Chapter 0497

All three of them had been drinking, so they each pulled out their phones to call for a driver once they were outside. While waiting, Calvin felt the urge to smoke. He put a cigarette in his mouth but realized he couldn’t find his lighter.

He asked Zach for one, who pointed to the back seat of his car. “It’s in the back. Just grab it.”

Calvin opened the car door and leaned in to look for the lighter. “Ah, got it,” he said, lighting his cigarette and handing the lighter back to Zach.

As he recalled the shawl he’d seen in the back seat, he smirked. “When did you start doing your business in the car?”

Zach looked puzzled. “Business? What business?”

“You know what I mean! Why else would there be a shawl back there? That’s definitely a woman’s accessory, and it’s light yellow. Come on, which wildflower did you pick up this time?”

Zach’s expression hardened. “Quit your nonsense.”

“Whoa, you’re denying it? That’s not like you at all.”

“What’s there to admit? That shawl belongs to Miranda’s mom. I’m planning to return it to her tomorrow. You’ve got such a dirty mind; you need to scrub those thoughts clean.”

Calvin looked genuinely surprised. “Miranda’s mom? How did her stuff end up in your car?”

Hansel, standing nearby, subtly leaned in to listen more closely.

Zach was about to explain, but he noticed the curiosity in both Calvin and Hansel’s eyes. He paused, a grin spreading across his face as he decided to keep the suspense. “Well, let’s just say there’s a reason for that…”

Calvin pressed on. “What reason?”

“Why do you need to know? Does it even concern you?”

Calvin responded, “Of course it does! I haven’t heard much about Miranda lately. Last time, when I broke my leg and was in the hospital for over a month, Miranda even came to visit me. She’s so thoughtful; how can I not care about her?”

“Oh, really?” Zach raised his voice, stealing a glance at Hansel. He noticed Hansel slightly turning his body, raising an eyebrow in curiosity while trying to act nonchalant but clearly straining to listen in on the conversation.

“Of course!” Calvin continued proudly. “Miranda has always been so kind to me.”

Zach nodded in agreement. “Miranda’s a genuinely good person. She even treated me to an expensive seafood dinner tonight.”

That got Calvin even more curious. “Why did Miranda invite you for dinner? Come on, spill it already.”

Zach gave a teasing smile. “Well…”

Calvin’s anticipation grew.

“Let’s just say there’s a reason behind it, too!”

Calvin rolled his eyes, feeling let down. “Seriously? You’re useless. Just keep quiet.”

At that moment, Zach’s driver arrived. “Alright, I’m off. See you guys around,” he said, getting into his car.

Calvin waved him off without much care, but Hansel’s eyes followed Zach’s car until it disappeared into the distance.

Why? Why was it that Miranda could be close to Sam, visit Calvin in the hospital, and even invite Zach to dinner with her parents, yet she wouldn’t give him the time of day?

“Hans? Hans!”

Calvin called out to him a few times before Hansel snapped back to reality. “Huh? What did you say?”

“I asked if you’re heading home or if you want to go somewhere else?”

Hansel didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, “Got a cigarette?”

“Yeah, sure,” Calvin quickly pulled out a cigarette and handed it to him.

But there was a problem—they’d given the lighter back to Zach, so there was no way to light it!

Hansel took the cigarette but didn’t ask to light it. He simply held it in his hand, turning it over as he stared into the distance. His expression was shifting between clarity and shadow.

“Cal,” he finally said, voice low and contemplative, “do you think I made a mistake?”