that Reba doesn’t ept this?”


    Jeffrey shot him a sharp re.


    “Could you handle it if she asked you to wee some other man into her life?” Stanley fired back, grateful he still had somemon sense left.


    “I’m not recing her as Mrs. Hanson,” Jeffrey stated firmly, setting his ss down. “Andrea won’t change anything. Reba will still be my wife–well


    taken care of and respected.”


    “Maybe financially, nothing changes,” Stanley countered. “But what about emotionally? When she and Andrea need you at the same time–who are you gonna choose?”


    “Whoever needs me more,” Jeffrey replied.


    “You deserve this,” Stanley sneered, not holding anything back. “If she doesn’t divorce you, it’ll be a miracle. Calling you a jerk is being polite.”


    Jeffrey’s eyes locked on Stanley. He didn’t say a single word, but Stanley already felt a chill down his spine.


    “Scratch that–you’re not a jerk. You’re considerate, the most selfless man in her life,” Stanley backtracked quickly. “I’ll take care of it right now, Your Highness!”


    zuzo Quil 14 depr


    With that, he bolted, not sticking around for a second.


    Alone in the booth, Jeffrey sat with his white shirt slightly unbuttoned. The dim light glowed against his golden skin, sharpening his handsome, detached


    expression.


    He stared at the lock screen on his phone—a photo of Reba, smiling brightly. His thumb brushed slowly over her face as his eyes turned cold.


    Why can’t you just behave? Why do you always have to choose the hardest way?‘ he thought,


    Stanley moved fast. He got his men set up to meet Reba about the ring in record time. At first, she didn’t suspect a thing–those guys acted just like Stephen’s men, and even their attitude toward her was identical.


    “200 thousand dors,” Stanley’s man threw out the offer again.


    Reba pushed back gently, “300 thousand.”


    “You do realize this ring means nothing to our boss,” the man said, his voice cold and detached. “The only reason he’s buying it is to mess with Jeffrey.”


    “Well, if causing trouble is the goal, wouldn’t 300 thousand cause even more?” Reba countered smoothly.


    The man stood up, looking ready to walk away. “Seems like you’re not interested in making a deal.”


    “Fine, 200 thousand,” Reba agreed quickly, her fingers tightening around the ring box. “But transfer the money now.”


    The man nodded. As soon as the payment went through, Reba handed over the ring.


    That was when it hit her–these guys were definitely not sent by Stephen. His people wouldn’t just buy a ring and leave. They would’ve tried to recruit her, to scheme together against Jeffrey. Stephen never missed a chance to undermine Jeffrey.


    But whether it was Stephen’s men or not didn’t matter to Reba anymore. All she cared about was getting the money for Amelia’s surgery.


    “Ms. Jensen, looking forward to future cooperation.” The man carefully stored the ring and then extended his hand.


    Reba shook his hand briefly.


    Just then, from the other side of the video call, Stanley noticed Jeffrey’s expression turn to ice.


    “I told your man to buy the ring,” Jeffrey’s voice cut in coldly. “Not to make up extra stuff on his own.”


    “That was just basic professionalism after closing the deal,” Stanley said, regretting making this video call. “Don’t tell me you’re getting jealous over a


    handshake.”


    “She’s still my wife,” Jeffrey stated tly. In other words, that guy had better keep his distance from Reba.


    Stanley almost wanted to walk away. He sighed in defeat and tried to smooth things over. “Alright, alright, I’ll have a word with himter. Want me to bring you the ring now, or do you want it tomorrow?”


    “Tomorrow,” Jeffrey said coldly<i>, </i>then ended the call.


    Shaking his head, Stanley slipped his phone back into his pocket. After making sure Reba had left, he stepped out from the shadows, took the ring from his man, and gave strict orders to keep everything under wraps before heading out.


    Meanwhile, Reba double–checked her bank bnce. Once she confirmed the payment had gone through, she headed straight to Samuel’s school. She got there just as ss was letting out, and the Hanson family driver was already waiting outside.


    20:26 Sun, 14 Sept &


    The moment Samuel spotted her, his face lit up. He dashed over, yelling, “Mommy!”


    “How was school today, sweetie?” Reba asked as usual, gently ruffling his hair.


    “It was good,” Samuel said with a smile, his big eyes looking right up at her. “But I missed you a little.”


    Reba smiled, pulling him into a warm hug.


    BR <b>3,49</b>%


    After a long while, Reba still didn’t take Samuel to the Hanson family’s car. He seemed to sense something, and in his small<b>, </b>sweet voice<i>, </i>he asked, “Are we going to our new home? Just you and me?”


    “Sweetie, Mommy needs to talk to you about that,” Reba began gently, trying to make it easier for him. “For the next few days, you’ll stay at Daddy’s house, okay? As soon as I find us a new home, I’lle get you.”


    Samuel nodded quietly.


    “Make sure you eat well and sleep on time while you’re there, alright?” Reba added, her voice full of care.


    “Okay,” Samuel agreed brightly.


    Fighting back the emotions swelling inside, Reba gave him onest tight hug before nudging him gently. “Go on now, baby. Text me when you get home.”


    “Aren’t youing home with me?” Samuel asked, all innocent. He had no clue Jeffrey had cut off all of Reba’s ess to his vi.


    20:26 Sun, 14 Sept