Redmption 249


    Sure enough, just as that thought crossed my mind, my phone rang. It was an awkward moment.


    The call came in at just the right time, making it even more ufortable.


    Eden smirked and said, “Looks like you don’t trust me. If that’s the case, why even bother with me?”


    I had no exnation. Eden took a step back.


    *Just consider us strangers from now on.” With that, he got into his car and drove off.


    The wind tugged at my clothes and messed up my hair. This man had changed his attitude faster


    than switching a channel on TV.


    Just ten minutes ago, he was confessing his feelings and saying he wanted to pursue me. But now,


    after just one phone call, he was dismissing me. But on the bright side, I didn’t have to worry about


    him bothering me anymore.


    As Eden drove away, I nced once more at the closed gate of the sanatorium. I wondered who the


    important guest could be. I wondered if it was Zack.


    I hesitated for a moment before pulling out my phone and dialing Bree’s number.


    “Maddie, I was just about to call you.” Bree’s voice came through immediately. She didn’t even give


    me a chance to speak first.


    I had no choice but to ask, “Bree, did you need something from me?”


    “I’m inviting you to lunch. It’s at the same restaurant we used to frequent, the Elegant Restaurant.


    Just be there by 11:00 a.m.,” Bree stated firmly. She didn’t give me a chance to refuse and make it


    clear.


    I didn’t immediately decline. Instead, I asked, “Will Mr. Gildon be joining us?”


    “He won’t be. He’s out for the day and will probably be back in the afternoon,” Bree replied casually.


    She had no defenses against me.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    I thought, “Out for the whole day?” Ever since Zack handed the Gildon Corporation over to Chris, he


    hadn’t been socializing much.


    “Did he go far this time?” I probed


    “Not really. He’s just visiting an old friend. Every time they meet, they just have coffee and y


    chess,” Bree continued.


    Upon hearing this, I tightened my grip on my phone. It seemed like I was right. Zack was indeed the


    important guest Arthur mentioned.


    It was clear that their rtionship was indeed very close. I didn’t want toplicate things, but the


    contract left by my dad made it hard not to overthink things.


    “Maddie, are you looking for Zack for something?” Bree asked me.


    I snapped back to reality. “No. I thought we were having a family lunch today.”


    “What family lunch? Bree huffed. ‘Since you left, we haven’t had a single one.”


    I knew she wasn’t ming me, but the issues did stem from my departure. I had nothing to say, and


    I wasn’t going to apologize since I didn’t feel I was at fault


    “Maddie, you really muste. I haven’t seen you in ages and have so much to talk about,” Bree


    said and sighed.


    Upon hearing this, I knew I couldn’t refuse this lunch. knew she would want toin about Chirs


    and Jewel’s matter. But as Chris’s ex, it wasn’t appropriate for me to engage in that.


    I didn’t want to be a sounding board forints and let those grievances affect me.


    “Bree, I might not be able to make it.” I still declined.


    “If you don’t go, are you nning to cut ties with mepletely? Maddie, ever since you left, I


    haven’t Eslept


    slept well or eaten properly. Just for today, can you be my daughter and have a meal with me?”


    Bree tried to appeal to my emotions, and I couldn’t say no to that. In the end, I had no choice but to


    agree. “Bree, I’ll do my best toe.”


    “Maddie, I’ll be waiting for you,” she said, leaving me with no room to back out.