With an excuse handed to him, Jeffrey took the opportunity. “Alright.”


    And just like that.


    He’d managed to sneak in without a hitch.


    Gregory finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    42m


    He’d been worrying about what he’d do if Mr. Hanson couldn’t get in. He couldn’t just leave him sitting alone in the vi for hours, after all.


    “Thank goodness,‘ Gregory thought.


    ‘Ms. Jensen really is the best!‘ he added to himself.


    “Ian, that jerk, told me to bring you this gift,” Jessica announced once they reached the living room. She dug a fancy box out of her bag and gave it to Reba. “He wants you to put it on, then I have to snap a pic and send it to him as proof.”


    “Huh?” Reba blinked, looking confused.


    ‘That seriously doesn’t sound like something he’d say, Reba thought to herself.


    Jessica shot her a knowing look, raising her eyebrows.


    Reba got the message instantly.


    She kind of thought it was silly, but hey–when your best friend asks, you do what she says.


    She popped open the slick box, and there it was—a gorgeous ne, glimmering with tiny diamonds, the pink diamond in the pendant so pretty it made her heart skip.


    “He designed it himself,” Jessica said, looping the ne around her neck. Then she added, her voice soft and serious, “He also wanted me to tell you–no matter what changes in your life, you’ll always be our princess<b>.” </b>


    Reba looked down at the pendant, twirling it between her fingers, a soft smile blooming on her lips.


    She totally got what they were saying.


    And she knew he really did care about her.


    “Alright, let’s snap a pic,” Jessica said, pulling out her phone.


    Reba struck a pose for the camera, all smiles and totally cooperative.


    Gregory felt a wave of anxiety watching this, sneaking a nce at Jeffrey from the corner of his eye.


    14:09 <b>Sat</b>, <b>Oct 4 </b>


    Looked like the rival was trying to provoke Mr. Hanson.


    ‘Mr. Hanson is probably mad,‘ Gregory worried to himself.


    B


    <b>72 </b>


    156 vouchers


    “Send someone to the pink diamond mines in Australia and the gem mines in Namibia,” Jeffrey ordered, showing zero sign of anger. In moments like this, he only wondered why Reba still liked getting diamonds from someone else.


    ‘Is it that I haven’t given her enough? Or maybe she just doesn’t really like the ones I’ve picked out for her?‘ he thought.


    Gregory instantly got the hint. “Got it.”


    Jeffrey nodded, his gaze locked on Reba, who was busy texting Ian after the photos were sent. He stood up and walked over to her.


    A shadow fell over them, and both Reba and Jessica looked up in unison.


    “Where’s Mom and Samuel?” Jeffrey asked, his gaze still lingering on Reba’s face, not missing the smile that lingered there.


    “Upstairs,” Reba replied.


    Jeffrey asked politely, “Can I go up?”


    Reba said, “Samuel’s room is on the second floor, first door on the right.”


    Basically, that’s the only room you can go into.


    Any other ce is off–limits to him.


    Jeffrey’s voice was low. “Alright.”


    Jessica was totally baffled.


    Her head was practically spinning with question marks.


    After watching him leave the living room and head upstairs, she scooted over to Reba and whispered, “You’re wearing a ne Ian personally gave you, and that’s his only reaction?”


    Normally, wouldn’t he be a little jealous and then have someone send over something even bigger?


    Or maybe he’d act all chill on the outside, but inside, he’d be burning with jealousy.


    “He’s done stuff like this before,” Reba said, not surprised at all. “The wedding dress, all the jewelry and essories for that day–he designed every single thing himself.”


    Jessica just shrugged. “Whatever.”


    ‘Men like him—when they’re good, they’re really something, Jessica thought to herself.


    14:09 <b>Sat</b>, <b>Oct </b><b>4 </b>


    430


    Reba could see Jessica was stressing about the whole divorce thing, so she told her, “Yeah, I’m nning to sue for divorce.” With Gregory sitting right there, she just kept it vague and left out all the messy details.


    After heading upstairs, Jeffrey went straight to Samuel’s room.


    When he walked in, Samuel was talking into his smartwatch, saying, “Bring everything upter, but make sure Mom doesn’t notice, okay?”


    Mark Mason’s steady, businesslike voice came through the watch. “Understood.”


    Samuel added, “Just have it all here by 2:30 at thetest.”


    Mark said, “No problem.”


    After finishing the call, Samuel finally let out a sigh of relief.


    As Samuel was tidying up his big desk by the window, Jeffrey spoke up, “What are you up to behind your mom’s back?”


