With that, Jeffrey walked out, making it clear he wasn’t going to stick around.


    <b>B </b>


    Lucas watched him go, his mind swirling with doubt. As Jeffrey reached the door, Lucas called out, “Wait a second…”


    Jeffrey stopped, turning to see what Lucas wanted.


    “Is this just hearsay, or do you have solid information?” Lucas asked, his usual easygoing demeanor reced with a serious edge in his eyes.


    “Solid intelligence,” Jeffrey said clearly, “Including details about her job, where she lives, and her identity.”


    Lucas’s hands tightened slightly at his sides.


    Noticing his conflict and hesitation, Jeffrey offered, “To show good faith, I’ll share one detail first.”


    Lucas’s eyes flickered with interest. “What is it?”


    “Her engagement ising up, “Jeffrey said, watching Lucas closely for any reaction.


    Lucas’s chest tightened, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “That’s impossible!”


    35%


    “See for yourself,” Jeffrey said casually, observing Lucas’s whitening knuckles. “This intelligence is only good for a week. After that, it’s gone for good.”


    Lucas pursed his lips, his mind racing through the past. He didn’t want to believe it.


    But given Joanna’s personality and what he had done to her, he wouldn’t be surprised if she reacted this way.


    Lucas stood in the doorway for a long time, only snapping back to reality when his phone buzzed in his pocket.


    When he saw it was Stephen calling, his fingers instinctively tightened around the phone. After a brief moment, he answered, “Stephen.<i>” </i>


    His voice sounded hoarse and subdued, a clear sign of emotional turmoil that wouldn’t go unnoticed by Stephen.


    “What’s wrong?” Stephen asked, his tone gentle.


    Lucas tightened his grip on the phone, words stuck in his throat.


    Stephen, always perceptive, waited a beat before guessing. “Did Jeffrey tell you something?”


    Lucas paused, surprised. “How did you know?”


    “Only he could get under your skin like this,” Stephen replied calmly, his words a soothing balm to Lucas’s anxious mind.


    “He wants me to fire Reba,” Lucas admitted, his voice steady as he confided in Stephen. “In exchange for information about Joanna.”


    14:12 Fri, <b>19 </b>Sept 0.


    ??<b>335</b><b>% </b>


    20


    Stephen’s deep eyes, framed by silver–rimmed sses, lifted slightly, a flicker of unspoken thoughts passing across his


    face.


    Leaning against the porch column, Lucas added, “He says nobody else can get this intelligence, not even you.”


    “So that’s what he’s iming?” Stephen asked.


    “Yes,” Lucas replied.


    Silence stretched between them through the phone line.


    After a moment, Stephen spoke again. He knew how important Joanna was to Lucas, but he also understood Reba’s role in Lucas’s ns. “Do you trust me?”


    “Of course,” Lucas replied without hesitation.


    “Joanna is in Jeffrey’s custody,” Stephen said, his voice steady.


    Lucas furrowed his brow, confused and unsettled.


    Stephen twirled a pen between his fingers, his eyes behind the lenses slightly narrowing. “I’ll have someone look into it and let you know what we find as soon as possible.”


    Before Lucas could respond, the call ended. He stood there, more conflicted than ever.


    If Joanna were hiding from him, things could be sorted out. But if she was really in Jeffrey’s hands, the situation was about to get much moreplicated.


    “Mr. Reed…” Reba waved her hand in front of his face, calling his name a few times.


    Lucas snapped back to reality. Seeing her holding her bag and ready to leave, he instinctively asked, “Is today’s dance


    session over?”


    Reba nodded. “Yes.”


    Lucas checked the time. “Lunch is ready. Stay and eat before you go.”


    “No, thanks. I have some things to take care of at home.” Reba made an excuse, biting her lip. After a moment to steady. herself, she asked, “Can I ask you something?”


    Lucas slipped one hand into his pocket, looking effortlessly cool. “Go ahead.”


    Reba’s hand holding the bag twitched slightly. “Jeffrey asked you to fire me, didn’t he?”


    Earlier, she had stayed mostly because of the high sry, but more importantly, she hadn’t feared immediate termination here. Everyone knew Jeffrey and Lucas were enemies. But what she saw just now gave her a sinking feeling.


    Lucas looked into her innocent eyes for a moment before answering honestly, “Yes, but I haven’t given him an answer yet.”


    14:12 Fri, 19 Sept 0


    Reba’s heart sank. “Thank you,” she murmured to Lucas before turning to walk away.


    “Ms. Jensen,” Lucas called after her.


    Reba stopped in her tracks.


    Lucas asked bluntly, “During your marriage to Jeffrey, did you ever meet a woman surnamed Jordan?”


    Reba shook her head. “No.”


    Lucas’sst shred of hope vanished instantly.


    Reba didn’t linger on the matter, leaving promptly after their conversation.


    Q4:35%自


    As she walked away from the vi, she couldn’t stop worrying that if Jeffrey sabotaged this job too, her position at Primey Technologies would be in serious jeopardy. She wondered what she could do then.


    Fuming, she pulled out her phone and dialed Jeffrey. Each unanswered ringtone amplified her simmering anger.


    Jeffrey had just returned to Harmony Estate from the hospital when Reba’s call came through. He answered without much thought, still staring at hisputer screen. “What?”


    “Why did you make Lucas fire me?” Reba’s voice crackled through the line, full of usation. “You promised you wouldn’t interfere! Have you forgotten our agreement at Harmony Estate?”


    “Not interfering means treating you like any other stranger,” Jeffrey’s deep voice rumbled, barely moving his lips.


    “Then why get involved if we’re strangers?” she asked.


    “Ordinary strangers don’t affect my interests,” he replied calmly. “But you’re an exception.”


    “What have I ever done to affect you?” Reba felt like he was doing this on purpose. “Blocked your path? Offended you? Or somehow displeased you?”


    “Why would I exin myself to some random passerby?” Jeffrey said, his words cutting deep.


    The simple statement hit Reba like a knife, shattering herposure. Her grip on the phone tightened, and all her questions died on her lips.


    It was true that he didn’t owe exnations to strangers. Unable to find a suitable response, she ended the call abruptly.


    She’d have to swallow this bitter pill. If Lucas decided to fire her based on Jeffrey’s suggestion, she’d have to figure out new ways to make quick cash. She was just a tiny antpared to Jeffrey’s empire.


    Jeffrey stared at the phone, his fingertips lightly brushing over Reba’s contact name.


    Andrea walked in, noticing that he seemed unusually distracted. “Jeffrey? Are you busy?” she asked cautiously.


    “What is it?” Jeffrey set the phone aside.


    <b>35</b><b>% </b>


    20)


    “My mother texted me this morning,” Andrea said, hesitating before continuing. “About my father.”


    She had spent years living alone with her mother, asking countless times about her father, only to receive vague answers.


    Only recently, after confirming time and again that Jeffrey genuinely cared for her, did Andrea finally get a call from her mother. It was then that her mother revealed her father’s identity. Andrea never could have imagined it would be him.