The message came with a photo attached.When Madeline opened it, she saw a young man with striking features, his brows knitted and lips sealed in a standoffish pose.However, to Madeline, he seemed kind of familiar, and she warmed to him instantly.The message was from Aaron Hunters, Skylandia's business guy.Aaron had added a note.[Meet Bernard, the leader of the Raimundo Team. He personally requested for you to complete this drawing gig.]It took a moment, but then, it clicked. Bernard was the guy from the press conference. His support had sparked a flurry of likes online.It turns out he had really given Madeline a leg up."Okay, but I recall 'Skylandia' has a bunch of roles to choose from. Which one is Bernard thinking of using?" Aaron paused, then added, 'Bernard wants to discuss it with you directly. Would it be okay if I gave him your number?]Madeline, who kept a separate phone number for work, quickly agreed. Soon after, Bernard sent her a message.[Hey there, Lil
Lydia stormed off to find Camden, but he threw up his hands in defeat. "What am I supposed to do? The Raimundo Team picked her, and Mr. Gibson gave the thumbs up. If you think you can do better, go talk to Mr. Gibson."Lydia left the room fuming. By the time she reached Trevon's office, she had swapped her anger for a look of hurt innocence."Trevon, maybe it's time to let someone else step in as the head of art," she suggested.Trevon, already feeling under the weather, scowled at her arrival. "What now?"Lydia could hear the annoyance in his voice and played up her distress. "I messed up, and I'll take the heat for it. I'm fine with Lily Mora doing the illustrations for the spokesperson."She paused, sneaking a peek at Trevon's reaction before adding, "However, you know, with six spokespersons, isn't it a bit much for just Lily Mora to handle? I thought we could spread the workload around and let a few others take a crack at it, but Camden just laughed in my face when I brought
Camden had no complaints. The deal was set.Madeline, too, saw no issue when she heard the news.A smaller number of paintings meant that the team could focus on excellence. That suited her just fine.Using Bernard's styled photo as a reference, Madeline started her preliminary sketches. Drawing was a breeze for her, a calming influence that steadied her spirit.The only real struggle was dealing with her pregnancy nausea. She wondered when it would stop.…After clocking out, Trevon mulled over his concern momentarily before dialing Madeline's number.His unease about her condition made him anxious.However, after a single ring, he hung up and called Felicia instead.Felicia was busy with dinner preparations when she saw Trevon's call and answered promptly. "Mr. Gibson, dinner's ready. Are you off work?"Trevon hesitated before replying softly, "I've got things to do today. I won't be coming home."Felicia responded with a simple "Oh."After a brief silence, Trevon inquire
Madeline gripped the doorknob tighter, inhaled deeply, and steadied her voice. "I'm okay. It's just a little cold. I'll be fine in a few days."Trevon let out a disdainful snort. "You think I'm doing this for fun? Grandma's the one who's worried. She gave the word, so we're going."Madeline scrambled for an excuse but came up empty.She reluctantly replied, "I can go alone since you're swamped with work. I wouldn't dream of bothering you."Trevon glared at her. "Quit your babbling. Wash up, and let's hit the road!"Madeline remained silent.They ended up in the car, driving toward Sunshine Medical Center."Drop the sour face. Without Grandma's call, do you think you'd even be attended to at Sunshine Medical Center with your status?"Madeline rolled her eyes. "I'm not impressed. I don't even want to see a doctor. Let me out."She reached for the door handle again, but Trevon caught her hand and asked sarcastically, "Are you still afraid of doctors at your age, Madeline?"Madel
Walter was the head of Sunshine Medical Center. As the pair walked in, they noticed that another man was also in his office.Caleb, with a patient's chart in hand, appeared to be seeking Walter's advice.Trevon's mood soured at the sight of him.On the other hand, Caleb greeted them as if bumping into them was the happiest accident, his face the picture of serenity.Madeline greeted him back, not missing a beat.Seizing the moment, Caleb took a seat, clearly planning to stick around.Walter gave him a nod, not minding the company, and motioned for Trevon and Madeline to sit.Trevon explained, "She's been under the weather for some time, and my grandma's been fretting. We're hoping you could check her out."Walter finally turned his attention to Madeline, noting her pallor.Madeline jumped in. "I caught a cold recently, and it's been on and off. I just can't seem to shake it, but it's really no big deal.""Really?"Walter looked at her thoughtfully, glancing briefly at Caleb
Madeline nearly choked on her water, waving her hands in denial and sputtering, "No, no! That's not it at all. You've got it all wrong."Caleb could not help but give a rueful smile. "Uncle Walter, I wouldn't be that reckless."Walter let out a relieved exhale. "So, what's the real story? Why hide the pregnancy?"Caleb remained silent, turning his attention to Madeline.After a moment of silence, Madeline spoke up. "Trevon has fallen for my stepsister, and he's asked me for a divorce."They needed Walter's help to keep things under wraps, but it was clear that some truths could not be buried forever.Walter shook his head in disbelief. "What a mess."It was not just about Madeline stepping in when Trevon was at his lowest. An affair would bring nothing but trouble to the Gibson family."What about Trevon's grandmother? Does she need to be kept in the dark as well?"Madeline was quiet, wrestling with thoughts she could not easily share. She needed a divorce, and Edith had to be
Caleb massaged his temples. "I'm dealing with a patient. What's up?""It's my birthday tomorrow. I've booked the Crystal River Clubhouse for a party. You've got to be there."Caleb's response was gentle but firm. "I'm on shift tomorrow. I don't think I can swing by.""Come on, Caleb. Swap a shift with someone. You're hardly ever back home. You should come out and have some fun," Yanely urged. Yanely had always followed him around since they were kids. Even when he left overseas, she had boldly declared her love and promised to wait for him. He had brushed it off as a childhood crush, convinced it would pass. However, even after returning from abroad, Yanely still stuck to him like glue. "The shifts are set in stone. How can I just switch? Don't worry, though. I might miss out, but your birthday gift will arrive on time."I've got a patient waiting. I need to go," he said, and cut the call short before Yanely could reply. …Madeline had not forgotten Yanely's request for a
It was Trevon's prestigious black card from the bank.Madeline had seen and sorted through Trevon's things more times than she could count.Madeline looked away, her voice tinged with disdain. "You know, you're right. Handing out such measly gifts is pretty tacky."Lydia was caught off guard, struggling to keep up.Madeline gave Lydia a knowing smile, snatched the black card from the counter, and headed to the neighboring jewelry store with Yeneth in tow."It's a baby shower, after all. We should at least get a gold lock."Madeline did not wait for Lydia to catch her breath. Instead, she instructed the clerk to bring out every gold lock they had."You're not going to fuss about the gold lock I pick being too pricey, are you?"Lydia mustered a smile, realizing that Madeline was about to play her at her own game. "Of course not. It's just a gold lock."Madeline gave her a piercing look and told the clerk, "Pack them all up. I'm taking everything."The display was crammed with g