"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 Molly's

a huff, Vivian took the rejected lunches and stormed off. Rounding the corner, she angrily

popped by the

fell, she waited at the Byrne family home for Chad to finish his shift. That day, not only did she see Chad laden with shopping bags, but

Byrne living room, Vivian felt a pang of

my daughter sacrifice herself as a guinea pig for her

a foul mood," 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 indulged Molly, following her without

she watched Molly's retreating figure. A cold realization dawned

for her wasn't because of Juliana, but due to her possessiveness over Chad? Vivian knew they were not blood-related

obstacle,

with schemes as she watched

Annoyed, she declared, "Brother, I'll bring you lunch tomorrow." Chad seemed unfazed, knowing his sister was likely to act out of jealousy. "Just make sure you

scoffed and started

the evening, understanding his sister's nature, Chad reminded her, "Focus on your

Recipes for Beginners.' She looked up

unconvinced, Chad confiscated her phone before

the dead of night, at her lodgings, Vivian glared at a man's white shirt on the bed. The dim light barely concealed the

happiness, right, Chad?"

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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