'Father probably never guessed anyone would enter his room,' Madelyn thought. She noticed shoes beneath the door and the sound of approaching footsteps. Hurrying, she sat in her father's chair and accidentally hurt herself. Wincing from the pain, she tried to stay still as Zach walked in.Zach came in with his clothes speckled with water droplets and closed the door. "Did Dal wake you?"Madelyn looked down. Dalton was not crying anymore, but his little face was flushed, and he gave a small cough."Let me hold him. Your hand is still injured."Madelyn tightened her grip on Dalton. "Why do you smell like gas? What happened?"Zach replied, "My car broke down on my way back. I fixed it. I'm going to hop in the shower now.""Okay."As Zach walked off, a nagging feeling told Madelyn he was hiding something. Once she was certain he was upstairs, she placed Dalton gently on the comfy couch. She hit a switch under the desk, and moments later, a shelf with an antique figurine started to s
Madelyn sensed there was something unusual about the man's relationship with her mother. Convinced Kai knew more, she quickly took the photo and left. She closed the secret chamber and hid the picture inside a book, planning to retrieve it the next day.As she opened the door, she saw Zach with wet hair, clearly having just showered. Seeing her without Dalton, he asked, "Where's Dal?""Dal?" Madelyn responded, her surprise evident. 'I'm sure I left him on the couch. Where is he?'Out of nowhere, a tiny head appeared from under the desk. Dalton giggled, babbled, and drooled. As he crawled on the soft carpet, Madelyn's voice was tinged with both urgency and frustration. "Didn't I just give you a bath? Look at the mess you've made."Carefully using her left hand, she lifted him, trying not to strain her still-recovering right hand. Zach had been taking good care of her injury, often using a cold compress to soothe the pain. When it came to personalities and tastes, they were like op
The butler knocked on Frida's door. "Ma'am, it's urgent. You need to see this."Frida followed the butler outside. As she laid eyes on the person in the casket, a storm of anger welled up inside her. "Zach Jardin, you bastard! How could you?"The casket holding Evelyn went without refrigeration, letting out an unbearable stench within hours. Nearby, Marta, dressed in black, had a pronounced wound on her forehead. It was difficult to discern if she was dead or alive.Frida spoke with resolve, "See if she's breathing."The butler hesitated just for a second before leaning in to check Marta's breath. Registering the reality, he muttered in disbelief, "She's gone. Ma'am, they're both gone."Noticing the blood near the casket, Frida deduced there had been some kind of impact. "Get in touch with the funeral home. Make sure they deal with this discreetly. Let them know it's at the request of the CEO of Jardin Corporation.""Right away, Ma'am."As she stood there, Frida thought, 'Zach i
After lunch, Kevin came over with some paperwork to sign, and they headed to the study to discuss the business. Not long after, Zach thought it would be a great opportunity to teach Madelyn to drive.He was all in on the driving lesson. He had transformed a storage space in their home into a garage filled with luxury cars. A standout was the custom pink Bentley, distinctly different from the others."Zach, I can't practice driving today," Madelyn explained. "I've got a new order at the studio I need to finish. How about we reschedule?""Can you spare two hours?" Zach asked, not ready to give up.Once they got into the car, he gestured for her to take the driver's seat. With a hesitant grip on the steering wheel, Madelyn asked, "Shouldn't I start with the basics? I've never driven before.""Don't worry, the basics will be a breeze for you." Zach assured her. "Let's get straight to hands-on practice."In the car, Zach explained the essential features, and Madelyn caught on immediat
Madelyn avoided Zach's dark gaze and left swiftly.Zach, clearly annoyed, came inside, tossing the car keys on the entryway table. He sank into the couch and lit a cigarette before calling the car service for repairs.Margaret, seeing Madelyn's hasty exit, hurried upstairs to avoid a potentially irate Zach. On her phone, Madelyn opened an email with client requests. In her studio, she began preparations, sure she could finish within the week. Dalton was in his crib, quietly using his pacifier and observing Madelyn, whom she would occasionally soothe."Ms. Jent, you should be careful with that hand. It's not healed, and you might overdo it.""I know, but everything in this place is his. I need to pull my weight." Just then, her nose started to bleed, dropping onto her shirt."Madelyn, are you okay?" Margaret asked, handing her some tissues. Madelyn ran into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. When Zach walked in, his gaze immediately fell on the drop of blood on the ti
After cleaning the blood from Madelyn's face, Kai took off his mask and gave a menacing smile. "You don't deserve to know who he is."Madelyn took a deep breath, feeling her head throb intensely. Not long after, she started coughing harshly, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Kai watched, maintaining his composure. Once he felt sure she was ready, he gave her two pills. He waited for her to regain some strength before moving her to a regular room.As Kai stepped out of the operating room, Zach grabbed him, asking, "What happened to her?"With a playful glint in his eyes and a casual tone, Kai smirked at Zach. "Hospital rules: Only direct family or spouses get info about a patient's condition. So... which role are you playing?" Adding a mocking tone, Kai said, "Oh, I almost forgot. You and she are siblings."Zach's voice turned icy. "Enough with the games."Even as Zach tightened his grip, Kai did not flinch. "Your feelings for Madelyn are growing, aren't they? Falling h
Madelyn felt a pain in her chest and tried to speak. 'Didn't they say Father would be back in a few days? Why's he returning early? Kai probably kept my sickness a secret.' As she attempted to sit up, weakness consumed her.Margaret's constant chatting made Madelyn think of how Mya always talked a lot."The doctor says your nosebleeds might be from the dry air or perhaps allergies," Margaret said. "But it's not a big deal. Don't worry. When you're feeling better and your father's back, Mr. Jardin won't trouble you."Madelyn replied, her voice scratchy, "Okay."She had been in the hospital for two weeks. To show her the Jent family's troubles, Kai switched her usual medication with stronger drugs. He ensured she took every pill, making her occasionally forget his true intentions. Zach never left her side. During her hospital stay, Jasmine tried to visit, but Zach's security stopped her at the entrance. From inside her room, Madelyn overheard the commotion, and amidst the voices, she
"What about you, sir?" Madelyn asked.The middle-aged man replied, "I've got heart problems. There's a surgery coming up, and honestly, I'm not sure about the outcome."Madelyn hesitated, then whispered, "You'll be fine." She wondered if she was saying it for his comfort or her own.The man looked up from the newspaper, folding it and placing it on his lap as he crossed his legs. His amber eyes met hers, and a warm smile spread across his face. "Thanks for the kind words. I gotta head out." He cast a wary glance at a group of tough-looking people coming their way. "Mind if we hug real quick?"Madelyn hesitated."It's strange, I know," he said, "but you remind me of my wife who passed away. I miss her. Let's call it a bit of solace before my operation."He spoke so gently that Madelyn nodded. "Okay." They hugged briefly, and he dashed off, forgetting his newspaper. As Madelyn reached for it, a shadow loomed above her."Enjoying the breeze?" Zach asked, slipping his black blazer o