Reba pushed aside her guard and reached out to ept the gift. “Thanks.”


    <b>72 </b>


    65 vouchers


    Sebastian finally felt his nerves loosen up. All the way here, he’d been worrying she might turn him down, considering how tense things were when they first met.


    Luckily, she took it.


    Upstairs, Amelia watched everything unfold, a warm glimmer surfacing in her eyes.


    ‘Reba’s got my stubborn streak for sure,‘ Amelia thought. ‘Once she sets her mind on something, she’s impossible to budge. Still, now and then, a girl needs to learn to soften up and ept things as theye.


    ‘Good thing she finally worked it out, Amelia sighed in relief.


    “Not going to open it up?” Sebastian asked, a little uncertain.


    Reba hesitated for a second. She thought it’d be kinda awkward to unwrap a present with everyone watching, but since he insisted, she shrugged and went ahead.


    The box was sandalwood, solid and refined in her hands.


    As soon as she lifted the lid, Sebastian’s heart started pounding all over again. “So? What do you think–do you like it?”


    Reba frowned as she looked inside. “What’s this?”


    “It’s an office building,” Sebastian said, totally casual. “Honestly, I had no idea what kind of gift to get you, so after thinking long and hard, Inded on this. Just collect rent and you’ll be raking in tens of millions every year.”


    Reba was speechless.


    Jessica was also speechless.


    Sebastian kept talking, “It’s not downtown, but that area’s about to explode in the next couple years. Whether you want to sell it or just sit back and yndlord, it’s your call.”


    “This is really overwhelming,” Reba admitted, honestly stunned by how extravagant the gift was. <fna754> For original chapters go to f?ndnovel</fna754>


    “No, not at all,” Sebastian replied, his eyes growing misty with emotion. “This was always meant for you–you deserve it.”


    ‘If only I hadn’t been so foolish, caring too much about my pride back then… Amelia never would have been forced to leave, he thought, heart heavy with regret.


    Worried Reba might turn him down, Sebastian quickly switched gears and looked over at Ryan. “You didn’t show up empty–handed, did you?”


    14:09 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Oct 4


    Ryan shot a look at his secretary.


    The secretary pulled out several documents from her bag.


    4602


    72


    5 vouchers


    “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I just bought a few jewelry and handbag brands,” Ryan said, handing her the acquisition papers. “Whenever theyunch something new, it’ll be delivered straight to you, and all the profits will go straight into your ount.”


    Jessica’s eyes practically sparkled.


    Are they all crazy rich or what?‘ Jessica thought, totally blown away.


    ‘So this is how the real elite families flex?‘ she wondered, still not quite believing it.


    Reba shook her head, keeping her voice cool. “No, thanks.”


    She only epted what Sebastian gave her because it belonged to her mom to begin with; that was simply taking back what was hers. But with the Guzman family… Reba thought to herself, ‘I really don’t want to get mixed up with them more than I have to.


    Sebastian felt a wave of relief wash over him.


    Reba only epted his gift.


    ‘That’s wonderful, Sebastian thought, a genuinely happy smile spreading across his face.


    “Are you nuts?” Jessica griped, nearly grinding her teeth. “If you so much as hesitate, that’s just disrespectful to these brands—and we used to shop them all the time, remember?” ‘For real, how could she even think twice about gifts like these?‘ Jessica thought.


    They might not have the legendary history of those big–name luxury brands,


    but the quality and design? Seriously, they’re amazing.


    “So, Mr. Guzman, what’s your angle with this gift?” Amelia asked,ing down the stairs and making her way over to Reba.


    The moment she showed up,


    instantly, all eyes turned her way.


    Sebastian’s gaze–cloudy yet sharp–was brimming with emotion. He opened his mouth, but for a long stretch, just couldn’t bring himself to say what was on his mind.


    Ryan’s eyes were all on Amelia as he replied without hesitation, “No special reason. I just think Reba’s a wonderful girl and want to get to know her more.”


    If he’d gone and said he was Samuel’s dad…


    she’d have handed that gift right back, no question.


    <b>$</b><b>72 </b>


    18.46 voucher


    “So generous–almost phnthropist–level, huh?” Amelia said, her attitude as aloof as ever. “Honestly, it’s a miracle the Guzman Group hasn’t crashed and burned.”


    Ryan: “…”


    Amelia instructed Reba, “Go ahead and ept it.”


    Reba hesitated. “But…”


    “Let’s just call it your penalty for bringing guests without permission,” Amelia added, instantly killing any hope Ryan had of cozying up.


    Throughout it all, Sebastian couldn’t take his eyes off her, his gaze full ofplicated emotion.


