<b>Chapter </b><b>231 </b>
Jessica arched her brow, a flicker of surprise showing in her
‘She actually went for it?‘ Jessica blinked, caught off guard.
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“You better do everything you promised to keep me hidden,” Andrea said, her heart anxious but there was no turning back now. “Once I’m out of Honn, I’ll tell you who it is.”
“Deal,” Reba replied.
Andrea just wanted to leave as soon as possible. “I’ll be gone by the second of next month at thetest. When will you transfer the fifty million to me?”
“What money?” Reba asked.
“The fifty million we talked about in the car,” Andrea replied.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want <i>it</i>?” Reba shot back.
Andrea took a deep breath, wishing she could go back in time and p herself for being so careless.
‘I must’ve been out of my mind to agree just to get Reba on board,‘ Andrea thought.
“Get your people ready,” Andrea said, not wanting to say more. “I’ll let you know the day I leave.”
“Got it,” Reba replied coolly.
Andrea got wise. “Reba.”
“What?” Reba replied.
Andrea couldn’t see Reba’s face through the phone, but just to be sure, she added, “When I say do everything you can, I don’t mean handling it all by yourself–use everyone and everything at your disposal. That means Jessica, Ian, your mom, anyone you’ve got.”
Reba didn’t respond, just ended the call.
The dial tone buzzed in Andrea’s ear.
Andrea forced herself to calm down again.
‘If only I’d taken care of things earlier with Ben Cole, none of this mess would exist, Andrea thought bitterly. ‘If it wasn’t for him messing.things up, I could’ve stayed by Jeffrey’s side for the rest of my life.’
‘Not only could I have gotten under Reba’s skin, but I would’ve had all the wealth and status that came with having someone powerful protecting me, forever,’ she brooded.
Too bad regrets don’t fix anything; there’s no do–over in real life.
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Reba had no idea Andrea was still hung up on the past. After she hung up, nothing fazed her; she just kept eating as if nothing had happened.
Jessica said, “I honestly don’t know if Andrea’s brain is clever or just in scrambled.”
Reba thought for a second. “Yeah, that’s really tough to judge.”
“Seriously, going to you for help–what goes on in her mind?” Jessica frowned, recalling how Andrea treated Reba in college. “She treated you like dirt back then; where does she get the guts?”
“If she had any self–respect, she wouldn’t have taken someone else’s ce,” Reba muttered, feeling sorry for the real person who saved Jeffrey–what rotten luck.
Reba was hardly fazed by any of it.
She just kept eating and drinking like nothing had happened.
When Amelia and Samuel got home, Reba was in the study with Jessica, poring over files on every member of the Quinn family. ‘Know your enemy, and you’ll never lose a fight,‘ Reba thought. Amelia had warned her the shares wouldn’te easy, so she was determined to put in the extra effort.
“What are you two looking at?” Amelia asked as she walked into the study.
“Mom,” Reba greeted her.
“Aunt Amelia,” Jessica chimed in.
“Here, take these,” Amelia said, pulling two invitations out of her bag. “There’s a business banquet on the thirtieth. Most of the city’s top brass will be there.”
Reba took the invitation and looked it over–her name was printed right on it.
Jessica blinked. “Wait, howe I got one too?”
Amelia said, “Your mom wanted me to hand it over to you.”
Reba asked, “What about yours, mom?” <fnaa84> ?????? ???? Find★Novel</fnaa84>
Amelia replied, “I’m not going.”
Amelia figured just having Reba attend was enough—she had zero desire to y pretend with those big shots. Anyway, this banquet wasn’t for Reba to rub elbows with anyone or cozy up to the old guard.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Reba’s taken care of,” Jessica said, absolutely confident. She’d been trained for this since she was a kid, ted to inherit not one but twopanies, and could work any room like a pro.
As for Reba, Amelia always let her do her own thing–and she was still as genuine as ever.
