Jeffrey sat beside her bed, countering with a question. “Why risk your safety so carelessly?”
“It wasn’t intentional,” she protested, having deliberately chosen the surveince–blind spot. “I got distracted missing you, and didn’t see the car. Ask Michelle if you don’t believe me.”
Jeffrey gazed at her with cold, emotionless eyes.
Andrea’s heart churned with unease, but she kept herposure. “It’s true.”
“I don’t tolerate lies.” Jeffrey’s voice held an icy edge, speaking to her with unprecedented severity. “And I detest tricks even more.”
“I’m not lying.” Andrea stared at the ground, convinced Jeffrey was bluffing. “I know reaching out that night looked calcted, but I swear I wasn’t lying to you.”
The atmosphere around Jeffrey darkened instantly. Andrea had never seen him like this.
She mentally reyed every detail of that night, confirming there were no surveince cameras before asking, “Don’t you trust me?”
Jeffrey flicked a nce at Gregory, who immediately handed over a phone containing the full video evidence.
“What’s this?” Andrea asked tentatively.
Jeffrey lifted his frosty gaze, uttering one word. “Proof.”
Andrea froze. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest.
She held her breath as her gaze locked onto the phone screen. Video after video flooded into view, tearing apart the meticulous scenario she’d painstakingly constructed.
Theptionbined footage from multiple dashcams, revealing every angle with crystal rity.
Andrea’s hands turned ice–cold as panic overwhelmed her injury’s pain. “Jeffrey, I…”
No defense seemed possible now. Any exnation would sound like feeble excuses.
“I know exactly what you’re calcting.” Jeffrey’s stare chilled her like a stranger’s. “Most would prioritize a car ident over ying with children.”
“That’s not…” Andrea’s thoughts tangled into impossible knots.
Jeffrey’s lips thinned into a razor–edge, his sculpted features hardening as the temperature around him plummeted.
Looking at him like this, Gregory was a little more worried in the depths of his eyes, afraid that he would return to the state before he was with Reba.
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Outwardly simr to his current demeanor, that version of Jeffrey had been fundamentally hollow. Reba’s influence had thawed his humanity.
“It was momentary despair,” Andrea lied through mounting pressure. “My mental state’s been fragiletely. Trivial upsets trigger irrational impulses…”
Jeffrey didn’t hear the rest. A sharp voice resurfaced in his mind.
“Do you have to drive me to death before you’re satisfied?”
“Didn’t they tell you your mother’s been depressed and anxious? Make her worry less<b>.</b>”
“Jeffrey, when will you start acting responsibly?”
Memories buried deep within were dredged up by Andrea’s words, revealing vivid images of that perpetually silent child.
“Sir…” Gregory sounded concerned.
“Go rest,” Jeffrey said tonelessly. “You’re dismissed.”
Gregory remained. After years as his right–hand man, he recognized the subtle shift in his boss’s demeanor. Something was wrong.
“Meet me tomorrow afternoon,” Jeffrey continued tly. “There are matters to discuss<b>.” </b>
Gregory finally left. Jeffrey never repeated instructions. Themand itself contained the warning.
Jeffrey hummed in acknowledgment.
Once he left, only Andrea and Jeffrey remained in the room.
Andrea felt uneasy, her earlier words met with silence. She couldn’t guess what Jeffrey was thinking.
“You’re not fit for sightseeing in your current condition. We’ll revisit this after recovery.” Jeffrey’s deep voice remained neutral. “It’ste. Rest now.”
Andrea bit her lip, the intimidating aura preventing her from voicing her questions.
She realized her gambit backfired. Instead of earning Jeffrey’s affection, she’d created emotional distance between them.
Andrea slept fitfully that night while Jeffrey remained awake, keeping vigil by her bedside.
Meanwhile, Reba slept soundly through the night.
At dawn’s first light, Reba rose early. After breakfast with Samuel, she took him to the Reed residence. She’d asked Samuel if he wanted to apany her or stay home alone for hours.
Samuel hadn’t hesitated to pick staying with her.
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She arrived at the Reed residence before nine. Though the interview initially stated 8 to 11 AM, Lucas had called the next day, exining Emily wanted extra sleep on Saturdays, adjusting the hours to 9 AM–12 PM. Since then, Reba had arrived before nine daily.
Emily lit up seeing them, immediately pulling Reba toward the dance studio.
Lucas led Samuel to Emily’s study. “Feel free to use anything here. Ask me in the next room if you need anything.”
“Okay,” Samuel answered politely. “Thank you.”
Lucas left without further interruption.
Throughout the morning, Reba taught Emily dance routines while Samuel quietly read books upstairs.
As the noon lesson concluded, Reba prepared to leave with Samuel when Lucas insisted they stay for lunch. Despite her refusal, Emily’s enthusiastic persistence kept them at the residence.
Servants brought outvish dishes one after another at the dining table.
Emily chatted animatedly with Reba throughout the meal, clearly adoring her. “Ms. Jensen, this must be Samuel, right?”
Reba nodded. “Yes. You’ve met before.”
Back then, Jeffrey didn’t get along well with Emily’s father, so the children didn’t greet each other either. They’d just exchanged nces from afar.
“I feel like…” Emily measured with her hands seriously. “He hasn’t grown much taller sincest time?”
The direct hit made Samuel drop his usual calm demeanor. “I did grow.”
Emily tilted her head doubtfully. “Did you?”
Samuel emphasized. “I did.”
“Butst time we were about the same height, now I’m slightly taller?” To prove her point, Emily stood up and moved beside him.
“That’s because Samuel’s half a year younger than you.” A gentle voice intervened as Stephen approached in his refined attire, lightly patting her head with hisrge hand. “When you were his age, you were shorter than
him.”
Emily nodded thoughtfully. “True.”
Samuel politely greeted, “Hi, sir.”
Reba also greeted him, “Stephen.”
“Sit and eat.” Stephen and Lucas Reed took their seats, his movements gentle. “Make yourselves at home, no need for formalities.”
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Reba and Samuel exchanged nces before picking up their forks to eat.
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Throughout the meal, Reba kept worrying that Stephen might bring up Jeffrey and Andrea’s situation. Though Samuel knew about Jeffrey’s condition, understanding and hearing explicit details were entirely different matters.
As dinner drew to a close, Reba’s tense shoulders finally rxed slightly.
After politely thanking their hosts with Samuel, she considered finding the right moment to ask Lucas about leaving. Stephen approached her with his customary mild tone. “Could we step outside to discuss something?<b>” </b>
AD