Reba shrugged him off without saying a word and stormed upstairs.
As his words reyed in her mind, the knot of anxiety in her chest tightened.
What if he really goes off the deep end?‘ she wondered.
Se vouchere
As soon as that thought popped up, her mom and Jessica’s warnings shed through her mind: ‘Jeffrey’s got his sights set on you. As long as you keep moving forward and don’t look back, let him lose it–he’ll snap out of it eventually
‘But will he really just let it slide?‘ Reba couldn’t help but doubt it.
Reba spent over an hour wrestling with her thoughts, caught in a tug–of–war between dread and hope–it felt like every minute was an eternity.
In all five years of their marriage, Jeffrey had never blown up at her. Lately, sure, his behavior had beenpletely out of line, but it hadn’t actually crossed into real anger. Reba honestly had no clue what he’d do if he ever truly lost it–or how she’d even deal with it if he did.
There was a knock at the door.
Jeffrey’s voice came from outside. “Samuel’s already inside the gate. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Reba opened the door.
She didn’t even spare him a nce as she brushed past..
Jeffrey fell into step beside her, trying to smooth things over. “I was just worried you’d leave without saying anything. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Reba didn’t respond.
‘If I’d said goodbye, would you really have let me walk away?‘ Reba thought, a bitter edge in her heart.
“If you’re upset, just take it out on me,” Jeffrey said, gently taking her hand and sticking close by her side. “Don’t keep it all bottled up–it’s not good for you.”
Reba stopped in her tracks and said bluntly, “Aren’t you being hypocritical?”
Jeffrey blinked, surprised. “Huh?”
“If you actually cared about my well–being, you wouldn’t keep giving me reasons to get angry,” Reba retorted, obvious resentment in her voice. Honestly, she wished they could just end things peacefully–no more drama, no more fighting.
Jeffrey fired back, “What about you?”
Still pissed off, Reba snapped, “Me? What’s that supposed to mean?”
55 voucher
“How much of what you said was true, and how much was just for show<i>?</i><i>” </i>Jeffrey’s voice was low and serious. “You say you won’t leave–but is that really what you want?”
The air between them grew tense in an instant. <fn3b75> Original content can be found at FindN()vel</fn3b75>
They stood facing each other, neither of them saying a word.
Until-
“Mommy!” Samuel’s bright, cheerful voice rang out as he came running in, his little legs moving as fast as they could. He threw his arms around Reba. “I missed you so much!”
<b>80 </b>
Reba’s mood instantly lightened. “I missed you too, sweetie. How have you been these past few days? Were you happy?”
Samuel’s eyes sparkled. “So much fun!”
Reba gave him a gentle hug.
Jeffrey’s eyes softened as he watched the scene. Just as he was about to suggest they go sit down and chat, his phone rang in his pocket. Andrea’s name shed brightly on the screen.
Jeffrey’s gaze darkened.
‘Every single time she calls, it’s always at the perfect moment, Jeffrey thought, suspicion gnawing <i>at </i>him.
There was no way this was just a coincidence.
“I’ve got to take this,” Jeffrey said in a low voice to them.
When Reba saw Andrea calling, she didn’t say a word—just took Samuel upstairs. She kept fussing over him, asking if he was hungry or wanted ate–night snack, then started chatting with him about all the wild stuff he’d gotten up to at summer camp, trying to keep things light.
Halfway through their chat, Samuel gave her a totally serious look and asked, “Mommy, is Grandma feeling any better?”
“A lot better,” Reba said. “She can walk by herself slowly now. Give it a little more time, and she’ll pretty much be back to normal.”
“So when are we leaving?” Samuel just blurted out.
Reba froze for a second.
Her heart gave a little jolt. “You…”
Samuel nced toward the door, saw his dad still hadn’te up, and blurted out, “You and Dad didn’t get divorced, and Dad’s still talking to thatdy. I bet you want to leave!”
All the tension Reba had been holding onto tonight suddenly melted away.
<b>11:03 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>
It was like an invisible force was giving her the strength to keep going.
2
<b>80 </b>
02 vouchere
“You weren’t nning to leave without me, were you?” Samuel asked, his big eyes wide and worried.
