Chapter <b>149 </b>


    E felt her mind rocked to the core.


    Gregory slid Jeffrey’s marriage license into his pocket, his voice as steady as ever. “May I have her now?” asked Gregory.


    “But…” E faltered, giving Gregory a suspicious look. “If Reba were Jeffrey’s wife, why didn’t he help her out at the table when everyone tried to make her drink?”


    Gregory didn’t miss a beat. “Mrs. Hanson wants to prove herself and keep things strictly professional between her and the boss,” answered Gregory.


    E was obviously not buying it for a second.


    “If you don’t believe me, just check her chat history with Mr. Hanson,” Gregory said, once again marveling at Jeffrey’s genius nning. “All you need is her fingerprint to unlock her phone.”


    With things put that way, E had little choice but to believe. Before handing Reba over to Gregory, E nced at the woman in her arms and asked, “Reba, Jeffrey wants you to go with him. Are you okay with that?”


    “Yeah…” Reba mumbled, still a bit conscious. She remembered Jeffrey’s threat.


    ‘If I refuse, he’ll juste knocking on my door,‘ Reba thought. ‘I really don’t want anyone to find out about us. We’re about to get divorced anyway!


    Seeing Reba agree, E didn’t insist on keeping her. Since she didn’t know Gregory well, she chose not to hand Reba over directly, instead escorting her together with Gregory all the way to Jeffrey’s door.


    “Thanks,” Jeffrey said from the heart, appreciating E’s thoughtfulness.


    “She’s a bit drunk and could use some hangover soup,” E said, still concerned. “Do you want to get it from the front desk or have someone bring it up?”


    Jeffrey was patient with these things. “Alright, I’ll take care of it,” he answered.


    E hesitated, gave Reba onest look, then turned and walked away.


    Gregory watched her leave, and only when E’s figure had vanished from sight did he turn to Jeffrey and say, “E is really good to Mrs. Hanson; wouldn’t let her guard down for a second.”


    Jeffrey asked, “She’s the oldest kid who got thrown out by her family when she was five or six, right?” He’d looked into everyone around Reba already.


    “Yeah, that’s her,” Gregory answered.


    Jeffrey said, “Keep an eye on what she needs and help her out.”


    “Will do,” Gregory answered, ready to follow through.


    Jeffrey carried Reba into the room, and Gregory thoughtfully closed the door behind them.


    Inside, the hangover soup was already waiting. Jeffrey settled Reba on the couch, with a tenderness that surprised even himself, spoon–fed her the soup until she finished. Then he gently lifted her to lie on the bed.


    As usual, Jeffrey changed E into cozy pajamas and helped her wash up a little. For the next few hours, he sat on the single sofa by the window, handling work while Reba slept soundly.


    It wasn’t until after 11 p.m. that Reba finally stirred awake.


    Gazing at the pitch–ck surroundings, E rubbed her heavy, dizzy head. Thinking she was in her own ce, she fumbled her way out of bed toward the bathroom, guided only by the lights from the high–rises. outside the window.


    Reba’d barely gone a couple of steps when she spotted the blue glow of aptop and the outline of someone sitting by the window. It was Jeffrey.


    “You’re up?” Jeffrey said, stood, and flicked on the bedsidemp. Seeing Reba’s unfocused eyes, he asked, “Is your head still spinning?”


    Reba nodded without thinking, and she thought, ‘Spinning? That’s putting it mildly!’


    After using the bathroom, Reba stumbled out, her brain still feeling like mush. “Why am I in your room?” she asked.


    “You don’t remember?” Jeffrey asked.


    Reba was just about to ask what he meant when it all hit her at once, including that Gregory showed that marriage license to E.


    From the look on Reba’s face, Jeffrey knew she’d put the pieces together.


    “Why did you have to tell E we’re married?” Reba asked, still a bit drunk.


    “If I didn’t, she wouldn’t have let youe with me,” Jeffrey exined in his usual calm way. “Otherwise, I’d have to go downstairs and knock on your door to get you, and then everyone would know.”


    Reba wanted to argue back, but honestly, Jeffrey wasn’t wrong.


    “If you’re still feeling dizzy, just get some more sleep,” Jeffrey said, ncing at his watch. “I spoke to E; if anyone else asks about you, she’s going to say your friend came by, so you went over to her ce.”


    “So, what do you want from me, bringing me here?” Reba asked, dropping straight to the point as she sat down.


    “We still have unfinished business,” Jeffrey said, settling onto the couch across from her, his gaze as he looked her way. “I think it’s time we had a real talk.”


    unreadable


    Jeffrey wanted to have that talk back in Jsburg, but Reba never gave him the chance. As soon as work was over, she’d disappear, lock herself in, making sure he couldn’t get anywhere near her.


    “There’s nothing left to discuss,” Reba said. She knew his meaning, and her resolve was clear as day. “You <b>were </b>all straightforward when you signed the divorce papers; so just keep it that way.”


    “<b>I </b><b>was </b>just ying along with you,” Jeffrey replied.


    “Not really,” Reba said. Her mind was clear; she pointed out Jeffrey’s true intentions sharply. “You just want to watch me ruin my life without you, hit a wall so hard I have toe back begging; all just to feed your cruelty.”


    Jeffrey’s lips tightened.


    Reba answered with a calm but firm tone, “Honestly, I’m doing great. Even without you around, I know how to live and be happy.”


    “Are you really happy?” Jeffrey asked.


    “I am.” Reba shot back.


    “If you were truly that happy,” Jeffrey went on, “you wouldn’t have clung to me and broken down sobbingst time. You wouldn’t still be running to the hospital daily forfort.”


    Reba froze, something flickering in her gaze.


    ht, ‘Everyone thought I kept going to the hospital out of filial piety. But deep down, sure, I wished


    uld wake up, but mostly, I kept showing up forfort. Those daily murmurs had be a way


    <b>ress</b><b>. </b>


    Ca <b>was </b>there for me when I needed it most, and I made a promise to take care of her for the rest of her <b>Jeffrey </b>exined, trying to smooth things over. “But that’s it; there’s nothing else between us, I swear.”


    “What does that have to do with me?” Reba asked.


    Jeffrey’s eyes darkened. “Let’s sit down and really talk; whatever you want, just say it.”


    “I’ve only ever wanted one thing,” Reba said, voice unwavering. “I want a divorce.”


    Jeffrey replied, “You know that’s impossible.”


    “Then there’s nothing left to discuss,” Reba answered.


    Their conversation hit a brick wall. Reba and Jeffrey stared each other down, refusing to give an inch. Things got so tense; one was stubborn and refused to give in, while the other stayed quiet but wouldn’t budge either.


    After a long silence, Jeffrey stood up, seeming more distant than ever. “Take these few days to think about what you really want. Once the divorce application gets withdrawn, I’m bringing you and Samuel back to Reba’s Manor,” said Jeffrey.


    “And why should I?” Reba asked, getting to her feet.


    “Because you’re my wife, and Samuel is my son,” Jeffrey said with conviction. “Families should live together. If


    Chapiti 143


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    you refuse to go back to Reba’s Manor, I’ll just move in and cram into that little ce with you at Maple


    Garden.”