‘The real life–saver?‘ Gregory’s mind went nk, totally floored.
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<b>11:44 </b>Tue, <b>Oct </b>7
<b>Chapter </b>243
Reba had no idea that Jeffrey was looking for her.
Law
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After hanging out in the banquet hall with Jessica for a while, she slipped outside to thewn, picking a fairly secluded spot.
She had just settled down when a stylish young man and woman, both in their twenties and looking like siblings, strolled over.
“Are you Reba Jensen?” the man asked.
Reba, though a bit confused, answered, “Yeah.”
The man dragged over a nearby chair and sat down across from her, a teasing note in his voice. “So, word is you’re Liam’s granddaughter and Mr. Guzman’s biological daughter. Is that actually true?”
“What’s it to you?” Jessica cut in sharply, instantly picking up on their unfriendly vibe. “Ever heard of introducing yourself before poking around in someone’s private business?”
“I’m talking to Reba. Who asked for your opinion?” the man said rudely.
“I called you a dog–now who’s barking?” Jessica shot back without hesitation.
The guy was furious. “You!”
“Calm down, bro,” the woman whispered, gently tugging his arm. “Remember why we’re here.”
That cooled him off a bit. He looked at Reba with a mocking smile. “Seriously? Someone from the Quinn and Guzman families hanging out with friends like these?”
“Looks like my friend was right,” Reba snapped back, refusing to let anyone badmouth Jessica. “Only dogs are so nosy.”
Those words set things off.
The atmosphere instantly got tense.
The woman snapped at Reba. “What’s with that attitude? My brother was just trying to talk to you, and this is how you act? And here I thought you were the princess of the Quinn and Guzman families, but you’re really no better than some country bumpkin!”
Reba couldn’t be bothered to respond.
She nced at Jessica, her expression cool. “Let’s go somewhere else.” <fna8c2> Chapters first released on Find★Novel</fna8c2>
“Wait,” Jessica said, her eyes fixed on the siblings.
Reba shot her a questioning look.
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<b>67 </b>
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The siblings got all awkward when she stared at them.
The man snapped, “What are you looking at?”
“I knew you guys looked kind of familiar. Turns out, you’re the Pierce family’s newly–discovered hidden kids, Jessica said as she finally remembered.
Brian’s face flushed, anger sparking in his eyes. “Keep your filthy mouth shut! Who are you calling bastard kids?”
A shadow flickered across Reba’s eyes.
If they were just the Pierce family’s illegitimate children, Jessica wouldn’t have put it so bluntly. That kind of thing was prettymon these days–and it wasn’t like the kids were at fault..
For Jessica to throw shade like that, these two must have pulled something nasty in the past.
“Those two’s deal is pretty much like Andrea’s,” Jessica said, giving Reba the rundown. “Except Andrea’s chasing after you, and they’re both gunning for the Pierce family’s heiress<b>.” </b>
Reba nodded.
Reba got it instantly.
“I’ve seen through your little schemes from the start,” Jessica said, eyes narrowing with disdain. “Forget it. Reba’s not the kind of person you can y games with.”
“No idea what you’re talking about,” Brian tried to sound nonchnt, but he was obviously rattled.
“Suit yourself. Pretend I’m just running my mouth,” Jessica snorted, deciding not to bother wasting any more words on them.
With that, she steered Reba away, neither of them interested in wasting another second on the siblings.
Watching them really walk off, Jasmine got flustered and tugged Brian’s sleeve. “Reba’s leaving! Shouldn’t we stop her or something?<b>” </b>
Brian’s lips tightened and, seeing Reba getting farther away, he couldn’t hold back anymore. He suddenly called out, raising his voice, “Wait!”
Jessica and Reba didn’t even nce back–they just kept walking, totally ignoring them.
Reba always followed Jessica’s lead when it came to dealing with strangers.
“I said wait!” Brian and Jasmine hurried over, cutting them off. Brian stared straight at Reba. “I really have something to talk about. Can we just go somewhere else for a sec?<b>” </b>
Reba was blunt: “Just say it here.”
Brian nced warily at Jessica, clearly wanting her out of the picture. “Can’t we speak alone?”