“I was just afraid you wouldn’t want to leave with me, Reba confessed, her heart softening as she spoke “You grew up here, all your friends are here–it’s not easy to just walk away from all that.”
“But you matter the most to me,” Samuel piped up right away.
Reba squeezed his little hand. “So, should I sneak you away when no one’s looking?”
Samuel shed a sly smile. “No way, Mom! I’m the one running off with you.”
Reba got real with him. “I’m not telling your dad about our n. Once Grandma’s feeling much better, we’ll wait for the right moment and make our move.”
“Yeah!” Samuel nodded seriously.
“Don’t you want to know why?” Reba was honestly surprised–things were going way smoother than she’d ever imagined.
“If we tell Dad, he’ll definitely stop us. He really doesn’t want you to leave,” Samuel said, sounding all grown up for his age. “But this time, it’s his fault.”
“I don’t want you and Dad to be apart either.”
“But you’re not happy here, Mom.”
“Leaving is the best choice,” Samuel said.
“Thank you, sweetie,” Reba whispered, hugging him close. His understanding and support really was all she needed right now.
Just after Reba and Samuel finished talking, Jeffrey headed upstairs. The way both of them looked at him made him pause; he couldn’t help but feel a wave of confusion.
‘What’s up with their faces?‘ Jeffrey wondered, ncing between mother and son.
“Was it that otherdy calling you?” Samuel piped up, his eyes curious. He’d spotted the contact name on the screen, just like Reba had.
“Yeah, she needs me to handle something,” Jeffrey admitted, reaching out to mess up Samuel’s hair a little. “Hang tight and be good for your mom, okay? Don’t make her worry.”
Samuel looked up at him and asked, “Can you not go?”
Jeffrey froze for a second, surprised by his son’s question.
“I really don’t like her,” Samuel said seriously, wanting Dad to leave Mom with a good impression before they left. “She ruined our family the moment she walked in.”
Reba pulled him even closer, hugging him tight.
Jeffrey’s lips pressed into a hard, thin line, his expression unreadable.
After a long, heavy silence, Jeffrey finally spoke.
“I’m sorry, Samuel. It’s a debt I owe her from way back, and now I just have to pay it back–one step at a time.
“If you leave, you won’t be Dad to me anymore. You’ll just be Mr. Hanson–got it?” Samuel said, his voice firmer than ever, as if tossing down a challenge.
He understood more than any kid his age had a right to, but at the end of the day, he was just a kid stuck in the middle of adult drama.
Sure, theyughed, they yed, they argued–but when it came down to really leaving, Samuel couldn’t help feeling a pang of sadness. After all, besides Mom, Dad was the one who cared about him most. If things weren’t this messed up, all he’d ever want was for his parents to stay together.
“Sounds like you even remember to call me ‘Dad‘ anymore,” Jeffrey said, tapping Samuel lightly on the head. “Behave, alright? I’ll be back soon.”
He looked over at Reba, his gaze lingering for a second.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked out.
Once he got in the car, Jeffrey tapped out a message: [Having fun using Andrea to mess with me?]
Stephen: [?]
Stephen: [What’s going on?]
Jeffrey: [I bet Andrea still doesn’t know Mom and Dad already picked out a fiancée for you. Want me to spill the beans?]
Stephen’s eyes narrowed as he read the message.
He traced his finger slowly across the screen, lost in thought.
Jeffrey called, his tone all business. “Stop using Andrea to mess with me and Reba. Keep it up, and don’t think I won’t y the same game on you.”
Every time things even started to smooth out between me and Reba, Andrea would suddenly call.
One time could’ve been a coincidence.
But if this keeps happening again and again, there’s no way it’s just luck–someone’s definitely out there messing with me.
Andrea’s not pulling this off by herself. The only
Reba shrugged him off without saying a word and stormed upstairs.
As his words reyed in her mind, the knot of anxiety in her chest tightened.
What if he really goes off the deep end?‘ she wondered.
Se vouchere
As soon as that thought popped up, her mom and Jessica’s warnings shed through her mind: ‘Jeffrey’s got his sights set on you. As long as you keep moving forward and don’t look back, let him lose it–he’ll snap out of it eventually
‘But will he really just let it slide?‘ Reba couldn’t help but doubt it.
