Preparing for tomorrow's art exhibition, Madelyn tidied up the venue before heading back to her modest two-bedroom apartment. With her tight budget, she had to share the apartment. Her roommate Lila, busy preparing for tomorrow's banquet at the shop, would be home late. After a quick noon meal, Madelyn devoted her time to cleaning the apartment, working nonstop until six o'clock. This habit kept her busy nerves calm and her mind from wandering into anxiety. She left the small living room organized and neat.Around six, Madelyn headed to the supermarket to buy groceries for dinner. She cooked extra, putting the leftovers in the fridge for Lila's late-night snack. As she busied herself, the day swiftly passed, giving way to darkness. After a quick wash, she drank a glass of water and took two prescribed sleeping pills, soon drifting into sleep.Meanwhile, on a private plane, Kevin relayed fresh information to Zach, "We're in touch with a detective agency in France. They've found the pe
'Zach has everything, so why is he so determined to find her? He's moved on from the Jent family. Plus, is Madelyn even important now? If she vanished, life would go on. But her return could bring Zach a world of trouble,' Kevin mused.After their eight-hour flight, they arrived in the city and went directly to the luxurious Hotel BelleSophie. The exceptional welcome they received was no surprise; after all, Zach was one of the hotel's largest shareholders. The butler handed over a ticket once they were settled into their rooms."Here's the art exhibition ticket Mr. Jardin requested. The show starts at noon, which is in about three hours. We've prepared breakfast for you, Mr. Jardin. Please, enjoy."Kevin updated Zach, "After the banquet, we'll be here for about two weeks. Some major international tech firms are interested in partnering with us. There's also a charity auction dinner. We've set our meetings for the day after tomorrow."Zach took a sip from his glass, "Let's stay for
Leonardo and Lucien Dupont, the gallery director, stepped out of the meeting room. Lucien, dressed in a black suit with a fedora and carrying a black cane, was introduced to Madelyn by Leonardo. Taking Madelyn's hand, Lucien gently kissed the back of it. "Dear Ms. Jent," he said with a bit of an accent, "Prof. Monet always praises your artistic skills. Here's my card. Let me know if you ever want to open a studio and need funding."Madelyn glanced at Prof. Monet. When she saw him nod, she accepted the card and smiled. "You're too kind, Mr. Dupont. I don't think I'm that talented. I just work harder than most."Lucien chuckled, "You're being modest. I've seen your artwork. It's really great."Madelyn replied, "Thank you."After Prof. Monet handed the event's responsibility to Madelyn, Leonardo left for another interview. Once they were gone, Madelyn took a moment to sigh with relief. Noticing the gallery was not too crowded, she explored the second floor of the art exhibition, showc
Dorian quickly got up from his seat when he spotted Madelyn in the hallway and approached her. Taking her coffee, he gave a cheerful grin, but his eyes showed a hint of guilt. "Madelyn," he said. "What are you doing here? Didn't Prof. Monet ask you to be downstairs with the guests? Why'd you come up?"Madelyn smiled slightly, "Prof. Monet had to leave for an interview with the international journalists. Could one of you help cover for me downstairs at the event? You might get a chance to mingle with some of the celebrities attending. I have plans later, so I'll need your help here."Dorian asked, "You're not looking for another job, right? I thought with all those awards, you'd have enough money. Why do this kind of work?"Madelyn replied, "I could've lived comfortably in France for years with that money." Then, seeing the surprise on Dorian's face, she added, "But I gave it all away."Their eyes widened in shock. Dorian blurted out, "Have you lost your mind?"Madelyn gave a small
"Let me show you around," Jane said as she approached Zach. She pointed to a painting. "This one's Vitality by Prof. Monet. It captures what we saw deep in a tropical rainforest. Despite its calm appearance, that place was anything but peaceful."Everyone waited, eyes fixed on Jane, anticipating a tale of a magical adventure."We ran into bullet ants. They're among the world's ten most venomous insects. You might mistake them for bees from afar, but they sport powerful mandibles and a venomous sting." Jane delved deeper into their time in the rainforest, touching on narrow escapes and thrilling experiences.Hearing this, Kevin realized, 'That explains Madelyn's absence. She's been adventuring with Prof. Monet's team.'Jane recounted the adventures they had had. From her stories, Zach pieced together Madelyn's activities during her four-year absence. It amazed him that Madelyn, once not even trusted with a knife, had tackled such risks and returned unharmed. Although a skeptical smi
Madelyn packed her things and left through the staff exit, oblivious to nearby dangers. As she stepped out from a corner, a Maybach was pulling away from the art exhibition hall in the opposite direction. They crossed paths without noticing one another.After he landed, Zach grabbed a quick bite and headed to the gallery. Despite his efforts, he arrived a bit late. Leaning back in the car seat, he shut his eyes. "Any idea where she is?"Kevin paused before answering, "Our guy's outside her apartment. He'll update us when Ms. Jent gets back."Zach just nodded, taking a deep breath.He had waited four years, but these last minutes felt endless. He needed to see her now. Breaking the silence, Zach said, "Let's go to the apartment.""But we have another appointment.""Forget it.""Alright," Kevin replied.Thirty minutes later, Zach pulled up to Madelyn's apartment complex. The building looked run-down. Judging by its condition, it was likely forty or fifty years old. It didn't seem
As dusk settled, outside was pitch-black. Kevin took three calls during his absence. When he returned, he hesitated before saying, "Mr. Jardin, the banquet started half an hour ago. We should head over."Flipping to the last page of Madelyn's journal, Zach realized the time when he looked up and thought, 'Four years' worth in this notebook.' Standing up, he tore out a page, then held it by the tip. "Mail this to the Arnold family in Ventropolis."Kevin nodded, "Understood."On the cruise ship, a grand banquet was underway. The dance floor shimmered with people in glamorous dresses. Among the guests were famous celebrities and top models. Everyone mingled, their laughter mixing with the clink of glasses and the distant sound of ocean waves.In the kitchen, Madelyn demonstrated her exceptional skills, particularly with desserts. At the beginning of her job, she could not speak any French. But her culinary talent earned her the position. It was a lifeline; she could have been left str
Madelyn rinsed and shook her hands, "I might need to rest; I'm feeling seasick.""Okay." Hugue noticed Madelyn hesitating, so he decided to leave with the waiter.With her chin in one hand, Alice waved a fork toward Zach, "Try this. It's Venturian food. You've had it before, right?"Zach gave no reaction but turned his attention to a tall, burly man in a white chef's uniform.The waiter announced, "The chef is here, Miss Girard."Alice raised her eyebrows, "I was expecting someone from Venturia."Hugue said, "A lady from Venturia taught me the walnut cake. She's sick and says she's sorry she couldn't come."Spotting Zach starting to move away, Alice asked, "Where are you headed, Zach?"At the beginning of the cruise, Madelyn felt perfectly fine. But as the ship started to rock more heavily, she became sick and rushed to the restroom. When she emerged, looking drained, she walked down a dimly lit hallway. There, she noticed a woman in a fancy dress and a fallen hat nearby. As Ma