Chapter: 535

Though today's session was brief, only utilizing a fraction of the allotted time, Shelton felt confident in Norah's dedication to her commitments, anticipating her contributions in the days to come.

At Derek's villa, Madeline had finally come to terms with her future.

She was set to marry Derek, a prospect she once always hoped for.

Their relationship, which began in their college days, had its ups and downs, continuing before she moved abroad.

Deciding to marry Derek was her way of seeing if making a solid commitment could steer their relationship toward a happier ending.

Moreover, her decision to keep the baby was about giving it a loving home.

When her phone rang, the conversation that followed left Madeline with a range of emotions before she finally ended the call. She quickly changed, grabbed her purse, and made her way to the Glamour Club.

"Madeline, over here." Kathy's voice cut through the early evening quiet of the Glamour Club. Unlike its usual nighttime vibrance, the club was subdued, missing its characteristic energy and luminous ambiance.

Kathy stood up, her voice carrying across the room to greet Madeline as Madeline entered.

Dressed in a snug, light pink mini-skirt, Madeline's figure drew many admiring glances, her pregnancy not yet visible.

Kathy, sulking slightly, sat down and mused over Madeline's undiminished zest for life despite her condition.

Kathy had always found Madeline to be overly shrewd, a quality that she begrudgingly respected at times.

They had fallen out after the quarrel, yet Madeline seemed unfazed, behaving as if the spat never occurred. Kathy, left with Little choice, decided to play along with Madeline's charade.

"Kathy, what's the reason for this meet-up?" Madeline queried as she settled across from Kathy in the booth, genuinely curious about Kathy's sudden invitation. Considering their last interaction at Carter Manor, where Kathy had not minced words in her criticism, this invitation stirred her curiosity about Kathy's intentions.

“Madeline, I'm expecting," Kathy blurted out.

Madeline, sipping lemonade, was caught off guard, leading to a coughing fit. Surprised, she stared at Kathy, wondering when Kathy had become so reckless.

Kathy, avoiding Madeline's probing look, murmured, "It's been about two weeks."

Setting her glass down, Madeline dabbed at her lips with a napkin and then asked, “And why are you telling me this?"

The possibility of Kathy sharing such sensitive information without fear of it reaching the Carter family seemed unlikely. It suggested an overestimation of trust or perhaps an underestimation of the complexity of their relationship.

“Who's the father? Why come to me instead of him?" Madeline pressed.

"I don't know who the father is," Kathy admitted, a statement that left Madeline in disbelief. Kathy's past had its wild moments, but this was uncharted territory.

Kathy had been closely monitored by her family until recently. They had lessened their vigilance, believing she had changed.

Then, Kathy found herself pregnant after a night out. By coincidence, she encountered Madeline at the hospital and shifted the family's focus onto Madeline, seizing the chance to address her own predicament discreetly.

Yet, witnessing how Madeline utilized her pregnancy to secure a position within the Carter family had given Kathy pause for thought.