Chapter 26.

bChapter 26 /b

“I came to check on Samuel,” Jeffrey said, his voice low. He rose to his feet, his presence filling the room. His gaze lingered briefly on Reba before adding, “Lock the doors and windows. I’ll be there soon.”

“Please hurr-” Andrea began, but a sudden p of thunder cut her off. She let out a sharp cry.

Reba was scared, too. Jeffrey noticed but said nothing. Instead, he gentled his voice, talking Andrea through her fake panic until she finally calmed down.

Before leaving, he saw how tense Reba looked and said offhandedly, “If you’re scared, put on some headphones.”

“Not your concern,” Reba shot back, suppressing a shiver. “Go back to her. Stop wasting your time here.”

No sooner had she spoken than another roar of thunder shook the room. But this time, she didn’t even blink.

Jeffrey didn’t stay. Toying with his phone, he walked out of the modest apartment–a space that hardly matched his status. As he slid into his car downstairs, a sharp lightning bolt sliced through the darkness…

Almost instinctively, Jeffrey nced up toward Reba’s floor. “Call Jessica. Make up a reason–get her to stay with Reba tonight,” he ordered.

“After you passed that message to the Scotts, Jessica was tricked by her parents into going overseas,” replied Gregory soberly from the driver’s seat. “She can’t be back tonight.”

he

Jeffrey fell silent. He ran his fingers over the phone, weighing his words. Then he sent a message: [Your mom is scared of thunder. Go sleep with her tonight.]

Samuel read the message but didn’t reply. He could tolerate his father being harsh with him, but abandoning his mom was unforgivable, no matter how “important” that other woman was supposed to be.

“Harmony Estate,” Jeffrey said. He didn’t bother sending another text–he knew Samuel would go stay with Reba.

Gregory nodded. “Okay.”

The car sped through the storm. Thunder growled overhead, sometimes so loud it felt like the sky might split open.

Jeffrey’s perfect eyebrows knitted together. His fingertip unconsciously traced the phone screen, eyes fixed on the chat.beled “Reba.” But even as the car pulled into Harmony Estate, not a single text had left his screen.

Gregory swung the door open. Jeffrey tucked his phone away and stepped out, his earlier concern for Reba left behind- in the car like a passing thought.

The moment Andrea saw Jeffrey, she leapt from the bed and threw her arms around his waist, holding him tightly. “You’re back. That thunder was so loud earlier,.. I was really scared.”

“Get some rest. I’ll stay here with you,” Jeffrey said, gently loosening her grip.

Andrea nodded and climbed back into bed. After a moment, she bit her lip shyly and whispered, “Jeffrey.”

“Yeah?” Jeffrey looked at her, his striking features betraying no emotion.

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“Can you hold me while I sleep?” Andrea reached for his hand, her eyes hopeful. “I won’t be as scared if you’re close.”

She was certain that if he got into bed with her, she could seduce him.

Jeffrey didn’t reply. He tucked her in and sat down beside the bed, keeping herpany.

“You don’t want to be close to me?” Andrea noticed he was pulling away. “You didn’t want to touch me earlier, and now you won’t even share the bed.”

“Just focus on getting better. We’ll handle the restter,” Jeffrey said calmly. “Be good, okay?”

Realizing he didn’t want to discuss this further, Andrea buried her emotions and turned to sleep. ‘Reba is out of the picture now, anyway. Sooner orter, I’ll take her ce,’ she thought.

Thunder was still rumbling, and yet Andrea had drifted off. Watching her breathe steadily in bed, Jeffrey sat in the chair and remembered how Reba used to burrow under the nkets during storms.

Even though it got stuffy and didn’t actually block the sound, Reba always hid underneath. Even when he held her and covered her ears, she needed that nket over her head to feel safe.

With that thought, he pulled out his phone and texted Samuel: [How’s your mom?]

Meanwhile, Samuel and Reba were on a video call with Jessica.

Jessica hadn’t answered any of Reba’s messages sincest night. At first, Reba thought she was just sleeping after pulling an all–nighter–it wasn’t the first time.

But a full day had passed now, and Reba was getting worried. Luckily, the video call finally went through.

“Talk about good timing,” Jessica chuckled. “My dad just had someone return my phone to me.”

“Return?” Reba asked, her voice tight with confusion and worry.

“Yeah, he teamed up with my mom to trick me into this country. The second I got off the ne, he took my passport and phone,” Jessicained, still annoyed. “After years of nothing, suddenly they joined forces just to deal with me.”

Reba went quiet. She knew in a split second that Jeffrey was probably behind this.

“Anyway, I’ve got something to tell you,” Jessica said, switching topics. Since Samuel was on the call, she didn’t bring up Jeffrey.

Reba took the cue. “What is it?”

“I saw someone at the airport who kinda looks like you,” Jessica said, sending over the photo. “See for yourself.”

Reba opened it. The man in the picture was dressed in

really handsome.

an

expensive tailored suit, looked to be in his fifties, and was

“Check out his vibe–totally sharp and ssy. Definitely not some average guy,” Jessica remarked as she looked at the

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photo again.

Reba nodded. “There’s a bit of a resemnce. But you know, lots of people look alike out there.”

“True,” Jessica said, dropping it. It was just force of habit–whenever she saw something interesting, she’d share it with Reba. Little did she know that the man in the photo was the same person Jeffrey had asked Stanley to look into.

After they finished talking, it was past ten. Since the next day was Saturday and Samuel had martial arts ss, Jessica didn’t keep the conversation going.

By the time the call ended, the thunder had stopped. Reba hugged Samuel, who hade into her room earlier, and they both fell asleep.

Early the next morning, Reba got up to make breakfast for Samuel. After he ate, she dropped him off at his martial arts ss and then took a car to the Reed residence.

Besides teaching that day, she also wanted to find out whether the Reeds really needed a dance instructor–or if, as Jeffrey had said, Stephen had created the position just for her.

She arrived at the Reed residence a little after 8:40. As Stephen had mentioned, usually only the servants and Emily were home at that hour. Reba spent about ten minutes warming up and connecting with Emily.

Emily burst into apuse after Reba’s dance. “Ms. Jensen, you’re awesome!”

Reba knelt to her level. “Thanks, littledy. You’re pretty amazing yourself, winning so many awards so young.”

Emily smiled shyly.

Seizing the moment, Reba asked gently, “Can I ask you a question?”

Emily, who absolutely adored her new teacher, replied eagerly, “Of course!”

“I see all your ballet trophiesi,/i” Reba said softly, her question flowing naturally. “You’re clearly very talented. What made you want to learn ssical dance all of a sudden?”

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