<b>Chapter </b>41


    Jeffrey’s phone buzzed twice. It was a message from Samuel: [Good night, Dad.]


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    Jeffrey had seen these words from Samuel many times before, but tonight, they hit differently, sinking deep into his heart. He stared at the screen, his finger hovering for a moment before he finally typed back: [Good night, baby.]


    Samuel saw the reply and bit his lip gently.


    After getting in the car,n took Reba to treat her wound. Once done, he dropped them at Maple Garden and watched them enter and head upstairs before texting Reba: [Keep your wound dry. Take care.]


    Reba sawn’s message only after putting Samuel to bed. She quickly replied: [Okay.]


    [Everything went smoothly today. Why would I be in a bad mood?] Reba didn’t wantn to worry about her, so she kept her real feelings hidden.


    Her interview was a win, and her mom’s surgery went well. If it hadn’t been for what happened tonight, it really would have been a perfect day.


    Reba typed back: [I know.]


    That night, Rebay awake for a long time, unable to fall asleep.


    For over twenty years, she never bowed her head when she was right. Before marriage, her parents shielded her from injustice. Afterward, Jeffrey ensured she never had to endure unfairness alone.


    But now she was alone. At the start of this new life, everything already felt wrong. Bitterly, she wondered, ‘If Mom woke up and knew I gave in over something not even my fault, would she be disappointed?‘


    Reba couldn’t remember when she’d actually fallen asleep. The only thing she knew was that when the rm rang, her head was foggy and her eyes refused to open. Still, she got up early, determined to make breakfast.


    Now that she was no longer living with Jeffrey, every single thing fell on her shoulders–meals, cleaning, all the daily routines. Strangely, taking care of everything herself gave her a quiet sense of security.


    After tidying up a bit, she waited for Samuel to finish his breakfast and took him to school. Only then did she catch a ride over to Harmony Estate.


    All the way there, she kept hyping herself up. Having to apologize to Andrea honestly felt worse than death. But sometimes life just hit that hard; to keep going, she’d have to swallow her pride, no matter how much it stung.


    By the time she arrived at Harmony Estate, it was just before 8:30. Andrea and Jeffrey had just finished breakfast. When Andrea saw Reba, she got up from the sofa and walked over, a little surprised. “Reba, what brings you here?”


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    18 Septe


    she asked. Her eyes flicked to Jeffrey, who was heading downstairs, looking sharp in a suit.


    Jeffrey was stunned for a second when he saw Reba.


    “Are you here for me or for Jeffrey?” Andrea asked, ncing between the two of them. “Want me to give you two some privacy?”


    Reba paused, straightened up, and fixed her gaze on Andrea. In a robotic, rehearsed tone, she said, “I’m here to see you. Yesterday, I lost control and hit you with my bag. I’m here to apologize. I’m sorry.”


    Andrea looked startled, almost at a loss, ncing at Jeffrey helplessly. “Uh… Jeffrey?<i>” </i>she asked, not sure what was going <ol><li>on<b>. </b></li></ol>


    Jeffrey strode up, his whole presence pressing down on Reba like a storm. His eyes were locked on her, voice cutting. “So that’s your idea of an apology?”


    Reba’s eyes were distant, almost like she was facing a stranger. She shot back, “And what is it, exactly, that you want, Mr. Hanson?”


    “I can’t sense any sincerity in your apology,” Jeffrey said, his gaze loaded with pressure.


    Andrea instinctively reached out and grabbed his sleeve, trying to ease the tension. “Seriously, it’s no big deal. There’s no need for her <i>to </i>make a big show of apologizing. Besides, Reba didn’t do it on purpose yesterday.”


    “Intentional or not, she hurt you.” Jeffrey’s reply was ice–cold, his expression hard as stone, refusing to back down.


    A chill ran through Andrea. She thought, ‘He cared for Reba for five years, yet after just a few days apart, he’s this ruthless? If he ever learns I’ve been deceiving him… I can’t even imagine what he’d do.‘


    Reba’s expression stayed perfectly calm. She’de here fully expecting Jeffrey <i>to </i>put her through the wringer, so she just turned to Andrea and said seriously, “I’m sorry, Ms. Scott.”


    Her words, tone, and expression were all wless. Her apology to Andrea was sincere, But knowing she only did it because he forced her sparked a sudden, nameless anger in Jeffrey.


    Then, all of a sudden, Jeffrey seized Reba by the wrist, dragged her straight to the garage, and practically shoved her


    into the car.


    Andrea started to follow and called out, “Jeffrey!”


    “I need to talk to Reba. Just <i>go </i>inside,” Jeffrey said, <i>not </i>even ncing her way.


    Andrea wanted to stop him from leaving, but after getting to know him better, she knew pressing would only annoy him. Finally, she agreed, “Alright,e home early tonight.”


    She didn’t try to follow again, pushing down all her worries as she went back <i>to </i>her room.


    Reba thought Jeffrey was acting like a madman. She tried to wrench her hand free, but his grip was iron–strong. Her wrist was turning red from the effort, yet she couldn’t break away, no matter how hard she fought.


    “I really didn’t expect you to fold so easily, Reba,” Jeffrey sneered as he leaned over her, pinning her against the back


    15:34 Thu, 18 Sept


    seat so she couldn’t move at all. “You just apologize the second I tell you to?”


    “A backbone doesn’t feed you, remember?” Reba shot back weakly, her earlier stubbornnesspletely drained. “Isn’t that what you always told me?”


    Jeffrey’s grip tightened on her wrist, inch by inch, refusing to let her go.


    All these years, he had spoiled her, and she had never backed down. Even when they bickered, if he teased her about admitting fault, she’d re with tear–filled eyes, pound his chest, and insist she was never wrong.


    And now, just because of those stupid little incidents, she was actually giving in. The more he thought about it, the more his anger burned.


    “Then why are you still pushing for a divorce?” he demanded, eyes locking onto hers. “If you’d agreed to my terms back then, none of this would’ve happened.”


    Reba felt strangely calm at that moment. Even as he held her tightly, she let herself be pinned there, staring right back into his eyes. Then aloud she said, “It’s not the same.”


    “How is it not the same?” Jeffrey pressed.


    “I loved you,” Reba said, her wordsing straight from the heart.


    Jeffrey paused, clearly taken aback by what she’d just confessed.


    “I know I’ll never find anyone who treats me as well as you do,” Reba said softly. Even Jessica had admitted no one could match how Jeffrey cared for Reba. “But that’s why I can’t ept even the smallest w between us.”


    There was a time when Jeffrey spoiled her to the absolute limit; he’d given her the world. But even with all that love, this was where they ended up.


    <i>“</i>Andrea doesn’t change where you stand in my heart.” Jeffrey finally softened, his voice gentler than before.


    Reba replied calmly and straight to the point, “You can’t split love in two. Being someone’s favorite, or making exceptions, can’t happen for two people at the same time.”


    “Do you really have to be this stubborn?” Jeffrey asked, a hint of exasperation in his tone.


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