Spoiled by the Silver Fox novel Chapter 765

"No shame in being outplayed," Maddie declared, her voice an exuberant echo across the park. Dressed in crisp white sportswear, she bounded toward us with the unrestrained joy of a puppy.

"Putnam! Weren't you tied up with work today?" she called out, her sneakers kicking up a cloud of dust as she neared.

Sebastian replied coolly, "He's not that busy... He just didn't want to see you, that's all."

At his words, Maddie's sunny demeanor faltered, her eyes dimming as she muttered a subdued "Oh."

Gillian, trailing behind, noticed the sudden shift. "What's got you down all of a sudden, Maddie?" she asked, her brow wrinkled in confusion.

Maddie forced a thin smile. "Nothing, Gillian. Let's just go find Steph."

But Putnam wasn't having any of it. "Come back here!" he commanded with a deep breath, his voice carrying an authority that often went unchallenged.

Maddie's eyes sparkled with a thread of hope as she turned back to him. "Are you going to join me, Putnam?"

"I just got here. Let's take a break... Stephanie and Cyrus are in the middle of a heated game. Why interrupt them?"

Sebastian, quick with his wit, jabbed, "Someone sounds jealous."

Putnam shot him a glare filled with a mix of indignation and frustration.

"Jealousy is a game for the cunning," I thought, smirking at the unfolding drama.

"Since you left my place last time... you two haven't seen each other, have you?" Sebastian's voice cut through the tension.

Maddie nodded honestly. "Yeah... Putnam's been really busy."

"The truth is, he's not busy. He just doesn't like you," Sebastian said bluntly.

Maddie's gaze dropped to the ground, her voice barely above a whisper, "I know... he's just trying to be responsible. He doesn't really like me."

Putnam took a deep breath, trying to contain his irritation. "Who said I don't like you? Why listen to this kid's nonsense?"

Maddie's face lit up, "So you do like me?"

Putnam felt cornered, as if every word he spoke just dug him deeper. "Let's just say I don't dislike you."

"Not dislike and not like," Sebastian chimed in, twisting the knife further.