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
Madeline held his stare. The fury in his eyes was unmistakable, but what did it matter?Trevon's affection for Lydia and his allegiance to the Sanders family had already placed him on the opposite side of the battlefield.A sales clerk whispered nearby, "Miss, are you going to purchase the gold lock?"Madeline snapped out of her daze and eyed the array of locks before her, finally settling on one that was small and charming."Let's go with this one."She handed her card to the clerk again. The clerk took a quick look and completed the sale without further comment.Despite the missed chance at a bigger sale, the clerk felt a pang of sympathy for Madeline. She was obviously more attractive and poised than that other woman.Her husband must be out of his mind!When Madeline glanced back, Trevon was nowhere to be seen.Yeneth's voice trembled with concern. "I caught a glimpse of Trevon. After the mess today, he won't give you a hard time, is he?"Madeline tucked the lock away and
Madeline had braced herself for that response, holding her phone at arm's length. Once Riley finished her tirade, Madeline replied with a hint of hurt."Mom, you know I'm broke. I can't afford anything fancy."Riley snapped, "So typical of the Sanders' to not care. Treating a married-off daughter like she's water under the bridge, not even a decent dowry. Pathetic."Madeline bit her tongue.Riley pressed on. "If you've got no money, that's fine, but you can't just skip out on a birthday gift for Yanely."Madeline was confused, symbolized by an imaginary question mark."Didn't your mom leave behind a bunch of paintings before she fell ill? Just pick one and give it to her."Madeline grew furious, but it was tangled with bewilderment.Riley and Yanely's disdain for Madeline was no secret, largely because they were ashamed of Bella's mental illness.However, why would they want anything to do with Bella's art?That request came out of nowhere. Who had been stirring the pot?How
The Crystal River Clubhouse sat by the riverbank, boasting a picturesque scene.By the time Madeline arrived with the cake, the club's music was already booming.The sun had not even set, and the young crowd was already in full swing.The relentless beats grated on Madeline, who wanted nothing more than to drop off the cake and escape the chaos.Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was Trevon."Where are you?"Madeline stepped back and let the noisy backdrop speak for itself.After a brief silence, Trevon instructed, "Stay put."Madeline was speechless. She was not about to wait around, so she left the cake with the kitchen crew and headed out.At the door, she nearly collided with Caleb as he stepped out of his car.Dressed to the nines in a crisp white suit with a red pocket square crisply folded into a triangle, he looked like a dashing prince from a fairy tale.Caleb strode over quickly. "You're not feeling well. What brings you here?"Madeline offered him a weak smile. "It's