Gregory was speechless
Jeffrey sent another message [They should start tomorrow. <b>Name </b>their price.]
Gregory blinked, wondering if he’d misunderstood. He replied: [Male bodyguards?]
Jeffrey [Yes]
Even though he didn’t get it, Gregory followed orders and posted the position right away, tagging it as urgent.
“Mrs. Hanson hasn’t eaten yet, <b>Mr. </b>Hanson, Barry said from the driver’s seat, reporting dutifully. “Would you like me to take you to a restaurant, or should we head home for dinner?”
“Just call me Reba,” Reba said, growing increasingly <b>ufortable </b>with the whole “Mrs. <b>Hanson</b>” <b>thing </b>Every time someone called her that, it just dug up all the stuff Jeffrey had said <b>before</b>.
Barry <b>shot </b>a look at Jeffrey in the rearview mirror, but Jeffrey seemed totally unfazed and just went with it. “From now on, <b>call </b>her Ms. Jensen.”
“Got it.” Barry replied.
“Do you want to have <b>dinner </b>at home or go out tonight?” Jeffrey asked Reba, his tone <b>as </b>gentle and patient
-as ever.
“I’m not hungry,” <b>Reba </b>said, barely able to muster any enthusiasm
“Let’s go home,” Jeffrey said to Barry.
Once they arrived, Reba headed straight upstairs <b>and </b>started ying with Samuel, not bothering with dinner at all.
Jeffrey put the food away. Knowing Reba didn’t want him around, he waited patiently until ten before heading upstairs.
<b>As </b>he entered, he saw Reba and Samuel cuddled up, watching thest moments of an animated movie together.
“I’m sleeping with Mommy tonight,” Samuel announced, clutching Reba’s arm as if staking his im. “You’re not allowed to take her from me.”
“She’s
‘s my wife, Jeffrey replied, sliding his arm around Reba’s waist and refusing to give an inch. “So who’s really doing the stealing here?”
Samuel hugged Reba even tighter. “I don’t care, Mommy belongs to me!”
Jeffrey looked away from Samuel and turned to Reba. “Go ask your mommy. Let’s see who she picks.”
“Mommy,” Samuel cooed, putting on his cutest voice.
“Take your time and choose, Jeffrey said, giving Reba’s hand a gentle squeeze, his voire soothing like a soft
melody.
Reba knew Jeffrey was quietly reminding <b>her </b><b>about </b>their agreement. Holding back her feelings, she knelt beside Samuel <b>and </b>solily said, “Mommy and Daddy need to talk tonight, sweetheart. Can you sleep alone just this once?”
Samuel sent Jeffrey a fierce little re.
Jeffrey met Samuel’s re with a calm, unbothered look.
“Mommy, you said it wrong. Samuel shot back, determined to get even. “He’s not Daddy; he’s Mr. Hanson.”
“Still want to go back to summer camp?” Jeffrey ruffled Samuel’s hair affectionately as he spoke.
Samuel huffed, clearly not happy
Then Reba returned to the master bedroom with Jeffrey.
Seeing her clutch the pillow and curl up at the bed’s edge like always, Jeffrey wrapped his arms around her. In a husky whisper, he teased, “You really hate sharing the bed with me that much?”
Reba remained silent. Jeffrey asked that on purpose..
“Next time you hit a bar or club, bring Jessica or a couple of bodyguards, Jeffrey murmured, pulling her closer. “<b>You </b>can’t handle your <b>drinks </b><b>and </b>get tipsy too fast. People can be shady. Better safe than sorry.”
Reba couldn’t make sense of him at all. “You talk a good game, she scoffed. She thought, “Maybe he’s just putting on an act this time, but how long is he really going to keep it up?”
“As long as you stay with me like before, I’ll <b>give </b>you whatever you want, except for the things we’ve already talked about,” Jeffrey said gently, holding her close enough to feel her heartbeat.
Reba didn’t believe him for a second.
Jeffrey wrapped her in his arms. “Go to sleep, he <b>said </b>softly.