    Thest time he’d evene close to seeing her was three years ago–when he learned something terrible had happened to her.


    But honestly, it wasn’t really seeing her at all; he just lingered outside the hospital, relying on his staff to fill him in on her condition.


    He’d thought about going inside, but his pride stopped him every time.


    After thinking her name a thousand times in his heart, he finally let it slip out. “Amelia…”


    She nced over at him.


    Their eyes met.


    She acted like he was just anybody, cool and distant, greeting him with nothing but a simple, “Mr. Sebastian Quinn.”


    Sebastian’s heart sank, totally aware that she still med him for everything that went down years ago. “So, when are you gonna bring Reba back to the family?”


    “Family?” Amelia shot back, her voice cold and a little dismissive.


    “I know you’re still hurt about what happened…” he began, but she didn’t let him finish.


    “If you’re here for Reba’s birthday, fine–you’re wee,” Amelia interjected sharply, making it clear she wasn’t interested in rehashing old drama. “But if you’ve got some other agenda, the door’s right behind you.”


    Sebastian bit back whatever he was going to say, left with nothing but silence.


    Watching Sebastian stay quiet for once, Amelia was genuinely caught off guard.


    She knew better than anyone how stubborn and hotheaded he could be–back then, even one word of pushback from her would earn a full–blown lecture.


    With how he used to be, he would’ve definitely thought she was out of line–after all, he’d already lowered his pride to talk to her, and yet she was still giving him the cold shoulder.


    200


    “I’ll leave you guys to it.” Amelia said, barely pausing before heading out. “Let me check how dinner’sing along.”


    For a good while after that,


    Reba and Jessica stayed by the two men’s side the entire time.


    Ryan and Sebastian tried their hardest to win Reba over, so the whole hour was non–stop chatter–Ryan peppered her with questions about her daily routine, while Sebastian kept pestering her for juicy details about her love life.


    As the conversation flowed,


    the topic eventually shifted to Reba’s marriage to Jeffrey.


    “Heard things with Jeffrey aren’t going all that great,” Sebastian piped up, clearly not knowing Reba as well as Ryan did. “If you ever decide to call it quits, Richard can fix you up with someone new–just say the word.


    Before Reba could answer, a deep and steady voice interjected, “Mr. Quinn, isn’t it a little shady to go poaching someone else’s family?”


    Ryan and Sebastian both turned at the sound.


    Jeffrey came down the stairs, holding Samuel’s hand–they looked so alike, it was like seeing the same person in two sizes.


    Ryan and Sebastian couldn’t help but stare a bit longer.


    ‘So that’s Amelia’s kid?‘ Ryan wondered, a little taken aback. ‘And that’s Reba’s son?‘ Sebastian thought, his gaze lingering on the boy.


    “Hi, Grandpa Ryan,” Samuel said respectfully. “Hi, Grandpa Sebastian.”


    Ryan: “?”


    Sebastian: “<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    ‘Did I just get promoted–or demoted–in family status?‘ Ryan wondered, momentarily stunned. ‘When did my title get mixed up with his?‘


    Sebastian couldn’t help thinking, ‘Hold on, when did Ind in the same generation as this brat?‘


    “Sebastian Quinn, big boss of the Quinn family, and Ryan, chairman of the Guzman Group.” Jeffrey dropped right down next to Reba, totally at ease. “Didn’t peg you two as the types to gossip about me when I’m not even in the room.”


    “Hey<i>, </i>if you didn’t act the way you do, what would there be for us to gossip about?” Ryan snapped back, openly disdainful of his son–inw.


    ‘That’s my princess,‘ Ryan thought, heart twisting protectively for Reba.


    14:09 <b>Sat</b>, Oct 4


    ‘Like hell he’s got it in him to hurt her, Ryan seethed to himself, barely holding back his anger.


    ???


    “I mean, I haven’t done a deep dive or anything, but let’s be real–whatever you did to Amelia puts me in the amateur league,” Jeffrey quipped, tossing a grin. “So what do you say, should I spill the tea to her and see how she reacts<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Ryan’s whole presence instantly turned icy, filling the room with cold intensity.


    Ryan rolled his eyes inwardly. ‘Figures–still can’t stand this brat, he thought, barely suppressing his


    annoyance.


    Sebastian shot them both a re, totally unimpressed. ‘One messed with my daughter, the other did the same to my granddaughter–both are just a couple of jerks, he thought, his gaze full of contempt.


    “Now, as for you,” Jeffrey fixed his gaze on Sebastian. “Wasn’t it pretty much thanks to you that Amelia ended up having to leave Honn?”