"Thank you, Big Brother. You’ve saved Lily again." Lily blinked at Jeremy with her pure-looking glass-like eyes. "My mommy is here, so you can put me down, Big Brother."Jeremy looked at the little girl in his arms as a gentle smile appeared on his cold face. "Your name is Lily?""Yeah..." Lily nodded obediently but soon furrowed her cute, little eyebrows before shaking her head. "Only Mommy calls me Lily, but Dad doesn't call me that."Dad.Jeremy never felt these two words to be so harsh before.Harsh and unfamiliar.He thought of Jackson. In the past three years, he had hardly heard Jackson call him ‘Dad’.His heart was beating uneasily all of a sudden for some reason.He put Lily down and she ran straight to Madeline's side. "Mommy, this aunty wanted to hit me just now, but she fell down. Luckily, this big brother saved me."Lily raised her eyes in a serious manner before explaining the situation earlier to Madeline.Madeline smiled gently and hugged Lily. "Mr. Whitman,
Madeline could not help but halt her steps. She looked at Meredith who said these words as a layer of doubt gradually appeared in her heart.Why was Meredith and Jeremy’s past so similar to her own experience with Jeremy back then?Moreover, was April Hill the place where they first met as well?"Jeremy, I don't need anything, but I really can't lose you. Please don't leave me, okay?" Meredith's soft voice pulled Madeline's thoughts back.She saw Meredith's eyes that were filled with tears while she looked at Jeremy with an expectant gaze.Although Jeremy had not responded, he took out a handkerchief to bandage Meredith's wound. He still cared for Meredith so much."Jeremy...""Stop talking. I'll take you to the hospital."Meredith looked at Jeremy affectionately "Jeremy, with you accompanying me, I won't be in as much pain. I know that you’ll protect me forever."Madeline could hear these words from where she was standing.While watching Jeremy help Meredith up, Meredith h
Never.Seeing that Madeline was turning around to leave, Jeremy pulled the corners of his lips into a smile. "Miss Vera, you seem to want to draw a clear line with me?"Madeline turned her head and chuckled. "Mr. Whitman, you and I have always been just passersby. There’s no need to draw a clear line."She quickly brought Lily into the car and returned to the apartment.Right after taking a shower, she prepared to put Lily to sleep when the phone rang again.After looking at it, it turned out to be Meredith.Madeline walked to the balcony to answer the phone, and Meredith's questioning voice came from the other end, "Vera Quinn, where is Jeremy now? Are you with him?"Madeline laughed in a low voice. "Miss Crawford, why would you come to me to ask if your fiancé is missing? You’re really interesting.""Vera Quinn, you don't have to pretend! Isn't your plastic surgery meant to look like Jeremy's ex-wife just so you can attract his attention?" Meredith's tone was full of resentme
The voice was familiar and her nerves were telling her that the owner of this voice extremely repulsed her.She tilted her eyes up and looked over. The lights in the corridor were very bright and Madeline could clearly see Tanner's ugly, wretched face appearing in her sight.When Tanner was drunk, he thought that this woman only looked a little familiar after looking at her side profile. However, now that he could see Madeline’s face clearly, he was instantly shocked! He backed up again and again, and as a result, both his feet tripped. He fell on all fours.Madeline stood calmly at the door of the room, watching Tanner turning pale with fright. He looked like he was crawling backward in a panic, and she smiled brightly with the corners of her beautiful lips."Sir… Is something the matter?" she asked with a puzzled smile on her beautiful face. "Are you okay? Do you want me to help you up?"Tanner looked at her, his eyes widening in horror. "Ma-Madeline! Don't come over!"‘Don’t c
She tried to pull her hand back, but Jeremy did not seem to show any signs of letting go. “Please let go of me, Mr. Whitman.” “I’ll never let you go again.” What? Madeline was shocked at Jeremy’s unexpected confession. She turned to stare at him in confusion, not expecting Jeremy to suddenly pull her into his arms. As she was in her heels, Madeline lost her footing at the sudden tug and fell onto Jeremy. For a split second, she felt the familiar warmth despite their distance. He may have never loved her, but that did not mean nothing had happened between them. Quickly recollecting her emotions, she tried to push herself up only for Jeremy to wrap an arm around her waist. “What are you doing, Mr. Whitman?” As she was feeling uncomfortable, Madeline tried to struggle out of his grasp. Her efforts were futile due to the difference between their strengths. Right then, the hand around her waist suddenly moved upward, pressing Madeline against Jeremy before she realiz
Meredith ran toward them like a madwoman, completely forgetting about her gentle and kind persona in front of Jeremy. She raised the bottle and aimed it at Madeline’s face. In the nick of time, Jeremy raised a hand to stop Meredith. He pulled Madeline behind him. Intoxicated as he may have seemed a moment ago, Jeremy now glared at Meredith with displeasure, completely sober.“What are you doing?” Seeing Jeremy protect Madeline had Meredith struggling to keep her anger in check. However, she also knew that tears and acting weak were the only things she could do in this situation. “I didn’t actually want to hit her, Jeremy. I just don’t want to see this woman always with you.” She complained hurtfully, placing the bottle back down. “Can’t you tell, Jeremy? She even did plastic surgery to look like Madeline so that she can attract your attention. Jeremy, don’t be fooled by this woman.” Jeremy turned to look at Madeline’s flawless skin at the words ‘plastic surgery’. Madel
Jackson’s eyes quickly flitted away upon seeing Meredith’s smile. “I need Dad to sign something.” Meredith smiled warmly as the workbook in Jackson’s hands caught her eyes. “How about I sign it instead?” Jackson pinched the corner of his workbook and turned to look expectantly at Jeremy. “Just let your mom sign it instead. Don’t go to bed too late.” Then, Jeremy closed his room door. Staring at the closed door, all the light in Jackson’s eyes was replaced with unknown fear and darkness. Turning around, he walked quickly to his own room. Rejected by the door, Meredith immediately dropped the smile on her face. Extremely displeased, she marched into Jackson’s room. She kicked the door open right as he was about to close it. The word ‘Mom’ was on the tip of Jackson’s tongue, yet he dared not call Meredith that at all. “What’s wrong, Jack? I’m your mother. Why do you always look so sad every time you see me?” She approached with a smile, only for her expression to shi
“Is it you, Maddie?” Staring seriously at Madeline, Jackson finally mustered the courage to ask. Stunned for a second, Madeline then replied with a smile, “Hey, buddy. I’m Lillian’s mother. I can tell you my name if you want? It’s nice to meet you, I’m Vera Quinn.” She introduced herself with a smile, realizing that Jackson was currently analyzing her. The small face before her eyes was a fair one of exquisite features, a result of Jeremy’s great genes. For some reason, Madeline could not help but feel like there was something deeper and more pressing within Jackson’s onyx orbs. Perhaps it was the light. What issue could such a young child have, anyway? Memories of how Meredith had cut Jackson’s cheek to frame her appeared in Madeline’s mind. She could still remember how freely the blood flowed and how the boy wailed. It must have hurt a lot. Seeing the flawless cheek of his now, Madeline sighed an inexplicable breath of relief. Thank goodness it had not scarred.