She turned around in shock and was met with Jeremy’s frosty expression. “Jer-Jeremy…” She stared frantically at the man walking toward her. Pushing Madeline’s hand away, she turned and ran only to have something hold her by the neck again the next second. Meredith had just taken two full breaths when the feeling of suffocation overcame her again. Jeremy’s fingers were like icicles, seeping into her skin and causing Meredith to shiver. It felt like Jeremy was truly about to kill her. Anger oozed from the man as his grip tightened. The strength he exerted was enough to reopen the wound on his shoulder, causing blood to seep out. Madeline immediately grabbed Jeremy’s hand. “Let go of her, Jeremy.” She persuaded him not because she pitied Meredith and not because she did not want Jeremy to face murder charges because of such a person, but rather because her heart hurt to see his injuries worsen. Jeremy had no desire to let go. She could feel the killing intent ooze from hi
Fabian and the rest of his men left. Just before walking out, he turned to Madeline. “Shout if you need any help, my lady. I’ll be right outside.” Madeline took up the offer. “Then I’ll trouble you with watching over Jeremy for me.” “Hmm.” Fabian shrugged and left. The large room fell silent. Madeline walked steadily toward Meredith. She looked down at the scheming woman from above like a queen when she arrived to stand in front of Meredith. “What other sinister plans do you have, Meredith? Come at me with them now. Don’t waste any more of my time.” “Hmph. Of course, you’d want to end this as soon as possible, but too bad. I won’t let you.” Madeline lifted her hand to wipe off the blood from the corner of her lips as she glared venomously at Madeline. “I know I’ll never have the chance to get Jeremy to love me again, but I can promise you that I won’t let you two have your happily ever after either.” She scoffed sinisterly. “I’ve hidden your daughter in a place where no
Madeline’s pupils darkened as she pierced her gaze into Meredith’s wretched expression. She flung her away heavily. “You’re right, the Stygian Johnsons may not dare to do so, but I do!” What? Stunned, Meredith watched Madeline stride away as it dawned on her that she had just revealed Lillian’s location. Jeremy had already used this trick on her back then in court, but she did not expect Madeline to use it on her. She even fell for it again! Meredith climbed up to block Madeline, only to be kicked back by a bodyguard at the door. She lay on the floor in agony and spit out a mouthful of blood. Watching Madeline leave coolly, she no longer had the strength to stand. Madeline and Jeremy made their way to Felipe’s manor in record time. Felipe was not surprised to know that they had arrived. The sight of Madeline standing with Jeremy irked him. A mocking smirk graced his lips as he stared at Madeline, the woman who would never belong to him again. “Despite hurting you so d
Cathy’s actions shocked Felipe to the core. It was something Madeline and Jeremy had never thought to expect at all. “Do you know what you’re doing?” Felipe turned his head to stare at Cathy who stood behind him. “Of course I do. You’re the one who doesn’t.” Cathy’s tone was calm, solemn in a way that depicted her determination. “Let them go, or I’ll take revenge for my two dead children right now.” Felipe’s expression soured, but he refused to give the order. Cathy pressed the muzzle deeper into Felipe’s flesh. If she pulled the trigger now, the bullet would pierce through Felipe’s heart. Neither Madeline nor Jeremy had expected Cathy to be here, but they could tell that she was on their side. “Come with us, Cathy.” Madeline did not want to leave Cathy here to stay by Felipe’s side in fear that she would suffer the punishment given out by this man. Yet Cathy merely smiled faintly. “It’s alright, Evie, Jeremy. You two should go, but I’m staying here.” Despite not unders
She had heard everything he said. She could feel the regret and remorse oozing from Jeremy, as well as his internal conflict when it came to forgiving himself. Staring at his back that was mere inches away, Madeline no longer felt that they were miles apart. Leaning over, she lifted her arm to hold Jeremy from behind. Deep within his own self-blaming throes, Jeremy was stunned when he felt Madeline suddenly pulling him into a hug. Warmth seeped into his chest. “I know you can’t forgive yourself for the things you’ve done to me, but I mean it when I told you I don’t hate you anymore. “Let’s just live happily together for the rest of our days, Jeremy.” Madeline’s clear voice drifted into Jeremy’s ears, falling into his heart like melodic notes. He turned to face her, his chiseled features against Madeline's ethereal and small face. The two pairs of eyes locked. They were engulfed in comfortable silence. His slender finger traced her brows as he got lost in her beauty.
Cathy felt a piercing pain shooting through the area around her heart. As she looked down, her phone slid out of her weak hands. Plop. The phone fell onto the pavement by her feet as blood slowly dripped onto the screen. From the phone came the frantic shouts of a man. “Cathy! Cathy! Answer me, Cathy!” Felipe’s hand on the steering wheel shook as he sped to the police station. Dashing through the crowd, he was met with a pale girl sitting in a pool of blood. Felipe’s heart felt like it had sunk into an ice cellar as his blood turned cold. “Cathy.” He pushed the people in front of him to get to the girl as he knelt on one knee and pulled her unconscious body into his arms. “Cathy! Wake up, Cathy!” Cradling her, he shouted her name frantically. Yet it was to no avail. Felipe’s vision blurred, not knowing when his eyes had grown watery. All he knew was that his heart hurt. It was numbing and suffocating. Nothing the people around said went through his ears for all
He raised his bloodied hands only to find that the mint-green hairband he had kept carefully with him was now dyed red. With trembling fingers, he raised the hairband to his lips. “Don’t die. Please, you can’t die.” He murmured under his breath as his eyes reddened further. “You promised you’d pester me forever. You can’t go back on your word now.” Felipe’s voice shook as he repeated himself, unable to put the panic within him to rest. Just then, the operating room’s door opened to reveal a doctor in a white coat. Felipe immediately ran toward him. “Professor Quinney, how’s Cathy?” The professor shook his head. “I’ve got the bullet out, but since it hit her heart, I can’t bring her back to life. I’m sorry, but Miss Cathy has passed.” Frozen in place, Felipe felt his world crack as he stood rooted to the ground. “How did she just get shot out of the blue? Could it be the Stygian Johnsons?” The doctor sighed, his heart clenching at the loss of such a young life. Felipe
Felipe felt his heart pause as he took the item from the box. He would never forget this red string. When he met the little girl with the dimpled smile years ago by April Hill’s beach, she had been the ray of light that pulled him out of the dark. She even gave him a rainbow shell. In return, he gave her a red piece of string. That day of that year marked his innocent meeting with the energetic and warm Vetty. It was love at first sight. When he grew up, he found out that the girl was Madeline. That was why he did everything in his power to make Madeline his. However, why was the string he had gifted Madeline in Cathy’s hands? Not to mention that it had been kept so safely. Felipe’s mind was filled with questions that could not be answered. Not that meeting Madeline by the seaside back then mattered to him anymore. The moment Cathy was shot, it dawned on him who he truly had feelings for. Perhaps he should have known the moment Cathy jumped into the river because