“Of course!” Steve smiled. “Just send me a message with the time you want to meet.”
“All right then, I won’t bother you,” Ranita said before leaving. Brendon arrived just as she was leaving.
“Steve, do you want to grab lunch together?” Brendon asked.
Steve pointed at the bag on the table.
“What’s that?”
Brendon leaned in for a closer look and his expression turned sour. “Did Ranita give that to you?”
“Yeah! She stopped by and brought it for me,” Steve replied with a smile. He paused before continuing, “Last time you asked me to get some peaches from the farmer, was it for Ranita? How much did you end up giving her?”
“What’s it matter to you?” Brendon gritted his teeth.
That woman had actually given away the fruit he personally drove out to get!
“It doesn’t matter! As long as I have something to eat,” Steve raised an eyebrow but before he could say anything else, Brendon snatched up the bag and walked out without another word.
Steve couldn’t catch up with him even if he tried.
“What do you feel like eating for lunch?” Eve was thrilled about being discharged from hospital soon. “Hot pot or Japanese food or Thai cuisine?”
“Can’t you be more mindful of your diet? The doctor told you not to eat anything too heavy!” Dylan reminded her.
“I only hurt my bones; there’s no need for me to watch what I eat!” Eve protested. “Why are you always nagging like my mom?! You’re giving me calluses on my ears!”
Dylan didn’t back down either and chuckled, “Your bones might be fine but take a look at your medical report. High cholesterol at such a young age… ”
Ranita wanted them both stop bickering when they reached their floor and stepped out of elevator.
“Brendon?” Ranita looked surprised seeing him in elevator holding familiar looking bag of fruits she gave Steve earlier.
“We’ll take next one!” Dylan rolled his eyes and immediately changed his tone towards Brendon who seemed unwelcome here now.
“Ranita!” Little did they know, Brendon pressed a button and said, “Come in!”
Ranita pursed her lips as Eve grabbed her hand, signaling her not to go.
“It’s okay, I’ll talk to him for a bit!” Ranita walked into the elevator, and Eve said to Dylan, “Let’s go together!”
Suddenly, the elevator became crowded.
As the elevator descended to the parking lot, Brendon finally grabbed her wrist and pulled her out hastily.
“Brendon, what are you doing? Let go of me!” Ranita struggled.
Brendon didn’t say anything, turning his head to stuff the bag into Ranita’s arms. “Why give these to Steve? I picked them myself and brought them back for you. Don’t give them to Steve!”
Unfortunately, he didn’t pick them just for her.
Ranita shook off his hand. “Brendon, don’t be so temperamental.”
“I’m not being temperamental!” Brendon’s face was dark and his voice carried an unprecedented rage. “Ranita, it’s not you that I care about. It’s our child.”
“I have a stake in this child too.”
Brendon stormed off in anger as Ranita stood there numb with pain.
As Brendon got into the car, he received a call from Carlee. “Mr. Stuart, this is Carlee. Are you really sure that you and Shannon have decided not to keep this baby?”
“Yes!” Brendon replied coldly.
“Well then! Um… Shannon has poor health and if she has surgery, she’ll need a long time to recover. I hope that when the time comes, you can take good care of her so she doesn’t carry any emotional baggage.”
Brendon felt restless inside but knew he had made a mistake and had to bear the consequences of it all.