Reba had never really seen the ugly side of life. Outside of Andrea, the world was still all sunshine to her; her heart stayed untouched.
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“You two just go, have a good time, eat and drink whatever you want, Amelia instructed, seeing this banquet as a stepping stone for Reba. “Everything else will work itself out”
Reba eyed the invitation, already guessing what her mom was up to. “Mom<b>?</b>”
“Yeah?” Amelia answered.
Reba asked, “Is this banquet really just for fun, or are you sending me to get ready to reim our shares?
“How do you figure?” Amelia asked, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes.
“Usually, you’d take me around to meet your friends, make the introductions yourself at these events<b>,” </b>Reba said, twirling the invitation in her hand.
“That’s right,” Amelia nodded–yeah, that had been her original n.
“But now you want me and Jessica going on our own. Is that because of those fancy gifts Sebastian and Mr. Guzman sent for my birthday yesterday?” Reba asked, trying to read her mom.
“Exactly,” Amelia said directly, casting a nce at both girls. “This whole banquet is about getting you seen, putting your face in the spotlight.”
Jessica gave Reba a meaningful look.
Amelia looked at Reba, her voice turning serious. “With the way the Quinn family operates, getting those shares won’t be easy. If they get desperate, they might even set something up to stop you before you seed.”
Amelia wasn’t about to let the past repeat itself with her daughter.
“That’s exactly why this banquet matters so much,” Amelia emphasized. “You need to grab everyone’s attention, make sure the Quinns–and anyone else watching–stay curious about you. That visibility is your best protection.”
It’s the only way.
Only then would the Quinn family think twice before making a move.
After all, if anything happened to Reba, all those old–money families in Honn would suspect the Quinns right away.
As one of The Big Four Families, the Quinns were all about saving face.
“So how do we get people talking and keep them curious?” Jessica asked.
Reba wanted to know too.
She was just a regr person.
“No need to do anything–right now, she’s already the hot topic among all the big names in Honn,” Amelia replied to Jessica, her gaze gentle as she looked at Reba. “Those two really gave her those gifts in the most dramatic, show–offy way possible.”
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“You mean Sebastian and Mr. Guzman?” Reba asked, sounding both surprised and a little impressed.
Amelia nodded.
A look of understanding shed in Jessica’s eyes.
Amelia used to worry Reba wouldn’t be able to handle herself around these high society types, but now it was obvious she was sharp about everything–nothing slipped past her.
“If anyone at the banquet asks what your rtionship is with them, just tell them you’re my daughter,” Amelia told her. “That’s all you need to say.”
That’s how you make sure people keep talking about you long after the party ends.
Amelia is making hereback.
And the world would know–Reba was Amelia’s daughter.
She was now at the very center of attention for both Mr. Ryan Guzman and Liam.
These juicy topics were more than enough to keep her the talk of the town for a good while.
Word about all this reached the Quinn family almost instantly.
At the Quinn family estate, Michael, dressed in a sharp suit, stared at the banquet guest list with a stormy expression.
His face, lined with age and simmering rage, was practically burning with fury. “How could they mess things up like this? Why on earth did Reba end up on the list?”
“Amelia personally added her name,” the butler replied.
Michael’s eyes went cold and dark.
‘Amelia,‘ he thought, his jaw tightening.
‘Amelia, you’re like a ghost haunting me–never fading, never gone,‘ Michael brooded, his jaw clenched tight.
The butler asked, “Should I let your brothers know about this?”
“No,” Michael said, staring at Reba’s name as if he could drill through the paper with just his gaze. “Cancel all the moves we had lined up. For now, no touching Amelia or her daughter.”
“Yes, sir,” the butler replied.
Michael’s grip on the list grew tighter and tighter.
‘So, you think all this attention is enough to shield you, huh, sis?‘ Michael sneered to himself, eyes dark with contempt. ‘You ought to remember–I’m not the only one out there who wants you taken out.‘
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