Reba spent over an hour wrestling with her thoughts, caught in a tug–of–war between dread and hope–it felt like every minute was an eternity.
In all five years of their marriage, Jeffrey had never blown up at her. Lately, sure, his behavior had beenpletely out of line, but it hadn’t actually crossed into real anger. Reba honestly had no clue what he’d do if he ever truly lost it–or how she’d even deal with it if he did.
There was a knock at the door.
Jeffrey’s voice came from outside. “Samuel’s already inside the gate. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Reba opened the door.
She didn’t even spare him a nce as she brushed past..
Jeffrey fell into step beside her, trying to smooth things over. “I was just worried you’d leave without saying anything. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Reba didn’t respond.
‘If I’d said goodbye, would you really have let me walk away?‘ Reba thought, a bitter edge in her heart.
“If you’re upset, just take it out on me,” Jeffrey said, gently taking her hand and sticking close by her side. “Don’t keep it all bottled up–it’s not good for you.”
Reba stopped in her tracks and said bluntly, “Aren’t you being hypocritical?”
Jeffrey blinked, surprised. “Huh?”
“If you actually cared about my well–being, you wouldn’t keep giving me reasons to get angry,” Reba retorted, obvious resentment in her voice. Honestly, she wished they could just end things peacefully–no more drama, no more fighting.
Jeffrey fired back, “What about you?”
Still pissed off, Reba snapped, “Me? What’s that supposed to mean?”
55 voucher
“How much of what you said was true, and how much was just for show<i>?</i><i>” </i>Jeffrey’s voice was low and serious. “You say you won’t leave–but is that really what you want?”
The air between them grew tense in an instant.
They stood facing each other, neither of them saying a word.
Until-
“Mommy!” Samuel’s bright, cheerful voice rang out as he came running in, his little legs moving as fast as they could. He threw his arms around Reba. “I missed you so much!”
<b>80 </b>
Reba’s mood instantly lightened. “I missed you too, sweetie. How have you been these past few days? Were you happy?”
Samuel’s eyes sparkled. “So much fun!”
Reba gave him a gentle hug.
Jeffrey’s eyes softened as he watched the scene. Just as he was about to suggest they go sit down and chat, his phone rang in his pocket. Andrea’s name shed brightly on the screen.
Jeffrey’s gaze darkened.
‘Every single time she calls, it’s always at the perfect moment, Jeffrey thought, suspicion gnawing <i>at </i>him.
There was no way this was just a coincidence.
“I’ve got to take this,” Jeffrey said in a low voice to them.
When Reba saw Andrea calling, she didn’t say a word—just took Samuel upstairs. She kept fussing over him, asking if he was hungry or wanted ate–night snack, then started chatting with him about all the wild stuff he’d gotten up to at summer camp, trying to keep things light.
Halfway through their chat, Samuel gave her a totally serious look and asked, “Mommy, is Grandma feeling any better?”
“A lot better,” Reba said. “She can walk by herself slowly now. Give it a little more time, and she’ll pretty much be back to normal.”
“So when are we leaving?” Samuel just blurted out.
Reba froze for a second.
Her heart gave a little jolt. “You…”
Samuel nced toward the door, saw his dad still hadn’te up, and blurted out, “You and Dad didn’t get divorced, and Dad’s still talking to thatdy. I bet you want to leave!”
All the tension Reba had been holding onto tonight suddenly melted away.
<b>11:03 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>
It was like an invisible force was giving her the strength to keep going.
2
<b>80 </b>
02 vouchere
“You weren’t nning to leave without me, were you?” Samuel asked, his big eyes wide and worried.
“I was just afraid you wouldn’t want to leave with me, Reba confessed, her heart softening as she spoke “You grew up here, all your friends are here–it’s not easy to just walk away from all that.”
“But you matter the most to me,” Samuel piped up right away.
Reba squeezed his little hand. “So, should I sneak you away when no one’s looking?”
Samuel shed a sly smile. “No way, Mom! I’m the one running off with you.”
Reba got real with him. “I’m not telling your dad about our n. Once Grandma’s feeling much better, we’ll wait for the right moment and make our move.”
