Redmption 121


    “Mr. Howell can pay you.” Kara turned to Brandon and asked, “Is that alright with you, Mr. Howell?”


    I braced myself, expecting Brandon to shut her down. But to my surprise, he simply replied, “If she


    wants to, sure.”


    I was rendered speechless.


    I winced in pain as Kara pinched my arm and blinked rapidly. She clearly sensed something was


    amiss.


    Was Brandon trying to stir things up? How could he have said that?


    Not wanting Kara to enjoy any gossip, I smiled and responded, “I have enough money. So, I won’t


    be going.”


    “Maddie…”


    Brandon nced at me quietly.


    D


    As we had breakfast, my phone rang. It was Olivia, thendy across from my house.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Thinking she’d resolved the issue, I answered, “Hello, Mrs. Potter.”


    “Sorry to bother you so early, Maddie,” she said politely.


    “No problem, Mrs. Potter. What’s up?” I replied before taking a sip of my milk.


    “I spoke to the tenant about your request, but he refused, even withpensation. So…” Her words


    sounded oddly familiar, like I’d heard them


    before.


    “Don’t worry, Maddie. I’ve checked his background. No criminal record, no bad habits, and he’s


    quite decent–looking. Also, he used to-”


    Brandon interrupted at that moment.


    “Ms. Crown, can I have your fried egg?” he asked, pointing at my te.


    I was caught off guard and missed the rest of what Olivia was saying. I quickly ended the call by


    saying, “Okay,” before turning to look at Brandon.


    Chap 121


    “If you say no, that’s fine.” Brandon proceeded to peel a boiled egg.


    “Mr. Howell, do you want my fried egg? You can have it,” Kara eagerly offered, lifting her egg from


    the te.


    “No, thanks. I don’t want it anymore,” Brandon coldly refused.


    I stayed silent and watched him stuff the peeled, boiled egg into his mouth in one go. I swallowed


    hard, feeling a lump in my throat.


    A nagging feeling crept in that he didn’t really want the fried egg in the first ce. But then, why did


    he ask for mine earlier?


    Before I could figure it out, he had already finished his meal. He stood up and said, “You guys carry


    on. I’m leaving.”


    Kara watched him leave and turned to me. “Maddie, it’s not that he didn’t want the fried egg. He just


    wanted yours.”


    “What? Does eating my fried egg grant immortality?” I joked and took a bite.


    “Maddie, Mr. Howell has a crush on you. Kara’s words made me choke.


    I coughed and drank some milk. “Just because he wanted my egg?”


    “No. It’s how he acts around you, the way he looks at you, and even… It’s hard to exin, but


    there’s tension in the air.”


    I wasn’t a naive teenager. I had sensed it, too.


    Since Brandon first mentioned marriage, I’d known. But his mixed signals confused me, especially


    afterst night. He seemingly might have feelings for


    1. me.


    “So what? I’m not into him.” As the words left my mouth, I sensed someone sitting back down at the


    table.


    I looked up to see Brandon, who had returned and was staring directly at me.


    Feeling awkward, I curled my fingers nervously.


    Kara mirrored my gesture but quickly smiled. “Mr. Howell, what brings you back? We were just


    talking about Maddie’s ex–fiancé. She wasn’t…


    “I get it,” Brandon cut her off, with his eyes still fixed on me.