Chapter 532

Brad's face instantly fell when he heard Nadine's refusal. The smile on his face stiffened and slowly faded away. In the past, he would have lost his temper by now, but he managed to hold it in this time. Not only did he refrain from getting upset, but he also kept a smile on his face, even if it was a little forced. "Breakfast is ready. Why don't you have some before you leave? After breakfast, I'll drive you both back." With that, he walked over to Sean, took his little hand, and led him toward the table. "It's freezing outside, so you should eat something to warm up before you leave." He didn't seem like he had any ill intent. In fact, his tone was humble and polite. Even though she turned him down, he didn't get upset and kept a smile on his face. This made her feel a little guilty. After all, she shouldn't be rude to someone who was greeting her with a smile. He had humbled himself considerably, maintaining a friendly demeanor without crossing any lines. It dawned on her that she shouldn't view him through the lens of her past disappointments. Besides, her stomach was grumbling. Sean glanced at his mother, waiting for her response. After hearing her stomach rumble, he immediately said, "I'm hungry, Mommy. Can we have breakfast before returning to Avery's house?" Nadine decided not to dwell on such a trivial matter. She nodded and said, "Alright." Brad felt the weight on his chest lift when he heard that. He hardly ate during breakfast, too focused on taking care of Sean and Nadine. Whenever he noticed Nadine frown, he would immediately stop what he was doing to avoid upsetting her. Nadine couldn't help but feel the irony as she watched Brad walk on eggshells around her. She wanted to ask him what was going on. Why wasn't he checking his phone? Why was he acting so servile? Did Jean dump him? Was he heartbroken? How was she supposed to comfort him? Right now, she was still emotionally closed off as well, struggling to move on from her own heartbreak. She wasn't in a position to offer him any comfort or advice. So, she figured he would just have to deal with it for now. Her heart raced at the thought of Jean snubbing Brad. This felt like sweet, sweet justice. Karma certainly seemed to be at play. Brad, oblivious to Nadine's thoughts, noticed her setting down her cutlery and realized she was full. So, he offered to drive her home. "The driver's at Clover Villa to pick up my father, so I'll take you both back." Before she could refuse, he rose from his seat, grabbed the coat hanging on the rack, and hurried out the door, as if he was afraid she would change her mind. Ignoring him, Nadine caressed her son's soft cheek and asked, "Have you had your fill?" Sean nodded. "Yep, I'm full! I've also put all the toys away!" Thus, the two of them climbed into Brad's car together. Nadine hadn't expected Brad to volunteer to be their driver, but she didn't feel touched in the slightest. She regarded him solely as their driver. The tension in the car was thick, and the three of them sat in silence. Nadine wanted to comfort the heartbroken Brad several times during the ride, but she could never find the right moment. At last, when they got out of the car, she took the opportunity to say, "Mr. Hamilton, if you don't want to lose Ms. Sawyer, you should find a way to win her back."