“Yeah!” Samuel nodded seriously.
“Don’t you want to know why?” Reba was honestly surprised–things were going way smoother than she’d ever imagined.
“If we tell Dad, he’ll definitely stop us. He really doesn’t want you to leave,” Samuel said, sounding all grown up for his age. “But this time, it’s his fault.”
“I don’t want you and Dad to be apart either.”
“But you’re not happy here, Mom.”
“Leaving is the best choice,” Samuel said.
“Thank you, sweetie,” Reba whispered, hugging him close. His understanding and support really was all she needed right now.
Just after Reba and Samuel finished talking, Jeffrey headed upstairs. The way both of them looked at him made him pause; he couldn’t help but feel a wave of confusion.
‘What’s up with their faces?‘ Jeffrey wondered, ncing between mother and son.
“Was it that otherdy calling you?” Samuel piped up, his eyes curious. He’d spotted the contact name on the screen, just like Reba had.
“Yeah, she needs me to handle something,” Jeffrey admitted, reaching out to mess up Samuel’s hair a little. “Hang tight and be good for your mom, okay? Don’t make her worry.”
Samuel looked up at him and asked, “Can you not go?”
Jeffrey froze for a second, surprised by his son’s question.
“I really don’t like her,” Samuel said seriously, wanting Dad to leave Mom with a good impression before they left. “She ruined our family the moment she walked in.”
Reba pulled him even closer, hugging him tight.
Jeffrey’s lips pressed into a hard, thin line, his expression unreadable.
After a long, heavy silence, Jeffrey finally spoke.
“I’m sorry, Samuel. It’s a debt I owe her from way back, and now I just have to pay it back–one step at a time.
“If you leave, you won’t be Dad to me anymore. You’ll just be Mr. Hanson–got it?” Samuel said, his voice firmer than ever, as if tossing down a challenge.
He understood more than any kid his age had a right to, but at the end of the day, he was just a kid stuck in the middle of adult drama.
Sure, theyughed, they yed, they argued–but when it came down to really leaving, Samuel couldn’t help feeling a pang of sadness. After all, besides Mom, Dad was the one who cared about him most. If things weren’t this messed up, all he’d ever want was for his parents to stay together.
“Sounds like you even remember to call me ‘Dad‘ anymore,” Jeffrey said, tapping Samuel lightly on the head. “Behave, alright? I’ll be back soon.”
He looked over at Reba, his gaze lingering for a second.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked out.
Once he got in the car, Jeffrey tapped out a message: [Having fun using Andrea to mess with me?]
Stephen: [?]
Stephen: [What’s going on?]
Jeffrey: [I bet Andrea still doesn’t know Mom and Dad already picked out a fiancée for you. Want me to spill the beans?]
Stephen’s eyes narrowed as he read the message.
He traced his finger slowly across the screen, lost in thought.
Jeffrey called, his tone all business. “Stop using Andrea to mess with me and Reba. Keep it up, and don’t think I won’t y the same game on you.”
Every time things even started to smooth out between me and Reba, Andrea would suddenly call.
One time could’ve been a coincidence.
But if this keeps happening again and again, there’s no way it’s just luck–someone’s definitely out there messing with me.
Andrea’s not pulling this off by herself. The only person who ever had contact with her is Stephen, so he must be behind it.
“Anytime,” Stephen said, totally unfazed and taking it in stride.
<b>80 </b>
56 vouchers
“Say I wire Andrea & million and tell her to disappear so you’ll never find her again. Do you really believe she’d pick you over that cash?” Jeffrey shot straight for Stephen’s weak spot.
“If you want to waste your money, go ahead,” Stephen replied with his usual cool attitude. “Let’s see if she’d actually take you up on it.”
person who ever had contact with her is Stephen, so he must be behind it.
“Anytime,” Stephen said, totally unfazed and taking it in stride.
<b>80 </b>
56 vouchers
“Say I wire Andrea & million and tell her to disappear so you’ll never find her again. Do you really believe she’d pick you over that cash?” Jeffrey shot straight for Stephen’s weak spot.
“If you want to waste your money, go ahead,” Stephen replied with his usual cool attitude. “Let’s see if she’d actually take you up on it.”