i(5!)


    55 vouchers


    For the first time, Reba truly understood the phrase: Does money make you better than everyone?


    “It’s gettingte. Let’s eat first.” Jeffrey was still holding Samuel’s hand, his calm words slipping from thin lips.


    Reba nced at the overflowing trash can.


    Samuel offered his other hand to her, redirecting her attention. “Mommy, let’s go.”


    Reba exhaled slowly. “Okay.”


    The three of them went to a restaurant near the amusement park. Sitting by the window offered a panoramic view of both the park and theke in the distance.


    Throughout the meal, Jeffrey kept chatting with Samuel as if that earlier phone call had never happened.


    This made Reba wonder if Andrea’s car ident was real or fabricated.


    “What’s on your mind?” Jeffrey noticed she’d barely touched her food.


    She studied his face but found no trace of concern or anxiety. He seemedpletely normal.


    Shaking off her thoughts, she finally picked up her fork.


    Truth or lies didn’t matter anymore. She just needed to focus on living her own life.


    Jeffrey found her behavior odd. The constant zoning out and brooding suggested some heavy burden.


    Samuel piped up after nibbling a few bites, round eyes sparkling. “Daddy, can we try the escape room after this?<b>” </b>


    Jeffrey automatically turned to Reba beside him. “Ask your mom.”


    Samuel nced sideways.


    Reba initially wanted to decline, but agreed considering the rare asion. “Alright.”


    During past escape room games, she’d always hidden in Jeffrey’s arms. Now without support, she resolved to conquer these fears she couldn’t avoid forever.


    Samuel paused. This probing question unexpectedly gained his mother’s consent.


    When starting the game, Samuel suggested Reba wait outside with Jeffrey. Before he finished, she grabbed his hand decisively. “Why wait? You think Mommy’s scared?”


    Samuel said, “No…”


    Reba said, “Watch me crack puzzles and show you super–mom skills today.”


    Seeing her determination, Samuel nodded emphatically. “Okay.”


    <b>55 </b>vouchers


    Upon entering the dimly lit chamber with eerie sounds, Reba’s spine tingled. Clutching her earlier bravado, she reached for the first clue.


    When she was very young, she was afraid of water, and she tried her best to learn to swim. Later, she was afraid of mice and cockroaches, so Jessica threw two in front of her, and Reba then overcame the fear.


    She can still do this.


    “Mommy,” Samuel said, noticing her tension and distress. The little boy reached out to tug her sleeve with his small hand. “Maybe I should do it.”


    “I’ll handle it.” Reba steadied her pounding heart and forced herself to focus.


    This moment proved Reba was one tough cookie. Despite pale–faced terror, she powered through every challenge until they reached sunlight at the exit. When daylight hit, the anxiety clinging to her throughout the experience seemed to evaporate.


    Samuel raised his thumb. “Mommy, you’re awesome.”


    Reba’s eyes curved into happy crescents. “Of course I am. Your mommy’s got to set the bar high.”


    Jeffrey watched their mutual admiration session with darkened eyes, turbulent emotions swirling in his gaze.


    He’d witnessed every panicked flinch when she first entered the haunted attraction. Multiple times, she’d instinctively leaned toward him forfort mid–scare, only to catch herself at thest moment.


    Her journey from terrified trembling to courageous triumph left him cold. This growth wasn’t something to celebrate.


    Jeffrey knew that unless he found ways to anchor her by his side, she’d eventually ovee her current disorientation like she’d conquered those fears today. And when that happened, she’d walk away for good.


    He didn’t want to <i>see </i>this oue, let alone ept it.


    “Daddy.” Samuel wanted to share something, but paused when he noticed Jeffrey’s unusual expression while looking at Reba. “Are you mad because you’re not included?”


    Reba looked up, her gaze instantly captured by his eyes.


    “Yeah.” Jeffrey nced away briefly before meeting his son’s eyes with half–seriousness. “Are you going tofort your old man?<b>” </b>


    Samuel responded with blunt honesty, “Nope.”


    The afternoon unfolded joyfully with Reba and Samuel ying together, while Jeffrey dutifully carried bags like a pack mule.


    Even as bedtime arrived after dinner, the boy remained buzzing with memories of their family day, though he knew Jeffrey would visit “that person” once he fell asleep.


    <b>14:52 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>22


    :.


    At precisely 9 PM, Reba sessfully tucked Samuel into bed.


    Closing his bedroom door, she turned to issue a dismissal. “Samuel’s asleep. You can leave now.”


    Jeffrey checked his watch, his deep voice rumbling. “The day isn’t over yet.”


    Reba saw how serious he was and didn’t bother responding further.


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    55 vouchers


    She walked to sit on the chair in the corner of the living room, opened herptop and started working on frence illustrations. Yet Jeffrey’s presence felt overwhelmingly intense, his gaze burning into her back so strongly she could feel it without turning around.


    Just as she prepared to ask him to leave again, Jeffrey’s phone rang.


    He nced indifferently and swiped to answer, his deep voice formal and stern. “What is it?”


    “I sent you dozens of messages. Why didn’t you reply to any?” Stanley’sining voice came through. “Did you even check them?”


    “Not yet,” Jeffrey responded.


    Stanley massaged his temples, feeling like his whole head was buzzing, and repeated the update. “Andrea’s surgery ended at 2 PM today. Everything went smoothly. She woke up an hour ago.”


    “Got it,” Jeffrey answered tly.


    Stanley sounded baffled. “That’s all you’ve got to say? Just ‘got it“?”


    Jeffrey remained silent. Some matters weren’t meant to be shared.


    “The moment she woke up, she asked her friend where you were.” Stanley briefed him. “After not seeing you, she seemedpletely devastated. Don’t you care about her? Why didn’t youe even after her ident?”


    He’d been sleeping in that morning when Jeffrey unexpectedly called, demanding he check on Andrea’s condition at the hospital.


    Stanley couldn’tprehend it. Jeffrey always defended Andrea in front of Reba, yet now when a crisis struck, he showed no concern.


    “I’lleter,” Jeffrey replied with unchanged indifference.


    “Define ter“.” Stanley snapped, having been asked multiple times if he was the patient’s husband.


    Jeffrey’s lips parted slightly as he gave precise timing, “12 AM.”


    Stanley surrendered, not pressing further. “Fine. I’ll stay till then. Not a minute longer.”


    After hanging up, Reba understood Jeffrey’s dyed response to Andrea’s ident stemmed from his daytime promise to Samuel.


    Setting aside her tasks, she turned to him with detached formality. “You’ve kept your promise to Samuel. You


    may leave now.”