<b>11:44 </b>Tue, <b>Oct </b>7
Jessica cut in. “No way!”
Reba said tly, “I’m sticking with her.”
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Brian and Jasmine exchanged nces, and Brian finally said, “We’re basically at the same level here, so how about we join forces?”
Reba raised her eyebrows, genuinely puzzled. ‘What is he even talking about?‘ she wondered.
Jessica looked even more confused, shooting Brian a curious re. ‘Is he serious right now?‘ she thought.
“Everyone’s saying Liam and Mr. Guzman gave you some pretty expensive gifts for your birthday,” Brian said slowly and deliberately. “But nobody really knows whether they actually care about you or if they’re just putting on a show for everyone else.”
Reba asked, “So what’s your point?”
“The Quinn and Guzman families are both prestigious, elite families. A kid suddenly showing up hurts their reputation,” Brian continued, sounding all self–important. “To protect their image, it’s not unusual for them to dress up words like ‘illegitimate daughter‘ or ‘the daughter of someone who was kicked out‘ and spin it as some ‘lost treasure‘ they just miraculously recovered.”
Reba stayed silent.
She could already guess what he was getting at.
“The heirs of The Big Four Families all have their own cliques–they’ve been sticking together for ages,” Jasmine jumped in. “People like us should really band together.”
“Not interested,” Reba shot back, her tone icy and final.
“You seriously think the Quinn and Guzman families would ever ept someone like you?” Brian scoffed, clearly surprised by how little she cared.
“You’re wrong about one thing,” Reba said coolly after hearing them out. “We’re actually nothing alike.”
Jasmine frowned. “How are we different?”
Reba’s face was calm as she replied, “You’re desperate for the Pierce family’s approval. I couldn’t care less.”
Honestly, I don’t really care about the Quinn or Guzman families.
‘For me, the Quinn family is just a stepping stone to get back what belonged to my mom. Nothing more, nothing less,‘ Reba thought to herself.
“Give me a break!” Brian blurted out. “You seriously expect me to believe someone from a nobody background wouldn’t jump at the chance to climb up to the Quinn and Guzman families?”
“We’re genuinely trying to join forces with you, and you’re just acting all high and mighty,” Jasmine said straight up. “What’s the point of that?”
<b>11:44 </b>Tue, Oct 7
“If you think there’s no point, then don’t bother, Reba shot back.coldly. Even if she’d changed a bed the was still just as straightforward with people she didn’t care for.
“Do you even know the reality of the situation you’re in? Brian said, gesturing toward three dintingmhed men chatting in the distance. “See the guy sitting at the head of the table over there?”
Reba followed his gaze.
Max’s face came into view.
He was the CEO of Quinn Group, Michael’s eldest son–icy, aloof, and utterly indifferent. Her mom had warned Reba about him, and the whole Quinn family’s tough crowd,
It was like someone had clued him in–Max nced over and locked eyes with her.
Even with all that distance between them, Reba could practically feel how cold and untouchable he was.
“He’s the real boss of Quinn Group. Even the head of the Quinn family has to bend to <b>him </b>sometimes,” Brian kept pressing. “You honestly think he wants you around? That he’d ever ept someone like you?”
“Are you done?” Reba’s voice was cold as she cut him off,pletely uninterested in <b>wasting </b>another word on him.
Reba hadn’t forgotten what Jack had told her when she came in.
‘Max wants to talk to me about the shares, Reba reminded herself.
“Nothing ever gets through to you!” Brian burst out,pletely thrown by how stubborn Reba was.
“Whatever, just leave her be,” Jasmine huffed, finally losing her patience. “Let her crash and burn—once she hits a dead end, she’ll figure out we were actually trying to help.
“Suit yourself, but think about it,” Brian pressed on, unwilling to give up. “If youe around, look for us. Only three days though–don’te crawling back after.”
With those words, they stalked off, not bothering to waste another second on her.
Reba didn’t give their words a second thought.
Jessica called them out without hesitation. “Please, they’re just trying to use all the attention you’re getting to stir up trouble, but act like they’re just looking out for you. They’ve really got some nerve.”
“Have you seen those two around before?” Reba asked.
<b>11:44 </b>Tue, Oct 7