Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1267

"You haven't even brushed your teeth yet."

Megan snatched the fork away, chuckling warmly. "Go on, hurry up."

Luella stared pitifully at Megan before finally obeying and shuffling off to the bathroom.

"You've lost weight," Megan noted as she sat nearby, carefully studying Luella's face with a pained expression. "The Chief hit you again yesterday, didn't he?"

"It's fine."

Luella patted Megan's hand, her tone breezy. "Just one slap. It won't kill me."

Megan's face tightened. "Don't say such morbid things."

"Knock on wood!"

Luella quickly tapped her lips, flashing a bright, placating smile. "Better, my dear housekeeper?"

"You child."

Megan smiled, but an undeniable ache settled in her chest.

Her poor girl. If she had just been allowed to live as a girl, she would have grown into such a stunning young woman. Instead, she was forced into this male disguise, living under constant pressure.

If her mother were watching from above, it would break her heart.

After finishing breakfast, Luella changed into a sharp suit, adjusted her short black wig, and transformed herself into the perfect, polished young gentleman.

She looked every bit the arrogant heir apparent to Lachlan's empire.

"The Chief is holding a press conference in the East Wing meeting room," Megan reminded her.

"Got it."

Luella nodded. She took two steps toward the door before suddenly pausing and turning back. "Megan, I heard you haven't been feeling well lately. You're at retirement age anyway. Why don't you head home and rest?"

"No!" Megan shook her head vigorously.

"I'll give you a massive pension," Luella offered gently. "And I'll visit you all the time. This residence isn't a safe place for you to be."

The things she needed to do next were going to be dangerous, and she was terrified Megan would get caught in the crossfire.

"It's not about the money."

Megan's eyes grew red. Swallowing the lump in her throat, her voice turned raspy. "You need someone to look after you here. I want to stay by your side a little longer."

"Once you've secured your position and no one dares to bully you anymore, then I'll leave."

Luella stood quietly, her heart melting.

Besides Juniper, Megan was the only other person in the world who treated her with pure sincerity, viewing her as actual family.

When the Q&A segment began, a reporter suddenly shifted their focus to Luella, asking for her professional opinion on the recent mega-bridge construction project.

"???"

The other reporters tensed, staring at the journalist who had asked the question.

The bridge project was massively complex. How could a twenty-something playboy know anything about the intricacies of national infrastructure?

Lachlan frowned sharply. He hadn't given Luella any briefings on this project. There was no way she could answer this.

—

At the same time, across town in his hotel room.

Jimmie was flipping through a script while the television played the news in the background.

A male voice drifted from the speakers: "The bridge project, you say?"

Jimmie paused mid-page turn. That voice was incredibly familiar.

It sounded exactly like that brat Luella!

*Great.* Not only was he having weird dreams about the kid, now he was hallucinating his voice, too!