It was Gifford!

Wide-eyed Chantel glanced around as though expecting him to be nearby.

When she didn't see him, she closed her eyes, breathed a sigh of relief, and answered the call.

“Hello, Gifford. What's up?"

“Where are you?" he asked.

“Um...I'm at school." Since she ought to be at school at this hour, that was the first answer that slipped out of Chantel's mouth.

“Why didn't I find you?"

"What? Where are you?" ‘Crap! Did he come to school to Look for me? But why?' she wondered.

Gifford leaned against the car as he answered, "I just stepped out of the school building. Now I'm at the school gate. I've searched everywhere for you. You aren't at school. So tell me, where are you?"

Guilt surged through Chantel as she tried to think of an excuse.

Finally, with a tremor in her voice, she answered, “Well, I came out to buy something. Now, I'm on the bus back to school. Gifford, do you have something urgent to say?"

Her voice was trembling, and she was stuttering. He knew that she was lying, but he didn't know what she was hiding from him. He didn't even question her. Flatly, he replied, “Mom asked me to bring you some food."

He hadn't wanted to come, but Blair had scolded him. She had even gone so far as to imply that he didn't care about Chantel. Finally, he had given up arguing and made the trip to her school.

“Well, can't you leave it at the guard room? It may take me more than ten minutes to return to school." Since he was always very busy, she was sure that he didn't have time to wait for her. This way, she could avoid seeing him altogether.

“I see." Gifford abruptly ended the call.

There was a traffic jam on the route the bus took. Half an hour Later, she arrived at the bus stop near the school. Erica had replied to her while she was on the bus. After stepping off the bus, Chantel texted back.

"I don't think you need to tell Matthew. I'll tell Uncle Wesley and Aunt Blair when I can't hide it from them."

Erica had wanted her to tell Wesley and Blair, but Chantel was not mentally ready yet. She wanted to wait for a while before sharing the news.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice that a car had parked in front of her. She pocketed her phone and continued to walk with her head down.

“Is there money on the ground?”

Chantel's head snapped up when she heard the familiar voice. Wasn't the man standing next to the military green car Gifford? ‘Didn't I ask him to leave the food and go? Why didn't he listen?

What if he sees the test result? Oh, wait! I dumped it in the trash can as soon as I walked out of the hospital. Thank God!* The anxiety coursing through Chantel settled when she remembered what she had done with the test report. She tried to smile as she greeted him respectfully.

"Hi, Gifford."

Gifford leaned against the car and crossed his arms.

“Why are you so late?"