:


    Jeffrey had no idea what was really going on in Reba’s mind.


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    He never thought Reba would think that way, let alone realize that those offhand things he’d said just to make things difficult for her would stick with her for life.


    After heading back to his own ce, Jeffrey ended up hanging out on the balcony. He heard Jessica arrive and open the door, catching some muffled sounds from inside, but whatever they said in the bedroom didn’t reach him on the balcony.


    He kept fiddling with his phone, wanting to message Reba, but stopped himself, realizing she’d probably just ignore him.


    Eventually, out of options, he had to message someone else: [Have you pulled up the surveince footage from the residence yet?]


    Riley responded, [Theputer’s in your car.]


    Jeffrey ordered, [Three minutes.]


    Riley sighed, grabbed her otherptop, and after a quick setup, sent Jeffrey the footage he wanted. She couldn’t help but ask, [What do you need this for?]


    Jeffrey’s reply was short and to the point. [To coax someone.]


    Stephen raised an eyebrow, quickly catching on to what Jeffrey meant.


    Jeffrey watched the surveince footage. It showed Marcus forcing Reba to sign something and then pushing her down toward the water.


    Even though he’d seen it with his own eyes before, seeing it again just made his anger re up all over again. He pulled up Reba’s chat and dropped the video into the conversation.


    Worried she might get the wrong idea, Jeffrey sent a voice message, “The video you recorded on your phone could make it easy for him to use you of secretly filming him and invading his privacy.


    “If you want to take him <i>to </i><i>court</i>, use this one instead.”


    From the moment he saw her, he already knew she was recording. It was way too obvious where she was standing. Not just him, even Marcus had definitely noticed.


    He probably didn’t call her out on it because he was waiting for Reba to try threatening him, so when she did, he could flip it and use her of illegally recording or invading his privacy, whatever worked best for


    him.


    When Reba saw Jeffrey’s message, her first instinct was to block him and delete the chat. But when she saw the video, she paused for a moment and clicked to watch.


    Jessica leaned over to take a look as well. The more Jessica watched, the deeper her frown became. “Is Jeffrey’s dadpletely crazy? You could totally charge him with attempted murder for this!


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    “I was wondering why you were at home when you were supposed to be at work, Jessica said, her concern obvious as she looked Reba up and down. “Are you okay? Feeling alright?”


    “I’m fine,” Reba said, feelingpletely back to normal now<i>. </i>She tapped on the voice message Jeffrey had sent, and his words came through loud and clear.


    Jessica was even more confused by Jeffrey’s actions. One minute, he was making Reba mar, and the next, he was sending her something like this as if nothing had happened.


    Even if there was a video, not many people could actually take down Hanson Group in court anyway.


    Almost like he could read her mind, Jeffrey shot her another message, [Don’t bother hunting for awyer. If this really goes to court, I’ll have Hanson Group’s topwyers fighting for you.]


    Reba didn’t answer. She saved the video to her phone, just in case.


    Jeffrey stared at his phone, watching the silence stack up as all three of his messages disappeared into the void. His grip grew heavier, and that emptiness seeped into his chest.


    With nothing else to do, he figured he might as well find something to distract himself. He dialed up Gregory. He got straight to business. “Take away whatever rights my dad still has. All of them.”


    Gregory didn’t miss a beat. “Got it.”


    “And if Stephen tries to step in, make things difficult for him,” Jeffrey said coldly. He wasn’t going to hold back this time. He’d only cut them ck before because he couldn’t be bothered to fight. But this time, they’d gone way too far.


    Gregory replied, “Understood.” Gregory worked fast. By midday, he’d pulled the rug out from under Marcus stripping him of almost all his authority, just as Jeffrey ordered.


    When Marcus found out, he looked like he was about to explode. He shot Jeffrey a call. “Did you have someone do this?”


    He didn’t need to spell it out. Jeffrey knew what he was talking about. “Yeah, that was me.”


    “I’m your father!” Marcus snapped, his anger almost choking him. “How could you betray your own blood like this? But if you’re willing <i>to </i>admit it and hand everything back, maybe I’ll just let it slide.”


    Jeffrey just sounded icy, unmoved. “So what if you want to hold a grudge? What difference does it make?”


    Marcus’s face twisted, fury written all over. “Jeffrey!”


    Jeffrey spoke coolly, barely moving his lips, but his words hit like a hammer.


    “You’re old now. Go home and enjoy your retirement. Stop meddling in things you can’t handle anymore. I’ll make sure your pension gets dropped into your ount on time every month.”


    “You brat!” Marcus finally exploded, spitting the curse out.


    Jeffrey just hung up.


    12:26 Fri, <b>Sep </b>26


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    Marcus was shaking with rage. Up until now, even without his title as CEO of Hanson Group, Marcus could still meddle in somepany matters and Jeffrey’s business.


    But now, most of his power had been cut away, and whatever scraps were left weren’t likely tost much longer. Things turned upside down so quickly. He thought there was no way Jeffrey did all of this by himself.


    “I’m going to go confront those two ungrateful brats,” Marcus spat, his anger spilling over. “They really think they can kick me out now.”


    “And what good will it do, going to them?” Candice said, her eyes clouded with concern. She finally understood. “Those two both have real power now. If you sh with them head–on, you’re just asking for trouble.”


    “So what do you suggest?” Marcus shot back angrily. “Are we really just supposed to live off whatever allowance he’s willing to throw at us for the rest of our lives?”


    That kind of life was like waiting for someone else to decide your fate. And if Jeffery decided to cut him off. he wouldn’t be able to survive.


    “I’m not saying you should go in guns zing,” Candice said, her voice far calmer than when she was snapping at Reba.


    “The truth is, those two arepletely wrapped around those women’s fingers. Deal with the women messing with them, and you’ll have your power back in no time.”


    Marcus’s voice caught, uncertain. “You mean…”


    Candice’s answer was crystal clear. “Exactly.”


    Marcus hesitated. Jeffrey had kept his distance ever since he grew up–never paid much attention to the family, always acted like they weren’t worth his time. Getting married just made him even colder.


    Stephen was another story. He’d always been the polite and considerate one, at least up until recently. Now he was starting to push back too, probably because of that woman he’d been keeping around at home.


    “Stephen’s easy to deal with, but Jeffrey…” Marcus trailed off, and this time, anger gave way to real fear. “If I try anything with Reba again, I honestly think he’d finish me off.”


    He never wanted <i>to </i>go through something like today again, and he damn sure didn’t want to cross paths with Jeffrey when he’s being vicious.


    Jeffrey really would go through with it if he had to. Stephen had mercy. Jeffrey didn’t.


    “Let Richard take care of Reba,” Candice said, sounding calm but a little shaken by what went down today. “He’s her dad, so it’ll be easier for him to handle her without anyone suspecting a thing.”


    Marcus stayed quiet for a moment and then finally said, “Alright.”


    They barely finished talking before Marcus’s phone buzzed with a message from Jeffrey. [Hope this reminds you. Don’t mess with the wrong people, and don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.]


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