Dressed in a sharp suit, Zach approached Madelyn with a sure stride. Startled, she stepped back, and her shawl slipped off."You heard me?" she asked, voice trembling. "Zach, I'm not making it up; I swear, I saw my mom."Zach picked up the fallen shawl and placed it on the couch after brushing it off. He then took off his coat and draped it over Madelyn. After adjusting a few loose strands of her hair, he hugged her gently, "If you want to head home, we can. Kevin's already booked our flight to Ventropolis for tomorrow."Madelyn nestled into Zach, feeling his steady heartbeat. She could not figure out why he seemed different; his eyes were lost in the night's darkness. An unfamiliar scent clung to him. It unsettled her, but she did not move away. She had initially believed he was joking, but it became clear he was not.By 8 a.m., they boarded a private jet. Zach cradled a sleepy Madelyn, her head on his lap. As he softly played with her hair, he would sometimes drop a gentle kiss o
Madelyn often clung to memories of her mom. Even though she knew the visions were not real, she welcomed them. Her mother's face was a blur, but her voice was unmistakably clear in Madelyn's mind."That glass of milk brings back haunting memories. They cut deep, hurting more than words can express. I've kept those feelings locked away, bearing the pain they cause. Every detail from the past remains vivid. Zach, there've been so many times I've wanted to kill you."Following Madelyn's heartfelt confession, Zach remained unmoved, viewing her not as a threat. He gently scooped her up and laid her on the bed."Just rest," he said.After she drifted off to sleep, he went to another room and smoked most of a pack of cigarettes. The room was thick with smoke by the time Kevin walked in. Coughing slightly, he reported, "Ms. Young has been informed of your return. A room's been prepared for Ms. Jent, styled like it used to be.""She won't be staying at the Young residence. I've got other p
Zach used the Young family's funds to buy businesses at a bargain. When the stock market struggled, even the richest in Ventropolis, including the Arnold family, felt the pinch. Smaller companies faced bankruptcy, and the Young family almost did too.Two years ago, Zach visited Frida at the Young residence. Even before the Arnold family supported Azure Corporation, he had made a name for himself in Ventropolis, though he often stayed out of the spotlight. Many companies wanted him, but Zach remained loyal to his mentor, Hayson. No offer could tempt him away from his clear goal: to take over Azure Corporation. His ambition made people wary."You're asking for $1.5 billion just like that, Zach? Beyond being Hayson's adopted kid, I really admire you. Many at YTCorp started like you did, but what you've achieved is something else. The only reason we're talking today is because of Yvonne." Frida gestured to the door, "Now, get out of the Young residence." She shot Yvonne a stern look, say
Zach lit a cigarette. Ever since Madelyn left him, he had picked up smoking. Now, he could not quit. "The details don't matter.""Did you kill Randall?" Frida asked.Yvonne glanced over. She knew Zach had secrets, and he always intrigued her.Zach replied, "Ms. Young, without evidence, murder accusations are just talk. But today, we're discussing money."Owning that oil field gave Zach a significant edge. The Young family had diverse businesses; the oil industry was their latest focus. Their partnership with the Burton family was postponed because of Randall's imprisonment. When Zach revealed the deal today, it took Frida by surprise.Frida grew concerned about Zach potentially rising to prominence in Ventropolis. She could not believe it. While the Burton family was in chaos, trying to track down the businesses Randall owned, Zach had managed to secure the oil field worth over $10 billion—a prize the Burtons had their eyes on. Frida felt conflicted. On one hand, she desired the o
Zach and Yvonne's engagement party was low-key. While it did make it to the newspapers, the news was quickly overshadowed by stories of several companies going bankrupt.After securing the funds, Zach bought major real estate properties, financial securities, and struggling businesses. Once the economy improved, he revamped these companies under the banner of Jardin Corporation. In just three years, Jardin went public, its stock value soaring beyond that of the once-thriving Arnold Corporation. With the success, Zach's initial $1.5 billion grew more than tenfold, making him a prominent figure in Ventropolis.Once Yvonne arrived in France, Madelyn had this nagging feeling something was amiss, 'This is just ridiculous! Why is he seeking me out if he's already tied to Yvonne in this life? How different am I now from Cecilia in our past life? Am I just here to stir up trouble? Yvonne's just like how I remember her being in that previous life—lost and hurt.'She quickly went to her room.
The maid said, "The lady worked hard on that meal. Throwing it out would be such a waste, right?"Zach shot her a stern glance. "Just do what I say," he said curtly.Trying to hide her nervousness, the maid nodded and headed downstairs to clean up. Meanwhile, the other maids got busy preparing another meal.After sipping the fruit juice Zach gave her, Madelyn slowly awakened and gazed at the ceiling."How do you feel?" Zach asked.Madelyn paused. "I'm moving out tomorrow."His expression became stern. "You know I won't let that happen. Why can't you just deal with this? I promise you'll be left alone. It'll just be me.""You're pushing me to the edge," Madelyn fired back. "I might do something we'll both regret. I could kill you, Zach."Zach gently caressed her forehead. "Once you're better, you can chase any dream you want. You want to paint? I'll set up a studio just for you." Zach's voice had an unusual softness tonight, as if he was a different person."You still don't get
Madelyn could not find any recent updates on the Arnold family online, with the latest information being four years old, making her suspicious. She felt uneasy, questioning her own paranoia. At this point, she could possibly even walk past Ethan on the street without being able to recognize him.She was concerned that Zach might seek revenge on the Arnold family, given his history of holding onto grudges. After Ethan took over Azure Corporation, causing Zach's professional setback, she believed Zach might want payback, even if Ethan was not at fault.With Cecilia back and Zach's smart planning, they seemed poised to become dominant in Ventropolis. Zach had big dreams.Zach watched Madelyn in her room through his tablet. He asked a maid to serve the dinner they prepared. Madelyn did not eat much. The maid acted cautiously, as if scared to upset her. As she was settling in for bed, she overheard voices outside her door."Who's the woman in that room?" one voice whispered. "I've never
"Not even the lady of the house is allowed to enter the study freely," the maid said.Madelyn thought, 'As long as the paintings are safe. Some are mementos from Mom.'Quickly heading downstairs, she found the master bedroom on the second floor empty. However, in Zach's room, she discovered her treasured paintings, all protected under white cloth. Emotions surged as she touched them. She picked them up, wanting to move them back to her room, but as she tried to leave, one of the maids blocked her way."Miss, I told you; you can't touch these."Madelyn replied coolly, "Like I said, these are mine. I'm just taking back what's mine."Another maid, clearly annoyed, snapped at the other maid, "Why're we even talking to her? She seems out of it, probably lost her mind or something. Let's just get the paintings."But before the maids could act, two bodyguards in black suits quickly came up the stairs. They stopped the maids and then said to Madelyn, "The boss said you can decide what to