Chapter <b>126 </b>


    5 <b>vouchers </b>


    “We <b>just</b>…” Candice hesitated, ncing at Marcus, hoping he’de up with a more reasonable excuse.


    “You just love manipting and controlling those weaker than you, women and kids,” Jeffrey said, his voice icy, never showing a hint of emotion. “It’s all about your twisted need to feel powerful.”


    Marcus’s face instantly turned grim. “Bastard, watch your mouth.”


    Jeffrey didn’t acknowledge him at all and just strode straight toward Reba.


    Marcus couldn’t stand being ignored in front of outsiders, and his temper snapped. “You can protect her today, but you can’t shield her forever.”


    “I won’t ever let anything like this happen to her again, not as long as I’m alive,” Jeffrey said, pausing mid–step, each word clear and forceful. “If you darey <i>a </i>finger on her again, I’ll give up the Hanson Group to Stephen.”


    “You…” Marcus was genuinely stunned by how unyielding Jeffrey was.


    ‘Just for a woman? Is he really willing to risk the Hanson Group for her?‘ Marcus thought, disbelief and frustration swirling in his mind.


    “Gregory,” Jeffrey said, his voice cold as ice. “Do to Mr. Marcus Hanson what he did to Reba earlier. If he dies, I’ll take the fall.”


    “Yes, sir,” Gregory said, sounding almost eager.


    Marcus’s face drained of color. “You wouldn’t dare.”


    But Gregory proved he absolutely dared. He shoved Marcus into the pool, pressed him down, and held him under. Marcus was helpless, choking and gulping mouthfuls of water as he struggled to break free.


    Candice watched anxiously as Marcus thrashed desperately in the water, her voice rising with panic. “Jeffrey, he’s still your father. How can you treat him like this just for a woman?”


    “You should be d you only watched and didn’t join in,” Jeffrey replied coldly. “Otherwise, you’d be the one drowning in there, <i>too</i>.”


    Candice’s heart clenched. At that moment, she realized he was genuinely furious.


    “What are you all waiting for? Get in there and save Mr. Marcus Hanson,” Candice screamed at the bodyguards. <b>“</b><b>If </b>something happens to him, you can all kiss your jobs goodbye.”


    The bodyguards sprang into action, diving right into the pool. Jeffrey’s icy re swept over them<b>. </b><b>“</b><b>If </b>you don’t want to be hauled into court as aplices, you’d better stay put.”


    That warning made the bodyguards freeze. None of them dared so much as move a muscle.


    They might take orders from Marcus, but everyone knew real power in the Hanson family <b>belonged </b><b>to </b><b>the </b>two young masters, and of those two, Jeffrey was the one no one <b>ever </b><b>crossed</b>.


    12:25 Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>26


    Z61)


    5 vouchers


    “How can you be so heartless?” Candice cried out, her voice trembling with desperation. “He’s your father.”


    “Did you ever think Reba was my wife while you were messing with her?” Jeffrey retorted coldly, his eyes like frozen midnight.


    Candice froze. At that moment, she finally realized that Jeffrey had never stopped caring about Reba. Even after a month of divorce drama, his feelings for her hadn’t wavered at all.


    “If you don’t let anyone save him, I’ll go myself,” Candice cried out. “Fine, I’ll just die in the water if that’s what it takes.” And with those words, she jumped right into the pool. The bodyguards all jumped in surprise.


    Riley nced over at Jeffrey, but all he saw on Jeffrey’s face was an unsettling, icy calm, almost bordering on madness.


    “Stop her,” Jeffrey said, his tone still as cold as before. “Don’t let her hurt Gregory.”


    “Yes, sir,” the bodyguards replied in unison.


    Candice was on the verge of a breakdown. She couldn’t believe that even when she put her own life on the line, Jeffrey still remainedpletely indifferent.


    It used to be that, as soon as she threatened with her life and said just a couple of words, he’d always cave instantly.


    Marcus spluttered as he gasped for air, choking on water.


    “All this for a woman? You really-” Marcus’s voice was thick with usation, but before he could get the words out, Gregory forced him under the water again.


    Reba watched everything y out, and her heart twisted with emotions moreplicated than ever.


    She always knew Jeffrey didn’t get along with his parents, but she never expected he’d go this far for her.


    Reba thought, ‘Stephen mentioned his rough childhood before, but what kind of past could make someone like this? What kind of roles did Marcus and Candice y back then? Is he thinking of all of that now?‘


    For a second, Reba just wanted to hug him. But she knew he didn’t need pity or anyone feeling sorry for him. What he needed was someone who’d choose him, no hesitation.


    But she just couldn’t give herself fully to him. She couldn’t pretend that everything with Andrea never happened.


    She walked over and slipped her hand into his. It was the first time she’d reached out to him like this since their divorce. “You’re soaked. Come on, let’s go get you into some dry clothes.”


    Jeffrey was caught off guard. The icy distance in his eyes melted away as soon as he saw her.


    Reba had no idea what was going through his mind, but she knew they had to get out of there as soon as possible. If Jeffrey’s childhood had really been as rough as they said, everything that happened there might just reopen those old wounds.


    <b>12:25 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep 26 </b>


    “Let’s go,” Reba said, squeezing his hand a little tighter.


    Jeffrey didn’t say a word. He just let her guide him away, silent and willing.


    5 vouchers


    After Jeffrey and Reba had walked far enough away, Riley, catching Jeffrey’s earlier nce, turned <b>to </b>Gregory. “Gregory, you can wrap it up now.”


    “Alright,” Gregory said, dragging Marcus to the edge of the pool and then letting <b>go</b>.


    Candice, still fuming and looking for someone to take her anger out on, turned on Gregory. “<b>I </b><b>swear</b><b>. </b><b>I’ll </b><b>make </b>sure you get fired from the Hanson Group.”


    “Mrs. Candice Hanson, Gregory is Mr. Hanson’s best right–hand man,” Riley said. “Even if you tried to kick him out, the board probably wouldn’t go for it.”


    Gregory may only be an assistant, but his status and capability at the Hanson Group put most of the higher- ups to shame. Not to mention, he had Jeffrey backing him all the way.


    Candice was muttering something behind them, but Riley and Gregory paid her no mind. Riley, noticing how Gregory stayed cool as a cucumber through it all, said with a smirk, “You really think Jeffrey wouldn’t just toss you under the bus if things got messy<b>?</b>”


    “He won’t,” Gregory said, totally sure of himself.


    Riley raised an eyebrow. She had grown up with Jeffrey, so her trust made sense. But Gregory <i>was </i>technically just an employee. She thought, ‘What made him so confident with Jeffrey?‘


    “Mr. Hanson might be unpredictable sometimes, but he’s a guy you can really count on,” Gregory said, his voice full of trust. “Even if I mess up big time, he’ll always have my back.”


    “You’re such a sucker,” Riley teased, but deep down, she was actually d Jeffrey had someone like Gregory watching his back.


    Right as they were talking, Jeffrey came out of the car, carrying a bag of clothes. He passed it to Gregory, who was dripping wet. “Head right, walk fifty meters, then turn left. There’s a lounge over there. Go get changed.”


    “Thanks, Mr. Hanson,” Gregory said, gratefully taking the bag.


    Jeffrey nced at Riley. She got the hint right away. “I’ll wait here for him. Just roll down the window and let me know when you’re done.”


    Riley thought, ‘After everything that went down, odds are someone needed to spend some timeforting his shaken wife.’


    When Jeffrey heard Marcus threaten to throw Reba into the pool from inside the car, he lost hisposure. He rushed out, and Riley realized she hadn’t seen him fall apart like that in years.