Madeline slipped away to the backyard, Trevon's declaration of "She will always be my wife" lost to the wind.If she had heard it, she might have lost it and sent him flying.She had wanted Trevon gone, and Stephen had saved her the trouble. No need to deal with him herself.Willa was so spooked thatshe could not even sip her boba tea without feeling like she was committing a crime, stealing glances at Madeline.Madeline's glare was fierce enough to make her think she was plotting a murder."Keep your head in the game. Fix this bit, and you're golden."Madeline's voice cut through the silence, catching Willa off guard. She was about to ruin the whole painting with a single stroke—a mistake that selling herself would not make up for.Willa dabbed at the sweat on her brow and stammered out an apology. "I'm so sorry. I'll watch myself, promise no repeats."Madeline gave a subtle shake of her head, a silent signal that she was not on board with the idea.It was not until the offi
Reese caught a glimpse of Madeline's belly and instantly got the picture. She was shopping for more than just a house."If you're thinking about the school districts, Meadowvale and Farrington Heights are the way to go. They have international academies starting from kindergarten."Stephen asked, "What's your take, Madeline?"Madeline was on board with the idea.They all headed out to check out some houses.Farrington Heights had its high price tag for good reasons. The homes had a desirable open floor plan, and the amenities were top-notch.Madeline was totally into it after the tour, but the place was massive, over two thousand square feet. With all the extra costs, it was looking like it would cost close to a million dollars.Just the down payment would set her back nearly 450 grand. With renovations and monthly payments, it was way out of her league.Madeline was in a bind. "Got anything smaller? Something like a thousand square feet might be just right."Reese scratched h
Madeline had run herself ragged all day, even house hunting, and she was beat.Back home, she freshened up and flopped onto her bed, too tired to move.Yeneth had been with Madeline earlier and had put off a ton of work. She worked late hours and had not returned.Madeline was sleepy and did not wait up, deciding to crash. However, the moment she closed her eyes, her phone buzzed.Seeing Yahir's name on the screen, Madeline hesitated but picked up anyway."Hello?"Yahir let out a relieved breath when he heard Madeline pick up the call."Mrs. Gibson... Sorry, I mean Madeline, could you please check on Trevon? He's totally lost it, can't even walk straight, and he's dead set on finding you. Nothing I say makes a difference. I'm at my wit's end here."Madeline listened in silence until he finished. "If he's not listening, just lock him in a room. He can't exactly break down the door, can he?"Yahir was taken aback. "Madeline, you two were married. He's really hurting. Can't you
The clock had struck midnight, but the Gibson Group's employee chat was alive with activity.The news reports were vague, and everyone was buzzing with theories about why Trevon had been rushed for emergency care.[I overheard the secretaries saying Mr. Gibson never came back after lunch. Maybe he got sick then?][No way, right? I saw him this morning when I dropped off some papers. He was chewing someone out, and seemed totally fine.][Does anyone actually know what's going on? Come on, spill the beans!]Everyone had their own guess.Yeneth peeked at Madeline with caution. "Madeline, should we give him a call to find out?"Madeline bit her lip, uncertain. She had been so firm just hours before, vowing to cut ties completely. Then, the thought of reaching out felt weird. However, her thoughts kept drifting to Edith.Trevon was Edith's everything. If anything happened to Trevon, it could break her. She was not even sure what was happening, too hesitant to even call and offer Edi
Yeneth's voice, laced with panic, cut through the chaos to Yahir. He spun around to see Yeneth clutching a limp Madeline, her eyes brimming with tears. He dashed over, his own heart racing with frustration, and steadied Madeline."Someone get a doctor, stat!"Madeline, her emotions having gotten the better of her, was already coming to by the time Yahir reached her. Her voice was raspy but firm. "I'm okay."She looked up rigidly, her eyes locking onto the gurney ahead, her voice a shaky whisper, "Trevon..."Yahir, realizing the mix-up, quickly interjected, "Hey, Madeline, that's not him."He gestured toward another OR. "Trevon's still in surgery. He hasn't come out yet."Madeline's long lashes quivered, and she suddenly felt life coursing through her veins again. It was all a big mix-up. He was alive.With a sigh of relief, her legs turned to jelly once more. Yahir and Yeneth were quick to steady her, guiding her to a chair."How's he doing? What did the doctor say?" Madeline a
Madeline's face tensed, but there was no time to move. Yeneth, powerless to do anything else, spun around and shielded Madeline in his arms.The glass crashed against her back with a thud."Ah!" Riley, furious and ready to launch another attack, was suddenly stopped by Yahir, who burst in and grabbed her."Mrs. Yagle, what on earth are you doing? Stop this madness!"Riley writhed in his grip. "Let go of me! I will end her today. If she gives birth to that child, we'll be the Gibson family's biggest joke!"She was still fuming from the last hospital incident with Madeline, which had caused Bella to tumble out of bed. Edith had made her stand for five grueling hours as punishment, leaving her feet painfully swollen.Then, just the sight of Madeline was enough to send her into a rage."Damn it!" She was so strong that Yahir struggled to keep his hold on her.A loud crash echoed from the sickbed, commanding everyone's attention. They all turned to see Trevon, his face ghostly pale,
Riley watched, stunned, as Trevon, usually the picture of calm, became a man possessed. He had been unflappable even when he woke up from the car crash, facing the possibility of paralysis without a hint of panic. However, then, he was coming undone, all because of Madeline?Madeline gently rubbed Yeneth's back. "Are you okay?"The thermos had hit her with a thud just moments ago.Yeneth winced, but insisted, "It doesn't hurt."Madeline gave her a look that screamed "Yeah, right."They were debating whether to head to the ER for a quick check-up. However, as they talked, Trevon, who had followed them out, grabbed Madeline's hand."Madeline." Madeline felt a wave of exhaustion. "Trevon, I've already spelled it out for you."Maybe me showing up today got you thinking the wrong thing. So let me set the record straight."I'm here because I'm a person with a conscience and a heart, not to hit on you or play some kind of cat-and-mouse game. Don't get it twisted."Her words felt like
"Any idea where?" Trevon's voice was low and serious.Madeline racked her brain. It was as if the answer was teasing her, just out of reach. With a sigh, she admitted defeat. "Nope, it's not coming to me."Trevon thought for a moment. "Well, if it looks familiar, maybe the person's from Redenbaugh City. We should take a closer look around there."Daniel gave a nod of agreement.Madeline bit her lip, on the verge of saying something but ultimately holding back. She had already committed to listening, turning back then would just be too much."Thanks," she said with genuine gratitude. "You've really helped me out. If you ever need anything, just say the word."She was tired of feeling indebted.Trevon looked at her, his wish clear in his eyes—he wanted her to stay with him. However, he knew better than to ask."Actually, there is one thing," Trevon said casually."Yeah?""How about helping out at Skylandia?" he suggested.Madeline was taken aback. After her divorce, she had le