Bella lay motionless on the bed, an oxygen mask veiling her face, her breathing barely noticeable.The machines by her side beeped intermittently, the only sign she was hanging on.However, she was so frail, just skin and bones, like she could crumble any moment.Madeline's heart ached as she watched her.Bella had always been the belle of the ball, turning heads with her style and grace.However, her once radiant face was gaunt, the loss of volume making her look almost ghostly.Thank goodness, each time she came to, Bella had not caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. If she had, with her love for looking good, she would probably have shattered it right there.Her once shiny black hair became thin and dull.As Madeline ran her fingers through it, she felt the strands were as devoid of life as Bella seemed to be.Maybe, just maybe, it would be kinder for Bella to slip away. She would not have to deal with the loss of her parents, the mystery of her missing brother, or the
No sooner had Skylar's words hung in the air than Caleb's boot sent her crashing to the ground."Clean up your act," he snapped.It was the first time Caleb had ever thrown a punch—or in that case, a kick.Skylar, blindsided by the sudden attack, hit the dirt hard."What's your problem? I'm talking about Madeline here. Why are you getting mad? Don't tell me I'm right, and that you're the cheater?"I knew it! You're always running around, doing errands for Madeline. So, that's the truth between you two."Madeline, that's just low. Madam Gibson treats you like gold, and here you are, stirring up trouble."Instead of getting up, Skylar planted herself on the ground and started yelling."Everyone, come look! The homewrecker's throwing punches! Knocking up another man's wife, and a doctor no less. Shameful!"Caleb's face turned stormy in an instant.Madeline had had enough. She marched over and fiercely kicked Skylar.Pinned to the ground, Skylar could not dodge and took the blow
Cilix stared at Madeline in disappointment. "Madeline, what happened to you? You used to be such a kind and courteous kid. Now, you're all claws and teeth. I barely recognize you. You've let me down big time."Madeline could only scoff at his words, thinking it was the biggest joke ever."Oh, so you're here for my mom? Fine. She's in a coma right now, and the doctors say that she needs surgery. It'll cost a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I don't have that kind of cash, so how about you pay it off me?"Cilix's frown deepened.Skylar could not stay put any longer. She jumped to her feet and blurted out, "He's not even married to your mother anymore. Why should he pay her medical bills? Especially not a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. You're living in a fantasy."Skylar figured it was pointless to even bother with treatment, it was just throwing money away.Madeline ignored Skylar, her eyes locked on Cilix. "Dad, my real dad, what's your take?"Skylar was furious, desperat
Cilix noticed Skylar stalling and scowled. "What now?"Skylar flashed an awkward grin. "Go ahead, Cilix. I just need to use the restroom."Cilix glanced at the nearby restroom and his frown softened. "Make it quick."He took a couple of steps and spun around. "Don't you dare stir up trouble with Madeline again."Skylar nodded like her life depended on it. "Sure thing. I'm on it. You get the car running. I'll be out quickly."After Cilix had vanished into the distance, Skylar sauntered up to the Zwick family, her chin tilted up ever so slightly."You're the family of the lady who got tossed out of her car in that crash, right?" Susie glanced up to find a lady who looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine standing there. Her hair was perfect, not a strand out of place, unlike Susie's own wild, untamed tresses. The lady's outfit, the designer bag she clutched, and the shoes she wore screamed money. Susie could not help but feel envious.Susie sniffled and replied, "
Tanner's voice stopped David."Hold up, David!"David was clearly upset. "Tanner, are you seriously going to pass up a pile of cash when it's right under your nose?""Zip it," Tanner shot back, his gaze sharp with disappointment.Did David really think they were about to get a lucky break out of nowhere?That lady they had just met was surely up to no good. She was just trying to drag them into someone else's mess.Were they supposed to just dive headfirst into trouble?"So, we're just going to say no to the money?"Tanner gave him a look. "Take it? Of course, we're taking it. Why on earth wouldn't we? Mom's death can't be for nothing. We owe it to her to get some justice."In the heat of the moment, they all seemed to forget what they had said earlier about Yasmin already being dead by the time she was loaded into the ambulance.They huddled up and made a plan. Tanner and Susie would head upstairs first to scope things out.Finding Bella's hospital room was a breeze.They
They turned to see Chandler standing in the doorway. He had been tied up with Andrew's issues until he caught wind of Bella's crisis, which had him racing over.Chandler stepped nto the room and said, "Mrs. Gibson, the Fergusons have some pull in Ameristan. We can try to track down Professor Larson for you."Madeline's eyes sparkled the moment she saw him. Of course it was the Fergusons. They would know how to fix that.Madeline pleaded desperately, "Chandler, please, you've got to help me out here."If that did not work, she would have no choice but to crawl back to the Gibsons and beg Edith for help.However, she was already in deep with Edith and had no idea how to even begin that conversation.The Fergusons... Madeline would find a way to make it up to them somehow.Chandler gave her a reassuring smile. "Mrs. Gibson, after all the help you've given the Fergusons, we haven't forgotten. Don't worry, we'll sort this out in no time."With that, he grabbed his phone and stepped
Trevon hung up and swung his legs off the bed, ripping out his IV with a swift motion.A nurse passing by gasped and exclaimed, "What are you doing?! You're not well enough to be up and about!"Trevon shot her a frosty look and kept moving.Daniel, catching wind of the ruckus, rushed in and did a double-take at Trevon's bold move."Get me on the next flight out. I'm heading home," Trevon commanded.He was already rushing to the exit.Daniel scrambled to keep up. "Mr. Gibson, you're not cleared to leave. The doctor says you need more time to heal."Trevon paused and turned to face him. "Are you in the dark about what's going on?"Daniel's brow creased with worry. "What's going on?"Trevon's eyes were icy. "Madeline's mom's been in a crash, she's in critical condition. Two days and you've heard nothing?"Daniel's face twisted in distress. "I'll get a plane sorted immediately, Mr. Gibson."He had to get back and figure out where things had gone wrong.…Yanely had popped over
"Check this out. It's Madeline's first trip to the hospital. I bumped into her later in the maternity ward, but when I tried to dig up her records again, they were gone. Someone's been covering tracks."The paper clearly showed Madeline's initial pregnancy test, dated two months back.Madeline was already three months along.Riley had been sitting stone-faced, but at the sight of the papers, she leaped to her feet."No way!"Riley pushed them to try for a baby countless times, even suggesting IVF, but Trevon always shot her down.With Trevon's fastidious ways and his germaphobia, how could he ever sleep with Madeline?They always acted like they had not even come close to sleeping together, but they were trying to tell her Madeline was pregnant.She could not buy it.Lydia chuckled, "Mrs. Yagle, nothing's impossible, but I think you might be a bit off track here. I never said the baby in Madeline's stomach was Trevon's."Wham!Riley's hand came crashing down on the table. "W