?


    "Nathaniel, what do you want?" Reba asked.


    Seeing the wariness and fear in her eyes, Nathaniel smiled and calmly took a seat across from her.


    "I''m not here to do anything. I just wanted to chat," he replied.


    Reba''s hands trembled subconsciously in herp, convinced that this must be some new way for Nathaniel to torment her. If her response didn''t satisfy him, he would definitely resort to violence again.


    Sadly, she had nowhere else to go.


    Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to meet his gaze and said, "Don''t forget, I''m supposed to go out to sea with Mr. Nuttall the day after tomorrow. If he finds out I''m hurt..."


    Nathaniel chuckled. "Don''t worry. I won''ty a finger on you today."


    Reba''s tense back rxed slightly at his words, but she still looked at him with lingering fear.


    "What do you want to talk about?" she asked.


    For the past few years, Nathaniel had treated her with disdain, even hatred, ming her for the fallout between him and Damon. They rarely had these peaceful moments together.


    Reba couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off.


    "The Preston Group is considering trying to expand our business overseas. You spent a few years in Meristate, right? What do you think about expanding there?" Nathaniel asked.


    Reba frowned. The Preston Group was struggling domestically. Blindly expanding overseas would be akin to walking into a dead end. Was Nathaniel losing his mind?


    However, she could only think that—she didn''t dare say it aloud.


    "I don''t think Meristate is very suitable. I believe the Preston Group should focus on developing within the country instead," she answered. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. "You spent so many years abroad. Why don''t you tell me about your life as a student there? It could help me gauge potential opportunities."


    Reba''s heart raced. If Nathaniel found out about the things she had done while living abroad, he would surely despise her even more. "Well... there''s not much to say. I just went to sses and stayed in my apartment when I didn''t have any," she lied.


    Upon noticing her hands curling up in herp, Nathaniel''s gaze turned cold.


    Reba''s life abroad couldn''t


    possibly have been as simple as she


    imed. After all, many


    businessmen had hinted to him that


    she was skilled and open-minded, suggesting he send her back to entertain them again.


    "Really? You must have made some friends while you were abroad. Why haven''t I ever seen you in contact with anyone these past few years?" Nathaniel probed.


    A bad premonition surged in Reba''s heart, making her dig her nails into her palm.


    She instead asked, "Nathaniel... why are you suddenly asking about this? Most of my friends are in Meristate, and since it''s unlikely we''ll meet


    agai


    we haven''t really kept n


    touch."


    Nathaniel''s gaze turned even colder when he failed to reveal anything.


    "Reba, are you hiding something from me?" he asked.


    "N-No... I''m not..." Reba''s face turned pale, her smile frozen in ce.


    "Make sure you''re telling the truth. Otherwise, I''ll make you regret it!" Nathaniel warned.


    With that, he stood up and left the living room.


    Once the silence returned, Reba finally exhaled sharply, though unease still gripped her heart.


    Why was Nathaniel suddenly asking about her past abroad? He couldn''t have figured out she was nning to run off with his money, could he?