Chapter <b>82 </b>
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Jeffrey put away his phone and headed back to the living room.
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Reba was fussing over Samuel, reminding him again and again to call her if anything came up. She kept promising that no matter how busy she got, she’d drop everything ande running if he ever needed her.
Samuel just nodded and agreed. Mid–conversation, he nced at Jeffrey and asked Reba, “Will Dad go?”
Reba looked up, her eyes meeting Jeffrey’s for a moment. She figured he probably wouldn’t go. She thought, ‘If Andrea hadn’t been in that car ident, maybe Jeffrey would’ve shown up.
‘But now that Andrea is stuck in the hospital, and he’s so worried about her, there’s no way he’d leave her alone.’
Jeffrey walked over and stopped in front of Samuel. He said, “I am not going. It’s your mom’s team event. If <b>I </b>dropped by, they’d just feel awkward.”
Reba could only pause, momentarily lost for words.
Samuel just pursed his lips and stayed quiet.
Jeffrey ruffled Samuel’s hair and said, “I’ve got some things to handle, so I’m heading out. Get some early rest tonight.”
Samuel nodded.
Reba didn’t spare Jeffrey a look.
Jeffrey said to Reba, “The same goes for you. Don’t run yourself ragged just for a paycheck–look after your health.” He withdrew his hand from Samuel’s hair and gave Reba a soft tap on the forehead.
Knowing she’d probably get annoyed, he disappeared into the other room to get changed, not even waiting for her reaction.
Reba was all set to shoot Jeffrey a death re, but he’d vanished before she got the chance.
These past couple of days had felt like old times to Samuel, like when his parents were still together. As soon as Jeffrey closed the door behind him, Samuel hesitated for a moment before speaking up, “Mom, can I ask you something?”
Reba gave him a patient, gentle smile and said, “Sure, go ahead.”
“Do you still like Dad?” Samuel asked, his big eyes earnest.
Reba held her breath. She couldn’t sort out how she felt about Jeffrey–she hated his betrayal, couldn’t ept what he’d done or said.
But five years of loving someone didn’t vanish overnight. After yesterday’s hug, when she’d broken down and he held her so tightly, everything felt knotted again.
<b>14:53 </b>Mon, <b>Sep 22 </b>
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She knew it was kind of messed up, but in that moment, she’d needed a hug she couldn’t refuse, and it was Jeffrey who gave her exactly that. She hated Jeffrey–and she loved him, both at the same time.
Noticing the conflicted look on Reba’s face, Samuel could tell she didn’t have an answer. So he asked, “If Dad came to you right now and said he wanted to make things right, would you get back together with him?”
Reba answered quickly, “No.” She couldn’t ept that Jeffrey’d slept with Andrea, and she definitely couldn’t handle the fact that he wanted a perfect family at home while messing around with other women on the side.
Samuel gave Reba a quick kiss on the cheek, his eyes shining with love. He said, “I love you.”
Reba hugged him close and said softly, “I love you, too, sweetheart.”
Jeffrey, just about to knock after getting changed, overheard them and quietly backed away, not wanting to disturb their moment together.
By the time Jeffrey got to the hospital, it was already past 8 p.m.
Gregory looked worried when he saw Jeffrey.
Jeffrey headed straight for Andrea’s room.
Gregory stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
Jeffrey raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s up?”
Gregory hesitated for a moment, clearly struggling, but finally worked up the nerve to speak, even if it meant risking his job. He said, “Mr. Hanson, maybe you should take another look at what really happened back then.
“With all due respect, I just don’t think Ms. Scott is really the self–sacrificing type.”
Even after just half a day with Andrea, Gregory could tell she was the selfish, scheming type. He believed a woman like her would never save Jeffrey.
“I don’t want to hear that again,” Jeffrey said, throwing Gregory a chilling side nce,
Gregory blurted out, “Mr. Hanson!” With just a single look from Jeffrey, whatever Gregory was about to say died right there on his lips.
Andrea overheard every word they said. Her hands clenched tighter, and an intense, unfamiliar panic gripped
her chest.
She knew exactly why Jeffrey put his trust in her. Not just because she seemed to know every detail about that night, but because of the scar–etched on her leg in precisely the same spot and length as the one burned into
his memory.
The only catch was that the real savior–Reba–had gotten her scar erased back in college. Andrea, though, had actually gone to a doctor and had them copy that scar down to thest millimeter.
The thought that the doctor might show up at her door one day made Andrea’s anxiety grow worse and
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worse.
“Andrea!” Michelle called, her voice louder now, snapping Andrea back to reality.
Andrea blinked and asked, “What’s up?” Just as the words left her mouth, she realized Jeffrey had already walked in and was sitting right next to her.
Jeffrey appeared as mature and steady as ever, but seeing him like this made Andrea’s hands clench unconsciously, her mind tangled up with all sorts of messy,plicated feelings.
“Gregory told me you haven’t touched your food all afternoon, Jeffrey said, acting like the earlier conversation with Gregory never happened, his tone perfectly even. He asked, “Was it no appetite, or was hospital food just not doing it for you?”
Andrea’s palms grew mmy as anxiety bubbled up inside her. She nced at him and asked quietly, “Will you always look after me?”
Jeffrey answered, “I will.”
Normally, that answer should’ve warmed her heart, but for some reason, Andrea couldn’t feel even a bit of happiness.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that all this care and attention was supposed to be Reba’s by rights–Jeffrey had always doted on Reba, and somehow it felt all wrong when Andrea was the one being looked after.
Andrea just couldn’t wrap her head around how someone so average like Reba managed to snag Jeffrey’s affection. She thought, ‘Is it really just that pretty face? Or did being the Jensen Group heiress make all the difference?‘
“But I don’t ever want anything likest time to happen again,” Jeffrey said, each word slow and deliberate.
Andrea dropped her gaze and said, “It won’t.” She’d already spent the afternoon and evening deep in thought, and after hearing Gregory’s suspicions, her resolve only grew stronger. Now she was sure what she wanted.
She didn’t just want Jeffrey’s heart–she was after all his money, his assets, everything he had. That way, if her secret ever got out, she could make a clean getaway without having to deal with whatever Jeffrey might do to
her.
But she couldn’t pull this off alone–she’d need someone to team up with.
Andrea said, “Sorry for dragging you into all this. Really, my bad.” She suddenly sounded calm, aplete
shift from her usual self.
Gregory looked over, baffled.
Jeffrey just narrowed his eyes a little, clearly deep in thought.
Andrea swallowed her fear and forced a casual smile. She said. “Michelle can look after me for the next few days. You’ve got stuff to take care of, so just swing by when you have time.”
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Andrea could feel a storm brewing inside her. She was certain that if Reba said those exact words, Jeffrey wouldn’t hesitate for a second–he’d insist on staying, iming nobody else could take care of her the way he could.
Back when Reba was giving birth, Jeffrey literally never left her side, handling everything himself. He never trusted anyone else, convinced nobody could do the job better than him.
Andrea had only heard all this after word got out about her and Jeffrey spending the night together at Harmony Estate.
The person told her that nobody could ever take Reba’s ce in Jeffrey’s heart and that only Reba could make him fall that hard for someone.
“Does what you said before still count? Will you still help me out, no matter right or wrong, if I want to deal with someone?” Andrea suddenly asked, a sharp edge in her eyes Jeffrey hadn’t seen before.