bChapter /bb299 /b

    +33)

    A momentter, Lisa came downstairs. She peeked around cautiously but didn’t spot Vivian. Turning to Maxine, she gestured quietly and whispered, “Is

    Vivian here?”

    Maxine shook her head at her, and only then did Lisa heave a huge sigh of relief. She walked downstairs, grabbed a piece of beef from the pot, and popped it into her mouth. “I have no idea what’s up with her tonight. Do you think something happened at work?” Lisa asked.

    After all, it was about her future stepfather, and Maxine really didn’t know what to say. She just pursed her lips and shrugged helplessly. “I really don’t know. Maybe she’s just been under a lot of stresstely.”

    Lisa sighed and helped her set the tes on the dining table.

    “Vivian” Lisa called out, “Are you busy up there? Dinner’s ready!”

    Jessica’s little head popped out from the second–floor railing. “Lisa?” she called.

    Lisa waved at her and called out, “Come on down! Don’t worry, it’s not Vivian’s cooking tonight…”

    Vivian, who’d just been gossiped about, appeared silently behind her and said with yful menace, “Starting tomorrow, you’re getting my cooking for a whole week!”

    Lisa froze as if struck by lightning, flustered as she apologized, “I’m sorry, Mom! But what’s really going on with you tonight?”

    As they settled into their seats, Jessica curiously scooped up a spoonful of the mushroom soup in front of her and took a sip. Her little face instantly scrunched up in distaste. Shooting a furtive nce at Vivian, Jessica worried Vivian might notice. Pretending nothing was wrong, she picked up a piece of beef and took a bite.

    Vivian was too engrossed in her conversation with Lisa to notice the look on Jessica’s face, but Maxine, who had been watching Jessica the whole time, couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

    Vivian tilted her head and asked, “What’s up?”

    Maxine cleared her throat softly and shook her head. “It’s nothing. So… did you clear things up with that guy?”

    As soon as Maxine finished speaking, Lisa’s voice sharpened. “What man?” she demanded, “Mom, didn’t you just say it was about work? That’s not what you told me earlier.”

    Noticing Vivian’s gaze, Maxine offered an appeasing smile and deftly changed the subject by serving some food to Jessica.

    “Vivian!” Lisa insisted. “You promised!”

    Vivian set down her chopsticks with a sigh. “Okay, I meant to tell you, I just didn’t know how. That guy is just someone I knew a long time ago. That’s all.”

    Seeing Lisa squinting at her skeptically, Vivian feltpelled to exin further. “There’s something off about him, that’s exactly why I agreed to meet hire again,” she said.

    After a brief silence at the table, Lisa finally spoke up, her tone firm. “Next time you go out with him, either Maxine or I have toe with you. Since you think there’s something off about bthat /bguy, you really shouldn’t go alone, we should be there with you.”

    Vivian initially thought this was unnecessary, but iisa was so adamant that she had no choice but to agree.

    Two dayster, it iwas /ithe weekend. With Jessica visiting the Mason family, both Lisa and Maxine were free to apany Vivian on her outing.

    The itwo /imet at the mall entrance, with Maxine and Lisa standing a short distance away Maxine squinted at the man beside Vivian, thinking. He looks familiar… I could’ve swem I’ve seen him somewhere before

    Lisa tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “What do you thank of this guy? Honestly, he’s nowhere near as handsome as Dad.”

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    09:35 Sun, 31 Aug D

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    Maxine’s attention was drawn to Lisa, and she couldn’t help bursting intoughter. “Well, there should at least be some basis forparison between the two, right?” she teased.

    09:35 Sun, 31 Aug 6.