The manager looked visibly embarrassed. Just as he was scrambling for a response, Reba stood up and walked over, her expression calm but firm. “Jeffrey put you up to this, right?” she asked.


    “No, definitely not Mr. Hanson,” the manager denied quickly.


    “Where is he?” Reba pressed, her voice steady. She was convinced Jeffrey was behind all this. “Is he next door, or has he already left?”


    Back when they were together, he always preferred the next booth whenever he wanted to eavesdrop or stage a scene. After all these years, she doubted he’d changed that habit.


    The manager was sweating bullets. He never expected things to take this turn.


    Just then, Stanley’s voice crackled faintly in his earpiece. “Bring her over.”


    Swallowing hard under Reba andn’s intense stares, the manager finally confessed, his heart racing, “Mr. Hanson and Mr. Garcia are waiting for you next door.”


    Without another word, Reba walked out. Ian followed closely behind.


    The door to the adjacent private room was already open. Reba stepped inside and saw Jeffrey sitting calmly in a chair, asposed as ever. He showed no emotion–only briefly ncing up when she entered.


    Their eyes met, and Reba’s hands tightened unconsciously at her sides.


    Before she could speak, Stanley cut in first. “Mr. Yeats, here to thank us?”


    “I thought it was some idiot’s doing. Turns out it was you,”n scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Guess you haven’t gotten any smarter over the years.”


    n Yeats!” Stanley shot up, anger shing in his eyes.


    Stanley lunged forward. “I swear I’ll-”


    Jeffrey gripped his shoulder and spoke in a calm, measured tone, “Are you seriously going to let a few barks get under your skin?”


    “Well, look who’s here–the cheater himself,”n fired back without missing a beat. “What’s the n? Team up with this fool to me your infidelity on Becky?”


    Stanley gritted his teeth. ‘Who does he think he is, calling me a fool? Still just as annoying as ever.‘


    “Too bad for you, Jeffrey. Becky isn’t trash like you.”n pulled out a chair gently for Reba. “And I’m not a homewrecker like Andrea, either.”


    “Finished?” Jeffrey’s gaze turned icy.


    <b>1/4 </b>


    <b>13:26 </b><b>Wed</b>, 17 <b>Sept </b>


    <b>Sept </b><b>b </b>


    “Not even close.”n stood protectively beside Reba. “Who do you think you’re insulting? Do you and your mistress usually finish that fast in bed?”


    Both Stanley and Jeffrey fell silent.


    Reba facepalmed. ‘How did I forget how much this guy loves to run his mouth?‘


    “If that’s really the case, maybe you should see a specialist,”n said, pretending to sound concerned. “There’s no shame


    in having limitations. But when it’s this bad, you might need treatment.”


    “Enough dodging,” Jeffrey said,pletely unfazed. “Let’s get to the point.”


    “You love Reba,” Jeffrey stated calmly, ncing briefly at Reba before turning ton. “Don’t you?”


    “Yeah, I do,”n admitted without hesitation. “It’s not exactly a secret. Why would I deny it?”


    Stanley was stunned.


    Jeffrey’s expression darkened.


    “Wait–are you actually confessing?” Stanley blurted out, totally lost.


    “Can you stop filtering everything through that romance–obsessed brain of yours?”n shot back, looking confident.


    “Since when is ‘loving someone‘ only about romance? Can’t friends love each other?”


    “So you’re saying you don’t have any feelings for Reba beyond friendship?” Stanley pressed.


    Reba already knew what wasing. She shotn a sideways nce and cleared her throat softly.


    Before Jeffrey or Stanley could process her reaction,n dered with unshakable pride, “Beyond friendship, I see her as my master. Whoever she points at, I bite. No questions asked.”


    Reba instantly regretteding over. ‘This has Jessica written all over it,‘ she thought.


    “Are you addicted to being a guard dog?” Stanley said,pletely thrown.


    “Well, way better than being a henchman,”n grinned, oozing smugness.


    Stanley’s temper red. “Say one more word–I dare you.”


    ‘Nobody’s stopping me today. I’m going to beat the living shit out of this loud–mouth asshole!‘ he thought, furious.


    “Let’s go, Becky,”n said, already backing toward the door. Now that he’d had his fun, it was time to exit. “Better stay away from henchmen and cheaters. They’re bad for your brain.”


    “Okay,” Reba replied, standing up.n’s bluntness was a little awkward, but she had to admit–it felt good to let off some steam. ‘He always knows how to lighten the mood when I need it,‘ she thought.


    13:26 Wed, <b>17 </b>Sept


    <b>45</b><b>% </b>


    Stanley watched the two walk away, frustration boiling under his skin. He turned to Jeffrey. “You’re just letting them go? No warning? No threat?”


    Jeffrey remained silent, his eyes fixed on the empty doorway.


    ‘Reba doesn’t seem to believen has feelings for her. Even after all the hints and digs, her mood hasn’t changed. Usually, she’d overthink everything–so why not this time?‘ he wondered.


    “What’s wrong?” Stanley asked, unnerved by the cold intensity radiating from Jeffrey.


    “Dig inton, from childhood till now,” Jeffrey said, his voice low and sharp. “I want every detail.”


    “Okay,” Stanley replied without hesitation.


    Jeffrey didn’t linger any longer.


    Watching Jeffrey’s unreadable expression, Stanley ventured cautiously, “You think Reba already knows hown feels? Will she pull away from him?”


    “She won’t,” Jeffrey said tly.


    Stanley looked confused. “Why not? Isn’t it obviousn’s into her?”


    Jeffrey wondered the same–why hadn’t Reba picked up onn’s feelings? It didn’t make sense, but he pushed the thought aside. As he walked out, he made a call and told the person on the other end thatn was back.


    Reba andn left the restaurant together and continued talking in the car.


    On the surface, Reba seemed calm, but inside, she was uneasy. n just returned, and Jeffrey was already making <i>moves</i>. Is it a warning–or something more?‘ she wondered.


    As he drove,n asked casually, “You think it was Stanley’s idea to pull that proposal stunt, or did Jeffrey n it?” “Jeffrey,” Reba answered without hesitation.


    Reba stayed quiet.


    “He thinks you’re in love with me,” Reba said bluntly. “He’s doing this on purpose. Maybe you should visit me less from now on. I don’t want you to be his primary target.”


    She knew exactly what Jeffrey was up to. He wanted to iste her, to scare away everyone who cared about her. That way, when she felt alone and desperate, she’d have no one <i>to </i>turn to but him.