---- Chapter 389 Franklin had known Maggie for years, and they had been married for just as many. Yet Franklin had never liked her. So even with a child between them, even if Franklin and Maggie went out alone for a meal, neither the Green family nor the Brown family would ever feel threatened or imagine anything could develop between them. Sophia''s overreaction came down to one thing: she simply couldn''t stand Maggie. Janice and Old Mrs. Green, on the other hand, reacted much more indifferently. Janice had no intention of disturbing Franklin in his private room.

She lightly tugged Sophia''s arm to signal her not to speak too much, then told the manager, "Please, lead the way." With that, she linked arms with Old Mrs. Brown and walked off toward another private dining room, never sparing Maggie another nce. ---- Maggie''s skills in AI might be impressive; she might have managed to secure Johnny''s loyalty to the point of devotion-but in Franklin''s eyes, she was nothing. So Janice and Old Mrs. Green truly didn''t care about Franklin dining with Maggie. They couldn''t even be bothered to inform Julia. Sophia, however, soured the moment she saw Maggie.

She didn''t really believe Maggie could ever steal Franklin from her cousin, but she was convinced Maggie would seize any chance she had alone with him to stir trouble between Franklin and Julia. So once inside their room, Sophia immediately sent Julia a message: Sis, we saw that shameless woman here at the hotel. She''s actually having dinner with brother-inw! Of course, their daughter is with them too. Julia rarely replied to Sophia''s texts. But since this one involved Franklin, she answered offhandedly: I know. Franklin already told me. ---- Sophia rxed at once. Good.

I was worried she''d cause problems, but if brother-inw reports everything to you, then I feel better. Julia didn''t reply again. When she first learned of Maggie''s talent in AI, she had been uneasy, though not overly concerned. But the revtion that Maggie was Nn''s student and a major shareholder in Cole-that news had shaken her badly, leaving her stripped of confidence for a time. Now, however, she hade to terms with it. Aside from professional skill, shecked nothingpared to Maggie. So she no longer fretted over Franklin meeting her. Still...

she had to admit, the Sterling heiress fell far short whenpared to Maggie''s abilities. If Franklin ever learned Maggie was Nn''s student, that the Cole projects he admired so much were her work-could he really remain unaffected? ---- Meanwhile- Maggie returned to the room after several minutes on the phone. Franklin nced at her. "Was it something urgent?" Maggie had no desire to answer. Only when she saw Isabe watching her anxiously did she shake her head. Isabe tugged her hand. "Mommy,e pick the dishes." Maggie sat down. "You haven''t ordered yet?" Isabe: "Not yet.

Daddy said we should wait for you." Franklin was considerate-but Maggie felt nothing. She simply sat beside Isabe and began flipping through the menu.style

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