Trevon got shot while saving Lydia? However, Daniel had been adamant that Trevon took a hit, and then Lydia was the one who saved him. Which one happened first?Madeline gripped her phone tighter, her voice icy. "Really? Well, if that fantasy makes you happy, then go ahead and believe it."With the evidence stacked against you, Trevon can't save you even if he wants to."You're not seriously hoping for Mrs. Jeppesen to slip into another coma, are you?"Oh? My bad, what was the name of the hitman you hired for Mrs. Jeppesen? Kyson? He's already behind bars."With a slight smirk, Madeline said, "Lydia, this time, there's no one to do your dirty work with Mrs. Jeppesen. What's your plan now?"She ended the call with a satisfied snap. She was sure Lydia got the message. Hopefully, she would make a move.Madeline dialed Sherah's number. "Mrs. Jeppesen, it's showtime."Skylar, hearing the commotion upstairs, took the chance to check in under the guise of bringing sweet soup, only to
Lydia shot to her feet. "No, I can't let this go!"Skylar jumped. "Lydia?"Lydia brandished her phone. "Mom, you heard her. She's laughing at me, and so is Madeline!"I can't let those two get away with this." She spilled the details of Madeline's taunting call to Skylar.Skylar was livid too, but she had not completely lost her composure."Lydia, ignore them and get moving. I'll handle that little snake Madeline myself.""No way! I'm not letting them get the last laugh!" Lydia's voice pierced the air.Skylar felt a jolt of worry. "Lydia, don't lose your head. You need to head to your uncle's place now."Getting away was the priority. Lydia's face was calm. "Mom, tell uncle to get ready. I'll be there by tomorrow at the latest.""And hey, don't we have some of that fancy soup mix at home? Get Lacee to pack some for me."Skylar's voice wavered with unease. "Lydia, what are you up to?"Lydia's laugh was light. "Just going to pay a hospital visit, that's all."Madeline was onl
Madeline had been in bed so long she felt stiff and achy. She rose and poured herself a glass of water. Glancing out the window, she noticed Trevon's absence and lifted an eyebrow. She was not exactly disappointed, just baffled by Trevon's recent antics.Lately, he had been finding new ways to bring her food. When she ate takeout with Willa and the others in Oralia, she barely managed a few bites before feeling starved. It made her unexpectedly look forward to Trevon's post-work meal deliveries downstairs.Trevon would not just drop off the food, he would stand there, waiting. He was clearly trying to melt her resolve.Madeline got it, but she was not sure if she should keep up the standoff. Despite her fussiness, Trevon had a knack for hitting the spot with his meal choices.Madeline rubbed her belly, wondering if the baby inside knew Trevon was its dad and was being extra agreeable.The thought made her chuckle. Her phone buzzed with a message from Yeneth, telling her he was stu
Lydia muttered a curse as she saw Madeline flee and immediately gave chase with the knife in hand.Pregnant and wounded, Madeline's movements were sluggish compared to Lydia's swift pursuit. Before she could lock the door, Lydia was upon her, slamming against it with brute force.Madeline's face went white from the impact, barely able to keep standing. Her arm was definitely hurt, throbbing with pain. However, no matter how much it hurt, she could not let go.Right then, that door was her only shield. The noise inside the room was bound to draw the neighbors' attention. If someone came, she might just make it.Lydia sneered and swung the knife at the door's glass, shattering it after a few hits.The sound of breaking glass filled the air. Madeline, terrified, saw Lydia's maniacal face through the broken pane. The knife, aimed through the gap, thrust savagely at Madeline.Madeline let go of the door and stumbled backward, retreating desperately. The chaos gave Lydia her chance, an
Lydia's trial was a no-brainer. Colt figured she would get slapped with a fifteen-year timeout, no surprises there. However, Madeline? She barely batted an eyelash. In her mind, Lydia getting a free ride in the clink for fifteen years was like a vacation she did not deserve.Colt just scratched his nose, keeping mum about it.Edith, ever the worrywart because of Madeline's tumble, would not take no for an answer. She had to crash at the Gibson Group's family mansion. Sure, Madeline's arm was in a rough patch, but other than that, she was peachy. The little bun in the oven? Fit as a fiddle. Edith, not buying it for a second, had Felicia practically frog-march Madeline over.Once there, Madeline's jaw dropped. The place was swarming with chefs—more than a dozen—whipping up dishes from every corner of the globe.Edith made a face. "Trevon just dumped them here one day, said it was to jazz up my meals."I was all heart-eyes at first, thinking I'd get to try some exotic eats."However
Skylar's smile vanished. "Don't spout nonsense. Kidnapping is a serious crime. However, if you're dying to know where your brother is, I might have a clue. It all depends on what you're willing to do for that info."Madeline fixed her with a steely gaze, weighing her words for any shred of truth.Back then, child abductions were rampant, and it was hard to tell friend from foe. The Sanders family had blocked Bella from searching for help. Even if they were not directly involved, they could not have been completely oblivious. Yet, all those years, not a peep from any of them.Madeline's expression turned frosty. "Your threats won't work on me. Lydia's in deep for a crime, and it's not up to me to let her off. She'll face the music in court, no matter what."However, I can promise you this much: once she's locked up, I won't let her suffer.""Ugh!" Skylar spat out with disgust. "You're the reason she's behind bars, and now you're plotting more trouble for her in there? Madeline, you
Lacee walked back into the Sanders household to find Skylar sprawled on the couch, tears streaming down her face.Between sobs, she hurled insults. "That heartless jerk! Doesn't even bother with his own daughter! Always disappearing!"Jerk! Tramp! She's definitely the one who stole him away! No shame at all! Flirting with a married man? She's not scared of being cursed!"Lacee knew she was talking about Cilix and his secretary.Cilix had just returned from the Southern Archipelago, and upon hearing that Lydia would be sentenced, he disowned her on the spot. He also strictly prohibited Skylar from using the Sanders family name to help Lydia.That day, Skylar and Cilix had a massive blowout, nearly wrecking the house. Lacee hid in the pantry, too scared to come out. By the time she emerged, Cilix was gone, rumored to have been whisked away by his secretary.Skylar was left alone, weeping in the living room, yet she still ordered Lacee to tidy up the chaos.Mid-cleanup, Yale stumbl
Skylar, with Gabriel Roberts in tow, went to see Lydia. It turned out Cilix had not completely washed his hands of them, he had even sent a lawyer. However, that did not make up for the bitterness that had settled in the hearts of mother and daughter, and they were not exactly warm to Gabriel.Gabriel did not seem to take it personally, just focused on doing his job.However, even he could not do much in the face of hard evidence.When Skylar mentioned insanity as a defense, Gabriel shot her a surprised look but kept quiet.Lydia, on the other hand, seemed to spark with a flicker of hope. Locked up in the station, haunted by tales of prison's terrors, she was worn to the bone.Her voice trembled with a mix of fear and excitement, "Mom, remember the Lowes have that crazy aunt? She's been locked up in that old straw hut forever."Skylar nodded in agreement. "Exactly! It's common knowledge in the village. She even thought about going out in a blaze of glory."Both turned their hope
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