Madelyn had avoidant personality. Whenever she felt upset, she used to dodge her worries. When sadness or pain hit her, she would opt to be alone, seeking solace within herself. Occasionally, she even tried to forget, using that as a way to find some relief.She did want to confront her problems, but fear held her back. Social interactions and specific situations triggered her unease, so solitude became her refuge. Even when Ethan made efforts to draw her out of her cocoon, she found it difficult to step into the open.At the Arnold residence, apart from meal times, Madelyn mostly retreated to her room, engaging in activities she enjoyed – drawing, studying, and listening to music. She kept to herself and rarely interacted with others.In the Supreme World, Madelyn's golf instructor, Tiger, brought her a piece of cake. "Take a break and have something to eat."After setting her golf club aside, Madelyn sipped some water before accepting it from Tiger's hand. "Thanks.""I could tel
Madelyn nodded firmly. "I'm certain."Tiger crossed his arms and smiled, thinking that she finally smiled today."It looks like my friend didn't deceive me after all. But how do you know it's authentic?"Madelyn shook her head. "I don't have an explanation, but there's a familiarity in this painting that I can't ignore. I'm convinced it's real.""I understand." Tiger chuckled softly. "If you say it's real, then I believe you.""You're quite the savior for your friend. Not many would part with something so valuable.""It's not something that's mine to possess. If I accept it, I'll owe someone a significant favor. And favors have a way of needing repayment sooner or later.""True enough.""Did you save his life?"Tiger smiled, glancing down and shaking his head. "I won't talk further about that. Let's grab a meal. I've been away for a while, and I heard they've introduced some new dishes. Interested in trying them out together?"She replied, "Definitely."Madelyn didn't feel m
Madelyn understood that going head-to-head with Zach wouldn't yield any positive outcomes, especially given the possibility of someone witnessing them.Suppressing the strange fluttering in her chest, she inquired, "Since you're here for business, I wouldn't want to disturb you.""Couldn't you at least drop me a text?" His brows furrowed.Madelyn was momentarily taken aback. After a moment's pause, she retorted, "Apart from bothering me like this, do you have any other hobbies? You're well aware I don't appreciate it."As she spoke, Zach nuzzled her earlobe lustfully.The faint scent of a foreign perfume clung to his suit, a fragrance so potent it made Madelyn slightly uneasy.Zach's deep voice rumbled, "Then enlighten me, what do you like me doing to you? Do you enjoy when I kiss you?"With that, he took Madelyn's chin between his fingers and turned her head, capturing her lips in a bold kiss.He had a drink not long ago, so she could feel a bitter tang invading her taste buds
Zach said, "Come in."Madelyn didn't want others to see them in such an intimate position, and she wanted to stand up, but he wouldn't let her.Then Kevin came in. "Ms. Jent's clothes are all clean."Zach spoke calmly, "Just leave them."After putting the clothes down, Kevin left the room.Madelyn squirmed uncomfortably, "Please let go, I need to change."Zach gently held her slim waist, "Stay here with me for a bit."Madelyn turned her face to the side."Would you like some soup?" He held a spoon close to her mouth."I've eaten enough, you should have your meal.""Be a good girl, okay?" Zach's words sounded a bit stern.He looked at her for a moment, then finally let go of her waist.He gazed at her slender back. When he saw the faint traces of kisses there and the other marks he had left below her V-neck collar, he felt satisfied with what he had done.Madelyn could feel his intense stare.Zach said, "Since you're full, we..."Before he could finish, she used the chanc
"She took my spot?" Madelyn looked at him.Forrest gestured toward her calculus book, and only then did she grasp his meaning. She responded with a composed demeanor, "Jadie's grades are outstanding. Her inclusion in the Math Olympiad team is a result of her dedication and hard work in her studies. Also, the Math Olympiad team is based on merit, so those who perform exceptionally well earn their spots.""But you're better at math than Jadie, right?"Madelyn didn't want to delve into this topic. In reality, being part of the Math Olympiad team would contribute positively to her academic record and secure her admission to Ventropolis University. However, stepping away from the Math Olympiad team wouldn't alter her ultimate goal."Don't you like Jadie? Shouldn't you be happy for her success?""Who told you that?""Isn't it the truth?" Madelyn narrowed her eyes.When Jadie returned from abroad to Ventropolis High School, Forrest and her dating rumours had become the talk of both Ven
Madelyn kept her head down. She felt like there was an invisible weight on her chest. She wasn't sure if it was because she was overthinking or if it was because of the weather today.She knew she wasn't sad because she didn't get messages, but because she didn't feel comfortable in someone else's house.Even though the Jent residence wasn't great, it was still her home. The Arnold residence was not her home.This morning, Ethan had just asked Madelyn to go see his grandmother, but she had run away. She was pretty sure he must be mad.When she was at the Arnold residence, Madelyn always thought about things a lot when stuff like this happened.George said, "Sir, Miss Jent is here."Ethan responded with a nod. He was wearing a dark plaid sweater. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and lean-waisted.The Bentley halted at the entrance, and Ethan, holding a black umbrella, walked over and opened the door. Madelyn stood under the umbrella, and the rain started to subside.Ethan put his a
