Nathan fell into a momentary silence.


    Instead of questioning how M had learned of his ident, he nervously asked, “Chubs, are you


    outside?”


    M replied casually, “Yeah, I was on my way to meet Sienna and spotted you guys.”


    With concern etched into his voice, Nathan asked, “Do you have a bodyguard with you? Is Phoebe


    there?”


    M paused briefly before replying, “I’m alone. I didn’t bring anyone.”


    Nathan’s urgency grew as he pressed, “Share your location with me. I’ll send someone over


    immediately.”


    Once more, M fell silent, realizing Nathan hadn’t been concerned about her question at all.


    Despite her worries about his car ident, he hadn’t mentioned a word about it. Instead, he showed


    more concern for her safety.


    “Nate, everything’s fine. I’m just meeting up with a friend,” M reassured him, hoping to alleviate his


    concern. “Phoebe will join me shortly.


    alone.


    Nathan scolded M with a tone that struck a bnce between sternness and care, resembling that of


    an older brother. “Next time you go out, you need to inform me. You can’t There must always be


    someone with you, understood?”


    Feeling chastised, M mumbled, “Understood. And what about you?”


    Nathan exhaled slowly before remembering to update her on his situation. “I was rear–ended by


    another car, but thankfully, it’s nothing serious.


    Concern filled M’s voice as she asked, “Are you injured?”


    “No, I’m okay,” Nathan reassured her.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    A twinge of jealousy pricked at M as she recalled Nathan holding hands with Fenna. She wanted to


    broach the subject but found herself at a loss for words.


    In that moment of hesitation, Fenna’s yful yet sarcastic voice cut in, “Seems like even a spare tire


    needs emotional maintenance these days. With the way she fusses over you, when are you going to


    consider upgrading her from just a backup n?”


    As M overheard these words, her heart went numb.


    When had she ever regarded Nathan as a mere backup n?


    Was Fenna inadvertently causing trouble?


    M suppressed a sigh and whispered, “Nate, is that constant buzzing noise from Fenna?”


    Nathan looked puzzled. “You heard that?”


    M managed a wry smile and retorted, “Would you have preferred me not to?”


    “That’s not what I meant,” Nathan rified.


    M’s mood darkened as she said, “How close does she have to be to eavesdrop on our conversation?


    Even her voice seems to get picked up by the microphone.”


    Nathan paused, the silence stretching ufortably.


    M couldn’t help but wonder what Nathan was doing. Was he muting the microphone to speak with


    Fenna?


    Her mood soured further. She felt helpless in the face of Fenna’s tendency to overstep boundaries and


    manipte situations.


    She could only hope that Nathan would see through Fenna’s behavior and maintain some distance.


    However, what Nathan said next left her speechless.


    “Chubs, Fenna has a habit of being casual with her words. Her recentment wasn’t meant to offend


    you. It was just a joke between us, not directed at you.”


    M responded with a disdainful snort, choosing to stay silent.


    ore!!


    Not getting any reaction from her, Nathan started to feel uneasy and rified once more, Fenna and I


    are close friends, almost like siblings. Sometimes she doesn’t filter what she says to me, either.


    M let out a scornful snort, unable to tolerate it any longer. She responded firmly, saying, Very well, I


    wish you and your ‘sibling–like‘ rtionship all the best then.”


    With that, she promptly ended the call.