Madeline heard Jeremy calling her name but was too stunned by the sight her eyes caught.“Jeremy…”“Linnie.” Jeremy lifted the blankets and got down the bed.Watching the man running toward her worriedly, Madeline quickly went to help the man.“What’s wrong, Linnie?” Jeremy ignored his condition. All his eyes saw was Madeline.Just as he spoke, a face he had never expected appeared in his line of vision.“Cathy?!” Jeremy was astonished.Madeline nodded excitedly as well. “It’s Cathy! It really is Cathy!”The woman wondered even more just how alike she was with this Cathy when she saw Madeline and Jeremy’s reactions.She was about to explain herself but Adam was a step faster. “You’re mistaken. This is Amy Young, my fiancée. I understand that she looks a lot like this Cathy you speak of, but she isn’t Cathy.”Madeline and Jeremy’s excitement slowly returned to normal.“Hello. I’m Amy Young, Adam’s fiancée. I must really look like this Cathy you speak of, but I’m not her. Plea
He fully understood how Felipe felt. Whether she was or was not Cathy, her existence was still a ray of hope to Felipe.Madeline signed Jeremy’s discharge papers, and as they were on the way home, Madeline gave Sean a call. She asked if Eloise had been found yet, but Sean said no.Eloise going missing had fueled Madeline’s unease.Jeremy understood how Madeline felt. “Don’t blame yourself, Linnie. This isn’t your fault. Life is full of surprises and unexpected incidents, so we can’t prevent everything. Mom could be on the way home for all we know.”Madeline smiled softly, knowing that Jeremy was only trying to console and comfort her.“You’re right, Jeremy. It’s also impossible for us to know if the unexpected would be something good or bad. Like Cathy.” She looked up to meet the man’s gaze. “Do you remember how you asked Cathy to return to Glendale and asked Adam for pain medication when we were in F Country back then?” “Yeah.” Jeremy nodded. “That’s what I was wondering about
Despite not knowing what was going on, Madeline could feel that something had occurred from Jeremy’s tone. She was terrified that something had happened to Eloise. Not wanting to waste any more time, Madeline immediately brought Sean back to Whitman Manor.The two entered the living room and were met with Jeremy and Karen sitting solemnly on the sofa. “Seriously, these people would do anything for money.” Karen groaned with a huff. She shot up to her feet when she saw Madeline and Sean returning. Hearing Karen’s complaint, the unease Madeline felt spiked. She stared at the man who was slowly approaching her. “Do we have news on Mom, Jeremy?” “Yeah.” He nodded, but his sharp brows were still tightly knitted. Sean was elated, but the vibe in the air felt off. “What happened? Is Ellie alright?” Jeremy reached over to hold Madeline’s hand as he took in her worried expression. “I just received a call from an unknown number. They said they happened to find Mom on the str
In that moment of unease, Madeline stepped forward and took the phone from Jeremy’s hand. “I’m Jeremy Whitman’s wife as well as the daughter of the woman you kidnapped. I’ll bring the money if that’s what you wish. As long as you promise my mother’s safety, I’ll gladly bring you the money!” The man immediately agreed, not expecting Madeline to be so quick to agree. “What a straightforward personality you have, Mrs. Whitman. It’s only right that I stick to my word as well. All I want is to be repaid for taking care of your mother, nothing more. Pay me and you shall have your mother back. I’ll be waiting!” The man then hung up the call. Just then, Jeremy received a call from the bank telling him that the money had been prepared. Madeline got ready to take a trip to the bank for the money. She would then go to retrieve Eloise. However, Jeremy was reluctant to let her go just like that. “You can’t go by yourself, Linnie.” Worry filled the man’s expression as he refused to let go.
The scene pierced into Madeline’s heart. She quickly got to her feet and ran toward Eloise who was lying unconscious on the floor. “Mom! Mom!” Madeline did not know if Eloise had merely fainted or if it was worse, but there was no response from her no matter how Madeline called out to her. Eloise was currently bound by coarse ropes tied so tightly that lines of bruises had formed on her arms. There was a layer of dirt and dust over her face while her hair was a complete mess. It was a pitiful sight. “Mom! Wake up, Mom. Eveline’s here. You wanted to see me, didn’t you?” Madeline quickly unraveled the rope and carried Eloise to her feet before placing her against the wall. “Mom.” She called out a few more times but Eloise did not respond. Madeline shot up and fumed when she saw the man opening the briefcase and staring at the money with greedy sparkling eyes. “What did you do to my mother? Why won’t she wake up?!” Madeline questioned furiously. The man dangled the cig
“I’m standing right here. What more do you want? If it’s the money, just take it and leave.” The man was stunned. He never expected Madeline to not fear him at all. He admired Madeline’s courage, but her behavior made him feel undermined and it only enraged him. “You must really think that I’m a pushover, don’t you? I’m going to make you regret this!” He tightened the hold on the blade and moved to stab Eloise. Thanks to Madeline’s quick reflexes, she caught the man’s wrist. “Don’t hurt my mom!” Anger crept up her gentle features. The man was stunned for two seconds before he pulled himself out of Madeline’s grip and raised his foot to kick Eloise. Still unconscious, Eloise fell to the ground with her head knocking heavily onto the floorboards. “Mom!” Madeline ran toward her nervously and saw Eloise frowning as if she was deep in pain. Madeline reached out to hold Eloise. She had just reached her mother’s side when Madeline felt a dull pain on the back of her neck.
Madeline ignored the pain and suddenly shot to her feet.“Hey, why are you ignoring me?” upset, Eloise grabbed Madeline’s hand. She had no idea what was happening behind her. “Why would I ignore you, Mom?” Madeline held Eloise’s hand tightly. Her heart ached at the sight of the dirt and dust on Eloise’s innocent child-like appearance. She did not have a clue what happened while she was unconscious, except that Eloise had woken up and the man was now unconscious on the floor by the door. Madeline did not have the time to entertain those thoughts. Seeing the spreading flames that had started some time ago, she took Eloise’s hand and walked toward the exit. The spreading flames blocked their way, and Madeline found herself coughing from the pungent billowing smoke.It was only then that Eloise seemed to have noticed that the house was on fire. Staring dazedly at the raging flames, she seemed lost. “Mom! Cough. We have to leave now!” Madeline squeezed Eloise’s hand. She tried t
She had only one thought and it was to save Madeline.Madeline did not expect Eloise's strength to grow so exponentially either in order to save ‘her’.She ended up staggering two steps backward before she knocked into the bookshelf beside her.The bookshelf swayed twice as if it was about to fall.Knocking into it hurt slightly, but Madeline did not have the time to worry about herself as she saw Eloise already stepping into the fire."Mom!” she exclaimed and ran over to embrace Eloise as tears fell freely from her burning eyes."Look at me, Mom. I really am your Eveline!" Madeline hugged Eloise and stressed the words."My Eveline..." Eloise was stunned for two seconds as she stared blankly at Madeline's face. Her eyes were filled with doubt and question. "No, you're not. Eveline would never talk to me. She hates me. You're not... Cough cough, you're not..." Madeline tightened her arms around Eloise. "Eveline stopped hating you a long time ago, Mom. I know you didn't hurt me