Chapter 226: Boys or Girls

"Okay, whether Maggie's caught on or not, we can't rely solely on her and Nathaniel's relationship. I say we take a gamble. If the Adams can do it, why can't we?"

"Are you thinking about taking out a mortgage with the Harrises?" Noah asked.

"Yeah, if we don't risk it, we're doomed. But if we do, there's still a slim chance…"

They discussed which assets to use as collateral, which projects to invest in, and which celebrities to endorse.

Afterward, they left the study one by one. Maggie powered down her computer.

Sitting at her desk, lost in thought, she pondered Master Cameron's earlier words.

The phone rang. Maggie glanced at it. It was Timothy.

She subconsciously checked the time and realized she was supposed to meet him tomorrow.

"Timothy?"

"Hey, Maggie," his warm voice filled the line.

"What's up?" Maggie asked gently.

"I saw your performance at the competition today. You're really talented at the piano. I never knew," Timothy said, looking out the window at the night. Maggie was puzzled.

"I took lessons when I was younger and kept it up. Before I knew it, here I am," Maggie replied warmly.

"I love playing the piano, too. I was sick a lot as a kid, and my family wouldn't let me play outside, so I read books and played piano out of boredom," Timothy reminisced. Maggie chuckled. "Sounds a bit sad, but having plenty of time to spend sounds like a good thing."

When she was adopted by the Camerons, she had strived to excel, trying to prove they'd made the right choice. She hadn't understood why she felt the need to prove herself then.

But now she did. Even as a child, she'd sensed the Camerons' ulterior motives. Ronald and Olivia already had children; there was no need to adopt her.

As the "extra" member, she had to be obedient and useful. Only useful things wouldn't be discarded.

Timothy fell silent. He'd never heard such reasoning before. He never expected someone to view his secluded life positively.

He realized his life wasn't so bad.

Chapter 226: Boys or Girls

"Did you need something?" Maggie interrupted the silence.

"I just wanted to confirm tomorrow's house viewing at 2 PM," Timothy asked.

So, he was confirming tomorrow's plans.

"Meet you at your place at 2 PM?" Maggie suggested.

Other company executives typically provided precise data. But as lead designer, she needed to inspect the site personally to understand Timothy's preferences and design ideas.

"Okay, 2 PM it is." Timothy agreed. "Can I come cheer you on at your next competition?"

Maggie paused, surprised by his request.

The venue was public, with seating for university students from Aquapolis, corporate groups, and the general public. Timothy could come anytime.

"Sure. There are plenty of talented performers. If you like piano, you should definitely come," Maggie replied.

"Sure, but I haven't seen anyone else play as well as you," Timothy said sincerely.

Maggie smiled warmly. "Thanks, but everyone has their own talents. Besides, I'm just a novice."

After chatting with Timothy, Maggie showered, got into bed, opened WhatsApp, and sent Nathaniel a playful sticker—a cartoon cat kicking another cat.

The text read: "The other party kicked your butt and said 'not bad.'"

Shortly after, Nathaniel's video call came in.

Maggie put on her headphones and leaned back, observing Nathaniel's slightly damp hair as he reviewed documents at his desk. She remembered his birthday was approaching.

Between school and the Camerons, Maggie knew she needed to refocus on her work. However, Nathaniel still needed a crucial gemstone for his desired sapphire, and she'd been searching for it.

"Feeling brave, huh?" Nathaniel's voice broke the silence.

Maggie smirked. "I've been down that road before."

Nathaniel chuckled softly. "Next time, I'll get you back."

Chapter 226: Boys or Girls

Maggie's face flushed. She sent another sticker—a cat farting.

The text read: "The other party rejected you and farted at you!"

Nathaniel was speechless.

Amusingly, Maggie selected another sticker—two bears hugging. A faint smile appeared on Nathaniel's face as he saved and returned the sticker.

Maggie returned the smile, enjoying the sticker exchange for a long time.

Then, her phone alerted her of low battery and overheating. She glanced at the time.

"Wow! We've been on this video call for an hour, just exchanging stickers! How childish!"

Shaking off her thoughts, Maggie scrutinized Nathaniel. In the warm light, he sat upright, reviewing documents efficiently. Yet, he glanced at her frequently, never ignoring her.

At that moment, Maggie felt a sense of contentment and joy she'd never felt before. The loneliness and pain seemed to dissipate.

Maggie suddenly looked forward to the future.

"When the Camerons face bankruptcy, will we have our own children and finally find happiness?" she unconsciously asked, "Nathaniel, do you prefer boys or girls?"