Reba’s heart remained tight with anxiety. With Jeffrey on the case, she knew the truth behind Samuel’s allergy woulde out soon enough. But Samuel had just had a brush with death, and no one knew if he’d have any aftereffects.
“He has always enjoyed good health. He’ll be fine,” Jeffrey said, sensing her worry as he came to her side and
drew her into an embrace.
Reba shoved him away. Her look was pure venom. She was physically sickened by <b>his </b>casual disregard for Samuel’s safety.
“I know you don’t want anything to do with me, and you loathe every move I’ve made,” Jeffrey said, his gaze heavy and suffocating as itnded <b>on </b>her. “But don’t forget the contract you just signed.”
Reba’s whole body went rigid.
Jeffrey closed the distance, leaning in so close that Reba could see the fine hairs on his face. “Samuel is still in the hospital. If I decide to make things difficult, his recovery could beplicated.”
“What the hell do you want?” Reba’s voice shook. She was extremely fearful.
She was terrified that Jeffrey would lose his mind, that he would stop at nothing–even hurting Samuel–to get what he wanted.
“What I do next depends on you, Jeffrey said, grabbing her hand <b>and </b>tracing circles with his thumb. “y the part of my wife, and Samuel stays healthy. But if you step out of line, I will not hesitate to have his treatment n adjusted”
Reba pped him hard across the face. Her full strength left five vivid red marks on Jeffrey’s cheek.
Her eyes zed with fury as she stared at him, <b>each </b>word biting. “<b>Are </b>you a monster<b>?</b>”
“I can be,” Jeffrey said, utterly unfazed by the sting on his cheek. “Or not.”
As long
<b>long </b>as he c
monstrous.
could keep her by his side, he would ept everything, even if she saw him <b>as </b>utterly
Reba <b>was </b>shaking with rage. She thought that after all these years of marriage, she understood him.
He was ruthless to outsiders, but with Samuel, he was the father who got down on the floor to y, who indulged his every whim, who actually <b>took </b>the time to talk things through.
If Samuel ever felt wronged, Jeffrey would be the first to leap to his defense. Their bickering might have seemed heated, but it was all in good fun–just their <b>unique </b>way of bonding.
But now, hearing his words, Reba suddenly realized she didn’t understand him at all.
“Feeling better now?” Jeffrey asked, his expression unfazed, voice steady <b>as </b>ever. “If not, keep going. Left or right, take your pick.”
10:30 <b>Mon</b>, Sep 29
200
“If anything happens to Samuel, I will end you,” Reba shot back. She wasn’t bluffing. If Jeffrey dared mess with Sammel, she would do whatever it took. She didn’t care if she had to break thew just to watch Jeffrey. burn.
Jeffrey pressed. “As long as you behave and do as you’re told, he will be perfectly fine.”
Reba stifled the storm of emotions inside her. It was as if a violent, tearing <b>pain </b>was gripping her chest.
“Go downstairs and get your things.” Jeffrey said, his voice eerily calm. “From now on, you’re living with me. Morning and night, we head out together ande home together. No exceptions.”
Hatred shed in Reba’s eyes. Every inch of her was tense with pent–up anger and frustration toward Jeffrey.
Jeffrey reached for her <b>hand</b>. “Let’s go.” <fn5226> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find·novel</fn5226>
Reba yanked her hand back. “I’m not leaving until I know Samuel’s safe.”
Just then, Jeffrey’s phone <b>rang</b>. Seeing it was Emory calling, he nced at Reba before hitting speakerphone. “Hello?”
“Mr. Hanson, Samuel’s out of danger,” Emory reported, just <b>as </b>he’d been asked. “Should we keep him here or send him home?”
Jeffrey asked, “How is he?”
Emory replied, “He’s asleep.”
<b>“</b><b>Keep </b>an eye on him. Someone will pick him upter. Jeffrey <b>said</b>. “If he wakes up, call me immediately.”
“Understood,” Emory replied.
