“What should the CEO of the Hanson Group do?” Jeffrey locked eyes with his parents.


    Marcus blurted out without hesitation, “It’s certainly not whatever nonsense you’re doing now.”


    Jeffrey turned and left without another nce.


    He’d made that initial call, fearing Reba couldn’t handle them alone. Knowing his family, he understood they’d force her to surrender Amelia’s custody through any means if he didn’t intervene.


    But in his eyes, his woman wasn’t theirs tomand.


    “Jeffrey! Stop right there. Are you even listening to me?”


    Marcus’s furious shouts echoed behind Jeffrey as the bodyguards escorted him out, leaving him powerless beyond empty threats.


    Jeffrey ignored themotion, footsteps heavy as he returned to his office.


    “The Hanson family has more than one heir.” Marcus’s voice faded into the distance as he continued, “If you


    your can’t handle being CEO, I’ll put Stephen in


    chair.”


    “That’s enough,” Candice interjected, her heart sinking.


    “How dare he pull this reckless stunt over some woman?” Marcus’s temper red uncontrobly. “He represents not just himself, but the entire Hanson Group.”


    Candice fell silent.


    After making an awkward exit from the Hanson Group headquarters, Marcus was furious and barked at the driver, “Take me to Primey Technologies.”


    “Jeffrey wasn’t bluffing.” Candice maintained herposure. “That incident destroyed his trust in us. If you target Reba, he’ll truly sever family ties.”


    “You think I fear him?” Marcus blustered.


    Candice turned with a knowing look. “Don’t forget how he gained control of the Hanson Group.”


    Marcus stiffened, his expression growing solemn as ufortable memories surfaced, leaving him speechless.


    “We’ll wait.” Candice nced at the calendar in her phone. “If he still acts recklessly after their divorce, we’ll explore other options.”


    Reba had no idea she’d inadvertently avoided trouble. After putting Samuel to sleep with bedtime stories that evening, she texted May: [May, are you asleep?]


    A video call came through instantly. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” May yawned, concern evident in her sleepy


    voice.


    The screen showed May in a sexy silk nightgown. Though nearing fifty, she maintained her looks like someone in her thirties. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with coquettish charm.


    “You’re still as young and beautiful as ever,” Reba said sincerely, momentarily dazzled despite their long acquaintance.


    “Stop it.” May propped her phone on the bathroom counter while applying skincare. “I’m getting old.”


    Reba was momentarily lost for words.


    May massaged serum into her cheeks. “Out with it. What’s bothering you?”


    “Were you really childhood friends from the orphanage with my mother?” Reba leaned closer to the screen, scrutinizing every microexpression.


    May froze mid–motion,pletely unprepared for the decades–old question resurfacing.


    Reba immediately caught the hesitation. “It’s not true, is it?”


    “It is.” May restored herposure, methodically applying skincare. “Your mom and I have known each other since childhood at the orphanage. Ms. Coleman was like a mother to us both. We took you to visit her when you were little, remember?”


    “Besides you, did my mom have any other friends or family?” Reba pressed cautiously.


    “I don’t know,” May replied evasively, keeping her cards close. “Who’s to say she didn’t see other people behind my back?”


    “When I visited the hospital today, I met someone in my mom’s ward.” Reba adjusted the story slightly, seeking truth through calcted disclosure. “He imed to be her old acquaintance.”


    May’s response was simple. “I see.”


    Reba cropped a surveince photo and sent it. “Do you recognize this person?”


    Grabbing her phone, May walked to the living room while opening the message. When the image loaded, her pupils shook violently. The photo ttered to the floor with a hollow thud.


    How? How did he find Amelia?‘ she thought to herself.


    “May?” Reba caught every nuance of May’s reaction–the clear recognition mixed withplicated history.


    Retrieving the phone with forced calm, May asked, “You said you met him in her ward?”


    “Yep,” Reba responded softly.


    May pressed, “What did he say to you?”


    “Is he an old acquaintance of my mom’s?” Reba countered instead of answering.


    In Reba’s memory, May always remained calm andposed, even when hearing about Reba’s marriage to Jeffrey, whom May had never met before. Yet just now, Reba had seen genuine shock on May’s


    face.


    “No,” May lied casually. “An enemy, if anything.”


    Reba wondered, ‘An enemy? Who would sit patiently by their enemy’s hospital bed for half an hour?‘


    “What exactly did he tell you?” May pressed again.


    “Nothing,” Reba confessed. “I lied earlier. We never spoke. The doctor told me about his visit.”


    “You’re learning bad habits from Jeffrey, little troublemaker,” May teased, some tension leaving her shoulders.


    Reba chuckled evasively. She kept the divorce secret, not wanting to burden May with worry.


    “That man is no good. Tell Jeffrey not to let him in anymore.” May knew Amelia had been staying at the Hanson Group’s private hospital. “Don’t get involved with him either.”


    Reba nodded obediently. “Okay.”


    After chatting a bit more about other trivial daily matters, they finally hung up. As if worried Reba wouldn’t obey, May sent her a follow–up message after the call, reiterating the importance of staying away


    from that man.


    Although Reba agreed, May still felt uneasy. In the end, she dug out a long–unused number and dialed it.


    *****


    Reba realized through the call that the man was closely connected to her mother. Though May called him an enemy, Reba could tell her tone and expression clearly carried traces of resentment.


    Reba muttered in her mind, ‘Is he Mom’s former family? Was Mom abandoned and left in an orphanage by her family who reunited with herter?‘


    Although her mind was full of questions, she didn’t n to investigate further. A past that shouldn’t be mentioned meant an unhappy history. Since Amelia had chosen to keep it hidden, Reba believed she wanted to forget it all.


    Reba told herself, ‘After she wakes up, if she wants to talk, I’ll listen. If she doesn’t, I won’t press. After all, Mom is the most important person in my world, and everyone else is just a stranger who doesn’t matter.


    After putting the matter aside, she began pondering the anniversary celebration. ssical dance held a limitedpetitive advantage in such grand events, requiring her to devise a new approach.


    After a night of consideration, Reba finalized a concept and wrote a story script.