Madelyn could not escape Zach's clutches that night. Under the veil of night, a lamp cast its light inside the room. If one were to look in the window, one would see two figures engaged in an intimate embrace. The heavy breathing of a man and woman faintly echoed in the hallway.Scattered all over the soft carpet were pieces of the torn, thin chiffon nightgown. Madelyn had slipped from the floor-to-ceiling window, bearing the marks of a rather intense encounter. An empty, expensive bottle of wine lay on the floor. A drop of red liquid was at the bottle's opening, radiating a sparkling hue. The scent of alcohol and debauchery filled the room.It was not until the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon that Madelyn finally managed to sleep soundly. When she woke up, it was already three in the afternoon. Someone had tidied up the originally messy room at some point and had changed her into a fresh set of pajamas. When she reached down between her legs, she felt nothing but sorenes
Thinking about it, Madelyn suddenly lost her appetite. At that moment, Zach came down from upstairs. After clarifying matters with Kevin, he walked over to sit beside Madelyn. Seeing the uneaten bowl of oatmeal with fruits, he asked, "What's wrong? Is it not to your liking?""Why... don't you legally adopt this child yourself? Why do you place the responsibility on me?" Madelyn asked.Zach narrowed his eyes, "Is there a difference? Regardless of who legally adopts him, he's our child!"'That's not how it works at all!' Madelyn thought."There is a difference. He..." Suddenly, Madelyn stopped mid-sentence and looked away. She stood up, handed the child to Margaret, and said, "Nothing, forget it! You promised to take me to visit my father. I'll go upstairs to change.""Stop!"However, Madelyn did not stop her steps. Zach followed her upstairs, and the argument continued even to the middle of the stairs.Margaret held the child and left discreetly. It was not anything unusual for t
Kai rushed to the ward where Agustin had already regained consciousness. He had a gentle face, but his brows were furrowed. He was panting while clutching his chest."You may leave for now," Kai told the nurse.The nurse said, "Alright, Dr. Stewart."Agustin lay in the bed and spoke hoarsely, "Don't worry. It's just an ongoing health problem."Kai fetched a cushion and placed it behind Agustin's back.Agustin asked, "Has he awakened?"In an instant, a coldness flickered in Kai's eyes, "His awakening was only a matter of time. Agustin, rest assured; Hayson won't live for much longer."Agustin inquired, "Is that young girl really Hayson's biological daughter?"He noticed her as early as four or five years ago. The first time he saw her, she bore an uncanny resemblance to Alicia! There was not a trace of Hayson in her to the point he had doubts..."If not him, then who else could it be?" Alicia was only pregnant with one person's child back then. If it were not for Hayson, the Ha
Madelyn thought Cecilia was indeed better than her. Apart from her artistic skills, she knew nothing and did not know business matters. In her previous life, Zach and Cecilia had been the perfect couple, battling in the business arena. No wonder Zach fell for someone like Cecilia."I won't go with you to settle in France. My home is here, and I won't leave!" said Madelyn.'Even if I've to die, I won't leave my home.'"Just go and take a look. If you don't like it, we can come back." Zach held her hand and kissed it gently, "We'll set off in a week after I finish handling things here. When the time comes, I'll be there with you wherever you want to go."Madelyn pulled her hand away, rubbing it vigorously. "I've said it. I won't go! Even if you want to go, I won't follow you!"'When Zach loves me, he is willing to give me everything. However, when I offer him my love when he no longer loves me, he doesn't cherish it anymore. That's the kind of person Zach is! It's me in the previous
As Zach approached, Yvonne's heart raced. She was speechless, both from seeing him at the hospital and the realization that he knew she was there. He took the test report from her hands, his icy gaze fixed on her. Before she knew it, Zach's bodyguards were escorting her away. The weight of his silent intensity filled her with dread about what might come next.Zach did not like it when people nosed around in his private matters. Yvonne had done just that by finding out a secret he shared with Madelyn. She remembered a night when she knelt outside the Jent residence in the rain. Zach had ignored her, showing that he really did not care. She felt that if she vanished, Zach would not care about that either."Zach, tell them to let me go!" Yvonne pleaded, her panic evident as she struggled. She looked at Zach's distant back, "Where are we going, Zach? What are you going to do? I'm so sorry for snooping! I promise I won't tell anyone about it. Please trust me."'Zach and Madelyn are sibli
Suddenly, Kai's eyes opened wide, showing a deep emotion he usually hid. He quickly grabbed his car keys from the table and left the hospital, heading to a place he had promised himself he would never return to. He was lost in a whirlwind of thought.'If Madelyn isn't Hayson's daughter, then who is she?' The gravity of this idea troubled Kai deeply. Overwhelmed with frustration, he slammed on the steering wheel. 'Damn it!'At the Jent residence in Southern Haven Villas, Madelyn was cleaning Dalton's mouth after he spat out some milk. Suddenly, a wave of unease came over her.Margaret entered and said, "Ms. Jent, how about taking your noon nap? I'll keep an eye on Dal.""Thanks, I'll do that." Madelyn stretched her shoulders, and as she did, a maid came in."Ms. Jent, Dr. Stewart is here to see you."'Kai?' Madelyn glanced around, wondering, 'What's he here for?' "Alright, I'll be right down," she said.Wanting to discuss something with him, she grabbed a certain photo from und
Madelyn shivered, grappling with unfamiliar emotions.'Mom's childhood sweetheart? But Rosario said Mom was an orphan and Father took her in, right?'Even in the warm living room, Madelyn felt a chill go down her spine. She made her way to the study and opened the pink leather-bound notebook. As she leafed through its pages, she paused at one with precise, fine handwriting.[January 20th, 1975, sunny. I turned sixteen today! Agustin gifted me a necklace and a stunning white pony. Can't wait to ride it around town. I wonder what Mom and Dad have planned for my birthday.][January 21st, 1975, cloudy. I was out riding Agustin's pony when a man on a large horse, sporting tall boots, startled me. He snarkily called me a "whiny little kid." And my new outfit from Mom? It got ripped.][March 28th, 1975. That man from before returned, asking Dad for money. From the doorway, I caught his eye. His towering height and intense look sent me hurrying back to my room. Mom says he's around to pro
'Why isn't father's name in here?'As Madelyn flipped through the pages, the diary's tone shifted. It started out cheerful but soon turned somber, leaving her feeling heavy-hearted. The diary mostly recounted events from Silverbrook.Growing up, her mother had been the cherished daughter of a wealthy family. Her grandfather led a major business group, while her father was his right-hand man. The family was quite well-known in their town. Agustin was an orphan boy that her great-grandfather had rescued from a battlefield. He joined the Wood family when he was six. Growing up, Madelyn's mother, being a few years older, taught him to read and write. The two shared a bond tighter than most friends. It seemed her great-grandfather had hopes of Agustin marrying her mother to make him an official Wood. However, some diary entries were illegible, leaving Madelyn with lingering questions.At sixteen, her mother met the well-known military leader, Erick Blinken. By twenty-six, Erick was a res