Madeline barely gave Trevon a glance before her eyes landed on Riley.Riley's eyes flashed with shock, and he snapped, "What's with that look? Don't you think you deserved that? You're plotting against Lydia, but the worst thing you did was to ignore the Gibson family's legacy! Two slaps is letting you off easy.""Today, you're going to kneel and pray for the kid!"Madeline let out a soft laugh. "Me, a killer, praying for blessings? You're not worried that'll jinx the kid's chances of a do-over?"Riley paused, his face darkening again.Skylar burst into sobs. "There! You've confessed! Trevon, you heard her! You have to get justice for Lydia's baby!"Trevon's frown deepened.He ignored Skylar's tears and fixed his gaze on Madeline, his voice low and serious. "What are you talking about?""Mr. Harris, take Mrs. Gibson home," he ordered.Mr. Harris hurried over to Madeline, reaching out to assist her.Madeline stepped aside, dodging his touch.Skylar's voice pierced the air, "N
Lydia's tears fell steadily. "You're not the one bleeding, so of course you can't feel my pain!""Do you have any idea? When I was bleeding, I felt my baby slipping away from me, little by little. It's a pain that rips your soul to shreds!"Lydia clutched at her chest, as if the pain was too much to bear.Trevon frowned slightly, a sign that he couldn't truly grasp the depth of her anguish.Lydia's eyes were stormy with grief and anger, a stark contrast to the calm concern etched on his face."Try to stay calm, Lydia. You need to think about your health," he urged softly."Name your price. Whatever compensation you want, it's yours."Her gaze snapped up, fierce and unyielding. "I want Madeline to pay—an eye for an eye!""I shed lots of blood; I demand she does the same!"He had never seen her so raw, so untamed. He understood though—losing a child could push anyone to the edge.Yet, he had to be the voice of reason."It was a tragic accident, Lydia. You can't pin this on Mad
Trevon stepped out into the cool night air, leaving the hospital behind him.Mr. Harris was there to meet him, "We've managed to keep a lid on the birthday party and Miss Lydia's tumble. Mrs. Lowe was making a scene, demanding justice against Mrs. Gibson, but she calmed down and was sent home.""Mrs. Yagle left a word for you. She wants you to wrap things up here and then swing by the old house."Trevon gave a noncommittal hum, sliding into the car and massaging the tension between his eyebrows. "Where's Madeline?"Peering at him through the rearview mirror, Mr. Harris replied, "Mrs. Gibson slipped away while Mr. Jabs was getting his car."Trevon's frown deepened.Mr. Harris hurried to explain, "She hitched a ride with Mr. Ferguson to the Crystal River Hotel."Trevon's face darkened. "Why's he butting in?"Mr. Harris did not have an answer. From what he had heard, Stephen had merely helped Madeline with a hotel booking and then took off. Probably just lending a hand.Trevon's
Trevon left the hotel and drove back to the Gibson family's stately home.Riley was slumped in the living room, struggling to keep his eyes open, when he finally saw his son stroll in."What took you so long?"Trevon dropped onto the couch without a word, "Out with it. Why did you call me back here?"Riley's brow furrowed as she shot him a piercing look. "What's this 'I don't know' act? We're talking about Lydia's miscarriage. What's your game plan here?"Trevon glanced up, his voice cool and detached. "Like I said, it's none of your business. Drop it.""It is my business!" Riley's voice spiked with intensity. "Don't think you can fool me with your schemes.""You're planning to pay off the Sanders family, aren't you? As some kind of settlement?"Trevon remained silent.Riley slid into the seat beside him, her tone incredulous. "Have you lost your mind? This is the Sanders' mess, not the Gibsons'. If anyone should be coughing up cash, it's Madeline. Our family's money shouldn't
Downstairs, Riley was wide awake, Trevon's words echoing in her mind. Without hesitation, she picked up the phone and called her go-to lawyer.The lawyer listened and then confirmed, "That's right. Without a prenup, the law says the couple should split everything down the middle."Unless...""Unless what?" Riley pressed."Unless one spouse decides to walk away from the assets, agreeing to it in a divorce settlement," the lawyer explained."So, if the divorce papers state that she’s giving up her share, they won't need to split anything else?" Riley clarified."Exactly," the lawyer confirmed.Riley's laugh was sharp, tinged with resolve. "Fine, draft me that divorce settlement."The lawyer hesitated, then asked carefully, "Mrs. Yagle, who is this settlement for, if I may ask?""Mind your own business," Riley snapped, and ended the call.Madeline had no clue about Riley's scheme. She would better sign the papers without a fuss, or she would be in for a nasty surprise.Unaware
"Someone else... now... about to be fired..." Sherah's muffled voice floated from the hallway.Madeline strained to listen, her footsteps quieting. Sherah had been acting off, and Madeline's curiosity was piqued.Just then, a janitor caught Madeline's eye and swung open the corridor door. With a loud creak, the heavy door broke the silence, and Sherah's conversation came to an abrupt halt.Madeline glided into the room, a playful smile on her lips. "Mrs. Jeppesen, what brings you here?"Sherah hastily tucked her phone out of sight and forced a laugh. "Just catching up with the family."Ms. Sanders, what can I do for you?"Madeline's eyes flicked to the hidden phone and back, her smile unwavering. "Just a little something. Macy is here mainly to help my mom in the kitchen, so don't get the wrong idea. I..."Sherah cut in, more eager than Madeline had anticipated. "If you've found extra hands, it's perfect timing—I've got my own matters at home. Maybe I should..."Madeline's eyeb
Riley's voice cut in. "Ten o'clock, meet me at The Cornerstone Cafe. We need to talk."The line went dead before Madeline could answer.She pocketed her phone with a calm she did not feel and picked up where they left off. "It's about Mrs. Jeppesen, the one caring for my mom."She rushed off, claiming a family emergency. But something doesn't sit right with me."Caleb gave a nod of understanding. "I'm on it."Madeline bit her lip, apologetic. "I hate to impose."However, Caleb was her only option, there was no one else.Caleb just grinned, keeping his thoughts to himself. "What's your plan? That baby bump isn't going to stay hidden much longer."Madeline's voice was a whisper of worry. "If I have to, I'll lay low for a while."Trevon's stance was a mystery. If he refused to divorce, she would have to disappear until the baby arrived."Let me know if you need anything," Caleb offered, his concern genuine."Will do."Madeline headed for the door, then paused and swung back ar
Riley sat in the cafe, her face stormy with annoyance. They had said thirty minutes, but an hour had ticked by with no sign of Madeline.It seemed Madeline was not taking her seriously at all! Just as Riley's patience was wearing thin, in came Madeline, taking her sweet time."Finally!" Riley snapped, her composure shattered, her hand thudding on the table.Luckily, she had reserved the place, so their spat had no audience except for the barista, who peeked over from the counter, then quickly pretended to be engrossed in his work.Madeline took a seat across from him with a serene grace, setting her belongings on the floor with a soft thud. "Got caught in a bit of traffic, sorry about that," she said, her voice devoid of concern. Her face still bore the marks of yesterday's injury, swollen and tender to the eye.Riley let out a derisive snort, his eyes darting to the bag by her feet, stuffed to the brim. Clearly, those were fresh purchases. She had not been delayed by traffic, she
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