Standing outside the bar, Richard was about to hail a cab to confront Reba when he suddenly realized he didn’t even know where she lived.


    Just then, a text appeared on his phone: [Reba lives in Unit 1802, Building 1, Maple Garden. She works at Primey Technologies.]


    Richard frowned and replied: [Who are you?]


    When there was no response, he used thest of his cash to g down a taxi heading toward Reba’s apartmentplex. His anger only grew with each passing minute.


    The events of the day reyed vividly in his mind. If it weren’t for that damn Reba, Jeffrey wouldn’t have targeted him.


    The moment Richard left the bar, Brady informed Stanley, who then immediately told Jeffrey, “Richard left the bar. He’s probably going after Reba.”


    “Did you give him Reba’s address?” Jeffrey asked.


    Stanley responded, “No, you told me not to.”


    Jeffrey rxed a bit. “Good.”


    Stanley kindly reminded him, “Aren’t you sending guards? What if he harasses Reba?”


    Although Richard had learned the hard way that even without Jeffrey, Reba wasn’t someone he could just push around, Stanley wondered if a week of washing cups might’ve finally driven him to the edge.


    Jeffrey hung up after dismissing the idea, clearly not wanting to discuss the matter further.


    Since he showed no concern, Stanley didn’t press the issue.


    After & PM, Richard managed to get into Reba’s apartmentplex by tailgating another resident through the gate.


    Inside, Reba was listening to Samuel’s funny school stories when the doorbell rang. She froze when she saw who it was and mmed the door shut in reflex immediately.


    “That’s no way to greet your father!” Richard shoved against the door and barged into the modest apartment. “You’re guarding this dump like it’s some <b>pce</b>.”


    Unable to stop him, Reba demanded, “What are you doing here?”


    “Visiting my daughter,” Richard replied, scanning the room with an entitled look. “Got a problem with that?”


    Reba followed him into the apartment.


    Hearing the noise, Samuel came out. When he saw Richard, he instinctively looked at Reba, his round eyes filled with confusion. “Mommy, who is this?”


    14:11 Fri, 19 Sept


    <b>36</b>%


    +20)


    “He’s your grandpa,” Reba said, not wanting her child to get involved any further. “Go y inside while I talk to him.”


    Samuel, sensing the tension between Reba and Richard, politely called out without asking any questions, “Grandpa.”


    Richard didn’t expect Samuel to address him that way, as he wasn’t the boy’s biological grandfather.


    Samuel didn’t stick around. After greeting them, he obediently went back <i>to </i>his room as Reba had instructed.


    Jeffrey is really heartless,” Richard muttered as he sat on the sofa, watching Samuel’s door close before turning his gaze to Reba. “Letting his own child suffer while you’re out here.”


    Reba ignored his jab. “What are you here for?”


    “Unless…” Richard replied, his voiceced with genuine curiosity, “This child isn’t really his?”


    Reba didn’t bother responding to his baseless usations. Ever since thepany went bankrupt, Richard was


    nothing like the kind, gentle father he used to be.


    “My purpose is simple,” Richard said, after a moment of circling around the issue. “Call Jeffrey and have him cancel the


    debt of over 600 thousand from that day.”


    Reba wasn’t surprised by his debt. “I’m already divorced from him.”


    “I’m not here to negotiate,” Richard said, his tone cold and ruthless. “If you don’t call him, I’ll have no problem making a scene at your workce. You work at Primey Technologies, don’t you?”


    Reba’s eyes narrowed instantly. ‘How did he know?‘ she wondered.


    “This debt of over 600 thousand was a trap Jeffrey set for me,” Richard fumed. “I didn’t spend that money willingly.”


    The thought of having to wash sses again in two days if this wasn’t resolved made his anger boil. “This mess started because of you. You need to fix it.”


    Reba was about to argue what this had to do with her, but then she remembered Jeffrey’s words when she went to Harmony Estate to apologize to Andrea.


    Jeffrey said back then, “Do you know how many problems I’ve cleaned up for youtely? Did you really think Richard and those other guys from the lounge just left you alone out of kindness?”


    ‘So, Jeffrey trapped Richard in debt to keep him there,‘ she thought.


    “You don’t want me to camp out here all day, right?” Richard said, threatening her. “Or do you want me to cause a scene at yourpany?<i>” </i>


    Reba’s heart tightened. If Richard decided to stay at her ce or stir up trouble at the Hanson Group, there’d be nothing she could do. Even the police couldn’t intervene in family matters like this.


    “I’ll go talk <i>to </i><i>your </i>kid,” Richard said, rising from the couch, every move full of menace. “Take your time deciding. If you won’t make that call, I won’t force you. But I’ll be taking over this apartment for now.”


    36%


    +201


    “Wait!” Reba strode over to block him.


    “Made up your mind?” Richard asked.


    “I’ll call Jeffrey,” Reba said, not wanting him to disturb Samuel. “But I can’t guarantee he’ll agree.”


    “I want that bar contract scrapped, not some half–hearted conversation,” Richard growled, his impatience clear in every muscle.


    Without another word, Reba dialed Jeffrey. ‘What goes around,es around. After twenty–something years of smooth sailing, a streak of bad luck is bound to hit,‘ she thought.


    The phone rang for a few seconds before Jeffrey answered. “What is it?”


    “Did my dad owe you over 600 thousand at Stanley’s bar?” Reba didn’t waste time with pleasantries and went straight to the point.


    Jeffrey’s brow furrowed slightly as he recalled Stanley’s call. “He’s with you?” he asked.


    “Yes,” Reba replied.


    Jeffrey’s deep eyes narrowed. ‘How did Richard manage to find Reba?‘ he wondered.


    “He says this situation started because of me,” Reba said bluntly, cutting to the chase. “If that’s true, can you please cancel his bar contract and just let this go?”


    “You were the trigger, but that’s not what matters,” Jeffrey said.


    “Understood,” Reba responded coolly and hung up without a second thought.


    The line went dead, and Jeffrey’s sharp features tightened ever so slightly.


    Andrea, who had been sitting beside him watching TV, noticed the change in his mood. She leaned over to him instinctively. “Did something happen?” she asked,


    “Richard went to see Reba,” Jeffrey replied tly.


    Andrea looked at him nkly. “Huh?”


    Jeffrey quickly tapped on his phone and sent a message to the bodyguards who had been quietly protecting Reba and Samuel near Maple Garden. He instructed them to find an excuse to check on Reba without revealing that they were working for him.


    “Ever since Reba’s family went bankrupt, her rtionship with Richard has been rocky,” Andrea said cautiously after a pause. “Did she say why Richard wanted to see her?”


    “Don’t you already know?” Jeffrey set his phone down and gave her a sideways nce.