Chapter <b>141 </b>
“Mr. Hanson, is that actually illegal?” Barry asked with genuine curiosity.
Jeffrey didn’t bother with a proper answer. He just waved them off. “Take this guy to the police station and dig into his background. Anyone bold enough to take a job like this probably isn’t a first–timer.”
“On it!” Barry and Tommy got to work right away.
“I can’t go to the police station!” the truck driver said in a panic. “I admit I was wrong. I’m really sorry. I’ll apologize to Ms. Jensen. I swear I’ll never do this again.”
Jeffrey didn’t spare him a nce. He got up and brushed past the driver, totally indifferent.
If he hadn’t called Reba by chance, something terrible could’ve happened today. He couldn’t shoulder that kind of consequence, nor would he ever ept it.
“Mr. Hanson!” the truck driver cried out desperately.
“Stop yelling,” Tommy and Barry said as they dragged him out. “Once Mr. Hanson makes up his mind, yelling your lungs out won’t change a thing. Juste clean at the station. Maybe that’ll shave a couple of years off your sentence.”
The driver wanted to retort, but he thought that with Jeffrey’s skills, digging up all the shady things he’d done would be a piece of cake. Panic started flooding in from the pit of his stomach.
Jeffrey slid into the back seat and ordered the chauffeur, “Head to Reba’s Manor.”
Riley, who’d been pulled in at thest minute and was riding shotgun, turned to him. “Aren’t we going after Richard? He’s heading straight to the airport–pretty sure he’s nning to bolt.”
Jeffrey called Stanley. “Make sure Richard doesn’t get on that ne.”
Stanley replied, “Got <i>it</i>.”
Riley rested her chin in her hand. “If we’re not going after him, why’d you even call me over?”
“Just in case,” Jeffrey replied, his tone serious–almost annoyingly so. “If something happens, I want you close so I can hear from you right away. If you’re not around, I might not be able to get a hold of you.”
Riley thought, ‘He really does get me, doesn’t he?‘ Riley let it slide for once, quietly epting his reasoning.
“Keep an eye on Richard,” Jeffrey said inly. “If he heads to the Hanson residence, let me know.”
“Got it,” Riley replied, no hesitation.
Jeffrey just gave a simple nod and said nothing more.
He unlocked his phone and tapped out a quick message to Gregory: [What’s she
up to?]
Gregory nced over at Reba and replied right away: [Ms. Jensen and Ms. Scott are ying with Samuel in the yard.]
Jeffrey: [Okay.]
Jeffrey: [Have Victor send over some of her favorite snacks.]
Gregory spotted Victor already on his way with the snacks and shot back: [He’s already on it.]
Jeffrey didn’t reply, but finally let out a breath of relief when he knew that they were taking care of Reba on their own–even without a word from him.
“Ms. Jensen, these are the snacks and fruits you used to love,” Victor said warmly. He’d watched over the family for years, always looking out for them. “See if you still like them.”
“Thank you,” Reba replied, giving a gentle nod.
“No problem,” Victor said, making sure not to linger. “Just call me if you need anything.”
Once Reba said she would, Victor quietly stepped away, leaving the three of them with some privacy.
Seeing everyone at Reba’s Manor still treating Reba just like always, Jessica couldn’t help but ask, “Reba, what are you gonna do about things between you and Jeffrey?”
Everyone said besties were never fans of each other’s boyfriends. But before all that drama with Andrea, Jessica honestly thought Jeffrey was pretty much the best choice for Reba.
Reba had already calmed down. What happened today made her less distant from Jeffrey. She said, “I’ll find a time to talk things out with him. I mean, he’s usually a pretty reasonable guy.”
Jessica nced over at Samuel, who was totally absorbed in building with his blocks, and her heart twisted with a mix of emotions. “What if he still refuses?<b>” </b>
Reba fell silent. If Jeffrey really was dead set on not letting her go, she honestly didn’t know what to do.
Doctors said her mom would wake up within two months at thetest, but after all this time, there still wasn’t even a hint. Worse, she and Samuel were still officially tied to Jeffrey through the household register.
Pulling off a quiet disappearance was totally out of the question.
Reba wasn’t really worried about herself, but Samuel had school to go to.
So, if she really wanted to take Samuel with her, she’d need Jeffrey to say yes–on his own terms.
“Did you ever ask him why he got involved with Andrea?” Jessica asked.
“I did,” Reba replied, remembering his exact words. “He told me he’d exin once I’m back with him.”
Jessica was speechless. She thought, ‘Seriously, what could a guy like Jeffrey possibly have to do with Andrea?‘
While they were talking, Jeffrey pulled up. He got out of the car and headed straight for Reba.
Samuel looked up with his wide eyes and called out, “Mr. Hanson, you’re back.”
Jessica was surprised to hear that.
55 vouchers
“I need to chat with your mom for <i>a </i>bit. Want to go y upstairs by yourself, or should I ask Victor to take you up?” Jeffrey said, giving Samuel a gentle poke on the forehead. He was already used to being called that.
Samuel instinctively looked over at Reba. Reba gave him a reassuring nod. She could tell Jeffrey was about to bring up what happened with the car.
After a moment, the yard grew quiet–just the three of them remained. Jeffrey’s gaze settled on Reba, and there was a new heaviness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
Reba caught the shift and asked, “Something wrong?”
“The truck driver came clean–he was paid off,” Jeffrey said, keeping the details close to the vest. “Someone was after you.”
Reba paused for a moment. She was right.
Jeffrey kept going, “Jessica’s car is still being checked out. We should get the full report tomorrow morning.”
“My dad or yours?” Reba asked, not beating around the bush.
She’d had her suspicions it might be connected to her discovering her mom’s property transfer, but after testing Camille about it, everything seemed normal.
Besides, even if something shady was up, there just wasn’t enough time to set up an attack like that. The only person who could’ve managed it was Richard, since he’d been tailing them, or Marcus, the one she’d pissed offst time.
“Officially, it’s your dad,” Jeffrey admitted, his eyes deeper than ever. “But my dad might have been involved behind the scenes, too.”
“If in the end it’s confirmed that both of them were involved…” Reba paused, uncertainty flickering across her face. “Can I actually go after them both at the same time?”
Even though Jeffrey wasn’t on good terms with Marcus, it didn’t change the fact that they were still father and
son.
Trying to have someone killed and just dumping them in the water were twopletely different beasts. The consequences couldn’t be more worlds apart.
“You can, but when ites to Marcus, your chances aren’t great,” Jeffrey said. Then he exined, “Stephen always keeps up appearances. Even if he dislikes Marcus, he’ll go out of his way to cover for him.”
Reba went quiet, her mind spinning with stress. Taking on the Hanson family with what she had now was impossible. Except for Jeffrey, Stephen was also a member of the Hanson family.
“If you trust me, I’ll handle Marcus my way,” Jeffrey said, noticing she’d made up her mind. “If not, I’ll get you awyer, and we’ll just let it be.”
<b>“</b>Why?” Reba blurted out.
Jeffrey blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
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I’m trying to divorce you. Why do you still take my side and help me fight against your own family?” Reba asked.
“My family is just you and Samuel,” Jeffrey said, his tone quiet but unwavering. Ever since that incident, he’d erased Marcus and the rest of them from his heart–he didn’t consider them family anymore.
To him, they weren’t worthy of being called family.
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