Chapter 154


    As I was paying, Brandon returned my call.


    "I was busy earlier and just saw your message," Brandon exined.


    "I understand. Are you free tonight?" I asked.


    Brandon replied, "What time?"


    I thought for a couple of seconds. If we went at six, it would be dinner time, and Zack and Bree


    would surely invite us to stay for dinner. I didn''t mind, but Brandon might feel awkward.


    "Seven-thirty," I decided. By then, the Gildon family would have finished dinner.


    "Okay, I''ll pick you up at seven. Is that alright?" Brandon asked.


    Iughed. "How are you nning to pick me up? On a shared bike?"


    I didn''t mean anything by it; I just found it funny. But when Brandon didn''t respond, I realized my


    words might have been misunderstood.


    "No, I didn''t mean anything by that," I quickly exined. Then I added, "I''lle pick you up."


    "I''ll be home half an hour earlier. When the timees, we can go together," Brandon said, then


    paused. "Do I need to prepare any gifts?"


    "No need. I''ve got it covered," I replied and hung up, only to see Jewel watching me.


    Whether in the past or now, Jewel always looked at me with a mix of envy and jealousy.


    I had nothing to say to her, so I picked up my things and left.


    Instead of going home, I went to a men''s clothing store. Since I was taking Brandon to the Gildon


    estate today, I couldn''t let him wear his usual clothes. Although I didn''t know if he had anything


    suitable, it was necessary to buy him a fitting outfit, considering I was asking him to y a part for


    me.


    At six in the evening, I had a light meal and waited for Brandon toe home.


    Instead of him, I got a call from Kara. "Maddie, do you have time tonight? I want to chat with you."


    Unfortunately, I didn''t.


    "What do you want to talk about? We can talk on the phone. I''m going to the Gildon estate tonight,"


    I said without hiding it from her.


    "Oh, what a pity," Kara sounded disappointed.


    I picked up an apple from the table and took a bite. "How about I treat you to dinner another day?"


    "I don''t want dinner," Kara grumbled. "Maddie, I''ve been so angry these past two days. I didn''t want


    to bother you with it, but if I don''t tell you, I might explode."


    I frowned slightly. "What happened? Did Brandon give you a hard time again?"


    "It''s not him. It''s Jewel. She''s such a homewrecker," Kara''s words made me pause mid-bite.


    I had run into her this morning, and now someone else was talking to me about her. She seemed to


    be my jinx today.


    "What about her?" I asked slowly.


    Kara started rattling off like a machine gun. "She unted her pregnancy, acting like she needs to


    be carried around in a sedan chair everywhere she goes. If she''s so worried about something going


    wrong, why doesn''t she just stay home in bed?"


    I chuckled. "She''s just trying to earn milk money for the baby."


    "Yeah, right. She''s just showing off, pretending like she''s carrying the crown prince, like it''s Mr.


    Gildon''s child," Kara''s words made the food in my mouth taste bitter.


    "It''s possible," I responded lightly.


    "Really?" Kara sounded surprised. "If she''s pregnant with Mr. Gildon''s child, then he''s already


    betrayed you. That would make him a real jerk."


    I could no longer swallow the bit of apple in my mouth.


    I set the apple down and didn''t respond.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Maddie, I don''t think it''s possible," Kara added. "If she''s really carrying Mr. Gildon''s child, she


    would have used it to her advantage by now, instead of always looking like she owes you money


    when she sees you."


    I couldn''t help butugh at Kara. She managed to insult someone and drag me into it too.