Chapter 405
Milford, cautious of any sudden moves that might harm Gabriela, held the door open just enough to prevent Zola from pushing her way through.
“Whose child is this?”
Milford tightened his grip on Gabriela and responded nonchalantly, “She’s a friend’s child. They had some errands and asked me to babysit.”
“Do you even have friends here?” Zola pressed, her suspicion evident. “This is Eileen’s house, isn’t it? Why would you bring a child here?”
“Why all the interrogation?” Milford retorted, growing impatient. “We were just supposed to have a meal together, right? I’m not available for lunch today; can we do tomorrow instead?”
Milford’s obvious rush to see her out heightened Zola’s suspicions. Sensing his distraction, she seized the opportunity to step further into the house. The sight of a crawling mat and scattered toys around the living room made it clear: this child was more than just a temporary responsibility for Milford. The baby lived in this house.
“Is this Eileen’s child?” Zola asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
“This is Bailee’s daughter,” Milford stated firmly as he placed Gabriela on the crawling mat and rose to his full height, towering over Zola and effectively shielding the baby girl from her view.
“Is it really appropriate for you to barge into someone’s home like this?” Milford challenged, his voice stern. “Even if this is my place, you can’t just behave this way.”
Zola craned her neck, trying to glimpse the baby girl, but Milford mirrored her movements, blocking her at every turn.
“What are you doing? Are you trying to kidnap her? You’re scaring her, and I won’t stand for it,” Milford accused, his tone filled with anger and protection.
Zola’s eyes then caught sight of a photograph on the cabinet: a woman lovingly holding the baby. It was a photo of Bailee and Gabriela. After Bailee had taken that photo, she quickly developed it and proudly displayed it in the living room as a declaration of her bond with Gabriela.
Zola’s attention shifted from the baby to Milford as she settled onto the sofa. “I heard you skipped grades and were admitted to a university?”
“Yes, I mentioned that last time, remember?” Milford responded, positioning himself on the crawling mat to keep a watchful eye on Gabriela.
“I heard from Eileen that you’re excellent academically. Aren’t you considering studying abroad with such outstanding performance?” Zola probed, noting Milford’s silence and taking it as confirmation. “So why didn’t you choose to study abroad? Did Eileen not want to pay for it?”
Milford frowned at Zola’s accusatory tone. “No, it’s because I chose to stay here.”
“Why stay?” Zola leaned forward, trying to gauge his expression. “Going abroad could be transformative for your career. With the same effort, you could secure a better job, potentially doubling your future income. Why choose to stay here? It’s not like we see each other all the time.”