Madeline gave Lydia a quick look, cool as a cucumber.Right then, Madeline almost wished Lydia was actually expecting. That would light a fire under Trevon to get their divorce wrapped up quickly.Lydia's smugness, though? That was totally uncalled for."Mrs. Yagle likes you, which is lucky for you and for me. Good luck," Madeline said with a hint of irony, then she turned on her heel and walked away without another word.She caught a glimpse of Lydia, stone-faced as she went back to Riley, but her smile snapped back on like nothing happened.Yeneth was biting her lip with worry. "She's so close with your mother-in-law. What if people get the wrong idea? That can't be good for you, right?"Madeline just shook her head. "Doesn't bother me."What was so great about hanging out with Riley, anyway? All she did was boss her around, treat her like a maid. That was the real insult—not just to her pride, but it was also running her ragged."Just ignore them," she said.Then a server p
Trevon shot a quick look at Madeline. Her blank face sent an odd pang through his chest.He looked down, gathering his thoughts, but before he could say anything, Riley was already there, shooting Madeline a death glare.Madeline just stood there, silent.Riley brushed past Madeline, grabbed Edith's hand, and said, "Mom, why didn't you give me a heads-up about your visit?"Madeline stumbled from the shove, and Trevon's reflexes kicked in; he reached out to catch her.Madeline's first instinct was to jerk away from his touch, but she toned down her reaction, mindful of the public eye, and just subtly shifted away without a fuss.To Lydia, it looked like Madeline had been nudged and then played it up, acting like she had fallen into Trevon's arms and was too clingy to let go.A shadow flickered in Trevon's eyes as he clenched the pearl-encrusted clutch in his hand a little tighter.Edith was not at all pleased with how Riley had interacted with Lydia. She gave Riley a frosty look
Stephen's face soured in an instant. He forced a smile and said, "Come on, what are you talking about? If anyone's going to dance with you first, it's gotta be me, your big bro." Sadie was not having any of it. "Bro, you're hardly ever here. You don't even know the local moves. Trevon's got this."Stephen's eyebrows knitted together in a silent warning.Sadie pretended not to notice and turned to Trevon with a smile, "Hey Trevon, could you help me out here?"She seemed oblivious to the fact that Trevon was off the market, his wife standing just a stone's throw away.The smile slowly drained from Edith's face.Before Trevon could even get a word in, Stephen grabbed Sadie's arm. "She's just kidding around, you know how kids are. We've got to head out and celebrate Wasyl's big day. Catch you later!"Without waiting for a response, he whisked Sadie off.Edith shook her head as she watched them go. Kids these days...She bit her tongue, instead turning to Trevon with a suggestion,
Madeline tensed for a split second."Don't worry, it's just a blackout," Trevon reassured her, patting her back.It was not fear that had made her stiffen, just a knee-jerk reaction.They were lucky to have moved aside earlier. Guided by memory, Trevon led her to a nearby pillar to lean on.Caleb's voice cut through the dark. "We've lost power. Please stay calm, everyone. The backup generators will kick in soon."The lights flickered back to life shortly after his announcement, and the music began to play once more.As her eyes adjusted, Madeline's gaze met Caleb's across the room. She offered him a small, reassuring smile, which he returned with a slight nod.Then, suddenly, her view was blocked by a large hand, and she spun around."What the heck?" Madeline demanded, yanking his hand away.Trevon's eyes were soft as he looked down at her. "Didn't want you to be dazzled by the sudden light," he said quietly.Madeline was fuming. She stomped on his foot, hard, and spun around
Madeline was at a loss for words. Where on earth did Sadie pick up these drinking table one-liners?Stephen shot her a look, thinking she had spoken out of turn.Sadie just shrugged, giving Madeline a challenging look.Madeline grabbed the water, gave it a quick sniff, and realized it was nothing but plain water. She took a cautious sip."So, Ms. Ferguson, do you believe us now?"Sadie was too quick; Lydia did not have a chance to intervene. Seeing Madeline take a drink, Lydia did not want to cause a scene, so she just clenched her jaw and kept quiet.Sadie seemed a bit more at ease after Madeline drank. She turned to Stephen and said, "Happy now? I'm out of here."Stephen sighed and trailed after her.Madeline glanced at Lydia but did not bother with small talk. She just took her cup and headed off to find Yeneth.Lydia watched her go, unsure whether to follow or stay put. By the time she decided, Trevon was nowhere to be seen.Yeneth was full and was half-heartedly chatting
Who knew where Lydia got that drug, but it packed a punch.Just a tiny sip and it hit her like a freight train.Madeline, leaning on Trevon for support, stumbled out the Jabs family's front door, her mind already foggy, just going with Trevon's guiding forceHer thoughts were turning to mush, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through. The baby inside her was her biggest worry. So, even though every touch from Trevon was hard to resist, she kept a sliver of her mind clear.Once they were away from the crowd, Trevon scooped her up in his arms.Madeline did not fight it; she clung to his neck, breathing deeply, trying to fend off the heat raging through her. The heat came in waves. Feeling the discomfort in her belly, she grew more scared for her baby and tears silently fell.Trevon's heart clenched, and he whispered, "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."Madeline just blinked in surprise, biting back any sound.Caleb rushed out after them. "What's going on?"Trevon
Madeline's eyes widened as she grasped his meaning."No, I can't do that," she said quickly, her body instinctively pulling away.The baby was only twelve weeks along, still so fragile. What if something went wrong? Her rejection felt like a dagger to Trevon's heart. Did she prefer Caleb, the outsider? The mere thought made Trevon's blood boil with a murderous rage. He would never allow it. No one else was going to lay a hand on Madeline. She belonged to him."If we don't do this, you won't be able to find peace," he said, his voice firm.Trevon was untying the strap at his collar and, with a mischievous glint in his eye, gently wrapped the strap around Madeline's wrists despite her look of utter disbelief."Don't worry, this will be over before you know it.""Uh…" Madeline tried to speak, but her words were stuck in her mouth...It took a while, but the room finally fell silent.Madeline caught her breath, her eyes blankly fixed on the ceiling, her mind a million miles away.
