Madeline was feeling down.Skylar might brush it off, but Riley? She was all about keeping up appearances.However, they were all hung up on those tens of millions.Blame it on the allure of wealth.They just did not get art.Madeline could not make plans with those who were walking a different path.Madeline shook her head to herself and quickly reassured Hugo, "Really, I just did what anyone would do. Getting named an honorary academician? I'm thrilled. Thanks for this honor."Hugo had his doubts, but Madeline's gratitude brought a relieved smile to his face."You've earned it. You've got the talent, and we'll be counting on you more in the future."Madeline's eyes sparkled at that.She could not help but feel a rush of excitement. She wondered, what would Bella think when she heard the news?However, Bella could never bring herself to scold her.She was, after all, the mother who loved her more than anyone else in the world.…The air was tense in the Gibson household,
After Hugo and the rest had left, Edith excused herself, claiming exhaustion, and took Riley with her.Riley knew the game was up. Snagging that painting was a lost cause then, so she just walked away. Still, she could not quite hide the glee twinkling in her eyes. She had no clue that Edith was seething, ready to unleash a torrent of scolding upon her. However, Madeline's face had turned to ice. "Cilix, if you have even a shred of dignity, keep that fool Skylar under wraps. Don't let her make a spectacle of us!" Skylar exclaimed, "Madeline, who are you calling a fool? That's no way to talk to someone older than you!" Cilix's expression soured. "Madeline, she's still your elder." With a fierce snap, Madeline hurled her cup to the floor. The shards sliced through Skylar's outfit, drawing blood. Skylar gasped in shock, staring at Madeline in disbelief. Madeline icily yelled, "What kind of elder are you? A wicked stepmother, a home-wrecker? Don't play dumb about your little r
The chill of late autumn was biting.Bella stepped out of the hospital in her flimsy gown, looking more vulnerable than ever, but she seemed oblivious to the cold.She just kept moving forward, whispering over and over."Kayden... Kayden..."Cars whizzed by, some nearly clipping her, but she did not even flinch, ignoring the angry honks and shouts....Madeline made it to the hospital to find Caleb waiting outside."I saw the footage. She left the hospital and headed east."Madeline's brow creased with worry. "How could she just walk out on her own? Didn't the nurses see her?"Caleb could only offer a wry smile.They had not seen a thing.The nurse had stepped away with a stomach ache, and that was when Bella slipped out.Madeline was not interested in pointing fingers. She was just frantic with concern.Caleb ushered her into the car. "I've called the cops and got a search team out there. Don't worry, everything will be okay."However, Madeline was far from reassured.B
Bella was whisked away to surgery.The doctor handed Madeline a clipboard. "Please sign this and make the payment."Without a moment's hesitation, Madeline scribbled her signature on the surgery consent form and rushed to the payment desk.The accident had left many in need of aid.Caleb, bound by his oath as a doctor, stayed behind to assist, leaving Madeline to follow the ambulance to the hospital alone.At the payment desk, Madeline presented her card.The cashier fiddled with it for a moment before handing it back. "I'm sorry, but your card's been frozen. It won't go through."Madeline was caught off guard. Why were her accounts locked?"I never requested a freeze. Could this be a mix-up?"The clerk replied, "No mistake here. I just handle the payments. You'd better call the bank and make it quick. Without payment, we can't proceed with the surgery."With no choice left, Madeline pulled out another card.However, one after another, each card was locked.What was going o
With no other options, Madeline finally got through to Yeneth. "Yeneth, could you lend me seven thousand and five hundred dollars?"Yeneth had been pulling overtime recently,The Skylandia project was on a razor-thin deadline, and it was smack in the middle of the promotional rush, with the launch looming on the horizon.She was run ragged, and her only downtime spent at the hospital, keeping vigil by Bella's side.Since Madeline went to see Bella, she had skipped the hospital visit, craving some much-needed downtime.However, her plans for a relaxing bath were cut short by Madeline's call.Madeline's voice was a tangle of sobs, teetering on the edge of a breakdown."Madeline, what's going on? Why the sudden need for cash? Hang tight, I'm sending it now."She was already initiating the transfer as she spoke."My mom's been in a wreck. Send it to my phone, my bank card's on ice..."Yeneth was taken aback. "A wreck?"How could someone who had been stable and asleep in the hosp
Yahir was in the middle of a commotion, shouting to someone before he finally answered the call. "Well, look who's calling. My 'girlfriend' finally has time for me, huh?" Yeneth made a sound of disgust. "Cut the crap! You're close with Trevon, right? Can you get a hold of him?" Yahir smirked. "What's this? You've got a thing for Trevon now? That's not cool. He's your bestie's man." "Ugh! As if! He's trash. Listen, Madeline's in trouble. Get the message to him and tell him to come back, pronto!"Yahir's tone shifted to one of concern. "What's happened to Mrs. Gibson?"Yeneth replied urgently, "Madeline's mom has been in a terrible car crash, and they're fighting to save her. If Trevon still cares for her, if he still sees her as his wife, he needs to come back now."Yahir's complexion turned pale as he processed the news. "Got it. Where are you? I'm on my way."Once the call ended, Yeneth breathed a heavy sigh of relief.It was time to bring Trevon up to speed on the situatio
Madeline could not keep herself upright any longer and passed out.Yeneth and Caleb both sprang into action, catching Madeline before she hit the ground.Tears streamed down Yeneth's face as she cried out in a panic, "Madeline, Madeline, what's happening to you? Please don't frighten me like this!"Caleb, though a doctor and more collected, had hands that shook with a barely contained tremor.He gently examined Madeline.Her complexion was ghostly, and even in her faint, her brows were knitted together in worry.Caleb scooped her up and laid her carefully on a nearby vacant hospital bed, then turned to Yeneth. "Stay calm and go fetch a doctor.""Yes, a doctor."Yeneth, snapping out of her daze, wiped away her tears and dashed off, nearly colliding with a nurse. "Nurse, doctor, my friend fainted, she needs help!"The nurse glanced in the direction Yeneth pointed and recognized Caleb. "Mr. Caleb Jabs?"With a grave tone, Caleb instructed, "We need an obstetrician here, now."…
Trevon stirred from his coma once more.It was the first time he had awoken since that fateful day.Had he not awakened, Daniel might have believed Trevon's previous revival was just a figment of his hope."Mr. Gibson, you're back with us," Daniel announced.At his words, Lydia, who had been napping, perked up and rushed over, her face alight with joy. "Trevon, you're awake!"Trevon paid her no mind, his gaze fixed on Daniel. "How long was I out?""Four days," Daniel replied, already pressing the nurse call button.Had the doctors not been so sure of Trevon's recovery, Daniel would have been on the phone with Edith, asking her to step in and take the reins.Trevon's brow creased with worry. "Did I miss anything important?"Daniel assumed he was worried about the partnership and lab work, so he mentioned, "Mr. Ferguson heard about your mishap and dropped by once. He said we'll hash out the collaboration details after you're back home. About the lab, Rhys hinted at some breakthr
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