As the year was winding down, Yarden Ferguson and his wife Joanna Wheeler wrapped up their globe-trotting adventure and headed back to Redenbaugh City.No sooner had they landed than Yarden called Stephen into his home office."Stephen, I've heard some talk about Grandma shifting some money from Hector's trust. What's the story?" Yarden asked.Stephen sighed, a bit at a loss. "Uh... Dad, maybe you should just ask Grandma about it."Yarden just stared at him, waiting.Stephen gave a wry smile. "It's not the end of the world. Grandma just lost her cool with him. Hector's been kind of a mess lately, burning through cash with his business ventures."Yarden pressed, "Cut the act. What's going on with this Madeline girl?"Stephen was even more cornered then.He had hoped to keep Madeline's identity under wraps, but it was tricky to explain.Before he could come up with a response, Yarden guessed, "She's your aunt's daughter, isn't she?"The money that was once Hector's had been red
Madeline had tossed the Sanders Group's file to Cilix and left it at that. She had given him a week to come up with a good answer.With no art to restore in Oralia, Madeline had turned to her canvas, letting her brush dance across it.Yash had not mentioned mentoring again, but he made sure Madeline got the same assignments as his students. She knew he was rooting for her, so she poured her heart into every task.Her challenge was a bird and flower scene.Madeline had to admit, it was tough. Bella had always called her work in that area 'dull'. However, for the life of her, Madeline could not figure out what Bella meant by 'interesting'.Madeline chewed on the end of her pen, unsure how to kick off her story, when Willa breezed in. "Hey, the Sanders family sent over a painting. They're hoping you can take a look."Madeline glanced up just as Willa and Nash shuffled in, struggling with a large painting between them. Trailing behind was a man who had a striking resemblance to Steph
Madeline strolled into the lobby, her eyes like frost as they landed on the man who spoke.It was Hoyt.Hoyt smirked upon seeing Madeline. "Well, if it isn't my favorite niece! Been ages, kiddo. I've been missing something fierce."The words had barely left his mouth when Hoyt felt a piercing stare drilling into him.He scowled and traced the line of sight.Standing next to Madeline was a man in a pricey suit who oozed class. He was smirking at Hoyt.A shiver ran down Hoyt's back from that look.However, the sensation vanished as quickly as it came, as if it was never there.It must have been his imagination.Hoyt shrugged it off and gave Madeline another eyebrow raise.Madeline's voice was a frosty blade. "Your 'favorite niece' is in the psych ward. If you're missing her that much, why don't you go and keep her company?""Madeline, you're really pushing it," Hoyt snapped, slapping his hand down and pointing accusingly at her.Madeline was not in the mood for his nonsense.
Hoyt took off in a rush.Madeline watched him go, a smirk playing on her lips.Perfect.She was in for a real showdown.Nash wondered what they should do with the painting Hoyt had dropped off."Just stash it in some corner," Madeline said with a casual glance."When he shows up again, hand it back to him and kick it to the curb."Nash gave a knowing nod.It was an obvious move.Yarden watched her handle the situation with such poise and could not help but feel a bit proud.Madeline had not turned out like Bella, who was all about love and nothing else.Yarden said, "Madeline, you're invited to dinner with the Zieglers. Mr. Yash Ferguson's brothers are back in town. They want to thank you face-to-face."He was so quiet, she had nearly forgotten he was there.At his words, a flicker of conflict crossed Madeline's face. "I just helped my great-uncle out that one time. Now, everyone's queuing up to thank me. I really can't take all the credit."Besides, Mr. Yash Ferguson's b
Trevon had meant to pick up Madeline, but one thing after another had held him up, not to mention the treacherous snowy roads. By the time he reached Oralia, he learned that Caleb had already whisked Madeline away.He had rushed to the Luxuria Supper House after hearing where they were, only to be frozen in place by Madeline's words.Rooted to the spot, Trevon felt the veins on his forehead throb uncontrollably with each passing second.Riley was on the verge of a meltdown, jabbing a finger at Madeline and yelling, "How could you be so shameless?"The idea of Madeline seeking another man to father her child was just outrageous.Riley wanted a grandchild, but it had to be Trevon's, not some stranger's offspring!Madeline, ever the instigator, taunted, "You're waiting for Trevon to give you a grandson, but that's a long shot. Why not claim this kid? It was conceived while I was married to Trevon, and everyone will believe he's the dad!"Riley clenched her teeth and snapped, "In yo
Inside the private room, Caleb dismissed the waiter with a chuckle, "I've never seen Mrs. Yagle so... Well, rattled before."Riley, leaning on the Gibson family's support and her status as a widow, commanded extra respect from the old guard in Redenbaugh City.In the city's social circles, she was practically royalty, and few had the nerve to cross her."It was her who came looking for trouble with me, and she even tried to drag you into it," Madeline explained.Madeline did not want the Gibsons to find out about the baby's lineage, but she could not stand by and let Caleb take the fall.That mess was not good for her, Caleb, or even the baby.She had rushed into a divorce before, not thinking things through. However, she refused to admit to anything.Coming clean was meant to sicken Riley and to officially give her child a backstory.She could not just say the baby's dad was dead, could she?That would only lead to more issues once the baby arrived.A wave of complicated fee
Caleb was seething at Trevon's untimely intrusion, severing the moment.He had finally found the guts to lay his feelings out to Madeline, rehearsing lines in his head to win her over.However, Trevon swooped in.A huge chunk of Madeline's hesitation to tie the knot was tied to Trevon's presence.With Trevon in the picture, her 'yes' seemed even more out of reach.With that thought, the glares they traded turned frostier by the second."Mr. Gibson, you're not exactly busy yourself, huh? Clocking out this early, is the Gibson Group about to go under?"Trevon smirked. "Hardly. We've still got plenty of cash to splash on the Jabs family.""Well, that's a relief. Mr. Gibson, you can count on me. I've got the chops to take care of your health issues."Madeline was speechless.By the time Yeneth and Yahir showed up, Caleb and Trevon were perched on either side of Madeline, tossing snarky comments back and forth.Neither of them even glanced at the other, as if they were dissing th
Trevon looked where she was staring and saw a bunch of cars parked with several women getting in and driving off.Nothing seemed out of the ordinary."What's up?" Trevon inquired.Madeline quickly came back to her senses, her lips quivered, but she did not say a word.Instead, she turned to Caleb and asked, "Caleb, could you drop Yeneth off? She lives far away, and it's tough to catch a cab tonight."Caleb felt a knot in his stomach. "What about you?"Madeline gave a strained smile. "I'll ride with Trevon. We're headed the same way."Trevon's eyebrow quirked up, a spark in his eyes.Caleb watched them, feeling a sour twist in his gut, his heart swelling with an emotion he could not quite name."Sure."He did not dare to ask more and quickly left with Yeneth.Trevon's gaze shifted, landing on Yahir. "You're not going?"Yahir scratched his head. "Maybe I should tag along with you?"He did not want to face the boss lady at home. Going back would be like walking straight into
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