<b>Chapter </b><b>240 </b>


    AGD


    “She’s just a kid—speaks her mind, doesn’t know when to hold back. Don’t take it personally, Cynthia, Jessica’s mom and the head of a big publicpany, spoke with practiced diplomacy. “But to be honest, what you said wasn’t exactly proper either.”


    “What’s wrong with that?” someone shot back.


    “We’re just stating the facts here,” another person retorted, not backing down.


    “Everyone saw how Amelia used Ryan’s help to grab the Quinn family shares, all while stirring up trouble in his personal life.” someone added, their tone sharp.


    “How about we call Mr. Guzman here and see what he has to say?” Cynthia said in the calmest tone, though everyone could sense the threat hiding beneath her words.


    Everyone’s expressions shifted a little at that.


    Not many people really knew what was up between Amelia and Ryan. Most folks just picked things up from gossip or random rumors.


    Honestly, nobody could say for sure if Ryan had feelings for Amelia. ‘If he did, why would he ghost her out of nowhere?‘ people wondered quietly. ‘But if he didn’t care, what’s with him treating Reba so welltely?‘


    “Whatever you say, I know for a fact that Amelia was still involved with Mr. Guzman when he got engaged to someone from the Jordan Family,” someone pressed on.


    “Trust me, I saw the whole thing with my own eyes,” another person jumped in, sounding sure of themselves.


    “And she got pregnant out of wedlock–totally shameless,” someone sneered.


    “Bet she thought having a kid would help her lock down Mr. Guzman and move up in the world, but he didn’t fall for it,” another person scoffed.


    “Exactly!” someone else chimed in.


    “Wow, looks like you all got older but didn’t get any smarter,” Jessica shot back, her tone sharper than usual. She almost never snapped, but she wasn’t backing down now. “Funny how you don’t say a word when Ryan’s sleeping around and can’t control himself, but you’re quick to point fingers at Amelia?”


    Cynthia nced at her but didn’t stop her.


    When it came to sticking up for her friends, Cynthia always let her daughter say what was on her mind. She never interfered.


    “Cynthia, is this what passes for parenting in your house?” Elijah Zane, his beefy face twisted with obvious disdain, stepped forward from the crowd.


    Cynthia shot him a look and answered, her voice as t as ever, “Yep.”


    Chapter 240 <fnf151> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel</fnf151>


    “We’re supposed to be the where here, and this is hose the talks to us? Elijah sorted, then gave Paberra a cold re. “And her? Figure che’s Amelia’s kid no manners, hus like her moth.”


    Reba’s fingers costled into a fist, but before she could say a word, Cynthia cut in


    For once, Cynthia’s face was set with determination. After what you guys just said, honestly, if they tossed drink in your face. Id say they were totally justified”


    “Hey,e on!” The crowd immediately started to protest.


    “Reba, Jessica,” Cynthia called, her tone soft and gentle.


    Both girls turned toward her.


    Cynthia shot a quick nce at the nearby drinks and told them, “There’s some booze over there–use it however you want. If things get messy, I’ll back you up.”


    “Cynthia Scott, don’t get carried away!” someone barked, obviously ticked off.


    “In case you forgot, this is Honn, not Jsburg!” another sneered, trying to put her in her ce.


    “Think I can’t wreck your reputation with one word?” someone else threatened, voice dripping with menace.


    Loud sshes echoed through the room.


    Jessica and Reba, in perfect sync, flung their drinks straight at the troublemakers.


    Elijah Zane’s hand shook as he pointed at Reba,pletely stunned–he hadn’t thought she’d really go through with it.


    Reba’s voice was cold as ice. “Mom told me before we came that anyone trash–talking her at these parties isn’t even worth my time. Most of you are just her old rivals who couldn’t beat her, so you get your kicks by gossiping and dragging others down.”


    “You!” Elijah and the rest were practically bursting with rage.


    “But you know what?” Reba grabbed another drink, looking at them with contempt. “If I just ignored people like you, you’d never realize how clueless you actually are.”


    “Say that one more time!” The crowd exploded,pletely triggered by her words.


    Reba’s whole vibe was icy, her voice cutting through the tension. “I’ll say it ten times if I have to–same answer every time.”


    “You only act so bold because Liam and Mr. Guzman spoil you,” they sneered, shifting tactics. “But let me tell you, the Guzman family will never recognize someone like you as one of their own. Old Mr. Lawrence would never let Amelia’s daughter step through their door!”


    Reba just stared at him, her expressionpletely indifferent.


    Honestly, none of that bothered her at all.


