?Chapter 293:


    Her makeup was subtle but wless, hershes clearly salon-enhanced. Her lips carried a perfectly glossed pout. Her light brown curls were pinned back with a ribbon—every detail polished, every movement calcted to charm. She radiated youthful charm with just enough effort that it was almost suspicious.


    Shaun’s frown deepened. “Tonight’s gathering isn’t really open.”


    Reba pouted. “Why not? It’s just dinner, right? And I don’t eat much. We can split the bill if you want. Come on—what’s one more person?” It was clear she wasn’t leaving unless dragged out.


    Ste, watching from the side, realized something—Reba might actually be useful. A convenient distraction. Anything to ease the tension she’d been trapped in since she walked into that room.


    Before Shaun could shut her down again, Ste offered a small, polite smile. “Sure. Join us. There’s plenty of space.”


    Reba turned to her, eyes lighting up. “Really? That’s so sweet of you, Sylvia. Thank you! Let’s go!”


    She immediately tried to link arms with Shaun, but he subtly stepped aside. Reba either didn’t notice or chose not to care, still grinning as she followed along.


    When the three of them returned to the private room, Sharon raised a brow at the unfamiliar face beside them. “Stel… who’s this?”


    Sharon blinked in confusion, uncertain about what was happening.


    Ste offered a calm exnation. “This is Reba—Mr. Becker’s friend. We ran into each other outside. She said the ce was packed, so I figured, why not invite her to join us?”


    Standing with a bright smile, Reba waved cheerfully. “Hi everyone! I’m Reba. Lovely to meet you. Since we’re sharing a meal, I hope we can all be friends.”


    For a moment, Sharon didn’t know what to say. She shot Ste a subtle but annoyed look.


    Still, with Reba already present, there was no polite way to ask her to leave. What had been nned as a quiet matchmaking dinner now felt more like a casual group hangout.


    Your escape begins with ga ln ov els .


    Before the food even arrived, Reba slid into the seat beside Shaun. With yful eyes on Ste, she said, “Ms. Gilbert, sitting around like this is kind of boring. Let’s y a game, what do you say?”


    Ste met her gaze with a calm smile. “Why not?”


    “Let’s y cards. Loser rotates out with the next person!” Reba dered, cheerfully buying a deck from the staff.


    The first round featured Reba, Ste, and Sharon as the yers.


    They each drew their cards, and Reba made the first move.


    She had always loved card games—they were a mix of wit, timing, and reading people. She was good at picking up subtle cues, often guessing her opponents’ hands with ease. Losses were rare for her.


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