?Chapter 1697:


    Brad wandered toward the refrigerator.


    As he opened the door, the housekeeper quickly added, “Those fruits are reserved for Ms. Harper. Mr. Phillips brought them exclusively for her. They’re from his private garden—no one else should touch them. If you’d like fruit, I’ll take some from the secondary fridge and clean it for you shortly.”


    Dani’s pregnancy made her crave pomegranates.


    Cedric peeled them for her daily, cing the ruby seeds into a dainty dish. Before shutting the fridge, Brad fixated on the vibrant pomegranates resting in the crisper drawer.


    As Cedric came down the stairs, something felt off. His gazended on Brad, who was lounging in the living room, right in Dani’s favorite spot. Cedric’s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Then he noticed the apple Brad was casually holding, and his brows furrowed.


    Brad, sensing Cedric’s focus on the fruit, gave a quick exnation. “The housekeeper got it from a different fridge, not Dani’s usual one.”


    Cedric knew that had to be true. Dani didn’t like apples, and she never kept any in her personal fridge.


    But what really bothered Cedric wasn’t the apple. It was the fact that Brad had been in the kitchen.


    Later, when Cedric made his way there himself, the housekeeper gave him the full story. “The apple Mr. McCoy was holding came from the secondary fridge. I told him the pomegranates were prepared specially for Ms. Harper.” Cedric paused as he opened the fridge. “He opened this fridge?”


    Though his voice was calm, his expression had gone cold.


    The housekeeper, who knew all too well how much Cedric doted on Dani and how he personally handled even her food, felt a spike of nervousness. She quickly added, “Yes, sir. But I stopped him before he touched anything inside.”


    Cedric gave a short nod. “Alright.”


    The housekeeper noticed the pomegranates prepared for Dani that day were freshly picked by Cedric from the tree outside the vi. He also threw out every fruit from the fridge.


    Feeling uneasy, the housekeeper promised before leaving, “I swear, I won’t let anyone into the kitchen again.”<fna33f> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? </fna33f>


    Under the dim evening light, Cedric’s sharp features seemed even more unforgiving. His voice was low and cold. “Good.”


    Yet the very next day, as soon as her back was turned, Brad slipped into the kitchen again.


    Annoyed, the housekeeper immediately approached him. “Mr. McCoy, I’m sorry, but Mr. Phillips said yesterday the kitchen is off-limits to guests. If you’re hungry or need anything, just let me know, and I’ll bring it to you.”


    Brad smiled and pointed at Dani’s private fridge. “I noticed there were some peaches in there yesterday. Where’d they go? Looks like Dani’s quite the fruit enthusiast.”


    The housekeeper didn’t know how to tell him that those peaches, and everything else, had been thrown out.


    Brad chuckled and walked away, muttering under his breath, “Cedric really is one cautious guy.”


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