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
Daniel watched Yahir's rant, trying to signal him about Trevon's darkening mood. However, Yahir was clueless.With a smirk, Trevon made a call in front of Yahir. "Mrs. Lewis, Yahir's here, and he's talking about marriage."Yahir freaked out, lunging for the phone and cutting the call short. He grabbed his chest, feeling his heart pounding like it was trying to escape, and exploded at Trevon, "I was with you the whole night, and then I drove like a maniac to get you to the hospital in the dead of night. I've never done that much even for my own dad. This is how you thank me?!"Trevon, you've got no heart! It's no shocker Madeline dumped you!"Daniel gasped, the air feeling like ice. Trevon's face was an icy mask as he snapped, "Well? Aren't you leaving?"Yahir did not stick around for anything else, muttering curses under his breath as he bolted, faster than lightning.Not long after he took off, Yahir's mom showed up. "Yahir, let's go, let's go check out this girl!"Ever since Y
Madeline felt for Sherah's tough breaks. She had been through the wringer with domestic abuse and a son who was distant and unfeeling, leaving all her dreams in the dust. However, that was it."The only way to clear your name and start fresh is to testify against the person who hurt my mom and make sure they face the law," Madeline said."Or would you rather stay silent, go back to that wreck of a home, and live every day with the pain and the guilt eating you up inside?"Sherah shivered, tears streaming down her face.A nurse nearby could not stand to watch and moved to intervene, but Daniel stepped in to stop her.Madeline locked eyes with Sherah. "And don't forget, even if you keep quiet, do you really think Lydia will just let it slide?"Sherah went pale, haunted by memories of shattering glass, being hunted by Radd, and the choking smoke that filled her lungs. She knew she could not keep living like that.Madeline watched her, silent, waiting for her to decide. With a sudde
After her split with Trevon, he had set her up with a chance to study abroad at the Itania Flotenzo School of Art.That thought struck Lydia as a lifeline. "Right, right, I've got to get out of the country."They scrambled to pack, then it hit them – Lydia had never planned to travel abroad and had not even applied for a visa. Then, desperate to leave, she needed one pronto. Could she even get a visa at that point?"Don't worry, your dad can smooth things over with the immigration folks," Skylar reassured her.With no other options, Lydia had to hope that would work. However, she was not just sitting around doing nothing. She whipped out a second phone and shot a text to Kyson: "The target from last time is still breathing. Finish the job. Same pay as before."Message sent, she wiped the record clean in a flash.The following day, Lydia was off to get her visa sorted. She figured it would be a breeze, but the clerk threw a wrench in her plans. "Sorry, miss. Your school proof is n
Lydia could not help but feel a wave of relief that she had a backup plan and had already touched base with Hector.With their level of friendship, she knew that if she hinted at needing assistance to go abroad, he would be there for her in a heartbeat. Without a second thought, Lydia ended the call with Trevon.Talking to that useless guy was just throwing time down the drain. She opened up her chat with Hector, started to type a message, but then hesitated. Instead, she decided to post a status update that only Stephen could see."Trying to get abroad for further studies is such a struggle!"She added a few snaps of her visa application and her disappointed face after the rejection. That would surely get Hector to come to her aid, just like he always did.Meanwhile, Trevon stared at the disconnected call, smirked indifferently, and was about to get back to work when something made him pause.In the next instant, he was on the phone, calling Madeline. Madeline was in the middle
Hector had tried to talk to Yash before. However, he barely got a word out before Andrew, who was passing by, overheard and gave Hector a taste of his stick. He could not figure out why everyone got so worked up at the mention of Lydia.Obviously, Madeline must have bad-mouthed Lydia to the Fergusons, making them all turn against her. Well, if that's how it was, Madeline could go explain things to Yash.Madeline could not help but laugh out of sheer frustration. "Me? Make it up to Lydia? Have you lost your marbles?"Mr. Hector Ferguson, I'm about to get to work, so could you please leave?"She did not even feel like wasting her breath arguing with Hector. Why bother debating with someone who's lost their grip on reality?Madeline had better things to do. Hector slammed his foot against the table next to Madeline, sending the neatly arranged, drying brushes into a noisy dance."Don't play dumb when you know you're in the wrong."Like you're someone important!"Your mom was a tot