Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3673

"Honk!"

A bizarre squawk erupted from by Marina's feet.

Carson frowned and leaned over to look under the table. Seeing the large cage by her feet, he looked back up in amusement. "Craving roast goose?"

Marina shot him a withering glare.

Summer burst out laughing. "It's not a goose, it's a wild swan. Kane brought it."

"Brought a wild swan?" Carson's gaze cooled instantly, his tone loaded with implication. "And what exactly does that signify?"

Kane's face flushed a deep shade of crimson, completely unsure of how to explain. Marina swiftly nudged the cage with her foot and said calmly, "I wanted a pet. My grandfather asked Kane to bring this down from B City for me."

"A pet? A swan?" Carson looked at her, his lips curving into a mocking smile.

Marina tipped her chin up. "Is there a problem with that?"

"None at all. As long as... it doesn't disturb me." Carson's lips hitched up into a smirk, his eyes locking onto hers. His tone was casual, yet entirely too suggestive.

Marina fought the urge to kick him.

Across the table, Kane suddenly interjected, "Actually... maybe I should just take it back to Grandpa Wallace."

"No need!"

Marina forced a polite smile. "You still have to go visit your military buddies for a few days. It'll be perfectly fine with me!"

She couldn't possibly inconvenience him further.

Carson watched Marina, the smile on his face fading instantly. Why didn't she ever smile at him like that?

He ranked lower than a childhood friend she hadn't seen in nearly twenty years?

With Carson's suffocating presence at the table, Kane felt entirely out of place. He rushed through a few bites of food, claimed he was full, and said he needed to hit the road to reach his friend's house by evening.

Marina set the cage on the coffee table and collapsed onto the couch. "Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

"What was there to tell? I think he's great!" Grandpa Wallace chuckled.

Marina sighed heavily. "I have no intention of dating. You made him drive all this way for nothing!"

"Do you need a spreadsheet to plan falling in love? I think you're working yourself into a frenzy," Grandpa Wallace huffed.

"And what about this wild swan?" Marina rubbed her temples. "What kind of toxic mushrooms did you eat to come up with this idea?"

Grandpa Wallace laughed. "The swan is a brilliant move. If he had just given you a normal gift, you'd toss it aside and forget about it by tomorrow. But this swan? You have to feed it every single day, every single meal. Every time you feed it, you'll think of Kane."

Marina stared blankly at the wall.

She let out a dry, hollow laugh. "You really are as sharp as ever. Your brain hasn't aged a day!"