Tommy agreed without hesitation.


    Barry asked. “Mr. Hanson<b>, </b>are we heading to the Hanson residence or the <b>hospital</b>?”


    “The hospital,” Jeffrey <b>replied</b>.


    DE SE Vouchers.


    If <b>Amelia </b>woke up, even with Jeffrey’s threats, Reba would probably figure out a way to leave. Reba <b>wasn’t </b>the type to <b>stay </b>meek for long.


    Reba and Samuel had already arrived at the hospital. When they got <b>there</b>, they saw <b>Jessica </b>was there, too,


    Jessica looked a bit surprised to see Reba walk in. “You’re back already? Didn’t you say you’d be away couple more days?”


    for a


    “Things wrapped up early, <b>so </b>I came back,” Reba said, leading Samuel inside. She nced at the <b>hospital </b>bed, paused, and whispered. “My mom… she actually woke up?”


    Jessica nodded. “Yeah.”


    Reba walked up to the bedside, noticing her mom was still out cold. “Did she say anything?” she asked.


    “Not much. She just nced around, Jessica exined, “I asked Dr. Johnson, and he said that’s totally normal. You really don’t need to worry.”


    Reba felt her chest tighten with nerves. She never thought <b>her </b>mom would wake up at a time like this- just when she was about to lose hope. This gave her a tiny bit offort.


    *Reba,” Jessica <b>said</b>, noticing how withdrawn Reba had seemed since stepping in. Her instincts told her something was going on that she didn’t know about.


    Reba nced up, her answer t. “Mm.”


    Jessica pressed, “Are you okay?”


    Reba stonewalled her. “Just wondering when Mom will finally wake up.”


    “Nope, I don’t buy that.” Jessica walked right up to Reba, nced at Samuel, and lowered her voice. “That face of yours is screaming trouble. Spill it. What happened?”


    Reba stared at Jessica, ying dumb.


    Jessica jabbed her in the side. “Don’t you y innocent with me. I can read you like a book. If you ain’t got nothing to hide, I’ll eat shit.”


    Reba suddenly couldn’t helpughing. Please don’t go that far.”


    10:31 Mon, Sep <b>29 </b>


    “Did that bastard Jeffrey mess things up again Jessica blurted out. In her mind, he was the only one who could get Reba into such a fork.


    Reba could handle work and life problems easily. Bar Jeffrey–unpredictable as he was–was the one who truly drove her crazy, constantly stirring up drama and trouble.


    “I’ll fill you in tonight.” Reba whispered back. “Once you’re done, just let me know, and fille food you!


    Jessica replied, “Tm free today, so I’ll head back home with youter?


    Before Reba could answer. Samuel beat her to it. “Jessica, are youing back to Reba’s Manora


    Jessica blinked in surprise. Reba’s Manor? I thought she lived in Maple Garden: She stayed quiet, thinking I figure it out tonight<b>. </b>


    Half an hourter, seeing her mom still hadn’t woken, Reba stood and said to Jessica, “Can you watch Samuel! I’m going to check with Dr. Johnson about her condition<b>.</b>”


    “Sure,” Jessica <b>said</b>. She didn’t offer to go with Reba, figuring whatever Reba needed to ask probably wasn’t something Samuel should hear about


    anyway. <fn1c34> ?????? ???? f?ndnovel</fn1c34>


    When Reba caught up with Timothy, he’d just finished up some work. She went straight to asking about her mom, and his reply matched exactly what Jessica had said earlier.


    “No need to worry. Your mom should be fully awake within <b>a </b>week, tops, Timothy reassured Reba. noticing the stress in her eyes. “Seriously, don’t lose sleep over it.


    Reba nodded. “Alright.”


    Timothy tilted his <b>head</b><b>. </b>“Anything else you want to talk about?”


    Reba looked him in the eye and said <b>seriously</b><b>, </b>I need to know what happenedst night. When Samuel came in, it was urgent. Did you really just follow Jeffrey’s orders and do nothing?


