<b>Chapter </b><b>39 </b>


    Thinking this way, Reba felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She was still stressed and exhausted, but for the first time in a while, she had a spark of hope.


    “I’ll take care of things here at the hospital,” Timothy said, trying to steady his emotions. He gave her the strongest


    reassurance he could as her doctor. “You go take care of what you need to.”


    “Thanks, I really appreciate it,” Reba said, her voice full of genuine gratitude.


    With nothing else to add, she stood up and made her way toward the ward. Just as her hand was about to turn the doorknob, Timothy looked up and called out, “Reba.”


    Reba nced back over her shoulder. “Yeah?” Her eyes were clear and unwavering. She was no longer the uncertain, timid girl she once was. In just a few days, she’d transformed, and now, there was nothing but strength in her gaze.


    Timothy studied her for a moment. Reba loosened her grip on the doorknob, sensing something more. “Is something wrong?” she asked.


    “No, nothing’s wrong,” Timothy replied, reassured by how well she seemed to be doing. “I just wanted to say if you ever get too busy to visit, just let me know. I’ll go check on your mom for you.”


    “Thank you, really,” Reba said, her voice sincere. She gave him a thankful smile, then opened the door and walked out, her steps steady and sure, her heart full of determination.


    Back in the ward, Reba sat by Amelia’s bedside, gently pressing her mother’s hand against her cheek. Looking at Amelia lying there, all she felt was tenderness and a deep sense of dependence.


    She poured her heart out to Amelia, telling her everything that had happenedtely, her hopes for the future, and how much she missed her.


    Meanwhile, Jeffrey sat absorbed in monitor feed, listening to every word. The coldness in the room seemed to grow with each sentence Reba spoke, and his hand at his side clenched in silent frustration.


    In every scenario Reba imagined for her future, Samuel and Amelia were there, but never Jeffrey.


    Stanley noticed the change in Jeffrey’s mood and snapped hisptop shut. “Your mother–inw just got out of surgery, and it went great. You’re really <i>not </i>going to go downstairs and see her?”


    “Where is Richard?” Jeffrey’s gaze was intense, cold, and unreadable.


    “He’s washing sses at the bar,” Stanley replied, genuinely confused by Jeffrey’s odd interest.


    “In a couple of days, casually drop Reba’s address to him,” Jeffrey instructed, grabbing his phone and tightening his grip on it. “Just mention the neighborhood, leave out the apartment number and floor.”


    Stanley waspletely puzzled. “Why do you want me to do that?”


    8.30% 6


    “The surgery went well. As Amelia’s husband, he has the right to know,” Jeffrey said calmly, his voice unreadable. “Reba should be the one to tell him.”


    “Is that really necessary?” Stanley asked, still not convinced.


    Jeffrey didn’t respond. He simply stood up and walked out.


    Stanley couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something about all of this wasn’t right. But the more he thought about it,


    the more it started to make sense.


    Reba had no idea what was happening. She stayed with Amelia for hours, only leaving when the sky began to darken. After saying goodbye to the doctors, she headed over to Jeffrey’s ce.


    The surgery was still underway when Samuel finished school.


    Concerned she might be needed in the operating room, Reba had already arranged with Victor and Samuel’s teacher to have Samuel go to Jeffrey’s ce first. She’d pick him up when things settled down at the hospital.


    By now, it was the right time. When she arrived, she called Samuel, and he came running out with his little backpack bouncing behind him.


    Just as she was about to leave with Samuel, bright headlights appeared in the distance, and a ck Bentley rolled to a stop right in front of them. Before she could take another step, the window rolled down, and Jeffrey’s face showed up.


    He was dressed in a custom suit, his eyes fixed on her, exuding an overwhelming presence that filled the air.


    Reba gave him a quick nce, not bothering to greet him. Then she took Samuel’s hand and started walking away.


    “Wait,” Jeffrey called out.


    Reba stopped in her tracks.


    Before she could say anything, the car door swung open, and Jeffrey stepped out, his long legs carrying him right up to her. He stood there, radiating maturity and confidence.


    “What do <i>you </i>want?” Reba asked, her voice cold and indifferent.


    Jeffrey’s gaze flicked to her hand holding Samuel’s. “Come over here. I need to talk to you,” he said lightly.


    Reba didn’t budge. ‘Why should I go just because you say so? Not happening<i>,</i>‘ she thought.


    “If you want Samuel to hear this, that’s fine by me,” Jeffrey said, stepping closer. As he brushed past her, he whispered something in her ear.


    Reba pressed her lips, forcing herself to hide her reaction.


    Samuel looked up at her with concern. “Mommy, is something wrong?”


    “It’s nothing, sweetheart. Just stay here for a minute,” Reba said with a smile, messing up his hair. “I’ll go talk to your


    dad real quick, and then we’ll head home, okay?”


    Samuel nodded eagerly. “Okay!”


    Reba touched his nose lightly with her finger and then walked toward Jeffrey.


    As they walked further away, Samuel nced around and secretly tapped on his smartwatch, sending a message.


    Reba didn’t notice. Once they were far enough from Samuel, she shot Jeffrey a look as cold and distant as if he were a stranger. “Go on. What do you want?”


    “The cut on Andrea’s forehead. You did that?” Jeffrey said, his deep eyes fixed on her.


    Reba paused, ready to snap back, but remembering how protective he was of Andrea, she decided not to argue


    She admitted, “Yeah, I did. nning to get revenge? There’s a rock right there. Smash it into my forehead. It’ll probably look just like hers.”


    Jeffrey stared at her, thinking, ‘Unbelievable. Just a few days, and she’s already acting this bold. He ordered, “Go apologize to her tomorrow!”


    “It wasn’t my fault. Why should I apologize?” Reba shot back. She had seen iting.


    “You have until tomorrow to decide,” Jeffrey said, his voice cold,cking the usual patience with her. “If you don’t show up at Harmony Estate and apologize before noon, I’ll tell your dad exactly where you’ve been hiding.”


    Reba’s gaze sharpened, her defenses immediately up.


    Jeffrey didn’t back down, his eyes as hard as steel. “You know your dad better than I do. Word is, he’s got nowhere to stay these days. Imagine how he’d react if he found out you’ve secretly rented a ce for yourself.”


    <i>“</i>Are <i>you </i>insane?” Reba snapped, not expecting him to go this far. “Don’t forget that Samuel lives with me!”


    “Then I’ll just have him move in here,” Jeffrey replied, shutting down her protest in an instant.


    Reba’s hands balled into tight fists at her sides, her anger rising inside her.


    Her life wasplicated enough. One more mess, and she wouldn’t be able to handle it. If her dad found out where she lived, there would be <i>no </i>peace. He’d chase her down, and managing work or just getting by would turn into a nightmare.


    Worst of all, Richard was still her father. If she called the cops because he wouldn’t leave, they wouldn’t do anything. They’d just say it was a family matter.


    “You’ve got the whole night to think it over,” Jeffrey said coldly, walking away without hesitation.


    As he passed her, he paused and nced at her, catching the trace of panic on her face. He added, “Oh<i>, </i>and by the way, 1 heard you made it to the final interview round at Primey Technologies.”


    <b>15:34 </b><b>Thu</b>, 18 <b>Sept </b>