Trevon's whispers were relentless, his warm breath washing over Madeline in waves, leaving her feeling as flustered as an overcooked shrimp.Madeline could not stand it any longer. Without a second thought, her hand flew out and smacked him across the face. She was mortified, her hand acting with a mind of its own. The sound of the slap echoed sharply, and Trevon's cheek flushed a bright red.Startled, Madeline quickly cupped his face. "I... I didn't mean to. Are you... okay?"The vivid handprint on his cheek was a stark reminder of her strength. Guilt washed over her.Seizing her hand, Trevon's voice was laced with bitterness. "Lately, I've been way too lenient with you. You're running wild!"Madeline recoiled, too scared to utter a word.With a cold huff, Trevon patted her head, not too gently but not too harshly either. "I'll let that slap slide.""But..." His hand drifted down, gently tilting Madeline's chin up, compelling her to look into his eyes, "You still owe me for las
That batch of red wine did not look too strong, but it packed a punch.As the trio kept drinking, they slowly started to feel the buzz.Yeneth, glass in hand, her cheeks a rosy red, ranted, "Don't employees' lives count for anything? Overtime, day in and day out! It's enough to wear out a horse!"That darn Camden, always harping on about performance, about profits! Is game development just about the bottom line? What happened to the heart? Rubbish!"For a moment, she thought she saw Camden's face, and in a fit of anger, Yeneth tried to slap it away, nearly tumbling into her wine glass instead.Madeline, startled, rushed to steady her.Yeneth, still wobbly, stood up on her own, fixing Trevon with a steely gaze and said icily, "You're just another greedy capitalist."Trevon sat there, calm and collected, but his delayed movements and the occasional glint of bewilderment in his eyes betrayed his inebriation to Madeline.When Yeneth spoke up, he turned his head slowly, locking eyes
Madeline, caught up in the conversation with Caleb and Yeneth, turned around in shock at Trevon's question.He had just declared he would not touch a drop, and he was suddenly reaching for the wine?However, she let it go without a question.The red wine was smooth and inviting. If he felt like drinking, why not?Trevon grunted a greeting into his phone. "Mr. Caleb Jabs."Caleb snapped out of his reverie, returning the greeting with a subdued nod, his gaze deepening.Yeneth, caught between awkwardness and concern, glanced at Caleb. She was about to speak when a glamorous doctor in a white coat appeared beside him on the screen.The doctor, Camila Jervis, peered at the screen, her smile teasing. "Mr. Caleb Jabs, are you chatting with your girlfriend?"Two women were on the screen, leaving it unclear whom she meant.Caleb shook his head, offering no explanation, and instead asked, "Dr. Jervis, what's up?"Camila arched an eyebrow, not prying further. "The professor's ready to s
Yahir sipped his cola, feeling utterly dejected.He had bolted from the Lewis family feast, even at the risk of getting caught, just to pocket two bottles of Lafite.They were not the prized '1982' edition, but they were still pretty decent.His mom's constant marriage talk was a drag, but her taste in wine was impeccable. He was all set for a night of no-holds-barred drinking with Trevon.However, Trevon dragged him over to Madeline's, and under the pretext of her pregnancy, confiscated all the wine.Then, it sat tauntingly in the wine cabinet.Yahir gazed at it, each bottle seeming to whisper seductively."Come on, come have a taste."It was pure torture!He took another swig of cola."Whoa!"Yeneth's shout came out of nowhere.Yahir choked mid-sip.The cola fizz popped like fireworks in his throat, sending him into a coughing frenzy, his face flushing a deep crimson as the soda splashed across the floor.Madeline jumped at his coughing spectacle, hastily grabbing a tis
Madeline swung open the kitchen door to find Yahir wrapping his arms around Yeneth from behind, as if he could not bear to let her go.Her mind, already a whirlwind of thoughts, was completely thrown."What in the world..."Madeline was puzzled as she returned from the kitchen. She had only stepped away to make a call, and then Yeneth and Yahir were locked in an embrace.Yeneth tried to explain, "Madeline, this isn't what it looks like. I was just—"However, Yahir clamped a hand over her mouth, grinning at Madeline. "We're just playing around, Madeline. Hey, do you have any wine glasses? We need four. Let's celebrate!"Trevon stepped out from behind Madeline, his composed facade unbroken. "Lost your head? She's pregnant. Think she can drink?"Yahir smacked his forehead. "Oh, man. I totally spaced on that."Once Yeneth wriggled free, she took a deep breath and delivered a sharp kick to Yahir's leg. "Get off me!"She kicked with all her might, hitting Yahir's shin and sending a
