It was quiet in the private room. Dorian invited everyone to take their seats.However, it did not take long for someone to curiously ask, "Madelyn, isn't Mr. Jardin your brother? Why does it seem like you're not very close to him?"It was an intern who said that. She unknowingly had crossed a line.Clement frowned as he gave the intern a warning look. She immediately sensed something and hurriedly covered her mouth, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to ask that. I won't ask anymore."Madelyn just smiled faintly. She calmly explained, "It's fine. We were indeed siblings before. But after my father passed away, I didn't really have any relationship with him anymore. Moreover, there's no such thing as a free lunch. There's always a price to pay after taking someone else's things. That was a two-million-dollar bottle of wine... I won't be able to save up two million dollars even if I work at the studio for more than ten years."Someone asked, "What about the viral news that said you two we
Madelyn had not seen fireworks in a long time. She said, "Sure. Let me go to the restroom first."After exiting the private room, she followed a waiter's guidance to the restroom. In the relatively quiet corridor, she overheard voices from inside the restroom.Two girls were touching up their makeup and fixing their hair in front of the mirror."What's so great about her for Dorian and Clement to focus all their attention on her? We can do what she does!""Yes! I've had a two-million-dollar wine, too. She looked so arrogant, as if everyone was indebted to her. So she has a wealthy brother; what's so impressive about that?""Her brother probably doesn't even acknowledge her anymore. I bet she's just pretending to be rich in front of us.""None of us are as pretentious as her. Who knows if that bottle of wine was even real!"Madelyn turned around and walked away indifferently.She did not return to the room. Instead, she found a quiet place to sit.A faint light illuminated the
The two girls thought, 'If we drink it all, we'll die. But we can't just say no to his orders.... Didn't Madelyn say she has no relationship with him? Why did Mr. Jardin say she's his wife? If we'd known that, we would've never said what we said in the restroom."Zach returned to the private room. Cecilia looked at his gloomy face as she walked toward him. She reached out to tidy up his collar, "I'm so jealous of her. You won't scold her no matter what she says. When can I have such privilege, too?"Zach pushed her away before picking up the car key on the table and leaving.Cecilia immediately shouted to stop him, "Zach! You aren't allowed to go back tonight! I spent thirty billion dollars to make you happy; can't you treat me better? Can't you even spend a night with me?"She ran to him and hugged him tightly from behind. Perhaps due to the influence of alcohol, Cecilia's emotions seemed very intense. She said, "I don't mind you marrying Madelyn. But can't you stay with me today?
Her gentle voice disappeared in the loud fireworks. Many people came out to watch them.Madelyn held a snowflake, which melted in her palm as she left.She felt disconnected from the lights and the lively atmosphere behind her. She gradually walked further away from the noise.Madelyn preferred to be alone rather than enjoying the lights. She had never liked being alone before. But now, she was all alone.Madelyn wrapped her scarf tighter around her. She buried half of her face in it. After walking a short distance, she reached the lively streets.Although it was in the middle of the night, many people were still walking on the streets. It was very crowded.Madelyn remembered that in the past, people rarely hung out on the main streets of Ventropolis at this hour.She lifted her head and saw the lively scene. After pondering for a moment, she turned around and decided to walk toward a quiet alley. The sound of fireworks behind her gradually faded.A black car followed her from
Now, when Madelyn talked to Zach, her tone was indifferent. Even the disdain in her eyes seemed to have vanished.Madelyn treated him as if he were invisible. She grabbed a dry towel and left the room. Instead of going to the master bedroom, she went to the art room.Tonight, she still had to work overtime to complete the project.Perhaps, due to the influence of alcohol, Zach felt a strong emotion that he could not restrain. Usually, he was very good at self-control. But when Madelyn ignored him and left, he could not control his emotions.Madelyn had just grabbed a piece of drawing paper when Zach suddenly entered the art room and grabbed her. The paper was torn in half during the process. She was shocked, "What are you doing?!"As soon as she finished her sentence, she was pressed against the floor-to-ceiling window. She still had not fully processed what was happening when Zach started to kiss her.After some struggle, Madelyn stopped moving, realizing she could not move Zach
Regardless of what happened to Jardin Corporation, Madelyn would not interfere. Zach would be fine with Cecilia there. As for Madelyn's career, Zach had little say. He would only tell her to rest more since she was unwell.This was the latest she had ever stayed up. By the time she finished, it was already daybreak. The conference call was still on. Besides Madelyn, Clement, and Dorian, the others did not participate in this overtime schedule.Clement advised her, "Stop working, Madelyn. You should rest soon. Leave the rest of us."Madelyn assured him, "It's fine. There's just a little more."After they finished, they took a break together. Dorian told them, "I'm ordering breakfast. You live too far, Madelyn. I'll order some for you next time."Madelyn replied, "Thanks."Just as Dorian finished ordering, someone came to the conference call and said, "Clement, something's wrong. Dawn and Crystal got admitted to the hospital for alcohol poisoning."Clement asked, "What? What happe
Madelyn averted her gaze and said, "Zach, I hope you can change your arrogant attitude. Their lives matter, too. Regardless of who badmouths me in the future, you don't need to care. This is my business; you just need to care for your own. I can take care of myself. I don't need a single penny from you."She pulled away from him and continued, "I'll return to my room. You can have breakfast by yourself."Just as she took a step forward, she suddenly fainted."Madelyn!" Zach cried before catching her in time. His first instinct was to check her breathing as he ordered, "Call an ambulance!"A servant replied, "Yes, sir. I'll do it immediately!"'Why did she faint for no reason?' Zach thought.When she arrived at the hospital, Kai gave her a checkup."Nothing's wrong. Madelyn's just overly exhausted," Kai answered. He then looked at Zach with furrowed brows, "Where have you been spending all that money of yours? You knew her health was terrible, and you still let her go through a w
Cecilia was not a threat to Zach. He was more interested in the person supporting her. Whoever allowed Cecilia to become so brazen merely wanted to take control of Jardin Corporation. He had allowed her to do so just to see how much the person backing her was willing to sacrifice. The current Jardin Corporation was more complex than it seemed, and Cecilia did not have the ability to shoulder all of it.Zach stared at Madelyn and said, "When will you give me some peace of mind? You never needed to compare yourself to her."His hand brushed Madelyn's face as he felt the warmth of her body. She continued to sleep. Zach observed her while trying to etch every feature of her face into his mind. Since they received their marriage certificate, Madelyn had never worn her wedding band. She did not want to, and Zach did not force her.When Madelyn woke up, her throat was hoarse. It was already nighttime, and she had no clue how long she had slept. As her head was spinning, a hand came and hel