<b>Chapter </b>40


    “What do you want?” Reba’s heart suddenly tightened as she spun around, giving Jeffrey a wary look.


    Jeffrey met her eyes, calm as ever. “Rx, I’m not here for anything. Just wanted a casual chat.”


    Reba’s hand slowly clenched tighter, her nails digging into her palm and reopening the old wound, it hurt, but she was numb to the pain..


    “She started talking nonsense in front of me. That’s why I snapped,” Reba said, forcing her emotions down. She really didn’t want him stirring up chaos in her work and life.


    Jeffrey drawled, “Back when I had your back, did you ever see me waste time reasoning with people?”


    His words instantly shot down all the excuses Reba had prepared. She stood in the harsh glow of the streetlight while darkness loomed behind her, just like the uncertainty waiting in her future.


    “If you think she’s the victim, go ahead. Make me pay her back, just like what you did at the hospital,” she said, clutching her bleeding hand tighter, desperately searching for onest shred of dignity to hold onto.


    But this was Jeffrey; he was ruthless even to himself, let alone others. If he was pissed off, everyone else had to suffer with


    him.


    “If you want payback, knock yourself out,” Jeffrey said, stepping closer, his obsidian eyes fixed on her face. “But you still need to apologize.”


    Reba felt her heart shatter. “Does it really have to be this way?”


    “The choice is yours,” Jeffrey said, already thinking, ‘If she just ys cute and says she doesn’t want to apologize, I’ll let it


    go.‘


    But Reba wasn’t about to let him have his way. She steadied herself and forced apromise for the sake of survival. “If I apologize to Andrea, will you promise not to tell my dad where I live, and stay out of my final interview?”


    Even though Primey Technologies had nothing to do with Jeffrey, if he got involved, they might still turn her down just to avoid getting on his bad side. Nobody wanted to offend someone that powerful over something trivial.


    “Yes,” Jeffrey replied, his eyes clouded over with darkness.


    “Alright,” Reba agreed, conceding for her own peace. “I’ll apologize to Andrea tomorrow. I just hope you’ll keep your


    word.”


    Jeffrey’s eyes turned icy. He thought, ‘She’d rather swallow her pride and apologize than show any softness. Not trying to be kind, she knows exactly how to get under my skin.‘


    “Anything else?” Reba asked, her voice unusually calm. “If not, I’ll take Samuel home.”


    Before Jeffrey could respond, a cheerful voice suddenly rang out. “Becky!”


    Thenn appeared, jogging over to Reba with a bright smile, his whole body buzzing with energy.


    15:34 Thu, 18 Sept


    n?” Reba was surprised. “What are you doing here?”


    30%


    “Samuel asked me toe pick you up,”n said, ncing at Samuel andpletely ignoring Jeffrey. “He said it’s not safe for you to be out alone at night, and he’s too little to protect you.”


    Samuel waddled over on his short legs. “I askedn toe.”


    Reba hesitated for a second, not expecting that at all.


    “Whoa, why’s your hand bleeding like crazy?”n spotted the blood trickling from her side and couldn’t help but frown. “Did that old cut split open again?”


    He remembered seeing the wound when they’d had dinner, and Reba had said it happened because of a piece of ss. Back then, it was already scabbing over.


    Reba brushed off the blood without much care. “Guess I bent my palm too much and popped the old cut open again.”


    Jeffrey finally saw the vivid red smeared across her palm, and his fingers instinctively tightened. She’d be clutching her hand, whining about the pain in no time before.


    “Mommy, let me blow on it,” Samuel said, puffing gently on her hand, his big eyes filled with worry and tender care.


    Reba gave his head a gentle rub. “Really, sweetie, it’s nothing. Doesn’t hurt at all.”


    “No way that doesn’t hurt. The cut’s huge!”n said, giving her a look. “Who was it that used to bawl their eyes out over the tiniest tumble?”


    Reba could only pause, momentarily lost for words.


