Chapter 582

—- Chapter 454 The moment Maggie got in, Isabella burrowed into her arms. From the driver’s seat, Franklin glanced back. “Any plans later?” Before Maggie could answer, Isabella tilted her face up in Maggie’s arms. “Yeah! Mommy, if you’re free, can we go out and play after lunch?” Maggie had just opened her mouth when Isabella cut in with a little whine. “Pleeease, Mommy. Say yes?” “…Okay,” Maggie said. Half an hour later, they arrived at the restaurant. As soon as they stepped inside, they ran into Janice and Old Mrs. Brown coming the other way.

Both women froze when they saw the three of them —- together. “Franklin,” Janice and Old Mrs. Brown greeted first. Franklin nodded back. Maggie gave them a single glance and looked away, keeping her pace. Isabella didn’t recognize them. People often greeted Franklin in public, so she paid it no mind and simply followed Maggie. Janice and Old Mrs. Brown didn’t spare Isabella-or Maggie-much attention either. They were about to speak when Isabella noticed Franklin hadn’t caught up and called, “Daddy, hurry!” “Coming,” Franklin replied with a smile. He gave Janice and Old Mrs.

Brown another brief nod and then turned to go. The two women were momentarily taken aback, but their dinner companion arrived just then. “Sorry to keep you —- waiting.” “It’s fine, we only just got here,” they said with polite smiles. “The private room is ready-let’s go up.” They chatted amiably as they went in and ordered. An hour later, the meal over, they walked their friend downstairs toward the parking garage-only to spot Franklin, Maggie, and Isabella ahead of them. It looked like they, too, had just finished eating.

They were a bit far away; Franklin and Maggie clearly hadn’t noticed them. Janice and Old Mrs. Brown were about to look away when they saw Franklin step forward and open the car door for Maggie. The gesture was smooth and natural. Both women halted. Earlier, when they’d crossed paths in the lobby, they had already noticed that Franklin had stood at Maggie’s side-not Isabella’s-and had been smiling as he spoke to —- Maggie. They hadn’t thought much of it then; their confidence in Franklin and Julia’s relationship ran deep. But just now, he was still at Maggie’s side.

If Franklin truly disliked Maggie the way he used to, then no matter the circumstances, he would have let Isabella walk between them. If those details could still be dismissed, the fact that all three were getting into the same car-and that Franklin’s attentiveness to Maggie was unlike before-could not. At that moment, something else clicked into place:the divorce decision window had already arrived, yet Franklin hadn’t rushed to finalize the certificate with Maggie. Previously, they truly hadn’t overthought it.

But now- They also recalled that, lately, Franklin had seldom seen —- the family at all-and even Julia had rarely met with him. They had chalked it up to work. But now… Their friend, noticing their gaze fixed on unfamiliar faces, asked, “Who are they? Friends of yours?”