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
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