Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie) novel Chapter 1045

"The child is Conrad's?" Brandon's words quickly pulled me out of my moment of sorrow.

I nodded slightly and told him the story Yvonne had shared with me. Then I added, "She doesn't seem to be lying. And there's also a paternity test."

"We can verify whether she's lying or not. That's not the real issue. The real issue is her motive," Brandon mused.

"Her motive is simple—money. She wants to take back everything the Gildon family gave me."

Brandon nodded slightly. "This woman probably isn't as simple as she seems on the surface. She's playing a game of 'hunter and the hunted' with you.'"

"I don't care what game she's playing. I've never touched the Gildon family's assets, nor have I ever intended to keep them for myself.

"If the child is really Conrad's—Zack and Bree's granddaughter—if they want to give it to her, so be it," I said. At this point in my life, these things no longer mattered to me.

"I still think it's not that simple. I'll have someone look into this woman. As for you, don't worry about it. Just focus on the present," Brandon reassured me, afraid that I'd be worried.

"I know. So, I'll leave all the hard work to you," I said with a chuckle. If it was something that only required me to talk, I wasn't going to stress about it.

As women, the simpler we lived, the slower time seemed to pass.

…

The night before Logan was set to leave, it happened to be Baldwin's birthday. Martha prepared a meal and asked Logan and Lisa to go home for dinner.

As they got out of the car, Lisa glanced at Logan and asked, "Do you really think this is just a birthday dinner?"

"Hm?" He looked at her, his gaze deep and unreadable.

"I'm worried there's something else going on... that my mom has figured something out," Lisa admitted, sounding guilty—like a thief afraid of getting caught.

Seeing her so nervous, Logan raised a hand and gently pinched the soft flesh of her cheek. "Where's the courage you had when you climbed out of my closet and wanted to confess?"

"That was different," Lisa muttered.

At that time, she had been fired up—like she had downed a whole bottle of vodka. But now? She was completely sober, and nowhere near as reckless.

"I heard you two arriving. What are you doing out here instead of coming in?"

Lisa immediately clasped her hands behind her back. "We're coming in now. I was just talking to Uncle Logan about something."

"What's so important that you can't talk about it inside? We're all waiting for you two," Martha said as she turned to head back inside. But just before stepping through the door, she glanced back at them.

Lisa, afraid that Logan would try to grab her hand again, bolted straight for the house.

Watching her run, Logan's lips curled into a smirk. "Brave when confessing, but playing coward now."

"Mr. Carline, happy birthday!" Lisa called out as she rushed in, throwing her arms around her father and even planting a kiss on his cheek.

Baldwin looked a bit embarrassed. "This girl..."

"Let her be. One day, when she brings a man home, someone will be jealous if she kisses you again," Martha teased.

Just as she finished speaking, Logan stepped inside. His gaze immediately landed on Lisa and her father.