The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 627

An hour later, a hearty dinner was spread across the table.

Catherine and Lance sat at opposite ends, with Lanny's stroller parked safely between them.

Lance ladled out a bowl of soup and pulled out his chair. He had just rolled up his sleeves and barely reached for his silverware when a piece of paper slid into his line of sight.

The handwriting was intimately familiar. It was Catherine's.

Formula, diapers, toys, and the calculated cost of daily meals—all meticulously itemized, culminating in a final total at the bottom.

"This covers the money you've spent on Lanny lately, along with groceries. Look it over. If everything seems right, I'll transfer the funds to you tonight."

Just thinking about that total amount made Catherine's chest tight.

It practically emptied her bank account.

She hadn't wanted to return to work this early, especially with Lanny still so small.

But financial reality left her no choice.

Lance's expression instantly darkened. "You had me come all the way home just to hand me this?"

"Yes." Catherine nodded. Sensing his rising displeasure, she quickly added, "It wasn't a life-or-death emergency. Did I interrupt something important at the office?"

Did he think she was going to drop some heavy news regarding the Lee family?

Had he cleared his schedule specifically for that?

"No."

Lance stared at the itemized list. She had recorded every single cent with infuriating precision.

He tossed the paper onto the table, tapping his index finger against the wood.

"Why didn't you factor in rent?"

Catherine choked on her words.

"Also, I put in a lot of physical effort the other day. Aren't you going to tip me for my services?"

His shameless remark caught her completely off guard.

Catherine took a deep breath. She had spent the last few days desperately trying to scrub the memory of their intense intimacy from her mind.

And with one sentence, he dragged it all right back to the surface.

Instantly, the food in Lance's mouth turned to ash.

He chewed mechanically, his jaw ticking tight. The veins on the back of his hand bulged as his grip on his fork turned white-knuckled.

"Ivan is about to be ousted," he said smoothly. "You should consider coming back to the branch office."

Catherine rejected the idea without hesitation. "No. I've already signed the offer with Golden Horizon Enterprises. Backing out now means paying a massive penalty."

"I can cover the penalty fee."

Catherine's brow furrowed in frustration.

She could tell that Lance's shift from unreasonable annoyance to this unsettling seriousness was entirely genuine.

"I'm not going back to SilverLeaf Industries."

She enunciated every word, leaving zero room for misinterpretation.

Lance's expression grew dangerously somber. "What kind of benefits is Gavin promising you?"

"Nothing. It's just a normal job."