<b>Chapter </b><b>72 </b>
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“Are you not happy?” Jeffrey noticed the shift in her mood.
Andrea didn’t answer, thinking to herself, ‘Jeffrey had said before that as long as <b>I </b>didn’t go after Reba<b>, </b>he could tolerate my schemes. Does that mean he can ept me feeling jealous?‘
Jeffrey subtly pulled his hand away from hers and tucked some stray hair behind her ear. “Why aren’t you saying anything?<b>” </b>
“I’m just afraid that if I say I’m unhappy, you’ll get upset,” Andrea said, her courage faltering, sounding a bit pitiful. “I get that you want to spend time with Reba and Samuel, but…”
“But your possessive side doesn’t want me to go, right?” Jeffrey read her thoughts.
Andrea bit her lip. “That’s right.”
Jeffrey kept his gaze on her.
“You told me I’m the most important person to you.” Having broken the ice, the rest came easier. “But you keep putting me second for them. It hurts.”
“Andrea.” Jeffrey’s tone shifted. His sudden seriousness gave her a bad feeling.
The next second, Jeffrey’s words slipped out. “You should know better than anyone why I said those things.”
Andrea stiffened, her breath hitching for a split second.
“You’re not fully recovered yet. I shouldn’t bring this up,” Jeffrey said calmly, adjusting the hair slipping over her shoulder. “But you’re in too deep.”
“That’s not…” Andrea panicked.
“Letting this continue will only lead to one oue.” His hands remained gentle even as his words cut deep. “You know I don’t want anyone’s affection except Reba’s.”
Those simple sentences shattered Andrea’s heart like dropped porcin.
She wanted to exin, but every excuse turned to ash under the weight of the recent event.
She had thought Jeffrey was asking about her feelings because he understood and wanted to give her special treatment, but now she realized that was just his way to get her to speak up about what was on her mind.
And she had truly fallen for it.
“I’m grateful to you, and I really want to take care of you.” Jeffrey felt a drop of waternd on his hand, realizing it was her tear. “I’ll keep every promise I made.”
“There’s no need to say anything more.” Andrea forced a bitter smile.
11:28 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>21 </b>
Jeffrey didn’t say anything else.
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The moment her tears fell onto his hand, Jeffrey knew that aside from Reba, he wouldn’t care about anyone <b>else’s </b>feelings anymore. When Reba cried, his heart ached, and he’d do whatever it took tofort
her.
Andrea’s crying didn’t stir a single ripple in his heart. He knew it was heartless to feel this way toward the person who saved his life, but that’s just how he was.
“Will you ever treat me well again?” Andrea lifted her head after crying for a long while, her eyes red as she stared at him.
“I’ll give you everything I promised,” Jeffrey replied gently. “What I didn’t promise… I can’t offer.”
Andrea understood. At that moment, she realized how foolish her delusion of being loved by him truly was. This man simply didn’t possess sympathy.
“Get some rest early.” Seeing her silence, Jeffrey knew she’d grasped his meaning. “Go have fun with your friends tomorrow. I’ll cover the expenses<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Andrea replied, “Okay.”
It was the first time she hadn’t bid him goodnight.
As shey in bed resting, she realized how foolish she’d been to use her poor health as an excuse, asking him to favor her a little until she recovered and to avoid saying things that would upset her.
That time when she’d hinted at taking things further with him, his response-“The priority right now is for you to focus on recovering“-had actually been a gentle warning.
Yet despite this, he’d still given her the answers she wanted to hear when she pressed himter.
Back then, she’d believed that given enough time, she’d be someone special in his heart.
Now she understood–no matter how much time passed, regardless of how tenderly he treated her or how much he indulged her along the way, there would never be room for her in his heart.
But… It was impossible not to fall for someone like Jeffrey.
Even knowing her demands could damage his rtionship with Reba, he’d still honored that promise.
*****
The next morning.
Reba had just gotten up to make breakfast when she saw Jeffrey already there. He was dressed in casual dark clothing, a rare break from his usual suits, his left hand holding a steaming bag of breakfast.
<b>“</b>Is Samuel still asleep?” Jeffrey set the food on the table, asking casually.
“Yeah,” Reba replied.
<b>11:28 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>21
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Jeffrey paced further into the room.
Reba stopped him. “What are you doing?<b>” </b>
“Waking him up,” Jeffrey answered.
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Reba could only trail off, convinced Jeffrey hade to ruin her holiday rather than celebrate it. “The amusement park doesn’t open this early. Let him sleep in.”
“Your call.” Jeffrey halted, his tall frame making the room feel unusually cramped.
For a fleeting moment, Reba contemted ejecting him. “Wait next door,” she instructed, acting on impulse. “I’ll fetch you when Samuel wakes up.”
Jeffrey’s gaze swept over her, weighted with silent appraisal.
Difort prickled Reba’s skin under his scrutiny. “Why are you staring at me?” she challenged, brows knitting defensively.
“Are you scared?” Though it was phrased as a question, his tone carried absolute certainty.
Reba didn’t want to engage. The more she said, the more mistakes she might make.
The next moment, a warm hand gripped her wrist. Jeffrey’srge hand pulled her close before she could speak. “Come here.”
Reba collided against his chest, enveloped in his familiar scent–clean andforting. For a split second, she felt transported back to the past.
“Let go.” She pushed against him.
“You could be louder,” Jeffrey murmured, the feel of her in his arms soothing something restless inside. “Wake Samuel up, why don’t you?”
Reba struggled, but Jeffrey pressed his face against the curve of her shoulder. “Stay still,” he rumbled. “Let me hold you. Just for a moment.”
A jumble of anger and hurt surged in Reba’s chest. ‘What does he think I am? Some toy he could pick up and discard whenever he pleases<b>?</b>‘ she thought.
With sudden strength, she shoved hard against his chest, putting half a step between them. “Don’t touch me.”
Jeffrey’s eyes turned guarded. Afterst night’s talk with Andrea, he’d dreamed of Reba leaving. No matter how he fought, he couldn’t make her stay. The hollow ache upon waking had him rushing here at dawn.
The lingering emptiness from that dream had driven him here before sunrise, desperate toy eyes on her again.
“Seems like not just your temper’s growntely, your strength too.” Jeffrey pulled out a chair and sat, meeting her furious re. “What’s this? Raising yourself like some wild animal?”
<b>11:28 </b>Sun, Sep 21
Reba grabbed a nearby cup, threatening to smash it over his head.
Jeffrey tapped his shoulder. “Aim here. Good for venting, and the damage will be minimal.”
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you
“First exhaust yourself making my life difficult, now you act like nothing happened.” Reba set the cup down, genuinely perplexed. “What’s your game?”
11:28 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>21 </b>