Chapter <b>110 </b>


    Seeing her, the people who had been talking stiffened and sat up, ncing at her instinctively.


    Reba ignored thempletely. The lounge was silent except for the gentle hum of the coffee machine.


    “Hi, Reba.” Lisa, one of those who had spoken earlier, didn’t know if Reba had overheard their conversation, so she tentatively spoke up.


    Reba nodded coolly.


    Lisa got nervous, feeling a little guilty. “Do you want to join us? You’ve been working all morning. You must be exhausted.”


    E said bluntly, “No. If she doesn’t get back quickly, her team will think she’s cking and using her connections to get away with it.”


    “No way. Reba, we all know what kind of person you are. We won’t let them make false usations against you.”


    “Exactly. We’ll make sure everyone knows the truth.”


    “Don’t worry. We’ve got your back.”


    Reba hadn’t intended to dwell on their earlier words; she had nned to make her coffee and leave. However, she was surprised by how shameless they were.


    She stopped, turned to face them, her usual courtesy and gentleness gone. “Weren’t you the ones spreading false usations about me?”


    Her words stunned them all. Lisa forced a smile. “I’ve always considered you a friend. I could never say something like that about you.”


    The others quickly yed along. “Yeah. Maybe someone is trying to start drama.”


    Reba ignored them, grabbed her cup, and walked out lookingpletely indifferent.


    The colder Reba acted, the more Lisa felt lost. She would have preferred an outright argument rather than


    this weird tension.


    E asked Reba, “Why aren’t you getting back at them?”


    “Someone once told me not to waste words on people who aren’t worth it,” Reba said, her mindpletely calm now. “They get all their fun from talking about others behind their backs. They’ll never feel sorry,”


    E thought her words made sense.


    As soon as Reba returned to the office, Lisa and the other colleagues came back, their eyes all fixed on her. Though they said nothing, their guilt was apparent.


    36 voucture


    “Reba, are you mad at me?” Lisa leaned in and whispered, sounding cautious. “I really didn’t say anything bad about you behind your back.”


    “Okay,” Reba replied calmly.


    She believed Lisa, knowing that, rather than verbal insults, Lisa was better at steering conversations.


    Lisa could always make others voice the thoughts she had in mind. Even if the person involved overheard, she could im she hadn’t taken part.


    It was this mindset that had given her the courage to boldly ask Reba if she was mad at her.


    Yet, faced with Reba’s indifference, Lisa panicked. She grabbed her hand, showing excessive closeness. “Talk to me. If you never want to speak to me again, I’ll be heartbroken.”


    Lisa paused, then continued, “By the way, did you get your bonus? Your performancest night was incredible. It’s the first time we have won such a big award. And when did you learn piano? You’re so talented.”


    She kept talking as if terrified of an awkward silence.


    Reba was absorbed in her work and didn’t respond to Lisa at all.


    “Lisa, can you quiet down for a moment?” Someone, fed up with her constant chatter, said. “You’ve been talking nonstop, and we can’t get any work done.”


    “Sorry,” Lisa apologized immediately.


    The moment she was confronted, all her earlier energy drained away. She figured Reba, normally so polite, was ignoring her because she overheard their conversation outside the lounge.


    However, she didn’t dare ask directly. She thought, ‘What if Reba is some rich heiress? I can’t afford to offend her again.


    Lisa stayed anxious until noon. At exactly twelve, she approached Reba and said, “Let’s have lunch together. What would you like to eat? My treat.”


    “I have to go. I have something to take care of,” Reba said, finishing up her work. She locked herptop and left the office with her bag.


    Being turned down again frustrated Lisa, but she knew Reba was telling the truth. Lately, Reba had rarely eaten lunch at the office. She always left immediately after noon.


    “What did she say?”


    “How did she react?”


    “She’s not going toe after us, is she?”


    Those who gossiped gathered around Lisa, all anxious. The two guys who had been spreading rumors about Reba were especially worried about getting in trouble.


    Lisa just told them she had no idea.


    Reba took the subway to the hospital. She visited Amelia, spoke with her for a while, and then went to Stephen’s ward.


    Stephen’s ward, being reserved for the Hanson family’s heir, was on a private floor with two guards at the door. They moved aside politely when they saw Reba.


    “What are you doing here?” Stephen blinked, surprised. “Shouldn’t you be at work right now?”


    “It’s lunchtime,” Reba said as she approached. Looking at his heavily bandaged head, she asked with concern, “Are you okay?”


    “I’m fine,” Stephen replied with a gentle smile. “Don’t worry about me.”


    “When did the doctor say you can go home?” Reba asked again.


    “Maybe in two days,” Stephen replied. “The doctor said it’s all just minor cuts. As long as the wounds don’t get infected, it’ll be fine.”


    Reba nodded, her face showing a mix of emotions. She deliberately wore this expression for Stephen, hoping he would take the initiative to ask her.


    “What’s wrong?” Stephen asked, his voice calm and gentle.


    “I went over everything in my headst night,” Reba said, looking at him. “We don’t really know each other that well. Why would you risk your life for me?”


    Stephen hadn’t expected her to be so straightforward. He was used to their roundabout talks, and this blunt approach threw him off a little.


    “Because you’re part of the Hanson family,” Stephen said, repeating the same words he had used before.


    Reba looked him in the eye. “You’re lying.”


    Stephen looked at her, and she met his gaze without flinching.


    At that moment, Stephen seemed to understand why Jeffrey liked Reba. She was so genuine that even people used <i>to </i>the darker side of life couldn’t help feeling drawn to her.


    “Do you seriously want to know?” Stephen asked, his voice low.


    Reba didn’t hesitate. “Yeah.”


    “Well, I’ve told you this twice already,” Stephen said. Even with his head bandaged, he still seemed refined andposed. “I want you to have a proper talk with Jeffrey. He’s been going through a really hard time.”