"Donnie muttered, 'Wasting food is a sin."

"Then you eat it," came the quick reply.

Donnie stood there for a moment, then tossed the leftover sandwich into the bin.

The next day, Chad received yet another packed lunch. This time, he walked over to the security booth at the entrance and said to the old guard inside, "If anyone brings me lunch again, just leave it at the door. If it's not picked up by the next day, toss it." The guard replied, "I thought you knew the girl, Officer Chad. She seemed to think you were friends."

Chad shook his head. "Don't know her. I threw away yesterday's meal."

As expected, on the third day, Vivian showed up again, believing she was engaged in a grand romantic gesture. But when she arrived, she found the previous day's lunch still sitting there, untouched.

Frowning, she asked the guard, "Who told you to do this?"

"It's common knowledge around here," he replied.

Vivian clenched her fists, her romantic dreams dashed. All her efforts seemed like a fool's errand.

"Tell Chad these lunches are from his sister," she said defiantly.

The guard held up a hand. "Don't go using Molly's name in vain. If she finds out someone's been sending her brother meals under her name, she'll have my head."

the precinct knew of

rejected lunches and stormed off. Rounding the corner, she

popped by

let her efforts go unnoticed. As dusk fell, she waited at the Byrne family home for Chad to finish his shift. That day, not

living room, Vivian felt a pang of

her son's haul, remarked, "Did my daughter sacrifice herself as a guinea pig for

Molly replied, spotting Vivian but making no attempt to interact as she whisked Chad upstairs, leaving no chance for Vivian to speak with him. Chad

narrowed as she watched Molly's retreating figure. A cold realization dawned on her. What if Chad's

of Juliana, but due

obstacle,

with schemes as

Chad seemed unfazed,

started pondering

sister's nature, Chad reminded her, "Focus on your studies. Don't worry

Beginners.' She looked up at Chad, blinked innocently, and quietly turned off

unconvinced, Chad confiscated her

at a man's white shirt on the bed. The dim light barely concealed the malice in

right to pursue happiness, right, Chad?" she whispered to

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