Despite doing her best to explain herself, Jeremy’s eyes were filled with nothing but disappointment and doubt. “Jeremy…” “You’re nothing like how you used to be when we were young.” Jeremy scoffed. “To the point that I can’t help but think you’re not the girl I met when I was young.” Meredith’s pupils shrunk nervously at his words. “No way! I am your Linnie, Jeremy!” “Linnie.” Jeremy stared thoughtfully at Meredith as he rolled the name off his tongue before pulling his arm back. “I’ll look closer into the case. You’d better hope it doesn’t have anything to do with you.” “...” Meredith was tongue-tied as she stood rooted in place. She merely watched on as Jeremy turned and left. She clenched her jaw and stomped her leg in frustration. Jeremy could never find out her involvement in this, no matter what! ...Two days later, Madeline signed the papers for her discharge before she made a beeline for Meredith’s room. Upon reaching the door, she heard Eloise’s soft w
A smile bloomed on Madeline’s face as she looked at Jeremy, her words infuriating Meredith to the point that veins had begun to pop on her forehead. “Don’t you dare think of coming between me and Jeremy, Vera Quinn! I’m the only woman Jeremy loves, so why would he get married to you?” With that, Meredith got off the bed while feeling distressed and ran toward Jeremy, tears pooling in her eyes in a show of how delicate she was. “She’s lying, right, Jeremy? Tell me she’s lying.” “She’s not.” Jeremy did not hesitate to answer and it left Meredith gaping with wide eyes. Madeline curled her lips in satisfaction. “Who knows what would’ve happened had you not saved me, Jeremy. Are you free today? I’d like to thank you.” “I’m free,” he replied gently, turning to Madeline. “Have you fully recovered?” “Yeah.” Madeline broke into a smile before turning to look meaningfully at Meredith. “I’ll have to thank you, Miss Crawford. I would have never known just how much Jeremy care
Staring into Jeremy’s deep and complex eyes, Madeline pulled her arm back before alighting the car decisively. Her lips were tugged upward in a carefree manner when she sensed Jeremy’s eyes following her out. ‘Have you finally seen Meredith’s true and ugly nature now, Jeremy? ‘Alas, it’s too late now. ‘So late that the wounds I bear may never properly heal. You may wish to use the person I am now to comfort the guilt in your heart, so allow me to push you to your demise.’… Jeremy turned his car around after he watched Madeline’s retreating figure slowly vanish from sight. He bought a bouquet of 88 roses and made his way to the cemetery. There was so much he wanted to say, but now that he was standing in front of Madeline’s tombstone, he swallowed them all back. After a long while, he only muttered, “Perhaps I‘ll bring her to meet you should the opportunity arrive. I’m sure you’ll be surprised to find that there’s someone who looks just like you on earth.” His gaze w
A voice sounded from the bathroom. The person inside was strongly defending Meredith. Jeremy’s frigid gaze swept over like an icy storm. “You’re letting her live here?” “What’s wrong with Meredith living here? She’s your fiancée, and you two even have Jack. The three of you are a family! What’s wrong with a family living together?” Mrs. Whitman stated confidently, her attitude growing more uncontrollable. She was completely ignorant of the change in Jeremy’s expression. “After what Meredith has gone through, it’s your duty as her fiancé to comfort and console her. You’re not to spend all your time with that witch!” Mrs. Whitman patted Meredith’s shoulder caringly as she spoke, her expression hardening as she looked at Jeremy. “I know that you like to have your own opinions, Jeremy, but you have to listen to me this time. I’m your mother! Distance yourself from that woman, Vera Quinn. She’s nothing but bad news. There’s no way she didn’t play a part in Meredith getting hurt
Madeline got in, and the car sped to April Hill. The autumn sun was setting over the horizon as a salty breeze blew about from the sea. It was a taste of the past, but as little as the camphor tree had changed, it was no longer the same.Madeline had hated April Hill ever since the last time Jeremy brought Meredith over. She could still remember the words Meredith told Jeremy, how she had described their first meeting that was so similar to hers with Jeremy. Was it a coincidence, or was this another prank fate liked to pull? Pondering quietly, she twisted her head to find Jeremy opening a bottle of red wine. “What’s the cause of your distraught? To think that you would drive so far, perhaps this is a place you hold dear in your heart?” Madeline walked toward him, intentionally speaking in a confused tone. “Could it be that this was where you and Meredith got together?” The bottle opened with a pop just as Madeline’s voice fell. Jeremy lifted his gaze to meet Madeline
Madeline smirked, irony apparent in her eyes. ‘How can you still say such a thing, Jeremy Whitman? ‘Be it the person I used to be or the person I am now, what did I do to deserve Meredith’s bullying? ‘Is everything she does just correct in your eyes?’ Madeline’s fingers tightened around the stem of the glass while Jeremy remained deep in thought. After a while, he raised his deep gaze to stare at her. “I owe it to her,” he replied. Madeline frowned in confusion. “What do you owe her?” Staring at Madeline’s clear and sparkling orbs, Jeremy’s gaze trailed to stare at the horizon across the sea before them. “I couldn’t fulfill what I promised her. So I thought perhaps I could make it up to her in another way.” Madeline scoffed lowly at his reply. ‘You can’t fulfill the promise you made to Meredith, so instead, you’re now trying to make it up to her? ‘But Jeremy, since when have you fulfilled any of the promises you made me? And since when did you make up for those yo
“You fancy me, don’t you?” His seductive tone drifted into her ear with warmth. “I can feel it.” His tone was decisive, and confidence was the only thing in his peach blossom eyes that had glazed over.Madeline found herself slightly at a loss with how close they were and the words he was saying. “You’re drunk,” Madeline responded calmly, though doubt was flashing in her eyes. Was he actually drunk, or was he just pretending? “It’s nice being drunk. At least then I get to see her…” He smiled, the ‘her’ spoken so quietly that she almost missed it. The night wind blew past them, ruffling the wisps of his bangs. His eyes were gentle, tinted with fondness and adoration under the hazy colors of the night that Madeline had never seen before. He stared at her, then closed their distance even more. The scent of wine tickled her face with every breath of his. “I missed you so much…” he suddenly proclaimed, staring at her. Madeline’s heart shook and she was about to push him awa
Jeremy’s pupils contracted. “You mean, last night, we…” Madeline nodded before he could finish speaking. Distress immediately surfaced on Jeremy’s features. He admitted that he was infatuated with the woman in front of him, but he was also clear that such infatuation was an extrapolation of the yearning he felt for Madeline. He meant it when he said he wanted to marry her, but he had never thought of engaging in any form of skin-on-skin relationship with another woman after Madeline. He had approached Vera out of selfishness. He wanted to stare at the features of someone who looked exactly like Madeline a little longer, just so he could ease the guilt within him. Yet right now… He felt like a b*stard. He claimed that he loved her, yet he found himself unable to withstand the allure of another woman in his moment of drunkenness. “Look at you. You seem distressed. Why? Because I remind you of the ex-wife you hated so much? You must feel disgusting and dirty.” Madeline