As Tanner told his story, everyone else nodded like it was all making sense."Right, I got that call too. They even gave me the exact time to show up and stop you. They said that was the only way to catch you and get some cash out of it."Tanner added, "The girl on the phone sounded pretty young, maybe in her twenties."Madeline's frown deepened as she played a voice message from Lydia. "Does she sound familiar?"Tanner listened and without hesitation, he confirmed, "That's the one. Yeah, that's her voice. No doubt about it."Tanner cleared his throat. "Ms. Sanders, here's the lowdown. It's about three million bucks that got this kid too greedy. I'm here to say sorry for what he did. Let's not forget all the times we've worked together, okay? How about we let this one slide?"Madeline kept silent.Colt chimed in, "Listen up, folks. Just help us out with the investigation, and the judge will do right by the law. However, for now, nobody gets out of town, got it? We'll need you al
Colt blinked, a bit thrown off by her question, and shot a look at Stephen for some backup.He was the new legal eagle the Ferguson Group had brought on board to handle all their stateside legal drama.His plate was pretty full lately, but Stephen had roped him into focusing on Madeline's case for the time being.He was on the Ferguson Group's payroll, and he treated Madeline's situation like any other day at the office. Charging her never even crossed his mind.However, Madeline was dead serious, genuinely wondering what she owed him. He was momentarily at a loss, not quite sure what was going on.Stephen cracked a knowing smile. "Madeline, Colt's one of our own in the Ferguson Group's legal department. You're pretty much part of the crew now, too. This is all in-house legal help—no need to worry about a bill."Madeline was not buying it. She had never heard of a company's legal team stepping in to handle personal legal battles for the staff, especially since she was not officia
"Achoo!"In the Angelic Garden Residence, Trevon let out a massive sneeze. The IV bag he clutched swung wildly.Felicia rushed to his side, steadying the bag and pressing her hand against his forehead to check for a fever.Trevon dodged her touch, turning his head away.Felicia sighed. "Mr. Gibson, the doctor already told you that you shouldn't have left the hospital. You need to be under observation. Look at you, with your wound getting infected. If you catch a cold too, it's just going to be one thing after another. Don't you want to recover and then go see Mrs. Gibson?"Trevon stayed silent.Felicia was about to continue when the sound of the door opening interrupted them.They both looked up to see Madeline at the entrance, flanked by Stephen and Chandler.They had heard Madeline needed to move some stuff and insisted on helping.Five pairs of eyes locked.Trevon's expression turned stormy in an instant. "You were out all this time just to bring back two guys?"His words
Madeline's heart skipped a beat. When it did not concern Lydia, Trevon was frighteningly sharp.She really did not want Caleb dragged into that mess, but Trevon was relentless, and she was at a loss for words.Her dodging only made Trevon more certain."Madeline, just tell me the truth. Is the baby mine?"Trevon was desperate for an answer, not caring that they were not alone. His voice softened, filled with a raw, earnest yearning.Madeline was taken aback by his sudden gentleness.She almost wished he had kept yelling instead. His softness made it look like she was the one causing a scene.Right when Madeline was at a loss for what to do, a hand shot out, stepping in between her and the other guy.Stephen glared at Trevon and said, "Mr. Gibson, if you're so set on getting a divorce, why do you even care who the kid's dad is? If you really cared about Madeline or the baby she's carrying, you'd stop harassing her and let her get some rest."Trevon's voice dripped with jealousy
Madeline had a sneaking suspicion that Stephen was trying to intimidate her, but she could not prove it.Stephen caught her frozen look and chuckled, reaching out to pat her head without thinking.Madeline jumped back, her eyes wide with alarm as she stared at Stephen."Mr. Ferguson, let me be clear. I'm not in the market for a new dad for my kid. If you're itching to play daddy, maybe look elsewhere?"Stephen's lips twitched, and he could not resist ruffling her hair again, a bit more forcefully that time, leaving her sleek black hair in disarray."What are you filling your head with? I just respect what you can do, and you remind me of my sister, that's all. Don't read too much into it."Madeline was not buying it, her face still etched with suspicion even after she tidied her hair.Chandler let out a laugh and added, "Ms. Sanders, Mr. Ferguson's telling the truth. He totally has a sister complex."Madeline could not help but notice how protective Stephen was of Sadie. It was
At the Crystal River Clubhouse, Lydia held a flute of bubbly and eased onto the couch, a picture of bliss painted across her face.Her best friend, Xenia Garside, caught the look and chuckled. "Madeline's mom just died, and you're smiling?"Lydia chuckled. "Hey, don't get it twisted. Madeline's my stepsister, and I'm bummed about her mom too."Xenia did not buy the act but let it slide. "Madeline's probably a wreck right now, not even thinking about Trevon. Why aren't you making your move instead of hanging out here?"Lydia gave her champagne a swirl. "It's the international students' reunion. We don't all come back home and catch up every day. I'd hate to miss it. Also, since when did I become all about chasing Trevon?"Xenia blinked, surprised. "You're over Mr. Gibson?"All Lydia ever spoke about was Trevon, and Xenia had front-row seats to the drama. She figured Lydia would be all over that chance, but it sounded like she was ready to throw in the towel.Lydia's smile was eni
Hector blinked again, taken aback.Lydia let out a playful laugh. "I'm just messing with you. I honestly didn't expect to run into you today. Weren't you busy with an art show in Ameristan? What brought you back all of a sudden?"Realizing she was only joking, Hector could not hide a twinge of disappointment."You might've heard about the mess a few days back, my great-uncle being pressured into fixing up a painting during his talk. He's not young anymore, and the stress made him sick. I had to come back to see how he was doing."Lydia's eyes briefly sparkled. "Everyone's heard about it. It was my sister who stepped in to help him that day."Hector's brow furrowed, "The same sister you said always picks on you?"That was why the name had rung a bell.Lydia hesitated, biting her lip. "Um… She doesn't always pick on me. Madeline... She's just trying to catch Dad's eye, so she ends up competing with me a lot."This time was just like all the others. Madeline had to make a scene,
It was over half an hour before Lydia made it back to where Xenia was waiting.Xenia was getting antsy, and the moment she saw Lydia, she closed in. "Is that the real reason you let Trevon go? Pretty bold move."Most of the crowd was buzzing about Mr. Hector Ferguson, raving that the Fergusons had the Gibsons beat, hands down, and maybe even had a richer legacy. "Xenia's eyes sparkled with respect as she gazed at Lydia.Lydia let out a derisive snort.The Ferguson fortune was all in Stephen's grip. Hector was just a fashion designer with a bit of clout, but he was no match for Trevon.Still, the Fergusons were no small fry."I'm getting out of here," Lydia announced, grabbing her stuff.Xenia's eyes widened in panic. "You're bailing just like that? We haven't even really mingled yet. Weren't you all about preparing for your trip abroad and wanting to mix it up with the international crowd?"Lydia arched an eyebrow. "Done with that."Xenia blinked, puzzled.Done already? 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