“I wonder how he felt when he learned I rejected him,” Lucas mused aloud while tapping his phone to send a message to Jeffrey.


    Stephen’s pale lips curved slightly. “Most likely no emotional reaction at all.”


    Lucas was confused. “How could that be?”


    Facts proved that Stephen understood Jeffrey best.


    Jeffrey had returned to the Hanson Group from Primey Technologies before noon for an important board meeting. After concluding the session, he noticed the message while discussing business matters with Stanley in his expansive CEO office.


    Stanley nced at his illuminated phone. “Should you


    check


    your message first?”


    Jeffrey maintainedposure. “It’s from Lucas.”


    Stanley asked, “What’s it about?”


    “He rejected my proposal.” Jeffrey absorbed the content with peripheral vision. “He won’t dismiss Reba.”


    <b>“</b>After <i>all</i>, he’s Stephen’s man. If he really fired Reba just because you said so, that’d be a betrayal of his friend.” Stanley analyzed the situation clearly, pointing out the key points.


    Jeffrey continued reviewing project details. “I know.”


    “Then why confront him…?” Stanley looked perplexed. Going despite knowing the unfavorable oue didn’t match Jeffrey’s usual style.


    “To assess how important Joanna is to him,” Jeffrey replied calmly, maintaining perfectposure. “And have strategies ready if situations change.”


    “But he refused,” Stanley reminded him kindly.


    Jeffrey’s eyes met Stanley’s. “Do you know why I never take your advice on rtionships?”


    Stanley answered earnestly, “You think I’m always wrong.”


    “From your observation,” Jeffrey casually asked, though his expression turned serious, “does Lucas care about Joanna?”


    “Not particrly,” Stanley answered based on witnessed events. “He wouldn’t have fought her for Emily’s custody years ago, nor left her overseas this long if he did.”


    Lucas’s drama was notorious enough for overseas observers like Stanley to know every detail.


    “This is why I never take your advice,” Jeffrey answered the question. “You don’t get it at all.”


    Stanley looked astonished.


    “If he really didn’t care about Joanna, he wouldn’t have reacted so strongly when I mentioned her, and he wouldn’t have hesitated so long before answering a simple question,” Jeffrey said.


    Stanley wanted to argue, but realized he couldn’t find a starting point. “What if you’re wrong?”


    Jeffrey said, “Stephen used his resources to investigate Joanna these past few days.”


    Stanley pressed, “So?”


    Jeffrey’s unfinished words hung in the air as his gaze shifted throughplex emotions.


    “Why stare at me?” Stanley persisted with his questioning.


    “With Lucas’s capabilities, he could’ve uncovered most things himself.” Jeffrey initially ignored him but reconsidered, valuing their friendship. “Stephen’s involvement is like me helping you with investigations.”


    Stanley half–understood. He knew Stephen’s intervention indicated importance, but couldn’t get it. He thought, ‘If she’s important, why doesn’t Lucas actively pursue reconciliation? Shouldn’t he make more effort to earn forgiveness when he cares for her?‘


    “Do you have anything else to say?” Jeffrey asked while finishing his current tasks.


    “No,” Stanley replied.


    He thought Lucas was insane, and so was Jeffrey. Their insane behaviors and actions made no sense to him, and that was exactly how it was.


    With theplex mix of emotions, Stanley left the Hanson Group, his mind stirring with turbulent thoughts.


    ‘Before that incident, Jeffrey had struggled but remained mentally stable. After the ident, he became apletely different person.


    ‘I thought Reba’s appearance would change him. During their marriage, he acted like a normal person, treating Reba with unparalleled affection as the perfect husband. But now it turns out that things have gotten worse.


    Jeffrey spent the afternoon handling major affairs at the Hanson Group, leaving less critical matters to Gregory,


    Gregory entered Jeffrey’s office before he left. “Sir…”


    “What is it?” Jeffrey asked.


    “Mr. Marcus Hanson wasn’t pleased about the anniversary celebration of Primey Technologies,” Gregory said in his usual professional tone. “He requests your return call.”


    Jeffrey replied indifferently, “No time.”


    Gregory continued, “He said if you didn’t return his call, he and your mother would go see Ms. Jensen.”


    55 vouchers


    Jeffrey nced up, his previously calm eyes turning icy as danger radiated from him. “Tell them I’m not above making their lives miserable if they keep testing me. Sentimentality isn’t in my nature.”


    “They’re waiting in the conference room,” Gregory said nervously.


    Jeffrey’s re made Gregory shrink under the oppressive atmosphere.


    Knowing his parents were behind it, Jeffrey didn’t me his assistant for the poor timing. Before heading to the conference room, he said, “You report to me, Gregory. Others‘ opinions don’t matter, not even theirs.”


    “Understood,” Gregory responded.


    When Jeffrey entered, Marcus and Candice were sitting in the conference room–the former was fuming while thetter was trying to calm him down withplex expressions.


    Both of them looked up abruptly as the door opened, meeting their son’s impassive gaze.


    “Jeffrey…” Candice began hesitantly.


    “Are you involved in the anniversary celebration of Primey Technologies?” Marcus suppressed his fury upon sensing Jeffrey’s intimidating aura.


    Jeffrey nced at them. Just as they thought he might offer an exnation, he instructed his staff, “Escort them out.”


    “Yes, sir.” Four bodyguards promptly appeared.


    Marcus’s suppressed anger red, but he only dared to vent it slightly. “What are you doing? Don’t forget I’m your father.”


    “If it weren’t for your status<b>, </b>my order would’ve been to drag you out and dump you on the street, not to ‘escort‘ you out.” Jeffrey stood at the door, his figure imposing.


    Marcus retorted, “You little-‘


    Candice’s eyes flickered with sorrow. “Can’t you have a proper conversation with your parents?”


    After theirst call, they’d hoped their son was opening up. Yet it turned out things remained unchanged.


    “Don’t touch Reba,” Jeffrey warned with unprecedented seriousness. “If anything happens to her because of you, I’ll repay every grievance from the past.”


    Marcus, though not in their circle, knew enough. “You’ve had people harass her yourself. Look at your recent actions. Is this how the CEO of the Hanson Group should behave?”


    Jeffrey was working for anotherpany and helping organize their anniversary celebration. Marcus had never seen anyone do something so utterly senseless.