Chapter 157

Chapter 157:

Evie was stunned into silence. How incredibly dismissive! She felt a jolt of irritation rising within her.

As Madisyn neared, Andrew’s demeanor shifted. The icy detachment in his gaze vanished as he approached her, gently taking her hand. “Evie must have caused you a lot of trouble,” he said softly. “You must be tired. Let me take you out for a nice dinner tonight.”

“Sure, but just so you know, she wasn’t any trouble,” Madisyn responded, her smile radiating warmth.

Off to the side, Evie felt a sinking feeling. There’s no way I could be Andrew’s biological sister! Their display of affection was almost too much for her to bear.

With a snort, Evie snapped, “Could you two dial it back a bit? All this PDA is making me sick.”

Andrew’s response was immediate and unruffled. “Then why not go eat by yourself?”

Evie instantly relented. “No, no, I have to stick with you two!”

She trailed behind them like a reluctant sidekick.

The trio made their way back to Gemond together. At dinner, Andrew fussed over Madisyn, peeling shrimps for her and dabbing her mouth with a napkin. Afterward, as they took a walk down a quiet path, Andrew held Madisyn’s hand, while Evie lagged behind, trying to entertain herself by admiring the scenery.

When the walk came to an end, Andrew insisted on taking Madisyn back to her home. He turned to Evie and said, “You can grab a taxi home by yourself.”

“What? Andrew, it’s so late, and you’re okay with me being alone?” Evie asked, her voice laced with feigned helplessness.

Andrew wasn’t buying it. “You used to stay out until midnight without a second thought. Now you’re suddenly afraid?” he shot back, easily seeing through her attempt to guilt him.

Evie grumbled, “Fine, fine. See you tomorrow at the office, Madisyn! Love you!”

She blew a playful kiss, only for Andrew to intercept it with a glare so sharp that it sent her darting away in a hurry.

Ugh, Andrew has been impossible ever since he started dating.

Despite her frustration, her thoughts drifted to her own boyfriend, Kian. The singing competition had kept her so busy that she hadn’t seen him in days, and now she was eager to hear his voice.

She dialed his number, and just as she was about to hang up, Kian finally answered, his voice breathless. “Hey, babe, what’s up?”

Evie’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why do you sound out of breath? What were you doing?”

“Just went for a run,” Kian said, laughing lightly. “I’ve been overindulging in food lately, so I figured I’d get some exercise tonight.”

Evie’s doubts faded, and she smiled. “Oh, that makes sense. No worries, I just missed you. The competition is over, so I thought I’d come by and see you!”

She was excited to surprise him, especially after winning first place. Surely, he’d be thrilled.

But Kian hesitated. “Babe, I’ve got a friend at my place tonight, so it’s not the best time. How about I come see you tomorrow?” he suggested.

Evie playfully asked, “Who is it? You didn’t sneak another girl home, did you, Kian?”

Kian’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly moved to the bathroom, trying to keep his voice steady. Did she find out?

But before he could overthink it, Evie chuckled. “Just messing with you! Go take care of your guest.”

“Very funny!” Relieved, Kian sighed. “You’re crazy. Why would I need anyone else when I’ve got a stunning girlfriend like you?”

“Obviously,” Evie replied with a confident smile. She was sure of her appeal—there was no way her boyfriend would cheat.

After the call ended, Kian stepped out of the bathroom and made his way back to the bed, where Teresa was waiting. His expression softened as he slid his arms around her.

“What took you so long? Can’t you see I’m getting bored?” Teresa asked, tracing the lines of his muscles with her fingers, a dreamy look in her eyes.

“I just grabbed a quick shower,” Kian said with a grin. Leaning closer, he murmured, “So, did you have fun earlier? Are you up for another round?”

Teresa’s face flushed, and she gave him a playful slap on the arm. “You’re so naughty!”

Kian laughed, a warm, deep sound. Then, lowering his voice, he asked, “So, does this mean we’re official now?”

There was a hint of caution in his question, and Teresa couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. Who would’ve thought a celebrity like Kian would be so taken with me? This was her charm at work!

Teresa felt a wave of happiness wash over her, pleased with how things were unfolding. Her life was finally looking up.

“I guess so… But I’ll be keeping an eye on you. If you don’t treat me right, I won’t hesitate to dump you,” Teresa said, a playful edge in her voice.

“Don’t worry, my love, I’ll make sure you’re treated like a queen!” Kian promised, pulling her closer.

Teresa’s eyes sparkled with happiness, her mood lifted by his words. She felt on top of the world.

Madisyn arrived home late that night and went straight to bed, exhausted.

The next morning at work, she was met with an unpleasant surprise—everything on her desk had been packed into a large box. She frowned, trying to make sense of it.

“Oh, you’re finally here,” Teresa said as she spun her chair around, a satisfied grin on her face. “I went ahead and packed up your things for you. You can leave now.”

“Why exactly should I leave?” Madisyn asked, her voice calm and steady.

“Do you really need to ask?” Teresa replied, her tone dripping with condescension. “We agreed that if Evie didn’t place in the top three, you’d quit the company. It’s time for you to keep your promise,” she added, her eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction.

.

.

.