<b>Chapter </b>71
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Reba never imagined Samuel could make such a remark. She wondered if her frequent contact with Ian mistakenly led Samuel to think she wanted a rtionship.
Fortunately, everyone just treated it as a joke and didn’t take it seriously. After some <b>casual </b>banter, the matter was quickly dropped.
Ian then turned the conversation to Jessica’s situation, asking curiously, “Since when did Andrea be your sister?<b>” </b>
“She’s my father’s secret love child,” Jessica replied nonchntly. “We just acknowledged her existencest week.”
Ian eximed, “This sounds like something straight out of a soap opera.”
Jessica took a sip of her drink. Before Andrea suddenly appeared at her doorstep, she’d never imagined such dramatic twists–a half–sister stealing her best friend’s man and bringing him to her home.
“Do you know about this, Becky?” Ian asked, noticing Reba scrolling through her phone.
Reba looked up. “What?”
Ian immediately sensed her distraction. “What’s wrong? You look…” he drew out the suspense, “oddly preupied.”
“Nothing important.” Reba set down her phone, rejoining the conversation. “I knew about Jessica’s situation from day one. It’s definitely soap opera material.”
Jessica stared at her from across the table. “You’re acting strangely.”
Ian said, “Exactly.”
Jessica spread her hand and demanded, “Hand over your phone.”
Ian mimicked her gesture and repeated, “Hand it over.”
“Copycat much?” Jessica shot back mercilessly. “Why repeat everything <b>I </b>say? If your brain’s just for show, I’ll donate it for you,”
“Look at her,” Ianined to Reba, “she’s always yelling at me all day.”
“So what if I do? Reba’s on my side,” Jessica argued back. “Even if I beat you to death, she’d be the one handing me the tools.”
Reba quietly sipped her water, staying out of their bickering. She subtly deleted the message Jeffrey had just sent.
During their argument, Jeffrey had messaged her. I gave you custody rights not for outsiders to pick up our child.] The “outsider” referred to Jessica.
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She didn’t reply. Jessica was like a sister to her. She thought, ‘If Jessica counted as an outsider, what did that make him–always busy with work, leaving Victor to handle pickup duty?‘
“You’re getting sidetracked.” Ian finally refocused after their extended banter. “Weren’t we discussing how Becky was acting strangely while holding her phone earlier?”
“Was Jeffrey texting you just now?” Jessica asked.
“No, it was thepany,” Reba said, not wanting to stress her out. “We’re having a two–day team–building event in the northern district next Monday and Tuesday.” The round trip would take four to five hours, an absurdly longmute.
Jessica immediately offered, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of Samuel.”
Reba pressed her lips together, instinct warning her that telling Jessica about Jeffrey’s message would earn Jessica’s wrath.
True enough, when Jessica learned Jeffrey nned to take Samuel back for a few days with Victor handling childcare, sheunched into a furious tirade against him.
Still, she understood the legal reality. Until the divorce was finalized, Jeffrey retained equal parenting rights.
That night after Samuel fell asleep, Jessica called Reba with worried questions she’d avoided during dinner. Now they could speak freely.
“Don’t worry,” Reba reassured her. “I’ve got this under control.”
She withheld that Andrea worked as Jeffrey’s secretary at Primey Technologies, and that Andrea would likely apany him at the team–building event. Jessica already carried enough burdens.
Theirte–night conversation ended near midnight. As Reba prepared to work on frence illustrations, Jeffrey’s message shed: [I’ll pick up Samuel tomorrow morning.]
Reba: [Weren’t we supposed to meet on Monday?]
Jeffrey: [Tomorrow’s Children’s Day.]
Reba paused her typing. She’d always remembered Children’s Day. Her original n involved finishing morning dance lessons, decorating their home, baking Samuel’s cake, and then surprising him after his martial arts ss ended.
But Jeffrey seemed determined to fulfill his birthday promise about taking Samuel to the amusement park.
Jeffrey: [I’ve arranged leave for his martial arts ss. What about your dance lessons?]
Reba nearly suggested afternoon ns, but swallowed the words. Knowing Jeffrey’s recent attitude, she realized arguments would only fuel more custody threats.
She figured he’d inevitably weaponize it as proof of maternal neglect, leveraging it in future custody battles.
After deliberation, Reba contacted Lucas. She carefully exined the scheduling conflict.
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“Actually, I was about to reach out,” Lucas confessed. “Ipletely forgot about Children’s Day. I promised Emily an outing. Tomorrow might be…”
Relieved, Reba heard him continue, “Are you avable this Sunday? We could reschedule for Sunday morning.”
Reba said, “Okay.”
Lucas added, “If Samuel is alone, just bring him along.”
Reba agreed and thanked him before ending the call.
Jeffrey, still waiting for Reba’s reply, absently slid his fingers across his phone screen. His eyes grew darker than the midnight sky outside.
“Jeffrey, will you take me out tomorrow?” Andrea asked while shuffling through outfits. “I found an amazing spot online. Tomorrow’s perfect weather for checking it out.”
Jeffrey nced sideways. “It’s Children’s Day tomorrow. I have to spend it with Samuel.”
Andrea froze mid–motion, clutching the fabric tighter. “That boy again. Due to him, I was embarrassed at dinner, and then, he ruined my n for tomorrow,‘ she wondered.
“Sunday’s forecast shows sunshine too.” Jeffrey stood and approached, trying to soothe her. “How about this Sunday?”
Andrea seized his hand, pouting yfully. “You have to take photos with me, lots of couple shots, okay?”
Jeffrey’s brow furrowed instinctively. Andrea tugged at his arm pleadingly. “Please?”
Jeffrey was about to respond when his phone buzzed with a message. He pulled it out to see a few simple words from Reba: [I asked for leave.]
Andrea couldn’t help feeling a pang of jealousy. She’d always wanted Jeffrey for herself, but knew he couldn’t be controlled by ordinary means.
His sharp mind saw through every scheme she’d ever tried, forcing her to tread carefully those days.
“Is Reba going, too?” She schooled her expression, though her eyes betrayed disappointment.
Jeffrey answered matter–of–factly, “As Samuel’s mother, Reba needs to be present for all his important milestones.”
Andrea bowed her head. The same irrefutable logic always trapped her, and any protest would seem petty, yet she couldn’t risk pushing too hard lest he discover her secret.