“Didn’t I tell you belone? May said, not showing even a hint of guilt, soundingpletely convincing “Your mom lived in an orphanage until she turned eighteen, <b>and </b>after that, she worked part–time jobs through college
“Who could possibly save up that much money from part–time gigs? Reba shot back.
May answered without missing a beat, propping her chin in her hand. “Your mom, my bestie, obviously.” <fnf12d> Official source is F?nd-Novel</fnf12d>
Reba felt speechless.
“Don’t doubt it.” May said sincerely. “Your mom was seriously impressive. If she and Jeffrey were the same age. <b>even </b>your husband <b>might </b>not be able to hold a candle to her.”
“So why did she pick my dad?” Reba pressed, her tone unusually serious. With such great instincts and skills, there was no way <b>Amelia </b>couldn’t see through a guy. Reba knew that something definitely didn’t add <ol><li>up. </li></ol>
“Well… May pursed her lips, not expecting Reba <b>to </b>ask so sharply. “No one can have everything. She was so sessful in her career that her judgment of guys was bound to be a bit off.”
“If Mom was really as amazing as you say, she wouldn’t have married Dad.” Reba was sharper than ever. “Grandma and Grandpa weren’t exactly her biggest fans, either.”
Amelia was smart, sessful, and had a good heart. It didn’t make sense that she would marry someone like Richard.
May was at a loss for words.
Reba pressed on, “Their marriage felt more like a business arrangement.” She knew that her parents had signed a prenup ahead of time and kept all their financespletely separate. She thought even the way they interacted day to day was strange.
Back then, Reba believed her parents got along perfectly and loved each other. But now, it felt too wless, like a carefully staged act..
“What are you rambling on about, kid?” May was starting to sweat.
“So, is it <b>that </b>Mom asked you to keep quiet about this, or did she share the story with some other close friend and leave you out?” Reba asked smoothly.
“If it’s thetter, I won’t press you. I know bringing it up makes you feel upset every time.”
May couldn’t handle the thought, “She didn’t have any other close friends. Her ride–or–die is just me.”
Reba replied dismissively. “Oh.”
May asked, “You don’t believe <b>me</b>, do you?”
“I do Heleva answered, her face absolutely sincere
“You don’t believe me May said Memories rushed back. “Your mom was amazing back then, totally stole the
me? spotlight Everyone was jealous, but I was the only one smart enough to keep her as my true ally”
“Who are you talking about?” Reba pressed
“Just the people in her circle, May replied breezily
Reba pulled up a photo on her phone and handed it to May. “Did that include him?”
May nced instinctively. Seeing it was Ryan, her expression flickered briefly before she masked it. “Why do you still have his photo? Didn’t I warn you he’s trouble? Stay away <b>from </b>him.”
“I saw <b>him</b>,” Reba admitted honestly. “He even gave me his business card.”
May immediately perked up. “You actually took it?”
“Yeah, I <b>took </b>it,” Reba said.
May’s tone turned anxious. “How could you ept it? That guy is just pure trash, Reba, you…”
Reba shot back, “As if!”
May stopped short. “Wait, what?”
“I didn’t take it. I threw it away,” Reba said, trusting May wouldn’t let her down. “You’re usually chill, but <b>you </b>lose it whenever his namees up. Did he have something with Mom?”
May’s mouth hung open. For once, she had no idea what to say.
“You told me Mom grew i
in an orphanage, so he can’t be a rtive, Reba guessed. The only way you’d go off on him like that is if he screwed over Mom.”
“Or maybe their partnership fell apart and he made off with the cash, May said, genuinely surprised by how spot–on Reba’s guess was.
“You <b>can </b>just be upfront about it,” Reba replied, sharp as ever. “No need to hide anything
May rubbed her forehead, thinking, ‘Alright, this kid’s gotten too smart to brush off.”
“His name is Ryan, and he was the only real rtionship your mom ever had,” May finally admitted after a long pause. “They dated for five years, but in the end, he betrayed her and married another woman<b>.</b>”
Reba didn’t look the least bit shocked. “No wonder he always has that sad look in his eyes whenever he sees Mom.
“Sad? Hell no,” May scoffed, her resentment for Ryan clear. If it weren’t for him, Amelia wouldn’t have had to move away. “He’s just mad the woman he ended up with doesn’tpare to your mom, and now he’s stuck with regret.
AD
Reba frowised Ryan really didn’t seem like the type, Guess you can’t judge a book by its cover, she
thought
Anyway, just <b>keep </b>your distance from him. May said, her disgust practically dripping through every wordt, “Guys like him don’t even deserve to be anywhere near Amelia.”
Reba nodded. “Alright”
After that, the talk tuned lighter. <b>May </b>steered Reba away from Amelia’s past, and Reba avoided bringing up Jeffrey. They simply caught up and talked about anything but old baggage.
They finished eating quickly, and before long, they were on their way to the hospital to visit Amelia Amelia was supposed to wake up soon, and Reberca couldn’t wait to finally see her mom open her eyes again.
Before they even saw <b>Amelia</b>, Reba and May spotted Ryan and his secretary walking toward Amelia’s hospital room
Reba was just about to say something, but May rushed forward and yanked Ryan back right as he reached the doorway. May red at him, her tone sharp but controlled. “What are you doing here? You don’t belong <b>here</b>.
Ryan paused for a second, and when he realized it <b>was </b>May who’d grabbed him, his eyes lost that icy edge. In a calm, t voice, he said, “I heard Amelia woke up. <b>Just </b>came to see her.”
“It doesn’t concern you whether she’s awake or not,” Reba replied, stepping up beside May and blocking the doorway. I already told you thatst time.”
Ryan’s eyes locked on Reba, his gaze heavy with some emotion buried deep inside.
Seeing Ryan’s expression, May felt her heart skip a beat, thinking. ‘Wait… what if he’s figured our Reba’s actually his kid?’
“I’m someone from your mom’s past. Ask May if you don’t believe me,” Ryan said, his tone gentle and patient.
“May already told me how you hurt my mom, Reba replied coolly, looking at Ryan like he was just another stranger. “If you’ve got nothing else to say, just go. You’re not wee here.”
Ryan nced briefly at May and then looked Reba straight in the eyes. “She doesn’t know everything, There’s more to it. I can set the record straight.”
Reba cut him off, her gaze unwavering. “I don’t want to hear it.”
Ryan’s fists tightened by his sides, his voice low. “So you hate me now.”
“Mr. Cuzman, I don’t hate you. There’s nothing between us, Reba replied coolly, her tone t as ice. “I’m
just doing my job <b>as </b>a daughter. Keeping irrelevant people out of my mom’s life.”
Ryan’s expression flickered with emotion. After a long pause, he simply said, “I’ll be going, then.”
Reba didn’t respond.
As Ryan uned to leave, he shot May a look. “Can we step outside for a chat? Got a minut
May shut uns down fast. “No.”
Ryan just stared at May, his silence somehow more intimidating than any words could be.
名零回
May had endured this kind of intense pressure way too often in her younger days, <b>so </b>after barely ten seconds. she gave in and strode <b>out</b>. “One minute tops. Say what you need and then get lost.”