“Let him target me all he wants,”n sneered, He had never been scared of anyone. “Don’t overthink it–just keep living your life like normal.”


    n,” Reba frowned, worried he was being reckless.


    “You think I came back just for me?”n kept his eyes on the road, one hand resting lightly on the wheel. “I’m under strict orders from Jessica. If I left you to handle this alone, she’de at me with a kitchen knife.”


    “I’ll talk to her,” Reba said seriously. “I’ll make her understand.”


    “No need,”n cut in smoothly. “It’s already decided. Whatever Jeffrey tries, just remember–Jessica and I are always with


    you.”


    Reba opened her mouth to argue.


    Butn wasn’t done. “If you say no, that means you don’t see us as real friends. And if we’re not friends, I might just have to teach Jeffrey a lesson.”


    Reba looked puzzled. “If we’re not friends, why would you?”


    “Because he’s the reason you push us away,”n said, as if it were the most logical thing in the world. “So obviously, it’s all


    his fault.”


    Reba finally smiled softly. She knew there was no changing their minds–notn’s, and certainly not Jessica’s. She felt a deep warmth having friends like them, but couldn’t shake the guilt of possibly dragging them into her mess.


    “I know what you’re worried about. Worst case, Jeffrey tries to ruin mypany or drag my dad into this mess. But I’ve taken precautions. Don’t stress over it,”n said. He had already thought everything through.


    “Thank you,” Reba said softly. She knew there was no changing his mind.


    A faint smile touched Reba’s lips. She finally let go of the urge to argue, She figured maybe if she kept a low profile and didn’t draw attention, Jeffrey wouldn’t go too far against them.


    About half an hourter,n pulled up in front of Reba’s apartment building. He frowned slightly as he looked up at the modestplex. “You live here?”


    “Yep.” Reba nodded.


    “Why not stay at one of Jessica’s ces? She’s got plenty of empty properties,”n couldn’t help asking. He remembered Reba had never lived somewhere so ordinary before.


    “It’sfortable here,” Reba replied and offered a practical reason. “It’s close to Samuel’s school. Makes drop–offs and pickups easier.”


    45%


    “I’m going up now,” Reba said, gesturing toward the building.


    “Alright,”n nodded. He waited until she was inside before pulling out his phone and dialing Jessica.


    As expected, she answered with a groggy but furious voice–he’d clearly woken her up. “Are you out of your mind? Do you know what time it is?”


    “Just wanted to check in about Becky,”n said calmly.


    “Huh?” Jessica mumbled, “Let’s talk when I’m actually awake.” She hung up without another word.


    Seeing the familiar number sh on the screen, his confident expression faltered. After letting it ring for about ten seconds, he finally answered, his tone impatient, “What’s up?”


    A short momentter,n drove off, a slight frown on his face.


    From his car parked not far away, Jeffrey watched the entire scene unfold.


    Based on the previous call and what he’d just seen, Stanley pieced things together. He asked, “You called Henry just now?”


    Jeffrey didn’t answer, but his cold face said everything.


    ‘No wonder he wasn’t worried after the proposal stunt failed,‘ Stanley thought. ‘He has a backup n all along.


    Everyone in Jsburg knewn and his father Henry didn’t get along. Every time they were together, it ended in arguments–or worse.


    Eventually, Henry had kickedn out of the family business in a fit of rage, andn had built his ownpany from


    scratch.


    “Keep a close eye onn these next few days,” Jeffrey instructed Gregory in the driver’s seat. “I want to know everything


    he does.”


    “Okay,” Gregory replied.


    After hanging around for about five minutes, Jeffrey finally let him drive off.


    Reba didn’t know about Jeffrey’s n, but she was sure both she andn were being watched by him–at least for


    today.


    Back at her apartment, she set up herputer and tablet on the living room table near the balcony and took on a digital artmission.


    For her, drawing full–body character art was easy. She’d even won major game art contests against thousands ofpetitors back in the day. Back then, though, it was just for fun–not for money.


    Now, things were different. She needed the ie. A typical full–bodymission could go for anywhere from a few


    <b>13:27 </b>Wed, <b>17 </b><b>Sept </b>O


    hundred to several thousand dors. This one paid a thousand–low requirements, quick turnaround. Too bad gigs like this didn’te every day.


    That afternoon, Reba lost herself in sketching. Four hours flew by in a focused blur.


    It was only when her rm went off–time to pick up Samuel–that she finally paused, rubbing her stiff neck before heading out.


    That evening, after putting Samuel to bed, Reba settled back at herputer and picked up her stylus. Just as she began refining her drawing,n called.


    “Still up?” he asked.


    “Yeah,” she replied.


    “I put together a list ofpanies that might be a good fit for you. Sent it over WhatsApp,”n said briskly. “Take a look.”


    Reba opened the message on herputer.


    “I made sure none of them have any ties to Jeffrey or Stanley. You can apply safely,”n added before she could even respond. “And don’t worry–they’re not connected to me, either.”


    After talking with Jessica,n had a clearer picture of Reba’s situation. Knowing she was worried about causing trouble, he decided to help in a different way.


    “Okay,” Reba replied softly.


    “Get some rest soon,”n said after finishing his serious business. “Call me anytime if you need anything. I’ve got your


    back.”


    A wave of warmth spread through Reba’s chest. “Mm,” she whispered.


    After the call, Reba sent her resume to thepaniesn had suggested. Once the emails were confirmed, she returned to her artwork.


    Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, it was already Monday.


    After dropping Samuel off at school, she nned to look for more artmissions. On her way back, however, she received an interview invitation from Primey Technologies and decided to head straight over.


    The interview went smoothly. She showed them her award–winning pieces and her online portfolio, and the interviewers were clearly impressed.


    “What’s your expected sry?” one of them asked directly.


    Reba didn’t hesitate. “No less than ten thousand.” Even though she hadn’t held a regr job, she’d kept her skills sharp by winning art contests–and she knew what her work was worth.


    The interviewers exchanged nces. “Understood. Can youe back for the final interview on Wednesday?”


    13:27 Wed<b>, </b>17 <b>Sept </b>


    14345%骏


    Just as Reba was about to answer, her phone buzzed. A text from Timothy lit up the screen: [Ms. Jensen, your mother’s surgery has been scheduled for this afternoon. Are you avable toe?]


    <b>AD </b>