10:31 Mon, Sep <b>29 </b>


    Reba was conflicted. Even if Jeffrey wasn’t trying to bargain with her, he would never let her sleep <b>in </b><b>a </b>different room anyway. The oue wouldn’t change. But if she agreed to his deal, things would just feel different, tainted in some way.


    “Just check it and get some rest,” Jeffrey said, knowing she wanted to look but was too stubborn to admit it. He handed over his phone. “Private jet is at nine tomorrow morning. Better be up early.”


    The phone felt weighty in her hand, and her suspicions swirled.


    If there was something on the phone, he wouldn’t have handed it to her. Either he was exactly as ruthless as he sounded, willing to put Samuel at risk to get what he wanted, or everything had already been deleted.


    Either way, there was no point in looking. “No,” Reba said tly, tossing the phone back to him. She climbed onto the bed andy right on the edge. One wrong move and she’d tumble off.


    Jeffrey set his phone aside and climbed into bed, lifting the covers.


    The moment the bed shifted, Reba instinctively scooted even closer to the edge. She couldn’t escape, and keeping her distance was the only way she knew to fight back.


    “I don’t take up that much space,” Jeffrey said, pulling her gently into his arms and wrapping her up his warmth. “No need to huddle in theer.”


    Reba tried to shift away, but she <b>could </b>feel the rising heat of his body right behind her.


    Before long, she felt his arousal pressing up against her Instinct took over, and she struggled hard to break out of his arms. Whatever he was nning tonight, there was no way she could let things go any further.


    “Don’t move.” Jeffrey murmured, enclosing her in his arm. His voice was low, <b>almost </b>gentle. “It’s just the way my body reacts after not being close to you for so long. Tonight, I just want to hold you. Nothing else I promise.”


    Reba felt herself finally rxed, just a little. She knew that he was a man of his word.


    Trying to break the silence. Jeffrey switched the subject. So, what made you want to check my phone just


    Reba was quiet for a long time before finally gathering her courage. “If I hadn’t signed <b>that </b>agreement, would you really have let Samuel end up in danger?”


    Jeffrey didn’t answer right away. Instead, <b>he </b>asked, “Is that answer really that important to you?”


    Reba paused. It was indeed important.


    Jeffrey taking care of Andrea was his own issue. Reba could see that as just a w in his character. <b>But </b>if he was really willing to put Samuel in danger, that crossed a line he couldn’t. That meant he’d lost something fundamental inside.


    Reba just couldn’t ept that her partner, the man she’d loved for five years, could be so heartless beneath.


    8 % GD


    “Whether I would or not, you still don’t want to stay with me, Jeffrey said, answering his own question “Isn’t that right?”


    Reba didn’t reply. The fact that he knew she didn’t want to stay and still resorted to tricks to keep her around said it all. He’d changed.


    From <b>a </b>spot she couldn’t see, Jeffrey’s eyes glimmered with a feeling so deep, he couldn’t even put it into words. Something heavy andplicated stirred in his heart.


    <b>Even </b>with all <b>the </b>proof right in front of her, Reba still chose to trust him. She never fully took his side, but she kept believing him. He could never <b>let </b><b>her </b>walk nway.


    “Goodnight,” Jeffrey whispered softly in Reba’s car.


    That night, Reba couldn’t get any real sleep. Sure, Samuel was safe <b>and </b>sound now, but until she could actually hold him in her arms, her mind kept running in circles, and her worries <b>just </b>wouldn’t let her rest.


    But for Jeffrey, it <b>was </b>honestly the best sleep he’d had in ages. He had no nightmares, no plotting, <b>just </b>a rare sense of warmth and peace,


    By eight in the morning, Reba and Jeffrey were already at the airport.


    Before they could board the private jet Jeffrey had arranged, Reba’s phone buzzed with a message from Jane: [The office is buzzing about <b>you </b>and Mr. Hanson. Want me to handle it?]


    Reba’s mood, gloomy as it was, brightened a little when she saw the message. She nced at Jeffrey, who was glued to her side, and replied: [No need. Thanks for looking out for me.]


    Reba knew this whole thing was Jeffrey’s doing. Even if Jane could get people to stop gossiping. Jeffrey was the type to make no effort to hide their rtionship once they were back at Primey Technologies.


    By then, fixing rumors would be pointless. She <b>might </b>as well just go along with it.


    “Are you ming me for making everyone know about us?” Jeffrey asked, easily catching a glimpse of her phone from his height.


    “That’s up to you,” Reba said, keeping her voice icy and distant. Her anger from yesterday was swapped out for total indifference. “I don’t have any way to stop you, and even if I did, it’s none of my business.”


    Jeffrey could tell Reba was just <bshing </b>out, but this time, there was nothing he could do to fix it. All he could <b>do </b>was stick with her, treat her well every day, and hope that time might slowly smooth out the cracks in her heart.


    By the time they got back to Jsburg and saw Samuel, it s already past eleven. The moment Samuel spotted Reba, he came running over like a whirlwind, shouting, “Mommy!”


    Reba scooped him up, the <b>two </b>of them giving each other a big bear hug. “Are you feeling okay? Anywhere


    10:31 Mon, Sep <b>29 </b>


    Chapter Hio


    still hurting?” she asked, genuinely worried<b>. </b>


    “Nope, I’m totally fine Samuel grinned, his chubby cheeks puffing out and his round eyes bright with delight. “As soon as I finished talking to you yesterday, I was all better. Now I’m your super healthy kid again!”


    Relieved, Reba smiled warmly at him.-


    Samuel eyed Jeffrey, who was lugging Reba’s suitcase, Sticking out his little hand and putting on a very serious face, he dered, “Mr. Hanson, please give me Mommy’s suitcase. I’ll <b>take </b>care of it for her.”


    Jeffrey handed over the suitcase without a second thought.


    Samuel grabbed the suitcase with one hand and Reba’s hand with the other, tugging her toward the exit of Reba’s Manor. “Mommy, let’s go home!”


    Reba stopped in her tracks, the emotions she’d just pushed down rising back up again.


    “This is your mommy’s home. Where do you think you’re taking her?” Jeffrey said, watching Samuel with a confident gaze.


    Samuel blinked, a little confused. He nced at Reba. Seeing her so quiet, he seemed to figure it out.


    “Give me the suitcase, Jeffrey said. He always took <b>care </b>of Reba’s things himself. <fndc87> For original chapters go to FindN()vel</fndc87>


    Samuel quickly hid the suitcase behind his back.


    Jeffrey raised an eyebrow, amused.


    “You still haven’t handled things with that woman, so Mommy’s not staying here,” Samuel said, looking wary as he firmly stuck by Reba’s side.


    Jeffrey stayed calm. “Then ask your mom yourself,”


    “Even if Mommy agrees to stay, it’s probably just because you forced her somehow!” Samuel said smartly. tugging Reba’s <b>hand</b>. “Mommy, let’s go <b>back </b>to our own home. Just ignore him.”


    Reba held back all her feelings, not letting Samuel know anything. “Your dad’s right, we’re going to stay here from now on.“”


    Jeffrey looked right at Samuel. “You heard <b>her</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Samuel squeezed Reba’s hand tighter, thinking, ‘Dad is so sneaky… Then, suddenly, he blurted out, “Did Dad try to make you stay because of <b>me</b>?”