Chapter 17
Samuel’s assistant gave the news after a double–check. “Mr. Lampard, the card is spotless. No recent charges at all.”
The call wrapped up, and Samuel was left in awkward silence, facing Julie, Austin, and Melanie.
Melanie, with a sudden spark of curiosity, said, “Maybe our sister’s been using her boyfriend’s cash all this time? Like, Craig
Julie scoffed. That guy with the nine–to–five?”
1:|:ཀ དེ་ ན ཚན
Melanie, trying to keep her own connection to Craig on the down–low, nodded. “Yeah, she mentioned he gives her his paycheck. I have his number. Let me see if they’ve moved in together.”
Austin rolled his eyes, “Using a guy’s money and now living together? She’s gonna tarnish our family’s reputation.”
Melanie dialed Craig’s number, her voice casual. “Mr. Fraley, just between us, have you been paying for everything for my
sister?”
Craig was caught off guard but played along. Yeah, usually. Why do you ask?”
“Has she ever talked about paying you back?” Melanie smiled
“We don’t keep score. I just gave her 30 hundred from my company bonus. She said it was for something important,” Craig lied smoothly.
Melanie was pleased and put her phone on speaker, making sure her family could hear. “So, is she staying at your place now?”
Craig paused, considering his words. He’d been looking for Kylie, but no one seemed to know where she’d gone. He figured. Melanie had an angle for this call.
He knew which side his bread was buttered on. Melanie was the family’s favorite.
So he lied again, “She was with me until yesterday, but when I didn’t give her more cash, she got upset and left. Any idea where she might be?”
After hanging up. Melanie looked at her family with a mix of satisfaction and concern. “Kylie’s always asking her boyfriend for money. It’s really worrisome.”
Samuel’s anger was palpable. “Disgraceful!” He slammed his hand on the table, the water glass flying off and shattering against the wall.
Kylie slipped her phone into her pocket as she headed toward Trendy Mall’s underground parking lot. Traffic had been a mess. but it gave her a chance to hit the supermarket.
She was about to step out of her car when she remembered the task she’d agreed to for Zach earlier. Flipping open her phone, she scanned through the photos he’d sent. [The jade pendant in the fourth photo is the one.] she texted back.
Just as she was about to enter the supermarket, her phone rang. Trevor’s name flashed on the screen. “Where are you?” he asked, his voice all business.
“At the supermarket in Trendy Mall,” Kylie answered, already reaching for a shopping cart.
“Wait for me,” “Trevor commanded before the call ended abruptly.
Kylie stood there for a moment, a little bewildered. Was he close? It suddenly dawned on her–the Trendy Mall was just a stone’s throw from the Walters Group building, a major landmark in Jardora.
Kylie was already making a dent in the snack aisle, tossing bags of chips and a mix of treats into her cart.
Ever since her accident, she’d been craving these little comforts. Back then, she’d been too penny–wise to splurge on
such
luxuries.
Now, she was all about making up for lost time, even planning to bring some back for Hoard. They had a thing for these snacks during their TV binges.
0
among the shoppers.
When he finally spotted Kylie, his face looked like it could give an ice sculpture a run for its money–it was that cold. His usual aloofness had turned into something Arctic.
Kylie, engrossed in her snack quest, only noticed Trevor when she looked up from her cart. He seemed a bit grumpy. “Is there something you need, Mr. Walters?” she asked.
His eyes were as frosty as a winter breeze. “Are you done shopping?”
“Not quite. Want anything? They’ve got a new flavor of chips here. Interested?” Kylie’s question was more of a polite gesture.
Trevor didn’t even bother to look at the chips, his voice as cold as his gaze. “I don’t do junk food.”
“Isn’t this from the food company under the Walters Group? You’re not a fan of a little self–deprecation?” Kylie sneered.
She was easygoing, but that didn’t mean she was going to take the heat for someone else’s bad day. If someone had upset him, he should deal with them. Why was he giving her the cold shoulder!
For the past two days, she had been considerate of Noreen’s feelings, even when she noticed his offhand attitude. She had given him plenty of leeway
Trevor’s expression darkened, his gaze sharp as a blade. As a powerful man, his stare could make anyone tremble. Kylie had seen her fair share of tough times, but under Trevor’s stern gaze, her heart still skipped a beat.
“Grandma asked us to go to the auction house together. She’s got her eye on a piece of jewelry she wants us to bid on, Trevor said coldly.
If it weren’t for Noreen’s request, he wouldn’t have considered bringing her along. It was just a piece of jewelry; he could have handled it himself.
Kylie had beautiful eyes that sparkled when she smiled, crescent–shaped and gentle. But when she wasn’t smiling and showed a hint of anger, she resembled a beast ready to fight its fate, instantly giving the impression that she had been dealt a raw hand. It stirred a desire to…cherish her.
But that thought was quickly extinguished. To him, she was not only cunning but also adept at deception.
“Alright,” Kylie agreed, seeing no reason to refuse Noreen’s request.
“Your clothes won’t do.” Trevor’s cold gaze revealed his disapproval. He checked his watch and said, “The auction starts at seven tonight. It’s not even five yet. There’s time to get ready. I’ll have Zach take you somewhere. I’ll meet you at the auction house.”
“Sure, I’ll check out and then load up my car. Have Zach wait for me at the parking lot exit, Kylie said, pushing her cart to the
checkout.
Trevor stood there, his icy gaze sweeping over the chips on the shelf. His comp
product?
Zach was ready to chauffeur Kylie, but she’d already driven herself there. So he navigated to her location.
When he got to the parking lot’s exit, he slid into her tiny electric car. His long legs made the compact interior feel even more
snug
He raised an eyebrow. “Mrs. Walters, your husband’s got a garage full of cars. Why didn’t you take one of those?”
Kylie smiled, “This one’s better for the planet.”
What she kept to herself was that her marriage to Trevor was more of a contract than a commitment. They weren’t really a couple, and she wouldn’t use his stuff.