    Samuel froze for a moment, then spun around.


    When he realized it was Jeffrey, a quick sh of excitement showed in his eyes, but he covered it instantly, putting on a proud little face. “Did you get Mom’s permission to be here?”


    “I brought a gift, so she let me in,” Jeffrey said, making himselffortable in Samuel’s chair.


    “Oh.” Samuel nodded.


    Jeffrey nced at him yfully. “And you? What sneaky business are you up to?”


    “Huh?” Samuel blinked, looking confused.


    ‘What is he talking about?‘ Samuel wondered, totally lost.


    “So, what did your ten dads give your mom?” Jeffrey teased, clearly having fun with it.


    “That’s not something an uncle like you should be asking about,” Samuel replied, putting on his most serious face, his round eyes extra earnest. “And don’t even think about stealing their moves, either.”


    A flicker of amusement danced in Jeffrey’s dark eyes.


    He reached out his hand with a gentle smile. “Come here and let me give you a dad–hug.”


    Samuel shot him a look, struggled inside for a moment, then stubbornly shook his head. “No.”


    Jeffrey simply stretched out his long arms and scooped Samuel into his embrace, his voice low and soothing as always. “Why are you acting so sassy at your age?”


    Samuel squirmed twice, trying to break free.


    Jeffrey just held him even tighter.


    Buchere


    Samuel bumped his chest a couple of times, making Jeffrey’s brow wrinkle ever so slightly in pain. <fne69f> Follow current nov?ls on F?nd-Novel</fne69f>


    “Enough with the fuss. Dad’s got something serious to talk to you about,” Jeffrey said, still hugging Samuel close, his voice carrying that calming magic.


    “It’s Mr. Hanson.” Samuel corrected, firm.


    Jeffrey followed his lead, still ying along. “Alright, Mr. Hanson.”


    For the next half hour or so, they just spent time together. Amelia passed by, saw them, and paused for a moment, but didn’t say anything. If Jeffrey was upstairs, it almost certainly meant Reba had allowed it.


    As a mom, all Amelia could do was give Reba the strength and support she needed to stand by her decisions.


    As for what path Reba chose, that waspletely her call.


    Amelia kept her distance, letting her daughter handle things her own way.


    Reba was downstairs chatting with Jessica when she suddenly spotted Mark Mason lugging a big cardboard box upstairs. “Hey, what’s that?” she called out.


    Mark’s good–looking face stayed calm as ever. “It’s Samuel’s stuff,” he replied.


    Reba nodded and didn’t press for details. She just assumed it was something Samuel had ordered.


    Time flew by.


    Before they knew it, it was already past four in the afternoon.


    Reba was just about to take Jessica upstairs to chat with Amelia when Mark Mason suddenly slipped in, looking super serious. “Ms. Jensen, there’s a guy outside saying he’s the chairman of Guzman Group. He showed up with four bodyguards and a secretary, and he’s asking to see you.”


    Reba just stared, speechless.


    Without missing a beat, she said, “Tell him I’m not seeing anyone.”


    But before Reba could even finish talking, a whole group just strolled right in.


    Ryan was out in front, rocking a designer suit and looking way tooposed for someone crashing the ce.


    As soon as he locked eyes with Reba, heunched into his excuse: “I was gonna wait for your go–ahead, but this old guy suddenly had some low blood sugar drama, so I had to bring him in and get him settled.”


    Sebastian was confused as he walked in with them.


    ‘Low blood sugar? Since when?‘ Sebastian mentally rolled his eyes, looking totally lost.


    “If it bothers you, I can head back out and wait,” Ryan offered, acting totally innocent, his attention only on Reba.


    14:09 <b>Sat</b>, <b>Oct </b>4


    voucher


    “No need,” Reba shot back, obviously seeing right through them. “You’re already here, so just take a seat.”


    Honestly, if she made them leave now, they’d probablye up with some even weirder excuse to barge back <ol><li>in. </li></ol>


    So whatever.


    Might as well save everyone the headache.


    “Sweetheart, this is just a token from grandpa Sebastian,” Sebastian said as he took his seat. Oliver, the butler, promptly handed over a beautifully wrapped box. “Happy birthday.”


    Reba almost blurted out her refusal.


    But she stopped herself, remembering what her mom had said–she needed to reim the Quinn Group.


    Liam was the real boss of the Quinn family, with top–tier status, connections, and sway. If she turned him away now, taking back what belonged to her mom might be next to impossible.


    “Ms. Reba, please ept it,” Oliver said, still holding the box out to her gently.