?


    Nathaniel frowned when he didn''t see Reba in the living room and called for a maid. "Where''s Reba?"


    Seeing his scowl, the maid quickly bowed her head, too fearful to meet his gaze. "Mr. Preston, Mrs. Preston said she couldn''t sleep and went for a walk in the garden. She didn''t take anyone with her."


    Nathaniel said nothing more and strode out the door.


    In the garden''s pavilion, Reba was on the phone with Sullivan.


    "Sullivan, when are you going to take action? I don''t have time to waste!" she hissed.


    Dim streetlights cast eerie shadows across her face.


    "Ms. Austen, opportunities don''te easily, and I''ve been injured recently. There''s no chance to do anything," Sullivan replied.


    His casual tone enraged Reba, and she growled, "Sullivan, I helped save your dad before, and I can cut off his medical expenses any time I want.


    I won''t support a loser. If N is still safe after a week, I won''t pay a single penny to the hospital!"


    With what Sullivan earned, he couldn''t possibly afford the exorbitant post-surgery recovery costs for his father.


    Without her, how could he still sitfortably as the drug research manager at Prospectus Technology?


    A cold glint shed in Reba''s eyes. Taking her money but failing to do her bidding? Nothing in this world came that easily.


    There was silence on the line for a moment before Sullivan finally replied, "Alright, I understand."


    "Remember my deadline!" Reba warned before hanging up.


    She put her phone away and turned to head back to the vi when she abruptly locked eyes with Nathaniel''s cold stare. Her face went pale with fright.


    "N-Nathaniel... when did you get here? Why didn''t you say anything?" she asked.


    Nathaniel stared at her coldly. "Who were you just talking to?"


    Reba instinctively tightened her grip on her phone. "N-No one. Just my cousin who borrowed some money. I told him to pay me back quickly..."


    "Is that so?" Nathaniel scrutinized her with piercing eyes.


    Reba nodded, handing him her phone. "If you don''t believe me, you can call back and check."


    ncing at the phone she offered, Nathaniel sneered. "No need. I''m not interested. I came to find you for another reason."


    "What is it?" Reba asked.


    Nathaniel questioned, "When you were abroad, you knew someone named Drake Mummery, right?"


    The moment the words left his lips, Reba''s face turned ashen, and she trembled uncontrobly.


    "I... I don''t know him... Why are you asking me this?" she stuttered.


    Nathaniel snorted. "The fact that I can urately say the name means I already have information about your past interactions with him while you were abroad. You better think


    carefully before you


    swnow


    Meeting his icy, piercing gaze, Reba felt her legs weaken, nearly copsing. "Nathaniel... I do know him... but we haven''t contacted each other since I returned to the country..."


    A sharp p echoed through the pavilion as soon as she said that.


    Reba staggered back a few steps, a handprint quickly appearing on her cheek.


    "I gave you a chance. Since you refuse to tell the truth, I''ll beat it out of you until you do!" Nathaniel threatened.


    As he spoke, he reached for Reba.


    Reba''s face drained of color as she turned to flee, but Nathaniel caught her hair first.


    "Ah!" she screamed, terror etched on her face. "Nathaniel... please let me go... I''ll tell you everything... I—Ah!"