The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 571

“How should I know?” Lance replied, his tone weighted. “Ask her yourself.”

“I tried calling Gavin,” Harrell said, “but he was evasive. He basically hinted his relationship with Catherine is closer than I thought—that they aren’t just ordinary friends—”

Lance cut him off. “Are you finished?”

“Gavin tends to exaggerate, you know how he is,” Harrell said, probing. “Maybe you should just ask Catherine?”

“What’s there to ask?”

Lance sounded collected—almost too collected. “You’ve just moved up in the world; now you’re a father. Shouldn’t you give the gossip a rest?”

With that, he hung up. His grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white.

For a moment he just stood there, silent. Then, with sudden force, he flung the phone onto the bed—the device bounced several times and nearly tumbled off the edge.

“Hit in the head with an ashtray, huh? Would’ve served him right,” he muttered.

Lunchtime arrived, and Lance headed downstairs.

The dining table was set, and Susan was plating the food. “Lance, come eat before it gets cold,” she called. “Catherine said she isn’t hungry. It’s time for the baby’s feeding, so I’m bringing a tray up for Catherine while she’s busy with him.”

Lance stopped short, his hand resting on the back of his chair. “She’s not eating?”

Susan nodded. “Yeah. She stepped out for a bit, but I don’t know what happened—seems she’s in a pretty low mood.”

“Why don’t you bring her lunch, Lance?” Susan suggested.

Alexa’s eyes widened from across the table, where she was ladling soup. Lance had been enthusiastic about helping out with Lanny, but he never struck her as the type to serve food to someone else—let alone carry a tray upstairs for Catherine.

“I’ll do it,” Lance said, taking the tray Susan had prepared, and headed for the stairs.

Alexa leaned in to whisper to Susan, “Is Lance always this easygoing?”

Catherine’s voice was clear in the quiet room. “Okay, good. But keep out of Amanda’s business from now on. Pull everyone back.”

“Why?” Gavin sounded reluctant. “I want to help you.”

“I don’t want you dragged into the Lee family’s mess. You’ve already done more than enough for me.”

Gavin’s voice fell, wounded. “So after all this, you still don’t see me as one of your own, Catherine. You must have other plans, and I’m not a part of them. You’re counting on Lance, aren’t you? Deep down, he’s the only one you really trust.”

“It’s not like that—”

“Let’s not get into it. Just answer me this: are we still working together? Are you choosing him, or me?”

Gavin held his breath as he waited.

To his immense relief, Catherine didn’t even hesitate. “Of course I’m choosing you.”