Sanford's eyes locked onto the cat in her embrace. "Don't you really understand why I was angry?”

Maggie's movements froze as understanding dawned in her eyes. The realization hit her like a wave.

Of course-Sanford was jealous of Karl!

But the thought almost made her laugh. There was nothing between her and Karl, so why was he working himself into such a state?

Approaching Sanford with the kitten nestled in her arms, she softened her voice. "Isn't it adorable? Do you want to hold it?"

A shadow fell across Sanford's features. Karl's cat, no matter how endearing, felt Like a thorn in his side.

"This isn't our child. What's there to fuss about?"

Maggie stared at him in disbelief. "Can't you embrace a Little childlike wonder?"

"When you bear our child, I'll show you all the childlike wonder you want," Sanford countered.

Maggie chose to ignore his comment. "The poor thing seems thirsty. Here, hold it while I fetch some water."

Before he could protest, she deposited the kitten in his lap and slipped out of the room.

Sanford's irritation simmered as he glowered at the unwelcome visitor. He reached out, giving one of the cat's ears a gentle pinch.

"Making yourself right at home, aren't you? And now I'm stuck playing nursemaid? Your master's trying to steal something precious from me—care to take his punishment?"

The kitten trembled, sensing the threatening aura surrounding it.

In a flash of fear-driven instinct, the kitten let out a sharp meow and raked its claws across Sanford's arm. The moment his grip on its ear loosened, it leaped from his lap in a graceful bound.

Sanford's expression darkened as he examined the scratch mark.

Relief flickered across his face when he noticed the kitten's trimmed claws had left only a faint red line, nothing more than a superficial mark.

His eyes narrowed as he watched the kitten seek refuge under the sofa. "Just like your master, aren't you? Desperate to leave some pitiful mark as proof you existed here? What a shame—such a shallow scratch will fade before the day is done ="

Karl's attempts to make Maggie remember him, to wedge himself between them, were nothing but futile dreams!

The sudden ring of a phone shattered the tense atmosphere.

Sanford glanced around, only to realize the melodic ringtone was emanating from Maggie's bag.

Sanford guided his wheelchair to the corner where Maggie's bag lay, leaning down to retrieve her phone. His eyes narrowed as the caller ID caught his attention.

The call was from Karl!

A surge of suspicion coursed through him. Were they in constant communication whenever he wasn't around Maggie?