At nine o'clock, Madelyn got back to her room, took a shower, and got ready for bed.Suddenly, the phone charging on her nightstand started ringing.Wearing a soft white pajama set and drying her hair, Madelyn walked over and picked up the phone. As she read the message, her expression quickly turned serious. She furrowed her brow, placed the phone back down, and acted like she didn't notice.Zach persistently kept calling. The fifth call got disconnected automatically.Beep!A text message popped up on her phone.Madelyn opened it, and her heart skipped a beat. A shiver seemed to run down her spine, and her hands shook.The messages Zach sent were all explicit and obscene photos of them.Madelyn clenched her teeth in anger. When he called again, she paused before answering. "What do you want?"Zach's deep voice came from the other side, "What are you up to?""You sent me those pictures just to ask me that? Zach, don't you have anything better to do?" Madelyn shot back, whi
Zach didn't touch the late-night snacks on the table, but he didn't reach for them. Instead, he opened an unfinished file and kept working. "Aren't these problems from the last semester? You're part of the Math Olympiad team already. You can handle these, right? If you can't, they might remove you from the team."He added, "If you're having trouble with your studies, should I find you a tutor?"When Jadie heard his words, her heart sank. 'Does he also think I'm not as good as Madelyn? I'm not pretty like her, and my family and grades aren't as good either?'Zach's voice grew stern. "I've never thought that about you. When did you start feeling this way?"Jadie said, "But it's true. When I'm around her, I feel like I'm not as good. At school, people always see me as the adopted member of the Jent family. Even my friends only got close to me because of Madelyn!"Zach reached out and gently touched her long hair. "Jadie, you're you, and Madelyn is Madelyn. You don't need to compare y
Liam was standing in the rain, and though it hadn't been long, he was thoroughly drenched.Blake quickly pulled him close, her voice laced with concern. "Are you crazy? It's pouring rain! What if you catch a cold?"Liam's look was subdued, his face showing signs of fatigue. "I'm okay. This is for you; I didn't want you to have to come out in this weather."As Blake took in his forlorn appearance, her heart softened suddenly. 'Am I losing my mind?' she thought."Now you'll have to pay more attention to me, Blake... I was just so scared of losing you. I've put everything I have into getting you to agree to marry me; the idea of you walking away is unbearable."Overwhelmed with emotion, Blake locked eyes with him. "Did she teach you to say that too?" she asked, her hand moving on its own to brush away the raindrops from his hair.A maid nearby, observing the scene, rushed over with a blanket and an umbrella. However, Grace, fully grasping the gravity of the moment, halted her. Ackno
Cecilia said, "It's fine. Let's give them a week. Rearrange the flight and all the plans for the trip. This is Blake's first time getting married and going abroad for honeymoon. I want to make sure she has a good time."Susan nodded. "Okay, Ms. Samford."Not long after Cecilia left, three editors who used to work for Olivia's company entered her office. All of them spoke in panic, "Ms. Blue, what should we do? Ms. Samford already knows everything. If the legal department finds out about it, will we go to jail?"Olivia remained calm as she said, "Don't panic. Just focus on your work.""But we got into this company through you. What if they say we got into this company through the back door and then fired us?"Olivia sat at her desk, supporting her forehead with her hands. She was obviously panicking. "Don't worry, I'll handle this."You guys can leave now."Olivia did not expect this matter to be exposed so soon. She wondered how Cecilia found out about it. 'Could it be that she'
StartReading Literary was the last place Cecilia wanted to be. But she made an exception this time.Olivia had just finalized a cooperative copyright deal with another website company. Several editors from her own company were there at StartReading Literary. As she entered the office, she saw all the editors from StartReading Literary sitting upright, not daring to make a sound.She also saw her office door was wide open. She frowned as she walked into her office and was surprised to see an unexpected gust.Olivia put down the documents in her hand. "Ms. Samford, what brings you here?"With her legs crossed and Susan standing behind her, Cecilia stared at Olivia, who was in front of her.Cecilia sneered and stood up. She ran her fingers along the desk. "StartReading is actually the last place I want to be. I came here because I found out that you enjoy meddling in other people's affairs. Otherwise, you wouldn't even qualify to see me."Olivia instantly looked wary. She remained s
