Grandparents.In the Sanders family, that word was almost taboo, only brought up when Bella taught Madeline how to paint, and even then, only in whispers.Madeline gathered that her grandparents were masters with a brush, but their true identities were a mystery Bella never unraveled. She always reminded her daughter to keep it a secret from Cilix.As a child, Madeline never understood the secrecy. Only as she grew did she see it for what it was.A shield for Cilix's fragile ego.With Bella and Cilix's divorce, there was no longer a need to walk on eggshells."Mom, should I try to find out more about them?" Madeline ventured.Bella paused, a shadow crossing her face, then shook her head. "No, let the past stay buried. What matters is you, Madeline. Just take care of yourself and your little one."Bella's words trailed off as she seemed to run out of steam, her eyelids fluttering shut.Madeline, seasoned by past crises, did not panic. She tucked Bella in and settled into a chai
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