Just after midnight, Reba woke up hungry. Not seeing Jeffrey beside her in bed, she didn’t overthink. She slipped on her shoes and headed downstairs for a midnight snack.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she found Jeffrey waiting at the dining table, a spread of dishesid out just for her.
“Come have something to eat,” Jeffrey said, pulling out the chair for her, clearly knowing she’d wake up hungry at this hour. “It’s all made just the way you like for dinner. Won’t <b>make </b>you put on any weight.”
Reba nced at him but kept quiet, her gaze lingering on the mouthwatering dishes.
Jeffrey gently coaxed her into the seat, picked out a few dishes for her, ced them on her te, and said softly, “Eat up.”
10:32 Mon, Sep <b>29 </b>
5 youthere
Though the food was tasty, Reba picked at it absentmindedly. She wished Jeffrey would go back to being cold. It’d make it easier to stay tough and stick to her decisions.
But since everything came out, he’d grown softer and more patient, just like during their five–year marriage. She couldn’t help but feel conflicted.
“Not feeling it?” Jeffrey caught the way <b>she </b>was barely touching her food and the look on her face.
“No, it’s not that,” Reba replied. “Whatever, I’ll just wait. When <b>Mom </b>wakes up, I’ll figure things out. For now. I’ll y along and pretend everything’s fine.
“Once he thinks I’ve settled, <b>that’s </b>when I’ll leave with Mom and Samuel. Besides, when I start working again, I won’t have to see him much anyway; she told herself
Jeffrey could see she was lost in thought, but he didn’t press her about it. He understood that everyone had things <b>they </b>didn’t want to talk about, and if Reba wasn’t ready to share, he wouldn’t <b>push </b>her.
“Let’s take <b>a </b>walk outside before heading up to bed, Jeffrey said once she’d finished eating, reaching for her hand so she couldn’t say no. “Come on<b>.</b>”
Reba was just about to protest that she’d go by herself when Jeffrey’s phone rang. The caller was Andrea- the name showed up clear as day for both of them to see.
Jeffrey sounded totally unfazed, like it was no big deal, just another normal call. He picked up, and Andrea’s voice came through, sounding a bit shaky. Jeffrey, I just slipped in the shower and now I’m really hurting. I can’t get up. Can youe over?”
“I’ll call the doctor and the maid,” Jeffrey replied, already making arrangements.
Andrea’s voice sounded more desperate now. “I want you toe and be with me.”
Jeffrey’s brow twitched, just the hint of some emotion flickering across his face.
After all the drama, Andrea didn’t care if he figured out she was being maniptive. The fall was real enough, anyway. <i>“</i>You don’t really <b>want </b>toe, do you?” she asked, her voice quivering. <fn4ff1> The rightful source is Find1Novel</fn4ff1>
“Tll be there in an hour,” Jeffrey said, and then hung up.
He slipped his phone into his pocket <b>and </b>squeezed Reba’s <b>hand</b><b>, </b>his tone calm, with not a shred of apology or regret. “I’m heading over there. If you need anything, just call me.”
Reba yanked her hand away. “Don’t bothering back.”
Jeffrey cupped the back of her head and kissed her forehead softly. “Be <b>good</b>,” he murmured, and then turned and walked away without looking back.
Watching him walk farther and farther away, Reba felt more certain than ever that there was just no way she could keep doing this.
‘How am I supposed to ept him dropping everything for a single call from Andrea? And worse, putting her and Samuel before us every single time, she thought bitterly.
10:32 Mon<b>, </b>Sep <b>29 </b>
館
She got the whole gratitude thing. If Jeffrey just gave Andrea a bunch of money or sent someone to look after her, it was fine. But the way Jelley treated Andrea was far more than just repaying a favor.
Trying to collect herself, Reba headed upstairs. She hadn’t even closed her bedroom door before a new message shed on her phone.
Andrea: Sorry, Reba<b>. </b>If I weren’t hurting so bad, I wouldn’t have asked Jeffrey toe over. <b>You </b>don’t <b>hate </b>me for it, right?]
Reba didn’t reply. She just blocked and deleted Andrea’s number again. She had blocked Andrea before, but Andrea could always find a new number to reach her.
E