?Chapter 405:


    Milford, cautious of any sudden moves that might harm Gabri, held the door open just enough to prevent Z from pushing her way through.


    “Whose child is this?”


    Milford tightened his grip on Gabri and responded nonchntly, “She’s a friend’s child. They had some errands and asked me to babysit.”


    “Do you even have friends here?” Z pressed, her suspicion evident. “This is Eileen’s house, isn’t it? Why would you bring a child here?”


    “Why all the interrogation?” Milford retorted, growing impatient. “We were just supposed to have a meal together, right? I’m not avable for lunch today; can we do tomorrow instead?”


    Milford’s obvious rush to see her out heightened Z’s suspicions. Sensing his distraction, she seized the opportunity to step further into the house. The sight of a crawling mat and scattered toys around the living room made it clear: this child was more than just a temporary responsibility for Milford. The baby lived in this house.


    “Is this Eileen’s child?” Z asked, her voiceced with curiosity.


    “This is Bailee’s daughter,” Milford stated firmly as he ced Gabri on the crawling mat and rose to his full height, towering over Z and effectively shielding the baby girl from her view.


    “Is it really appropriate for you to barge into someone’s home like this?” Milford challenged, his voice stern. “Even if this is my ce, you can’t just behave this way.”


    Z craned her neck, trying to glimpse the baby girl, but Milford mirrored her movements, blocking her at every turn.


    “What are you doing? Are you trying to kidnap her? You’re scaring her, and I won’t stand for it,” Milford used, his tone filled with anger and protection.


    Z’s eyes then caught sight of a photograph on the cab: a woman lovingly holding the baby. It was a photo of Bailee and Gabri. After Bailee had taken that photo, she quickly developed it and proudly disyed it in the living room as a deration of her bond with Gabri.


    Z’s attention shifted from the baby to Milford as she settled onto the sofa. “I heard you skipped grades and were admitted to a university?”


    “Yes, I mentioned thatst time, remember?” Milford responded, positioning himself on the crawling mat to keep a watchful eye on Gabri.


    “I heard from Eileen that you’re excellent academically. Aren’t you considering studying abroad with such outstanding performance?” Z probed, noting Milford’s silence and taking it as confirmation. “So why didn’t you choose to study abroad? Did Eileen not want to pay for it?”


    Milford frowned at Z’s usatory tone. “No, it’s because I chose to stay here.”


    “Why stay?” Z leaned forward, trying to gauge his expression. “Going abroad could be transformative for your career. With the same effort, you could secure a better job, potentially doubling your future ie. Why choose to stay here? It’s not like we see each other all the time.”


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