    14:31 Mon<b>, </b><b>Oct </b>6


    “Who are you calling a bastard?” A calm, icy voice rang out, and Ryan strode over, his face dark with anger.


    If nobody had tipped him off, Ryan would’ve had no idea his precious daughter was being treated this <i>way</i>.


    “Mr. Guzman?” someone stammered.


    “Mr. Guzman…” another voice trailed off, suddenly nervous.


    The crowd that had been so cocky just a second ago instantly shrank back, all their bravado gone.


    Ryan shot them a cold look before heading straight for Reba, his eyes full of unhidden concern. “What did they say to you? Dad’s got your back.”


    “Dad?” Reba shot back, her voice as frosty and skeptical as Amelia’s was back then.


    For a moment, Ryan seemed genuinely uneasy, a rare look for him.


    A chill settled over the room as Ryan’s icy gazended on Elijah and the others–one by one.


    Winning back his wife and daughter was already an uphill battle, and now these people just had <i>to </i>make things even harder for him.


    Reba red at him. “Mr. Guzman, you’re always ying it safe. I can’t bring myself to call you ‘Dad, and I definitely won’t admit you’re my father.” Her voice was colder than ever–if she had grievances with him before, after hearing all that, they only multiplied.


    Ryan turned to Cynthia. “What’s going on?”


    Cynthia nced at Reba, then spelled it out clearly. “They’re running their mouths saying Amelia ruined your engagement, secretly got pregnant to try and climb the ranks, and used you to snatch the Quinn family


    assets…”


    With each usation, Ryan’s expression grew more stormy.


    He hadn’t expected people would stoop so low, dragging Amelia’s name through the mud like this when she wasn’t even around.


    “We were just passing on the gossip, seriously—we didn’t make anything up!” someone blurted, desperate to sound innocent.


    “That’s right, that’s right!” they echoed quickly, scrambling to cover themselves.


    “Please, sir, don’t hold it against us,” someone added hastily, trying to smooth things over.


    Elijah Zane and his crew were old pros at this–seeing Ryan rush to defend Reba, they immediately pivoted, tweaking their tune and switching to damage control mode.


    Ryan’s gaze chilled the room. “Maybe in a few days, I’ll casually mention your tax issues to the right crowd. If someone decides to dig up dirt, I hope you won’t hold it against me.”


    “Mr. Guzman, we really didn’t mean it!” someone blurted out, panic in their voice.


    14:31 Mon<b>, </b><b>Oct </b>6


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    “We’ll do anything to make it up to your daughter–please, Mr. Guzman, just let this go!” one of them stammered, practically groveling.


    Honestly, almost none of them could survive a real audit–if news spread and the authorities came knocking, they’d be totally screwed.


    Ryan couldn’t be bothered to even spare them a nce. “Get out of my sight.”


    Some tried making ast–ditch plea. “Please, Mr. Guzman-”


    But one sharp look from Ryan was all it took. Whatever they were about to say died in their throats and they scrambled off in embarrassment, scared stiff and totally humiliated.


    “Next time you run into something like this, just give me a call–I’ll take care of it,” Ryan said, his tone much softer now when he spoke to Reba. “Don’t waste your breath on people like that.”


    Reba didn’t bother looking at Cynthia. “Aunt Kate, Jessica, let’s go.”


    Ryan called out after her, “Reba.”


    “Maybe you should talk to him,” Jessica whispered in Reba’s ear, knowing full well why she was upset. “Look at him–if you don’t say something, he’ll never figure out what’s wrong.”


    Reba had zero interest in talking to him.


    But thinking about all the stuff they’d said about her mom still burned her up inside.


    ‘Why does he get to y the hero, while Mom has to carry all the bad press?‘ Reba seethed.


    “Mr. Guzman, when you two talk, make sure you remember every single word Reba says,” Jessica said boldly before stepping aside to give them some space. “Really think it over.”


    Ryan nodded, steady as ever. “I will.”


    Jessica patted Reba on the shoulder, then went off with her mom for a while.


    With just the two of them left, Ryan nced around and said, “There’s a conference room upstairs. Why don’t we head up and talk?”


    Reba followed–there were things she needed to say to him, and it was time to get them out in the open.


    The conference room.


    A waiter brought over a ss of juice and some snacks, quietly setting them down in front of Reba before slipping away.


    Once they were alone, Ryan looked at his daughter, his expression tangled with emotion. He hesitated, then said, “You can talk to me, about anythingints, questions, whatever you need.”


    “Do you love Mom?” Reba looked up at him, her voice steady and calm.