Stephen, too scared to continue, rushed to Andrew's side, about to call for the butler and a doctor."I'm okay," Andrew rasped, the metallic taste of blood on his tongue. "Keep it down, don't alarm Grandma."Sophia had just calmed down with her meds and gone to bed, shaken by Stephen's earlier words.Another shock could do some real harm."But you've got to look after yourself." Stephen said."It's nothing," Andrew insisted, his anger having forced a clot of blood from his chest, which oddly made him feel a bit better. The thought of Cilix brought the fury rushing back."I always said that Cilix was no good, but your aunt would not listen and married him anyway!"I figured he was just a pushover, not cut out for much. But to think he was already married with a kid! And then he has the nerve to come asking for her hand in marriage! He's a fraud!"Damn him! Damn him all to hell!" He spat out the curses as another coughing fit took him.Stephen was right there, helping him brea
Given Andrew's protective nature toward Madeline, it was unlikely Trevon would ever find himself in his good graces again. However, that was a worry for another day. With Stephen's comforting words, Andrew's stormy emotions settled. "Let's keep this from your grandma for now. Her heart can't take the shock." The truth was, Bella's plight was simply too much to bear, and Sophia would be devastated. Stephen gave a nod of understanding. With a grunt, Andrew added, "At least she's got her wits about her, passing on your grandma's talents. Madeline picked them up well."Come on, spill more about Madeline," he urged.Stephen chuckled, unable to contain himself. Since he had started noticing Madeline's identity, he had done his homework and dug up quite a bit. He launched into the tale, detail by detail.Meanwhile, Trevon stepped out of the Ferguson estate, his thoughts on Stephen's behavior prompting a derisive snort. The Ferguson family's golden boy lusting after someone else's
"Trevon, can't we just stay together, please?" Desperation laced Lydia's voice.She had lost count of how many times she had begged him. She had lowered herself to the ground for him.Yet Trevon seemed like a statue, not even budging. "We had an agreement. After the birthday party, we'd go our separate ways.""No, no, no! I don't accept that! I've changed my mind. Trevon, I can't break up with you!"Madeline doesn't even love you. She only married you for Bella's sake! It's your wealth she's after! She's not worth your love! I'm the one who loves you most in this world!"Trevon's brow furrowed deeper. Patience was never his strong suit, and Lydia's repetitive pleas were starting to grate on him. He unwound her hands from his waist, one by one. In the night's shadow, his face seemed to grow colder. "I'll overlook this for old times' sake. I've said as much many times before. "The night of the accident, after too much wine, I never meant for things to go that far, and the baby...
Trevon, faced with Lydia's frail and pale figure, finally got to his feet. They headed to an old coffee haunt, only to find it closed.Lydia's face fell. "I'd forgotten, it's not open round the clock."Trevon regarded her with a detached air. "There's a hotel nearby. I'll walk you there."Lydia's eyes brimmed with tears. "You won't even let me stay one night?"Trevon looked at her, his expression serene. "It's not right for us to live together, not being married and all. You know how Madeline is—she can't stand even the smallest fault. I don't want to give her the wrong idea."Her words cut Lydia deep. Her voice spiked with emotion. "Why are you so good to her? She doesn't deserve it! She's the one who ruined what we had! If it weren't for her, we'd be together by now! She's to blame for everything!"But Trevon was the picture of calm, his voice steady. "You're wrong. The reason we're not together is that you left the country."Lydia had fled overseas when she heard Trevon had f
"You know, we're practically family. Just beg me for forgiveness, and I might just let you off the hook this time."Jack's face twisted into a malicious grin, eyeing Trevon like he was nothing more than a helpless stray dog, ready to be kicked around.Trevon shot him a dismissive look, not in the mood for idle chatter. What really got under Jack's skin was Trevon's air of superiority, as if he considered everyone else beneath him, mere garbage.With a venomous spit, Jack slammed his baseball bat against the ground and barked, "Give him a beating he won't forget!"In an instant, the gang closed in like a pack of thugs.Lydia shrank behind Trevon, her grip on his arm unyielding, "Trevon, what do we do? I'm terrified."Trevon's lips tightened into a thin line as he faced Jack, "This is between you and me. Let her go."Jack let out a sharp, mocking laugh, his eyes lingering on Lydia. After scrutinizing her for a moment, he burst into a loud, derisive laugh. "Well, if it isn't Ms. Sa
Jack licked the blood splattered on his face and sneered, "I didn't want to. But you wouldn't give up, leaving me no choice. "Don't worry, I won't let you die quickly. I'll carve you up slowly, slice by slice, until you're bled dry, then I'll send you off."I told you, for this stab, you're going to pay back a thousand times over!"He advanced with a wicked laugh, his knife poised to strike again.Lydia, fighting through her pain, suddenly grabbed Jack's legs. "Please, I'm begging you, don't kill him, don't do it!"Jack, Jack, let him go. He's your cousin, your own flesh and blood!"Jack paused, knife in mid-air. He crouched down, tilting Lydia's face up to his, "Let him go? When he ruined my family, why didn't he spare me, treat me like kin?"Trevon's expression darkened, he moved to pull Lydia away but Jack's knife swipe kept him at bay. Trevon glanced at his sliced clothes, his voice steady and unyielding. "The car crash, it was your dad's doing. You've been in jail, you shoul
Irritation flickered in Jack's eyes, and he spat out bitterly, "You're really laying it all on the line for him!"Facing him head-on, Lydia's expression was one of unwavering determination. "I love him! And I'd do anything for him, willingly. I've given you my word, now let him go!""Fine, fine, fine!" Jack repeated the word, his gaze dripping with disdain as he looked at Trevon. "Never thought I'd see the day, Trevon, when you'd be so low as to hide behind a woman. Pathetic."Trevon's face turned to ice. "I don't need your pity. Come at me if you dare!""No! Let him go!" Lydia's grip on Jack's leg was unyielding.Jack stood, pulling Lydia up with him and drawing her close. "Trevon, you know I've never been able to say no to Lydia. She's asked, so I'll give her that much respect."What he did not say was that he had already gotten word that the cops were on their way."Because of Lydia, I'll let you off this time. But just this once."He flashed a chilling smirk. "Just be caref
Lydia's slap landed fiercely on Jack's cheek."I told you to act, not to actually kill him!"Jack's head snapped to the side from the impact. He tasted the sting on his cheek and laughed mockingly, "Can't stand the thought of him hurt? You're so naive, he doesn't love you. You think playing the hero will make him love you again? Trevon's nothing but a heartless jerk!" Lydia snapped back, her hand raised in defiance. "You can't talk about him like that!" But that time, Jack caught her wrist in an iron grip. "Enough with the screaming," he growled. "You think you're still Redenbaugh City's darling princess? Without Trevon, you're nobody." He leaned in close, his voice a menacing whisper. "You'd better wise up."Lydia's eyes blazed with anger. "You're using me!"Jack's laugh was cruel and icy. "What a perfect chance to get rid of Trevon, right?" Lydia's fury turned to a desperate struggle, but Jack was too strong, he shoved her to the ground and pinned her down, his hand cruel o