?Chapter 304:


    “Kathy, what’s the reason for this meet-up?” Madeline asked as she settled across from Kathy in the booth, genuinely curious about Kathy’s sudden invitation. Considering theirst interaction at Carter Manor, where Kathy had not minced words in her criticism, this invitation stirred her curiosity about Kathy’s intentions.


    “Madeline, I’m expecting,” Kathy blurted out.


    Madeline, sipping her lemonade, was caught off guard and started coughing. Surprised, she stared at Kathy, wondering when Kathy had be so reckless.


    Kathy, avoiding Madeline’s probing look, murmured, “It’s been about two weeks.”


    Setting her ss down, Madeline dabbed at her lips with a napkin before asking, “And why are you telling me this?” The possibility of Kathy sharing such sensitive information without fear of it reaching the Carter family seemed unlikely. It suggested either an overestimation of trust or perhaps an underestimation of theplexity of their rtionship. “Who’s the father? Whye to me instead of him?” Madeline pressed.


    “I don’t know who the father is,” Kathy admitted, a statement that left Madeline in disbelief. Kathy’s past had its wild moments, but this was uncharted territory. Kathy had been closely monitored by her family until recently. They had lessened their vignce, believing she had changed. Then, Kathy found herself pregnant after a night out.


    By coincidence, she encountered Madeline at the hospital and shifted the family’s focus onto Madeline, seizing the chance to address her own predicament discreetly. Yet, witnessing how Madeline utilized her pregnancy to secure a position within the Carter family had given Kathy pause for thought. A child, regardless of its gender, represented a legacy, a powerful bargaining chip.


    Madeline couldn’t help but let out a derisiveugh, her gaze hardening. “It seems you’re not as well-behaved as you pretend to be.”


    Kathy’s rebellion had escted to a secret pregnancy, a fact she couldn’t hide from Madeline’s piercing observation. Despite the sting of Madeline’s words, Kathy hade prepared, willing to face whatever bacsh awaited her. “I’m looking to find a father for this child,” she stated, a deration that left Madeline momentarily speechless.


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    “How do you n on ‘finding’ a father? Do you think people won’t question the child’s paternity?” Madeline challenged, skepticism painting her tone.


    Kathy met Madeline’s gaze with resolve. “How many really opt for a paternity test once the child is born? Aristocratic circles are rife with tales of children being swapped. My situation won’t stand out.”


    Madeline processed this, piecing together Kathy’s bold, if not desperate, n. “So, what do you need from me?” she asked, curiosity piqued.


    “I’ve got someone in mind, but I’ll need your assistance to make it happen.”


    Madeline settled deeper into the booth, her skepticism clear as she folded her arms. “Given myck of sway within any notable family circles, you’re seeking my aid? Amusing.”


    If Madeline possessed the necessary influence or connections, she’d have utilized them for her own benefit, not for Kathy’s. She was no one’s pawn.


    Kathy adopted a more subdued tone, pressing her case. “I need your support in this. You’re on the verge of bing a part of the Carter family, and I gather you’d prefer not to deal with my antics regrly, correct? If I were to marry and move away, I assure you, I’d cease to be a thorn in your side, even offering financialpensation each month.”


    Madeline took a moment to weigh Kathy’s words. Indeed, the thought of Kathy leveraging her familial ties to stir trouble within the Carter household was unappealing. Kathy’s departure could indeed make Madeline’s life more serene.


    After a brief period of consideration, Madeline relented. “Very well. Who’s caught your eye, and what part must I y in your scheme?”


    “Bryson Andrews,” Kathy revealed,ying her n bare.


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