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
"Mr. Gibson, are you really giving that necklace to Lydia? It was meant for Mrs. Gibson," Daniel asked, as he watched Lydia walk away with the shattered gift.Trevon reclined, his voice a mere whisper, "Give it to her. Whatever she's asking for, just deal with it."Lydia had played her card before leaving, calling in the life-saving debt to make a request of Trevon.He could not say no, but he had no intention of seeing Lydia again.Daniel gave a knowing nod.It was probably for the best. After all, he had always had a soft spot for Madeline, the esteemed Mrs. Gibson."Should we have another necklace made?"Trevon waved off the idea. "Madeline wouldn't want another. A ring, then. With a pink diamond."Daniel paused, then a smile cracked his face, "Got it. I'll find the largest pink diamond there is."Trevon fell silent, his eyes closing from exhaustion, yet a hint of contentment played on his lips.…In Redenbaugh City, Skylar had been on edge ever since she heard about Bell