“Reba is my wife, Jeffrey said. His voice was calm, but his expression softened as he looked at Reba. “We’re married”


    Faye looked at Reba with excitement. “Oh my god! You’re the boss’s wife?”


    Without another word, Jeffrey scooped up the suitcase and led Reba out, holding her hand.


    Watching the picture–perfect couple disappear down the hall, Faye was beside herself. I would’ve never guessed Reba was the wife of the boss. So she really was just slumming it at Primey Technologies for the experience?”


    Reba froze in the doorway at her words, her eyes showing a hint of self–mockery and bitterness. “Of course, that’s what they’d think, she thought.


    “Do you really think she’d work that hard just for an ‘experience?” E jumped in to defend Reba. “Don’t mix up personal effort with background.”


    “Then why would she work at Primey Technologies?” Faye pressed on. “The Hanson Group is arge…


    Reba didn’t hear the rest. All that effort, every single difficult day she’d pushed through—it all meant nothing now. With one sentence, Jeffrey erased it all.


    “Are you hungry?” Jeffrey asked, as if nothing had happened at all. “Do you want somete–night snacks?”


    Reba shook off his hand the moment they stepped into the room, her entire demeanor bristling with anger and disgust.


    “Do you even care at all?‘ she snapped. “Samuel has just gotten out of danger, and you’re already thinking about snacks? You haven’t even bothered to check if this allergy will leave him with anysting damage.


    Reba unleashed everything she’d been holding back, anger <b>and </b>frustration flooding out in waves.


    Jeffrey stayed silent, neither interrupting nor offering a defense. He understood that, after everything. Reba needed to let it all out. He’d caused this, and now he was the one who deserved to bear it.


    After two minutes, Reba’s tirade finally wound down. Her heart was still gripped with concern for Samuel. “I need to take <b>leave </b><b>and </b>return to Jsburg immediately,” she said urgently.


    To Reba, no job was more important than Samuel’s safety. She’d been working so hard just to secure their future.


    *Samuel’s fine,” Jeffrey said, answering all her concerns. “The doctors have confirmed there <b>will </b>be nosting effects. We’ll have the answers about what caused the allergy within three days. Whether he returns to the summer camp will be his decision to make.”


    Reba insisted, “I’m taking a leave.”


    Jeffrey replied, “That’s your decision to make.”


    10:30 Mon<b>, </b>Sep 29


    Reba felt her temper spike.


    Seeing that she was furious, Jeffrey immediately relented. “Alright, we’ll return to Jsburg first thing tomorrow morning. Your leave is approved.


    国


    With his answer, Reba opened the employee app and submitted her request. She was just too stubborn; sometimes it made people think she didn’t know how to bend,


    Jeffrey’s phone buzzed–a special alert for Reba’s leave requests, set to go straight to him. He approved it immediately.


    Just as Jeffrey was about to say something, Reba picked up her phone, walked into another room, and locked the door. Leaning back against the door, she started messaging Samuel. Every single message was full


    of care and concem.


    Samuel was asleep, and she didn’t want to wake him with a call. She just wanted him to see how much she cared the moment he opened his eyes.


    If not for the sold–out flights and the immense distance between Honn and Jsburg, she would have rented a car and driven through the night to get back to him.


    Jeffrey could guess what she was doing. He called Emory. “Hasn’t Samuel woken up yet?”


    Emory nced at the soundly sleeping child. “No, he hasn’t.”


    “You’re certain he’s perfectly fine? No adverse reactions?” Jeffrey pressed. “And no long–term issues?” <fn578d> Content originallyes from Find~Novel</fn578d>


    *Absolutely. You have my word, Emory reassured him. A low hum was Jeffrey’s only reply.


    Emory opened his mouth to offer more reassurance, but Jeffrey interjected. “Wake him up.”


    There was a beat of silence. “Now?” Emory asked, hesitating.


    “Right now,” Jeffrey confirmed. Now that he knew Samuel was out of danger, he had shifted back into his usual role as the dad who loved to banter with his son. “Once he’s awake, tell him to check the Reba on his smartwatch.”


    Emory <b>was </b><b>visibly </b>hesitant. “Are you sure about this?” he <b>asked</b>.


    messages from


    This is the young master of the Hanson Group, Emory thought. If he wakes up cranky, what am I supposed to <b>do</b><b>? </b>I can only try to calm him down


    Jeffrey’s patience was wearing thin. “Don’t make me repeat again.”


    “Right away.” Emory murmured, his voice shaky with nerves <b>as </b>he approached Samuel’s bed. Noting the call <b>was </b>still active, he tentatively whispered, “Samuel, time to wake up.”


    “Samuel,” he tried again, his voice hushed as if afraid to disturb the air itself. “Your dad is asking for you.”


    Jeffrey frowned, clearly losing patience. He told Emory to put the phone on speaker and crank up the volume, then personally called Samuel twice. Just two calls, and Samuel snapped awake from his messy dreams.


    10:30 <b>Mon</b>, Sep 29


    Samuel rubbed his eyes, still groggy and not quite awake Ugh, why are you wakina me uper


    “Call your mom Jeffrey said, his volen clear and steady. She’s really worried abour you


    Samuel’s drowsiness vanished instantly. He opened his eyes to ask why, and then it hit him that this won’t the


    After a three–minute exnation, Samuel finally understood what hard happened it all mare verse now. The fitful dreams of being chased by monsters and saved by heroes coincided with his allergie reaction. A momentter, he called Reba.


    They <b>talked </b>for ten minutes. Only after hearing that Samuel was back to his old self, lively and energetic, did Reba’s heart finally settle “It’s gettingte, sweetheart. You should rest. I’ll be home tomorrow she d her voice soft.


    umuel tilted his head. “But aren’t you away on a business trip:


    Not wanting to burden him, Reba simply said, “It ended ahead of schedule. I’ming home tomorrow


    But Samuel was skeptical. He suspected his father had orchestrated the whole thing. Jeffrey would only extend it, never cut it short.


    After hanging up with Reba, Samuel called Jeffrey. “Is Mom reallying back early because she’s worried


    about me?


    “Yeah. Jeffrey replied, not caring whether his words might burden Samuel.


    “I’m okay now, she really doesn’t need to make a special trip back just for me,” Samuel said, not wanting Reba to worry or run herself ragged. “Try and find a way to stop her.”


    Jeffrey replied, “I can’t stop her.”


    Samuel sounded genuinely amazed. “Wait, there’s someone you can’t hold back?”


    “I don’t want to upset her again,” Jeffrey admitted, dead <b>serious</b>.


    Reba was already at her breaking point over the Samuel incident. If he tried to block her from seeing her son now, she wouldn’t just get angry–she’d be cornered. And a cornered Reba, with all her stubborn. defiance, was capable of anything.


    Samuel blinked, finally catching the hint in Jeffrey’s words. “What exactly did you do to <b>Mom</b><b>?</b>”


    “That’s adult business, none of yours. Getting better is the best gift you can give your mom, Jeffrey said. <b>noticing </b>some movement in the room. “Now go to sleep. He was about to hang up.