<b>Chapter </b><b>55 </b>
Jeffrey’s sharp gaze seemed to pierce through all her pretenses, seeing straight into her soul.
Andrea forced a smile, feeling the weight of his presence. “How would I know?”
Q
36%
+20)
“I won’t tolerate this again. Reba is my wife and Samuel’s mother.” Jeffrey’s voice was steady, confirming his suspicions from her reaction. “I made that clear from the start.”
Andrea’s eyes welled with tears. “It wasn’t me!”
“If you want to deal with others, right or wrong, I’ll stand by you,” Jeffrey said bluntly. “But <i>Reba</i>? Absolutely not.”
“It wasn’t me. I had nothing to do with this.” Andrea’s heart twisted, gripped by fear as she desperately defended herself. “You can investigate if you don’t believe me.”
Jeffrey kept his gaze steady, watching her misty eyes with cold calm. “Do you really want me <i>to </i>investigate?”
Andrea froze, her blood turning cold.
“Did my earlier words sink in?” Jeffrey paused, giving her an escape route.
Andrea nodded quietly. “They did.”
“I ept your scheming nature. I’ll respect whatever twisted thoughts you have, whether honorable or not,” Jeffrey
continued, his tone blunt. “But none of this touches Reba.”
Humiliation flooded Andrea. Under Jeffrey’s intense gaze, she feltpletely exposed, as if every hidden agenda wasid
bare.
His brutal honesty broke down her defenses, and his unexpected mercy left her torn between gratitude and unease.
“I’m sorry,” Andrea said, knowing it was no use arguing anymore.
Jeffrey almost demanded she apologize to Reba, but then he remembered how fiercely Reba had tried to erase their past. His words dissolved into a bitter silence.
Andrea felt the weight of his silence. “The better you treat me, the more I fear losing you. I’m scared you’ll leave me once you make up with her.”
“I confessed your existence to her when I loved her most,” Jeffrey said inly. “Your worry is unnecessary.”
“But affection alwayses with possessiveness,” Andrea pressed, hoping to im his heart fully. “I wanted to be with you before. Now that we’re closer, I want you by my side forever.”
Jeffrey’s eyes flickered, and he suddenly remembered something Reba had once said.
Andrea held his hand, her grip tightening. “Jeffrey.”
“Go on,” Jeffrey said, his voice detached.
<b>1/4 </b>
14:11
Sept
E
. <b>36</b>%
+20
“I want to work with you at Primey Technologies as your secretary,” Andrea said boldly. “That way we’ll be together every day. No more insecurity. Would that be okay?”
“Hmm,” Jeffrey murmured, not objecting.
Andrea was surprised. “Really?”
Jeffrey repeated, “Hmm.”
Andrea’s presence gave Reba a clear view of the preferential treatment Jeffrey reserved for “insiders” versus outsiders. If Reba still insisted on a divorce, she’d lose those privileges. Over time, she’d realize what the right choice was.
Reba had no idea that, even though Jeffrey had stopped causing problems at work, Andrea had be even more skilled at maniption. But at that moment, she had no energy to focus on that.
After hanging up Jeffrey’s call, Reba textedn, asking if he could help pick up Samuel when he was free.
Richard red at her phone. “Finished negotiating?”
“He refused,” Reba said tly.
“If he refuses, you should beg harder!” Richard exploded. “Show some humility. Grovel if you have to.”
“You want mercy? Go beg him yourself,” Reba snapped, throwing all pretenses aside. “This isn’t my problem anymore.”
“Reba!” Richard’s face darkened.
Reba ignored him. She’d already figured things out during the call.
“If you don’t settle this for me tonight, I’ll make sure no one sleeps here,” Richard said, threatening her. “I’ll smash
everything in your room.”
“Be my guest,” Reba replied wearily.
Richard grabbed a nearby cup, ready to throw it.
Reba spoke up before he could. “Just a reminder. This is a condo building, not a vi. The neighbors below will hear the
noise.”
“So what if they hear?” Richard growled in anger.
“They’ll report it to property management. If that doesn’t work, they’ll call the police.” Reba met his re, “I didn’t break anything. You’d be the one getting arrested.”
Richard froze, the logic hitting him.
Reba continued, “Go cause a scene at my workce if you want. I don’t care about embarrassment, but I wonder if you
14:11 Fri, 19 Sept 6
will care about the scandal.”
36<b>% </b>
20
Her words hit hard, upsetting Richard’s n. He had thought he could extort money through brute force, but now he was facing the possibility of jail time or public disgrace.
“If I kidnapped you and that child inside,” Richard suddenly said fiercely, taking the path he least wanted, “I don’t believe Jeffrey would remain indifferent.”
Reba stared at him with her clear eyes. She had expected his shameless behavior, but not this insanity.
don’t know whether Jeffrey would stand by or not,”n said,ing just in time. “But if <i>you </i>really kidnap Becky and Samuel, with Jeffrey’s methods, you’ll disappear and end up with broken limbs.”
Reba and Richard turned to seen walking in, dressed mboyantly.
Behind him was Jessica, exuding cool confidence, and Reba’s eyes lit up.
n,” Richard muttered, his gaze shifting to Jessica. “Jessica!”
“Did you ask me to pick up Samuel because Richard’s causing trouble here?”n asked bluntly, not bothering with adult
issues.
Reba nodded. Ian wasn’t bad in a fight, but Jessica would easily overpower him. They were safe now.
“Out of respect for your seniority, I won’t make this too unpleasant.”n instinctively stepped in front of Reba and Jessica, blocking their path. “Are you leaving on your own, or should I have my people escort you out?”
Jessica shotn a sideways nce. ‘Why didn’t I know you brought your men here?‘ she thought.
Jessica raised an eyebrow.
Richard realized it was going <i>to </i>be difficult to get what he wanted today, so he cut straight to the point. “If you want me to leave, fine. Give me 1.5 million.”
Jessica nodded. “Is 1.5 million too little? Maybe make it 3 million.”
Reba immediately understood their n and facepalmed.
Richard’s eyes lit up as he thought, ‘If getting money is this easy, why have I gone through all this trouble?‘