Jeffrey was about to hang up when Reba cut in, “I want to see him.”
Jeffrey ended the call and immediately started a video call with Emory. Only after seeing for herself that Samuel was safe did Reba finally begin to rx.
“He’s safe. Now go get your things.” Jeffrey pocketed his phone and pinned her with a cold, suffocating look.
Reba balked. Thest thing she wanted was for anyone to know she had any kind of rtionship with him.
But she was out of options. Jeffrey <b>had </b>already proven he would watch Samuel walk into danger without lifting a finger. If she disobeyed him now, he was fully capable of following through on his monstrous threats.
She simply couldn’t afford to take that risk.
“I have <b>two </b>conditions, Reba stated.
Jeffrey’s expression remained impassive. “Name them.”
“You do not <b>interfere </b><b>with </b>my work, and our rtionship <b>remains </b>strictly private at the office,” she said. She
refused to let her hard work be reduced to nothing but her connections with him.
She hated the <b>idea </b>that her worth would always be tied to Jeffrey.
“The first condition is eptable,” Jeffrey said, his voice low and his gaze piercing. “The second is not.”
Reba asked, “Why?”
“<b>Am </b>I that much of an embarrassment to you?” Jeffrey countered.
Reba was too weary to even argue. He still didn’t get it. He couldn’t understand why she refused to be publicly tied to him at work.
国
She knew nobody stuck around forever, but she <b>had </b>fought tooth <b>and </b><b>nail </b>to earn her ce on her own merit She refused to let it all be dismissed as just a wealthy man’s wife dabbling in a career.
Words like that would erase everything she’d ever worked for.
“If you don’t want to go downstairs, I’ll have your things brought up, Jeffrey offered, still totally baffled about why this mattered so much to her.
In his eyes, she had his cards to spend on anything she wanted, but she insisted on slogging away at work. He thought <b>that </b>was just silly
But if it made her happy, he wouldn’t stand in her way. There was no point in provoking a fight over it. He could afford to indulge her little whims, to let her <b>have </b>her life experience.
“No, thanks,” Reba replied firmly. “I’ll get them myself.” She turned and left his room, heading for the eighteenth <b>floor</b>.
As soon as she returned, both Faye and E looked her way–one was all gossip, the other all concern.
“What was that about earlier?” Faye asked, sounding more curious than anything. “Everything okay? Do you need a hand?”
“No, thanks,” Reba said, heading straight for her bedroom.
Faye <b>and </b>E lingered at <b>the </b><b>doorway</b>, watching her silently.
Reba quickly gathered up all her things and packed them into her suitcase, her motions mechanical and utterly emotionless. The moment she turned to drag her luggage out, E’s voice, full of concern, broke the silence. “Reba, <b>what’s </b>wrong?”
Both Faye and E immediately assumed she was moving out. E couldn’t help but imagine the worst.
Reba opened her mouth, trying to figure out how to respond, when Jeffrey asked from outside, “Mind if I
“No, of course,e in, Faye blurted out.
Jeffrey stepped inside. Impably dressed, he carried an aura of privilege. He went straight to Reba and
10:30 Mon, Sep <b>29 </b>
took the suitcase from her. I’ll take that,” he said.
Faye’s eyes went wide. She took in how close they stood together and the casual way Jeffrey took the suitcase. A spection <b>began </b>to form in her mind.
Thank you for taking care of her thesest few days,” Jeffrey said as he effortlesslyced his fingers through Reba’s, making their rtionship in for anyone to see. “She’ll be moving upstairs with me. She won’t need this room anymore.”
“O…kay.” Faye stammered, her mindpletely short–circuited from <b>shock</b>.
E’s gaze instinctively flew to Reba. Though their hands were locked together, everything about Reba’s stiff posture and distant expression screamed that she wasn’t happy.
“Mr. Hanson, Faye began, her eyes glued to their intertwined hands. She hesitated, then the question tumbled out. “So, what is your rtionship with Reba?”
AD