Liam stood up. He watched as Blake, who looked weary, walked away. "Blake, what do you want me to do so you'll like me?"Blake did not stop walking. Instead, she took even bigger steps and left.She went to the Harper residence, which surprised everyone.Grace asked, "Blake? Why did you come back here? Where's Liam? Why didn't he come back with you?"Blake stuttered, unable to find the words. She just made up an excuse, saying, "It's nothing. I just wanted to come back."After Hannah and Yael left the wedding last night, they went back to the research institute.As for Simon, he went to the farm to manage the business.After Blake went to her room, Grace became worried. She followed her and saw her sitting with a blank expression in the room, not knowing what to do.When Blake saw Grace, she quickly adjusted her mood. "Grace, why are you here?""I came to check on you. Blake, what's wrong? Did you have a fight with Liam? You just had your wedding yesterday, and you're already
The pregnancy test report came out fifteen minutes after Blake did the test. She was indeed pregnant. She was even seven weeks pregnant.Blake had indeed been involved with Kevin while in Northern Myanmar over a month ago.She held the medical report while standing bewildered in the cold hospital corridor. Lights shone through the floor-to-ceiling window onto her body, but all Blake felt was the cold, which made her hands and feet numb.She was lost in her thoughts. 'I'm really pregnant. What should I do with this baby? I want it to be born more than anyone else. But now, everything has changed. This child shouldn't come into this world.'She wandered in the corridor. Suddenly, she saw someone coming out of another gynecological room.She thought, 'Some things are just destined by fate. When I long to see him, even catching a glimpse of him in a dream feels like a luxury, an unattainable wish. But now, when I don't want to see him, it seems he appears everywhere I go.'Kevin supp
Blake wondered, 'I'm now pregnant with Kevin's child. What should I do?'She woke up groggily when she felt someone carry her. She opened her heavy eyelids and asked, "What time is it now?"Liam responded, "It's four-thirty in the morning. It's still early; go back to sleep for a while more."Blake said in a hoarse voice, "I've made an appointment for an abortion at eight o'clock. Regardless of whether I'm really pregnant or not, I don't want to keep this child."She had thought about it all night and believed this was the best decision.Kevin was going to get engaged. Blake believed he would get married and Audrey would give birth to his children. There was simply no need for her to complicate things further.She thought, 'If I choose to be selfish and decide to keep this baby, and if people find out about it, my child will be treated as an illegitimate child. I don't even dare to imagine how badly the child will be treated.'If giving birth to the baby will bring it a lifetime
Blake continued, "What about you, Liam? Do you mind?"If you do, you can choose to divorce me. After all, I've wronged you. No one wants to marry a woman who's carrying someone else's child."Liam stepped forward on the shattered cup and hugged her tightly. "I don't mind. Blake, I love you, including everything about you. I don't mind your past. I just want to start over with you. I didn't tell you about the pregnancy because I was selfish; I wanted to keep you by my side."Blake, your child is my child. I want to raise the baby with you."Don't leave me, okay?"Blake did not know why, but she was not surprised by her pregnancy. However, she felt that there were still some things that she could not let go of, though she was unsure what those were.She was not as calm as she had imagined.She thought about her past events. Then, she indifferently said, "Liam, I don't want this child. Since I'm prepared to be with you, I won't keep this child. It wouldn't be fair to you."Liam di
On this romantic night, the moon was obscured by the clouds.Breathing heavily, Blake felt some pain in her abdomen. She asked to stop. "Liam, my stomach hurts. I think I'm going to have my period soon."Liam sobered up instantly. "I'll go get you some medicine."She peeked out from under the blanket as the bedside lamp turned on. She could clearly see Liam's naked upper body. Her face flushed as she averted her gaze. "It's fine. Just help me call the front desk and ask them to bring up a pack of sanitary pads. I'll go to the bathroom to deal with it."Liam replied, "Let's go to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up."Blake picked up her clothes from the floor and went to the bathroom. "It's okay. It's probably just my period."However, judging by the blood flowing out, it did not seem like menstrual blood to Blake. It looked like something else.Blake's voice came from the bathroom again. "I think we should go to the hospital."She sat on the toilet and watched the tall, slende
Blake had no bridesmaids, so she returned to the hotel room alone. As she stepped out of the elevator and was ready to use the room key card in her hand to swipe and enter the room, she suddenly saw a figure appear from the corner of her eye.She stopped her action and looked at the person who had left the wedding earlier.At that moment, Blake felt her breath catch, but it was only fleeting. She then quickly regained her composure and averted her gaze. She asked, "Didn't you leave? Why are you still here?"Kevin replied, "Congratulations."Upon hearing his congratulations, Blake felt a mix of amusement and discomfort. "There's nothing to congratulate. If anything, I should congratulate you. You're soon to be the mayor's son-in-law. In the future, we won't belong in the same social class anymore."I'm tired and came back to rest. You should leave now before Liam comes up and sees you here."Don't look for me again. I don't want him to misunderstand."Kevin responded, "Audrey and