The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 163

“Whoa!”

Gavin jumped up just in time, catching Catherine as she stumbled. His hands closed securely around her waist, steadying her.

Her heart was pounding so hard she could barely breathe. For a moment, she just froze, nerves buzzing from the sudden fall and the even more sudden closeness.

Gavin gave her a crooked grin, still a little breathless. “I finally get a legit excuse to get you out of the office, and you’re already trying to escape. What’s the rush? I’m not going to bite, you know.”

Catherine straightened up, using his arm for support. She tried to calm herself, but his words only made her cheeks burn even hotter with irritation and embarrassment.

“Can you ever be serious?”

Gavin noticed she was actually mad and let out a low whistle, then quickly pasted on a playful smile. He was just about to crack another joke when his gaze flicked to the door—and he froze.

For a few seconds, his smile was stuck in place. Then it stretched even wider, all fake innocence.

“Isn’t there a saying? Women love bad boys. Not your thing, Catherine? So what do you like? Someone like Lance? The uptight, straight-arrow type?”

Just hearing Lance’s name made Catherine’s headache worse. She wanted nothing to do with that comparison.

“I like his type even less,” she shot back.

Gavin looked like he’d just won a prize. He slouched back into his seat and turned toward the door, pretending to notice the newcomers for the first time.

“Oh, wow, Lance! What a coincidence. You didn’t happen to catch what Catherine just said, did you?”

Catherine, still smoothing her skirt, froze in place. Slowly, she turned to look.

Lance was standing at the doorway. In front of him was Adelina, quietly seated in her wheelchair. Adelina looked up, surprised, then glanced at Lance to see his reaction.

Lance’s voice softened immediately. “Alright.” He eased his arm out of her hold and reached for the wheelchair handles, ready to leave.

But Gavin jumped in again. “Hey, we haven’t even started on this food yet. Lance, if you’re not in a hurry, why not join us? We’re all working on the government project together now. Let’s just sit down, clear the air, call it a fresh start…”

He was so eager for them to stay that he blocked Adelina’s wheelchair, practically apologizing for every past argument, doing everything he could to keep them at the table. He even offered Lance the main seat.

Catherine’s head was spinning. Every word out of Gavin’s mouth made her more anxious. She half-expected him to blurt out, “Catherine’s pregnant, and it’s your baby.” With Gavin, you could never rule out anything.

Finally, thanks to Gavin’s relentless persistence, Lance nodded and sat down with Adelina. His face was set in stone as he quietly served food onto Adelina’s plate, completely ignoring Gavin’s endless chatter.

Gavin leaned over to Catherine with a teasing smile. “Lance and Adelina really make a good couple, don’t you think? Ever seen Lance be this sweet, Catherine?”

Catherine stayed standing, eyes flicking to the exit, just waiting for a chance to slip away.