At that moment, Trevon seemed to freeze, then he straightened his posture. "Madeline, Liam's role is to be your close protection, to ensure your safety."Madeline had faced too many close calls, and he could not shake his concern for her.However, she was fiercely independent. If it were up to him, he would keep her tethered to his side.Madeline let out a derisive snort. She knew Xoan well enough to know he could dig up information on Yoana, but not with such speed and precision.Xoan claimed Liam was the one who had lent a hand.Madeline knew Liam. That had Trevon's fingerprints all over it."Do you really think I've become so dim-witted from pregnancy that I can't think straight?"Trevon looked at her, a mix of frustration and affection in his eyes.She had once been so sweet and compliant. Then, she became so sharp and quick-witted, a match even for him.However, he preferred her that way."Madeline, I'm just looking out for you."Trevon had an insatiable need to know ev
"Madeline, I've got the scoop on Yoana," Xoan said.Madeline was taken aback. "So soon?"Xoan let out a sly chuckle. "It wouldn't have been this quick, but Liam lent us a hand."Madeline stole a quick look at Trevon, then cast her gaze downward.Fifteen years back, Yoana was forced out of the Sanders Group—a victim of Cilix's cunning plot.It was not just a simple resignation as Bella had naively believed. Yoana was secretly saddled with a mountain of debt.Cilix did not stop there. He tarnished Yoana's name throughout the industry.She could not land a respectable job to save her life.Her personal life was total chaos.Her husband, Jim Livingston, who was once a low-level office worker, had dived into business on the back of Yoana's earnings and made a pretty penny.However, when the bill came due, Yoana hit a wall. Jim had sent all his cash back to his folks, leaving peanuts behind.Yoana was floored. A decade of hard work, and not a dime to show for it.When she begged
Madeline swung the door open to find Trevon on her doorstep, her eyebrows knitting together in a frown.Before she could get a word out, Yahir popped up from behind him with a grin. "Happy New Year, Madeline!"He waved a container of homemade goodies.Those two had nearly fought that morning, and then they were as chummy as can be—though Trevon looked like he would rather be anywhere else. However, he bit his tongue and kept quiet.With the Gibsons and the Lewises all cozied up for a New Year's feast, what on earth were those two doing there?Yahir's face fell. "Madeline, you've got no idea. My mom's a force of nature. Can you believe she's still dragging me to blind dates on New Year's Eve? I just had to bail."Madeline could not help but think about Liliana's earlier enthusiasm for rallying the troops and was at a loss for words."What about you, Trevon? What brings you here?" Madeline asked.Trevon pursed his lips. He was looking a little quiet too.Edith had been on his ca
Madeline walked into her house and immediately sensed something was up. She nudged the door wider and there was Yeneth, sparking an involuntary grin on her face."I thought you were going to be hibernating today?"Yeneth had been swamped with the Skylandia project, barely getting any sleep. She had texted Madeline about sleeping in on her day off.With a shrug and a smirk, Yeneth said, "Guess I'm just wired to work. Woke up at the crack of dawn, hung around in bed not to wake you, and by the time I showed up, you were already out and about."Madeline shut the door behind her, musing aloud."I've been turning it over in my mind. All this press and pest hunting is kid's play for the Sanders Group. To really take them on, we've got to… Yank the carpet out from under them?" Yeneth's smile was the answer Madeline needed as she shared her strategy."How's that sound?"Yeneth's thumbs-up was quick, but her frown came just as fast. "Fashion's a shark tank, and jumping in now? That's r
Madeline's request left Yoana taken aback.A wry smile crossed her face. "What can I possibly help you with at my age?"Madeline grasped her hand with conviction. "No, Mrs. Reed, you're the only one who can do this favor for me."Yoana looked down, her expression unreadable, and whispered, "You're giving me too much credit. Besides, with my background, there's no way I can go back to working with the Sanders Group. I have a couple of pairs of baby shoes here. Take them as a baby shower gift for your little ones."Madeline realized Yoana had gotten the wrong idea, thinking she was there about the Sanders Group or Cilix, and felt a twinge of disappointment."Mrs. Reed, please don't reject my request just yet. I'm planning to start my own fashion label. Everything Is underway, but I'm still missing one crucial piece—a designer."Madeline shared her vision.Yoana's eyebrows shot up in surprise when she heard Madeline's vision for her new company."That sounds just like the Sanders