ter 86
The figure on the monitor was none other than Marianna.
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Kayla narrowed her eyes and quickly pulled up the surveillance footage around the Gynaecology & Obstetrics Department that day, watching as Marianna took photos, entered the unit, and stayed inside for quite a while before coming out.
After securing the evidence, Kayla inserted a pre–prepared USB drive and began copying the files–just as footsteps sounded outside.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Kayla’s heart jumped.
“The cafeteria staff won’t admit they forgot our roast beef. They’re blaming me instead. Damn it! I’m checking the cameras to prove it.” John’s angry voice grew louder.
“Yeah, let’s check it out. How could our roast beef disappear? That’s really strange,” Adam grumbled in annoyance.
Kayla’s heart skipped a beat. She thought, ‘Why were the guards back so soon?‘ She stared at the progress bar, which was still loading. She nervously wiped her sweaty palms.
“Come on. Faster,” she whispered, but the footsteps drew closer. She stared at the door, heart racing.
The doorknob began to turn slowly. Kayla held her breath. She was ready to bolt, calculating her chances of rushing past them.
At the critical moment, a man’s voice sounded from outside. “Hey, guards. Your lunchboxes were just messed up by a kid. I saw him run that way.”
The turning doorknob stopped abruptly.
“Oh, really? That little punk dares to steal my food. Let’s go find him, Adam,” John roared. The footsteps faded away.
Kayla raised an eyebrow and thought, ‘I was the one who ate the guard’s roast beef. Since when did a kid get dragged into
this?‘
She didn’t spare another thought for it. The footage had finished copying. She quickly unplugged the USB, tucked it away, and deleted all the surveillance footage of her stealing the roast beef.
Kayla thought, ‘No way I’d leave that evidence. No one would believe the heiress of the Sexton family would steal roast beef from a security guard’s lunchbox.
She remained cautious. Once done, she crept to the door like a cat, scanned the empty hallway, and finally relaxed. A smug smile touched her lips as she prepared to slip away.
Just as she turned the corner, she bumped right into someone. “Oh!” She rubbed her forehead in pain, her face scrunched
- up.
When she looked up and saw who it was, her expression froze. “Why are you here?” she blurted out.
Payton leaned against the wall, arms crossed, one leg propped casually. He looked relaxed and amused, like a hunter waiting for his prey.
Kayla never expected to run into him here. Just then, something clicked. Her expression hardened, and she grew defensive. “Were you following me?”
Sensing her suspicion, Payton waved his hands. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not.” He held up an insulated lunchbox. “My
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Chapter 86
A
mom’s hospitalized here. I just brought her food.”
;
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Recalling that Payton’s mom was hospitalized due to a car accident, Kayla relaxed slightly and blurted out, ‘Is she awake?”
Payton frowned, confusion flickering in his eyes. “How did you know she was in a coma?”
Kayla had just slipped up. Her gaze darted away, panic bubbling up inside. She forced an awkward smile and explained, “I just… heard from classmates.”
Payton studied her a moment, then said, “I see.”
Worried she would let something slip again, Kayla turned to leave.
“Wait!” Payton called out.
Kayla turned around, clearly impatient. “Anything else?”
Payton’s gaze lingered on her lips, a faint smile forming. “You’re going out like that? Not afraid people will notice you helped yourself to roast beef?”
Kayla’s eyes widened in shock. Her voice was shaky and totally unconvincing. “You… Nonsense! I would never…” No way she would admit it.
Payton chuckled, “Really? Just now, I saw someone polish off the security guard’s roast beef. Was it you, or… a little hamster?”
He had been shocked and barely held back his laughter when he saw Kayla’s cheeks stuffed full of roast beef, looking just like a hamster.
Kayla’s lip twitched. She hadn’t expected Payton to witness her stealing the roast beef. She thought, ‘So embarrassing! Wait… Did Payton just call me a hamster? Is he making fun of me?’
Suppressing her irritation, she asked, “Were you the one who distracted the guards?”
Payton nodded without hesitation, though his smile looked downright smug.
If Kayla were any less composed, she would have beaten him right then and there. But she held back the urge since he had helped her. She insisted, refusing to admit it, “Well, it was a hamster, not me.”
She thought, I’d never admit it. So what if Payton saw it? The footage was deleted. Without proof, who would believe him?”
Seeing Kayla flustered but stubborn, Payton said calmly, “Is that so?” The corners of his mouth curled almost imperceptibly.
Suddenly, he lifted a hand as if to wipe the corner of Kayla’s mouth, but stopped just before touching her, slowly drawing back and clenching his fist at his side. “You might be more convincing if you wiped that roast beef sauce off your mouth,” he teased lightly.
Kayla flushed. Her cheeks burned like ripe apples. She instinctively touched the corner of her mouth. Sure enough, there was a sticky residue.
Mortified, she wished the ground would swallow her instantly, shooting Payton a glare. She scrubbed her mouth roughly until the skin turned red, as if angry at him or herself.
Payton’s gaze lingered on her reddened lips, his eyes softening. “Stop. It’s clean now,” he said gently.
Kayla felt like all her most embarrassing moments had been exposed to him. A wave of frustration washed over her.
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Chapter 86
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Suddenly, she grabbed his collar and pulled him down with such force that he had to lean forward. The distance between them closed instantly–so close she could almost count his eyelashes.