    Seeing their intimate closeness, Jeffrey’s eyes deepened, and the air around him instantly grew colder by several degrees.


    Samuel seemed to feel the sudden chill. He nced over at Jeffrey and asked, “Dad, aren’t you going to blow on Mommy’s


    hand?”


    “Your blowing is enough,” Jeffrey said, his deep eyes lingering on Reba for a long moment before finally shifting to Samuel. He added, “Come here, son. Daddy has a question for you.”


    Samuel looked a little confused but still walked over. Once they’d gotten some distance, he stared up at Jeffrey with big, innocent eyes. “Daddy, what do you want to talk about?”


    “Why’d you askn toe over?” Jeffrey crouched down in front of him, doing his best to sound gentle as his big, warm hand rested on Samuel’s shoulder.


    Samuel yed dumb. “Huh?”


    “Cut the act and answer me,” Jeffrey said, not fooled for a second.


    “If you can’t protect Mommy, I’ll just find a new dad who can,” Samuel replied, super serious, even though his voice was still small and sweet. n’s pretty cool. I don’t mind if he bes my new daddy.”


    Jeffrey was momentarily speechless. Even though he knew Samuel was just trying to get a rise out of him, it still hit a


    15.34 Thu, <b>18 </b>Sept


    nerve.


    30%


    “I won’t stop you if you want to dump Mommy and find someone else,” Samuel went on, doubling down with a serious look. “But you better not interfere if I want to pick a new daddy for myself.”


    “You just love winding me up, don’t you?” Jeffrey grumbled, giving his chubby cheeks a little squeeze.


    Samuel, little but clever for his age, shot back, “You’re the one who upset Mommy first.”


    Jeffrey tried to reason with Samuel. “When did I ever make your mommy mad?”


    “Just now,” Samuel piped up, his childish voice full of certainty. “Mommy was smiling before she saw you, but after you two talked, the light in her eyes went away.”


    Jeffrey didn’t expect Samuel to be so observant. “Really? So I’m the reason her eyes lost their sparkle?”


    Samuel bobbed his little head. “Uh–huh.”


    “Now who’s being unreasonable?” Jeffrey teased, poking the boy’s tiny head, but he still couldn’t help but be fond of the little guy.


    Samuel dered, “Mommy’s the rule.”


    Jeffrey smirked, “You really do y favorites, huh?”


    Samuel didn’t answer right away. He blinked his big, round eyes and nced sideways at Reba, meeting her caring


    gaze.


    “It’s not about ying favorites,” Samuel said, his voicepletely earnest. “It’s because I love her.”


    A flicker of confusion crossed Jeffrey’s face.


    “If you can’t give Mommy the special love she deserves, I will,” Samuel said, looking up at Jeffrey with a serious, sweet face. “To me, she’s always been my one and only. No one else will ever matter as much.”


    Samuel’s words left Jeffrey speechless. He tried to respond but found himself at a total loss, unable toe up with any


    “Daddy,” Samuel called out.


    Jeffrey, sounding distracted, mumbled, “Yeah…”


    “I’m heading home with Mommy now<i>,</i>” Samuel announced, scooting in for a quick hug. His little arms were surprisingly warm and gave Jeffrey morefort than he expected. “You should get some sleep, too.”


    Jeffrey reached out for Samuel, but before he could even wrap Samuel up in a hug, the little guy had already wriggled free and scampered off on his short legs toward Reba.


    Samuel grabbed her uninjured hand, grinning from ear to ear. “Mommy, let’s go!”


    “Okay.” Reba steadied herself, pushing down her emotions as she gently took Samuel’s hand and walked away with


    him.


    Samuel reached out his free hand ton. n, can you hold my hand, too?”


    Reba andn nked Samuel, holding his tiny hands as the three walked off,ughing and chatting softly. Their warm. harmonious silhouettes resembled a happy little family. As they faded into the night, Jeffrey stood alone in the cold streetlight glow.


    AD