    Timothy <b>paused </b>and then <b>quickly </b>replied, “Yes.”


    Reba <b>said </b>sincerely. “That’s not how you doctors operate. When a patient needs help, you always contact their family. So why didn’t anyone call mest night?”


    The hospital had Reba’s number and knew she was Samuel’s mother. Normally, even if Jeffrey forbade a rescue, someone should’ve reached out. But no one did, and that didn’t add up.


    “Nobody dares to defy Mr. <b>Hanson</b>, Timothy said, his tone shifting. “He owns this hospital, and every single one of us is basically on his payroll”


    “Got it,” Reba replied, not pressing any further. She knew digging deeper wouldn’t change anything. As she turned to leave, an indescribable heaviness weighed down on her.


    Just as she reached the door, Timothy called out, “Ms. Jensen.”


    Reba turned bark


    Timothy went on. “Mr. Hanson really is a good person. Maybe some things he does seem confusing or frustrating at first, but his intentions are genuine.


    “Letting a kid be in danger and refusing to help? I don’t see what’s so good about that,” Reba replied collly, and then walked out without another word.


    Back in the ward, Reba let Jessica and Samuel know they were leaving. The three of them headed out of the hospital together.


    Reba was just about to ask Jessica where they’d meet up tonight when Jeffrey’s car suddenly pulled up right


    <b>in </b>front of them


    Jeffrey hopped out of the car and came over. He <b>asked</b>, “You done visiting your mom?”


    Reba gave a short, cold reply, “Yeah


    Jeffrey reached out and took her <b>hand</b>. “Let’s head home.”


    Reba didn’t move


    Jeffrey asked patiently, his tone gentle and refined, “What’s wrong?”


    “I need to talk to Jessica about something. I’ll head backter,” Reba said, wanting to clear her head. She knew being so tense around Samuel wasn’t good for him. “You should take Samuel home first.”


    Jeffrey nced at Jessica, who looked like she saw a ghost, and then agreed without a moment’s hesitation. “Alright. Just text me when you’reing back, and I’ll have someone pick you up.”


    He didn’t care that Reba vented to Jessica aboutst night. Even if it was just an act, <b>what </b>was done was done. If she needed someone to talk to, he could <b>handle </b>that. Besides, no matter what she said, he knew she wasn’t leaving anytime soon.


    “Let’s talkter, Reba said, pulling her hand away from his. She gave Samuel a quick word before getting into Jessica’s car. “Let’s go.”


    Н


    Jessica had all kinds of questions running through her mind, but she held them back. “Alright.”


    The car <b>sped </b>away, leaving Samuel alone with Jeffrey. Samuel’s face was scrunched up in usation, and he didn’t even try to hide it. “Why’s Mommy so mad at you? What did you do?”


    Jeffrey said, “Get in the car.”


    But Samuel stood his ground. “Not until you tell me!”


    Jeffrey picked Samuel up <b>and </b>settled him into the car. “Grown–up stuff isn’t for you to worry about. What matters is, from now on, you drop the ‘Mr. Hanson. You should start calling me ‘Dad,’ understand?”


    “I don’t that, Mr. Hanson, Samuel shot <b>back </b>with a cheeky grin, pretending he didn’t hear right.


    “So that’s really your favorite way to call me, huh?” Jeffrey asked, arching his brow


    Samuel nodded. “Vup”


    零四


    Jeffrey, who was a master at winding Samuel up, smirked. “Next semester’s tuition ising due soon. Make sure you ask your dad for it. Calling me ‘Sir means I’m off the hook


    Samuel stared nkly, thinking. He’s always threatening me with money. When I’m rich, Eswear I’ll pile up so much cash he won’t be able to get out!


    “Don’t change the subject!” Samuel snapped,ser–focused on what mattered to him. “Did you actually use my allergies to threaten Mommy? Or did you y dirty <b>some </b>other way?”


    Jeffrey didn’t flinch, his face as cool as ever. “That’s how you see me?”


    Samuel shot back without missing a beat, “Absolutely


    田


    AD


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