Riley continued, “Look, I get that things might be awkward between you and Ryan. But if you can ept him
as Reba’s dad, it could win her the most freedom from Jeffrey.”
“Whatever Ryan can offer, I can offer too,” Amelia said, her voice firm.
Riley fell silent.
Amelia didn’t hold a grudge over the past, but it wasn’t all water under the bridge.
“Besides,” she said, “he’s the one desperate to im this rtionship, not us. We don’t have to make the first move. If he really wants this, he shoulde to us and prove he’s sincere.”
And honestly, the choice is ours. Why should Ryan, who threw down a seed and then crushed the first sprout, have any right to the daughter I’ve poured my heart into raising?‘ she thought.
“You’re right,” Riley agreed. “But just be careful. When Jeffrey gets really intense, he turns obsessive–nobody can hold him back in those moments, and he has the kind of mindset to do things most people wouldn’t even dream of.”
Amelia’s gaze flickered upward. She hadn’t expected Jeffrey, who looked polite and humble, to have such a dark side. In the end, she said, “Got it.”
Riley shared a few more things, and Amelia made a mental note of every detail.
Ten minutester, their conversation was finally cut short when Jeffrey texted Riley: [How much longer are you nning to stay down there?]
Riley paused, slipped her phone away, and got up to say goodbye.
Amelia, sensing she had something to do, didn’t try to keep her.
Neither Reba nor Amelia brought up the conversation about Ryan when they saw each otherter.
Over the next few days, Reba kept up her usual routine, shuttling back and forth between Reba’s Manor and the hospital.
She went home partly to change clothes, and partly to make sure Jeffrey didn’t get suspicious.
They’d just talked a few days ago. If she did anything too obvious, Jeffrey might get desperate and end up doing something reckless.
*****
Wednesday afternoon, after helping Amelia with her rehab for the day, Reba made a trip back to Reba’s
Manor.
She picked a time when Jeffrey would definitely be at work, quietly collecting her important documents and starting to set the stage for her uing departure.
<b>10:59 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>
Victor greeted her as always, “Wee home, Ms. Jensen.”
Reba nodded in response.
“Mr. Hanson isn’t home,” Victor added.
“I know. I just dropped by to pick up a few things,” Reba said.
Savouchers
She headed straight up to the master bedroom, opened the closet, and pulled out her important papers and IDs. After making sure everything was there, she tucked them into her bag.
Just as she snapped her bag shut and was about to slip out, steady footsteps echoed behind her–then Jeffrey’s low voice rumbled, “What are you doing?”
Reba froze. ‘Wait, wasn’t he supposed to be at work?‘
“Just picking up a few things,” Reba replied, masking her nerves as she turned to face him. She kept her tone casual. “You’re home early. Weren’t you supposed to be at the office?”
“I heard you left the hospital and came home,” Jeffrey said, his voiceposed as his gazended briefly on the bag in her hand. “I was worried you might need me, so I came back.”
Reba instantly picked up on it–he was letting her know he was watching her every move.
She replied with a cool tone, “You don’t need toe back specially for things like this.”
Jeffrey’s voice was gentle. “I should always be here if you ever need me.”
Reba didn’t want to keep talking–the more she said, the greater the chance something could go wrong.
She quickly made up an excuse. “My mom has a rehab sessionter, I have to head out.”
“Wait.” Jeffrey reached out and caught her by the arm.
Reba was forced to halt in her tracks.
Jeffrey fixed his eyes on her aloof, detached look and asked quietly, “Do you hate being around me that much?”
Reba started painting a rosy picture. “Honestly, we’ve got all the time in the world to hang out. But my mom needs me for her rehab right now–some things have to take priority.”
“I checked with Timothy already,” Jeffrey said, exposing her excuse without a second thought. “Her rehab session was done before you got here.”
Reba shot back confidently, “Yeah, the stuff on her schedule is finished, but Timothy gave me extra instructions.”
Jeffrey demanded, “Like what?”
“Keep my mom talking,” Reba answered, calm and unfazed. “It helps keep her mind sharp.”
10:59 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>
Jeffrey watched her carefully. Seeing her keep her cool, he abruptly shifted the topic. “Let’s go.”
Reba looked confused.
Jeffrey said, “I’m going with you.”
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“No thanks,” Reba replied without hesitation. “You’ve got plenty on your te. I can handle everything with my mom.”
“I’m your husband; I should be there for your mom with you. Or was everything you said before just to brush me off? And you’re still thinking about leaving me?” Jeffrey said, making it hard for Reba to argue back.
‘Of course I want,‘ she thought. But there was no way she could let that slip. This was not the time to provoke another storm from Jeffrey.
“I just don’t want to get in the way of your work,” she said, trying her best to sound reasonable.
Jeffrey’s eyes grew noticeably darker–Reba was dodging the real question.
“It won’t get in the way,” Jeffrey replied, his voice steady and unruffled, not letting any emotion show. “Let’s go.”
At that point, there was no use arguing. Reba could only follow him downstairs and out the door.
Just as they stepped out of the vi’s gates, before Reba could get into the car, Jeffrey’s deep voice stopped her. “Reba.” <fnfb46> This text is hosted at FindN()vel</fnfb46>
“What’s up?” Reba turned to him, puzzled.
“Today’s July 10th,” Jeffrey said, his eyes fixed on her.
Reba was a bit thrown off. ‘What’s with that question all of a sudden?‘ she wondered.
“The courthouse said July 12th is thest day we can file for the divorce,” Jeffrey continued, his gaze never leaving her. “Why didn’t you bring it up?”
Reba met his gaze,posed. “You know the answer.”
Jeffrey pressed, “If you want the divorce for real, I’ll even go with you.”
Reba wasn’t about to fall for that twice. ‘So what if he goes with me? It’s not like he’ll actually see it through. If I let slip that I’m set on leaving, God knows what kind of tricks or threats he’lle up with.
“No need,” Reba said, forcing herself to be calm. “Let’s just get in the car.”
“A few days ago, Riley said to me that if I truly care about you, I should actually talk to you instead of doing things my way,” Jeffrey confessed earnestly. “So tell me what do you honestly feel?”
Reba felt the walls she’d built around her emotions start to tremble at his words, a hint of turmoil stirring deep inside.
10:59 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Oct <b>2 </b>
Jeffrey was backing her into a corner now. He said. “If you really don’t like me and want to leave, I’ll let yous
go.”
Reba took a deep breath. After a long moment, she asked, her voiceced with emotion. “You think this is funny?”
She was certain that if she mentioned wanting to leave, he wouldn’t hesitate to throw their recent agreement back in her face.
The moment she showed the slightest resistance to his affection, he’d twist it around–using her of <b>going </b>back on her word first, even though she was the one who promised not to leave.
She knew him too well–he was a total psycho.
“What do you mean?” Jeffrey asked, his voice steady.
“Nothing,” Reba shot back, her face icy and unreadable. “Just d you’re finally willing to spare me a thought. My mom’s waiting, so let’s not drag this out.”
With that, she stepped straight into the car without another word.
Jeffrey sat beside her, his gaze steady as he watched her–she wasn’t taking the bait this time.
After Amelia woke up, Reba was like a whole new person. In the past, she’d grab any chance to break free. But now, she was so cautious, covering every base so perfectly that Jeffrey couldn’t spot a single w.