Riley's expression turned stormy in an instant. She was being disrespected right after she had extended a courtesy!"So, this is what you meant by 'don't get the wrong idea'?"Cooper rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He had just managed to smooth things over with Riley, and he had not even reaped any rewards yet.Then, with Madeline stirring up trouble, he was at a loss as to how to calm the waters again.He briskly shook off Madeline's hand and said icily, "Ms. Sanders, please show some dignity. We're not acquainted, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't make my guest uncomfortable."Madeline's hand fell away, and even though she knew it was not Cooper's fault, a sharp pain still pierced her heart.Riley, sensing victory in her standoff with Madeline, lifted her chin with a smug air. "From now on, every time she shows up, kick her out! She's banned from the Meridian Club for good!"Madeline turned to Cooper, who just nonchalantly kicked at the ground, ignoring her
Madeline was baffled all over again.How could Trevon be so certain the baby was his? He was blackout drunk that night, and the next morning, he could not remember a thing.Riley's annoyance turned into a scowl. "You said nothing happened between you two, so how could it be your child?"Trevon did not waste his breath on an explanation, instead turning to Madeline with concern. "Are you okay? Can you walk?"Madeline was still reeling, but his voice snapped her back to reality.She noticed Trevon's hand was covered in blood, so mangled it was impossible to tell where the injury started.The floor was littered with the remnants of shattered glass cups—large shards and tiny fragments alike.He was ignoring the pain, the danger.The thought of an artery being sliced open sent a shiver down Madeline's spine, her voice trembling with tears. "Your hand... We can't wait, we need to get to a hospital right now."Madeline was beyond worrying about Cooper and Riley, urgently tugging Trev
Trevon's hand was cut deeply, with nearly twenty wounds from the glass shards. The hospital staff worked on them until late into the night, barely finishing the job, and he even got a tetanus shot.Madeline bit her lip, silent, her eyes brimming with unshed tears."The wound needs daily care, and to keep it dry. Stick to a light diet," the doctor advised.Without a word, Madeline took the medicine and walked out in silence.Trevon found her behavior odd, thinking she was upset from her encounter with Cooper, and asked quietly, "Weren't we waiting on the DNA test results? Why'd you go off to find someone today?"Madeline bit her lip, a clear sign she was holding back words.Trevon's brow creased with concern as he reached for her. "What's up?"Her gaze snapped up, eyes swirling with doubt. Could she put her trust in Trevon?Her mother had put that same trust in Cilix, leaving everything behind for him, a gamble that cost her dearly.Cilix, who once seemed to bear any pain, any
Daniel replied, "Yes. Cilix is pretty slick. He's got a bunch of media folks in his pocket, so when he wants to quiet things down, it's a piece of cake."Plus, with Christmas and New Year's Eve on the horizon and events popping up left and right, the Sanders Group could slip off the radar without lifting a finger.However, behind the scenes, it was the Gibson Group and the Fergusons pulling the strings, though they were keeping it on the down-low."Stephen's still wrapped up in this mess? No luck with Yvonne?" Trevon asked.Daniel explained, "Ms. Lloyd's concert is the night before New Year's. We sent over the tickets, but Mr. Ferguson turned them into some kind of New Year's giveaway."Trevon was at a loss for words."Yvonne's not his old flame, and he's this cold?"Daniel bit his lip, thinking, 'Lydia was your first love, and you're not exactly hung up on her either, are you?' However, it was clear Stephen had it bad for Madeline.Trevon flexed his good hand. "Let them know
The painting was a regular landscape, a bit aged but not an antique or a historical piece.All it needed was some standard care and restoration.Madeline turned to Willa and said, "Your turn."Willa was taken aback. She had not expected to be put on the spot like that.Madeline did not see what the big deal was. Noticing Willa's hesitation, she asked, "Something wrong?"Willa shook her head quickly, took Madeline's seat, and got to work on the painting.However, the mood in the live stream shifted as some viewers started to grumble.[Why's the sidekick doing the work? Can't the main act handle it? What's she even doing here?][What's her role? To look pretty? That face is just here to reel us in, isn't it?][This is the provincial museum's stream, right? Are they really stooping to such cheap tricks to get views?][We came here for a glimpse of genuine artifact restoration, not to stare at a pretty face!][Seriously, has the state museum run out of staff? Why use a pretty fa
The director flashed a cue card that said 'Introduce the painting'.Madeline's eyes lit up with understanding as she turned to the painting and said softly, "This piece is a Renaissance Primavera. Primavera paintings, part of the flora and fauna genre, were pretty common during the Renaissance. Looking at it now—""How can you be so sure it's from the Renaissance? You're just making that up without any proof, aren't you?"A voice interrupted her.Madeline glanced up to find Hector leaning casually against the doorframe, an eyebrow cocked and a look of disdain on his face.Madeline was at a loss for words, puzzled about why Hector was even there. However, from the tone of his voice, it was clear he was there to stir up trouble.She turned to the director, only to see his eyes gleam as he quickly aimed the camera at Hector.Their live streams were usually so peaceful, lacking a bit of spice.Hector's challenge was perfectly timed.The moment Hector's face hit the live stream, a
However, the staff had no luck finding hydrogen peroxide anywhere. It was as if all the bottles in Redenbaugh City had vanished into thin air overnight.Madeline's gaze instinctively shifted to Hector.He smirked, one eyebrow quirked in a challenge.She said nothing, but she was sure he had something to do with the missing hydrogen peroxide.Did he know about her live broadcast and decide to foil her plans? How petty could he get?Madeline rolled her eyes at him, speechless.Meanwhile, the director was freaking out.The live stream was a hit, but with Madeline stalled, the viewers were getting restless and starting to doubt her skills.Baxter had just chewed out the staff over the phone, blaming them for the slip-up.Who would have guessed that hydrogen peroxide would be impossible to find in all of Redenbaugh City?He had to sneak a question to Madeline. Was there any way out of that?Hydrogen peroxide was the go-to fix, however…"This method's pretty risky, and most folks
She dampened the towel and wrapped it tightly around the area where the bird's 'poisoning' was at its worst, making a ring.Next, she poured in the fiery alcohol.Holding a water-dipped brush, Madeline gave Willa the nod to bring the heat. Willa, lighter in hand, was frozen solid, too scared to even twitch.Madeline gave her a comforting smile. "Relax, I've got this."It took an eternity for Willa to work up the nerve and spark a flame.The fire flared up, and Willa nearly burst into tears.However, Madeline was as cool as a cucumber, guiding the brush with gentle flicks, expertly controlling the burn.Once the 'poison' was purged, she slapped on a wet towel and snuffed out the flames.The scorched traces left by the alcohol had vanished, leaving the surface pristine and snow-white.Hector was taken aback by Madeline's unexpected expertise, grinding his teeth in frustration.It made sense why Yash was so keen on mentoring her, not even fazed by the prospect of failure.As Ma
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